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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24583-8.txt b/24583-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f76a7ee --- /dev/null +++ b/24583-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12379 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee, by +L. L. Langstroth + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee + A Bee Keeper's Manual + +Author: L. L. Langstroth + +Release Date: February 11, 2008 [EBook #24583] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Giacomelli, Constanze Hofmann and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images produced by Core +Historical Literature in Agriculture (CHLA), Cornell +University) + + + + + + +[Illustration: + + So work the Honey Bees. + Creatures that by a rule in Nature, teach + The art of order to a peopled kingdom.--_Shakspeare._] + +[Illustration: Worker. Drone. Queen. + +The above are a very accurate representations of the QUEEN, the WORKER +and the DRONE. The group of bees in the title page, represents the +attitude in which the bees surround their Queen or Mother as she rests +upon the comb.] + + + + +LANGSTROTH +ON THE +HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE, + +A Bee Keeper's Manual, + +BY + +REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. + +[Illustration: EVERY GOOD MOTHER SHOULD BE THE +HONORED QUEEN OF A HAPPY FAMILY.] + +NORTHAMPTON: +HOPKINS, BRIDGMAN & COMPANY. +1853. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by +L. L. LANGSTROTH, +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. + + +C. A. MIRICK, PRINTER, GREENFIELD. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This Treatise on the Hive and the Honey-Bee, is respectfully submitted +by the Author, to the candid consideration of those who are interested +in the culture of the most useful as well as wonderful Insect, in all +the range of Animated Nature. The information which it contains will be +found to be greatly in advance of anything which has yet been presented +to the English Reader; and, as far as facilities for practical +management are concerned, it is believed to be a very material advance +over anything which has hitherto been communicated to the Apiarian +Public. + +Debarred, by the state of his health, from the more appropriate duties +of his Office, and compelled to seek an employment which would call him, +as much as possible, into the open air, the Author indulges the hope +that the result of his studies and observations, in an important branch +of Natural History, will be found of service to the Community as well as +to himself. The satisfaction which he has taken in his researches, has +been such that he has felt exceedingly desirous of interesting others, +in a pursuit which, (without any reference to its pecuniary profits,) +is capable of exciting the delight and enthusiasm of all intelligent +observers. The Creator may be seen in all the works of his hands; but in +few more directly than in the wise economy of the Honey-Bee. + + "What well appointed commonwealths! where each + Adds to the stock of happiness for all; + Wisdom's own forums! whose professors teach + Eloquent lessons in their vaulted hall! + Galleries of art! and schools of industry! + Stores of rich fragrance! Orchestras of song! + What marvelous seats of hidden alchemy! + How oft, when wandering far and erring long, + Man might learn truth and virtue from the BEE!" + _Bowring._ + +The attention of Clergymen is particularly solicited to the study of +this branch of Natural History. An intimate acquaintance with the +wonders of the Bee-Hive, while it would benefit them in various ways, +might lead them to draw their illustrations, more from natural objects +and the world around them, and in this way to adapt them better to the +comprehension and sympathies of their hearers. It was, we know, the +constant practice of our Lord and Master, to illustrate his teachings +from the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, and the common walks +of life and pursuits of men. Common Sense, Experience and Religion alike +dictate that we should follow his example. + + L. L. LANGSTROTH. + _Greenfield, Mass., May 25, 1853._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION--CHAPTER I. + +Deplorable state of bee-keeping. New era anticipated, 13. Huber's +discoveries and hives. Double hives for protection against extremes of +temperature, 14. Necessary to obtain complete control of the combs. +Taming bees. Hives with movable bars. Their results important, 15. +Bee-keeping made profitable and certain. Movable frames for comb. Bees +will work in glass hives exposed to the light. Dzierzon's discoveries, +16. Wagner's letter on the merits of Dzierzon's hive and the movable +comb hive, 17. Superiority of movable comb hive, 19. Superiority of +Dzierzon's over the old mode, 20. Success attending it, 22. Bee-Journal +to be established. Two of them in Germany. Important facts connected +with bees heretofore discredited, 23. Every thing seen in observing +hives, 24. + +CHAPTER II. + +BEES CAPABLE OF DOMESTICATION. Astonishment of persons at their +tameness, 25. Bees intended for the comfort of man. Properties fitting +them for domestication. Bees never attack when filled with honey, 26. +Swarming bees fill their honey bags and are peaceable. Hiving of bees +safe, 27. Bees cannot resist the temptation to fill themselves with +sweets. Manageable by means of sugared water, 28. Special aversion to +certain persons. Tobacco smoke to subdue bees should not be used. +Motions about a hive should be slow and gentle, 29. + +CHAPTER III. + +THE QUEEN BEE. THE DRONE. THE WORKER, 30. Knowledge of facts relating to +them, necessary to rear them with profit. Difficult to reason with some +bee-keepers. Queen bee the mother of the colony--described, 31. +Importance of queen to the colony. Respect shown her by the other bees. +Disturbance occasioned by her loss, 32. Bee-keepers cannot fail to be +interested in the habits of bees, 33. Whoever is fond of his bees is +fond of his home. Fertility of queen bees under-estimated. Fecundation +of eggs of the queen bees, 34-36. Huber vindicated. Francis Burnens. +Huber the prince of Apiarians, 35. Dr. Leidy's curious dissections, 37. +Wasps and hornets fertilized like queen bees. Huish's inconsistency, 38. +Retarded fecundation productive of drones only. Fertile workers produce +only drones, 39. Dzierzon's opinions on this subject, 40. Wagner's +theory. Singular fact in reference to a drone-rearing colony. +Drone-laying queen on dissection, unimpregnated. Dzierzon's theory +sustained, 41. Dead drone for queen, mistake of bees, 43. Eggs +unfecundated produce drones. Fecundated produce workers; theory +therefor, 44. Aphides but once impregnated for a series of generations. +Knowledge necessary for success, Queen bee, process of laying, 45. Eggs +described. Hatching, 46. Larva, its food, its nursing. Caps of breeding +and honey cells different, 47. Nymph or pupa, working. Time of +gestation. Cells contracted by cocoons sometimes become too small. Queen +bee, her mode of development, 48. Drone's development. Development of +young bees slow in cool weather or weak swarms. Temperature above 70 +deg. for the production of young. Thin hives, their insufficiency. Brood +combs, danger of exposure to low temperature, 49. Cocoons of drones and +workers perfect. Cocoons of queens imperfect, the cause, 50. Number of +eggs dependent on the weather, &c. Supernumerary eggs, how disposed of, +51. Queen bee, fertility diminishes after her third year. Dies in her +fourth year, 52. Drones, description of. Their proper office. Destroyed +by the bees. When first appear, 53. None in weak hives. Great number of +them. Rapid increase of bees in tropical climates, 54. How to prevent +their over production. Expelled from the hive, 55. If not expelled, hive +should be examined. Provision to avoid "in and in breeding," 56. Close +breeding enfeebles colonies. Working bees, account of. Number in a hive, +58. All females with imperfect ovaries. Fertile workers not tolerated +where there are queens, 59. Honey receptacle. Pollen basket. The sting. +Sting of bees, 60. Often lost in using. Penalty of its loss. Sting not +lost by other insects. Labors of workers, 61. Age of bees, 62. Bees +useful to the last, 63. Cocoons not removed by the bees. Breeding cells +becoming too small are reconstructed. Old comb should be removed. Brood +comb not to be changed every year, 64. Inventors of hives too often men +of "one idea." Folly of large closets for bees, 65. Reason of limited +colonies. Mother wasps and hornets only survive Winter. Queen, process +of rearing, 66. Royal cells, 67. Royal Jelly, 68. Its effect on the +larvæ, 69. Swammerdam, 70. Queen departs when successors are provided +for. Queens, artificial rearing, 71. Interesting experiment, 72. +Objections against the Bible illustrated, 73. Huish against Huber, 74. +His objections puerile. Objections to the Bible ditto, 75. + +CHAPTER IV. + +COMB. Wax, how made. Formed of any saccharine substance. Huber's +experiments, 76. High temperature necessary to its composition, 77. Heat +generated in forming. Twenty pounds of honey to form one of wax. Value +of empty comb in the new hive. How to free comb from eggs of the moth, +78. Combs having bee-bread of great value. How to empty comb and replace +it in the hive, 79. Artificial comb. Experiment with wax proposed, 80. +Its results, if successful. Comb made chiefly in the night. 81. Honey +and comb made simultaneously. Wax a non-conductor of heat. Some of the +brood cells uniform in size, others vary, 82. Form of cells +mathematically perfect, 83. Honey comb a demonstration of a "Great First +Cause," 84. + +CHAPTER V. + +PROPOLIS OR BEE GLUE. Whence it is obtained. Huber's experiment, 85. Its +use. Comb varnished with it. The moth deposits her eggs in it, 85. +Propolis difficult for bees to work. Curious use of it by bees, 87. +Ingenuity of bees admirable, 88. + +CHAPTER VI. + +POLLEN OR BEE-BREAD. Whence obtained. Its use. Brood cannot be raised +without it. Pollen nitrogenous. Its use discovered by Huber, 89. Its +collection by bees indicates a healthy queen. Experiment showing the +importance of bee-bread to a colony, 90. Not used in making comb. Bees +prefer it fresh. Surplus in old hives to be used to supply its want to +young hives. Pollen and honey both secured at the same time by bees. +Mode of gathering pollen, 91. Packing down. Bees gather one kind of +pollen at a time. They aid in the impregnation of plants. History of the +bee plain proof of the wisdom of the Creator. Bees made for man, 92. +Virgil's opinion of bees. Rye meal a substitute for pollen. Quantity +used by each colony, 93. Wheat flour a substitute. The improved hive +facilitates feeding bees with meal. The discovery of a substitute for +pollen removes an obstacle to the cultivation of honey bees, 94. + +CHAPTER VII. + +Fifty-four Advantages which ought to be found in an improved hive, +95-110. Some desirable qualities the movable comb hive does not pretend +to! Is the result of years of study and observation. It has been tested +by experience, 111. Not claimed as a perfect hive. Old-fashioned +bee-keepers found most profit, &c. Simplest form of hive, 112. Bee +culture where it was fifty years ago. Best hives. New hive is submitted +to the judgment of candid bee-keepers, 113. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PROTECTION AGAINST EXTREMES OF HEAT, COLD AND DAMPNESS. Many colonies +destroyed by extremes of weather. Evils of thin hives. Bees not torpid +in Winter. When frozen are killed, 114. Take exercise to keep warm. +Perish if unable to preserve suitable degree of warmth. Are often +starved in the midst of plenty. Eat an extra quantity of food in thin, +cold hives, 115. Muscular exertion occasions waste of muscular fiber. +Bees need less food when quiet than when excited. Experiment, wintering +bees in a dry cellar, 116. Protection must generally be given in open +air. None but diseased bees discharge fæces in the hive. Moisture, its +injurious effects. Free air needful in cold weather, with the common +hive, 117. Loss by their flying out in cold weather. Protection against +extremes of weather of the very first importance. Honey, our country +favorable to its production. Colonies in forests strong. Reasons for +this, 118. Russian and Polish bee-keepers successful. Their mode of +management, 119. Objection of want of air answered, 120. Bees need but +little air in Winter if protected. Protection in reference to the +construction of hives. Double hives, preferable to plank. Made warm in +Winter by packing. Double hives, inside may be of glass, 121. Advantages +of glass over wood, 122. Advantages of double glass. Disadvantages of +double hives in Spring. Avoided by the improved hive, 123. Covered +Apiaries exclude the sun in Spring. Reason for discarding them. Sun, its +effect in producing early swarms in thin hives. Protected hives fall for +want of sun. Enclosed Apiaries, nuisances. Thin hives ought to be given +up, they are expensive in waste of honey and bees, 124. Comparative +cheapness of new and old hives, 125. Protector against injurious +weather. Proper location of bees. Preparations for setting hives, 126. +Protector should be open in Summer and banked in Winter. Cheaper than an +Apiary. Summer air of Protector like forest air. In Winter uniform and +mild, 127. Bees will not be enticed out in improper weather. Secures +their natural heat. Dead bees, &c., to be removed in Winter. Temperature +of the Protector, 128. Importance of the Protector. Its economy in food, +129. + +CHAPTER IX. + +VENTILATION. Artificial ventilation produced by bees. Purity of air in +the hive, 130. Bad air fatal to bees, eggs and larvæ, 131. Bees when +disturbed need much air. Dysentery, how produced. Post mortem condition +of suffocated bees, 132. Great annoyance of excessive heat. Bees leave +the hive to save the comb. Ventilating instinct wonderful, 133. Should +shame man for his neglect of ventilation. Comparative expense of +ventilation to man and bees, 134. Importance of ventilation to man. Its +neglect induces disease, 135. Plants cannot thrive without free air. The +union of warmth and ventilation in Winter an important question. +House-builder and stove-maker combine against fresh air, 136. Run-away +slave boxed up. Evil qualities of bad air aggravated by heat. Dwellings +and public buildings generally deficient in ventilation. Degeneracy will +ensue, 137. Women the greatest sufferers. Necessity of reform, 138. +Public buildings should be required to have plenty of air. Improved +hive, its adaptedness to secure ventilation, 139. Nutt's hive too +complicated. Ventilation independent of the entrance, 140. Hive may be +entirely closed without incommoding the bees. Ventilators should be +easily removable to be cleansed. Ventilation from above injurious except +when bees are to be moved, 141. Variable size of the entrance adapts it +to all seasons. Ventilators should be closed in Spring. Downing on +ventilation, (note,) 142. + +CHAPTER X. + +SWARMING AND HIVING. Bees swarming a beautiful sight. Poetic description +by Evans. Design of swarming, 143. The honey bee unlike other insects in +its colonizing habits. It is chilled by a temperature below 50 deg. +Would perish in Winter if not congregated in masses. Admirable +adaptation, 144. Swarming necessary. Circumstances in which it takes +place. June the swarming month. Preparations for swarming. Old queen +accompanies the first swarm. No infallible signs of 1st swarming, 145. +Fickleness of bees about swarming. Indications of swarming. Hours of +swarming, 146. Proceedings within the hive before swarming. Interesting +scene. Bells and frying-pans useless, 147. Neglected bees apt to fly +away in swarming. Bees properly cared for seldom do it. Methods of +arresting their flight when started, 148. Conduct of bees in +disagreeable hives, 149. Why bees swarm before selecting a new home. +They rarely cluster without the queen. Interesting experiment, 150. +Scouts to search for new abodes. Scouts sent out before and after +swarming, 151. Bees remain awhile after alighting. Curious incident +stated by Mr. Zollickoffer. Necessity of scouts. Considerations +confirmed, 152. Re-population of the hive, 153. Inability of bees to +find their hive when it has been removed. After swarms, 154. Different +treatment to the cells of dead and living queens. Royal larvæ sometimes +protected against the queens. Anger of the queen at such interference, +155. Second swarming, its indications. Time, 156. Double swarms. Third +swarm. After swarms seriously reduce the strength of the hive. Wise +arrangement, 157. After-swarming avoided by the improved hive. +Impregnation of queens. Dangerous for queens to mistake their own hives, +158. Precautions against this. Proper color for hives. Time of laying +eggs. None but worker eggs, the first season, 159. Directions for +hiving. Hives should be painted and well dried. Bees reluctant to enter +thin warm hives in the sun, 160. Management with the improved hives, +161. Drone combs should never be used as guide comb. Pleasure of bees in +finding comb in their new quarters. Bees never voluntarily enter empty +hives. Rubbing the hive with herbs useless, 162. Small trees or bushes +in front of hives. Inexperienced Apiarian should wear a bee-dress. +Moderate dispatch in hiving needful, 163. Process of hiving particularly +described, 164. Old method of hiving should be abandoned, 166. +Importance of speedy hiving. Should be moved as soon as hived. Curious +fact stated by Dr. Scudamore, (note), 167. How to secure the queen. She +does not sting. Hiving before the hives are ready, 168. Another method +of hiving. Natural swarming profitable. Objections to natural swarming. +Common hive gives inadequate winter protection, 169. With it, the bees +often swarm too much. With the improved hive this is avoided. +Disadvantages of returning after-swarms. Third objection, inability to +strengthen small late swarms, 170. Evils of feeble stocks. Fourth +objection, loss of queen irreparable. By the new hive her loss is easily +supplied, 171. Fifth, common hives inconvenient when bees do not swarm. +This objection removed by the new hive. Sixth, the ravages of the moth +easily prevented by the improved hive. Seventh, the old queen, when +infertile, cannot be removed or replaced. Both can be done by the new +hive, 172. + +CHAPTER X. + +(Two Chapters numbered x, by error of the Press.) + +ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. Numerous efforts to dispense with natural swarming. +Difficulties of natural swarming. First, many swarms are lost, 173. +Second, time and labor required. Sabbath labor, 174. Perplexities to +farmers. Third, large Apiaries cannot be established, 175. Fourth, +uncertainty of swarming. Disappointments from this source, 176. Efforts +to devise a surer method, 178. Columellas's mode of obtaining swarms. +Hyginus. Small success which attended, those efforts, Schirach's +discovery, 179. Huber's directions. Not adapted to general use. Dividing +hives in this country unsuitable. Bees without mature queens make no +preparation to rear workers, 180. Dividing hives to multiply colonies +will not answer, 181. Huber's hive even, inadequate. Common dividing +hives unsuccessful. Multiplying by brood comb in an empty hive, vain, +182. Multiplying by removal and substitution useless. Mortality of bees +in working season, 183. Connecting apartments a failure, 184. Many +prefer non-swarming hives, 185. Profitable in honey but calculated to +exterminate the insect. Improved hive good non-swarmer, if desired. +Disadvantages of non-swarming. Queen bee becomes infertile. Remedied by +the use of the improved hive, 186. Practicable mode of artificial +swarming, 187. Bees will welcome to their hives strange bees that come +loaded. Will destroy such as come empty, 188. Forced swarming requires +knowledge of the economy of the bee-hive. Common hives give no facility +for learning the bee's habits. Equalizing a divided swarm, 190. Bees in +parent hive, if removed, to be confined and watered, 191. Bees removed +will return to their old place. Supplying bees with water by a straw. +Water necessary to prepare food for the larvæ, 192. New forced swarms to +be returned to the place of the old one, or removed to a distance. +Treatment to wont them to new place in the Apiary, 193. Bees forget +their new locations. Objection to forced swarming in common hives, 194. +Forced swarming by the new hives removes the objection. Mode of forcing +swarms by the new hives, 195. Queen to be searched for. Important that +she should be in the right hive, 196. Convenience of forced swarming in +supplying extra queens. Mode of supplying them. Should be done by day +light and in pleasant weather, 197. Honey-water not to be used. Safety +to the operator. Forced swarming may be performed at mid-day. Advantages +of the shape of the new hive, 198. Huber's observation on the effect of +sudden light in the hive. True solution of the phenomenon. Bees at the +top of the hive, less belligerent than those at the bottom, 199. Sudden +jars to be avoided. Removal of honey-board. Sprinkling with sugar-water, +200. Loosening the frames. Removing the comb. Bees will adhere to their +comb, 201. Natural swarming imitated. How to catch the queen. Frames +protected from cold and robbery by bees. Frames returned to the hive. +Honey-cover, how managed. Motions of bee-keeper to be gentle. Bees must +not be breathed on. Success in the operation certain, 202. New colonies +may be thus formed in ten minutes. Natural swarming wholly prevented. If +attempted by the bees cannot succeed. How to remove the wings of the +queens, 203. Precaution against loss of queen by old age. Advantages of +this, 204. Certainty and ease of artificial swarming with the new hive. +After-swarms prevented if desired, 205. Large harvests of honey and +after-swarming impracticable. Danger of too rapid increase of stocks. +Importance of understanding his object, by the bee-keeper, 206. The +matter made plain, 207. Apiarians dissuaded from more than tripling +their stocks in a year. Tenfold increase of stocks attainable, 209. +Certain increase, not rapid, most needed. Cautions concerning +experiments, 210. Honey, largest yield obtained by doubling colonies. +The process, 211. May be done at swarming time. Bees recognize each +other by smell, 213. Importance of following these directions +illustrated. Process of uniting swarms simplified by the new hive, 214. +Very rapid increase of colonies precarious. Mode of effecting the most +rapid increase, 215. Nucleus system, 217. Can a queen be raised from any +egg? Two sorts of workers, wax workers and nurses, 218. Probable +explication of a difficulty, 219. Experimenting difficult work. Swarming +season best time for artificial swarming. Amusing perplexity of bees on +finding their hive changed, 220. Perseverance of bees. Interesting +incident illustrating it, 221. Novel and successful mode of forming +nuclei, 223. Mode of managing nuclei, 225. Danger of over-feeding. +Increasing stocks by doubling hives, 229. Important rule for multiplying +stocks. How to direct the strength of a colony to the rearing of young +bees, 230. Proper dimensions of hives. Reasons therefor, 231. Easy +construction of the improved hive. Precaution of queen bees in their +combats, 234. Reluctance of bees to receive a new queen. Expedient to +overcome this. Queen nursery, 235. Mode of rearing numerous queens, 237. +Control of the comb the soul of good bee-culture. Objection against +bee-keeping answered, 233. No "royal road" to bee-keeping. A prediction, +239. + +CHAPTER XI. + +ENEMIES OF BEES. Bee-moth, its ravages. Defiance against it, 240. Its +habits. Known to Virgil. Time of appearance. Nocturnal in habits, 241. +Their agility. Vigilance of the bees against the moth. Havoc of sin in +the heart, 242. Disgusting effects of the moth worm in a hive. Wax the +food of the moth larvæ. Making their cocoons, 243. Devices to escape the +bees. Time of development, 244. Habits of the female when laying eggs. +Of the worm when hatched, 245. Our climate favorable to the increase of +the moth. Moth not a native of America, 246. Honey, its former plenty. +Present depressure of its culture. Old mode of culture described, 247. +Depredations of the moth increased by patent hives. Aim of patent hives. +Sulphur or starvation, 249. Feeble swarms a nuisance, 250. Notion +prevailing in relation to breaking up stocks. Improved hives valueless +without improved system of treatment, 251. Pretended secrets in the +management of bees. Strong stocks thrive under almost any circumstances, +252. Stocks in costly hives. Circumstances under which the moth succeeds +in a hive, 253. Signs of worms in a hive, 254. When entrenched difficult +to remove. Method of avoiding their ravages, 255. Combs having moth eggs +to be removed and smoked, 257. Uncovered comb to be removed, 258. Loss +of the queen the most fruitful occasion of ravages by the moth. +Experiments on this point, 259. Attempts to defend a queenless swarm +against the moth useless, 260. Strong queenless colonies destroyed when +feeble ones with queens are untouched. Common hives furnish no remedy +for the loss of the queen. Colonies without queens will perish, if not +destroyed by the moth, 261. Strong stocks rob queenless ones. Principal +reasons of protection, 262. Small stocks should have small space. +Inefficiency of various contrivances, 263. Useful precautions when using +common hives. Destroy the larvæ of the moth early. Decoy of a woolen +rag, 264. Hollow or split sticks for traps. If the queen be lost, and +worms infest the colony, break it up. Provision of the improved hives +against moths, 265. Moth-traps no help to careless bee-keepers. +Incorrigibly careless persons should have nothing to do with bees, 266. +Worms, how removed from an improved hive. Sweet solutions useful to +catch the moths. Interesting remarks of H. K. Oliver, on the bee-moth, +267. Ravages of mice. Birds. Observations on the king-bird, 269. +Inhumanity and injurious effects of destroying birds, 270. Other +enemies of the bee. Precautions against dysentery. Bees not to be fed on +liquid honey late in the season. Foul brood of the Germans, 271. +Produced by "American Honey." Peculiar kind of dysentery, 272. + +CHAPTER XII. + +LOSS OF THE QUEEN. Queen often lost. Queens of strong hives seldom +perish without providing for successors. Their death commonly occurs +under favorable circumstances, 273. Young queen sometimes matured before +the death of the old one. Superannuated queens incapable of laying +worker eggs. Case of precocious superannuation, 274. Signs that there is +no queen in a hive. Signs of queenless hives, 275. Exhortation to wives, +276. Difficult in common hives, to decide on the condition of the stock. +Always easy with the movable comb hive, 277. Bees sometimes refuse to +accept of aid in their queenless state. Parallel in human conduct. Young +bees in such hives will at once provide for a queen. An appeal to the +young, 278. Hives should be examined early in Spring. Destitute stocks +should be united to others having queens. Reasons therefor. General +treatment in early Spring, 279. Hives should be cleansed in Spring. +Durability and cheapness of hives, 280. Undue regard to mere cheapness. +Various causes destructive of queens, 281. Agitation of the bees on +missing their queen, 282. Treatment of swarms that have lost their +queens, 283. Examination of the hive needful, 284. Examination and +treatment in the Fall. Persons who cannot attend to their bees +themselves, may safely entrust their care to others, 285. Business of +the Apiarian united with that of the gardner. Experiments with queen +bees, 286. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +UNION OF STOCKS. TRANSFERRING BEES. STARTING AN APIARY. Queenless +colonies should be broken up, Spring and Fall. Small colonies should be +united. Animal heat necessary in a hive. Small swarms in Winter consume +much honey, 287. Colonies to be united, should stand side by side. How +to effect this. Removal of an Apiary in the working season, 288. To +secure the largest quantity of honey from a given number of stocks, 289. +Non-swarming plan. Moderate increase best, 290. Transferring bees from +common, to the movable comb hive, 291. Successful experiment. Should not +be attempted in cold weather. The process of transfer, 292. Best time. +May be done at any season when the weather is warm, 294. Precaution +against robbing, 295. Combs should be transferred with the bees, 296. +Caution on trying new hives, 297. Thrifty old swarms. Conditions of +their thrift, 298. Procuring bees to start an Apiary. New early swarms +best. Signs to guide the inexperienced buyer, 299. Directions for +removing old colonies. For removing new swarms, 300. To procure honey +the first season. Novices should begin in a small way. Neglected Apiary, +303. Superstitions about bees. Cautions to the inexperienced, against +transferring, renewed. Parallel between bees and covetous men, 304. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ROBBING. Idleness a great cause of it, 305. Colonies should be examined +and supplied with food in Spring. Appearance of robber bees, 306. Their +suspicious actions. Are real "Jerry Sneaks," 308. Highway robbers, 309. +Bee battles. Subjected bees unite with the conquerors. Cautions against +robbery. Importance of guarding against robbery, 310. Efficiency of the +movable blocks to this end. Comb with honey not to be exposed, 311. +Curious case of robbery, 314. + +CHAPTER XV. + +DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING BEES. Feeding greatly mismanaged. Condition of +the bees should be ascertained in the Spring. They should be supplied if +needy, 315. Many perish from want. Connection between feeding and +breeding in the hive, 316. Caution in feeding necessary. Results of over +feeding, 317. Necessary to feed largely in multiplying stocks. How to +feed weak swarms in Spring, 319. Considerations governing the quantity +of food, 320. Main object to produce bees. Proper condition of an Apiary +at close of honey season, 321. Feeding for Winter attended to in August. +Unsealed honey sours. Sour food is unwholesome to bees. Striking +instance, 322. Spare honey to be apportioned among the stocks. Swarms +with overstocks of honey do not breed so well. Surplus honey in Spring +to be removed, 323. Full frames exchanged for empty ones. Feeble stocks +in Fall, to be broken up. Profits all come from strong swarms. +Composition of a good bee-feed, 324. Directions for feeding with the +improved hive, 325. Feeding useless when but little comb in the hive, +326. Top feeding. Feeder described. Importance of water to bees, 328. +Sugar candy a valuable substitute for honey. Summer feeding, 330. Bees +with proper care need but little feeding. Quantity of honey necessary to +winter a stock, 331. Feeding as a source of profit. Selling W. I. honey +a cheat, 332. Honey not a secretion of the bee. Evaporation of its water +the principal change it undergoes, 334. Folly of diluting the feed of +bees too much. Feeders of cheap honey for market, deceivers or deceived, +335. Artificial liquid honey, 336. Improved Maple sugar, 337. Feeding +bees on artificial honey not profitable, 337. Dangerous feeding bees +without floats. Their infatuation for liquid sweets, 339. Like that of +the inebriate for his cups, 340. Avarice in bees and men, 341. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HONEY. PASTURAGE. OVERSTOCKING. Honey the product of flowers, 342. Honey +dew. Aphides, 343. Qualities of honey, 345. Poisonous honey. Innoxious +by boiling. Preserving honey, 346. Modes of taking honey from the hive. +Objections to glass vessels, 347. Pasteboard boxes preferred. Honey +should be handled carefully. Pattern comb to be used in the boxes. Honey +safely removed, 348. Should not be taken from the bees in large +quantities during honey harvest. Pasturage, 349. The Willow. Sugar Maple +and other honey-yielding trees, 350. Linden tree as an ornament. White +clover, 351. Recommended by Hon. Frederick Holbrook as a grass crop, +352. Sweet-scented clover, 363. Hybrid clover front Sweden, 354. +Buckwheat. Raspberry, 355. Garden flowers. Overstocking, 356. Little +danger of it. Bee-keepers and Napoleon. No overstocking in this country. +Letter from Mr. Wagner on the subject, 357. Flight of bees for food, +361. Advantages of a good hive in saving time and honey. Energies of +bees limited. Bees injured by winds, 362. Protector saves them from +harm. Estimated profits of bee-culture. Advice to the careless, 363. +Value of Dzierzon's system. Adopted by the government of Norway. Want of +National encouragement to agriculture, (note), 364. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ANGER OF BEES. REMEDY FOR THEIR STING. BEE-DRESS. INSTINCTS OF BEES. +Gentleness of the bee, 365. Feats of Wildman. Interesting incident, 366. +Discovery of a universal law. Its importance and results, 367. Cross +bees diseased. Never necessary to provoke a whole colony of bees, 368. +Danger from bees when provoked. A word to females, 369. Kindness of bees +to one another. Contrast with some children, 370. Effects of a sting. +The poison, 371. Peculiar odors offensive to bees. Precautions against +animals and human robbers, 372. Sense of smell in the bee, 373. By this +they distinguish their hive companions. Robbers repelled by odors, 374. +Stocks united by them, 375. Warning given by bees before stinging. How +to act when assaulted by bees, 376. Remedies for the sting, 377. +Bee-dress, 380. Instincts of bees, 381. Distinction between instinct in +animals and reason in men. Remarkable instance of sagacity in bees, 383. +Facilities afforded by the Author's Improved Observing Hive. +Indebtedness of the author to S. Wagner, Esq., 384. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT + +L. L. LANGSTROTH'S MOVABLE COMB HIVE. + +Patented October 5, 1862. + + +Each comb in this hive is attached to a separate, movable frame, and in +less than five minutes they may all be taken out, without cutting or +injuring them, or at all enraging the bees. Weak stocks may be quickly +strengthened by helping them to honey and maturing brood from stronger +ones; queenless colonies may be rescued from certain ruin by supplying +them with the means of obtaining another queen; and the ravages of the +moth effectually prevented, as at any time the hive may be readily +examined and all the worms, &c., removed from the combs. New colonies +may be formed in less time than is usually required to hive a natural +swarm; or the hive may be used as a non-swarmer, or managed on the +common swarming plan. The surplus honey may be taken from the interior +of the hive on the frames or in upper boxes or glasses, in the most +convenient, beautiful and saleable forms. Colonies may be safely +transferred from any other hive to this, at any season of the year, from +April to October, as the brood, combs, honey and all the contents of the +hive are transferred with them, and securely fastened in the frames. +That the combs can always be removed from this hive with ease and +safety, and that the new system, by giving the perfect control over all +the combs, effects a complete revolution in practical bee-keeping, the +subscriber prefers to _prove_ rather than assert. Practical Apiarians +and all who wish to purchase rights and hives, are invited to visit his +Apiary, where combs, honey and bees will be taken from the hives; +colonies which may be brought to him for that purpose, transferred from +any old hive; queens, and the whole process of rearing them constantly +exhibited; new colonies formed, and all processes connected with the +practical management of an Apiary fully illustrated and explained. + +Those who have any considerable number of bees, will find it to their +interest to have at least one movable comb-hive in their Apiary, from +which they may, in a few minutes, supply any colony which has lost its +queen, with the means of rearing another. + +The hive and right will be furnished on the following terms. For an +individual or farm right, five dollars. This will entitle the purchaser +to use and construct for his own use on his own premises, as many hives +as he chooses. The hives are manufactured by machinery, and can probably +be delivered, freight included, at any Railroad Station in New England, +or New York, cheaper than they could be made in small quantities on the +spot. On receipt of a hive, the purchaser can decide for himself, +whether he prefers to make them, or to order them of the Patentee. For +one dollar, postage paid, the book will be sent free by mail. On receipt +of ten dollars, a beautiful hive showing all the combs, (with glass on +four sides,) will be sent with right, freight paid to any railroad +station in New England or New York: a right and hive which will +accommodate _two_ colonies, with glass on each side, for twelve dollars; +for seven dollars, a right and a well made hive that any one can +construct who can handle the simplest tools. In all cases where the +hives are sent out of New England or New York, as the freight will not +be prepaid, a dollar will be deducted from the above prices. + Address + L. L. LANGSTROTH, + _Greenfield, Mass._ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +CHAPTER I. + + +The present condition of practical bee-keeping in this country, is known +to be deplorably low. From the great mass of agriculturists, and others +favorably situated for obtaining honey, it receives not the slightest +attention. Notwithstanding the large number of patent hives which have +been introduced, the ravages of the bee-moth have increased, and success +is becoming more and more precarious. Multitudes have abandoned the +pursuit in disgust, while many of the most experienced, are fast +settling down into the conviction that all the so-called "Improved +Hives" are delusions, and that they must return to the simple box or +hollow log, and "_take up_" their bees with sulphur, in the +old-fashioned way. + +In the present state of public opinion, it requires no little courage to +venture upon the introduction of a new hive and system of management; +but I feel confident that a _new era_ in bee-keeping has arrived, and +invite the attention of all interested, to the reasons for this belief. +A perusal of this Manual, will, I trust, convince them that there is a +better way than any with which they have yet been acquainted. They will +here find many hitherto mysterious points in the physiology of the +honey-bee, clearly explained, and much valuable information never before +communicated to the public. + +It is now nearly fifteen years since I first turned my attention to the +cultivation of bees. The state of my health having compelled me to live +more and more in the open air, I have devoted a large portion of my +time, of late years, to a careful investigation of their habits, and to +a series of minute and thorough experiments in the construction of +hives, and the best methods of managing them, so as to secure the +largest practical results. + +Very early in my Apiarian studies, I procured an imported copy of the +work of the celebrated Huber, and constructed a hive on his plan, which +furnished me with favorable opportunities of verifying some of his most +valuable discoveries; and I soon found that the prejudices existing +against him, were entirely unfounded. Believing that his discoveries +laid the foundation for a more extended and profitable system of +bee-keeping, I began to experiment with hives of various construction. + +The result of all these investigations fell far short of my +expectations. I became, however, most thoroughly convinced that no hives +were fit to be used, unless they furnished _uncommon protection_ against +_extremes_ of _heat_ and more especially of COLD. I accordingly +discarded all thin hives made of inch stuff, and constructed my hives of +_doubled_ materials, enclosing a "dead air" space all around. + +These hives, although more expensive in the first cost, proved to be +much cheaper in the end, than those I had previously used. The bees +_wintered_ remarkably well in them, and swarmed _early_ and with unusual +_regularity_. My next step in advance, was, while I secured my surplus +honey in the most convenient, beautiful and salable forms, so to +facilitate the entrance of the bees into the honey receptacles, as to +secure the largest fruits from their labors. + +Although I felt confident that my hive possessed some valuable +peculiarities, I still found myself unable to remedy many of the +casualties to which bee-keeping is liable. I now perceived that no hive +could be made to answer my expectations unless it gave me the _complete +control of the combs_, so that I might remove any, or all of them at +pleasure. The use of the Huber hive had convinced me that with proper +precautions, the combs might be removed without _enraging_ the bees, and +that these insects were capable of being domesticated or _tamed_, to a +most surprising degree. A knowledge of these facts was absolutely +necessary to the further progress of my invention, for without it, I +should have regarded a hive designed to allow of the removal of the +combs, as too dangerous in use, to be of any practical value. At first, +I used movable slats or bars placed on rabbets in the front and back of +the hive. The bees were induced to build their combs upon these bars, +and in carrying them down, to fasten them to the sides of the hive. By +severing the attachments to the sides, I was able, at any time, to +remove the combs suspended from the bars. There was nothing _new_ in the +use of movable _bars_; the invention being probably, at least, a hundred +years old; and I had myself used such hives on Bevan's plan, very early +in the commencement of my experiments. The chief peculiarity in my +hives, as now constructed, was the facility with which these bars could +be removed without enraging the bees, and their combination with my new +mode of obtaining the surplus honey. + +With hives of this construction I commenced experimenting on a larger +scale than ever, and soon arrived at results which proved to be of the +very first importance. I found myself able, if I wished it, to _dispense +entirely_ with _natural swarming_, and yet to multiply colonies with +much greater _rapidity_ and _certainty_ than by the common methods. I +could, in a _short time, strengthen my feeble colonies_, and furnish +those which had _lost their Queen_ with the means of _obtaining +another_. If I suspected that any thing was the matter with a hive, I +could _ascertain_ its _true condition_, by making a thorough examination +of every part, and if the _worms had gained a lodgment_, I could quickly +_dispossess_ them. In short, I could perform all the operations which +will be explained in this treatise, and I now believed that bee-keeping +could be made _highly profitable_, and as much a matter of _certainty_, +as any other branch of rural economy. + +I perceived, however, that one thing was _yet_ wanting. The _cutting_ of +the combs from their attachments to the _sides_ of the hive, in order to +remove them, was attended with much loss of _time_ to myself and to the +bees, and in order to _facilitate_ this operation, the construction of +my hive was necessarily _complicated_. This led me to invent a method by +which the combs were attached to MOVABLE FRAMES, and suspended in the +hives, _so as to touch neither the top, bottom, nor sides_. By this +device, I was able to remove the combs at pleasure, and if desired, I +could speedily transfer them, bees and all, _without any cutting_, to +another hive. I have experimented largely with hives of this +construction, and find that they answer most admirably, all the ends +proposed in their invention. + +While experimenting in the summer of 1851, with some observing hives of +a peculiar construction, I discovered that bees could be made to work in +glass hives, _exposed to the full light of day_. The notice, in a +Philadelphia newspaper, of this discovery, procured me the pleasure of +an acquaintance with Rev. Dr. Berg, pastor of a Dutch Reformed church in +that city. From him, I first learned that a Prussian clergyman, of the +name of Dzierzon, (pronounced Tseertsone,) had attracted the attention +of crowned heads, by his important discoveries in the management of +bees. Before he communicated the particulars of these discoveries, I +explained to Dr. Berg, my system of management, and showed him my hive. +He expressed the greatest astonishment at the wonderful similarity in +our methods of management, both of us having carried on our +investigations without the slightest knowledge of each other's labors. +Our hives, he found to differ in some very important respects. In the +Dzierzon hive, the combs are not attached to _movable frames_, but to +_bars_, so that they cannot, _without cutting_, be removed from the +hive. In my hive, which is opened _from the top_, any comb may be taken +out, without at all disturbing the others; whereas, in the Dzierzon +hive, which is opened from one of the ends, it is often necessary to +_cut_ and _remove many_ combs, in order to get access to a particular +one; thus, if the _tenth_ comb from the end is to be removed, _nine_ +combs must be first _cut and taken out_. All this consumes a large +amount of time. The German hive does not furnish the surplus honey in a +form which would be found most salable in our markets, or which would +admit of safe transportation in the comb. Notwithstanding these +disadvantages, it has achieved a _great triumph_ in Germany, and given a +_new impulse_ to the cultivation of bees. + +The following letter from Samuel Wagner, Esq., cashier of the bank in +York, Pennsylvania, will show the results which have been obtained in +Germany, by the new system of management, and his estimate of the +superior value of my hive to those in use there. + + YORK, PA., DEC. 24, 1852. + DEAR SIR, + +The Dzierzon theory and the system of bee-management based thereon, were +originally promulgated, _hypothetically_, in the "Eichstadt +Bienenzeitung" or Bee-journal, in 1845, and at once arrested my +attention. Subsequently, when in 1848, at the instance of the Prussian +government, the Rev. Mr. Dzierzon published his "Theory and Practice of +Bee Culture," I imported a copy, which reached me in 1849, and which I +translated prior to January 1850. Before the translation was completed, +I received a visit from my friend, the Rev. Dr. Berg, of Philadelphia, +and in the course of conversation on bee-keeping, mentioned to him the +Dzierzon theory and system, as one which I regarded as new and very +superior, though I had had no opportunity for testing it practically. In +February following, when in Philadelphia, I left with him the +translation in manuscript--up to which period, I doubt whether any other +person in this country had any knowledge of the Dzierzon theory; except +to Dr. Berg I had never mentioned it to any one, save in very general +terms. + +In September, 1851, Dr. Berg again visited York, and stated to me your +investigations, discoveries and inventions. From the account Dr. Berg +gave me, I felt assured that you had devised substantially the _same +system_ as that so successfully pursued by Mr. Dzierzon; but how far +_your hive_ resembled his I was unable to judge from description alone. +I inferred, however, several points of difference. The coincidence as to +system, and the principles on which it was evidently founded, struck me +as exceedingly singular and interesting, because I felt confident that +you had no more knowledge of Mr. Dzierzon and his labors, before Dr. +Berg mentioned him and his book to you, than Mr. Dzierzon had of you. +These circumstances made me very anxious to examine your hives, and +induced me to visit your Apiary in the village of West Philadelphia, +last August. In the absence of the keeper, as I informed you, I took the +liberty to explore the premises thoroughly, opening and inspecting a +number of the hives, and noticing the internal arrangement of the parts. +The result was, that I came away convinced that though your system was +based on the same principles as Dzierzon's, yet that your hive was +almost totally different from his, in construction and arrangement; that +while the same objects _substantially_ are attained by each, your hive +is more simple, more convenient, and much better adapted for general +introduction and use, since the mode of using it can be more easily +taught. Of its ultimate and triumphant success I have no doubt. I +sincerely believe that when it comes under the notice of Mr. Dzierzon, +he will himself prefer it to his own. It in fact combines all the good +properties which a hive ought to possess, while it is free from the +complication, clumsiness, _vain whims_, and decidedly objectionable +features, which characterize most of the inventions which profess to be +at all superior to the simple box, or the common chamber hive. + +You may certainly claim _equal credit_ with Dzierzon for originality in +observation and discovery in the natural history of the honey bee, and +for success in deducing principles and devising a most valuable system +of management from observed facts. But in _invention_, as far as +neatness, compactness, and adaptation of means to ends are concerned, +the sturdy German must yield the palm to you. You will find a case of +similar coincidence detailed in the Westminster Review for October, +1852, page 267, et seq. + +I send you herewith some interesting statements respecting Dzierzon, and +the estimate in which his system is held in Germany. + + Very truly yours, + SAMUEL WAGNER. + REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. + +The following are the statements to which Mr. Wagner refers.-- + +"As the best test of the value of Mr. Dzierzon's system, is the +_results_ which have been made to flow from it, a brief account of its +rise and progress maybe found interesting. In 1835 he commenced +bee-keeping in the common way, with 12 colonies--and after various +mishaps, which taught him the defects of the common hives and the old +mode of management, his stock was so reduced that in 1838 he had +virtually to begin anew. At this period he contrived his improved hive +in its ruder form, which gave him the command over all the combs, and he +began to experiment on the theory which observation and study had +enabled him to devise. Thenceforward his progress was as rapid as his +success was complete and triumphant. Though he met with frequent +reverses--about 70 colonies having been stolen from him, sixty destroyed +by fire, and 24 by a flood--yet in 1846 his stock had increased to 360 +colonies, and he realized from them that year six thousand pounds of +honey, besides several hundred weight of wax. At the same time most of +the cultivators in his vicinity who pursued the common methods, had +fewer hives than they had when he commenced. + +In the year 1848, a fatal pestilence, known by the name of "foul brood," +prevailed among his bees, and destroyed nearly all his colonies before +it could be subdued--only about ten having escaped the malady, which +attacked alike the old stocks and his artificial swarms. He estimates +his entire loss that year at over 500 _colonies_. Nevertheless he +succeeded so well in multiplying by artificial swarms, the few that +remained healthy, that in the fall of 1851 his stock consisted of nearly +400 colonies. He must, therefore, have multiplied his stocks more than +three fold each year." + +The highly prosperous condition of his colonies is attested by the +Report of the Secretary of the Annual Apiarian Convention which met in +his vicinity last spring. This Convention, the fourth which has been +held, consisted of 112 experienced and enthusiastic bee-keepers from +various districts of Germany and neighboring countries, and among them +were some who when they assembled were strong opposers of his system. + +They visited and personally examined the Apiaries of Mr. Dzierzon. The +report speaks in the very highest terms of his success, and of the +manifest superiority of his system of management. He exhibited and +satisfactorily explained to his visitors his practice and principles; +and they remarked, with astonishment, the _singular docility_ of his +bees, and the thorough control to which they were subjected. After a +full detail of the proceedings, the Secretary goes on to say:-- + +"Now that I have seen Dzierzon's method practically demonstrated, I must +admit that it is attended with fewer difficulties than I had supposed. +With his hive and system of management it would seem that bees become at +once more docile than they are in other cases. I consider his system the +simplest and best means of elevating bee-culture to a profitable +pursuit, and of spreading it far and wide over the land--especially as +it is peculiarly adapted to districts in which the bees do not readily +and regularly swarm. His eminent success in re-establishing his stock +after suffering so heavily from the devastating pestilence--in short the +recuperative power of the system demonstrates conclusively, that it +furnishes the best, perhaps the only means of reinstating bee-culture lo +a profitable branch of rural economy. + +Dzierzon modestly disclaimed the idea of having attained perfection in +his hive. He dwelt rather upon the truth and importance of his _theory_ +and _system_ of _management_." + +_From the Leipzig Illustrated Almanac--Report on Agriculture for 1846._ + +"Bee culture is no longer regarded as of any importance in rural +economy." + +From the same for 1851, and 1853. + +"Since Dzierzon's system has been made known an entire revolution in bee +culture has been produced. A new era has been created for it, and +bee-keepers are turning their attention to it with renewed zeal. The +merits of his discoveries are appreciated by the government, and they +recommend his system as worthy the attention of the teachers of common +schools. + +Mr. Dzierzon resides in a poor sandy district of Middle Silesia, which, +according to the common notions of Apiarians, is unfavorable to +bee-culture. Yet despite of this and of various mishaps, he has +succeeded in realizing 900 dollars as the product of his bees in one +season! + +By his mode of management, his bees yield, even in the poorest years, +from 10 to 15 per cent on the capital invested, and where the colonies +are produced by the Apiarian's own skill and labor they cost him only +about one-fourth the price at which they are usually valued. In ordinary +seasons the profit amounts to from 30 to 50 per cent, and in very +favorable seasons from 80 to 100 per cent." + +In communicating these facts to the public, I have several objects in +view. I freely acknowledge that I take an honest pride in establishing +my claims as an independent observer; and as having matured by my own +discoveries, the same system of bee-culture, as that which has excited +so much interest in Germany; I desire also to have the testimony of the +translator of Dzierzon to the superior merits of my hive. Mr. Wagner is +extensively known as an able German scholar. He has taken all the +numbers of the Bee Journal, a monthly periodical which has been +published for more than fifteen years in Germany, and is probably more +familiar with the state of Apiarian culture abroad, than any man in this +country. + +I am anxious further to show that the great importance which I attach to +my system of management, is amply justified by the success of those who +while pursuing the same system with inferior hives, have attained +results, which to common bee-keepers, seem almost incredible. Inventors +are very prone to form exaggerated estimates of the value of their +labors; and the American public has been so often deluded with patent +hives, devised by persons ignorant of the most important principles in +the natural history of the bee, and which have utterly failed to answer +their professed objects, that they are scarcely to be blamed for +rejecting every new hive as unworthy of confidence. + +There is now a prospect that a Bee Journal will before long, be +established in this country. Such a publication has long been needed. +Properly conducted, it will have a most powerful influence in +disseminating information, awakening enthusiasm, and guarding the public +against the miserable impositions to which it has so long been +subjected. + +Two such journals are now published monthly in Germany, one of which has +been in existence for more than 15 years--and their wide circulation has +made thousands well acquainted with those principles, which must +constitute the foundation of any enlightened and profitable system of +culture. + +The truth is that while many of the principal facts in the physiology of +the honey bee have long been familiar to scientific observers, it has +unfortunately happened that some of the most important have been widely +discredited. In themselves they are so _wonderful_, and to those who +have not witnessed them, often _so incredible_, that it is not at all +strange that they have been rejected as fanciful conceits, or bare-faced +inventions. + +Many persons have not the slightest idea that _every thing_ may be +_seen_ that takes place in a bee-hive. But hives have for many years, +been in use, containing only one large comb, enclosed on both sides, by +glass. These hives are darkened by shutters, and when opened, the queen +is exposed to observation, as well as all the other bees. Within the +last two years, I have discovered that with proper precautions, colonies +can be made to work in observing hives, without shutters, and exposed +continually to the _full light of day_; so that observations may be made +at all times, without in the least interrupting the ordinary operations +of the bees. By the aid of such hives, some of the most intelligent +citizens of Philadelphia have seen in my Apiary, the queen bee +depositing her eggs in the cells, and constantly surrounded by an +affectionate circle of her devoted children. They have also witnessed, +with astonishment and delight, all the steps in the mysterious process +of raising queens from eggs which with the ordinary development, would +have produced only the common bees. For more than three months, there +was not a day in which some of my colonies were not engaged in making +new queens to supply the place of those taken from them, and I had the +pleasure of exhibiting all the facts to bee-keepers who never before +felt willing to credit them. As _all_ my hives are so made that each +comb can be taken out, and examined at pleasure, those who use them, can +obtain from them all the information which they need, and, are no longer +forced to take any thing upon trust. + +May I be permitted to express the hope that the time is now at hand, +when the number of practical observers will be so multiplied, that +ignorant and designing men will neither be able to impose their conceits +and falsehoods upon the public, nor be sustained in their attempts to +depreciate the valuable discoveries of those who have devoted years of +observation and experiment to promote the advancement of Apiarian +knowledge. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HONEY BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED OR DOMESTICATED TO A MOST +SURPRISING DEGREE. + + +If the bee had not such a necessary and yet formidable weapon both of +offence and defence, multitudes would be induced to enter upon its +cultivation, who are now afraid to have any thing to do with it. As the +new system of management which I have devised, seems to add to this +inherent difficulty, by taking the greatest possible liberties with so +irascible an insect, I deem it important to show clearly, in the very +outset, how bees may be managed, so that all necessary operations may be +performed in an Apiary, without incurring any serious risk of exciting +their anger. + +Many persons have been unable to control their expressions of wonder and +astonishment, on seeing me open hive after hive, in my experimental +Apiary, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, removing the combs covered with +bees, and shaking them off in front of the hives; exhibiting the queen, +transferring the bees to another hive, and, in short, dealing with them +as if they were as harmless as so many flies. I have sometimes been +asked if the bees with which I was experimenting, had not been +subjected to a long course of instruction, to prepare them for public +exhibition; when in some cases, the very hives which I was opening, +contained swarms which had been brought only the day before, to my +establishment. + +Before entering upon the natural history of the bee, I shall anticipate +some principles in its management, in order to prepare my readers to +receive, without the doubts which would otherwise be very natural, the +statements in my book, and to convince them that almost any one +favorably situated, may safely enjoy the pleasure and profit of a +pursuit, which has been most appropriately styled, "the poetry of rural +economy;" and that, without being made too familiar with a sharp little +weapon, which can most speedily and effectually convert all the poetry +into very sorry prose. + +The Creator intended the bee for the comfort of man, as truly as he did +the horse or the cow. In the early ages of the world, indeed until very +recently, honey was almost the only natural sweet; and the promise of "a +land flowing with milk and honey," had then a significance, the full +force of which it is difficult for us to realize. The honey bee was, +therefore, created not merely with the ability to store up its delicious +nectar for its own use, but with certain properties which fitted it to +be domesticated, and to labor for man, and without which, he would no +more have been able to subject it to his control, than to make a useful +beast of burden of a lion or a tiger. + +One of the peculiarities which constitutes the very foundation, not +merely of my system of management, but of the ability of man to +domesticate at all so irascible an insect, has never, to my knowledge, +been clearly stated as a great and controlling principle. It may be thus +expressed. + +A HONEY BEE NEVER VOLUNTEERS AN ATTACK, OR ACTS ON THE OFFENSIVE, WHEN +IT IS GORGED OR FILLED WITH HONEY. + +The man who first attempted to lodge a swarm of bees in an artificial +hive, was doubtless agreeably surprised at the ease with which he was +able to accomplish it. For when the bees are intending to swarm, they +fill their honey-bags to their utmost capacity. This is wisely ordered, +that they may have materials for commencing operations immediately in +their new habitation; that they may not starve if several stormy days +should follow their emigration; and that when they leave their hives, +they may be in a suitable condition to be secured by man. + +They issue from their hives in the most peaceable mood that can well be +imagined; and unless they are abused, allow themselves to be treated +with great familiarity. The hiving of bees by those who understand their +nature, could almost always be conducted without the risk of any +annoyance, if it were not the case that some improvident or unfortunate +ones occasionally come forth without the soothing supply; and not being +stored with honey, are filled with the gall of the bitterest hate +against all mankind and animal kind in general, and any one who dares to +meddle with them in particular. Such radicals are always to be dreaded, +for they must vent their spleen on something, even though they lose +their life in the act. + +Suppose the whole colony, on sallying forth, to possess such a ferocious +spirit; no one would ever dare to hive them, unless clad in a coat of +mail, at least bee-proof, and not even then, until all the windows of +his house were closed, his domestic animals bestowed in some safe place, +and sentinels posted at suitable stations, to warn all comers to look +out for something almost as much to be dreaded, as a fiery locomotive +in full speed. In short, if the propensity to be exceedingly +good-natured after a hearty meal, had not been given to the bee, it +could never have been domesticated, and our honey would still be +procured from the clefts of rocks, or the hollows of trees. + +A second peculiarity in the nature of the bee, and one of which I +continually avail myself with the greatest success, may be thus stated. + +BEES CANNOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO FILL +THEMSELVES WITH LIQUID SWEETS. + +It would be quite as easy for an inveterate miser to look with +indifference upon a golden shower of double eagles, falling at his feet +and soliciting his appropriation. If then we can contrive a way to call +their attention to a treat of running sweets, when we wish to perform +any operation which might provoke them, we may be sure they will accept +it, and under its genial influence, allow us without molestation, to do +what we please. + +We must always be particularly careful not to handle them roughly, for +they will never allow themselves to be pinched or hurt without thrusting +out their sting to resent such an indignity. I always keep a small +watering-pot or sprinkler, in my Apiary, and whenever I wish to operate +upon a hive, as soon as the cover is taken off, and the bees exposed, I +sprinkle them gently with water sweetened with sugar. They help +themselves with the greatest eagerness, and in a few moments, are in a +perfectly manageable state. The truth is, that bees managed on this plan +are always glad to see visitors, and you cannot look in upon them too +often, for they expect at every call, to receive a sugared treat by way +of a peace-offering. + +I can superintend a large number of hives, performing every operation +that is necessary for pleasure or profit, and yet not run the risks of +being stung, which must frequently be incurred in attempting to manage, +in the simplest way, the common hives. Those who are timid may, at +first, use a bee-dress; though they will soon discard every thing of the +kind, unless they are of the number of those to whom the bees have a +special aversion. Such unfortunates are sure to be stung whenever they +show themselves in the vicinity of a bee-hive, and they will do well to +give the bees a very wide berth. + +Apiarians have, for many years, employed the smoke of tobacco for +subduing their bees. It deprives them, at once, of all disposition to +sting, but it ought never to be used for such a purpose. If the +construction of the hives will not permit the bees to be sprinkled with +sugar water, the smoke of burning paper or rags will answer every +purpose, and the bees will not be likely to resent it; whereas when they +recover from the effect of the tobacco, they not unfrequently remember, +and in no very gentle way, the operator who administered the nauseous +dose. + +Let all your motions about your hives be gentle and slow. Accustom your +bees to your presence; never crush or injure them in any operation; +acquaint yourself fully with the principles of management detailed in +this treatise, and you will find that you have but little more reason to +dread the sting of a bee, than the horns of your favorite cow, or the +heels of your faithful horse. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE QUEEN OR MOTHER-BEE, THE DRONES, AND THE WORKERS; WITH VARIOUS +HIGHLY IMPORTANT FACTS IN THEIR NATURAL HISTORY. + + +Bees can flourish only when associated in large numbers, as a colony. In +a solitary state, a single bee is almost as helpless as a new-born +child; it is unable to endure even the ordinary chill of a cool summer +night. + +If a strong colony of bees is examined, a short time before it swarms, +three different kinds of bees will be found in the hive. + +1st. A bee of peculiar shape, commonly called the _Queen Bee_. + +2d. Some hundreds, more or less, of large bees called _Drones_. + +3d. Many thousands of a smaller kind, called _Workers_ or common bees, +and similar to those which are seen on the blossoms. A large number of +the cells will be found filled with honey and bee-bread; while vast +numbers contain eggs, and immature workers and drones. A few cells of +unusual size, are devoted to the rearing of young queens, and are +ordinarily to be found in a perfect condition, only in the swarming +season. + +The _Queen-Bee_ is the only _perfect female_ in the hive, and all the +eggs are laid by her. The _Drones_ are the _males_, and the _Workers_ +are _females_, whose ovaries or "egg-bags" are so _imperfectly +developed_ that they are incapable of breeding, and which retain the +instinct of females, only so far as to give the most devoted attention +to feeding and rearing the brood. + +These facts have all been demonstrated repeatedly, and are as well +established as the most common facts in the breeding of our domestic +animals. The knowledge of them in their most important bearings, is +absolutely essential to all who expect to realize large profits from an +improved method of rearing bees. Those who will not acquire the +necessary information, if they keep bees at all, should manage them in +the old-fashioned way, which requires the smallest amount either of +knowledge or skill. + +I am perfectly aware how difficult it is to reason with a large class of +bee-keepers, some of whom have been so often imposed upon, that they +have lost all faith in the truth of any statements which may be made by +any one interested in a patent hive, while others stigmatize all +knowledge which does not square with their own, as "book-knowledge," and +unworthy the attention of practical men. + +If any such read this book, let me remind them again, that all my +assertions may be put to the test. So long as the interior of a hive, +was to common observers, a profound mystery, ignorant and designing men +might assert what they pleased, about what passed in its dark recesses; +but now, when all that takes place in it, can, _in a few moments_, be +exposed to the _full light of day_, and every one who keeps bees, can +_see and examine_ for himself, the man who attempts to palm upon the +community, his own conceits for facts, will speedily earn for himself, +the character both of a fool and an impostor. + +THE QUEEN BEE, or as she may more properly be called THE MOTHER BEE, is +the common mother of the whole colony. She reigns therefore, most +unquestionably, by a divine right, as every mother is, or ought to be, a +queen in her own family. Her shape is entirely different from that of +the other bees. While she is not near so bulky as a drone, her body is +longer, and of a more _tapering_, or sugar-loaf form than that of a +worker, so that she has somewhat of a wasp-like appearance. Her wings +are much shorter, in proportion, than those of the drone, or worker; the +under part of her body is of a golden color, and the upper part darker +than that of the other bees. Her motions are usually slow and matronly, +although she can, when she pleases, move with astonishing quickness. + +No colony can long exist without the presence of this all-important +insect. She is just as necessary to its welfare, as the soul is to the +body, for a colony without a queen must as certainly perish, as a body +without the spirit hasten to inevitable decay. + +She is treated by the bees, as every mother ought to be, by her +children, with the most unbounded respect and affection. A circle of her +loving offspring constantly surround her, testifying, in various ways, +their dutiful regard; offering her honey, from time to time, and always, +most politely getting out of her way, to give her a clear path when she +wishes to move over the combs. If she is taken from them, as soon as +they have ascertained their loss, the whole colony is thrown into a +state of the most intense agitation; all the labors of the hive are at +once abandoned; the bees run wildly over the combs, and frequently, the +whole of them rush forth from the hive, and exhibit all the appearance +of anxious search for their beloved mother. Not being able anywhere to +find her, they return to their desolate home, and by their mournful +tones, reveal their deep sense of so deplorable a calamity. Their note, +at such times, more especially when they first realize her loss, is of +a peculiarly mournful character; it sounds something like _a succession +of wails on the minor key_, and can no more be mistaken by the +experienced bee-keeper, for their ordinary, happy hum, than the piteous +moanings of a sick child can be confounded, by an anxious mother, with +its joyous crowings, when overflowing with health and happiness. + +I am perfectly aware that all this will sound to many, much more like +romance than sober reality; but I have determined, in writing this book, +to state facts, however wonderful, just as they are; confident that they +will, before long, be universally received, and hoping that the many +wonders in the economy of the honey bee will not only excite a wider +interest in its culture, but will lead those who observe them, to adore +the wisdom of Him who gave them such admirable instincts. I cannot +refrain from quoting here, the forcible remarks of an English clergyman, +who appears to be a very great enthusiast in bee-culture. + +"Every bee-keeper, if he have only a soul to appreciate the works of +God, and an intelligence of an inquisitive order, cannot fail to become +deeply interested in observing the wonderful instincts, (instincts akin +to reason,) of these admirable creatures; at the same time that he will +learn many lessons of practical wisdom from their example. Having +acquired a knowledge of their habits, not a bee will buzz in his ear, +without recalling to him some of these lessons, and helping to make him +a wiser and a better man. It is certain that in all my experience, I +never yet met with a keeper of bees, who was not a respectable, +well-conducted member of society, and a moral, if not a religious +man.[1] It is evident, on reflection, that this pursuit, if well +attended to, must occupy some considerable share of a man's time and +thoughts. He must be often about his bees, which will help to counteract +the baneful effect of the village inn. "_Whoever is fond of his bees is +fond of his home_," is an axiom of irrefragable truth, and one which +ought to kindle in every one's breast, a favorable regard for a pursuit +which has the power to produce so happy an influence. The love of home +is the companion of many other virtues, which, if not yet developed into +actual exercise, are still only dormant, and may be roused into wakeful +energy at any moment." + +The fertility of the queen bee has been much under-estimated by most +writers. It is truly astonishing. During the height of the breeding +season, she will often, under favorable circumstances, lay from two to +three thousand eggs, a day! In my observing hives, I have seen her lay, +at the rate of six eggs a minute! The fecundity of the female of the +white ant, is much greater than this, as she will lay as many as sixty +eggs a minute! but then her eggs are simply extruded from her body, to +be carried by the workers into suitable nurseries, while the queen bee +herself deposits her eggs in their appropriate cells. + + +ON THE WAY IN WHICH THE EGGS OF THE QUEEN BEE ARE FECUNDATED. + +I come now to a subject of great practical importance, and one which, +until quite recently, has been _attended_ with apparently insuperable +difficulties. + +It has been noticed that the queen bee commences laying in the latter +part of winter, or early in spring, and long before there are any +drones or males in the hive. (See remarks on Drones.) In what way are +these eggs impregnated? Huber, by a long course of the most +indefatigable observations, threw much light upon this subject. Before +stating his discoveries, I must pay my humble tribute of gratitude and +admiration, to this wonderful man. It is mortifying to every scientific +naturalist, and I might add, to every honest man acquainted with the +facts, to hear such a man as Huber abused by the veriest quacks and +imposters; while others who have appropriated from his labors, nearly +all that is of any value in their works, to use the words of Pope, + + "Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, + And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer." + +Huber, in early manhood, lost the use of his eyes. His opponents imagine +that in stating this fact, they have thrown merited discredit on all his +pretended discoveries. But to make their case still stronger, they +delight to assert that he saw every thing through the medium of his +servant Francis Burnens, an ignorant peasant. Now this ignorant peasant +was a man of strong native intellect, possessing that indefatigable +energy and enthusiasm which are so indispensable to make a good +observer. He was a noble specimen of a self-made man, and afterwards +rose to be the chief magistrate in the village where he resided. Huber +has paid the most admirable tribute to his intelligence, fidelity and +indomitable patience, energy and skill. + +It would be difficult to find, in any language, a better specimen of the +true Baconian or _inductive_ system of reasoning, than Huber's work upon +bees, and it might be studied as a model of the only true way of +investigating nature, so as to arrive at reliable results. + +Huber was assisted in his investigations, not only by Burnens, but by +his own wife, to whom he was engaged before the loss of his sight, and +who nobly persisted in marrying him, notwithstanding his misfortune, and +the strenuous dissuasions of her friends. They lived for more than the +ordinary term of human life, in the enjoyment of uninterrupted domestic +happiness, and the amiable naturalist scarcely felt, in her assiduous +attentions, the loss of his sight. + +Milton is believed by many, to have been a better poet, for his +blindness; and it is highly probable that Huber was a better Apiarian, +for the same cause. His active and yet reflective mind demanded constant +employment; and he found in the study of the habits of the honey bee, +full scope for all his powers. All the facts observed, and experiments +tried by his faithful assistants, were daily reported to him, and many +inquiries were stated and suggestions made by him, which would probably +have escaped his notice, if he had possessed the use of his eyes. + +Few have such a command of both time and money as to enable them to +carry on, for a series of years, on a grand scale, the most costly +experiments. Apiarians owe more to Huber than to any other person. I +have repeatedly verified the most important of his observations, and I +take _the greatest delight_ in acknowledging my obligations to him, and +in holding him up to my countrymen, as the PRINCE OF APIARIANS. + +My Readers will pardon this digression. It would have been morally +impossible for me to write a work on bees, without saying at least as +much as this, in vindication of Huber. + +I return to his discoveries on the impregnation of the Queen Bee. By a +long course of experiments most carefully conducted, he ascertained that +like many other insects, she is fecundated in the open air, and on the +wing, and that the influence of this lasts for several years, and +probably for life. He could not form any satisfactory conjecture, as to +the way in which the eggs which were not yet developed in her ovaries, +could be fertilized. Years ago, the celebrated Dr. John Hunter, and +others, supposed that there must be a permanent receptacle for the male +sperm, opening into the passage for the eggs called the oviduct. +Dzierzon, who must be regarded as one of the ablest contributors of +modern times, to Apiarian science, maintains this opinion, and states +that he has found such a receptacle filled with a fluid, resembling the +semen of the drones. He nowhere, to my knowledge, states that he ever +made microscopic examinations, so as to put the matter on the footing of +demonstration. + +In January and February of 1852, I submitted several Queen Bees to Dr. +Joseph Leidy of Philadelphia, for a scientific examination. I need +hardly say to any Naturalist in this country, that Dr. Leidy has +obtained the very highest reputation, both at home and abroad, as a +skillful naturalist and microscopic anatomist. No man in this country or +Europe, was more competent to make the investigations that I desired. He +found in making his dissections, a small globular sac, not larger than a +grain of mustard seed, (about 1/33 of an inch in diameter,) +communicating with the oviduct, and filled with a whitish fluid, which +when examined under the microscope, was found to abound in spermatozoa, +or the animalculæ, which are the unmistakable characteristics of the +seminal fluid. Later in the season, the same substance was compared with +some taken from the drones, and found to be exactly similar to it. + +These examinations have settled, on the impregnable basis of +demonstration, the mode in which the eggs of the Queen are vivified. In +descending the oviduct to be deposited in the cells, they pass by the +mouth of this seminal sac or spermatheca, and receive a portion of its +fertilizing contents. Small as it is, its contents are sufficient to +impregnate hundreds of thousands of eggs. In precisely the same way, +the mother wasps and hornets are fecundated. The females alone of these +insects survive the winter, and they begin, single-handed, the +construction of a nest, in which, at first, only a few eggs are +deposited. How could these eggs hatch, if the females which laid them, +had not been impregnated, the previous season? Dissection proves them to +have a spermatheca, similar to that of the Queen Bee. + +Of all who have written against Huber, no one has treated him with more +unfairness, misrepresentation, and I might almost add, malignity, than +Huish. He maintains that the eggs of the Queen are impregnated by the +drones, after she has deposited them in the cells, and accounts for the +fact that brood is produced in the Spring, long before the existence of +any drones in the hive, by asserting that these eggs were deposited and +impregnated late in the previous season, and have remained dormant, all +winter, in the hive: and yet the same writer, while ridiculing the +discoveries of Huber, advises that all the mother wasps should be killed +in the Spring, to prevent them from founding families to commit +depredations upon the bees! It never seems to have occurred to him, that +the existence of a permanently impregnated mother wasp, was just as +difficult to be accounted for, as the existence of a similarly +impregnated Queen Bee. + + +EFFECT OF RETARDED IMPREGNATION ON THE QUEEN BEE. + +I shall now mention a fact in the physiology of the Queen Bee, more +singular than any which has yet been related. + +Huber, while experimenting to ascertain how the Queen was fecundated, +confined some of his young Queens to their hives, by contracting the +entrances, so that they were not able to go in search of the drones, +until three weeks after their birth. To his amazement, these Queens +whose impregnation was thus unnaturally retarded, _never laid any eggs +but such as produced drones_!! + +He tried the experiment again and again, but always with the same +result. Some Bee-Keepers, long before his time, had observed that all +the brood in a hive were occasionally drones, and of course, that such +colonies rapidly went to ruin. Before attempting any explanation of this +astonishing fact, I must call the attention of the reader, to another of +the mysteries of the Bee-Hive, + + +FERTILE WORKERS. + +It has already been remarked, that the workers are proved by dissection +to be females, all of which, under ordinary circumstances, are barren. +Occasionally, some of them appear to be more fully developed than +common, so as to be capable of laying eggs: these eggs, like those of +Queens whose impregnation has been retarded, _always produce drones_! +Sometimes, when a colony has lost its Queen, these drone-laying workers +are exalted to her place, and treated with equal respect and affection, +by the bees. Huber ascertained that these fertile workers were generally +reared in the neighborhood of the young Queens, and he thought that they +received some particles of the peculiar food or jelly on which the +Queens are reared. (See Royal Jelly.) He did not pretend to account for +the effect of retarded impregnation; and made no experiments to +determine the facts, as to the fecundation of these fertile workers. + +Since the publication of Huber's work, nearly 50 years ago, no light has +been shed upon the mysteries of drone-laying Queens and workers, until +quite recently. Dzierzon appears to have been the first to ascertain the +truth on this subject; and his discovery must certainly be ranked as +unfolding one of the most astonishing facts in all the range of +animated nature. This fact seems, at first view, so absolutely +incredible, that I should not dare to mention it, if it were not +supported by the most indubitable evidence, and if I had not, (as I have +already observed,) determined to state all important and well +ascertained facts, without seeking, by any concealments, to pander to +the prejudices of conceited, and often, very ignorant Bee-Keepers. + +Dzierzon advances the opinion that impregnation is not needed in order +that the eggs of the Queen may produce drones; but, that all impregnated +eggs produce females, either workers or Queens; and all unimpregnated +ones, males or drones! He states that he found drone-laying Queens in +several of his hives, whose wings were so imperfect that they could not +fly, and that on examination, they proved to be unfecundated. Hence he +concluded that the eggs of the Queen Bee or fertile worker, had from the +previous impregnation of the egg which produced them, sufficient +vitality to produce the drone, which is a less highly organized insect, +and one inferior to the Queen or workers. It had long been known, that +the Queen deposits drone eggs in the large or drone cells, and worker +eggs in the small or worker cells, and that she makes no mistakes. +Dzierzon inferred, therefore, that there was some way in which she was +able to decide as to the sex of the egg before it was laid, and that she +must have a control over the mouth of the seminal sac, so as to be able +to extrude her eggs, allowing them to receive or not, just as she +pleased, a portion of its fertilizing contents. In this way he thought +she determined the sex, according to the size of the cells in which she +laid them. Mr. Samuel Wagner of York, Pa., has recently communicated to +me a very original and exceedingly ingenious theory of his own, which he +thinks will account for all the facts without admitting that the Queen +Bee has any special knowledge or will on the subject. He supposes that +when she deposits her eggs in the worker cells, her body is slightly +compressed by the size of the cells, and that the eggs, as they pass the +spermatheca, receive in this manner, its vivifying influence. On the +contrary, when she is egg-laying in drone cells, this compression cannot +take place, the mouth of the spermatheca is kept closed, and the eggs +are, necessarily, unfecundated. This theory may prove to be true, but at +present, it is encumbered with some difficulties and requires further +investigation, before it can be considered as fully established. + +Leaving then the question whether the Queen exercises any volition in +this matter, for the present undecided, I shall state some facts which +occurred in the summer of 1852, in my own Apiary, and shall then +endeavor to relieve, as far as possible, this intricate subject from +some of the difficulties which embarrass it. + +In the Autumn of 1852, my assistant found, in one of my hives, a young +Queen, the whole of whose progeny was drones. The colony had been formed +by removing part of the combs containing bees, brood and eggs from +another hive. It had only a few combs, and but a small number of bees. +They raised a new Queen in the manner which will hereafter be +particularly described. This Queen had laid a number of eggs in one of +the combs, and the young bees from some of them were already emerging +from the cells. I perceived, at the first glance, that they were drones. +As there were none but worker cells in the hive, they were reared in +them, and not having space for full development, they were dwarfed in +size, although the bees, in order to give them more room, had pieced out +the cells so as to make them larger than usual! Size excepted, they +appeared as perfect as any other drones. + +I was not only struck with the singularity of finding drones reared in +worker cells, but with the equally singular fact that a young Queen, who +at first lays only the eggs of workers, should be laying drone eggs at +all; and at once conjectured that this was a case of a drone-laying, +unimpregnated Queen, as sufficient time had not elapsed for her +impregnation to be unnaturally retarded. I saw the great importance of +taking all necessary precautions to determine this point. The Queen was +removed from the hive, and carefully examined. Her wings, although they +appeared to be perfect, were so paralized that she could not fly. It +seemed probable, therefore, that she had never been able to leave the +hive for impregnation. + +To settle the question beyond the possibility of doubt, I submitted this +Queen to Dr. Joseph Leidy for microscopic examination. The following is +an extract from his report: "The ovaries were filled with eggs; the +poison sac was full of fluid, and I took the whole of it into my mouth; +the poison produced a strong metallic taste, lasting for a considerable +time, and at first, it was pungent to the tip of the tongue. The +spermatheca was distended with a perfectly colorless, transparent, +viscid liquid, _without a trace of spermatozoa_." + +This examination seems perfectly to sustain the theory of Dzierzon, and +to demonstrate that Queens do not need to be impregnated, in order to +lay the eggs of males. + +I must confess that very considerable doubts rested on my mind, as to +the accuracy of Dzierzon's statements on this subject, and chiefly +because of his having hazarded the unfortunate conjecture that the place +of the poison bag in the worker, is occupied in the Queen, by the +spermatheca. Now this is so completely contrary to fact, that it was a +very natural inference that this acute and thoroughly honest observer, +made no microscopic dissections of the insects which he examined. I +consider myself peculiarly fortunate in having enjoyed the benefit of +the labors of a Naturalist, so celebrated as Dr. Leidy, for microscopic +dissections. The exceeding minuteness of some of the insects which he +has completely figured and described, almost passes belief. + +On examining this same colony a few days later, I obtained the most +satisfactory evidence that these drone eggs were laid by the Queen which +had been removed. No fresh eggs had been deposited in the cells, and the +bees, on missing her, had commenced the construction of royal cells, to +rear if possible, another Queen, a thing which they would not have done, +if a fertile worker had been present, by which the drone eggs had been +laid. + +Another very interesting fact proves that _all_ the eggs laid by this +Queen, were drone eggs. Two of the royal cells were, in a short time, +discontinued, and were found to be empty, while a third contained a +worm, which was sealed over the usual way, to undergo its changes from a +worm to a perfect Queen. + +I was completely at a loss to account for this, as the bees having an +unimpregnated drone-laying Queen, ought not to have had a single female +egg from which they could rear a Queen. + +At first I imagined that they might have _stolen_ it from another hive, +but when I opened this cell, it contained, instead of a queen, _a dead +drone_! + +I then remembered that Huber has described the same mistake on the part +of some of his bees. At the base of this cell, was an extraordinary +quantity of the peculiar jelly or paste, which is fed to the young that +are to be transformed into queens. The poor bees in their desperation, +appear to have dosed the unfortunate drone to death: as though they +expected by such liberal feeding, to produce some hopeful change in his +sexual organization! + +It appears to me that these facts constitute all the links in a perfect +chain, and demonstrate beyond the possibility of doubt, that +unfecundated queens are not only capable of laying eggs, (this would be +no more remarkable than the same occurrence in a hen,) but that these +eggs are possessed of sufficient vitality to produce drones. Aristotle, +who flourished before the Christian era, had noticed that there was no +difference in appearance, between the eggs producing drones and those +producing workers; and he states that drones only are produced in hives +which have no queen; of course the eggs producing them, were laid by +fertile workers. Having now the aid of powerful microscopes, we are +still unable to detect the slightest difference in size or appearance in +the eggs, and this is precisely what we should expect if the same egg +will produce either a worker or a drone, according as it is or is not +impregnated. The theory which I propose, will, I think, perfectly +harmonize with all the observed facts on this subject. + +I believe that after fecundation has been delayed for about three weeks, +the mouth of the spermatheca becomes permanently closed, so that +impregnation can no longer be effected; just as the parts of a flower, +after a certain time, wither and shut up, and the plant is incapable of +fructification. The fertile drone-laying workers, are in my opinion, +physically incapable of being impregnated. However strange it may +appear, or even improbable, that an unimpregnated egg can give birth to +a living being, or that the sex can be dependent on impregnation, we are +not at liberty to reject facts, because we cannot comprehend the reasons +of them. He who allows himself to be guilty of such folly, if he seeks +to maintain his consistency, will be plunged, sooner or later, into the +dreary gulf of atheism. Common sense, philosophy and religion alike +teach us to receive all undoubted facts in the natural and the +spiritual world, with becoming reverence; assured that however +mysterious to us, they are all most beautifully harmonious and +consistent in the sight of Him whose "understanding is infinite." + +There is something analogous to these wonders in the bee, in what takes +place in the aphides or green lice which infest our rose bushes and +other plants. We have the most undoubted evidence that a fecundated +female gives birth to other females, and they in turn to others still, +all of which, without impregnation, are able to bring forth young, until +at length, after a number of generations, perfect males and females are +produced, and the series starts anew! + +The unequaled facilities, furnished by my hives, have seemed to render +it peculiarly incumbent on me, to do all in my power to clear up the +difficulties in this intricate and yet highly important branch of +Apiarian knowledge. All the leading facts in the breeding of bees ought +to be as well known to the bee keeper, as the same class of facts in the +rearing of his domestic animals. A few crude and hasty notions, but half +understood and half digested, will answer only for the old fashioned bee +keeper, who deals in the brimstone matches. He who expects to conduct +bee keeping on a safe and profitable system, must learn that on this, as +on all other subjects, "knowledge is power." + +The extraordinary fertility of the queen bee has already been noticed. +The process of laying has been well described by the Rev. W. Dunbar, a +Scotch Apiarian. + +"When the queen is about to lay, she puts her head into a cell, and +remains in that position for a second or two, to ascertain its fitness +for the deposit which she is about to make. She then withdraws her +head, and curving her body downwards,[2] inserts the lower part of it +into the cell: in a few seconds she turns half round upon herself and +withdraws, leaving an egg behind her. When she lays a considerable +number, she does it equally on each side of the comb, those on the one +side being as exactly opposite to those on the other as the relative +position of the cells will admit. The effect of this is to produce the +utmost possible concentration and economy of heat for developing the +various changes of the brood!" + +Here as at every step in the economy of the bee our minds are filled +with admiration as we witness the perfect adaptation of means to ends. +Who can blame the warmest enthusiasm of the Apiarian in view of a +sagacity which seems scarcely inferior to that of man. + +"The eggs of bees," I quote from the admirable treatise of Bevan, "are +of a lengthened oval shape, with a slight curvature, and of a bluish +white color: being besmeared at the time of laying, with a glutinous +substance,[3] they adhere to the bases of the cells, and remain +unchanged in figure or situation for three or four days; they are then +hatched, the bottom of each cell presenting to view a small white worm. +On its growing so as to touch the opposite angle of the cell, it coils +itself up, to use the language of Swammerdam, like a dog when going to +sleep; and floats in a whitish transparent fluid, which is deposited in +the cells by the nursing-bees, and by which it is probably nourished; it +becomes gradually enlarged in its dimensions, till the two extremities +touch one another and form a ring. In this state it is called a larva or +worm. So nicely do the bees calculate the quantity of food which will be +required, that none remains in the cell when it is transformed to a +nymph. It is the opinion of many eminent naturalists that farina does +not constitute the sole food of the larva, but that it consists of a +mixture of farina, honey and water, partly digested in the stomachs of +the nursing-bees." + +"The larva having derived its support, in the manner above described, +for four, five or six days, according to the season," (the development +being retarded in cool weather, and badly protected hives,) "continues +to increase during that period, till it occupies the whole breadth and +nearly the length of the cell. The nursing bees now seal over the cell, +with a light _brown cover_, externally more or less _convex_, (the cap +of a drone cell is more convex than that of a worker,) and thus +differing from that of a honey cell which is _paler_ and somewhat +_concave_." The cap of the brood cell appears to be made of a mixture of +bee-bread and wax; it is not air tight as it would be if made of wax +alone; but when examined with a microscope it appears to be reticulated, +or full of fine holes through which the enclosed insect can have air for +all necessary purposes. From its texture and shape it is easily thrust +off by the bee when mature, whereas, if it consisted wholly of wax, the +young bee would either perish for lack of air, or be unable to force its +way into the world! Both the material and shape of the lids which seal +up the honey cells are different, because an entirely different object +was aimed at; they are of pure wax to make them air tight and thus to +prevent the honey from souring or candying in the cells! They are +concave or hollowed inwards to give them greater strength to resist the +pressure of their contents! + +To return to Bevan. "The larva is no sooner perfectly inclosed than it +begins to line the cell by spinning round itself, after the manner of +the silk worm, a whitish silky film or cocoon, by which it is encased, +as it were, in a pod. When it has undergone this change, it has usually +borne the name of _nymph_ or _pupa_. The insect has now attained its +full growth, and the large amount of nutriment which it has taken serves +as a store for developing the perfect insect." + +"The _working bee nymph_ spins its cocoon in thirty-six hours. After +passing about three days in this state of preparation for a new +existence, it gradually undergoes so great a change as not to wear a +vestige of its previous form, but becomes armed with a firmer mail, and +with scales of a dark brown hue. On its belly six rings become +distinguishable, which by slipping one over another enables the bee to +shorten its body whenever it has occasion to do so. + +"When it has reached the twenty-first day of its existence, counting +from the moment the egg is laid, it comes forth a perfect winged insect. +The cocoon is left behind, and forms a closely attached and exact lining +to the cell in which it was spun; by this means the breeding cells +become smaller and their partitions stronger, the oftener they change +their tenants; and may become so much diminished in size as not to admit +of the perfect development of full sized bees." + +"Such are the respective stages of the working bee: those of the royal +bee are as follows: she passes three days in the egg and is five a worm; +the workers then close her cell, and she immediately begins spinning her +cocoon, which occupies her twenty four hours. On the tenth and eleventh +days and a part of the twelfth, as if exhausted by her labor, she +remains in complete repose. Then she passes four days and a part of the +fifth as a nymph. It is on the sixteenth day therefore that the perfect +state of queen is attained." + +"The drone passes three days in the egg, six and a half as a worm, and +changes into a perfect insect on the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth day +after the egg is laid." + +"The _development_ of _each species_ likewise proceeds more slowly when +the colonies are weak or the air cool, and when the weather is very cold +it is entirely suspended. Dr. Hunter has observed that the eggs, worms +and nymphs all require a heat above 70° of Fahrenheit for their +evolution." + +In the chapter on protection against extremes of _heat_ and _cold_, I +have dwelt, at some length, upon the importance of constructing the +hives in such a manner as to enable the bees to preserve, as far as +possible, a uniform temperature in their tenement. In thin hives exposed +to the sun, the heat is sometimes so great as to destroy the eggs and +the larvæ, even when the combs escape from being melted; and the cold is +often so severe as to check the development of the brood, and sometimes +to kill it outright. + +In such hives, when the temperature out of doors falls suddenly and +severely, the bees at once feel the unfavorable change; they are obliged +in self defence to huddle together to keep warm, and thus large portions +of the brood comb are often abandoned, and the brood either destroyed at +once by the cold, or so enfeebled that they never recover from the +shock. Let every bee keeper, in all his operations, remember that brood +comb must never be exposed to a low temperature so as to become chilled: +the disastrous effects are almost as certain, as when the eggs of a +setting hen are left, for too long a time, by the careless mother. The +brood combs are never safe when taken for any considerable time from the +bees, unless the temperature is fully up to summer heat. + +"[4]The young bees break their envelope with their teeth, and assisted, +as soon as they come forth, by the older ones, proceed to cleanse +themselves from the moisture and exuviæ with which they were surrounded. +Both drones and workers on emerging from the cell are, at first grey, +soft and comparatively helpless so that some time elapses before they +take wing. + +"With respect to the cocoons spun by the different larvæ, both workers +and drones spin _complete cocoons_, or inclose themselves on every side; +royal larvæ construct only _imperfect cocoons_, open behind, and +enveloping only the head, thorax, and first ring of the abdomen; and +Huber concludes, without any hesitation, that the final cause of their +forming only incomplete cocoons is, that they may thus be exposed to the +mortal sting of the first hatched queen, whose instinct leads her +instantly to seek the destruction of those who would soon become her +rivals. + +"If the royal larvæ spun complete cocoons, the stings of the queens +seeking to destroy their rivals might be so entangled in their meshes +that they could not be disengaged. 'Such,' says Huber, 'is the +instinctive enmity of young queens to each other, that I have seen one +of them, immediately on its emergence from the cell, rush to those of +its sisters, and tear to pieces even the imperfect larvæ. Hitherto +philosophers have claimed our admiration of nature for her care in +preserving and multiplying the species. But from these facts we must now +admire her precautions in exposing certain individuals to a mortal +hazard.'" + +The cocoon of the royal larva is very much stronger and coarser than +that spun by the drone or worker, its texture considerably resembling +that of the silk worm's. The young queen does not come forth from her +cell until she is quite mature; and as its great size gives her abundant +room to exercise her wings she is capable of flying as soon as she quits +it. While still in her cell she makes the fluttering and piping noises +with which every observant bee keeper is so well acquainted. + +Some Apiarians have supposed that the queen bee has the power to +regulate the development of eggs in her ovaries, so that few or many are +produced, according to the necessities of the colony. This is evidently +a mistake. Her eggs, like those of the domestic hen, are formed without +any volition of her own, and when fully developed, must be extruded. If +the weather is unfavorable, or if the colony is too feeble to maintain +sufficient heat, a smaller number of eggs are developed in her ovaries, +just as unfavorable circumstances diminish the number of eggs laid by +the hen; if the weather is very cold, egg-laying usually ceases +altogether. In the latitude of Philadelphia, I opened one of my hives on +the 5th day of February, and found an abundance of eggs and brood, +although the winter had been an unusually cold one, and the temperature +of the preceding month very low. The fall of 1852 was a warm one, and +eggs and brood were found in a hive which I examined on the 21st of +October. Powerful stocks in well protected hives contain some brood, at +least ten months in the year; in warm countries, bees probably breed, +every month in the year. + +It is highly interesting to see in what way the supernumerary eggs of +the queen are disposed of. When the number of workers is too small to +take charge of all her eggs, or when there is a deficiency of bee bread +to nourish the young, (See chapter on Pollen,) or when, for any reason, +she judges it not best to deposit them in cells, she stands upon a comb, +and simply extrudes them from her oviduct, and the workers devour them +as fast as they are laid! This I have repeatedly witnessed in my +observing hives, and admired the sagacity of the queen in economizing +her necessary work after this fashion, instead of laboriously depositing +the eggs in cells where they are not wanted. What a difference between +her wise management and the stupidity of a hen obstinately persisting to +set upon addled eggs, or pieces of chalk, and often upon nothing at all. + +The workers eat up also all the eggs which are dropped, or deposited out +of place by the queen; in this way, nothing goes to waste, and even a +tiny egg is turned to some account. Was there ever a better comment upon +the maxim? "Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of +themselves." + +Do the workers who appear to be so fond of a tit-bit in the shape of a +new laid egg, ever experience a struggle between their appetites and the +claims of duty, and does it cost them some self denial to refrain from +making a breakfast on a fresh laid egg? It is really very difficult for +one who has carefully watched the habits of bees, to speak of his little +favorites in any other way than as though they possessed an intelligence +almost, if not quite, akin to reason. + +It is well known to every breeder of poultry, that the fertility of a +hen decreases with age, until at length, she becomes entirely barren; it +is equally certain that the fertility of the queen bee ordinarily +diminishes after she has entered upon her third year. She sometimes +ceases to lay Worker eggs, a considerable time before she dies of old +age; the contents of the spermatheca are exhausted; the eggs can no +longer be impregnated and must therefore produce drones. + +The queen bee usually dies of old age, some time in her fourth year, +although instances are on record of some having survived a year longer. +It is highly important to the bee keeper who would receive the largest +returns from his bees, to be able, as in my hives, to catch the queen +and remove her, when she has passed the period of her greatest +fertility. In the sequel, full directions will be given, as to the +proper time and mode of effecting it. + +Before proceeding farther in the natural history of the queen bee, I +shall describe more particularly, the other inmates of the hive. + + +THE DRONES OR MALE BEES. + +The drones are, unquestionably, the male bees. Dissection proves that +they have the appropriate organs of generation. They are much larger and +stouter than either the queen or workers; although their bodies are not +quite so long as that of the queen. They have no sting with which to +defend themselves; no proboscis which is suitable for gathering honey +from the flowers, and no baskets on their thighs for holding the +bee-bread. They are thus physically disqualified for work, even if they +were ever so well disposed to it. Their proper office is to impregnate +the young queens, and they are usually destroyed by the bees, soon after +this is completed. + +Dr. Evans the author of a beautiful poem on bees thus appropriately +describes them:-- + + "Their short proboscis sips + No luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips, + From the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal, + Nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal: + On other's toils in pamper'd leisure thrive + The lazy fathers of the industrious hive." + +The drones begin to make their appearance in April or May; earlier or +later, according to climate and the forwardness of the season, and +strength of the stock. They require about twenty-four days for their +full development from the egg. In colonies which are too weak to swarm, +none, as a general rule, are reared: they are not needed, for in such +hives, as no young queens are raised, they would be only useless +consumers. + +The number of drones in a hive is often very great, amounting, not +merely to hundreds, but sometimes to thousands. It seems, at first, very +difficult to understand why there should be so many, especially since it +has been ascertained that a single one will impregnate a queen for life. +But as intercourse always takes place high in the air, the young queens +are obliged to leave the hive for this purpose; and it is exceedingly +important to their safety, that they should be sure of finding one, +without being compelled to make frequent excursions. Being larger than a +worker, and less quick on the wing, they are more exposed to be caught +by birds, or blown down and destroyed by sudden gusts of wind. + +In a large Apiary, a few drones in each hive, or the number usually +found in one, might be amply sufficient. But it must be borne in mind, +that under these circumstances, bees are not in a state of nature. +Before they were domesticated, a colony living in a forest, often had no +neighbors for miles. Now a good stock in our climate, sometimes sends +out three or more swarms, and in the tropical climates, of which the bee +is a native, they increase with astonishing rapidity. At Sydney, in +Australia, a single colony is stated to have multiplied to 300 in three +years. All the new swarms except the first, are led off by a young +queen, and as she is never impregnated until after she has been +established as the head of a separate family, it is important that they +should all be accompanied by a goodly number of drones; and this +renders it necessary that a large number should be produced in the +parent hive. + +As this necessity no longer exists, when the bee is domesticated, the +production of so many drones should be discouraged. Traps have been +invented to destroy them, but it is much better to save the bees the +labor and expense of rearing such a host of useless consumers. This can +readily be done by the use of my hives. The cells in which the drones +are reared, are much larger than those appropriated to the raising of +workers. The combs containing them may be taken out, to have their +places supplied with worker's cells, and thus the over production of +drones may easily be prevented. Some colonies contain so much drone comb +as to be nearly worthless. + +I have no doubt that some of my readers will object to this mode of +management as interfering with nature: but let them remember that the +bee is not in a state of nature, and that the same objection might be +urged against killing off the super-numerary males of our domestic +animals. + +In July or August, soon after the swarming season is over, the bees +expel the drones from the hive. They sometimes sting them, and sometimes +gnaw the roots of their wings, so that when driven from the hive, they +cannot return. If not treated in either of these summary ways, they are +so persecuted and starved, that they soon perish. The hatred of the bees +extends even to the young which are still unhatched: they are +mercilessly pulled from the cells, and destroyed with the rest. How +wonderful that instinct which teaches the bees that there is no longer +any occasion for the services of the drones, and which impels them to +destroy those members of the colony, which, a short time before, they +reared with such devoted attention! + +A colony which neglects to expel its drones at the usual season, ought +always to be examined. The queen is probably either diseased or dead. In +my hives, such an examination may be easily made, the true state of the +case ascertained, and the proper remedies at once applied. (See Chapter +on the Loss of the Queen.) + + +THE PRODUCTION OF SO MANY DRONES NECESSARY, IN A STATE OF NATURE, TO +PREVENT DEGENERACY FROM "IN AND IN BREEDING." + +I have often been able, by the reasons previously assigned, to account +for the necessity of such a large number of drones in a state of nature, +to the satisfaction of others, but never fully to my own. I have +repeatedly queried, why impregnation might not just as well have been +effected _in the hive_, as on the wing, in the open air. Two very +obvious and highly important advantages would have resulted from such an +arrangement. 