©l|f i. B. Bill Slibrarg
Nnrlb (Earoltna ^tuU (Cnllpgp
SP525
K45
14S.263
This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS
ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE
CENTS a day thereafter. It is due on the
day indicated below:
XLL fV-D
^^^pr^?!
50M — May-54 — Form 3
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
NCSU Libraries
http://www.archive.org/details/antientbeemasterOOkeys
THE
Antient Bee-Mafter's Farewell ^
OR,
FULL AND PLAIN DIRECTIONS
FOR THE
Management of Bees to the greatejl Advantage ;
PIS CLOSING
• FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS
OF THE
HIVES, BOXES, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS,
TO FACILITATE THE OPERATIONS j
Efpecially that of separating Double and
Treble Hives or Boxes ^ with Certainty
and Safety, zuithout injuring the Bees^
INTERSPERSED WITH
NEW BUT IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS:
The whole fludioufly adapted to general ufe;
with an appropriate method for the Curious.
Alfo brief Remarks on Schirach, and other
diftinguiihed Apiators on the Continent.
BEPUCED FROM A SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS EURIN*
THIRTY YEARS.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.
DUBLIN:
PRINTED FOR P. BYRNE, P. WOGAN,
J. MOORE, and j. rice.
1796.
PREFACE.
I
MPROVEMENTS in the management of
Bees, among farmers and cottagers, have been
but little advanced, notwithftanding the ?nany
ingenious contrivances which have been offered
to pubHc notice ; probably from being too
operofe and expenfroe for the people of that
Jefpription, to whom, in common, the ma-
nagement of bees is generally of trifling
concern.
Whether my prefent attempt will fucceed
better, time muft decide. My utmofr exer-
ti'ons have been dire6:ed to the remedy of the
defe6t ; which, it is hoped, 1 have greatly
advanced, if not perfe6led as far as our un-
favourable climate will admit.
Additional profits, in moft cafes, are una-
voidably attended with fome increafe of ex-
pence. But from the impartial ejilmate I have
ftated (page 62), it will be afcertained, that the
management there prcpofed far overbalances
the extra expence, and therefore will merit
14S365
IV PREFACE.
the adoption of Bee-keepers, and, perhaps?
the patronage of- Agricultural Societies.
By perfons of a higher clafs a trifle of
additional expenditure will not be regarded,
in comparifon of the convenience and fafcty
with which jhQ operations may be eile6ted :
to fay nothing of the gratification of philofo-
phic curiofity, together with fiiperior profit.
Near the clofe of the year 178a, I ventured
to pubhdi a work of this kind, according to^
the beft of the knowledge and experience I
had ih^n attrained.. Since that timc^ having"
tm ffwmrUe purfmt^ md ^ic^^raged hy dfcs
tbe ^va:le of life, ft]%j??it this tre^iifie^ m5 itfas
-refuit of aii my refcarche«.; -drawii fwm a.'
3Biic!i iG33ger and more ailiiduous ^xj^rieiace,
.and from a cooler judgment, ripened hy num-
berlefs experiments, which have led me to
new obfervations and improvements, and to
differ alfo not more from myfelfth3.n from all
OTHERS.
Inflead of a fecond edition of my former
publication, a neiv book became neceflary,
as moft part of my prefent management is on
a different plan ; and much tautology and
fuperfluity of matter demanded curtailing,
and a more judicious arrangement of the
whole.
PREFACE. V
No article inculcated in thefe pages is
advanced without its being warranted by my
own experience, unbiaffed by any autliority,
however otherwife refpev5i:able. Where I am
flill dubious, it is fo exprelTed.
Apiators may be affured that, to the beft of
my knowledge, every information or hint that
has been found of any real fervice in any
Writer of Note, Foreign or Domeftic*, is
comprifed in this volume. -
As my prefent defjgn is wholly fir pra5li^
tioners^ the bulk and price is accommodated
to the purpofe of becoming generally ufeful ;
and confequently precludes the Natural Hif-
to ry of Beesf, except in Tome fmali degree,
as far as neceffary to their management.
A few years fince, warm difputes arofe
between different naturalifts and apiarian fo-
cieties on the continent, relating to the genera^
tion of bees^ and the formation of artificial
fwarjnsj in confequence of fome nezu and
luondcrful principles advanced by a Mr.
Schirach (fecretary of an apiarian fociety),
in his treatife entitled '' Hifloire Nature lie de
* Butler, Mew, Geddy, Purchafe, Wolridge, Raf-
den, Warder, White, Thorley, Mills, Wiidmans,
Debraw, and Broomwich. Foreigners ; Miraldy,
Reaumur, Bonnet, Schirach, Needham, Norton, Sey-
kers, and others of lefs note
f S:^e a judicious book with that title, being a com-
pilatio;"! fro:ii the French, pubii/hed bv Knapton 1 744.
A 3
VI PREFACE.
la Regne des Aheilles^'' ^c. tranllated into
French by J. Blaffiere, Hague, printed 1771*.
Counter-experiments were made by Need-
ham, Rheim, ^rA othersf, with refults of an
oppoiite natnre.
It being incompatible with the defign of
this work to enter into details, or a formal
refutation of Schirach's do6lrine, I fhall only
briefly declare, that at firft I was ftrongly
prejudiced in its favour, and urged thereby
to purfue a feries of experiments according to
his diredlions, with the mofi: fcrupulous exa6l-
nefs, and care, for eight years, but without a
SINGLE RESULT in confiimatiou of hisfcheme.
I diverfified the experiments, and alfo invented
a more fuitable apparatus to perfornpi them,
yet ftill met with the fame lamentable difap-
pointment. Ya this purfuit many bees and
many flocks were unavoidably ruined, befides
an accumulation of vexation and trouble. But
my anxiety to acquire fo defirable an end urged
me beyond the bounds of prudence. I hope
vanity will not be imputed to the declaration
and inference, that if one of long experience
in the handling of bees, and having every
conveniency, could notj in fo many trials,
* This book I had the honour of having prefented
me by the late Ecrl of Marchmc-nt.
f Bmffels Meinoires, vol. ii. 1780, prefented me
by Thomas Dtiks, Efq. to whom I render rr.y thankful
acknowledgments.
PREFACE. Vll
fucceed, it is more than probable that others,
witli only common knowledge, and deftitute
of a proper apparatus, will not be more
hccefsful, and confequently that Schirach's
method cannot prove of public utility.
The moft likely means to eJiaUiJlj the bee
ART, I believe, w^ill not be accompliflied
without the PATRONAGE of Agricultural Socie-
ties ; namely, the encouraging a proper perfon
or perfons to exhibit in the bee feafon the moll
approved nuthod through the chief market
towns of the kingdom. The perfon muf!: be
capable of explaining the procefTes, and have
■\vith him the neceffarv inftruments.
I would alfo recommend this employment to
anv ingenious young man, properly qualitied,
and provided with the apparatus, as a pradlice
that moft likely would turn to much advantage ;
taking care not to introduce tricks and fancies,
as fome have done, to the deJiruSiion of multi-
tudes of bees, inftead ot exhibiting any real
improvements.
Or, if fuch perfons, refident in villages,
would qualify themfelves, they might, even
in their limited ftations, exercife the art to
their own benefit and that of the neighbour-
hood, by performing it at z.Jiaied rate.
Rural Curates might confiderably augment
their too frequently «/^^^r^/y ftipends, ■ by the
cultivation of bees, and a(5l at the fame time
Vll'l PREFACE.
confonantly with their clerical profeflions, as
it is an innocent amufement, botri healthy and
profitable.
Farmers and others who keep numerous
flocks of bees cannot be fuppofed to attend fo
minutely to every particular as thofe who have
not many, and have more leiiure ; yet in
this, as well as in all the other articles of
hufbandry, the greater the care beftowed,
the greater the return that ufually fol-
lows. Beiides, moft of the operations on
bees are to be performed in the evening, or
early in the morning, and therefore will not
interfere with more important bufmefs.
To avoid repetitions, the manner of per-
forming the operations mufl be feverally learnt
from the fecond party to the particulars of
which the Index will direct.
The firft part contains the principles ; the
fecond the manual, or operative part.
In generally, 1 have ufed the word hive In-
difcriminately for hive or box, as applicable to
either ; except when it is otherwife expreiTed,
or is felf- evident.
The writer fubmlts thefe pages to the can-
dour of the learned, under a confcioufnefs of
his own inabilities for the tafl^ ; but if it affords
/.y^-^w/ improvements in the art, hehopesitmay
be pleaded in excufe of his prefumption.
JOHN KEYS.
Bee -Hall i near Pembroke,
1796'
EXPLANATION OF TERMS.
Adapter, a Board to fet Glaires on.
Apiary, the Place or Spot where Bees arekepti
Apiator,- the Perfon who mtaiiages the Bees.
of f'warms*
Deprtvathn, tj^e S©paratk)fl, oiTakmg^f tfe^
Hives of Hojief ,
Divider^ the Brafs Plate ufed in feparstiog
Hives.
Diiplety the Hive fet over or under another.
7o Duplicate, the a(9; of performing this.
Fume 'Box, the Box kept for the Purpofe of
Fuming.
Fumigation, 7 , ^ . r n r -
P J the Operation or Itupetying.
Hackel, or Coppet, Sec. the Straw Covering
fet over a Hive to flielter it.
Hive, or Skip, &c. That wherein the Bees
dwell, and make their Combs, whether
made of Straw or other Materials.
X EXPLANATION OF TERMS.
Nadir, the Hive which is fet under another.
Non-fwarmery a Stock which has not fwarmed.
Stock, a Hive of Bees th^t has flood, or is to
ftand, the Winter.
Storifylng^ the ranging Hives over or under
each other.
To Storify, to perform this.
Super-hive^ to fet one Hive above another.
Superior Hive, the uppermcft of a ilonfied %ct.
Swarm, a great Body of Bees, which quit the
Hive together, and fix in fome Tree, Bufh,
tec.
To Irehle or Triple, to add a third Hive to a
Stock that had two before.
Trehlf^y a Stock tliat has three Hives.
Triplet^ ditto.
To TriplUaU, the aft of triplifying.
CONTENTS.
PART L
-
CHAP,
Page
I.
UFthe ^teen^ Drones and Workers i
11.
Dtfcoveries — —
8
III.
i:he Sting of Bees — —
■ 13
IV.
Bee Drefs — —
20
V. '
Apiary —
23
VI.
Purchafing of Bees —
27
VII.
Straw Hives — —
33
VIII.
Bde Boxes — —
43
IX.
Bee Hmfe — —
52
X.
Storifying — —
SI
XI.
Nature of Sivarms —
75
XII.
Hiving of ditto — —
*6i
xiir.
Artificial Swarms — —
ni
XIV.
To fe cure Wild Bees —
ns
XV.
Salvation of Bees -^
*^90
XVI.
Glaffes — — —
*9+
XVII.
Deprivation^ orTaking-up of Bees lOI
XVIII.
Pajiurage — —
112
XIX.
Honey Dews^. —
124
XX.
Difeafes of Bees —
127
xxr.
Of Feeding — —
134
XXI. Thefts,
xii CONTENT S.
CHAl
XXII.
3
, Thefts, IVars, l^c. —
Page
141
XXlI]
[. Enemies — —
146
XXIV. Extraaion of Wax, ^c. —
154
XXV. Ohfer^ations on Honey —
XXVI. Making of Mead —
XXVII. SummaTy of Monthly Manageme\
162
169
^M74
PART II.
No.
THE OPERATIONS.
General Rules —
Page
182
L
II.
III.
Injlru?nent of Fumigation —
The Materials for ditto —
The Method of ditto —
184
187
191
IV.
V.
A Method for Cottagers —
Another — —
193
194
VI.
vir.
VIII.
The ufe of Dividers —
To Storify — —
Deprivation, or Separation —
195
198
199
IX.
Re-union of Swarms with Stocks
204
X.
XI.
To captivate the ^^een —
Out~Uers to recruit weak Stocks
207
209
XII.
To unite a queenlefs Stock to another 210
XlII.
To unite weak Stocks or Swarms in
Autufun — —
211
XIV.
XV.
Driving — —
Show Box for Amateurs —
212
2'5
XVI.
Manageme'it of the Show Box
219
Foftfcript ^ —
223
THE
Antlent Bee-Mafter's Farewell.
PART I.
CHAP. L
OF THE QUEEN, DRONES, AND WORKERS,
O
N the Jingle female bee y flyled queek,
depend the increafe, proiperity, and per-
manency of a {lock. No fwarm canpof-
fibly be eilabliflied, unlefs accompanied
by a prince Is ; although the bees become
ever ib numerous, or eager to fwarm. If
by any mifchance the queen is killed,
the bees, foon fenfible of her lofs, quit
r';e hive to aflbciate with their next
B
D. H. HILL LIBRARY
North Carolina State College
2 QUEEN.
neighbours, transferring their treafure
with them.
The QUEEN (pi. I. fig. 6.) being
then of fuch confequence, it is neceflary
that the apiator fliould be able to dif-
tinguiih her at fight. Obferve, there-
fore, that fhe is longer and more ilender
than the drones, or the workers ; her
hinder parts tapering to a point : her
belly and legs are alfo yellower ; and
the upper part of her body much darker
than theirs, neariy approaching to a glof-
fy black. The part beyond the wings
is divided into four joints, diftinguifh-
ed into fo many rings ; whereas the
workers have but three, and thofe of a
lighter colour. The more full of eggs,
the more yellow is her belly. Her
v;ings reach only to the third ring, but
tholfe of the .workers extend to the end
of their bodies. Her appearance is
tather clumfy, but her deportment grave,
ftately, and calm. She is armed with
a fling fhorter than thofe of her fubjeds.
Its ufe is only to oppofe rival queens ;
for otherwifc fhe will bear the roughed
QUEEN. ^
handling, without attempting to wound.
She is very rarely to be feen, even with
boxes of three windows ; and, if by-
chance flie is difcovered, inftantly retires
from view.
Her FECUNDITY is amazing ; for in
the courfe of a year fhe ufually lays forty
thoufand eggs, or more : fhe has been
feen to lay forty im.mediately one after
another. Her body at the height of the
laying feafon contains fome thoufands of
eggs. If empty cells are not prepared,
fhe is obliged to drop them. She is
five times longer in laying a royal egg
than a common one.
The eggs are little white bodies, fix-
ed by their fmaller end to the bottom of
the cell. The royal cells are conflrudt-
ed on the edges or fides of the combs,
(pi. II. fig. 4. k.) fometimes to the
number of ten or twelve. Thefe cells,
when about half finifhed, refemble the
cup of an inverted acorn, c, and are
lengthened in proportion to the grow^th
of the maggot or nymph. They hang
in a perpendicular manner with the open
B 2
4' QiJEEN.
end downwards, c. After the egg is dc^
pofited it remains in that ftate three days ;
and then being hatched, appears as a
maggot in the 111 ape of a half moon, ly-
ing at the bottom of the cell, furround-
ed with a clammy white fubftance, con-
tinually fupplied by the vrorkers for its
nutriment. In five or fix days it grows
coniiderably larger, ceafes to take food,
is then fealed up, b, with a waxen cap,
and continues thus about twelve days,
when the royal nymph burfhs open the
cover, and ilTues forth a complete prin-
cefs. Cold weather makes two or three
days difference in the time of exclulion.
The queen is impregnated about Au-
guft, by virtue of which Ihe is enabled
to breed in the ipring, till flie produces
frefh drones.
Simiiiar to the procefs" above, is that
of the drones and zvorkers ; excepting
that the eggs are hatched in the common
cells, which ferve in a double capacity,
either for honey or brood. The ceils for
drones are generally the two middiemofh
combs of the hive' j the cells are deeper.
DRONES. 5
than thofe of the workers, and, when
they happen not to be long enough, are
lengthened by a cap of wax. They are
generally hatched in twenty-one days.
DRONES
Are thofe large bees (pi. II. fig. 5.)
which ufually appear before the rifmg of
fwarms. They are the only males,
and are larger than the workers ; of a
clumfy fliape, and their extremity large,
as are their eyes ; their trunk, or pro-
bofcisi fhort and thin, and the body
more hairy. They make a much loud-
er and rougher noife than the workers ;
and having no fling, nor inftrument to
colledt honey, are fuftained by that of
the hive.
It feems clear to me, that the drones
are of no other u(e but that of pro-
pagation, I have, indeed, often found,
that flocks will fwarm before any drones
appeared ; yet, perhaps, fome were bred
long before, reiiding in the warmefl: part
ot the hive ; and which fads proved
B3
DRONES.
true ', for drone nymphs have been cail
out in early fpring. Soon after honey-
gathering ceafes, they become devoid of
the fpermatic milky Hquor, and there-
fore are difcarded/ The queen, con-
taining fome thoufand eggs at a time in
her body, demands a larger fupply of
the prolific juice than a few drones are
equal tofurnifli. This accounts for the
large number of drones found in the
hives, as being abfolutely neceffary. As
loon as the queen finds no occafion for
their fervice, they feparate from the
workers to the fides of the outward
combs.
They are little noticed by the work-
ers, and if killed at the f doors of the hives
do not refent it. Thofe that happen to
remain in the (locks till the cold weather
arrives, foon periih by it.
As their agency in generation, or, in-
deed, their utility at all, is ftill difputed,
it is -.vorth notice, they are endowed with
a large quantity of whitiQi liquor infum-
mer, which the workers are fond of lick-
ing, when a drone is fqueezed. The
WORKERS. 7
many thoufand tiiries I have obferved
drones in the combs, I never beheld one
with its tail in a cell.
WORKERS.
The common bees, or workers, (pi. II.
fig. 7.) live about a year, but are very
liable to premature death, by hard la-
bour, high winds, birds, and many other
accidents. They are of neither fex, but
abfoliitely neuters. The young bees are
diflinguilhable from the old, by being of
a lighter brown. They are not all of one
fize, a few being ihorter than the others,
by being hatched in Ihorter cells ; but
the dimenlions of a cell cannot alter the
fexual parts, only as to Jize, and not the
male organs into female.
Their labour feems to be indif criminate :
they build the combs, nurfe and fuflain
the young, colledl honey, and defend the
hive againfl: all invaders. For cleanli-
nefs they are remarkable ; have a quick
and extenfive fmell, either for honey or
honey-dew ; but are not difgufted with
B4
S EJISCOVERIES.
many odours ofTenfive to us, as paint,
tar, urine, &c. partaking Ibmetimes of
fuch fubftances as are pernicious to them.
Forcfeeing impending ftorms, they make
a precipitate retreat in great multitudes.
When jirji placed in a hive they work
night and day, taking repoie by turns,
and Heeping ia clufters. They can rea-
dily diflinguiib the bees of their own
hive from all other ; and highly refent
the killing, or even didurbing, any bees
of the fame apiary, with vengeance at-
tacking the aggreilbr.
As probably the following novel and
curious difcoveries may be pleaiing to
naturallfls, their infertion will not offend
practitioners.
CHAP. II,
DISCOVERIES.
Unexpectedly ijaw a queen on
a comb, near the window of a double
box 3 the next day I was favoured with
DISCOVERIES. g
a like view ; (he remained each day
about an hour ; the bees very reipedt-
fully making a free pafTage for her as fhe
approached. About a dozen of them
tenderly licked and bruihed her all over^
while others attended to feed her.
During this interview I perceived fe-
veral eggs drop from her^ which the work-
ers took no notice of. The box in which
fhe then appeared was a fiiper one ; the "
under one had only three bars, and four
apertures. The fuper-box feemed quite
full of honey and brood. The queen
tarrying and not choofmg to defcend, be-
ing obilruCled by the middle bar, pro-
bably was the occafion of this reludh-
ance j as alfo that of the bees from work-
ing in the empty nadir box. From fe-
veral fimilar difappointments I furmiled,
that the fcantinefs -of the opening for
communication was the fole caufe. In-
ftead of three bars, from that time my
boxes v/ere altered tojix, which fucceeded
to my utmoft wifli.
Another time I (aw the workers very
bufy ill demobfhing a royal cell^,
B5
10 • DISCOVIRIES.
clofe to the window of a box. It had
been fealed up fome days : but continu-
ing fo beyond the ufual period of exclu-
fion, I fufpeded fome mifchance, and]
therefore was very intent to obfeiTe the^
refult. At five o'clock one morning, thej
workers were very deeply engaged in;
opening the fide of the cell: in about
two hours they had made a chafm large
enough to fee the nymph, and Vv'hich
they were endeavouring to pull out, but
in vain. They then proceeded to a fur-
ther enlargement ; when the queen, with
hafty fteps, and anxious looks, as if an-
gry at the delay, began herfelf "the ar-
duous talk, the workers remaining . qui-
et fpeftators. The queen made ieveral
violent tugs to difengage it, but her ef-
forts proved fruitlefs. She then retired,
not v/ithout an appearance of diiplea-
fure.
The workers then renewed their at-
tempts, about a dozen at a time, and at
intervals ceafed to enlarge, while they
tried to pull the nymph out, but were
ftill difappointcd ^ for on pulling the
DISCOVERIES^ II
nymph upwards fhe was^ preffed more in-
to the convexity of the top. ' Four hours
were thus employed ; when the queen
returned, with hke demeanour as before,
and proceeded with redoubled efforts to
extricate the nymph ^ but flill, unfortu-
nately, with no better fuccefs, and final-
ly relinquifhed the toil with great con-
cern. However, the labourers re fumed
the tafk of enlargement from top to bot-
tom, which was not effeded till near
twelve o'clock ; a bufmeis of feven hours
to draw the nymph out. It was full
grown, but — dead ! The feafon having
been bad, the wax which compofed the
cell was coarfe, and much thicker than
ufual, fo as to render it impofiible that
the young lady fhouid extricate herieif in
due time.
During the time of the above obfer-
vation, I beheld, in fome other boxes,
royal nymphs burfbng open the lower
end of their cells, and inftantly ilTuing
without affiflance.
After many elTays by various means, I
never could procure a complete view of
tZ BISCOVERIES.
an intercourfe between a queen afuiadrone;
but had feveral times beenwitnefs to thofe
amorous preludes recorded by Reaumur,
By confining a queen and a drone under
a glafs tumbler, after ibme little time the
queen began to carefs the drone, fre-
quently repeating fuch wanton geflures
as would Simulate a torpedo, or any
other male but a drone !
Reaumur s relation of this myfterious
afHiir fbates the refult of the royal em-
brace to be the death of the drone. The
drones knowing, perhaps, this to be the
coniequence ^Nhtn fnigiy employed, may
be the caufe of their extreme reludance.
This, together with the violence ufed
during their captivity, and the coldn^s
of their fituation compared to the w'armth
of the hive, lecms to account for the
non-performance of that which natural-
ifhs arc fo defirous of difcovering.
I have ieveral tim.cs placed two queens,
taken from feparate hives, under a turn •
bler-giafs, and immediately a royal duel
^niiicd, terminating in the death of
both,
STINGING. 13
CHAP. III.
« OF THE bee's STING,-
X HE flinging of bees is. often not on-
ly painful, but has fometimes proved
fatal to man and bead. Having fre-
quently fuifered under the /mart, it has
taught me an experimental treatment of
the wound.
Bees at a difhance from their hives,
and while- purfuing their labours, are
harmlefs and peaceable ; but if difturb-
ed near their habitation, by hammerings
buftling, or any other great noife, or by
(landing before their hives when very
buiv, thele intrufions will urge them to
refentment.
On thefe occafions the fcice is their
chief aim, particularly the eyes. In
fuch cafes, cover the face v/ith the hands
fpread, and make a fpeedy retreat ; they
will not at that time filing the hands.
During their adlive feafon, gardeners
fliould do their req^uifite bulinefs near
14 STINGING.
them early in the morning, or in the eve-
ning when the bees are retired to reft.
High winds very much difconcert and
hinder their labours, and make them ve-
ry irritable, and prone to afTauIt any per-
fon that comes near their dwelling ; and
more fo, if it is at the time of their be-
ing anxious to fwarm, and if they are by
Tome means delayed therefrom.
To fome perfons they have a natural
averfion, however unoiiending, or how-
ever they may change their drefs, or
though at twenty or thirty yards diftance.
A fingle bee will fometimes fly into a
room, and fettle upon the hands, face,
or neck ; but they have no hoftile in-
tent, and will prefently fly off again
without wounding ; provided no part of
the apparel prefTes upon them. They
may gently be ftmck off, and they will
fly out of the window.
The venom of their flings is much
ftronger in fummer than in winter.
When a bee gets entangled in the hair,
the alarm is great, but danger none, if
the patient is entirely pafHve, till another
STINGING. 15
perfon fearches for it, and, when found,
cruihes it between his linger and thumb.
When bees have been a Utile dijlurbedy
numbers will fly about a perfon near
them, and with angry found (well known
toapiators) warn them to depart, or they
will fting. Retreat in hafte, covering
the face with the hands, till the head can
be protedied among the bufhes, or in
fome dark apartment ; and there re- ♦
main, till the violence of their fury is
abated. It is very wrong, when a perfon
is befet wdth bees, to flrike, or buffet
them ; for this is of no ufe, but will
make them ten times more furious, and
provoke multitudes to aflifh in the fray.
Patience, and a fpeedy retreat, and fprink-
ling water over them that remain, are
the expedients to get rid of them, which
in about half an hour v/ill be effeded :
but if any remain on the clothes, tliey
may be brufhed off; except thofe on
the face and hands, for that will make
them immediately fting. Let them alone,
they will quit of themfelves, when the
reft are departed. If many continue to
l6 STINGING.
fly about, let water be thrown among
them, or blow them forth with a bellows,
which they will fufFer without refent-
ment. The fmoke of damp draw, or rags,
will drive them away foon.
But the highefh degree of their rage is
provoked by the moving y /Iiaking, or tiifn-
bling down of their hives ; for then the
whole army will rife in a mafs, and fall
upon the aggrefTor, be it man or beafl,
hog or dog, to the imminent danger of
the creature's life. Immerfion in water
is the quickeft method to get rid of them,
if any ponds, &c. are near. But if that
cannot be conveniently done ; taking re-
fuge in a dark room, or out-houfe, and
ufing the other means above direfted,
will be mod likely to fucceed, till medi-
cal help can be procured.
REMEDIES.
Numberless have been the remedies
propofed, and tried, without being ge-
nerally benehciai. Thofe which have
proved falutary to fome, were the reverfe
to others ; conftilutions and the fluids,
being infinitely various.
STINGING. 17
Some are affected only in a fmall de-
gree by a fmgle fling j while others
(though few) hardly -at all, though by
many. Again, many that are delicate
and tender luffei* leverely, though ilung
but ili2;htlv : thofe alio who are of an
irritable condrtution like that of the bees,
fulfer to a hioh desree.
o o
In a curative point of view, it is of
the firft importance that a remedy be at
hand, lb that it may be applied immedi^
ately , before the fubtilty of the venom
gets into the circulation. After that hap-
pens, the medicine can have but a partial
or weak effed. I have generally expe-
rienced my own faliva (fpittle) to be
more beneficial^han more pompous che-
micals or galenicals (I fuppofe, chiefly,
from its being always ready) ; rubbing it
on the wound, tranfverfely from the di-
redion of the veins, and not up and
down ; for that forces the venom more
into the circulation.
A fecond remedy from which great be-
nefit has been found, is, Extract of fa-
l8 STIKGING.
turn, half an ounce ; volatile alkaline
fpirit, half an ounce -, two drachms lin-
feed oil ; Ihake the extrad and the fpirit
well together, and then the oil ; it muft
be rubbed on the wound well, and con-
ftantly, as long as any pain is felt. It is
dangerous if taken internally.
The lliird is dulcified fpirit of fal am-
moniac ', adding one third of water, both
being well fhaken together. This has
been found more generally efficacious
than the preceding. It will not always
prevent fome degree of fweiling, but
foon affuages pain. It is of a harmlefs
quality, and I have often ufed it about
the eyes, without prejudice. To fome,
dulcified fpirit of nitre has proved of
prefent relief. Any of the articles may
be had of the chemifts, or apothecaries,
at a cheap rate.
On great emergencies, if, unfortunate-
ly, none of thefe medicines are at hand,
common linfeed oil (hould be rubbed on
the part ftung : or in want of that, neat's
foot oil, frefli butter, or hog's lard fhould
STINGING. 19
be applied without delay, or the cure will
be retarded^ with an increafe of danger,
if the flings have been numerous.
In the mean time, tea made of balm,
elder flowers, or lime tree flowers, or wa-
ter gruel with a little falt-petre diflfolved
therein, fliould be prepared 3 of which
the patient fbould drink plentifully, and
often ; refraining from all folid food, par-
ticularly that which is falted, or dried ;
as alfo from acrid, acid, or fpicy articles.
If a fever Ihould intervene, James's pow-
ders give admirable relief. But if there
is imminent danger, medical afliftance
fliould be called in. Where the fymp-
toms are favourable, the tumours will
gradually fubfide in a few days, without
further applications.
The like cooling treatment is alfo to be
ufed for horjes^ cattle^ &c. by enlarging
the quantities, by maflies, and by keep-
ing them moderately warm in the ftable.
From the foregoing obfervations, per-
fons may jufl:ly conclude, that thole to
whom the fl:ings of bees are very afflidl-
ive, fliould not, in common prudence.
20 BEE DRESS.
attempt the office of an apiator, nor ap-
proach bees, deftitute of a proper drefs.
Nor is it advifable to employ fervarits
about bees, that have a diflike to the bu-
finefs ; for, otherwife, it is a great chance
but they neglect, or injudicioufly and
perhaps fpitefully treat them.
CHAP. IV.
THE BEE DRESS
I
S to be made of thin houlting cloth^
which may be bought at about fixpence
a-yard. It^t to be fewed to the brim of
an old hat, when reduced to two inches
and a half in width ; the cloth is to hang
down a foot in breadth all round the
head. A broad tape is to be prepared,
long enough to tie the cloth, doje round
the neck, under the chin. But as the
nofe, chin, and neck, would be hable to
\^f^ filing through the meflies, therefore,
to fecure thofe parts, Ibmc oiled linen
BEE DRESS. 21
muft be ftitched oppofite the face and
neck, within fide, leaving two inches
and a half free^ oppofite the eyes.
Or, a kind of hood of the like cloth
may be made of fuch a breadth, that
from the bottom of the cro%vn of any
hat in ufe, it may hang a foot below the
rim. It is to be gathered up to a ferret
binding, to let the crown through, and
encircle it clofe round. The portion
which hangs down, is to tie round the
neck, as before mentioned. Something
for the mouth to grafp will be proper in
both cafes, to keep the mefli at a requi-
fite diftance. This laft hood is calcula-
ted to carry in the pocket.
The oiled linen is prepared by foaking
linen in linfeed oil, and then fqueezing
the fuperfiuous oil out, and dr}dng it in
the air : this procefs will take two or three
weeks. The procefs is then to be a fe-
cond time repeated. Gloves made of it,
though thin, will be impenetrable to the
fling of the bees : indeed they will not
attempt it. Garments made of it will
cfFedually refift wet. The oil may be
22 BEE DRESS.
previoufly coloured by the ufual pig-
ments, for green, blue, yellow, &c.
Be fides the hood, a thick pair of tan-
ned leather gloves will be necelfary, or
other leather oiled only once : a portion
of old ftockings is to be fewed to the ex-
tremities to draw tight over the cuffs of
the coat. The legs muft be defended by
a thick pair of yarn flockings, drawn
over thofe in common wear. The great-
eft care muft be ufed in putting on the
hood, that no hollows or chafms be left
under the chin, or about the neck ; and
for better fecurity, it will be proper to
tie a handkerchief over the gathering
round the neck, befide that of the tape.
An apron before will be ufeful to prevent
thefe prying infedts from tickling the belly.
Thus apparelled^ defiance may be gi-
ven to millions of bees, or wafps, and
iill the operations may be executed without
dread or danger. Or if, by accident,
hives are thrown down by cattle, hogs,
&c. and the bees enraged ; having this
drefs on, the creatures may be aflifted
and the hives replaced.
APIARt. ^3
Women fliould not meddle with bees,
without this bee-drefs ; nor then, with-
out the addition of a man's coat, and I
had almoft faid breeches alfo.
CHAP. V.
ON THE APIARY.
- A HE propereft fituation for an api-
ary is one expoled to the wind as Httle as
pofTible ; it being detrimental, and pro-
ving often fatal to numbers of bees, by
blowing them down, or into the water,
or overturning the hives. Trees, high
hedges, or fences, on the back and wefl-
ern fide of the hives, will be necefTary,
to fcreen them from the violence of its
force. But they fliould have a free ope-
ning in their front to the foiithy or rather
fouth-eaft afped. A valley is preferable
to high grounds to favour their increale.
The hives fliould be weliy^'^wr^^ again ft
hogs, or other creatures, which might
^4 APIARY.
difplace the flocks, or otherwife diflurb
the bees, and injure themfelves. Let
the hives be fet as near the dweiHng-houfe
as conveniently can be, or to rooms the
moil occupied, for the readier difcovery
of rifing fwarms, or to be apprized of ac-
cidents. Befides, the bees habituated to
the fight of the family, will become lefs
ferocious, and more tra(5lable ; while the
buildings will afford a protection from the
wind and cold. The hives mufl be clear
of the dripping of trees, nor fhould long
grafs, weeds, or dunghills be fuffered
near them, as harbouring myriads of in-
fedls and vermin, that will prey upon the
bees and their produ<flion. Neither are
rivers, ponds, or large tubs of water eli-
gible to be near an apiary, as great num-
bers will be blown therein.