1st. A few dozen drones would have amply sufficed for the +wants of any colony, even if, (as in tropical climates,) it swarmed half +a dozen times or oftener, in the same season. 2d. The young queens would +have been exposed to none of those risks which they now incur, in +leaving the hive for fecundation. + +I was unable to show how the existing arrangement is best; although I +never doubted that there must be a satisfactory reason for this seeming +imperfection. To suppose otherwise, would be highly unphilosophical, +since we constantly see, as the circle of our knowledge is enlarged, +many mysteries in nature hitherto inexplicable, fully cleared up. + +Let me here ask if the disposition which too many students of nature +cherish, to reject some of the doctrines of revealed religion, is not +equally unphilosophical. Neither our ignorance of all the facts +necessary to their full elucidation, nor our inability to harmonize +these facts in their mutual relations and dependencies, will justify us +in rejecting any truth which God has seen fit to reveal, either in the +book of nature, or in His holy word. The man who would substitute his +own speculations for the divine teachings, has embarked, without rudder +or chart, pilot or compass, upon the uncertain ocean of theory and +conjecture; unless he turns his prow from its fatal course, no Sun of +Righteousness will ever brighten for him the dreary expanse of waters; +storms and whirlwinds will thicken in gloom, on his "voyage of life," +and no favoring gales will ever waft his shattered bark to a peaceful +haven. + +The thoughtful reader will require no apology for the moralizing strain +of many of my remarks, nor blame a clergyman, if forgetting sometimes to +speak as the mere naturalist, he endeavors to find, + + "Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, + _Sermons_ in '_bees_,' and 'GOD' in every thing." + +To return to the point from which I have digressed; a new attempt to +account for the existence of so many drones. If a farmer persists in +what is called "breeding in and in," that is, from the same stock +without changing the blood, it is well known that a rapid degeneracy is +the inevitable consequence. This law extends, as far as we know, to all +animal life, and even man is not exempt from its influence. Have we any +reason to suppose that the bee is an exception? or that ultimate +degeneracy would not ensue, unless some provision was made to counteract +the tendency to in and in breeding? If fecundation had taken place in +the hive, the queen bee must of necessity, have been impregnated by +drones from a common parent, and the same result must have taken place +in each successive generation, until the whole species would eventually +have "run out." By the present arrangement, the young females, when they +leave the hive, often find the air swarming with drones, many of which +belong to other colonies, and thus by crossing the breed, a provision is +constantly made to prevent deterioration. + +Experience has proved not only that it is unnecessary to impregnation +that there should be drones in the colony of the young queen, but that +this may be effected even when there are no drones in the Apiary, and +none except at some considerable distance. Intercourse takes place very +high in the air, (perhaps that less risk may be incurred from birds,) +and this is the more favorable to the continual crossing of stocks. + +I am strongly persuaded that the decay of many flourishing stocks, even +when managed with great care, is to be attributed to the fact that they +have become enfeebled by "close breeding," and are thus unable to resist +the injurious influences which were comparatively harmless when the bees +were in a state of high physical vigor. I shall, in the chapter on +Artificial Swarming, explain in what way, by the use of my hives, the +stock of bees may be easily crossed, when a cultivator is too remote +from other Apiaries, to depend upon its being naturally effected. + + +THE WORKERS OR COMMON BEES. + +The number of workers in a hive varies very much. A good swarm ought to +contain 15,000 or 20,000; and in large hives, strong colonies which are +not reduced by swarming, frequently number two or three times as many, +during the height of the breeding season. We have well-authenticated +instances of stocks much more populous than this. The Polish hives will +hold several bushels, and yet we are informed by Mr. Dohiogost, that +they swarm regularly, and that the swarms are so powerful that "they +resemble a little cloud in the air." I shall hereafter consider how the +size of the hive affects the number of bees that it may be expected to +produce. + +The workers, (as has been already stated,) are all females whose ovaries +are too imperfectly developed to admit of their laying eggs. For a long +time, they were regarded as neither males nor females, and were called +Neuters; but more careful microscopic examinations have enabled us to +detect the rudiments of their ovaries, and thus to determine their sex. +The accuracy of these examinations has been verified by the well-known +facts respecting _fertile workers_. + +Riem, a German Apiarian, first discovered that workers sometimes lay +eggs. Huber, in the course of his investigations on this subject, +ascertained that such workers were raised in hives that had lost their +queen, and in the vicinity of the royal cells in which young queens were +being reared. He conjectured that they received accidentally, a small +portion of the peculiar food of these infant queens, and in this way, he +accounted for their reproductive organs being more developed than those +of other workers. Workers reared in such hives, are in close proximity +to the young queens, and there is certainly much probability that some +of the royal jelly may be accidentally dropped into their cells; as, in +these hives, the queen cells when first commenced are parallel to the +horizon, instead of being perpendicular to it, as they are in other +hives. I do not feel confident, however, that they are not sometimes +bred in hives which have not lost their queen. The kind of eggs laid by +these fertile workers, has already been noticed. Such workers are seldom +tolerated in hives containing a fertile, healthy queen, though instances +of this kind have been known to occur. The worker is much smaller than +either the queen or the drone.[5] It is furnished with a tongue or +proboscis, of the most curious and complicated structure, which, when +not in use, is nicely folded under its abdomen; with this, it licks or +brushes up the honey, which is thence conveyed to its honey-bag. This +receptacle is not larger than a very small pea, and is so perfectly +transparent, as to appear when filled, of the same color with its +contents; it is properly the first stomach of the bee, and is surrounded +by muscles which enable the bee to compress it, and empty its contents +through her proboscis into the cells. (See Chapter on Honey.) + +The hinder legs of the worker are furnished with a spoon-shaped hollow +or basket, to receive the pollen or bee bread which she gathers from the +flowers. (See Chapter on Pollen.) + +Every worker is armed with a formidable sting, and when provoked, makes +instant and effectual use of her natural weapon. The sting, when +subjected to microscopic examination, exhibits a very curious and +complicated mechanism. "It is moved[6] by muscles which, though +invisible to the eye, are yet strong enough to force the sting, to the +depth of one twelfth of an inch, through the thick skin of a man's hand. +At its root are situated two glands by which the poison is secreted: +these glands uniting in one duct, eject the venemous liquid along the +groove, formed by the junction of the two piercers. There are four barbs +on the outside of each piercer: when the insect is prepared to sting, +one of these piercers, having its point a little longer than the other, +first darts into the flesh, and being fixed by its foremost beard, the +other strikes in also, and they alternately penetrate deeper and deeper, +till they acquire a firm hold of the flesh with their barbed hooks, and +then follows the sheath, conveying the poison into the wound. The action +of the sting, says Paley, affords an example of the union of _chemistry_ +and mechanism; of chemistry in respect to the _venom_, which can produce +such powerful effects; of mechanism as the sting is a compound +instrument. The machinery would have been comparatively useless had it +not been for the chemical process, by which in the insect's body _honey_ +is converted into _poison_; and on the other hand, the poison would have +been ineffectual, without an instrument to wound, and a syringe to +inject it." + +"Upon examining the edge of a very keen razor by the microscope, it +appears as broad as the back of a pretty thick knife, rough, uneven, and +full of notches and furrows, and so far from anything like sharpness, +that an instrument, as blunt as this seemed to be, would not serve even +to cleave wood. An exceedingly small needle being also examined, it +resembled a rough iron bar out of a smith's forge. The sting of a bee +viewed through the same instrument, showed everywhere a polish amazingly +beautiful, without the least flaw, blemish, or inequality, and ended in +a point too fine to be discerned." + +The extremity of the sting being barbed like an arrow, the bee can +seldom withdraw it, if the substance into which she darts it is at all +tenacious. In losing her sting she parts with a portion of her +intestines, and of necessity, soon perishes. + +As the loss of the sting is always fatal to the bees, they pay a dear +penalty for the exercise of their patriotic instincts; but they always +seem ready, (except when they have taken "a drop too much," and are +gorged with honey,) to die in defence of their home and treasures; or as +the poet has expressed it, they + + "Deem life itself to vengeance well resign'd, + Die on the wound, and leave their sting behind." + +Hornets, wasps and other stinging insects are able to withdraw their +stings from the wound. I have never seen any attempt to account for the +exception in the case of the honey bee. But if the Creator intended the +bee for the use of man, as He most certainly did, has He not given it +this peculiarity, to make it less formidable, and therefore more +completely subject to human control? Without a sting, it would have +stood no chance of defending its tempting sweets against a host of +greedy depredators; but if it could sting a number of times, it would be +much more difficult to bring it into a state of thorough domestication. +A quiver full of arrows in the hand of a skilful marksman, is far more +to be dreaded than a single shaft. + +The defence of the colony against enemies, the construction of the +cells, the storing of them with honey and bee-bread, the rearing of the +young, in short, the whole work of the hive, the laying of eggs +excepted, is carried on by the industrious little workers. + +There may be _gentlemen_ of leisure in the commonwealth of bees, but +most assuredly there are no such _ladies_, whether of high or low +degree. The queen herself, has her full share of duties, for it must be +admitted that the royal office is no sinecure, when the mother who fills +it, must superintend daily the proper deposition of several thousand +eggs! + + +AGE OF BEES. + +The queen bee, (as has been already stated,) will live four, and +sometimes, though very rarely, five years. As the life of the drones is +usually cut short by violence, it is not easy to ascertain its precise +limit. Bevan, in some interesting statements on the longevity of bees, +estimates it not to exceed four months. The workers are supposed by him, +to live six or seven months. Their age depends, however, very much upon +their greater or less exposure to injurious influences and severe +labors. Those reared in the spring and early part of summer, and on whom +the heaviest labors of the hive must necessarily devolve, do not appear +to live more than two or three months, while those which are bred at the +close of summer, and early in autumn, being able to spend a large part +of their time in repose, attain a much greater age. It is very evident +that "the bee," (to use the words of a quaint old writer,) "is a summer +bird," and that with the exception of the queen, none live to be a year +old. + +Notched and ragged wings, instead of gray hairs and wrinkled faces, are +the signs of old age in the bee, and indicate that its season of toil +will soon be over. They appear to die rather suddenly, and often spend +their last days, and sometimes even their last hours, in useful labors. +Place yourself before a hive, and see the indefatigable energy of these +aged veterans, toiling along with their heavy burdens, side by side with +their more youthful compeers, and then say if you can, that _you_ have +done work enough, and that you will give yourself up to slothful +indulgence, while the ability for useful labor still remains. Let the +cheerful hum of their industrious old age inspire you with better +resolutions, and teach you how much nobler it is to meet death in the +path of duty, striving still, as you "have opportunity," to "do good +unto all men." + +The age which individual members of the community may attain, must not +be confounded with that of the colony. Bees have been known to occupy +the same domicile for a great number of years. I have seen flourishing +colonies which were twenty years old, and the Abbe Della Rocca speaks +of some over forty years old! Such cases have led to the erroneous +opinion that bees are a long-lived race. But this, as Dr. Evans has +observed, is just as wise as if a stranger, contemplating a populous +city, and personally unacquainted with its inhabitants, should on paying +it a second visit, many years afterwards, and finding it equally +populous, imagine that it was peopled by the same individuals, not one +of whom might then be living. + + "Like leaves on trees, the race of bees is found, + Now green in youth, now withering on the ground; + Another race the Spring or Fall supplies, + They droop successive, and successive rise." + +The cocoons spun by the larvæ, are never removed by the bees; they stick +so closely to the sides of the cells, that the knowing bee well +understands that the labor of removal would cost more than it would be +worth. In process of time, the breeding cells become too small for the +proper development of the young. In some cases, the bees must take down +and reconstruct the old combs, for if they did not, the young issuing +from them would always be dwarfs; whereas I once compared with other +bees, those of a colony more than fifteen years old, and found no +perceptible difference. That they do not always renew the old combs, +must be admitted, as the young from some old hives are often +considerably below the average size. On this account, it is very +desirable to be able to remove the old combs occasionally, that their +place may be supplied with new ones. + +It is a great mistake to imagine that the brood combs ought to be +changed every year. In my hives, they might, if it were desirable, be +easily changed several times in a year: but once in five or six years is +often enough; oftener than this requires a needless consumption of honey +to replace them, besides being for other reasons undesirable, as the +bees are always in winter, colder in new comb than in old. Inventors of +hives have too often been, most emphatically "men of one idea:" and that +one, instead of being a well established and important fact in the +physiology of the bee, has frequently, (like the necessity for a yearly +change of the brood combs,) been merely a conceit, existing nowhere but +in the brain of a visionary projector. This is all harmless enough, +until an effort is made to impose such miserable crudities upon an +ignorant public, either in the shape of a patented hive, _or worse +still, of an UNPATENTED hive, the pretended RIGHT to use which, is +FRAUDULENTLY sold to the cheated purchaser_!! + +For want of proper knowledge with regard to the age of bees, huge "bee +palaces," and large closets in garrets or attics, have been constructed, +and their proprietors have vainly imagined that the bees would fill +them, however roomy; for they can see no reason why a colony should not +continue to increase indefinitely, until at length it numbers its +inhabitants by millions or billions! As the bees can never at one time +equal, still less exceed the number which the queen is capable of +producing in one season, these spacious dwellings have always an +abundance of "spare rooms." It seems strange that men can be thus +deceived, when often in their own Apiary, they have healthy stocks which +have not swarmed for a year or more, and which yet in the spring are not +a whit more populous than those which have regularly parted with +vigorous swarms. + +It is certain that the Creator, has for some wise reason, set a limit to +the increase of numbers in a single colony; and I shall venture to +assign what appears to me to have been one reason for His so doing. +Suppose that He had given to the bee, a length of life as great as that +of the horse or the cow, or had made each queen capable of laying +daily, some hundreds of thousands of eggs, or had given several hundred +queens to each hive, then from the Very nature of the case, a colony +must have gone on increasing, until it became a scourge rather than a +benefit to man. In the warm climates of which the bee is a native, they +would have established themselves in some cavern or capacious cleft in +the rocks, and would there have quickly become so powerful as to bid +defiance to all attempts to appropriate the avails of their labors. + +It has already been stated, that none, except the mother wasps and +hornets, survive the winter. If these insects had been able, like the +bee, to commence the season with the accumulated strength of a large +colony, long before its close, they would have proved a most intolerable +nuisance. If, on the contrary, the queen bee had been compelled, +solitary and alone, to lay the foundations of a new commonwealth, the +honey-harvest would have disappeared before she could have become the +parent of a numerous family. + +In the laws which regulate the increase of bees as well as in all other +parts of their economy, we have the plainest proofs that the insect was +formed for the special service of the human race. + + +THE PROCESS OF REARING THE QUEEN MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED. + +If in the early part of the season, the population of a hive becomes +uncomfortably crowded, the bees usually make preparations for swarming. +A number of royal cells are commenced, and they are placed almost always +upon those edges of the combs which are not attached to the sides of the +hive. These cells somewhat resemble a small ground-nut or pea-nut, and +are about an inch deep, and one-third of an inch in diameter: they are +very thick, and require a large quantity of material for their +construction. They are seldom seen in a perfect state, as the bees +nibble them away after the queen has hatched, leaving only their +remains, in the shape of a very small acorn-cup. While the other cells +open sideways, these always hang with their mouth _downwards_. Much +speculation has arisen as to the reason for this deviation: some have +conjectured that their peculiar position exerted an influence upon the +development of the royal larvæ; while others, having ascertained that no +injurious effect was produced by turning them upwards, or placing them +in any other position, have considered this deviation as among the +inscrutable mysteries of the bee-hive. So it always seemed to me, until +more careful reflection enabled me to solve the problem. The queen cells +open downwards, simply _to save room_! The distance between the parallel +ranges of comb being usually less than half an inch, the bees could not +have made the royal cells to open sideways, without sacrificing the +cells opposite to them. In order to economize space, to the very utmost, +they put them upon the unoccupied edges of the comb, as the only place +where there is always plenty of room for such very large cells. + +The number of royal cells varies greatly; sometimes there are only two +or three, ordinarily there are five or six, and I have occasionally seen +more than a dozen. They are not all commenced at once, for the bees do +not intend that the young queens shall all arrive at maturity, at the +same time. I do not consider it as fully settled, how the eggs are +deposited in these cells. In some few instances, I have known the bees +to transfer the eggs from common to queen cells, and this _may_ be their +general method of procedure. I shall hazard the conjecture that the +queen deposits her eggs in cells on the edges of the comb, in a crowded +state of the hive, and that some of these are afterwards enlarged and +changed into royal cells by the workers. Such is the instinctive hatred +of the queen to her own kind, that it does not seem to me probable, that +she is intrusted with even the initiatory steps for securing a race of +successors. That the eggs from which the young queens are produced, are +of the same kind with those producing workers, has been repeatedly +demonstrated. On examining the queen cells while they are in progress, +one of the first things which excites our notice, is the very unusual +amount of attention bestowed upon them by the workers. There is scarcely +a second in which a bee is not peeping into them, and just as fast as +one is satisfied, another pops its head in, to examine if not to report, +progress. The importance of their inmates to the bee-community, might +easily be inferred from their being the center of so much attraction. + + +ROYAL JELLY. + +The young queens are supplied with a much larger quantity of food than +is allotted to the other larvæ, so that they seem almost to float in a +thick bed of jelly, and there is usually a portion of it left unconsumed +at the base of the cells, after the insects have arrived at maturity. It +is different from the food of either drones or workers, and in +appearance, resembles a light quince jelly, having a slightly acid +taste. + +I submitted a portion of the royal jelly for analysis, to Dr. Charles M. +Wetherill, of Philadelphia; a very interesting account of his +examination may be found in the proceedings of the Phila. Academy of +Nat. Sciences for July, 1852. He speaks of the substance as "truly a +bread-containing, albuminous compound." I hope in the course of the +coming summer to obtain from this able analytical chemist, an analysis +of the food of the young drones and workers. A comparison of its +elements with those of the royal jelly, may throw some light on subjects +as yet involved in obscurity. + +The effects produced upon the larvæ by this peculiar food and method of +treatment, are very remarkable. For one, I have never considered it +strange that such effects should be rejected as idle whims, by nearly +all except those who have either been eye-witnesses to them, or have +been well acquainted with the character and opportunities for accurate +observation, of those on whose testimony they have received them. They +are not only in themselves most marvelously strange, but on the face of +them so entirely opposed to all common analogies, and so very +improbable, that many men when asked to believe them, feel almost as +though an insult were offered to their common sense. The most important +of these effects, I shall now proceed to enumerate. + +1st. The peculiar mode in which the worm designed to be reared as a +queen, is treated, causes it to arrive at maturity, about one-third +earlier than if it had been bred a worker. And yet it is to be much more +fully developed, and according to ordinary analogy, ought to have had a +_slower growth_! + +2d. Its organs of reproduction are completely developed, so that it is +capable of fulfilling the office of a mother. + +3d. Its size, shape and color are all greatly changed. (See p. 32.) Its +lower jaws are shorter, its head rounder, and its legs have neither +brushes nor baskets, while its sting is more curved, and one-third +longer than that of a worker. + +4th. Its _instincts_ are entirely changed. Reared as a worker, it would +have been ready to thrust out its sting, upon the least provocation; +whereas now, it may be pulled limb from limb, without attempting to +sting. As a worker it would have treated a queen with the greatest +consideration; whereas now, if placed under a glass with another queen, +it rushes forthwith to mortal combat with its rival. As a worker, it +would frequently have left the hive, either for labor or exercise: as a +queen, after impregnation, it never leaves the hive except to accompany +a new swarm. + +5th. The term of its life is remarkably lengthened. As a worker, it +would have lived not more than six or seven months at farthest; as a +queen it may live seven or eight times as long! All these wonders rest +on the impregnable basis of complete demonstration, and instead of being +witnessed by only a select few, may now, by the use of my hive, be +familiar sights to any bee keeper, who prefers to acquaint himself with +facts, rather than to cavil and sneer at the labors of others.[7] + +When provision has been made, in the manner described, for a new race of +queens, the old mother always departs with the first swarm, before her +successors have arrived at maturity.[8] + + +ARTIFICIAL REARING OF QUEENS. + +The distress of the bees when they lose their queen, has already been +described. If they have the means of supplying her loss, they soon calm +down, and commence forthwith, the necessary steps for rearing another. +The process of rearing queens artificially, to meet some special +emergency, is even more wonderful than the natural one, which has +already been described. Its success depends on the bees having +worker-eggs or worms not more than three days old; (if older, the larva +has been too far developed as a worker to admit of any change:) the bees +nibble away the partitions of two cells adjoining a third, so as to make +one large cell out of the three. They destroy the eggs or worms in two +of these cells, while they place before the occupant of the third, the +usual food of the young queens, and build out its cell, so as to give it +ample space for development. They do not confine themselves to the +attempt to rear a single queen, but to guard against failure, start a +considerable number, although the work on all except a few, is usually +soon discontinued. + +In twelve or fourteen days, they are in possession of a new queen, +precisely similar to one reared in the natural way, while the eggs which +were laid at the same time in the adjoining cells, and which have been +developed in the usual way, are nearly a week longer in coming to +maturity. + +I will give in this connection a description of an interesting +experiment: + +A large hive which stood at a distance from any other colony, was +removed in the morning of a very pleasant day, to a new place, and +another hive containing only empty comb, was put upon its stand. +Thousands of workers which were out in the fields, or which left the old +hive after its removal, returned to the familiar spot. It was affecting +to witness their grief and despair: they flew in restless circles about +the place which once contained their happy home, entered and left the +new hive continually, expressing, in various ways, their lamentations +over their cruel bereavement. Towards evening, they ceased to take wing, +and roamed in restless platoons, in and out of the hive, and over its +surface, acting all the time, as though in search of some lost treasure. +I now gave them a piece of brood comb, containing worker eggs and worms, +taken from a second swarm which being just established with its young +queen, in a new hive, could have no intention of rearing young queens +that season; therefore, it cannot be contended that this piece of comb +contained what some are pleased to call "royal eggs." What followed the +introduction of this brood comb, took place much quicker than it can be +described. The bees which first touched it, raised a peculiar note, and +in a moment, the comb was covered with a dense mass; their restless +motions and mournful noises ceased, and a cheerful hum at once attested +their delight! Despair gave place to hope, as they recognized in this +small piece of comb, the means of deliverance. Suppose a large building +filled with thousands of persons, tearing their hair, beating their +breasts, and by piteous cries, as well as frantic gestures, giving vent +to their despair; if now some one should enter this house of mourning, +and by a single word, cause all these demonstrations of agony to give +place to smiles and congratulations, the change could not be more +wonderful and instantaneous, than that produced when the bees received +the brood comb! + +The Orientals call the honey bee, Deburrah, "She that speaketh." Would +that this little insect might speak, and in words more eloquent than +those of man's device, to the multitudes who allow themselves to reject +the doctrines of revealed religion, because, as they assert, they are, +on their face so utterly improbable, that they labor under an _a priori_ +objection strong enough to be fatal to their credibility. Do not nearly +all the steps in the development of a queen from a worker-egg, labor +under precisely the same objection? and have they not, for this very +reason, always been regarded by great numbers of bee keepers, as +unworthy of credence? If the favorite argument of infidels and errorists +will not stand the test when applied to the wonders of the bee-hive, can +it be regarded as entitled to any serious weight, when employed in +framing objections against religious truths, and arrogantly taking to +task the infinite Jehovah, for what He has been pleased to do or to +teach? Give me the same latitude claimed by such objectors, and I can +easily prove that a man is under no obligation to receive any of the +wonders in the economy of the bee-hive, although he is himself an +intelligent eye-witness that they are all substantial verities. + +I shall quote, in this connection, from Huish, an English Apiarian of +whom I have already spoken, because his objections to the discoveries +of Huber, remind me so forcibly of both the spirit and principles of the +great majority of those who object to the doctrines of revealed +religion. + +"If an individual, with the view of acquiring some knowledge of the +natural history of the bee, or of its management, consult the works of +Bagster, Bevan, or any of the periodicals which casually treat upon the +subject, will he not rise from the study of them with his mind +surcharged with falsities and mystification? Will he not discover +through the whole of them a servile acquiescence in the opinions and +discoveries of one man, however at variance they may be with truth or +probability; and if he enter upon the discussion with his mind free from +prejudice, will he not experience that an outrage has been committed +upon his reason, in calling upon him to give assent to positions and +principles which at best are merely assumed, but to which he is called +upon dogmatically to subscribe his acquiescence as the indubitable +results of experience, skill and ability? The editors of the works above +alluded to, should boldly and indignantly have declared, that from their +own experience in the natural economy of the insect, they were able to +pronounce the circumstances as related by Huber to be directly +_impossible_, and the whole of them based on fiction and imposition." + +Let the reader change only a few words in this extract: for "the natural +history of the bee or its management," let him write, "the subject of +religion;" for, "the works of Bagster, Bevan," &c., let him put, "the +works of Moses, Paul," &c.; for, "their own experience in the natural +economy of the insect," let him substitute, "their own experience in the +nature of man;" and for, "circumstances as related by Huber," let him +insert, "as related by Luke or John," and it will sound almost precisely +like a passage from some infidel author. + +I resume the quotation from Huish; "If we examine the account which +Huber gives of his invention (!) of the royal jelly, the existence and +efficacy of which are fully acquiesced in by the aforesaid editors, to +what other conclusions are we necessarily driven, than that they are the +dupes of a visionary enthusiast, whose greatest merit consists in his +inventive powers, no matter how destitute those powers may be of all +affinity with truth or probability? Before, however, these editors +bestowed their unqualified assent on the existence of this royal jelly, +did they stop to put to themselves the following questions? By what kind +of bee is it made?[9] Whence is it procured? Is it a natural or an +elaborated substance? If natural, from what source is it derived? If +elaborated, in what stomach of the bee is it to be found? How is it +administered? What are its constituent principles? Is its existence +optional or definite? Whence does it derive its miraculous power of +converting a common egg into a royal one? Will any of the aforesaid +editors publicly answer these questions? and ought they not to have been +able to answer them, before they so unequivocally expressed their belief +in its existence, its powers and administration?" + +How puerile does all this sound to one who has _seen_ and _tasted_ the +royal jelly! And permit me to add, how equally unmeaning do the +objections of infidels seem, to those who have an experimental +acquaintance with the divine hopes and consolations of the Gospel of +Christ. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The author of this work regrets that his experience does not enable +him to speak with such absolute confidence as to the character of all +the bee keepers whom he has known. + +[2] In this way she is sure to deposit the egg in the cell she has +selected. + +[3] If ever there lived a genuine naturalist, Swammerdam was the man. In +his History of Insects, published in 1737, he has given a most beautiful +drawing of the ovaries of the queen bee. The sac which he supposed +secreted a fluid for sticking the eggs to the base of the cells is the +seminal reservoir or spermatheca. + +[4] Bevan. + +[5] This work being intended chiefly for practical purposes, I have +thought best to use, as little as possible, the technical terms and +minute anatomical descriptions of the scientific entomologist. + +[6] Bevan. + +[7] Having already spoken of Swammerdam, I shall give a brief extract +from the celebrated Dr. Boerhaave's memoir of this wonderful naturalist, +which should put to the blush, if any thing can, the arrogance of those +superficial observers who are too wise in their own conceit, to avail +themselves of the knowledge of others. + +"This treatise on Bees proved so fatiguing a performance, that +Swammerdam never afterwards recovered even the appearance of his former +health and vigor. He was almost continually engaged by day in making +observations, and as constantly engaged by night in recording them by +drawings and suitable explanations." + +"This being summer work, his daily labor began at six in the morning, +when the sun afforded him light enough to survey such minute objects; +and from that hour till twelve, he continued without interruption, all +the while exposed in the open air to the scorching heat of the sun, +bareheaded for fear of intercepting his sight, and his head in a manner +dissolving into sweat under the irresistible ardors of that powerful +luminary. And if he desisted at noon, it was only because the strength +of his eyes was too much weakened, by the extraordinary afflux of light +and the use of microscopes, to continue any longer upon such small +objects, though as discernible in the afternoon, as they had been in the +forenoon." + +"Our author, the better to accomplish his vast, unlimited views, often +wished for a year of perpetual heat and light to perfect his inquiries, +with a polar night to reap all the advantages of them by proper drawings +and descriptions." + +[8] The formation of swarms will be particularly described in another +chapter. + +[9] Suppose that we are unable to give a satisfactory answer to any of +these questions, does our ignorance on these points disprove the _fact_ +of the existence of such a jelly? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +COMB. + + +Wax is a natural secretion of the bees; it may be called _their oil or +fat_. If they are gorged with honey, or any liquid sweet, and remain +quietly clustered together, it is formed in small wax pouches on their +abdomen, and comes out in the shape of very delicate scales. Soon after +a swarm is hived, the bottom board will be covered with these scales. + + "Thus, filtered through yon flutterer's folded mail, + Clings the cooled wax, and hardens to a scale. + Swift, at the well known call, the ready train, + (For not a buz boon Nature breathes in vain,) + Spring to each falling flake, and bear along + Their glossy burdens to the builder throng. + These with sharp sickle or with sharper tooth, + Pare each excrescence, and each angle smooth, + Till now, in finish'd pride, two radiant rows + Of snow white cells one mutual base disclose. + Six shining panels gird each polish'd round, + The door's fine rim, with waxen fillet bound, + While walls so thin, with sister walls combined, + Weak in themselves, a sure dependence find." + _Evans._ + +Huber was the first to demonstrate that wax is a natural secretion of +the bee, when fed on honey or any saccharine substance. Most Apiarians +before his time, supposed that it was made from pollen or bee-bread, +either in a crude or digested state. He confined a new swarm of bees in +a hive placed in a dark and cool room, and on examining them, at the +end of five days, found several beautiful white combs in their +tenement: these were taken from them, and they were again confined and +supplied with honey and water, and a second time new combs were +constructed. Five times in succession their combs were removed, and were +in each instance replaced, the bees being all the time prevented from +ranging the fields, to supply themselves with bee-bread. By subsequent +experiments he proved that sugar answered the same end with honey. + +He then confined a swarm, giving them no honey, but an abundance of +fruit and pollen. They subsisted on the fruit, but refused to touch the +pollen; and no combs were constructed, nor any wax scales formed in +their pouches. These experiments are conclusive; and are interesting, +not merely as proving that wax is secreted from honey or saccharine +substances, but because they show in what a thorough manner the +experiments of Huber were conducted. Confident assertions are easily +made, requiring only a little breath or a drop of ink; and the men who +deal most in them, have often a profound contempt for observation and +experiment. To establish even a simple truth, on the solid foundation of +demonstrated facts, often requires the most patient and protracted toil. + +_A high temperature_ is necessary for comb-building, in order that the +wax may be soft enough to be moulded into shape. The very process of its +secretion helps to furnish the amount of heat which is required to work +it. This is a very interesting fact which seems never before to have +been noticed. + +Honey or sugar is found to contain by weight, about eight pounds of +oxygen to one of carbon and hydrogen. When changed into wax, the +proportions are entirely reversed: the wax contains only one pound of +oxygen to more than sixteen pounds of hydrogen and carbon. Now as +oxygen is the grand supporter of animal heat, the consumption of so +large a quantity of it, aids in producing the extraordinary heat which +always accompanies comb-building, and which is necessary to keep the wax +in the soft and plastic state requisite to enable the bees to mould it +into such exquisitely delicate and beautiful shapes! Who can fail to +admire the wisdom of the Creator in this beautiful instance of +adaptation? + +The most careful experiments have clearly established the fact, that at +least _twenty pounds_ of honey are consumed in making a single pound of +wax. If any think that this is incredible, let them bear in mind that +wax is an animal oil secreted from honey, and let them consider how many +pounds of corn or hay they must feed to their stock, in order to have +them gain a single pound of fat. + +Many Apiarians are entirely ignorant of the great value of empty comb. +Suppose the honey to be worth only 15 cts. per lb., and the comb when +rendered into wax, to be worth 30 cts. per lb., the bee-master who melts +a pound of comb, loses nearly three dollars by the operation, and this, +without estimating the time which the bees have consumed in building the +comb. Unfortunately, in the ordinary hives, but little use can be made +of empty comb, unless it is new, and can be put into the surplus +honey-boxes: but by the use of my movable frames, every piece of good +worker-comb may be used to the best advantage, as it can be given to the +bees, to aid them in their labors. + +It has been found very difficult to preserve comb from the bee-moth, +when it is taken from the bees. If it contains only a _few_ of the eggs +of this destroyer, these, in due time, will produce a progeny sufficient +to devour it. The comb, if it is attached to my frames, may be suspended +in a box or empty hive, and thoroughly smoked with sulphur; this will +kill any _worms_ which it may contain. When the weather is warm enough +to hatch the eggs of the moth, this process must be repeated a few +times, at intervals of about a week, so as to insure the destruction of +the worms as they hatch, for the sulphur does not seem always to destroy +the vitality of the eggs. The combs may now be kept in a tight box or +hive, with perfect safety. + +Combs containing bee-bread, are of great value, and if given to young +colonies, which in spring are frequently destitute of this article, they +will materially assist them in early breeding. + +Honey may be taken from my hives in the frames, and the covers of the +cells sliced off with a sharp knife; the honey can then be drained out, +and the empty combs returned to be filled again. A strong stock of bees, +in the height of the honey harvest, will fill empty combs with wonderful +rapidity. I lay it down, as one of my _first principles_ in bee culture, +that no good comb should ever be melted; it should all be carefully +preserved and given to the bees. If it is new, it may be easily attached +to the frames, or the honey-receptacles, by dipping the edge into melted +wax, pressing it gently until it stiffens, and then allowing it to cool. +If the comb is old, or the pieces large and full of bee-bread, it will +be best to dip them into melted rosin, which, besides costing much less +than wax, will secure a much firmer adhesion. When comb is put into +tumblers or other small vessels, the bees will begin to work upon it the +sooner, if it is simply crowded in, so as to be held in place by being +supported against the sides. It would seem as though they were disgusted +with such unworkmanlike proceedings, and that they cannot rest until +they have taken it into hand, and endeavored to "make a job of it." + +If the bee-keeper in using his choicest honey will be satisfied to +dispense with looks, and will carefully drain it from the beautiful +comb, he may use all such comb again to great advantage; not only saving +its intrinsic value, but greatly encouraging his bees to occupy and fill +all receptacles in which a portion of it is put. Bees seem to fancy _a +good start in life_, about as well as their more intelligent owners. To +this use all suitable drone comb should be put, as soon as it is removed +from the main hive. (See remarks on Drones.) + +Ingenious efforts have been made, of late years, to construct +_artificial_ honey combs of porcelain, to be used for _feeding_ bees. No +one, to my knowledge, has ever attempted to imitate the delicate +mechanism of the bee so closely, as to construct artificial combs for +the ordinary uses of the hive; although for a long time I have +entertained the idea as very desirable, and yet as barely possible. I am +at present engaged in a course of experiments on this subject, the +results of which, in due time, I shall communicate to the public. + +While writing this treatise, it has occurred to me that bees might be +induced to use old wax for the construction of their combs. Very fine +parings may be shaved off with glass, and if given to the bees, under +favorable circumstances, it seems to me very probable that they would +use them, just as they do the scales which are formed in their wax +pouches. Let strong colonies be deprived of some of their combs, after +the honey harvest is over, and supplied abundantly with these parings of +wax. Whether "nature abhors a vacuum," or not, bees certainly do, when +it occurs among the combs of their main hive. They will not use the +honey stored up for winter use to replace the combs taken from them; +they can gather none from the flowers; and I have strong hopes that +necessity will with bees as well as men, prove the mother of invention, +and lead them to use the wax, as readily as they do the substitutes +offered them for pollen. (See Chapter on Pollen.) + +If this conjecture should be verified by actual results, it would exert +a most powerful influence in the cheap and rapid multiplication of +colonies, and would enable the bees to store up most prodigious +quantities of honey. A pound of bees wax might then be made to store up +twenty pounds of honey, and the gain to the bee keeper would be the +difference in price between the pound of wax, and the twenty pounds of +honey, which the bees would have consumed in making the same amount of +comb. Strong stocks might thus during the dull season, when no honey can +be procured, be most profitably employed in building spare comb, to be +used in strengthening feeble stocks, and for a great variety of +purposes. Give me the means of cheaply obtaining large amounts of comb, +and I have almost found the philosopher's stone in bee keeping. + +The building of comb is carried on with the greatest activity in the +night, while the honey is gathered by day. Thus no time is lost. If the +weather is too forbidding to allow the bees to go abroad, the combs are +very rapidly constructed, as the labor is carried on both by day and by +night. On the return of a fair day, the bees gather unusual quantities +of honey, as they have plenty of room for its storage. Thus it often +happens, that by their wise economy of time, they actually lose nothing, +even if confined, for several days, to their hive. + + "How doth the little busy bee, improve each _shining_ hour!" + +The poet might with equal truth have described her, as improving the +gloomy days, and the dark nights, in her useful labors. + +It is an interesting fact, which I do not remember ever to have seen +particularly noticed by any writer, that honey gathering, and comb +building, go on simultaneously; so that when one stops, the other ceases +also. I have repeatedly observed, that as soon as the honey harvest +fails, the bees intermit their labors in building new comb, even when +large portions of their hive are unfilled. They might enlarge their +combs by using some of their stores; but then they would incur the risk +of perishing in the winter, by starvation. When honey no longer abounds +in the fields, it is wisely ordered, that they should not consume their +hoarded treasures, in expectation of further supplies, which may never +come. I do not believe, that any other safe rule could have been given +them; and if honey gathering was our business, with all our boasted +reason, we should be obliged to adopt the very same course. + +Wax is one of the best non-conductors of heat, so that when it is warmed +by the animal heat of the bees, it can more easily be worked, than if it +parted with its heat too readily. By this property, the combs serve also +to keep the bees warm, and there is not so much risk of the honey +candying in the cells, or the combs cracking with frost. If wax was a +good conductor of heat, the combs would often be icy cold, moisture +would condense and freeze upon them, and they would fail to answer the +ends for which they are intended. + +The size of the cells, in which workers are reared, never varies: the +same may substantially be said of the drone cells which are very +considerably larger; the cells in which honey is stored, often vary +exceedingly in depth, while in diameter, they are of all sizes from that +of the worker cells to that of the drones. + +The cells of the bees are found perfectly to answer all the most refined +conditions of a very intricate mathematical problem! Let it be required +to find what shape a given quantity of matter must take, in order to +have _the greatest capacity, and the greatest strength_, requiring at +the same time, _the least space, and the least labor_ in its +construction. This problem has been solved by the most refined processes +of the higher mathematics, and the result is the hexagonal or six-sided +cell of the honey bee, with its three four-sided figures at the base! + +The shape of these figures cannot be altered, _ever so little, except +for the worse_. Besides possessing the desirable qualities already +described, they answer as _nurseries_ for the rearing of the young, and +as _small air-tight vessels_ in which the honey is preserved from +souring or candying. Every prudent housewife who puts up her preserves +in tumblers, or small glass jars, and carefully pastes them over, to +keep out the air, will understand the value of such an arrangement. + +"There are only three possible figures of the cells," says Dr. Reid, +"which can make them all equal and similar, without any useless spaces +between them. These are the equilateral triangle, the square and the +regular hexagon. It is well known to mathematicians that there is not a +fourth way possible, in which a plane may be cut into little spaces that +shall be equal, similar and regular, without leaving any interstices." + +An equilateral triangle would have made an uncomfortable tenement for an +insect with a round body; and a square would not have been much better. +At first sight a circle would seem to be the best shape for the +development of the larvæ: but such a figure would have caused a needless +sacrifice of space, materials and strength; while the honey which now +adheres so admirably to the many angles or corners of the six-sided +cell, would have been much more liable to run out! I will venture to +assign a new reason for the hexagonal form. The body of the immature +insect as it undergoes its changes, is charged with a super-abundance of +moisture which passes off through the reticulated cover which the bees +build over its cell: a hexagon while it approaches so nearly the shape +of a circle as not to incommode the young bee, furnishes in its six +corners the necessary vacancies for its more thorough ventilation! + +So invariably uniform in size, as well as perfect in other respects, are +the cells in which the workers are bred, that some mathematicians have +proposed their adoption, as the best unit for measures of capacity to +serve for universal use. + +Can we believe that these little insects unite so many requisites in the +construction of their cells, either by chance, or because they are +profoundly versed in the most intricate mathematics? Are we not +compelled to acknowledge that the mathematics must be referred to the +Creator, and not to His puny creature? To an intelligent, candid mind, a +piece of honey comb is a complete demonstration that there is a "GREAT +FIRST CAUSE:" for on no other supposition can we account for so +complicated a shape, and yet the only one which can possibly unite so +many desirable requisites. + + "On books deep poring, ye pale sons of toil, + Who waste in studious trance the midnight oil, + Say, can ye emulate with all your rules, + Drawn or from Grecian or from Gothic schools, + This artless frame? Instinct her simple guide, + A heaven-taught Insect baffles all your pride. + Not all yon marshall'd orbs, that ride so high, + Proclaim more loud a present Deity, + Than the nice symmetry of these small cells, + Where on each angle genuine science dwells." + _Evans._ + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PROPOLIS, OR "BEE-GLUE." + + +This substance is obtained by the bees from the resinous buds and limbs +of trees; and when first gathered, it is usually of a bright golden +color, and is exceedingly sticky. The different kinds of poplars furnish +a rich supply. The bees bring it on their thighs just as they do bee +bread; and I have caught them as they were entering with a load, and +taken it from them. It adheres so firmly that it is difficult to remove +it. + +"Huber planted in Spring some branches of the wild poplar, before the +leaves were developed, and placed them in pots near his Apiary; the bees +alighting on them, separated the folds of the largest buds with their +forceps, extracted the varnish in threads, and loaded with it, first one +thigh and then the other; for they convey it like pollen, transferring +it by the first pair of legs to the second, by which it is lodged in the +hollow of the third." The smell of the propolis is often precisely +similar to that of the resin from the poplar, and chemical analysis +proves the identity of the two substances. It is frequently gathered +from the alder, horse-chestnut, birch, and willow; and as some think, +from pines and other trees of the fir kind. I have often known bees to +enter the shops where varnishing was being carried on, attracted +evidently by the smell: and Bevan mentions the fact of their carrying +off a composition of wax and turpentine, from trees to which it had +been applied. Dr. Evans says that he has seen them collect the balsamic +varnish which coats the young blossom buds of the hollyhock, and has +known them to rest at least ten minutes on the same bud, moulding the +balsam with their fore feet, and transferring it to the hinder legs, as +described by Huber. + + "With merry hum the Willow's copse they scale, + The Fir's dark pyramid, or Poplar pale, + Scoop from the Aider's leaf its oozy flood, + Or strip the Chestnut's resin-coated bud, + Skim the light tear that tips Narcissus' ray, + Or round the Hollyhock's hoar fragrance play. + Soon temper'd to their will through eve's low beam, + And link'd in airy bands the viscous stream, + They waft their nut-brown loads exulting home, + That form a fret-work for the future comb; + Caulk every chink where rushing winds may roar, + And seal their circling ramparts to the floor." + _Evans._ + +A mixture of wax and propolis is used by the bees to strengthen the +attachments of the combs to the top and sides of the hive, and serves +most admirably for this purpose, as it is much more adhesive than wax +alone. If the combs, as soon as they are built, are not filled with +honey or brood, they are beautifully varnished with a most delicate +coating of this material, which adds exceedingly to their strength: but +as this natural varnish impairs their delicate whiteness, they ought not +to be allowed to remain in the surplus honey receptacles, accessible to +the bees, unless when they are actively engaged in storing them with +honey. + +The bees make a very liberal use of this substance to fill up all the +crevices about their premises: and as the natural summer heat of the +hive keeps it soft, the bee moth selects it as a proper place of deposit +for her eggs. For this reason, the hive should be made of sound lumber, +entirely free from cracks, and thoroughly painted on the inside as well +as outside. When glass is used, there is no risk that the bed moth will +find a place in which she can insert her ovi-positor and lay her eggs. +The corners of the hive, which the bees always fill with propolis, +should have a melted mixture of three parts rosin, and one part bees-wax +run into them, which remains hard during the hottest weather, and bids +defiance to the moth. The inside of the hive may be coated with the same +mixture, put on hot with a brush. + +The bees find it difficult to gather the propolis, and equally so to +remove from their thighs, and to work so sticky a material. For this +reason, it is doubly important to save them all unnecessary labor in +amassing it. To men, time is _money_; to bees, it is _honey_; and all +the arrangements of the hive should be such as to economize it to the +very utmost. + +Propolis is sometimes put to a very curious use by the bees. "A +snail[10] having crept into one of M. Reaumur's hives early in the +morning, after crawling about for some time, adhered by means of its own +slime to one of the glass panes. The bees having discovered the snail, +surrounded it and formed a border of propolis round the verge of its +shell, and fastened it so securely to the glass that it became +immovable." + + "Forever closed the impenetrable door, + It naught avails that in his torpid veins + Year after year, life's loitering spark remains."[11] + _Evans._ + +"Maraldi, another eminent Apiarian, has related a somewhat similar +instance. He states that a snail without a shell, or slug, as it is +called, had entered one of his hives; and that the bees, as soon as they +observed it, stung it to death: after which being unable to dislodge +it, they covered it all over with an impervious coat of propolis." + + "For soon in fearless ire, their wonder lost, + Spring fiercely from the comb the indignant host, + Lay the pierced monster breathless on the ground, + And clap in joy their victor pinions round: + While all in vain concurrent numbers strive, + To heave the slime-girt giant from the hive-- + Sure not alone by force Instinctive swayed, + But blest with reason's soul directing aid, + Alike in man or bee, they haste to pour, + Thick hard'ning as it falls, the flaky shower; + Embalmed in shroud of glue the mummy lies, + No worms invade, no foul miasmas rise." + _Evans._ + +"In these cases who can withhold his admiration of the ingenuity and +judgment of the bees? _In the first case_ a troublesome creature gained +admission to the hive, which, from its unwieldiness, they could not +remove, and which, from the impenetrability of its shell, they could not +destroy: here then their only resource was to deprive it of locomotion, +and to obviate putrefaction; both which objects they accomplished most +skilfully and securely--and as is usual with these sagacious creatures, +at the least possible expense of labor and materials. They applied their +cement where alone it was required, round the verge of the shell. _In +the latter case_, to obviate the evil of decay, by the total exclusion +of air, they were obliged to be more lavish in the use of their +embalming material, and to case over the "slime girt giant" so as to +guard themselves from his noisome smell. What means more effectual could +human wisdom have devised under similar circumstances?" + + "If in the insect, Season's twilight ray + Sheds on the darkling mind a doubtful day, + Plain is the steady light her _Instincts_ yield, + To point the road o'er life's unvaried field; + If few these instincts, to the destined goal, + With surer coarse, their straiten'd currents roll." + _Evans._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] Bevan. + +[11] Some very extraordinary instances are related of the protraction of +life in snails. After they had lain in a cabinet above fifteen years, +immersing them in water caused them to revive and crawl out of their +shells. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +POLLEN, OR BEE-BREAD. + + +This substance is gathered by the bees from the flowers, or blossoms, +and is used _for the nourishment of their young_. Repeated experiments +have proved that no brood can be raised in a hive, unless the bees are +supplied with it. It contains none of the elements of wax, but is rich +in what chemists call nitrogenous substances, which are not contained in +honey, and which furnish ample nourishment for the development of the +growing bee. Dr. Hunter dissected some immature bees, and found their +stomachs to contain farina, but not a particle of honey. + +We are indebted to Huber for the discovery of the use made by the bees +of pollen. That it did not serve as food for the mature bees, was +evident from the fact that large supplies are often found in hives whose +inmates have starved to death. It was this fact which led the old +observers to conclude that it was gathered for the purpose of building +comb. After Huber had demonstrated that wax is secreted from an entirely +different substance, he was soon led to conjecture that the bee-bread +must be used for the nourishment of the embryo bees. By rigid +experiments he proved the truth of this supposition. Bees were confined +to their hive without any pollen, after being supplied with honey, eggs +and larvæ. In a short time the young all perished. A fresh supply of +brood was given to them, with an ample allowance of pollen, and the +development of the larvæ then proceeded in the natural way. + +When a colony is actively engaged in carrying in this article, it may be +taken for granted that they have a fertile queen, and are busy in +breeding. On the contrary, if any colony is not gathering pollen when +others are, the queen is either dead, or diseased, and the hive should +at once be examined. + +In the backward spring of 1852, I had an excellent opportunity of +testing the value of this substance. In one of my hives, was an +artificial swarm of the previous year. The hive was well protected, +being double, and the situation was warm. I opened it on the 5th of +February, and although the weather, until within a week of that time, +had been unusually cold, I found many of the cells filled with brood. On +the 23d, the combs were again examined, and found to contain, neither +eggs, brood, nor bee bread. The bees were then supplied with bee bread +taken from another hive: the next day, this was found to have been used +by them, and a large number of eggs had been deposited in the cells. +When this supply was exhausted, egg-laying ceased, and was again renewed +when more was furnished them. + +During all the time of these experiments, the weather was unpromising, +and as the bees were unable to go out for water, they were supplied at +home with this important article. + +Dzierzon is of opinion that the bees are able to furnish food for the +young, without the presence of pollen in the hive; although he admits +that they can do this only for a short time, and at a great expense of +vital energy; just as the strength of an animal nursing its young is +rapidly reduced, when for want of proper food, the very substance of +its own body as it were, is converted into milk. My experiments do not +corroborate this theory, but tend to confirm the views of Huber, and to +show the absolute necessity of pollen to the development of brood. The +same able contributor to Apiarian science, thinks that pollen is used by +the bees when they are engaged in comb-building; and that unless they +are well supplied with it, they cannot rapidly secrete wax, without very +severely taxing their strength. But as all the elements of wax are found +in honey, and none of them in pollen, this opinion does not seem to me, +to be entitled to much weight. That bees cannot live upon pollen without +any honey, is proved by the fact, that large stores of it are often +found, in hives whose occupants have died of starvation; that they can +live without it, is equally well known; but that the full grown bees +make some use of it in connection with honey, for their own nourishment, +I believe to be highly probable. + +The bees prefer to gather _fresh_ bee-bread, even when there are large +accumulations of old stores in the cells. Hence, the great importance of +being able to make the _surplus_ of old colonies supply the _deficiency_ +of young ones. (See No. 28, in the Chapter "On the advantages which +ought to be found in an Improved Hive.") + +If both honey and pollen can be obtained from the same flower, then a +load of _each_ will be secured by the industrious insect. Of this, any +one may convince himself, who will dissect a few pollen gatherers at the +time when honey is plenty: he will generally find their honey-bags full. + +The mode of gathering is very interesting. The body of the bee appears, +to the naked eye, to be covered with fine hairs; to these, when the bee +alights on a flower, the farina adheres. With her legs, she brushes it +off from her body, and packs it in two hollows or _baskets_, one on each +of her thighs: these baskets are surrounded by stouter hairs which hold +the load in its place. + +When the bee returns with pollen, she often makes a singular, dancing or +vibratory motion, which attracts the attention of the other bees, who at +once nibble away from her thighs what they want for immediate use; the +rest she deposits in a cell for future need, where it is carefully +packed down, and often sealed over with wax. + +It has been observed that a bee, in gathering pollen, always confines +herself to the same kind of flower on which she begins, even when that +is not so abundant as some others. Thus if you examine a ball of this +substance taken from her thigh, it is found to be of one uniform color +throughout: the load of one will be yellow, another red, and a third +brown; the color varying according to that of the plant from which it +was obtained. It is probable that the pollen of different kinds of +flowers would not pack so well together. It is certain that if they flew +from one species to another, there would be a much greater mixture of +different varieties than there now is, for they carry on their bodies +the pollen or fertilizing principle, and thus aid most powerfully in the +impregnation of plants. + +This is one reason why it is so difficult to preserve pure, the +different varieties of the same vegetables whose flowers are sought by +the bee. + +He must be blind indeed, who will not see, at every step in the natural +history of this insect, the plainest proofs of the wisdom of its +Creator. + +I cannot resist the impression that the honey bee was made for the +especial service and instruction of man. At first the importance of its +products, when honey was the only natural sweet, served most powerfully +to attract his attention to its curious habits; and now since the +cultivation of the sugar cane has diminished the relative value of its +luscious sweets, the superior knowledge which has been obtained of its +instincts, is awakening an increasing enthusiasm in its cultivation. + +Virgil in the fourth book of his Georgics, which is entirely devoted to +bees, speaks of them as having received a direct emanation from the +Divine Intelligence. And many modern Apiarians are almost disposed to +rank the bee for sagacity, as next in the scale of creation to man. + +The importance of pollen to the nourishment of the brood, has long been +known, and of late, successful attempts have been made to furnish a +_substitute_. The bees in Dzierzon's Apiary were observed by him, early +in the spring before the time for procuring pollen, to bring rye meal to +their hives from a neighboring mill. It is now a common practice on the +continent of Europe, where bee keeping is extensively carried on, to +supply the bees, in early spring, with this article. Shallow troughs are +set in front of the Apiaries, which are filled, about two inches deep, +with _finely ground, dry, unbolted rye meal_. Thousands of bees resort +eagerly to them when the weather is favorable, roll themselves in the +meal, and return heavily laden to their hives. In fine, mild weather, +they labor at this work with astonishing industry; and seem decidedly to +prefer the meal to the _old_ pollen stored in their combs. By this +means, the bees are induced to commence breeding _early_, and rapidly +recruit their numbers. The feeding is continued till the bees cease to +carry away the meal; that is, until the natural supplies furnish them +with a preferable article. The average consumption of each colony is +about two pounds of meal! + +At the last annual Apiarian Convention in Germany, a cultivator +recommended wheat flour as an excellent substitute for pollen. He says +that in February, 1852, he used it with the best results. The bees +_forsook the honey_ which had been set out for them, and engaged +actively in carrying in large quantities of the wheat flour, which was +placed about twenty paces in front of the hives. + +The construction of my hives, permits the flour to be placed, at once, +where the bees can take it, without being compelled to waste their time +in going out for it, or to suffer for the want of it, when the weather +confines them at home. + +The discovery of this substitute, removes a serious obstacle to the +successful culture of bees. In many districts, there is a great +abundance of honey for a few weeks in the season; and almost any number +of colonies, which are strong when the honey harvest commences, will, in +a good season, lay up sufficient stores for themselves, and a large +surplus for their owners. In many of these districts, however, the +supply of pollen is often so insufficient, that the new colonies of the +previous year are found destitute of this article in the spring; and +unless the season is early, and the weather unusually favorable, the +production of brood is most seriously interfered with; thus the colony +becomes strong too late to avail itself to the best advantage of the +superabundant harvest of honey. (See remarks on the importance of having +strong stocks early in the Spring.) + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ON THE ADVANTAGES WHICH OUGHT TO BE FOUND IN AN IMPROVED HIVE. + + +In this chapter, I shall enumerate certain very desirable, if not +necessary, qualities of a good hive. I have neither the taste nor the +time for the invidious work of disparaging other hives. I prefer +inviting the attention of bee-keepers to the importance of these +requisites; some of which, as I believe, are contained in no hive but my +own. Let them be most carefully examined, and if they commend themselves +to the enlightened judgment and good common sense of cultivators, let +them be employed to test the comparative merits of the various kinds of +hives in common use. + +1. A good hive should give the Apiarian a perfect control over all the +combs: so that any of them may be taken out at pleasure; and this, +without cutting them, or enraging the bees. + +This advantage is possessed by no hive in use, except my own; and it +forms the very foundation of an improved and profitable system of +bee-culture. Unless the combs are at the entire command of the Apiarian, +he can have no effectual control over his bees. They swarm too much or +too little, just as suits themselves, and their owner is almost entirely +dependent upon their caprice. + +2. It ought to afford suitable protection against extremes of heat and +cold, sudden changes of temperature, and the injurious effects of +dampness. + +In winter, the interior of the hive should be dry, and not a particle of +frost should ever find admission; and in summer, the bees should not be +forced to work to disadvantage in a pent and almost suffocating heat. +(See these points discussed in the Chapter on Protection.) + +3. It should permit all necessary operations to be performed without +hurting or killing a single bee. + +Most hives are so constructed that it is impossible to manage them, +without at times injuring or destroying some of the bees. The mere +destruction of a few bees, would not, except on the score of humanity, +be of much consequence, if it did not very materially increase the +difficulty of managing them. Bees remember injuries done to any of their +number, for some time, and generally find an opportunity to avenge them. + +4. It should allow every thing to be done that is necessary in the most +extensive management of bees, without incurring any serious risk of +exciting their anger. (See Chapter on the Anger of Bees.) + +5. Not a single unnecessary step or motion ought to be required of a +single bee. + +The honey harvest, in most locations, is of short continuance; and all +the arrangements of the hive should facilitate, to the utmost, the work +of the busy gatherers. Tall hives, therefore, and all such as compel +them to travel with their heavy burdens through densely crowded combs, +are very objectionable. The bees in my hive, instead of forcing their +way through thick clusters, can easily pass into the surplus honey +boxes, not only from any comb in the hive, but without traveling over +the combs at all. + +6. It should afford suitable facilities for inspecting, at all times, +the condition of the bees. + +When the sides of my hive are of glass, as soon as the outer cover is +elevated, the Apiarian has a view of the interior, and can often at a +glance, determine its condition. If the hive is of wood, or if he wishes +to make a more thorough examination, in a few minutes every comb may be +taken out, and separately inspected. In this way, the exact condition of +every colony may always be easily ascertained, and nothing left, as in +the common hives, to mere conjecture. This is an advantage, the +importance of which it would be difficult to over estimate. (See +Chapters on the loss of the queen, and on the Bee Moth.) + +7. While the hive is of a size adapted to the natural instincts of the +bee, it should be capable of being readily adjusted to the wants of +small colonies. + +If a small swarm is put into a large hive, they will be unable to +concentrate their animal heat, so as to work to the best advantage, and +will often become discouraged, and abandon their hive. If they are put +into a small hive, its limited dimensions will not afford them suitable +accommodations for increase. By means of my movable partition, my hive +can, in a few moments, be adapted to the wants of any colony however +small, and can, with equal facility, be enlarged from time to time, or +at once restored to its full dimensions. + +8. It should allow the combs to be removed without any jarring. + +Bees manifest the utmost aversion to any sudden jar; for it is in this +way, that their combs are loosened and detached. However firmly fastened +the frames may be in my hive, they can all be loosened in a few moments, +without injuring or exciting the bees. + +9. It should allow every good piece of comb to be given to the bees, +instead of being melted into wax. (See Chapter on Comb.) + +10. The construction of the hive should induce the bees to build their +combs with great regularity. + +A hive which contains a large proportion of irregular comb, can never be +expected to prosper. Such comb is only suitable for storing honey, or +raising drones. This is one reason why so many colonies never flourish. +A glance will often show that a hive contains so much drone comb, as to +be unfit for the purposes of a stock hive. + +11. It should furnish the means of procuring comb to be used as a guide +to the bees, in building regular combs in empty hives; and to induce +them more readily to take possession of the surplus honey receptacles. + +It is well known that the presence of comb will induce bees to begin +work much more readily than they otherwise Would: this is especially the +case in glass vessels. + +12. It should allow the removal of drone combs from the hive, to prevent +the breeding of too many drones. (See remarks on Drones.) + +13. It should enable the Apiarian, when the combs become too old, to +remove them, and supply their place with new ones. + +No hive can, in this respect, equal one in which, in a few moments, any +comb can be removed, and the part which is too old, be cut off. The +upper part of a comb, which is generally used for storing honey, will +last without renewal for many years. + +14. It ought to furnish the greatest possible security against the +ravages of the Bee-Moth. + +Neither before nor after it is occupied, ought there to be any cracks +or crevices in the interior. All such places will be filled by the bees +with propolis or bee-glue; a substance, which is always soft in the +summer heat of the hive, and which forms a most congenial place of +deposit for the eggs of the moth. If the sides of the hive are of glass, +and the corners are run with a melted mixture, three parts rosin, and +one part bees-wax, the bees will waste but little time in gathering +propolis, and the bee-moth will find but little chance for laying her +eggs, even if she should succeed in entering the hive. + +My hives are so constructed, that if made of wood, they may be +thoroughly painted inside and outside, without being so smooth as to +annoy the bees; for they travel over the frames to which the combs are +attached; and thus whether the inside surface is glass or wood, it is +not liable to crack, or warp, or absorb moisture, after the hive is +occupied by the bees. If the hives are painted inside, it should be done +sometime before they are used. If the interior of the wooden hive is +brushed with a very hot mixture of the rosin and bees-wax, the hives may +be used immediately. + +15. It should furnish some place accessible to the Apiarian, where the +bee-moth can be tempted to deposit her eggs, and the worms, when full +grown, to wind themselves in their cocoons. (See remarks on the +Bee-Moth.) + +16. It should enable the Apiarian, if the bee-moth ever gains the upper +hand of the bees, to remove the combs, and expel the worms. (See +Bee-Moth.) + +17. The bottom board should be permanently attached to the hive; for if +this is not done, it will be inconvenient to move the hive when bees are +in it, and next to impossible to prevent the depredations of moths and +worms. + +Sooner or later, there will be crevices between the bottom board and the +sides of the hive, through which the moths will gain admission, and +under which the worms, when fully grown, will retreat to spin their +webs, and to be changed into moths, to enter in their turn, and lay +their eggs. Movable bottom hoards are a great nuisance in the Apiary, +and the construction of my hive, which enables me entirely to dispense +with them, will furnish a very great protection against the bee-moth. +There is no place where they can get in, except at the entrance for the +bees, and this may be contracted or enlarged, to suit the strength of +the colony; and from its peculiar shape, the bees are enabled to defend +it against intruders, with the greatest advantage. + +18. The bottom-board should slant towards the entrance, to assist the +bees in carrying out the dead, and other useless substances; to aid them +in defending themselves against robbers; to carry off all moisture; and +to prevent the rain and snow from beating into the hive. As a farther +precaution against this last evil, the entrance ought to be under a +covered way, which should not, at once lead into the interior. + +19. The bottom-board should be so constructed that it may be readily +cleared of dead bees in cold weather, when the bees are unable to attend +to this business themselves. + +If suffered to remain, they often become mouldy, and injure the health +of the colony. If the bees drag them out, as they will do, if the +weather moderates, they often fall with them on the snow, and are so +chilled that they never rise again; for a bee generally retains its hold +in flying away with the dead, until both fall to the ground. + +20. No part of the interior of the hive should be below the level of the +place of exit. + +If this principle is violated, the bees must, at great disadvantage, +drag their dead, and all the refuse of the hive, _up hill_. Such hives +will often have their bottom boards covered with small pieces of comb, +bee-bread, and other impurities, in which the moth delights to lay her +eggs; and which furnished her progeny with a most congenial nourishment, +until they are able to get access to the combs. + +21. It should afford facilities for feeding the bees both in warm and +cold weather. + +In this respect, my hive has very unusual advantages. Sixty colonies in +warm weather may, in an hour, be fed a quart each, and yet no feeder be +used, and no risk incurred from robbing bees. (See Chapter on Feeding.) + +22. It should allow of the easy hiving of a swarm, without injuring any +of the bees, or risking the destruction of the queen. (See Chapter on +Natural Swarming, and Hiving.) + +23. It should admit of the safe transportation of the bees to any +distance whatever. + +The permanent bottom-board, the firm attachment of the combs, each to a +separate frame, and the facility with which, in my hive, any amount of +air can be given to the bees when shut up, most admirably adapt it to +this purpose. + +24. It should furnish the bees with air when the entrance is shut; and +the ventilation for this purpose ought to be unobstructed, even if the +hives should be buried in two or three feet of snow. (See Chapter on +Protection.) + +25. A good hive should furnish facilities for enlarging, contracting, +and closing the entrance; so as to protect the bees against robbers, and +the bee-moth; and when the entrance is altered, the bees ought not to +lose valuable time in searching for it, as they must do in most hives. +(See Chapters on Ventilation, and on Robbing.) + +26. It should give the bees the means of ventilating their hives, +without enlarging the entrance too much, so as to expose them to moths +and robbers, and to the risk of losing their brood by a chill in sudden +changes of weather. (See Chapter on Ventilation.) + +To secure this end, the ventilators must not only be independent of the +entrance, but they must owe their efficiency mainly to the co-operation +of the bees themselves, who thus have a free admission of air only when +they want it. To depend on the opening and shutting of the ventilators +by the bee-keeper, is entirely out of the question. + +27. It should furnish facilities for admitting at once, a large body of +air; so that in winter, or early spring, when the weather is at any time +unusually mild, the bees may be tempted to fly out and discharge their +fæces. (See Chapter on Protection.) + +If such a free admission of air cannot be given to hives which are +thoroughly protected against the cold, the bees may lose a favorable +opportunity of emptying themselves; and thus be more exposed than they +otherwise would, to suffer from diseases resulting from too long +confinement. A very free admission of air is also desirable when the +weather is exceedingly hot. + +28. It should enable the Apiarian to remove the excess of bee-bread from +old stocks. + +This article always accumulates in old hives, so that in the course of +time, many of the combs are filled with it, thus unfitting them for the +rearing of brood, and the reception of honey. Young stocks, on the other +hand, will often be so deficient in this important article, that in the +early part of the season, breeding will be seriously interfered with. By +means of my movable frames, the excess of old colonies may be made to +supply the deficiency of young ones, to the mutual benefit of both. (See +Chapter on Pollen.) + +29. It should enable the Apiarian, when he has removed the combs from a +common hive, to place them with the bees, brood, honey and bee-bread, in +the improved hive, so that the bees may be able to attach them in their +natural positions. (See directions for transferring bees from an old +hive.) + +30. It should allow of the easy and safe dislodgement of the bees from +the hive. + +This requisite is especially important to secure the union of colonies, +when it becomes necessary to break up some of the stocks. (See remarks +on the Union of Stocks.) + +31. It should allow the heat and odor of the main hive, as well as the +bees themselves, to pass in the freest manner, to the surplus honey +receptacles. + +In this respect, all the hives with which I am acquainted, are more or +less deficient: the bees are forced to work in receptacles difficult of +access, and in which, especially in cool nights, they find it impossible +to keep up the animal heat necessary for comb-building. Bees cannot, in +such hives, work to advantage in glass tumblers, or other small vessels. +One of the most important arrangements of my hive, is that by which the +heat ascends into all the receptacles for storing honey, as naturally +and almost as easily as the warmest air ascends to the top of a heated +room. + +32. It should permit the surplus honey to be taken away, in the most +convenient, beautiful and salable forms, at any time, and without any +risk of annoyance from the bees. + +In my hives, it may be taken in tumblers, glass boxes, wooden boxes +small or large, earthen jars, flower-pots; in short, in any kind of +receptacle which may suit the fancy, or the convenience of the +bee-keeper. Or all these may be dispensed with, and the honey may be +taken from the interior of the main hive, by removing the frames with +loaded combs, and supplying their place with empty ones. + +33. It should admit of the easy removal of all the good honey from the +main hive, that its place may be supplied with an inferior article. + +Bee-Keepers who have but few colonies, and who wish to secure the +largest yield, may remove the loaded combs from my hive, slice off the +covers of the cells, drain out the honey, and restore the empty combs, +into which, if the season of gathering is over, they can first pour the +cheap foreign honey for the use of the bees. + +34. It should allow, when quantity not quality is the object, the +largest amount of honey to be gathered; so that the surplus of strong +colonies may, in the Fall, be given to those which have not a sufficient +supply. + +By surmounting my hive with a box of the same dimensions, the combs may +all be transferred to this box, and the bees, when they commence +building, will descend and fill the lower frames, gradually using the +upper box, as the brood is hatched out, for storing honey. In this way, +the largest possible yield of honey may be secured, as the bees always +prefer to continue their work below, rather than above the main hive, +and will never swarm, when allowed in season, ample room in this +direction. The combs in the upper box, containing a large amount of +bee-bread and being of a size adapted to the breeding of workers, will +be all the better for aiding weak colonies. + +35. It should compel, when desired, the force of the colony to be mainly +directed to raising young bees; so that brood may be on hand to form new +colonies, and strengthen feeble stocks. (See Chapter on Artificial +Swarming.) + +36. It ought, while well protected from the weather, to be so +constructed, that in warm, sunny days in early spring, the influence of +the sun may be allowed to penetrate and warm up the hive, so as to +encourage early breeding. (See Chapter on Protection.) + +37. The hive should be equally well adapted to be used as a swarmer, or +non-swarmer. + +In my hives bees may be allowed, if their owner chooses, to swarm just +as they do in common hives, and be managed in the usual way. Even on +this plan, the great protection against the weather which it affords, +and the command over all the combs, will be found to afford great +advantages. (See Natural Swarming.) + +Non-swarming hives managed in the ordinary way are liable, in spite of +all precautions, to swarm very unexpectedly, and if not closely watched, +the swarm is lost, and with it the profit of that season. By having the +command of the combs, the queen in my hives can always be caught and +deprived of her wings; thus she cannot go off with a swarm, and they +will not leave without her. + +38. It should enable the Apiarian, if he allows his bees to swarm, and +wishes to secure surplus honey, to prevent them from throwing more than +one swarm in a season. + +Second and third swarms must be returned to the old stock, if the +largest quantities of surplus honey are to be realized. It is +troublesome to watch them, deprive them of their queens, and restore +them to the parent hive. They often issue with new queens again and +again; and waste, in this way, both their own time, and that of their +keeper. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In my hives, +as soon as the first swarm has issued, and been hived, all the queen +cells except one, in the hive from which it came, may be cut out, and +thus all after-swarming will very easily and effectually be prevented. +(See Chapter on Artificial Swarming, for the use to which these +supernumerary queens may be put.) When the old stock is left with but +one queen, she runs no risk of being killed or crippled in a contest +with rivals. By such contests, a colony is often left without a queen, +or in possession of one which is too much maimed to be of any service. +(See Chapter on the Loss of the Queen.) + +39. A good hive should enable the Apiarian, if he relies on natural +swarming, and wishes to multiply his colonies as fast as possible, to +make vigorous stocks of all his small after-swarms. + +Such swarms contain a young queen, and if they can be judiciously +strengthened, usually make the best stock hives. If hived in a common +hive, and left to themselves, unless very early, or in very favorable +seasons, they seldom thrive. They generally desert their hives, or +perish in the winter. If they are small, they cannot be made powerful, +even by the most generous feeding. There are too few bees to build comb, +and take care of the eggs which a healthy queen can lay; and when fed, +they are apt to fill with honey, the cells in which young bees ought to +be raised; thus making the kindness of their owner serve only to hasten +their destruction. My hives enable me to supply all such swarms at once +with combs containing bee-bread, honey and brood almost mature. They are +thus made strong, and flourish as well, nay, often better than the first +swarms which have an old queen, whose fertility is generally not so +great as that of a young one. + +40. It should enable the Apiarian to multiply his colonies with a +certainty and rapidity which are entirely out of the question, if he +depends upon natural swarming. (See Chapter on Artificial Swarming.) + +41. It should enable the Apiarian to supply destitute colonies with the +means of obtaining a new queen. + +Every Apiarian would find it, for this reason, if for no other, to his +advantage to possess, at least, one such hive. (See Chapters on +Physiology, and loss of Queen.) + +42. It should enable him to catch the queen, for any purpose; especially +to remove an old one whose fertility is impaired by age, that her place +may be supplied with a young one. (See Chapter on Artificial Swarming.) + +43. While a good hive is adapted to the wants of those who desire to +enter upon bee-keeping on a large scale, or at least to manage their +colonies on the most improved plans, it ought to be suited to the wants +of those who are too timid, too ignorant, or for any reason indisposed, +to manage them in any other than the common way. + +44. It should enable a single individual to superintend the colonies of +many different persons. + +Many would like to keep bees, if they could have them taken care of, by +those who would undertake their management, just as a gardener does the +gardens and grounds of his employers. No person can agree to do this +with the common hives. If the bees are allowed to swarm, he may be +called in a dozen different directions, and if any accident, such as the +loss of a queen, happens to the colonies of his customers, he can apply +no remedy. If the bees are in non-swarming hives, he cannot multiply the +stocks when this is desired. + +On my plan, gentlemen who desire it, may have the pleasure of witnessing +the industry and sagacity of this wonderful insect, and of gratifying +their palates with its delicious stores, harvested on their own +premises, without incurring either trouble or risk of injury. + +45. All the joints of the hive should be water-tight, and there should +be no doors or slides which are liable to shrink, swell, or get out of +order. + +The importance of this will be sufficiently obvious to any one who has +had the ordinary share of vexatious experience in the use of such +fixtures. + +46. It should enable the bee-keeper entirely to dispense with sheds, and +costly Apiaries; as each hive when properly placed, should alike defy, +heat or cold, rain or snow. (See Chapter on Protection.) + +47. It should allow the contents of a hive, bees, combs and all, to be +taken out; so that any necessary repairs may be made. + +This may be done, with my hives, in a few minutes. "A stitch in time +saves nine." Hives which can be thoroughly overhauled and repaired, from +time to time, if properly attended to, will last for generations. + +48. The hive and fixtures should present a neat and attractive +appearance, and should admit, when desired, of being made highly +ornamental. + +49. The hives ought not to be liable to be blown down in high winds. + +My hives, being very low in proportion to their other dimensions, it +would require almost a hurricane to upset them. + +50. It should enable an Apiarian who lives in the neighborhood of human +pilferers, to lock up the precious contents of his hives, in some cheap, +simple and convenient way. + +A couple of padlocks with some cheap fixtures, will suffice to secure a +long range of hives. + +51. A good hive should be protected against the destructive ravages of +mice in winter. + +It seems almost incredible that so puny an animal should dare to invade +a hive of bees; and yet not unfrequently they slip in when the bees are +compelled by the cold to retreat from the entrance. Having once found +admission, they build themselves a nest in their comfortable abode, eat +up the honey, and such bees as are too much chilled to make any +resistance; and fill the premises with such an abominable stench, that +on the approach of warm weather, the bees often in a body abandon their +desecrated home. As soon as the cold weather approaches, all my hives +may have their entrances either entirely closed, or so contracted that +a mouse cannot gain admission. + +52. A good hive should have its alighting board constructed so as to +shelter the bees against wind and wet, and thus to facilitate to the +utmost their entrance when they come home with their heavy burdens. + +If this precaution is neglected, much valuable time and many lives will +be sacrificed, as the colony cannot be encouraged to use to the best +advantage the unpromising days which so often occur in the working +season. + +I have succeeded in arranging my alighting board in such a manner that +the bees are sheltered against wind and wet, and are able to enter the +hive with the least possible loss of time. + +53. A well constructed hive ought to admit of being shut up in winter, +so as to consign the bees to darkness and repose. + +Nothing can be more hazardous than to shut up closely an ill protected +hive. Even if the bees have an abundance of air, it will not answer to +prevent them from flying out, if they are so disposed. As soon as the +warmth penetrating their thin hives tempts them to fly, they crowd to +the entrance, and if it is shut, multitudes worry themselves to death in +trying to get out, and the whole colony is liable to become diseased. + +In my hives as soon as the bees are shut up for Winter, they are most +effectually protected against all atmospheric changes, and never +_desire_ to leave their hives until the entrances are again opened, on +the return of suitable weather. Thus they pass the Winter in a state of +almost absolute repose; they eat much less honey[12] than when wintered +on the ordinary plan; a much smaller number die in the hives; none are +lost upon the snow, and they are more healthy, and commence breeding +much earlier than they do in the common hives. As some of the holes into +the Protector are left open in Winter, any bee that is diseased and +wishes to leave the hive can do so. Bees when diseased have a strange +propensity to leave their hives, just as animals when sick seek to +retreat from their companions; and in Summer such bees may often be seen +forsaking their home to perish on the ground. If all egress from the +hive in Winter is prevented, the diseased bees will not be able to +comply with an instinct which urges them "To leave their country for +their country's good." + +54. It should possess all these requisites without being too costly for +common bee-keepers, or too complicated to be constructed by any one who +can handle simple tools: and they should be so combined that the result +is a simple hive, which any one can manage who has ordinary intelligence +on the subject of bees. + +I suppose that the very natural conclusion from reading this long list +of desirables, would be that no single hive can combine them all, +without being exceedingly complicated and expensive. On the contrary, +the simplicity and cheapness with which my hive secures all these +results, is one of its most striking peculiarities, the attainment of +which has cost me more study than all the other points besides. As far +as the bees are concerned, they can work in this hive with even greater +facility than in the simple old-fashioned box, as the frames are left +rough by the saw, and thus give an admirable support to the bees when +building their combs; and they can enter the spare honey boxes, with +even more ease than if they were merely continuations of the main hive. + +There are a few desirables to which my hive makes not the slightest +pretensions! It promises no splendid results to those who purchase it, +and yet are too ignorant, or too careless to be entrusted with the +management of bees. In bee-keeping, as in other things, a man must first +understand his business, and then proceed on the good old maxim, that +"the hand of the diligent maketh rich." + +It possesses no talismanic influence by which it can convert a bad +situation for honey, into a good one; or give the Apiarian an abundant +harvest whether the season is productive or otherwise. + +It cannot enable the cultivator rapidly to multiply his stocks, and yet +to secure, the same season, surplus honey from his bees. As well might +the breeder of poultry pretend that he can, in the same year, both raise +the greatest number of chickens, and sell the largest number of eggs. + +Worse than all, it cannot furnish the many advantages enumerated, and +yet be made in as little time, or quite as cheap as a hive which proves, +in the end, to be a very dear bargain. + +I have not constructed my hive in accordance with crude theories, or +mere conjectures, and then insisted that the bees must flourish in such +a fanciful contrivance; but I have studied, for many years, most +carefully, the nature of the honey-bee; and have diligently compared my +observations with those of writers and practical cultivators, who have +spent their lives in extending the sphere of Apiarian knowledge; and as +the result, have endeavored to adapt my hive to the actual wants and +habits of the bee; and to remedy the many difficulties with which I have +found its successful culture to be beset. And more than this, I have +actually tested by experiments long continued and on a large scale, the +merits of this hive, that I might not deceive both myself and others, +and add another to the many useless contrivances which have deluded and +disgusted a credulous public. I would, however, most earnestly repudiate +all claims to having devised a "perfect bee-hive." Perfection can belong +only to the works of the great Creator, to whose Omniscient eye, all +causes and effects with all their relations, were present, when he +spake, and from nothing formed the universe and all its glorious +wonders. For man to stamp upon any of his own works, the label of +perfection, is to show both his folly and presumption. + +It must be confessed that the culture of bees is at a very low ebb in +our country, when thousands can be induced to purchase hives which are +in most glaring opposition not only to the true principles of Apiarian +knowledge, but often, to the plainest dictates of simple common sense. +Such have been the losses and disappointments of deluded purchasers, +that it is no wonder that they turn from everything offered in the shape +of a patent bee-hive, as a miserable humbug, if not a most bare-faced +cheat. + +I do not hesitate to say that those old-fashioned bee-keepers, who have +most steadily refused to meddle with any novelties, and who have used +hives of the very simplest construction, or at least such as are only +one remove from the old straw hive, or wooden box, have, as a general +thing, realized by far the largest profits in the management of bees. +They have lost neither time, money nor bees, in the vain hope of +obtaining any unusual results from hives, which, in the very nature of +the case, can secure nothing really in advance of what can be +accomplished by a simple box-hive with an upper chamber. + +_A hive of the simplest possible construction_, is only a close +imitation of the abode of bees in a state of nature; being a mere hollow +receptacle in which they are protected from the weather, and where they +can lay up their stores. + +_An improved hive_ is one which contains, in addition, a separate +apartment in which the bees can be induced to lay up the surplus portion +of their stores, for the use of their owner. All the various hives in +common use, are only modifications of this latter hive, and, as a +general rule, they are bad, exactly in proportion as they depart from +it. Not one of them offers any remedy for the loss of the queen, or +indeed for most of the casualties to which bees are exposed: they form +no reliable basis for any new system of management; and hence the +cultivation of bees, is substantially where it was, fifty years ago, and +the Apiarian as entirely dependent as ever, upon all the whims and +caprices of an insect which may be made completely subject to his +control. + +No hive which does not furnish a thorough control over every comb, can +be considered as any substantial advance on the simple improved or +chamber hive. Of all such hives, the one which with the least expense, +gives the greatest amount of protection, and the readiest access to the +spare honey boxes, is the best. + +Having thus enumerated the tests to which all hives ought to be +subjected, and by which they should stand or fall, I submit them to the +candid examination of practical, common sense bee-keepers, who have had +the largest experience in the management of bees, and are most +conversant with the evils of the present system; and who are therefore +best fitted to apply them to an invention, which, if I may be pardoned +for using the enthusiastic language of an experienced Apiarian on +examining its practical workings, "introduces, not simply an +_improvement_, but a _revolution_ in bee-keeping." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] A writer in the New England Farmer for March, 1853, estimates that +the mild winter has been worth in the saving of fodder to the farmers of +New Hampshire alone, two and a half millions of dollars! By suitable +arrangements, bees even in the very coldest climates can have all the +advantages of a mild winter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PROTECTION AGAINST EXTREMES OF HEAT AND COLD, SUDDEN AND SEVERE CHANGES +OF TEMPERATURE, AND DAMPNESS IN THE HIVES. + + +I specially invite a careful perusal of this chapter, as the subject, +though of the very first importance in the management of bees, is one to +which but little attention has been given by the majority of +cultivators. + +In our climate of great and sudden extremes, many colonies are annually +injured or destroyed by undue exposure to heat or cold. In Summer, thin +hives are often exposed to the direct heat of the sun, so that the combs +melt, and the bees are drowned in their own sweets. Even if they escape +utter ruin, they cannot work to advantage in the almost suffocating heat +of their hives. + +But in those places where the Winters are both long and severe, it is +much more difficult to protect the bees from the cold than from the +heat. Bees are not, as some suppose, in a _dormant_, or _torpid_ +condition in Winter. It must be remembered that they were intended to +live in colonies, in Winter, as well as Summer. The wasp, hornet, and +other insects which do not live in families in the Winter, lay up no +stores for cold weather, and are so organized as to be able to endure in +a torpid state, a very low temperature; so low that it would be certain +death to a honey-bee, which when frozen, is as surely killed as a frozen +man. + +As soon as the temperature of the hives falls too low for their comfort, +the bees gather themselves into a more compact body, to preserve to the +utmost, their animal heat; and if the cold becomes so great that this +will not suffice, they keep up an incessant, tremulous motion, +accompanied by a loud humming noise; in other words, they take active +exercise in order to keep warm! If a thermometer is pushed up among +them, it will indicate a high temperature, even when the external +atmosphere is many degrees below zero. When the bees are unable to +maintain the necessary amount of animal heat, an occurrence which is +very common with small colonies in badly protected hives, then, as a +matter of course, they must perish. + +Extreme cold, when of long continuance, very frequently destroys +colonies in thin hives, even when they are strong both in bees and +honey. The inside of such hives, is often filled with frost, and the +bees, after eating all the food in the combs in which they are +clustered, are unable to enter the frosty combs, and thus starve in the +midst of plenty. The unskilfull bee-keeper who finds an abundance of +honey in the hives, cannot conjecture the cause of their death. + +If the cold merely destroyed feeble colonies, or strong ones only now +and then, it would not be so formidable an enemy; but every year, it +causes many of the most flourishing stocks to perish by starvation. The +extra quantity of food which they are compelled to eat, in order to keep +up their heat in their miserable hives, is often the turning point with +them, between life and death. They starve, when with proper protection, +they would have had food enough and to spare. + +But some one may say, "What possible difference can the kind of hives in +which bees are kept make in the quantity of food which they will +consume?" Enough, I would reply, in some single winters, to pay the +difference between a good hive and a bad one! + +I cannot move my finger, or wink my eye-lids without some waste of +muscle, however small; for it is a well-ascertained law in our animal +economy, that all _muscular exertion_ is attended with a corresponding +_waste_ of muscular fibre. Now this waste must be supplied by the +consumption of food, and it would be as unreasonable to expect constant +heat from a stove without fresh supplies of fuel, as incessant muscular +activity from an insect, without a supply of food proportioned to that +activity. If then we can contrive any way to keep our bees in almost +perfect quiet during the Winter, we may be certain that they will need +much less food than when they are constantly excited. + +In the cold Winter of 1851-2, I kept two swarms in a perfectly dry and +dark cellar, where the temperature was remarkably uniform, seldom +varying two degrees from 50° of Fahrenheit; and I found that the bees +ate very little honey. The hives were of glass, and the bees, when +examined from time to time, were found clustered in almost death-like +repose. If these bees had been exposed in thin hives in the open air, +they would, in all probability, have eaten four times as much; for +whenever the sun shone upon them, or the atmosphere was unusually warm, +they would have been roused to injurious activity, and the same would +have been the case, when the cold was severe. Exposed to sudden changes +and severe cold, they would have been in almost perpetual motion, and +must have been compelled to consume a largely increased quantity of +food. In this way, many colonies are annually starved to death, which if +they had been better protected, would have survived to gladden their +owner with an abundant harvest. This protection, as a general thing, +must be given to them in the open air, for it is a very rare thing, to +meet with a cellar which is dry enough to prevent the combs from +moulding, and the bees from becoming diseased. + +Bees never, unless diseased, discharge their fæces in the hive; and the +want of suitable protection, by exciting undue activity, and compelling +them to eat more freely, causes their bodies to be greatly distended +with accumulated fæces. On the return of warm weather, bees in this +condition being often too feeble to fly, crawl from their hives, and +miserably perish. + +I must notice another exceedingly injurious effect of insufficient +protection, in causing the _moisture_ to settle upon the cold top and +sides of the interior of the hive, from whence it drips upon the bees. +In this way, many of their number are chilled and destroyed, and often +the whole colony is infected with dysentery. Not unfrequently, large +portions of the comb are covered with mould, and the whole hive is +rendered very offensive. + +This dampness which causes what may be called a _rot_ among the bees, is +one of the worst enemies with which the Apiarian in a cold climate, has +to contend, as it weakens or destroys many of his best colonies. No +extreme of cold ever experienced in latitudes where bees flourish, can +destroy a strong colony well supplied with honey, except indirectly, by +confining them to empty combs. They will survive our coldest winters, in +thin hives raised on blocks to give a freer admission of air, or even in +suspended hives, without any bottom-board at all. Indeed, in cold +weather, a _very free_ admission of air is necessary in such hives, to +prevent the otherwise ruinous effects of frozen moisture; and hence the +common remark that bees require as much or more air in Winter than in +Summer. + +When bees, in unsuitable hives, are exposed to all the variations of the +external atmosphere, they are frequently tempted to fly abroad if the +weather becomes unseasonably warm, and multitudes are lost on the +_snow_, at a season when no young are bred to replenish their number, +and when the loss is most injurious to the colony. + +From these remarks, it will be obvious to the intelligent cultivator, +that protection against extremes of heat and cold, is a point of the +VERY FIRST IMPORTANCE; and yet this is the very point, which, in +proportion to its importance, has been most overlooked. We have +discarded, and very wisely, the straw hives of our ancestors; but such +hives, with all their faults, were comparatively warm in Winter, and +cool in Summer. We have undertaken to keep bees, where the cold of +Winter, and the heat of Summer are alike intense; and where sudden and +severe changes are often fatal to the brood: and yet we blindly persist +in expecting success under circumstances in which any marked success is +well nigh impossible. + +That our country is eminently favorable to the production of honey, +cannot be doubted. Many of our forests abound With colonies which are +not only able to protect themselves against all their enemies, the +dreaded bee-moth not excepted, but which often amass prodigious +quantities of honey. Nor are such colonies found merely in _new_ +countries. They exist frequently in the very neighborhood of cultivators +whose hives are weak and impoverished, and who impute to a decay of the +honey resources of the country, the inevitable consequences of their own +irrational system of management. It will not be without profit, to +consider briefly under what circumstances these wild colonies flourish, +and how they are protected against sudden and extreme changes of +temperature. + +Snugly housed in the hollow of a tree whose thickness and decayed +interior are such admirable materials for excluding atmospheric changes, +the bees in Winter are in a state of almost absolute repose. The +entrance to their abode is generally very small in proportion to the +space within; and let the weather out of doors vary as it may, the +inside temperature is very uniform. These natural hives are dry, because +the moisture finds no cold or icy top, or sides, on which to condense, +and from which it must drip upon the bees, destroying their lives, or +enfeebling their health, by filling the interior of their dwelling with +mould and dampness. As they are very quiet, they eat but little, and +hence their bodies are not distended and diseased by accumulated fæces. +Often they do not stir from their hollows, from November until March or +April; and yet they come forth in the Spring, strong in numbers, and +vigorous in health. If at any time in the winter season, the warmth is +so great as to penetrate their comfortable abodes, and to tempt them to +fly, when they venture out, they find a balmy atmosphere in which they +may disport with impunity. In the Summer, they are protected from the +heat, not merely by the thickness of the hollow tree, but by the leafy +shade of overarching branches, and the refreshing coolness of a forest +home. + +The Russian and Polish bee-keepers, living in a climate whose winters +are much more severe than our own, are among the largest and most +successful cultivators of bees, many of them numbering their colonies by +hundreds, and some even by thousands! + +They have, with great practical sagacity, imitated as closely as +possible, the conditions under which bees are found to flourish so +admirably in a state of nature. We are informed by Mr. Dohiogost, a +Polish writer, that his countrymen make their hives of the best plank, +and never less than an inch and a half in thickness. The shape is that +of an old-fashioned churn, and the hive is covered on the outside, +halfway down, with twisted rope cordage, to give it greater protection +against extremes of heat and cold. The hives are placed in a dry +situation, directly upon the hard earth, which is first covered with an +inch or two of clean, dry sand. Chips are then heaped up all around +them, and covered with earth banked up in a sloping direction to carry +off the rain. The entrance is at some distance above the bottom, and is +a triangle, whose sides are only one inch long. In the winter season, +this entrance is contracted so that only one bee can pass at a time. +Such a hive, with us, as it does not furnish the honey in convenient, +beautiful and salable forms, would not meet the demands of our +cultivators. Still, there are some very important lessons to be learned +from it, by all who keep bees in regions of cold winters, and hot +summers. It shows the importance which some of the largest Apiarians in +the world, attach to protection; practical, common sense men, whose +heads have not been turned, as some would express it, by modern theories +and fanciful inventions. They cultivate their bees almost in a state of +nature, and their experience on what we would term a gigantic scale, +ought to convince even the most incredulous, of the folly of pretending +to keep bees, in the miserably thin and unprotected hives to which we +have been accustomed. + +But how, it will be asked, can bees live in Winter, in a hive so closely +shut up as the Polish hive? They do live in such hives, and prosper, +just as they do in hollow trees, with only one small entrance. It is +well known that bees have flourished when their hives were buried in +Winter, and under circumstances in which but a very small amount of air +could possibly gain admission to them. Bees, when kept in a _dry_ place, +in properly protected hives and in a state of almost perfect repose, +need only a small supply of air; and the objection that those +cultivators among us, who shut up their colonies very closely in Winter, +are almost sure to lose them, is of no weight; because the majority of +our hives are so deficient in protection, that if they are too closely +shut up, "the breath of the bees," condensing and freezing upon the +inside, and afterwards thawing, causes the combs to mould, and the bees +to become diseased; just as many substances mould and perish when kept +in a close, damp cellar. + +We are now prepared to discuss the question of protection in its +relations to the construction of hives. We have seen how it is furnished +to the bees in the Polish hives, and in the decayed hollows of trees. If +the Apiarian chooses, he can imitate this plan by constructing his hives +of very thick plank: but such hives would be clumsy, and with us, +expensive. Or he may much more effectually reach the same end, by making +his hives double, so as to enclose an air space all around, which in +Winter may be filled with charcoal, plaster of Paris, straw, or any good +non-conductor, to enable the bees to preserve with the least waste, +their animal heat. I prefer to pack the air-space with plaster of Paris, +as it is one of the very best non-conductors of heat, being used in the +manufacture of the celebrated Salamander fire-proof safes. Hives may be +constructed in this way, which without great expense, may be much better +protected than if they were made of six-inch plank. As the price of +glass is very low, I prefer to construct the inside of my doubled hives +of this material. When a number of hives are to be made, as the lowest +price glass will answer every purpose, I can furnish a given amount of +protection cheaper with glass than wood, while the glass possesses some +most decided advantages over any other material. The hives are lighter +and more compact, than when made of doubled wood, and can be more easily +moved, while the Apiarian can gratify his rational curiosity, and +inspect at all times, the condition of his stocks. The very interest +inspired by being able to see what they are doing, will go far to +protect them from that indifference and neglect, which is so often fatal +to their prosperity. The way in which I make my hives, not only protects +the bees against extremes of heat and cold, but it guards them very +effectually, against the injurious and often fatal effects of condensed +moisture. By means of my movable frames, the combs are prevented from +being attached to the sides, top or bottom of the hive; they are in +fact, suspended in the air. If now the dampness can be prevented from +condensing any where, _over_ the bees, so that it may not drip upon +their combs, and if it can be easily discharged from the hive wherever +it may collect, it cannot, under any circumstances, seriously annoy +them. Such are the arrangements in my hives, that but very little +moisture forms in them, and all that does, is deposited on the sides in +preference to any other part of the interior; just as it is upon the +colder walls or windows, rather than the ceiling of a room. But as the +combs are kept away from the sides, this moisture cannot annoy the bees; +nor can it penetrate the glass as it does unpainted wood or straw, thus +causing a more protracted dampness; it must run down their smooth +surfaces, and fall upon the bottom-board, from whence it can be easily +discharged from the hive. By packing in winter, the necessary amount of +protection is secured for the top and sides of the hive, and the very +worst property of glass, (its parting so rapidly with heat,) is changed +into one of the very best for the purposes of a bee-hive. I prefer not +only to make the sides of my hive of glass, but of _double_ glass, with +an air space of about an inch between the two panes of glass. The extra +cost[13] of this construction will be amply repaid by the additional +protection given to the bees. It will be absolutely impossible for any +frost ever to penetrate through this air space, and the packing between +the outside case and the main hive. The combs in such a hive cannot be +melted down, even if the hive is exposed to the reflected and +concentrated heat of a blazing sun: the same construction which secures +them against the cold of Winter, equally protecting them from the heat +of Summer. There is one disadvantage to which all well protected hives +of the ordinary construction, are exposed. In the Spring of the year, it +is exceedingly desirable that the warmth of the sun should penetrate the +hives, to encourage the bees in early breeding; but the very arrangement +which protects them from cold, often interferes with this. A bee-hive is +thus like a cellar, warm in Winter, and cool in Summer; but often +unpleasantly cool in the early Spring, when the atmosphere out of doors +is warm and delightful. In my hive, this difficulty is easily remedied. +In the Spring, as soon as the bees begin to fly, on warm, sun-shiny +days, the upper part of the outside case is removed, so that the genial +heat of the sun can penetrate to every part of the hive. The cover must +be replaced while the sun is still shining, so that the hives may be +shut up while they are warm. The labor of doing this, need occupy only a +few minutes daily, and as soon as warm weather fairly sets in, it may be +dispensed with. It may be performed without any risk, by a woman or a +boy. + +If the hive is of glass, it will warm up all the better, and as the +combs are on frames, they cannot be melted or injured by the heat. It is +a serious objection to most covered Apiaries, that they do not permit +the hives to receive the genial heat of the sun at a period of the year +when instead of injuring the bees, it exerts a most powerful influence +in developing their brood. + +This is one among many reasons why I have discarded them, and why I +prefer to construct my hives in such a manner that they need no extra +covering, but stand exposed to the full influence of the sun. I have +known strong colonies which have survived the Winter in thin hives, to +increase rapidly and swarm early, because of the stimulating effect of +the sun; while others, deprived of this influence, in dark bee houses +and well protected hives, have sometimes disappointed the hopes of their +owners. Although my glass hives are very beautiful, and most admirably +protected, still hives of doubled wood may often be built to better +advantage by those who construct their own hives, and they can be made +to furnish any desirable amount of protection. + +Enclosed Apiaries are at best but nuisances: they soon become +lurking-places for spiders and moths; and after all the expense wasted +on their construction, afford, but little protection against extreme +cold. + +I have been thus particular on the subject of protection, in order to +convince every bee keeper who exercises common sense, that thin hives +ought to be given up, if either pleasure or profit is sought from his +bees. Such hives an enlightened Apiarian could not be persuaded to +purchase, and he would consider them too expensive in their waste of +honey and bees, to be worth accepting, even as a gift. Many strong +colonies which are lodged in badly protected hives, often consume in +extra food, in a single hard winter, more than enough to pay the +difference between the first cost of a good hive over a bad one. In the +severe winter of 1851-2, many cultivators lost nearly all their stocks, +and a large part of those which survived, were too much weakened to be +able to swarm. And yet these same miserable hives, after accomplishing +the work of destruction on one generation of bees, are reserved to +perform the same office for another. And this some call economy! + +I am well aware of the question which many of my readers have for some +time been ready to ask of me. Can you make one of your well protected +hives as cheaply as we construct our common hives? I would remind such +questioners, that it is hardly possible to build a well protected house +as cheaply as a barn. + +And yet by building my hives in solid structures, three together, I am +able to make them for a very moderate price, and still to give them even +better protection than when they are constructed singly. If they are not +built of doubled materials they can be made for as little money as any +other patent hive, and yet afford much greater protection; as the combs +touch neither the top, bottom nor sides of the hive. I recommend however +a construction, which although somewhat more costly at first, is yet +much cheaper in the end. + +Such is the passion of the American people for cheapness in the first +cost of an article, even at the evident expense of dearness in the end, +that many, I doubt not, will continue to lodge their bees in thin hives, +in spite of their conviction of the folly of so doing; just as many of +our shrewdest Yankees build thin wooden houses, in the cold climate of +New England, or plaster their stone or brick ones directly on the wall, +when the extra cost of fuel to warm them, far exceeds the interest on +the additional expense which would be necessary to give them the +requisite protection; to say nothing of the doctors' bills, and fatal +diseases which can be traced often to the dreary barns or damp vaults +which they build, and call houses! + + +PROTECTOR. + +I attach very great importance to the way in which I give the bees +effectual protection against extremes of heat and cold, and sudden +changes of temperature, without removing them from their stands, or +incurring the expense and disadvantages of a covered Bee-House. This I +accomplish by means of what I shall call a _Protector_ which is +constructed substantially as follows. + +Select a dry and suitable location for the bees, where they will not be +disturbed, or prove an annoyance to others. If possible, let it be in +full sight of the sitting room, so that they may be seen in case of +swarming; and let it face the South-East, and be well protected from the +force of strong winds. Dig a trench, about two feet deep; its length +should depend upon the number of hives to be accommodated; and its +breadth should be such that when it is properly walled up, it should +measure from the outside top of one wall to another, just sufficient to +receive the bottom of the hive. The walls, may be built of refuse brick +or stones, and should be about four feet high from the foundation; the +upper six inches being built of good brick, and the back wall about two +inches higher than the front one, so as to give the bottom-board of the +hives, the proper slant towards the entrance. At one end of this +Protector, a wooden chimney should be built, and if the number of hives +is great, there should be one at each end, admitting air in Winter, and +yet excluding rain and snow. The earth which is thrown out in digging, +should be banked up against the walls as high as the good brick, and in +a slope which, when grassed over, may be easily mowed with a common +scythe. The slope on the back should be more perpendicular than in front +so as not to be in the way when operating upon the hives. + +The bottom may be covered with an inch or two of clean sand and in +winter with straw. In Summer, the ends are left open, so that a free +current of air may pass through, while in Winter, they are properly +banked up; and straw, evergreen boughs, or any other material, suitable +for excluding frost, may if necessary, be placed all around the outside +of the Protector. Such an arrangement will be found very cheap, when +compared with a Bee-House or covered Apiary, and may be made both neat +and highly ornamental. It may be constructed of wood by those who desire +something still cheaper, and any one who can handle a spade, hammer, +plane and saw, can make for himself a structure on which a hundred hives +may stand, at less expense than would be necessary to build a covered +Apiary for ten. As the ventilators of the hive open into this Protector, +the bees are, in Summer, supplied with a cool and refreshing atmosphere, +as closely as possible resembling that which they find in a forest home; +while in Winter, the external entrances of the hives may be safely +closed, and they will receive a supply of air remarkably uniform and +never much below the freezing point. As the hives themselves are double, +no frost can penetrate through them, and thus their interior will almost +always be perfectly dry. When the weather suddenly moderates, and bees +in the common hives fly out, and are lost on the snow, those arranged in +the manner described, will not know that any change has taken place, +but will remain quiet in their winter quarters, unless the weather is so +warm that their owner judges it safe to open the entrances, so that the +warmth may penetrate their hives, and tempt them to fly, and discharge +their fæces. Let it be remembered that the object of this arrangement is +not to _warm up_ the hives by _artificial heat_; but merely to enable +the bees to retain to the utmost their own animal heat, to secure the +advantages set forth in this Chapter on Protection. Once or twice during +the Winter, the blocks which regulate the entrances to my hives should +be removed, and as the frames are kept about half an inch from the +bottom-board, by means of a stick or wire, all the dead bees and filth +may, in a few moments, be removed: or as the entrance of the hives by +removing the blocks, may be so enlarged as to offer no obstruction to +its introduction or removal, an old newspaper can be kept on the +bottom-board, and drawn out from time to time, with all its contents. + +A movable board of the same thickness and length with the bottom-boards +of the hive and about six inches wide, separates the hives from each +other, as they stand upon the Protector. + +I have made numerous observations upon the temperature of a Protector +made substantially on the plan described, and find that it is +wonderfully uniform. The lowest range of the thermometer during the +months of January and February, 1853, in the Protector, was 28°; in the +open air, 14° below zero; the highest in the Protector 32°; in the open +air 56°. It will thus be seen that while the thermometer out of doors +had a range of 70°, in the Protector it had a range of only 4°. While +bees in common hives during some warm days flew out and perished in +large numbers on the snow; the bees over the Protector were perfectly +quiet. To this arrangement I attach an importance second only to my +movable frames, and believe that combined with doubled hives, it removes +the chief obstacle to the successful cultivation of bees in cold +latitudes.[14] In the coldest regions where bees can find supplies in +Summer, they may during a Winter that lasts from November to May, and +during which the mercury congeals, be kept as comfortable as in climates +which seem much more propitious for their cultivation. The more snow the +better, as it serves more the effectually to exclude the cold from the +Protector. However long and dreary the Winter, the bees in their +comfortable quarters feel none of its injurious influences; and actually +consume less, than those which are kept where the winters are short, and +so mild that the bees are often tempted to fly, and are in a state of +almost continual excitement. It is in precisely such latitudes, in +Poland and Russia, that bees are kept in the largest numbers, and with +the most extraordinary success. In the chapter on Pasturage, I shall +show that some of the coldest places in New England, and the Middle +States, are among the most favored spots for obtaining the largest +supplies of the very purest honey. + +Having thoroughly tested the practicability of affording the bees by my +Protector, complete protection against heat and cold, at a very small +expense, and in a way which may be made highly ornamental, the proper +steps will be taken to secure a patent right for the same; although no +extra charge will be made for this, or for any other subsequent +improvement, to those who purchase the right to use my hive. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[13] The cost of the glass for one hive so as to give the air space all +around, if purchased at the wholesale prices will not exceed 25 cts. +Where three hives are made in one structure, the glass for the three +will cost less than 50 cents; if double glass is not used, the expense +would be less by one half. + +[14] The observations to test the temperature of the Protector were made +in Greenfield, Massachusetts, in latitude 42 deg. 36 min. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +VENTILATION OF THE HIVE. + + +If a populous hive is examined on a warm Summer day, a considerable +number of bees will be found standing on the alighting board, with their +heads turned towards the entrance, the extremity of their bodies +slightly elevated, and their wings in such rapid motion that they are +almost as indistinct as the spokes of a wheel, in swift rotation on its +axis. A brisk current of air may be felt proceeding from the hive, and +if a small piece of down be suspended by a thread, it will be blown out +from one part of the entrance, and drawn in at another. What are these +bees expecting to accomplish, that they appear so deeply absorbed in +their fanning occupation, while busy numbers are constantly crowding in +and out of the hive? and what is the meaning of this double current of +air? To Huber, we owe the first satisfactory explanation of these +curious phenomena. These bees plying their rapid wings in such a +singular attitude, are performing the important business of +_ventilating_ the hive; and this double current is composed of pure air +rushing in at one part, to supply the place of the foul air forced out +at another. By a series of the most careful and beautiful experiments, +Huber ascertained that the air of a crowded hive is almost, if not +quite, as pure as the atmosphere by which it is surrounded. Now, as the +entrance to such a hive, is often, (more especially in a state of +nature,) very small, the interior air cannot be renewed without resort +to some artificial means. If a lamp is put into a close vessel with only +one small orifice, it will soon exhaust all the oxygen, and go out. If +another small orifice is made, the same result will follow; but if by +some device a current of air is drawn out from one, an equal current +will force its way into the other, and the lamp will burn until the oil +is exhausted. + +It is precisely on this principle, of maintaining a double current by +_artificial means_, that the bees ventilate their crowded habitations. A +body of active ventilators stands inside of the hive, as well as +outside, all with their heads turned towards the entrance, and by the +rapid fanning of their wings, a current of air is blown briskly out of +the hive, and an equal current drawn in. This important office is one +which requires great physical exertion on the part of those to whom it +is entrusted; and if their proceedings are carefully watched, it will be +found that the exhausted ventilators, are, from time to time, relieved +by fresh detachments. If the interior of the hive will admit of +inspection, in very hot weather, large numbers of these ventilators will +be found in regular files, in various parts of the hive, all busily +engaged in their laborious employment. If the entrance at any time is +contracted, a speedy accession will be made to the numbers, both inside +and outside; and if it is closed entirely, the heat of the hive will +quickly increase, the whole colony will commence a rapid vibration of +their wings, and in a few moments will drop lifeless from the combs, for +want of air. + +It has been proved by careful experiments that pure air is necessary not +only for the respiration of the mature bees, but that without it, +neither the eggs can be hatched, nor the larvæ developed. A fine +netting of air-vessels covers the eggs; and the cells of the larvæ are +sealed over with a covering which is full of air holes. In Winter, as +has been stated in the Chapter on Protection, bees, if kept in the dark, +and neither too warm nor too cold, are almost dormant, and seem to +require but a small allowance of air; but even under such circumstances, +they cannot live entirely without air; and if they are excited by being +exposed to atmospheric changes, or by being disturbed, a very loud +humming may be heard in the interior of their hives, and they need quite +as much air as in warm weather. + +If at any time, by moving their hives, or in any other way, bees are +greatly disturbed, it will be unsafe to confine them, especially in warm +weather, unless a very free admission of air is given to them, and even +then, the air ought to be admitted above, as well as below the mass of +bees, or the ventilators may become clogged with dead bees, and the +swarm may perish. Under close confinement, the bees become excessively +heated, and the combs are often melted down. When bees are confined to a +close atmosphere, especially if dampness is added to its injurious +influences, they are sure to become diseased; and large numbers, if not +the whole colony, perish from dysentery. Is it not under circumstances +precisely similar, that cholera and dysentery prove most fatal to human +beings? How often do the filthy, damp and unventilated abodes of the +abject poor, become perfect lazar-houses to their wretched inmates? + +I examined, last Summer, the bees of a new swarm which had been +suffocated for want of air, and found their bodies distended with a +yellow and noisome substance, just as though they had perished from +dysentery. A few were still alive, and instead of honey, their bodies +were filled with this same disgusting fluid; though the bees had not +been shut up, more than two hours. + +In a medical point of view, I consider these facts as highly +interesting; showing as they do, under what circumstances, and how +speedily, disease may be produced. + +In very hot weather, if thin hives are exposed to the sun's rays, the +bees are excessively annoyed by the intense heat, and have recourse to +the most powerful ventilation, not merely to keep the air of the hive +pure, but to carry off, as much as possible, its internal warmth. They +often leave the interior of the hive, almost in a body, and in thick +masses, cluster on the outside, not simply to escape the close heat +within, but to guard their combs against the danger of being dissolved. +At such times they are particularly careful not to cluster on the combs +containing sealed honey; for as most of these combs have not been lined +with the cocoons of the larvæ, they are, for this reason, as well as on +account of the extra amount of wax used for their covers, much more +liable to be melted, than the breeding cells. + +Apiarians have often noticed the fact, that as a general thing, the bees +leave the honey cells almost entirely bare, as soon as they have sealed +them over; but it seems to have escaped their observation, that in hot +weather, there is often an absolute necessity for such a course. In cool +weather, on the contrary, the bees may often be found clustered among +the sealed honey-combs, because there is then no danger of their melting +down. + +Few things in the range of their wonderful instincts, are so well fitted +to impress the mind with their admirable sagacity, as the truly +scientific device, by which these wise little insects ventilate their +dwellings. I was on the point of saying that it was almost like +human-reason, when the painful and mortifying reflection presented +itself to my mind that in respect to ventilation, the bee is immensely +in advance of the great mass of those who consider themselves as +rational beings. It has, to be sure, no ability to make an elaborate +analysis of the chemical constituents of the atmosphere, and to decide +how large a proportion of oxygen is essential to the support of life, +and how rapidly the process of breathing converts this important element +into a deadly poison. It has not, like Leibig, been able to demonstrate +that God has set the animal and vegetable world, the one over against +the other; so that the carbonic acid produced by the breathing of the +one, furnishes the aliment of the other; which, in turn, gives out its +oxygen for the support of animal life; and that, in this wonderful +manner, God has provided that the atmosphere shall, through all ages, be +as pure as when it first came from His creating hand. But shame upon us! +that with all our intelligence, the most of us live as though pure air +was of little or no importance; while the bee ventilates with a +scientific precision and thoroughness, that puts to the blush our +criminal neglect. + +To this it may be replied that ventilation in our case, cannot be had, +without considerable expense. Can it be had for nothing, by the +industrious bees? Those busy insects, which are so indefatigably plying +their wings, are not engaged in idle amusement; nor might they, as some +would-be utilitarian may imagine, be better employed in gathering honey, +or in superintending some other department in the economy of the hive. +They are at great expense of time and labor, supplying the rest of the +colony with pure air, so conducive in every way, to their health and +prosperity. + +I trust that I shall be permitted to digress, for a short time, from +bees to men, and that the remarks which I shall offer on the subject of +ventilation in human dwellings, may make a deeper impression, in +connection with the wise arrangements of the bee, than they would, if +presented in the shape of a mere scientific discussion; and that some +who have been in the habit of considering all air, except in the +particular of temperature, as about alike, may be thoroughly convinced +of their mistake. + +Recent statistics prove that consumption and its kindred diseases are +most fearfully on the increase, in the Northern, and more especially in +the New England States; and that the general mortality of Massachusetts +exceeds that of almost every other state in the Union. In these States, +the tendency of increasing attention to manufacturing and mechanical +pursuits, is to compel a larger and larger proportion of the population +to lead an in-door life, and to breathe an atmosphere more or less +vitiated, and thus unfit for the full development of vigorous health. +The importance of pure air can hardly be over-estimated; indeed, the +quality of the air we breath, seems to exert an influence much more +powerful, and hardly less direct, than the mere quality of our food. +Those who, by active exercise in the open air, keep their lungs +saturated as it were, with the pure element, can eat almost anything +with impunity; while those who breath the sorry apology for air which is +to be found in so many habitations, although they may live upon the most +nutritious diet, and avoid the least excess, are incessantly troubled +with head-ache, dyspepsia, and various mental as well as physical +sufferings. Well may such persons, as they witness the healthy forms and +happy faces of so many of the hardy sons of toil, exclaim with the old +Latin poet, + + "Oh dura messorum illia!" + +It is with the human family very much as it is with the vegetable +kingdom. Take a plant or tree, and shut it out from the pure air, and +the invigorating light, and though you may supply it with an abundance +of water and the very soil, which by the strictest chemical analysis, is +found to contain all the elements that are essential to its vigorous +growth, it will still be a puny thing, ready to droop, if exposed to a +summer's sun, or to be prostrated by the first visitation of a winter's +blast. Compare now, this wretched abortion, with an oak or maple which +has grown upon the comparatively sterile mountain pasture, and whose +branches, in Summer are the pleasant resort of the happy songsters, +while, under its mighty shade, the panting herds drink in a refreshing +coolness. In Winter it laughs at the mighty storms, which wildly toss +its giant branches in the air, and which serve only to exercise the +limbs of the sturdy tree, whose roots deep intertwined among its native +rocks, enable it to bid defiance to anything short of a whirlwind or +tornado. + +To a population, who, for more than two-thirds of the year, are +compelled to breathe an atmosphere heated by artificial means, the +question how can this air be made, at a moderate expense, to resemble, +as far as possible, the purest ether of the skies is, (or as I should +rather say ought to be,) a question of the utmost interest. When open +fires were used, there was no lack of pure air, whatever else might have +been deficient. A capacious chimney carried up through its insatiable +throat, immense volumes of air, to be replaced by the pure element, +whistling in glee, through every crack, crevice and keyhole. Now the +house-builder and stove-maker with but few exceptions[15] seem to have +joined hands in waging a most effectual warfare against the unwelcome +intruder. By labor-saving machinery, they contrive to make the one, the +joints of his wood-work, and the other, those of his iron-work, tighter +and tighter, and if it were possible for them to accomplish fully their +manifest design, they would be able to furnish rooms almost as fatal +to life as "the black hole of Calcutta." But in spite of all that they +can do, the materials will shrink, and no fuel has yet been found, which +will burn without any air, so that sufficient ventilation is kept up, to +prevent such deadly occurrences. Still they are tolerably successful in +keeping out the unfriendly element; and by the use of huge +cooking-stoves with towering ovens, and other salamander contrivances, +the little air that can find its way in, is almost as thoroughly cooked, +as are the various delicacies destined for the table. + +On reading an account of a run-away slave, who was for a considerable +time, closely boxed up, a gentleman remarked that if the poor fellow had +only known that a renewal of the air was necessary to the support of +life, he could not have lived there an hour without suffocation: I have +frequently thought that if the occupants of the rooms I have been +describing, could only know as much, they would be in almost similar +danger. + +Bad air, one would think, is bad enough: but when it is heated and dried +to an excessive degree, all its original vileness is stimulated to +greater activity, and thus made doubly injurious by this new element of +evil. Not only our private houses, but our churches and school-rooms, +our railroad cars, and all our places of public assemblage, are, to a +most lamentable degree, either unprovided with any means of ventilation, +or, to a great extent, supplied with those which are so wretchedly +deficient that they + + "Keep the word of promise to our ear, + And break it to our hope." + +That ultimate degeneracy must surely follow such entire disregard of the +laws of health, cannot be doubted; and those who imagine that the +physical stamina of a people can be undermined, and yet that their +intellectual, moral and religious health will suffer no eclipse or +decay, know very little of the intimate connection between body and +mind, which the Creator has seen fit to establish. + +The men may, to a certain extent, resist the injurious influences of +foul air; as their employments usually compel them to live much more out +of doors: but alas, alas! for the poor women! In the very land where +women are treated with more universal deference and respect than in any +other, and where they so well deserve it, there often, no provision is +made to furnish them with that great element of health, cheerfulness and +beauty, heaven's pure, fresh air. + +In Southern climes, where doors and windows may be safely kept open for +a large part of the year, pure air is cheap enough, and can be obtained +without any special effort: but in Northern latitudes, where heated air +must be used for nearly three-quarters of the year, the neglect of +ventilation is fast causing the health and beauty of our women to +disappear. The pallid cheek, or the hectic flush, the angular form and +distorted spine, the debilitated appearance of a large portion of our +females, which to a stranger, would seem to indicate that they were just +recovering from a long illness, all these indications of the lamentable +absence of physical health, to say nothing of the anxious, care-worn +faces and premature wrinkles, proclaim in sorrowful voices, our +violation of God's physical laws, and the dreadful penalty with which He +visits our transgressions. + +Our people must, and I have no doubt that eventually they will be most +thoroughly aroused to the necessity of a vital reform on this important +subject. Open stoves, and cheerful grates and fire-places will again be +in vogue with the mass of the people, unless some better mode of warming +shall be devised, which, at less expense, shall make still more ample +provision for the constant introduction of fresh air. Houses will be +constructed, which, although more expensive in the first cost, will be +far cheaper in the end, and by requiring a much smaller quantity of fuel +to warm the air, will enable us to enjoy the luxury of breathing air +which may be duly tempered, and yet be pure and invigorating. Air-tight +and all other _lung-tight_ stoves will be exploded, as economizing in +fuel only when they allow the smallest possible change of air, and thus +squandering health and endangering life. + +The laws very wisely forbid the erection of wooden buildings in large +cities, and in various ways, prescribe such regulations for the +construction of edifices as are deemed to be essential to the public +welfare; and the time cannot, I trust, be very far distant, when all +public buildings erected for the accommodation of large numbers, will be +required by law, to furnish a supply of fresh air, in some reasonable +degree adequate to the necessities of those who are to occupy them. + +I shall ask no excuse for the honest warmth of language which will +appear extravagant only to those who cannot, or rather will not, see the +immense importance of pure air to the highest enjoyment, not only of +physical, but of mental and moral health. The man who shall succeed in +convincing the mass of the people, of the truth of the views thus +imperfectly presented, and whose inventive mind shall devise a cheap and +efficacious way of furnishing a copious supply of pure air for our +dwellings and public buildings, our steamboats and railroad cars, will +be even more of a benefactor than a Jenner, or a Watt, a Fulton, or a +Morse. + +To return from this lengthy and yet I trust not unprofitable digression. + +In the ventilation of my hive, I have endeavored, as far as possible, to +meet all the necessities of the bees, under the varying circumstances to +which they are exposed, in our uncertain climate, whose severe extremes +of temperature impress most forcibly upon the bee-keeper, the maxim of +the Mantuan Bard, + + "Utraque vis pariter apibus metuenda." + +"Extremes of heat or cold, alike are hurtful to the bees." In order to +make artificial ventilation of any use to the great majority of +bee-keepers, it must be simple, and not as in Nutt's hive, and many +other labored contrivances, so complicated as to require almost as +constant supervision as a hot-bed or a green-house. The very foundation +of any system of ventilation should be such a construction of the hive +that the bees shall need a change of air only for breathing. + +In the Chapter on Protection, I have explained the construction of my +hives, and of the Protector by which the bees being kept warm in Winter, +and cool in Summer, do not require, as in thin hives, a very free +introduction of air, in hot weather, to keep the combs from softening; +or a still larger supply in Winter, to prevent them from moulding, and +to dry up the moisture which runs from their icy tops and sides; and +which, if suffered to remain, will often affect the bees with dysentery, +or as it is sometimes called, "the rot." The intelligent Apiarian will +perceive that I thus imitate the natural habitation of the bees in the +recesses of a hollow tree in the forest, where they feel neither the +extremes of heat nor cold, and where through the efficacy of their +ventilating powers, a very small opening admits all the air which is +necessary for respiration. + +In the Chapter on the Requisites of a good hive, I have spoken of the +importance of furnishing ventilation, independently of the entrance. By +such an arrangement, I am able to improve upon the method which the bees +are compelled to adopt in a state of nature. As they have no means of +admitting air by wire-cloth, and at the same time, of effectually +excluding all intruders, they are obliged in very hot weather, and in a +very crowded state of their dwellings, to employ a larger force in the +laborious business of ventilation, than would otherwise be necessary; +while in Winter, they have no means of admitting air which is only +moderately cool. I can keep the entrance so small, that only a single +bee can go in at once, or I can, if circumstances require, entirely +close it, and yet the bees need not suffer for the want of air. In all +ordinary cases, the ventilators will admit a sufficient supply of duly +tempered air from the Protector, and the bees can, at any time, increase +their efficiency by their own direct agency, while yet they will, at no +time, admit a strong current of chilly air, so as to endanger the life +of the brood. As bees are, at all times, prone to close the ventilators +with propolis, they must be placed where they can easily be removed, and +cleansed, by soaking them in boiling water. + +As respects ventilation from above, as well as from below, so as to +allow a free current of air to pass through the hive, I am decidedly +opposed to it, as in cool and windy weather, such a current often +compels the bees to retire from the brood, which in this way is +destroyed by a fatal chill. In thin hives, ventilation from above may be +desirable in Winter, to carry off the superfluous moisture, but in +properly constructed hives, standing over a Protector, there is, as has +already been remarked, little or no dampness to be carried off. The +construction of my hives will allow, if at all desirable, of ventilation +from above; and I always make use of it, when the bees are to be shut up +for any length of time, in order to be moved; as in this case, there is +always a risk that the ventilators on the bottom-board may be clogged by +dead bees, and the colony suffocated. As the entrance of the hive, may +in a moment, be enlarged to any desirable extent, without in the least +perplexing the bees, any quantity of air may be admitted, which the +necessities of the bees, under any possible circumstances, may require. +It may be made full 18 inches in length, but as a general rule, in +Summer, in a large colony, it need not exceed six inches: while in +Spring and Fall, two or three inches will suffice. In Winter, it should +be entirely closed; unless in latitudes so warm, that even with the +Protector, the bees cannot be kept quiet. The bee-keeper should never +forget that it is almost certain destruction to a colony, to confine +them when they wish to fly out. The precautions requisite to prevent +robbing, will be subsequently described. In Northern latitudes, in the +months of April and May, I prefer to keep the ventilators entirely +closed; as the air of the Protector, at such times, like the air of a +cellar in Spring, is uncomfortably cool, and has a tendency to interfere +with breeding. + + NOTE.--Since the remarks on the neglect of ventilation were put in + type, my attention has been called by Hon. M. P. Wilder, of + Dorchester, to an article on the same subject, in the Nov. number of + the Horticulturist, for 1850, from the pen of the lamented Downing. + It seems to have been written shortly after his return from Europe, + and when he must have been most deeply impressed by the woful + contrast, in point of physical health between the women of America + and Europe. While he speaks in just and therefore glowing terms of + the virtues of our countrywomen, he says: "But in the _signs of + physical health_ and all that constitutes the outward aspect of the + men and women of the United States, our countrymen and especially + countrywomen, compare most unfavorably with all but the absolutely + starving classes on the other side of the Atlantic." Close stoves he + has most appropriately styled "little demons," and impure air "The + favorite poison of America." His article concludes as follows: + + "Pale countrymen and countrywomen rouse yourselves! Consider that + God has given us an atmosphere of pure health-giving air 45 miles + high, and _ventilate your houses_." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] The beautiful open or Franklin stoves, manufactured by Messrs. +Jagger, Treadwell and Perry, of Albany, deserve the highest +commendation: they economize fuel as well as life and health. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +NATURAL SWARMING, AND HIVING OF SWARMS. + + +The swarming of bees has been justly regarded as one of the most +beautiful sights in the whole compass of rural economy. Although, for +reasons which will hereafter be assigned, I prefer to rely chiefly on +artificial means for the multiplication of colonies, I should be very +unwilling to pass a season without participating, to some extent, in the +pleasing excitement of natural swarming. + + "Up mounts the chief, and to the cheated eye + Ten thousand shuttles dart along the sky; + As swift through æther rise the rushing swarms, + Gay dancing to the beam their sun-bright forms; + And each thin form, still ling'ring on the sight, + Trails, as it shoots, a line of silver light. + High pois'd on buoyant wing, the thoughtful queen, + In gaze attentive, views the varied scene, + And soon her far-fetch'd ken discerns below + The light laburnum lift her polish'd brow, + Wave her green leafy ringlets o'er the glade, + And seem to beckon to her friendly shade. + Swift as the falcon's sweep, the monarch bends + Her flight abrupt; the following host descends. + Round the fine twig, like cluster'd grapes, they close + In thickening wreaths, and court a short repose." + _Evans._ + +The swarming of bees, by making provision for the constant +multiplication of colonies, was undoubtedly intended both to guard the +insect against the possibility of extinction, and to make its labors in +the highest degree useful to man. The laws of reproduction in those +insects which do not live in regular colonies, are such as to secure an +ample increase of numbers. The same is true in the case of hornets, +wasps and humble-bees which live in colonies only during the warm +weather. In the Fall of the year, all the males perish, while the +impregnated females retreat into winter quarters and remain dormant, +until the warm weather restores them to activity, and each one becomes +the mother of a new family. + +The honey bee differs from all these insects, in being compelled, by the +laws of its physical organization, to live in communities, during the +entire year. The balmy breezes of Spring will quickly thaw out the +frozen veins of a torpid Wasp; but the bee is incapable of enduring even +a moderate degree of cold: a temperature as low as 50° speedily chills +it, and it would be quite as easy to recall to life the stiffened +corpses in the charnel house of the Convent of the Great St. Bernard, as +to restore to animation, a frozen bee. In cool weather, they must +therefore associate in large numbers, in order to maintain the animal +heat which is necessary to their preservation; and the formation of new +colonies, after the manner of wasps and hornets, is clearly impossible. +If the young queens left the parent stock in Summer, and were able, like +the mother-wasps, to lay the foundations of a new colony, they could not +maintain the warmth requisite for the development of their young, even +if they were able, without any baskets on their thighs, to gather +bee-bread for their support. If all these difficulties were surmounted, +they would still be unable to amass any treasures for our use, or even +to lay up the stores requisite for their own preservation. + +How admirably are all these difficulties obviated by the present +arrangement! Their domicile is well supplied with all the materials for +the rearing of brood, and long before any of the insects which depend +upon the heat of the sun, are able to commence breeding, the bees have +added thousands in the full vigor of youth to their already numerous +population. They are thus able to send off in season, colonies +sufficiently powerful to take advantage of the honey-harvest, and +provision the new hive against the approach of Winter. From these +considerations, it is very evident that swarming, so far from being, as +some Apiarians have considered it, a forced or unnatural event, is one, +which in a state of nature, could not possibly be dispensed with. + +Let us now inquire under what circumstances it ordinarily takes place. + +The time when swarms may be expected, depends of course, upon climate, +season, and the strength of the stocks. In the Northern and Middle +States, bees seldom swarm before the latter part of May; and June may be +considered as the great swarming month. The importance of having +powerful swarms early in the season, will be discussed in another place. + +In the Spring, as soon as a hive well filled with comb and bees, becomes +too much crowded to accommodate its teeming population, the bees begin +the necessary preparations for emigration. A number of royal cells are +commenced about the time that the drones first make their appearance; +and by the time that the young queens arrive at maturity, the drones are +always found in the greatest abundance. The first swarm is invariably +led off by the old queen, unless she has previously died from accident +or disease, in which case, it is accompanied by one of the young queens +reared to supply her loss. The old mother leaves soon after the royal +cells are sealed over, unless delayed by unfavorable weather. There are +no signs from which the Apiarian can, with certainty, predict the issue +of a first swarm. I devoted annually, much attention to this point, +vainly hoping to discover some infallible indications of first swarming; +until taught by further reflection that, from the very nature of the +case, there can be no such indications. The bees, from an unfavorable +state of the weather, or the failure of the blossoms to yield an +abundant supply of honey, often change their minds, and refuse to swarm, +even after all their preparations have been completed. Nay more, they +sometimes send out no new colonies that season, when a sudden change of +weather has interrupted them on the very day when they were intending to +emigrate, and after they had taken a full supply of honey for their +journey. + +If on a fair, warm day in the swarming season, but few bees leave a +strong hive, while other colonies are busily at work, we may, unless the +weather suddenly prove unfavorable, look with great confidence for a +swarm. As the old queens, which accompany the first swarm, are heavy +with eggs, and fly with considerable difficulty, they are shy of +venturing out, except on fair, still days. If the weather is very +sultry, a swarm will sometimes issue as early as 7 o'clock in the +morning; but from 10 to 2, is the usual time, and the majority of swarms +come off from 11 to 1. Occasionally, a swarm will venture out as late as +5 P. M. An old queen is seldom guilty of such a piece of indiscretion. + +I have in repeated instances witnessed the whole process of swarming, in +my observing hives. On the day fixed for their departure, the queen +appears to be very restless, and instead of depositing her eggs in the +cells, she travels over the combs, and communicates her agitation to the +whole colony. The emigrating bees fill themselves with honey, some time +before their departure: in one instance, I noticed them laying in their +supplies, more than two hours before they left. A short time before the +swarm rises, a few bees may generally be seen, sporting in the air, with +their heads turned always to the hive, occasionally flying in and out, +as though they were impatient for the important event to take place. At +length, a very violent agitation commences in the hive: the bees appear +almost frantic, whirling around in a circle, which continually enlarges, +like the circles made by a stone thrown into still water, until at last +the whole hive is in a state of the greatest ferment, and the bees rush +impetuously to the entrance, and pour forth in one steady stream. Not a +bee looks behind, but each one pushes straight ahead, as though flying +"for dear life," or urged on by some invisible power, in its headlong +career. The queen often does not come out, until a large number have +left, and she is frequently so heavy, from the large number of eggs in +her ovaries, that she falls to the ground, incapable of rising with the +colony into the air. + +The bees are very soon aware of her absence, and a most interesting +scene may now be witnessed. A diligent search is immediately made for +their missing mother; the swarm scatters in all directions, and I have +frequently seen the leaves of the adjoining trees and bushes, almost as +thickly covered with the anxious explorers, as they are with drops of +rain after a copious shower. If she cannot be found, they return to the +old hive, though occasionally they attempt to enter some other hive, or +join themselves to another swarm if any is still unhived. + +The ringing of bells, and beating of kettles and frying-pans, is one of +the good old ways more honored by the breach than the observance; it may +answer a very good purpose in amusing the children, but I believe that +as far as the bees are concerned, it is all time thrown away; and that +it is not a whit more efficacious than the custom practiced by some +savage tribes, who, when the sun is eclipsed, imagining that it has been +swallowed by an enormous dragon, resort to the most frightful noises, to +compel his snake-ship to disgorge their favorite luminary. If a swarm +has selected a new home previous to their departure, no amount of +_noise_ will ever compel them to alight, but as soon as all the bees +which compose the emigrating colony have left the hive, they fly in a +direct course, or "bee-line," to the chosen spot. I have noticed that +when bees are much neglected by those who pretend to take care of them, +such unceremonious leave-taking is quite common; on the contrary, when +proper attention is bestowed on them, it seldom occurs. + +It can seldom if ever occur to those who manage their bees according to +my system; as I shall show in the Chapter on Artificial Swarming. If the +Apiarian perceives that his swarm instead of clustering begins to rise +higher and higher in the air, and evidently means to depart, not a +moment is to be lost: instead of empty noises, he must resort to means +much more effective to stay their vagrant propensities. Handfulls of +dirt cast into the air, or water thrown among them, will often so +disorganize them as to compel them to alight. Of all devices for +stopping them, the most original one that I have ever heard of, is to +flash the sun's rays among them, by the use of a looking glass! I have +never had occasion to try it, but the anonymous writer who recommends +it, says that he never knew it to fail. If they are forcibly prevented +from eloping, then special care must be taken or they will be almost +sure soon after hiving, to leave for their selected home. The queen +should be caught and confined for several days in a way which will be +subsequently described. The same caution must be exercised, when new +swarms abandon their hive. If the queen cannot be caught, and there is +reason to dread a desertion, the bees may be carried into the cellar, +and confined in total darkness, until towards sun-set of the third day +after they swarmed, being supplied in the mean time with water and honey +to build their combs. + +If a colony decides to go, they look upon the hive in which they are put +as only a temporary stopping place, and seldom trouble themselves to +build any comb in it. If the hive is so constructed as to permit +inspection, I can tell by a glance whether bees are disgusted with their +new residence, and mean before long to clear out. They not only refuse +to work with that energy so characteristic of a new swarm, but they have +a peculiar look which to the experienced eye at once proclaims the fact +that they are staying only upon sufferance. Their very attitude, hanging +as they do with a sort of dogged or supercilious air, as though they +hated even so much as to touch their detested abode, is equivalent to an +open proclamation that they mean to be off. My numerous experiments in +attempting from the moment of hiving, to make the bees work in observing +hives exposed to the full light of day, instead of keeping them as I now +do in darkness for several days, have made me quite familiar with all +their graceless, do-nothing proceedings before their departure. Bees +sometimes abandon their hives very early in the Spring, or late in +Summer or Fall. They exhibit all the appearance of natural swarming; but +they leave, not because the population is crowded, but because it is +either so small, or the hive so destitute of supplies, that they are +discouraged or driven to desperation. I once knew a colony to leave the +hive under such circumstances, on a springlike day in December! They +seem to have a presentiment that they must perish if they stay, and +instead of awaiting the sure approach of famine, they sally +out to see if something cannot be done to better their condition. + +At first sight, it seems strange that so provident an insect should not +always select a suitable domicile before venturing on so important a +step as to abandon the old home. Often before they are safely housed +again, they are exposed to powerful winds and drenching rains, which +beat down and destroy many of their number. + +I solve this problem in the economy of the bee, in the same manner that +I have solved so many others, by considering in what way, this +arrangement conduces to the advantage of man. + +The honey-bee would have been of comparatively little service to him, if +instead of tarrying until he had sufficient time to establish them in a +hive in which to labor for him, their instinct impelled them to decamp, +without any delay, from the restraints of domestication. In this, as in +many other things, we see that what on a superficial view, appeared to +be a very obvious imperfection, proves, on closer examination, to be a +special contrivance to answer important ends. + +To return to our new swarm. The queen sometimes alights first, and +sometimes joins the cluster after it has commenced forming. It is a very +rare thing for the bees ever to cluster, unless the queen is with them; +and when they do, and yet afterwards disperse, I believe that usually +the queen, after first rising with them, has been lost by falling into +some spot where she is unnoticed by the bees. In two instances, I +performed the following interesting experiment. + +Perceiving a hive in the very act of swarming, I contracted the entrance +so as to secure the queen when she made her appearance. In each case, at +least one third of the bees came out, before the queen presented +herself to join them. When I perceived that the swarm had given up their +search for her, and were beginning to return to the parent hive, I +placed her, with her wings clipped, on the limb of a small evergreen +tree: she crawled to the very top of the limb, as if for the purpose of +making herself as conspicuous as possible. A few bees noticed her, and +instead of alighting, darted rapidly away; in a few seconds, the whole +colony were apprised of her presence, flew in a dense cloud to the spot, +and commenced quietly clustering around her. I have often noticed the +surprising rapidity with which bees communicate with each other, while +on the wing. Telegraphic signals are hardly more instantaneous. (See +Chapter on the Loss of the Queen.) + +That bees send out scouts to seek a suitable abode, it seems to me, can +admit of no serious question. Swarms have been traced to their new home, +either in their flight directly from their hive, or from the place where +they have clustered; and it is evident, that in such instances, they +have pursued the most direct course. Now such a precision of flight to a +"_terra incognita_," an unknown home, would plainly be impossible, if +some of their number had not previously selected the spot, so as to be +competent to act as guides to the rest. The sight of the bees for +distant objects, is wonderfully acute, and after rising to a sufficient +elevation, they can see the prominent objects in the vicinity of their +intended abode, even although they may be several miles distant. Whether +the bees send out their scouts _before_ or _after_ swarming, may admit +of more question. In cases where the colony flies without alighting, to +its new home, they are unquestionably dispatched before swarming. If +this were their usual course, then we should naturally expect all the +colonies to take the same speedy departure. Or if, for the convenience +of the queen over fatigued by the excitement of swarming, or for any +other reason, they should see fit to cluster, then we should expect that +only a transient tarrying would be allowed. Instead of this, they often +remain until the next day, and instances of a more protracted delay are +not unfrequent. The cases which occur, of bees stopping in their flight, +and clustering again on any convenient object, are not inconsistent with +this view of the subject; for if the weather is hot, and the sun shines +directly upon them, they will often leave before they have found a +suitable habitation; and even when they are on the way to their new +home, the queen being heavy with eggs, and unaccustomed to fly, is +sometimes from weariness, compelled to alight, and her colony clusters +around her. Queens, under such circumstances, sometimes seem unwilling +to entrust themselves again to their wings, and the poor bees attempt to +lay the foundations of their colony, on fence rails, hay-stacks, or +other most unsuitable places. + +I have been informed by Mr. Henry M. Zollickoffer of Philadelphia, a +very intelligent and reliable observer, that he knew a swarm to settle +on a willow tree in that city, in a lot owned by the Pennsylvania +Hospital; it remained there for sometime, and the boys pelted it with +stones, to get possession of its comb and honey. + +The absolute necessity for scouts or explorers, is evident from all the +facts in the case, unless we admit that bees have the faculty of flying +in an air-line to a hollow tree, or some suitable abode which they have +never seen, though they cannot find their hive, if, in their absence, it +is moved only a few rods from its former position. + +These obvious considerations are abundantly confirmed by the repeated +instances in which a few bees have been noticed prying very +inquisitively into a hole in a hollow tree or the cornice of a +building, and have been succeeded, before long, by a whole colony. The +importance of these remarks will be more obvious, when I come to discuss +the proper mode of hiving bees. + +Having described the common method of procedure pursued by the new +swarm, when left without interference to their natural instincts, it is +time to return to the parent stock from which they emigrated. + +In witnessing the immense number which have abandoned it, we might +naturally suppose that it must be almost entirely depopulated. It is +sometimes asserted that as bees swarm in the pleasantest part of the +day, the population is replenished by the return of large numbers of +workers that were absent in the fields; this, however, can seldom be the +case, as it is rare for many bees to be absent from the hive at the time +of swarming. + +To those who limit the fertility of the queen to 200, or at most 400 +eggs per day, the rapid replenishing of the hive after swarming, must +ever be a problem incapable of solution; but to those who have ocular +demonstration that she can lay from one to three thousand eggs a day, it +is no mystery at all. A sufficient number of bees is always left behind, +to carry on the domestic operations of the hive, and as the old queen +departs only when the population of the hive is super-abundant; and when +thousands of young bees are hatching daily, and often 30,000 or more, +are rapidly maturing, in a short time the hive is almost as populous as +it was before swarming. Those who assert that the new colony is composed +of young bees which have been forced to emigrate by the older ones, have +certainly failed to use their eyes to much advantage, or they would have +seen, in hiving a new swarm, that it is composed of both young and old; +some, having wings ragged from hard work, while others are evidently +quite young. After the tumult of swarming is entirely over, not a bee +that did not participate in it, seeks afterwards to join the new colony, +and not one that did, seeks to return. What determines some to go, and +others to stay, we have no certain means of knowing. + +How wonderfully abiding the impression made upon an insect, which in a +moment causes it to lose all its strong affection for the old home in +which it was bred, and which it has entered, perhaps hundreds of times; +so that when established in another hive, though only a few feet +distant, it never afterwards pays the slightest attention to its former +abode! Often, when the hive into which the new swarm is put, is not +removed from the place where the bees were hived, until some have gone +to the fields, on their return, they fly for hours, in ceaseless circles +about the spot where the missing hive stood. I have often known them to +continue the vain search for their companions until they have, at +length, dropped down from utter exhaustion, and perished in close +proximity to their old homes! + +It has been already stated that the old queen, if the weather is +favorable, generally leaves about the time that the young queens are +sealed over, to be changed into nymphs. In about eight days more, one of +these queens hatches, and the question must now be decided whether any +more colonies are to be sent out that season, or not. If the hive is +well filled with bees, and the season in all respects promising, this +question is generally decided in the affirmative; although colonies +often refuse to swarm more than once when they are very strong, and when +we can assign no reason for such a course; and they sometimes swarm +repeatedly, to the utter ruin of both the old stock, and the +after-swarms. + +If the bees decide to swarm again, the first hatched queen is allowed +to have her own way. She rushes immediately to the cells of her sisters, +and, (as was described in the Chapter on Physiology,) stings them to +death. From some observations that I have made, I am inclined to think +that the other bees aid her in this murderous transaction: they +certainly tear open the cradles of the slaughtered innocents, and remove +them from the cells. Their dead bodies may often be found on the ground +in front of the hive. + +When a queen has emerged in the natural way from her cell, the bees +usually nibble away the now useless abode, until only a small acorn cup +remains; but when by violence she has met with an untimely end, they +take down entirely the whole of the cell. By counting these acorn-cups, +it can always be ascertained how many young queens have hatched in a +hive. + +Before the queens emerge from their cells, a fluttering sound is +frequently heard, which is caused by the rapid motion of their wings, +and which must not be confounded with the piping notes which will soon +be described. If the bees of the parent stock decide to swarm again, the +first hatched queen is prevented from killing the others. A strong guard +is kept over their cells, and as often as she approaches them with +murderous intent, she is bitten, or otherwise rudely treated, and given +to understand by the most uncourtier-like demonstrations, that she +cannot, in all things, do just as she pleases. + +When thus repulsed, like men and women who cannot have their own way, +she is highly offended and utters an angry sound, given forth in a quick +succession of notes, and which sounds not unlike the rapid utterance of +the words, "peep, peep." I have frequently, by holding a queen in the +closed hand, caused her to make the same noise. To this angry note, one +or more of the queens still unhatched, will respond, in a somewhat +hoarser key, just as chicken-cocks, by crowing, bid defiance to each +other. These sounds are entirely unlike the usual steady hum of the +bees, and when heard, are the almost infallible indications that a +second swarm will soon issue. They are occasionally so loud that they +may be heard at some distance from the hive. + +About a week after first swarming, the Apiarian should, early in the +morning or at evening, when the bees are still, place his ear against +the hive, and he will, if the queens are piping, readily recognize their +peculiar sounds. If their notes are not heard, at the very latest, +sixteen days after the departure of the first swarm, by which time the +young queens are mature, even if the first colony left as soon as the +eggs were deposited in the royal cells, it is an infallible indication +that the first hatched queen is without rivals in the hive, and that +swarming is over, in that stock, for the season. + +The second swarm usually issues on the second or third day after this +sound is heard: although I have known them to delay coming out, until +the fifth day, in consequence of a very unfavorable state of the +weather. Occasionally, the weather is so unfavorable, that the bees +permit the oldest queen to kill the others, and refuse to swarm again. +This is a rare occurrence, as the young queens, unlike the old ones, do +not appear to be very particular about the weather, and sometimes +venture out, not merely when it is cloudy, but even when rain is +falling. On this account, if a very close watch is not kept, they are +often lost. As piping ordinarily commences about eight or nine days +after first swarming, the second swarm generally issues ten or twelve +days after the first. It has been known to issue as early as the third +day after the first, and as late as the seventeenth. Such cases, +however, are of rare occurrence. It frequently happens in the agitation +of swarming, that several of the young queens emerge from their cells at +the same time, and accompany the colony: when this is the case, the bees +often alight in two or more separate clusters. Young queens not having +their ovaries burdened with eggs, are much more quick on the wing, than +old ones, and fly frequently much farther from the parent stock, before +they alight; though I never knew a second swarm to depart to the woods +without clustering at all. After the departure of a second swarm, the +oldest of the remaining queens leaves her cell; and if another swarm is +to be sent forth, piping will still be heard, and so before the issue of +each swarm after the first. I once had five stocks issue from one swarm, +and they all came out in about two weeks. In warm latitudes more than +twice this number of swarms have been known to issue in one season from +a single stock. The third swarm commonly makes its appearance on the +second or third day after the second swarm, and the others, at intervals +of about a day. + +After-swarms, or casts, (these names are given to all swarms after the +first,) reduce very seriously the strength of the parent stock; for +after the departure of the old queen, no more eggs are deposited in the +cells, until all swarming is over. It is a very wise arrangement that +the second swarm does not ordinarily issue until all the eggs left by +the first queen are hatched, and the young fed and sealed over, so as to +require no further care. The departure of the second swarm earlier than +this, would leave too few laborers to attend to the wants of the young +bees. As it is, if the weather after swarming, suddenly becomes chilly, +and the hives are thin and admit too much air, the bees are too much +reduced in numbers, to maintain the heat requisite for the proper +development of the brood, and numbers are destroyed. + +In the Chapter on Artificial Swarming, I shall discuss the effect of too +frequent swarming, on the profits of the Apiary. If the bee-keeper +desires to have no casts, he can, by the use of my hives, very easily, +prevent their issue. As soon as the first swarm is hived, the parent +stock may be opened, and all the queen cells except one removed. How +much better this is, than to attempt to return the after-swarms to the +parent hive, can only be appreciated by one who has thoroughly tried +both plans. If the Apiarian desires the most rapid multiplication of +colonies possible, where natural swarming is relied on, full directions +will be furnished, in the sequel, for building up all after-swarms, +however small, into vigorous stocks. It will be remembered that both the +parent stock from which the swarm issues, and all the colonies except +the first, have a young queen. These queens never leave the hive for +impregnation, until after they have been established as the acknowledged +heads of independent families. They generally go out for this purpose, +the first pleasant day after they are thus acknowledged, early in the +afternoon, at which hour the drones are flying in the greatest numbers. +On first leaving their hive, they always fly with their heads turned +towards it, and enter and depart often several times before they finally +soar up into the air. Such precautions on the part of a young queen, are +highly necessary that she may not mistake her own hive on her return, +and lose her life by attempting to enter that of another colony. +Mistakes of this kind are frequently made when the hives stand near, and +closely resemble each other, and are fatal, not only to the queen, but +to her whole colony. In the new hive there is no brood at all, and in +the old one it is too far advanced towards maturity to answer for +raising new queens. Such calamities, in my hive, admit of a very easy +remedy, as I shall show in the Chapter on the Loss of the Queen. + +To guard the young queen against such frequent mistakes, I paint the +covered fronts of my hives, with the alighting boards, and blocks +guarding the entrance, of different colors. This answers the same +purpose as to paint the whole surface of the boxes, some of one color, +and some of another. The only proper color for a hive when exposed to +the weather, is a perfect white; any shade of color will absorb the heat +of the sun, so as to warp the wood-work of the hive, besides exposing +the bees to a pent and suffocating heat. + +When a young queen leaves the hive for the purpose above mentioned, the +bees, on missing her, are often filled with alarm, and rush from the +hive, just as though they were intending to swarm. Their agitation soon +calms down, if she returns to them in safety. I shall give through the +medium of the Latin tongue, some statements which are important only to +the scientific naturalist, and entomologist. + +Post coitum fucus statim perit. Penis ejectio, ut ego comperi, lenem +compressionem fuci ventris, consequitur; et fucus extemplo similis +fulmine tacto, moritur. Dominus Huber sæpe videbat fuci organum post +congressum, in corpore feminæ hæsisse. Vidi semel tam firme inhærens, ut +nisi disruptione reginæ ventris, non possim divellere. + +The queen commences laying eggs, about two days after impregnation, and +for the first season, lays none but the eggs of workers; no males being +needed in colonies which will throw no swarm till another season. It is +seldom until after she has commenced replenishing the cells with eggs, +that she is treated with any special attention by the bees; although if +deprived of her before this time, they show, by their despair, that they +thoroughly comprehended her vast importance to their welfare. + +I shall now give such practical directions for the easy hiving of +swarms, as will, I trust, greatly facilitate the whole operation, not +merely to the novice, but even to many experienced bee-keepers; and I +shall try to make these directions sufficiently minute, to guide those +who having never seen a swarm hived, are very apt to imagine that the +process must be a formidable one, instead of being, as it usually is to +those who are fond of bees, a most delightful entertainment. Experience +in this, as in other things, will speedily give the requisite skill and +confidence; and the cry of "the bees are swarming," will soon be hailed +with greater pleasure than an invitation to the most sumptuous banquet. + +The hives for the new swarms should all be in readiness before the +swarming season begins, and should be painted long enough beforehand, to +have the paint most thoroughly dried. The smell of fresh paint is well +known to be exceedingly injurious to human beings, and is such an +abomination to the bees, that they will often desert a new hive sooner +than put up with it. If the hives cannot be painted in ample season, +then such paints should be used, as contain no white lead, and they +should be mixed in such a manner as to dry as quickly as possible. Thin +hives ought never to stand in the sun, and then, when heated to an +insufferable degree, be used for a new swarm. Bees often refuse to enter +such hives at all, and at best, are very slow in taking possession of +them. It should be borne in mind, that bees, when they swarm, are +greatly excited, and unnaturally heated. The temperature of the hive, at +the moment of swarming, rises very suddenly, and many of the bees are +often drenched with such a profuse perspiration that they are unable to +take wing and join the departing colony. The attempt to make bees enter +a heated hive in a blazing sun, is as irrational as it would be to try +to force a panting crowd of human beings into the suffocating atmosphere +of a close garret. If bees are to be put in hives through which the +heat of the sun can penetrate, the process should be accomplished in the +shade, or if this cannot conveniently be done, the hive should be +covered with a sheet, or shaded with leafy boughs. If a hive with my +movable frames is used, these should all be furnished, or at least, +every other one, with a small piece of worker-comb, attached to the +center of the frame, with melted wax or rosin. Without such a guide +comb, the bees will almost always work some of the combs out of the true +direction, and this will interfere with their easy removal. A sheet of +comb, not larger than five inches square, will answer for all the frames +of one hive. If even so small a piece of comb as this cannot be +procured, let a thin line of melted wax be drawn, lengthwise, over the +middle of each frame, and let the colony be examined, on the second day +after hiving, and all the frames which contain irregular comb, be +removed. This comb may be cut off, and attached so as to serve as a +proper guide to the bees. The possession of six frames containing good +worker comb, and wrought with perfect accuracy, may be made by the +following device, to answer a most admirable end. Put them into a hive +with six empty frames; first a frame with comb, then an empty one, &c. +After the bees have had possession of this hive two or three days, visit +them, and very politely inform them that the full frames were intended +as a loan, and not as a gift; and that having served to set them an +example how they should work, you must now have them to teach other +young swarms the same useful lesson; and that the new combs which they +have built with such admirable regularity, are beautiful patterns for +the empty ones which you must give them. In this way, the same combs may +be made to answer for many successive swarms. + +Drone combs should never be attached to the frames as a guide, unless it +is desired to have the bees follow the pattern, and build large ranges +of drone comb, to breed a vast horde of useless consumers. Such comb, if +white, may be used to great advantage in the surplus honey-boxes; if old +and discolored, it should be melted for wax. I am now engaged in a +course of experiments, which I hope, will enable me to dispense with the +necessity of guide-combs for my frames, as they are sometimes difficult +to be procured by those who have just commenced bee-keeping. As a +general thing, however, every one, after a few weeks' experience, may +have enough and to spare, for such purposes. Every piece of good +worker-comb, if large enough to be attached to a frame, should be used +both for its intrinsic value, and because bees are so wonderfully +pleased when they find such unexpected treasures in a hive, that they +will seldom desert it. A new swarm has been known to take possession of +an old hive without any occupants, but well stored with comb. Though +dozens of empty hives may be in the Apiary, they never unless under such +circumstances, enter a hive, of their own accord. It might seem as +though an instinct impelling them to do so, would have been a most +admirable one, and so doubtless, it may seem to some that it would have +been much better for man, if the earth had only brought forth +spontaneously all things requisite for the support of man and beast, +without any necessity for the sweat of the brow. The first and last +frames in my hive, are placed about a quarter of an inch from the ends, +and the others just half an inch apart. When first put in, it will be +advisable to attach them slightly with a very little glue or melted wax, +to keep them in their places, until they are fastened with propolis, by +the bees. The rubbing of hives with various kinds of herbs or washes, +has always seemed to me, useless, and often positively injurious. There +ought always to be some small trees near the hives, on which the swarms +can cluster, and from which they can be easily gathered. If there are +none, limbs of trees about six feet high, (evergreens are best,) may be +fastened into the ground, a few rods in front of the hives, and they +will answer a very good temporary purpose. It will inspire the +inexperienced Apiarian with much greater confidence, to remember that +almost all the bees in a swarm, have filled themselves with honey, +before leaving the parent stock, and are therefore in a very peaceable +mood. If he is at all timid, or liable, as some are, to suffer severely +from the sting of a single bee, he should, by all means, furnish himself +with the protection of a bee-dress. (See Bee-Dress.) + +I shall, in another place, give the best remedies for the relief of a +sting. As soon as the bees have quietly clustered around their queen, +preparation should be made to hive them without any unnecessary delay. +The headlong haste of some Apiarians, which, by throwing them into a +profuse perspiration, renders them very liable to be stung, is +altogether unnecessary. The very fact that the bees have clustered, +after leaving the parent stock, is almost equivalent to a certainty that +they will not leave, for at least one or two hours. All convenient +despatch should be used, however, lest other colonies issue before the +first one is hived, and attempt to add themselves, as they frequently +do, to the first swarm. The proper course to be pursued, in such a case, +will be subsequently explained. If my hives are used, the entrance on +the whole front must be opened, so that the bees may have every chance +to enter as rapidly as possible; and a sheet must be fastened to the +alighting-board, to keep the bees from being separated from each other +or soiled by dirt, for a bee thoroughly covered with dust or dirt, is +almost sure to perish. Unless the bees cluster at a considerable +distance from the place where they are intended to be permanently +stationed, the new hive which receives them may stand on the Protector +in its proper place, with the sheet tacked or pinned to the +alighting-board, and spread out over the mound in front of the entrance. +If the common hives are used, they must generally be carried to the +swarm, and propped up on the sheet, so as to give the bees a free +admission. When the bees alight where they can be easily reached from +the ground, the limb on which they have clustered, should, with one +hand, be shaken, so that they may gently fall into a basket held under +them, by the other. If the basket is sufficiently open to admit the air +freely, and not so open as to allow the bees to get through the sides, +it will answer all the better. The bees should now be carried very +slowly to their new home, and be gently shaken, or poured out, on the +sheet, in front of it. If they seem at all reluctant to enter, take up a +few of them in a large spoon, (a cup will answer equally well,) and +shake them close to the entrance. As they go in, they will fan with +their wings, and raise a peculiar note, which communicates the joyful +news that they have found a home, to the rest of their companions; and +in a short time, the whole swarm will enter, and they are thus safely +hived, without injury to a single bee. When bees are once shaken down on +the sheet, the great mass of them are very unwilling to take wing again; +for they are loaded with honey, and like heavily armed troops, they +desire to march slowly and sedately to the place of encampment. If the +sheet hangs in folds, or is not stretched out, so as to present an +uninterrupted surface, they are often greatly confused, and take a long +time to find the entrance to the hive. If it is desired to have them +enter sooner than they are sometimes inclined to do, they may be gently +separated, with a feather, or leafy twig, when they cluster in bunches +on the sheet. On first shaking them down into the basket, multitudes +will again take wing, and multitudes more will be left on the tree, but +they will speedily form a line of communication with those on the sheet, +and enter the hive with them; for many of them will follow the Apiarian, +as he slowly carries the basket to the hive. + +It sometimes happens that the queen is left on the tree: in this case, +the bees will either refuse to enter the hive, or if they go in, will +speedily come out, and all take wing again, to join their queen. This +happens much more frequently in the case of after-swarms, whose young +queens, instead of exhibiting the gravity of the old matron, are apt to +be constantly flying about, and frisking in the air. When the bees +cluster again on the tree, the process of hiving must be repeated. + +If the Apiarian has a pair of sharp pruning-shears, and the limb on +which the bees have clustered, is of no value, and so small, that it can +be cut without jarring them off, this may be done, and the bees carried +on it and then shaken off on the sheet. + +If the bees settle too high to be easily reached, the basket should be +fastened to a pole, and raised directly under the swarm; a quick motion +of the basket will cause the mass of the bees to fall into it, when it +may be carried to the hive, and the bees poured out from it on the +sheet. + +If the bees light on the trunk of a tree, or any thing from which they +cannot easily be gathered in a basket, place a leafy bough over them, +(it may be fastened with a gimlet,) and if they do not mount it of their +own accord, a little smoke will compel them to do so. If the place is +inaccessible, and this is about the worst case that occurs, they will +enter a basket well shaded by cotton cloth fastened around it, and +elevated so as to rest with its open top sideways to the mass of the +bees. When small trees, or limbs fastened into the ground, are placed +near the hives, and there are no large trees near, there will seldom be +found any difficulty in hiving swarms. If two swarms light together, I +advise that they should be put into one hive, and abundant room at once +be given them, for storing surplus honey. This can always be readily +done in my hives. Large quantities of honey are generally obtained from +such stocks, if the season is favorable, and they have issued early. If +it is desired to separate them, place in each of the hives which is to +receive them, a comb containing brood and eggs, from which, in case of +necessity, a new queen may be raised. Shake a portion of the bees in +front of each hive, sprinkling them thoroughly, both before and after +they are shaken out from the basket, so that they will not take wing to +unite again. If possible, secure the queens, so that one may be given to +each hive. If this cannot be done, the hives should be examined the next +day, and if the two queens entered the same hive, one will have killed +the other, and the queenless hive will be found building royal cells. It +should be supplied with a sealed queen nearly mature, taken from another +hive, not only to save time, but to prevent them from filling their hive +with comb unfit for the rearing of workers. (See Artificial Swarming.) +Of course, this cannot be done with the common hives, and if the +Apiarian does not succeed in getting a queen for each hive, the +queenless one will refuse to stay, and will go back to the old stock. + +The old-fashioned way of hiving bees, by mounting trees, cutting and +lowering down large limbs, (often to the injury of valuable trees,) and +placing the hive over the bees, frequently crushing large numbers, and +endangering the life of the queen, should be entirely abandoned. A +swarm may be hived in the proper way with far less risk and trouble, and +in much less time. In large Apiaries managed on the swarming plan, where +a number of swarms come out on the same day, and there is constant +danger of their mixing,[16] the speedy hiving of swarms is an object of +great importance. If the new hive does not stand where it is to remain +for the season, it should be removed to its permanent stand as soon as +the bees have entered; for if allowed to remain to be removed in the +evening, or early next morning, the scouts which have left the cluster, +in search of a hollow tree, will find the bees when they return, and +will often entice them from the hive. There is the greater danger of +this, if the bees have remained on the tree, a considerable time before +they were hived. I have invariably found that swarms which abandon a +suitable hive for the woods, have been hived near the spot where they +clustered, and allowed to remain to be moved in the evening. If the bees +swarm early in the day, they will generally begin to work in a few +hours (or in less time, if they have empty comb,) and many more may be +lost by returning next day to the place where they were hived, than +would be lost, by removing them as soon as they have entered; in this +latter case, the few that are on the wing, will generally be able to +find the hive if it is slowly moved to its permanent stand. + +If the Apiarian wishes to secure the queen, the bees should be shaken +from the hiving basket, about a foot from the entrance to the hive, and +if a careful look-out is kept, she will generally be seen as she passes +over the sheet, to the entrance. Care must be taken to brush the bees +back from the entrance when they press forward in such dense masses that +the queen is likely to enter unnoticed. An experienced eye readily +catches a glance of her peculiar form and color. She may be taken up +without danger, as she never stings, unless engaged in combat with +another queen. As it will sometimes happen, even to careful bee-keepers, +that swarms will come off when no suitable hives are in readiness to +receive them, I shall show what may be done in such an emergency. Take +any old hive, box, cask, or measure, and hive the bees in it, placing +them with suitable protection against the sun, where their new hive is +to stand; when this is ready, they may, by a quick jerking motion, be +easily shaken out on a sheet, and hived in it, just as though they were +shaken from the hiving basket. If they are to remain in the temporary +hive over the second day, they ought to be shaken out on a sheet, and +after their comb is taken from them, allowed to enter it again, or else +there will be danger of crushing the queen by the weight of the comb. + +I have endeavored, even at the risk of being tedious, to give such +specific directions as will qualify the novice to hive a swarm of bees, +under almost any circumstances; for I know the necessity of such +directions and how seldom they are to be met with, even in large +treatises on Bee-Keeping. Vague or imperfect directions always fail, +just at the moment that the inexperienced attempt to put them into +practice. + +Before leaving this subject, I will add to the directions for hiving +already given, a method which I have practiced with good success. + +When the situation of the bees does not admit of the basket being easily +elevated to them, the bee-keeper may carry it with him to the cluster, +and then after shaking the bees into it, may lower it down by a string, +to an assistant standing below. + +That Natural Swarming may, with suitable hives, be made highly +profitable, I cannot for a moment question. As it is the most simple and +obvious way of multiplying colonies, and the one which requires the +least amount of knowledge or skill, it will undoubtedly, for many years +at least, be the favorite method with a large number of bee-keepers. I +have therefore, been careful to furnish suitable directions for its +successful practice; and before I discuss the question of Artificial +Increase, I shall show how it may be more profitably conducted than ever +before; many of the most embarrassing difficulties in the way of its +successful management being readily obviated by the use of my hives. + +1. The common hives fail to furnish adequate protection in Winter, +against cold, and those sudden changes to unseasonable warmth, by which +bees are tempted to come out and perish in large numbers on the snow; +and the colonies are thus prevented from breeding on a large scale, as +early as they otherwise would. Under such circumstances, they can make +no profitable use of the early honey-harvest; and they will swarm so +late, if they swarm at all, as to have but little opportunity for +laying up surplus honey, while often they do not gather enough even for +their own use, and their owner closes the season by purchasing honey to +preserve them from starvation. The way in which I give the bees that +amount of protection in Winter, which conduces most powerfully to early +swarming, has already been described in the Chapter on Protection. + +2. Another serious objection to all the ordinary swarming hives, is the +vexatious fact that if the bees swarm at all, they are liable to swarm +so often as to destroy the value of both the parent stock and the +after-swarms. Experienced bee-keepers obviate this difficulty, by +uniting second swarms, so as to make one good colony out of two; and +they return to the parent stock all swarms after the second, and even +this if the season is far advanced. Such operations consume much time, +and often give much more trouble than they are worth. By removing all +the queen cells but one, after the first swarm has left, second swarming +in my hives will always be prevented; and by removing all but two, +provision may be made for the issue of second swarms, and yet all +after-swarming be prevented. The process of returning after-swarms is +not only objectionable, on account of the time it requires, having often +to be repeated again and again before one queen is allowed to destroy +the others; but it also causes a large portion of the gathering season +to be wasted; for the bees seem unwilling to work with energy, so long +as the pretensions of several rival queens are unsettled. + +3. Another very serious objection to Natural Swarming, as practiced with +the common hives, is the inability of the Apiarian who wishes rapidly to +multiply his colonies, to aid his late and small swarms, so as to build +them up into vigorous stocks. The time and money which are ordinarily +spent upon small colonies, are almost always thrown away; by far the +larger portion of them never survive the Winter, and the majority of +those that do, are so enfeebled, as to be of little or no value. If they +escape being robbed by stronger stocks, or destroyed by the moth, they +seldom recruit in season to swarm, and very often the feeding must be +repeated, the second Fall, or they will at last perish. I doubt not that +many of my readers will, from their own experience, endorse every word +of these remarks, as true to the very letter. All who have ever +attempted to multiply colonies by nursing and feeding small swarms, on +the ordinary plans, have found it attended with nothing but loss and +vexation. The more a man has of such stocks, the poorer he is: for by +their weakness, they are constantly tempting his strong swarms to evil +courses; so that at last, they prefer to live as far as they can, by +stealing, rather than by habits of honest industry; and if the feeble +colonies escape being plundered, they often become mere nurseries for +raising a plentiful supply of moths, to ravage his whole Apiary. + +I have already shown, in what way by the use of my hives, the smallest +swarms that ever issue, may be so managed as to become powerful stocks. +In the same way the Apiarian can easily strengthen all his colonies +which are feeble in Spring. + +4. As the loss of the young queens in the parent stock after it has +swarmed, and in the after-swarms, is a very common occurrence, a hive +which like mine, furnishes the means of easily remedying this +misfortune, will greatly promote the success of those who practice +natural swarming. A very intelligent bee-keeper once assured me, that he +must use at least one such hive in his Apiary, for this purpose, even if +in other respects it possessed no superior merits. + +5. Bees, as is well known, often refuse to swarm at all, and most of the +swarming hives are so constructed, that proper accommodations for +storing honey, cannot be furnished to the super-abundant population. +Under such circumstances, they often hang for several months, in black +masses on the outside of the hive; and are worse than useless, as they +consume the honey which the others have gathered. In my hives, an +abundance of room for storing honey can always be given them, _not all +at once_, so as to prevent them from swarming, but by degrees, as their +necessities require: so that if they are indisposed, for any reason to +swarm, they may have suitable receptacles easily accessible, and +furnished with guide comb to make them more attractive, in which to +store up any amount of honey that they can possibly collect. + +6. In the common hives, but little can be done to dislodge the bee-moth, +when once it has gained the mastery of the bees; whereas in mine, it can +be most effectually rooted out when it has made a lodgment. (See Remarks +on Bee-Moth.) + +7. In the common hives, nothing can be done except with great +difficulty, to remove the old queen when her fertility is impaired; +whereas in my hives, (as will be shown in the Chapter on Artificial +Swarming,) this can easily be effected, so that an Apiary may constantly +contain a stock of young queens, in the full vigor of their +re-productive powers. + +I trust that these remarks will convince intelligent Apiarians, that I +have not spoken boastfully or at random, in asserting that natural +swarming can be carried on with much greater certainty and success, by +the use of my hives, than in any other way; and that they will see that +many of the most perplexing embarrassments and mortifying +discouragements under which they have hitherto prosecuted it, may be +effectually remedied. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[16] Dr. Scudamore, an English physician who has written a small tract +on the formation of artificial swarms, says that he once knew "as many +as ten swarms go forth at once, and settle and mingle together, forming +literally a monster meeting!" Instances are on record of a much larger +number of swarms clustering together. A venerable clergyman, in Western +Massachusetts, related to me the following remarkable occurrence. In the +Apiary of one of his parishioners, five swarms lit in one mass. As there +was no hive which would hold them, a very large box was roughly nailed +together, and the bees were hived in it. They were taken up by sulphur +in the Fall, when it was perfectly evident that the five swarms had +occupied the same box as independent colonies. Four of them had +commenced their works, each one near a corner, and the fifth one in the +middle, and there was a distinct interval separating the works of the +different colonies. In Cotton's "My Bee Book," there is a cut +illustrating a hive in which two colonies had built in the same manner. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. + + +The numerous efforts which have been made for the last fifty years or +more, to dispense with natural swarming, plainly indicate the anxiety of +Apiarians to find some better mode of increasing their colonies. + +Although I am able to propagate bees by natural swarming, with a +rapidity and certainty unattainable except by the complete control of +all the combs in the hive, still there are difficulties in this mode of +increase, inherent to the system itself, and therefore entirely +incapable of being removed by any kind of hive. Before describing the +various methods which I employ to increase colonies by artificial means, +I shall first enumerate these difficulties, in order that each +individual bee-keeper may decide for himself, in which way he can most +advantageously propagate his bees. + +1. The large number of swarms lost every year, is a powerful argument +against natural swarming. + +An eminent Apiarian has estimated that one fourth of the best swarms are +lost every season! This estimate can hardly be considered too high, if +all who keep bees are taken into account. While some bee-keepers are so +careful that they seldom lose a swarm, the majority, either from the +grossest negligence, or from necessary hindrances during the swarming +season, are constantly incurring serious losses, by the flight of their +bees to the woods. It is next to impossible, entirely to prevent such +occurrences, if bees are allowed to swarm at all. + +2. The great amount of time and labor required by natural swarming, has +always been regarded as a decided objection to this mode of increase. + +As soon as the swarming season begins, the Apiary must be closely +watched almost every day, or some of the new swarms will be lost. If +this business is entrusted to thoughtless children, or careless adults, +many swarms will be lost by their neglect. It is very evident that but +few persons who keep bees, can always be on hand to watch them and to +hive the new swarms. But, in the height of the swarming season, if any +considerable number of colonies is kept, the Apiarian, to guard against +serious losses, should either be always on the spot himself, or have +some one who can be entrusted with the care of his bees. Even the +Sabbath cannot be observed as a day of rest; and often, instead of being +able to go to the House of God, the bee-keeper is compelled to labor +among his bees, as hard as on other days, or even harder. That he is as +justifiable in hiving his bees on the Sabbath, as in taking care of his +stock, can admit of no serious doubt; but the very liability of being +called to do so, is with many, a sufficient objection against Apiarian +pursuits. + +The merchant, mechanic and professional man, are often so situated that +they would take great interest in bees, if they were not deterred from +their cultivation by inability to take care of them, during the swarming +season; and they are thus debarred from a pursuit, which is intensely +fascinating, not merely to the lover of Nature, but to every one +possessed of an inquiring mind. No man who spends some of his leisure +hours in studying the wonderful habits and instincts of bees, will ever +complain that he can find nothing to fill up his time out of the range +of his business, or the gratification of his appetites. Bees may be kept +with great advantage, even in large cities, and those who are debarred +from every other rural pursuit, may still listen to the soothing hum of +the industrious bee, and harvest annually its delicious nectar. + +If the Apiarian could always be on hand during the swarming season, it +would still, in many instances, be exceedingly inconvenient for him to +attend to his bees. How often is the farmer interrupted in the business +of hay-making, by the cry that his bees are swarming; and by the time he +has hived them, perhaps a shower comes up, and his hay is injured more +than his swarm is worth. In this way, the keeping of a few bees, instead +of a source of profit, often becomes rather an expensive luxury; and if +a very large stock is kept, the difficulties and embarrassments are +often most seriously increased. If the weather becomes pleasant after a +succession of days unfavorable for swarming, it often happens that +several swarms rise at once, and cluster together, to the great +annoyance of the Apiarian; and not unfrequently, in the noise and +confusion, other swarms fly off, and are entirely lost. I have seen the +Apiarian so perplexed and exhausted under such circumstances, as to be +almost ready to wish that he had never seen a bee. + +3. The managing of bees by natural swarming, must, in our country, +almost entirely prevent the establishment of large Apiaries. + +Even if it were possible, in this way, to multiply bees with certainty +and rapidity, and without any of the perplexities which I have just +described, how few persons are so situated as to be able to give almost +the whole of their time in the busiest part of the year, to the +management of their bees. The swarming season is with the farmer, the +very busiest part of the whole year, and if he purposes to keep a large +number of swarming hives, he must not only devote nearly the whole of +his time, for a number of weeks, to their supervision, but at a season +when labor commands the highest price, he will often be compelled to +hire additional assistance. + +I have long been convinced that, as a general rule, the keeping of a few +colonies in swarming hives, costs more than they are worth, and that the +keeping of a very large number is entirely out of the question, unless +with those who are so situated that they can afford to devote their +time, for about two months every year, almost entirely to their bees. +The number of persons who can afford to do this must be very small; and +I have seldom heard of a bee-keeper, in our country, who has an Apiary +on a scale extensive enough to make bee-keeping anything more than a +subordinate pursuit. Multitudes have tried to make it a large and +remunerating business, but hitherto, I believe that they have nearly all +been disappointed in their expectations. In such countries as Poland and +Russia where labor is deplorably cheap, it may be done to great +advantage; but never to any considerable extent in our own. + +4. A serious objection to natural swarming, is the discouraging fact +that the bees often refuse to swarm at all, and the Apiarian finds it +impossible to multiply his colonies with any certainty or rapidity, even +although he may find himself in all respects favorably situated for the +cultivation of bees, and may be exceedingly anxious to engage in the +business on a much more extensive scale. + +I am acquainted with many careful bee-keepers who have managed their +bees according to the most reliable information they could obtain, +never destroying any of their colonies, and endeavoring to multiply them +to the best of their ability, who yet have not as many stocks as they +had ten years ago. Most of them would abandon the pursuit, if they +looked upon bee-keeping simply in the light of dollars and cents, rather +than as a source of pleasant recreation; and some do not hesitate to say +that much more money has been spent, by the mass of those who have used +patent hives, than they have ever realized from their bees. + +It is a very simple matter to make calculations on paper, which shall +seem to point out a road to wealth, almost as flattering, as a tour to +the gold mines of Australia or California. Only purchase a patent +bee-hive, and if it fulfills all or even a part of the promises of its +sanguine inventor, a fortune must, in the course of a few years, be +certainly realized; but such are the disappointments resulting from the +bees refusing often to swarm at all, that if the hive could remedy all +the other difficulties in the way of bee-keeping, it would still fail to +answer the reasonable wishes of the experienced Apiarian. If every swarm +of bees could be made to yield a profit of 20 dollars a year, and if the +Apiarian could be sure of selling his new swarms at the most extravagant +prices, he could not, like the growers of mulberry trees, or the +breeders of fancy fowls, multiply his stocks so as to meet the demand, +however extensive; but would be entirely dependent upon the whims and +caprices of his bees; or rather, upon the natural laws which control +their swarming. + +Every practical bee-keeper is well aware of the utter uncertainty of +natural swarming. Under no circumstances, can its occurrence be +confidently relied on. While some stocks swarm regularly and repeatedly, +others, strong in numbers and rich in stores, although the season may, +in all respects, be propitious, refuse to swarm at all. Such colonies, +on examination, will often be found to have taken no steps for raising +young queens. In some cases, the wings of the old mother will be found +defective, while in others, she is abundantly able to fly, but seems to +prefer the riches of the old hive, to the risks attending the formation +of a new colony. It frequently happens, in our uncertain climate, that +when all the necessary preparations have been made for swarming, the +weather proves unpropitious for so long a time, that the young queens +coming to maturity before the old one can leave, are all destroyed. This +is a very frequent occurrence, and under such circumstances, swarming is +almost certain to be prevented, for that season. The young queens are +frequently destroyed, even although the weather is pleasant, in +consequence of some sudden and perhaps only temporary suspension of the +honey-harvest; for bees seldom colonize even if all their preparations +are completed, unless the flowers are yielding an abundant supply of +honey. + +From these and other causes which my limits will not permit me to +notice, it has hitherto been found impossible, in the uncertain climate +of our Northern States, to multiply colonies very rapidly, by natural +swarming; and bee-keeping, on this plan, offers very poor inducements to +those who are aware how little has been accomplished, even by the most +enthusiastic, experienced and energetic Apiarians. + +The numerous perplexities which have ever attended natural swarming, +have for ages, directed the attention of practical cultivators, to the +importance of devising some more reliable method of increasing their +colonies. Columella, who lived about the middle of the first century of +the Christian Era, and who wrote twelve books on husbandry (De re +rustica,) has given directions for making artificial colonies. He says, +"you must examine the hive, and view what honey-combs it has; then +afterwards from the wax which contains the seeds of the young bees, you +must cut away that part wherein the offspring of the royal brood is +animated: for this is easy to be seen; because at the very end of the +wax-works there appears, as it were, a thimble-like process (somewhat +similar to an acorn,) rising higher, and having a wider cavity, than the +rest of the holes, wherein the young bees of vulgar note are contained." + +Hyginus, who flourished before Columella, had evidently noticed the +royal jelly; for he speaks of cells larger than those of the common +bees, "filled as it were with a solid substance of a _red color_, out of +which the winged king is at first formed." This ancient observer must +undoubtedly have seen the quince-like jelly, a portion of which is +always found at the base of the royal cells, after the queens have +emerged. The ancients generally called the queen a king, although +Aristotle says that some in his time called her the mother. Swammerdam +was the first to prove by dissection that the queen is a perfect female, +and the only one in the hive, and that the drone is the male. + +For reasons which I shall shortly mention, the ancient methods of +artificial increase appear to have met with but small success. Towards +the close of the last century, a new impulse was given to the artificial +production of swarms, by the discovery of Schirach, a German clergyman, +that bees are able to rear a queen from worker-brood. For want, however, +of a more thorough knowledge of some important principles in the economy +of the bee, these efforts met with slender encouragement. + +Huber, after his splendid discoveries in the physiology of the bee, +perceived at once, the importance of multiplying colonies by some method +more reliable than that of natural swarming. His leaf or book hive +consisted of 12 frames, each an inch and a half in width; any one of +which could be opened at pleasure. He recommends forming artificial +swarms, by dividing one of these hives into two parts; adding to each +part six empty frames. After using a Huber hive for a number of years, I +became perfectly convinced that it could only be made servicable, by an +adroit, experienced and fearless Apiarian. The bees fasten the frames in +such a manner, with their propolis, that they cannot, except with +extreme care, be opened without jarring the bees, and exciting their +anger; nor can they be shut without constant danger of crushing them. +Huber nowhere speaks of having multiplied colonies extensively by such +hives, and although they have been in use more than sixty years, they +have never been successfully employed for such a purpose. If Huber had +only contrived a plan for suspending his frames, instead of folding them +together like the leaves of a book, I believe that the cause of Apiarian +science would have been fifty years in advance of what it now is. + +Dividing hives of various kinds have been used in this country. After +giving some of the best of them a thorough trial, and inventing others +which somewhat resembled the Huber hive, I found that they could not +possibly be made to answer any valuable end in securing artificial +swarms. For a long time I felt that the plan _ought_ to succeed, and it +was not until I had made numerous experiments with my hive substantially +as now constructed, that I ascertained the precise causes of failure. + +It may be regarded as one of the laws of the bee-hive, that bees, when +not in possession of a mature queen, seldom build any comb except such +as being designed merely for storing honey, is _too coarse for the +rearing of workers_. Until I became acquainted with the discoveries of +Dzierzon, I supposed myself to be the only observer who had noticed +this remarkable fact, and who had been led by it, to modify the whole +system of artificial swarming. The perusal of Mr. Wagner's manuscript +translation of that author, showed me that he had arrived at precisely +similar results. + +It may seem at first, very unaccountable that bees should go on to fill +their hives with comb unfit for breeding, when the young queen will so +soon require worker-cells for her eggs; but it must be borne in mind, +that bees, under such circumstances, are always in an _unnatural_ state. +They are attempting to rear a new queen in a hive which is only +partially filled with comb; whereas, if left to follow their own +instincts, they never construct royal cells except in hives which are +well filled with comb, for it is only in such hives that they make any +preparations for swarming. It must be confessed that they do not show +their ordinary sagacity in filling a hive with unsuitable comb; but if +it were not for a few instances of this kind of bad management, we +should perhaps, form too exalted an idea of their intelligence, and +should almost fail to notice the marked distinction between reason in +man, and even the most refined instincts of some of the animals by which +he is surrounded. + +The determination of bees, when they have no mature queen, if they build +any comb at all, to build such as is suited only for storing honey, and +unfit for breeding, will show at once, the folly of attempting to +multiply colonies by the dividing-hives. Even if the Apiarian has been +perfectly successful in dividing a colony, and the part without a queen +takes the necessary steps to supply her loss, if the bees are +sufficiently numerous to build a large quantity of new comb, (and they +ought to be in order to make the artificial colony of any value,) they +will build this comb in such a manner that it will answer only for +storing honey, while they will use the half of the hive with the old +comb, for the purposes of breeding. The next year, if an attempt is made +to divide this hive, one half will contain nearly all the brood and +mature bees, while the other, having most of the honey, in combs unfit +for breeding, the new colony formed from it will be a complete failure. + +Even with a Huber hive, the plan of multiplying colonies by dividing a +full hive into two parts, and adding an empty half to each, will be +attended with serious difficulties; although some of them may be +remedied in consequence of the hive being constructed so as to divide +into many parts; the very attempt to remedy them, however, will be found +to require a degree of skill and knowledge far in advance of what can be +expected of the great mass of bee-keepers. + +The common dividing hives, separating into two parts, can never, under +any circumstances, be made of the least practical value; and the +business of multiplying colonies by them, will be found far more +laborious, uncertain and vexatious, than to rely on natural swarming. I +do not know of a solitary practical Apiarian, who, on trial of this +system, has not been compelled to abandon it, and allow the bees to +swarm from his dividing hives in the old-fashioned way. + +Some Apiarians have attempted to multiply their colonies by putting a +piece of brood comb containing the materials for raising a new queen, +into an empty hive, set in the place of a strong stock which has been +removed to a new stand when thousands of its inmates were abroad in the +fields. This method is still worse than the one which has just been +described. In the dividing hive, the bees already had a large amount of +suitable comb for breeding, while in this having next to none, they +build all their combs until the queen is hatched, of a size unsuitable +for rearing workers. In the first case, the queenless part of the +dividing hive may have had a young queen almost mature, so that the +process of building large combs would be of short continuance; for as +soon as the young queen begins to lay, the bees at once commence +building combs adapted to the reception of worker eggs. In some of my +attempts to rear artificial swarms by moving a full stock, as described +above, I have had combs built of enormous size, nearly four inches +through! and these monster combs have afterwards been pieced out on +their lower edge, with worker cells for the accommodation of the young +queen! So uniformly do the bees with an unhatched queen, build in the +way described, that I can often tell at a single glance, by seeing what +kind of comb they are building, that a hive is queenless, or that having +been so, they have now a fertile young queen. When a new colony is +formed, by dividing the old hive, the queenless part has thousands of +cells filled with brood and eggs, and young bees will be hourly +hatching, for at least three weeks: and by this time, the young queen +will be laying eggs, so that there will be an interval of not more than +three weeks, during which no accessions will be made to the numbers of +the colony. But when a new swarm is formed by moving, not an egg will be +deposited for nearly three weeks; and not a bee will be hatched for +nearly six weeks; and during all this time, the colony will rapidly +decrease, until by the time that the progeny of the young queen begins +to emerge from their cells, the number of bees in the new hive will be +so small, that it would be of no value, even if its combs were of the +best construction. + +Every observing bee-keeper must have noticed how rapidly even a powerful +swarm diminishes in number, for the first three weeks after it has been +hived. In many cases, before the young begin to hatch, it does not +contain one half its original number; so very great is the mortality of +bees during the height of the working season. + +I have most thoroughly tested, in the only way in which it can be +practiced in the ordinary hives, this last plan of artificial swarming, +and do not hesitate to say that it does not possess the very slightest +practical value; and as this is the method which Apiarians have usually +tried, it is not strange that they have almost unanimously pronounced +Artificial swarming to be utterly worthless. The experience of Dzierzon +on this point has been the same with my own. + +Another method of artificial swarming has been zealously advocated, +which, if it could only be made to answer, would be, of all conceivable +plans the most effectual, and as it would require the smallest amount of +labor, experience, or skill, would be everywhere practiced. A number of +hives must be put in connection with each other, so as to communicate by +holes which allow the bees to travel from any one apartment to the +others. The bees, on this plan, are to _colonize themselves_, and in +time, a single swarm will, of its own accord, multiply so as to form a +large number of independent families, each one possessing its own queen, +and all living in perfect harmony. + +This method so beautiful and fascinating in theory, has been repeatedly +tried with various ingenious modifications, but in every instance, as +far as I know, it has proved an entire failure. It will always be found +if bees are allowed to pass from one hive to another, that they will +still, for the most part, confine their breeding operations to a single +apartment, if it is of the ordinary size, while the others will be used, +chiefly for the storing of honey. This is almost invariably the case, if +the additional room is given by collateral or side boxes, as the queen +seldom enters such apartments for the purpose of breeding. If the new +hive is directly _below_ that in which the swarm is first lodged, then +if the connections are suitable, the queen will be almost certain to +descend and lay her eggs in the new combs, as soon as they are commenced +by the bees; in this case, the upper hive is almost entirely abandoned +by her, and the bees store the cells with honey, as fast as the brood is +hatched, as their instinct impels them always, if they can, to keep +their stores of honey _above_ the breeding cells. So long as bees have +an abundance of room below their main hive, they will never swarm, but +will use it in the way that I have described; if the room is on the +sides of their hive, and very accessible, they seldom swarm, but if it +is above them, they frequently prefer to swarm rather than to take +possession of it. But in none of these cases, do they ever, _if left to +themselves_, form separate and independent colonies. + +I am aware that the Apiarian, by separating from the main hive with a +slide, an apartment that contains brood, and directing to it by some +artificial contrivance a considerable number of bees, may succeed in +rearing an artificial colony; but unless all his hives admit of the most +thorough inspection, as he can never know their exact condition, he must +always work in the dark, and will be much more likely to fail than +succeed. Success indeed can only be possible when a skillful Apiarian +devotes a large portion of his time to watching and managing his bees, +so as to _compel_ them to colonize, and even then it will be very +uncertain; so that this plausible theory to be reduced to even a most +precarious practice, requires more skill, care, labor and time, than are +necessary to manage the ordinary swarming hives. + +The failure of so many attempts to increase colonies by artificial +means, as well in the hands of scientific and experienced Apiarians, as +under the direction of those who are almost totally ignorant of the +physiology of the bee, has led many to prefer to use non-swarming hives. +In this way, very large harvests of honey are often obtained from a +powerful stock of bees; but it is very evident that if the increase of +new colonies were entirely discouraged, the insect would soon be +exterminated. To prevent this, the advocates of the non-swarming plan, +must either have their bees swarm, to some extent, or rely upon those +who do. + +My hive may be used as a non-swarmer, and may be made more effectually +to prevent swarming, than any with which I am acquainted: as in the +Spring, (See No. 34. p. 104,) ample accommodations may be given to the +bees, below their main works, and when this is seasonably done, swarming +will _never_ take place. + +There are certain objections however, which must always prevent the +non-swarming plan from being the most successful mode of managing bees. +To say nothing of the loss to the bee-keeper, who has, after some years, +only one stock, when if the natural mode of increase had been allowed, +he ought to have a number, it is usually found that after bees have been +kept in a non-swarming hive for several seasons, they seem to work with +much less vigor than usual. Of this, any one may convince himself, who +will compare the industrious working of a new swarm, with that of a much +more powerful stock in a non-swarming hive. The former will work with +such astonishing zeal, that to one unacquainted with the facts, it would +be taken to be by far the more powerful stock. + +As the fertility of the queen decreases by age, the disadvantage of +using non-swarming hives of the ordinary construction, will be obvious. +This objection to the system can be remedied in my hive, as the old +queen can be easily caught and removed; but when hives are used in which +this cannot be done, the Apiary, instead of containing a race of young +queens in the full vigor of their reproductive powers, will contain many +that have passed their prime, and these old queens may die when there +are no eggs in the hive to enable the bees to replace them, and thus the +whole colony will perish. + +If the bee-keeper wishes to winter only a certain number of stocks, I +will, in another place, show him a way in which this can be done, so as +to obtain more honey from them, than from an equal number kept on the +non-swarming plan, while at the same time, they may all be maintained in +a state of the highest health and vigor. + +I shall now describe a method of artificial swarming, which may be +successfully practiced with almost any hive, by those who have +sufficient experience in the management of bees. + +About the time that natural swarming may be expected, a populous hive, +rich in stores is selected, and what I shall call a _forced swarm_ is +obtained from it, by the following process. Choose that part of a +pleasant day, say from 10 A. M. to 2 P. M., when the largest number of +bees are abroad in the fields; if any bees are clustered in front of the +hive, or on the bottom-board, puff among them a few whiffs of smoke from +burning rags or paper, so as to force them to go up among the combs. +This can be done with greater ease, if the hive is elevated, by small +wedges, about one quarter of an inch above the bottom-board. Have an +empty hive or box in readiness, the diameter of which is as nearly as +possible, the same with that of the hive from which you intend to drive +the swarm. Lift the hive very gently, and without the slightest jar, +from its bottom-board; invert it and carry it in the same careful +manner, about a rod from its old stand, as bees are always much more +inclined to be peaceable, when removed a short distance, than when any +operation is performed on the familiar spot. If the hive is carefully +placed on the ground, upside down, scarcely a single bee will fly out, +and there will be little danger of being stung. Timid and inexperienced +Apiarians will, of course, protect themselves with a bee-dress, and they +may have an assistant to sprinkle the hive gently with sugar-water, as +soon as it is inverted. After placing the hive in an inverted position +on the ground, the empty hive must be put over it, and every crack from +which a bee might escape, must be carefully closed with paper or any +convenient material. The upper hive ought to be furnished with two or +three slats, about an inch and a half wide, and fastened one third of +the distance from the top, so as to give the bees every opportunity to +cluster. + +As soon as the Apiarian is perfectly sure that the bees cannot escape, +he should place an empty hive upon the stand from which they were +removed, so that the multitudes which return from the fields may enter +it, instead of dispersing to other hives, where some of them may meet +with a very unkind reception; although as a general rule, a bee with a +load of freshly gathered honey, after the extent of his resources is +ascertained, is almost always, welcomed by any hive to which he may +carry his treasures; while a poor unfortunate that ventures to present +itself empty and poverty stricken, is generally at once destroyed! The +one meets with as friendly a reception as a wealthy gentleman who +proposes to take up his abode in a country village, while the other is +as much an object of dislike as a pauper who is suspected of wishing to +become a parish charge! + +To return to our imprisoned bees. Beginning at the top, or what is now, +(as the hive is upside down,) the bottom, their hive should be beaten +smartly with two small rods on the front and back, or on the sides to +which the combs are attached, so as to run no risk of loosening them. +If the hive when removed from its stand was put upon a stool or table, +or something not so solid as the ground, the drumming will cause more +motion, and yet be less apt to start any of the combs. These "rappings" +which certainly are not of a very "spiritual" character, produce +nevertheless, a most decided effect upon the bees: their first impulse +is to sally out and wreak their vengeance upon those who have thus +rudely assailed their honied dome; but as soon as they find that they +are shut in, a sudden fear that they are to be driven from their +treasures, seems to take possession of them. If the two hives have glass +windows, so that all the operations can be witnessed, the bees, in a few +moments, will be seen most busily engaged in gorging themselves with +honey. During all this time, the rapping must be continued, and in about +five minutes, nearly every bee will have filled itself to its utmost +capacity, and they are now prepared for their forced emigration; a +prodigious hum is heard, and the bees begin to mount into the upper box. +In about ten minutes from the time the rapping began, the mass of the +bees with their queen will have ascended, and will hang clustered, just +like a natural swarm. The box with the expelled bees must now be gently +lifted off, and should be placed upon a bottom-board with a gauze wire +ventilator, so that the bees may be confined, and yet have plenty of +air. A shallow vessel or a piece of old comb containing water, ought to +be first placed on the bottom-board. If no gauze wire bottom-board is at +hand, the hive must be wedged up, so as to admit an abundance of air, +and be set in a shady place. + +The hive from which the bees were driven, must now be set, without +crushing any of the bees, on its old spot, in the place of the decoy +hive, that all the bees which have returned from abroad, may enter. +Before this change is made, these bees will be running in and out of +the empty hive, (See p. 72,) but as soon as the opportunity is given +them, they will crowd into their well-known home, and if there are no +royal cells started, will proceed, almost at once, to construct them, +and the next day they will act as though the forced swarm had left of +its own accord. When the operation is delayed until about the season for +natural swarming, the hive will contain immature queens, if the bees +were intending to swarm, and a new queen will soon take the place of the +old one, just as in natural swarming. If it is performed too early, and +before the drones have made their appearance, the young queen may not be +seasonably impregnated, and the parent stock will perish. + +It will be obvious that this whole process, in order to be successfully +performed, requires a knowledge of the most important points in the +economy of the bee-hive; indeed the same remark may be made of almost +any operation, and those who are willing to remain ignorant of the laws +which regulate the breeding of bees, ought not to depart in the least, +from the old-fashioned mode of management. All such deviations will only +be attended with a wanton sacrifice of bees. A man may use the common +swarming hives a whole life-time, and yet remain ignorant of the very +first principles in the physiology of the bee, unless he gains his +information from other sources; while, by the use of my hives, any +intelligent cultivator may, in a single season, verify for himself, the +discoveries which have only been made by the accumulated toil of many +observers, for more than two thousand years. The ease with which +Apiarians may now, by the sight of their own eyes, gain a knowledge of +all the important facts in the economy of the hive, will stimulate them +most powerfully, to study the nature of the bee and thus to prepare +themselves for an enlightened system of management. + +In giving directions for the creation of forced swarms, I advised that +it should be done during the pleasantest part of the day, when the +largest number of bees are foraging abroad. If the operation is +performed when all the bees are at home, and they are all driven into +the empty hive, the old hive will be so depopulated that many of the +young will perish for want of suitable attention, and the parent stock +will be greatly deteriorated in value. If only a part of the bees are +expelled, the queen may be left behind, and the whole operation will be +a failure, and at best it will be difficult to make a suitable division +of the bees between the two hives. Indeed, under any circumstances, this +is the most difficult part of the process, and it often requires no +little judgment to equalize the two colonies. + +Some recommend placing the forced swarm on the old stand, and removing +the parent hive with the bees that are deemed sufficient, to a new +place. If this is done, and the bees have their liberty, so many of them +will leave for the familiar spot, that the hive will be almost deserted, +and a very large proportion of its brood will perish. The bees in this +hive, if it is to be set in a new place, must have water given to them, +and be so shut up as to have an abundance of air, until late in the +afternoon of the third day, when the hive may be opened, and they will +take wing, almost as though they were intending to swarm. Some will even +then, return to the place where they originally stood, and join the +forced swarm, but the most of them, after hovering in the air for a +short time, will re-enter the hive. During the time that they have been +shut up, thousands of young bees will have emerged from their cells, and +these, knowing no other home, will aid in taking care of the larvæ, and +in carrying on the work of the hive. + +Instead of trying to make an equitable division at the time of driving +out the bees, I prefer to expel all that I can, and to rely upon the +bees returning from their gatherings, to replenish the old stock. If the +number appears to be too small, I open temporarily the entrance of the +hive containing the forced swarm, and permit as many as I judge best, to +come out and enter their old abode. It must here be borne in mind, that +bees which are thus ejected from a hive, do not, in all respects, act +like a natural swarm, which having left the parent stock, of its own +accord, never seeks, unless it has lost its queen, to return; whereas, +many of the forced swarm, as soon as they leave the hive into which they +have been driven, will return to their former abode. The same is true of +bees which are moved to any distance not far enough to be beyond the +limits of their previous excursions in search of food. If we could only +make our bees when moved, or forced to swarm, adhere to their hives as +faithfully as a natural swarm, many difficulties which now perplex us, +would be at once removed. + +Having ascertained that the parent hive contains a sufficient number of +bees to carry on operations, about sun-set, after the bees are all at +home, it may be removed to a new stand, and the bees, after being +supplied with water, must be shut up, according to the directions +previously given. If the hive is so constructed that water cannot be +conveniently given them, the following plan I have found to answer most +admirably. Bore a small hole towards the top on the front side, and with +a straw, water may be injected with scarcely any trouble. A mouthful +once or twice a day, will be sufficient. If the bees are confined +without water, they will not be able to prepare the food for the larvæ, +and multitudes of them must necessarily perish. + +The expelled colony must be placed, on the same evening, precisely where +the hive from which they were driven stood, and have their liberty +given to them. The next morning, they will work with as much vigor as +though they had swarmed in the natural way. + +The directions which have here been given for creating forced swarms, +will be found to differ in some important respects from any which other +Apiarians have previously furnished. I have already shown that it is +difficult to secure the right number of bees for the parent stock, +unless it is set temporarily on its old stand, so as to catch up the +returning bees. The common plan has been to try to leave in it, as many +bees as are needed, and then to shut it up for a few days, having placed +it in a new spot, while the forced swarm is immediately replaced so that +all the stragglers may be added to it. If we could always be sure of +driving out the queen, and with her, as many bees as we want and _no +more_, this would undoubtedly be the simplest plan; but for the reasons +already assigned, it will be found a very precarious operation. + +Some Apiarians recommend putting the forced swarm in a new place in the +Apiary; but as large numbers of the bees will be sure, when they go out +to work, to return to the familiar spot, the new colony will often be so +seriously depopulated as to be of but little value. If the Apiarian can +remove his forced swarms, some two or three miles off, he may give them +their liberty at once, and in the course of a few weeks, he can, without +risk, bring them back to his Apiary. + +If he chooses, he may allow the parent stock to remain on the old stand, +and confine the forced swarm, until about an hour before sun set of the +third day. They must in the mean time be supplied with both honey and +water, and if they cannot be kept cool and quiet, they should be removed +into the cellar until they are placed in their new position. Many will +even then return to the old spot, but not enough to interfere seriously +with their prosperity. If the bees cannot, as in my hives, be kept cool +and dark, they will be excessively uneasy, and may suffer very seriously +from so long confinement: hence the very great importance of setting +them in the cellar. + +It may seem strange, that bees, when their hive is moved, or when they +are forcibly expelled from it, should not adhere to the new spot, just +as when they have swarmed of their own accord. In each case, as soon as +a bee leaves its new place, it flies with its head turned towards the +hive, in order to mark the surrounding objects, that it may be able to +return to the same spot; but when they have not emigrated of their own +accord, many of them seem, when they rise in the air, or return from +work, entirely to forget that their location has been changed; and they +return to the place where they have lived so long, and if no hive is +there, they often die on the deserted and desolate, yet home-like spot. +If, on the contrary, they swarmed of their own accord, they seldom, if +ever, make such a mistake. It may truly be said that + + "A 'bee removed' against its will + Is of the same opinion still." + +I have been thus minute in describing the whole process of creating +forced swarms, not merely on account of the importance of the plan in +multiplying colonies, but because the driving or drumming out of bees +from a common hive, is employed with great success in a variety of ways +which will be hereafter specified. I doubt not that many bee-keepers, on +reading this mode of creating colonies, are ready to object that it not +only requires more skill, but more time and labor, than to allow them to +swarm, and then to hive them in the old-fashioned way. + +As practiced with ordinary hives, it is undoubtedly liable to this +serious objection, and I would easily with my basket hiver, undertake to +hive four natural swarms, in the time that it would require to create +one forced swarm; to say nothing of the care which must be bestowed upon +the artificial swarms, with their parent stocks, after the driving +process has been completed. For this reason, I do not advise the +bee-keeper to force his swarms from the common hives, until he has first +ascertained that they are not likely to swarm in tolerably good season, +of their own accord, unless he is afraid that they will come out during +his absence, and decamp to the woods. + +By the aid of my hives, this process may be most expeditiously +performed. An empty hive, with its frames furnished with guide combs, +must be in readiness. The cover of the full hive should be removed, and +the bees gently sprinkled with sugar-water from a watering pot that +discharges a fine stream. In about two minutes, the frames may be taken +out, and the bees, by a quick motion, shaken on a sheet directly in +front of their hive. As fast as a comb is deprived of its bees, it +should be set in a proper position in the new hive, and an empty frame +put in its place. Two or three of the combs containing brood, eggs, &c., +should be left in the old hive, as well to give them greater +encouragement, as to prevent them from being dissatisfied if their queen +should, by any possibility, be taken from them. In removing the frames +with the bees, I always look for the queen, and if I see her, as I +generally do, I return to the hive the frame which contains her, without +shaking off the bees. In that case, I put several of the necessary combs +into the new hive, with all the bees upon them. + +In dislodging the bees upon the sheet, I do not shake them all off from +the frames; but leave about one quarter of them on, and put them with +the combs into the new hive. I never knew the queen to be left on a +frame after it was shaken so that the larger portion of the bees would +fall off. As soon as the operation is completed, and the necessary +number of bees have been transferred with their comb to the new hive, it +should be managed according to the directions previously given, in the +case of the old hive from which a swarm was drummed out. + +If in the operation the Apiarian does not see the queen, he must, in the +course of the third day, examine the hive having the larger portion of +bees, and if they have commenced building royal cells among the combs +given to them, he may be certain that she is in the other hive. The comb +containing the royal cells may then be transferred to that hive, and the +queen searched for, and returned with the combs on which she is found, +to her proper place. A little experience, however, will enable the +operator to be sure from the first, that the queen is with the right +division. + +To most persons, it would seem to be of little consequence, in which +hive the queen is placed: but if the bees which have only a few frames +of comb, are compelled to rear another, they will be sure to fill their +hive with comb unfit for breeding purposes, and will also be so long +before they can have additions to their number, as to be of but little +value. + +If many swarms are to be created in this manner, and the operation is +delayed until near swarming time, in some of them, numerous royal cells +will be found, so that each stock which has no queen, may have one +nearly mature, given to it, and thus much valuable time may be saved. + +By making a few forced swarms, about a week or ten days before the time +in which the most will be made, the Apiarian may be sure of having an +abundance of sealed queens almost mature, so that every swarm may have +one. If he can give each hive that needs it, an unhatched queen, without +removing her from her frame, so much the better; but if he has not +enough frames with sealed queens, while some of them contain two or more +queens, he must proceed as follows: + +With a very sharp knife, carefully cut out a queen cell, on a piece of +comb an inch or more square; cut a place in one of the combs of the hive +to which this cell is to be given, just about large enough to receive it +in a natural position, and if it is not secure, put a little melted wax +with a feather, where the edges meet. The bees will soon fasten it, so +as to make all right. Unless very great care is used in transferring +these royal cells, the enclosed queens will be destroyed; as their +bodies, until they are nearly mature, are so exceedingly soft, that a +very slight compression of their cell often kills them. For this reason, +I prefer not to remove them, until they are within three or four days of +hatching. As the forcing of a swarm may always be conducted, with my +hives, in such a manner that the Apiarian can be sure to effect a +suitable division of the bees, the process may be performed at any time +when the sun is above the horizon, and the weather is not too +unpleasant. It ought not to be attempted when the weather is so cool as +to endanger the destruction of the brood, by a chill; and never unless +when there is not only sufficient light to enable the Apiarian to see +distinctly, but enough for the bees that take wing, to see the hive, and +direct their flight to its entrance. If hives are meddled with, when it +is dark, the bees are always more irascible, and as they cannot see +where to fly, they will constantly be alighting upon the person of the +bee-keeper, who will be almost sure to receive some stings. I have +seldom attempted night-work upon my bees, without having occasion most +thoroughly to rue my folly. If the weather is not too cool, early in the +morning, before the bees are stirring, will be the best time, as there +will be less danger of annoyance from robber-bees. + +If honey-water is used instead of sugar-water in sprinkling the bees +when the hive is first opened, the smell will be almost certain to +entice marauders from other hives to attempt to take possession of +treasures which do not belong to them, and when they once commence such +a pilfering course of life, they will be very loth to lay it aside. When +the honey harvest is abundant, (and this is the very time for forcing +swarms,) bees, with proper precautions, are seldom inclined to rob. I +have sometimes found it difficult to induce them to notice honey-combs +which I wished them to empty, even when they were placed in an exposed +situation. This subject, however, will be more fully treated in the +remarks on Robbing. + +Perhaps some of my readers will hardly be able to convince themselves +that bees may be dealt with after the fashion I have been describing, +without becoming greatly enraged; so far is this from being the case, +that in my operations, I often use neither sugar-water nor bee-dress, +although I do not recommend the neglect of such precautions. + +The artificial swarm may be created with perfect safety, even at +mid-day, when thousands of bees are returning to the hive: for these +bees being laden with honey, never venture upon making an attack, while +those at home may be easily pacified. + +I find a very great advantage in the peculiar shape of my hive, which +allows the top to be easily removed, and the sugar-water to be sprinkled +upon the bees, before they attempt to take wing. If like the Dzierzon +hive, it opened on the end, it would be impossible for me to use the +sweetened water, so as to make it run down between all the ranges of +comb, and I should be forced, as he does, to employ smoke, in all my +operations. Huber thus speaks of the pacific effect produced upon the +bees by the use of his leaf hive. "On opening the hive, no stings are to +be dreaded, for one of the most singular and valuable properties +attending my construction, is its rendering the bees tractable. I +ascribe their tranquility to the manner in which they are affected by +the sudden admission of light, they appear rather to testify fear than +anger. Many retire, and entering the cells, seem to conceal themselves." +I will admit that Huber has here fallen into an error which he would not +have made, had he used his own eyes. The bees do indeed enter the cells +when the frames are exposed, but not "to conceal themselves;" they +imagine that their sweets, thus unceremoniously exposed to the light of +day, are to be taken from them, and they fill themselves to their utmost +capacity, in order to save all that they can. I always expect them to +appropriate the contents of the open cells, as soon as I remove their +frames from the hive. It is not merely the _sudden_ admission of light, +but its introduction from an _unexpected quarter_, that seems for the +time to disarm the hostility of the bees. They appear for a few moments, +almost as much confounded as we should be, if without any warning the +roof and ceiling of a house should suddenly fly off into the air. Before +they recover from their amazement, the sweet libation is poured out upon +them, and surprize is quickly converted into pleasure rather than anger. +I believe that in the working season, almost all the bees near the top +are gorged with honey, and that this is the reason why opening the hive +from ABOVE is so easily effected. The bees below that are disposed to +resent any intrusions, are met in their threatening ascent, with an +avalanche of nectar which "like a soft answer," most effectually +"turneth away wrath." Who would ever be willing to use the sickening +fumes of the disgusting weed, when so much pleasure instead of pain may +be given to his bees. That bees never seem to be prepared to make an +instant assault from the top of their hive, but only near the entrance, +any one may be convinced of, who will put my frames into a suspended +hive with a movable bottom which may be made to drop at pleasure. If +now, for any purpose, he attempts to meddle with the combs from below, +he will find that unless he uses smoke, the bees will be almost, if not +quite unmanageable. + +I shall now give some directions, which will greatly assist the Apiarian +in his operations. He must bear in mind that nothing irritates bees more +than a sudden jar, and that this must, in all cases, be most carefully +avoided. The inside cover of the hive, or as I shall term it, the +_honey-board_, because the surplus honey receptacles stand upon it, can +never be very firmly attached by the bees: it may always be readily +loosened with a thin knife, or better still, with an apothecary's +spatula, which will be very useful for many purposes in the Apiary. When +the honey-board is removed, its lower surface will be usually covered +with bees, and it should be carefully set on end, so as not to crush +them. There is not the least danger that one of them will offer to +sting, as they are completely bewildered by the sudden introduction of +light, and their removal from the hive. As soon as the cover is disposed +of, the Apiarian should sprinkle the bees with the sweet solution. This +should descend from the watering-pot in a fine stream, so as not to +_drench_ the bees, and should fall upon the tops of the frames, as well +as between the ranges of comb. The bees will at once, accept the +proffered treat, and will begin lapping it up, as peaceably as so many +chickens helping themselves to corn. While they are thus engaged, the +frames must be very gently pried by a stick, from their attachments to +the rabbets on which they rest; this may be done without any jar and +without wounding or enraging a single bee. They may all be loosened +preparatory to removing them, in less than a minute.[17] By this time, +the sprinkled bees will have filled themselves, or if all have not done +so, the grateful intelligence that sweets have been furnished them, will +diffuse an unusual good nature through all the honied realm. The +Apiarian should now remove one of the outside frames, taking hold of its +two ends which rest upon the rabbets, and carefully lifting it out +without inclining it from its perpendicular position, so as not to +injure a single bee. The removal of the next comb, and of all the +succeeding ones, will be more easily effected, as there will be more +room to operate to advantage. If bees were disposed to fly away at once +from their combs, as soon as they were taken out, it would be very +difficult to manage them, but so far are they from doing this, that they +adhere to them with most wonderful tenacity. I have sometimes removed +all the combs, and arranged them in a continued line, and the bees have +not only refused to leave them, but have stoutly defended them against +the thieving propensities of other bees. By shaking off the bees from +the combs upon a sheet, and securing the queen, I can, on any pleasant +day, exhibit nearly all the appearances of natural swarming. The bees, +as soon as they miss their queen, will rise into the air, and by +placing her on the twig of a tree, they will soon cluster around her in +the manner already described. + +A word as to the manner of catching the queen. I seize her very gently, +as I espy her among the bees, and by taking care to crush none of them, +run not the least risk of being stung. The queen herself never stings, +even if handled ever so roughly. + +In removing the frames from the hive, it will be found very convenient +to have a box with suitable rabbets in which they may be temporarily +put, and covered over with a piece of cotton cloth. They may thus be +very easily protected from the cold, and from robbing bees, if they are +to be kept out of the hive for some time; and such a box will be very +convenient to receive frames that are lifted out for examination. In +returning the frames to a hive, care must be taken not to crush the bees +where their ends rest upon the rabbets; they must be put in slowly, so +that a bee, when he feels the slightest pressure may have a chance to +creep from under them, before he is hurt. + +The honey-cover, for convenience, is generally in two pieces: these +cannot be laid down on the hive, without danger of killing many bees; +they are therefore very carefully _slid_ on, so that any bees which may +be in the way, are pushed before them, instead of being crushed. If any +bees are upon such parts of the hive as to be imprisoned if the outside +cover is closed, it should be left a little open, until they have flown +to the entrance of the hive. It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the +bee-keeper, that all his motions must be slow and gentle, and that the +bees must not be injured or breathed upon. If he will carefully follow +the directions I have given, he may soon open a hundred hives and +perform any necessary operation upon them, without any bee-dress, and +yet with very little risk of being stung, but I almost despair of being +able to convince even the most experienced Apiarians, of the ease and +safety with which bees may be managed on my plan, until they have +actually been eye-witnesses of its successful operation. + +I can make an artificial colony in the way above described in ten +minutes from the time that I open the hive, and if I see the queen as +quickly as I often do, in not more than five minutes. Fifteen minutes +will be a very liberal allowance of time to complete the whole work. If +I had an Apiary of a hundred colonies, in less than a week, if the +weather was pleasant, I could without any assistance easily finish the +business of swarming for the whole season. + +But how can the Apiarian, if he delays the formation of artificial +swarms until nearly the season for natural swarming, be sure that his +bees will not swarm in the usual way? Must he not still be constantly on +hand, or run the risk of losing many of his best swarms? I come now to +the entirely novel plan by which such objections are completely +obviated. If the Apiarian decides that he can most advantageously +multiply his colonies by artificial swarming, he must see that all his +fertile queens are deprived of their wings, so as to be unable to lead +off new swarms. As an old queen never leaves the hive except to +accompany a new swarm, the loss of her wings does not, in the least +interfere with her usefulness, or with the attachment of the bees. +Occasionally, a wingless queen is so bent on emigrating, that in spite +of her inability to fly, she tries to go off with a swarm; she has "a +will," but contrary to the old maxim she can find "no way," but +helplessly falls upon the ground instead of gaily mounting into the air. +If the bees succeed in finding her, they will never desert her, but +cluster directly around her, and may thus be easily secured by the +Apiarian. If she is not found, the bees will return to the parent stock +to await the maturity of the young queens. The Apiarian will ordinarily +be prepared to form his artificial colonies before any of these young +queens are hatched. + +The following is the best plan for removing the wings from the queens. +Every hive which contains a young queen, ought to be examined about a +week after she has hatched, (see Chapter on Loss of the Queen,) in order +to ascertain that she has been impregnated, and has begun to lay eggs. +Some of the central combs or those on which the bees are most thickly +clustered, should be first lifted out, for she will almost always be +found on one of them; the Apiarian when he has caught her, should remove +the wings on one side with a pair of scissors taking care not to hurt +her. On examining his hives next season, let him remove one of the two +remaining wings from the queen. The third season, he may deprive her of +her last wing. Bees always have four wings, a pair on each side. This +plan saves him the trouble of marking his hives so as to know the age of +the queens they contain. + +As the fertility of the queen generally decreases after the second year, +I prefer, just before the drones are destroyed, to kill all the old +queens that have entered their third year. In this way, I guard against +some of my stocks becoming queenless, in consequence of the queen dying +of old age, when there is no worker-brood in the hive, from which they +can rear another: or of having a worthless, drone-laying queen whose +impregnation has been retarded. These old queens are removed at that +period of the year when their colony is strong in numbers; and as the +honey-harvest is by this time, nearly over, their removal is often a +positive benefit, instead of a loss. The population is prevented from +being over crowded at a time when the bees are consumers and not +producers, and when the young queen, reared in the place of the old one +matures, she will rapidly fill the cells with eggs, and raise a large +number of bees to take advantage of the late honey-harvest, and to +prepare the hive to winter most advantageously. + +The certainty, rapidity and ease of making artificial swarms with my +hives, will be such as to amaze those most who have had the greatest +experience and success in the management of bees. Instead of weeks +wasted in watching the Apiary, in addition to all the other vexations +and embarrassments which are so often found to attend reliance on +natural swarming, the Apiarian will find not only that he can create all +his new colonies in a very short time, but that he can, if he chooses, +entirely prevent the issue of all after-swarms. In order to do this, he +ought to examine the stocks which are raising young queens, in season to +cut out all the queen cells but one, before the larvæ come to maturity. +If he gave them a sealed queen nearly mature, they will raise no others, +and no swarming, for that season, will take place. If the Apiarian +wishes to do more than to double his stocks in one season, and is +favorably situated for practicing natural swarming, he can allow the +stocks that raise young queens to swarm if they will, and he can +strengthen the small swarms by giving to them comb with honey and +maturing brood from other hives. Or he can, after an interval of about +three weeks, make one swarm from every two good ones in his Apiary, in a +way that will soon be described. + +I do not know that I can find a better place in which to impress certain +highly important principles upon the attention of the bee-keeper. I am +afraid, that in spite of all that I can say, many persons as soon as +they find themselves able to multiply colonies at pleasure, will so +overdo the matter, as to run the risk of losing all their bees. If the +Apiarian aims at obtaining a large quantity of honey in any one season, +he cannot at the furthest, more than double the number of his stocks: +nor can he do this, unless they are all strong, and the season +favorable. The moment that he aims, in any one season, at a more rapid +increase, he must not only renounce the idea of having any surplus +honey, but must expect to purchase food for the support of his colonies, +unless he is willing to see them all perish by starvation. The time, +food, care and skill required to multiply stocks with very great +rapidity, in our short and uncertain climate, are so great that not one +Apiarian in a hundred can expect to make it profitable; while the great +mass of those who attempt it, will be almost sure, at the close of the +season, to find themselves in possession of stocks which have been so +managed as to be of very little value. + +Before explaining some other methods of artificial swarming, which I +have employed to great advantage, I shall endeavor to impress upon the +mind of the bee-keeper, the great importance of thoroughly understanding +each season, the precise object at which he is aiming, before he enters +on the work of increasing his colonies. If his object is, in any one +season, to get the largest yield of surplus honey, he must at once make +up his mind to be content with a very moderate increase of stocks. If, +on the contrary, he desires to multiply his colonies, say, three or four +fold, he must be prepared, not only to relinquish the expectation of +obtaining any surplus honey, if the season should prove unfavorable, but +to purchase food for the support of his bees. Rapid multiplication of +colonies, and large harvests of surplus honey cannot, in the very nature +of things, be secure in our climate, in any one season. + +If the number of colonies is to be increased to a large extent, then the +bees in the Apiary will be tasked to the utmost in building new comb, +as well as in rearing brood. For these purposes, they must consume the +supply of honey which, under other circumstances, they would have stored +up, a part for their own use in the main hive, and the balance for their +owner, in the spare honey-boxes. + +To make this matter perfectly plain, let us suppose a colony to swarm. +If the new hive, into which the swarm is put, holds, as it ought, about +a bushel, it will require about two pounds of wax to fill it with comb, +and at least forty pounds of honey will be used in its manufacture! If +the season is favorable, and the swarm was large and early, they may +gather, not only enough to build this comb and to store it with honey +sufficient for their own use, but a number of pounds in addition, for +the benefit of their owner. If the old stock does not swarm again, it +will rapidly replenish its numbers, and as it has no new comb to build +in the main hive which already contains much honey, it will be able to +store up a generous allowance in the upper boxes. These favorable +results are all on the supposition that the season was ordinarily +productive in honey, and that the hive was so powerful in numbers as to +be able to swarm early. If the season should prove to be very +unfavorable, the first swarm cannot be expected to gather more than +enough for its own use, while the parent stock will yield only a small +return. The profits of the bee-keeper, in such an unfortunate season, +will be mainly in the increase of his stocks. If the swarm was late, in +consequence of the stock being weak in Spring, the early part of the +honey-harvest will pass away, and the bees will be able to obtain from +it, but a small share of honey. During all this time of comparative +inactivity, the orchards may present + + "One boundless blush, one white empurpled shower + Of mingled blossoms," + +and tens of thousands of bees from stronger stocks, may be engaged all +day, in sipping the fragrant sweets, so that every gale which "fans its +odoriferous wings" about their dwellings, dispenses + + "Native perfumes, and whispers whence they stole[18] + Those balmy spoils." + +By the time that the feeble stock is prepared to swarm, if it swarm at +all that season, the honey-harvest is almost over, and the new colony +will seldom be able to gather enough for its own use, so that unless +fed, it must perish the succeeding Winter. Bee-keeping with colonies +feeble in the Spring, is most emphatically nothing but "folly and +vexation of spirit." + +I have shown how the bee-keeper, with a strong stock-hive which has +swarmed early and but once, may in a favorable season realize handsome +profits from his bees. If the parent stock throws a second swarm, then, +as a general rule, unless this swarm was very early, and the honey +season good, if managed on the ordinary plan, it will seldom prove of +any value. It will almost always perish in the Winter, if it does not +desert its hive in the Fall, and the family from which it issued, will +not only gather no surplus honey, (unless it was secured before the +first swarm issued,) but will very often perish likewise. Thus the +inexperienced owner who was so delighted with the rapid increase of his +colonies, begins the next season with no more colonies than he had the +year before, and has very often lost all the time he has bestowed upon +his bees. I can, to be sure, on my plan, prevent the death of the bees, +and can build up all the feeble colonies, so as to make them strong and +powerful: but only by giving up all idea of obtaining a single pound of +honey. From the first swarm, I must take combs containing maturing +brood, to strengthen my weak swarms, and this first swarm however +powerful or early, instead of being able to store its combs with honey, +will be constantly tasked in building new combs to replace those taken +away, so that when the honey harvest closes, it will have scarcely any +honey, and must be fed to prevent it from starving. Any man who has +sense enough to be entrusted with bees, can, from these remarks, +understand exactly why it is impossible to multiply colonies rapidly in +any one season, and yet obtain from them large supplies of honey. Even +the doubling of stocks in one season, will very often be too rapid an +increase, if the greatest quantity of spare honey is to be obtained from +them; and when the largest yield of honey is desired, I much prefer to +form, in a way soon to be described, only one new stock from two old +ones; this will give even more from the three, than could have been +obtained from the two, on the ordinary non-swarming plan. + +I would very strongly dissuade any but experienced Apiarians, from +attempting at the furthest, to do more than to triple their stocks in +one year. In order to furnish directions for very rapid multiplication, +sufficiently full and explicit to be of any value to the inexperienced, +I should have to write a book on this one topic; and even then, the most +of those who should undertake it, would be sure at first to fail. + +I have no doubt that with ten strong stocks of bees in a good location, +in one favorable season, I could so increase them as to have, on the +approach of Winter, one hundred good colonies: but I should expect to +feed hundreds of pounds of honey, to devote nearly all my time to their +management, and to bring to the work, the experience of many years, and +the wisdom acquired by numerous failures. After all, what we most need, +in order to be successful in the cultivation of bees, is a _certain_, +rather than a _rapid_ multiplication of stocks. It would require but a +very few years to stock our whole country with bees, if colonies could +only be doubled annually; and an increase of even one third, would +before long, give us bees enough. This rate of increase I should always +encourage in the swarming season, even if, in the Fall, I reduced my +stocks (see Union of Stocks) to the Spring number. In the long run, it +will keep the colonies in a much more prosperous condition, and secure +from them the largest yield of honey. + +I have never myself hesitated to sacrifice one or more colonies, in +order to ascertain a single fact, and it would require a separate volume +quite as large as this, to detail the various experiments which I have +made on the subject of Artificial Swarming. The practical bee-keeper, +however, should never, for a moment, lose sight of the important +distinction between an Apiary managed principally for the purposes of +experiment and discovery, and one conducted almost exclusively with +reference to pecuniary profit. Any bee-keeper can easily experiment with +my hives: but I would recommend him to do so, at first, on a small +scale, and if profit is his object, to follow the directions furnished +in this treatise, until he is _sure_ that he has discovered others which +are preferable. These cautions are given to prevent persons from +incurring serious losses and disappointments, if they use hives which, +if they are not on their guard, may tempt them into rash and +unprofitable courses, by allowing so easily of all manner of +experiments. Let the practical Apiarian remember that the less he +disturbs the stocks on which he relies for surplus honey, the better. +After they are properly lodged in their new hive, they ought by all +means to be allowed to carry on their labors without any interruption. +The object of giving the control over every comb in the hive, is not to +enable him to be incessantly taking them in and out, and subjecting the +bees to all sorts of annoyances. Unless he is conducting a course of +experiments, such interference will be almost as silly as the conduct of +children who pull up the seeds which they have planted, to see whether +they have sprouted, or how much they have grown. If after these +cautions, any still choose to disregard them, the blame of their losses +will fall, not upon the hive, but upon their own mismanagement. + +Let me not, for a moment, be understood as wishing to discourage +investigation, or to intimate that perfection has been so nearly +attained that no more important discoveries remain to be made. On the +contrary, I should be glad to learn that many who have the time and +means, are disposed to use the facilities furnished by hives which give +the control of each comb, to experiment on a large scale; and I hope +that every intelligent bee-keeper who follows my plans, will experiment +at least on a small scale. In this way, we may soon expect to see, more +satisfactorily elucidated, some points in the Natural History of the +bee, which are still involved in doubt. + +Having described the way in which forced swarms are made, both in common +hives and in my own, when the Apiarian wishes in one season merely to +double his colonies, I shall now show in what way he can secure the +largest yield of honey, by forming only one new colony from two old +ones. + +Early in the season, before the bees fly out, or better still, after +they ceased to fly in the previous Fall, the two hives from which the +new colony is to be formed, should be placed near each other, unless +they are already, not more than a foot apart. When the time for forming +the artificial colony has arrived, these hives should be removed from +their stand, and the bees driven from them, precisely in the manner +already described. If all the bees are at home, I sometimes shut up the +hives on their stand, and drum long enough to cause the bees to fill +themselves before the hive is removed. Timid Apiarians may find some +advantage in this course, as the bees will all be quiet after they are +well drummed, and the hive may then be removed with greater safety. In +five minutes I can in this way reduce any swarm to a peaceable +condition. After the forced swarms are secured, the removed hives are +replaced, in order to catch up all the returning bees, and the forced +swarms must be shut up, until towards sunset; unless it is judged best +to keep the entrances temporarily open, so as to secure the return of a +sufficient number of bees to the parent stocks. The old stocks are now +moved to a new place, and managed according to the previous directions. +If neither of the expelled swarms was driven into the hive intended for +the new colony, then the proper hive must be placed, as near as +possible, in the center of the space previously occupied by the original +colonies. One of the swarms must now be shaken out upon a sheet, in +front of this hive which should be elevated, so as to enable the bees to +enter it readily. As soon as they are shaken out, they should be gently +sprinkled with sugar-water scented with peppermint, or any other +fragrant odor. Diligent search must now be made for the Queen, and if +found, she should be carefully removed, and given to the hive to which +she belongs. If the queen of the first swarm has been found, the second +colony may be shaken out, and sprinkled in the same way, and allowed to +enter without any further trouble. If the queen of the first colony was +not found, then that of the second one must be sought for; if neither +can be found, (though this, after a little experience, will very seldom +happen,) one of the Queens will soon kill the other, and reign over the +united family. The next day, the doubled colony will be found working +with amazing vigor, and it will not only fill its main hive, but will, +in any ordinary season, gather large quantities of surplus honey +besides. + +The Apiarian who relies upon natural swarming, can double his new +colonies if they issue at the same time, by hiving them together, or if +this cannot be done, he may hive them in separate hives, and then, +towards evening, set one hive on a sheet, and shake down the bees from +the other, so that they can enter and join the first. It may be safely +done, even if several days have elapsed before the second colony swarms; +although in this case, I prefer after turning up their hive to sprinkle +the oldest swarm with scented sugar-water, and then to give the new +swarm the same treatment. I have doubled natural swarms in this way, +repeatedly, and have never, when they were early, failed to secure from +them a large quantity of honey. In sprinkling bees, let the operator +remember that they are not to be _drenched_, or almost drowned, as in +this case, they will require a long time to enter the hive. Bees seem to +recognize each other by the sense of smell; and when they are made to +have the same odor, they will always mingle peaceably. This is the +reason why I use a few drops of peppermint in the sugar-water. + +If one of the queens of the forced swarms can be returned to her own +colony, it will of course, save them the time which would otherwise be +lost in raising another. I do not know that I can better illustrate the +importance of the inexperienced Apiarian following carefully my +directions, than by supposing him to return the queen to the colony to +which she does not belong. Now I can easily imagine that some bee-keeper +may do so, conceiving that I am foolishly precise in my directions, and +that the queen might be just as well given to one hive as to the other. +But if this is done before at least 24 hours have elapsed since they +were deprived of their own, she will almost certainly be destroyed. The +bees do not _sting_ a queen to death, but have a curious mode of +crowding or knotting around her, so that she is soon smothered; and +while thus imprisoned, she will often make the same piping note which +has already been described. In all this treatise, I have constantly +aimed to give no directions which are not important; and while I utterly +repudiate the notion that these directions may not be modified and +improved, I am quite certain that this cannot be done by any but those +who have considerable experience in the management of bees. + +The formation of one new swarm from two old colonies, may, of course, be +very much simplified by the use of my hives. The two old hives are first +opened and sprinkled, and the bees taken from them and put into the new +hive in the same way in which the process was conducted when only one +colony was expelled, some brood comb being given to the united family. +There will be no difficulty in rightly proportioning the bees; one queen +may always be caught and preserved, and the operation may be performed +at any time when the sun is above the horizon. I have no doubt that +those who have a strong stock of bees, and who are anxious to realize +the largest profits in honey, will find this mode of increase, by far +the simplest and best. If judiciously practiced, they will find that +their colonies may always be kept powerful, and that they may be managed +with very great economy in time and labor. As Apiarians may be so +situated as to wish to increase their bees quite rapidly, I shall give +such methods as from numerous experiments, many of them conducted on a +large scale, I have found to be the best. I wish it however to be most +distinctly understood, that I do not consider _very_ rapid +multiplication as likely to succeed, except in the hands of skillful +Apiarians; and under ordinary circumstances it requires too much time, +care and honey, to be of very great practical value. Its chief merit +consists in the short time which it requires to build up an Apiary. +After trying my mode of management for a few seasons, a bee-keeper may +find out, that he is in all respects, favorably situated for taking care +of a large stock of bees. Suppose him to have acquired both skill and +confidence, and that he has ten powerful colonies. If he is willing to +do without surplus honey for one season, and the honey-harvest should be +very productive, he may without feeding, and without very much labor, +safely increase his ten colonies to thirty. If he chooses to feed +largely, he may _possibly_ end the season with fifty or sixty, or even +more; but he will _probably_ end it in such a manner as most thoroughly +to disgust him with his folly, and to teach him that in bee-keeping, as +well as in other things, "Haste makes waste." + +On the supposition that by the time the fruit-trees are in blossom, the +Apiarian has, in hives of my construction, ten powerful colonies, let +him select four of the strongest, and make from each a forced swarm. He +will now have four queenless colonies, which will at once, proceed to +supply themselves with a young queen. In about ten days, he may make +from his other six stocks, six more forced swarms. He will probably find +in making these, many sealed queens, if he has delayed the operation +until about swarming time; so that he may give to each of the six stocks +from which he has expelled a swarm, the means of soon obtaining +another. If he has not enough for this purpose, he must take the +required number from the four stocks which are raising young queens, the +exact condition of which ought to have been previously ascertained. Some +of these stocks will be found to contain a large number of queen cells. +Huber, in one of his experiments, found twenty-four in one hive, and +even a larger number has sometimes been reared by a single colony. As +the Apiarian will always have many more queens than are wanted, he ought +to select those combs which contain a sealed queen, so as to secure say, +about fifteen combs, each of which has one or more queens. If necessary, +he can cut out some of the cells, and adjust them in the manner +previously described. Each comb containing a sealed queen must be put +with all the bees adhering to it, into an empty hive; and by a divider, +or movable partition, they must be confined to about one quarter of the +hive; water should be given to them, and honey, if none is contained in +the comb. I always prefer to select a comb which contains a large number +of workers almost mature, and some of which are just beginning to hatch, +so that even if a considerable number of the bees should return to the +parent stock, after their liberty is given them, there will still be a +sufficient number hatched, to attend to the young, and especially to +watch over the maturing queens. If the comb contains a large number of +bees just emerging from their cells, I prefer to confine them only one +day, otherwise I keep them shut up until about an hour before sunset of +the third day. The hives containing the small colonies, ought, if they +are not well protected by being made double, to be set where they are +thoroughly sheltered from the intense heat of the sun; and the +ventilators should give them an abundance of air. They should also be +closed in such a manner, as to keep the interior in entire darkness, so +that the bees may not become too uneasy during their confinement. I +accomplish this by shutting up their entrance, and replacing their front +board, just as though I were intending to put them into winter quarters. + +These small colonies I shall call _nuclei_, and the system of forming +stocks from them, my nucleus system; and before I describe this system +more particularly, I shall show other ways in which the nuclei can be +formed. If the Apiarian chooses, he can take a frame containing bees +just ready to mature, and eggs and young worms, all of the worker kind, +together with the old bees which cluster on it, and shut them up in the +manner previously described; even if he has no sealed queen to give +them. If all things are favorable, they will set about raising a queen +in a few hours. I once took not more than a tea-cup full of bees and +confined them with a small piece of brood comb in a dark place, and +found that in about an hour's time, they had begun to enlarge some of +the cells, to raise a new queen! If the Apiarian has sealed queens on +hand, they ought, by all means, to be given to the nuclei, in order to +save all the time possible. + +I sometimes make these nuclei as follows. The suitable comb with bees +&c., is taken from a stock-hive, and set in an empty one, made to stand +partly in the place of the old hive, which, of course, must previously +be moved a little on one side. In this way, I am able to direct a +considerable number of the bees from the old stock to my nucleus, and +the necessity of shutting it up, is done away with. If the bees from the +old stock do not enter the small one, in sufficient numbers, I sometimes +close their hive, so that the returning bees can find no other place to +enter. My object is not to catch up a _large_ number of bees. For +reasons previously assigned, I do not want enough to build new comb, but +only enough to adhere to the removed comb, and raise a new queen from +the brood, or develop the sealed one which has been given them. A short +time after one nucleus has in this way, been formed, another may be made +by moving the old hive again, and so a third or fourth, if so many are +wanted. This plan requires considerable skill and experience, to secure +the right number of bees, without getting too many. + +If bees are to be made to enter a new hive, by removing the old one from +its stand, it will always be very desirable not only to have the new one +contain a piece of comb, but a considerable number of bees _clustered_ +on that comb. I repeatedly found my bees, after entering the hive, +refuse to have anything to do with the brood comb, and for a long time, +I was unable to conjecture the cause; until I ascertained that they were +dissatisfied with its deserted appearance, and that, by taking the +precaution to have it well covered with bees, I seldom failed to +reconcile them to my system of forced colonization. I can usually tell, +in less than two minutes, whether the operation will succeed or not. If +the returning bees are content, they will, however much agitated at +first, soon begin to join the cluster on the comb; while if they are +dissatisfied, they will abandon the hive, and nearly all the bees that +were originally on the comb, will leave with them. They seem capricious +in this matter, and are sometimes so very self-willed, that they refuse +to have anything to do with the brood comb, when I can see no good +reason why they should be so rebellious. + +I shall here state some _conjectures_ which have occurred to me on this +subject. Is it absolutely certain that bees can raise a queen from _any_ +egg or young larva which would produce a worker? Or if this is possible, +is it certain that _any kind of workers_ can accomplish this? Huber +ascertained to his own satisfaction that there were two kinds of workers +in a hive. He thus describes them. + +"One of these is, in general, destined for the elaboration of wax, and +its size is considerably enlarged when full of honey; the other +immediately imparts what it has collected to its companions, its abdomen +undergoes no sensible change, or it retains only the honey necessary for +its own subsistence. The particular function of the bees of this kind is +to take care of the young, for they are not charged with provisioning +the hive. In opposition to the wax workers, we shall call them small +bees or nurses." + +"Although the external difference be inconsiderable, this is not an +imaginary distinction. Anatomical observations prove that the capacity +of the stomach is not the same--experiments have ascertained that one of +the species cannot fulfil all the functions shared among the workers of +a hive. We painted those of each class with different colors, in order +to study their proceedings; and these were not interchanged. In another +experiment, after supplying a hive deprived of a queen with brood and +pollen, we saw the small bees quickly occupied in nutrition of the +larvæ, while those of the wax working class neglected them. Small bees +also produce wax, but in a very inferior quantity to what is elaborated +by the real wax workers." + +Now if these statements can be relied on, and thus far I have nearly +always found Huber's statements, where-ever I had an opportunity to test +them, to be most wonderfully reliable, then it may be that when bees +refuse to cluster on the brood comb and to proceed at once to rear a new +queen, it is because they find that some of the conditions necessary for +success are wanting. Either there may not be a sufficient number of +wax-workers, to enlarge the cells, or a sufficient number of nurses to +take charge of the larvæ; or it may be that the cells contain only young +wax-workers which cannot be developed into queens, or only young +nurses, which may be in the same predicament. + +If any of my readers imagine that the work of carefully experimenting, +in order to establish facts upon the solid basis of complete +demonstration, is an easy work, let them attempt now to prove or +disprove the truth of any or all of my conjectures upon this single +topic. They will probably find the task more difficult than to blot over +whole quires and reams of paper with careless assertions. + +All operations of any kind which interfere in the very least, with the +natural mode of forming colonies, are best performed in the swarming +season: or at least, at a time when the bees are breeding freely, and +are able to bring in large stores of honey from the fields. At other +times, they are very precarious, and unless under the management of +persons who have great experience, they will in most cases, end in +nothing but vexatious losses and disappointments. + +It is quite amusing to see how bees act, when they find, on their return +from foraging abroad, that their hive has been moved, and another put in +its place. If the new hive is precisely similar to their own, in size +and outward appearance, they enter it as though all was right; but in a +few moments, they rush out in violent agitation, imagining that they +have made a prodigious mistake and have entered the wrong place. They +now take wing again in order to correct their blunder, but find to their +increasing surprise, that they had previously directed their flight to +the familiar spot; again they enter, and again they tumble out, in +bewildered crowds, until, at length, if they can find the means of +raising a new queen, or one is already there, they seem to make up their +minds that if this is not home, it not only looks like it, but stands +just where their home ought to be, and is at all events the only home +they are likely to get. No doubt they often feel that a very hard +bargain has been imposed upon them, but they seem generally determined +to make the best of it. + +There is one trait in the character of bees, for which I feel, not +merely admiration, but the most profound respect. Such is their +indomitable energy and perseverance, that under circumstances apparently +the most despairing, they will still labor to the utmost, to retrieve +their losses, and sustain the sinking state. So long as they have a +queen, or any prospect of raising one, they struggle most vigorously +against impending ruin, and never give up, unless their condition is +absolutely desperate. In one of my observing hives, I once had a colony +of bees, the whole of which might have been spread out on my two hands, +busy at work in raising a new queen, from a small piece of brood comb. +For two long weeks, they adhered with unfailing perseverance and +industry, to their forlorn hope: until at last, one of the two queens +which they raised, came forth, and destroyed the other while still in +her cell. The bees had now dwindled away to less than half their +original number, and the new queen had wings so imperfect that she was +unable to fly. I watched their proceedings with great interest; they +actually paid very unusual attention to this crippled queen, and treated +her more as they are wont to treat a fertile one. In the course of a +week, there were not more than a dozen left in the hive, and in a few +days more, I missed the queen, and saw only a few disconsolate wretches +crawling over the deserted comb! Shame upon the faint-hearted and +cowardly of our own race, who, if overtaken by calamity, instead of +nobly breasting the dark waters of affliction, and manfully buffetting +with their tumultuous waves, meanly resign themselves to their ignoble +fate, and sink and perish where they might have lived and triumphed; and +double shame upon those who thus "faint in the day of adversity," when +living in a Christian land, they might, if they would only receive the +word of God, and open the eye of faith, behold a bow of promise spanning +the still stormy clouds, and hear a voice bidding them, like the great +apostle of the Gentiles, learn not merely to "rejoice in hope of the +glory of God," but to "glory in tribulations also." + +I have been informed by Mr. Wagner, that Dzierzon has recently devised a +plan of _forming nuclei_, substantially the same with my own. His book, +however, contemplates having two Apiaries, three or four miles apart, +and his plans for multiplying colonies, as there described, were based +upon the supposition that the Apiarian will have two such +establishments. Such an arrangement would no doubt very greatly +facilitate many operations. Our forced swarms might all be removed from +the Apiary where they were formed, to the other, and our nuclei treated +in the same way, and there would be no necessity for confining the bees +after their removal. There are however, weighty objections to such an +arrangement, which will prevent it, at least for some time, from being +extensively adopted. The labor of removing the bees backwards and +forwards, is a serious objection to the whole plan; and in addition to +this, the necessity of having a skillful Apiarian at each establishment, +puts its adoption out of the question, with most persons who keep bees. +It might answer, however, if two bee-keepers, sufficiently far apart, +would enter into partnership, and manage their bees as a joint concern. +Dzierzon's new plan of creating nuclei, is as follows. Towards evening, +remove a piece of brood comb, with eggs and bees just hatching, and put +it, with a sufficient number of mature bees, into an empty hive; there +must be enough to keep the brood from being chilled over night. If the +operation is performed so late that the bees are not disposed to take +wing and leave the hive, by morning a sufficient number will have +hatched, to supply the place of those which may abandon the nucleus. In +my numerous experiments last Summer, in the formation of artificial +swarms, I tried this plan and found that it answered a good purpose; the +chief objection to it, is the difficulty often of selecting the suitable +kind of comb, if the operation is delayed until late in the afternoon. I +prefer, therefore, to perform it, when the sun is an hour or two high, +and to confine the bees until dark. If there are not a sufficient number +of bees on the comb, I shake off some from another frame, directly into +the hive, and shut them all up, giving them a supply of water. Sealed +queens if possible, should be used in all these operations. + +I shall now give a novel mode of creating nuclei, which I have devised, +and which I find to be attended with great success. Hive a new swarm in +the usual manner, in an old box, and as soon as the bees have entered +it, shut them up and carry them down into the cellar. About an hour +before sunset, take combs suitable to form as many nuclei as you judge +best, say five or six, or even eight or ten if the swarm was large, and +you need as many. Bring up the new swarm and shake it out upon a sheet, +sprinkling it gently with sugar-water. With a large tumbler or saucer, +scoop up without hurting any of the bees, a pint or more of them, and +place them before the mouth of one of the hives containing a brood comb; +repeat the process, until each nucleus has, say, a quart of bees. If you +see the queen, you may give the hive in which you put her, three or four +times as many bees as any other; and the next day it may be strengthened +with a few combs containing brood, just ready to mature. If you did not +find her, at the time of forming the nuclei, when you afterwards examine +them, the one which contains her may be properly reinforced with bees +and comb, so as to enable it to work to the best advantage. + +If this plan of forming nuclei, were attempted earlier in the afternoon +it would be difficult to prevent the bees from communicating on the +wing, and all going to the hive which contained their queen. If however, +the bees when first shaken out of the temporary hive, are so thoroughly +sprinkled, as not to be able to take wing and unite together, this mode +of forming colonies may be practiced at any hour of the day; and an +experienced Apiarian may prefer to do it, as soon as he has fairly hived +the new swarm. When the bees are shaken out in front of a hive which has +a sealed queen, or eggs from which they can raise one, having a whole +night in which to accustom themselves to their new situation, they will +be found, the next day, to adhere to the place where they were put, with +as much tenacity as a natural swarm does to their new hive. How +wonderful that the act of swarming should so thoroughly impress upon the +bees, an absolute indisposition to return to the parent stock. If this +were a fixed and invariable unwillingness, a sort of blind, unreasoning +instinct, it would not be so surprising, but we have already seen that +in case the bees lose their queen, they return in a very short time to +the stock from which they issued! If the nuclei formed in the manner +just described, found in their new hive, no means of obtaining a queen, +they would all return, next morning, to the parent stock. + +When the Apiarian can obtain a natural swarm from any other Apiary, it +may be divided into nuclei in the same way, and even a forced swarm, if +brought from a distance, will answer equally well. If the Apiarian +wishes to form colonies earlier than the season of natural swarming, and +cannot conveniently obtain a forced swarm from an Apiary, at least a +mile distant, he may, before the bees begin to fly out in the Spring, +transport one of his stocks to a neighbor's, and force from it a swarm +at the desired time. Even if it is moved not more than half a mile off, +the operation will be almost sure to succeed. Of all modes of forming +the nuclei, this I believe will be found to be the neatest, simplest and +best. + +Having thus described the various ways in which I have successfully +formed my nuclei, I shall now show how they may be all built up into +powerful stocks. It will be very obvious that on the ordinary plan of +management, they would be absolutely worthless, even if it were possible +to form them with the common hives. If they were not fed, they would be +unable to collect the means of building new comb, and would gradually +dwindle away, just as third or fourth swarms which issue late in the +season; nor could they be saved even by the most generous feeding, as +they would only use their supplies to fill up the little comb they had; +so that when the queen was ready to lay, there would be no empty cells +to receive her eggs, and too few bees to build any, even if they had all +the honey that they required. Such small colonies must gradually waste +away, unless they can be speedily and effectually supplied with the +requisite number of bees, and this can be done only by hives which give +the control of all the combs. With such hives, I can speedily build up +my nuclei, (provided I have not formed too many,) to the strength +necessary to make them powerful stocks. The hives containing them, ought +if possible, to stand at some distance from other hives, say two or +three feet: and if this cannot conveniently be done, they should in some +way, be so distinguished from the adjoining hives, that the young queens +when they are hatched and go out to seek the drones, will not be liable +to lose their lives by entering a wrong hive on their return. A small +leafy twig fastened on the alighting board of such hives, when they +stand near to others, will be almost sure to prevent such a +catastrophe: if they stand near to each other, some may be marked in +this way, and others with a piece of colored cloth. (See Page 159.) To +guard them against robbers, &c., the entrances to these nuclei should be +contracted, so that only a few bees can enter at once. Those which were +confined, should be examined, the day after their liberty is given to +them; the others, the day after they were formed, when, if they were not +supplied with a sealed queen, they will be found actively engaged in +constructing royal cells. A new range of comb should now be given to +each one, and it should contain no old bees, but brood rapidly maturing, +and if possible, eggs and worms only a few days old. + +This new addition of strength will greatly encourage the nuclei, and +give them the means of starting young queens, if they have not succeeded +in doing so with the first comb. I have very frequently found that for +some cause which I have not yet ascertained, they often start a large +number of queen cells, which in a few days, are all discontinued and +untenanted. The second attempt seldom fails. Does practice in this thing +make them more expert? But I will simply state the fact, referring to my +conjectures on page 218; and remarking that when they make a second +attempt, they seem frequently disposed to start a much larger number +than they otherwise would have done. In two or three days after giving +them the first piece of comb, I give them another, if their queen is +nearly mature, and I now let them alone until she ought to be depositing +eggs in the hive. I then give them, at intervals of a few days, two or +three combs more, and they will now be sufficiently powerful in bees, to +gather large quantities of honey, and fill the empty part of their hive. +The young queen is supplying with thousands of worker-eggs, the cells +from which the brood has emerged, and also the new ones built by the +bees, and the new colony will soon be one of the best stock hives in +the Apiary. If some of the full frames are moved, and empty ones placed +between them, as soon as the bees begin to build powerfully, there need +be no guide combs on the empty frames, and still the work will be +executed with the most beautiful regularity. + +But what, in the mean time, is the condition of the hives from which we +are taking so many brood combs for the proper development of our nuclei; +are they not weakened so much as to become quite enfeebled? I come now +to the very turning point of the whole nucleus system. If due judgment +has not been used, and the sanguine bee-keeper has endeavored to +multiply his colonies too rapidly, a most grievous disappointment awaits +him. Either his nuclei cannot be strengthened at the right time, or this +can be done, only by impoverishing the old stocks, and the result of the +whole operation will be a most decided failure, and if he is in the +vicinity of sugar-houses, confectionaries, or other tempting places of +bee resort, he will find the population of his colonies very seriously +diminished, and will have to break up the most of the nuclei which he +had formed, and incur the danger of losing nearly the whole of his +stock. I lay it down as a fundamental principle in my nucleus system, +that the old stocks must never be so much weakened by the removal of +brood-comb and bees that they are not able to keep their numbers +sufficiently strong to refill rapidly all the vacancies among their +combs. If the Apiarian attempts to multiply his stocks so rapidly that +this cannot be done, I will ensure him ample cause to repent at leisure +of his folly. If however, the attempt at very rapid multiplication is +made only by those who are favorably situated, and who have skill in the +management of bees, a very large gain may be made in the number of +stocks, and they may all be strong and flourishing. + +If a strong stock of bees in a hive of moderate size, which admits of +thorough inspection, is examined at the height of the honey harvest, +nearly all the cells will often be found filled with brood, honey or +bee-bread. The great laying of the queen, according to some writers, is +now over, not however as they erroneously imagine, because her fertility +has decreased, but merely because there is not _room_ in the hive for +all her eggs. She may often be seen restlessly traversing the combs, +seeking in vain for empty cells, until finding none, she is compelled to +extrude her eggs only to be devoured by the bees. (See p. 52.) If some +of the full combs are removed, and empty ones substituted in their +place, she will speedily fill them, laying at the rate of two or three +thousand a day! When my strong stocks are from time to time deprived of +one or two combs, if honey can easily be procured,[19] the bees proceed +at once to replace them, and the queen commences laying in the new combs +as soon as the cells are fairly started. If the combs are not removed +_too fast_, and care is taken not to deprive the stock of so much brood +that the bees cannot keep up a vigorous population, a queen in a hive so +managed, will lay her eggs in cells to be nurtured by the bees, instead +of being eaten up; and thus, in the course of the season, she may become +the mother of three or four times as many bees, as are reared in a hive +under other circumstances. By careful management, brood enough may, in +this way, be taken from a single hive, to build up a large number of +nuclei. Towards the close of the season however, as such a hive has been +constantly tasked in building comb and feeding young bees, almost all +its honey will have been used for these purposes, and although it may be +very populous, unless it is liberally fed, it will be sure to perish. +Since the discovery that unbolted rye flour will answer so admirably as +a substitute for pollen, we can supply the bees not only with honey, +when none can be obtained from the blossoms, but with an abundance of +bee-bread, when pollen is scarce. As I am writing this chapter, (March +29, 1853,) my bees are zealously engaged in taking the flour from some +old combs in front of their hives, and they can be seen most beautifully +moulding the little pellets on their thighs. By my movable combs, I can +give them the flour at once in their hives, as it can easily be rubbed +into an empty comb. The importance of Dzierzon's discovers of a +substitute for pollen, can hardly be over-estimated. If he had done +nothing more for the cause of Apiarian science, no true-hearted +bee-keeper would ever allow his name to be forgotten. + +In the Chapter on Feeding, I shall give more specific directions as to +the way in which the cultivator must feed his bees, when he aims at +increasing, as rapidly as possible, the number of his stocks. Unless +this work is done with great judgment, he will find often that the more +he feeds, the less bees he has in his hives, the cells being all +occupied with honey instead of brood. Such is the passion of bees for +storing away honey, that large supplies of it will always most seriously +interfere with breeding, unless the bees are sufficiently numerous to +build new comb in which the queen can find room for her eggs. + +I have no doubt that some who have but little experience in the +management of bees, are ready to imagine that they could easily strike +out a simpler and better way of increasing the number of colonies. For +instance: let a full hive have half its comb and bees put into an empty +hive, and the work of doubling, is without further trouble, effectually +accomplished. But what will the queenless hive do, under such +circumstances? Why, build of course, queen cells, and rear another. But +what kind of comb will they fill their hives with, before the young +queen begins to breed? Of that, perhaps, you had never thought. Let me +now lay down the only safe rule for all who engage in the multiplication +of artificial swarms. Never, under _any_ circumstances, take so much +comb and brood from your stock hives, as seriously to reduce their +numbers. This should be to the Apiarian, as "the law of the Medes and +Persians, which altereth not." + +Suppose that I divide a populous stock, about swarming season, into four +or five colonies; the strong probability is, that not one of them, if +left to themselves, will be strong enough to survive the Winter. If fed +in the ordinary way, and yet not supplied with combs and bees, their +ruin will often be only accelerated. If, on the contrary, I had taken, +from time to time, combs sufficient to form three or four nuclei, and +had strengthened the new colonies, in such a way as not to draw too +severely upon the resources of the parent stock, I might expect to see +them all, in due time, strong and flourishing. + +In the Spring of the year, if I desire to determine the strength of a +colony principally to raising young bees, I can easily effect it by the +following plan. A box is made, of the same inside dimensions with the +lower hive, into which the combs and bees of a full hive can all be +transferred, as soon as the bees are gathering honey enough to build new +combs. This box is now set over the old hive, which contains its +complement of frames with guide combs, or better still, with empty +combs. As soon as the bees begin to build, they take possession of the +lower hive, through which they go in and out, and the queen descends +with them, in order to lay her eggs in the lower combs. As soon as the +old apartment becomes pretty well filled, a large number of combs with +maturing bees, may be taken from the upper one, and when the hive below +is full, they may all be safely removed. If none of the upper combs are +removed, they will be filled with honey, as soon as the brood is +hatched; and as they will contain large stores of bee-bread, they will +answer admirably for replenishing stocks which have an insufficient +supply. In no other way, so far as I know, can so much honey be secured, +and if quantity, not quality, is aimed at, or if the test of quality is +its fitness for the use of the bees, I would recommend this mode as +superior to any other. If two swarms are hived together, or a very +powerful stock is lodged in a hive, so that at once they can have access +to the upper apartment, an extraordinary quantity of honey can be +secured, and of a very excellent quality. As soon as the bees have +raised one generation of young, in the combs of the upper box, or rather +in a part of them, they will use it chiefly for storing honey, and all +that it contains may be taken from them. In flavor, it will be found to +be nearly as good as honey stored in what is called "virgin comb." + +In the Chapter on the Requisites of a good hive, I have said that in +size it should be adapted to the natural instincts of the bee, and yet +admit of enlarging or contracting, according to the wants of the colony +placed in it. I never use a hive, the main apartment of which, holds +less than a Winchester bushel. If small colonies are placed in such a +hive, it must be temporarily partitioned off, to suit the size of its +inmates; for if bees have too much room given to them, they cannot +concentrate their animal heat, and are so much discouraged that they +often abandon their hive. I am aware that many judicious Apiarians +recommend hives of much smaller dimensions, and I shall now give my +reasons for using one so large. If a hive is too small, then in the +Spring, the combs are soon filled with honey, bee-bread and brood, and +the surprising fertility of the queen bee, can be turned to no efficient +account. If the honey-harvest in any year, is deficient, such a colony +is very apt to perish in the succeeding Winter; whereas in a large hive, +the honey stored up in a fruitful season, is a reserve supply, in time +of need. In very large hives, I have seen large accumulations of honey +which have been untouched for years, while on the same stand, stocks of +about the same age, in small hives have perished by starvation. A good +early swarm in any situation at all favorable, will fill, the first +season, a hive that holds a bushel: and if there is any location in +which they cannot do this, a doubled swarm should be put into the hive, +or bee-keeping may, as far as profit is concerned, be abandoned. But it +may be objected that if the swarm was not sufficiently strong to fill +their hive, the bees often suffer from the cold in Winter, and become +too much reduced in numbers, to build early and rapidly in the ensuing +Spring. This is undoubtedly true, and hence the great importance of +putting a generous allowance of bees into a hive at the first start, +unless, as on my plan, the requisite strength can be given to them, at a +subsequent period. The hive, if large, should be all the more carefully +protected from extremes of cold, in order to give the bees an +opportunity of developing their natural powers of re-production, to the +best advantage. + +In such a hive, the queen will be able to breed almost every month in +the year, even in the coldest climates where bees flourish, and on the +return of Spring, thousands of young bees will be found in it, which +could not have been bred in a small, or badly protected hive. The Polish +hives described by Mr. Dohiogost, have already been referred to. Some of +these hold about three bushels, and yet the bees swarm from them with +great regularity, and the swarms are often of immense size. These hives +are admirably protected, and at the time of hiving at least _four_ times +the number of bees are lodged in them, that are ordinarily put into one +of our hives. The queen bee, in such a hive, has ample room to lay her +three thousand eggs, or more, daily: and a prodigious colony is raised, +which often stores enormous supplies of honey. As all the frames in my +hives are of the same dimensions, the size of the hive may be +conveniently varied, to suit the views of different bee-keepers; for +they may be large or small, according to the number of frames designed +to be used. I hope, before long, to experiment with hives as large +again, as those that I now use; or rather, with such, as by containing +an upper box, may be made to accommodate twice as many bees. This whole +subject of the proper size of hives, certainly needs to be taken +entirely out of the region of conjecture, and to be put upon the basis +of careful observations. Unquestionably the size will require, in some +respects, to be modified by the more or less favorable character of the +country for bee-keeping; but I am satisfied that small hives will be +found of but little profit, and that large ones, unless well stocked +with bees, from the first, and thoroughly protected, will often fail to +answer any good end. If I should find on further experiment, that the +very large hives of which I have spoken, are better, my hives are at +present so constructed that without any alteration of existing parts, +they can easily be supplied with the required additions. I have already +mentioned that I sometimes build my hives, three in one structure, in +order to save expense in their construction. I do not however, wish to +be considered as recommending such hives as the best for general use. +For some purposes a single hive is unquestionably the best, as it can be +easily moved by one person; and this, will many times be found to be a +point of great importance. The double hives, or two in one, are for most +purposes, decidedly the best, as well as the cheapest. I have quite +recently contrived a plan of constructing my wooden hives in such a +manner as to give them very great protection against extremes of heat +and cold, while at the same time they can be easily and cheaply made, by +any one who can handle the simplest mechanical tools. + +It has been previously stated that the queen bee cannot be induced to +sting, by any kind of treatment however severe. The reason of this +strange unwillingness to use her natural and powerful weapon, will be +obvious, when we consider how indispensable the preservation of her life +is to the very existence of the colony, and that her single sting, the +loss of which would be her death, could avail but little for their +defence, in case of an attack. She never uses her weapon, except when +engaged in mortal combat with another queen. As soon as the two rivals +come together, they clinch, at once, with every demonstration of the +most vindictive hatred. Why then, are not both of them often destroyed? +and why are not hives, in the swarming season, almost certain to become +queenless? We can never sufficiently admire the provision so simple and +yet so effectual, by which such a calamity is prevented. The queen bee +never stings unless she has such an advantage in the combat, that she +can curve her body under that of her rival, in such a manner as to +inflict a deadly wound, without any risk of being stung herself! The +moment that the position of the two combatants is such that neither has +the advantage, and that both are liable to perish, they not only refuse +to sting, but disengage themselves, and suspend their conflict for a +short time! If it were not for this peculiarity of instinct, such +combats would very often terminate in the death of both the parties, +and the race of bees would be in danger of becoming extinct. + +The unwillingness of a swarm of bees, which has been deprived of its +queen, to receive another, until after some time has elapsed, must +always be borne in mind, by those who have anything to do with making +artificial swarms. About 24 hours must elapse before it will be safe to +introduce a strange mother into a queenless hive; and even then, if she +is not fertile, she will run a great risk of being destroyed. To prevent +such losses, I adopt the German plan of confining the queen, in what +they call, "a queen cage." A small hole, about as large as a thimble, +may be gouged out of a block, and covered over with wire gauze, or any +other kind of perforated cover, so that when the queen is put in, the +bees cannot enter to destroy her. Before long, they will cultivate an +acquaintance, by thrusting their antennæ through to her; so that, when +she is liberated the next day, they will gladly adopt her in place of +the one they have lost. If a hole large enough for her to creep out, is +closed with wax, they will gnaw the wax away, and liberate her +themselves, from her confinement. Queens that seem bent on departing to +the woods, may be confined in the same way, until the colony has given +up all thoughts of forsaking its hive. A small paste-board box with +suitable holes, or a wooden match-box thoroughly scalded, I have found +to answer a very good purpose. + +I shall here describe what may be called a _Queen Nursery_ which I have +contrived to aid those who are engaged in the rapid multiplication of +colonies by artificial means. A solid block about an inch and a quarter +thick, is substituted for one of my frames; holes, about one and a half +inches in diameter, are bored through it, and covered on both sides, +with gauze wire slides; the wire ought to be such as will allow a +common bee to pass through, but should be too small to permit a queen to +do the same. Any kind of perforated cover may be made to answer the same +purpose as the gauze wire. If a number of sealed queens are on hand, and +there is danger that some may hatch, and destroy the others, before the +Apiarian can make use of them in forming artificial swarms, he may very +carefully cut out the combs containing them, and place them each in a +separate cradle! The bees having access to them, will give them proper +attention, and as soon as they are hatched, will supply them with food, +and thus they will always be on hand for use when they are needed. This +Nursery must of course, be established in a hive which has no mature +queen, or it will quickly be transformed into a slaughter house by the +bees. I have not yet tested this plan so thoroughly as to be _certain_ +that it will succeed; and I know so well the immense difference between +theoretical conjectures and practical results, that I consider nothing +in the bee line, or indeed in any other line, as established, until it +has been submitted to the most rigorous demonstrations, and has +triumphantly passed from the mere regions of the brain to those of +actual fact. A theory on any subject may seem so plausible as almost to +amount to a positive demonstration, and yet when put to the working +test, it is often found to be encumbered by some unforeseen difficulty, +which speedily convinces even its sanguine projector, that it has no +practical value. Nine things out of ten may work to a charm, and yet the +tenth may be so connected with the other nine, that its failure renders +their success of no account. When I first used this Nursery, I did not +give the bees access to it, and I found that the queens were not +properly developed, and died in their cells. Perhaps they did not +receive sufficient warmth, or were not treated in some other important +respects, as they would have been if left under the care of the bees. +In the multiplicity of my experiments, I did not repeat this one under a +sufficient variety of circumstances, to ascertain the precise cause of +failure; nor have I as yet, tried whether it will answer perfectly, by +admitting the bees to the queen cells. + +Last Spring, I made one queen supply several hives with eggs, so as to +keep them strong in numbers while they were constantly engaged in +rearing a large number of spare queens. Two hives which I shall call A +and B, were deprived at intervals of a week, each of its queen,[20] in +order to induce them to raise a number of young sealed queens for the +use of the Apiary. As soon as the queens in A, were of an age suitable +to be removed, I took them away and gave the colony a fertile queen from +another hive, C; as soon as she had laid a large number of eggs in the +empty cells, I removed the queen cells now sealed over, from B, and gave +them the loan of this fertile mother, until she had performed the same +necessary office for them. By this time, the queen cells in C, were +sealed over; these were now removed, and the queen restored; she had +thus made one circuit, and laid a very large number of eggs in the two +hives which were first deprived of their queens. After allowing her to +replenish her own hive with eggs, I sent her out again on her +perambulating mission, and by this new device was able to get an +extraordinary number of young queens from the three hives, and at the +same time to preserve their numbers from seriously diminishing. Two +queens may in this way, be made in six hives to furnish all the +supernumerary queens which will be wanted in quite a large Apiary. + +It will be perfectly obvious to every intelligent and ingenious +Apiarian, that the perfect control of the comb, is the _soul_ of an +entirely new system of practical management, and that it may be modified +to suit the wants of all who wish to cultivate bees. Even the advocate +of the old fashioned plan of killing the bees, can with one of my hives, +destroy his faithful laborers, by shaking them into a tub of water, +almost, if not quite as speedily as by setting them over a sulphur pit; +while after the work of death is accomplished, his honey will be free +from disgusting fumes, and all the labor of cutting it out of the hive, +may be dispensed with. + +I am now prepared to answer an objection which doubtless has been +present in the minds of many, all the time that they have been reading +the various processes on which I rely for the multiplication of +colonies. A very large number of persons who keep bees, or who wish to +keep them, are so much afraid of them that they object entirely even to +natural swarming, because they are in danger of being stung in the +process of hiving the bees. How are such persons to manage bees on my +plan, which seems like bearding a lion in its very den! The truth is +that some persons are so very timid, or suffer so dreadfully from the +sting of a bee, that they are every way disqualified from having +anything to do with them, and ought either to have no bees upon their +premises, or to entrust the care of them to some suitable person. By +managing bees according to the directions furnished in this treatise, +almost any one can learn, by using a bee-dress, to superintend them, +with very little risk; while those who are favorites with them, may +dispense entirely with any protection. I find in short, that the risk of +being stung is really diminished by the use of my hives; although it +will be hard to convince those who have not seen them in use, that this +can be so. + +There is still another class who either keep bees or can be induced to +keep them, and who are anxiously inquiring for some new hive or new plan +by which, with little or no trouble, they may reap copious harvests of +the precious nectar. This is emphatically _the_ class to seize hold of +every new device, and waste their time and money to fill the coffers of +the ignorant or unprincipled. There never will be a "royal road" to +profitable bee-keeping. If there is any branch of rural economy which +more than all others demands care and experience, for its profitable +management, it is the keeping of bees; and those who have a painful +consciousness that the disposition to put off and neglect, was, so to +speak, born in them, and has never been got out of them, will do well to +let bees alone, unless they hope, by the study of their systematic +industry, to reform evil habits which are well nigh incurable. + +While I feel very sanguine that my system of management will be used +extensively and very advantageously, by careful and skillful Apiarians, +I know too much of the world to expect that it will, with the masses, +very speedily supercede other methods, even if it were so absolutely +perfect, as to admit of no possible improvement. I hope, however, that I +may, without being charged with presumption, be permitted to put on +record the prediction, that _movable frames_ will in due season, be +almost universally employed; and this, whether bees are allowed to swarm +naturally, or are increased by artificial means, or are kept in hives in +which they are not expected to swarm at all. + + NOTE.--The very day on which I first contrived the plan, so + perfectly simple, and yet so efficacious, of gaining the control of + the combs by these frames, I not only foresaw all the consequences + which would follow their adoption, but wrote as follows, in my + Bee-Journal. "The use of these frames will, I am persuaded, give a + new impulse to the easy and profitable management of bees; and will + render the making of artificial swarms an easy operation." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] I have often spent more than ten minutes in opening and shutting a +single frame in the Huber hive, and even then, have sometimes crushed +some of the bees. + +[18] The scent of the hives, during the height of the gathering season, +will usually inform us from what sources the bees have gathered their +supplies. + +[19] If they cannot obtain it, the Apiarian must himself furnish it. + +[20] The queens taken from such hives may be advantageously used in +forming artificial colonies. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE BEE-MOTH, AND OTHER ENEMIES OF BEES. DISEASES OF BEES. + + +Of all the numerous enemies of the honey-bee, the Bee-Moth (Tinea +mellonella,) in climates of hot Summers, is by far, the most to be +dreaded. So wide spread and fatal have been its ravages in this country, +that thousands have abandoned the cultivation of bees in despair, and in +districts which once produced abundant supplies of the purest honey, +bee-keeping has gradually dwindled down into a very insignificant +pursuit. Contrivances almost without number, have been devised, to +defend the bees against this invidious foe, but still it continues its +desolating inroads, almost unchecked, laughing as it were to scorn, at +all the so-called "moth-proof" hives, and turning many of the ingenious +fixtures designed to entrap or exclude it, into actual aids and comforts +in its nefarious designs. + +I should feel but little confidence in being able to reinstate +bee-keeping in our country, into a certain and profitable pursuit, if I +could not show the Apiarian in what way he can safely bid defiance to +the pestiferous assaults of this, his most implacable enemy. I have +patiently studied its habits for years, and I am at length able to +announce a system of management founded upon the peculiar construction +of my hives, which will enable the careful bee-keeper to protect his +colonies against the monster. The CAREFUL bee-keeper, I say: for to +pretend that the careless one, can by any contrivance effect this, is "a +snare and a delusion;" and no well-informed man, unless he is steeped to +the very lips, in fraud and imposture, will ever claim to accomplish any +thing of the kind. The bee-moth infects our Apiaries, just as weeds take +possession of a fertile soil; and the negligent bee-keeper will find a +"moth-proof" hive, when the sluggard finds a _weed-proof_ soil, and I +suspect not until a consummation so devoutly wished for by the slothful +has arrived. Before explaining the means upon which I rely, to +circumvent the moth, I will first give a brief description of its +habits. + +Swammerdam, towards the close of the 17th century, gave a very accurate +description of this insect, which was then called by the very expressive +name of the "bee-wolf." He has furnished good drawings of it, in all its +changes, from the worm to the perfect moth, together with the peculiar +webs or galleries which it constructs and from which the name of Tinea +Galleria or gallery moth, has been given to it by some entomologists. He +failed, however, to discriminate between the male and female, which, +because they differ so much in size and appearance, he supposed to be +two different species of the wax-moth. It seems to have been a great +pest in his time; and even Virgil speaks of the "dirum tineæ genus," the +dreadful _offspring_ of the moth; that is the worm. This destroyer +usually makes its appearance about the hives, in April or May; the time +of its coming, depending upon the warmth of the climate, or the +forwardness of the season. It is seldom seen on the wing, (unless +startled from its lurking place about the hive,) until towards dark, and +is evidently, chiefly nocturnal in its habits. In dark cloudy days, +however, I have noticed it on the wing long before sunset, and if +several such days follow in succession, the female oppressed with the +urgent necessity of laying her eggs, may be seen endeavoring to gain +admission to the hives. The female is much larger than the male, and +"her color is deeper and more inclining to a darkish gray, with small +spots or blackish streaks on the interior edge of her upper wings." The +color of the male inclines more to a light gray; they might easily be +mistaken for different species of moths. These insects are surprisingly +agile, both on foot and on the wing. The motions of a bee are very slow +in comparison. "They are," says Reaumur, "the most nimble-footed +creatures that I know." "If the approach to the Apiary[21] be observed +of a moonlight evening, the moths will be found flying or running round +the hives, watching an opportunity to enter, whilst the bees that have +to guard the entrances against their intrusion, will be seen acting as +vigilant sentinels, performing continual rounds near this important +post, extending their antennæ to the utmost, and moving them to the +right and left alternately. Woe to the unfortunate moth that comes +within their reach!" "It is curious," says Huber, "to observe how +artfully the moth knows how to profit, to the disadvantage of the bees, +which require much light for seeing objects; and the precautions taken +by the latter in reconnoitering and expelling so dangerous an enemy." + +The entrance of the moth into a hive, and the ravages committed by her +progeny, forcibly remind one of the sad havoc which sin often makes of +character and happiness, when it finds admission into the human heart, +and is allowed to prey unchecked, upon all its most precious treasures; +and he who would not be so enslaved by its power, as to lose all his +spiritual life and prosperity, must be constantly on the defensive, and +ever on the "watch" against its fatal intrusions. + +Only some tiny eggs are deposited by the moth, and they give birth to a +very delicate, innocent-looking worm; but let these apparently +insignificant creatures once "get the upper hand," and all the fragrance +of the honied dome, is soon corrupted by their abominable stench; every +thing beautiful and useful, is ruthlessly destroyed; the hum of happy +industry is stilled, and at last, nothing is left in the desecrated +hive, but a set of ravenous, half famished worms, knotting and writhing +around each other, in most loathsome convolutions. + +Wax is the proper aliment of the larvæ of the bee-moth: and upon this +seemingly indigestible substance, they thrive and fatten. When obliged +to steal their living as best they can, among a powerful stock of bees, +they are exposed, during their growth, to many perils, and seldom fare +well enough to reach their natural size: but if they are rioting at +pleasure, among the full combs of a feeble and discouraged population, +they often attain a size and corpulency truly astonishing. If the +bee-keeper wishes to see their innate capabilities fully developed, let +him rear a lot for himself among some old combs, and if prizes were +offered for fat and full grown worms, he might easily obtain one. In the +course of a few weeks, the larva like that of the silk-worm, stops +eating, and begins to think of a suitable place for encasing itself in +its silky shroud. In hives where they reign uncontrolled, this is a work +of but little difficulty; almost any place will answer their purpose, +and they often pile their cocoons, one on top of another, or join them +in long rows together: but in hives strongly guarded by healthy bees, +this is a matter not very easily accomplished; and many a worm while it +is cautiously prying about, to see where it can find some snug place in +which to ensconce itself, is caught by the nape of the neck, and very +unceremoniously served with an instant writ of ejection from the hive. +If a hive is thoroughly made, of sound materials, and has no cracks or +crevices under which the worm can retreat, it is obliged to leave the +interior in search of such a place, and it runs a most dangerous +gantlet, as it passes, for this purpose, through the ranks of its +enraged foes. Even in the worm state, however, its motions are +exceedingly quick; it can crawl backwards or forwards, and as well one +way as another: it can twist round on itself, curl up almost into a +knot, and flatten itself out like a pancake! in short, it is full of +stratagems and cunning devices. If obliged to leave the hive, it gets +under any board or concealed crack, spins its cocoon, and patiently +awaits its transformation. In most of the common hives, it is under no +necessity of leaving its birth place for this purpose. It is almost +certain to find a crack or flaw into which it can creep, or a small +space between the bottom-board and the edges of the hive which rest upon +it. A _very_ small crevice will answer all its purposes. It enters, by +flattening itself out almost as much as though it had been passed under +a roller, and as soon as it is safe from the bees, it speedily begins to +give its cramped tenement, the requisite proportions. It is utterly +amazing how an insect apparently so feeble, can do this; but it will +often gnaw for itself a cavity, even in solid wood, and thus enlarge its +retreat, until it has ample room for making its cocoon! The time when it +will break forth into a winged insect, depends entirely upon the degree +of heat to which it is exposed. I have had them spin their cocoons and +hatch in a temperature of about 70°, in ten or eleven days, and I have +known them to spin so late in the Fall, that they remained all Winter, +undeveloped, and did not emerge until the warm weather of the ensuing +Spring! + +If they are hatched in the hive, they leave it, in order to attend to +the business of impregnation. In the moth state, they do not actually +attack the hives, to plunder them of food, although they have a "sweet +tooth" in their head, and are easily attracted by the odor of liquid +sweets. The male, having no special business in the hive, usually keeps +himself at a safe distance from the bees: but the female, impelled by an +irresistible instinct, seeks admission, in order to deposit her eggs +where her offspring may gain the readiest access to their natural food. +She carefully explores all the cracks and crevices about the +bottom-board, and if she finds a suitable place under them, lays her +eggs among the parings of the combs, and other refuse matter which has +fallen from the hive. If she enters a feeble or discouraged stock, where +she can act her own pleasure, she will lay her eggs among the combs. In +a hive where she is too closely watched to effect this, she will insert +them in the corners, into the soft propolis, or in any place where there +are small pieces of wax and bee-bread, which have fallen upon the +bottom-board, and which will furnish a temporary place of concealment +for her progeny, and also the requisite nourishment, until they have +strength and enterprise enough to reach the main combs of the hive, and +fortify themselves there. "As soon as hatched,[22] the worm encloses +itself in a case of white silk, which it spins around its body; at first +it is like a mere thread, but gradually increases in size, and during +its growth, feeds upon the cells around it, for which purpose it has +only to put forth its head, and find its wants supplied. It devours its +food with great avidity, and consequently increases so much in bulk, +that its gallery soon becomes too short and narrow, and the creature is +obliged to thrust itself forward and lengthen the gallery, as well to +obtain more room as to procure an additional supply of food. Its +augmented size exposing it to attacks from surrounding foes, the wary +insect fortifies its new abode with additional strength and thickness, +by blending with the filaments of its silken covering, a mixture of wax +and its own excrement, for the external barrier of a new gallery, the +_interior_ and partitions of which are lined with a smooth surface of +white silk, which admits the occasional movements of the insect, without +injury to its delicate (?) texture. In performing these operations, the +insect might be expected to meet with opposition from the bees, and to +be gradually rendered more assailable as it advanced in age. It never, +however, exposes any part but its head and neck, both of which are +covered with stout helmets or scales impenetrable to the sting of a bee, +as is the composition of the galleries that surround it." As soon as it +has reached its full growth, it seeks in the manner previously +described, a secure place for undergoing its changes into a winged +insect. + +Before describing the way in which I protect my hives from this deadly +pest, I shall first show why the bee-moth has so wonderfully increased +in numbers in this country, and how the use of patent hives has so +powerfully contributed to encourage its ravages. It ought to be borne in +mind that our climate is altogether more propitious to its rapid +increase, than that of Great Britain. Our intensely hot summers develop +most rapidly and powerfully, insect life, and those parts of our country +where the heat is most protracted and intense, have, as a general thing, +suffered most from the devastations of the bee-moth. + +The bee is not a native of the American continent; it was first brought +here by colonists from Great Britain, and was called by the Indians, the +white man's fly. With the bee, was introduced its natural enemy, +created for the special purpose, not of destroying the insect, on whose +industry it thrives, and whose extermination would be fatal to the moth +itself, but that it might gain its livelihood as best it could in this +busy world. Finding itself in a country whose climate is exceedingly +propitious to its rapid increase, it has multiplied and increased a +thousand fold, until now there is hardly a spot where the bees inhabit, +which is not infested by its powerful enemy. + +I have often listened to the glowing accounts of the vast supplies of +honey obtained by the first settlers, from their bees. Fifty years ago, +the markets in our large cities were much more abundantly supplied than +they now are, and it was no uncommon thing to see exposed for sale, +large washing-tubs filled with the most beautiful honey. Various reasons +have been assigned for the present depressed state of Apiarian pursuits. +Some imagine that newly settled countries are most favorable for the +labors of the bee: others, that we have overstocked our farms, so that +the bees cannot find a sufficient supply of food. That neither of these +reasons will account for the change, I shall prove more at length, in my +remarks on Honey, and when I discuss the question of overstocking a +district with bees. Others lay all the blame upon the bee-moth, and +others still, upon our departure from the good old-fashioned way of +managing bees. That the bee-moth has multiplied most astonishingly, is +undoubtedly true. In many districts, it so superabounds, that the man +who should expect to manage his bees with as little care as his father +and grandfather bestowed upon them, and yet realize as large profits, +would find himself most wofully mistaken. The old bee-keeper often never +looked at his bees after the swarming season, until the time came for +appropriating their spoils. He then carefully "hefted" all his hives so +as to be able to judge as well as he could, how much honey they +contained. All which were found to be too light to survive the Winter, +he at once condemned; and if any were deficient in bees, or for any +other reason, appeared to be of doubtful promise, they were, in like +manner, sentenced to the sulphur pit. A certain number of those +containing the largest supplies of honey, were also treated in the same +summary way: while the requisite number of the _very best_, were +reserved to replenish his stock another season. If the same system +precisely, were now followed, a number of colonies would still perish +annually, through the increased devastations of the moth. + +The change which has taken place in the circumstances of the bee-keeper, +may be illustrated by supposing that when the country was first settled, +weeds were almost unknown. The farmer plants his corn, and then lets it +alone, and as there are no weeds to molest it, at the end of the season +he harvests a fair crop. Suppose, however, that in process of time, the +weeds begin to spread more and more, until at last, this farmer's son or +grandson finds that they entirely choke his corn, and that he cannot, in +the old way, obtain a remunerating crop. Now listen to him, as he +gravely informs you that he cannot tell how it is, but corn with him has +all "run out." He manages it precisely as his father or grandfather +always managed theirs, but somehow the pestiferous weeds will spring up, +and he has next to no crop. Perhaps you can hardly conceive of such +transparent ignorance and stupidity; but it would be difficult to show +that it would be one whit greater than that of a large number who keep +bees in places where the bee-moth abounds, and who yet imagine that +those plans which answered perfectly well fifty or a hundred years ago, +when moths were scarce, will answer just as well now. + +If however, the old plan had been rigidly adhered to, the ravages of the +bee-moth would never have been so great as they now are. The +introduction of _patent hives_ has contributed most powerfully, to fill +the land with the devouring pest. I am perfectly aware that this is a +bold assertion, and that it may, at first sight, appear to be very +uncourteous, if not unjust, to the many intelligent and ingenious +Apiarians, who have devoted much time, and spent large sums of money, in +perfecting hives designed to enable the bee-keeper to contend most +successfully against his worst enemy. As I do not wish to treat such +persons with even the appearance of disrespect, I shall endeavor to show +just how the use of the hives which they have devised, has contributed +to undermine the prosperity of the bees. Many of these hives have +valuable properties, and if they were always used in strict accordance +with the enlightened directions of those who have invented them, they +would undoubtedly be real and substantial improvements over the old box +or straw hive, and would greatly aid the bee-keeper in his contest with +the moth. The great difficulty is that they are none of them, able to +give him the facilities which alone can make him victorious. No hive, as +I shall soon show, can ever do this, which does not give the complete +and easy control of all the combs. + +I do not know of a single improved hive which does not aim at entirely +doing away with the old-fashioned plan of killing the bees. Such a +practice is denounced as being almost as cruel and silly as to kill a +hen for the sake of obtaining her feathers or a few of her eggs. Now if +the Apiarian can be furnished with suitable instructions, and such as he +will _practice_, for managing his bees so as to avoid this necessity, +then I admit the full force of all the objections which have been urged +against it. I have never read the beautiful verses of the poet +Thompson, without feeling all their force: + + "Ah, see, where robbed and murdered in that pit + Lies the still heaving hive! at evening snatched, + Beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night, + And fixed o'er sulphur! while, not dreaming ill, + The happy people, in their waxen cells, + Sat tending public cares; + Sudden, the dark oppressive steam ascends, + And, used to milder scents, the tender race, + By thousands, tumble from their honied dome! + Into a gulf of blue sulphureous flame." + +The plain matter of fact however, is, that in our country, as many bees, +if not more, die of starvation in their hives, as ever were killed by +the fumes of sulphur. Commend me rather to the humanity of the +old-fashioned bee-keeper, who put to a speedy and therefore merciful +death, the poor bees which are now, by millions, tortured by slow +starvation among their empty combs! At the present time, (April 1853,) I +am almost daily hearing of swarms which have perished in this way, +during the last Winter; and I know of only one person who was merciful +enough to kill his weak stocks, rather than suffer them to die so cruel +a death. + +If the use of the common patent hives could only keep the stocks strong +in numbers, and if the bee-keepers would always see that they were well +supplied with honey, then I admit that to kill the bees would be both +cruel and unnecessary. Such however, are the discouragements and losses +necessarily attending the use of any hive which does not give the +control of the combs, that there will be few who do not continually find +that some of their stocks are too feeble to be worth the labor and +expense of attempting to preserve them over Winter. How many colonies +are annually wintered, which are not only of no value to their owner, +but are positive nuisances in his Apiary; being so feeble in the Spring, +that they are speedily overcome by the moth, and answer only to breed a +horde of destroyers to ravage the rest of his Apiary. The time spent +upon them is often as absolutely wasted, as the time devoted to a sick +animal incurably diseased, and which can never be of any service, while +by nursing it along, its owner incurs the risk of infecting his whole +stock with its deadly taint. If, on the score of kindness, he should +shut it up, and let it starve to death, few of us, I imagine, would care +to cultivate a very intimate acquaintance with one so extremely original +in the exhibition of his humanity! + +Ever since the introduction of patent hives, the notion has almost +universally prevailed, that stocks must not, under _any_ circumstances, +be voluntarily broken up; and hence, instead of Apiaries, filled in the +Spring, with strong and healthy stocks of bees, easily able to protect +themselves against the bee-moth, and all other enemies, we have +multitudes of colonies which, if they had been kept on purpose to +furnish food for the worms, could scarcely have answered a more valuable +end in encouraging their increase. The simple truth is, that improved +hives, without an improved system of management, have done on the whole +more harm than good; in no country have they been so extensively used as +in our own, and no where has the moth so completely gained the +ascendency. Just so far as they have discouraged bee-keepers from the +old plan of killing off all their weak swarms in the Fall, just so far +have they extended "aid and comfort" to the moth, and made the condition +of the bee-keeper worse than it was before. That some of them might be +managed so as in all ordinary cases, to give the bees complete +protection against their scourge, I do not, for a moment, question; but +that they cannot, from the very nature of the case, answer fully in all +emergencies, the ends for which they were designed, I shall endeavor to +prove and not to assert. + +The kind of hives of which I have been speaking, are such as have been +devised by intelligent and honest men, practically acquainted with the +management of bees: as for many of the hives which have been introduced, +they not only afford the Apiarian no assistance against the inroads of +the bee-moth, but they are so constructed as positively to aid it in its +nefarious designs. The more they are used, the worse the poor bees are +off: just as the more a man uses the lying nostrums of the brazen-faced +quack, the further he finds himself from health and vigor. + +I once met with an intelligent man who told me that he had paid a +considerable sum, to a person who professed to be in possession of many +valuable _secrets_ in the management of bees, and who promised, among +other things, to impart to him an infallible remedy against the +bee-moth. On the receipt of the money, he very gravely told him that the +secret of keeping the moth out of the hive, was to keep the bees strong +and vigorous! A truer declaration he could not have made, but I believe +that the bee-keeper felt, notwithstanding, that he had been imposed +upon, as outrageously, as a poor man would be, who after paying a quack +a large sum of money for an infallible, life-preserving secret, should +be turned off with the truism that the secret of living forever, was to +keep well! + +There is not an intelligent, observing Apiarian who has been in the +habit of carefully examining the operations of bees, not only in his own +Apiary, but wherever he could find them, who has not seen strong stocks +flourishing under almost any conceivable circumstances. They may be seen +in hives of the most miserable construction, unpainted and unprotected, +sometimes with large open cracks and clefts extending down their sides, +and yet laughing to defiance, the bee-moth, and all other adverse +influences. + +Almost any thing hollow, in which the bees can establish themselves, and +where they have once succeeded in becoming strong, will often be +successfully tenanted by them for a series of years. To see such hives, +as they sometimes may be seen, in possession of persons both ignorant +and careless, and who hardly know a bee-moth from any other kind of +moth, may at first sight well shake the confidence of the inquirer, in +the necessity or value of any particular precautions to preserve his +hives from the devastations of the moth. + +After looking at these powerful stocks in what may be called log-cabin +hives, let us examine some in the most costly hives, which have ever +been constructed; in what have been called real "Bee-Palaces;" and we +shall often find them weak and impoverished, infested and almost +devoured by the worms. Their owner, with books in his hand, and all the +newest devices and appliances in the Apiarian line, unable to protect +his bees against their enemies, or to account for the reason why some +hives seem, like the children of the poor, almost to thrive upon +ill-treatment and neglect, while others, like the offspring of the rich +and powerful, are feeble and diseased, almost in exact proportion to the +means used to guard them against noxious influences, and to minister +most lavishly to all their wants. + +I once used to be much surprised to hear so many bee-keepers speak of +having "good luck," or "bad luck" with their bees; but really as bees +are generally managed, success or failure does seem to depend almost +entirely upon what the ignorant or superstitious are wont to call +"luck." + +I shall now try to do what I have never yet seen satisfactorily done by +any writer on bees; viz.: show exactly under what circumstances the +bee-moth succeeds in establishing itself in a hive; thus explaining why +some stocks flourish in spite of all neglect, while others, in the +common hives, fall a prey to the moth, let their owner be as careful as +he will, I shall finally show how in suitable hives, with proper +precautions, it may always be kept from seriously annoying the bees. + +It often happens, when a large number of stocks are kept, that in spite +of all precautions, some of them are found in the Spring, so greatly +reduced in numbers, that if left to themselves, they are in danger of +falling a prey to the devouring moth. Bees, when in feeble colonies, +seem often to lose a portion of their wonted vigilance, and as they have +a large quantity of empty comb which they cannot guard, even if they +would, the moth enters the hive, and deposits a large number of eggs, +and thus before the bees have become sufficiently numerous to protect +themselves, the combs are filled with worms, and the destruction of the +colony speedily follows. The ignorant or careless bee-keeper is informed +of the ravages which are going on in such a hive, only when its ruin is +fully completed, and a cloud of winged pests issues from it, to destroy +if they can, the rest of his stocks. But how, it may be asked, can it be +ascertained that a hive is seriously infested with the all-devouring +worms? The aspect of the bees, so discouraged and forlorn, proclaims at +once that there is trouble of some kind within. If the hive be slightly +elevated, the bottom-board will be found covered with pieces of +bee-bread, &c. mixed with the _excrement of the worms_ which looks +almost exactly like fine grains of powder. As the bees in Spring, clean +out their combs, and prepare the cells for the reception of brood, their +bottom-board will often be so covered with parings of comb and with +small pieces of bee-bread, that the hive may appear to be in danger of +being destroyed by the worms. If, however, none of the _black_ excrement +is perceived, the refuse on the bottom-board, like the shavings in a +carpenter's shop, are proofs of industry and not the signs of +approaching ruin. It is highly important, however, to keep the +bottom-boards clean, and if a piece of zinc be slipt in, (or even an old +newspaper,) by removing and cleansing it from time to time, the bees +will be greatly assisted in their operations. As soon as the hive is +well filled with bees, this need no longer be done. + +Even the most careful and experienced Apiarian will find, too often, +that although he is perfectly well aware of the plague that is reigning +within, his knowledge can be turned to no good account, the interior of +the hive being almost as inaccessible as the interior of the human body. +The way in which I manage, in such cases, is as follows. + +Having ascertained, in the Spring, as soon as the bees begin to fly out, +that a colony although feeble, has a fertile queen, I take the +precaution at once to give it the strength which is indispensable, not +merely to its safety, but to its ability for any kind of successful +labor. + +As a certain number of bees are needed in a hive, in order as well to +warm and hatch the thousands of eggs which a healthy queen can lay, as +to feed and properly develop the larvæ after they are hatched, I know +that a feeble colony must remain feeble for a long time, unless they can +at once be supplied with a considerable accession of numbers. Even if +there were no moths in existence to trouble such a hive, it would not be +able to rear a large number of bees, until after the best of the +honey-harvest had passed away: and then it would become powerful only +that its increasing numbers might devour the food which the others had +previously stored in the cells. If the small colony has a considerable +number of bees, and is able to cover and warm at least one comb in +addition to those containing brood which they already have, I take from +one of my strong stocks, a frame containing some three or four thousand +or more young bees, which are sealed over in their cells, and are just +ready to emerge. These bees which require no food, and need nothing but +warmth to develop them, will, in a few days, hatch in the new hive to +which they are given, and thus the requisite number of workers, in the +full vigor and energy of youth, will be furnished to the hive, and the +discouraged queen, finding at once a suitable number of experienced +nurses[23] to take charge of her eggs, deposits them in the proper +cells, instead of simply extruding them, to be devoured by the bees. +While bees often attack full grown strangers which are introduced into +their hive, they never fail to receive gladly all the brood comb that we +choose to give them. If they are sufficiently numerous, they will always +cherish it, and in warm weather, they will protect it, even if it is +laid against the outside of their hive! If the bees in the weak stock, +are too much reduced in numbers, to be able to cover the brood comb +taken from another hive, I give them this comb with all the old bees +that are clustered upon it, and shut up the hive, after supplying them +with water, until two or three days have passed away. By this time, most +of the strange bees will have formed an inviolable attachment to their +new home, and even if a portion of them should return to the parent +hive, a large number of the maturing young will have hatched, to supply +their desertion. A little sugar-water scented with peppermint, may be +used to sprinkle the bees, at the time that the comb is introduced, +although I have never yet found that they had the least disposition, to +quarrel with each other. The original settlers are only too glad to +receive such a valuable accession to their scanty numbers, and the +expatriated bees are too-much confounded with their unexpected +emigration, to feel any desire for making a disturbance. If a sufficient +increase of numbers has not been furnished by one range of comb, the +operation may, in the course of a few days, be repeated. Instead of +leaving the colony to the discouraging feeling that they are in a large, +empty and desolate house, a divider should be run down into the hive, +and they should be confined to a space which they are able to warm and +defend, and the rest of the hive, until they need its additional room, +should be carefully shut up against all intruders. If this operation is +judiciously performed, the bees will be powerful in numbers, long before +the weather is warm enough to develop the bee-moth, and they will thus +be most effectually protected from the hateful pest. + +A very simple change in the organization of the bee-moth would have +rendered it almost if not quite impossible to protect the bees from its +ravages. If it had been so constituted as to require but a very small +amount of heat for its full development, it would have become very +numerous early in the Spring, and might then have easily entered the +hives and deposited its eggs among the combs, without any let or +hindrance; for at this season, not only do the bees at night maintain no +guard at the entrance of their hive, but there are large portions of +their comb bare of bees, and of course, entirely unprotected. How does +every fact in the history of the bee, when properly investigated, point +with unerring certainty to the power, wisdom and goodness, of Him who +made it! + +If there is reason to apprehend that the combs which are not occupied +with brood, contain any of the eggs of the moth, these combs may be +removed, and thoroughly smoked with the fumes of burning sulphur; and +then, in a few days, after they have been exposed to the fresh air, they +may be returned to the hive. I hope I may be pardoned for feeling not +the slightest pity for the unfortunate progeny of the moth, thus +unceremoniously destroyed. + +Bees, as is well known to every experienced bee-keeper, frequently swarm +so often as to expose themselves to great danger of being destroyed by +the moth. After the departure of the after-swarms, the parent colony +often contains too few bees to cover and protect their combs from the +insidious attacks of their wily enemy. As a number of weeks must elapse +before the brood of the young queen is mature, the colony, for a +considerable time, at the season when the moths are very numerous, are +constantly diminishing in numbers, and before they can begin to +replenish the exhausted hive, the destroyer has made a fatal lodgment. + +In my hives, such calamities are easily prevented. If artificial +increase is relied upon for the multiplication of colonies, it can be so +conducted as to give the moth next to no chance to fortify itself in the +hive. No colony is ever allowed to have more room than it needs, or more +combs than it can cover and protect; and the entrance to the hive may be +contracted, if necessary, so that only a single bee can go in and out, +at a time, and yet the bees will have, from the ventilators, as much air +as they require. + +If natural swarming is allowed, after-swarms may be prevented from +issuing, by cutting out all the queen cells but one, soon after the +first swarm leaves the hive; or if it is desired to have as fast an +increase of stocks, as can possibly be obtained from natural swarming, +then instead of leaving the combs in the parent hive to be attacked by +the moth, a certain portion of them may be taken out, when swarming is +over, and given to the second and third swarms, so as to aid in building +them up into strong stocks. + +But I have not yet spoken of the most fruitful cause of the desolating +ravages of the bee-moth. If a colony has _lost its queen_, and this loss +cannot be supplied, it must, as a matter of course, fall a sacrifice to +the bee-moth: and I do not hesitate to assert that by far the larger +proportion of colonies which are destroyed by it, are destroyed under +precisely such circumstances! Let this be remembered by all who have any +thing to do with bees, and let them understand that unless a remedy for +the loss of the queen, can be provided, they must constantly expect to +see some of their best colonies hopelessly ruined. The crafty moth, +after all, is not so much to blame, as we are apt to imagine; for a +colony, once deprived of its queen, and possessing no means of securing +another, would certainly perish, even if never attacked by so deadly an +enemy; just as the body of an animal, when deprived of life, will +speedily go to decay, even if it is not, at once, devoured by ravenous +swarms of filthy flies and worms. + +In order to ascertain all the important points connected with the habits +of the bee-moth, I have purposely deprived colonies in some of my +observing hives, of their queen, and have thus reduced them to a state +of despair, that I might closely watch all their proceedings. I have +invariably found that in this state, they have made little or no +resistance to the entrance of the bee-moth, but have allowed her to +deposit her eggs, just where she pleased. The worms, after hatching, +have always appeared to be even more at home than the poor dispirited +bees themselves, and have grown and thrived, in the most luxurious +manner. In some instances, these colonies, so far from losing all spirit +to resent other intrusions, were positively the most vindictive set of +bees in my whole Apiary. One especially, assaulted every body that came +near it, and when reduced in numbers to a mere handful, seemed as ready +for fight as ever. + +How utterly useless then, for defending a queenless colony against the +moth, are all the traps and other devices which have been, of late +years, so much relied upon. If a single female gains admission, she will +lay eggs enough to destroy in a short time, the strongest colony that +ever existed, if once it has lost its queen, and has no means of +procuring another. But not only do the bees of a hive which is +hopelessly queenless, make little or no opposition to the entrance of +the bee-moth, and to the ravages of the worms, but by their forlorn +condition, they positively invite the attacks of their destroyers. The +moth seems to have an instinctive knowledge of the condition of such a +hive, and no art of man can ever keep her out. She will pass by other +colonies to get at the queenless one, for she seems to know that there +she will find all the conditions that are necessary to the proper +development of her young. There are many mysteries in the insect world, +which we have not yet solved; nor can we tell just how the moth arrives +at so correct a knowledge of the condition of the queenless hives in the +Apiary. That such hives, very seldom, maintain a guard about the +entrance, is certain; and that they do not fill the air with the +pleasant voice of happy industry, is equally certain; for even to our +dull ears, the difference between the hum of the prosperous hive, and +the unhappy note of the despairing one, is sufficiently obvious. May it +not be even more obvious to the acute senses of the provident mother, +seeking a proper place for the development of her young? + +The unerring sagacity of the moth, closely resembles that peculiar +instinct by which the vulture and other birds that prey upon carrion, +are able to single out a diseased animal from the herd, which they +follow with their dismal croakings, hovering over its head, or sitting +in ill-omened flocks, on the surrounding trees, watching it as its life +ebbs away, and stretching out their filthy and naked necks, and opening +and snapping their blood-thirsty beaks that they may be all ready to +tear out its eyes just glazing in death, and banquet upon its flesh +still warm with the blood of life! Let any fatal accident befall an +animal, and how soon will you see them, first from one quarter of the +heavens, and then from another, speeding their eager flight to their +destined prey, when only a short time before, not a single one could be +seen or heard. + +I have repeatedly seen powerful colonies speedily devoured by the worms, +because of the loss of their queen, when they have stood, side by side +with feeble colonies which being in possession of a queen, have been +left untouched! + +That the common hives furnish no available remedy for the loss of the +queen, is well known: indeed, the owner cannot, in many cases, be sure +that his bees are queenless, until their destruction is certain, while +not unfrequently, after keeping bees for many years, he does not even so +much as believe that there is such a thing as a queen bee! + +In the Chapter on the Loss of the Queen, I shall show in what way this +loss can be ascertained, and ordinarily remedied, and thus the bees be +protected from that calamity which more than all others, exposes them to +destruction. When a colony has become hopelessly queenless, then moth or +no moth, its destruction is absolutely certain. Even if the bees +retained their wonted industry in gathering stores, and their usual +energy in defending themselves against all their enemies, their ruin +could only be delayed for a short time. In a few months, they would all +die a natural death, and there being none to replace them, the hive +would be utterly depopulated. Occasionally, such instances occur in +which the bees have died, and large stores of honey have been found +untouched in their hives. This, however, but seldom happens: for they +rarely escape from the assaults of other colonies, even if after the +death of their queen, they do not fall a prey to the bee-moth. A +motherless hive is almost always assaulted by stronger stocks, which +seem to have an instinctive knowledge of its orphanage, and hasten at +once, to take possession of its spoils. (See Remarks on Robbing.) If it +escape the Scylla of these pitiless plunderers, it is soon dashed upon a +more merciless Charybdis, when the miscreant moths have ascertained its +destitution. Every year, large numbers of hives are bereft of their +queen, and every year, the most of such hives are either robbed by other +bees, or sacked by the bee-moth, or first robbed, and afterwards sacked, +while their owner imputes all the mischief that is done, to something +else than the real cause. He might just as well imagine that the birds, +or the carrion worms which are devouring his dead horse, were actually +the primary cause of its untimely end. How often we see the same kind of +mistake made by those who impute the decay of a tree, to the insects +which are banqueting upon its withering foliage; when often these +insects are there, because the disease of the tree has both furnished +them with their proper aliment, and deprived the plant of the vigor +necessary to enable it to resist their attack. + +The bee keeper can easily gather from these remarks, the means upon +which I most rely, to protect my colonies from the bee-moth. Knowing +that strong stocks supplied with a fertile queen, are always able to +take care of themselves, in almost any kind of hive, I am careful to +keep them in the state which is practically found to be one of such +security. If they are weak, they must be properly strengthened, and +confined to only as much space as they can warm and defend: and if they +are queenless, they must be supplied with the means of repairing their +loss, or if that cannot be done, they should be at once broken up, (See +Remarks on Queenlessness, and Union of Stocks,) and added to other +stocks. + +It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the mind of the bee-keeper, that +a small colony ought always to be confined to a small space, if we wish +the bees to work with the greatest energy, and to offer the stoutest +resistance to their numerous enemies. Bees do most unquestionably, +"abhor a vacuum," if it is one which they can neither fill, warm nor +defend. Let the prudent bee-master only keep his stocks strong, and they +will do more to defend themselves against all intruders, than he can +possibly do for them, even if he spends his whole time in watching and +assisting them. + +It is hardly necessary, after the preceding remarks, to say much upon +the various contrivances to which so many resort, as a safeguard against +the bee-moth. The idea that gauze-wire doors, to be shut daily at dusk, +and opened again at morning, can exclude the moth, will not weigh much +with one who has seen them flying and seeking admission, especially in +dull weather, long before the bees have given over their work for the +day. Even if the moth could be excluded by such a contrivance, it would +require, on the part of those who rely upon it, a regularity almost akin +to that of the heavenly bodies in their courses; a regularity so +systematic, in short, as either to be impossible, or likely to be +attained but by very few. + +An exceedingly ingenious contrivance, to say the least, to remedy the +necessity for such close supervision, is that by which the movable doors +of all the hives are governed by a long lever in the shape of a +hen-roost, so that the hives may all be closed seasonably and regularly, +by the crowing and cackling tribe, when they go to bed at night, and +opened at once when they fly from their perch, to greet the merry morn. +Alas! that so much ingenuity should be all in vain! Chickens are often +sleepy, and wish to retire sometime before the bees feel that they have +completed their full day's work, and some of them are so much opposed to +early rising, either from ill-health, or downright laziness, that they +sit moping on their roost, long after the cheerful sun has purpled the +glowing East. Even if this device were perfectly successful, it could +not save from ruin, a colony which has lost its queen. The truth is, +that almost all the contrivances upon which we are instructed to rely, +are just about equivalent to the lock carefully put upon the stable +door, after the horse has been stolen; or to attempts to prevent +corruption from fastening upon the body of an animal, after the breath +of life has forever departed. + +Are there then no precautions to which we may resort, except by using +hives which give the control over every comb? Certainly there are, and I +shall now describe them in such a manner as to aid all who find +themselves annoyed by the inroads of the bee-moth. + +Let the prudent bee-master be deeply impressed with the very great +importance of destroying _early_ in the season, the larvæ of the +bee-moth. "Prevention is," at all times, "better than cure": a single +pair of worms that are permitted to undergo their changes into the +winged insect, may give birth to some hundreds which before the close of +the season, may fill the Apiary with thousands of their kind. The +destruction of a single worm early in the Spring, may thus be more +efficacious than that of hundreds, at a later period. If the common +hives are used, these worms must be sought for in their hiding places, +under the edges of the hive; or the hive may be propped up, on the two +ends, with strips of wood, about three eighths of an inch thick; and a +piece of old woolen rag put between the bottom-board and the back of +the hive. Into this warm hiding place, the full grown worm will retreat +to spin its cocoon, and it may then be very easily caught and +effectually dealt with. Hollow sticks, or split joints of cane may be +set under the hives, so as to elevate them, or may be laid on the +bottom-board, and if they have a few small openings through which the +bees cannot enter, the worms will take possession of them, and may +easily be destroyed. Only provide some hollow, inaccessible to the bees, +but communicating with the hive and easily accessible to the worms when +they want to spin, and to yourself when you want them, and if the bees +are in good health, so that they will not permit the worms to spin among +the combs, you can, with ease, entrap nearly all of them. If the hive +has lost its queen, and the worms have gained possession of it, you can +do nothing for it better than to break it up as soon as possible, unless +you prefer to reserve it as a moth trap to devastate your whole Apiary. + +I make use of blocks of a peculiar construction, in order both to entrap +the worms, and to exclude the moth from my hives. The only place where +the moth can enter, is just where the bees are going in and out, and +this passage may be contracted so as to suit the size of the colony: the +very shape of it is such that if the moth attempts to force an entrance, +she is obliged to travel over a space which is continually narrowing, +and of course, is more and more easily defended by the bees. My traps +are slightly elevated, so that the heat and odor of the hive pass under +them, and come out through small openings into which the moth can enter, +but which do not admit her into the hive. These openings, which are so +much like the crevices between the common hives and their bottom-boards, +the moth will enter, rather than attempt to force her way through the +guards, and finding here the nibblings and parings of comb and +bee-bread, in which her young can flourish, she deposits her eggs in a +place where they may be reached and destroyed. All this is on the +supposition that the hive has a healthy queen, and that the bees are +confined to a space which they can warm and defend. If there are no +guards and no resistance, or at best but a very feeble one, she will not +rest in any outer chamber, but will penetrate to the very heart of the +citadel, and there deposit her seeds of mischief. These same blocks have +also grooves which communicate with the _interior_ of the hives, and +which appear to the prowling worm in search of a comfortable nest, just +the very best possible place, so warm and snug and secure, in which to +spin its web, and "bide its time." When the hand of the bee-master +lights upon it, doubtless it has reason to feel that it has been caught +in its own craftiness. + +If asked how much will such contrivances help the careless bee-man, I +answer, not one iota; nay, they will positively furnish him greater +facilities for destroying his bees. Worms will spin and hatch, and moths +will lay their eggs, under the blocks, and he will never remove them: +thus instead of traps he will have most beautiful devices for giving +more effectual aid and comfort to his enemies. Such persons, if they +ever attempt to keep bees on my plans, should use only my smooth blocks, +which will enable them to control, at will, the size of the entrance to +the hives, and which are exceedingly important in aiding the bees to +defend themselves against moths and robbers, and all enemies which seek +admission to their castle. + +Let me, however, strongly advise the thoroughly and incorrigibly +careless, to have nothing to do with bees, either on my plan of +management, or any other; for they will find their time and money +almost certainly thrown away; unless their mishaps open their eyes to +the secret of their failure in other things, as well as in bee-keeping. + +If I find that the worms, by any means have got the upper hand in one of +my hives, I take out the combs, shake off the bees, route out the worms +and restore the combs again to the bees: if there is reason to fear that +they contain eggs and small worms, I smoke them thoroughly with sulphur, +and air them well before they are returned. Such operations, however, +will very seldom be required. Shallow vessels containing sweetened +water, placed on the hives after sunset, will often entrap many of the +moths. Pans of milk are recommended by some as useful for this purpose. +So fond are the moths of something sweet, that I have caught them +_sticking fast_ to pieces of moist sugar-candy. + +I cannot deny myself the pleasure of making an extract from an +article[24] from the pen of that accomplished scholar, and well-known +enthusiast in bee-culture, Henry K. Oliver, Esq. "We add a few words +respecting the enemies of bees. The mouse, the toad, the ant, the +stouter spiders, the wasp, the death-head moth, (Sphinx atropos,) and +all the varieties of gallinaceous birds, have, each and all, "a sweet +tooth," and like, very well, a dinner of raw bee. But the ravages of all +these are but a baby bite to the destruction caused by the bee-moth, +(Tinea mellonella.) These nimble-footed little mischievous vermin may be +seen, on any evening, from early May to October, fluttering about the +apiary, or running about the hives, at a speed to outstrip the swiftest +bee, and endeavoring to effect an entrance into the door way, for it is +within the hive that their instinct teaches them they must deposit their +eggs. You can hardly find them by day, for they are cunning and secrete +themselves. "They love darkness rather than light, because their deeds +are evil." They are a paltry looking, insignificant little grey-haired +pestilent race of wax-and-honey-eating and bee-destroying rascals, that +have baffled all contrivances that ingenuity has devised to conquer or +destroy them." + +"Your committee would be very glad indeed to be able to suggest any +effectual means, by which to assist the honey-bee and its friends, +against the inroads of this, its bitterest and most successful foe, +whose desolating ravages are more lamented and more despondingly +referred to, than those of any other enemy. Various contrivances have +been announced, but none have proved efficacious to any full extent, and +we are compelled to say that there really is no security, except in a +very full, healthy and vigorous stock of bees, and in a very close and +well made hive, the door of which is of such dimensions of length and +height, that the nightly guards can effectually protect it. Not too long +a door, nor too high. If too long, the bees cannot easily guard it, and +if too high, the moth will get in over the heads of the guards. If the +guards catch one of them, her life is not worth insuring. But if the +moths, in any numbers, effect a lodgment in the hive, then the hive is +not worth insuring. They immediately commence laying their eggs, from +which comes, in a few days, a brownish white caterpillar, which encloses +itself, all but its head, in a silken cocoon. This head, covered with an +impenetrable coat of scaly mail, which bids defiance to the bees, is +thrust forward, just outside of the silken enclosure, and the gluttonous +pest eats all before it, wax, pollen, and exuviæ, until ruin to the +stock is inevitable. As says the Prophet Joel, speaking of the ravages +of the locust, "the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and +behind them a desolate wilderness." Look out, brethren, bee lovers, and +have your hives of the best unshaky, unknotty stock, with close fitting +joints, and well covered with three or four coats of paint. He who shall +be successful in devising the means of ridding the bee world of this +destructive and merciless pest, will richly deserve to be crowned "King +Bee," in perpetuity, to be entitled to a never-fading wreath of budding +honey flowers, from sweetly breathing fields, all murmuring with bees, +to be privileged to use, during his natural life, "night tapers from +their waxen thighs," best wax candles, (two to the pound!) to have an +annual offering from every bee-master, of ten pounds each, of very best +virgin honey, and to a body guard, for protection against all foes, of +thrice ten thousand workers, all armed and equipped, as Nature's law +directs. Who shall have these high honors?" + +It might seem highly presumptuous for me, at this early date, to lay +claim to them, but I beg leave to enroll myself among the list of +honorable candidates, and I cheerfully submit my pretensions to the +suffrages of all intelligent keepers of bees. + +In the chapter on Requisites, I have spoken of the ravages of the mouse, +and have there described the way in which my hives are guarded against +its intrusion. That some kinds of birds are fond of bees, every Apiarian +knows, to his cost; still, I cannot advise that any should, on this +account, be destroyed. It has been stated to me, by an intelligent +observer, that the King-bird, which devours them by scores, confines +himself always, in the season of drones, to those fat and lazy gentlemen +of leisure. I fear however, that this, as the children say, "is too good +news to be true," and that not only the industrious portion of the busy +community fall a prey to his fatal snap, but that the luxurious gourmand +can distinguish perfectly well, between an empty bee in search of food, +and one which is returning full laden to its fragrant home, and whose +honey-bag sweetens the delicious tit-bit, as the crushed unfortunate, +all ready sugared, glides daintily down his voracious maw! Still, I have +never yet been willing to destroy a bird, because of its fondness for +bees; and I advise all lovers of bees to have nothing to do with such +foolish practices. Unless we can check among our people, the stupid, as +well as inhuman custom of destroying so wantonly, on any pretence, and +often on none at all, the insectivorous birds, we shall soon, not only +be deprived of their aerial melody, among the leafy branches, but shall +lament over the ever increasing horde of destructive insects, which +ravage our fields and desolate our orchards, and from whose successful +inroads, nothing but the birds can ever protect us. Think of it, ye who +can enjoy no music made by these winged choristers of the skies, except +that of their agonizing screams, as they fall before your well-aimed +weapons, and flutter out their innocent lives before your heartless +gaze! Drive away as fast and as far as you please, from your cruel +premises, all the little birds that you cannot destroy, and then find, +if you can, those who will sympathize with you, when the caterpillars +weave their destroying webs over your leafless trees, and insects of all +kinds riot in glee, upon your blasted harvests! I hope that such a +healthy public opinion will soon prevail, that the man or boy who is +armed with a gun to shoot the little birds, will be scouted from all +humane and civilized society, and if he should be caught about such +contemptible business, will be too much ashamed even to look an honest +man in the face. I shall close what I have to say about the birds, with +the following beautiful translation of an old Greek poet's address to +the swallow. + + "Attic maiden, honey fed, + Chirping warbler, bear'st away, + Thou the busy buzzing bee, + To thy callow brood a prey? + Warbler, thou a warbler seize? + Winged, one with lovely wings? + Guest thyself, by Summer brought, + Yellow guest whom Summer brings? + Wilt not quickly let it drop? + 'Tis not fair, indeed 'tis wrong, + That the ceaseless warbler should + Die by mouth of ceaseless song." + _Merivale's Translation._ + +I have not the space to speak at length of the other enemies of the +honied race: nor indeed is it at all necessary. If the Apiarian only +succeeds in keeping his stocks strong, they will be their own best +protectors, and if he does not succeed in this, they would be of little +value, even if they had no enemies ever vigilant, to watch for their +halting. Nations which are both rich and feeble, invite attack, as well +as unfit themselves for vigorous resistance. Just so with the +commonwealth of bees. Unless amply guarded by thousands ready to die in +its defence, it is ever liable to fall a prey to some one of its many +enemies, which are all agreed in this one opinion, at least, that stolen +honey is much more sweet than the slow accumulations of patient +industry. + +In the Chapters on Protection and Ventilation, I have spoken of the +fatal effects of dysentery. This disease can always be prevented by +proper caution on the part of the bee-keeper. Let him be careful not to +feed his bees, late in the season, on liquid honey, (see Chapter on +Feeding,) and let him keep them in dry and thoroughly protected hives. +If his situation is at all damp, and there is danger that water will +settle under his Protector, let him build it entirely _above ground_; +otherwise it may be as bad as a damp cellar, and incomparably worse than +nothing at all. + +There is one disease, called by the Germans, "foul brood," of which I +know nothing, by my own observation, but which is, of all others, the +most fatal in its effects. The brood appear to die in the cells, after +they are sealed over by the bees, and the stench from their decaying +bodies infects the hive, and seems to paralyze the bees. This disease +is, in two instances, attributed by Dzierzon, to feeding bees on +"American Honey," or, as we call it, Southern Honey, which is brought +from Cuba, and other West India Islands. That such honey is not +ordinarily poisonous, is well known: probably that used by him, was +taken from diseased colonies. It is well known that if any honey or +combs are taken from a hive in which this pestilence is raging, it will +most surely infect the colonies to which they may be given. No foreign +honey ought therefore to be extensively used, until its quality has been +thoroughly tested. The extreme violence of this disease may be inferred +from the fact, that Dzierzon in one season, lost by it, between four and +five hundred colonies! As at present advised, if my colonies were +attacked by it, I should burn up the bees, combs, honey, frames, and +all, from every diseased hive; and then thoroughly scald and smoke with +sulphur, all such hives, and replenish them with bees from a healthy +stock. + +There is a peculiar kind of dysentery which does not seem to affect a +whole colony, but confines its ravages to a small number of the bees. In +the early stages of this disease, those attacked are excessively +irritable, and will attempt to sting any one who comes near the hives. +If dissected, their stomachs are found to be already discolored by the +disease. In the latter stages of this complaint, they not only lose all +their irascibility, but seem very stupid, and may often be seen crawling +upon the ground unable to fly. Their abdomens are now unnaturally +swollen, and of a much lighter color than usual, owing to their being +filled with a yellow matter exceedingly offensive to the smell. I have +not yet ascertained the cause of this disease. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[21] Bevan. + +[22] Bevan. + +[23] A bee, a few days after it is hatched, is as fully competent for +all its duties, as it ever will be, at any subsequent period of its +life. + +[24] Report on bees to the Essex County Agricultural Society, 1851. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +LOSS OF THE QUEEN. + + +That the queen of a hive is often lost, and that the ruin of the whole +colony soon follows, unless such a loss is seasonably remedied, are +facts which ought to be well known to every observing bee-keeper. + +Some queens appear to die of old age or disease, and at a time when +there are no worker-eggs, or larvæ of a suitable age, to enable the bees +to supply their loss. It is evident, however, that no very large +proportion of the queens which perish, are lost under such +circumstances. Either the bees are aware of the approaching end of their +aged mother, and take seasonable precautions to rear a successor; or +else she dies very suddenly, so as to leave behind her, brood of a +suitable age. It is seldom that a queen in a hive that is strong in +numbers and stores, dies either at a period of the year when there is no +brood from which another can be reared, or when there are no drones to +impregnate the one reared in her place. In speaking of the age of bees, +it has already been stated that queens commonly die in their fourth +year, while none of the workers live to be a year old. Not only is the +queen much longer lived than the other bees, but she seems to be +possessed of greater tenacity of life, so that when any disease +overtakes the colony, she is usually among the last to perish. By a most +admirable provision, their death ordinarily takes place under +circumstances the most favorable to their bereaved family. If it were +otherwise, the number of colonies which would annually perish, would be +very much greater than it now is; for as a number of superannuated +queens must die every year, many, or even most of them might die at a +season when their loss would necessarily involve the ruin of their whole +colony. In non-swarming hives, I have found cells in which queens were +reared, not to lead out a new swarm, but to supply the place of the old +one which had died in the hive. There are a few well authenticated +instances, in which a young queen has been matured before the death of +the old one, but after she had become quite aged and infirm. Still, +there are cases where old queens die, either so suddenly as to leave no +young brood behind them, or at a season when there are no drones to +impregnate the young queens. + +That queens occasionally live to such an age as to become incapable of +laying worker eggs, is now a well established fact. The seminal +reservoir sometimes becomes exhausted, before the queen dies of old age, +and as it is never replenished, (see p. 44,) she can only lay +unimpregnated eggs, or such as produce drones instead of workers. This +is an additional confirmation of the theory first propounded by +Dzierzon. I am indebted to Mr. Wagner for the following facts. "In the +Bienenzeitung, for August, 1852, Count Stosch gives us the case of a +colony examined by himself, with the aid of an experienced Apiarian, on +the 14th of April, previous. The worker-brood was then found to be +healthy. In May following, the bees worked industriously, and built new +comb. Soon afterwards they ceased to build, and appeared dispirited; and +when, in the beginning of June, he examined the colony again, he found +plenty of drone brood in worker cells! The queen appeared weak and +languid. He confined her in a queen cage, and left her in the hive. The +bees clustered around the cage; but next morning the queen was found to +be dead. Here we seem to have the commencement, progress and termination +of super-annuation, all in the space of five or six weeks." + +In the Spring of the year, as soon as the bees begin to fly, if their +motions are carefully watched, the Apiarian may even in the common +hives, generally ascertain from their actions, whether they are in +possession of a fertile queen. If they are seen to bring in bee-bread +with great eagerness, it follows, as a matter of course, that they have +brood, and are anxious to obtain fresh food for its nourishment. If any +hive does not industriously gather pollen, or accept the rye flour upon +which the others are feasting, then there is an almost absolute +certainty either that it has not a queen, or that she is not fertile, or +that the hive is seriously infested with worms, or that it is on the +very verge of starvation. An experienced eye will decide upon the +queenlessness, (to use the German term,) of a hive, from the restless +appearance of the bees. At this period of the year when they first +realize the magnitude of their loss, and before they have become in a +manner either reconciled to it, or indifferent to their fate, they roam +in an inquiring manner, in and out of the hive, and over its outside as +well as inside, and plainly manifest that something calamitous has +befallen them. Often those that return from the fields, instead of +entering the hive with that dispatchful haste so characteristic of a bee +returning well stored to a prosperous home, linger about the entrance +with an idle and very dissatisfied appearance, and the colony is +restless, long after the other stocks are quiet. Their home, like that +of the man who is cursed rather than blessed in his domestic relations, +is a melancholy place: and they only enter it with reluctant and +slow-moving steps! + +If I could address a friendly word of advice to every married woman, I +would say, "Do all that you can to make your husband's home a place of +attraction. When absent from it, let his heart glow at the very thought +of returning to its dear enjoyments; and let his countenance +involuntarily put on a more cheerful look, and his joy-quickened steps +proclaim, as he is approaching, that he feels in his "heart of hearts," +that "there is no place like home." Let her whom he has chosen as a wife +and companion, be the happy and honored Queen in his cheerful +habitation: let her be the center and soul about which his best +affections shall ever revolve. I know that there are brutes in the guise +of men, upon whom all the winning attractions of a prudent, virtuous +wife, make little or no impression. Alas that it should be so! but who +can tell how many, even of the most hopeless cases, have been saved for +two worlds, by a union with a virtuous woman, in whose "tongue was the +law of kindness," and of whom it could be said, "the heart of her +husband doth safely trust in her," for "she will do him good and not +evil, all the days of her life." + +Said a man of large experience, "I scarcely know a woman who has an +intemperate husband, who did not either marry a man whose habits were +already bad, or who did not drive her husband to evil courses, (often +when such a calamitous result was the furthest possible from her +thoughts or wishes,) by making him feel that he had no happy home." +Think of it, ye who find that home is not full of dear delights, as well +to yourselves, as to your affectionate husbands! Try how much virtue +there may be in winning words and happy smiles, and the cheerful +discharge of household duties, and prove the utmost possible efficacy of +love and faith and prayer, before those words of fearful agony are +extorted from your despairing lips, + + "Anywhere, anywhere + Out of the world;" + +when amid tears and sighs of inexpressible agony, you settle down into +the heart-breaking conviction that you can have no home until you have +passed into that habitation not fashioned by human hands, or inhabited +by human hearts! + +Is there any husband who can resist all the sweet attractions of a +lovely wife? who does not set a priceless value upon the very gem of his +life? + + "If such there be, go mark him well; + High though his titles, proud his fame, + Boundless his wealth as wish can claim, + The wretch, concentered all in self, + Living, shall forfeit fair renown, + And doubly dying, shall go down + To the vile dust from whence he sprung + Unwept, unhonored, and unsung."--_Scott._ + +I trust my readers, remembering my profession, will pardon this long +digression to which I felt myself irresistibly impelled. + +When the bees commence their work in the Spring, they give, as +previously stated, reliable evidence either that all is well, or that +ruin lurks within. In the common hives however, it is not always easy to +decide upon their real condition. The queenless ones do not, in all +cases, disclose their misfortune, any more than all unhappy husbands or +wives see fit to proclaim the full extent of their domestic +wretchedness: there is a vast amount of _seeming_ even in the little +world of the bee-hive. One great advantage in my mode of construction is +that I am never obliged to leave anything to vague conjecture; but I +can, in a few moments, open the interior, and know precisely what is the +real condition of the bees. + +On one occasion I found that a colony which had been queenless for a +considerable time, utterly refused to raise another, and devoured all +the eggs which were given to them for that purpose! This colony was +afterwards supplied with an unimpregnated queen, but they refused to +accept of her, and attempted at once to smother her to death. I then +gave them a fertile queen, but she met with no better treatment. Facts +of a similar kind have been noticed, by other observers: thus it seems +that bees may not only become reconciled, as it were, to living without +a mother, but may pass into such an unnatural state as not only to +decline to provide themselves with another, but actually to refuse to +accept of one by whose agency they might be rescued from impending ruin! +Before expressing too much astonishment at such foolish conduct, let us +seriously inquire if it has not often an exact parallel in our obstinate +rejection of the provisions which God has made in the Gospel for our +moral and religious welfare. + +If a colony which refuses to rear another queen, has a range of comb +given to it containing maturing brood, these poor motherless innocents, +as soon as they are able to work, perceive their loss, and will proceed +at once, if they have the means, to supply it! They have not yet grown +so hardened by habit to unnatural and ruinous courses, as not to feel +that something absolutely indispensable to their safety is wanting in +their hive. + +A word to the young who may read this treatise. Although enjoined to +"remember your Creator in the days of your youth," you are constantly +tempted to neglect your religious duties, and to procrastinate their +performance until some more convenient season. Like the old bees in a +hive without a queen, that seek only their present enjoyment, forgetful +of the ruin which must surely overtake them, so you may find that when +manhood and old age arrive, you will have even less disposition to love +and serve the Lord than you now have. The fetters which bind you to +sinful habits will have strengthened with years until you find both the +inclination and ability to break them continually decreasing. + +In the Spring, as soon as the weather becomes sufficiently pleasant, I +carefully examine all the hives which do not present the most +unmistakable evidences of health and vigor. If a queen is wanting, I at +once, if the colony is small, break it up, and add the bees to another +stock. If however, the colony should be very large, I sometimes join to +it one of my small stocks which has a healthy queen. It may be asked why +not supply the queenless stock with the means of raising another? Simply +because there would be no drones to impregnate her, in season; and the +whole operation would therefore result in an entire failure. Why not +endeavor then to preserve it, until the season for drones approaches, +and then give it a queen? Because it is in danger of being robbed or +destroyed by the moth, while the bees, if added to another stock, can do +me far more service than they could, if left to idleness in their old +hive. It must be remembered that I am not like the bee-keepers on the +old plan, extremely anxious to save every colony, however feeble: as I +can, at the proper season, form as many as I want, and with far less +trouble and expense than are required to make anything out of such +discouraged stocks. + +If any of my colonies are found to be feeble in the Spring, but yet in +possession of a healthy queen, I help them to combs containing maturing +brood, in the manner already described. In short, I ascertain, at the +opening of the season, the exact condition of all my stock, and apply +such remedies as I find to be needed, giving to some, maturing brood, to +others honey, and breaking up all whose condition appears to admit of +no remedy. If however, the bees have not been multiplied too rapidly, +and proper care was taken to winter none but strong stocks, they will +need but little assistance in the Spring; and nearly all of them will +show indubitable signs of health and vigor. + +I strongly recommend every prudent bee-keeper who uses my hives, to give +them all a most thorough over-hauling and cleansing, soon after the bees +begin to work in the Spring. The bees of any stock may, with their +combs, &c., all be transferred, in a few minutes, to a clean hive; and +their hive, after being thoroughly cleansed, may be used for another +transferred stock; and in this way, with one spare hive, the bees may +all be lodged in habitations from which every speck of dirt has been +removed. They will thus have hives which can by no possibility, harbor +any of the eggs, or larvæ of the moth, and which may be made perfectly +free from the least smell of must or mould or anything offensive to the +delicate senses of the bees. In making this thorough cleansing of all +the hives, the Apiarian will necessarily gain an exact knowledge of the +true condition of each stock, and will know which have spare honey, and +which require food: in short, which are in need of help in any respect, +and which have the requisite strength to lend a helping hand to others. +If any hive needs repairing, it may be put into perfect order, before it +is used again. Hives managed in this fashion, if the roofs and outside +covers are occasionally painted anew, will last for generations, and +will be found, on the score of cheapness, preferable, in the long run, +to any other kind. But I ought to beg pardon of the Genius of American +cheapness, who so kindly presides over the making of most of our +manufactures, and under whose shrewd tuition we are fast beginning to +believe that cheapness in the first cost of an article, is the main +point to which our attention should be directed! + +Let us to be sure, save all that we can in the cost of construction, by +the greatest economy in the use of materials; let us compel every minute +to yield the greatest possible practical result, by the employment of +the most skillful workmen and the most ingenious machinery; but do let +us learn that slighting an article, so as to get up a mere sham, having +all the appearance of reality, with none of the substance, is the +poorest possible kind of pretended economy; to say nothing of the +tendency of such a system, to encourage in all the pursuits of life, the +narrow and selfish policy of doing nothing thoroughly, but everything +with reference to mere outside show, or the urgent necessities of the +present moment. + +We have yet to describe under what circumstances, by far the larger +proportion of hives, become queenless. After the first swarm has gone +out with the old mother, then both the parent stock and all the +subsequent swarms, will have each a young queen which must always leave +the hive in order to be impregnated. It sometimes happens that the wings +of the young female are, from her birth, so imperfect that she either +refuses to sally out, or is unable to return to the hive, if she +ventures abroad. In either case, the old stock must, if left to its own +resources, speedily perish. Queens, in their contests with each other, +are sometimes so much crippled as to unfit them for flight, and +sometimes they are disabled by the rude treatment of the bees, who +insist on driving them away from the royal cells. The great majority, +however, of queens which are lost, perish when they leave the hive in +search of the drones. Their _extra size_ and _slower flight_ make them a +most tempting prey to the birds, ever on the watch in the vicinity of +the hives; and many in this way, perish. Others are destroyed by sudden +gusts of winds, which dash them against some hard object, or blow them +into the water; for queens are by no means, exempt from the misfortunes +common to the humblest of their race. Very frequently, in spite of all +their caution in noticing the position and appearance of their +habitation, before they left it, they make a fatal mistake on their +return, and are imprisoned and destroyed as they attempt to enter the +wrong hive. The precautions which should be used, to prevent such a +calamity, have been already described. If these are neglected, those who +build their hives of uniform size and appearance, will find themselves +losing many more queens than the person who uses the old-fashioned +boxes, hardly any two of which look just alike. + +The bees seem to me, to have, as it were, an instinctive perception of +the dangers which await their new queen when she makes her excursion in +search of the drones, and often gather around her, and confine her, as +though they could not bear to have her leave! I have repeatedly noticed +them doing this, although I cannot affirm with positive certainty, why +they do it. They are usually excessively agitated when the queen leaves, +and often exhibit all the appearance of swarming. If the queen of an old +stock is lost in this way, her colony will gradually dwindle away. If +the queen of an after-swarm fails to return, the bees very speedily come +to nothing, if they remain in the hive; as a general rule, however, they +soon leave and attempt to add themselves to other colonies. + +It would be highly interesting to ascertain in what way the bees become +informed of the loss of their queen. When she is taken from them under +such circumstances as to excite the whole colony, then we can easily see +how they find out that she is gone; for when greatly excited, they +always seek first to assure themselves of her safety; just as a tender +mother in time of danger forgets herself in her anxiety for her +helpless children! If however, the queen is carefully removed, so that +the colony is not disturbed, it is sometimes a day, or even more, before +they realize their loss. How do they first become aware of it? Perhaps +some dutiful bee feels that it is a long time since it has seen its +mother, and anxious to embrace her, makes diligent search for her +through the hive! The intelligence that she cannot anywhere be found, is +soon noised abroad, and the whole community are at once alarmed. At such +times, instead of calmly conversing by merely touching each other's +antennæ, they may be seen violently striking as it were, their antennæ +together, and by the most impassioned demonstrations manifesting their +agony and despair. I once removed a queen in such a manner as to cause +the bees to take wing and fill the air in search of her. She was +returned in a few minutes, and yet, on examining the colony, two days +after, I found that they had actually commenced the building of royal +cells, in order to raise another! The queen was unhurt and the cells +were not tenanted. Was this work begun by some that refused for a long +time to believe the others, when told that she was safe? Or was it begun +from the apprehension that she might again be removed? + +Every colony which has a new queen, should be watched, in order that the +Apiarian may be seasonably apprised of her loss. The restless conduct of +the bees, on the evening of the day that she fails to return, will at +once inform the experienced bee-master of the accident which has +befallen his hive. If the bees cannot be supplied with another queen, or +with the means of raising one, if an old swarm it must be broken up, and +the bees added to another stock; if a new swarm it must always be broken +up, unless it can be supplied with a queen nearly mature, or else they +will build combs unfit for the rearing of workers. By the use of my +movable comb hives, all these operations can be easily performed. If any +hives have lost their young queen, they may be supplied, either with the +means of raising another, or with sealed queens from other hives, or, +(if the plan is found to answer,) with mature ones from the "Nursery." + +As a matter of precaution, I generally give to all my stocks that are +raising young queens, or which have unimpregnated ones, a range of comb +containing brood and eggs, so that they may, in case of any accident to +their queen, proceed at once, to supply their loss. In this way, I +prevent them from being so dissatisfied as to leave the hive. + +About a week after the young queens have hatched, I examine all the +hives which contain them, lifting out usually, some of the largest +combs, and those which ought to contain brood. If I find a comb which +has eggs or larvæ, I am satisfied that they have a fertile queen, and +shut up the hive; unless I wish to find her, in order to deprive her of +her wings, (see p. 203.) I can thus often satisfy myself in one or two +minutes. If no brood is found, I suspect that the queen has been lost, +or that she has some defect which has prevented her from leaving the +hive. If the brood-comb which I put into the hive, contains any +newly-formed royal cells, I _know_, without any further examination, +that the queen has been lost. If the weather has been unfavorable, or +the colony is quite weak, the young queen is sometimes not impregnated +as early as usual, and an allowance of a few days must be made on this +account. If the weather is favorable, and the colony a good one, the +queen usually leaves, the day after she finds herself mistress of a +family. In about two days more, she begins to lay her eggs. By waiting +about a week before the examination is made, ample allowance, in most +cases, is made. + +Early in the month of September, I examine carefully all my hives, so as +to see that in every respect, they are in suitable condition for +wintering. If any need feeding, (See Chapter on Feeding,) they are fed +at this time. If any have more vacant room than they ought to have, I +partition off that part of the hive which they do not need. I always +expect to find some brood in every healthy hive at this time, and if in +any hive I find none, and ascertain that it is queenless, I either at +once break it up, or if it is strong in numbers supply it with a queen, +by adding to it some feebler stock. If bees, however, are properly +attended to, at the season when their young queens are impregnated, it +will be a very rare occurrence to find a queenless colony in the Fall. + +The practical bee-keeper without further directions, will readily +perceive how any operation, which in the common hives, is performed with +difficulty, if it can be performed at all, is reduced to simplicity and +certainty, by the control of the combs. If however, bee-keepers will be +negligent and ignorant, no hive can possible make them very successful. +If they belong to the fraternity of "no eyes," who have kept bees all +their lives, and do not know that there is a queen, they will probably +derive no special pleasure from being compelled to believe what they +have always derided as humbug or book-knowledge; although I have seen +some bee-keepers very intelligent on most matters, who never seem to +have learned the first rudiments in the natural history of the bee. +Those who cannot, or will not learn for themselves, or who have not the +leisure or disposition to manage their own bees, may yet with my hives, +entrust their care to suitable persons who may, at the proper time, +attend to all their wants. Practical gardeners may find the management +of bees for their employers, to be quite a lucrative part of their +profession. With but little extra labor and with great certainty, they +may, from time to time, do all that the prosperity of the bees require; +carefully over-hauling them in the Spring, making new colonies, at the +suitable period, if any are wanted, giving them their surplus honey +receptacles, and removing them when full; and on the approach of Winter, +putting all the colonies into proper condition, to resist its rigors. +The business of the practical Apiarian, and that of the Gardener, seem +very naturally to go together, and one great advantage of my hive and +mode of management is the ease with which they may be successfully +united. + +Some Apiarians after all that has been said, may still have doubts +whether the young queens leave the hive for impregnation; or may think +that the old ones occasionally leave, even when they do not go out to +lead a swarm. Such persons may, if they choose, easily convince +themselves by the following experiments of the accuracy of my +statements. About a week after hiving a second swarm, or after the birth +of a young queen in a hive, and after she has begun to lay eggs, open +the hive and remove her: carry her a few rods in front of the Apiary, +and let her fly; she will at once enter her own hive and thus show that +she has previously left it. If, however, an old queen is removed a short +time after hiving the swarm, she will not be able to distinguish her own +hive from any other, and will thus show that she has not left it, since +the swarm was hived. If this experiment is performed upon an old queen, +in a hive in which she was put the year before, when unimpregnated, the +same result will follow; for as she never left it after that event, she +will have lost all recollection of its relative position in the Apiary. +The first of these experiments has been suggested by Dzierzon. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +UNION OF STOCKS. TRANSFERRING BEES FROM THE COMMON HIVE. STARTING AN +APIARY. + + +Frequent allusions have been made to the importance, for various +reasons, of breaking up stocks and uniting them to other families in the +Apiary. Colonies which in the early Spring, are found to be queenless, +ought at once to be managed in this way, for even if not speedily +destroyed by their enemies, they are only consumers of the stores which +they gathered in their happier days. The same treatment should also be +extended to all that in the Fall, are found to be in a similar +condition. + +As small colonies, even though possessed of a healthy queen, are never +able to winter as advantageously as large ones, the bees from several +such colonies ought to be put together, to enable them by keeping up the +necessary supply of heat, to survive the Winter on a smaller supply of +food. A certain quantity of animal heat must be maintained by bees, in +order to live at all, and if their numbers are too small, they can only +keep it up, by eating more than they would otherwise require. A small +swarm will thus not unfrequently, consume as much honey as one +containing two or three times as many bees. These are facts which have +been most thoroughly tested on a very large scale. If a hundred persons +are required to occupy, with comfort, a church that is capable of +accommodating a thousand, as much fuel or even more will be required, +to warm the small number as the large one. + +If the stocks which are to be wintered, are in the common hives, the +condemned ones must be drummed out of their old encampment, sprinkled +with sugar-water scented with peppermint, or some other pleasant odor, +and added to the others, (see p. 212.) The colonies which are to be +united ought if possible, to stand side by side, some time before this +process is attempted. This can almost always be effected by a little +management, for while it would not be safe to move a colony all at once, +even a few yards to the right or left of the line of flight in which +the bees sally out to the fields, (especially if other hives are near,) +they may be moved a slight distance one day, and a little more the next, +and so on, until we have them at last in the desired place. + +As persons may sometimes be obliged to move their Apiaries, during the +working season, I will here describe the way by which I was able to +accomplish such a removal, so as to benefit, instead of injuring my +bees. Selecting a pleasant day, I moved, early in the morning, a portion +of my very best stocks. A considerable number of bees from these +colonies, returned in the course of the day to the familiar spot; after +flying about for some time, in search of their hives, (if the weather +had been chilly many of them would have perished,) they at length +entered those standing next to their old homes. More of the strongest +were removed, on the next pleasant day: and this process was repeated, +until at last only one hive was left in the old Apiary. This was then +removed, and only a few bees returned to the old spot. I thus lost no +more bees, in moving a number of hives, than I should have lost in +moving one: and I conducted the process in such a way, as to strengthen +some of my feeble stocks, instead of very seriously diminishing their +scanty numbers. I have known the most serious losses to result from the +removal of an Apiary, conducted in the manner in which a change of +location is usually made. + +The process of uniting colonies in my hive, is exceedingly simple. The +combs may, after the two colonies are sprinkled, be at once lifted out +from the one which is to be broken up, and put with all the bees upon +them, directly into the other hive. If the Apiarian judges it best to +save any of his very small colonies, he can confine them to one half or +one third of the central part of the hive, and fill the two empty ends +with straw, shavings, or any good non-conductor. Any one of my frames, +can, in a few minutes, by having tacked to it a thin piece of board or +paste-board, or even an old newspaper, be fashioned into a divider, +which will answer all practical purposes, and if it is stuffed with +cotton waste, &c., it will keep the bees uncommonly warm. If a _very_ +small colony is to be preserved over Winter, the queen must be confined, +in the Fall, in a queen cage, to prevent the colony from deserting the +hive. + +I shall now show how the bee-keeper who wishes only to keep a given +number of stocks, may do so, and yet secure from that number the largest +quantity of surplus honey. + +If his bees are kept in non-swarming hives, he may undoubtedly, reap a +bounteous harvest from the avails of their industry. I do not however, +recommend this mode of bee-keeping as the best: still there are many so +situated that it may be much the best for them. Such persons, by using +my hives, can pursue the non-swarming plan to the best advantage. They +can by taking off the wings of their queens, be sure that their colonies +will not suddenly leave them; a casualty to which all other non-swarming +hives are sometimes liable; and by taking away the honey in small +quantities, they will always give the bees plenty of spare room for +storage, and yet avoid discouraging them, as is so often done when large +boxes are taken from them. (See Chapter on Honey.) + +By removing from time to time, the old queens, the colonies can all be +kept in possession of queens, at the height of their fertility, and in +this way a very serious objection to the non-swarming, or as it is +frequently called, the storifying system, may be avoided. If at any +time, new colonies are wanted, they may be made in the manner already +described. In districts where the honey harvest is of very short +continuance, the non-swarming plan may be found to yield the largest +quantity of honey, and in case the season should prove unfavorable for +the gathering of honey, it will usually secure the largest returns from +a given number of stocks. I therefore prefer to keep a considerable +number of my colonies, on the storifying plan, and am confident of +securing from them, a good yield of honey, even in the most unfavorable +seasons. If bee-keepers will pursue the same system, they will not only +be on the safe side, but will be able to determine which method it will +be best for them to adopt, in order to make the most from their bees. As +a general rule, the Apiarian who increases the number of his colonies, +one third in a season, making one very powerful swarm from two, (See p. +211,) will have more surplus honey from the three, than he could have +obtained from the two, to say nothing of the value of his new swarms. +If, at the approach of Winter, he wishes to reduce his stocks down to +the Spring number, he may unite them in the manner described, +appropriating all the good honey of those which he breaks up, and saving +all their empty comb for the new colonies of the next season. The bees +in the doubled stock will winter most admirably; will consume but +little honey, in proportion to their numbers, and will be in most +excellent condition when the Spring opens. It must not, however, be +forgotten, that although they eat comparatively little in the Winter, +they must be well supplied in the Spring; as they will then have a very +large number of mouths to feed, to say nothing of the thousands of young +bees bred in the hive. If any old-fashioned bee-keeper wishes, he can +thus pursue the old plan, with only this modification; that he preserves +the lives of the bees in the hives which he wishes to take up; secures +his honey without any fumes of sulphur, and saves the empty comb to make +it worth nearly ten times as much to himself, as it would be, if melted +into wax. Let no humane bee-keeper ever feel that there is the slightest +necessity for so managing his bees as to make the comparison of +Shakespeare always apposite: + + "When like the Bee, tolling from every flower + The virtuous sweets; + Our thighs packed with wax, our mouths, with honey, + We bring it to the hive; and like the bees, + Are murdered for our pains." + +While I am an advocate for breaking up all stocks which cannot be +wintered advantageously, I never advise that a single bee should be +killed. Self interest and Christianity alike forbid the unnecessary +sacrifice. + + +TRANSFERRING BEES FROM THE COMMON HIVE TO THE MOVABLE COMB HIVE. + +The construction of my hive is such, as to permit me to transfer bees +from the common hives, during all the season that the weather is warm +enough to permit them to fly; and yet to be able to guarantee that they +will receive no serious damage by the change. + +On the 10th of November, 1852, in the latitude of Northern +Massachusetts, I transferred a colony which wintered in good health, and +which now, May, 1853, promises to make an excellent stock. The day was +warm, but after the operation was completed, the weather suddenly became +cold, and as the bees were not able to leave the hive in order to obtain +the water necessary for repairing their comb, they were supplied with +that indispensable article. They went to work _very_ busily, and in a +short time mended up their combs and attached them firmly to the frames. + +The transfer may be made of any healthy colony, and if they are strong +in numbers, and the hive is well provisioned, and the weather is not too +cool when the operation is attempted, they will scarcely feel the +change. If the weather should be too chilly, it will be found almost +impossible to make a colony leave its old hive, and if the combs are cut +out, and the bees removed upon them, large numbers of them will take +wing, and becoming chilled, will be unable to join their companions, and +so will perish. + +The process of transferring bees to my hives, is performed as follows. +Let the old hive be shut up and well drummed[25] and the bees, if +possible, be driven into an upper box. If they will not leave the hive +of their own accord, they will fill themselves, and when it is +ascertained that they are determined, if they can help it, not to be +tenants at will, the upper box must be removed, and the bees gently +sprinkled, so that they may all be sure to have nothing done to them on +an empty stomach. If possible, an end of the old box parallel with the +combs, must be pried off, so that they may be easily cut out. An old +hive or box should stand upon a sheet, in place of the removed stock, +and as fast as a comb is cut out, the bees should be shaken from it, +upon the sheet; a wing or anything soft, will often be of service in +brushing off the bees. Remember that they must not be hurt. If the +weather is so pleasant that many bees from other hives, are on the wing, +great care must be taken to prevent them from robbing. As fast therefore +as the bees are shaken from the combs, these should be put into an empty +hive or box, and covered with a cloth, or set in some place where they +will not be disturbed. As soon as all the combs have been removed, the +Apiarian should proceed to select and arrange them for his new hive. If +the transfer is made late in the season, care must be taken, of course, +to give the bees combs containing a generous allowance of honey for +their winter supplies; together with such combs as have brood, or are +best fitted for the rearing of workers. All coarse combs except such as +contain the honey which they need, should be rejected. Lay a frame upon +a piece of comb, and mark it so as to be able to cut it a trifle larger, +so that it will just _crowd_ into the frame, to remain in its place +until the bees have time to attach it. If the size of the combs is such, +that some of them cannot be cut so as to fit, then cut them to the best +advantage, and after putting them into the frames, wind some thread +around the upper and lower slats of the frame, so as to hold the combs +in their place, until the bees can fasten them. If however, any of the +combs which do not fit, have no honey in them, they may be fastened very +easily, by dipping their upper edges into melted rosin. When the +requisite number of combs are put into the frames, they should be placed +in the new hive, and slightly fastened on the rabbets with a mere touch +of paste, so as to hold them firmly in their places; this will be the +more necessary if the transfer is made so late in the season that the +bees cannot obtain the propolis necessary to fasten them, themselves. + +As soon as the hive is thus prepared, let the temporary box into which +the bees have been driven, be removed, and their new home put in its +place. Shake out now the bees from the box, upon a sheet in front of +this hive, and the work is done; bees, brood, honey, bee-bread, empty +combs and all, have been nicely moved, and without any more serious loss +than is often incurred by any other moving family, which has to mourn +over some broken crockery, or other damage done in the necessary work of +establishing themselves in a new home! If this operation is performed at +a season of the year when there is much brood in the hive, and when the +weather is cool, care must be taken not to expose the brood, so that it +may become fatally chilled. + +The best time for performing it, is late in the Fall, when there is but +little brood in the hive; or about ten days after the voluntary or +forced departure of a first swarm from the old stock. By this time, the +brood left by the old queen, will all be sealed over, and old enough to +bear exposure, especially as the weather, at swarming time, is usually +quite warm. A temperature, not lower than 70°, will do them no harm, for +if exposed to such a temperature, they will hatch, even if taken from +the bees. + +I have spoken of the _best_ time for performing this operation. It may +be done at any season of the year, when the bees can fly without any +danger of being chilled, and I should not be afraid to attempt it, in +mid-winter, if the weather was as warm as it sometimes is. Let me here +earnestly caution all who keep bees, against meddling with them when the +weather is cool. Irreparable mischief is often done to them at such +times; they are tempted to fly, and thus perish from the cold, and +frequently they become so much excited, that they cannot retain their +fæces, but void them among the combs. If nothing worse ensues, they are +disturbed when they ought to be in almost death-like repose, and are +thus tempted to eat a much larger quantity of food than they would +otherwise have needed. Let the Apiarian remember that not a single +unnecessary motion should be required of a single bee: for all this, to +say nothing else, involves a foolish waste of food. (See p. 116.) + +In all operations involving the transferring of bees, it is exceedingly +desirable that the new hives to which they are transferred should be +put, as near as possible, where the old ones stood. If other colonies +are in close proximity, the bees may be tempted to enter the wrong +hives, if their position is changed only a little; they are almost sure +to do this if the others resemble more closely than the new one, their +former habitation. If will be often advisable, to transport to the +distance of one or two miles, the stocks which are to be transferred; so +that the operation may be performed to the best advantage. In a few +weeks they may be brought back to the Apiary. In hiving swarms, and +transferring stocks, care must be taken to prevent the bees from getting +mixed with those of other colonies. If this precaution is neglected many +bees will be lost by joining other stocks, where they may be kindly +welcomed, or may at once be put to death. It is exceedingly difficult, +to tell before hand, what kind of a reception strange bees will meet +with, from a colony which they attempt to join. In the working season +they are much more likely to be well received, than at any other time, +especially if they come loaded with honey: still new swarms full of +honey, that attempt to enter other hives, are often killed at once. If a +colony which has an unimpregnated queen seeks to unite with another +which has a fertile one, then almost as a matter of course they are +destroyed! If by moving their hive, or in any other way, bees are made +to enter a hive containing an unimpregnated queen, they will often +destroy her, if they came from a family which was in possession of a +fertile one! If any thing of this kind is ever attempted, the queen +ought first to be confined in a queen cage. If while attempting a +transfer of the bees to a new hive, I am apprehensive of robbers +attacking the combs, or am pressed for want of time, I put only such +combs as contain brood into the frames, and set the others in a safe +place. The bees are now at once allowed to enter their new hive, and the +other combs are given to them at a more convenient time. The whole +process of transferal need not occupy more than an hour, and in some +cases it can be done in fifteen minutes. If the weather is hot, the +combs must not be exposed at all to the heat of the sun. + +Until I had tested the feasibility of transferring bees from the old +hives, by means of my frames, I felt strongly opposed to any attempt to +dislodge them from their previous habitation. If they are transferred in +the usual way, it must be done when the combs are filled with brood; for +if delayed until late in the season, they will have no time to lay in a +store of provision against the Winter. Who can look without disgust, +upon the wanton destruction of thousands of their young, and the silly +waste of comb, which can be replaced only by the consumption of large +quantities of honey? In the great majority of such cases, the transfer, +unless made about the swarming season, and _previous_ to the issue of +the first swarm, will be an entire failure, and if made before, at best +only one colony is obtained, instead of the two, which are secured on my +plan. I never advise the transfer of a colony into _any_ hive, unless +their combs can be transferred with them, nor do I advise any except +practical Apiarians, to attempt to transfer them even to my hives. But +what if a colony is so old that its combs can only breed dwarfs? When I +find such a colony, I shall think it worth while to give specific +directions as to how it should be managed. The truth is, that of all the +many mistakes and impositions which have disgusted multitudes with the +very sound of "patent hive," none has been more fatal than the notion +that an old colony of bees could not be expected to prosper. Thousands +of the very best stocks have been wantonly sacrificed to this Chimera; +and so long as bee-keepers instead of studying the habits of the bee, +prefer to listen to the interested statements of ignorant, or +enthusiastic, or fraudulent persons, thousands more will suffer the same +fate. As to old stocks, the prejudice against them is just as foolish as +the silly notions of some who imagine that a woman is growing old, long +before she has reached her prime. Many a man of mature years who has +married a girl or a child, instead of a woman, has often had both time +enough, and cause enough to lament his folly. + +It cannot be too strongly urged upon all who keep bees, either for love +or for money, to be exceedingly cautious in trying any new hive, or new +system of management. If you are ever so well satisfied that it will +answer all your expectations, enter upon it, at first, only on a small +scale; then, if it fulfills all its promises, or if _you_ can make it do +so, you may safely adopt it: at all events, you will not have to mourn +over large sums of money spent for nothing, and numerous powerful +colonies entirely destroyed. "Let well enough alone," should, to a great +extent, be the motto of every prudent bee-keeper. There is, however, a +golden mean between that obstinate and stupid conservatism which tries +nothing new, and, of course, learns nothing new, and that craving after +mere novelty, and that rash experimenting on an extravagant scale, which +is so characteristic of a large portion of our American people. It would +be difficult to find a better maxim than that which is ascribed to +David Crockett; "_Be sure you're right, then go ahead._" + +What old bee-keeper has not had abundant proof that stocks eight or ten +years old, or even older, are often among the very best, in his whole +Apiary, always healthy and swarming with almost unfailing regularity! I +have seen such hives, which for more than fifteen years, have scarcely +failed, a single season, to throw a powerful swarm. I have one now ten +years old, in admirable condition, which a few years ago, swarmed three +times, and the first swarm sent off a colony the same season. All these +swarms were so early that they gathered ample supplies of honey, and +wintered without any assistance! + +I have already spoken of old stocks flourishing for a long term of years +in hives of the roughest possible construction; and I shall now in +addition to my previous remarks assign a new reason for such unusual +prosperity. Without a single exception, I have found one or both of two +things to be true, of every such hive. Either it was a very large hive, +or else if not of unusual size, it contained a large quantity of +worker-comb. No hive which does not contain a good allowance of regular +comb of a size adapted to the rearing of workers, can ever in the nature +of things, prove a valuable stock hive. Many hives are so full of drone +combs that they breed a cloud of useless consumers, instead of the +thousands of industrious bees which ought to have occupied their places +in the combs. It frequently happens that when bees are put into a new +hive, the honey-harvest is at its height, and the bees finding it +difficult to build worker comb fast enough to hold their gatherings, are +tempted to construct long ranges of drone comb to receive their stores. +In this way, a hive often contains so small an allowance of +worker-comb, that it can never flourish, as the bees refuse to pull +down, and build over any of their old combs. All this can be easily +remedied by the use of the movable comb hive. + + +PROCURING BEES TO START AN APIARY. + +A person ignorant of bees, must depend in a very great measure, on the +honesty of those from whom he purchases them. Many stocks are not worth +accepting as a gift: like a horse or cow, incurably diseased, they will +only prove a bill of vexatious expense. If an inexperienced person +wishes to commence bee-keeping, I advise him, by all means, to purchase +a new swarm of bees. It ought to be a large and early one. Second swarms +and all late and small first swarms, ought never to be purchased by one +who has no experience in Apiarian pursuits. They are very apt, in such +hands, to prove a failure. If all bee-keepers were of that exemplary +class of whom the Country Curate speaks, (see p. 33,) it would be +perfectly safe to order a swarm of any one keeping a stock of bees. This +however, is so far from being true, that some offer for sale, old stocks +which are worthless, or impose on the ignorant, small first swarms, and +second and even third swarms, as prime swarms worth the very highest +market price. If the novice purchases an old stock, he will have the +perplexities of swarming, &c., the first season, and before he has +obtained any experience. As it may, however, be sometimes advisable that +this should be done, unless he makes his purchase of a man known to be +honest, he should select his stock himself, at a period of the day when +the bees, in early Spring, are busily engaged in plying their labors. He +should purchase a colony which is very actively engaged in carrying in +bee-bread, and which, from the large number going in and out, +undoubtedly contains a vigorous population. The hive should be removed +at an hour when the bees are all at home. It may be gently inverted, and +a coarse towel placed over it, and then tacked fast, when the bees are +shut in. Have a steady horse, and before you start, be very sure that it +is _impossible_ for any bees to get out. Place the hive on some straw, +in a wagon that has easy springs, and the bees will have plenty of air, +and the combs, from the inverted position of the hive, will not be so +liable to be jarred loose. Never purchase a hive which contains much +comb just built; for it will be next to impossible to move it, in warm +weather, without loosening the new combs. If a new swarm is purchased, +it may be brought home as follows. Furnish the person on whose premises +it is to be hived, with a box holding at the very least, a cubic foot of +clear contents. Let the bottom-board of this temporary hive be clamped +on both ends, the clamps being about two inches wider than the thickness +of the board, so that when the hive is set on the bottom-board, it will +slip in between the upper projections of the clamps, and be kept an inch +from the ground, by the lower ones, so that air may pass under it. There +should be a hole in the bottom-board, about four inches in diameter, and +two of the same size in the opposite sides of the box, covered with wire +gauze, so that the bees may have an abundance of air, when they are shut +up. Three parallel strips, an inch and a half wide, should be nailed, +about one third of the way from the top of the temporary hive, at equal +distances apart, so that the bees may have every opportunity to cluster; +a few pieces of old comb, fastened strongly in the top with melted +rosin, will make the bees like it all the better. A handle made of a +strip of leather, should be nailed on the top. Let the bees be hived in +this box, and kept well shaded; at evening, or very early next morning, +the temporary hive which was propped up, when the bees were put into +it, may be shut close to its bottom-board, and a few screws put into the +upper projection of the clamps, so as to run through into the ends of +the box. In such a box, bees may be safely transported, almost any +reasonable distance: care being taken not to handle them roughly, and +never to keep them in the sun, or in any place where they have not +sufficient air. If the box is too small, or sufficient ventilators are +not put in, or if the bees are exposed to too much heat, they will be +sure to suffocate. If the swarm is unusually large, and the weather +excessively warm, they ought to be moved at night. Unless great care is +taken in moving bees, in very hot weather, they will be almost sure to +perish; therefore always be _certain_ that they have an abundance of +air. If they appear to be suffering for want of it, especially if they +begin to fall down from the cluster, and to lie in heaps on the +bottom-board, they should immediately be carried into a field or any +convenient place, and at once be allowed to fly: in such a case they +cannot be safely moved again, until towards night. This will never be +necessary if the box is large enough, and suitably ventilated. + +I have frequently made a box for transporting new swarms, out of an old +tea-chest. When a new swarm is brought in this way to its intended home, +the bottom-board may be unscrewed, and the bees transferred at once, to +the new hive; (See p. 168.) In some cases, it may be advisable to send +away the new hive. In this case, if one of my hives is used, the spare +honey-board should be screwed down, and all the holes carefully stopped, +except two or three which ought to have some ventilators tacked over +them: the frames should be fastened with a little paste, so that they +will not start from their place, and after the bees are hived, the +blocks which close the entrance should be screwed down to their place, +keeping them however, a trifle less than an eighth of an inch from the +entrance, so as to give the bees all the air which they need. I very +much prefer sending a box for the bees: one person can easily carry two +such boxes, each with a swarm of bees; and if he chooses to fasten them +to two poles, or to a very large hoop, he may carry four, or even more. + +If the Apiarian wishes, to be sure the first season, of getting some +honey from his bees, he will do well to procure two good swarms, and put +them both into one hive. (See p. 213.) To those who do not object to the +extra expense, I strongly recommend this course. Not unfrequently, they +will in a good season, obtain in spare honey from their doubled swarm, +an ample equivalent for its increased cost: at all events, such a +powerful swarm lays the foundations of a flourishing stock, which seldom +fails to answer all the reasonable expectations of its owner. If the +Apiary is commenced with swarms of the current season, and they have an +abundance of spare room in the upper boxes, there will be no swarming, +that season, and the beginner will have ample time to make himself +familiar with his bees, before being called to hive new swarms, or to +multiply colonies by artificial means. + +Let no inexperienced person commence bee-keeping on a large scale; very +few who do so, find it to their advantage, and the most of them not only +meet with heavy losses, but abandon the pursuit in disgust. By the use +of my hives, the bee-keeper can easily multiply very rapidly, the number +of his colonies, as soon as he finds, not merely that money can be made +by keeping bees, but _that he can make it_. While I am certain that more +money can be made by a careful and experienced bee-keeper in a good +situation, from a given sum invested in an Apiary, than from the same +money invested in any other branch of rural economy, I am equally +certain that there is none in which a careless or inexperienced person +would be more sure to find his outlay result in an almost entire loss. +An Apiary neglected or mismanaged, is far worse than a farm overgrown +with weeds, or exhausted by ignorant tillage: for the land is still +there, and may, by prudent management, soon be made again to blossom +like the rose; but the bees, when once destroyed, can never be brought +back to life, unless the poetic fables of the Mantuan Bard, can be +accepted as the legitimate results of actual experience, and swarms of +bees, instead of clouds of filthy flies, can once more be obtained from +the carcases of decaying animals! I have seen an old medical work in +which Virgil's method of obtaining colonies of bees from the putrid body +of a cow slain for this special purpose, is not only credited, but +minutely described. + +A large book would hardly suffice to set forth all the superstitions +connected with bees. I will refer to one which is very common and which +has often made a deep impression upon many minds. When any member of a +family dies, the bees are believed to be aware of what has happened, and +the hives are by some dressed in mourning, to pacify their sorrowing +occupants! Some persons imagine that if this is not done, the bees will +never afterwards prosper, while others assert, that the bees often take +their loss so much to heart, as to alight upon the coffin whenever it is +exposed! An intelligent clergyman on reading the sheets of this work, +stated to me that he had always refused to credit this latter fact, +until present at a funeral where the bees gathered in such large numbers +upon the coffin, as soon as it was brought out from the house, as to +excite considerable alarm. Some years after this occurrence, being +engaged in varnishing a table, and finding that the bees came and lit +upon it, he was convinced that the love of varnish, (see p. 85,) instead +of sorrow or respect for the dead, was the occasion of their gathering +round the coffin! How many superstitions in which often intelligent +persons most firmly confide, might if all the facts were known, be as +easily explained. + +Before closing this Chapter, I must again strongly caution all +inexperienced bee-keepers, against attempting to transfer colonies from +an old hive. I am determined that if any find that they have made a +wanton sacrifice of their bees, they shall not impute their loss to my +directions. If they persist in making the attempt, let them, by all +means, either do it at break of day, before the bees of other hives will +be induced to commence robbing; or better still, let them do it not only +early in the morning, but let them carry the hive on which they intend +to operate, to a very considerable distance from the vicinity of the +other hives, and entirely out of sight of the Apiary. I prefer myself +this last plan, as I then run no risk of attracting other bees to steal +the honey, and acquire mischievous habits. + +The bee-keeper is very often reminded by the actions of his bees of some +of the worst traits in poor human nature. When a man begins to sink +under misfortunes, how many are ready not simply to abandon him, but to +pounce upon him like greedy harpies, dragging, if they can, the very bed +from under his wife and helpless children, and appropriating all which +by any kind of maneuvering, they can possibly transfer to their already +overgrown coffers! With much the same spirit, more pardonable to be sure +in an insect, the bees from other hives, will gather round the one which +is being broken up, and while the disconsolate owners are lamenting over +their ruined prospects, will, with all imaginable rapacity and glee, +bear off every drop which they can possibly seize. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[25] Instead of using sticks, I much prefer to make the drumming with +the open palms of my hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ROBBING. + + +Bees are exceedingly prone to rob each other, and unless suitable +precautions are used to prevent it, the Apiarian will often have cause +to mourn over the ruin of some of his most promising stocks. The moment +a departure is made from the old-fashioned mode of managing bees, the +liability to such misfortunes is increased, unless all operations are +performed by careful and well informed persons. + +Before describing the precautions which I successfully employ, to guard +my colonies from robbing each other, or from being robbed by bees from a +strange Apiary, I shall first explain under what circumstances they are +ordinarily disposed to plunder each other. Idleness is with bees, as +well as with men, a most fruitful mother of mischief. Hence, it is +almost always when they are doing nothing in the fields, that they are +tempted to increase their stores by dishonest courses. Bees are, +however, much more excusable than the lazy rogues of the human family; +for the _bees_ are idle, not because they are indisposed to work, but +because they can find nothing to do. Unless there is some gross +mismanagement, on the part of their owner, they seldom attempt to live +upon stolen sweets, when they have ample opportunity to reap the +abundant harvests of honest industry. In this chapter, I shall be +obliged, however much against my will, to acknowledge that some +branches of morals in my little friends, need very close watching, and +that they too often make the lowest sort of distinction, between "mine +and thine." Still I feel bound to show that when thus overcome by +temptation, it is almost always, under circumstances in which their +careless owner is by far the most to blame. + +In the Spring, as soon as the bees are able to fly abroad, "innatus +urget amor habendi," as Virgil has expressed it; that is, they begin to +feel the force of an innate love of honey-getting. They can find nothing +in the fields, and they begin at once, to see if they cannot appropriate +the spoils of some weaker hive. They are often impelled to this, by the +pressure of immediate want, or the salutary dread of approaching famine: +but truth obliges me to confess that not unfrequently some of the +strongest stocks, which have more than they would be able to consume, +even if they gathered nothing more for a whole year, are the most +anxious to prey upon the meager possessions of some feeble colony. Just +like some rich men who have more money than they can ever use, urged on +by the insatiable love of gain, "oppress the hireling in his wages, the +widow and the fatherless," and spin on all sides, their crafty webs to +entrap their poorer neighbors, who seldom escape from their toils, until +every dollar has been extracted from them, and as far as their worldly +goods are concerned, they resemble the skins and skeletons which line +the nest of some voracious old spider. + +When I have seen some powerful hive of the kind just described, +condemned by its owner, in the Fall, to the sulphur pit, or deprived +unexpectedly of its queen, its stores plundered, and its combs eaten up +by the worms, I have often thought of the threatenings which God has +denounced against those who make dishonest gains "their hope, and say +unto the fine gold, Thou art my confidence." + +In order to prevent colonies from attempting to rob, I always examine +them in the Spring, to ascertain that they have honey and are in +possession of a fertile queen. If they need food they are supplied with +it, (see Chapter on Feeding,) and if they are feeble or queenless, they +are managed according to the directions previously given. Bees seem to +have an instinctive perception of the weakness of a colony, and like the +bee-moth, they are almost certain to attack such stocks, especially when +they have no queen. Hence I can almost always tell that a colony is +queenless, by seeing robbers constantly attempting to force an entrance +into it. + +It requires some knowledge of the habits of bees, to tell from their +motions, whether they are flying about a strange hive with some evil +intent, or whether they belong to the hive before which they are +hovering. A little experience however, will soon enable us to +discriminate between the honest inhabitants of a hive, and the robbers +which so often mingle themselves among the crowd. There is an +unmistakable air of roguery about a thieving bee, which to the observing +Apiarian, proclaims the nature of his calling, just as truly as the +appearance of a pickpocket in a crowd, enables the experienced police +officer to distinguish him from the honest folks, on whom he intends to +exercise his skill. + +There is a certain sneaking look about a rogue of a bee, almost +indescribable, and yet perfectly obvious. It does not alight on the +hive, and boldly enter at once like an honest bee which is carrying home +its load. If they could only assume such an appearance of transparent +honesty, they would often be allowed by the unsuspecting door-keepers to +enter unquestioned, to see all the sights within, and to help themselves +to the very fat of the land. But there is a sort of nervous haste, and +guilty agitation in all their movements: they never alight boldly upon +the entrance board, or face the guards which watch the passage to the +hive; they know too well that if caught and overhauled by these trusty +guardians of the hive, their lives would hardly be worth insuring; hence +their anxiety to glide in, without touching one of the sentinels. If +detected, as they have no password to give, (having a strange smell,) +they are very speedily dealt with, according to their just deserts. If +they can only effect a secret entrance, those within take it for granted +that all is right, and seldom subject them to a close examination. + +Sometimes bees which have lost their way, are mistaken by the +inexperienced, for robbers; there is however, a most marked distinction +between the conduct of the two. The arrant rogue when caught, attempts +with might and main, to pull away from his executioners, while the poor +bewildered unfortunate shrinks into the smallest compass, like a cowed +dog, and submits to whatever fate his captors may see fit to award him. + +The class of dishonest bees which I have been describing, may be termed +the "Jerry Sneaks" of their profession, and after they have followed it +for some time, they lose all disposition for honest pursuits, and assume +a hang-dog sort of look, which is very peculiar. Constantly employed in +creeping into small holes, and daubing themselves with honey, they often +lose all the bright feathers and silky plumes which once so beautifully +adorned their bodies, and assume a smooth and almost black appearance; +just as the hat of the thievish loafer, acquires a "seedy" aspect, and +his garments, a shining and threadbare look. Dzierzon is of opinion that +the black bees which Huber describes, as being so bitterly persecuted by +the rest, are nothing more than these thieving bees. I call them old +convicts, dressed in prison garments, and incurably given up to +dishonest pursuits. + +Bees sometimes act the part of highway robbers; some half dozen or more +of them, will waylay and attack a poor humble-bee which is returning +with a sack full of honey to his nest, like an honest trader, jogging +home with a well filled purse. They seize the poor bee, and give him at +once to understand that they must have the earnings of his industry. +They do not slay him. Oh no! they are much too selfish to endanger their +own precious persons; and even if they could kill him, without losing +their weapons, they would still be unable to extract his sweets from the +deep recesses of his honey bag: they therefore begin to bite and teaze +him, after the most approved fashion, all the time singing in his ears, +"not your money," but, "your honey or your life;" until utterly +discouraged, he delivers up his purse, by disgorging his honey from its +capacious receptacle. The graceless creatures cry "hands off," and +release him at once, while they lick up his spoils and carry it off to +their home. + +The remark is frequently made that were rogues to spend half as much +time and ingenuity in gaining an honest living, as they do, in seeking +to impose upon their fellow-men, their efforts would often be crowned +with abundant success. Just so of many a dishonest bee. If it only knew +its true interests, it would be safely roving the smiling fields, in +search of honey, instead of longing for a tempting and yet dangerous +taste of forbidden sweets. + +Bees sometimes carry on their depredations on a more magnificent scale. +Having ascertained the weakness of some neighboring colony, through the +sly intrusions of those who have entered the hive to spy out all "the +nakedness of the land," they prepare themselves for war, in the shape +of a pitched battle. The well-armed warriors sally out by thousands, to +attack the feeble hive against which they have so unjustly declared a +remorseless warfare. A furious onset is at once made, and the ground in +front of the assaulted hive is soon covered with the dead and dying +bodies of innumerable victims. Sometimes the baffled invaders are +compelled to sound a retreat; too often however, as in human contests, +right proves but a feeble barrier against superior might; the citadel is +stormed, and the work of rapine and pillage forthwith begins. And yet +after all, matters are not nearly so bad, as at first they seem to be. +The conquered bees, perceiving that there is no hope for them in +maintaining the unequal struggle, submit themselves to the pleasure of +the victors; nay more, they aid them in carrying off their own stores, +and are immediately incorporated into the triumphant nation! The poor +mother however, is left behind in her deserted home, some few of her +children which are faithful to the last, remaining with her, to perish +by her side, amid the sad ruins of their once happy home! + +If the bee-keeper is unwilling to have his bees so demoralized, that +their value will be seriously diminished, he will be exceedingly careful +to do all that he possibly can to prevent them from robbing each other. +He will see that all queenless colonies are seasonably broken up in the +Spring, and all weak ones strengthened, and confined to a space which +they can warm and defend. If once his bees get a taste of forbidden +sweets, they will seldom stop until they have tested the strength of +every stock, and destroyed all that they possibly can. Even if the +colonies are able to defend themselves, many bees will be lost in these +encounters, and a large waste of time will invariably follow; for bees +whether engaged in attempting to rob, or in battling against the robbery +of others, are, to a very great extent, cut off both from the +disposition and the ability to engage in useful labors. They are like +nations that are impoverished by mutual assaults on each other: or in +which the apprehension of war, exerts a most blighting influence upon +every branch of peaceful industry. + +I place very great reliance on the movable blocks which guard the +entrance to my hive, to assist colonies in defending themselves against +robbing bees, as well as the prowling bee-moth. These blocks are +triangular in shape, and enable the Apiarian to enlarge or contract the +entrance to the hive, at pleasure. In the Spring, the entrance is kept +open only about two inches, and if the colony is feeble, not more than +half an inch. If there is any sign of robbers being about, the small +colonies have their entrances closed, so that only a single bee can go +in and out at once. As the bottom-board slants forwards, the entrance is +on an inclined plane, and the bees which defend it, have a very great +advantage over those which attack them; the same in short, that the +inhabitants of a besieged fortress would have in defending a pass-way +similarly constructed. As only one bee can enter at a time, he is sure +to be overhauled, if he attempts ever so slyly to slip in: his +credentials are roughly demanded, and as he can produce none, he is at +once delivered over to the executioners. If an attempt is made to gain +admission by force, then as soon as a bee gets in, he finds hundreds, if +not thousands, standing in battle array, and he meets with a reception +altogether too warm for his comfort. I have sometimes stopped robbing, +even after it had proceeded so far that the assaulted bees had ceased to +offer any successful resistance, by putting my blocks before the +entrance, and permitting only a single bee to enter at once: the +dispirited colony have at once recovered heart, and have battled so +stoutly and successfully, as to beat off their assailants. + +When bees are engaged in robbing a hive, they will often continue their +depredations to as late an hour as possible, and not unfrequently some +of them return home so late with their ill-gotten spoils, that they +cannot find the entrance to their own hive. Like the wicked man who +"deviseth mischief on his bed, and setteth himself in a way that is not +good," they are all night long, meditating new violence, and with the +very first peep of light, they sally out to complete their unlawful +doings. + +Sometimes the Apiarian may be in doubt whether a colony is being robbed +or not, and may mistake the busy numbers that arrive and depart, for the +honest laborers of the hive; but let him look into the matter a little +more closely, and he will soon ascertain the true state of the case: the +bees that enter, instead of being heavily laden, with bodies hanging +down, unwieldy in their flight, and slow in all their movements, are +almost as hungry looking as Pharaoh's lean kine, while those that come +out, show by their burly looks, that like aldermen who have dined at the +expense of the City, they are filled to their utmost capacity. + +If the Apiarian wishes to guard his bees against the fatal propensity to +plunder each other, he must be exceedingly careful not to have any combs +filled with honey unnecessarily exposed. An ignorant or careless person +attempting to multiply colonies on my plan, will be almost sure to tempt +his bees to rob each other. If he leaves any of the combs which he +removes, so that strange bees find them, they will, after once getting a +taste of the honey, fly to any hive upon which he begins to operate, and +attempt to appropriate a part of its contents. (See p. 304.) I have +already stated that when they can find an abundance of food in the +fields, bees are seldom inclined to rob; for this reason, with proper +precautions, it is not difficult to perform all the operations which are +necessary on my plan of management, at the proper season, without any +danger of demoralizing the bees. If however, they are attempted when +honey cannot be obtained, they should be performed with extreme caution, +and early in the morning, or late in the evening; or if possible, on a +day when the bees are not flying out from their hives. I have sometimes +seen the most powerful colonies in an Apiary, either robbed and +destroyed, or very greatly reduced in numbers, by the gross carelessness +or ignorance of their owner. He neglects to examine his hives at the +proper season, and the bees begin to rob a weak or queenless stock: as +soon as they are at the very height of their nefarious operations, he +attempts to interfere with their proceedings, either by shutting up the +hive, or by moving it to a new place. The air is now filled with greedy +and disappointed bees, and rather than fail in obtaining the expected +treasures, they assail with almost frantic desperation, some of the +neighboring stocks: in this way, the most powerful colonies are +sometimes utterly ruined, or if they escape, thousands of bees are slain +in defending their treasures, and thousands more of the assailants meet +with the same untimely end. + +If the Apiarian perceives that one of his colonies is being robbed, he +should at once contract the entrance, so that only a single bee can get +in at a time; and if the robbers still persist in entering, he must +close it entirely. In a few minutes the outside of the hive will be +black with the greedy cormorants, and they will not abandon it, until +they have explored every crevice, and attempted to force themselves +through even the smallest openings. Before they assail a neighboring +colony, they should be sprinkled with cold water, and then instead of +feeling courage for new crimes, they will be glad to escape, thoroughly +drenched, to their proper homes. Unless the bees that are shut up can, +as in my hives, have an abundance of air, it will be necessary to carry +them at once into a dark and cool place. Early next morning the +condition of the hive should be examined, and the proper remedies if it +is weak or queenless should be applied; or if its condition is past +remedy, it should at once be broken up, and the bees united to another +stock. + +I have been credibly informed of an exceedingly curious kind of robbing +among bees. Two colonies, both in good condition, seemed determined to +appropriate each other's labors: neither made any resistance to the +entrance of the plundering bees; but each seemed too busily intent upon +its own dishonest gains, to notice[26] that the work of subtraction kept +pace with that of addition. An intelligent Apiarian stated to me this +singular fact as occurring in his own Apiary. This is a very near +approximation to the story of the Kilkenny cats. Alas! that there should +be so much of equally short-sighted policy among human beings; +individuals, communities and nations seeking often to thrive by +attempting to prey upon the labors of others, instead of doing all that +they can, by industry and enterprise, to add to the common stock. I have +never, in my own experience, met with an instance of such silly +pilfering as the one described; but I have occasionally known bees to be +carrying on their labors, while others were stealing more than the +occupants of the hive were gathering, without their being aware of it. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[26] The bees in each colony had probably contracted the same smell, and +could not distinguish friends from foes. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING BEES. + + +Few things in the practical department of the Apiary, are more important +and yet more shamefully neglected, or grossly mismanaged, than the +feeding of bees. In order to make this subject as clear as possible, I +shall begin with the Spring examination of the hives, and furnish +suitable directions for feeding during the whole season in which it +ought to be attempted. In the movable comb hives, the exact condition of +the bees with regard to stores, may be easily ascertained as soon as the +weather is warm enough to lift out the frames. In the common hives, this +can sometimes be ascertained from the glass sides; but often no reliable +information can be obtained. Even if the weight of the hive is known, +this will be no sure criterion of the quantity of honey it contains. The +comb in old hives, is often very thick, and of course, unusually heavy; +while vast stores of useless bee-bread have frequently been accumulated, +which entirely deceive the Apiarian, who attempts to judge of the +resources of a hive from its weight alone. On my system of bee-culture, +such an injurious surplus of bee-bread, is easily prevented; (See p. +102.) + +If the bee-keeper ascertains or even suspects, in the Spring, that his +bees have not sufficient food, he must at once supply them with what +they need. Bees, at this season of the year, consume a very large +quantity of honey: they are stimulated to great activity by the +returning warmth, and are therefore compelled to eat much more than when +they were almost dormant among their combs. In addition to this extra +demand, they are now engaged in rearing thousands of young, and all +these require a liberal supply of food. Owing to the inexcusable neglect +of many bee-keepers, thousands of swarms perish annually after the +Spring has opened, and when they might have been saved, with but little +trouble or expense. Such abominable neglect is incomparably more cruel +than the old method of taking up the bees with sulphur; and those who +are guilty of it, are either too ignorant or too careless, to have any +thing to do with the management of bees. What would be thought of a +farmer's skill in his business, who should neglect to provide for the +wants of his cattle, and allow them to drop down lifeless in their +stalls, or in his barn-yard, when the fields, in a few weeks, will be +clothed again with the green mantle of delightful Spring! If any farmer +should do this, when food might easily be purchased, and should then, +while engaged in the work of skinning the skeleton carcasses of his +neglected herd, pretend that he could not afford to furnish, for a few +weeks, the food which would have kept them alive, he would not be a whit +more stupid than the bee-keeper attempting to justify himself on the +score of economy, while engaged in melting down the combs of a hive, +starved to death, after the Spring has fairly opened! Let such a person +blush at the pretence that he could not afford to feed his bees, the few +pounds of sugar or honey, which would have saved their lives, and +enabled them to repay him tenfold for his prudent care. + +I always feed my bees a little, even if I know that they have enough and +to spare. There seems to be an intimate connection between the getting +of honey, and the rapid increase of breeding, in a hive; and the taste +of something sweet, however small, to be added to their hoards, exerts a +very stimulating effect upon the bees; a few spoonsfull a day, will be +gratefully received, and will be worth much more to a stock of bees in +the Spring, than at any other time. + +By judicious early feeding, a whole Apiary may be not only encouraged to +breed much faster than they otherwise would have done; but they will be +inspired with unusual vigor and enterprise, and will afterwards increase +their stores with unusual rapidity. Great caution must be exercised in +supplying bees at this time with food, both to prevent them from being +tempted to rob each other, or to fill up with honey, the cells which +ought to be supplied with brood. Only a small allowance should be given +to them, and this from time to time, unless they are destitute of +supplies; and as soon as they begin to gather from the fields, the +feeding should be discontinued. Feeding, intended merely to encourage +the bees, and to promote early breeding, may be done in the open air. No +greater mistake can be made than to feed largely at this season of the +year. The bees take, to be sure, all that they can, and stow it up in +their cells, but what is the consequence? The honey which has been fed +to them, fills up their brood combs, and the increase of population is +most seriously interfered with; so that often when stocks which have not +been over-fed, are prepared not only to fill all the store combs in +their main hive, but to take speedy possession of the spare honey boxes, +a colony imprudently fed, is too small in numbers, to gather even as +much as the one which was not fed at all! The inexperienced Apiarian has +thus often made a worse use of his honey than he would have done, if he +had actually thrown it away! while all the time, he is deluding himself +with the vain expectation of reaping some wonderful profits, from what +he considers an improved mode of managing bees. + +Such conduct in its results, appears to me very much like the noxious +influences under which too many of the children of the rich are so +fatally reared. With every want gratified, pampered and fed to the very +full, how often do we see them disappoint all the fond expectations of +parents and friends, their money proving only a curse, while not +unfrequently beggared in purse, and bankrupt in character, they +prematurely sink to an ignoble or dishonored grave. Think of it, ye who +are slaving in the service of Mammon, that ye may leave to your sons, +the overgrown wealth which usually proves a legacy of withering curses, +while you neglect to train them up in those habits of stern morality and +steady industry, and noble self-reliance, without which the wealth of +Croesus would be but a despicable portion! Think of it, as you +contrast its results in the bitter experience of thousands, with the +happier influences under which so many of our noblest men in Church and +State, have been nurtured and developed, and then pursue your sordid +policy, if you can. "There is that withholdeth" from good objects, "more +than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty:" yes, to poverty of Christian +virtue and manliness, and of those "treasures" which we are all +entreated by God himself, to "lay up" in the store-house of Heaven. Call +your narrow-mindedness and gross deficiencies in Christian liberality, +nothing more than a natural love of your children, and an earnest desire +to provide for your own household. Little fear there may be that _you_ +will ever incur the charge of being "worse than an infidel" on this +point; but lay not on this account, any flattering unction to your +souls; look within, and see if the base idolatry of gold has not more to +do with your whole course of thinking and acting, than any love of wife +or children, relatives or friends! + +Another _sermon_! does some one exclaim? Would then that it might be to +some of my readers a sermon indeed; "a word fitly spoken," "like apples +of gold in pictures of silver." + +The prudent Apiarian will always regard the feeding of bees, except the +little, given to them by way of encouragement, as an evil to be +submitted to, only when absolutely necessary; and will very much prefer +to obtain his supplies from what Shakspeare has so beautifully termed +the "merry pillage" of the blooming fields, than from the more costly +stores of the neighboring grocery. If not engaged in the rapid increase +of stocks, he will seldom see a season so unfavorable as to be obliged +to purchase any food for his bees, unless he chooses to buy a cheaper +article, to replace the choice honey of which he has deprived them. Just +as soon as the Apiarian begins to multiply his stocks with very great +rapidity, he must calculate upon feeding great quantities of honey to +his bees. Before he attempts this on a large scale, let me once more +give him a friendly caution, and if possible, persuade him to try very +rapid multiplication with only a few of his stocks. In this way, he may +experiment to his heart's content, without running the risk of seriously +injuring his whole Apiary, and he may not only gain the skill and +experience which will enable him subsequently to conduct a rapid +increase, on a large scale, but may learn whether he is so situated that +he can profitably devote to it the time and money which it will +inevitably require. + +Before giving directions for feeding bees when a rapid increase of +colonies is aimed at, I shall first show in what manner the bee-keeper +may feed his weak swarms in the Spring. If they are in the common hives, +a small quantity of liquid honey may, at once be poured among the combs +in which the bees are clustered: this may be done by pouring it into the +holes leading to the spare honey boxes, but a much better way is to +invert the hives, and pour in about a tea-cup full at once. The Apiarian +can then see just where to pour it; he need not fear that the bees will +be hurt by it; any more than a child will be either hurt or displeased +by the sweets which adhere to its hands and face, as it feasts upon a +generous allowance of the best sugar candy! When the bees have taken up +all that has been poured upon them, the hive may be replaced, and the +operation repeated in a few days: the oftener it is done, the better it +will suit them. If the weather is sufficiently warm to allow the bees to +fly without being chilled, the food may be put in some old combs, or in +a feeder, and set in a sunny place, a rod or more from their hives. If +placed too near, the bees may be tempted to rob each other. With my +hives, I can pour the honey into some empty comb, and then put the frame +containing it, directly into the hive; or I can set the feeder or honey +in the comb, in the hive near the frames which contain the bees. I have +already stated, (see p. 225,) that unless a colony can be supplied with +a sufficient number of bees, it cannot be aided by giving it food. If +the bees are not numerous enough to take charge of the eggs which the +queen can lay, or at least, of a large number of them, they can seldom, +unless they have a tropical season before them, increase rapidly enough +to be of any value. If they are numerous enough to raise a great many +young bees, but too few to build new comb, they must be fed very +moderately, or they will be sure to fill up their brood comb with honey, +instead of devoting themselves to the rapid increase of their numbers. +If the Apiarian has plenty of empty worker comb which he can give them, +he ought to supply them quite sparingly with honey, even when they are +considerably numerous, in order to have them breed as fast as possible; +not so sparingly however, as to prevent them from storing up any honey +in sealed cells; or they will not be encouraged to breed as fast as they +otherwise would. If he has no spare comb, and the hive is populous +enough to build new comb, it must be supplied moderately, and by all +means, _regularly_ with the means of doing this; the object being to +have comb building and breeding go together, so as mutually to aid each +other. If the feeding is not regular, so as to resemble the natural +supplies when honey is obtained from the blossoms, the bees will not use +the food given to them, in building new comb, but chiefly in filling up +all the cells previously built. If honey can be obtained regularly, and +in sufficient quantities from the blossoms, the small colonies or nuclei +will need no feeding until the failure of the natural supplies. + +In all these operations, the main object should be to make every thing +bend to the most rapid production of _brood_; give me the bees, and I +can easily show how they may be fed, so as to make strong and prosperous +stocks; whereas if the bees are wanting, every thing else will be in +vain: just as a land where there are many stout hands and courageous +hearts, although comparatively barren, will in due time, be made to "bud +and blossom as the rose," while a second Eden, if inhabited by a scanty +and discouraged population, must speedily be overgrown with briars and +thorns. + +If strong stocks are deprived of a portion of their combs, so that they +cannot from natural sources, at once begin to refill all vacancies, they +too must be fed. + +I have probably said enough to show the inexperienced that the rapid +multiplication of colonies is not a very simple matter, and that they +will do well not to attempt it on a large scale. By the time the honey +harvest ordinarily closes, all the colonies in the Apiaries of all +except the skillful, ought to be both strong in numbers and in stores; +at least the _aggregate_ resources of the colonies should be such that +when an equal division is made among them, there will be enough for them +all. This may ordinarily be effected, and yet the number of the colonies +be tripled in one season; and in situations where buckwheat is +extensively cultivated, a considerable quantity of surplus honey may +even then be frequently obtained from the bees. Early in the month of +September, or better still, by the middle of August, if the colonies are +sufficiently strong in numbers, I advise that if feeding is necessary to +winter the bees, it should be thoroughly attended to. If delayed later +than this, in the latitude of our Northern States, the bees may not have +sufficient time to seal over the honey fed to them, and will be almost +sure to suffer from dysentery, during the ensuing Winter. Unsealed +honey, almost always, in cool weather, attracts moisture, and sours in +the combs, and if the bees are compelled to feed upon it, they are very +liable to become diseased. This is the reason why bees when fed with +liquid honey, late in the Fall, or during the Winter, are almost sure to +suffer from disease. A very interesting fact confirming these views as +to the danger resulting from the use of sour food, has come under my +notice this Spring. A colony of bees were fed for some time with +suitable food, and appeared to be in perfect health, flying in and out +with great animation. Their owner, on one occasion, before leaving for +the day, gave them some molasses which was so _sour_, that it could not +be used in the family. On returning, at evening, he was informed that +the bees had been dropping their filth over every thing in the vicinity +of the hive. On examining them, next day, they were all found dead on +the bottom-board and among the combs! The acid food had acted upon them +as a violent cathartic, and had brought on a complaint of which they +all died in less than 24 hours: the hive was found to contain an ample +allowance of honey and bee-bread. + +If the Apiarian, on examining the condition of his stocks, finds that +some have more than they need, and others not enough, his most prudent +course will be to make an equitable division of the honey, among his +different stocks. This may seem to be a very Agrarian sort of procedure, +and yet it will answer perfectly well in the management of bees. Those +that were helped, will not spend the next season in idleness, relying +upon the same sort of aid; nor will those that were relieved of their +surplus stores, remember the deprivation, and limit the extent of their +gatherings to a bare competency. With men, most unquestionably, such an +annual division, unless they were perfect, would derange the whole +course of affairs, and speedily impoverish any community in which it +might be attempted. I always prefer to take away a considerable quantity +of honey from my stocks, which have too generous a supply, and to +replace it with empty combs suitable for the rearing of workers; as I +find that when bees have too much honey in the Fall, they do not +ordinarily breed as fast in the ensuing Spring, as they otherwise would. +A portion of this honey should be carefully put away in the frames, and +kept in a close box, safe against all intruders, and where it will not +be exposed to frost; so that if any colonies in the Spring, are found to +be in want of food, they may easily be supplied. + +In the Spring examination, if any colonies have too much honey, a +portion of it ought by all means to be taken away. Such a deprivation, +if judiciously performed, will always stimulate them to increased +activity. Every strong stock, as soon as it can gather enough honey to +construct comb, ought to have one or two combs which contain no brood +removed, and their places supplied with empty frames, in order that they +may be induced to exert themselves to the utmost. An empty frame +inserted between full ones, will be replenished with comb very speedily, +and often the combs removed will be so much clear gain. If at any time +there is a sudden supply of honey, and the bees are reluctant to enter +the boxes, or it is not probable that the supply will continue long +enough to enable them to fill them, the removal of some of the combs +from the main hive so as to have empty ones filled, will often be highly +advantageous. + +If in the Fall of the year, the bee-keeper finds that some of his +colonies need feeding, and if they are not populous enough to make good +stock hives in the ensuing Spring, then instead of wasting time and +money on them, he should at once, break them up; (See p. 322.) They will +seldom pay for the labor bestowed on them, and the bees will be much +more serviceable, if added to other stocks. The Apiarian cannot be too +deeply impressed with the important truth, that his profits in +bee-keeping will all come from his _strong_ stocks, and that if he +cannot manage so as to have such colonies early, he had better let +bee-keeping alone. + +If liquid honey is fed to bees, it should always, (see p. 322,) be given +to them seasonably, so that they may seal it over before the approach of +cold weather. West India honey has for many years, been used to very +good advantage, as a bee-feed. It should never be used in its raw state, +as it is often filled with impurities, and is very liable to sour or +candy in the cells, but should be mixed with about two parts of good +white sugar, to three of honey and one of water, and brought to the +boiling point; as soon as it begins to boil, it should be set to cool, +and all the impurities will rise to the top, and may be skimmed off. If +it is found to be too thick, a little more water may be added to it; it +ought however, never to be made thinner than the natural consistence of +good honey. Such a mixture will cost for a small quantity, about seven +cents a pound, and will probably be found the cheapest liquid food, +which can be given to bees. Brown sugar may be used with the honey, but +the food will not be so good. + +If one of my hives is used, the bee-keeper may feed his bees at the +proper season, without using any feeder at all, or rather he may use the +_bottom-board_ of the hive as a feeder. On this plan, the bees should be +fed at evening; so as to run no risk of their robbing each other. The +hive which is to be fed, should have the front edge of its bottom-board +elevated on a block, so as to slant _backwards_, and the honey should be +poured into a small tin gutter inserted at the entrance; one such will +answer for a whole Apiary, and may be made by bending up the edges of +any old piece of tin. As the frames in my hive are kept about half an +inch above the bottom-board, which is water-tight, the honey runs under +them, and is as safe as in a dish, while the bees stand on the bottom of +the frames, and help themselves. The quantity poured in, should of +course, depend upon the size and necessities of the colony; no more +ought to be given at one time than the bees can take up during the +night, and the entrance to the hive ought always to be kept very small +during the process of feeding, to prevent robber bees from getting in; a +good colony will easily take up a quart. It is desirable to get through +the feeding as rapidly as possible, as the bees are excited during the +whole process, and consume more than they otherwise would; to say +nothing of the demand made upon the time of the Apiarian, by feeding in +small quantities. If the bees cannot, in favorable weather, dispose of +at least a pint at one time, the colony must be too small to make it +worth while to feed them, if they are in hives by which they can be +readily united to stronger stocks. + +If the bees have not a good allowance of comb, it will not, as a general +rule, pay to feed them. This will be obvious to any one who reflects +that at least 20 pounds of honey are required to elaborate one pound of +wax. I know that this estimate may to some, appear enormous; but it is +given as the result of very accurate experiments, instituted on a large +scale, to determine this very point. The Country Curate says, "Having +driven the population of four stocks, on the 5th of August, and united +them together, I fed them with about 50 pounds of a mixture of sugar, +honey, salt and beer, for about five weeks. At that time, the box was +only 16 pounds heavier than when the bees were put into it." He then +makes an estimate that at least 25 pounds of the mixture were consumed +in making about half a pound of wax!! No one who has ever tried it, will +undertake to feed bees for profit, when they are destitute of both comb +and honey. + +If the weather is cool when bees are fed, it will generally be necessary +to resort to top feeding. For this, my hive is admirably adapted: a +feeder may be put over one of the holes in the honey-board directly over +the mass of the bees, into which the heat of the hive naturally arises, +and where the bees can get at their food without any risk of being +chilled. This is _always_ the best place for a feeder, as the smell of +the food is not so likely to attract the notice of robbing bees. + +I shall here describe the way in which a feeder can at small expense, be +made to answer admirably every purpose. Take any wooden box which will +hold, say, at least one quart; make it honey-tight, by pouring into the +joints the melted mixture, (see p. 99,) and brush the whole interior +with the mixture, so that the honey may not soak into the wood. Make a +float of thin wood, filled with quarter inch holes, with clamps nailed +on the lower sides to prevent warping, and to keep the float from +settling to the bottom of the box, so as to stick fast: it should have +ample play, so that it may settle, as fast as the bees consume the +honey. Tacks on the clamps will always be sure to prevent sticking. +Before you waste any time in making small holes, for fear the bees will +be drowned in the large ones, try a float made as directed. In one +corner of the box, fasten with the melted mixture, a thin strip of wood, +about one inch wide; let it project above the top of the box about an +inch, and be kept about half an inch from the bottom; this answers as a +spout for pouring the honey into the feeder, and when not in use, it +should be stopped up. Have for the lid of the box, a piece of glass with +the corner cut off next the spout, so as to cover the feeder and keep +the bees in, and at the same time allow the bee-keeper to see when they +have consumed all their food. The feeder is now complete, with one +important exception; it has, as yet no way of admitting the bees. On the +outside corners of one of the ends, glue or tack two strips, inch and a +half wide, extending down to the bottom of the box, and half an inch +from the top; fasten over them a piece of thin board, (paste-board will +answer.) You have now a shallow passage without top or bottom, outside +of your feeder; give it a top of any kind; cut out just below the level +of this top, a passage into the feeder for the bees. It is now complete, +and when properly placed over any hole on the top of the hive, will +admit the bees from the hive, into the shallow passage which has no +bottom, and through this into the feeder. Such a feeder will not only be +cheap, but it might almost be made by a child, and yet it will answer +every purpose most admirably. If you have no wooden box that will +answer, a feeder may be made of pasteboard, and if brushed with the +melted mixture it will be honey-tight. By packing cotton or wool around +it, it might be used in most hives, even in the dead of Winter. Bees +however, ought never to need feeding in Winter, and if they do, it will +always be unsafe at this season to feed them with liquid honey. + +I ought here to speak of the importance of _water_ to the bees. It is +absolutely indispensable when they are building comb, or raising brood. +In the early Spring, they take advantage of the first warm weather, to +bring it to their hives, and they may be seen busily drinking around +pumps, drains, and other moist places. As they are not noticed +frequenting such spots much, except in the early part of the season, +many suppose that they need water only at this period. This is a great +mistake, for they need it, and must have it, during the whole breeding +season. But as soon as the grass starts, and the trees are covered with +leaves, they prefer to sip the dew from them. If a few cold days come +on, after the bees have commenced breeding, so as to prevent them from +going abroad for water, a very serious check will be given to their +operations. Even when it is not so cold as to prevent their leaving the +hive, many become so chilled in their search for water, that they are +not able to return. + +Every wise bee-keeper will see that his bees have an abundant supply of +water. If he has not some warm and sunny spot where they can safely +obtain it, he will furnish them with shallow wooden troughs or vessels +filled with pebbles, from which they can drink, without any risk of +drowning, and where they will be sheltered from cold winds, and warmed +by the genial rays of the sun. I believe that the reason why bees very +much prefer the impure water of barn-yards and drains, is not because +they find any medicinal quality in it, but because as it is _near_ their +hives and _warm_, they can fill themselves without being fatally +chilled. + +I have used water feeders of the same construction with my honey +feeders, with great success. The bees are able to enter them at all +times, as they are filled with the warm air of the hive, and thus +breeding goes on, without interruption, and the lives of many bees are +saved. + +The same end may be obtained, by pouring daily, a few table spoonsfull +of water into the hive, through one of the holes leading to the spare +honey boxes. As soon as the weather becomes warm, and the bees can +supply themselves from the dew on the grass and leaves, it will not be +worth while to give them water in their hives. + +When supplied with water in their hives, I advise that enough honey or +sugar be added to it, to make it tolerably sweet. They will take it with +greater relish, and it will stimulate them more powerfully to the +raising of brood. + +I come now to mention a substitute for liquid honey, the value of which +has been extensively and thoroughly tested in Germany, and which I have +used with great advantage. It was not discovered by Dzierzon, although +he speaks of its excellence, in the most decided terms. The article to +which I refer, is _plain sugar candy_, or as it is often called, barley +candy. It has been ascertained that about four pounds of this, will +sustain a colony during the Winter, when they have scarcely any honey in +their hive! If it is placed where they can get access to it without +being chilled, they will cluster upon it, and gradually eat it up. It +not only goes further than double the quantity of liquid honey which +could be bought for the same money, but is found to agree with the bees +perfectly; while the liquid honey is almost sure to sour in the unsealed +cells, and expose them to dangerous, and often fatal attacks of +dysentery. I have sometimes, in the old-fashioned box hives, pushed +sticks of candy between the ranges of comb, and have found it even then +to answer a good purpose. In any hive which has surplus honey boxes, the +candy may be put into a small box, which after being covered thoroughly +with cotton or wool, may have another box put over it, the outside of +which may be also covered. Unless great precautions are used, the boxes +will be so cold, that the bees will not be able to enter them in Winter, +and may thus perish in close proximity to abundant stores. + +In my hives, the candy may be laid on the top of the frames, in the +shallow chamber between the frames and the honey-board; it will here, if +the honey-board is covered with straw, be always accessible to the bees, +even in the coldest weather. I sometimes put it directly into a frame, +and confine it with a piece of twine, or fine wire. + +I have made a very convenient use of sugar candy, as a bee-feed in the +Summer, when I wished to give small colonies a little food, and yet not +to be at the trouble to use a feeder, or incur the risk of their being +robbed by putting it where strange bees might be attracted by the scent. +A small stick of candy, slid in on the bottom-board, under the frames, +answers admirably for such a purpose. If a little liquid food must be +used in warm weather, I advise that it be the best white sugar, +dissolved in water; this makes an admirable food; costs but little more +than brown sugar, and has no smell to tempt robbers to try to gain an +entrance into the hive. + +If the Apiarian is skillful, and attends to his bees, at the proper +time, they will rarely need much feeding; if he manages them in such a +manner that this is frequently and extensively needed, I can assure him, +if he has not already found it out to his sorrow, that his bees will be +nothing but a bill of cost and vexation. + +The question how much honey a colony of bees needs, in order to carry +them safely through the perils of Winter, is one to which it is +impossible to give an answer which will be definite, under all +circumstances. Very much will depend upon the hive in which they are +kept, and the forwardness of the ensuing Spring; (see Chapter on +Protection.) It is often absolutely impossible in the common hives, to +form any reliable estimate, as to the quantity of honey which they +contain, for the combs are often so heavy with bee-bread, as entirely to +deceive even the most experienced bee-keeper. + +I should always wish to leave at least 20 lbs. of honey in a hive; and +as I can examine each comb, I am never at a loss to know how much a +colony has. If I have the least apprehension that their supplies may +fail, I prefer to put a few pounds of sugar candy where they can easily +get access to it, in case of need. In my hive, the careful bee-keeper +may not only know the exact extent of the resources of each hive, in the +Fall, but he may, very early in the Spring, ascertain precisely how much +honey is still on hand, and whether his bees need feeding, in order to +preserve their lives. It is a shameful fact that a large number of +colonies perish after they have begun to fly out, and when, they might +easily have been saved, in any kind of hive. + + +FEEDING, TO MAKE A PROFIT BY SELLING THE HONEY STORED UP BY THE BEES. + +For many years, Apiarians have attempted to make the feeding of bees on +a large scale, profitable to their owners. All such attempts however, +must, from the very nature of the case, meet with very limited success. +If large quantities of cheap West India honey are fed to the bees in the +Fall, they are induced to fill their hives to such an extent, that in +the Spring, the queen does not find the necessary accommodations for +breeding. If they are largely fed in the Spring, the case is still +worse; (See p. 320.) It must therefore be obvious that the feeding of +cheap honey can only be made profitable where it serves as a substitute +for an equal quantity of choice honey taken from the bees. In the latter +part of Summer, the Apiarian may take away from the main hive, some of +the combs which contain the best honey, and replace them with combs into +which he has poured the cheaper article; or if he has no spare combs on +hand, he may slice off the covers of the cells, drain out the honey, +fill the empty combs with West India honey, and return them to the bees: +giving them at the same time, the additional food which they need to +elaborate wax to seal them over. If he attempts to take away their full +combs, and gives them honey in order to enable them, first to replace +their combs, and then to fill them, the operation, (see p. 326,) will +result in a loss, instead of a gain. + +I am aware that for a number of years, persons have attempted to derive +a profit from supplying the markets of some of our large cities, with an +article professing to be the best of honey, but which has been nothing +more than the cheap West India honey fed to the bees, and stored up by +them in new comb. In the City of Philadelphia, large quantities of such +honey have been sold at the highest prices, and _perhaps_ at some profit +to the persons who have fed it to their bees. Within the last two years, +however, the article has become so well known that it can hardly be sold +at any price; as those who purchase honey, instead of paying 25 cents +per pound for West India honey in the comb, much prefer to buy it, (if +they want it at all,) for 6 or 7 cents, in a liquid state! It must be +perfectly obvious that to sell a cheap and ill-flavored article at a +high price, under the pretence that it is a superior article, is nothing +less than downright cheating. + +I am perfectly well aware that many persons imagine that if any thing +_sweet_ is fed to bees, they will quickly transmute it into the purest +nectar. There is, however, no more truth in such a conceit, than there +would be in that of a man who supposed that he had found the veritable +philosopher's stone; and that he was able to change all our copper and +silver coins into the purest gold! Bees to be sure, can make white and +beautiful _comb_, from almost any kind of sweet; and why? because wax is +a natural secretion of the bee, (see p. 76,) and can be made from any +sweet; just as fat can be put upon the ribs of an ox, by any kind of +nourishing food. + +"But," some of my readers may ask, "do you mean to assert that bees do +not secrete honey out of the raw material which they gather, or which is +furnished to them, just as cows secrete milk from grass and hay?" I +certainly do mean to assert that they can do nothing of the kind, and no +intelligent man who has carefully _studied their habits_, will for a +moment, venture to affirm that they can, unless for the sake of "filthy +lucre," he is attempting to deceive an unwary community. What bee-keeper +does not know, or rather ought not to know that the quality of honey +depends entirely upon the sources from whence it is gathered; and that +the different kinds of honey can easily be distinguished by any one who +is a judge of the article. + +Apple-blossom honey, white clover honey, buckwheat honey, and all the +different kinds of honey, each has its own peculiar flavor, and it is +utterly amazing how any sensible man, acquainted with bees, can be so +deluded as to imagine any thing to the contrary. But as this is a matter +of great practical importance, let us examine it more closely. + +When bees are engaged in rapidly storing up honey in their combs, they +may be seen, as _soon_ as they return from the fields, or from the +feeding boxes, putting their heads at once into the cells, and +disgorging the contents of their "honey-bags." Now that the contents of +their sacs undergo no change at all, during the short time that they +remain in them, I will not absolutely affirm, because I have endeavored, +through this whole treatise, never to assert positively when I had not +positive evidence for so doing: but that they can undergo but a _very +slight_ change, must be evident from the fact that when thus stored up, +the different kinds of honey or sugar can be almost if not quite as +readily distinguished as before they were fed to the bees. The only +perceptible change which they appear to undergo in the cells, is to have +the large quantity of water evaporated from them, which is added from +thoughtlessness, or from the vain expectation that it will be just so +much water sold for honey, to the defrauded purchaser! This evaporation +of the water from the honey by the heat of the hive, is about the only +marked change that it appears to undergo, from its natural state in the +nectaries of the blossoms; and it is exceedingly interesting to see how +unwilling bees are to seal up honey, until it is reduced to such a +consistency that there is no danger of its souring in the cells. They +are as careful as to the quality of their nectar, as the good lady of +the house is, to have the syrup of her preserves boiled down to a +suitable thickness to keep them sweet. + +Let all who for any purpose whatever, feed bees, keep this fact in mind, +and never add to the food which they give them, more water than is +absolutely necessary. To do so, is a piece of as great stupidity as to +pour a barrel of water into the sugar pans, for every barrel of sap from +the maples, or juice from the canes! If a strong colony is set upon a +platform scale, it will be found on a pleasant day, during the height of +the honey harvest, to gain a number of pounds; if examined again, early +next morning, it will be found to have lost considerably, during the +night. This is owing to the evaporation of the water from the freshly +gathered honey, and it may often be seen running down in quite a stream +from the bottom-board. + +Those who feed cheap honey to sell it in the market at a high advance +over its first cost, are either deceivers or deceived; if any of my +readers have been deceived by the plausible representations of ignorant +or unprincipled men, I trust they will be able from these remarks, to +see exactly _how_ they have been deceived, and they will no longer +persist in an adulteration, the profits of which can never be great, and +the morality of which can never be defended. A man who offers for sale, +inferior honey, or sugar which he calls honey, and which he is able to +sell because it is stored in white comb, to those who would never +purchase it if they knew what it was, or once had a taste of it, is not +a whit more honest, if he understands the nature of the article in which +he deals, than a person engaged in counterfeiting the current coin of +the realm: for poor honey in white comb, is no less a fraud than eagles +or dollars, golden to be sure, on their honest exteriors, but containing +a baser metal within! "The Golden Age" of bee-keeping, in which inferior +honey can be quickly transmuted into such balmy spoils as are gathered +by the bees of Hybla, has not yet dawned upon us; or at least only in +the fairy visions of the poet who saw + + "A golden hive, on a Golden Bank, + Where golden bees, by alchemical prank, + Gathered Gold instead of Honey." + +If a pound of West India honey costs about 6 cents, and the bees use, as +they will, about one pound to make the comb in which it is stored, it +costs the producer at least 12 cents a pound, and if to this, he adds, +say 5 cents more, for extra time and labor in feeding, then his inferior +honey costs him at least as much as the market price of the very best +honey on the spot where it is produced! If the bee-keeper allows his +bees to make what they will, from the blossoms, and then begins to feed, +after he has harvested the produce from the natural supplies, the +advance over the first cost will hardly pay for the trouble, even if it +were fair to palm off such inferior honey as a first-rate article. If, +however, bees are fed on this food very largely in the latter part of +Summer, they will fill up their hive with it, before they put it into +the spare honey boxes, and the production of brood will often be most +seriously interfered with, at a season of the year when it is important +to have the hives well stocked with bees, that they may winter to the +best advantage. + +If Apiarians are anxious to have large quantities of choice honey, let +them manage their bees so as to have powerful stocks in the early +Spring, and they will then be able to have heavy purses and light +consciences into the bargain. I shall now show how liquid honey, +exceedingly beautiful to the eye, and tempting to the taste, may be made +to great advantage. + +Dissolve two pounds of the purest white sugar, in as much hot water as +will be just necessary to reduce it to a syrup; take one pound of the +nicest white clover honey, (any other light colored honey of good flavor +will answer,) and after warming it, add it to the sugar syrup, and stir +the contents. When cool, this compound will be pronounced, even by the +best judges of honey, to be one of the most luscious articles which they +ever tasted; and will be, by almost every one, preferred to the unmixed +honey. Refined loaf sugar is a perfectly pure and inodorous sweet, and +one pound of honey will communicate the honey flavor, in high +perfection, to twice that quantity of sugar: while the new article will +be destitute of that smarting taste which honey alone, so often has, and +will be often found to agree perfectly with those who cannot eat the +clear honey with impunity. If those engaged in the artificial +manufacture of honey, never brought any thing worse than this, to the +market, the purchasers would have no reason to complain. As however, the +compound can be furnished much cheaper than the pure honey, many may +prefer to purchase the materials, and mix them themselves. If desired, +any kind of flavor may be given to the manufactured article; thus it may +be made to resemble in fragrance, the classic honey of Mount Hymettus, +by adding to it the fine aroma of the lemon balm, or wild thyme; or it +may have the flavor of the orange groves, or the delicate fragrance of +beds of roses washed with dew. + +I have recently ascertained that if two pounds of the best refined sugar +be added to one of common maple sugar, the compound will be a light +colored article, retaining perfectly the maple taste, and yet far +superior to the common maple sugar. After making this discovery, I +learned that a large part of the very nicest maple sugar is made in this +way! + +Attempts have been made to feed to bees, to be stored in the honey +boxes, a mixture of the whitest honey and loaf sugar; but the result +shows a loss rather than a gain. The mixture, before it is fed, will +cost about 10 cents per pound. At the very furthest, not more than one +half of what is fed, can be secured in the comb, for it requires about +one pound of honey, to manufacture comb enough to hold a pound of honey. +The actual cost of the honey in the comb, will therefore be, at least 20 +cents per pound; and the pure white clover honey can be bought for less +than that. Those who desire to have something exceedingly beautiful to +the eye, and delicate to the taste, at a season when the bees are not +storing up honey from the blossoms, and in situations where the natural +supply is of an inferior quality, if they do not regard expense, can +place upon their tables, something which will be pronounced by the best +judges, a little superior to any thing they ever tasted before. + +I have repeatedly spoken of the great care which is necessary to prevent +bees from getting a taste of forbidden sweets, so as to be tempted to +engage in dishonest courses. The experienced Apiarian will fully +appreciate the necessity of these cautions, and the inexperienced, if +they neglect them, will be taught a lesson that they will not soon +forget. Let it be remembered that the bee was intended to gather its +sweets from the nectaries of flowers: to use the exquisitely beautiful +language of him whose wonderful writings supply us on almost every +subject, with the richest thoughts and happiest illustrations, they were +created to + + "Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds, + Which pillage they with merry march bring home + To the tent royal of their emperor: + Who, busied in his majesty, surveys + The singing masons, building roofs of gold."--_Shakspeare._ + +When thus engaged, the bees work in perfect accordance with their +natural instincts, and seem to have little or no disposition to meddle +with property that does not belong to them. If however, their incautious +owner tempts them with liquid food, especially at times when they can +obtain nothing from the blossoms, they seem to be so infatuated with +such easy gatherings, as to lose all discretion, and they will perish by +thousands, if the vessels which contain the food are not furnished with +floats, on which they can stand and help themselves in safety. + +The fly was intended to feed, not upon the blossoms, but upon food in +which, without care, it could easily be drowned; and hence it alights +most cautiously, on the edge of any vessel containing liquid food, and +warily helps itself: while the poor bee, without any caution, plunges +right in and speedily perishes. The sad fate of their unfortunate +companions, does not in the least, deter others who approach the +tempting lure: but they madly alight on the bodies of the dying and the +dead, to share the same miserable end! No one can understand the full +extent of their infatuation, until after seeing a confectioner's shop, +assailed by thousands and tens of thousands of hungry bees. I have seen +thousands strained out from the syrups in which they had perished; +thousands more alighting even upon the boiling sweets; the floors +covered, and windows darkened with bees, some crawling, others flying, +and others still, so completely daubed as to be able neither to crawl +nor fly; not one bee in ten able to carry home its ill-gotten spoils, +and yet the air filled with new hosts of thoughtless comers. + +It will be for the interest of all engaged in the manufacture of candy +and syrups, to fit gauze wire windows and doors to their premises, and +thus save themselves from constant loss and annoyance: for if only one +bee in a hundred escapes with his load, the confectioner will be +subjected in the course of the season to serious loss. I once furnished +such an establishment, after the bees had commenced their depredations, +with such protection; and when they found themselves excluded, they lit +on the wire by thousands, and fairly squealed with vexation and +disappointment, as they tried to force a passage through the meshes. At +last as they were daring enough to descend the chimney, reeking with +sweet odors, even although the most who attempted it, fell with scorched +wings into the fire, it became necessary to put wire gauze over the top +of the chimney also! + +How often, as I have seen thousands of bees, in such places destroyed, +and thousands more deprived of all ability to fly, and hopelessly +struggling in the deluding sweets, and yet thousands more blindly +hovering over them, all unmindful of their danger, and apparently eager +to share the same destruction, how often has the spectacle of their +infatuation seemed to me, to be an exact picture of the woful delusion +of those who surrender themselves to the fatal influences of the +intoxicating cup. Even although they see the miserable victims of this +degrading vice, falling all around them, into premature and dishonored +graves, they still press on, madly trampling as it were, over their dead +and dying bodies, that they too may sink into the same abyss of agonies, +and that their sun may also go down in darkness and hopeless gloom. Even +although they know that the next cup may send them, with all their sins +upon their heads, to the dread tribunal of their God, that cup of bitter +sorrows and untold degradation, they will drain even to its most +loathsome dregs. + +The avaricious bee that despised the slow process of extracting nectar +from "every opening flower," and plunged recklessly into the tempting +sweets, has ample time to bewail its folly. Even if it has not paid the +forfeit of its life, but has been able to obtain its fill, it returns +home with all its beautiful plumage sullied and besmeared, and with a +woe-begone look, and sorrowful note, in marked contrast with the bright +hues and merry sounds with which the industrious bee returns from its +happy rovings amid "the budding honey flowers, and sweetly breathing +fields." + +Just so, has many a pilgrim from the golden shores of California and +Australia, returned; enfeebled in body and mind, bankrupt often in +character and happiness, if not in purse, and unfitted in every way, for +the calm and sober pursuits of common industry; while thousands, yes, +and tens of thousands too, shall never more behold their once happy +homes. Bibles and Sabbaths, altars and firesides, parents and friends, +wife and children, how often have all these been wantonly abandoned, in +the accursed greed for gain, by those who might have been happy and +prosperous at home, and who wandered from its sacred precincts only +because they were determined to make the possession of wealth, the chief +object of life, but whose bones now lie amid the coral reefs of the +ocean, or moulder in the howling wastes of the "overland passage;" just +as the bones of the unbelieving Israelites whitened the sands of the +desert. Of those who have reached the "land of" golden "promise," how +many have died in despair, or worse still, are living so besotted by +vice, so lost to all power of virtuous resolutions, that they shall +never more see the happy homes from which they so thoughtlessly +wandered, never more hear the soft accents of loving friends; never more +worship God, in a peaceful Sanctuary, or ever again behold an opened +Bible! + + "Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! + Bright and yellow, hard and cold, + Molten, graven, hammer'd, and roll'd; + Heavy to get, and light to hold; + Hoarded, barter'd, bought, and sold, + Stolen, borrow'd, squander'd, doled: + Spurn'd by the young, but hugg'd by the old + To the very verge of the churchyard mould; + Price of many a crime untold; + Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! + Good or bad a thousand-fold! + How widely its agencies vary-- + To save--to ruin--to curse--to bless-- + As even its minted coins express, + Now stamp'd with the image of Good Queen Bess, + And now of a Bloody Mary!" + _Hood._ + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HONEY. PASTURAGE. OVERSTOCKING. + + +In the chapter on Feeding, it has already been stated that honey is not +a natural secretion of the bee, but a substance obtained from the +nectaries of the blossoms; it is not therefore, made, but merely +gathered by the bees. The truth is well expressed in the lines so +familiar to most of us from our childhood, + + "How doth the little busy bee + Improve each shining hour, + And _gather_ honey all the day + From every opening flower." + +Bees not only gather honey from the blossoms, but often obtain it in +large quantities from what have been called honey dews; "a term applied +to those sweet, clammy drops that glitter on the foliage of many trees +in hot weather." Two different opinions have been zealously advocated as +to the origin of honey-dews. By some, they are considered a natural +exudation from the leaves of trees, a perspiration as it were, +occasioned often by ill health, though sometimes a provision to enable +the plants to resist the fervent heats to which they are exposed. Others +insist that this sweet substance is discharged from the bodies of those +aphides or small lice which infest the leaves of so many plants. +Unquestionably they are produced in both ways. + +Messrs. Kirby and Spence, in their interesting work on Entomology, have +given a description of the kind of honey-dew furnished by the aphides. + +"The loves of the ants and the aphides have long been celebrated; and +that there is a connection between them, you may, at any time in the +proper season, convince yourself; for you will always find the former +very busy on those trees and plants on which the latter abound; and if +you examine more closely, you will discover that the object of the ants, +in thus attending upon the aphides, is to obtain the saccharine fluid +secreted by them, which may well be denominated their milk. This fluid, +which is scarcely inferior to honey in sweetness, issues in limpid drops +from the abdomen of these insects, not only by the ordinary passage, but +also by two setiform tubes placed, one on each side, just above it. +Their sucker being inserted in the tender bark, is without intermission +employed in absorbing the sap, which, after it has passed through their +system, they keep continually discharging by these organs. When no ants +attend them, by a certain jerk of the body, which takes place at regular +intervals, they ejaculate it to a distance." + +"Mr. Knight once observed," says Bevan, "a shower of honey-dew +descending in innumerable small globules, near one of his oak-trees, _on +the 1st of September_; he cut off one of the branches, took it into the +house, and holding it in a stream of light, which was purposely admitted +through a small opening, distinctly saw the aphides ejecting the fluid +from their bodies with considerable force, and this accounts for its +being frequently found in situations where it could not have arrived by +the mere influence of gravitation. The drops that are thus spurted out, +unless interrupted by the surrounding foliage, or some other interposing +body, fall upon the ground; and the spots may often be observed, for +some time, beneath and around the trees affected with honey-dew, till +washed away by the rain. The power which these insects possess of +ejecting the fluid from their bodies, seems to have been wisely +instituted to preserve cleanliness in each individual fly, and indeed +for the preservation of the whole family; for pressing as they do upon +one another, they would otherwise soon be glued together, and rendered +incapable of stirring. On looking steadfastly at a group of these +insects (_Aphides Salicis_) while feeding on the bark of the willow, +their superior size enables us to perceive some of them elevating their +bodies and emitting a transparent substance in the form of a small +shower." + + "Nor scorn ye now, fond elves, the foliage sear, + When the light aphids, arm'd with puny spear, + Probe each emulgent vein, till bright below, + Like falling stars, clear drops of nectar glow." + _Evans._ + +"The _willow_ accommodates the bees in a kind of threefold succession; +from the flowers they obtain both honey and farina;--from the bark +propolis;--and the leaves frequently afford them honey-dew at a time +when other resources are beginning to fail." + +"Honey-dew usually appears upon the leaves as a viscid, transparent +substance, as sweet as honey itself, sometimes in the form of globules, +at others resembling a syrup; it is generally most abundant from the +middle of June to the middle of July, sometimes as late as September." + +"It is found chiefly upon the _oak_, the _elm_, the _maple_, the +_plane_, the _sycamore_, the _lime_, the _hazel_, and the _blackberry_; +occasionally also on the _cherry_, _currant_, and other fruit trees. +Sometimes only one species of trees is affected at a time. The oak +generally affords the largest quantity. At the season of its greatest +abundance, the happy humming noise of the bees may be heard at a +considerable distance from the trees, sometimes nearly equalling in +loudness the united hum of swarming." + +In some seasons, extraordinary quantities of honey are furnished by the +honey-dews, and bees will often, in a few days, fill their hives with +it. If at such times, they can be furnished with empty combs, the amount +stored up by them, will be truly wonderful. No certain reliance, +however, can be placed upon this article of bee-food, as in some years, +there is scarcely any to be found, and it is only once in three or four +years, that it is very abundant. The honey obtained from this source, is +generally of a very good quality, though seldom as clear as that +gathered from the choicest blossoms. + +The quality of honey is exceedingly various, some being dark, and often +bitter and disagreeable to the taste, while occasionally it is gathered +from poisonous flowers, and is very noxious to the human system. + +An intelligent Mandingo African informed a lady of my acquaintance, that +they do not in his country, dare to eat _unsealed_ honey, until it is +first _boiled_. In some of the Southern States, all unsealed honey is +generally rejected. It appears to me highly probable that the noxious +qualities of the honey gathered from some flowers, is, for the most +part, evaporated, before it is sealed over by the bees, while the honey +is thickening in the cells. Boiling the honey, would, of course, expel +it much more effectually, and it is a well ascertained fact that some +persons are not able to eat even the best honey with impunity, until +after it has been boiled! I believe that if persons who are injured by +honey would subject it to this operation, they would usually find it to +exert no injurious influence on the system. Honey is improved by age, +and many are able to use with impunity, that which has been for a long +time, in the hive, and which seems to be much milder than any freshly +gathered by the bees. + +Honey, when taken from the bees, should be carefully put where it will +be safe from all intruders, and where it will not be exposed to so low a +temperature as to candy in the cells. The little red ant, and the large +black ant are extravagantly fond of it, and unless placed where they +cannot reach it, they will soon carry off large quantities. I paste +paper over all my boxes, glasses, &c., so as to make them air-tight, and +carefully store them away for future use. If it is drained from the +combs, it may be kept in tight vessels, although in this state it will +be almost sure to candy. By putting the vessels in water, and bringing +it to the boiling point, it will be as nice as when first strained from +the comb. In this way, I prefer to keep the larger portion of my honey. +The appearance of white honey in the comb, is however, so beautiful, +that many will prefer to keep it in this form, especially, if intended +for sale. + +In my hives, it may be taken from the bees, in a great variety of ways. +Some may prefer to construct the main hive in such a form, that the +surplus honey can be taken from it, on the frames. Others will prefer to +take it on frames put in an upper box; (see p. 231.) Glass vessels of +almost any size or form will make beautiful receptacles for the spare +honey. They ought always, however, to have a piece of comb fastened in +them, before they are given to the bees; (see p. 161) and if the weather +is cool, they must be carefully covered with something warm, or they +will part with their heat so quickly, as to discourage the bees from +building in them. Unless warmly covered, glass vessels will often be so +lined with moisture, as to annoy the bees. This is occasioned by the +rapid evaporation of the water from the newly gathered honey, (see +p. 335.) All hives during the height of the gathering season, abound in +moisture, and this no doubt furnishes the bees, for the most part, with +the water they then need. + +Honey, when stored in a pint tumbler, just large enough to receive one +comb, has a most beautiful appearance, and may be easily taken out +whole, and placed in an elegant shape upon the table. The expense of +such glass vessels is one objection to their use; the ease with which +they part with their heat, another, and a more serious objection still, +is the fact that the shallow cells, so many of which must be made in a +round vessel, require as large a consumption of honey for their wax +covers, as those which hold more than twice their quantity of honey. + +I prefer rectangular boxes made of pasteboard, to any other: they are +neat, warm and cheap; and if a small piece of glass is pasted in one of +their ends, the Apiarian can always see when they are full. When the +honey is taken from the bees, the box has its cover put on, and is +pasted tight, so as to exclude air and insects. In this form, honey may +be packed, and sent to market very conveniently: and when the boxes are +opened, the purchaser can always see the quality of the article which he +buys. The box in which these small boxes of honey are packed in order to +be sent to market, should be furnished with rope handles, so that it can +be easily lifted, without the least jarring. Honey should be handled +with just as much care as glass. A box, four inches wide, will admit of +two combs, and if small pieces of comb are put in the top, the bees will +build them, of the proper dimensions, and will thus make them too large +for brood combs, and of the best size to contain their surplus honey. +The use of my hives enables the Apiarian to get access to all the comb +which he needs for such purposes, and he will find it to his interest, +never to give the bees a box which does not contain some comb, as well +for encouragement as for a pattern. I have never seen the use of +pasteboard boxes suggested, but after experimenting with a great many +materials, I believe they will be found, all things considered, +preferable to any others. Wooden boxes, with a piece of glass, are very +good for storing honey: but they are much more expensive than those made +of pasteboard, and the covers cannot be removed so conveniently. + +Honey may be safely removed from the surplus honey boxes of my hives, +even by the most timid. When the outside case which covers the boxes, is +elevated, a shield is thrown between the Apiarian and the bees which are +entering and leaving the hive. Before removing a vessel or box, a thin +knife should be carefully passed under it, so as to loosen the +attachments of the comb to the honey-board, without injuring the bees; +then a small piece of tin or zinc may be pushed under to prevent the +bees that are below, from coming up, when the honey is removed. The +Apiarian should now tap gently on the box, and the bees in it, +perceiving that they are separated from the main hive, will at once +proceed to fill themselves, so as to save as much as possible, of their +precious sweets. In about five minutes, or as soon as they are full, and +run over the combs, trying to get out, the glass or box may at once be +removed, and they will fly directly to the hive with what they have been +able to secure. Bees under such circumstances, _never_ attempt to sting, +and a child of ten years, may remove, with ease and safety, all their +surplus stores. If a person is too timid to approach a hive when any +bees are flying, the honey may be removed towards evening, or early in +the morning, before the bees are flying, in any considerable numbers. In +performing this operation, it should always be borne in mind, that +large quantities of honey should never be taken from them at once, +unless when the honey-harvest is over. Bees are exceedingly discouraged +by such wholesale appropriations, and often refuse entirely, to work in +the empty boxes, even although honey abounds in the fields. Not +unfrequently when large boxes are removed, and being found only +partially filled, are returned, the bees will carry every particle of +honey down into the main hive! If, however, the honey is removed in +small boxes, one at a time, and an empty box with guide comb is put +instantly in its place, the bees, so far from being discouraged, work +with more than their wonted energy, and usually begin in a few hours, to +enlarge the comb. + +I would here repeat the caution already given, against needlessly +opening and shutting the hives, or in any way meddling with the bees so +as to make them feel insecure in their possessions. Such a course tends +to discourage them, and may seriously diminish the yield of honey. + +If the Apiarian wishes to remove honey from the interior of the hive, he +must remove the combs, as directed on page 195, and shake the bees off, +on the alighting board, or directly into the hive. + + +PASTURAGE. + +Some blossoms yield only pollen, and others only honey; but by far the +largest number, both honey and pollen. Since the discovery that rye +flour will answer so admirably as a substitute, before the bees are able +to gather the pollen from the flowers, early blossoms producing pollen +alone, are not so important in the vicinity of an Apiary. Willows are +among the most desirable trees to have within reach of the bees: some +kinds of willow put out their catkins very early, and yield an +abundance of both bee-bread and honey. All the willows furnish an +abundance of food for the bees; and as there is considerable difference +in the time of their blossoming, it is desirable to have such varieties +as will furnish the bees with food, as long as possible. + +The Sugar Maple furnishes a large supply of very delicious honey, and +its blossoms hanging in drooping fringes, will be all alive with bees. +The Apricot, Peach, Plum and Cherry are much frequented by the bees; +Pears and Apples furnish very copious supplies of the richest honey. The +Tulip tree, _Liriodendron_, is probably one of the greatest +honey-producing trees in the world. In rich lands this magnificent tree +will grow over one hundred feet high, and when covered with its large +bell-shaped blossoms of mingled green and golden yellow, it is one of +the most beautiful trees in the world. The blossoms are expanding in +succession, often for more than two weeks, and a new swarm will +frequently fill its hive from these trees alone. The honey though dark +in color, is of a rich flavor. This tree has been successfully +cultivated as a shade tree, even as far North as Southern Vermont, and +for the extraordinary beauty of its foliage and blossoms, deserves to be +introduced wherever it can be made to grow. The Winter of 1851-2, was +exceedingly cold, the thermometer in Greenfield, Mass. sinking as low as +30° below zero, and yet a tulip tree not only survived the Winter +uninjured, but was covered the following season with blossoms. + +The American Linden or Bass Wood, is another tree which yields large +supplies of very pure and white honey. It is one of our most beautiful +native trees, and ought to be planted much more extensively than it is, +in our villages and country seats. The English Linden is worthless for +bees, and in many places, has been so infested by worms, as to make it +necessary to cut it down. + +The Linden blossoms soon after the white clover begins to fail, and a +majestic tree covered with its yellow clusters, at a season when very +few blossoms are to be seen, is a sight most beautiful and refreshing. + + "Here their delicious task, the fervent bees + In swarming millions tend: around, athwart, + Through the soft air the busy nations fly, + Cling to the bud, and with inserted tube, + Suck its pure essence, its etherial soul." + _Thomson._ + +Our villages would be much more attractive, if instead of being filled +as they often are, almost exclusively with maples and elms, they were +adorned with a greater variety of our native trees. The remark has often +been made, that these trees are much more highly valued abroad than at +home, and that to see them in perfection, we must either visit their +native forests, or the pleasure grounds of some wealthy English or +European gentleman. + +Of all the various sources from which the bees derive their supplies, +white clover is the most important. It yields large quantities of very +white honey, and of the purest quality, and wherever it flourishes in +abundance, the honey-bee will always gather a rich harvest. In this +country at least, it seems to be the most certain reliance of the +Apiary. It blossoms at a season of the year when the weather is usually +both dry and hot, and the bees gather the honey from it, after the sun +has dried off the dew: so that its juices are very thick, and almost +ready to be sealed over at once in the cells. + +Every observant bee-keeper must have noticed, that in some seasons, the +blossoms of various kinds yield much less honey than in others. Perhaps +no plant varies so little in this respect, as the white clover. This +clover ought to be much more extensively cultivated than it now is, and +I consider myself as conferring a benefit not only on bee-keepers, but +on the agricultural community at large, in being able to state on the +authority of one of New England's ablest practical farmers, and writers +on agricultural subjects, Hon. Frederick Holbrook, of Brattleboro', +Vermont, that the common white clover may be cultivated on some soils to +very great profit, as a hay crop. In an article for the New England +Farmer, for May, 1853, he speaks as follows:-- + +"The more general sowing of white clover-seed is confidently +recommended. If land is in good heart at the time of stocking it to +grass, white clover sown with the other grass-seeds will thicken up the +bottom of mowings, growing some eight or ten inches high and in a thick +mat, and the burden of hay will prove much heavier than it seemed likely +to be before mowing. Soon after the practice of sowing white clover on +the tillage-fields commences, the plant will begin to show itself in +various places on the farm, and ultimately gets pretty well scattered +over the pastures, as it seeds very profusely, and the seeds are carried +from place to place in the manure and otherwise. The price of the seed +per pound in market is high; but then one pound of it will seed more +land, than two pounds of red clover seed; so that in fact the former is +the cheaper seed of the two, for an acre." + +"Red-top, red clover and white clover seeds, sown together, produce a +quality of hay universally relished by stock. My practice is, to seed +all dry, sandy and gravelly lands with this mixture. The red and white +clover pretty much make the crop the first year; the second year, the +red clover begins to disappear, and the red-top to take its place; and +after that, the red-top and white clover have full possession and make +the very best hay for horses or oxen, milch cows or young stock, that I +have been able to produce. The crop per acre, as compared with +herds-grass, is not so bulky; but tested by weight and by spending +quality in the Winter, it is much the most valuable." + +"Herds-grass hay grown on moist uplands or reclaimed meadows, and swamps +of a mucky soil, or lands not overcharged with silica, is of good +quality; but when grown on sandy and gravelly soils abounding in silex, +the stalks are hard, wiry, coated with silicates as with glass, and +neither horses nor cattle will eat it as well, or thrive as well on it +as on hay made of red-top and clover; and as for milch cows, they winter +badly on it, and do not give out the milk as when fed on softer and more +succulent hay." + +By managing white clover, according to Mr. Holbrook's plan, it might be +made to blossom abundantly in the second crop, and thus lengthen out, to +very great advantage, the pasture for the bees. For fear that any of my +readers might suspect Mr. Holbrook of looking at the white clover, +through a pair of _bee-spectacles_, I would add that although he has ten +acres of it in mowing, he has no bees, and has never particularly +interested himself in this branch of rural economy. When we can succeed +in directing the attention of such men to bee-culture, we may hope to +see as rapid an advance in this as in some other important branches of +agriculture. + +Sweet-scented clover, (_Mellilotus Leucantha_,) affords a rich +bee-pasturage. It blossoms the second year from the seed, and grows to a +great height, and is always swarming with bees until quite late in the +Fall. Attempts have been made to cultivate it for the sake of its value +as a hay crop, but it has been found too coarse in its texture, to be +very profitable. Where many bees are kept, it might however, be so +valuable for them as to justify its extensive cultivation. During the +early part of the season, it might be mowed and fed to the cattle, in a +green and tender state, and allowed to blossom later in the season, +when the bees can find but few sources to gather from. + +For years, I have attempted to procure, through botanists, a hybrid or +cross between the red and white clover, in order to get something with +the rich honey-producing properties of the red, and yet with a short +blossom into which the honey-bee might insert its proboscis. The red +clover produces a vast amount of food for the bumble-bee, but is of no +use at all to the honey-bee. I had hoped to procure a variety which +might answer all the purposes of our farmers as a field crop. Quite +recently I have ascertained that such a hybrid has been originated in +Sweden, and has been imported into this country, by Mr. B. C. Rogers, of +Philadelphia. It grows even taller than the red clover, bears many +blossoms on a stalk which are small, resembling the white, and is said +to be preferred by cattle, to any other kind of grass, while it answers +admirably for bees. + +Buckwheat furnishes a most excellent Fall feed for bees; the honey is +not so well-flavored as some other kinds, but it comes at a season when +it is highly important to the bees, and they are often able to fill +their hives with a generous supply against Winter. Buckwheat honey is +gathered when the dew is upon the blossoms, and instead of being thick, +like white clover honey, is often quite thin; the bees sweat out a large +portion of its moisture, but still they do not exhaust the whole of it, +and in wet seasons especially, it is liable to sour in the cells. Honey +gathered in a dry season, is always thicker, and of course more valuable +than that gathered in a wet one, as it contains much less water. +Buckwheat is uncertain in its honey-bearing qualities; in some seasons, +it yields next to none, and hardly a bee will be seen upon a large +field, while in others, it furnishes an extraordinary supply. The most +practical and scientific agriculturists agree that so far from being an +impoverishing crop, it is on many soils, one of the most profitable that +can be raised. Every bee-keeper should have some in the vicinity of his +hives. + +The raspberry, it is well known, is a great favorite with the bees; and +the honey supplied by it, is very delicious. Those parts of New England, +which are hilly and rough, are often covered with the wild raspberry, +and would furnish food for numerous colonies of bees. + +It will be observed that thus far, I have said nothing about cultivating +flowers in the garden, to supply the bees with food. What can be done in +this way, is of scarcely any account; and it would be almost as +reasonable to expect to furnish food for a stock of cattle, from a small +grass plat, as honey for bees, from garden plants. The cultivation of +bee-flowers is more a matter of pleasure than profit, to those who like +to hear the happy hum of the busy bees, as they walk in their gardens. +It hardly seems expedient, at least for the present, to cultivate any +field crops except such as are profitable in themselves, without any +reference to the bees. + +Mignonnette is excellent for bees, but of all flowers, none seems to +equal the Borage. It blossoms in June, and continues in bloom until +severe frost, and is always covered with bees, even in dull weather, as +its pendant blossoms keep the honey from the moisture; the honey yielded +by it, is of a very superior quality. If any plant which does not in +itself make a valuable crop, would justify cultivation, there is no +doubt that borage would. An acre of it would support a large number of +stocks. If in a village those who keep bees would unite together and +secure the sowing of an acre, in their immediate vicinity, each person +paying in proportion to the number of stocks kept, it might be found +profitable. The plants should have about two feet of space every way, +and after they covered the ground, would need no further attention. They +would come into full blossom, cultivated in this manner, about the time +that the white clover begins to fail, and would not only furnish rich +pasture for the bees, but would keep them from the groceries and shops +in which so many perish. + +If those who are engaged in adorning our villages and country residences +with shade trees, would be careful to set out a liberal allowance of +such kinds as are not only beautiful to us, but attractive to the bees, +in process of time the honey resources of the country might be very +greatly increased. + + +OVERSTOCKING A DISTRICT WITH BEES. + +I come now to a point of the very first importance to all interested in +the cultivation of bees. If the opinions which the great majority of +American bee-keepers entertain, are correct, then the keeping of bees +must, in our country, be always an insignificant pursuit. I confess that +I find it difficult to repress a smile, when the owner of a few hives, +in a district where as many hundreds might be made to prosper, gravely +imputes his ill success, to the fact that too many bees are kept in his +vicinity! The truth is, that as bees are frequently managed, they are of +but little value, even though in "a land flowing with milk and honey." +If in the Spring, a colony of bees is prosperous and healthy, (see p. +207) it will gather abundant stores, even if hundreds equally strong, +are in its immediate vicinity, while if it is feeble, it will be of +little or no value, even if there is not another swarm within a dozen +miles of it. + +Success in bee-keeping requires that a man should be in some things, a +very close imitator of Napoleon, who always aimed to have an +overwhelming force, at the right time and in the right place; so the +bee-keeper must be sure that his colonies are numerous, just at the time +when their numbers can be turned to the best account. If the bees cannot +get up their numbers until the honey-harvest is well nigh gone, numbers +will then be of as little service as many of the famous armies against +which "the soldier of Europe" contended; which, after the fortunes of +the campaign were decided, only served to swell the triumphant spoils of +the mighty conqueror. A bee-keeper with feeble stocks in the Spring, +which become strong only when there is nothing to get, is like a farmer +who contrives to hire no hands to reap his harvests, but suffers the +crops to rot upon the ground, and then at great expense, hires a number +of stalworth laborers to idle about his premises and eat him out of +house and home! + +I do not believe that there is a _single square mile_ in this whole +country, which is overstocked with bees, unless it is one so unsuitable +for bee-keeping as to make it unprofitable to attempt it at all. Such an +assertion will doubtless, appear to many, very unguarded; and yet it is +made advisedly, and I am happy to be able to confirm it, by reference to +the experience of the largest cultivators in Europe. The following +letter from Mr. Wagner, will I trust, do more than I can possibly do in +any other way, to show our bee-keepers how mistaken they are in their +opinion as to the danger of overstocking their districts, and also what +large results might be obtained from a more extensive cultivation of +bees. + + YORK, March 16, 1853. + DEAR SIR: + +In reply to your enquiry respecting the _overstocking_ of a district, I +would say that the present opinion of the correspondents of the +Bienenzeitung, appears to be that it _cannot readily be done_. Dzierzon +says, in practice at least, "_it never is done_;" and Dr. Radlkofer, of +Munich, the President of the second Apiarian Convention, declares that +his apprehensions on that score were dissipated by observations which he +had opportunity and occasion to make, when on his way home from the +Convention. I have numerous accounts of Apiaries in pretty close +proximity, containing from 200 to 300 colonies each. Ehrenfels had a +thousand hives, at three separate establishments indeed, but so close to +each other that he could visit them all in half an hour's ride; and he +says that in 1801, the average net yield of his Apiaries was $2 per +hive. In Russia and Hungary, Apiaries numbering from 2000 to 5000 +colonies are said not to be unfrequent; and we know that as many as 4000 +hives are oftentimes congregated, in Autumn, at one point on the heaths +of Germany. Hence I think we need not fear that any district of this +country, so distinguished for abundant natural vegetation and +diversified culture, will very speedily be overstocked, particularly +after the importance of having stocks populous early in the Spring, +comes to be duly appreciated. A week or ten days of favorable weather, +at that season, when pasturage abounds, will enable a _strong_ colony to +lay up an ample supply for the year, if its labor be properly directed. + +Mr. Kaden, one of the ablest contributors to the Bienenzeitung, in the +number for December, 1852, noticing the communication from Dr. +Radlkofer, says: "I also concur in the opinion that a district of +country cannot be overstocked with bees; and that, however numerous the +colonies, all can procure sufficient sustenance if the surrounding +country contain honey-yielding plants and vegetables, in the usual +degree. Where utter barrenness prevails, the case is different, of +course, as well as rare." + +The Fifteenth Annual Meeting of German Agriculturists was held in the +City of Hanover, on the 10th of September, 1852, and in compliance with +the suggestions of the Apiarian Convention, a distinct section devoted +to bee-culture was instituted. The programme propounded sixteen +questions for discussion, the fourth of which was as follows:-- + +"Can a district of country embracing meadows, arable land, orchards, and +woodlands or forests, be so overstocked with bees, that these may no +longer find adequate sustenance and yield a remunerating surplus of +their products?" + +This question was debated with considerable animation. The Rev. Mr. +Kleine, (nine-tenths of the correspondents of the Bee-Journal are +clergyman,) President of the section, gave it as his opinion that "it +was hardly conceivable that such a country could be overstocked with +bees." Counsellor Herwig, and the Rev. Mr. Wilkens, on the contrary, +maintained that "it might be overstocked." In reply, Assessor Heyne +remarked that "whatever might be supposed possible as an extreme case, +it was certain that as regards the kingdom of Hanover, it could not be +even remotely apprehended that too many Apiaries would ever be +established; and that consequently the greatest possible multiplication +of colonies might safely be aimed at and encouraged." At the same time, +he advised a proper distribution of Apiaries. + +I might easily furnish you with more matter of this sort, and designate +a considerable number of Apiaries in various parts of Germany, +containing from 25 to 500 colonies. But the question would still recur, +do not these Apiaries occupy comparatively isolated positions? and at +this distance from the scene, it would obviously be impossible to give a +perfectly satisfactory answer. + +According to the statistical tables of the kingdom of Hannover, the +annual production of bees-wax in the province of Lunenburg, is 300,000 +lbs., about one half of which is exported; and assuming one pound of wax +as the yield of each hive, we must suppose that 300,000 hives are +annually "_brimstoned_" in the province; and assuming further, in view +of casualties, local influences, unfavorable seasons, &c., that only +one-half of the whole number of colonies maintained, produce a swarm +each, every year, it would require a total of at least 600,000 colonies, +(141, to each square mile,) to secure the result given in the tables. + +The number of square miles stocked even to this extent, in this country, +are, I suspect, "few and far between." The Shakers at Lebanon, have +about 600 colonies; but I doubt whether a dozen Apiaries equally large +can be found in the Union. It is very evident, that this country is far +from being overstocked; nor it is likely that it ever will be. + +A German writer alleges that "the bees of Lunenburg, pay all the taxes +assessed on their proprietors, and leave a surplus besides." The +importance attached to bee-culture accounts in part for the remarkable +fact that the people of a district so barren that it has been called +"the Arabia of Germany," are almost without exception in easy and +comfortable circumstances. Could not still more favorable results be +obtained in this country under a rational system of management, availing +itself of the aid of science, art and skill? + +But, I am digressing. My design was to furnish you with an account of +bee-culture as it exists _in an entire district of country_, in the +hands of _the common peasantry_. This I thought would be more +satisfactory, and convey a better idea of what may be done on a large +scale, than any number of instances which might be selected of splendid +success in isolated cases. + + Very truly yours, + SAMUEL WAGNER. + REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. + +The question how far bees will fly in search of honey, has been very +differently answered by different Apiarians. I am satisfied that they +will fly over three miles in search of food, but I believe as a general +rule, that if their food is not within a circle of about two miles in +every direction from the Apiary, they will be able to store up but +little surplus honey. The nearer, the better. In all my arrangements, +(see p. 96.) I have made it a constant study to save _every step_ for +the bees that I possibly can, economizing to the very utmost, their +time, which will all be transmuted into honey; an inspection of the +Frontispiece of this treatise will exhibit the general aspect of the +alighting board of my hives, and will show the intelligent Apiarian, +with what ease bees will enter such a hive, even in very windy weather. +By such arrangements, they will be able to store up more honey, even if +they have to go a considerable distance in search of it, than they would +in many other hives, when the honey abounded in their more immediate +vicinity. Such considerations are entirely overlooked, by most +bee-keepers, and they seem to imagine that they are matters of no +importance. By the utter neglect of any kind of precautions to +facilitate the labors of their bees, you might suppose that they +imagined these delicate insects to be possessed of nerves of steel and +sinews of iron or adamant; or else that they took them for miniature +locomotives, always fired up and capable of an indefinite amount of +exertion. A bee _cannot_ put forth more than a certain amount of +physical exertion, and if a large portion of this is spent in absolutely +fighting against difficulties, from which it might easily be guarded, it +must be very obvious to any one who thinks on the subject at all, that a +great loss must be sustained by its owner. + +If some of these thoughtless owners returning home with a heavy burden, +were compelled to fall down stairs half a dozen times before they could +get into the house, they might perhaps think it best to guard their +industrious workers against such discouraging accidents. If bees are +tossed violently about by the winds, as they attempt to enter their +hives, they are often fatally injured, and the whole colony so +_discouraged_, to say nothing more, that they do not gather near so much +as they otherwise would. + +The arrangement of my Protector is such that the bees, if blown down, +fall upon a sloping bank of soft grass, and are able to enter the hives +without much inconvenience. + +Just as soon as our cultivators can be convinced, by practical results, +that bee-keeping, for the capital invested, may be made a most +profitable branch of rural economy, they will see the importance of +putting their bees into suitable hives, and of doing all that they can, +to give them a fair chance; until then, the mass of them will follow the +beaten track, and attribute their ill success, not to their own +ignorance, carelessness or stupidity, but to their want of "luck," or to +the overstocking of the country with bees. I hope, before many years, to +see the price of good honey so reduced that the poor man can place it on +his table and feast upon it, as one of the cheapest luxuries within his +reach. + +On page 20, a statement was given of Dzierzon's experience as to the +profits of bee-keeping. The section of country in which he resides, is +regarded by him as unfavorable to Apiarian pursuits. I shall now give +what I consider a safe estimate for almost any section in our country; +while in unusually favorable locations it will fall far below the +results which may be attained. It is based upon the supposition that the +bees are kept in properly constructed hives so as to be strong early in +the season, and that the increase of stocks is limited to one new one +from two old ones. Under proper management, one year with another, +about ten dollars worth of honey may be obtained for every two stocks +wintered over. The worth of the new colonies, I set off as an equivalent +for labor of superintendence, and interest on the money invested in +bees, hives, fixtures, &c. + +A careful, prudent man who will enter into bee-keeping moderately at +first, and extend his operations only as his skill and experience +increase, will, by the use of my hives, find that the preceding estimate +is not too large. Even on the ordinary mode of bee-keeping, there are +many who will consider it rather below than above the mark. If +thoroughly careless persons are determined to "try their luck," as they +call it, with bees, I advise them by all means, in mercy to the bees, to +adopt the non-swarming plan. Improved methods of management with such +persons will be of little or no use, unless you could improve their +habits first, and very often their brains too! Every dollar that such +persons spend upon bees, unless with the slightest possible departure +from the old-fashioned plans, is a dollar worse than thrown away. In +those parts of Europe where bee-keeping is carried on upon the largest +scale, the mass adhere to the old system; this they understand, and by +this they secure a certainty, whereas in our country, thousands have +been induced to enter upon the wildest schemes, or at least to use hives +which could not furnish them the very information needed for their +successful management. A simple box furnished with my frames, will +enable the masses, without departing materially from the common system, +to increase largely the yield from their bees. + +In addition to the information given in the Introduction, respecting the +success of Dzierzon's system of management, I have recently ascertained +that one of its ablest opponents in Germany, has become thoroughly +convinced of its superior value. The Government of Norway has +appropriated $300, per annum, for the ensuing three years, towards +diffusing a knowledge of Dzierzon's method, in that country; having +previously despatched Mr. Hanser, Collector of Customs, to Silesia to +visit Mr. Dzierzon, and acquire a practical knowledge of his system of +management. He is now employed in distributing model hives, in the +provinces, and imparting information on improved bee-culture. + + NOTE.--The time has hardly come when the attention of any of our + State authorities can be attracted to the importance of bee-culture. + It is only of late that they have seemed to manifest any peculiar + interest in promoting the advancement of agricultural pursuits. A + Department of Agriculture ought to have been established, years ago, + by the National Government at Washington. Let us hope that the + Administration now in power, will establish a lasting claim to the + gratitude of posterity, by taking wise and efficient steps to + advance the agricultural interests of the country. A National + Society to promote these interests has recently been established, + and much may be hoped from its wisdom and energy. Until some + disinterested tribunal can be established, before which all + inventions and discoveries can be fairly tested, honest men will + suffer, and ignorance and imposture will continue to flourish. Lying + advertisements and the plausible misrepresentations of brazen-faced + impostors, will still drain the purses of the credulous, while + thousands, disgusted with the horde of impositions which are palmed + off upon the community, will settle down into a dogged determination + to try nothing new. A society before which every thing, claiming to + be an improvement in rural economy, could be fairly tested, would + undoubtedly be shunned by ignorant and unprincipled men, who now find + it an easy task to procure any number of certificates, but who dread + nothing so much as honest and intelligent investigation. The reports + of such a society after the most thorough trials and examinations, + would inspire confidence, save the community from severe losses, and + encourage the ablest minds to devote their best energies to the + improvement of agricultural implements. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE ANGER OF BEES. REMEDY FOR THEIR STING. BEE-DRESS. INSTINCTS OF BEES. + + +If the bee was disposed to use, without any provocation, the effective +weapon with which it has been provided, its domestication would be +entirely out of the question. The same remark however, is equally true +of the ox, the horse or the dog. If these faithful servants of man were +respectively determined to use, to the very utmost their horns, their +heels and their teeth, to his injury, he would never have been able to +subject them to his peaceful authority. The gentleness of the honey-bee, +when kindly treated, and managed by those who properly understand its +instincts, has in this treatise been frequently spoken of, and is truly +astonishing. They will, especially in swarming time, or whenever they +are gorged with honey, allow any amount of handling which does not hurt +them, without the slightest show of anger. For the gratification of +others, I have frequently taken them up, by handfuls, suffered them to +run over my face, and even smoothed down their glossy backs as they +rested on my person! Standing before the hives, I have, by a rapid sweep +of my hands, caught numbers of them at once, just as though they were so +many harmless flies, and allowed them, one by one, to crawl out, by the +smallest opening, to the light of day; and I have even gone so far as to +imitate many of the feats which the celebrated English Apiarian, +Wildman, was accustomed to perform; who having once secured the queen of +a hive, could make the bees cluster on his head, or hang, like a flowing +beard, in large festoons, from his chin. Wildman, for a long time, made +as great a mystery of his wonderful performances, as the spirit-rappers +of the present day, do of theirs; but at last, he was induced to explain +his whole mode of procedure; and the magic control which he possessed +over the bees, and which was, by the ignorant, ascribed to his having +bewitched them, was found to be owing entirely to his superior +acquaintance with their instincts, and his uncommon dexterity and +boldness. + + "Such was the spell, which round a Wildman's arm + Twin'd in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm; + Bright o'er his breast the glittering legions led, + Or with a living garland bound his head. + His dextrous hand, with firm yet hurtless hold, + Could seize the chief, known by her scales of gold, + Prune 'mid the wondering train her filmy wing, + Or o'er her folds the silken fetter fling." + _Evans._ + +M. Lombard, a skillful French Apiarian narrates the following +interesting occurrence, which shows how peaceable bees are in swarming +time, and how easily managed by those who have both skill and +confidence. + +"A young girl of my acquaintance," he says, "was greatly afraid of bees, +but was completely cured of her fear by the following incident. A swarm +having come off, I observed the queen alight by herself at a little +distance from the Apiary. I immediately called my little friend that I +might show her the queen; she wished to see her more nearly, so after +having caused her to put on her gloves, I gave the queen into her hand. +We were in an instant surrounded by the whole bees of the swarm. In this +emergency I encouraged the girl to be steady, bidding her be silent and +fear nothing, and remaining myself close by her; I then made her stretch +out her right hand, which held the queen, and covered her head and +shoulders with a very thin handkerchief. The swarm soon fixed on her +hand and hung from it, as from the branch of a tree. The little girl was +delighted above measure at the novel sight, and so entirely freed from +all fear, that she bade me uncover her face. The spectators were charmed +with the interesting spectacle. At length I brought a hive, and shaking +the swarm from the child's hand, it was lodged in safety, and without +inflicting a single wound." + +The indisposition of bees to sting, when swarming, is a fact familiar to +every practical bee-keeper: but I have not in all my reading or +acquaintance with Apiarians, ever met with a single observation which +has convinced me that the philosophy of this strange fact was thoroughly +understood. As far as I know, I am the only person who has ever +ascertained that when bees are filled with honey, they lose all +disposition to volunteer an assault, and who has made this curious law +the foundation of an extensive and valuable system of practical +management. It was only after I had thoroughly tested its universality +and importance, that I began to feel the desirableness of obtaining a +perfect control over each comb in the hive; for it was only then that I +saw that such control might be made available, in the hands of any one +who could manage bees in the ordinary way. The result of my whole +system, is to make the bees unusually gentle, so that they are not only +peaceable when any necessary operation is being performed, but at all +other times. Even if I could open hives and safely manage at pleasure, +still if the result of such proceedings was to leave the bees in an +excited state, so as to make them unusually irritable, it would all +avail but very little. + +There is, however, one difficulty in managing bees so as not to incur +the risk of being stung at all, which attaches to every system of +bee-culture. If an Apiary is approached when the bees are out in great +numbers, thousands and tens of thousands will continue their busy +pursuits without at all interfering with those who do not molest them. +Frequently, however, there will be a few cross bees which come buzzing +around our ears, and seem determined to sting without the very slightest +provocation. From such lawless bees no person without a bee-dress is +absolutely safe. By repeated examinations I have ascertained that +_disease_ is the cause of such unreasonable irritability. I am never +afraid that a healthy bee will attack me unless unusually provoked; and +am always sure as soon as I hear one singing about my ears that it is +incurably diseased. If such a bee is dissected it will be found to +exhibit the unmistakable evidence that a peculiar kind of dysentery has +already fastened upon its system. In the first stages of this complaint +the insect is very irritable, refuses to labor, and seems unable or +unwilling to distinguish friend from foe. As the disease progresses, it +becomes stupid, its body swells up, and is filled with a great mass of +yellow matter, and being unable to fly, it crawls on the ground, in +front of the hive, and speedily perishes. I have never been able to +ascertain the cause of this singular malady, nor can I suggest any +remedy for it. I hope that some scientific Apiarians will investigate it +closely, for if it could only be remedied, we might have hundreds of +colonies on our premises and in our gardens, and yet be perfectly safe. + +A person thoroughly acquainted with the leading principles of +bee-culture as they are set forth in this Manual, will _never under any +circumstances_ find it necessary to provoke to fury a colony of bees. +Let it be remembered that nothing can be more terribly vindictive than +a family of bees when thoroughly aroused by gross abuse or unskillful +treatment. Let their hive be suddenly overthrown or violently jarred, or +let them be provoked by the presence of a sweaty horse, or any animal +offensive to them, so that the anger at first manifested by a few, is +extended to the whole community, and the most severe and sometimes +dangerous consequences may ensue. In the same way in the management of +the animals most useful to man, by ignorance or abuse, they may be +roused to a state of frantic desperation, and limbs may be broken, and +often lives destroyed; and yet no one possessed of common sense, +attributes such calamities, except in very rare instances, to any thing +else than carelessness or want of skill. Let it be remembered that even +the most peaceable stock of bees can, in a very few days, by abusive +treatment be taught to look on every living thing as an enemy, and to +sally forth with the most spiteful intentions, as soon as any one +approaches their domicile. How often does it happen that the vicious +beast, which its owner so passionately belabors, is far less to blame +for its obstinacy, than the equally vicious brute who so unmercifully +beats it! + +A word now to those timid females who are almost ready to faint, or to +go into hysterics if a bee enters the house, or approaches them in the +garden or fields. Such alarm is entirely uncalled for. It is only in the +vicinity of their homes, and in resistance to what they consider an evil +design upon their very altars and firesides that these insects ever +volunteer an attack. Away from home, they are as peaceably inclined as +you could desire. If you attack them, they are much more eager to escape +than to offer you any annoyance, and they can be induced to sting, only +when they are compressed, either by accident or design. + +Let not any of my readers think that they have even a slight +encouragement, from this conduct of the bee, to reserve all their sweet +smiles and honied words for the world abroad, while they give free vent, +in the sacred precincts of home, to ill-natured looks and ill-tempered +language; for towards the occupants of its honied dome, the bee is all +kindness and affection. In the experience of many years I never saw an +instance in which two bees, members of the same family, ever seemed to +be actuated by any but the very kindest feelings toward each other. In +their busy haste they often jostle against each other, but where every +thing is well meant, every thing is well received: tens of thousands all +live together in the sweetest harmony and peace, when very often if +there are only two or three children in a family, the whole household is +tormented by their constant bickerings and contention. Among the bees +the good mother is the honored queen of her happy family; they all wait +upon her steps with unbounded reverence and affection, make way for her +as she moves over the combs, smooth and brush her beautiful plumes, +offer her food from time to time, and in short do all that they possibly +can to make her perfectly happy; while too often children treat their +mothers with irreverence or neglect, and instead of striving with loving +zeal to lighten their labors and save their steps, they treat them more +as though they were servants hired only to wait upon every whim and to +humor every caprice. + +Let us pause for a moment, and contemplate further the admirable +arrangement by which the instinct of the bee which disposes it to defend +its treasures, is made so perfectly compatible with the safety both of +man and the domestic animals under his care. Suppose that away from +home, bees were as easily provoked, as they are in the immediate +vicinity of their hives, what would become of our domestic animals among +the clover fields in the pastures? A tithe of the merry gambols they now +so safely indulge in, would speedily bring about them a swarm of these +infuriated insects. In all our rambles among the green fields, we should +constantly be in peril; and no jocund mower would ever whet his +glittering scythe, or swing his peaceful weapon, unless first clad in a +dress impervious to their stings. In short, the bee, instead of being +the friend of man, would be one of his most vexatious enemies, and as +has been the case with the wolves and the bears, every effort would be +made for their utter extermination. + +The sting of a bee often produces very painful, and upon some persons, +very dangerous effects. I am persuaded, from the result of my own +observation, that the bee seldom stings those whose systems are not +sensitive to its venom, while it seems to take a special and malicious +pleasure in attacking those upon whom it produces the most painful +effects! It may be that something in the secretions of such persons both +provokes the attack, and causes its consequences to be more severe. + +I should not advise persons upon whose system the sting of a bee +produces the most agonizing pain, and violent, if not dangerous +symptoms, to devote any attention to the practical part of an Apiary; +although I am acquainted with a lady who is thus severely affected, and +who yet, strange to say, is a great enthusiast in Apiarian pursuits! I +have met with individuals, upon whom a sting produced the singular +effect of causing their breath to smell like the venom of the enraged +insect! The smell of the poison resembles almost perfectly that of a +ripe banana. It produces a very irritating effect upon the bees +themselves; for if a minute drop of it is extended to them, on a stick, +they at once manifest the most decided anger. + +It is well known that the bee is a lover of sweet odors, and that +unpleasant ones are very apt to excite its anger. And here I may as well +speak plainly, and say that bees have a special dislike to persons whose +habits are not cleanly, and particularly to those who bear about them, a +perfume not in the very least resembling those + + "Sabean odors + From the spicy shores of Araby the blest," + +of which the poet so beautifully discourses. Those who belong to the +family of the "great unwashed," will find to their cost that bees are +decided foes to all of their tribe. The peculiar odor of some persons, +however cleanly, may account for the fact that the bees have such a +decided antipathy to their presence, in the vicinity of their hives. It +is related of an enthusiastic Apiarian, that after a long and severe +attack of fever, he was never able to take any more pleasure in his +bees; his secretions seem to have undergone some change, so that the +bees assailed him as soon as he ventured to approach their hives. + +Nothing is more offensive to bees than the impure breath exhaled from +human lungs; it excites them at once to fury. Would that in their hatred +for impure air, human beings had only a tithe of the sagacity exercised +by bees! It would not be long before the thought of breathing air loaded +with all manner of impurities from human lungs, to say nothing of its +loss of oxygen, would excite unutterable loathing and disgust. + +As the smell of a sweaty horse is very offensive to the bees, it is +never safe to allow these animals to go near a hive, as they are +sometimes attacked and killed by the furious insects. Those engaged in +bee-culture on a large scale, will do well to enclose their Apiaries +with a strong fence, so as to prevent cattle from molesting the hives. +If the Apiary is enclosed by a high fence, with sharp and strong +pickets, and the door is furnished with a strong lock, it will prevent +the losses which in some localities are so common from human pilferers. +Such losses may be guarded against, by fastening a wrought iron ring +into the top of each hive, well clinched on the inside; an iron rod may +run through these rings, and thus with two padlocks and fixtures, (one +at each end,) a dozen or more hives may be secured. I am happy to say +that in most localities such precautions are entirely unnecessary. A +place in which the stealing of honey and fruit is practiced by any +except those who are candidates for State's Prison, is in a fair way of +being soon considered as a very undesirable place of residence. If +owners of Apiaries, gardens and orchards, could be induced to pursue a +more liberal policy, and not be so meanly penurious as they often are, I +am persuaded that they would find it conduce very highly to their +interests. The honey and fruit expended with a cheerful, hearty +liberality, would be more than repaid to them in the good will secured, +and in the end would cost much less than bars and bolts. Reader! do not +imagine that I have the least idea that a thoroughly selfish man, can +ever be made to practice this or any other doctrine of benevolence. +Demonstrate it again and again, until even to his narrow and contracted +view it seems almost as clear as light, still he will never find the +heart to reduce it to practice. You might almost as well expect to +transform an incarnate fiend into an angel of light, by demonstrating +that "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness," while "the path of the +transgressor is hard," as to attempt to stamp upon a heart encrusted +with the adamant of selfishness, the noble impress of a liberal spirit. + +Of all the senses, that of smell in the bee, seems to be the most +perfect. Huber has demonstrated its exceeding acuteness, by numerous +interesting experiments. If honey is placed in vessels from which the +odor can escape, but in which it cannot be seen, the bees will soon +alight upon them and eagerly attempt to find an entrance. It is by this +sense, unquestionably, that they recognize the members of their own +community, although it seems to us very singular that each colony should +have its own peculiar scent. Not only can two colonies be safely united +by giving them the same odor, but in the same way any number of colonies +may be made to live in perfect peace. If hundreds of hives are all +connected by gauze wire ventilators, so that the air passes freely from +one to another, the bees will all live in absolute harmony, and if any +bee attempts to enter the wrong hive, he will not be molested. The same +result can often be attained by feeding colonies from a common vessel. I +have seen literally hundreds of thousands of bees that after being +treated in this way so as to acquire the same odor, were always gentle +towards each other, while if a single bee from a strange Apiary, lit +upon the feeder, it was sure to be killed. + +I have described, (p. 213,) the use which I make of peppermint, in order +to prevent bees from quarreling when they are united. The Rev. Mr. +Kleine, (see p. 359,) in a recent number of the Bienenzeitung, has +recommended the use of another article, which he finds to be very useful +in preventing robbing. His statement would have come in more +appropriately in the Chapter on Robbing, but was not received until too +late. He says that the most convenient and effectual mode of arresting +and repelling the attacks of robbers, is, to impart to the attacked hive +some intensely powerful and unaccustomed odor. He effects this most +readily, by placing a small portion of _musk_ in the attacked hive, late +in the evening, when all the robbers have retreated. On the following +morning, the bees, (provided they have a healthy queen,) will promptly +and boldly meet their assailants, and these in turn are non-plussed by +the unwonted odor, and if any of them enter the hive and carry off some +of the coveted booty, they will not be recognized nor received at home +on their return, on account of their strange smell, but will be at once +seized as strangers, and killed by their own household. Thus the robbing +is speedily brought to a close. + +In combination with my blocks, this device might be made very effectual. +When the Apiarian perceives that a hive is being robbed, let him shut up +the entrance: before dusk he can open it and allow the robbers to go +home, and then: put in a small piece of musk: the entrance next day may +be kept so contracted that only a single bee can enter at once. In the +union of stocks the same substance might be used advantageously. A short +time before the process is attempted, each colony might have a small +dose of musk (a piece of musk tied up in a little bag,) and they would +then be sure to agree. I prefer, however, in most cases, the use of +scented sugar-water. + +By using my double hives, and putting a small piece of gauze-wire on an +opening made in the partition, the two colonies having the same scent +will always agree; this will be very convenient where they are compelled +to live as such near neighbors, and enables the Apiarian at any time to +unite them and appropriate their surplus stores. These double hives are +admirably adapted to the wants of those who wish to make the smallest +possible departure from the old system, as they need make no change, +except to unite the stocks instead of killing the bees. + +I have already remarked that no operation should ever be attempted upon +bees, by which a whole colony is liable to be excited to an ungovernable +pitch of fury. Such operations are _never_ necessary; and a skillful +Apiarian will, by availing himself of the principles laid down in this +Treatise, both easily and safely do everything that is at all desirable, +even to the driving of a powerful colony from an old box hive. When bees +are improperly dealt with, they will "compass" their assailant "about," +with the most savage ferocity, and woe be to him if they can creep up +his clothes, or find on his person a single unprotected spot! On the +contrary, when not provoked by foolish management or wanton abuse, the +few who are bent on mischief, appear to retain still some touch of +grace, amid all their desperation. Like the thorough bred scold, who by +the elevated pitch of her voice, often gives timely warning to those who +would escape from the sharp sword of her tongue, a bee bent upon +mischief raises its note almost an octave above the peaceable pitch, and +usually gives us timely warning, that it means to sting, if it can. Even +then, it will seldom proceed to extremities, unless it can leave its +sting somewhere upon the face of its victim, and usually as near as +possible to the eye; for bees and all other members of the stinging +tribe, seem to have, as it were, an intuitive perception that this is +the most vulnerable spot upon the "human face divine." If the head is +quietly lowered, and the face covered with the hands, they will often +follow a person for some rods, all the time sounding their war note in +his ears, taunting him for his sneaking conduct, and daring him, just +for one single moment, to look up and allow them to catch but a glimpse +of his coward face! + +If a person is suddenly attacked by angry bees, no matter how numerous +or vindictive they may be, not the slightest attempt should ever be made +to act on the offensive. If a single bee is violently struck at, a dozen +will soon be on hand to avenge the insult, and if the resistance is +still continued, hundreds and at last thousands will join in the +attack. The assailed party should quickly retreat from the vicinity of +the hives, to the protection of a building, or if none is near, he +should hide himself in a clump of bushes, and lie perfectly still, with +his head covered, until the bees leave him. + + +REMEDIES FOR THE STING OF A BEE. + +If only a few of the host of remedies, so zealously advocated, could be +made effectual, few persons would have much reason to dread being stung. +Most of them, however, are of no manner of use whatever. Like the +prescriptions of the quack, they are absolutely worse than doing nothing +at all. + +The first thing to be done after being stung, is to pull the sting out +of the wound _as quickly as possible_. Even after it is torn from the +body of the bee, (see p. 60,) the muscles which control it, are in +active operation, and it penetrates deeper and deeper into the flesh, +injecting continually more and more of its poison into the wound. Every +Apiarian should have about his person, or close at hand, a small piece +of looking-glass, so that he may be able with the least possible delay +to find and remove a sting. In most cases if it is at once removed, it +will produce no serious consequences; whereas if suffered to empty all +its vials of wrath, it may cause great inflammation and severe +suffering. After the sting is removed, the utmost possible care should +be taken, not to irritate the wound by the very _slightest rubbing_. +However intense the smarting, and of course the disposition to apply +friction to the wound, it should never be done, as the poison will at +once be carried through the circulating system, and severe consequences +may ensue. As most of the popular remedies are rubbed in, they are of +course worse than nothing. Be careful not to _suck_ the wound as so many +persons do; this produces irritation in the same way with rubbing. Who +does not know that a musquito bite, even after the lapse of several +days, may be brought to life again, by violent rubbing or sucking? The +moment that the blood is put into a violent and unnatural circulation, +the poison is quickly diffused over a considerable part of the system. +If the mouth is applied to the wound, other unpleasant consequences may +ensue. While the poison of most snakes and many other noxious animals +affects only the circulating system, and may therefore be swallowed with +impunity, the poison of the bee acts powerfully, not only upon the +circulating system, but upon the organs of digestion. The most +distressing head-aches are often produced by it. + +From my own experience, I recommend _cold water_ as the very best remedy +with which I am acquainted, for the sting of a bee. It is often applied +in the shape of a plaster of mud, but may be better used by wetting +cloths and holding them gently to the wound. Cold water seems to act in +two ways. The poison of the bee being very volatile, is quickly +dissolved in water; and the coldness of the water has also a powerful +tendency to check inflammation and to prevent the virus from being taken +up by the absorbents and carried through the system. The leaves of the +plantain, crushed and applied to the wound, will answer as a very good +substitute when water cannot at once be procured. The broad-leafed +plantain, or as some call it, "the toad plantain," is regarded by many +as possessing a very great efficacy. Bevan recommends the use of spirits +of hartshorn, applied to the wound, and says that in cases of severe +stinging its internal use is beneficial. Whatever remedy is applied, +should be used if possible, without a moment's delay. The immediate +extraction of the sting, will be found, even if nothing more is done, +much more efficacious than any remedy that can be applied, after it has +been allowed to remain and discharge all its venom into the wound. + +It may be some comfort to those who are anxious to cultivate bees, to +know that after a while the poison will produce less and less effect +upon their system. When I first became interested in bees, a sting was +quite a formidable thing, the pain often being very intense, and the +wound swelling so as sometimes to obstruct my sight. At present, the +pain is usually slight, and if I can only succeed in quickly extracting +the sting, no unpleasant consequences ensue, even if no remedies are +used. Huish speaks of seeing the bald head of Bonner, a celebrated +practical Apiarian, lined with bee stings which seemed to produce upon +him no unpleasant effects. Like Mithridates, king of Pontus, he seemed +almost to thrive upon poison itself! + +I have met with a highly amusing remedy very gravely propounded by an +old English Apiarian. I mention it more as a matter of curiosity, than +because I imagine that any of my readers will be likely to make trial of +it. He says, let the person who has been stung, catch as speedily as +possible, another bee, and make it sting on the same spot! It requires +some courage even in an enthusiastic disciple of Huber, to venture upon +such a singular homeopathic remedy; but as this old writer had +previously stated that the oftener a person was stung, the less he +suffered from the venom, and as I had proved, in my own experience, the +truth of this assertion, I determined to make trial of his remedy. I +allowed a bee to sting me upon the finger and suffered the sting to +remain until it had discharged all its venom. I then compelled another +bee to insert its sting as near as possible in the same spot. I used no +remedies of any kind, and had the satisfaction, in my zeal for new +discoveries, of suffering more from the pain and swelling, than I had +previously experienced for years. + +An old writer recommends a powder of dried bees, for distressing cases +of stoppages; and some of the highest medical authorities have recently +recommended a tea made by pouring boiling water upon bees, for the same +complaint, while the homeopathic physicians employ the poison of the +bee, which they call _apis_, for a great variety of maladies. That it is +capable of producing intense head-aches any one who has been stung, or +who has tasted the poison, very well knows. + + +BEE-DRESS. + +Timid Apiarians, and all who are liable to suffer severely from the +sting of a bee, should by all means furnish themselves with the +protection of a bee-dress. The great objection to gauze-wire veils or +other materials of which such a dress has been usually made, is that +they obstruct clear vision, so highly important in all operations, +besides producing such excessive heat and perspiration, as to make the +Apiarian peculiarly offensive to the bees. I prefer to use what I shall +call a _bee-hat_, of entirely novel construction. It is made of wire +cloth, the meshes of which are too fine to admit a bee, and yet coarse +enough to allow a free circulation of air, and to permit distinct sight. +The wire cloth should first be fastened together in a circular shape, +like a hat, and large enough to go very easily over the head; its top +may be of cotton cloth, and it should have the same material fastened +around its lower edge, and furnished with strings to draw it so closely +around the neck and shoulders that a bee cannot creep under it. Woolen +stockings may then be drawn over the hands, or better still, India +Rubber gloves, such as are now in very common use, may be worn; these +gloves are impenetrable to the sting of a bee, and yet are so soft and +pliant as scarcely in the least to interfere with the operations of the +Apiarian. + +If it were not for the diseased bees of which I have several times +spoken, such precautions would be entirely unnecessary. The best +Apiarians as it is, dispense with them, even at the cost of a sting now +and then. + + +INSTINCTS OF BEES. + +This treatise has already grown to such a length, that I must be +exceedingly brief on a point peculiarly interesting to all who delight +in investigating the wonders of the insect world. In the preceding parts +of the work, numerous proofs have been given of the refined instincts of +the bee. It is impossible always to draw the line between instinct and +reason, and very often some of the actions of animals and insects appear +to be the result of a process of reasoning apparently almost the same +with the exercise of the reasoning faculty in man. "There is this +difference" says Mr. Spence, "between intellect in man, and the rest of +the animal creation. Their intellect teaches them to follow the lead of +their senses, and to make such use of the external world as their +appetites or instincts incline them to,--and _this is their wisdom_: +while the intellect of man, being associated with an immortal principle, +and connected with a world above that which his senses reveal to him, +can, by aid derived from Heaven, control those senses, and render them +obedient to the governing power of his nature; and _this is his +wisdom_." + +This subject has seldom been more happily expressed than by Mr. Spence. +The line of distinction between man and the lower orders of creation, is +not the mere fact that he reasons and they do not, but that he has a +moral and accountable nature, while they have nothing of the kind. + +"It will be evident," says Bevan, "that though I make a distinction +between the instinct and the reason of bees, I do not confound their +reason with the reason of man. But to obviate all possibility of +misconception, I will at once define my meaning, when I use the terms +insect reason and instinct." + +"By _reason_, I mean the power of making deductions from previous +experience or observation, and thereby of adapting means to ends. +_Instinct_ I regard as a disposition and power to perform certain +actions in the same uniform manner, depending upon nice mechanism and +having no reference either to observation or experience; operating on +the means, without anticipation of the end, incited by no hope, +controlled by no foreboding. Those who have attended to this subject, +will be aware that _insect reason_, as above defined, is more restricted +in its functions than _the reason of man_; to which is superadded the +power of distinguishing between the true and the false, and, according +to some metaphysicians, between right and wrong. Reason, in man, has a +regular growth and a slow progression; all the arts he practices evince +skill and dexterity, proportioned to the pains which have been taken in +acquiring them. In the lower links of creation, but little of this +gradual improvement is observable; their powers carry them almost +directly to their object. They are perfect, as Bacon says, in all their +members and organs from the very beginning." + + "Far different Man, to higher fates assign'd, + Unfolds with tardier step his Proteus mind, + With numerous Instincts fraught, that lose their force + Like shallow streams, divided in their course; + Long weak, and helpless, on the fostering breast, + In fond dependence leans the infant guest, + Till reason ripens what young impulse taught, + And builds, on sense, the lofty pile of thought; + From earth, sea, air, the quick perceptions rise, + And swell the mental fabric to the skies." + _Evans._ + +I shall here narrate a very remarkable instance of sagacity which seems +to approach as near to human reason, as any thing in the bee which has +ever fallen under my notice. In the year 1851, I had a small model hive +constructed, into which I temporarily placed a swarm of bees. The +particular object which I had in view, was to test the feasibility of +some plans which I had recently devised, for facilitating the storing of +honey in small tumblers. The bees, in a short time, filled the hive and +stored about a dozen glasses with honey. I was called away from them, +for a few days, and was much surprised, on my return, to find that the +honey which had been stored up in the hive and sealed over for Winter +use, was all gone, and the cells filled with eggs and young worms! The +hive stood in a covered bee house, and the bees had built a large +quantity of comb on the _outside_ of the hive, into which they had +transferred the honey taken from the interior. The object of this +unusual procedure was, beyond all question, to give the poor queen a +place within the hive for laying her eggs: for this purpose they +uncapped and emptied all the cells so carefully sealed over, instead of +using the new comb on the outside for the brood. + +Those who wish to study the Natural History of the honey-bee, to the +best advantage, will derive great aid in their investigations, from the +use of my _Observing Hives_. Each comb in these hives is attached to a +movable frame, and they all admit of easy removal. In this respect the +construction of the hive is entirely new, and while it greatly +facilitates the business of observation, it enables the Apiarian, on +the approach of cool weather, to transfer his bees from a hive in which +they cannot winter, to one of the common construction. As soon as the +weather in the Spring is sufficiently warm, they may again be placed in +the observing hive, in which, (as both sides of every comb admit of +inspection,) every bee can be seen, and all the wonders of the hive are +exposed to the full light of day; (see p. 24.) In the common observing +hives experiments are often conducted with great difficulty, by cutting +away parts of the comb, whereas in mine, they can all be performed by +the simple removal of one of the frames, and if the colony becomes +reduced in numbers, it may, in a few moments, be strengthened by helping +it to maturing brood from one of the other hives. A very intelligent +writer in a description of the different hives exhibited at the World's +Fair, in London, lamented that no method had yet been devised of +enabling bees to cluster, in cool weather, in an observing hive, and +that it was found next to impossible to preserve them in such hives over +Winter. By the use of the movable frames, this difficulty is entirely +obviated. + +I cannot allow this work to come to a close, without acknowledging my +great obligations to Mr. Samuel Wagner, of York, Pennsylvania. To him I +am indebted for a knowledge of Dzierzon's discoveries, and for many +valuable suggestions scattered throughout the Treatise. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Langstroth on the Hive and the +Honey-Bee, by L. L. 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L. L. Langstroth + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + h1,h2 {padding-top: 5em;} + h2 {padding-bottom: 2em;} + h3 {padding-top: 3em; + font-variant: small-caps;} + + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%;} + + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /*visibility: hidden;*/ + position: absolute; + left: 3%; + font-size: 10px; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .titlepage {text-align: center; + line-height: 2em; + margin-top: 3em; + } + .newsection {margin-top: 2em;} + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps; + font-style: normal;} + .clear {clear: both;} + .lowercase {text-transform: lowercase;} + .i {font-style: italic;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .b {font-weight: bold;} + + .normal {font-size: 0.7em;} + + .dedent { margin-right: 6em;} + .dedent2 { margin-right: 3em;} + .indent { margin-left: 6em;} + + span.signature {float: right; + padding-left: 2em; + margin-right: 4em; + text-indent: 0em;} + + .pad {padding-top: 2em; + padding-bottom: 2em;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; + text-align: center;} + + + .toc {font-size: 0.9em;} + .chapter {font-size: 1em; + padding-top: 2em; + text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px; + margin-top: 3em;} + .footnotes h3 {padding-top: 1em;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: .25em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; + margin-left: 1em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.author {display: block; + margin-left: 16em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; + font-style: italic;} + .poem span.author2 {display: block; + margin-left: 10em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; + font-style: italic;} + + .poem span.i10 {display: block; margin-left: 10em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee, by +L. L. Langstroth + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee + A Bee Keeper's Manual + +Author: L. L. Langstroth + +Release Date: February 11, 2008 [EBook #24583] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Giacomelli, Constanze Hofmann and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images produced by Core +Historical Literature in Agriculture (CHLA), Cornell +University) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter pad" style="width: 620px;"> + <img src="images/i001.png" width="600" height="516" + alt="Bee Hives" /> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">So work the Honey Bees.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Creatures that by a rule in Nature, teach<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The art of order to a peopled kingdom.—<i>Shakspeare.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter pad" style="width: 620px;"> + <img src="images/i002.png" width="600" height="355" + alt="Worker, Drone and Queen" /> +<p class="center">The above are a very accurate representations of the <span class="smcap">Queen</span>, the <span class="smcap">Worker</span> +and the <span class="smcap">Drone</span>. The group of bees in the title page, represents the +attitude in which the bees surround their Queen or Mother as she rests +upon the comb.</p> +</div> + + + + +<h1>LANGSTROTH +ON THE +HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE,<br /> +A +Bee Keeper's Manual,</h1> + +<p class="titlepage">BY<br /> +REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH.</p> + +<div class="figcenter pad" style="width: 620px;"> + <img src="images/i003.png" width="600" height="429" + alt="EVERY GOOD MOTHER SHOULD BE THE +HONORED QUEEN OF A HAPPY FAMILY." /> +</div> + +<p class="center">NORTHAMPTON: +HOPKINS, BRIDGMAN & COMPANY. +1853.</p> + +<p class="center newsection">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by +<span class="smcap">L. L. Langstroth</span>, +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 5em;">C. A. MIRICK, PRINTER, GREENFIELD.</p> + + + +<h2>PREFACE.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii"> [iii]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>This Treatise on the Hive and the Honey-Bee, is respectfully submitted +by the Author, to the candid consideration of those who are interested +in the culture of the most useful as well as wonderful Insect, in all +the range of Animated Nature. The information which it contains will be +found to be greatly in advance of anything which has yet been presented +to the English Reader; and, as far as facilities for practical +management are concerned, it is believed to be a very material advance +over anything which has hitherto been communicated to the Apiarian +Public.</p> + +<p>Debarred, by the state of his health, from the more appropriate duties +of his Office, and compelled to seek an employment which would call him, +as much as possible, into the open air, the Author indulges the hope +that the result of his studies and observations, in an important branch +of Natural History, will be found of service to the Community as well as +to himself. The satisfaction which he has taken in his researches, has +been such that he has felt exceedingly desirous of interesting others, +in a pursuit which, (without any reference to its pecuniary profits,)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv"> [iv]</a></span> +is capable of exciting the delight and enthusiasm of all intelligent +observers. The Creator may be seen in all the works of his hands; but in +few more directly than in the wise economy of the Honey-Bee.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"What well appointed commonwealths! where each<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Adds to the stock of happiness for all;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wisdom's own forums! whose professors teach<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Eloquent lessons in their vaulted hall!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Galleries of art! and schools of industry!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stores of rich fragrance! Orchestras of song!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What marvelous seats of hidden alchemy!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How oft, when wandering far and erring long,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Man might learn truth and virtue from the BEE!"<br /></span> +<span class="author">Bowring.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>The attention of Clergymen is particularly solicited to the study of +this branch of Natural History. An intimate acquaintance with the +wonders of the Bee-Hive, while it would benefit them in various ways, +might lead them to draw their illustrations, more from natural objects +and the world around them, and in this way to adapt them better to the +comprehension and sympathies of their hearers. It was, we know, the +constant practice of our Lord and Master, to illustrate his teachings +from the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, and the common walks +of life and pursuits of men. Common Sense, Experience and Religion alike +dictate that we should follow his example.</p> + +<p> +<span class="signature">L. L. LANGSTROTH.</span><br /> +<span class="indent i">Greenfield, Mass., May 25, 1853.</span> +</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v"> [v]</a></span></h2> + +<div class="toc"> +<p class="chapter"><a href="#INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION—CHAPTER I.</a></p> + +<p>Deplorable state of bee-keeping. New era anticipated, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>. Huber's +discoveries and hives. Double hives for protection against extremes of +temperature, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>. Necessary to obtain complete control of the combs. +Taming bees. Hives with movable bars. Their results important, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>. +Bee-keeping made profitable and certain. Movable frames for comb. Bees +will work in glass hives exposed to the light. Dzierzon's discoveries, +<a href="#Page_16">16</a>. Wagner's letter on the merits of Dzierzon's hive and the movable +comb hive, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>. Superiority of movable comb hive, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>. Superiority of +Dzierzon's over the old mode, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>. Success attending it, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>. Bee-Journal +to be established. Two of them in Germany. Important facts connected +with bees heretofore discredited, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>. Every thing seen in observing +hives, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bees capable of Domestication.</span> Astonishment of persons at their +tameness, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>. Bees intended for the comfort of man. Properties fitting +them for domestication. Bees never attack when filled with honey, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>. +Swarming bees fill their honey bags and are peaceable. Hiving of bees +safe, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>. Bees cannot resist the temptation to fill themselves with +sweets. Manageable by means of sugared water, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>. Special aversion to +certain persons. Tobacco smoke to subdue bees should not be used. +Motions about a hive should be slow and gentle, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Queen Bee. The Drone. The Worker</span>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>. Knowledge of facts relating to +them, necessary to rear them with profit. Difficult to reason with some +bee-keepers. Queen bee the mother of the colony—described, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>. +Importance of queen to the colony. Respect shown her by the other bees. +Disturbance occasioned by her loss, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>. Bee-keepers cannot fail to be +interested in the habits of bees, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>. Whoever is fond of his bees is +fond of his home. Fertility of queen bees under-estimated. Fecundation +of eggs of the queen bees, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>-<a href="#Page_36">36</a>. Huber vindicated. Francis Burnens. +Huber the prince of Apiarians, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>. Dr. Leidy's curious dissections, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>. +Wasps and hornets fertilized like queen bees. Huish's inconsistency, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>. +Retarded fecundation productive of drones<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi"> [vi]</a></span> only. Fertile workers produce +only drones, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>. Dzierzon's opinions on this subject, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>. Wagner's +theory. Singular fact in reference to a drone-rearing colony. +Drone-laying queen on dissection, unimpregnated. Dzierzon's theory +sustained, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>. Dead drone for queen, mistake of bees, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>. Eggs +unfecundated produce drones. Fecundated produce workers; theory +therefor, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>. Aphides but once impregnated for a series of generations. +Knowledge necessary for success, Queen bee, process of laying, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>. Eggs +described. Hatching, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>. Larva, its food, its nursing. Caps of breeding +and honey cells different, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>. Nymph or pupa, working. Time of +gestation. Cells contracted by cocoons sometimes become too small. Queen +bee, her mode of development, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>. Drone's development. Development of +young bees slow in cool weather or weak swarms. Temperature above 70 +deg. for the production of young. Thin hives, their insufficiency. Brood +combs, danger of exposure to low temperature, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>. Cocoons of drones and +workers perfect. Cocoons of queens imperfect, the cause, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>. Number of +eggs dependent on the weather, &c. Supernumerary eggs, how disposed of, +<a href="#Page_51">51</a>. Queen bee, fertility diminishes after her third year. Dies in her +fourth year, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>. Drones, description of. Their proper office. Destroyed +by the bees. When first appear, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>. None in weak hives. Great number of +them. Rapid increase of bees in tropical climates, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>. How to prevent +their over production. Expelled from the hive, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>. If not expelled, hive +should be examined. Provision to avoid "in and in breeding," <a href="#Page_56">56</a>. Close +breeding enfeebles colonies. Working bees, account of. Number in a hive, +<a href="#Page_58">58</a>. All females with imperfect ovaries. Fertile workers not tolerated +where there are queens, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>. Honey receptacle. Pollen basket. The sting. +Sting of bees, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>. Often lost in using. Penalty of its loss. Sting not +lost by other insects. Labors of workers, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>. Age of bees, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>. Bees +useful to the last, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>. Cocoons not removed by the bees. Breeding cells +becoming too small are reconstructed. Old comb should be removed. Brood +comb not to be changed every year, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>. Inventors of hives too often men +of "one idea." Folly of large closets for bees, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>. Reason of limited +colonies. Mother wasps and hornets only survive Winter. Queen, process +of rearing, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>. Royal cells, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>. Royal Jelly, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>. Its effect on the +larvæ, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>. Swammerdam, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>. Queen departs when successors are provided +for. Queens, artificial rearing, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>. Interesting +experiment, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>. Objections against the Bible illustrated, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>. Huish +against Huber, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>. His objections puerile. Objections to the Bible +ditto, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Comb.</span> Wax, how made. Formed of any saccharine substance. Huber's +experiments, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>. High temperature necessary to its composition, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>. Heat +generated in forming. Twenty pounds of honey to form one of wax. Value +of empty comb in the new hive. How to free comb from eggs of the moth, +<a href="#Page_78">78</a>. Combs having bee-bread of great value. How to empty comb and replace +it in the hive, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>. Artificial comb. Experiment with wax proposed, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>. +Its results, if successful. Comb made chiefly in the night. <a href="#Page_81">81</a>. Honey +and comb made simultaneously. Wax a non-conductor of heat. Some of the +brood cells uniform in size, others vary, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>. Form of cells +mathematically perfect, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>. Honey comb a demonstration of a "Great First +Cause," <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii"> [vii]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Propolis or Bee Glue.</span> Whence it is obtained. Huber's experiment, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>. Its +use. Comb varnished with it. The moth deposits her eggs in it, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>. +Propolis difficult for bees to work. Curious use of it by bees, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>. +Ingenuity of bees admirable, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pollen or Bee-Bread.</span> Whence obtained. Its use. Brood cannot be raised +without it. Pollen nitrogenous. Its use discovered by Huber, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>. Its +collection by bees indicates a healthy queen. Experiment showing the +importance of bee-bread to a colony, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>. Not used in making comb. Bees +prefer it fresh. Surplus in old hives to be used to supply its want to +young hives. Pollen and honey both secured at the same time by bees. +Mode of gathering pollen, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>. Packing down. Bees gather one kind of +pollen at a time. They aid in the impregnation of plants. History of the +bee plain proof of the wisdom of the Creator. Bees made for man, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>. +Virgil's opinion of bees. Rye meal a substitute for pollen. Quantity +used by each colony, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>. Wheat flour a substitute. The improved hive +facilitates feeding bees with meal. The discovery of a substitute for +pollen removes an obstacle to the cultivation of honey bees, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></p> + +<p>Fifty-four Advantages which ought to be found in an improved hive, +<a href="#Page_95">95</a>-<a href="#Page_110">110</a>. Some desirable qualities the movable comb hive does not pretend +to! Is the result of years of study and observation. It has been tested +by experience, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>. Not claimed as a perfect hive. Old-fashioned +bee-keepers found most profit, &c. Simplest form of hive, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>. Bee +culture where it was fifty years ago. Best hives. New hive is submitted +to the judgment of candid bee-keepers, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Protection against extremes of Heat, Cold and Dampness.</span> Many colonies +destroyed by extremes of weather. Evils of thin hives. Bees not torpid +in Winter. When frozen are killed, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>. Take exercise to keep warm. +Perish if unable to preserve suitable degree of warmth. Are often +starved in the midst of plenty. Eat an extra quantity of food in thin, +cold hives, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>. Muscular exertion occasions waste of muscular fiber. +Bees need less food when quiet than when excited. Experiment, wintering +bees in a dry cellar, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>. Protection must generally be given in open +air. None but diseased bees discharge fæces in the hive. Moisture, its +injurious effects. Free air needful in cold weather, with the common +hive, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>. Loss by their flying out in cold weather. Protection against +extremes of weather of the very first importance. Honey, our country +favorable to its production. Colonies in forests strong. Reasons for +this, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>. Russian and Polish bee-keepers successful. Their mode of +management, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>. Objection of want of air answered, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>. Bees need but +little air in Winter if protected. Protection in reference to the +construction of hives.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii"> [viii]</a></span> Double hives, preferable to plank. Made warm in +Winter by packing. Double hives, inside may be of glass, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>. Advantages +of glass over wood, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>. Advantages of double glass. Disadvantages of +double hives in Spring. Avoided by the improved hive, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>. Covered +Apiaries exclude the sun in Spring. Reason for discarding them. Sun, its +effect in producing early swarms in thin hives. Protected hives fall for +want of sun. Enclosed Apiaries, nuisances. Thin hives ought to be given +up, they are expensive in waste of honey and bees, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>. Comparative +cheapness of new and old hives, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>. Protector against injurious +weather. Proper location of bees. Preparations for setting hives, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>. +Protector should be open in Summer and banked in Winter. Cheaper than an +Apiary. Summer air of Protector like forest air. In Winter uniform and +mild, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>. Bees will not be enticed out in improper weather. Secures +their natural heat. Dead bees, &c., to be removed in Winter. Temperature +of the Protector, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>. Importance of the Protector. Its economy in food, +<a href="#Page_129">129</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ventilation.</span> Artificial ventilation produced by bees. Purity of air in +the hive, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>. Bad air fatal to bees, eggs and larvæ, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>. Bees when +disturbed need much air. Dysentery, how produced. Post mortem condition +of suffocated bees, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>. Great annoyance of excessive heat. Bees leave +the hive to save the comb. Ventilating instinct wonderful, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>. Should +shame man for his neglect of ventilation. Comparative expense of +ventilation to man and bees, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>. Importance of ventilation to man. Its +neglect induces disease, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>. Plants cannot thrive without free air. The +union of warmth and ventilation in Winter an important question. +House-builder and stove-maker combine against fresh air, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>. Run-away +slave boxed up. Evil qualities of bad air aggravated by heat. Dwellings +and public buildings generally deficient in ventilation. Degeneracy will +ensue, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>. Women the greatest sufferers. Necessity of reform, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>. +Public buildings should be required to have plenty of air. Improved +hive, its adaptedness to secure ventilation, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>. Nutt's hive too +complicated. Ventilation independent of the entrance, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>. Hive may be +entirely closed without incommoding the bees. Ventilators should be +easily removable to be cleansed. Ventilation from above injurious except +when bees are to be moved, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>. Variable size of the entrance adapts it +to all seasons. Ventilators should be closed in Spring. Downing on +ventilation, (note,) <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Swarming and Hiving.</span> Bees swarming a beautiful sight. Poetic description +by Evans. Design of swarming, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>. The honey bee unlike other insects in +its colonizing habits. It is chilled by a temperature below 50 deg. +Would perish in Winter if not congregated in masses. Admirable +adaptation, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>. Swarming necessary. Circumstances in which it takes +place. June the swarming month. Preparations for swarming. Old queen +accompanies the first swarm. No infallible signs of 1st swarming, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>. +Fickleness of bees about swarming. Indications of swarming. Hours of +swarming, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>. Proceedings within the hive before swarming. Interesting +scene. Bells and frying-pans useless, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>. Neglected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix"> [ix]</a></span> bees apt to fly +away in swarming. Bees properly cared for seldom do it. Methods of +arresting their flight when started, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>. Conduct of bees in +disagreeable hives, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>. Why bees swarm before selecting a new home. +They rarely cluster without the queen. Interesting experiment, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>. +Scouts to search for new abodes. Scouts sent out before and after +swarming, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>. Bees remain awhile after alighting. Curious incident +stated by Mr. Zollickoffer. Necessity of scouts. Considerations +confirmed, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>. Re-population of the hive, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>. Inability of bees to +find their hive when it has been removed. After swarms, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>. Different +treatment to the cells of dead and living queens. Royal larvæ sometimes +protected against the queens. Anger of the queen at such interference, +<a href="#Page_155">155</a>. Second swarming, its indications. Time, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>. Double swarms. Third +swarm. After swarms seriously reduce the strength of the hive. Wise +arrangement, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>. After-swarming avoided by the improved hive. +Impregnation of queens. Dangerous for queens to mistake their own hives, +<a href="#Page_158">158</a>. Precautions against this. Proper color for hives. Time of laying +eggs. None but worker eggs, the first season, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>. Directions for +hiving. Hives should be painted and well dried. Bees reluctant to enter +thin warm hives in the sun, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>. Management with the improved hives, +<a href="#Page_161">161</a>. Drone combs should never be used as guide comb. Pleasure of bees in +finding comb in their new quarters. Bees never voluntarily enter empty +hives. Rubbing the hive with herbs useless, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>. Small trees or bushes +in front of hives. Inexperienced Apiarian should wear a bee-dress. +Moderate dispatch in hiving needful, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>. Process of hiving particularly +described, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>. Old method of hiving should be abandoned, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>. +Importance of speedy hiving. Should be moved as soon as hived. Curious +fact stated by Dr. Scudamore, (note), <a href="#Page_167">167</a>. How to secure the queen. She +does not sting. Hiving before the hives are ready, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>. Another method +of hiving. Natural swarming profitable. Objections to natural swarming. +Common hive gives inadequate winter protection, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>. With it, the bees +often swarm too much. With the improved hive this is avoided. +Disadvantages of returning after-swarms. Third objection, inability to +strengthen small late swarms, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>. Evils of feeble stocks. Fourth +objection, loss of queen irreparable. By the new hive her loss is easily +supplied, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>. Fifth, common hives inconvenient when bees do not swarm. +This objection removed by the new hive. Sixth, the ravages of the moth +easily prevented by the improved hive. Seventh, the old queen, when +infertile, cannot be removed or replaced. Both can be done by the new +hive, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_X_2">CHAPTER X.</a></p> + +<p class="center">(Two Chapters numbered x, by error of the Press.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Artificial Swarming.</span> Numerous efforts to dispense with natural swarming. +Difficulties of natural swarming. First, many swarms are lost, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>. +Second, time and labor required. Sabbath labor, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>. Perplexities to +farmers. Third, large Apiaries cannot be established, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>. Fourth, +uncertainty of swarming. Disappointments from this source, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>. Efforts +to devise a surer method, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>. Columellas's mode of obtaining swarms. +Hyginus. Small success which attended, those efforts, Schirach's +discovery, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>. Huber's directions. Not adapted to general use. Dividing +hives in this country unsuitable. Bees without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x"> [x]</a></span> mature queens make no +preparation to rear workers, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>. Dividing hives to multiply colonies +will not answer, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>. Huber's hive even, inadequate. Common dividing +hives unsuccessful. Multiplying by brood comb in an empty hive, vain, +<a href="#Page_182">182</a>. Multiplying by removal and substitution useless. Mortality of bees +in working season, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>. Connecting apartments a failure, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>. Many +prefer non-swarming hives, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>. Profitable in honey but calculated to +exterminate the insect. Improved hive good non-swarmer, if desired. +Disadvantages of non-swarming. Queen bee becomes infertile. Remedied by +the use of the improved hive, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>. Practicable mode of artificial +swarming, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>. Bees will welcome to their hives strange bees that come +loaded. Will destroy such as come empty, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>. Forced swarming requires +knowledge of the economy of the bee-hive. Common hives give no facility +for learning the bee's habits. Equalizing a divided swarm, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>. Bees in +parent hive, if removed, to be confined and watered, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>. Bees removed +will return to their old place. Supplying bees with water by a straw. +Water necessary to prepare food for the larvæ, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>. New forced swarms to +be returned to the place of the old one, or removed to a distance. +Treatment to wont them to new place in the Apiary, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>. Bees forget +their new locations. Objection to forced swarming in common hives, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>. +Forced swarming by the new hives removes the objection. Mode of forcing +swarms by the new hives, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>. Queen to be searched for. Important that +she should be in the right hive, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>. Convenience of forced swarming in +supplying extra queens. Mode of supplying them. Should be done by day +light and in pleasant weather, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>. Honey-water not to be used. Safety +to the operator. Forced swarming may be performed at mid-day. Advantages +of the shape of the new hive, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>. Huber's observation on the effect of +sudden light in the hive. True solution of the phenomenon. Bees at the +top of the hive, less belligerent than those at the bottom, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>. Sudden +jars to be avoided. Removal of honey-board. Sprinkling with sugar-water, +<a href="#Page_200">200</a>. Loosening the frames. Removing the comb. Bees will adhere to their +comb, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>. Natural swarming imitated. How to catch the queen. Frames +protected from cold and robbery by bees. Frames returned to the hive. +Honey-cover, how managed. Motions of bee-keeper to be gentle. Bees must +not be breathed on. Success in the operation certain, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>. New colonies +may be thus formed in ten minutes. Natural swarming wholly prevented. If +attempted by the bees cannot succeed. How to remove the wings of the +queens, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>. Precaution against loss of queen by old age. Advantages of +this, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>. Certainty and ease of artificial swarming with the new hive. +After-swarms prevented if desired, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>. Large harvests of honey and +after-swarming impracticable. Danger of too rapid increase of stocks. +Importance of understanding his object, by the bee-keeper, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>. The +matter made plain, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>. Apiarians dissuaded from more than tripling +their stocks in a year. Tenfold increase of stocks attainable, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>. +Certain increase, not rapid, most needed. Cautions concerning +experiments, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>. Honey, largest yield obtained by doubling colonies. +The process, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>. May be done at swarming time. Bees recognize each +other by smell, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>. Importance of following these directions +illustrated. Process of uniting swarms simplified by the new hive, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>. +Very rapid increase of colonies precarious. Mode of effecting the most +rapid increase, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>. Nucleus system, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>. Can a queen be raised from any +egg? Two sorts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi"> [xi]</a></span> workers, wax workers and nurses, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>. Probable +explication of a difficulty, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>. Experimenting difficult work. Swarming +season best time for artificial swarming. Amusing perplexity of bees on +finding their hive changed, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>. Perseverance of bees. Interesting +incident illustrating it, <a href="#Page_231">221</a>. Novel and successful mode of forming +nuclei, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>. Mode of managing nuclei, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>. Danger of over-feeding. +Increasing stocks by doubling hives, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>. Important rule for multiplying +stocks. How to direct the strength of a colony to the rearing of young +bees, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>. Proper dimensions of hives. Reasons therefor, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>. Easy +construction of the improved hive. Precaution of queen bees in their +combats, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>. Reluctance of bees to receive a new queen. Expedient to +overcome this. Queen nursery, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>. Mode of rearing numerous queens, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>. +Control of the comb the soul of good bee-culture. Objection against +bee-keeping answered, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>. No "royal road" to bee-keeping. A prediction, +<a href="#Page_239">239</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Enemies of Bees.</span> Bee-moth, its ravages. Defiance against it, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>. Its +habits. Known to Virgil. Time of appearance. Nocturnal in habits, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>. +Their agility. Vigilance of the bees against the moth. Havoc of sin in +the heart, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>. Disgusting effects of the moth worm in a hive. Wax the +food of the moth larvæ. Making their cocoons, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>. Devices to escape the +bees. Time of development, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>. Habits of the female when laying eggs. +Of the worm when hatched, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>. Our climate favorable to the increase of +the moth. Moth not a native of America, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>. Honey, its former plenty. +Present depressure of its culture. Old mode of culture described, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>. +Depredations of the moth increased by patent hives. Aim of patent hives. +Sulphur or starvation, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>. Feeble swarms a nuisance, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>. Notion +prevailing in relation to breaking up stocks. Improved hives valueless +without improved system of treatment, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>. Pretended secrets in the +management of bees. Strong stocks thrive under almost any circumstances, +<a href="#Page_252">252</a>. Stocks in costly hives. Circumstances under which the moth succeeds +in a hive, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>. Signs of worms in a hive, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>. When entrenched difficult +to remove. Method of avoiding their ravages, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>. Combs having moth eggs +to be removed and smoked, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>. Uncovered comb to be removed, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>. Loss +of the queen the most fruitful occasion of ravages by the moth. +Experiments on this point, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>. Attempts to defend a queenless swarm +against the moth useless, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>. Strong queenless colonies destroyed when +feeble ones with queens are untouched. Common hives furnish no remedy +for the loss of the queen. Colonies without queens will perish, if not +destroyed by the moth, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>. Strong stocks rob queenless ones. Principal +reasons of protection, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>. Small stocks should have small space. +Inefficiency of various contrivances, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>. Useful precautions when using +common hives. Destroy the larvæ of the moth early. Decoy of a woolen +rag, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>. Hollow or split sticks for traps. If the queen be lost, and +worms infest the colony, break it up. Provision of the improved hives +against moths, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>. Moth-traps no help to careless bee-keepers. +Incorrigibly careless persons should have nothing to do with bees, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>. +Worms, how removed from an improved hive. Sweet solutions useful to +catch the moths. Interesting remarks of H. K. Oliver, on the bee-moth, +<a href="#Page_267">267</a>. Ravages of mice. Birds. Observations on the king-bird, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>. +Inhumanity and injurious effects of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii"> [xii]</a></span> destroying birds, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>. Other +enemies of the bee. Precautions against dysentery. Bees not to be fed on +liquid honey late in the season. Foul brood of the Germans, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>. +Produced by "American Honey." Peculiar kind of dysentery, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Loss of the Queen.</span> Queen often lost. Queens of strong hives seldom +perish without providing for successors. Their death commonly occurs +under favorable circumstances, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>. Young queen sometimes matured before +the death of the old one. Superannuated queens incapable of laying +worker eggs. Case of precocious superannuation, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>. Signs that there is +no queen in a hive. Signs of queenless hives, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>. Exhortation to wives, +<a href="#Page_276">276</a>. Difficult in common hives, to decide on the condition of the stock. +Always easy with the movable comb hive, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>. Bees sometimes refuse to +accept of aid in their queenless state. Parallel in human conduct. Young +bees in such hives will at once provide for a queen. An appeal to the +young, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>. Hives should be examined early in Spring. Destitute stocks +should be united to others having queens. Reasons therefor. General +treatment in early Spring, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>. Hives should be cleansed in Spring. +Durability and cheapness of hives, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>. Undue regard to mere cheapness. +Various causes destructive of queens, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>. Agitation of the bees on +missing their queen, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>. Treatment of swarms that have lost their +queens, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>. Examination of the hive needful, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>. +Examination and treatment in the Fall. Persons who cannot attend to +their bees themselves, may safely entrust their care to others, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>. +Business of the Apiarian united with that of the gardner. Experiments +with queen bees, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Union of Stocks. Transferring Bees. Starting an Apiary.</span> Queenless +colonies should be broken up, Spring and Fall. Small colonies should be +united. Animal heat necessary in a hive. Small swarms in Winter consume +much honey, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>. Colonies to be united, should stand side by side. How +to effect this. Removal of an Apiary in the working season, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>. To +secure the largest quantity of honey from a given number of stocks, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>. +Non-swarming plan. Moderate increase best, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>. Transferring bees from +common, to the movable comb hive, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>. Successful experiment. Should not +be attempted in cold weather. The process of transfer, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>. Best time. +May be done at any season when the weather is warm, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>. Precaution +against robbing, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>. Combs should be transferred with the bees, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>. +Caution on trying new hives, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>. Thrifty old swarms. Conditions of +their thrift, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>. Procuring bees to start an Apiary. New early swarms +best. Signs to guide the inexperienced buyer, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>. Directions for +removing old colonies. For removing new swarms, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>. To procure honey +the first season. Novices should begin in a small way. Neglected Apiary, +<a href="#Page_303">303</a>. Superstitions about bees. Cautions to the inexperienced, against +transferring, renewed. Parallel between bees and covetous men, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii"> [xiii]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Robbing.</span> Idleness a great cause of it, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>. Colonies should be examined +and supplied with food in Spring. Appearance of robber bees, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>. Their +suspicious actions. Are real "Jerry Sneaks," <a href="#Page_308">308</a>. Highway robbers, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>. +Bee battles. Subjected bees unite with the conquerors. Cautions against +robbery. Importance of guarding against robbery, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>. Efficiency of the +movable blocks to this end. Comb with honey not to be exposed, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>. +Curious case of robbery, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Directions for Feeding Bees.</span> Feeding greatly mismanaged. Condition of +the bees should be ascertained in the Spring. They should be supplied if +needy, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>. Many perish from want. Connection between feeding and +breeding in the hive, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>. Caution in feeding necessary. Results of over +feeding, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>. Necessary to feed largely in multiplying stocks. How to +feed weak swarms in Spring, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>. Considerations governing the quantity +of food, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>. Main object to produce bees. Proper condition of an Apiary +at close of honey season, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>. Feeding for Winter attended to in August. +Unsealed honey sours. Sour food is unwholesome to bees. Striking +instance, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>. Spare honey to be apportioned among the stocks. Swarms +with overstocks of honey do not breed so well. Surplus honey in Spring +to be removed, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>. Full frames exchanged for empty ones. Feeble stocks +in Fall, to be broken up. Profits all come from strong swarms. +Composition of a good bee-feed, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>. Directions for feeding with the +improved hive, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>. Feeding useless when but little comb in the hive, +<a href="#Page_326">326</a>. Top feeding. Feeder described. Importance of water to bees, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>. +Sugar candy a valuable substitute for honey. Summer feeding, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>. Bees +with proper care need but little feeding. Quantity of honey necessary to +winter a stock, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>. Feeding as a source of profit. Selling W. I. honey +a cheat, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>. Honey not a secretion of the bee. Evaporation of its water +the principal change it undergoes, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>. Folly of diluting the feed of +bees too much. Feeders of cheap honey for market, deceivers or deceived, +<a href="#Page_335">335</a>. Artificial liquid honey, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>. Improved Maple sugar, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>. Feeding +bees on artificial honey not profitable, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>. Dangerous feeding bees +without floats. Their infatuation for liquid sweets, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>. Like that of +the inebriate for his cups, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>. Avarice in bees and men, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Honey. Pasturage. Overstocking.</span> Honey the product of flowers, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>. Honey +dew. Aphides, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>. Qualities of honey, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>. Poisonous honey. Innoxious +by boiling. Preserving honey, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>. Modes of taking honey from the hive. +Objections to glass vessels, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>. Pasteboard boxes preferred. Honey +should be handled carefully. Pattern comb to be used in the boxes. Honey +safely removed, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>. Should not be taken from the bees in large +quantities during honey harvest. Pasturage, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>. The Willow. Sugar Maple +and other honey-yielding trees, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>. Linden tree as an ornament. White +clover, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>. Recommended by Hon. Frederick Holbrook as a grass crop, +<a href="#Page_352">352</a>. Sweet-scented clover,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv"> [xiv]</a></span> <a href="#Page_363">363</a>. Hybrid clover front Sweden, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>. +Buckwheat. Raspberry, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>. Garden flowers. Overstocking, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>. Little +danger of it. Bee-keepers and Napoleon. No overstocking in this country. +Letter from Mr. Wagner on the subject, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>. Flight of bees for food, +<a href="#Page_361">361</a>. Advantages of a good hive in saving time and honey. Energies of +bees limited. Bees injured by winds, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>. Protector saves them from +harm. Estimated profits of bee-culture. Advice to the careless, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>. +Value of Dzierzon's system. Adopted by the government of Norway. Want of +National encouragement to agriculture, (note), <a href="#Page_364">364</a>.</p> + +<p class="chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Anger of Bees. Remedy for their Sting. Bee-Dress. Instincts of Bees.</span> +Gentleness of the bee, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>. Feats of Wildman. Interesting incident, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>. +Discovery of a universal law. Its importance and results, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>. Cross +bees diseased. Never necessary to provoke a whole colony of bees, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>. +Danger from bees when provoked. A word to females, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>. Kindness of bees +to one another. Contrast with some children, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>. Effects of a sting. +The poison, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>. Peculiar odors offensive to bees. Precautions against +animals and human robbers, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>. Sense of smell in the bee, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>. By this +they distinguish their hive companions. Robbers repelled by odors, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>. +Stocks united by them, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>. Warning given by bees before stinging. How +to act when assaulted by bees, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>. Remedies for the sting, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>. +Bee-dress, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>. Instincts of bees, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>. Distinction between instinct in +animals and reason in men. Remarkable instance of sagacity in bees, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>. +Facilities afforded by the Author's Improved Observing Hive. +Indebtedness of the author to S. Wagner, Esq., <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</p> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="ADVERTISEMENT" id="ADVERTISEMENT"></a>ADVERTISEMENT<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv"> [xv]</a></span></h2> + +<p class="center b">L. L. LANGSTROTH'S MOVABLE COMB HIVE.<br /> +Patented October 5, 1862.</p> + + +<p>Each comb in this hive is attached to a separate, movable frame, and in +less than five minutes they may all be taken out, without cutting or +injuring them, or at all enraging the bees. Weak stocks may be quickly +strengthened by helping them to honey and maturing brood from stronger +ones; queenless colonies may be rescued from certain ruin by supplying +them with the means of obtaining another queen; and the ravages of the +moth effectually prevented, as at any time the hive may be readily +examined and all the worms, &c., removed from the combs. New colonies +may be formed in less time than is usually required to hive a natural +swarm; or the hive may be used as a non-swarmer, or managed on the +common swarming plan. The surplus honey may be taken from the interior +of the hive on the frames or in upper boxes or glasses, in the most +convenient, beautiful and saleable forms. Colonies may be safely +transferred from any other hive to this, at any season of the year, from +April to October, as the brood, combs, honey and all the contents of the +hive are transferred with them, and securely fastened in the frames. +That the combs can always be removed from this hive with ease and +safety, and that the new system, by giving the perfect control over all +the combs, effects a complete revolution in practical bee-keeping, the +subscriber prefers to <i>prove</i> rather than assert. Practical Apiarians +and all who wish to purchase rights and hives, are invited to visit his +Apiary, where combs, honey and bees will be taken from the hives; +colonies which may be brought to him for that purpose, transferred from +any old hive; queens, and the whole process of rearing them constantly +exhibited; new colonies formed, and all processes connected with the +practical management of an Apiary fully illustrated and explained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi"> [xvi]</a></span></p> + +<p>Those who have any considerable number of bees, will find it to their +interest to have at least one movable comb-hive in their Apiary, from +which they may, in a few minutes, supply any colony which has lost its +queen, with the means of rearing another.</p> + +<p>The hive and right will be furnished on the following terms. For an +individual or farm right, five dollars. This will entitle the purchaser +to use and construct for his own use on his own premises, as many hives +as he chooses. The hives are manufactured by machinery, and can probably +be delivered, freight included, at any Railroad Station in New England, +or New York, cheaper than they could be made in small quantities on the +spot. On receipt of a hive, the purchaser can decide for himself, +whether he prefers to make them, or to order them of the Patentee. For +one dollar, postage paid, the book will be sent free by mail. On receipt +of ten dollars, a beautiful hive showing all the combs, (with glass on +four sides,) will be sent with right, freight paid to any railroad +station in New England or New York: a right and hive which will +accommodate <i>two</i> colonies, with glass on each side, for twelve dollars; +for seven dollars, a right and a well made hive that any one can +construct who can handle the simplest tools. In all cases where the +hives are sent out of New England or New York, as the freight will not +be prepaid, a dollar will be deducted from the above prices. +<span class="signature" style="padding-right: 6em;">Address</span><br /> + <span class="signature">L. L. LANGSTROTH.</span></p> +<p class="clear"> +<span class="indent i">Greenfield, Mass.</span> +</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"> [13]</a></span><br /> + +CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>The present condition of practical bee-keeping in this country, is known +to be deplorably low. From the great mass of agriculturists, and others +favorably situated for obtaining honey, it receives not the slightest +attention. Notwithstanding the large number of patent hives which have +been introduced, the ravages of the bee-moth have increased, and success +is becoming more and more precarious. Multitudes have abandoned the +pursuit in disgust, while many of the most experienced, are fast +settling down into the conviction that all the so-called "Improved +Hives" are delusions, and that they must return to the simple box or +hollow log, and "<i>take up</i>" their bees with sulphur, in the +old-fashioned way.</p> + +<p>In the present state of public opinion, it requires no little courage to +venture upon the introduction of a new hive and system of management; +but I feel confident that a <i>new era</i> in bee-keeping has arrived, and +invite the attention of all interested, to the reasons for this belief. +A perusal of this Manual, will, I trust, convince them that there is a +better way than any with which they have yet been acquainted. They will +here find many hitherto mysterious points in the physiology of the +honey-bee, clearly explained, and much valuable information never before +communicated to the public.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"> [14]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is now nearly fifteen years since I first turned my attention to the +cultivation of bees. The state of my health having compelled me to live +more and more in the open air, I have devoted a large portion of my +time, of late years, to a careful investigation of their habits, and to +a series of minute and thorough experiments in the construction of +hives, and the best methods of managing them, so as to secure the +largest practical results.</p> + +<p>Very early in my Apiarian studies, I procured an imported copy of the +work of the celebrated Huber, and constructed a hive on his plan, which +furnished me with favorable opportunities of verifying some of his most +valuable discoveries; and I soon found that the prejudices existing +against him, were entirely unfounded. Believing that his discoveries +laid the foundation for a more extended and profitable system of +bee-keeping, I began to experiment with hives of various construction.</p> + +<p>The result of all these investigations fell far short of my +expectations. I became, however, most thoroughly convinced that no hives +were fit to be used, unless they furnished <i>uncommon protection</i> against +<i>extremes</i> of <i>heat</i> and more especially of <span class="smcap lowercase">COLD</span>. I accordingly +discarded all thin hives made of inch stuff, and constructed my hives of +<i>doubled</i> materials, enclosing a "dead air" space all around.</p> + +<p>These hives, although more expensive in the first cost, proved to be +much cheaper in the end, than those I had previously used. The bees +<i>wintered</i> remarkably well in them, and swarmed <i>early</i> and with unusual +<i>regularity</i>. My next step in advance, was, while I secured my surplus +honey in the most convenient, beautiful and salable forms, so to +facilitate the entrance of the bees into the honey receptacles, as to +secure the largest fruits from their labors.</p> + +<p>Although I felt confident that my hive possessed some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"> [15]</a></span> valuable +peculiarities, I still found myself unable to remedy many of the +casualties to which bee-keeping is liable. I now perceived that no hive +could be made to answer my expectations unless it gave me the <i>complete +control of the combs</i>, so that I might remove any, or all of them at +pleasure. The use of the Huber hive had convinced me that with proper +precautions, the combs might be removed without <i>enraging</i> the bees, and +that these insects were capable of being domesticated or <i>tamed</i>, to a +most surprising degree. A knowledge of these facts was absolutely +necessary to the further progress of my invention, for without it, I +should have regarded a hive designed to allow of the removal of the +combs, as too dangerous in use, to be of any practical value. At first, +I used movable slats or bars placed on rabbets in the front and back of +the hive. The bees were induced to build their combs upon these bars, +and in carrying them down, to fasten them to the sides of the hive. By +severing the attachments to the sides, I was able, at any time, to +remove the combs suspended from the bars. There was nothing <i>new</i> in the +use of movable <i>bars</i>; the invention being probably, at least, a hundred +years old; and I had myself used such hives on Bevan's plan, very early +in the commencement of my experiments. The chief peculiarity in my +hives, as now constructed, was the facility with which these bars could +be removed without enraging the bees, and their combination with my new +mode of obtaining the surplus honey.</p> + +<p>With hives of this construction I commenced experimenting on a larger +scale than ever, and soon arrived at results which proved to be of the +very first importance. I found myself able, if I wished it, to <i>dispense +entirely</i> with <i>natural swarming</i>, and yet to multiply colonies with +much greater <i>rapidity</i> and <i>certainty</i> than by the common methods. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"> [16]</a></span> +could, in a <i>short time, strengthen my feeble colonies</i>, and furnish +those which had <i>lost their Queen</i> with the means of <i>obtaining +another</i>. If I suspected that any thing was the matter with a hive, I +could <i>ascertain</i> its <i>true condition</i>, by making a thorough examination +of every part, and if the <i>worms had gained a lodgment</i>, I could quickly +<i>dispossess</i> them. In short, I could perform all the operations which +will be explained in this treatise, and I now believed that bee-keeping +could be made <i>highly profitable</i>, and as much a matter of <i>certainty</i>, +as any other branch of rural economy.</p> + +<p>I perceived, however, that one thing was <i>yet</i> wanting. The <i>cutting</i> of +the combs from their attachments to the <i>sides</i> of the hive, in order to +remove them, was attended with much loss of <i>time</i> to myself and to the +bees, and in order to <i>facilitate</i> this operation, the construction of +my hive was necessarily <i>complicated</i>. This led me to invent a method by +which the combs were attached to <span class="smcap lowercase">MOVABLE FRAMES</span>, and suspended in the +hives, <i>so as to touch neither the top, bottom, nor sides</i>. By this +device, I was able to remove the combs at pleasure, and if desired, I +could speedily transfer them, bees and all, <i>without any cutting</i>, to +another hive. I have experimented largely with hives of this +construction, and find that they answer most admirably, all the ends +proposed in their invention.</p> + +<p>While experimenting in the summer of 1851, with some observing hives of +a peculiar construction, I discovered that bees could be made to work in +glass hives, <i>exposed to the full light of day</i>. The notice, in a +Philadelphia newspaper, of this discovery, procured me the pleasure of +an acquaintance with Rev. Dr. Berg, pastor of a Dutch Reformed church in +that city. From him, I first learned that a Prussian clergyman, of the +name of Dzierzon, (pronounced Tseertsone,) had attracted the attention +of crowned heads, by his important<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"> [17]</a></span> discoveries in the management of +bees. Before he communicated the particulars of these discoveries, I +explained to Dr. Berg, my system of management, and showed him my hive. +He expressed the greatest astonishment at the wonderful similarity in +our methods of management, both of us having carried on our +investigations without the slightest knowledge of each other's labors. +Our hives, he found to differ in some very important respects. In the +Dzierzon hive, the combs are not attached to <i>movable frames</i>, but to +<i>bars</i>, so that they cannot, <i>without cutting</i>, be removed from the +hive. In my hive, which is opened <i>from the top</i>, any comb may be taken +out, without at all disturbing the others; whereas, in the Dzierzon +hive, which is opened from one of the ends, it is often necessary to +<i>cut</i> and <i>remove many</i> combs, in order to get access to a particular +one; thus, if the <i>tenth</i> comb from the end is to be removed, <i>nine</i> +combs must be first <i>cut and taken out</i>. All this consumes a large +amount of time. The German hive does not furnish the surplus honey in a +form which would be found most salable in our markets, or which would +admit of safe transportation in the comb. Notwithstanding these +disadvantages, it has achieved a <i>great triumph</i> in Germany, and given a +<i>new impulse</i> to the cultivation of bees.</p> + +<p>The following letter from Samuel Wagner, Esq., cashier of the bank in +York, Pennsylvania, will show the results which have been obtained in +Germany, by the new system of management, and his estimate of the +superior value of my hive to those in use there.</p> + +<p class="newsection"> +<span class="smcap signature">York, Pa., Dec. 24, 1852.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap indent">Dear Sir</span>, +</p> + +<p>The Dzierzon theory and the system of bee-management based thereon, were +originally promulgated, <i>hypothetically</i>, in the "Eichstadt +Bienenzeitung" or Bee-journal,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"> [18]</a></span> in 1845, and at once arrested my +attention. Subsequently, when in 1848, at the instance of the Prussian +government, the Rev. Mr. Dzierzon published his "Theory and Practice of +Bee Culture," I imported a copy, which reached me in 1849, and which I +translated prior to January 1850. Before the translation was completed, +I received a visit from my friend, the Rev. Dr. Berg, of Philadelphia, +and in the course of conversation on bee-keeping, mentioned to him the +Dzierzon theory and system, as one which I regarded as new and very +superior, though I had had no opportunity for testing it practically. In +February following, when in Philadelphia, I left with him the +translation in manuscript—up to which period, I doubt whether any other +person in this country had any knowledge of the Dzierzon theory; except +to Dr. Berg I had never mentioned it to any one, save in very general +terms.</p> + +<p>In September, 1851, Dr. Berg again visited York, and stated to me your +investigations, discoveries and inventions. From the account Dr. Berg +gave me, I felt assured that you had devised substantially the <i>same +system</i> as that so successfully pursued by Mr. Dzierzon; but how far +<i>your hive</i> resembled his I was unable to judge from description alone. +I inferred, however, several points of difference. The coincidence as to +system, and the principles on which it was evidently founded, struck me +as exceedingly singular and interesting, because I felt confident that +you had no more knowledge of Mr. Dzierzon and his labors, before Dr. +Berg mentioned him and his book to you, than Mr. Dzierzon had of you. +These circumstances made me very anxious to examine your hives, and +induced me to visit your Apiary in the village of West Philadelphia, +last August. In the absence of the keeper, as I informed you, I took the +liberty to explore the premises thoroughly, opening and inspecting a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"> [19]</a></span> +number of the hives, and noticing the internal arrangement of the parts. +The result was, that I came away convinced that though your system was +based on the same principles as Dzierzon's, yet that your hive was +almost totally different from his, in construction and arrangement; that +while the same objects <i>substantially</i> are attained by each, your hive +is more simple, more convenient, and much better adapted for general +introduction and use, since the mode of using it can be more easily +taught. Of its ultimate and triumphant success I have no doubt. I +sincerely believe that when it comes under the notice of Mr. Dzierzon, +he will himself prefer it to his own. It in fact combines all the good +properties which a hive ought to possess, while it is free from the +complication, clumsiness, <i>vain whims</i>, and decidedly objectionable +features, which characterize most of the inventions which profess to be +at all superior to the simple box, or the common chamber hive.</p> + +<p>You may certainly claim <i>equal credit</i> with Dzierzon for originality in +observation and discovery in the natural history of the honey bee, and +for success in deducing principles and devising a most valuable system +of management from observed facts. But in <i>invention</i>, as far as +neatness, compactness, and adaptation of means to ends are concerned, +the sturdy German must yield the palm to you. You will find a case of +similar coincidence detailed in the Westminster Review for October, +1852, page 267, et seq.</p> + +<p>I send you herewith some interesting statements respecting Dzierzon, and +the estimate in which his system is held in Germany.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="dedent">Very truly yours,</span><br /> +<span class="dedent2">SAMUEL WAGNER.</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +<span class="smcap indent">Rev. L. L. Langstroth.</span> +</p> + +<p class="newsection"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"> [20]</a></span>The following are the statements to which Mr. Wagner refers.—</p> + +<p>"As the best test of the value of Mr. Dzierzon's system, is the +<i>results</i> which have been made to flow from it, a brief account of its +rise and progress maybe found interesting. In 1835 he commenced +bee-keeping in the common way, with 12 colonies—and after various +mishaps, which taught him the defects of the common hives and the old +mode of management, his stock was so reduced that in 1838 he had +virtually to begin anew. At this period he contrived his improved hive +in its ruder form, which gave him the command over all the combs, and he +began to experiment on the theory which observation and study had +enabled him to devise. Thenceforward his progress was as rapid as his +success was complete and triumphant. Though he met with frequent +reverses—about 70 colonies having been stolen from him, sixty destroyed +by fire, and 24 by a flood—yet in 1846 his stock had increased to 360 +colonies, and he realized from them that year six thousand pounds of +honey, besides several hundred weight of wax. At the same time most of +the cultivators in his vicinity who pursued the common methods, had +fewer hives than they had when he commenced.</p> + +<p>In the year 1848, a fatal pestilence, known by the name of "foul brood," +prevailed among his bees, and destroyed nearly all his colonies before +it could be subdued—only about ten having escaped the malady, which +attacked alike the old stocks and his artificial swarms. He estimates +his entire loss that year at over 500 <i>colonies</i>. Nevertheless he +succeeded so well in multiplying by artificial swarms, the few that +remained healthy, that in the fall of 1851 his stock consisted of nearly +400 colonies. He must, therefore, have multiplied his stocks more than +three fold each year.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"> [21]</a></span>"</p> + +<p>The highly prosperous condition of his colonies is attested by the +Report of the Secretary of the Annual Apiarian Convention which met in +his vicinity last spring. This Convention, the fourth which has been +held, consisted of 112 experienced and enthusiastic bee-keepers from +various districts of Germany and neighboring countries, and among them +were some who when they assembled were strong opposers of his system.</p> + +<p>They visited and personally examined the Apiaries of Mr. Dzierzon. The +report speaks in the very highest terms of his success, and of the +manifest superiority of his system of management. He exhibited and +satisfactorily explained to his visitors his practice and principles; +and they remarked, with astonishment, the <i>singular docility</i> of his +bees, and the thorough control to which they were subjected. After a +full detail of the proceedings, the Secretary goes on to say:—</p> + +<p>"Now that I have seen Dzierzon's method practically demonstrated, I must +admit that it is attended with fewer difficulties than I had supposed. +With his hive and system of management it would seem that bees become at +once more docile than they are in other cases. I consider his system the +simplest and best means of elevating bee-culture to a profitable +pursuit, and of spreading it far and wide over the land—especially as +it is peculiarly adapted to districts in which the bees do not readily +and regularly swarm. His eminent success in re-establishing his stock +after suffering so heavily from the devastating pestilence—in short the +recuperative power of the system demonstrates conclusively, that it +furnishes the best, perhaps the only means of reinstating bee-culture lo +a profitable branch of rural economy.</p> + +<p>Dzierzon modestly disclaimed the idea of having attained perfection in +his hive. He dwelt rather upon the truth and importance of his <i>theory</i> +and <i>system</i> of <i>management</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"> [22]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>From the Leipzig Illustrated Almanac—Report on Agriculture for 1846.</i></p> + +<p>"Bee culture is no longer regarded as of any importance in rural +economy."</p> + +<p>From the same for 1851, and 1853.</p> + +<p>"Since Dzierzon's system has been made known an entire revolution in bee +culture has been produced. A new era has been created for it, and +bee-keepers are turning their attention to it with renewed zeal. The +merits of his discoveries are appreciated by the government, and they +recommend his system as worthy the attention of the teachers of common +schools.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dzierzon resides in a poor sandy district of Middle Silesia, which, +according to the common notions of Apiarians, is unfavorable to +bee-culture. Yet despite of this and of various mishaps, he has +succeeded in realizing 900 dollars as the product of his bees in one +season!</p> + +<p>By his mode of management, his bees yield, even in the poorest years, +from 10 to 15 per cent on the capital invested, and where the colonies +are produced by the Apiarian's own skill and labor they cost him only +about one-fourth the price at which they are usually valued. In ordinary +seasons the profit amounts to from 30 to 50 per cent, and in very +favorable seasons from 80 to 100 per cent."</p> + +<p>In communicating these facts to the public, I have several objects in +view. I freely acknowledge that I take an honest pride in establishing +my claims as an independent observer; and as having matured by my own +discoveries, the same system of bee-culture, as that which has excited +so much interest in Germany; I desire also to have the testimony of the +translator of Dzierzon to the superior merits of my hive. Mr. Wagner is +extensively known as an able German scholar. He has taken all the +numbers of the Bee Journal, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"> [23]</a></span> monthly periodical which has been +published for more than fifteen years in Germany, and is probably more +familiar with the state of Apiarian culture abroad, than any man in this +country.</p> + +<p>I am anxious further to show that the great importance which I attach to +my system of management, is amply justified by the success of those who +while pursuing the same system with inferior hives, have attained +results, which to common bee-keepers, seem almost incredible. Inventors +are very prone to form exaggerated estimates of the value of their +labors; and the American public has been so often deluded with patent +hives, devised by persons ignorant of the most important principles in +the natural history of the bee, and which have utterly failed to answer +their professed objects, that they are scarcely to be blamed for +rejecting every new hive as unworthy of confidence.</p> + +<p>There is now a prospect that a Bee Journal will before long, be +established in this country. Such a publication has long been needed. +Properly conducted, it will have a most powerful influence in +disseminating information, awakening enthusiasm, and guarding the public +against the miserable impositions to which it has so long been +subjected.</p> + +<p>Two such journals are now published monthly in Germany, one of which has +been in existence for more than 15 years—and their wide circulation has +made thousands well acquainted with those principles, which must +constitute the foundation of any enlightened and profitable system of +culture.</p> + +<p>The truth is that while many of the principal facts in the physiology of +the honey bee have long been familiar to scientific observers, it has +unfortunately happened that some of the most important have been widely +discredited. In themselves they are so <i>wonderful</i>, and to those who +have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"> [24]</a></span> not witnessed them, often <i>so incredible</i>, that it is not at all +strange that they have been rejected as fanciful conceits, or bare-faced +inventions.