It is very wrong toplace hives on bench-
es, which is always the fource of mil-
takes, quarrels, and often flaughter, by
their interference with one another. A
flill worfe contrivance is that of little cotSy
or flieds, with (helves therein, one above
another s affording a greater harbour for
APIARY. 25
their enemies, very inconvenient for the
management, and indeed impraSticabk in
the flory method.
The arrangement I would recommend,
is, that of feparate fiands for each hive,
made by driving four llrong flakes into
the ground, at equal diflances, as thus,
: : correfponding to the dimenfions of the
hive floors^ to reft thereon : they are to
be fixteen inches above the earth, and
the tops to be upon a level with each
other.
The ftands fhould be three or four feet
dlflant from one another, and from any
wall or fence, in uniform roivs^ for the
apiator's conveniency of managing each
ftock y nor (hould the hives be fet higher
than lixteen inches, in the ftory method ;
for then their height would be attended
with many difficulties. Where perfons
have many flocks, it is better to divide
them into feveral gardens, as being too
numerous in one, frequently occafions
quarrels : eight or ten in one place are
enough.
26 APIARY.
Water Is neceflary near the apiary in a
long feafon of dry zv eat her. Put the wa-»
ter in a broad diflT, covered with fmall
flones, or duck-weed, to aflift the bees
in drinking, witliout wetting their wings,
pr. being drowned.
In very zviiidy fituations, efpecially
near the fea, or great rivers, n\imerous
bees are deilroyed, by being blown there-
in, and others very much injured and
hindered, by being drove witli violence
to the ground, or other hard fubftances,
with the lofs of their farina, {o laborioufly
obtained.
Some have thought that an apiary near
theyt'^ cGdJiwovXd be abundantly product-
ive, by rcafon of the bees being fond of
leii-water. This point I have made ob-
fervatibn on, my refidence being only
four miles from the ihore, but could not
perceive that the bees Ihewed any fuch
partiality, unlefs necelTitatcd by a long
Icalbn of very hot and dry weather. Nor
did they much affect the wild thyme that
grew on the iand-hiils adjoining^ nor are
they iond of iait-
PURCHASING. 27
CHAP. VI.
ON PURCHASING OF BEES.
HE beft time for edablilhing an api-
ary, is jufl before the taking upfeafon :
which is generally about the latter end of
Augufl, for then bee-keepers referve as
many of the befl flocks as they judge
expedient for their next fummer's fupply ;
and, therefore, after that period are not
difpofed to part with any, unlefs at an
advanced price : whereas, by purchalino-
fome time before, a choice may be made
of the hefi^ and at the accultomed rate.
They Ihould be feleded h^ ^Jkilful^Qx-
fon, in a cool evening, or rather morning
ver\^ early. By tapping about the hive,
a pretty near gucfs may be formed, whe-
ther or not it is full of bees, as alfo if
fall of combs. But for greater certain-
ty, turn thofe that feem heavy upon the
edge of the hive, and oblcrve if the in-
■ ierjlices beween the combs are crowded
C2
28 PURCHASING.
with bees, and the combs worked down
to the floor. If white, or of a hght yel-
low, it denotes their being of the pre-
fent year's produce, and fit for the pur-
pofe ; but if they are of a very deep yel-
low, or brown, they are of the lafh fea^
fon, and not fo proper ; while thofe that
are ding}% or hlackifJi^ are old^ and wholly
unfit to fuHiifli a profperous apiary. To
avoid deception, obferve that though a
hive may have the edges of the combs of
a light yellow, they may be old flocks
neverthelefs, whofe combs the precedijig
year not having been completed, have jn
the ^prefent had new borders added to
them of virgin wax, fo as to look like
young flocks. Look carefully betzveen
the combs, as far as the bees will admit j
and if the interior parts appear favoura-
ble, form a judgment accordingly. The
hive fliould be poifed in the hand j and if
it be about haif-bufliel fize, and weigh
twenty-five pounds or upwards, it is an-
other tefh of its being a good flock. But
the weight alone, of old flocks, cannot
be relied on, as great part of the combs
PURCHASING. 2p
may be crammed with old farina, and
other impurities, as mentioned hereafter.
One good flock bought at the proper
time, is worth two fiv arms bought in the
fpring ; for fuch a flock will fwarm once
or tzvice^ or yield tzvo or three hives full
of honey ; whereas, from a fwarm, little
or no profit., can be expeded the/;^)^ year.
But fhould the proper feafon have been.
negle^fled, a prime orfirjifimrm lliould be
fought, at leaft large enough, in com-
mon fituations, to fill a peck, and if a
good one, haifabuHiel. Small ilvarms
wiH turn to little account, and balk the
expedation.
The fwarm is to be brought home in
tlie evening of the day it rifes. If a large
one cannot be had among the neighbours,
Hvo or three may be united, to form a
powerful ftock.
If a Iwarm is delayed being brought
home for two or three days, portions of
combs will have been conflruded, which
may probably be difplaced in the removal,
with the bees thereon, and may be da-
maged, or crufhed, and fo be the ruin
30 PURCHASIl^^?.
of the fwarm : to avoid which, let it be
vemoved at day-break.
To transfer the fwarm from the com-
mon hive, into one of your own, or into
a box, invert that which has the fwarm
in a pail, bucket, or the hke ; lay two
thin flaf fticks acrofs, and then {tt the
empty hive over it ; Hop the jun6l\ire
tvith a cloth, and before morning the
bees will have afc^indcd into the upper
one. But if not, let them (land a day
longer ; when, if they are ftiii reluft-
ant, ftop the jundure quite, and beat
round the lower hive with two fmall
fticks, till they afcend, which may be
known by the great buz in the upper
hive.
O/-, as foon as two fwarms are brought
home, Ipread a cloth on the ground, and
lay a flick acrofs j then ftrike the edge
of the hive with violence on the ground j
the bees will fall out in a lump : then
take the other fwarm, and feive them in
the fame manner, clofe by the firfl ; fet
an empty hive over them, refling one
^dge on the flick, and cover them with
1>URCHAS1K(5. 3T
a cloth. If they are found to quarrel
when afcended, they muft be fumed as
direcfted hereafter.
Removing of Stocks Hiould be in
the evening, or very early in the morning.
The hive fliould be raifed by three or four
wedges, fome hours before, provided the
floor is Hol moveable ; otherwife many
bees will remain on the floor at tl^e time^
and be very troublefome,
A cloth muft be laid on tlie ground
behind the hive to be removed j nimbly
lift the hive thereon, and, gathering the
' four corners tight, tic them faft on the
top : immediately draw a ftring clofc
round the body of the hive, to prevent
any bees crawling between.
If they are to be carried a confiderable
dillance, they may be refted on the
ground, as occafion may require. Hand
bairows, or yokes, with a hive fufpended
at each end, or a long pole on men's
fhoulders, and a hive or two between,
may be advantageoufly ufed for their
conveyance.
32 PI^RCHASING*
But when it is for feveral miles, a coach,
or cart with plenty of ftraw at the bot-
tom, to break the (hocks of the carriage,
and then proceeding with the floweft
pace, and taking the cool of the morning,
will prove a fafe and convenient removal.
If any of the combs fl:iould, however, be
broken, and fallen on the cloth, when
the hive is taken off, kt them remain
thereon, and fct the hive in the place or
Hand defigned for it -, and gently fpread-
ing the cloth with the bees on it on the
top, by the morning they will have quit-
ted, and entered by the door of the hive*
A flock fhould not be fet c/ofe to the
bee-houfe front, the firft night of its be-
ing brought home, that the llraggling
bees may find their way into the hive by
the door, and then no bees will be crufh-
ed. Straw-hives, being of a circular form,
leave a confiderable vacancy between the
hive doors and front, which next night
mufl be flopped, by thaifling part of a
hay band, or clay, or fliff cow-dung, to
fill the chafms, but leaving the door- way
free.
STRAW HIVES. ^2
Ptirchafed fivarms in fpring, on bring-
ing home, are to be immediately fet on
empty hives y and thus, by being doub-
led at/r/?, will fave that trouble after-
wards.
C HAP. VII.
ON THE FORMATION OF STRAW HIVES.
i^TRAW is the beft material for hives,
as beft protedting the bees in the extremes
of cold and heat, and alio generally eafi-
eft to be procured. Where it is not fo,
ruflies, wicker-work plaflered over, or
fedses, mud be fubfticuted.
Of flraw, unthrajhed rye is preferable,
as thrafhing Olivers the fhraw, and makes
it rough and fliaggy, which the bees
with much labour are obliged to gnaw
off. My hive -maker laid the fbaw in a
chaff box, and fo readily cut off the ears.
The PLAN I propofe is, three hives
to each flock. The iize I have found
moft convenient is that of half a bufhei ;
C3
34 STRAW HIVES,
larger are very inconvenient to manage ;
while thefe, by Jlorifying, give ample
room for all that the bees can want, at
the fame time admitting triplets to be
taken off the fooner.
They are to be nine inches high, and
tzve/ve wide, in the clear, on the infide,
i. e. exclufiveof the top, (pi. 2, fig. 3.)
The l^ody is to have no ftraw top Jixed,
or worked to it, as in common, but is
to be a feparate piece. The body of the
hive, therefore, refembles a broad hoop;
and, like that, mull be perpendicular,
or ftraight down ; and not one part/9:e;^/A
in^, or being wider than ^ another.
The flraw cover is to be made quite
fat, like a round mat, but wide enough
to extend an inch beyond the edge of the
liive. There needs only one cover to
three hives. The greateft proof of the
maker's fkill will confift in his exadly fol-
lowing the prefcribed dlmenfions, and in
the evennefs of his work ; particularly in
both edges, that they, may admit one
hive being let on another, without any
chafms, and that promifcuoufiy, or hab
nab.
STRA\V HIVES. 3^
In one of the edges a diftance of full
three inches is to be left free of binding,
for a door-zvay. But a more proper one
may be formed by a fmall piece of wood,
four or five inches long, in which a'door-
way is to be cut, of three inches long,
and thre£'eighths of an inch in height,
and worked into the round flraw.
Or, what will be ftill better, is to take
a rod of willow, or hazel, while green,
and bend it Xo a circle of a pi'oper fize for
tlie hive. When it is wanted, reduce it
fo as to have two fiat and even.fides ; cut
a proper door way out, and burn holes at
due diftances to receive the brier binding,
by which the firft round of flraw is to be
faflened to it. If the binding is carried
wholly round the hoop, the binding will
^oon be rotted by the wet, and prove of
little more fervice than if there had been
none ; but otherwife it will preferve the
hive much longer, and be more conve-
nient in many refpecfls.
As foon as hives are made, they ihould
be fet feparate on level boards, or the hke,
and another on the top, and heavy ftones
36 STRAW HIVES.
laid on them ; but firfl a perfon fliould
jump upon the boards to reduce the ed-
ges to a proper evennefs. This pracftice
inufl not be neglected.
Befides the flat ftraw cover, all the
hives mud have wooden tops, (pi. i,
fig. 6.) -to make which, procure a board
of the width of the hive, and half an
iiTcli thick, free from knobs. Seven fpa-
ccs, or openings are to be cut, b, b, b, b,
b, b, b ; each exa6lly half an inch wide ;
the length of the three innermofl, eleven
inches ; the two next, nine ; and the two
outermoft, Jix inches. The carpenter
inuft be attentive not to deviate from
thefe directions in the fmaileft degree, as
a trifling neglect will render the whole
In cafe boards of a proper width are
not to be had, one ten inches wide may
be fjbflituted, braiding circular pieces
on the fides after the top is cut out, to
fill up the deficiency. Round the edges
a hoop of tin, or flight ozier, mufi be
tacked to ftrengthen it, and prevent its
iplitting. A long braid or peg fhouid
STRAW HIVES. ^7
pafs through the fore and hind parts, and
enter the edge of the hive, to keep the
top from being difplaced ; taking care
that the heads of the braids are driven
rather Mozu the fuiface of the wood.
A CHEAPER TOP may be made of
narrow flips of wood, which I name bars,
Jix in number (pL i, fig. 3. a, a, a, a,
a, a) ; defigned to be laid acrofs the top
of the hive, at half an inch diftance
from each other ; the two outermoft
bars to be one inch and a quarter wide,
and the others one inch and a half. Two
flips of woolI, b, b> an inch wide, are to
be braided acrofs the bars within fide (or
rather let in, to be flufh on both fides)
near the ends, to faften them together,
and to keep them at their due diftance.
The crofs pieces will thus be below the
edge of the hive, while the ends reft on
it. But fmce the breadth of this frame
of bars will not be quite that of the hive,
the deficiency muft be fupplied by two
fmall circular pieces braided on the edge
of the hive, leaving two half-inch open-
ings between, them and the bai's. As
38 STRAW HIVES.
the ends of the bars, when laid on the
hive, will leave vacancies between, thefe
muft be flopped by cow-dung of a due
temper, which, when dry, will be fuffi-
ciently tenacious. Take care that the
whole top be even and fmooth. It fhould
be laid on always in the diredion q{ front
and back.
The draw covers are to be fattened on
by loops of cord, or rather leathern
thongs, palled within, at about two in-
ches below the top of the hive. They
are to be four in number, placed at
equal diftances, and a cord to each pair,
to draw them tight over the top.
The HIVE FLOORS fhould be one inch
thick, of yellow deal planed on one fide
only, truly level, and of fixteen inches
diameter. Where boards of that width
are not eafily to be procured, an addition-
al piece muft be rabbeted and dozveled to
it. Two crofs pieces are to be nailed un-
derneath, to ftrengthen and prevent its
warping ; or rather they fhould be nailed
upon the ends. Three of the corners
may be cut off, leaving the fourth for a
STRAW HIVES. 39
place to alight on. One floor only is re-
quifite to every three hives ; but two or
\\\x\ztfpare ones will be convenient on ma-
ny occalions.
Cottagers may contrive tops ixom
thofe cuttings of trees which are ftraight,
of an equal thicknefs, and of a length as
above defcribed. Thele, while green,
may be eafily cut flat, with a knife, of
a proper meafure, by firil laying them
over the top of the hive, at the diflance
of half an inch from each other ; they
may then be marked, and cut to their
juft length. Two pieces are to be braid-
ed under their ends, fo as not to prevent
the crofs pieces from fmking into the in-
fide ; and to hold the bars fteady, with-
out fliding backward or forward. The
vacancies between the bars on the edge
of the hive are to be filled up with cow-
dung, which, when dry, will be fuffici-
ently tenacious. Care (hould be taken
to make every part of the top fmooth
and leveT ; which if not fo, reduce it by
laying heavy weights thereon.
40 STRAW HIVES.
Hive-makers in fome places have affedl-
ed confiderable difficulty in making hives
of thtform I have prefcribed, but with-
out juft grounds : the perfon employed
by me, after a httle pradice, could
make them as expeditioufly and eafy as
thofe of the common fort.
His method was to make a common
hive, the circumference of whofe bottom
was exa6tly to the dimenlions I defired ;
on the edge of this he worked a round
and a half of flraw, bound on with a
€ordy and then continued to proceed with
brier binding, having by him a ftraight
fbck, of the due width, as a gauge, and
to keep the work truly perpendicular, or
upright. If the hoop I before mention-
ed is provided for the bottom edges of
hives^~th€ work might be begun and car-
ried on from that.
When he had got about half the in-
tended width, he finilhed the round even.
Then loofmg the cord from the part he
began at, that part was taken off and in-
verted, and the round left loofe by the
cord was re-bound by brier : and thus he
STRAW HIVES. 4t
proceeded till he completed it. It is to
be noticed, that the part firft begun at
was in the middle when finifhed,
Apiators who underftand what I have
written on this head, fhould offer a good
price to thofe who are relu^lant in making
thefe hives, and fhould ftand by while
the workman endeavours to make one j
nnd by giving occafional directions it may
be eafily effed^d, and they may be in-
troduced over the kingdom.
It will be a good method to plafter one
fide of the ftraw top with cow-dung, even
and level, which will prove more eligibk
in introducing the Aiders.
Hackels or CoppETS are made of
wheaten ftraw. The method is this :
Take a fheaf, bind it with a cord ten or
twelve inches below the ears : with the
left hand gripe a fmall parcel or locket
(about 60 ftraws) of the part above the
cord, and with the other hand a like
locket ; and giving it a twift round the
firft locket, bring it down clofe to the
cord, pulHng the other locket ftraight
down. Take a third locket and twift
42 STRAW HIVES.
over the preceding j and thus continne
to twift and turn down until the whole
is finifhed, except three locks^ one of
which is to be brought between the other
two, which are to be tied in a knot over
it. Then reducing the whole as fiat as
can be, run a fhort forked ftick through
the knot, to prevent its ftarting. The
hackel may be made in about twenty mi-
nutes.
This form is the beft fuited to the pur-
pofe of any that I have k^n > they fit
clofe to the top of the hives, keeping
-them warmer and drier, which is of great
advantage in winter and fpring. Neither
are they fo liable to be blown off. The
part before the doors fhould be clipped
fo as to admit the fun's rays. For fear
of ftorms, a hoop may be thrown over
them, and faftened by two ftrong flicks
with crooks at their ends, and thruft in-
to the ground on each fide. This will be
a good fecurity at all times.
Placing the hives at the diflance be-
fore ftated, will preferve the bees from
quarrelling, or emigrating from one hive
to another.
BEE BOXES- 43
Opulent perfons^ to whom the appear-
ance of ftraw hives may feem inelegant,
mio;ht have them concealed from view by
fuch fhrubs as are of fervice to beesy plant-
ed at fuch a diftance as not to intercept
the funlhine to the front of the hives.
Or, handfome covers, fomething in
the Ihape of hackels, terminating in a
point at top, and painted, would have a
pkafing appearance.
Or, a scRERN inperfpeftive, of rocks
or ruins, &c. with proper openings for
the bees to ifTue from behind, on floors
properly difpofed, on which they fhould
be placed as in a bee-houfe.
N. B. ^y Jirazv covers are not meant
TOPS, which are of wood, with bars*
Nor are hackels meant by the term tops.
CHAP. VIII.
ON BEE BOXES.
JDEE boxes are bed made of feafoned
yellow deal, free fr-Om knots, and one
inch thick. The boxes are to be ten
44 *EE BOXES.
inches high, and nvelve fquare ; clear in
the in fide (pi. i, fig. 2.) One of the
fides is to have a pane of glajs^ d^ of the
whole width, and fix inches in height*
with a Ihutter half an inch thick, to be
let into a bevel at top, and reft on a ledge
at bottom, and to faften with a button,
a\ this is to be efteemed the back.
There mufl be a door -way in the bottom
edge of the front, four inches long, and
five-eighths in height, exclufive of the
threjlwldy which is to be one-eighth of an
inch thick, to be let into the edge of the
box, and on a level therewith.
A flip of wood is to be fitted for a
door, to turn outward to the left, on a
pivot orpin, and to fhut in a bevel, with a
fmall notch, that it may be opened by the
point of a fork. It muft fhut fo far in as
to be flufh with the fide of the box.
The TOP'*(pl. I, fig. 2.) is to be com-
pofed of j/?;if flips of wood, which I name
BARS, a, a, a, a, a, a, three quarters of
an inch thick ^ the two outermoft, one
inch and a quaiter broad ; the other /c?wr,
one and a half. The ends of the Jecond
BEE BOXES. 45
^lAffth bars are to be let into the front
and back edges of the box, and flufh with
the outfide ; the remaining four bars are
to be of a due length, to pafs eafily with-
infide from front to back. Two fillets,
each an inch broad, are to be braided to
the bars, or rather let in tranfverfely, of
the diameter of the box, and near their
ends, not only to keep the bars at half
an inch exa<5l diilance from each other,
and from the fides of the box, but to
conned: the whole like a frame together,
and to take in or outy with the combs
fixed to them, at pleafure. The bars
(lil, 3d, 4th, and 6th) ferve alfo to
prevent the frame from Hipping from its
fituation. The top, thus made, will
have ftx bars, and Jeven apertures, or
openings, like the ftraw hives.
There is to be but one close cover,
or lid of wood, three quarters of an inch
thick, to three boxes ; which is to take
off and on by means of four fcrews, one
at each corner.
Loose floors are to be provided
with the boxes, to be planed on one lide.
46 BEE BOXES.
and filleted at the ends to prevent waip*
ing, and c£ an inch more in their dimen-
fions than the tops of the boxes. If a
board broad'enou2;h cannot be had, a
lefTer mufi; be added, rabbeted and dowel-
f^ thereto. One floor only is necelTary
for a fuit (three) of boxes, but two or
three fpare ones will often be wanted.
OBSERVATIONS.
A minute exadlnefs is abfolutely ne-
cefTary in working the boxes ; for though
the unexperienced may imagine the de-
viation of a quarter or eighth of an inch
from what has been dire(51:ed will be of
no confequence, neverthelefs fuch miflake
or negligence in any part would render
the apparatus unfit for the ufe it was in-
tended for.
Firfh obferv-e, that the edges of the
boxes, both top and bottom, are to be
truly level, that when indifcriminately fet
one over or under another, no chafms or
vacancies are left between them.
Secondly, that the frame of bars be
made to take out with eafe.
BEH BOXES. 47
Thirdly, that the Tcrews for the covers
(hould be flight but long, to pafs in at
the fides, exadly one inch and a half,
from front and back, fo that any cover
may fcrew on any box, without making
frefh holes. They fhould always be greaf-
ed before they are put in, or they will be-
come rufty, and not to be drawn out
wdtjiout great difturbance to the bees,
and much inconveniency.
Fourthly, great <:are muft be taken
that no fnags or fplints of wood, heads,
or points of nails, rife in the leaft degree
above the furface, as a brafs plate is de-
figned to flide over the tops.
A neceflary appendage, as well to the
hives as boxes, are two brass plates,
of ont Jixteenth of an inch thick as near
as polTible, fifteen inches wide, and fif-
teen and a half long, which half inch is
to be turned upright to pull it out by.
They muft be fet on a true level. If
they are thicker^ the bees will efcape on
their introduction : and if thinner, they
will not be ftrong enough to retain their
48 BEE BOXES.
necefTary elaflicity and level, but will
bulge in the middle, and let the bees out.
The braziers or ironmongers will fup-
ply them, I gave in London fixteen
pence per pound, and they came to eight
(hillings.
But as in many counties large brafs
pans or kettles are ufed, and, when unfit
for boiling ufe, are fold as old brafs ; the
bottoms of fuch of thefe as are of the
proper dimenfions, and not having holes
of a fize for a bee to pafs, wall do better
than new, as being tougher; and any
fmith will reduce them to a level, and
turn up one edge. They may be bought
at the price of old brafs, i. e. about iix-
pence per pound, h pair come only to
four fliillings.
I had an iron plate made which came
to near as much as the brafs, but did not
keep its level fo well, and was more un-
handy. Steel, being elaflic, would re^
tain the level much better, but I fuppofc
would be dearer, and liable to rufl ;
which brafs is not, and will at all times
fetch a large Ihare of its firft coft*
BEE BOXES. 49
Eight or nine (liillings by fome may be
thought too expenfive ; but the great
utility and conveniency of the plates, I
am warranted to fay, will much over-
balance that increafe of price. Every
apiator muft be feelingly convinced of the
difficulty and embarrafTment of fepara^
ting hives of bees, and in the other ope-
rations, by any of the methods made
public. Indeed, by them the bees of
under hives are prevented from aflaulting
the operator; j^et thofe of the upper
ones are left entirely free to execute
their whole revenge.
By theufe of the two plates, or divi-
ders, and by doors to fl:iut, this great
danger and inconvenience is entirely
avoided, as the bees of both hives are
EQUALLY inclofed, and prevented from
infulting the apiator.
Befides, if only one is bought, it is
adequate in advantage with any other
contrivance, and will fuit hives as well as
boxes.
Moreover, the plates are not perifha-
ble articles, but with care may lad for
D
^O BEE BOXES.
generations ; and it myft be remembered
that the charge lies on the whole apiary,
and that only for once.
Cottagers, whom I wifh to benefit,
or others, may club in the purchafe, by
which the cod will be but flightly felt.
Or perhaps country ihopkeepers would
find it their interefl to be furniflied with
fuits of plates to let out.
I have propofed a large window to a
boX;, as I found a fmall one of little ufe,
and -aifording but little entertainment.
Thofe who would choofe a more enlarged
view of the bees in boxes, may have
large windows in the three fides.
" Doors to the hives, and boxes will be
found of great advantage on many occa-
lions, particularly in pafiing the dividers
under hives, to prevent the egrefs of the
bees if the door-ways are flopped, and on
various other occafions.
Boxes of bees placed in the w^indow of
a room much incommode the company
w^ienevcr tlie window is opened. The
Jtde of the room fuits better : a proper
open'ng to be made in the v/ali, and a
B£E BOXES, 51
fmall tin trough adapted to pals through
to the door-way of the box. On the in*
fide a flielf is to be fixed, that the box
may fland fo clofe as to leave no admifTion
for the bees into the room, and be fo fe-
cured as not to be difplaced by any care-
leflhefs or inadvertency.
Apiators who have boxes, but whofe
openings are on a different plan to that
now offered, may, at a httle expence,
have them altered thereto, provided the
dimenfions of the boxes do not exceed
that of the dividers. The fuperfiuous
vacancy may, however, be filled up with
folid wood, or new tops may be made
with the bars and apertures, as I have
defcribed, though the box itfelf be much
larger. For fliould the dividers be en-
larged, the hands will not extend fuf!i-
ciently underneath to keep them clofe, or
ileadily to fupport the great weight :
therefore the apertures and bars muii: not
be longer than thofe of -my plan, com-
mencing from the back. Octagon boxes
may have a fedion of the back taken off,
and a largv^ window funply its p^ace,
D 2
5^ BEE HOUSE.
The timber of the boxes is direfled to
be one inch thick, for one quarter of an
inch thinner will render them not warm
enough.
The floors of the hives and boxes be-
ing moveable^ will be of very great utility
and advantage in all the operations, and
muft be fo evident to every refledling api-
ator, as to need no flirther recommen-
dation.
CHAP. IX.
OF A BEE HOUSE FOR THREE STOCKS.
XT is to be formed as in pi. i, fig. i,
and fix feet long, exclufive of the pofts.
Four polls of three inches fquare.
Two long rails to nail the floor upon,
and two flight ones to nail the roof to.
A floor, feventeen inches in breadth,
to be laid acrofs the rails.
A roof, four boards.
Tvv' o fold ine doors.
BEE HOUSE. 53
The poils are to be fixed to the due
length, and feventeen inches in breadth
to their outfide. They are to be lecured
in the ground at a proper depth, and
five feet above the earth, and fet truly
perpendicular. The tops to be bevelled
one inch and a half.
The two Jirong rails of an inch thick-
nefs are to be let into the pofts on the-
outfide, and ftrongly nailed, one in
front, the other behind : to thefe the
floor is to be faflened, crofs-wife, per-
fectly leveL
T\it Jlight rails are to be let into the
tops of the pofts clofe to the ends of the
bevel, to nail the roof upon.
On the bevel of the pofts are to be
fixed two hoards^ each fix inches wide,
to extend beyond them two inches be-
hind and before.
^zvo more boards^ each at leaft twelve
inches wide, and one thick, of yellow
deal, and free from knots, are to be
nailed Hoping againft each other, to
complete the roof. Their edges on
both fides are to be bevelled off fo as to
D3
C4 BEE Hotrst.
meet at top, and make a neat joint ;
and to prevent warping, braces acrofs dn
the infiJe will be neceflary.
The FRONT of the houfe, Ay is to be
inclofed by three quarters of an inch
boards, placed perpendicularly in lengths,
from the top to the rail of the fioot,
and rabbeted to each other. The boxes
are to ftand fix inches from the ends,
and eidit from each other.
openings are to be cuf againft each
door-way of the boxes, Jtx inches in
length, and tzvo in depth, a, a, t?,
eftimating from the loofe floors of the
boxes.
Similar openings are to be cut eleven
inches higher up, in a line with the firft,
and even with the tops of the boxes
when their covers or lids are off.
To the edges of the openings circulai'
pieces of wood are to be braided, a little
dechning, for the bees to alight upon,
A batten, bevelled at both edges,
fliould be nailed on the outlide, juft
under the higheft alighting boards, to
BEE HOUSE. ^5
ftrengthcn the front boards, and prevent
their warping or cafting.
The BACK is to have two doors,
fhutting againft each other in a rabbet,
and to failcii with a hafp.
Tlie ends are to be clofed as the pro-
prietor choofes.
Good painting will be of advantage to
preierve the whole. The door-ways
Ihould be of different colo\irs, for the
bees the bett-.i to diftin^uifli theif re-
fpedive habitations,
OBSERVATIONS.
The jundion of the boards at the top,
however clofe at firft, will gape after-
wards by the changes from heat to wet ;
to remedy which ftop it with putty, or
rather, as foon as it is nailed on, a ilip
of thin lead, of two inches broad,
(hould be' tacked over the junclion,
which will etfeclually prevent wet from
getting through. Bohea tea-chcft lead,
that which is ^lvJioIc^ will anlwer the
purpofe. It is of the moil material
D4
^6 BEE HOUSE.
confequence to bees to exclude wet. I
have tried feveral other materials for roofs,
but none anfwered fo well , and mine is
a vcrj trying fituation.
If the front is not truly perpendicular,
and the floor truly level, the boxes will
not fit clofe to the front, and thereby
leave vacancies between by which the bees
may pafs into the houfci which would
be very detrimental.
The openings for the paflage of the
bees are larger than thofe of the boxes,
as being more convenient on many occa-
fions. No openings are made in the
houfe for triplets^ as being unnecelfary.
Three of the front boards of the
houfe, in which the openings are to be
cut, (hould be eleven or twelve inches
wide ; or they will be too much wea-
kened, by cutting fix inches in length
out, to ftand true.
The principal intention of a bee houle
and boxes, is for the more commodious
infpedion of the bees by the curious
and wealthy. Three flocks anfwer this
defign as well as a larger number, as they
furnilh only a repetition of the fame
JJEE HOUSE. £J
fcenes. However, a bee houfe is, in
Ibme refpedt, of rea/ ufe to thofe who
keep a number of ftraw-hived flocks, as
STANDARDS, from whicli, by infpedlion,
a judgment may be formed of the good
or bad condition of the flocks in flraw
hives : but, that boxes are more pro-
duaive than thofe, is a great mijlake^ if
.both are managed by the fame method
of STORIFYING.
Many contrivances for the purpofe of
fheltering boxes have been pradifed as a
fubflitute for a houfe ; but, in the end,
are not cheaper, and not near fb con-
venient for performing the operations;
neither are they fo ehgible for infpedion.
My bee houfe here, ten feet long, cofl
me near thirty fhiUings.
CHAP. X.
ON STORIFYING.
V-/F all the methods which have hi-
therto come to my knowledge for the
condufting of bees, that oi Jiorifyinz nn^-
D 5 ' ^^^
-8 STORIFYIKC.
doubtedly yields much the greateft profit^
and is the mofl congenial to their natural
habitude, and flyle of working.
By ftorifying is meant the fetting of
one, two, or three hives over each other,
as duplets or triplets.
It is found that three pecks of bees in
one hive, wilt colle(5l more honey than a
bufhel, divided into tzvo ; becaufe ay?;/-
gle hive has not combs enough to receive
the numerous eggs that a queen is capa-
ble of furnilhing, and cells fufficient at
.the fame time to hold the honey.
Thus being limited to a fmall com-
pafs, the increaje muft proportionally be
ib too. For great part of the bees are
liecelTarily employed in rearing the young,
and therefore the number of thofe who
are occupied in collecTcing honey is not
near fo great as has been imagined.
A ^oodi Jlmfier that has not fwarmed,
or has had the fv»arm returned, will
increafe thirty pounds in feven days,.- in a
favourable fituation and feafon r whereas
a fmgle-hived ftock in the fame ■ apiary
.and leafon, that has fwarmed, will not
STORIFYING. 59
increafe above five pounds in the fame
time. For every {warm, the lead as
well as the greatefl, is provided with a
queen, equal in fecundity to the queen
of the largeft (lock ; and as the brood
flie brings continually demands the
labour and attendance of probably near
half the bees ; this circumfhance renders
the other moiety, from the fmallnefs of
their number ^ unable to accumulate a
large quantity of honey in the fhort
time it moftly abounds. Whereas, by
doubhng, and trebling the hives, the bees
are never at a ftand for room to extend
their combs, as faft as requifite for
honey or brood.
BeeSy confidered individually, live
about a year, progrelTively coming into
birth, and as gradually decaying. It
hence follows, that thofe born in au-
tumn, or fpring, or in the intervening
months, inevitably die about the fame
time in the fucceeding periods of time,
and fo in a regular proportion during the
breeding feafon ; but this is not perceived
while the brood is rapidly increafing, and
6o STORIFYING.
counterbalancing the chafms made by
death.
The queen often lays two or three
hundred eggs in a few hours ; which
occafions as fudden a difappearance at
the ftated periods, and which accounts
for that great thhinefs obfervable in hives
after the fwarming feafon is over, as if a
fwarm had efcaped. This likewife de-
monftrates, that at the general time of
deprivation^ all hives, or ftocks, accord-
ing to their populoufnefs, are compofed
of bees of all ages^ from thofe in em-
bryo, to thofe of old age. Confe-
quently, although individuals die daily,
young ones rife to birth, to fucceed
them, as do the human race in towns
and cities. But, by ftorifying, the
family is perpetuated to any length of
time, without the cruel necejjity and iron-
hie of dejiroying indijcriminately both old
and young.
The flory method can in no cafe be
prejudic-al, though the bees lliould be
prevented thereby from fwarming : on the
contrary, it would be a great advantage
STORIFYIITG. 6 1
if it did fo ; for then artificial fwarming
would not be wanted to perpetuate
flocks, which would be effedled without
fuch afliflance. Writers have however
followed each other, by aflerting that by
ftorifying no fwarms will rife. From
long experience I am certain of the
reverfe. When duplets or triplets do
not fwarm, it is not from t/iat caufe : it is
from abortions of the royal brood, and
feveral other cafualties.
Nor is there any danger of being
vverjiocked ; for however numerous a
ftock may be in bees during fummer, in
winter they will be reduced to a quart,
Befides which, bad feafons often happen,
and many accidents arife that will require
recruiting, and which may be happily
effedled by forbearing to double a good
flock, and a fvs^arm will be the fooner
obtained. The following Estimate
will fhow how far the advantage inclines
to Jiorification,
62
STORIFYING.
A Comparati've EJiimate of Stocks keft in Single Hi'ves,
and thofe placed according to ike Storifying Method.
First year. Dr.
J 2 flocks on an
average, yielding
15 lbs. of honey
each, is 180 lbs.
at 6d. /.4 10 o
Suppofing each hive
to have a caft,
each of which
ufually affords
3lbs. — 36 ibs. at
6d. o 18 o
"Wax I lb. each,
and 4 oz. the
caft, at i8d. 1 a 6
N. B. They are
fuppofed to emit
12 good fwarms,
to ftand for
ftoclcs.
To balance in fa-
vour of the ftory
method
£.6 10 6
;C-8 u o
Thus at the end of
the year the
ftocks will be
equal.
SECOND YEAR.
iz ftocks being the
laft year's fwarms ,^4 10 o
Cafts, or fma]l
fwarms Wax,
^.6 10 6
Balance in favour
of ftorifying 4 «7 6
£.11 8 o
FIRST YEAR. Cr.
iz ftocks on
an average will
yield two additio-
nal hives of ho-
ney, of 16 lbs.
at 6d. - £.^
Wax, ih each
hive, I
160
£
.11
8
0
Difcount for the
extraordinary ex-
pences, viz.
24 hives at I4d.
1
8
0
12 floors,
0
6
0
24 wooden tops,
0
12
0
2 biafs plates,
0
10
0
£'% 16 o
>C-8 12 o
f ■' ' ^r^
SECON D YEAR.
la ftocks produce
as laft year £.<) 12 o
Wax - J 16 o
l^ii 8 o
STORIFYING. 63
From hence it appears, that by laying
out nvo pounds Jixteen Jilt llings for the ex-
traordinaiy apparatus of the firji year, a
fuperior profit is to be gained of tivo
pounds one fliilling and fixpence. But in
the fuccee ding years' it will amount to /our
pounds feventeen Oiiliings, that is about
fifty per cent, per annum, on the two
pounds fixteen fhillings fo laid out : or
four pounds feventeen fliillings and fix-
pence a -year more, gained by fhorifying
twelve ftocks, than by a like number in
Jingle hives.
This flatement is m^ade upon the
lozvej calculation in favour of ftorifying,
which ufualiy yields much more honey
and wax than here afhgned, and that
greatly fuperior in quality, and confe-
-quently more valuable ; but which can-
not be obtained from common Jingle hives.
The inllruments are rated higher than
what they will' ufualiy coft, befides their
advantage of durability.
Though I fuppofed each common-
hived ftock to emit a good firJi fwarm,
which they often do not, or it is frequently
64 STORIFYING.
loft, and though fome often afford two
or three, they in general are but trifling,
and abate confiderably of the produce of
the mother ftock, often to its ruin —
what I have allowed for cafts, in the
common run, will be the full amount.
The eflimate is founded on the pro-
du6tions of middling fituations ; but in
better, a fmgle hive may produce a ftock
of from thirty to forty-fix pounds
w^eight, grofs ; the higher likewife will
be the proportional advantage in ftorify-
ing. Where hives weigh ib, they are
ufually much larger than the general
iize : and I think in the fmgle method,
no hive fliould be lefs tjian three pecks,
or perhaps a bufhel, but not more than
twelve inches in height. The twelve
ftocks will require three (hillings and fix-
pence to be laid out in new hives, every
third year, which I fet againft twelve
new hives at leaft, which muft be
bought for fwarms in the fingle manage-
ment. iVi? other branch of hujbandry
(I am inclined to think) will return fo
large an intereji onfofmall an expenditure.
STORIFYING. 65
Befides the advantages already men-
tioned, there are others of confequence
which deferve notice, ift. In avoiding
the unnecefTary and difagreeable trouble
of SUFFOCATING the bees. 2d. In re-
lieving fwarms when too large. 3d. In
preventing idlenefs in their lying out.
4th. In uniting of fwarms. 5th. In the
means of ckanlinefs and wholefomenefs.
6th. In preferving them from moths,
mice, and other infers, by the frequent
lliifting of the hives. 7th. In giving
ample and timely enlargement, 8th. In
being provided againfb bad feafons.
Laftly, In taking but little room in an
apiary : as for inllance, four flocks will
require no more ground to (land on than
they had at firft ; while common hives
will demand twice or thrice as much for
fwarms, but producing lefs honey.
The INDICATIONS FOR STORIFYING
flocks, are the appearance of an i^creafe
of numbers, and in their adivity, fa-
voured by the mildnefs of the feafon.
If the (lock be a lafl year's fwarm, fet
a duplet over it j and as foon as that
66 STORIFYING.
leems, by its weight, to be three parts
full, fet a triplet over tiie duplet ; which
/afiy when full, or nearly fo, is to be
taken off, and probably wiU be all intire
virgin honey, and without brood. Then
raife the duplet, or double hive, by
placing a triplet under it. But if the
flrength of the flock is great, and there
is plenty of honey pafturage, fo that
another triplet may be expf died to be
filled, place the triplet over, inftead of
that which was talen off. Perhaps, in
fome good feafons and fituations, t^ree
or four triplets may be taken, if they are
opportunely applied.
But if the flock is of tzvo years
fhanding, it mufl be raifed on a nadir ^
and as often as it requires enlargement
take the fiiperior hive off, and put a
triplet in its place ; and proceed thus as
occafion may require. Thefe tzvo
methods of fuperhiving the laji year's
fwarm one year, and the next of nadir -
hiving the fame flock, will be a fure
means of obtaining the greatefl quantity
5T0RIFYINC. 67
of virgin honey, and the largeft quantity
of the bejl wax.
Obferve, in all cafes, when hives are
f«t over another, that if the nadir is
judged to be about three parts full, the
door of it mufh be flopped, and that of.
the duplet opened, or the bees will not
fb foon be tempted to afcend, to work
in the duplet, nor will this procedure
increafe the labour of the bees in the
meanwhile, as the way do\yn is as fhort
as the way up.
On the contrary, when a hive is
placed under, the door of it mufh be
flopped for a week or two, or till there is
reafon to think there are fome combs
made in it ; and then it is to be opened,
and in two or three days after y7;r^/ again,
difguifmg it with a cloth, &c. 'hung
before it, for two or three days.
Be particularly careful not to let the
flocks be crozvded, before they are flori-
fied. For if a princefs is impregnated
early, it may occafion a fwarm to rife
fuddenly : for often great numbers of
brood are hatched together, and there-
68 STORIFYING.
fore from want of room become feroci«
oiis, and occafion much inconveniency
to the apiator and bees ; but prefently
become peaceful and fatisfied on en*
largement. For an additional hive hav-
ing communications in diredt lines with
the combs of the hives added, the bees
are fed to efleem the whole as ane hive^
in a few days after its application.
In fome criiical days or weeks, when
honey dews are plentiful, or white clover
or other paflurage is abundant, the
quantity of honey colledled in a few
days will be almofl incredible, if they
have room enough to lodge it, filling
a hive in feven days : often more than
can be accumulated in a whole feafon.
But the advantages arifing from addi-
tional hives are entirely loft in the old
Jingle method.
The duplets are in general not to be
taken off till late, left the queen fliculd
ibe therein, or it be moftly filled with
brood. But fuper- triplets may be always
taken as foon as filled
STORIFYING. 69
Bees never begin to work in an addi-
tional hive, until new combs are wanted
for eggs, or honey -, and then the bees
will begin to hang down, in ranges, or
curtains, which is always a fign they
have begun to make combs.
Bees often want enlargement before
fwarm time ; which is denoted by their
idly playing about the door and hive.
It is the owner's fault and lois if he
fuffers it to continue.
Duplicated boxes will fometimes appear
full of combs and bees, through the
back windows, though perhaps they are
not above a quarter or half filled, the
combs being only at the back.
If the bees of a triplet lie out, before
the ufual time of deprivation, it fhould
be taken and placed at a confiderable
diflance, and the duplified flock raifed
on a nadir hive : if, in two or three
hours after, the bees of the flock feem
quiet, and work as before, as well as
thofe removed, it is a fign they have a
queen in each ; and the hive taken may
be referved as a flock, if fuch is wanted,
^O STORIFYING.
or fumed, and the queen taken away :
mofl likely there will be much brood,
which may be fet over a weak flock, or
returned again to its mother {lock.
In cafe duplets have idlers, they are to
be raifed on a triplet, and in about a
month the fuperior hive is to be taken
off. For when lying out in hot w^eather,
though their hives are not full, and the
fwarming feafon is pafl, the bees will not
enter notwithftanding ; but by adding a
nadir hive, the accommodation of a
fpacious and cool hall to regale them-
ielves will induce the idlers to enter it.
If it is fufpeded that bees are idle
(which, though they do not duller out,
may be difcovered by their not being lo
adive as their neighbours), turn the
hive up in the middle of the day ; and
if the combs are partly empty, it may
he concluded they have either loft their
queen, or fhe is unprolific, or is without
drones ; in w^hich cafe they are to be
flightly fumed in the evening, and {ti over
another ftock ; particularly a weak one
to ftrengthen them
STORIFYING. 7 1
But if the flock is abundant in bees,
and niofl likely in honey, let them fland
till a young queen can be taken from a .
fwarm ; when placing her jufl within the
door, llie will be joyfully received.
Otherwife, if it is about the middle of
the feafon, fume and place them over a
flock ; and by that means it will produce
a very large quantity of honey.
Scanty breeders produce but little ho-
ney or brood; fo that, whilfl other
flocks are rapidly increafmg in riches,
thefe will barely get enough to fupport
themfelves in the winter.
Empty combs placed in a duplet will
not entice them the fooner to work
therein; for till the hive is completely
full, and they are in want of others,
they will not afcend, which in bad fea-
fons may not happen for a conliderabie
time : neverthelefs, from being ready,
they may be of conliderabie advantage.
About the tenth of July upper doors
of all fhoried flocks fhould be clofed, to
induce the queen with more certainty to
defcend, and breed in the loiver hive^
^2 STORIFYING.'
except it is defigned to be taken ; for then
the door is to be fhut, and the upper
one opened.
It often happens that in poorjitiiatiom^
or in a long feafon of very inclement wea-
thcTy neither duplets nor triplets will
have work therein ; and this is not impu-
table to a bad method of management, or
want of condud, but wholly to a failure
of the refources of paflurage, or of op-
portunities to gather it ; which fome-
times has been fo great as to prevent the
' generality of flocks from procuring a
fufficiency for their own winter's fupply.
It is necefTary in fummer, when a hive
has few bees, to ftrengthen it with a
portion of bees from one that is flrong.
This will enable the queen to breed fall,
and the hive will prove as profperous as
any hive you have. But in all fuch rein-
forcements, the hive fo rcplenifhed
fhould be fet at as great a diftance as
your convenience will allow, for feveral
weeks. This is a rule to be obferved in
all fuch cafes.
STORIFYING. 73
Stocks that have emitted fwarms can
but rarely be expected to yield a duplet
that fummer, nnlefs the fwarm is re-
turned. Much iefs can a (warm do it,
though I have known fome exceptions
in extraordinary (ituations.
To repleniJJi a flock that is fcanty of
bees, fet fome empty combs, and pour
the cells of one fide full of fugared ale,
or platters of it, flightly covering it
with a little hay or herbs, to prevent the
bees from damaging themfelves in it :
fet it on a hive floor in the morning, and
place an empty hive over it, in the
midfl of the apiary.
A great multitude of bees will be at-
tracted by the odour, and affemble round
the feafl. As foon as that is perceived,
ilop the door of the hive until night ;
when the bees having afcended to the
top of the hive, take it, and give them
a flight fuming, and place them over or
under the flock that mofl wants their
afliflance.
If a queen is killed or dies in the fum-
mer, it may be known by tlie bees not
74 STORIFYING.
carrying in any farina, or by the door of
the queenlefs flock being much crowded,
as well as that to which they carry the
honey. Both hives appear prodigioully
active, as though a honey dew had com-
menced, and with a clear uninterrupted
buz, with crumbs of wax about the
door. Immediately ftop the door of the
unfortunate flock, and unflop it in the
evening : the interlopers will then fly
home. Early in the morning, take the
hive to a proper diflance, and fume it,
or keep them confined till next day, in a
darkened room. They will then very
peaceably and readily quit the hive on a
little drumming on the fides. If the
hive has much honey, cut the combs
out ; but take care of thofe that have
brood, and add them to fome other
ftock. The bees, however, will con-
tinue working till all the young are
fealed up.
If a hke accident happen in winter,
take the bees out, put them to a flock,
and take the honey.
STORIFYING. 75
In the want of a hive upon a fudden
demand of enlargement, and not having
a proper one ^in readinefs, fet a common
one with bars acrofs it, in a pail or buc-
ket, and place the flock over it ; next
night clofe the joining, and at the ac-
cuftomed time feparate it by the dividers,
and take the bottom one away.
Summers have fometimes been {o
HOT as to foften the combs fo m.uch
as to tumble them down, occafion the
fmothering of the bees, and ruin of the
flock. To prevent this, in fuch wea-
ther, give them enlargement, and raife
fingle hives behind : fcreen them as
much as pofTible from the fun, by large
boughs, pouring often plenty of water
about their hives, and taking off the
hackels. Bee houfes fhould have all
their doors fet open.
CHAP. XI.
THE NATURE OF SWARMS.
URING the winter, flocks that
are populous in the fummer become
E 2
D
yiS SWARMS.
reduced by age and accidents to the
fmall quantity of a quart, and the wea-
ker flocks fuftain a proportional diminu-
tion.' The re peopling the hives, there-
fore,. depends on the amazing fecun-
dity OF THE QUEEN, which fumilhes
thofe new-born nuikitudes that confti-
tute the fwarms.
In conlequence of a continued great
increafe, th,e bees feel a natural impulfe
to fwann. This law they are impatient
to obey, in defiance of all the obfcacles
that the ingenuity of man has contrived
to its taking place. A fvvarm does not
confiil of all jy^/^;ig- bees^ but of old and
young promifcuoully.
The breeding of young bees is begun
iboner or later, in proportion to the
fruitfulnejs of the queen, the populouf-
nefs of the ftock, the goodneis of the
fituation, and of the weather. The
more numerous the bees are in the hive,
the greater will be the heat to enable the
queen to begin breeding earlier than
thox'e of OLhcr flocks. When bees are
SAVARMS. jij
carefully fupplied with food in fprihg,
they breed faft even in bad weather.
When January proves mild, the' breed-
ing will fometimes commence at the
latter end of that month : but often in
Febmary, and in March generally. Js
foon as bees carry in farina, or yellow
balls, on their legs, it is a fure fign of
the queen's having begun to breed. A
long feafon of cold and wet weather
retards the hatching or increafing of the
breed, caufing many abortions, and not
uncommonly that of the royal nym.phs.
They may be feen caft out in fuch un-
kindly feafon s.
• The influence of a genial fpring haf-
tens the breeding, and no lefs accelerates
the blolToms proper for their nourifli-
ment ; the fallows, willo'A^s, fnow-drops,
crocufes, &c. yielding plenty of farina.
But fhould the weather be unfavoura-
ble while thefe flowers are in bloom,
thereby preventing the bees from ifiuin
out td colled: it, thofe already hatched
will be ftarved -, and it will alfo delay
E d
yS SWARMS.
a farther increafe, until a more aufpici-
ous change takes place.
If a fpring is not very cold, but wet,
it will not favour the produdlion of
royal brood ; yet the common cells will be
filled with youngs but no addition of
honey ; which will caufe the bees to be
very^ anxious to fwarm, and very irrita-
ble, flying about the hive in confuiion
and difcontent. I have feveral times
feen royal cells in which the workers
were continually introducing their heads,
I fuppofe, to feed the maggot; but,
after a few days, they entirely negleded
them, probably as being abortive. In
fuch cafes no fwarm can rife until
another birth yields a princefs.
In fpring, when bees that are in no
want of food fuddenly give over carry-
ing, it may denote the unprolificnefs of
the queen ; and if the hive contain but
few bees, they had better be united to
another flock.
\\\ forward JpnngSy when the workers
are few, but the queen very pregnant,
fhe will be obliged to depofit her eggs
SWARMS. 7^
fafter than the fmall number of bees
can fupply the maggots with luftenance ;
and they will therefore perifh, and be
caft out. This is a difadvantage which
arifes from keeping weak ftocks.
To judge of the fulnefs of a hive in
May, obferve the numbers of bees that
enter the refpedive hives, and form an
eflimate.
Queens zvt not equally fruitful.
While fome breed Howly or not at all,
others will fpeedily increafe in prodigious
numbers. Sterile queens fhould be ex-
changed for the fpare queen of a fwarm ;
or at taking up time deftroyed, and a
new flock fubftituted.
From the middle of May to the mid-
dle of Jime is the moft advantageous time
for fwarming; but they often rife, not
only at the beginning of Aprily or fooner,
but alfo as late as the 20th of Aiigujl -^
counties and feafons being fo very various.
Very early ones are feldom large enough
to conftitute a good ftock ; and are in
danger of perilhing if bad weather fuc-
ceeds. Very late ones, though moftly
E4
i>0 SWARMS.
large, will often not have fufficicnt time
to lay up an adequate ftore for the win-
ter, nor rear a brood in time : befide
which, their emigration diminillics the
farent Jlock fo mAich as to endanger its
being ftarved during the next fpring.
The prevention is, to encourage timely
fwarms by zvarmth, and by a trough
of fugared ale now and then, in Fe-
bmary and March. But whether the
fwarms are early or late, is a matter of
no confequence in the ftory method, by
which they are returned to the flocks.
In a good feajon for early honey -gather-
ing, the flocks will not be forward to
fwarm, though they have a princefs rea-
dy j being then wholly intent to colledt
the precious fweets, and almoft deferting
the hive : the few left, finding fuch fpa-
cious room, and full employment, have
no temptation to rife, and quit fuch
treafure for an empty hive.
Though a fpring fhould be cold, and
otlierimje unfavourable, a fwarm may
rife the firfh or fecond fine funny day,
if a princefs is impregnated, notwith-
SWARMS 8 I
{landing the hive may be very thin of
bees. The fwarm, of courfe, will be
fmall. New fwarms will gradually de-
fert their hive on a continuance of bad
weather, and unite with another flock
or flocks, without lofs to their mafter.
The increafe of fwarms in calm fitua-
tions is frequently three from a hive ;
and fwarms will emit fwarms, or maiden
ones. But it is to be obferved, that in
thefe cafes the produElion of honey is pro-
portionally lefsy not near fo much as
might be expedled from the multitude of
bees, for the reafons before afligned.
Frequently, when flocks /;/ very good
Jituations have many princefTes, fwarms
will rife though the weather has been un-
favourable ; while flocks only two miles
diftant may be flarving, and afford no
fwarm.
Stocks fingle-hived, on being filled,
and having a fuitable princefs, v/ill often
fwarm repeatedly, though of fmall bulk ;
by reafon that, having no more fpace
to work in, they would rather fwarm
E 5
82 SWARMS.
than be idle, that the precious advantage
of honey-gathering may not be loft;
In very dry seasons few fwarms are
difcharged. On examining the hives,
no princefs or royal cell was found. The
caufe is uncertain ; perhaps the drought
did not favour that kind of prolific nu-
triment fit to produce royal eggs or
brood, and therefore no fwarms could be
formed. Such ftocks fhould be taken at
the feafon ; for having, it is moft likely,
none but old queens, they will die in the
winter, and put an end to the ftock.
Bees that are placed near woods find
therein abundant farina (the great fource
of early fwarms) to feed their young.
In all fituations that have plenty of fari-
na, the bees are remarkably forward and
active. In the heath countries, on
the contrar}% they are later in their pro-
ductions than In other fiiuations, feldom
fwarming till the end of July, owing to
heath blowing late. In general, the
bleaker the fituation the later the fwarms.
A WET EARLY feafon prevents the
gathering of farina : then late fwarms
SWARMS. 83
will be the confequence ; and if the
weather fhould continue very indifferent,
they will rife when lead expeded, and
be loft for want of watching.
After the firjl or frime fwarms have
rifen, the fucceeding ones ihould be re-
turned to the ftock ; for if a fecond is 1
emitted, it certainly fo much impove-
xiflies the ftock that little honey can be
colleded afterwards, and will not leare a
fufficiency of bees to rear the young,
which at that time are abundant. Un-
doubtedly there are exceptions, which a
difcreet apiator muft be left to judge of.
When additional ftocks are not wanted,
the frime fwarms are to be returned, as
well as cafts ; as being the moft profitable
method. The ftocks on the ftoried plan
cannot be kept too full of bees in the
fummer time.
Stocks that have not fwarmed before
the firft of July from fingle hives, fhould
be returned ; but reference in thefe and
the like cafes muft always be had to the
difference of feafons and fituations, in
84 SWARMS.
which local circumflances only can diredt
the determination.
. A large early swarm, with good
weather fucceeding, will be far more
procluclivc than a llmilar one that riles
later ; for having more time before them,
I their hives will be furniflied' with combs
and brood before the honey harveft com-
mences, and then are prepared with
empty cells and young workers, that
will, in a fhort time, enable them to
collect a large ftore of honey, if care
has been previoully taken to provide
them with fpacious room. If bad wea-
ther fliouid intervene, it will be prudent
to feed them, fjr which their fubfequent
labour will amply recompenfe.
There have been iujlances of Jiocks
which have fwarmed, and notvvitbftand-
ing in the middle of July clujiered out ;
and on having another hive ict over them,
iiill rema'ned, witliout afcending ; but
two or three days after, on fetting a hive
nnder, they prefently entered, and worked
vigorously.
SWARMS. 85
With refpect to thofe flocks which do
not feem to increase in numbers, or
appear to have drones ; a dozen or
two fliould be taken from another flock
that has plenty, and put to them. To
effed: this, in a fine funny afternoon,
when the drones iilbe out moft, take
them fingly with . the finger and thum.b
as they pafs on the refting board, and
put them into a long phial, held ready
in the other hand, till the number
wanted is obtained : ftop the phial with
a notched cork, and at night faften the
mouth of the phial to the door-way of
the hive, and by morning they will have
entered. "
Thofe perfons who kill the dro-
nes, in the fpring, are not aware that
thereby they are deftroying the only means
of increafe ; for the drones are to bees
what males are to other creatures. But
if it fhould be obferved that the drones
in fi'.mmer are fo abundant, efpecially of
a weak flock, as nearly to confume the
honey as faft as gathered , in this cafe.
86 SWARMS.
and this only, fome of them may be
deftroyed.
Many fchemes have been tried for di-
minifhing the drones, but with Httle
fuccefs. For if they are (lopped from
entering their own hive, they know their
next neighbours w^ill gladly receive them :
nor will traps fufficiently deftroy them ;
and their application greatly diflurbs and
hinders the workers of not only their
own hive, but alfo of others.
More may be killed on the alighting
board in a Ihort time by the end of a
cafe knife, than by any other means;
and if done leifurely, the workers will
not refent it for a while. When they
do, retreat, and try again fome little
time after. If continuc^d long, the
workers will be fo difturbed as to enter
other hives, and the whole apiary be
alarmed. If the workers do not kill the
drones at the ufual time, a few may be
killed by the fingers ; and then thrufting
a fmall twig into the hive will provoke
the workers to finifh the bufinefs. Au-
gufl is the ufual time of malfacre. The
SWARMS. 87
ftrongeft flocks expel them the fooneft :
however, if they are not killed then^ the
cold weather eife(flually deftroys them.
Great numbers of workers are bred
before princefTes or drones, which lafh do
not ufually appear before May, unlefs in
early fprings ; and the populous ftocks
will have them in March, and often in
April.
Hives, however, will often be fo full
of bees as to clufter out, and frequently
fwarm, without any appearance of
drones ; though it is probable there may be
afew^ but the weather too unfavourable
for their Ihewing themfelves, as they are
more tender than the workers.
LYING or CLUSTERING.
The lying or cluftering out of bees,
on or about a hive, has been commonly
looked upon as ^fign of ^eir being ready
to fwarm : but this is deceitful. It
indeed may denote that there are bees
enough to compofe a fwarm ; but it is
alfo a token that there is no princefs to go
SS . SWARMS.
with them ; for, in want of room, they
often continue cluftered feveral weeks.
It muft be confidered, that when the
combs of a hive are /u// of honey and
broody the fpaces left between, being
only half an inch in width each, contain
only a third part of the capacity of the
whole hive-— about fourteen thoufand to
a half buihel — and confequently become
Joon overcharged by a forward queen, and
the furplus is obliged to lie out \ which,
in fa(5t, they always do, in fuch circum-
ftances, and perhaps till the middle of
Augufl: in hot and dry feafons, when
but few bees can remain in the hive.
This cluftering is very prejudicial, not
only in the lofs of time, but alfo in what
the bees might have acquired by their
labour in that interval ufually the moft
produdive' of any part of the feafon,
when every bee ought to be fully em-
ployed. Nor is this all : the bees by
this tndidgence contrad a habit of indo-
lence not eafily relinquillied The ex-
ample tempts others to be as idle as
themfelves, greatly obftmding thofe that
SWARMS. 89
work, ill their progrei's. Some, indeed,
will be induftrious in fpite of their ow-
ner's inattention, and proceed to build
combs on the outfide, or under the floor
of the hive.
Although it is a certain fign, when
bees lie out fiom day to day, that there
is no princefs ready y yet as there is no
practical means of knowing when there
zvill^ a conftant w^atching is necelTary.
Thefe difadvantages are admirably re-
me died by Jlorifying.
But COTTAGERS, who have not this
convenience, may cut a door- way in the
back of an empty hive that already has
one in front. Set the empty hive 'with
one of its door^ways againft that of the
flock, fixing on a proper fupport, fo as
to be on an exadt level with the ftock.
^he vacancy left between the two hives
fill up with a piece of hay-band, &c.
taking care, however, to leave the paf-
fage of the two door-ways free. The
bees will then pafs through the empty
hive to the full one, till more room is
go SWARMS.
wanted, and then they will begin in the
additional one.
To SEPARATE them when full, at
night gently take away the hay-band;
have a lump of clay or cow-dung of a
proper confiftence ready ; nimbly force
that between the two hives fo effedlually
that it may ftop both doors ; take away
the foremoil, and place another empty
one in its ftead the next night. About
an hour after taking up the firfl, you
may venture to open the door of the
ftock with the end of a long flick, and
in the morning entirely clear the dung
away.
Under this management the bees will
conftantly be employed, nor can they
poflibly be prejudicial to the owners,
though thereby the flocks fhould not
fwarm, for doubling does not prevent it.
The PROFIT on bees depends, in a
great mea ure, on the detention of the
fwarms. If they are lost, the in-
creafe of honey can be but triflings
however carefully all other particulars are
obferved. A cajuat infpe5iion will not
SWARMS. 91
aniwer this important puqDofe. I have
not feen or heard of any apiators (myieif
not excepted) who through negle(fl in this
point have not loft, more or lefs, fwarms
every year, and chiell}^ prime ones ; for
bees often fwarm without a minute's
notice, perhaps the very inftant after
being left. There is no fure way of
fecuring fwarms but by a constant
WATCHING of a bee-herd^ retained on
purpofe, from feven or eight in the
morning until three or four in the after-
noon, till all the prime fwarms have
ifTued. Bad weather may be excepted.
Childi'en, or rather aged people, might
be employed to do it at an eafy rate ; and
if it fhould coft feven or eight (hillings,
it is better to be at that charge, than
run the great rifque of lofing feveral of
the bejl fwarms. You alfo efcape the
anxiety and trouble of going conftantly
to and fro, which is after all attended
with uncertainty. Befides, if a perfon
keeps but fix ftocks, and faves only one
fwarm, he will be no lofer; to which
add, the afliftance given to an indigent
family by the money expended. The
gi SWARMS.
ufual hours of fwarming are from ten to
two ; but this is not to be depended on.
I have often known, and had them rife
as early or late as the hours flated.
Another caufe of the lofs of pritne
fwarms, is the mijlaken notion that bees
always fhew CQXtdAnJigns or tokens of their
going to fwarm ; and therefore until
thofe figns appear, w^atching is omitted.
But it muft be evident to every relledting
apiator, that fwarms frequently rife early
in the fpring, as well as at other times,
v/ithout fliewing any fuch figns at alL
On the contrary, in fome feafons the
hive may be fo very full of bees as largely
to clufter out, and make an aftonifhing
noife within, as though that moment
they would rife, and yet very often do
not ; no, not for fever al days or weeks
afterwards, and fometimes not at all.
Thefe tokens, indeed, clearly fhew there
are bees fufhcient in number for a fwarm,
and they are moft anxious to do fo ; but
it alfo fhews they cannot break nature's
law : NO QUEEN NO SWARM.
SWARMS. gi
Although there are no figns that pre-
cede Jif^l fwarms ; of fecond^ or cafls^ or
after ones there are, viz. peculiar sounds
or NOTES in the hive not heard at any-
other fealbn. They may be heard gene -
rally in the evening in fine weather, and
fometimes for feveral days together ; be -
ing probably expreflive of the princefTes'
being ready, and delirous of enjoying
empires of their own ; for feveral arc
afterwards heard at a time, in a kind of
refponfe either more acute or grave, but
very dltferent from any founds made by
their wings, and feeming to be formed
by a tube, refembling the exprefiions of
toot^ tooty toot^ or nearly that of a child's
penny trumpet, but not near fo loud.
Many chimerical conjectures have been
formed relative to this particularity ; but
one certain meamng they convey to the
apiator, that when heard he may be
affured that the firft^ or prime fwarm^
has efcaped, if that will comfort him.
It indicates alfo, that a fwarm may
be expedted very foon, perhaps the next
94 SWARMS.
day, or in a few following ones, accord-
ino; to the finenefs of the weather.
When the number of princejjes is too
many to be fuppUed with bees for fwarms,
it induces three or more to iflue with a
fingle fwarm., and either fettle together,
or divide into different clufbers ; well
knowing that death will be the fate of
thofe that tarry behind. Sometimes,
indeed, a princc^fs will coax 2ifew bees to
accompany her, and form a fmall cafl,
of no profit, but which rather contri-
butes to impoverilh the (lock.
Second swarms are feldom worth
-prefer\'ing^«^/£? ; but by uniting two or
three, you may form a good ftock.
If a fwarm is wanted from a duplet ^
both doors muft be left open ; but if
none fhould rife, the flock at feparation
mofl likely will have a queen in each.
It is very probable that a princefs may
fometimes rife unimpregnated, or not«»
ripe for layings and w^hich the bees at
their exit with her were not fenfibie of j
but when hived, finding their miilake.
SWARMS. 95
they abandon her and the hive, and re-
turn home again.
On the rifing of iwarms, many bees
juft returned from the fields with their
loads, and many juft entering, join them;
by which means they are capable of con-
ilructing combs prefently after kltiing;
and fometimes do on the branch of a
tree, if they are fuffered to remain there
a confiderable time.
When bees flay idly about the door
or hive, and are more than ordinarily
mifchievous, it is a fign they are anxious
to fwarm ; and probably may rife, though
ivitliout a princefs, if it is late in the
fcaion, but will return home again.
If the w^ind be bnfk at the time of a
fwarm's riling, it will fly in the fame di-
rection, and will fettle in that fpot which
will beft fhelter them from the inconve-
niency, regardlefs of their acaifrotned
place of cluftering.
As none but good fwarms at any time
ought to be kept, it will be neceflary to
afcertain how fuch may be known. It
iliould be in bulk, when hived, not lefs
96 SWARMS.
than a peck and a half-, in middling
fituations they run more. I have had
them in Hertfordfhire frequently half a
bufliel, fometimes larger.
Near Pembroke they feldom exceed a
peck, which is here efteemed a good
fvvarm. However, not lejs than a peck
will prove a productive one.
A fwarm will appear much larger as it
hangs on a bulh, than when cluilered in
the top of a hive.
The number^ ^weight, and meafure of bees,
lb. oz. dr,
ICO drones . « o i o"^
0,90 workers o i o j
, C. w « /^ I AVOIRD.
4,040 — — — ..... I o 01
^ ^ \. WEIGHT.
915 ....032? ,
1,830 — a pint .0651 WINCHESTER
3,660 - ■ — a quart . o 12 lo I measure.
29,280 — a peck . 6 5 6J
This ftatement is made on an average ;
for they will not prove twice exadly
alike, becaufe of their different degrees
of fulnefs, &c.
HIVING. 61
V
CHAP. xir.
THE HIvrNG OF SWARMS.
As Iwarms (pL 2, fig. 2.) frequently
rife when not expeded, and that with
precipitation, common prudence, it
might be thought, would induce api-
ators to have hives in readinefs. But i
have often feen the contrary, though the
cxpence of the hiv^es would be lefs, when
bought early, and you would alfo avoid
the riik of lofing a fwarm while' feeking a
hive.
The poverty of cottages may be an
excufe for fuch fupinenefs. Therefore
in fuch an exigency the fwarm may be
put in a pail, bucket, bafket, &c. in
which let it remain till the evening;
when turning the vefTel up, lay two flat
flicks acrofs it, place on jt an empty'
hive, bind a cloth round the juncture
(all but the door-way), and by the
morning the bees will have afcended
therein ; but if not, gently beating the
6z HIVING.
fides of the veffel will caufe them to
afcend.
To PREPARE hives for the reception
of fvvarms, the fnags, or the roughnefs
of the ftraw, fhould be clipped off, and
rubbed as fmooth as can well be, as this
will fave the bees a deal of labour,
wdiich they will employ to greater advan-
tage in conftruding of combs.
Boxes (hould have all holes and crevi*
ces ftopped with putty, or other cement,
which otherwile the bees muft do, to
exclude air and vermin.
Spleets, or flicks, are proper to
fupport the combs, when extended near
the.bottom ; but two only are necef-
fary, and placed thus -f, at the height
of the fecond round of ftraw from the
bottom ; one from the front to the back,
the other acrofs that^ from right to left:
for as the combs are iifually built in pa-
rallel hnes from front to back, each
comb, when wrought down, being of
confiderable weight, it will have a ready
fupport from the Ipleet, and which will
ferve to fallen them alfo j but till they
HIVING. 63 ^
bccoiTie weighty, no faftening but that
which the bees themfeives execute, will
at all be needful.
But as fometimes the combs are con-
ftm(5bed obliquely, or traafverfeiy, a le*
cond fpieet is neceflary to take them
in that diredtion, In fad:, common kives^
having no occafion for removes till they
are taken up, need no fpIeetSy as verified
by bees in liollow trees, &c. However,
the' two mentioned are enough for any
hive, even in the ^ory method : much
iefs have they occafion for any fpieet near
the top, and which is generally fo pre-
pofleroully placed as to be very trouble-
fome and prejudicial to the honey, in
taking the combs out,
No other preparation or drejfmg of
hives is neceifary, than that which I have
mentioned. The employing herbs, and
many other fanciful articles is of no iife j
but as people are wedded to old cufloms
without rational foundation, fugarcd or
honeyed ale, fprinkled on the top of the
hive, is the mod alluring fubftance that
I know of. The truth is, when a fwarm
F %
64 HIVING.
quits a clean hive, it is for other caufes,
and not through diftafte of the hive,
unlefs it is too fmail.
It is cuflomary to make a tinkling
NOISE to ALLURE fwarms to fettle.
Why it does fo is uncertain^ but that
it does is as certain. Mofh prime fwarms,
that are not in a habit of fettling in an
iifual fpot, are moftly loft, if not tinkled.
Befides which, it afcertains the right
that the apiator who follows it, has to
claim it, if ftrayed from his own pre-
mifes. The greater the noife, the fooner
it is hkely to fucceed ' I find a watch
RATTLE (ufed about London) the moft
efiicacioys, and that when tlie common
method has failed.
In prime or lirft fwarms, the noife
ihould not begin till fuch a quantity of
bees have arifen as will form a good
fwarm, for fear of terrifying the princefs
from ilfalng ; and if fo, all the bees will
return, though hived. A fudden ftorm,
dark clouds, or thunder, will caufe them
to. return, if not fettled \ or if the prin-
cefs, too weak to fuftain the flight, drops
HIVING 65
on the ground ; or if the bees are roughly
treated in the hiving.
The noiie fhould be made on the con-
trary fide to that which will be moil pro-
per for fettling. Nor (hould it continue
longer than the bees begin to clufler ;.
there is no danger but the reft will follow
on hearing their buz. When they rife
in windy weather they are very irritable,
and apt to fling ; and though cluftered,
often return home.
When a prime fwarm is broke or di-
vided, \ht Jecond v^ be much fuperior;
and therefore, if it is in good time, may
be kept, if a ftock is wanted.
When bees are hived, but feem dif-
contented and tumultuous, it is a fign
tliey have no queen among them. Pro-
bably flie will be found on the ground,
with a fmall clufter fuprounding her.
Take the clufter up, and place it on the
outlide of the hive which has the fwarm^
or near the door ; it will foon make them
eafy, and allure thofe t}n the w?fig to
join them alio.
F ^
66 HIVING.
Hives fixed n^ar the fpots where bees
have been uied to fettle, arid rubbed
with lug^ired ale, will fometimes decoy
fwarms to refide therein. But this muil
not be relied on > for it often happens tliat
bees previoufly choofe a place, that they
have made clean for their reception, and
to which, on rifing> they immediately
repair. But a hive of old combs will
certainly allure fome of your own fwarms
to fettle therein, if not of fome flrayed
©nes..
If a fwarm Is too large to be contained,
in a hive, immediately double it y but if
it is a common hive turn it upfide down
in a bucket, he. and lay two ilat flicks
acrofs, and fet another hive over it 3 then
take them from the bucket, and fet them
on four or ?i\c rounds of an old ftraw
hive doubled, as they are, and in the
evening place them on their deflined
flation, flopping the joining with clay,
and allowing a proper door-way.
"When fwarms feem reftlefs fome time
after hiving, as often happens from their
having tv/o princelTes, and being unde-
HIVING. 67
termined in their choice s take them to a
dark apartment, when the bees, fuppof-
ing it near night, will prefently ele6t the
moft promifing lady, and expel the other.
It is very likely that the okl queen
fometimes accompanies the firll fwarm.
The reafon perhaps of there being 710
tooting preceding the firfi ftvarms^ is there
being then but one young queen qualified
to lead them.
When more royal cells than one are
perceived in a hive,, the fupemumerary
ones may be taken out to make a fwarm,
if wanted.
Bees, when fwarming, are generally
very peaceable, as being under many
fears and apprehenfions ; fo that they
may be hived with much eafe and little
danger (unlefs the wind is high), if they
are treated with gentlenefs.
If they ieem inclined to rove beyond
the proper bounds, handfuls o^ fand,
dirt, or the like, (hould be thrown up
among them : water alio call among
them will induce a Ipeedy cluftering. The
fame meam Ihould be ufed when two
F 4
^8 HIVING.
fwarms rife together, and figlit in rhe air.
A great noife fliould be made, efpecially
that of a gun, to intimidate them.
It" ieveral- prikcesses rife with one
'fwarm, when hrved together/ great com^-
xnotions ehliie, until one df the priricef-
fes is call out or killed.
But when they cannot decide in their
choice, they fly out, and continue the
conteil^ or, which is nloft frequently
the cafe, different parties clufter with
the lady they approve, and fettle fepa-
rately. Let them alone till they are
feverally fettled, hive each parcel fepa-
rate, afterwards llrike them out on a.
board one after the other, and take the
queens from each, all but the largeft cluf-
ter, to which put all the reft. Or other-
wife, at the clofeof the evening, //^w^ them
all together^ when the firfh princefs that re-
covers will be acknowledged queen, and
the reft expelled or flain by the morning.
Stray swarms are often perceived
flying in the air, and may be allured to
fettle (efpecially if tired with flight) by
making fome kind of tinkling with a "
HIVING. 69
knife upon a fork, fliovel, or the like;
and when fettled, may be bruflied into a
hat, handkerchief, or part of the gar-,
ment," which being gathered up. by the
corners, may fafely be carried home, and
laid on the. ground, or table; laying a^
(lick acrofs ; and placing a hive over
theni, they 'will alTemble therein.
When a Jwurm fettles in several
CLUSTERS, hive only the largeji clufter^
and remove it, a fmall diftance at a time,
near to the fmaller cluflers, which are
fucceffively to be ihook off the places. of
ciuftering by a long hooked fhiek, re-
peatedly, till the buzzing of thofe in
the hive has attraded their notice, and
induced them to join. If the clufkers aie
equal in bulk, hive both feparately, and
fet them at a fmall diftance from each
other; and if either of them have a
queen, and are diflatisfied with, her,
they will quit the hive, and unite with
the other ; but if both remain contented,
unite them by fuming.
Swarms fliould be hived z.%foonzs fet-
tled : for their ciuftering is generallv buf
F5
70 HIVING.
of fliort duration ; efpecially of prime
fwarms, or if they have previoufly fe-
ledied a place of refidence.
When a fwarm attempts to fettle on a
perfoHy {landing or walking, &c. let him
not be alarmed, nor in any wife oppofe
them, but lift the hat a little above the
head ; perhaps they will fettle on that :
if not, cover yoxtr head and face with a
handkerchief for thern to clufter on.
But, if, contrary-wife, they begin to
elufter on the (lioulders, or under the
handkerchief, fling it off, and fpread
your hands over the eyes and face, and
thus remain entirely pajjlve^ till the
whole have fixed, which, if this is
punclually obferved, will be done with-
out a fmgle fling. Then retreat with
leifure to fome room in a houfe, made
nearly dark, and then a perfon muft hold
a hive, pan, fieve, &e. ((prinkled with
ftigared ale) over the clufter, with.th^
edge juft touching it, which will, after
a little while, induce them to afcend
into it. Blowing with bellows will caufe
them to doit the fooner, without irritat-
HIVING. 71
ing their propenffty to fting. But if any
violent or ofFenlive means are ufed, it
will provoke their revenge fo as to be
dangerous.
When a fwarm is cluftering, and
ANOTHER is rifing and endeavours to
join it, cover the firft with a thin cloth,
and throw duft, or water, among the
Others, to caufe them to fettle elfewherc.
As likewife if a fivarm that is rifen at*
tempts to fettle on a ftock hive, ilop the
door, and cover the hive with a cloth.
Sprinkle an empty hive with fugared ale,
and place it a little raifed over the top of
the ftock, and the fwarm will enter
therein. If the fwarm feems too large to
be contained in the hive, fet another
upon the firfl. As foon as the bees have
entered, take it away, and unflop the
ftock.
Or it may be done by flopping the
door of the ftock, and immediately re^
moving it to fome diftance. In the
interim an afiiftant is to place an empty
hive in its place, to which the fwarn^
will enter j and then it is to be taken t0
72 HIVING.
an appropriate (land, and the ftocic
brought back to its former fituation.
Swarms will Ibmetimes duller on,
or enter, improper places, as under roofs,
or other buildings. Immediately a hive is
to be placed cloie by, or juft about the
hole of their entrance i encompafs the
hive and bees with a cloth, and it is.
very likely after a little time they will
give the preference to the hive. If not,,
put a piece of paper with holes made in
it over the bowl of a pipe of tobacco ^
apply the end to a fmall hole madejult
under where the bees entered; take the
empty hive away, and then blowing for-
cibly, the imoke will generally induce
them to fly out, and caufe them to fet-r
tie in a more convenient fituation for
hiving. ;.:>
To avoid repetitions, I would obfervii
that the general rule ia: condudling
operations about bees is, that they Be
executed without noife or talking in ap-
proaching the hives, till the doors art
^cured , btherwife the bees will, be alarms
cd^ and guard the •d(i>ofs immediately
HIVING. ^J
A leiiiirely and calm deportment, with
gentlenefs yet boldnefs, and giving the
leaft diilurbance, will greatly conduce to
render the bulinels eafy and fafe.
In Hrv^iNG take care that none are
crufhed, as that provokes the others to
revenge ^ and not only {q^ but it may
chance to be the queen, to the ruin of
the fwarm. Forbear the ufe of weeds,
or throwing water on them, when cluf-
tering, or brufhing them off, which they
will highly refent ; and it may make
them fly quite away. Gently cut away
all fpray twigs, or branches, that 'may
obftrucl the placing the hive under the
clufter. Always fpread a cloth on the
ground^ with^ two fmall wedges on it, as
near the clufter as may be : the wedges
are to keep the edges of the front of the
hive 'a little raifed, for the more ready
entrancd of. the bees underneath ; as alfo
tjo prevent .'injuring any of them.
It may be remarked that fwarms often
fettle vjithout a queen ; which, therefore,
proves, that it is not the queen that leads
and b^ins the clufter. Moft hkely thofe
74 HIVING.
that arc moft inclined fettle firft, and
the reft naturally follow, as (heep through
a hedge.
Instruments necefTary for hiving
are, an empty box or hivSy a hive floor,
or loole board, a large cloth, two fmall
wedges, and a long fork, or crook-ftick.
To HIVE BEES, let the apiator take
the hive inverted, and ieifurely introduce
the hive under the clufter as conveniently
as can be without dillurbing the bees ;
then with the left hand give the bough
two or three fmart (hakes, which will
caufe the greater part of the clufter to
fall into the hive : nimbly take it away,
and turn it on one edge on the floor, and
the other on the wedges ; draw the cloth
up over the hive, leaving the raifed part
open. The bees, as may be expe<5led,
will be in great confufion, and make a
great buz, but will immediately begin
to afcend : the bough, or bufli, &c.
muft continually be fliook by the long
ftick, whilft any bees endeavour to re-
lodge on it : thofe on the wing, hearing
the buz of their compaiiions in the hive.
HIVINXJ, 75
will gradually fly down and join them.
Let them remain on the fpot till the
evening, unlefs the fun Ihould be too
violent ; and then the heat would make
them quit the hive, unlefs fheltered by
boughs, or the like. But if it fhould
be inconvenient for the hive to remain,
they may be removed a little way off.
As foon as the bees are nearly retired
into the hive, the hive may be carried to
its deftined (land ; the few bees that re-
main on the wing will return home.
Whenever bees are ib cluftered that a
hive cannot be put under them, lay a
cloth under, or as near as circumftances
will allow i iliake the bufli, &c. to make
the bees fall, and keep fo doing till the
bees relinquish it : when dowrx on the
cloth, or ground, fet a hive over them,
and they will enter.
Or, Ihould a fwarm fettle on a hedge,
&c. that a hive cannot be fet under themi
it may be be placed over them : this dO
by forked (lakes, or cords ; and by fling-
ing a cloth over the bees and empty hive,
they will in fome hours afcend. But for
76 HIVING.
. fear of mifchance, they fhould be watched.
Or if they are found not to afcend, fet
the hive three parts over a floor, then
with a Jpoon very tenderly take up fome
of the bees, and turn them out on the
floor, within, or near the door of the
hive '(its edge being raifed by- a wedge) :
repeat it as long as the bees will permit
without Ihowing much reientiiient :• the
buz of thofe already entered (tli€ larger
the number the better) will the fooner
allure the others to do fo. But if the
bees are fradious at firft, introduce only
a fpoonful or two at a time ; and in the
intervals retire out of fight.
Or to prevent a fwarm from cluster- .
ING ii^coNVENiENTLy in a hedge or
bufli, immediately lay a handkerchief or
hat on the bufh : probably they may
fettle on that, and may afterwards be
laid on the ground ; and a hive being
placed over, they will moil hkely em*
brace the ofler.
Bees cluftering round the body of a
TREE, OR POST, are difficult to hive^
Take a hivs and floor y or board, and
HIVING, 77
phce It by means of forked flicks, bar-
• rejs, ladders, &c. or with, cords, fo that
the floor may be on a level with the bot-
tom of the clufler : then raifing the edge
of the hive next to the bees, by wedges,
gently advance the hive fo as flightly to
touch the clufler : this' in 5." little while
may induce fome of the. bees to enter,
and the reft to follow. But to fave time,
ufe the fpoouy as before diredted, to di-
minifli the clufter, and increale the buz-
zino; in the Live: at times difturb the
clufter, by gently fhoving a fmall ftick
among the outermoft, to difengage them.
As foon as a confiderable number have
entered, the reft will furely follow;
though, perhaps, but flowly ; unlefsthe
queen" has been one of thofe conveyed
by the fpoon.
Should fwarms fix on the extreme
BRANCHES or twigs of high trees, be-
yond the reach of the hand, a hive, or
rather a Hght bafket, muft be fufpended
to the end of a long pole or fork. Then
having a ladder, introduce the bafket
under the. cli^ler, while an affiftant with
yS HIVING.
a long €rook fmartly fhakes the bough,
by which a great part of the bees will
fall into it. It muft then fpeedily be
brought down, and turned upfide down
on a cloth ready fpread, on which many
bees already fallen will be fettled. In
the mean while the branches muft be
conftantly Ihook, by which the bees,
finding no quiet there, and hearing the
buz of thofe underneath, will defcend
and join them.
Or, another method is to tie twigs to
the end of a long pole, and therewith
diflurb the duller till they take wing
again i when probably they will clufter
in another fituation more favourable, if
treated with the ufual mufic.
A third means is to hold a pan of
fmoking fubftances, which may make
them glad to move their quarters.
When fwarms fettle on large bran-
ches of trees, too flubborn to fhake, a
hive is to be fet on a iloor, and faftened
with cords, that the floor may touch the
clufter. Then treat them as before men-
tioned.
HIVING. 75
A fwarm in a hollow tree that has
not been lodged therein more than two
or three days, may be dilplaced, by care-
fully ftopping all the holes, and crevices,
except that which they entered by ; then
fixing the ^bottom of a hive againil their
hole of entrance, fecuring it firmly with
cordi, as alfo tying a clotk round th«
joinings, that no bees can efcapej beat
with a large hammer, or great ftone,
violently about tiie tree jufl below the
hive ; probably this will terrify the bees,
fo as to induce them to feek fecurity in
the hive. Now and then ceafe the nolle,
and liften whether they make a buz ia
the hive ; and repeat the hammering un-
til the buz is greatly increafed. Then,
loofing the hive from the tree, fet it on a
cloth fpread on the ground, and repeat
the flrokes and noife on the tree till but
few bees rife. Stop the hole of the tree,
and thofe on the wing will rejoin their .
companions.
But if they will not take to the hive^
make a hole with a chilTel, near the
upper part of the hollow (for the bee*
80 HIVING.
generally lie as high as poffible above the
entrance): place the hive jufl above the
hole cut, and by hammering it will caufe
them to fly furioully out, and take to
the hive, or fettle in a more commo-
dious fituation. But if they Ihould have
fettled below the palTage hole, make the
large hole helow the clufter, as near as
can be judged, by flriking where the buz
may dired.
If thefe methods prove urifuccefsful,
recourfe • mud be had to fmoking rags,
danip ftraw, or cow dung, put into the
hole, if it be made large enough; and
at the fame inftant hammering under
their lodgement, or teafing them by
thrufting twigs up till they fly out. Per-
haps (for I have had no opportunity of
trying) if an opening could be made
large enough to receive a pot of fuming
piffs under them, for about twenty mi-
nutes ; by confining the fmoke, pro-
bably the bees might be fo ftupefied as
to fait to the bottom, and might care-
fully be taken out, by a ladle, or fpoon,
and put into a hive, and immediatclv
HIVING. Si
carried away, and placed in a dark room
or out-houfe till the morning. The
chafms of the tree fhould be all flopped
to prevent the bees from returning to
their former lodge. The longer bees
have fettled in any place, the lefs dif-
pofed they will be to quit it ; efpecially
if they have made combs, and have brood
therein. They will fooner die than quit
it. In fuch a cafe it is better to let thetn
remain till autumn ; and then fuffdcate
the bees and take their treafure.
Bees in the holes of walls may be
treiited after a fimilar method.
But when bees have fettled under the
roefs or vacant parts of buildings^ where
Iparks of fire might be dangerous, fum-
ing mufl be avoided • and inflead thereof
WATER muft be conveyed over the bees,
by the rofe of a watering pot, funnel, or
pipe, taking fome tiles oiF, or boards
down, to come at themj which will
often fucceed as well.
Where windows have been left open,
fwarms fometimes affume the liberty of
taking pofTelTion. To fecure them, liril
$1 HIVING.
(hut the window and door ; then holding
a hive under the clufter, draw a wire or
thin flick gradually between theni and
the cieling, or part to w^hich they are
attached : this will caufe the bees to fall
into the hive i which being fet on the
floor, the ftragglers will foon hear the
buz of the others, and rejoin thern, and
the fooner if the room is made nearJ^
dark.
All fwarms, if the weather is fine, will
begin to work as foon as hived ; but if
the two firfl days prove foul, it difcou-
rages them from labouring for feveral
days, even if then it fhould be fine.
But in a long cont nuance of bad wea-
ther, they will feri/7iy unlefs relieved by
a timely feeding.
The forgoing dire^ftons^ it is prefumed,
will be fully applicable to all other cafes
that may arife, though attended with
fome variatioa.
ARTIFICIAL SWARMIUC.
CHAP. xm.
ARTIFICIAL SWARMING.
1 AM forry to declare, that I have met
with no invention^ among the many that
have been publiQied, or among the great
number of my own devifing, for artifi-
cial fwarming, adapted to common
USE, or that has been in general iiic-
cefsful. From fo great a difappointment,
I am inclined to draw a conclufion, that
as nature has implanted in bees a ftrong
propenfity to fwarm, as a quality necef-
farily conneded with the manner and
feafon ; all our attempts, by force or
allwementSy to effeQ or prevent it, with
a tolerable degree of timely advantage,
muft prove inefTedual. I propofe the
two following methods, however j as, if
not fuccefsful, they will not be prejudi-
cial to the flocks, may amufe the curious f
and be accomplifhed without much
84 ARTIFICIAL SWARMING.
trouble. But they are hmpplkable to ge-
neral pradlce.
By often looking through the windows
of ftoried boxes, in the fwarming feafon,
SOMETIMES a queen may be feen in one
of the boxes. Immediately fhove a di-
vider between the two boxes. Leave
them about an hour ; w^hen if the bees
of both boxes remain quiet, watt fomc
time longer, and then repeat the infpec-
tion, by intervals, two or three times,
till the approach of night , and if they
are flill in a quiet date, introduce the
other divider, and take the duplet, to a
diftant ftation. On the contrar}^ if the
bees of either box have fhowed figns of
difcontent, it is a token there is no
queen in that which (hows uneafinefs;
and therefore the divider mufl. be with-
drawn, till another favourable opportu-
nity offers.
The SECOND METHOD is ! In the
fwarming feafon, when the bees feem
very numerous, and ihow indications of
fwarming, (hove a divider between a
duplet in the morning, having before
ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 85
Opened both doors ; and if the bees re-
main quiet and purliie their work, in
both boxes, till the evening, proceed
with them as above. But if the bees
of either box are confufed, take out the
divider, and try your fortune another
time.
An artificial fwarm may be made, by
purchafing one or more of fecond or
third fwarms of your neighbours, as
they will be of little value to them, and
therefore may be had cheap. Unite as
many of them in one hive, as are fuffici-
ent to form a good fwarm, by placing
the fewefl in number to the moft popu-
lous ; fuming them firft to prevent quar-
relling. But if fuch fliould happen, fu-
migate the duplet.
CHAP. XIV.
OF WILD BEES IN WOODS.
I
N February and March bees are very
frequently numerous, on fallows, ofiers,
Q6 WILD BEES.
and other plants that afford farina, in
WOODS ; which is a fure token that their
liabitations are not far diflant. They
may be eafily traced ; and having found
them, mark the place or tree. iVged
people, or children, may be fet to watch
their fwarming, and they may be hived
in the .ufual manner. For whetlier in
hollow trees,, or any other habitation,
bees equally cad out fwarms, as well as
thofe in hives. Having fecured and
carried away the fwarms, in autumn re-
pair to the fame fpot, and take the fum-
mer's produce, as dlreded under hiving.
If this early attention has been ne-
olcffled, make obfexvation in woods on
thofe places which are mofl plentiful of
bee-fiowers ; or, in very dry weather, of
watering places, to which, in fuch fea-
fons, they will be obliged to refort. ' If
their abode is too far to be traced, dif- -
folve fome red or yellow oker in water,
and dipping fome fprigs therein, fprinkle
the bees therewith as they alight. Being
thus marked, they will be eafily diflin-
guiihed. For, by obferving whether re-
WILD BEES. ~ . 87
turns are fooner or later, or whether in
greater or lefTer numbers, a tolerable
guefs may be made ; efpecially after a
little practice. A perlbn having a watch,
may by it more accurately determine this
point. A pocket compafs will alfo be
greatly aflifling to certify their courle,
which is always in a diredl line to their
habitation in their return home.
If this method proves not kiccefsful,
take a joint of a large reed, or of kex ;
force a part of the pith out at one end,
and do the like at the other, only leaving
a fmall partition between the two hol-
lows ; cut a fmall flit over one of the
hollows, put fome honey made a little
damp with ale in the hollow, and flop
the end with a cork, or paper ; and if
fire can conveniently be had, melt fome
wax on the tube, the fmell of which will
be wafted by the wind to a great diflance.
Place this joint near their hai^nts, and
they will foon be allured to enter into
the hollow. When about eight or ten
have entered, flop the end with the
finger; foon after let one of the bees
G 2
S8 WILD BEES.
out, purfue it as long as it is in fight,
and then let out another. If it conti-
,iui€S the fame courfe, follow that alfo;
but if any take a different route, let
another fly, and fo proceed till you find
feveral take the fame courfe, which will
lead to their nefts.
The bees that purfue other diredions
probably belong to other nefts, which
may be difcovered by the fame procefs as
the firft.
if it be neceffary to take the combs
out diredly, a pot of fuming puffs
(hould be introduced under them by a
hole made on purpofe. During the fu-
migation forcibly ftrike the tree. If the
vvhole are not fallen from the combs,
they will, however, be fo lethargic as to
give the operator but little annoyance, if
he has on the bee-drefs. The combs
are to be taken out as whole as pofTible,
and placed in an empty hive, and (up-
ported by as many fpleets as are necef-
fary, in the beft manner the nature of
the cafe will admit of The ftupefied
bees which have fallen into the cavity of
WILD BEES. 89
the tree, may be taken out by a fpoon or
ladle, and put to the combs m the hive ;
which had befl be fet on a floor before
the combs are put in, and then the bars
and cover, and may be removed without
much trouble or difplacementj
If puifs are not in readinefs, the fmoke
of dried cow dung, damp llraw, &c.
may be ufed, which will be likely to
force the bees out j when, fettling on '
fome tree, &c. they may be hived, and
on being carried home, may be fet over
the hive of combs.
If the nefls are taken during the
fwarming feafon, thofe parts of the
combs that have honey in them may be
cut out, taking great care of thofe with
brood, which, with the empty ones, are
to be placed in the hive, as well as can
be in the fame manner and at the fame
diftance as the bees do ; and placing the
bees in them, they will foon repair the
damap;e, and furniih the hive afrelhi.
When the bees are efteemed not worth
preferving, rags dipped in melted brim-
G3
go WILD BEES*-
Hone, and put under their nefts, wiM
immediately fuffocate ihem.
Hives rubbed with honied ale, and
iome poured into an old comb, and put
under them, and placed on thofe fpots
which bees much frequent, will be likely
to allure i warms to fettle therein.
Having had no experience in wha4:
relates to this article, the above is given
from refpeftable authority.
CHAP. XV.
SALVATION OF BEES.
IVIaNY of my readers will be much
furprifed at the following declaration,-
viz. That the suffocation of bees
kept in common hives is not prejudicial
to the interefl of ,the owners. This af-
fertion, I beg leave to ftate, relates only
to thofe who keep bees in single hives,
WITHOUT STORIFYING.
Contrary to my former principles,
prejudices, and pradice, and to the cur*
SALVATION OF BEES. 9I
rent opinion of writers, nothing lefs than
a feries of flubborn fads could have ef-
fe(5ted my convidlion and recantation.
From theoretic deductions, to facls I
appeal ; — to experiments, the juftnefs of
which the judicious apiator may be con-
vinced of, by making proper obferva-
tions. For thofe who keep bees in boxes,
with large w^indows, may perceive that
in December and January very few bees
are to be feen in the boxes that were
crowded in Auguft. Thofe who have
ftraw hives may, at that time, fafely turn
them upon their edge, and have a tolerable
view, to anfwer the above purpofe. The
diminution isfo great, that the fullefl hives
or boxes are then reduced to about a
QJJART ! andthis by the natural decreafe of
the aged bees. To certify this, I took the
bees from feveral hives, and found them to
meafure as by the above ftatement ; the
weaker flocks lefs in proportion.
This refult proves, that all the advan-
tage obtained by faving the bees of
STOCKS TAKEN, and uniting them to
Other flocks (the only eligible means of
G 4
92 SALVATION OF BEES.
faving), is ultimately only the fa/vafiofi of
a (luart. And as the queen muft be kil-
led by the hand, or by the Hock bees
to which they are to be united, they
cannot pofTibly make ^iXij farther increafe
in the fpring.
The queflion is then reduced to this
iflue ; Whether the multitude of bees,
united about Auguft, will not confume
(though gradually diminifhing) more ho-
ney before the fpring gathering commen--
ces, than the quart left will compenfate
by their labour ?
Befides, it is to be confidered, that
the eggs produced by the old queen of
the ftock, not being more than ufual,
want not an unufual number of workers,
to rear them ; a greater number may
pofiibly be ufelefs, or prejudicial by the
increafe of confumption. Nor do they
contribute to the produdion of more
early fwarms ; for that depends on the
early birth of princeffes, in which the.
additional bees have no fliare.
The truth of the fad is further con^
firmed by expe):iments on flocks that
SALVATION OF BEES. 93
have the bees of other hives united to
them, but which proved neither more
forward nor more prodii5iive than fingle
ones hived in the common way, not only
of my own, but of neighbours.
On the contrary, storied flocks, in
the fame feafon, were abundantly more
profperous, having provided themfelves
with means fufficient for their own pro-
fperity, in a fucceflion of peace and
plenty, and without the cruel necejjity or
trouble oi fuffocation by fire and brim-
flone.
From this declaration it by no means
follows, that the old pradice of fuffoca-
tion can be juftified; but muft be con-
demned as impolitic, and highly difad-
vantageous -, for they mnjl he very weak
who purfne a plan of condu6i of f mall pro-^
Jity when a better is offered of double or
treble advantage.
94 "' GLASSES.
/ CHAP. XVI.
BEE GLASSES.
JL HE moft convenient fhape to {et
over bees, fhould be fimilar to thofe of
pi. 2. fig I ', that is, perpendicular to
the circular top, or firaight dome.
Four are defigned for a box, one at
each corner ; and one in the middle
which is to hold /wo quarts _; the others,
only one quart each.
That of the centre fhould be in two
parts ; the lower part to be open at both
ends ; the upper divifion of the glafs to
be circular at top. There muft be a
thin circular piece of wood, of proper
dimenfiorts, to lay over the top of the
under glafs, to fupport it when fet over,
nnd in it three apertures, cut out from
the middle, by which the bees are to
afcend into the upper half of the glafs.
It will be necelTary to have an adap-
ter, or board of the fize of the top of
GLASSES. 95
the box, on which the gli^.iTes are to be
fet. Apertures are to be made in it, to
correfpond with thofe on the hive-top,
but to be hmited in length, and not to
exceed the width of the glalTes, as pi. 2.
fig- 3-
Inftead of flicks to fupport the empty
combs, STAGES feem preferable. Three
flips of wood, an inch and a half wide,
and of a length to fuit the bottom of
the glafTes : fmall holes are to be made
near their edges, to receive long pegs, or
flight fticks, about three or four inches
long, and thus form^^^c-j wherein to fix
the empty combs. The bottom edges,
and ends of the fliages mufl: be round,
or bevelled off, and the ends of the pegs
are to be cut fmooth v^ith the furface, to
prevent any impediment to the entrance
of the divider. The fmall glafTes re-
quire two fuch flages ; the larger central,
three, in each divifion ; and to be placed
fo as not to obflru<fl the apertures of the
box by which the bees mufl afcend into
the glaflTes.
r \
^0 GLASSES.
OBSERVATIONS.
When the glaifes are filled with combs, ,
the edges are to be cut through with
a thin knife, clofe to the glafs ; and a
fcifF wire, bent like an L, with its fhort
end made flat and fliarp, is to be intro-
duced between the combs. Give it a
twifl, to turn the flat end, fb as to fepa-
rate the upper part of the combs from
the top of the glais.. The glafs of two
parts is intended for the conveniency of
taking the upper part off when full, and
to be fucceeded by placing another.. All
glaflTes are difficult to crawl up by the
bees, occafioning extraordinary labour.
In fmall glaifes efpecially, the crowds
entering with their load, after muck
ftruggling find it not wanted there, nor
perhaps in feveral others ; and after all
this toil are obliged to delcend with it into
the hive. For this reafon, I have ad-
vifed none under a quart. But to thofe
who are net anxious about quantity,
fmall glafl^es to their own tafl:e will be
GLASSES. 9^
more pleafing. The greater the num-
ber of glaffes, or their magnitude, the
greater (hould be the proportion of bees
to fill them ; or the box will contain
moftly brood, and very little honey. An
addition of a good fwarm or two is, in
that cafe, neceflary.
Thofe who have large globular glafles
may have them cut in two (by the glafs-
cutters) ; and have a divifion board adapt-
ed to the under half, as direded for a
central glafs.
It may be thought that, by the ufe of
glalTes, the queen might be often difco-
vered : but the reverie is true ; (he very
feldom vifits them, having no bufmefs
there, brood hardly ever being found
therein. Once I had fome in a large glo-
bular glafs, owing to want of room in
the box below. The drones often afcend
in the glalTes to repofethemfelves. GlafTes
do not prevent fvvarming, for I have had
fwarms rife, even after they were half
filled,
pS GLASSES.
MANAGEMENT.
To place glafTes over a box, fet theni
as in pi. 2. fig. i. properly upon the
adapter -, Hide the divider under the cover
of the box, and fet the adapter and
o-laffes on the divider ; then holding it
fteady with the left hand, withdraw the
divider by the right. Then cover the
whole with a dark-coloured cloth. It is
proper to omit infpeding them for two
or three days. Any chafms that may
happen by the glalTes not fitting clofe,
or by not being wide enough for the
openings, may be covered by flips of
bohea tea-cheft lead.
Glaffes may be fet on flraw hives, by
having a circular adapter fet over, as be-
fore mentioned ; only be careful that the
glaffes do not ftand too near the edges,
fo as to prevent the body of a ftraw hive
from furrounding them, or the ftraw co-
ver from being laid over ; and which may
be removed at pleafure for infpcdion.
GLASSES. 99
No glalTes ought to be fet over (locks,
until a duplet is about half full, left the
after-feafon fhould prove unfavourable
for ftoring the boxes. No glaffes fhould
be fet over weak ftocks. About the
tenth of July glafTes fhould be taken off;
but if duplets are well furnifhed, they
may be fafely admitted fo long as the
bees continue to place honey therein. In
cafe the bees of a duplet lie out, take
the glafTes off, and raife the flock on a
nadir.
In bad feafons^ glafTes cannot be filled
without too much impoverilhing the
flock ; probably to their utter ruin.
In four or five days of bad weather,
the bees will feafl on the honey of the
glafTes; to prevent which, take them pff.
^■But they mufl not be put on again, on a
"^ f ivourable change ; foi'' they will take the
refl of the honey ; although, when done,
they will re-fill them. Therefore put on
frelh glafTes, with empty combs.
The glafTes fhould be taken off as fafl
as filled, and replaced by 'empty ones.
lOO GLASSES.
or the openings covered with tea-che(^
lead.
Two flips of double tin^ each about
half an inch wider than the bottom of
the largeft glafs, are neceflary to take
the glafles off by. Slide one under the
elafs to be feparated, and the other under
the firft -, then withdraw the upper tin>
with the glafs thereon, while the other
is kept clofe and fleady in its place, till
an empty one is fet on. The glafs taken
off is to be conveyed to a darkened
roomj and turning it on its fide, to-
wards the light, the bees will fly diredly
thereto, and foon quit the glafs. If they
do not, tapping on the fides with the
hand, or blowing with a pair of bel-
lows, will make them foon relinquifh it.
Small glaffes are to be taken off in the
fame way , but by taking them to three
or four yards diflance, and tapping with
the fingers on their fides, with the bot-
tom upwards, and gradually walking on,
the bees will efcape without anger or
danger. Or they may be laid on their
GLASSES. 101
fides on the ground, and the bees will
quit leifurely of themfelves.
Thefe operations will be rather an amufe-
ment, than adls attended with fear, when
a little pra<^ice has made them familiar.
Spare virgin combs fliould annually be
referved for decoys to the glaffes. They
fhould be kept in clofe boxes, or draw-
ers, in a dry room, wrapped in papers,
that neither duft nor the wax-moth may
injure them.
CHAP. XVIL
DEPRIVATION, t>R THE TAKING
UP OF HIVES OF HONEY.
Di
DEPRIVATION is either partial or
general : the partial is that of taking
hives or boxes as foon as they are judged
to be full. When a flock has been fo
profperous as to have the triplet full,
it muft be then taken off, and another
triplet fet in its place ^ but the duplet
muft remain, while a continued fepara-
102 DEPRIVATION.
tion of triplets may be made as often as
they become filled.
To know when ilraw hives are nearly
filled, flrike round the body, and if it
feel hollow, and a fmall buz be heard, it
is a fign of their not being near full ; but
M it feel folid, and dead to the ftrokes,
and a great buz of fome continuance
follow, it indicates its fulnefs.
Through the windows of boxes this
may be difcovered at fight.
Triplets are to be taken fo long as the
feafon and weather are favourable for pro-
ducing honey ^ otherwife the flock mufl
be raijed on a nadir. Place the hive
taken, a confiderable diflance from the
ftock y and if in two or three hours the
bees remain quiet, there is a prefumptioh
of its having a queen, or brood, and it
mufl be fet on again. But when all the.^
three hives appear crowded with bees, fo
as to want more room, fet the hive that
was taken, with its door as near as can be
to the flock door, fo as not to obflrudl
it ;. laying a flip of wood as a bridge from
one to the other: and place an empty
DEPRIVATION. IO3
thplef on the flock. The hive being
placed thus near to the flock, witii its
floor touching, will be efleemed flill as
one family, and the brood reared as fuch;
and in about three weeks may be taken
away. The brood in tliat time v^illbe
matured, and the cells filled with honey.
But in the interim, if an unufual crowd
or diflurbance, or crumbs of wax, are
feen at the door, it is a token that the
flock bees, or fome others, have begun
to pillage. Obferving tliis, take it di-
redlly to a dark room, and cover it up
for a few hours : if then the bees are
quietly efcaping, let it remain till morn-
ing, and then fume it, whatever be the
flate of the bees.
But if, after the triplet has been taken,
the flock is in confufion, it is a fign that
the queen was therein (though this fel-
dom happens), and it mufl be replaced.^
This CAUTION is particularly necefTary
to be obferved, in refped of all hives
when taken ; as fometimes a young queen
may relide in one hive, and the old one
in another ^ or the old queen may be in
104 DEPRIVATION*
it herfelf. This is often the cafe with
duplets which have farina and broody
and that even though the upper door had
been timely fhut. Generallyy when a
nadir is half full of combs, and the door
of the upper hive has been kept fhut^
the queen begins to lay her eggs in the
nadir; therefore, in about three weeks
after, the brood in the fuperior hive will
have been hatched, and the cells filled
with honey, and proper for taking. No
DUPLET is to be feparated in autumn,
unlefs the hive left, in all appearance, is
quite full ; then that which feems moll
likely not to have the queen may be taken ;
but if this cannot be determined, it is
moft eligible to let both (land. The bees
will not be the worfe for having more
food than is neceffary (if kept warm in
winter) ; but may perifh by having too
little, which may happen in a protraded
bad fpring.
Bees will not quit a hive that has brood,
whether upper or under, without fuming
or driving. The following day after a
hive has been feparated, if farina has
DEPRIVATION. IO5
been carried in, it (hews all is well ; but
if not, return the hive that fails to the
flock again.
When it happens that a feparated hive
has a queen^ and is well ftored, it may be
kept, if fuch an increafe is wanted ; pro-
vided the . flock left has alfo a queen.
But if, unfortunately, the flock queen
has been killed in the operation, reftore
the hive taken, to its family.
The BROOD COMBS of hives taken,
fhould be handled with great tendernefs
and circumfpedlion, that none may be
damaged or cruflied. Rather cut into
the honey cells than into the brood ^ and
let them be kept warm, until they are
fet over a flock. Place them in an empty
hive reverfed, without its cover; the
combs to be difpofed fo as to touch each
other as little as pofhble, by placing flips
of wood, half an inch in thicknefs, be-
tween, to give fufficient fpace for the
young to be excluded, and for the paf-
fage of the bees to nourilh them. At
night fet them over the flock they came
lo6 DEPRIVATION.
from, or fome other <hat needs re-
cruiting.
Deprivation fhould always be done in
the evening, as foon as the bees are re-
tired to reft ; that there may be fufficient
light leifurely to perform the operation.
The GENERAL TIME OF DEPRIVA-
TION, OR TAKING UP OF STOCKS, Va-
ries in different counties^ according to
their different temperatures ; but about
the latter end of Auguft is the ufual
feafon.
Bees kept in Jtngle hives ought to be
taken- when honey-gathering begins to
ceafe. This may be known by a dimi-
nution of a6tivity in the bees (if not
from bad weather) ; for, when this hap-
pens, they begin to feed on the hive ho-
ney, beginning with the unfealed or ex-
terior cells firft. Therefore, the longer
they are permitted to ftand, the lefs honey
there will be in the hive, when taken j
and that in proportion to the number of
bees it contains ; which at that time con-
fume a great deal in a little time, and
confequently prove an abfolute lofs. This
DEPRIVATION. IO7
IS meant of flocks taken the common way
to be dejlroyed. What hive honey they
have eaten can be of no profit, when the
bees themfelves are foon to be killed .
But this is not the cafe in the story
METHOD, the bees of which are always
faved ; and therefore no difadvantage can
arife from their ftanding. For if a du-
plet that has ftood be taken after having
eaten a good part of the honey, it has
faved a like quantity of the flock's, which
they would have confumed, had they
ftaid on.
At the ufual feafon of deprivation
there is generally much brood, whofe
prefervation is of much importance : for,
coming into birth fo late in the fea-
fon, they will furvive through the next
fimmer^ till the honey harvefl terminates.
This broody this preferved, is of more
worth than twenty times the number of
promifcuous bees, takpn from a flock^ and
incorporated with another -, even if the
flock fhould profper, which is very doubt-
ful, as experience verifies.
I08 DEPRIVATION.
It is furprifing, that the falvation of
the brood has never been noticed 3 al-
though every one, on taking combs out
at this feafon, might have obferved brood
therein, in their feveral ftages of mag-
gots, or nymphs, and often of eggs.
Regardlefs thereof, they are mafhed in-
difcriminately with the honey-combs ^
thus greatly injuring its quality by fuch
ill-judged condud.
In the ftoried method^ inftead of the
general deprivation of duplets in Augujly
I apprehend, for the reafons above af-
figned, it will be eligible to defer it to
the latter end of September, or the
beginning of Odtober; or till the wea-
ther is too cool for the bees to work
much out y by which time all or moil of
the brood wall have been matured, and
have left their cells, without the rifk of
deftroying any of them : befides the ad-
vantage of performing the operation with
more eafe, fafety, and fatisfaftion ; as at
that time, from having neither brood nor
princefs, the bees will quit the duplet,
DEPRIVATION. I09
when feparated, in a few hours, of them-
felves, without fuming.
hi wet and cold fbafons, honey-ga-
thering is very fcanty ; a -^ircumflance
which leaves numerous vacant cells for
the rearing brood, and thereby renders
deprivation much later than ufual. For
the hives may feel heavy, but it will not
be from honey, but moflly from farina
and brood (efpecially if the flock is of
two years {landing) ; which may lead
the apiator into a fatal error, as thinking
the (lock ric/i, though in fad it may be
very poor, and die of famine in the fpring.
Stocks left double are not liable to this
cafualty.
To JUDGE OF THE WEIGHT AND
CONDITION of a flock fit for ftanding,
befides the direclion given before in this
chapter, lift the flock a httle up : if it
feels of a due weight, that is, about
twTsnty pounds exclufive of the hive, it
may be fafely concluded as fit to keep.
It will be ufefui on feveral occafions to
numl?er and zveigh the hives and floors,
before the bees are put in. By this
H
no DEPRIVATION.
means, any evening, by flopping the
hive door, they may be readily weighed,
without any diflurbance to the bees.
If any o^the flocks remain trebled
till Augufl, take away the moft empty;
for it is advifeable, that the ftocks, in
general, be reduced to duplets at this
period. Thofe that have but few combs,
are obvioufly to be taken. In a cold
evening or morning, an afTiilant may lift
the hive liigh enough up, to j^ermit the
apiator to look underneath, which he
may do with little danger, or diflurbance
to the bees. The doors of all duplets
that feem moft viicant fliould be fhut.
All Jtocks in common hrcesy that . are
light, Ihould be taken ; and none kept,
unlcfs about twenty pounds weight.
Weak flocks fcldom furvive the next
fpring ; but, if by chance they do, turn
to little account, not adequate to the
trouble and ex pence of feeding. One
Jirong fiock will be more produciive than
four weak. ones. Neverthelefs, in ex-
traordinary fituations and icafons, they
m.ay yield tolerably well.
DEPRIVATION. Ill
In favourable fealbns three hives have
been taken off, each yielding twenty-
pounds of combs, though in a fituation
that was but middling.
Two or three cafls joined together,
have accumulated honey very rapidly ;
while their feeble neighbours, having
tiw collectors, loft that fliort but preci-
ous opportunity.
It is beft to SEPARATE boxes about
ten in the morning, when the greateft
number of bees are out ; as it can be
done with more eafe and fecurity than in
ftraw hives.
In fmall apiaries, the divider had bet-
ter be fhoved under a hive the night
before, and then the bees will be fo little
difturbed as hardly to relent it.
When bees are terrified by the opera-
tion of deprivation or other violence,
they become regardlefs of their queen
till the panic has fubfided. At the lea-
ibn of deprivation, the light ftocks had
better be incorporated, three or four, at
dilcretion, in a hive, and proportionally
furniflied with honev.
H 2
iI2 FASTURAGE*
CHAP. XVIII.
OF PASTURAGE, OR BEE-FLOWERS.
A PLENTIFUL aflbrtment of bee-
flowers is a confideration that requires
attention, if we defign to favour an ample
producLion of honey. The nearer the
pafturage is to the apiary, the more
journies the bees can make in a day, and
confequeiitly the fooner they will be able
to fill tiieir hives.
The PRODUCT from a large fupply,
but at a {i\\2i\\ J)nall dijiance^ and in a
iem-perate Jituation, even witli the common
management, will be fuperior to that of
the moft fkilfui in a bad one. On the
contrary, with bad management, and
with fcanty pafturage, and indifferent
iituation, a very trifling profit can be
expecled.
Britain in general is but thinly
flocked with bees. Few farmers in com-
parifon eftcem them worth their notice ;
PASTURAGE. II3
it is from the attention of cottagers
we derive the chief fupply of honey and
wax. It will be readily admitted, that a
large number of flocks kept within a
fmall circuit and in a bad fituation, will
be prejudicial to that circuit, as being
more than can be fupported in afRuence ^
and will neceflarily impoverifh each other.
The ftate of any particular fituation may-
be known by the general produd for
feveral years together, and not from one
or two years only ; but more certainly
from what a very good feafon will pro-
duce, which may be accounted as a
ftandard.
But there are many Jttuat ions capable of
feeding a much larger number of flocks
than are to be found on them How-
ever, if the generality of farmers and
cottagers individually would keep a few
flocks, nearly all the honey and wax this
country could produce might be collected.
This would not only benefit individuals,
but might allb be of real national utility-
In many counties, cottagers' wages
are ico low to enable them ever to pur-
H 2
114 PASTURAGE.
chafe a Iwarm or flock of bees, efpe-
ally if the}^ have famiHes. It is a pn^
dent and commendable method they have
Jicre^ of giving credit for a flvarm, to be
compenfated for by Xh(t firji good one that
it yields X^at next year, and about a quart
of honey for intereft. I hope this fraclice
will become general, among tbefe in-
duftrious and ufefiil people. I flatter
myfclf that the well-known benevolence
of the British Gentry will induce
them to aflign fome part of their in*
fiuence to promote it.
Large heaths and commons, fur*
rounded with ^voods, are noted for
being abundantly produdive : the firjl
abounding with wild thyme, and various
other flowers untouched by the fcythe ;
and the other with profufion of farina
and honey-dews. Heath and broom are
very ferviceable, as continuing long and
late in bloom.
It is remarkable that the domeftic bees
are very nice in their feledions, and do
not rove from one fort of flowers to thofe
of another, indifcriminately. They are
PASTURAGE. 11^
limited to a few kinds. Thofe of the
moft gaudy colours, and which afford
the moll refplendent fhovv, and agreeable
odours, are moilly negledled by them,
as hyacinths, jafm.ines, roies, honey-
fuckles, &c. while very fmali flowers, or
thofe of httle note, are to them plentiful
fources of nedlareous fweets.
A Liji of Bee Flowers.
Winter aconite, lauruftinus, hazel,
fnow-drops, crocus*, fallows, ofiers**,
primrofes, hepaticas, violets, ilandard
almonds, fmgle wall-flowers*, onion,
goofeberry, apricot and other fruit trees,
laurel, turnips*^ all the fpecies of braf-
fica, or cabbage*, dwarf-alm.onds, rofe-
maiy, firawberry, tulip, white-thorn,
heath, gorfe, flar of Bethlehem, borage*,
viper's buglofs*, rafberry*, laburnum
tacamahacca*, columbine, barberry,
bean, yellow lupine, fyringa, fweet-
brier, muflard, tares, white clover**,
cv. cumbers, greek, valerian, fenna,
H4
Il6 PASTURAGE.
French willows, holly-hock, fci'pyliia or
creeping lemon thyme**, capers, w^hite
poppies*, mignonette**, blackberries,
lime-tree*, chefnut, mallov/s, hyffop,
teazle, buck-w^heat, naflurtium, yellow
vetches, faint-foin, alders, fcabious, fun-
ilower, broom, Michaelmas daifies, win-
ter favory, Jacob's beard, purple houfe-
leek, tree-ivy -, and a few others of lefs
ijiote.
Thofe marked with * are fuch as pro-
duce the greateil quantity of honey, or
farina-; and thofe with **, fuch as yield
the JineJI honey. Some of them afford
both honey and farina. They are ranked
nearly in the order they blow.
Bees are moil fond of fpots where
large quantities of their favourite flowers
are to be found together. Fields of
buck-wheat, or white clover, will
be thronged with bees buzzing their joys,
fo as to be heard at a great diftance j
while plants that afford finer honey, but
fcattered here and there, will be negleded
When feveral forts of honty ^ozvers grow
near each other/ they will only colled at
PASTURAGE. II7
firfi from thofe that furnifli the befl
honey. For inflance, if feveral fpecies
of thyme are planted together, they will
prefer the creeping lemon thyme onh\
as long as its flowers laft. In feafons of
fcarcity, they are obliged to take up with
fpecies of a very inferior ^^uality, and fuch
as they would defpife at another time.
Befides the acquifition of honey,
FARINA is of great importance to make
bees flourilh. It is the diift or flour
found on the Jiamina of flowers, and
which contains much efiential oil, vifible
to the naked eye on holly-hocks. The
precious concrete fubftance the bees col-
left in little balls, on their hind legs, or
by the hair of their bodies. The balls,
on their return home, are flruck off
from their legs, in its crude flate or by
biting it off piecemeal, and are depolited
in- their cells ; other bees often affifling.
Probably the farina of different colours
may be alfo as different in quality.
Its USE \s partly to feedthemfehes, and
partly to nourifh the young. That gz-
thered in fummer is immediately fwaj-
H5
llS PASTURAGE.
lowed, and by their digefllve faculties
converted either mio food, or zvax where-
with to form the combs, and which is
difcharged at their mouths in 2ifoft ftate -,
fo well adapted is it to its intended pur-
pofe. Therefore, when a fwarm is newly
hived, little or' no farina is feen to be
carried in ; and a proof of this may be
had^ by an attentive obfervation to
boxes.
Wax is alfo drawn by the bees from
the refinous and baifamic juices of trees 5.
the purer fort from the leaves, and im-
ported under the folds of their bellies.
The bees that have the good fortune to
acquire this precious article, on their
arrival in the hive fhake themfelves very
much, as though they had a difficulcy to
dif ngage it ; and ytt are impatient that
others fhould do it for them. Tar and
paint they will hkewife load themfelves
with, much to their prejudice. Ta-
CAMAHACCA yields relin fo abundantly ,,
that the bees are very profufe of it,
daubing the box windows fo m.uch there-
with as fcarcely to be feen through
PASTURAGE. II9
Combs made with it are coarfe and
ciumiy. On the contrary, thofe made
from white clover, or white poppies, are
white and ele2;ant.
Wax from Africa is chiefly drawn
from relins of the nature of turpentine
llibflances, and for that reaion bears a
lefs price than Britilh,, w^hich is chiefly
from flow^ers.
Sallows furnirh a larger quantity of
farina than mofi other plants, and that
as early as the bees have occafion for it.
Rofemar}^ is the hrfi: aromatic plant that
blows ; it grows wild in fome parts of
France, and is the caufe of that fupe-
riority for which the Narbonne honey is
efteemed. Mignonette yields good ho-
ney, and is valuable for its long continu-
ance in bloom, even till November.
Beds of it near an apiary will be of
advantage, as will edgings of creeping
lemon thyme along the borders of the
garden. Single wall flowers in plenty
will be ferviceable. Lime trees are
not to be negleded about apiaries, ferv-
ing in a donhk capacity by their flowers.
12.0 PASTURAGE.
and by their leaves which are frequently
covered with honey-dews.
Neither beans nor orchard trees
afford any great quantity of honey ; as
may be obferved by the flocks in Here-
fordfliire, which, tJion.gh abounding in
orchards, is not more produdlive in ho-
ney than other counties. In contrail to
this, the borders of Cambridgeihire and
KertfordOiire, and part of Hampfhire,
abounding with large heaths, commons,
and woods, are much more produdive
than any other part of the kingdom.
Farmers there have been known to keep
from a hundred to a hundred and fifty
ftocks of bees.
Viper's buglofs is a plant much like
borage. It is a very troublefome weed
in corn, among which it is found in many
places in. great plenty ; and is fure to
make rich hives -, it has a biennial root,
delights in chalky or dry foils, and will
grow on old walls.
But borage is the king of bee-
flowers ; it is annual, and blows all the
iummer, till the frofl cuts it off. It
PASTURAGE. 121
affords honey, even in cold and fhowery
weather, when other flowers do not^ ow-
ing to the flowers being pendulous The
feeds drop, and low themfelves j the ho-
ney from it is fine.
To find the quality of the honey from
any particular fpecies of flowers, if they
are in confiderable quantity, fet fmall
glalTes over a flock at the time of their
flowering, and they will chiefly be filled
with honey of the predominant flavour.
Lavender and balm, though fine aro-
matics, yield little or no honey in our
clim.ate; though they do in warmer
countries. In ours, where wet and cold
fo cfteti occur, the changes are fo fudden
(but generally not in all counties alike
at the fam.e time) as to affed the flowers
in the difference of their products, fuit-
ing one fort, and not another. Lavender
-is a particular inftance, which is veiy
abundant, and yields a large quantity of
honey late, when moft others have done.
Very dry summers are as unfavour-
able, in caufing the flowers to fade and
die too fpeedily to yield much honey.
122 PASTURAGE.
Furze or gorfe, In many parts of Britain,
the bees colleft from; yet, in the vici-
nity of Pembroke, I have obferved it to
be entirely negleded by them : whereas
the quantity here is fo large in the hedges
and fields, that the product of honey
would be very great. Rape is very bene-
ficial to bees, as alfo turnip, and, as it is
later in bloom, will be ferv^ceable when
the other is gone.
Some flowers, it is probable, contain
at once all the honey they can furniih,
and, when deprived of that, yield no
more, though continuing in bloom much
longer. As for inftance, white clover.
I have feen fields of it covered with
bees y but in two or three days they had
not a fmgle bee on them, although con-
tinuing in bloom, and the weather
equally favourable.
In very fcanty feafons of honey-gather-
ing, bees have been obferved to feed on
mellow-goofeberries, and ripe faccharine
pears ; but I believe none was carried in
for ftore.
PASTURAGE. I23
Bees do not fly to fo great a diflance
as has been imagined for paflurage. The
hotter the weather, and greater the pro-
fufion of flowers to be found on one fpot,
the farther they will be allured to fly,
and pafture thereon ; perhaps a mi/e, or a
mile and a half-, but generally, it is mofl
probable, they do not exceed half a mile.
When it is cool and windy though they
are fliort of provifions, they will perifh
rather than fly beyond that diflance.
Inftances of this I have feen in flocks in
that condition, fituated in a large gar-
den ; which, on being removed to the
fide of a large common, not a mile
difl:ant, preiently refumed their labours
with vigour, and profpered.
Where land is very cheap, it
feems reafonable to fuppofe, that it
might be cultivated with fome of the
mofl: produClive of bee-flowers ; fuch as
white clover to ftand and feed, rape,
muftard, borage, viper's buglofs, ftraw-
berries, raflDerries, or buck-wheat 3 mar-
Ihy wet foils,> with fallows, ofiers, or
lime trtes, which would be likely to
124 PASTURAGE.
prove of more confiderable advantage for
eftablifhing a produ6tive apiary, than to
let fuch lands remain covered only with
fourgrafs, ruflies, furze, and briers, and
fuch like unprofitable vegetables. Per-
haps many perfons will find their account
in removing their ftocks of bees to fields
of clover, buck-wheat, turnips, muftard,
or heath, according as the flowers are
earlier or later than thofe of their own
iituation.
CHAP. XIX
OF HONEY DEWS,
J^ONEY dew has in general been er-
roneoufly fuppofed to be a dew that falls
indifcriminately on all plants alike ; whereas
the true honey dew is an exudation
from the leaves of a few fpecies only^ and
that at a time when other dews do not
exift. The trees and plants on which it
is found, are the oak, maple^ fycamorcj
HONEY DEWS. 12$
lime, hazel, and blackberry ; and fome-
times, though veiy feldom, on cherry
trees and currant buflies.
Its time of appearance is about ten or
eleven o*clock in the morning, and- its
duration about four or five hours, ac-
cording as the I'ultry heat which produces
it continues. Sometimes it is- found as
early as- feven o'clock, and though the
fun does not fhine cut, if the preceding
day and night have been fultry j or when
the fun's rays are refiedled from clouds.
It is not always found in the feverai fpe-
cies at one time, perhaps only on one in
particular.
This fubflance is as tranfparent and as
fweet as honey , in facfl, it is honey. At
times it refembles Httle globules ; but
more often appears on the leaves like a
iyrup, and moftly in the old ones.
The SEASON of its ufual appearance is
from the middle of June to the middle
of July ; but varies in different counties,
and according as the weather is more or
lefs favourable. In fome years there is
none at all. In general, when fruit is
126 HONEY DEWS.
backward, fo are honey dews; even fo
late as harveft. There have been in-
fiances of honey dews izvo months later
than the ufual time, owing to the wetnefs
©f the fummer, and then but fmall in
quantity. The flocks, when taken^
were light, and thofe left moftly died of
famine in the winter ; except in the
HEATH COUNTRIES, which blowing late,
furnifhed honey that was but very ordi-
nary, and barely adequate to their win^
ter*s wants..
When a honey dew is produced, the
ftfbivity of the bees is violent and unre-
mitting : they almoft defert the hive to
import it ; knowing its time of continu-
ance to be of ihort duration, and that
on the weather fuddenly changing it is
entirely over.
While the trees are charged with it,
the bees are as though Iwarming therein^
buzzing their joys in loud acclamations.
But wo and fmart to thofe who obfl:ru(fl
their fwi:t defcent to th.ir hives !
More honey will be coiledled in one
week from dews, than in many ftom
HONEY DEWS. 127
flowers. It is obvious, therefore, how
great nuifl be the advantage ofthofe kind of
trees in the vicinity, and from tht Jlory
method^ by which the bees may (with
care) never beat a lofs for enlargement to
beftow the treafure in.
CHAP. XX.
DISEASES OF BEES.
v^OLD, foggy, damp weather, in the
winter, is very often fatal to bees,; for
then having no exercife they become
fubjed to a purging, by which they are
foon reduced very weak y and cluftering
together in a body foil each other, and
thus contaminate the whole. The figns
of this difeafe are fmall crumbs of wax
about the door, or on the floor, with
many dead bees, and much filth caked
together, and, if of fome time {landing,
mouldy, often concealing defl:ruclive
wax-moths, &c. If the bees do not
128 DISEASES.
fly out, and appear as adlive as other
flocks, it is a iymptom that they are
either dead orjiarving. In Hertfordfhire
I had many flocks affeded ; but in Pem-^
brokefliire I never had one difeafed ^
owing, I fuppofe, to the flrong and
frequent ventilation of sea air, to
which my fituation is expofed, keeping
the atmofphere always pure.
The difeafed flocks are to be taken, as
foon as difcovered, into a warm room.
Brufh away the foulnefs from the edges of
the combs, cutting out the parts that
are mouldy or black : fet the hive at a
moderate diflance from the fire, which
will revive the bees that are feeble, or
torpid ; as foon as they begin to move,
pafs among them a few drops of honied
ale ; tie a flight cloth over the hive, that
none may crawl out, and let it remain
three or four hours, to purify the damp
and foul exhalations. When the bees
are pretty well recovered, give them a
trough of honied ale in which the leaves
of rofemary have been infufed, and fet
the hive on a clean floor. Contrad the
DISEASES. I2Q
door, lb as to admit a little of the warm
air. Let them remain till next day. If
then the bees are few, or are ftiil weakly,
cover a dry floor with allies, place on
that a little hay, or ftraw, and let the
hive therein, conveying it to its ufual
ftand. Cover it well with ftraw, bags,
&:c. and notice occafionally whether their
condition may require further feeding;
which fliould be given daily, if the hive
is not fuiticiently fiored ^vith honey and
farina.
When bees fall motionlefs to the bot-
tom of the hive, it indicates that they
are chilled with cold, or in a flarving con-
dition. To prevent a further deftruction,
treat them as above, or fet them to
a plentiful flock.
Bees often fly in a defultory manner
about the hives, bee-houfes or dwelling-
houfe, in the fpring, with lamenting
tones, as though wanting fomething :
>i\\'x'iiomething is food ; for they are almofl
famiihed. By observing which of the
flocks has an unufual crowd at their door,
the diflrelfed hive may be difcovered.
DISEASES.
A frefli, diy and warm fioor muft be
given them , and they mufh be imme-
diately fed : the dcky of a day may be a
day too late.
When ftocks appear to be light, a
daily feeding is indifpenfable, till a cer-
tainty of honey -gathering has com-
menced. Or a hive or box may be cut
down to five inches, and filled with
combs of honey, properly placed, which
may laft them a long while.
The MORE BEES a hive contains, the -
greater their warmth, which caufes them ^
the fooner to become adive in the fprlng ;
and accelerates the breeding of the queen,
and the production of young. But the
quicker alfo will the honey be exhaufled.
And this is the reafon why fo many
Jocks periJJi in the fpring, when leafl
thought of; //"they WQit fcantily Jfored.
This confideration fhould operate as a
flrong inducement to keep none but *
rich flo. ks. ^
A DEGREE OF COLD that fhall throw
the few b es of a weak flock into a ufeful
lethargy, will not have that eifed on one
DISEASES. 131
that is populous. On this principle the
weak flock will furvive ; while the popu-
lous one periflies, by confuming all the
honey by the increafe of numbers ; ad-
mitting both to have din equality of ho-
ney.
When, bees in cold zveather difengage
themfelves from the body or clufter that
is in the hives, or fly out, they are pre-
fently chilled to death.
Thefe infects fufter more through the
inftability of our climate, in its frequent
and fudden tranfitions, than from a long
continuance of froil. The milder the
zvinter and fpring have been, the fooner
their ilorc is exhaufted ; and if it was
rather fliort at fird, the fooner the flock
dies ; or perchance it may furvive till the
latter end of May.
The frequent failure of stocks
has in mod countries been attributed to
WITCHCRAFT, or otYiQV fupeyjiiticus no-
tions, inftead of attributing them to their
true caiife ; badnefs of weather, or their
owner's negle(5l, or want of fiill.
132 DISEASES.
Thefe caufes operate alike in every ar-
ticle of hufbandry ; often blading the
fondeft expe6iations of the farmer. But
he will not be fo abfurd as to fuppofe that
evilfpirits, or witchcraft, have any power
to fport with mortals, or their property,
at pleafure ; much lefs that bees in parti-
cular fhould be victims to their maHce,
more than Iheep or cattle. No ! he pa-
tiently fubmits to the Omnipotent Difpofer
of all events, from the deftru(5lion of the
ant-hill to the diffolution of mighty em-
pires.
To fecure them from difeafes, it will
be neceffary (contrary to the common
opinion) to keep the hives zvarm in win-
ter, by filling tlie vacancies around and
at top of the hives with draw ; efpecially
box -hives. In fnowy weather, or very
hard froft, the door-ways fhould be
wholly clofed, which in fuch a feafon will
not be prejudicial ; provided ca.rt is taken
to unftop them immediately on the wea-
ther changing ; for as foon as that hap-
pens they will be very anxious to iflue
out for frefh air, as alfo to empty them-
DISEASES. T^^
felves. Bees fliould always be fufFered to
make their exit, except as above, as they
well know what weather they can bear,
and how long to ftay in it. It is bed not
to houfe becs in winter ; for when a mild
day comes, they will rejoice to take the
air, which contributes miTcli to pref^ve
them in health.
The bees in winter fliould be difturbed
as little as pofTible.
When bees are long confined by levere
froft, or rainy weather though in fummer,
they grow difeafed for want of exercife,
and for want of emptying themfelves.
The regulation of the doors of the
hives fliould be proportionate to the
weather and the populoufnefs..
The warmer the hives are kept the
better. In cold fprings the doors .fliould
be fliut at night, and opened in the
morning ; but be fure that the bees have
no exit,, but of the hive, or it may prove
their death.
J34 FEEDING.
CHAP. XXI.
OF FEEDING.
V ARIOUS have been the methods
and materials for feeding bees in winter.
I have found none more fuccefsful, cheap,
or convenient, than soft brown su-
gar, that is not grainy, a pound to
half a pint of mild ale, diffolved over
the fire. But as fugar is at prefent very
dear, honey may at this time fupply its
place, though inferior for the puipiofe.
This compofition, which fliould be regu-
lated to the confiilence of fyrup, comforts
and ftrengthens the bees, preventing dii-
orders, increafmg their adivity, and for-
warding the brood, if given plentifully in
tlie fpring.
It is to be adminiftered by means of
TROUGHS made of joints of elder, ange-
lica, or other kexes, ilit down the middle,
the pith and bark taken away, and re-
FEEDING. i^^
duced to fuch a depth as eafily to pafs
the door-ways of the hives. Their
length to be eight inches, or fix at the
/eoy?, and flatted a httle on the under
fide, and the end clofed with putty, or
other cement. Thefe troughs, by paffing
^ar into the hive, enable the bees to
come down to feed, without danger from
the cold, which they would fuffer in
coming to feed at the door. They are
alfo too narrow to fmother themfelves
therein. The larger the number of bees,
fo much the larger muft be their
fupplies.
When STOCKS shew signs of po-
verty, pulh into the hive a trough of
the honeyed ale (by this term I always
mean either honeyed or fugared ale, as
may happen to be cheapeft) in the even-
ing; and if the combs obftrucl: its en-
trance, pafs a long thin knife to cut a
free paffage. The next evening take
another trough full, and, puUing the
empty one out, pufh in the full one j
and thus proceed as long as there is occa-
fion. If flocks do not come down to
I z
1^6 FEEDING.
feed, they Hiould be taken into the houfe,
and fed.
Such a trough holds about half an
ounce ; one of them is enough for any
flock for a day and night. This I call
PRIVATE FEEDING. By this mctliod
they are prevented from feeding to ex-
cefs, which they are but too apt to do,
when they have an abundant fupply at
once ; and thereby bring on a loofeneis,
and prove both deftruCl:ive and wafteful.
Daily feeding, indeed, is more trouble-
fome than gK^ing a quantity at once ; but
the lafl is more expenfive, and not fo
lafe. I fed, one winter, two very hght
Hocks, through the dreary feafon of
1777, till the end of the enfuing May.
By the means, and at the- expence only
of fixteen pounds of fugar, and one
quart of ale, I faved my bees to ilourilli
in profperity. Care ihould be taken to
place no feeding article on the outjide, or
at the door-ways, as it will attrad ftrange
bees, who may alfo become robbers, and
ruin the (locks.
FEEDING. 137
In fuch a difaftrous feafon, a public
FEEDING may ho, fubftitutedy which is by
taking an old empty comb (the deeper
and harder the better), filling the cells on
one iide with honeyed ale, and placing it
on a hive -floor, and over that empty
hive, or pan; and fetting it about the
middle of the apiary. The bees will
foon flock about it in crowds, and emptr
the comb : once in 24 hours replenifli it.
They will not come out to feed in im-
proper weather, though it continues for
three or four days. Troughs of food
mull be fubflituted during bad weather.
Nor mull puhllc feeding be pra«fl:ifed
when other apiaries are pretty near, as
the bees of thofe will equally partake
with the ow^ner's. The bees will entirely
negledt public feeding, as foon as honey
can be obtained from flowers.
At a public feeding much quarrelling
will happen, between thofe who are feed-
ing, and others that cannot approach
near enough to partake for the great
crowd; but it will be unattended
with mifchief — only mere, boxing bouts
I ^
138 FEEDING.
without ufing their Jiings as in fatal
duels.
Feeding Ihould not be attempted^ un*
til the robbing fealbn is over. If any
flocks before that time are in diflreft,
they fliould have a trough given them
at night, and withdrawn in the morning.
The zveighing, or pifing of hives, in
February, to judge whether they re-^
quire feeding, ought not to be deferred
till after they have for fome time begun
to breed j left the additional v/eight of
them be miftaken for that of honey,
when perhaps there may not be a Ipoonful
in the hive, and the continual increafe of
mouths produce thefpeedier famine.
l^oz^ and then a trough, of food given to
the flocks as foon as farina is coiIed:ed>
will forward the queen's breeding, and
likewife add much to invigorate the bees
to greater activity in their labour.
I weighed a flock November the 1^1
it was then 291b. 30Z. On February
26th, the w^eight was 241b. loz. — Dif-
ference 5 lb. 2 oz. From November 2d
to February 26th is 115 days (the wea-
FEEDING, i^g
thcr mild), in which were confumed 51b,
2 oz. or 82 oz. which is but three quar-
ters of an ounce per day.
On the 8th of December a fiock
weighed 21 lb. 11. oz. ^ the nth, 2olb,
150Z. s the 2ift, 20 lb. 80Z. The
difference, from the 8th to the nth, is
120Z. i. e. almofi an ounce per day.
From the nth to the 31ft, 5 oz. is but
half an ounce per day. The weather
frolly the whole time.
In the firft tiiruen days the confump-
tion was 1 2 oz. in the ten laft only 5 oz.
On further trials, I found the refults
nearly fimilar.
From the whole I have been induced
to conclude, that a trough holding about
Aa/f an ounce of honeyed ale, daily admi-
niftered, is a Juffident fupport to any Jhck
while feeding is required
Where the price of honey is higher
than that of fugar, feeding will be of
advantage, though flocks do not need it.
For what fugared ale they will confume,
will be a proportional faving of fo much
Hock honey. Befides which, it will
I4
140 FEEDING.
caufe thofe flocks, in the next feafon, to
be . the fooner fit for florifying ; and
likewife, if it fliould be rigorous and
long, the flocks, neverthelefs, would
be rejoicing in plenty, while their neigh-
bours would be flarving tlirough fcarcity.
The feeding of bees, in fpring, is of
great advantage to them, as it enlivens
and ftrejigthens them, and ftimulates
their adlivily, caufing them to breed
the earlier. A little good ale, with
honey difTolved in it, will be very accep-
table, even though they fhould be well
provided.
Since the preceding flieets were written,
I have found a very eligible method of
feeding, by taking a half hive, or box,
cutting combs of honey down to the
proper depth, and placing them therein,
on bars fimilar to thofe of the flock
which they are to be fet over. Loofen
the cover, thrufl a divider under it, take
it off, and then carefully (ct the half box
of combs upon the divider, and imme-
diately withdraw it, and place a cover
over the ftock. The quantity of combs
FEEDING. 141
put in muft be proportionate to the
wants of the bees, to the time of its ap-
plication, and the nature of the feafon.
CHAP. XXII.
OF THEFTS AND WARS OF BEES,
jL he bees of apiaries are often enemies
to each other, and wage deftrudiive war,
compelled thereto by neceffity.
The ROBBING SEASON is fooner or
later, as the fummer has been more
or lefs favourable ; but in general it hap-
pens in March and Augujl, That of
March is but feldom and trifling: in
Auguft very frequent and formidable. I
once had a ftock attacked in this month,
and again in O^iober,
When fwarms have been late, but
numerous, or a bad feafon has followed,
it will be a very dangerous time, and
make it necefiary to contraft all the door-
I 5
142 THEFTS.
ways, as a caution of fecuiity. A few
bees will defend a narrow pafs agamft a
multitude.
As very bad feafons often occur,
which prevent flocks from procuring fuf-
ficient honey for their winter fliore 5 re-
duced to the choice of Jlarving or flim'
dering^ thofe that are ftrong chiefly prefer
the latter.
This being determined on, they fend
SPIES to difcover the Rate of neighbour-
ing ftocks ; and fuch as are found to have
but few bees, but much honey, are con-
cluded to be proper objects for an
attack.
A few of the fpies for feveral days
donge about the doors, trying to get in
to obtain more certain knowledge of
their flrength and riches -y but are driven
away by the powerful flocks, who then
plant guards at their door, which the
weak flocks do not, and therefore are
the firfl to be aflauited. The next day
they return in force, and begin a violent
fiege^ and a deiperate conflict enfaes.
THEFTS. 143
both within and without the hive, neither
fide giving quarter.
The flouted warriors make a defperate
attempt, and rufh forward and feize the
queen ; knowing that, by difpatching
her, inilant viclory is the confequence ;
for the alTaulted bees ahvays defift, and
join the viclorjs, the moment they are
apprifed of their queen's deaths become
as one fraternity, and aifift to cany their
own- treaiure to their new habitation.
But in caie the queen is protected, they
fight on with rage and fury, and death
and pillage foon deftroy the flock.
As foon as ftrange bees are perceived,
contrad the doors to half an inch ; and
when an attack is adlually begun, fiop
the doors of all the flocks ; taking care
that no admiffion can be had, at any
cliafms, into the hives, till a httle before
dark j and then open all the doors, and
the thieves will rufli out and fly home,
and the true bees, that were excluded,
will enter in.
About an hour after lift the flock up e
if it is not heavy ^ it muil be taken and
144 T'HEFTS.
feft over another flock, by fuming. But
if heav)^ and not much plundered, take
it to a dark out-houfe, and keep it there
two or three days confined, with fome
admiflion of air.
Very early in the morning fliut all the
doors, and poft a perfon near the flocks
that were moft likely to be aflaulted,
with a kind of battledore, of flight
wood, in his or her hand, with which to
llrike all the bees down that fliall appear,
and tread upon them. Continue this
Jport as long as any approach, and in a
few hours tliefe formidable defperadoes
will be deftroyed. It will be finifhed
about noon. As the apiator's bees are all
confined^ thofe killed are fure to be rob-
bers only ', but if they fliould happen
not all to be killed ki one day, keep
them ftiil confined, till night, and finifli
the w^ork next day.
When flidcks do not fhew refentment
againfl the attempts of the fjjies, and
thereupon keep guard, it is a very fufpi-
cious fign of their weaknefs or poverty.
They ihould be roufed to anger by
/
JHEFTS. 145
thmfting fome twigs into the door-way,
which will urge them to revenge, and to
guard their door.
But if fwt^ take the hive, or the
enemy will be fure to flrip it. The
guard at the doors will continue two or
three wxeks, if robbers are about.
But when robbers find all the flocks
upon their guard, and courageous, after
elTays for t\^o or three days, they will
deiifl, and retreat to other apiaries in the
neighbourhood more favourable to theii
clelign.
When a flock has been afTaulted, and
all on a fudden becomes quiet, with
great crowds of bees pafling to and fro,
it denotes the death of the queen -, on
which immediately clofe the door, and
take the hive into a dark room ; and in
the evening unflop the door, when the
flrange bees will take wing for their own
home. Then take the combs out, and
Jave the brood -^ or if the honey or brood
be fmall in quantity, referve the hive as
it was left, to fitper-kive a llock next year^
or to put a fwarm in,
146 THEFTS.
As SOON AS STRANGE BEES are feen
about the flocks, it will be prudent,
if there are any weak flocks, to unite
feveral into a well-flored hive of honey,
which will not only roufe the courage of
the bees, but render them too powerful
to be conquered.
The bees of good flocks are always
very irritable and revengeful^ whenever
invaders are on the Icout 3 nor will they
let their familiar friend the apiator at
that time approach them.
CHAP. XXIII.
ENEMIES OF BEES.
JVlANY, various, and powerful* are
the enemies and deflroyers of thefe in-
duflrious and beneficial infeds. But a
little timely care and attention would
prevent or greatly diminilh their depre-
dations*
ENEMIES* 147
The Wood-pecker^ or Tree-creeper,
ieizes the bees as they are gathering farina
off the fallows in the fpring. Robins and
fparrows will boldly wait at the hive door,
and catch them as they come out ; and
fundry birds y^/2;^ them in Xkiz\x flight.
Poultry are very prejudicial to bees,
by catching them as they pafs in or out
of their hives ; and their dung is a great
nuifance to them.
Mice get into the hives by the large
and deep gaps made for the door -ways in
common hives readily admitting them in
winter, to the defhruclion of the flock.
They often alfo make a lodgment and
breed under the crown of the hackel,
and eat their way through the top of the
hive, to the ruin of the fliock. Infpec-
tion ihould be taken to prevent it -, and
traps fet to catch the mice. A good cat,
bred in the garden, would devour them.
The doors of the hives fhould be made
too low for a moufe to enter, but at leafl:
three inches wide.
The zv ax-moth is but little noticed, or
even fufpecled of being, as it is> a very
148 ENEMIES.
dangerous enemy, deftroying many flocks
in a concealed manner. The mother
moth lays her eggs about the fkirts of
the hive, if (lie cannot elude the vigilance
of the bees, to lay them in the injide.
She fpins a clofe and flrong web to de-
fend the young, who burrow in the floors,
and progreflively confume the combs, to
the total deilrudlion of the bees.
Old straw hives, or decayed
FLOORS, are very favourable to their de-
predations. Frequent fhifting the hives,
and cleaning the floors, will prevent the
evil ; and will guard againfl other dimi-
nutive enemies, as ear-wigs, wood-lice,
and ants. The neflis of thefe fliouid be
defliroyed ; or platters of honey and wa-
ter, covered with brown paper, with
many holes, which the ants may pafs,
but not the bees, and tied dole round,
will entice them to their defl:ru(5lion.
Spiders' webs fliould not be fufFered about
an apiary.
Large slugs, orfnails without fhells,
creep into the hives in wet weather;
and are troublefome to the bees, by
ENEMIES. 149
hindering their labour, and foiling the
hive by their excrements -, caufing the
bees to be very fradious -, but they
neither confume the honey nor wax ;
rind generally, fooner or later, blunder
their way out again : for I very feldom
found one in taking a hive up, though I
have often feen four or five at a time in
boxes. By chance, they fometimes lie
againft the door-way, and flop it quite
up; which may be foon difcovered, by
the bees not being able to enter. They
may be taken out by a fharp-pointed
wire in the form of a hook.
Wasps are much more deftrudive to
fhocks than their other adverfaries, by
their fuperior flrength and prodigious
numbers ; efpecially in a year favourable
to their breeding. They are moft nume-
rous m July and Auguil. Soon after that
the workers die -, but the mothers furvive
the winter, and commence breeding
about April. But if cold wet weather
enfues, the greater part of the brood are
flarved -, becaufe the workers cannot fly
out for forage, and wafps never lay up
130 ENEMIES.
any ftore. Wet is very injtiricus to Iheir
nefts J and therefore, in a long feafon of
heavy rain, few wafps will appear till
September. But a mild winter, f\ic-
ceeeded by a hot fpring, will fo favour
the increafe of wafps, that, without the
gi'eatefl: vigilance, many flocks will fall
viAims to their power.
One wafp is a match for three bees*
They are very bold, aiid fre^tiently
encounter the moft evident danger, un-
dauntedly oppofing a hoft of bee«, to
filch a belly-full of honey. Therefore,
when cold weather lets in, knowing that
the bees keep no guard then, great num-
bers get quietly in, and carry off abun-
dance of honey ; and having once tafted
of the fweets, they will not defift till
they pofTefs the whole. Perhaps the
fame method of deflroying them, in
this cafe, as di reded for bee robbers,
would prove as effedual againfl wafps.
When walps are feen dodging about
the hives, contraft the doors to half an
inchj and fhould the bees be negligent
in guarding . their doors, roufe them to
ENEMIES. 151
anger by agitating twigs within the door
of the hive, which, will induce them to
guard, and aiTail the wafps.
Jn the fpring the mot/ter zvafps may be
ktn about old timber, with the fphnts
which they compofe their neils. On the
blolFoms of goofeberries and rafberries
they will be found often, and may eafily
be knocked down and deftroyed. Their
death, at that. time ^ will prevent a like
number of nefts from exlftir^ the next
fummer. A neft of waips, naturalifts
inform us, coniifts of thirty thoufand.
Their nefts fhould be fought for by
children ; who, for a trifle, would feek,
and give information of them. Effec-
tually to deftroy a nefl : In the evening,
when the wafps have done labour, repair
to the place, and flop all the holes of
their egrefe or regrefs. Introduce a
sc^uiB into the chief paflage, and, in-
ftantly flopping it with a fod, &c. they
will preiently be fuifocated. Dig the
neft up, and burn it. Perhaps a wild-
fire, of damp gun-powder, placed on a
1^1 ENEMIES.
piece of wood, and introduced, would
anfwer the famp purpofe.
Another way is, to make a hole in the
top of their neft (flopping all the others),
and then pouring a quantity of boiling
water down. This plan might be fubfli-
tuted for any method by means of fire,
where gun-powder might be dangerous.
I have known wafps fo abundant, that
in one feafon they deflroyed ten flocks,
in one aphry, out of twelve. A few
fhillings, prudently diflributed, probably
would have prevented this difafter, and
diminifhed their nefts ne:it 3^ear.
Hornets, in the fpring, v/ill watch
the bees as they ilTue from the hives.
When they are feen about the hives,
they ftiould be knocked down and trod-
den upon. They may be trepanned, by
placing an empty hive, with its infide
fmeared with honey, among the flocks.
Allured by this, the mother hornets will
begin to build therein. In the evening
Hft up the hive, which may be done with
fafety, if the mother is there : then {et it
down again, and in about half an hour
ENEMIES. 153
after, have a vefTel with water ready i
take the hive and plunge it a Httle way
into the water; then ftrike Tmartly on
the top of the hive, and the hornets will
fall into the water, and by a pair of tongs
may be cruflaed to death. Or, the hive
may be clofely flopped up till morning ; .
and then taking it into a room, raife the
edge next the window : the hornet will
fly di redly thereto, and may readily be
cut in two by fciffars, crulhed, or
knocked down.
Their nefts are ufually hung on the
rafters, beams, or roofs of barns, or
out-houfes, or fixed in hollow trees.
They refemble a globe of brownilh
paper.
The N£ST MAY BE TAKEN by prepar-
ing a large-mouthed bag, with a mnnmg
firing, to draw the mouth clofe. On a
rainy day, or in an evening, put on the
bee-drefs, and with great ftilneis approach
the neft, and draw the bag gently over
it, inftantly pulling the mouth fo clofe,
that not a hornet may efcape. Separate
it from the parts it may be attached to.
154 ENEMIES.
by a long knife, plunge it into a proper
depth of water, and let it remain till
morning. By this time the hornets will be
motionlefs ; then taking the bag out,
tread upon it, to crufh the neft flat.
Turn the neft out upon a parcel of ftraw,
which being lighted, will of courfe burn
them ; for the water will not kill them,
and they will revive. But if poultry are
at hand, the cakes of brood may be
taken up by a pair of tongs, and laid be-
fore the poultry, and they will foon devour
the young as a delicious feaft. The fame
may be done with the brood from wafps*
nefts.
CHAP. XXIV.
EXTRACTION OF HONEY AND WAX*
JL HE hives fliould be kept in a warm
room, till the eombs aie taken out^
fince the honey will drain out the
IXTRACTION, &C. I^^
iooner while in a fluid ftate. Turn the
hive upfide down, cut through the ends
of the Ipieets clofe to the hive ; then
with a broad but thin knife cut thoup-h
o
the edges of all the combs, clofe to the
hive, and lift it on a clean board, or
fliallow diih, having firft taken off the
ftraw cover. Then, by a chiflei or wedge,
force the body of the hive up, which
will be'effedted if the ends of the combs
have been properly loofened ; and by
this means the combs will all be preferved
in their natural order, as fixed at their
tops to the frame of bars : difengage
them Jingly with the knife, cutting a
notch out of each, where it is faflened
to the fpleet (which keeps the combs all
in their places) till the lafl is difengaged.
The combs being thus preferved entircy
lay them in a cleanly manner on dilhes,
and Hieing off the cover of thofe fealed
up, let the honey run out.
The combs of common hives cannot be
taken out whole (though (pleeted ac-
cording to my -diredions) without an
iron injrrument in form of an L. The
156 HONEY AND WAX.
fliaft to be that of the depth of the
hives, exclufive of the wooden handle ;
the Ihort foot is to be two inches long,
and half an inch wide, made fnarp to
cut both ways ; the handle, of wood, four-
fquare. This is to be paffed down be-
tween the combs to the hive top ; then
turning the inllrument half round, and
drawing it to you, the combs will be
difengaged from their fattening to the
top of the hive.
Proceed then to loofen them from
the ftdes^ &c. as above direfted, and
they may be taken out without crulhing
and breaking them to pieces.
The taking out the combs whole,
or nearly fo, is of great advantage to
the prefervation of the broody and the
purity of the honey ; which may by
thefe means be extraded without mix-
ing the fluids of brood, or dead bees, or
any other heterogeneous matter with it.
Carefully feparate and preferve the
parts of empty virgin combs by them-
felves, tor placing iii glaffes ^ and thofe
HONEY AND WAX. l£'j
that are black, droily, or charged with
farina or dead brood, keep apart.
The FINE COMBS are to be drained
and melted by themfelves, as being free
from any alloy. They may be maflied
by the hands, and put upon hair fieves,
as being pure virgin honey.
The parts of combs that have brood
or farina in them, are to be cut out
rather beyond their extent, to guard
againft the chance of cutting among the
brood cells. The inforior combs mufl
have all their defiled parts cut out, and
then be fqueezed over fieves, or bolting
cloths ftretched over flicks, laid over
dripping or other wide pans, &c. and
placed at a proper diflance from the fire,
or in a room that has one, for the more
fpeedy running of the honey. But for
greater expedition, in large apiaries />r^j
are ufed. The pots of honey fhould not
be tied down till a few days after their
filling, that the fm.all particles of wax or
other foreign matter may rife to the top,
and be taken off.
. K
158 EXTRACTION OF
The portions of combs that were laid
afide as very impure, but contair.ing
honc}^, may be cut, and throv/n into
water, to make ordinary mead ; or
brewed with mait, to make what is in
Pembrokefhire called bragget ^ or elfe
kt before the bees on broad difhes, &c.
but fp read thin to prevent the bees from
fliiiing themfelves thereby ; as may like-
wife the refufe combs after draining, and
afterwards the veffels ; firfl: ftrewing over
them hay, grafs, or herbs, to keep the
bees from being foiled. They will Hck
up every drop of honey. It Ihould be
let before them towards the evening.
But if it is not carefully done, many
bees will fuller by quarrelling ; fo that I
think fmall m.ead had better be made of
them.
Having thus drained they honey from
the combs, boil the fine combs by
themfelves, with a fufficiency of water
to keep them floating, till they are
thoroughly melted.
A three-cornered bag of ftrong linen
cloth, tapering to a point, is to be pre-
HONEY AND WAX. J ^g
pared, which is to be held by an affiftant
over a tub of cold water, while the
operator pours the melted combs into
the bag; injiantly draw the top cf the
bag clofe by a ftring, and let two penons
preis it flrongly downwards, between tw^o
^llrong flicks tied together at one end iike
a flail. Do this repeatedly down the
iides of the bag till no more w^ax illues
through. When the wax is cold, it is to
be taken from the water, and remelted
with very little water, merely fufficient
to prevent burning. As it boils, take
the fcum off as long as any rifes, and'
pour it into proper veiTels.
Thofe that are narrower at bottom
than top (the moil fo) are to be preferred,
Rinfmg the veflels and all the inflruments
with cold water firfl^ prevents the w^ax
from flicking thereto.
The vefTels or moulds for wax are to
be placed fo as to have the w^armth
of the fire, with a cloth over them, that
the zvax may cool graduaUy^ or it will
crack. When quite cold, turn out the
cakes of wax, and pare o^ all the dregs
K 2
l6o EXTRACTION OF
that may appear on the top, or bottom,
that it may be clear and marketable.
The dregs that are pared off may be
re-melted, and will yield a little more
wax.
Inflead of perfons to hold the i?ag,
which is fatiguing, it may be flung upon
a ftrong flaff, with the ends refting on
the backs of two chairs, &c.
Or a four-legged /r^Wd? might be more
eligible ; high and wide enough to
admit a tub of water in the infide ; and
with ftrong pegs fixed on the top, at
proper diftances, for fuftaniing the bag
in the middle of the frame. The bag is
to, have a running firing to draw the
mouth together.
The vefTels in which wax is boiled
ought to be conliderably larger than the
matter contained ; for when the wax
boils, it very fuddenly rifes to a great
height, and may prove of dangerous
CONSEQUENCE.
A more expeditious method of ex-
trading the wax from fine combs is,
by boiling them alone. Prefs them
HONEY AND WAX. l6l
ilightly down, ufe very little water, keep
them ftirring till the fcum rifes, w^hich
take off as long as any rifes ; but when
only froth appears, blow that afide.
When perfectly diirolved pour it into
proper moulds, and fet it near the fire,
covered over, till cold. On turning it
out, the fmall quantity of impurities
which has fubfided to the bottom, is to
be pared off.
If the cake of wax fhould by chance
feem difcoloured, re- boil it again without
water. * -
Wax, when taken off the fire, cools
nearly as foon as metals ; therefore the
procefs fliould be executed as expediti-
oufly as pofTible, or a lefs quantity of
wax will pafs through the ftrainers.
If combs are kept a confiderable time,
without being melted, they will moulder
and rot, or the wax-moth wall breed
among them, and devour the greatefb
part, and pefter the whole apiary.
A hive of three pecks, well filled with
full honey combs, of two years ftanding
will vield in general 251b. of honey, and
K3
l62 HONEY AND WAX.
not more than 2 lb. of wax. The ave-
rage run of common hives is 151b. of
honey, and ilb. of wax.
CHAP. XXV.
CHARACTERISTIC OBSERVATIONS OU
HONEY.
ilONEY varies in quality, according
to the nature of the flowers from which
it is gathered.
That from aromatic plants is the bell.
But often, through very bad weather,
the bees are neceflitated to colle(5l from
flowers of very ordinary and difagreeable
qualities ; caufing the honey of particu-
lar fituations to be bad, while in other
counties at the fame time (the weather
having been more favourable) the honey
was of a very fuperior degree of ex«»
cellence.
ON HONEY. ' 163
Virgin combs are fuppojed to contain
none but honey of the finefl: quaUty ,
yet, if the above principle be true, iuch
may be ordinary. All combs taken
from SWARMS are commonly efteemed
virgin : but this is an error, if by virgin
is meant the purefl: and beft. For every
comb, or part of a comb, that has had
farina or brood in it, is thereby rendered
impure, fo that fo much of any comb or
combs, whether of /warms or Jocks y
thus circumftanced, is not virgin.
This is evident from thQ/zvarms breed-
ing through the fummer equally with
the (locks, and their combs being equally
charged with brood and farina. The
WAX from fuch combs will indeed be
finer, and in greater quantity than that of
flocks. The continued ufe of the cells
in breeding, firft foils them, and at
length renders them impure ; but the
cells where nothing but honey has been
depofited, and which, when full, have
been fealed over, are certainly most
PURE. As to equahty, that of virgin
combs may be as ordinary as that ot
K4
164 ON HONEY.
flocks, if both were gathered at the
fame time, and from the fame kind of
flowers.
The older combs are the weightieft ;
for the bees will cement the Jkins of the
different breeds of maggots to the fides of
the cells, to flrengthen them, till at laft
they become as ftiif as brown paper.
Old farina and other matters are con-
tinually an increafing addition to their
weight and confidence, fo as with diffi-
culty to be feparated from the real wax,
even by a long boiling, and then but'
partially. Honey depofited in fuch old
combs, neceffarily receives a tinge, tafle,'
and fome impurities from them. How-
ever, parts of fome combs in old hives,
that have been lately made, may be
virgm.
It is for the reafons above, that a hive
of ftale combs, though bulky and
weighty, difappoints the expedation, by
producing, in general, only one pound
of wax,
The honey generally brought to the
London and other markets is molliv foul.
ON HONEY. l5^
and of a coarfe quality, from the caufes
aboved flated, as well as from the carelefs
and uncleanly manner by which it is
extraBed. The common method is, by
taking the combs out of the hives by
piece-meal, indijcrimhiately, andmafliing
them, dead bees, brood, farina, and
drofs all together; which mufl needs
render it an heterogeneous mafs, of a
difagreeabie and often naufeous tafle, and
unwholefome in quality
For fieves exclude only the grofTer
parts ; but the fluids of the maggots
and dead bees, with many other impure
particles, remab intimately incorporated
with the honey. By this unikilful ma-
nagement a very valuable and falutary
article of diet and medicine has been
rendered difgufting and inelegant.
With fubmiflion, I would recommend
to the nobility and gentry to purchafe
none but combs of honey, to be drained
at. home. Sophifti cations and impurities
would ihen be avoided, and fuch combs
might be feleded as are fine, or accord-
ing to iheir own fancy. Were this con-
K 5
l66 ON HONEY.
dition inJlfted iipODj the markets would
foon abound with combs of honey in-
flead of pots. '-The introduction of fuch a
ciiftom mufl: depend on the patronage of
the gentry ; without which fo ufeful an
improvement will not be likely to take
root.
Doubtlefs the price mufi: be regulated
according to the quality of the combs,
as in fugar and other articles.
Another benefit may arife from it^
the promoting of the improved Ma-
nagement of b^es ; for as in the com-
mon method few> very fetv^ fine comb^
can be produced, compared to that- of
ftorifying ; the peafantiy would thereby
by degrees be influenced to adopt it.
The comparative tafte and fragrancy of
honey are the beft criterions to judge of
its excellency. In cold weather it growls
hard and grainy^ Ibme forts are of a
whitiih colour, as that gathered from
white clover. In warm weather, or in
warm rooms, it will ferment, and grow
acid. In fome years it is naturally very
ON HONEY. 167
glutinous and thick, to what it is in
others.
Honey, as partaking of acidulous and
fallne parts, ought not to be kept in
vefTels glazed with lead, as all coarfe
ware is, but in flone : for though its
efFe6cs may not be felt by the ftrong, it
may prove detrimental to the weak and
delicate.
Sometimes a white mealy matter will
feparate, and concrete about pots of
honey, which is a real m.eal or farina that
the bees digefh with their honey. The
zMte attracts the notice, from being the
more confpicuous.
Honey may be clarified by putting
it into a bowl, and fetting that in water
over a fire. When it boils, part of the
im.purities will rife to the top, and is to
be Ikimmed off. The heat, in this pro-
cefs, however, takes off from its fra-
grancy, and, if properly extracted, it is
not neceffar}'.
It may be thought that honey retains
the virtues of the flowers from which it
is Gfatliered. This mav be true in a
l68 ON HONEY.
degree, efpecially of aromatics ; but as it
is gathered from a variety of different
flowers, of various qualities, the honey
muft partake of that of the aggregate.
We find, whatever flowers it may have
been colleded from, it flill retains its
difagreeing quality (though otherwife di-
verfified by flavour and colours), and,
if expofed much to fire, lofes its fine
Jmell and tafie. Neverthelefs, whether it
could be deprived of its difagreeing
quality, and made as agreeable as fugar,
without a diminution of its medicinal
virtues, merits the confideration of the
chemift.
The heating and griping properties of
honey probably arife from liseffential oil,
with farina largely abounds ; its deter-
gent and faponaceous qualities, from a
fixed alkaline ialt, combined with the
elFential oil.
It is wonderful, amidft the great che-
mical difcoveries of this age, that this
beneficial article fhould never have been
thought of importance enough to obtain
an analyfis^ by which a procefs might
ON HONEY. 1^9
be deduced, to free it from its offending
qualities, without impairing its medici-
nal ones. Probably _//^f// a refinement as is
jifed with fugar might produce the effe6l ;
thougli with the lofs of its fragrancy and
fine tafte.
Bees will not feed on candied honey,
nor fyrup formed of rough-grained fugar,
but fuck up the liquid part, and leave
the granules behind.
CHAP. XXVL
TO MAKE MEAD.
X O every gallon of water add three
pounds and a half of honey. Boil it as
long as any fcum arifes, which fkim off.
If it boils longer, the fermentation will
not fucceed fo well, nor will the Hquor
prove fo fine.
Pour it into a cooler : at a proper
degree of heat, put in a flice of bread
170 MEAD.
toafted hard on both fides, covered with
frefli yeaft, and with a Httie lemon peel,
or any other pleafant-tafled fubflance.
Set it in a warm place, and cover it from
the cold air. When it has fermented
two or three days, turn it up, and
flightly cover the bung-hole ; iafle it
every day, till it is found to have a vinous
flavour and fmell. Bung it then flightly ;
and when it appears to have entirely
done fermenting, flop it quite down.
If another fermentation fhould be
perceived, leave the vent peg out for
fome days. Having flood fix months,
if it is fine, bottle it ; if n6t^ draw it off
the lees, drain them out, without rinfing
the cafk, and return the liquor into
it. Then take a long two ounce phial
(fuch as Bateman's drops or Godfrey's
cordial are ufually put in), put therein a
quarter part of chalk, in fmall bits, and to
it a quarter of water : then tying round
the neck a piece of thread or twine, let
it down into the calk, tilt its top is on a
level with the bung-hole ; when pour
in about a quarter part of the meafure of
MEAD. 171
the phial of weak fpirit of vitriol, and
inftantly let it down far enough for the
bung to go in ; but not fo low as for
any of the liquor to pafs into the phial.
Hold the firing till the bung is fafh in,
to fecure the phial from flipping down.
Care mud be taken, when the bung is
to be taken out, to fecure the firing that
the phial may not fmk into the liquor.
The quantity ftated is enough for nine
gallons.
The fixed air generatedfrom the phial
will gradually pafs into the liquor, and
not only fine, but tend greatly to pre-
ferve it from acidity, and give it the
fparkling quality of champagne ; taking
off the difagreeable lufcioufnefs fo com-
mon in mead. Having 'ftood foiir or fix
months longer, it will be fit to bottle.
If any part of the fpirit fliould rife with
the fixed air, or by other means get into
the liquor, it will be harmlefs ; being
often prefcribed in medicine.. Perhaps
Iharp vinegar may smfv^ei* as well.
I conjecture malt and other fermented
liquors will equally be benefited by a
iy2 MEAD.
fimilar ufe of the vitrioUc acid. Per-
haps, if ufed at first with the ferment,
it would anfwer the purpofe much
fooner.
Honey is preferable iofiigar for mak-
ing domeftic wines, giving the lightnefs,
cordiality, and vinofity of foreign wines.
Mead may be flavoured by rafberries,
currants, &c. by a proper quantity of
fuch articles, that have been preferved
with honey or fugar, being infufed into
the liquors when fet to ferment. A
fmall quantity will then flavour. a much
larger quantity, than a much larger if
boiled in the liquor at firft.
If the liquor ferments too long after it is
tunned, brimftone thrown or a few live
coals, and fet under the caik, will pre-
fently reftrain it, or any other fermenting
liquor.
To promote fermentaliony care mufl: be
had that the caiks be not fliook, and
that they be kept warm, excluding much
air or light j and with the bung-hole but
loofely covered.
.MEAD. 17^
For conducing the fermentation with
fliccefs, the rule is to flop it at th^
vinous ftate, before it commences to be
acidulous: for, if not fermented enough,
it will be foul, mawkifh, and not keep ^
if too much, it will then turn four.
The practice of vintners is to fcent
their calks with the match, viz. for a
pipe take four ounces of brimflone, of
burned alum one ounce, put in a pipkin,
and held over a chaffing diih of coals till
the brimflone is melted and runs. Slips
of canvas or coarfe linen are then dipped
into it, and the powders of nutmegs,
cloves, and corianders, inilantly fprinkled
on them, and then fired, and let down
at the bung-hole, and the fames kept
within the veflel as much as poffible.-
This prevents the ropinefs of "liquors,
and a diffipation of fpirits, and confe-
quent weaknefs, arifmg from the imbib-
ing quality of new cafks.
When vinous liquors become flat,
they may be reftored with fpirit of wine,
and with railins and fugar, or honey.
174 MEAD.
Thefe articles foon render them briik,
and fparkling, and reflore their flrength.
The juice of elder-berries will com-
municate a fine claret colour and tafte.
An agreeable roughnefs may be alfo
given by the juice of ripe floes.
CHAP. XXVIL
A SUMMARY OF MONTHLY MANAGE-
MENT.
As the moft natural, it will be proper
to begin our bee year with
06ioher.
This month requires no other fuperin-
tendence, than fome calual obfervations,
viz. that the flocks are not attacked
by robbers (for this, though not com-
mon in this month, fometimes happens) ;
and that no infeds or" other vermin
harbour about the hives.
SUMMARY. if§
November
It is proper to clean the fxoors, or
rather to exchange them for clean and
warm ones. Cover boxes, efpecially
about the tops, with matts or ftraw.
If any flocks are light, feed them, which
in this cafe mufl be continued through
the other cold months. Clear away
cobwebs, weeds, and vermin.
J^tmher,
Requires a continuation of the iTame
precautions. If an uncommonly fevere
froft happens, fecure them effedtually
with coverings, and clofe the doon\'ays ;
leaving only a very fmall vacancy for
frefh air. And in fnowy weather it is
to be attended to that no bees may come
out.
January,
The fame directions are to be obferved
as for the two preceding months.
176 SUMMARY.
February.
Feel the weight of the flocks : thofe
that f el light feed daily, till honey-
gathering arrives. If two or three
troughs of honied ale are given each
of the flocks in this and the following
month, it will contribute to forward the
brood.
' March»
As foon as the bees begin to work
brifkly, the floors iliould be again fhifted,
and every annoyance about the hive
taken away. Early in the n.orning will
be the propereft time.
' Thofe flocks that appear to be very
numerous (if the weather be mild) Ihouid
be duplicated.
Jpril.
The flowers in this month are often
replete wath honey, and the fbocks with
young bees, fo that fwarms are fometimes
SUMMARY. ly^
emitted i to which attention is to be
given.
Through the windows of boxes may
be feen whether honey is carried in, and
then feeding may ceafe, unlefs on a
change to bad weather. Obibrve to
double all the fhocks.
May,
- The weather in this month is moftly
very changeable, fo that light flocks
require ftiU to be fed, when it is unfa-
vourable, even to the lafl day of its
continuance. If the weather is hot,
take oif the additional coverings put on
in the other months. Be fure now to
let the bees have a plenitude of room
for breeding ; better too much than too
little. But if the weather is cold, mi%,
and damp for feveral days, and not
attended to, famine may be the con-
fequence.
This month generally flinniflies many
fwarms : therefore conftant watching is
requilite from eight |tiU three ^ other-
IjS SUMiMARY.
wife great part of the prime fwarms
will efcape.
June.
By tapping on the fides of the duplets,
it may be known whether they want
the addition of a triplet. About the
latter end of this month it is likely it
may be necelTary to take off fome trip-
lets, and to kt nadir hives under.
Be very circumfped with regard to
the ftocks that have not fwarmed,
July.
Swarms often rife till the end of this
month J and therefore the bees muft be
watched till all the hives have fet out
their prime fwarms. Take hives off,
and place nadirs under, as often as may
be rcquifite.
About the tenth^ the upper doorways
of duplets muft be flopped.
If the weather is fo hot as to endanger
the melting of the combs, give the
hives as much air as poffible, and fcreen
SUMMARY. 179
them from the fun, and pour water upon
the ground around them.
Augiifl,
This is a dangerous month for robbing
Therefore an obfervation mufl: be had
ever\^ day, to fee whether hives are
afiauited. By negleding that, many
frocks are fi-equently loft. Wafps are
to be guarded againft.
About the Jatter end of this month is
the ufual feafon of general deprivation, or
taking up of ftock^. Inftead of taking
off duplets in this month, it would be
better (I think) to defer it till the latter
end of the next month, or beginning of
Oclober.
September.
No other attention is required than a
cafuai caft oF the eye, to fee that the
fbocks are not annoyed by robbers, or
vermin.
PART II.
INSTRUCTIONS
FOK
PERFORMING
THE
OPERATIONS.
GENERAL RULES.
I.
-i- O put on the bee-drefs whenever an
operation is to be performed ; for al-
though not always necefiary, yet it will
be prudent to be prepared againfh the
worft, efpecially for the unexperienced.
For a foot may flip, or an accident hap-
pen that no human forefight could be
apprifcd of. Great care fliould be taken
after the drcfs is off, of coming near the
bees, as they will be eager to fling, for
three or four days,, though the perfon be
at a co.Pxfiderable diftance.
, GENERAL RULES. 1 8 J '
II.
Before any operation on a ilock, flop
or Iliut the door-v/ays, and be fure to
unftop them as foon as it is over, unlefs
where it is otherwife directed. The bed
material, as well for this purpofe, as for
flopping crevices, is long fliaggy i?iofs,
found on banks under hedges.
III.
Though the operations are direded to-
be performed in the morning early, or in
the evening as foon as the bees are all at
home; yet by the ufe of the dividers
they may be done at any hour ; in cloudy
mizzling days ; when the bees are out at
their labour, or have been previoufly
Ihut in very early m the morning.
L 2 No. I.
184 INSTRUMENTS OF FUMIGATION.
No. I.
INSTRUMENTS OF FUMI-
GATION
Are, firft, a Box, pi. I. fig. 4. adapt-
ed to this purpofe, of the cxdidi f^ze of
the boxes in ufe. It mufc have a clofe
bottom, nailed to the edges, and without
crevices.
On one fide a round opening mufl
be cut to receive the mouth of a quart
TIN POT from, within; and at fuch a
diftance that the pot may not be nearer
than an inch from the fide, and three
inches above the bottom.
The QUART POT, without a handle,
is to be punched round the fides as full of
holes as poffible,'^-vithin an inch of the
top (except about two inches, which
need have but few), as alfo in its bot-
tom. Tlie holes Ihould be as large as
thofe of a flour -dredger. The pot is
to be fixed in the circular opening by
mSTRUMENTS OF FUMIGATION. I 85
flat-headed tacks, with the part havino-
the feweft holes next the bottom.
Another aperture is to be cut on
the right of that for the pot, fix inches
in length and four and a half wide, 10
receive a pane of glafs ; it is to have
a fhutter to let into a bevel at top, and
reft on a ledge at bottom. A wooden
or cork ftopper muft be fitted to the pot.
It will make the box more convenient
for vifion, if a fmail window three or
four inches fquare is made in the backy
about three inches diftance from the
bottom.
OBSERVATIONS.
Without a great quantity of holes in
the pot, each at leafl one-eighth of an
inch in diameter, the matter for fuming
will not burn freely, and will thereby
hinder the effect defigned. The pot is
placed an inch from the fide, that the
bees in falling may not lodge or be
obftruded in their paflage, and thereby
f corded. For a like reafon the pot is
L d
l86 OBSERVATIONS.
three inclies above the bottom. The
circular form of the pot prevents any
confiderable number of bees from being
detained thereon. The part on one fide
having few holes, is for laying the
fumins; fubftance on.
Annexed to the fume-box is Vi frame ^
pL I. fig. 5. to nail on its edge. It
confifls of a hollow fquare^ the rim three
inches broad, and three quarters of an
inch thick -y the infide hollow, to be
equal to that of the box; the other
parts to extend over the outfide.
This frame is intended for placing//^//
boxes as well as hives over it ; and there-
fore, to fuiL it to that purpofe, its cor^
ners ha.ve four fmall pieces of wood faf-
tened^'inV to adapt it to the circular
bot^iii$''of the hives. By the breadth
of the rim^ it will likewife admit any
common-fized hive.
Other instruments are, a long
thin and broad knife, with a iquare end,
and a fquare wooden handle :
TW^O BRASS PLATES, OR DIVIDERS,
and tivo flip of ' double tin^ of the fame
OBSERVATIONS. 187
length as the plates, and three inches
broad ; or in Heu thereof two old faws
ivithout handles, and their teeth taken
off.
No. II.
The Material for FumigaiiGn.
In my former treatife I flightly men-
tioned a method oi Jiupefying bees, but
have fince that time heard that fome
perfons on trial could not fucceed.
Having always been in a habit of
driving, I did not give the fubjed: that
attention which it fo jufhly defended.
But reflecting on the great advantages
it was capable of could the difficulties
be furmounted, I ftudioufly applied to
experiments, to accomplilh this defirabJe
end, which I now fubmit to my apiarian
friends.
The SUBSTANCE bed adapted for this
purpofe is the Lycoperdon, or- great puff
L4.
1 88 MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION.
ball. It is like wife called frog cheefe,
mully puff, punk-fift, and by various
other names ; but I fhall mention it only
under that of Puffs, in the fequel.
In good foils it frequently grows as
large as a child's head -, commonly as
large as the double fift. There is alio
a fmall fort, about the iize of a fmall
apple, but of a very weak quality.
Both forts grow on dry pafture grounds,
and in woods ; and thrive where mufh-
rooms do, and nearly about the fame
time, or either fooner or later, — or fome-
times not at all.
They are to be gathered in dry wea-
ther, if poffible, and as foon as full
grown, which is in about eight days.
They then begin to turn brown and
powdery, and are f/ien moil fit for the
purpofe. But if not come to their
growth, when dried, they become too
hard to hold fire. Prefently after the
puffs are gathered, expofe them as much
as poffible to the funfhine to dry; or
for want of that, in a dry Ihade, &c.
fecure from wet or dew. Drying them
MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION. 189
by tht Jire makes them hard, however
moderate the heat.
Care muft be taken to preferve them
dry, in paper bags, in a dry room, till
they are wanted. For as they feldom
come in feafon early enough for ufe,
they fhould be preferved in readinefs for
next fummer. They are to be laid on
the hearth for an hour or two, the
evening before they are to be ufed, to
expel from them the dampnefs their
fponginefs makes them liable to j which
would render them unfit for burning
freely. Age likewile has the fame effeft,
bereaving them in part of their fbupefying
power. Puffs found in autumn in
woods, or under hedges, being dried by
a moderate fire, though not fo good,
may do for want of better. Puffs kept
longer than the fecond year, retain little
virtue.
Thofe puffs which in a dry feafon have
become mature, light, and dry, burn
the beft of any. The lighter and more
fpongy the puffs are, the readier they
burn. Thofe that are gathered in, or
I' 5
IpO MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION.
loon after, wet weather will be Ycry
tardy in burning, being deprived in a
great meafure of their virtue, however
dried afterwards ; as will thofe that have
been dried, but fuffered to get wet again,
but which redrying will not reflore.
When a zvet feafon, or any other
cauie, has hindered the acquifition of
puffs of a good quality, they Ihould
be flieeped in •dfolution of nitre (fait petre)
•in water, viz. a tea fpoonful of nitre grofsly
powdered, to a pint of water. After
the puffs are foaked therein, they are
to be well dried, and, thus treated, will
quickly take fire, and retain it.
But if puffs are very bad, rub a piece
of camphor, of the bignefs of a pea, to
powder, and then add a little linfeed oil.
This being fm eared lightly over a puff,
will immediately take flame by a candle;
blow the flame out, the puff will conti-
nue to hold fire, and fume till reduced
to tinder.
It is to be noticed, that mofb dry
puffs will readily hold fire in the open air :
but when intr-^duced into a clofe box,
MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION. I91
excluded from freili air, they cease to
FUME. And Ilaould frelh air be admitted,
it would counteract tiie flupefying qua-
lity of the fume already admitted, and
delay the operation, or make it wholly
unfuccelsful ; therefore the lead frelh air
pofTible lliould be admitted.
No. III.
The Method of Fuming.
Take as many pieces of puff, each
about the fize of an egg, as the fume
pot vvill hold v/ithout prefiing ; lay the
pieces on embers, or live coals, in a
chafling-diOi, or the ■ like : when they
appear to fame v/ell, put them nimbly
into the pot of <:::.; flime-box, and im-
mediately flop the mouth. The hive or
box of bees being previoicfly fet over the
box (with all the crevices flopped, that
no fmoke may efcape), in about fifteen
192 METHODS OF FUMING.
or twenty minutes the bees will be stupe-
fied, and fall from their combs into
the fume-box. This will the fooner
happen if the hive or bee-box is now
and then gently tapped on the top.
When the fmoke firft rifes, it caufes a
great buzzing among the bees, which
gradually ceafes as they become fenfelefs ;
and then they may be heard to drop
down, and will recover again in about
the fame fpace of time on the admiffion
of frefli air, and without receiving the
leaft injury.
A flight fuming will at all times render
them very peaceable, though not quite
infenfible.
A fmall portion of bran may be laid
on bad puffs when they are firft put in,
left they Ihould not retain the fire. The
Jitipefying bees is in no zvife prejudicial to
therriy fmce they foon return to their
wonted labour and activity, as if no
fuch operation had been done. Nor
do they afterwards fliow any refentment
upon that account, which is always the
cafe after driving.
METHODS OF FUMING* 193
No. IV.
A Method for Cottagers who are not po-
vided with Dividers, '
Make a hole in the ground fome-
thing lejs than the circumference of the
hive, and eight inches deep ; fpread a
cloth to cover the bottom and fides.
In the evening take a flick feven
inches long, having a flit in its end to
receive a piece of puJfT about the (ize
of an egg ; light it, flick the other end
in a clod of clay, and inftantly place a
hive of bees over it ; and they will
become as eafily ftupefied as when fuffo-
Gated by brimftone. li one piece of
pufF is not fufficient, put in two or three
upon fticks.
No. V.
194 METHODS OF FUMING.
No. V.
Or, inflead of a hole, a circular
RIDGE OF EARTH, nine inchcs in height,
with the infide hollow, and fuitable to
fupport the hive, when fet over it.
Leave a part of the ridge open to put in
a fuming-pot, which may be a fmall
earthen pan, an old tin pot, or the like,
in which put the lighted puffs, and cover
the pot with an old funnel (the pipe off)
with many holes in it, to keep the bees
from falling on the burning pufls. Im-
mediately on putting the pot under, flop
the opening by a ibd of earth, made
ready for that purpofe. If the pulFs
ihould not hold fire, run a wire, or fmall
ilick, through the fod, to let in a little
frefh air.
Or, an empty hive may be ufed for
this purpofe, in lieu of the earth ; turn-
ing the hive upfide down, and fettirg
another thereon.
METHODS OF FUMING. I95
Or, the rido;e of earth may be made
on a board, and lb be more convenient
to be removed near the hives.
If the hives are not of equal circumfe.-
rence, two fticks, of the due length,
with tv/o others nailed acrofs them, and
laid over the hive, pot, or kettle, will
conveniently iuit an}' hive you have.
Thefe methods are defigned for ftori-
fied hives only ; it being of no life to
fave the bees of fmgle hives.
No. VI.
The Ufe of Dividers,
In separating storified hives,
thrufb in one of the brafs dividers lirft,
with its turned end upward, between the
two hives ; then fhove in the other with
its turned end down-wards, and flide it
under the fiiil. At the fame time, an
allitlant is to keep bath hives from flip-
196 THE USE OF DIVIDERS.
ping out of their places. When the
apiator withdraws the upper divider, and
hive thereon, the afliftant is firmly to
keep the tinder divider from moving with
one hand, and with the other keep the
under hive fteady. The apiator, in
drawing the hive towards him, muft
move his hands gradually under the
divider, till nearly half is withdrawn ;
he will then feel it upon a poife, flill
keeping the divider clofe up to the hive,
lift it gently and carefully up, and fst
it on the fume-box, placed by him in
readinefs. The afliftant, in the mean
while, is to place another empty hive
over the flock in lieu of that taken
off, or a cover, as the cafe may require.
Keep the hand on the cover, or empty
hive, and withdraw the divider. If the
divider do not eafily come out, ufe a
pair of pincers.
Sometimes the irregularities and fnags
of the broken binding or ft raw of the
hives greatly obftrud the free entrance of
the divider. To obviate this, it is pro-
per to have two slips of double tin.
THE USE OF DIVIDERS. I97
fifteen inches long, and four wide : they
are to be fhoved in on the right and left
fide of the hive ^ introducing them at
the middle of the fides, and not at their
ends, they will then generally pafs eafily.
But if any impediment occurs, run a
broad knife between the edge of the
hive and the tin, and raik it a fmall
degree at the point of obftruclion. Or,
if it arifes from the under hive, the knife
is to enter under the tin, to difengage it.
The Hips having palTed nearly to their
whole width, the dividers are to be
fhoved in at the back or front of the
hive, as Ihall be moil eafy, and under
the flips -y by which means they will enter
with great facility. Obierve to turn
their ends as before mentioned. If the
dividers enter at the back, a perfon muft
hold his hand againfl the door-way, to
prevent the flopping from being Ihoved
out.
Particular care fliould be had, in tak-
ing out the dividers, to fet them upright
againfl fome fupport, or to lay them flat.
198 THE USE OF DIVIDERS.
to prevent their being hent^ which would
render them unfit to keep the bees clofe
m.
No. VII.
To St or if y.
To fet on ^ DUPLET, loofen the cover
of the flock, and Aide a divider under-
neath it, keeping one hand on the cover.
Take it off as foon as the Aider is ad-
jufled 5 then fet an empty hive upon the
divider, and keep tne hive faft while it is
withdi*awn. Early in the morning, or
in the evening, will be the propereft
time to do it : a pair of gloves only
will be needful.
To place a duplet under a ftock,
fet a {tool behind the ftock ; fhove the
divider under it, then lift the hive
and Aider on the ftool ; fet an empty
hive (with its cover off) and floor in the
DEPRIVATION. 199
place of the flock, which lift thereon ,
pull out the flider with one hand, while
the empty hive is kept fteady with th^
other.
A TRIPLET is to be managed in the
fame manner.
No. VIII.
Deprivation, or Separation of Hives.
First, a triplet is to be taken
in the evening. The dividers are to be in-
troduced, as by No. VI . 3 the ieparated
hive is to be placed on a floor, at fome
diflance, and then the door unftopped.
In about an hour after, or the next
morning, if the bees in the triplet are
quiet, as alfo thofe of the ftock, there
are queens in both ; but if not, (hut
the door of that taken, and fet it over
the fume box, and proceed to fume, as
by No. III.
20O BEPRIVATION.
If an under or nadir hive is to be
taken from a double or triple hive ftock,
the fame method is to be ufedj — only
the two upper hives are to be taken off
together, and placed on a flool till the
nadir is taken away, and then fet on a
frefh floor in its old fituation.
Second Method of taking Triplets
Is, for a flout man to lift up the
triplet, ftock, floor and all, and then
take them to fome apartment, in which
a ftrong form or bench is firmly prepared
clofe to the wall, and to place them on
that. It may be done any time in the
morning, \S. the bees are very early fe-
cured from coming out. Follow the
diredions of No. VI. ; only the opera-
tion may be more fecurely done, with-
out being incommoded by the bees of
the apiary, when at a diftance from them ;
and being againft a wall, the hives are
kept more ileady during the infertion of
the dividers. If the middle hive feems
full of combs, and has not much broody
that alfo may be taken.
DEPRIVATION. 201
On the GENERAL DEPRIVATION^, the
lilves taken off muft be fet apart in an-
other part of the garden, to difcover
which have queens ; as aho of the flocks.
And if any are without, the hive taken
from it mufl be reftored, and remain
fome weeks longer. The further flimi-
gation is to be deferred till the next day
after taking. It is to be noted, when
hives are lifted on the fume-box^ it fhould
be on the divider^ which is then with-
drawn, ]3y which means no bee can
efcape. The flupefied bees are always
to be put in an empty hive, and placed
before the flock, on fome fupport.
To SEPARATE DUPLETS, is fo ob-
vious from what has been written, as to
preclude further dire<5lions.
Cottagers mufl purfue the methods
of No. IV.
Many times the edges of straw
HIVES will be fo uneven as to fufFer the
bees to pafs under them, fo as to be very
troublefome on the introdudion of the
dividers. To remedy this default, pre-
pare a narrow flip of coarfe linen cloth.
202 DEPRIVATION.
about three inches wide, and of a length
fomewhat more than the circumference
of the ftravv hives in ufe. Two fmall
wire hooks are to be fixed at one end.
This cloth is to be thoroughly wet, and
drawn round the body of the hive, about
an inch and a half above the bottom
edge. When the dividers are to be ufed,
raife the edge of the cloth, jufl high
enough to fuffer them to pafs a little
under, and let the cloth drop clofe
round. Its weight will render it fo clofe
as to exclude any bee from pafling.
It will many times happen, that a
few bees will flill remain in the hive,
notwilhftanding the mofl powerful fumi-
gation, by having fecured themfelves in
the empty cells ; or by the fume not
being flrong enough when Ji?^ put in.
In fuch a cafe, throw a cloth over the
hive, and take it into the dark room,
there to remain till the next day -, when
gently drumming or tapping on the fides
and bottom of the hive, they will rife
to the edge of the combs, and fly home,
without iliewing any anger.
DEPRIVATION. 205
When a hive is cleared of bees, the
brood combs fliould be properly placed
in an empty hive, inverted on a divider,
and fo placed over the itock. This muft
be done very leifurely, left it provoke the
bees to deflroy the young. If one hive
will hold them, put the refidue in an-
other, which fet over fome other Hock.
Boxes are much eafier feparated than
hives, from having their edges more
even, though the like obftacles will
fometimes happen ; and which aje re-
lieved by the fame means as for hives.
But the ufe of tin flips will not be
requifite.
It will be advifable for the unexpe-
rienced to praAife the manner of opera-
tion by trials on empty hives with a
weight laid over them,, before they at-
tempt with hives of bees.
Care muft be taken, that as few bees
may be killed as pofiible ; efpecially
where the queen's death would be the
ruin of the hive.
Cottagers fhould feparate the combs
from the bottom hive the night before.
104 DEPRIVATION.
by a knife ; when they are to take the
hive off, give it a kind of twift, and
then lift it on the ridge of earth, as by
No. IV. while a perfon inftantly throws
a cloth over the top of the hive left,
there to remain till next morning ; then
placing the edge of the ftraw cover jufl
under the cloth, fhove it nimbly and
clofely with the right hand, while the
cloth is kept fmooth with the left ^ by
which means the bees, and pieces of
combs, that were lodged on the top, will
be pufhed oif by the Hiding in of the
cover. But if the cover does not fit
clofe, flop the chafms with mofs till cold
weather comes, when the obllru(5tions
may be pared away with a knife.
No. IX.
The Re-union of Swarms with their Stocks,
or with each other.
Having hived a recent fwarm, take
it to a diftance from the apiary. Jay
RE-UNION OF SWARMS. 20^
a cloth on the ground, and flrike the
edge of the hive thereon ; the bees
will fail out in a lump. With a fpoon
tenderly divide them into three or four
parcels, putting them into as many pans,
lieves, &c. and fet each parcel at a con-
fiderable diftance from each others*
light. Thofe parcels which have no
queen will foon return home again.
That which remains take to a darkened
room, and fume, as by No. III. This
done, turn them out upon a table, and
w^ith a fmall ftick difengage a few at a
time from each other, and look atten-
tively for the queen. If not found in
the firft number, flrike them off the
table into an empty hive, and thus proceed
with the reft. When (he is found,
inftantly feize her between the finger
and thumb, and put her into a phial
with a notched cork, and about a dozen
workers v;ith her, to keep her warm and
eafy. Infpedl the remainder of the par-
cel, left there fhouid be another young
queen. Include them all in one hive.
2o6 RE-UNION OF SWARMS.
and {Qt them down before the flock, to
which they will gladly unite.
But iliould a queen not be found, it
is poflible ihe may have fallen down, and
been cruflied. In that cafe the bees will
foon fliew their inquietude, and return
home. If not, give them a flight fum-
ing, and proceed as before, but with
more circumfpedion.
Keep the captive queen two or three
days, when, if there Ihould be no occa-
fion for preferving her, death mufl be
her portion. For, if let loofe, (he will
return to the flock, and occafion a repe-
tition of the'procefs. Or elfe mxake an
artificial fvvarm with her, if wanted.
By the like means , asm a n y swarms
as rife may be added to the ftock, or
united v;"kh oue another^ to form a pow-
erful fliock of themfelves. Only then
keep the bees in the hive, with a cloth
over it, and take them out by a fpoonful
at a time, to examine them, puhing the
cloth over after every fpoonful, to prevent
their reviving too ioon.
• ll.E-'D^NION OF SWARMS. 207
Or, swarms may be united, three
or four, or more, together, to form a
ftock, as directed at pages 99 and loo,
or at deprivation time.
When two queens rife together with a
fwarm, and are hived, but prove hoftile
to each other, fumigation will reconcile-
•them. The firft queen that recovers
will be acknowledged, the other flain.
If a fvvarm that is to be united is tu-
multuous and mifchievous, the giving
them a flight fuming will make them
more tradable. It is worth remarking,
that bees are often adverfe to receive
ftrangers atone time, buf will cordially
receive them at another ; therefore they
muft be humoured.
No. X.
Captivating the Queen of a Stock.
Fume the ftock, and examine the
bees, as in the foregoing article. Some-
M 2
208 CAPTIVATING THE QUEEN.
times JJie^ as well as fome other bees,
will evade the efFe(5l of the fmoke, by
entering the empty cells (which is equally
the cafe even with brimftone), and there-
fore muft be proceeded againft as before
dire^led. To diflinguifh a queen, a
previous knowledge lliould be acquired,
by inlpedling the bees that have been
fuiFocated. A queen may be attached
to any part, by pafTing a filk thread
round her neck, and clipping off part of
one wing. Where flie is fixed, the
Iwarm will furround and never quit her.
Or a queen may be captivated thus ;
Put ^ the ft>ces,that have, a, queen into a
hive or box, whofe top has long flits of
only five thirty -Jeconds of an inch in width.
The working bees, by much tapping on
the fides of the box, or by blowing the
fmoke of tobacco in, will ilFue out, and
leave the queen behind, as flie will not
be able to pafs the flits, if accurately
made.
UNION OF STOCKS.
209-
No. XL
Out-Iiea to recruit weak Stocks.
At the clofe of the evening, place a
floor on a level with, and to touch that
of the outliers ; bring the zveak flock
pretty near ; then with a fmall flick very
leifurely flroke the out-liers down on
a vacant floor. Inflantly take away the
Hock, and fet it at a httle diflance,
while an afTiftant places the weak ftock
over the floor of out-liers, its edge being
kept raifed by a wedge. Let them re-
main till day -break, by which time
the idlers, in all probability, will have
afcended ; when, taking away the wedge.
replace the flock in its former fituation,
and the other at a confiderable diftance.
But when a great quantity of bees
clufler round the body of a hive, an
empty hive fhould be placed near ; when
lifting the flock upon the empty hive,
idlers and ail thereon, they will foon
find and embrace the new accomm-O-
dation.
M 2
2IO UNION OF STOCKSj
Another method is, to fpread a cloth
underneath, and by a brufh or watering
pot fprinkle water over them ; by which
means they will be unable to rife, and
may be brufiied oif on the cloth, and
put on the floor of an empty hive, and
the weak flock over them-
No. XII.
To unite a qiieenlefi Stock to another.
When a ftock in fimmer has loft its
queen, ftop the door immediately, till
the * other ftock have done work, tJien
open it for about an hour, and then ftop
it again -, flide under it the divider,
fume it, put the bees in an em-pty hive,
and fet them over another ftock. By
this means, as they gradually acquire
vigour, they will affimilate with the ftock,
without any difturbance. The hive of
combs taken rnoft likely will have much
brood therein, which is to be difpofed
of as before mentioned, and what ho*
ney there is at the owner's fervice.
OR SWARMS IN AUTUMN. 211
No. XIII. .
To unite zveak Stocks or Szvarms in
Autumn,
If, through inadvertence, weak flocks
or fwarms have been retained till au-
tumn, and one of them has a fuiiicient
winter's ftore, incorporate the lighted
with the ftrongefl, by fuming each iepa^
rate, and placing the weak one over
the other. When the bees recover,
they will unite without ftrife, and the
fupernumerary queen be cail out. If
they are both poor in honey, but flrong
in numbers, they will form a good flock,
if a good hive of honey is placed over
them. Otherwife, ' fuffocate them, and
take the honey, and fave the brood,
if any.
Cottagers may unite them by turning
one hive bottom upwards, in a cold day,
for feveral hours, till the bees become
chilled and feeble : the combs are then
to be taken out feveraliv, and the bees
M 4
7 5
212 DRIVING.
brufned off upon a table, and the queen
taken from them. Then put the bees
into a pail, j^an, he. lay two flicks
acrofs, and place the other hive over
it ; clofe the joining with a cloth, all
but the door-wa}^ Let them fland thu3
t'\vo or three days, in which time they
will have united. If afterwards the hive
fhould be found too light, the bees
fhould be fed.
After all, this is but a fhift, which
feldom anfwers. Had they been incor-
porated in fummer, they would have
turned to good account.
No. XIV.
Pass a divider under the hive to be
drove, and then tie a cord acrofs it and
the divider; turn the hive upfide down
on an empty hive, bucket, or fomething
convenient. Place the fume-box, re-
DRIVING. 217
verfeci, over ehe hive, (nrfl: taking the
cord off), and gently withdraw the divi-
der, taking care that the door of the
hive is well clofed ;, then with two flicks
beat, as though dramming, on the fides
of the hive (all but that fide next you)
and at the bottom, not very hard, but
very quick, ceafing a little at intervals.
In about fifteen minutes th^ bees will
beg-in to be terrified : hearken whether^
they make a great buz, and whether
a buz is likewile in the box, for by that
it may be guefled that many are af- -
cended. Some one fhould hold the box
Heady while the drumming is made, or '
it will (hake, and let the bees out. The
box may then be fafely lifted up on its
fide oppofite to the light (for the room
Ihould be almoft dark), and the bees
w^ill fly direclly towards the light. Hold
the box fleadily between your fide and
arm, and with the other hand continue
tapping round, the fides. The bees by
this become tame, and will gradually
crawl up from- the hive into the box,
with loud buzzing; and the more fo^
M 5
214 DRIVING,
when the queea afeends, for then the
reft "NiW foon follQw ; but till that happens
they rife with great relucla,nce.
By chance a few may be left behind^
which may be drummed out the next
day.
If no fume-box or divider is provided,
a common flraw hive may be ufed in-
ftead; and the ft.ock lifted on it (when
inverted) over night. In the morning,
flopping all chafrns and the door, tie the
two hives faft with a cord, and invert
them, and then proceed as above.
The driving of bees renders them very
peaceable and tra6^able, fo that they
may be fafely taken up in the hand ;
though not fo completely as by fumiga-
tion. They may be turned on a table*
feverally divided, infpeded, and the queen
taken from iJiei-n. Buc this peaceable dif-
pofition. continues but a little while in
either method; fo that the operator
mud be as expeditious as pofTible. Ex*
cept when the bees are kept in an empty
hive two or three days, it will make
them extraordinarily tame.
SHOW-BOX FOR AMATEURS. 215
Driving will be useful as a
fuccedaneum for puffs, io feafons or cir-
cumflances when they cannot be had.
To NATURALISTS it may be of ad-
vantage, by enabling them to inveftigate
the properties of thde wonderful but
irritable infects, while in a flate of vi-
gour, more fatisfaftorily than \:>^ fumlga-
tion or immerfio,:.
No. XV.
ShozV'Box for Amateurs,
This BOX, or frame, is to be made
of rattan or mahogany, without top or
bottom. It is to be nine inches hio-h^
and two and a quarter wide, clear in the
infide, exactly ; and twelve long. There
is to' be a pane ot clear glafs on each
fide, as large as the frame will admit.
The glalTes are not to be let into a rabbet,
ss ufual, but to Hide up from the bottom
2l6 SHOW-BOX FOR AMATEURS.
to the top within fide, under four fmall
tenter hooks, and flopped at bottom
by a fmall fcrew, fo that the glaffes may
be taken out occafionally. There are
tQ be two h^lf -inch Jliutters on the out-
fide, to fallen in a bevel (not to flide) at
bottom, and with a button at top.
The top is to have a bar one inch
wide, and the full length of the frame,
and is to be let in at each end fo as
to be flufh with the top, and at half an
inch diflance from each fide of the box.
A door-way is to be cut at one end,
one inch and a half long, and half an
inch high : this is to be efteemed the
front. At the other end or back, a
like door-way is to be cut ; and another
three inches higher.
On the top edges of the box are to be
two narrow flips or ledges faftened ;
between w4iich are to lie (not to flide in
a rabbet) two pieces of glafs, each half
the length, and fufficient in width to
cover the top between the ledges. A
wooden loofe cover muft clofe the whole.
SHOW-BOX FOR AMATEURS. 217
It muft have a loofe floor two inches
-wider than the box; andhttle abutments
ihould be added at the corners near the
bottom, to give the box a fteadinefs
fufficient to prevent its being turned
afide.
OBSERVATIONS.
The narrownefs of the box, and its
having but one bar, is intended to pre-
vent the bees from making more than
ONE COMB, which they would do if it
was a (inarier of an inch wider.
By being confined to one comb, the
minuti^ of their tranfadions are expofed
to view on both fides ; the queens not
excepted : a difcovery I fufpecl not to
be fo fully obtained by any other means
known to the pubhc.
A window, full fouth, is the properefl
to place the box in. A fituation the
leaft expofed to wind is necelTary for their
fucceeding. The bees are ufed to great
heat, and communicate much them-
felves, which caufes a great indraught of
2l8 SHOW-SOX FOR AMATlLUR^.
cold air to be very prejudicial and dis-
couraging.
I invented this box in the year 1783,
when removing to this jGtuation (which
is an extraordinary windy one, beneficial
to my own health, but not propitious to
bees) ; and not having a convenient
afped to fix the box in, the wind greatly
impeded their labour, and fruflrated my
defigns ; except one year, which being
tolerably favourably, my purpofe was in-
part andvered.
The two door-ways in the back of the
box are the readier to introduce troughs
of food, in cafe the bees, through bad
weather, are hindered from coiled ing,
after being firft put in, or at any other
time. The two back door-ways are to
be always clofe (lopped when not ufed.
The reafon why the panes of glafs are
not to be fixed in^ is, that in cafe of ac-
cidents they may eafily be repaired..
: MANAO£MENTi ^C. 219
No. XVL
Management of tlie Shozv Box.
Procure a flip of deal, of the length
of the box, one inch and a quarter
broad, three quarters of an inch thick :
pierce fmall holes in it, at equal diilances,
four on a fide, into which put eight
flight flicks, four or five . inches kmg,
and thus form a flage, cutting off all
irregularities at tlie bottom. Place in it
a ihick empty virgin comb, four or five
inches in length and breadth. Introduce
it as far up the middle of die box as to
touch the bar y fallen it at the ends
by two fine and long fcrews, pafl^d in at
the front and. back of the box. Or^ the
flage- may be hung to the bar by four
firings (horfe-hair will be beft) over th-e
bar let into grooves, and tied on the
fide of the bar, that ' there may be no
obflacles above the level of tfae box.
220 MANAGEMENT OF
Having procured a queen from n
fzvarm^ cut her wings half off, put her
into the box at the top, the door being
flopped ; then put a pint o^ fumed httSy
including ten or twelve drones, into the
box with her. A lefs number of bees
than a pint will be too few -, and a greater
will fo much crowd the comb as to pre-
vent the view defigned. Clofe the top
by one half of the glafs, and the other
by a perforated piece of tin. Whenever
the door is unftopped, both pieces of
glafs mud be laid over, or there will
be too great a draught of air. Throw
over them a cloth, and let them remain
till the morning ; then unftop the door
fo as to admit a palTage of two bees at a
time. If on the fecond day the bees
feem contented, entirely unitop the door^
and give them a trough of food. Refrain
from opening the fhutters for four or
five days, and then but feldom, till they
have begun to colled, and repair the
combs, or it will difgufl them, and caufe
a defertion of the box, wliich will fome-
times happen notwithftanding.
THE SHOW-BOX. 221
For the queen and her fubjecfls, being
ufed to a much greater heat, to a larger
fociety, and a more commodious habita-
tion, will be very much dilpleafed at
fuch a fcanty tenement, and not foon
reconciled tp it.
But however difgufting it may be, if
the queen does crawl out, or her iubjeds
fwarm out, the one muft drop, and the
others, though cluftered on fomething
near, muft return^ and the queen may be
found under the window, and again re-
turned into the box. The clufter, be-
ing fecured, is to be introduced to
her.
If great winds annoy them very much,
they will emigrate, though they have
enriched the box with honey and brood.
The clufter that fettles may be fhook
into an empty hive, and fliook out again
upon a table, and the box placed near
them, when they will will foon join the,
queen.
For the purpofe of excluding the
wind, it is advifable to have a tin trough,
of the (hape of a T j the long end to
2£2 THE SHOW-BOX.
fit the door- way of the box, and to be
open at the other end, as well as at the
ends of the crofs tube. Corks are to
be fitted to them, that either of them
may be flopped in the point from which
the wind blows.
When the weather proves cool and
chilly, cover the box with a woollen
cloth.
When the bees are wanted to relin*
quifli the box, flide a divider under
it, and fet over the fume- box ; fliove
the box as near the edge of the hollow,
as its width, and withdraw the Aider the
like width, and the bees will have a free
opening to fall into the fume-box. Fume
them according to art.
The box muft be fet on a board in
the window, and fo that no bee may
have egrefs to the room; obferving the
like precautions as before advifed for
window boxes.
POSTSCRIPT.
^UST as my manufcHpt was ready for
tho^ prefs, I became , ac<4uainted with a
Treatsfe, recently publiflied by Mr. James
Br>nner^ of Edinburgh, purporting to be
" A Nem Plan for fpeedily increajtng the
Number of Bee-Hives in Scotland,'^ &c.
Upon a careful perufal, feverai palTages
in that work feemed worthy of no-
tice y but not to alter- the body of my
own, I here give them feparate, with a
few brief remarks.
Mr. Bonner is a flickler for the ScJiira-
clwan do(flrine of raifing young queen bees
at pleafure, in order to form artificial
Jwarms \ and oppofes thofe of a contrary
224 POSTSCRIPT.
opinion, though fortified by numerous
experiments of refpedable naturalifls,
at home and in Germany, feveral years
after thofe of Schirach.
'^The fubjedl of difpute is of little con-
fequence, as not being advantageous for
the general ufe of thofe who feek the
beft method of producing the mod ho-
ney and wax ; nor is it eligible for the
purpofe it was defigned for, viz. Artifir
cial fwarming.
The champions of both fides- exprels
their doubts of its general benefit. Bi>
himfelf, in. particular, fays, "It is not a
** great number of hives that will pro-
" duce the greatefh quantity of honey
" and wax, but only real good ones. I
" alfo doubt whether more hives can be
** reared by this method^ as our. bees
" generally produce more queens natu-
" rally, than they are able to fupply
" with a fufficient numbej of common
*V bees to compofe a fwarm with, as ap-
" pears from their killing the fupernu-
*' merary ones y and therefore he " pre-^
« fers natural fwarms/'
-POSTSCRIPT. 225
Schirach^s method is by a double hive,
and the bees are compelled to aicerid into
the upper one by the fmoke of rags,
&c. A piece of brood comb is cut out,
of tour or five inches diameter, containing
a maggot or maggots, precifely of three
days old, and properly placed in an
empty hive, together with a part of a
comb of farina, and another of honey :
about a quart of bees is then to be
introduced, and the hive flopped up,
except a fmall palTage for air, and fo
remain three days. There will be a
gre^t tumult and noife in the hive for
fome hours, when it will fubfide, and
the bees will begin to build a royal
celL The fourth day an opening is to
be made of a quarter of an inch, that
the bees may come out leifurely. After
roving about fome time, they will return
to their hive. It fhould be done in the
fpring.
B.'s procefs is, I think, an improve
ment : he drives the bees out, then cuts
a piece of comb out that has feveral
aiaggois, of various ages, and placing,
226 POSTSCRIPT.
&c. atidrlthen fets • the hive at a Very
confiderable diftance from the apiary,
zvitJiotit Jlopphig the bees in. This I un-
derfland to be B.'s method, for he feems
referved ab to an expUcit explanation. T
make no doubt but the ufe of the piffs
will be found preferable.
Schirach's flopping the bees was ill
judged, and what perhaps, occafioned
my bad fuccefs.
It is fomewhat ftrange that Mr. B.
fhould have puriued his refearches, with-
out the advantages of bee-glalfes, or
bee boxes, but confined himfelf iojimw
hives of the common form holding two
pecks and a half, and occafionally eeks.
His principal dependance for rearing a
great number of flocks y^ by providing a
jufficiency of pafluragc adequate thereto ;
but the waxen caftle he has raifed for this
purpofe feems to have been built on
a hill of fand.
He fuppofes a perfon to begin with
live flocks, v/hich thfe iecond year will
be iiicreafed to ten, and fo continue to
increafe in a duplicate ratio for ten years,
POSTSCRIPT. 227
which wiJl then amount to 2,500. He
fuppoies likewife, that if each parifia
of Scotland had twenty hives in May
the amount of the eight hundred parifhes
would be 16,000. Suppofing each of
thefe hives to throw out one fwarm
in September, we Ihould have 32,000
On thefe principles, with proper manage-
ment and tolerable feafons, in the fpace
ot feven years the flocks would increafe
from 32,000 to 2,048,000; and after
his draw-backs, his loweft eftimate is'
a clear million, producing 4,000,000
pmts of honey, and 1,000,000 pounds
ot wax.
On the fuppofition that bees will in-
creafe double ever)- year, and therefore
that five hives the firft year may increafe
to ten the fecond year, &c. I will not
Afpute : but will there be double the
quantity of honey and xvax ? I doubt, not :
for, fuppofing the five hives (the bees of
them) can onlj- colled from the vicinage,
as tar as their flight for pafturage uma%
extends, enough to fill their five hives ;
the fecond year being inc.reafed to teii.
228 POSTSCRIPT.
the fame quantity of flowers will only
yield the fame quantity of honey, ad-
mitting the feafon fimilar to the iirft. I
infer, therefore, that the produce will be
no more, though double the number of
bees. To this we may add (which B.
acknowledges) that feafons are often bad ;
rendering hives impoverilhed inftead of
increafmg, and that they often die in the
winter. The fecond link of this golden
chain being broke, down falls the whole
mafs of honey and wax appending thereto,
and there I leave it.
No ! fay its advocates, that is not
fair ! We can increafe the flowers in
proportion to the number of bees. Can
the cottagers extend their land ? or will
they extirpate from their little allotment
the vegetables of their daily fupport, to
give place for bee-flowers ? Will gentle-
men (whom B. chiefly addrefles) plough
up their grafs and corn lands, to cultivate
fuch flowers ? Surely corn and cattle are
of more value tlmn honey ! We had
better be without honey than bread.
Eut B. has a refource in heath, which
POSTSCRIPT. 229
covers, he fays, more than half of Britain !
If true, I am forry to hear it ; and hope
moft part of it will fpeedily be ploughed
up for corn, though it ihould prove the
ruin of this nezv plan of increafing of bees,
I (hould fooner prefer VirgiFs method of
raifing bees from a dead heifer, or of
Sampfon's procuring honey from a dead
lion.
I fmcerely hope, as Mr. B. has been a
practitioner for twenty fix years he has
accumulated a fnug fortune, to compen-
sate for his labours and ingenious dif-
coveries. But as his native land fo much
abounds in white clover, heath, furze,
&c. it is wonderful that honey fells
at ten-pence and twelve-pence per pound,
at Edinburgh. It is alfo obfervable, that
he gives no account of the produce of
his own apiary, and only five inftances
of other perfons', of whom he bought
honey and wax. To one^ in particular
he paid ^Mt pounds for one hive, which
was weighed in the market -houfe of
Edinburgh ^ but unluckily he omits the
N
230 POSTSCRIPT.
weight or dimenfions of the hive. The
reader, therefore, is left to his own cal-
culations.
Mr. B, befides his grand refource of
flowers, relies on preferving the bees of
the ftocks taken, and uniting them with
the flocks left.
I think his ingenious method of fwarm-
ing deferves a place here j and I recom-
mend it to a trial, as it will be too late
for me to do it. My work, I hope, will
be printed before the feafon arrives ;
and my age, and increafmg infirmities,
forbid a longer delay.
'« Suppofe one drive all the bees out
*' of a hive, and thereby make an arti-
" Jicial fzvarm. If the old hive has a
" royal cell in it, by introducing into it
" about five thoufand bees, they will
** hatch out the young queen, with
*' all the eggs and nymphs in the cells,
** and render it a fiourilhing hive. The
** method of introducing; the common
*' bees is as Ibllov^^ : Let a flrong out-
'* Ivinci hive be removed from its ufual
POSTSCRIPT. 231
" fituation, about ten A, M. and place
*' the hive that has no bees on the fpot
" where it flood; the bees, on their
" return from the fields, will enter it,
" and finding plenty of honey, and
'' abundance of eggs, will rear up the
" young bees with great alacrity," But
hejie it may be afked, Suppofe there hap-
pens to be m royal cell in the old hive,
how are we to proceed ? On my plan,
inftead of driving, I would/umigafe them
out ; then infped whether there is a
royal cell ; and, if not, return the bees
into the hive. But if there is a royal
cell, cover the hive of fumed bees with
a cloth, and let an affiflant take it to
fome diflance. In the mean time, care-
fully examine the old hive, to be afTured
that the queen is not left behind among
the combs, as flie is frequently one of
the lafl that falls. Being fatisfied on
this point, place it on its original fland.
The bees, on their return, &c. — The
hive with the fumed bees fliould be
confined till night, to be certain that
N 2
232 POSTSCRIPT.
the queen is with them; for, if not,
they wiir foon fliew it by their uproar,
and, in confequence, muft be taken
before the flock, and fet bottom up-
wards. But if they remain quiet till
night, take them to a very confiderable
diftance, in another garden or field. An
empty hive Ihould be fet in Heu of the
combed hive, during the operation, to
amufe the bees as they return from the
fields.
As Mr. B. approves the Shirachean
doctrine of a common egg being capable
of becoming a queen by the nurfing
of the workers, why fhould he infifl on
there being a royal cell in the hive ?
when common eggs would ferve the
purpofc ', only caufmg a delay of a few
days before a young queen, fo reared,
would be capable of laying eggs.
Another method he gives of artificial
fwarmino; is, " to take all the bees out
*' of the hive, and put into it a confide-
" rable number of common bees, who
" will hatch out the brood, and rear
POSTSCRIPT. 2^3
*^ them, and often fucceed very well.
** But this plan is liable to fome imper-
*' fedions ; for, from the time the old
" queen is taken away till the young one
" is fit to lay eggs, will be twenty-five
" days ; during which fpace not a fingle
" egg can be laid. To which add eigh-
" teen days more, before the eggs can
*' be of any fervice.. It is evident that the
" befl part of the honey feafon will be ^
'* over, and confequently, by autumn,
" the hive cannot be repleniflied with
" bees. If L intend to kill a hive of
*' bees in autumn, it feems beft to take
" away the queen at the end of July,
'' leaving a great number of bees in the
*' hive, which, having but fev/ bees to
*' nurfe up, would collect a greater quan -
" tity of honey in that period, than if
" they had a queen to lay eggs."
" In the fpring, having two hives that
" had but few bees in each, I put the
" bees of one hive into the other, fuf-
** pedling, as they had both br^d flowly,
^* there might be a defed in one of the
N z
aj4 POSTSCRIPT.
" queens ; and hoping that, by putting
" them together, the leaft healthy would
'* have been killed -, but the workers of
'* both hives kindly united. On turning
** up the hives twenty minutes after, I
** perceived a few bees cluftered toge-
** ther. On a (;Lofe infpedion, I ob-
*' ferved the two queens ftruggling
*' together with the utmofl fury. Be-
*' ing afraid of the ruin of both,. I fepa-
<* rated them, and kept them afunder,
*■' though they ran with great fury along
" the table in fearch of each other. I
*' then took the one that appeared the
** boldeft, and put her again into th£>
*' hive, where flie was kindly received.
*^ When a duel takes place between two.
*' queen-bees, the workers commonly
** kill one of the queens themfelves.'*
" In November, December, and Ja-
** nuary, bees eat very little food, as
" any perfon may be convinced by
*' weighing their hives in the beginning
" and end of thefe months. But if he
*-* iyiU weigh a hive in the beginning of
POSTSCRIPT. 235
" March, and likewife at the end, he
*' will find a confiderable decreafe, for
** the bees, having now much exercife,
" eat more honey in that month than
" during the three cold ones, and three
** times as much in May as in March,
** owing to the increafe of brood.
" In a mild winter they eat' more
" than in a cold one, which enables
" them to /hctc/i earlier^ and increafe the
^^ number of bees in the hive. In a
" very cold winter many flocks die 5
" whereas, in a mild one, very few.
** In the midft of a fevere froft I have
** often feen my hives with young brood
"in them; they are, therefore, not
" inactive, but breed even before they
" carry in loads."
" About Lammas, thofe who live
<* where bee vegetation is early over,
" efpecially if they keep numerous hives,
" ought to remove them to the neigh-
" bourhood of heath grounds, if they
" ihould be even fix , or eight miles
'« diltance y and allow them to continue
N.4.
256 POSTSCRIPT.
" in that fituation till the heath is out
** of bloom. The rifk is, if the wea-
" ther turn out bad in Auguft, the
•* trouble will be loft." [Is there no
" riik of robbers ?] When bees are
" placed in a new fi tuation, they fliould
'' not be permitted to come out of their
*' hive for the firft time in cold weather,
" but kept clofe prifoners for a day
" or two, or many will be chilled to
*' death in fearching for theirVnew fet-
" tlements.'"
" Very little ground wall keep many
" bees abundantly at work. One acre
*' of land would not be overftocked
" with twenty hives, and, confequently,
*' the twentieth part of an acre would
*' keep one /" — [This ftatement ieems
*' vague and unfatisfa61:or}^]
" Swarms fhould be covered with
" a cloth till the heat of the day is
•* abated, left they (hould be urged to
" rife.
" Nor fliould it be omitted to keep
*^ a watch over them, as they fometimes
POSTSCRIPT. 237
" rife after being two or three hours In
*' the hive, and though they had begun
'' to work- — perhaps to fettle in another
" place they had previouily prepared.
" Sometimes, though feldom, a fwarm
" will fly oif, notwithftanding every
" method that can be ufed to, prevent
*' it. This . happens only in very calm
^^ weather, when bees have had liberty,
*' fome days before fwarming, to roam
" about in fearch of a habitation to
" their liking ; which if once they find,
" it is difficult, and often impoffible, to
** preveat them from emigrating to
« it/*
" If the rays of the fun have been
*' intercepted by a cloud, or fliower of
" rain, in the time of fwarming, the
" fwarms will probably be fmall, as
" preventing the greater part . from ilTu-
" ing. In which cafe, let the fwarm be
*'. placed where the m.other hive flood,
" for about a quarter of an hour; in
" which time the bees that are returning
[' from the fields, will foon make the
N5
238 POSTSCRIPT.
" Iwarm large enough -, and then, the
" fwarm fhould be removed to a mile
« diflance, to prevent the bees from
« going to the old flock. When bees
*-^ are feparated from their mother hive
•* by driving, or when the hive is fliifted
«* from where it formerly flood, they are
« infenfible of the change, and always
•* fly back to their former flation; for
« which reafon, every artificial fwarm 5.
" or reinforced hive, is to be fet at a
" confiderable diflance.*" — [Would not
removing them to a dark room, and
confining them a day or two, produce,
the like effed ?]
" A fwarm tliat efcapes from the
** apiary to a habitation they have pre-
" vioufly chofen, ufually fly to it in a.
" dired line. The bee-herd ihould run
*< or ride within fight of them, as faft
" as he can j and if obflru6tions hinder
** him, he fhould attentively notice the
^' point of the line, and keep or recover
^ it, to march therein flraight forward^
^- regarding the buflies and hedges as he.
POSTSCRIPT. 239
" goes, left they fliould be fettled
" thereon. But otherwife the line will
" probably lead him to fome apiary,
" where he may claim his fwarm. I
" know for certain, that a fwarm will
*' not fly a mile to an empty hive 5
" whereas they will fly four miles to take
" pofleflion of an old one with combs in
.« it."
It is proper here to remark, that Mr,
B. reprefents the fetting of an old hive
of combs in a perfon^s own garden, or
apiary, as a fraudulent pradice ; as -fuch
hives may allure his neighbour's fwarms
to fettle therein. So may a field of good
pafture allure his neighbour's cattle or
fheep to feed thereon. What, then,
muft he not have better pafturage than
thofe in his vicinity ? If ftrange bees
vilit his hive, which he fet, bona fide^ to
entice his own fwarms, fliould any efcape
tmperceived, and his neighbour's bees
take pofleflion of it, zvithont being fol-
lowed by a perfon who faw them rife, he
feems to have a good title to keep them ;
for who can fwear ivhofe property they
2:40 POSTSCRIPT..
were ? They fhould have been watclieot
The lofs they deferve for negUgencc,
which I hope will make all bee-ownei^
more careful in tliis point, if for no
other reafon- No honeft perfon will re^
fefe the reftoration, if they can make
good their claim. If a perfon fets fuch
hives with a view of trepanning his
neighbour's fwarms, it is certainly wicked.
The ;^/c3//V^ conflitutes the crime.
'-' Driving of bees^ to make artificid
*-^ fwarms," Mr. B,. obferves, " is very
*' profitable^ whea properly performed
" by ikilful bee-rnqfters ^ yet it always
*' has been, and ever will be^ deftrudlive
'' to bees, if performed by unfkilful
^' perfons. And, indeed, all new be-
** ginners m-ay be aim oft certain of ruin-
*^' ing fome hiv!es in their attempts.''
T. Wildman eorfobomtes the alFer*
lion, by faying, " It is an art not fpee-
** dily attained j yet, till it is, the deftruc-
*-' tion of many hives muft be the confe-
^^ quence, as every one will find, on
<*- their firft attempts to perform it,*^
To wl^iich truth, J. K. fets his feal.
POSTSCRIPT. 241
Mr. Bonner, it feems, has been a bee-
manager from his youth ; and is now a
profeffor of the art, anH proffers his fer-
vice to the gentry of his countr}', who
may be defirous of his afTiilance. He
appears to be a fuccefsful pupil of the
elder Wildman, and like him enumerates
feveral mmtcetivres that he can perform,
&c. but he does not, like Wildman,
divulge the fecret of how, which he
referves for his own ufe. However, we
may Ihrewdly,. guefs,. that it is by means
of the bee-drefs, by driving, and by tlie
managemep-t of the queen-bee; by which,
to my thinking, any intelligent perfon,,
converfant in practice, may eafily do
the like, if any one would compenfate
him for his time and trouble of amufing
them, which is the only ufe thefe feats
feem adapted for.
In a few words — Notwithflanding Mr,.
B. confidently affures his readers, that
his plan is " no chimera^ or IVill 0' the
wifpy'' many of them, perhaps, may re-
quire more folid proofs on which to^
eftabhfh fuch an idea. The more won.-
242 POSTSCRIPT.
derful any thing offered for our belief is,
the ftronger fhould be the evidence. It
feems requifite they fhould know what
number of ftocks B. as well as fome of
his principal pupils, keep i the quantity
of ground fown with the bee vegetables
on purpofe : what the quantity of wild
bee flowers is in the circuit of their
flight ; and what the produce is, on an
average, for feveral years, &c. Till this
is done, tkofe that have little faith, but
much reafoHy will Jiill doiiht^ i£ not dif-
i^lieveo
I N D E X.
*^* Erratum, After Page (^h the next Page
is called 6 1, which double Paging continues
to Page 96, and is marked in this Index ivith
an afteYiJk,
A
Page
Adapter - - . ^^
Age of Bees - _ ^^
Amateurs, Box for - - - 215
Apiary, the Situation for - - 23
« ', the bell; Management of - 24
Aromatic Flowers good for Bees - 120
Artificial Swarming - • 83
B
Bee Boxes, to make - - 43
Drefs, to make - - 20
Flowers, a Lift of - - 1 1^
— — Houfe - - - 52
Bees, their Age - "59
, Numbers, Weight, and Meafure 96
, to find in Woods - 96
— , on the Salvation o£ - 90
244 N D E X.
Page
Bees, will not quit a Hive that has
Brood in
, how rendered 'Tame
~ , Britain thinly flocked with
, nice in their Sele6lion
, Dlflance they fly to colle61:
, the Quantity of Honey confunied
in Winter - - 138
, Why a Stock increafes in pro-
portion if kept from Swarming 61
. , have a Natural Impulfe to Swarm 76
, Decreafe of in Winter - y6
. •, reduced to a Quart in winter - g^i
^ , to judge of a Situation that will be
productive - - 115
— « — , to be kept warm in Winter - 133
Borage, the King of Flowers - 120
Boxes, Show, for Amateurs 215
Brood Combs, how to treat - 105
• — , the Prefervation of - :o8
Breeding begun - - 76
Casts, the advantage of, (fee Swarms) iii
Cells Royal, defcribed - 3
Cottagers, to aiBft one another in the
Loan of Bees - 113
. — Method of Fuming 192
^^ -of Separation, qr Taking 203
•' - — to double Hives - g^
Commons, Heath, and Woods, near,
bell Situation for Bees - 1 14
D
Deprivation, Diredlions for - lai
., befl Time for so6; 10.7, loS
INDEX. 245
Page
Deprivation, General, Time for - io6
, of fmgle Hives * io6
, the Tvlethod of - 1,99
' , General, how - 200
Difcoveries - - 8
Dividers delcrihed - - 47
, Obfervations thereon - 49
, the ufe - ^ 195
Difeafes of Bees - - 127
— to prevent - - 130
Doors, to manage - 6.7^ 71
Drones defcribed - - 4
, their Brood - - 4
— , proper Treatment of - 85
, improper, do. - 86
, their firfl Appearance - • 87
— — , do not always, precede Swarms 87
Driving of Bees, the Method of - 212
Duplets, will not be worked in till wanted 68
, how long to liand - 109
'— — y when to put on - 65
to take off - _ 5^
— -— , when a Swarm wanted from 94
, to Storify - - 198
Duplets, to Separate - - 201
" — , when expedient to remain all the
Winter - - 103
Enlargement, a timely - 67
Enemies of Bees - - 146
Eflimate, fhowing the fuperior Profit
from Storifying - - 62
Extraction of Wax • - 15^
246 INDEX.
Page
Farina, its Nature - - 117
Feeding of Bees - - 134 — 141-
' Signs of Poverty - 135
— — Jnrtruments for - 135.
Public - - 136
Fumigation, Inftruments for - 184
— -, Materials for - 187
", the Method of - 191
— ,, Cottagers Method of - 194
G
Glasses, the mofl.propcr * 94,
■ ' ■ ■■ , Obfervations on • ;- 95
, Management - - 97
H
Hagkels, to make - - 4t
Hives, to make '- "93
, for Cottagers - 38^
— *-, upon an Emgency - 75
— , only a third left for Bees when
filled with Combs - 88
— — , how to Hive Bees in - 73
— , on the Body of a Tree. - 76
— — , on the Branches - - 76, 77
, on a hollo w^ Tree - 77> 7^
- ■ ', in a Room - - 81
, to know when nearly filled - 1 03
— . to judge of their Weight, &c. 109
Hive of a larger Size than common recom-
mended for the Single Method 64
, Preparation of • • 6z
1 N D E X» 247
Page
Hot Summer melts the Combs - 75.
Honey, a quick Importation of - 67
■ fcanty in ba^ Seafons »- 109
■ ■ ■■, Extradlion of - 154
. , Obfervations on - - 165
-, Combs, Virgin, Errors about 162
■-, of bad Quality - - 164
, how to jucfge of - 1 56
— — -, its (lilagreeinff Qualities - 167
, Dews, their Nature - 124.
Idlers of Duplets - - 7a
J that do not lie out - - 70
,, not to be fufFered - . - 69
, of a Triplet - 70
— — , though not full - 71
Increafe by Storifying «. • J^S*
L
Land, wafte, to improve by Bee
Plants - - ^ 123, 124.
Lift of Bee Flowers - '- 1 15
Lying out, Reafon of - 87
— , what delays them from Swarming 89
M
Mead^ to make - • 169
^ , a new Method of fining - 1 70
, ufeful Obfervations - 1 7 1—174
N
Nadik Hives, to manage - 66. 69
248 INDEX.
Page
O
Orchards of little ufe to Bees • i^o
Outliers of a Triplet - - 69
— , in July - - 83, 84
, in general, the Caufc of 86. 87
——3. how prejudicial - 88
) cannot be made a Swarm of 88, 92
, added to a weak Stock - 209.
P
Fasturage, defcrlbed - 112
■ 1 , in great Quantities together 116
Farina, Obfervations on 117
■ , what Diftance the Bees Hy to
ccllecfk - - r23
Princefs, often not icady when Bees want
to Swarm - - - 87, 8S
, when too numerous - 93
' , unlmpregnated, will de deferted 94
Puffs for fuming, defcribed - 187
Purchafmg of J^ees, Rules and Cautions
for - * 37
Q.
Queen defcribed - - i
- , to diftingulfli ~ 2
, , her Fecundity - - 3
_- , Royal Brood - _ ^
_ — , of her laying Eggs - 60
, dying in the Summer - 73
— , in Winter «. 74
. , are not alike Fruitful - 79
— , deficient in Royal Brood - 8i
, to Captivate - - 207
-^ —,' infertile - - 70
Queenlefs Stock added to another - 210.
INDEX.
249
Page
Removing of Bees - - ^,1
Rules, General - - ^2. 182
s
Salvation of Bees
90
, not beneficial for fin^e Hives 91
Sea Water Bees diiregard - 26
Seaibn verv dry, why bad - g j
, what Conlequence - - 82
, wet and cold - yi. 82. 108
Show Box, to make - 21c
, Obfervatioiis on - - 217
-- — , Management of - 210
Situation, poor, its Confequence - 72
; — » gooti - 113, 114
Spring, w^hen bad - . -78
, when good - _ -yy
Spleets, proper ones - - 62
Statement of Profit ,. - 5 2
Stinging of Bees - _ ' j«
— , Remedies for - 15
Stock, that has fwarmed - • m«
, to recruit - » m,
, addinonal, when wanted - 82
, to fupply with Drones - 8 C
, to replenifli with Bees - ^2
, weak, Difad vantage of - 78
, reduced to a Quart in Winter 01
Storifying, the Method of - y^
— • , does not prevent Swarming - 60
INDEX. «S0
Page
Storifylng, Its Superiority to other Methods 6i
_, other Particulars in which it
excels - - 64
-►, Indications for - 65
, the Manner of - - 19^
, of a Triplet . - ^99
Swarms, the Nature of " . 75
., the Advantage of a mild Sprmg 77
. , the beft Time - - 79
J when the Bees are reluctant 80
. , may rife in a ccid Spring - 80
: the Number trom a Hive - 81
, why few, or none - 81 j
, why imall, from fmgle Hives 81 '^
. , Wouds favourable for - 82
. — - — ^ \V et Seafons bad for - 82
» , after, to be returned - ^^
^ , difcriminatlng Reafons to
judge by - - - 83, 84
. , a Method of double for Cottagers 89
— , Succefs of Bees depends on the
Swarms - - 9^
, flridl watching necefTary - 91
, miflaken Notions about - 92
, Signs of - - 92
J a Sign of a prime Swarm's Efcape 93
, how with feveral PrincefTes - 94
, Duplets to have both Doors open 94
— — , Princefs not ready for - 92-95
, a Sign that Bees want to - 95
, fly with the Wind - 95
, to judge- which is a good Swarm 95
. , Hiving of - ^ "^^i
——, Preparation of Hives^for - *62
25^ INDEX.
Page
Swarms, tinkling neceflary - . ^^7
) of prime - *5^
, of divers Princefles with one *66, 67
, ftray - - *63
. , of cluftering diverfely - *68
• , Artificial - - "^S?
, the Method of uniting with the
Stock , - - 204
— ■, or with each other - 206
*-" , what Situations produce moll 81
— , fmgle Hives produce too many 81
■ — -, early, when beft - _ g^
"~— , the Suddennefs of - qq, gi
■— — — , what occafions the Lofs of gi
• —-, fettling on a Perfon - *69,
, to decoy - *68
^ummary of Monthly Management - 174
T
Thefts, and Wars . - ij^j
— — — , Signs of , 142. 14 r
— , to manage - > 14^
Tinkling neceffary in the Hiving of Bees *6^
Triplets, Outliers of - ' . 5^
, when to take - 1 01. 109
— — -, to Storify - - 199
— ' — , to deprive . 65. 69
u
Uniting Swarms with the Stock - 204
■"■^ -, 'weak Stocks in Autumn - 211
• ■ -, of Swarms with one an-
<^^]\er - . 67, 68. 206
^ vvi.h rheir Mother Stock 204, 205
2^2 INDEX.
W
Page
Wax, what drawn from - - 119
Watching indiipenfable - - 91
Wafps Enemies to Bees - ^"^t
Weight and Meafure of Bees ^ - 90
Winter, Bees to be kept warm in - 132
Woods, good for early Swarming - 82
Workers defcrihed - - 7
■■, their Brood - - 4
FINIS.
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11