</p> + +<p>Many persons have not the slightest idea that <i>every thing</i> may be +<i>seen</i> that takes place in a bee-hive. But hives have for many years, +been in use, containing only one large comb, enclosed on both sides, by +glass. These hives are darkened by shutters, and when opened, the queen +is exposed to observation, as well as all the other bees. Within the +last two years, I have discovered that with proper precautions, colonies +can be made to work in observing hives, without shutters, and exposed +continually to the <i>full light of day</i>; so that observations may be made +at all times, without in the least interrupting the ordinary operations +of the bees. By the aid of such hives, some of the most intelligent +citizens of Philadelphia have seen in my Apiary, the queen bee +depositing her eggs in the cells, and constantly surrounded by an +affectionate circle of her devoted children. They have also witnessed, +with astonishment and delight, all the steps in the mysterious process +of raising queens from eggs which with the ordinary development, would +have produced only the common bees. For more than three months, there +was not a day in which some of my colonies were not engaged in making +new queens to supply the place of those taken from them, and I had the +pleasure of exhibiting all the facts to bee-keepers who never before +felt willing to credit them. As <i>all</i> my hives are so made that each +comb can be taken out, and examined at pleasure, those who use them, can +obtain from them all the information which they need, and, are no longer +forced to take any thing upon trust.</p> + +<p>May I be permitted to express the hope that the time is now at hand, +when the number of practical observers will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"> [25]</a></span> be so multiplied, that +ignorant and designing men will neither be able to impose their conceits +and falsehoods upon the public, nor be sustained in their attempts to +depreciate the valuable discoveries of those who have devoted years of +observation and experiment to promote the advancement of Apiarian +knowledge.</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.<br /> +<span class="normal">THE HONEY BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED OR DOMESTICATED TO A MOST +SURPRISING DEGREE.</span></h2> + + +<p>If the bee had not such a necessary and yet formidable weapon both of +offence and defence, multitudes would be induced to enter upon its +cultivation, who are now afraid to have any thing to do with it. As the +new system of management which I have devised, seems to add to this +inherent difficulty, by taking the greatest possible liberties with so +irascible an insect, I deem it important to show clearly, in the very +outset, how bees may be managed, so that all necessary operations may be +performed in an Apiary, without incurring any serious risk of exciting +their anger.</p> + +<p>Many persons have been unable to control their expressions of wonder and +astonishment, on seeing me open hive after hive, in my experimental +Apiary, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, removing the combs covered with +bees, and shaking them off in front of the hives; exhibiting the queen, +transferring the bees to another hive, and, in short, dealing with them +as if they were as harmless as so many flies. I have sometimes been +asked if the bees with which I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"> [26]</a></span> experimenting, had not been +subjected to a long course of instruction, to prepare them for public +exhibition; when in some cases, the very hives which I was opening, +contained swarms which had been brought only the day before, to my +establishment.</p> + +<p>Before entering upon the natural history of the bee, I shall anticipate +some principles in its management, in order to prepare my readers to +receive, without the doubts which would otherwise be very natural, the +statements in my book, and to convince them that almost any one +favorably situated, may safely enjoy the pleasure and profit of a +pursuit, which has been most appropriately styled, "the poetry of rural +economy;" and that, without being made too familiar with a sharp little +weapon, which can most speedily and effectually convert all the poetry +into very sorry prose.</p> + +<p>The Creator intended the bee for the comfort of man, as truly as he did +the horse or the cow. In the early ages of the world, indeed until very +recently, honey was almost the only natural sweet; and the promise of "a +land flowing with milk and honey," had then a significance, the full +force of which it is difficult for us to realize. The honey bee was, +therefore, created not merely with the ability to store up its delicious +nectar for its own use, but with certain properties which fitted it to +be domesticated, and to labor for man, and without which, he would no +more have been able to subject it to his control, than to make a useful +beast of burden of a lion or a tiger.</p> + +<p>One of the peculiarities which constitutes the very foundation, not +merely of my system of management, but of the ability of man to +domesticate at all so irascible an insect, has never, to my knowledge, +been clearly stated as a great and controlling principle. It may be thus +expressed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A honey bee never volunteers an attack, or acts on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"> [27]</a></span> the offensive, when +it is gorged or filled with honey.</span></p> + +<p>The man who first attempted to lodge a swarm of bees in an artificial +hive, was doubtless agreeably surprised at the ease with which he was +able to accomplish it. For when the bees are intending to swarm, they +fill their honey-bags to their utmost capacity. This is wisely ordered, +that they may have materials for commencing operations immediately in +their new habitation; that they may not starve if several stormy days +should follow their emigration; and that when they leave their hives, +they may be in a suitable condition to be secured by man.</p> + +<p>They issue from their hives in the most peaceable mood that can well be +imagined; and unless they are abused, allow themselves to be treated +with great familiarity. The hiving of bees by those who understand their +nature, could almost always be conducted without the risk of any +annoyance, if it were not the case that some improvident or unfortunate +ones occasionally come forth without the soothing supply; and not being +stored with honey, are filled with the gall of the bitterest hate +against all mankind and animal kind in general, and any one who dares to +meddle with them in particular. Such radicals are always to be dreaded, +for they must vent their spleen on something, even though they lose +their life in the act.</p> + +<p>Suppose the whole colony, on sallying forth, to possess such a ferocious +spirit; no one would ever dare to hive them, unless clad in a coat of +mail, at least bee-proof, and not even then, until all the windows of +his house were closed, his domestic animals bestowed in some safe place, +and sentinels posted at suitable stations, to warn all comers to look +out for something almost as much to be dreaded, as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"> [28]</a></span>a fiery locomotive +in full speed. In short, if the propensity to be exceedingly +good-natured after a hearty meal, had not been given to the bee, it +could never have been domesticated, and our honey would still be +procured from the clefts of rocks, or the hollows of trees.</p> + +<p>A second peculiarity in the nature of the bee, and one of which I +continually avail myself with the greatest success, may be thus stated.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bees cannot, under any circumstances, resist the temptation to fill +themselves with liquid sweets.</span></p> + +<p>It would be quite as easy for an inveterate miser to look with +indifference upon a golden shower of double eagles, falling at his feet +and soliciting his appropriation. If then we can contrive a way to call +their attention to a treat of running sweets, when we wish to perform +any operation which might provoke them, we may be sure they will accept +it, and under its genial influence, allow us without molestation, to do +what we please.</p> + +<p>We must always be particularly careful not to handle them roughly, for +they will never allow themselves to be pinched or hurt without thrusting +out their sting to resent such an indignity. I always keep a small +watering-pot or sprinkler, in my Apiary, and whenever I wish to operate +upon a hive, as soon as the cover is taken off, and the bees exposed, I +sprinkle them gently with water sweetened with sugar. They help +themselves with the greatest eagerness, and in a few moments, are in a +perfectly manageable state. The truth is, that bees managed on this plan +are always glad to see visitors, and you cannot look in upon them too +often, for they expect at every call, to receive a sugared treat by way +of a peace-offering.</p> + +<p>I can superintend a large number of hives, performing every operation +that is necessary for pleasure or profit, and yet not run the risks of +being stung, which must frequently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"> [29]</a></span> be incurred in attempting to manage, +in the simplest way, the common hives. Those who are timid may, at +first, use a bee-dress; though they will soon discard every thing of the +kind, unless they are of the number of those to whom the bees have a +special aversion. Such unfortunates are sure to be stung whenever they +show themselves in the vicinity of a bee-hive, and they will do well to +give the bees a very wide berth.</p> + +<p>Apiarians have, for many years, employed the smoke of tobacco for +subduing their bees. It deprives them, at once, of all disposition to +sting, but it ought never to be used for such a purpose. If the +construction of the hives will not permit the bees to be sprinkled with +sugar water, the smoke of burning paper or rags will answer every +purpose, and the bees will not be likely to resent it; whereas when they +recover from the effect of the tobacco, they not unfrequently remember, +and in no very gentle way, the operator who administered the nauseous +dose.</p> + +<p>Let all your motions about your hives be gentle and slow. Accustom your +bees to your presence; never crush or injure them in any operation; +acquaint yourself fully with the principles of management detailed in +this treatise, and you will find that you have but little more reason to +dread the sting of a bee, than the horns of your favorite cow, or the +heels of your faithful horse.</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"> [30]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">THE QUEEN OR MOTHER-BEE, THE DRONES, AND THE WORKERS; WITH VARIOUS +HIGHLY IMPORTANT FACTS IN THEIR NATURAL HISTORY.</span></h2> + + +<p>Bees can flourish only when associated in large numbers, as a colony. In +a solitary state, a single bee is almost as helpless as a new-born +child; it is unable to endure even the ordinary chill of a cool summer +night.</p> + +<p>If a strong colony of bees is examined, a short time before it swarms, +three different kinds of bees will be found in the hive.</p> + +<p>1st. A bee of peculiar shape, commonly called the <i>Queen Bee</i>.</p> + +<p>2d. Some hundreds, more or less, of large bees called <i>Drones</i>.</p> + +<p>3d. Many thousands of a smaller kind, called <i>Workers</i> or common bees, +and similar to those which are seen on the blossoms. A large number of +the cells will be found filled with honey and bee-bread; while vast +numbers contain eggs, and immature workers and drones. A few cells of +unusual size, are devoted to the rearing of young queens, and are +ordinarily to be found in a perfect condition, only in the swarming +season.</p> + +<p>The <i>Queen-Bee</i> is the only <i>perfect female</i> in the hive, and all the +eggs are laid by her. The <i>Drones</i> are the <i>males</i>, and the <i>Workers</i> +are <i>females</i>, whose ovaries or "egg-bags"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"> [31]</a></span> are so <i>imperfectly +developed</i> that they are incapable of breeding, and which retain the +instinct of females, only so far as to give the most devoted attention +to feeding and rearing the brood.</p> + +<p>These facts have all been demonstrated repeatedly, and are as well +established as the most common facts in the breeding of our domestic +animals. The knowledge of them in their most important bearings, is +absolutely essential to all who expect to realize large profits from an +improved method of rearing bees. Those who will not acquire the +necessary information, if they keep bees at all, should manage them in +the old-fashioned way, which requires the smallest amount either of +knowledge or skill.</p> + +<p>I am perfectly aware how difficult it is to reason with a large class of +bee-keepers, some of whom have been so often imposed upon, that they +have lost all faith in the truth of any statements which may be made by +any one interested in a patent hive, while others stigmatize all +knowledge which does not square with their own, as "book-knowledge," and +unworthy the attention of practical men.</p> + +<p>If any such read this book, let me remind them again, that all my +assertions may be put to the test. So long as the interior of a hive, +was to common observers, a profound mystery, ignorant and designing men +might assert what they pleased, about what passed in its dark recesses; +but now, when all that takes place in it, can, <i>in a few moments</i>, be +exposed to the <i>full light of day</i>, and every one who keeps bees, can +<i>see and examine</i> for himself, the man who attempts to palm upon the +community, his own conceits for facts, will speedily earn for himself, +the character both of a fool and an impostor.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Queen Bee</span>, or as she may more properly be called <span class="smcap">the mother bee</span>, is +the common mother of the whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"> [32]</a></span> colony. She reigns therefore, most +unquestionably, by a divine right, as every mother is, or ought to be, a +queen in her own family. Her shape is entirely different from that of +the other bees. While she is not near so bulky as a drone, her body is +longer, and of a more <i>tapering</i>, or sugar-loaf form than that of a +worker, so that she has somewhat of a wasp-like appearance. Her wings +are much shorter, in proportion, than those of the drone, or worker; the +under part of her body is of a golden color, and the upper part darker +than that of the other bees. Her motions are usually slow and matronly, +although she can, when she pleases, move with astonishing quickness.</p> + +<p>No colony can long exist without the presence of this all-important +insect. She is just as necessary to its welfare, as the soul is to the +body, for a colony without a queen must as certainly perish, as a body +without the spirit hasten to inevitable decay.</p> + +<p>She is treated by the bees, as every mother ought to be, by her +children, with the most unbounded respect and affection. A circle of her +loving offspring constantly surround her, testifying, in various ways, +their dutiful regard; offering her honey, from time to time, and always, +most politely getting out of her way, to give her a clear path when she +wishes to move over the combs. If she is taken from them, as soon as +they have ascertained their loss, the whole colony is thrown into a +state of the most intense agitation; all the labors of the hive are at +once abandoned; the bees run wildly over the combs, and frequently, the +whole of them rush forth from the hive, and exhibit all the appearance +of anxious search for their beloved mother. Not being able anywhere to +find her, they return to their desolate home, and by their mournful +tones, reveal their deep sense of so deplorable a calamity. Their note, +at such times, more especially<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"> [33]</a></span> when they first realize her loss, is of +a peculiarly mournful character; it sounds something like <i>a succession +of wails on the minor key</i>, and can no more be mistaken by the +experienced bee-keeper, for their ordinary, happy hum, than the piteous +moanings of a sick child can be confounded, by an anxious mother, with +its joyous crowings, when overflowing with health and happiness.</p> + +<p>I am perfectly aware that all this will sound to many, much more like +romance than sober reality; but I have determined, in writing this book, +to state facts, however wonderful, just as they are; confident that they +will, before long, be universally received, and hoping that the many +wonders in the economy of the honey bee will not only excite a wider +interest in its culture, but will lead those who observe them, to adore +the wisdom of Him who gave them such admirable instincts. I cannot +refrain from quoting here, the forcible remarks of an English clergyman, +who appears to be a very great enthusiast in bee-culture.</p> + +<p>"Every bee-keeper, if he have only a soul to appreciate the works of +God, and an intelligence of an inquisitive order, cannot fail to become +deeply interested in observing the wonderful instincts, (instincts akin +to reason,) of these admirable creatures; at the same time that he will +learn many lessons of practical wisdom from their example. Having +acquired a knowledge of their habits, not a bee will buzz in his ear, +without recalling to him some of these lessons, and helping to make him +a wiser and a better man. It is certain that in all my experience, I +never yet met with a keeper of bees, who was not a respectable, +well-conducted member of society, and a moral, if not a religious +man.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"> [34]</a></span> It is evident, on reflection, that this pursuit, if well +attended to, must occupy some considerable share of a man's time and +thoughts. He must be often about his bees, which will help to counteract +the baneful effect of the village inn. "<i>Whoever is fond of his bees is +fond of his home</i>," is an axiom of irrefragable truth, and one which +ought to kindle in every one's breast, a favorable regard for a pursuit +which has the power to produce so happy an influence. The love of home +is the companion of many other virtues, which, if not yet developed into +actual exercise, are still only dormant, and may be roused into wakeful +energy at any moment."</p> + +<p>The fertility of the queen bee has been much under-estimated by most +writers. It is truly astonishing. During the height of the breeding +season, she will often, under favorable circumstances, lay from two to +three thousand eggs, a day! In my observing hives, I have seen her lay, +at the rate of six eggs a minute! The fecundity of the female of the +white ant, is much greater than this, as she will lay as many as sixty +eggs a minute! but then her eggs are simply extruded from her body, to +be carried by the workers into suitable nurseries, while the queen bee +herself deposits her eggs in their appropriate cells.</p> + + +<h3>On the way in which the eggs of the Queen Bee are fecundated.</h3> + +<p>I come now to a subject of great practical importance, and one which, +until quite recently, has been <i>attended</i> with apparently insuperable +difficulties.</p> + +<p>It has been noticed that the queen bee commences laying in the latter +part of winter, or early in spring, and long <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"> [35]</a></span>before there are any +drones or males in the hive. (See remarks on Drones.) In what way are +these eggs impregnated? Huber, by a long course of the most +indefatigable observations, threw much light upon this subject. Before +stating his discoveries, I must pay my humble tribute of gratitude and +admiration, to this wonderful man. It is mortifying to every scientific +naturalist, and I might add, to every honest man acquainted with the +facts, to hear such a man as Huber abused by the veriest quacks and +imposters; while others who have appropriated from his labors, nearly +all that is of any value in their works, to use the words of Pope,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Huber, in early manhood, lost the use of his eyes. His opponents imagine +that in stating this fact, they have thrown merited discredit on all his +pretended discoveries. But to make their case still stronger, they +delight to assert that he saw every thing through the medium of his +servant Francis Burnens, an ignorant peasant. Now this ignorant peasant +was a man of strong native intellect, possessing that indefatigable +energy and enthusiasm which are so indispensable to make a good +observer. He was a noble specimen of a self-made man, and afterwards +rose to be the chief magistrate in the village where he resided. Huber +has paid the most admirable tribute to his intelligence, fidelity and +indomitable patience, energy and skill.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to find, in any language, a better specimen of the +true Baconian or <i>inductive</i> system of reasoning, than Huber's work upon +bees, and it might be studied as a model of the only true way of +investigating nature, so as to arrive at reliable results.</p> + +<p>Huber was assisted in his investigations, not only by Burnens, but by +his own wife, to whom he was engaged before the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"> [36]</a></span> loss of his sight, and +who nobly persisted in marrying him, notwithstanding his misfortune, and +the strenuous dissuasions of her friends. They lived for more than the +ordinary term of human life, in the enjoyment of uninterrupted domestic +happiness, and the amiable naturalist scarcely felt, in her assiduous +attentions, the loss of his sight.</p> + +<p>Milton is believed by many, to have been a better poet, for his +blindness; and it is highly probable that Huber was a better Apiarian, +for the same cause. His active and yet reflective mind demanded constant +employment; and he found in the study of the habits of the honey bee, +full scope for all his powers. All the facts observed, and experiments +tried by his faithful assistants, were daily reported to him, and many +inquiries were stated and suggestions made by him, which would probably +have escaped his notice, if he had possessed the use of his eyes.</p> + +<p>Few have such a command of both time and money as to enable them to +carry on, for a series of years, on a grand scale, the most costly +experiments. Apiarians owe more to Huber than to any other person. I +have repeatedly verified the most important of his observations, and I +take <i>the greatest delight</i> in acknowledging my obligations to him, and +in holding him up to my countrymen, as the <span class="smcap">Prince of Apiarians</span>.</p> + +<p>My Readers will pardon this digression. It would have been morally +impossible for me to write a work on bees, without saying at least as +much as this, in vindication of Huber.</p> + +<p>I return to his discoveries on the impregnation of the Queen Bee. By a +long course of experiments most carefully conducted, he ascertained that +like many other insects, she is fecundated in the open air, and on the +wing, and that the influence of this lasts for several years, and +probably for life. He could not form any satisfactory conjecture, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"> [37]</a></span> to +the way in which the eggs which were not yet developed in her ovaries, +could be fertilized. Years ago, the celebrated Dr. John Hunter, and +others, supposed that there must be a permanent receptacle for the male +sperm, opening into the passage for the eggs called the oviduct. +Dzierzon, who must be regarded as one of the ablest contributors of +modern times, to Apiarian science, maintains this opinion, and states +that he has found such a receptacle filled with a fluid, resembling the +semen of the drones. He nowhere, to my knowledge, states that he ever +made microscopic examinations, so as to put the matter on the footing of +demonstration.</p> + +<p>In January and February of 1852, I submitted several Queen Bees to Dr. +Joseph Leidy of Philadelphia, for a scientific examination. I need +hardly say to any Naturalist in this country, that Dr. Leidy has +obtained the very highest reputation, both at home and abroad, as a +skillful naturalist and microscopic anatomist. No man in this country or +Europe, was more competent to make the investigations that I desired. He +found in making his dissections, a small globular sac, not larger than a +grain of mustard seed, (about 1/33 of an inch in diameter,) +communicating with the oviduct, and filled with a whitish fluid, which +when examined under the microscope, was found to abound in spermatozoa, +or the animalculæ, which are the unmistakable characteristics of the +seminal fluid. Later in the season, the same substance was compared with +some taken from the drones, and found to be exactly similar to it.</p> + +<p>These examinations have settled, on the impregnable basis of +demonstration, the mode in which the eggs of the Queen are vivified. In +descending the oviduct to be deposited in the cells, they pass by the +mouth of this seminal sac or spermatheca, and receive a portion of its +fertilizing contents. Small as it is, its contents are sufficient to +impregnate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"> [38]</a></span> hundreds of thousands of eggs. In precisely the same way, +the mother wasps and hornets are fecundated. The females alone of these +insects survive the winter, and they begin, single-handed, the +construction of a nest, in which, at first, only a few eggs are +deposited. How could these eggs hatch, if the females which laid them, +had not been impregnated, the previous season? Dissection proves them to +have a spermatheca, similar to that of the Queen Bee.</p> + +<p>Of all who have written against Huber, no one has treated him with more +unfairness, misrepresentation, and I might almost add, malignity, than +Huish. He maintains that the eggs of the Queen are impregnated by the +drones, after she has deposited them in the cells, and accounts for the +fact that brood is produced in the Spring, long before the existence of +any drones in the hive, by asserting that these eggs were deposited and +impregnated late in the previous season, and have remained dormant, all +winter, in the hive: and yet the same writer, while ridiculing the +discoveries of Huber, advises that all the mother wasps should be killed +in the Spring, to prevent them from founding families to commit +depredations upon the bees! It never seems to have occurred to him, that +the existence of a permanently impregnated mother wasp, was just as +difficult to be accounted for, as the existence of a similarly +impregnated Queen Bee.</p> + + +<h3>Effect of Retarded Impregnation on the Queen Bee.</h3> + +<p>I shall now mention a fact in the physiology of the Queen Bee, more +singular than any which has yet been related.</p> + +<p>Huber, while experimenting to ascertain how the Queen was fecundated, +confined some of his young Queens to their hives, by contracting the +entrances, so that they were not able to go in search of the drones, +until three weeks after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"> [39]</a></span> their birth. To his amazement, these Queens +whose impregnation was thus unnaturally retarded, <i>never laid any eggs +but such as produced drones</i>!!</p> + +<p>He tried the experiment again and again, but always with the same +result. Some Bee-Keepers, long before his time, had observed that all +the brood in a hive were occasionally drones, and of course, that such +colonies rapidly went to ruin. Before attempting any explanation of this +astonishing fact, I must call the attention of the reader, to another of +the mysteries of the Bee-Hive,</p> + + +<h3>Fertile Workers.</h3> + +<p>It has already been remarked, that the workers are proved by dissection +to be females, all of which, under ordinary circumstances, are barren. +Occasionally, some of them appear to be more fully developed than +common, so as to be capable of laying eggs: these eggs, like those of +Queens whose impregnation has been retarded, <i>always produce drones</i>! +Sometimes, when a colony has lost its Queen, these drone-laying workers +are exalted to her place, and treated with equal respect and affection, +by the bees. Huber ascertained that these fertile workers were generally +reared in the neighborhood of the young Queens, and he thought that they +received some particles of the peculiar food or jelly on which the +Queens are reared. (See Royal Jelly.) He did not pretend to account for +the effect of retarded impregnation; and made no experiments to +determine the facts, as to the fecundation of these fertile workers.</p> + +<p>Since the publication of Huber's work, nearly 50 years ago, no light has +been shed upon the mysteries of drone-laying Queens and workers, until +quite recently. Dzierzon appears to have been the first to ascertain the +truth on this subject; and his discovery must certainly be ranked as +unfolding one of the most astonishing facts in all the range of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"> [40]</a></span> +animated nature. This fact seems, at first view, so absolutely +incredible, that I should not dare to mention it, if it were not +supported by the most indubitable evidence, and if I had not, (as I have +already observed,) determined to state all important and well +ascertained facts, without seeking, by any concealments, to pander to +the prejudices of conceited, and often, very ignorant Bee-Keepers.</p> + +<p>Dzierzon advances the opinion that impregnation is not needed in order +that the eggs of the Queen may produce drones; but, that all impregnated +eggs produce females, either workers or Queens; and all unimpregnated +ones, males or drones! He states that he found drone-laying Queens in +several of his hives, whose wings were so imperfect that they could not +fly, and that on examination, they proved to be unfecundated. Hence he +concluded that the eggs of the Queen Bee or fertile worker, had from the +previous impregnation of the egg which produced them, sufficient +vitality to produce the drone, which is a less highly organized insect, +and one inferior to the Queen or workers. It had long been known, that +the Queen deposits drone eggs in the large or drone cells, and worker +eggs in the small or worker cells, and that she makes no mistakes. +Dzierzon inferred, therefore, that there was some way in which she was +able to decide as to the sex of the egg before it was laid, and that she +must have a control over the mouth of the seminal sac, so as to be able +to extrude her eggs, allowing them to receive or not, just as she +pleased, a portion of its fertilizing contents. In this way he thought +she determined the sex, according to the size of the cells in which she +laid them. Mr. Samuel Wagner of York, Pa., has recently communicated to +me a very original and exceedingly ingenious theory of his own, which he +thinks will account for all the facts without admitting that the Queen +Bee has any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"> [41]</a></span> special knowledge or will on the subject. He supposes that +when she deposits her eggs in the worker cells, her body is slightly +compressed by the size of the cells, and that the eggs, as they pass the +spermatheca, receive in this manner, its vivifying influence. On the +contrary, when she is egg-laying in drone cells, this compression cannot +take place, the mouth of the spermatheca is kept closed, and the eggs +are, necessarily, unfecundated. This theory may prove to be true, but at +present, it is encumbered with some difficulties and requires further +investigation, before it can be considered as fully established.</p> + +<p>Leaving then the question whether the Queen exercises any volition in +this matter, for the present undecided, I shall state some facts which +occurred in the summer of 1852, in my own Apiary, and shall then +endeavor to relieve, as far as possible, this intricate subject from +some of the difficulties which embarrass it.</p> + +<p>In the Autumn of 1852, my assistant found, in one of my hives, a young +Queen, the whole of whose progeny was drones. The colony had been formed +by removing part of the combs containing bees, brood and eggs from +another hive. It had only a few combs, and but a small number of bees. +They raised a new Queen in the manner which will hereafter be +particularly described. This Queen had laid a number of eggs in one of +the combs, and the young bees from some of them were already emerging +from the cells. I perceived, at the first glance, that they were drones. +As there were none but worker cells in the hive, they were reared in +them, and not having space for full development, they were dwarfed in +size, although the bees, in order to give them more room, had pieced out +the cells so as to make them larger than usual! Size excepted, they +appeared as perfect as any other drones.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"> [42]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was not only struck with the singularity of finding drones reared in +worker cells, but with the equally singular fact that a young Queen, who +at first lays only the eggs of workers, should be laying drone eggs at +all; and at once conjectured that this was a case of a drone-laying, +unimpregnated Queen, as sufficient time had not elapsed for her +impregnation to be unnaturally retarded. I saw the great importance of +taking all necessary precautions to determine this point. The Queen was +removed from the hive, and carefully examined. Her wings, although they +appeared to be perfect, were so paralized that she could not fly. It +seemed probable, therefore, that she had never been able to leave the +hive for impregnation.</p> + +<p>To settle the question beyond the possibility of doubt, I submitted this +Queen to Dr. Joseph Leidy for microscopic examination. The following is +an extract from his report: "The ovaries were filled with eggs; the +poison sac was full of fluid, and I took the whole of it into my mouth; +the poison produced a strong metallic taste, lasting for a considerable +time, and at first, it was pungent to the tip of the tongue. The +spermatheca was distended with a perfectly colorless, transparent, +viscid liquid, <i>without a trace of spermatozoa</i>."</p> + +<p>This examination seems perfectly to sustain the theory of Dzierzon, and +to demonstrate that Queens do not need to be impregnated, in order to +lay the eggs of males.</p> + +<p>I must confess that very considerable doubts rested on my mind, as to +the accuracy of Dzierzon's statements on this subject, and chiefly +because of his having hazarded the unfortunate conjecture that the place +of the poison bag in the worker, is occupied in the Queen, by the +spermatheca. Now this is so completely contrary to fact, that it was a +very natural inference that this acute and thoroughly honest observer, +made no microscopic dissections of the insects<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"> [43]</a></span> which he examined. I +consider myself peculiarly fortunate in having enjoyed the benefit of +the labors of a Naturalist, so celebrated as Dr. Leidy, for microscopic +dissections. The exceeding minuteness of some of the insects which he +has completely figured and described, almost passes belief.</p> + +<p>On examining this same colony a few days later, I obtained the most +satisfactory evidence that these drone eggs were laid by the Queen which +had been removed. No fresh eggs had been deposited in the cells, and the +bees, on missing her, had commenced the construction of royal cells, to +rear if possible, another Queen, a thing which they would not have done, +if a fertile worker had been present, by which the drone eggs had been +laid.</p> + +<p>Another very interesting fact proves that <i>all</i> the eggs laid by this +Queen, were drone eggs. Two of the royal cells were, in a short time, +discontinued, and were found to be empty, while a third contained a +worm, which was sealed over the usual way, to undergo its changes from a +worm to a perfect Queen.</p> + +<p>I was completely at a loss to account for this, as the bees having an +unimpregnated drone-laying Queen, ought not to have had a single female +egg from which they could rear a Queen.</p> + +<p>At first I imagined that they might have <i>stolen</i> it from another hive, +but when I opened this cell, it contained, instead of a queen, <i>a dead +drone</i>!</p> + +<p>I then remembered that Huber has described the same mistake on the part +of some of his bees. At the base of this cell, was an extraordinary +quantity of the peculiar jelly or paste, which is fed to the young that +are to be transformed into queens. The poor bees in their desperation, +appear to have dosed the unfortunate drone to death: as though they +expected by such liberal feeding, to produce some hopeful change in his +sexual organization!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"> [44]</a></span></p> + +<p>It appears to me that these facts constitute all the links in a perfect +chain, and demonstrate beyond the possibility of doubt, that +unfecundated queens are not only capable of laying eggs, (this would be +no more remarkable than the same occurrence in a hen,) but that these +eggs are possessed of sufficient vitality to produce drones. Aristotle, +who flourished before the Christian era, had noticed that there was no +difference in appearance, between the eggs producing drones and those +producing workers; and he states that drones only are produced in hives +which have no queen; of course the eggs producing them, were laid by +fertile workers. Having now the aid of powerful microscopes, we are +still unable to detect the slightest difference in size or appearance in +the eggs, and this is precisely what we should expect if the same egg +will produce either a worker or a drone, according as it is or is not +impregnated. The theory which I propose, will, I think, perfectly +harmonize with all the observed facts on this subject.</p> + +<p>I believe that after fecundation has been delayed for about three weeks, +the mouth of the spermatheca becomes permanently closed, so that +impregnation can no longer be effected; just as the parts of a flower, +after a certain time, wither and shut up, and the plant is incapable of +fructification. The fertile drone-laying workers, are in my opinion, +physically incapable of being impregnated. However strange it may +appear, or even improbable, that an unimpregnated egg can give birth to +a living being, or that the sex can be dependent on impregnation, we are +not at liberty to reject facts, because we cannot comprehend the reasons +of them. He who allows himself to be guilty of such folly, if he seeks +to maintain his consistency, will be plunged, sooner or later, into the +dreary gulf of atheism. Common sense, philosophy and religion alike +teach us to receive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"> [45]</a></span> all undoubted facts in the natural and the +spiritual world, with becoming reverence; assured that however +mysterious to us, they are all most beautifully harmonious and +consistent in the sight of Him whose "understanding is infinite."</p> + +<p>There is something analogous to these wonders in the bee, in what takes +place in the aphides or green lice which infest our rose bushes and +other plants. We have the most undoubted evidence that a fecundated +female gives birth to other females, and they in turn to others still, +all of which, without impregnation, are able to bring forth young, until +at length, after a number of generations, perfect males and females are +produced, and the series starts anew!</p> + +<p>The unequaled facilities, furnished by my hives, have seemed to render +it peculiarly incumbent on me, to do all in my power to clear up the +difficulties in this intricate and yet highly important branch of +Apiarian knowledge. All the leading facts in the breeding of bees ought +to be as well known to the bee keeper, as the same class of facts in the +rearing of his domestic animals. A few crude and hasty notions, but half +understood and half digested, will answer only for the old fashioned bee +keeper, who deals in the brimstone matches. He who expects to conduct +bee keeping on a safe and profitable system, must learn that on this, as +on all other subjects, "knowledge is power."</p> + +<p>The extraordinary fertility of the queen bee has already been noticed. +The process of laying has been well described by the Rev. W. Dunbar, a +Scotch Apiarian.</p> + +<p>"When the queen is about to lay, she puts her head into a cell, and +remains in that position for a second or two, to ascertain its fitness +for the deposit which she is about to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"> [46]</a></span>make. She then withdraws her +head, and curving her body downwards,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> inserts the lower part of it +into the cell: in a few seconds she turns half round upon herself and +withdraws, leaving an egg behind her. When she lays a considerable +number, she does it equally on each side of the comb, those on the one +side being as exactly opposite to those on the other as the relative +position of the cells will admit. The effect of this is to produce the +utmost possible concentration and economy of heat for developing the +various changes of the brood!"</p> + +<p>Here as at every step in the economy of the bee our minds are filled +with admiration as we witness the perfect adaptation of means to ends. +Who can blame the warmest enthusiasm of the Apiarian in view of a +sagacity which seems scarcely inferior to that of man.</p> + +<p>"The eggs of bees," I quote from the admirable treatise of Bevan, "are +of a lengthened oval shape, with a slight curvature, and of a bluish +white color: being besmeared at the time of laying, with a glutinous +substance,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> they adhere to the bases of the cells, and remain +unchanged in figure or situation for three or four days; they are then +hatched, the bottom of each cell presenting to view a small white worm. +On its growing so as to touch the opposite angle of the cell, it coils +itself up, to use the language of Swammerdam, like a dog when going to +sleep; and floats in a whitish transparent fluid, which is deposited in +the cells by the nursing-bees, and by which it is probably nourished; it +becomes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"> [47]</a></span> gradually enlarged in its dimensions, till the two extremities +touch one another and form a ring. In this state it is called a larva or +worm. So nicely do the bees calculate the quantity of food which will be +required, that none remains in the cell when it is transformed to a +nymph. It is the opinion of many eminent naturalists that farina does +not constitute the sole food of the larva, but that it consists of a +mixture of farina, honey and water, partly digested in the stomachs of +the nursing-bees."</p> + +<p>"The larva having derived its support, in the manner above described, +for four, five or six days, according to the season," (the development +being retarded in cool weather, and badly protected hives,) "continues +to increase during that period, till it occupies the whole breadth and +nearly the length of the cell. The nursing bees now seal over the cell, +with a light <i>brown cover</i>, externally more or less <i>convex</i>, (the cap +of a drone cell is more convex than that of a worker,) and thus +differing from that of a honey cell which is <i>paler</i> and somewhat +<i>concave</i>." The cap of the brood cell appears to be made of a mixture of +bee-bread and wax; it is not air tight as it would be if made of wax +alone; but when examined with a microscope it appears to be reticulated, +or full of fine holes through which the enclosed insect can have air for +all necessary purposes. From its texture and shape it is easily thrust +off by the bee when mature, whereas, if it consisted wholly of wax, the +young bee would either perish for lack of air, or be unable to force its +way into the world! Both the material and shape of the lids which seal +up the honey cells are different, because an entirely different object +was aimed at; they are of pure wax to make them air tight and thus to +prevent the honey from souring or candying in the cells! They are +concave <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"> [48]</a></span>or hollowed inwards to give them greater strength to resist the +pressure of their contents!</p> + +<p>To return to Bevan. "The larva is no sooner perfectly inclosed than it +begins to line the cell by spinning round itself, after the manner of +the silk worm, a whitish silky film or cocoon, by which it is encased, +as it were, in a pod. When it has undergone this change, it has usually +borne the name of <i>nymph</i> or <i>pupa</i>. The insect has now attained its +full growth, and the large amount of nutriment which it has taken serves +as a store for developing the perfect insect."</p> + +<p>"The <i>working bee nymph</i> spins its cocoon in thirty-six hours. After +passing about three days in this state of preparation for a new +existence, it gradually undergoes so great a change as not to wear a +vestige of its previous form, but becomes armed with a firmer mail, and +with scales of a dark brown hue. On its belly six rings become +distinguishable, which by slipping one over another enables the bee to +shorten its body whenever it has occasion to do so.</p> + +<p>"When it has reached the twenty-first day of its existence, counting +from the moment the egg is laid, it comes forth a perfect winged insect. +The cocoon is left behind, and forms a closely attached and exact lining +to the cell in which it was spun; by this means the breeding cells +become smaller and their partitions stronger, the oftener they change +their tenants; and may become so much diminished in size as not to admit +of the perfect development of full sized bees."</p> + +<p>"Such are the respective stages of the working bee: those of the royal +bee are as follows: she passes three days in the egg and is five a worm; +the workers then close her cell, and she immediately begins spinning her +cocoon, which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"> [49]</a></span>occupies her twenty four hours. On the tenth and eleventh +days and a part of the twelfth, as if exhausted by her labor, she +remains in complete repose. Then she passes four days and a part of the +fifth as a nymph. It is on the sixteenth day therefore that the perfect +state of queen is attained."</p> + +<p>"The drone passes three days in the egg, six and a half as a worm, and +changes into a perfect insect on the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth day +after the egg is laid."</p> + +<p>"The <i>development</i> of <i>each species</i> likewise proceeds more slowly when +the colonies are weak or the air cool, and when the weather is very cold +it is entirely suspended. Dr. Hunter has observed that the eggs, worms +and nymphs all require a heat above 70° of Fahrenheit for their +evolution."</p> + +<p>In the chapter on protection against extremes of <i>heat</i> and <i>cold</i>, I +have dwelt, at some length, upon the importance of constructing the +hives in such a manner as to enable the bees to preserve, as far as +possible, a uniform temperature in their tenement. In thin hives exposed +to the sun, the heat is sometimes so great as to destroy the eggs and +the larvæ, even when the combs escape from being melted; and the cold is +often so severe as to check the development of the brood, and sometimes +to kill it outright.</p> + +<p>In such hives, when the temperature out of doors falls suddenly and +severely, the bees at once feel the unfavorable change; they are obliged +in self defence to huddle together to keep warm, and thus large portions +of the brood comb are often abandoned, and the brood either destroyed at +once by the cold, or so enfeebled that they never recover from the +shock. Let every bee keeper, in all his operations, remember that brood +comb must never be exposed to a low temperature so as to become chilled: +the disastrous effects are almost as certain, as when the eggs of a +setting hen are left, for too long a time, by the careless mother. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"> [50]</a></span> +brood combs are never safe when taken for any considerable time from the +bees, unless the temperature is fully up to summer heat.</p> + +<p>"<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>The young bees break their envelope with their teeth, and assisted, +as soon as they come forth, by the older ones, proceed to cleanse +themselves from the moisture and exuviæ with which they were surrounded. +Both drones and workers on emerging from the cell are, at first grey, +soft and comparatively helpless so that some time elapses before they +take wing.</p> + +<p>"With respect to the cocoons spun by the different larvæ, both workers +and drones spin <i>complete cocoons</i>, or inclose themselves on every side; +royal larvæ construct only <i>imperfect cocoons</i>, open behind, and +enveloping only the head, thorax, and first ring of the abdomen; and +Huber concludes, without any hesitation, that the final cause of their +forming only incomplete cocoons is, that they may thus be exposed to the +mortal sting of the first hatched queen, whose instinct leads her +instantly to seek the destruction of those who would soon become her +rivals.</p> + +<p>"If the royal larvæ spun complete cocoons, the stings of the queens +seeking to destroy their rivals might be so entangled in their meshes +that they could not be disengaged. 'Such,' says Huber, 'is the +instinctive enmity of young queens to each other, that I have seen one +of them, immediately on its emergence from the cell, rush to those of +its sisters, and tear to pieces even the imperfect larvæ. Hitherto +philosophers have claimed our admiration of nature for her care in +preserving and multiplying the species. But from these facts we must now +admire her precautions in exposing certain individuals to a mortal +hazard.'"</p> + +<p>The cocoon of the royal larva is very much stronger and coarser than +that spun by the drone or worker, its texture<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"> [51]</a></span> considerably resembling +that of the silk worm's. The young queen does not come forth from her +cell until she is quite mature; and as its great size gives her abundant +room to exercise her wings she is capable of flying as soon as she quits +it. While still in her cell she makes the fluttering and piping noises +with which every observant bee keeper is so well acquainted.</p> + +<p>Some Apiarians have supposed that the queen bee has the power to +regulate the development of eggs in her ovaries, so that few or many are +produced, according to the necessities of the colony. This is evidently +a mistake. Her eggs, like those of the domestic hen, are formed without +any volition of her own, and when fully developed, must be extruded. If +the weather is unfavorable, or if the colony is too feeble to maintain +sufficient heat, a smaller number of eggs are developed in her ovaries, +just as unfavorable circumstances diminish the number of eggs laid by +the hen; if the weather is very cold, egg-laying usually ceases +altogether. In the latitude of Philadelphia, I opened one of my hives on +the 5th day of February, and found an abundance of eggs and brood, +although the winter had been an unusually cold one, and the temperature +of the preceding month very low. The fall of 1852 was a warm one, and +eggs and brood were found in a hive which I examined on the 21st of +October. Powerful stocks in well protected hives contain some brood, at +least ten months in the year; in warm countries, bees probably breed, +every month in the year.</p> + +<p>It is highly interesting to see in what way the supernumerary eggs of +the queen are disposed of. When the number of workers is too small to +take charge of all her eggs, or when there is a deficiency of bee bread +to nourish the young, (See chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Pollen</a>,) or when, for any reason,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"> [52]</a></span> +she judges it not best to deposit them in cells, she stands upon a comb, +and simply extrudes them from her oviduct, and the workers devour them +as fast as they are laid! This I have repeatedly witnessed in my +observing hives, and admired the sagacity of the queen in economizing +her necessary work after this fashion, instead of laboriously depositing +the eggs in cells where they are not wanted. What a difference between +her wise management and the stupidity of a hen obstinately persisting to +set upon addled eggs, or pieces of chalk, and often upon nothing at all.</p> + +<p>The workers eat up also all the eggs which are dropped, or deposited out +of place by the queen; in this way, nothing goes to waste, and even a +tiny egg is turned to some account. Was there ever a better comment upon +the maxim? "Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of +themselves."</p> + +<p>Do the workers who appear to be so fond of a tit-bit in the shape of a +new laid egg, ever experience a struggle between their appetites and the +claims of duty, and does it cost them some self denial to refrain from +making a breakfast on a fresh laid egg? It is really very difficult for +one who has carefully watched the habits of bees, to speak of his little +favorites in any other way than as though they possessed an intelligence +almost, if not quite, akin to reason.</p> + +<p>It is well known to every breeder of poultry, that the fertility of a +hen decreases with age, until at length, she becomes entirely barren; it +is equally certain that the fertility of the queen bee ordinarily +diminishes after she has entered upon her third year. She sometimes +ceases to lay Worker eggs, a considerable time before she dies of old +age; the contents of the spermatheca are exhausted; the eggs can no +longer be impregnated and must therefore produce drones.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"> [53]</a></span></p> + +<p>The queen bee usually dies of old age, some time in her fourth year, +although instances are on record of some having survived a year longer. +It is highly important to the bee keeper who would receive the largest +returns from his bees, to be able, as in my hives, to catch the queen +and remove her, when she has passed the period of her greatest +fertility. In the sequel, full directions will be given, as to the +proper time and mode of effecting it.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding farther in the natural history of the queen bee, I +shall describe more particularly, the other inmates of the hive.</p> + + +<h3>The Drones or Male Bees.</h3> + +<p>The drones are, unquestionably, the male bees. Dissection proves that +they have the appropriate organs of generation. They are much larger and +stouter than either the queen or workers; although their bodies are not +quite so long as that of the queen. They have no sting with which to +defend themselves; no proboscis which is suitable for gathering honey +from the flowers, and no baskets on their thighs for holding the +bee-bread. They are thus physically disqualified for work, even if they +were ever so well disposed to it. Their proper office is to impregnate +the young queens, and they are usually destroyed by the bees, soon after +this is completed.</p> + +<p>Dr. Evans the author of a beautiful poem on bees thus appropriately +describes them:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">"Their short proboscis sips<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On other's toils in pamper'd leisure thrive<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lazy fathers of the industrious hive."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The drones begin to make their appearance in April or May; earlier or +later, according to climate and the forwardness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"> [54]</a></span> of the season, and +strength of the stock. They require about twenty-four days for their +full development from the egg. In colonies which are too weak to swarm, +none, as a general rule, are reared: they are not needed, for in such +hives, as no young queens are raised, they would be only useless +consumers.</p> + +<p>The number of drones in a hive is often very great, amounting, not +merely to hundreds, but sometimes to thousands. It seems, at first, very +difficult to understand why there should be so many, especially since it +has been ascertained that a single one will impregnate a queen for life. +But as intercourse always takes place high in the air, the young queens +are obliged to leave the hive for this purpose; and it is exceedingly +important to their safety, that they should be sure of finding one, +without being compelled to make frequent excursions. Being larger than a +worker, and less quick on the wing, they are more exposed to be caught +by birds, or blown down and destroyed by sudden gusts of wind.</p> + +<p>In a large Apiary, a few drones in each hive, or the number usually +found in one, might be amply sufficient. But it must be borne in mind, +that under these circumstances, bees are not in a state of nature. +Before they were domesticated, a colony living in a forest, often had no +neighbors for miles. Now a good stock in our climate, sometimes sends +out three or more swarms, and in the tropical climates, of which the bee +is a native, they increase with astonishing rapidity. At Sydney, in +Australia, a single colony is stated to have multiplied to 300 in three +years. All the new swarms except the first, are led off by a young +queen, and as she is never impregnated until after she has been +established as the head of a separate family, it is important that they +should all be accompanied by a goodly number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"> [55]</a></span> drones; and this +renders it necessary that a large number should be produced in the +parent hive.</p> + +<p>As this necessity no longer exists, when the bee is domesticated, the +production of so many drones should be discouraged. Traps have been +invented to destroy them, but it is much better to save the bees the +labor and expense of rearing such a host of useless consumers. This can +readily be done by the use of my hives. The cells in which the drones +are reared, are much larger than those appropriated to the raising of +workers. The combs containing them may be taken out, to have their +places supplied with worker's cells, and thus the over production of +drones may easily be prevented. Some colonies contain so much drone comb +as to be nearly worthless.</p> + +<p>I have no doubt that some of my readers will object to this mode of +management as interfering with nature: but let them remember that the +bee is not in a state of nature, and that the same objection might be +urged against killing off the super-numerary males of our domestic +animals.</p> + +<p>In July or August, soon after the swarming season is over, the bees +expel the drones from the hive. They sometimes sting them, and sometimes +gnaw the roots of their wings, so that when driven from the hive, they +cannot return. If not treated in either of these summary ways, they are +so persecuted and starved, that they soon perish. The hatred of the bees +extends even to the young which are still unhatched: they are +mercilessly pulled from the cells, and destroyed with the rest. How +wonderful that instinct which teaches the bees that there is no longer +any occasion for the services of the drones, and which impels them to +destroy those members of the colony, which, a short time before, they +reared with such devoted attention!</p> + +<p>A colony which neglects to expel its drones at the usual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"> [56]</a></span> season, ought +always to be examined. The queen is probably either diseased or dead. In +my hives, such an examination may be easily made, the true state of the +case ascertained, and the proper remedies at once applied. (See Chapter +on the <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Loss of the Queen</a>.)</p> + + +<h3>The Production of so many Drones Necessary, in a State of Nature, to +Prevent Degeneracy from "In and In Breeding."</h3> + +<p>I have often been able, by the reasons previously assigned, to account +for the necessity of such a large number of drones in a state of nature, +to the satisfaction of others, but never fully to my own. I have +repeatedly queried, why impregnation might not just as well have been +effected <i>in the hive</i>, as on the wing, in the open air. Two very +obvious and highly important advantages would have resulted from such an +arrangement. 1st. A few dozen drones would have amply sufficed for the +wants of any colony, even if, (as in tropical climates,) it swarmed half +a dozen times or oftener, in the same season. 2d. The young queens would +have been exposed to none of those risks which they now incur, in +leaving the hive for fecundation.</p> + +<p>I was unable to show how the existing arrangement is best; although I +never doubted that there must be a satisfactory reason for this seeming +imperfection. To suppose otherwise, would be highly unphilosophical, +since we constantly see, as the circle of our knowledge is enlarged, +many mysteries in nature hitherto inexplicable, fully cleared up.</p> + +<p>Let me here ask if the disposition which too many students of nature +cherish, to reject some of the doctrines of revealed religion, is not +equally unphilosophical. Neither our ignorance of all the facts +necessary to their full elucidation, nor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"> [57]</a></span> our inability to harmonize +these facts in their mutual relations and dependencies, will justify us +in rejecting any truth which God has seen fit to reveal, either in the +book of nature, or in His holy word. The man who would substitute his +own speculations for the divine teachings, has embarked, without rudder +or chart, pilot or compass, upon the uncertain ocean of theory and +conjecture; unless he turns his prow from its fatal course, no Sun of +Righteousness will ever brighten for him the dreary expanse of waters; +storms and whirlwinds will thicken in gloom, on his "voyage of life," +and no favoring gales will ever waft his shattered bark to a peaceful +haven.</p> + +<p>The thoughtful reader will require no apology for the moralizing strain +of many of my remarks, nor blame a clergyman, if forgetting sometimes to +speak as the mere naturalist, he endeavors to find,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Sermons</i> in '<i>bees</i>,' and '<span class="smcap">God</span>' in every thing."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>To return to the point from which I have digressed; a new attempt to +account for the existence of so many drones. If a farmer persists in +what is called "breeding in and in," that is, from the same stock +without changing the blood, it is well known that a rapid degeneracy is +the inevitable consequence. This law extends, as far as we know, to all +animal life, and even man is not exempt from its influence. Have we any +reason to suppose that the bee is an exception? or that ultimate +degeneracy would not ensue, unless some provision was made to counteract +the tendency to in and in breeding? If fecundation had taken place in +the hive, the queen bee must of necessity, have been impregnated by +drones from a common parent, and the same result must have taken place +in each successive generation, until the whole species would eventually +have "run out." By the present arrangement, the young females, when they +leave the hive, often find the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"> [58]</a></span> air swarming with drones, many of which +belong to other colonies, and thus by crossing the breed, a provision is +constantly made to prevent deterioration.</p> + +<p>Experience has proved not only that it is unnecessary to impregnation +that there should be drones in the colony of the young queen, but that +this may be effected even when there are no drones in the Apiary, and +none except at some considerable distance. Intercourse takes place very +high in the air, (perhaps that less risk may be incurred from birds,) +and this is the more favorable to the continual crossing of stocks.</p> + +<p>I am strongly persuaded that the decay of many flourishing stocks, even +when managed with great care, is to be attributed to the fact that they +have become enfeebled by "close breeding," and are thus unable to resist +the injurious influences which were comparatively harmless when the bees +were in a state of high physical vigor. I shall, in the chapter on +Artificial Swarming, explain in what way, by the use of my hives, the +stock of bees may be easily crossed, when a cultivator is too remote +from other Apiaries, to depend upon its being naturally effected.</p> + + +<h3>The Workers or Common Bees.</h3> + +<p>The number of workers in a hive varies very much. A good swarm ought to +contain 15,000 or 20,000; and in large hives, strong colonies which are +not reduced by swarming, frequently number two or three times as many, +during the height of the breeding season. We have well-authenticated +instances of stocks much more populous than this. The Polish hives will +hold several bushels, and yet we are informed by Mr. Dohiogost, that +they swarm regularly, and that the swarms are so powerful that "they +resemble a little cloud in the air." I shall hereafter consider how the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"> [59]</a></span> +size of the hive affects the number of bees that it may be expected to +produce.</p> + +<p>The workers, (as has been already stated,) are all females whose ovaries +are too imperfectly developed to admit of their laying eggs. For a long +time, they were regarded as neither males nor females, and were called +Neuters; but more careful microscopic examinations have enabled us to +detect the rudiments of their ovaries, and thus to determine their sex. +The accuracy of these examinations has been verified by the well-known +facts respecting <i>fertile workers</i>.</p> + +<p>Riem, a German Apiarian, first discovered that workers sometimes lay +eggs. Huber, in the course of his investigations on this subject, +ascertained that such workers were raised in hives that had lost their +queen, and in the vicinity of the royal cells in which young queens were +being reared. He conjectured that they received accidentally, a small +portion of the peculiar food of these infant queens, and in this way, he +accounted for their reproductive organs being more developed than those +of other workers. Workers reared in such hives, are in close proximity +to the young queens, and there is certainly much probability that some +of the royal jelly may be accidentally dropped into their cells; as, in +these hives, the queen cells when first commenced are parallel to the +horizon, instead of being perpendicular to it, as they are in other +hives. I do not feel confident, however, that they are not sometimes +bred in hives which have not lost their queen. The kind of eggs laid by +these fertile workers, has already been noticed. Such workers are seldom +tolerated in hives containing a fertile, healthy queen, though instances +of this kind have been known to occur. The worker is much smaller than +either the queen or the drone.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> It is furnished with a tongue or +proboscis, of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"> [60]</a></span> most curious and complicated structure, which, when +not in use, is nicely folded under its abdomen; with this, it licks or +brushes up the honey, which is thence conveyed to its honey-bag. This +receptacle is not larger than a very small pea, and is so perfectly +transparent, as to appear when filled, of the same color with its +contents; it is properly the first stomach of the bee, and is surrounded +by muscles which enable the bee to compress it, and empty its contents +through her proboscis into the cells. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Honey</a>.)</p> + +<p>The hinder legs of the worker are furnished with a spoon-shaped hollow +or basket, to receive the pollen or bee bread which she gathers from the +flowers. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Pollen</a>.)</p> + +<p>Every worker is armed with a formidable sting, and when provoked, makes +instant and effectual use of her natural weapon. The sting, when +subjected to microscopic examination, exhibits a very curious and +complicated mechanism. "It is moved<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> by muscles which, though +invisible to the eye, are yet strong enough to force the sting, to the +depth of one twelfth of an inch, through the thick skin of a man's hand. +At its root are situated two glands by which the poison is secreted: +these glands uniting in one duct, eject the venemous liquid along the +groove, formed by the junction of the two piercers. There are four barbs +on the outside of each piercer: when the insect is prepared to sting, +one of these piercers, having its point a little longer than the other, +first darts into the flesh, and being fixed by its foremost beard, the +other strikes in also, and they alternately penetrate deeper and deeper, +till they acquire a firm hold of the flesh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"> [61]</a></span> with their barbed hooks, and +then follows the sheath, conveying the poison into the wound. The action +of the sting, says Paley, affords an example of the union of <i>chemistry</i> +and mechanism; of chemistry in respect to the <i>venom</i>, which can produce +such powerful effects; of mechanism as the sting is a compound +instrument. The machinery would have been comparatively useless had it +not been for the chemical process, by which in the insect's body <i>honey</i> +is converted into <i>poison</i>; and on the other hand, the poison would have +been ineffectual, without an instrument to wound, and a syringe to +inject it."</p> + +<p>"Upon examining the edge of a very keen razor by the microscope, it +appears as broad as the back of a pretty thick knife, rough, uneven, and +full of notches and furrows, and so far from anything like sharpness, +that an instrument, as blunt as this seemed to be, would not serve even +to cleave wood. An exceedingly small needle being also examined, it +resembled a rough iron bar out of a smith's forge. The sting of a bee +viewed through the same instrument, showed everywhere a polish amazingly +beautiful, without the least flaw, blemish, or inequality, and ended in +a point too fine to be discerned."</p> + +<p>The extremity of the sting being barbed like an arrow, the bee can +seldom withdraw it, if the substance into which she darts it is at all +tenacious. In losing her sting she parts with a portion of her +intestines, and of necessity, soon perishes.</p> + +<p>As the loss of the sting is always fatal to the bees, they pay a dear +penalty for the exercise of their patriotic instincts; but they always +seem ready, (except when they have taken "a drop too much," and are +gorged with honey,) to die in defence of their home and treasures; or as +the poet has expressed it, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"> [62]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Deem life itself to vengeance well resign'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Die on the wound, and leave their sting behind."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Hornets, wasps and other stinging insects are able to withdraw their +stings from the wound. I have never seen any attempt to account for the +exception in the case of the honey bee. But if the Creator intended the +bee for the use of man, as He most certainly did, has He not given it +this peculiarity, to make it less formidable, and therefore more +completely subject to human control? Without a sting, it would have +stood no chance of defending its tempting sweets against a host of +greedy depredators; but if it could sting a number of times, it would be +much more difficult to bring it into a state of thorough domestication. +A quiver full of arrows in the hand of a skilful marksman, is far more +to be dreaded than a single shaft.</p> + +<p>The defence of the colony against enemies, the construction of the +cells, the storing of them with honey and bee-bread, the rearing of the +young, in short, the whole work of the hive, the laying of eggs +excepted, is carried on by the industrious little workers.</p> + +<p>There may be <i>gentlemen</i> of leisure in the commonwealth of bees, but +most assuredly there are no such <i>ladies</i>, whether of high or low +degree. The queen herself, has her full share of duties, for it must be +admitted that the royal office is no sinecure, when the mother who fills +it, must superintend daily the proper deposition of several thousand +eggs!</p> + + +<h3>Age of Bees.</h3> + +<p>The queen bee, (as has been already stated,) will live four, and +sometimes, though very rarely, five years. As the life of the drones is +usually cut short by violence, it is not easy to ascertain its precise +limit. Bevan, in some interesting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"> [63]</a></span> statements on the longevity of bees, +estimates it not to exceed four months. The workers are supposed by him, +to live six or seven months. Their age depends, however, very much upon +their greater or less exposure to injurious influences and severe +labors. Those reared in the spring and early part of summer, and on whom +the heaviest labors of the hive must necessarily devolve, do not appear +to live more than two or three months, while those which are bred at the +close of summer, and early in autumn, being able to spend a large part +of their time in repose, attain a much greater age. It is very evident +that "the bee," (to use the words of a quaint old writer,) "is a summer +bird," and that with the exception of the queen, none live to be a year +old.</p> + +<p>Notched and ragged wings, instead of gray hairs and wrinkled faces, are +the signs of old age in the bee, and indicate that its season of toil +will soon be over. They appear to die rather suddenly, and often spend +their last days, and sometimes even their last hours, in useful labors. +Place yourself before a hive, and see the indefatigable energy of these +aged veterans, toiling along with their heavy burdens, side by side with +their more youthful compeers, and then say if you can, that <i>you</i> have +done work enough, and that you will give yourself up to slothful +indulgence, while the ability for useful labor still remains. Let the +cheerful hum of their industrious old age inspire you with better +resolutions, and teach you how much nobler it is to meet death in the +path of duty, striving still, as you "have opportunity," to "do good +unto all men."</p> + +<p>The age which individual members of the community may attain, must not +be confounded with that of the colony. Bees have been known to occupy +the same domicile for a great number of years. I have seen flourishing +colonies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"> [64]</a></span> which were twenty years old, and the Abbe Della Rocca speaks +of some over forty years old! Such cases have led to the erroneous +opinion that bees are a long-lived race. But this, as Dr. Evans has +observed, is just as wise as if a stranger, contemplating a populous +city, and personally unacquainted with its inhabitants, should on paying +it a second visit, many years afterwards, and finding it equally +populous, imagine that it was peopled by the same individuals, not one +of whom might then be living.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Like leaves on trees, the race of bees is found,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now green in youth, now withering on the ground;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Another race the Spring or Fall supplies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They droop successive, and successive rise."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The cocoons spun by the larvæ, are never removed by the bees; they stick +so closely to the sides of the cells, that the knowing bee well +understands that the labor of removal would cost more than it would be +worth. In process of time, the breeding cells become too small for the +proper development of the young. In some cases, the bees must take down +and reconstruct the old combs, for if they did not, the young issuing +from them would always be dwarfs; whereas I once compared with other +bees, those of a colony more than fifteen years old, and found no +perceptible difference. That they do not always renew the old combs, +must be admitted, as the young from some old hives are often +considerably below the average size. On this account, it is very +desirable to be able to remove the old combs occasionally, that their +place may be supplied with new ones.</p> + +<p>It is a great mistake to imagine that the brood combs ought to be +changed every year. In my hives, they might, if it were desirable, be +easily changed several times in a year: but once in five or six years is +often enough; oftener than this requires a needless consumption of honey +to replace them, besides being for other reasons undesirable, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"> [65]</a></span> the +bees are always in winter, colder in new comb than in old. Inventors of +hives have too often been, most emphatically "men of one idea:" and that +one, instead of being a well established and important fact in the +physiology of the bee, has frequently, (like the necessity for a yearly +change of the brood combs,) been merely a conceit, existing nowhere but +in the brain of a visionary projector. This is all harmless enough, +until an effort is made to impose such miserable crudities upon an +ignorant public, either in the shape of a patented hive, <i>or worse +still, of an <span class="smcap lowercase">UNPATENTED</span> hive, the pretended <span class="smcap lowercase">RIGHT</span> to use which, is +<span class="smcap lowercase">FRAUDULENTLY</span> sold to the cheated purchaser</i>!!</p> + +<p>For want of proper knowledge with regard to the age of bees, huge "bee +palaces," and large closets in garrets or attics, have been constructed, +and their proprietors have vainly imagined that the bees would fill +them, however roomy; for they can see no reason why a colony should not +continue to increase indefinitely, until at length it numbers its +inhabitants by millions or billions! As the bees can never at one time +equal, still less exceed the number which the queen is capable of +producing in one season, these spacious dwellings have always an +abundance of "spare rooms." It seems strange that men can be thus +deceived, when often in their own Apiary, they have healthy stocks which +have not swarmed for a year or more, and which yet in the spring are not +a whit more populous than those which have regularly parted with +vigorous swarms.</p> + +<p>It is certain that the Creator, has for some wise reason, set a limit to +the increase of numbers in a single colony; and I shall venture to +assign what appears to me to have been one reason for His so doing. +Suppose that He had given to the bee, a length of life as great as that +of the horse or the cow, or had made each queen capable of laying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"> [66]</a></span> +daily, some hundreds of thousands of eggs, or had given several hundred +queens to each hive, then from the Very nature of the case, a colony +must have gone on increasing, until it became a scourge rather than a +benefit to man. In the warm climates of which the bee is a native, they +would have established themselves in some cavern or capacious cleft in +the rocks, and would there have quickly become so powerful as to bid +defiance to all attempts to appropriate the avails of their labors.</p> + +<p>It has already been stated, that none, except the mother wasps and +hornets, survive the winter. If these insects had been able, like the +bee, to commence the season with the accumulated strength of a large +colony, long before its close, they would have proved a most intolerable +nuisance. If, on the contrary, the queen bee had been compelled, +solitary and alone, to lay the foundations of a new commonwealth, the +honey-harvest would have disappeared before she could have become the +parent of a numerous family.</p> + +<p>In the laws which regulate the increase of bees as well as in all other +parts of their economy, we have the plainest proofs that the insect was +formed for the special service of the human race.</p> + + +<h3>The process of rearing the Queen more particularly described.</h3> + +<p>If in the early part of the season, the population of a hive becomes +uncomfortably crowded, the bees usually make preparations for swarming. +A number of royal cells are commenced, and they are placed almost always +upon those edges of the combs which are not attached to the sides of the +hive. These cells somewhat resemble a small ground-nut or pea-nut, and +are about an inch deep, and one-third<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"> [67]</a></span> of an inch in diameter: they are +very thick, and require a large quantity of material for their +construction. They are seldom seen in a perfect state, as the bees +nibble them away after the queen has hatched, leaving only their +remains, in the shape of a very small acorn-cup. While the other cells +open sideways, these always hang with their mouth <i>downwards</i>. Much +speculation has arisen as to the reason for this deviation: some have +conjectured that their peculiar position exerted an influence upon the +development of the royal larvæ; while others, having ascertained that no +injurious effect was produced by turning them upwards, or placing them +in any other position, have considered this deviation as among the +inscrutable mysteries of the bee-hive. So it always seemed to me, until +more careful reflection enabled me to solve the problem. The queen cells +open downwards, simply <i>to save room</i>! The distance between the parallel +ranges of comb being usually less than half an inch, the bees could not +have made the royal cells to open sideways, without sacrificing the +cells opposite to them. In order to economize space, to the very utmost, +they put them upon the unoccupied edges of the comb, as the only place +where there is always plenty of room for such very large cells.</p> + +<p>The number of royal cells varies greatly; sometimes there are only two +or three, ordinarily there are five or six, and I have occasionally seen +more than a dozen. They are not all commenced at once, for the bees do +not intend that the young queens shall all arrive at maturity, at the +same time. I do not consider it as fully settled, how the eggs are +deposited in these cells. In some few instances, I have known the bees +to transfer the eggs from common to queen cells, and this <i>may</i> be their +general method of procedure. I shall hazard the conjecture that the +queen deposits her eggs in cells on the edges of the comb, in a crowded +state<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"> [68]</a></span> of the hive, and that some of these are afterwards enlarged and +changed into royal cells by the workers. Such is the instinctive hatred +of the queen to her own kind, that it does not seem to me probable, that +she is intrusted with even the initiatory steps for securing a race of +successors. That the eggs from which the young queens are produced, are +of the same kind with those producing workers, has been repeatedly +demonstrated. On examining the queen cells while they are in progress, +one of the first things which excites our notice, is the very unusual +amount of attention bestowed upon them by the workers. There is scarcely +a second in which a bee is not peeping into them, and just as fast as +one is satisfied, another pops its head in, to examine if not to report, +progress. The importance of their inmates to the bee-community, might +easily be inferred from their being the center of so much attraction.</p> + + +<h3>Royal Jelly.</h3> + +<p>The young queens are supplied with a much larger quantity of food than +is allotted to the other larvæ, so that they seem almost to float in a +thick bed of jelly, and there is usually a portion of it left unconsumed +at the base of the cells, after the insects have arrived at maturity. It +is different from the food of either drones or workers, and in +appearance, resembles a light quince jelly, having a slightly acid +taste.</p> + +<p>I submitted a portion of the royal jelly for analysis, to Dr. Charles M. +Wetherill, of Philadelphia; a very interesting account of his +examination may be found in the proceedings of the Phila. Academy of +Nat. Sciences for July, 1852. He speaks of the substance as "truly a +bread-containing, albuminous compound." I hope in the course of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"> [69]</a></span> the +coming summer to obtain from this able analytical chemist, an analysis +of the food of the young drones and workers. A comparison of its +elements with those of the royal jelly, may throw some light on subjects +as yet involved in obscurity.</p> + +<p>The effects produced upon the larvæ by this peculiar food and method of +treatment, are very remarkable. For one, I have never considered it +strange that such effects should be rejected as idle whims, by nearly +all except those who have either been eye-witnesses to them, or have +been well acquainted with the character and opportunities for accurate +observation, of those on whose testimony they have received them. They +are not only in themselves most marvelously strange, but on the face of +them so entirely opposed to all common analogies, and so very +improbable, that many men when asked to believe them, feel almost as +though an insult were offered to their common sense. The most important +of these effects, I shall now proceed to enumerate.</p> + +<p>1st. The peculiar mode in which the worm designed to be reared as a +queen, is treated, causes it to arrive at maturity, about one-third +earlier than if it had been bred a worker. And yet it is to be much more +fully developed, and according to ordinary analogy, ought to have had a +<i>slower growth</i>!</p> + +<p>2d. Its organs of reproduction are completely developed, so that it is +capable of fulfilling the office of a mother.</p> + +<p>3d. Its size, shape and color are all greatly changed. (See p. <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.) Its +lower jaws are shorter, its head rounder, and its legs have neither +brushes nor baskets, while its sting is more curved, and one-third +longer than that of a worker.</p> + +<p>4th. Its <i>instincts</i> are entirely changed. Reared as a worker, it would +have been ready to thrust out its sting,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"> [70]</a></span> upon the least provocation; +whereas now, it may be pulled limb from limb, without attempting to +sting. As a worker it would have treated a queen with the greatest +consideration; whereas now, if placed under a glass with another queen, +it rushes forthwith to mortal combat with its rival. As a worker, it +would frequently have left the hive, either for labor or exercise: as a +queen, after impregnation, it never leaves the hive except to accompany +a new swarm.</p> + +<p>5th. The term of its life is remarkably lengthened. As a worker, it +would have lived not more than six or seven months at farthest; as a +queen it may live seven or eight times as long! All these wonders rest +on the impregnable basis of complete demonstration, and instead of being +witnessed by only a select few, may now, by the use of my hive, be +familiar sights to any bee keeper, who prefers to acquaint himself with +facts, rather than to cavil and sneer at the labors of others.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"> [71]</a></span></p> +<p>When provision has been made, in the manner described, for a new race of +queens, the old mother always departs with the first swarm, before her +successors have arrived at maturity.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + + +<h3>Artificial Rearing of Queens.</h3> + +<p>The distress of the bees when they lose their queen, has already been +described. If they have the means of supplying her loss, they soon calm +down, and commence forthwith, the necessary steps for rearing another. +The process of rearing queens artificially, to meet some special +emergency, is even more wonderful than the natural one, which has +already been described. Its success depends on the bees having +worker-eggs or worms not more than three days old; (if older, the larva +has been too far developed as a worker to admit of any change:) the bees +nibble away the partitions of two cells adjoining a third, so as to make +one large cell out of the three. They destroy the eggs or worms in two +of these cells, while they place before the occupant of the third, the +usual food of the young queens, and build out its cell, so as to give it +ample space for development. They do not confine themselves to the +attempt to rear a single queen, but to guard against failure, start a +considerable number, although the work on all except a few, is usually +soon discontinued.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"> [72]</a></span></p> +<p>In twelve or fourteen days, they are in possession of a new queen, +precisely similar to one reared in the natural way, while the eggs which +were laid at the same time in the adjoining cells, and which have been +developed in the usual way, are nearly a week longer in coming to +maturity.</p> + +<p>I will give in this connection a description of an interesting +experiment:</p> + +<p>A large hive which stood at a distance from any other colony, was +removed in the morning of a very pleasant day, to a new place, and +another hive containing only empty comb, was put upon its stand. +Thousands of workers which were out in the fields, or which left the old +hive after its removal, returned to the familiar spot. It was affecting +to witness their grief and despair: they flew in restless circles about +the place which once contained their happy home, entered and left the +new hive continually, expressing, in various ways, their lamentations +over their cruel bereavement. Towards evening, they ceased to take wing, +and roamed in restless platoons, in and out of the hive, and over its +surface, acting all the time, as though in search of some lost treasure. +I now gave them a piece of brood comb, containing worker eggs and worms, +taken from a second swarm which being just established with its young +queen, in a new hive, could have no intention of rearing young queens +that season; therefore, it cannot be contended that this piece of comb +contained what some are pleased to call "royal eggs." What followed the +introduction of this brood comb, took place much quicker than it can be +described. The bees which first touched it, raised a peculiar note, and +in a moment, the comb was covered with a dense mass; their restless +motions and mournful noises ceased, and a cheerful hum at once attested +their delight! Despair gave place to hope, as they recognized in this +small piece<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"> [73]</a></span> of comb, the means of deliverance. Suppose a large building +filled with thousands of persons, tearing their hair, beating their +breasts, and by piteous cries, as well as frantic gestures, giving vent +to their despair; if now some one should enter this house of mourning, +and by a single word, cause all these demonstrations of agony to give +place to smiles and congratulations, the change could not be more +wonderful and instantaneous, than that produced when the bees received +the brood comb!</p> + +<p>The Orientals call the honey bee, Deburrah, "She that speaketh." Would +that this little insect might speak, and in words more eloquent than +those of man's device, to the multitudes who allow themselves to reject +the doctrines of revealed religion, because, as they assert, they are, +on their face so utterly improbable, that they labor under an <i>a priori</i> +objection strong enough to be fatal to their credibility. Do not nearly +all the steps in the development of a queen from a worker-egg, labor +under precisely the same objection? and have they not, for this very +reason, always been regarded by great numbers of bee keepers, as +unworthy of credence? If the favorite argument of infidels and errorists +will not stand the test when applied to the wonders of the bee-hive, can +it be regarded as entitled to any serious weight, when employed in +framing objections against religious truths, and arrogantly taking to +task the infinite Jehovah, for what He has been pleased to do or to +teach? Give me the same latitude claimed by such objectors, and I can +easily prove that a man is under no obligation to receive any of the +wonders in the economy of the bee-hive, although he is himself an +intelligent eye-witness that they are all substantial verities.</p> + +<p>I shall quote, in this connection, from Huish, an English Apiarian of +whom I have already spoken, because his objections<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"> [74]</a></span> to the discoveries +of Huber, remind me so forcibly of both the spirit and principles of the +great majority of those who object to the doctrines of revealed +religion.</p> + +<p>"If an individual, with the view of acquiring some knowledge of the +natural history of the bee, or of its management, consult the works of +Bagster, Bevan, or any of the periodicals which casually treat upon the +subject, will he not rise from the study of them with his mind +surcharged with falsities and mystification? Will he not discover +through the whole of them a servile acquiescence in the opinions and +discoveries of one man, however at variance they may be with truth or +probability; and if he enter upon the discussion with his mind free from +prejudice, will he not experience that an outrage has been committed +upon his reason, in calling upon him to give assent to positions and +principles which at best are merely assumed, but to which he is called +upon dogmatically to subscribe his acquiescence as the indubitable +results of experience, skill and ability? The editors of the works above +alluded to, should boldly and indignantly have declared, that from their +own experience in the natural economy of the insect, they were able to +pronounce the circumstances as related by Huber to be directly +<i>impossible</i>, and the whole of them based on fiction and imposition."</p> + +<p>Let the reader change only a few words in this extract: for "the natural +history of the bee or its management," let him write, "the subject of +religion;" for, "the works of Bagster, Bevan," &c., let him put, "the +works of Moses, Paul," &c.; for, "their own experience in the natural +economy of the insect," let him substitute, "their own experience in the +nature of man;" and for, "circumstances as related by Huber," let him +insert, "as related by Luke or John," and it will sound almost precisely +like a passage from some infidel author.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"> [75]</a></span></p> + +<p>I resume the quotation from Huish; "If we examine the account which +Huber gives of his invention (!) of the royal jelly, the existence and +efficacy of which are fully acquiesced in by the aforesaid editors, to +what other conclusions are we necessarily driven, than that they are the +dupes of a visionary enthusiast, whose greatest merit consists in his +inventive powers, no matter how destitute those powers may be of all +affinity with truth or probability? Before, however, these editors +bestowed their unqualified assent on the existence of this royal jelly, +did they stop to put to themselves the following questions? By what kind +of bee is it made?<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> Whence is it procured? Is it a natural or an +elaborated substance? If natural, from what source is it derived? If +elaborated, in what stomach of the bee is it to be found? How is it +administered? What are its constituent principles? Is its existence +optional or definite? Whence does it derive its miraculous power of +converting a common egg into a royal one? Will any of the aforesaid +editors publicly answer these questions? and ought they not to have been +able to answer them, before they so unequivocally expressed their belief +in its existence, its powers and administration?"</p> + +<p>How puerile does all this sound to one who has <i>seen</i> and <i>tasted</i> the +royal jelly! And permit me to add, how equally unmeaning do the +objections of infidels seem, to those who have an experimental +acquaintance with the divine hopes and consolations of the Gospel of +Christ.</p> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"> [76]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">COMB.</span></h2> + + +<p>Wax is a natural secretion of the bees; it may be called <i>their oil or +fat</i>. If they are gorged with honey, or any liquid sweet, and remain +quietly clustered together, it is formed in small wax pouches on their +abdomen, and comes out in the shape of very delicate scales. Soon after +a swarm is hived, the bottom board will be covered with these scales.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thus, filtered through yon flutterer's folded mail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Clings the cooled wax, and hardens to a scale.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Swift, at the well known call, the ready train,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">(For not a buz boon Nature breathes in vain,)<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spring to each falling flake, and bear along<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their glossy burdens to the builder throng.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">These with sharp sickle or with sharper tooth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pare each excrescence, and each angle smooth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till now, in finish'd pride, two radiant rows<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of snow white cells one mutual base disclose.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Six shining panels gird each polish'd round,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The door's fine rim, with waxen fillet bound,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While walls so thin, with sister walls combined,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Weak in themselves, a sure dependence find."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>Huber was the first to demonstrate that wax is a natural secretion of +the bee, when fed on honey or any saccharine substance. Most Apiarians +before his time, supposed that it was made from pollen or bee-bread, +either in a crude or digested state. He confined a new swarm of bees in +a hive placed in a dark and cool room, and on examining them, at the +end<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"> [77]</a></span> of five days, found several beautiful white combs in their +tenement: these were taken from them, and they were again confined and +supplied with honey and water, and a second time new combs were +constructed. Five times in succession their combs were removed, and were +in each instance replaced, the bees being all the time prevented from +ranging the fields, to supply themselves with bee-bread. By subsequent +experiments he proved that sugar answered the same end with honey.</p> + +<p>He then confined a swarm, giving them no honey, but an abundance of +fruit and pollen. They subsisted on the fruit, but refused to touch the +pollen; and no combs were constructed, nor any wax scales formed in +their pouches. These experiments are conclusive; and are interesting, +not merely as proving that wax is secreted from honey or saccharine +substances, but because they show in what a thorough manner the +experiments of Huber were conducted. Confident assertions are easily +made, requiring only a little breath or a drop of ink; and the men who +deal most in them, have often a profound contempt for observation and +experiment. To establish even a simple truth, on the solid foundation of +demonstrated facts, often requires the most patient and protracted toil.</p> + +<p><i>A high temperature</i> is necessary for comb-building, in order that the +wax may be soft enough to be moulded into shape. The very process of its +secretion helps to furnish the amount of heat which is required to work +it. This is a very interesting fact which seems never before to have +been noticed.</p> + +<p>Honey or sugar is found to contain by weight, about eight pounds of +oxygen to one of carbon and hydrogen. When changed into wax, the +proportions are entirely reversed: the wax contains only one pound of +oxygen to more than sixteen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"> [78]</a></span> pounds of hydrogen and carbon. Now as +oxygen is the grand supporter of animal heat, the consumption of so +large a quantity of it, aids in producing the extraordinary heat which +always accompanies comb-building, and which is necessary to keep the wax +in the soft and plastic state requisite to enable the bees to mould it +into such exquisitely delicate and beautiful shapes! Who can fail to +admire the wisdom of the Creator in this beautiful instance of +adaptation?</p> + +<p>The most careful experiments have clearly established the fact, that at +least <i>twenty pounds</i> of honey are consumed in making a single pound of +wax. If any think that this is incredible, let them bear in mind that +wax is an animal oil secreted from honey, and let them consider how many +pounds of corn or hay they must feed to their stock, in order to have +them gain a single pound of fat.</p> + +<p>Many Apiarians are entirely ignorant of the great value of empty comb. +Suppose the honey to be worth only 15 cts. per lb., and the comb when +rendered into wax, to be worth 30 cts. per lb., the bee-master who melts +a pound of comb, loses nearly three dollars by the operation, and this, +without estimating the time which the bees have consumed in building the +comb. Unfortunately, in the ordinary hives, but little use can be made +of empty comb, unless it is new, and can be put into the surplus +honey-boxes: but by the use of my movable frames, every piece of good +worker-comb may be used to the best advantage, as it can be given to the +bees, to aid them in their labors.</p> + +<p>It has been found very difficult to preserve comb from the bee-moth, +when it is taken from the bees. If it contains only a <i>few</i> of the eggs +of this destroyer, these, in due time, will produce a progeny sufficient +to devour it. The comb, if it is attached to my frames, may be suspended +in a box or empty hive, and thoroughly smoked with sulphur; this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"> [79]</a></span> will +kill any <i>worms</i> which it may contain. When the weather is warm enough +to hatch the eggs of the moth, this process must be repeated a few +times, at intervals of about a week, so as to insure the destruction of +the worms as they hatch, for the sulphur does not seem always to destroy +the vitality of the eggs. The combs may now be kept in a tight box or +hive, with perfect safety.</p> + +<p>Combs containing bee-bread, are of great value, and if given to young +colonies, which in spring are frequently destitute of this article, they +will materially assist them in early breeding.</p> + +<p>Honey may be taken from my hives in the frames, and the covers of the +cells sliced off with a sharp knife; the honey can then be drained out, +and the empty combs returned to be filled again. A strong stock of bees, +in the height of the honey harvest, will fill empty combs with wonderful +rapidity. I lay it down, as one of my <i>first principles</i> in bee culture, +that no good comb should ever be melted; it should all be carefully +preserved and given to the bees. If it is new, it may be easily attached +to the frames, or the honey-receptacles, by dipping the edge into melted +wax, pressing it gently until it stiffens, and then allowing it to cool. +If the comb is old, or the pieces large and full of bee-bread, it will +be best to dip them into melted rosin, which, besides costing much less +than wax, will secure a much firmer adhesion. When comb is put into +tumblers or other small vessels, the bees will begin to work upon it the +sooner, if it is simply crowded in, so as to be held in place by being +supported against the sides. It would seem as though they were disgusted +with such unworkmanlike proceedings, and that they cannot rest until +they have taken it into hand, and endeavored to "make a job of it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"> [80]</a></span></p> + +<p>If the bee-keeper in using his choicest honey will be satisfied to +dispense with looks, and will carefully drain it from the beautiful +comb, he may use all such comb again to great advantage; not only saving +its intrinsic value, but greatly encouraging his bees to occupy and fill +all receptacles in which a portion of it is put. Bees seem to fancy <i>a +good start in life</i>, about as well as their more intelligent owners. To +this use all suitable drone comb should be put, as soon as it is removed +from the main hive. (See remarks on Drones.)</p> + +<p>Ingenious efforts have been made, of late years, to construct +<i>artificial</i> honey combs of porcelain, to be used for <i>feeding</i> bees. No +one, to my knowledge, has ever attempted to imitate the delicate +mechanism of the bee so closely, as to construct artificial combs for +the ordinary uses of the hive; although for a long time I have +entertained the idea as very desirable, and yet as barely possible. I am +at present engaged in a course of experiments on this subject, the +results of which, in due time, I shall communicate to the public.</p> + +<p>While writing this treatise, it has occurred to me that bees might be +induced to use old wax for the construction of their combs. Very fine +parings may be shaved off with glass, and if given to the bees, under +favorable circumstances, it seems to me very probable that they would +use them, just as they do the scales which are formed in their wax +pouches. Let strong colonies be deprived of some of their combs, after +the honey harvest is over, and supplied abundantly with these parings of +wax. Whether "nature abhors a vacuum," or not, bees certainly do, when +it occurs among the combs of their main hive. They will not use the +honey stored up for winter use to replace the combs taken from them; +they can gather none from the flowers;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"> [81]</a></span> and I have strong hopes that +necessity will with bees as well as men, prove the mother of invention, +and lead them to use the wax, as readily as they do the substitutes +offered them for pollen. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Pollen</a>.)</p> + +<p>If this conjecture should be verified by actual results, it would exert +a most powerful influence in the cheap and rapid multiplication of +colonies, and would enable the bees to store up most prodigious +quantities of honey. A pound of bees wax might then be made to store up +twenty pounds of honey, and the gain to the bee keeper would be the +difference in price between the pound of wax, and the twenty pounds of +honey, which the bees would have consumed in making the same amount of +comb. Strong stocks might thus during the dull season, when no honey can +be procured, be most profitably employed in building spare comb, to be +used in strengthening feeble stocks, and for a great variety of +purposes. Give me the means of cheaply obtaining large amounts of comb, +and I have almost found the philosopher's stone in bee keeping.</p> + +<p>The building of comb is carried on with the greatest activity in the +night, while the honey is gathered by day. Thus no time is lost. If the +weather is too forbidding to allow the bees to go abroad, the combs are +very rapidly constructed, as the labor is carried on both by day and by +night. On the return of a fair day, the bees gather unusual quantities +of honey, as they have plenty of room for its storage. Thus it often +happens, that by their wise economy of time, they actually lose nothing, +even if confined, for several days, to their hive.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"How doth the little busy bee, improve each <i>shining</i> hour!"</p></div> + +<p>The poet might with equal truth have described her, as improving the +gloomy days, and the dark nights, in her useful labors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"> [82]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is an interesting fact, which I do not remember ever to have seen +particularly noticed by any writer, that honey gathering, and comb +building, go on simultaneously; so that when one stops, the other ceases +also. I have repeatedly observed, that as soon as the honey harvest +fails, the bees intermit their labors in building new comb, even when +large portions of their hive are unfilled. They might enlarge their +combs by using some of their stores; but then they would incur the risk +of perishing in the winter, by starvation. When honey no longer abounds +in the fields, it is wisely ordered, that they should not consume their +hoarded treasures, in expectation of further supplies, which may never +come. I do not believe, that any other safe rule could have been given +them; and if honey gathering was our business, with all our boasted +reason, we should be obliged to adopt the very same course.</p> + +<p>Wax is one of the best non-conductors of heat, so that when it is warmed +by the animal heat of the bees, it can more easily be worked, than if it +parted with its heat too readily. By this property, the combs serve also +to keep the bees warm, and there is not so much risk of the honey +candying in the cells, or the combs cracking with frost. If wax was a +good conductor of heat, the combs would often be icy cold, moisture +would condense and freeze upon them, and they would fail to answer the +ends for which they are intended.</p> + +<p>The size of the cells, in which workers are reared, never varies: the +same may substantially be said of the drone cells which are very +considerably larger; the cells in which honey is stored, often vary +exceedingly in depth, while in diameter, they are of all sizes from that +of the worker cells to that of the drones.</p> + +<p>The cells of the bees are found perfectly to answer all the most refined +conditions of a very intricate mathematical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"> [83]</a></span> problem! Let it be required +to find what shape a given quantity of matter must take, in order to +have <i>the greatest capacity, and the greatest strength</i>, requiring at +the same time, <i>the least space, and the least labor</i> in its +construction. This problem has been solved by the most refined processes +of the higher mathematics, and the result is the hexagonal or six-sided +cell of the honey bee, with its three four-sided figures at the base!</p> + +<p>The shape of these figures cannot be altered, <i>ever so little, except +for the worse</i>. Besides possessing the desirable qualities already +described, they answer as <i>nurseries</i> for the rearing of the young, and +as <i>small air-tight vessels</i> in which the honey is preserved from +souring or candying. Every prudent housewife who puts up her preserves +in tumblers, or small glass jars, and carefully pastes them over, to +keep out the air, will understand the value of such an arrangement.</p> + +<p>"There are only three possible figures of the cells," says Dr. Reid, +"which can make them all equal and similar, without any useless spaces +between them. These are the equilateral triangle, the square and the +regular hexagon. It is well known to mathematicians that there is not a +fourth way possible, in which a plane may be cut into little spaces that +shall be equal, similar and regular, without leaving any interstices."</p> + +<p>An equilateral triangle would have made an uncomfortable tenement for an +insect with a round body; and a square would not have been much better. +At first sight a circle would seem to be the best shape for the +development of the larvæ: but such a figure would have caused a needless +sacrifice of space, materials and strength; while the honey which now +adheres so admirably to the many angles or corners of the six-sided +cell, would have been much more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"> [84]</a></span> liable to run out! I will venture to +assign a new reason for the hexagonal form. The body of the immature +insect as it undergoes its changes, is charged with a super-abundance of +moisture which passes off through the reticulated cover which the bees +build over its cell: a hexagon while it approaches so nearly the shape +of a circle as not to incommode the young bee, furnishes in its six +corners the necessary vacancies for its more thorough ventilation!</p> + +<p>So invariably uniform in size, as well as perfect in other respects, are +the cells in which the workers are bred, that some mathematicians have +proposed their adoption, as the best unit for measures of capacity to +serve for universal use.</p> + +<p>Can we believe that these little insects unite so many requisites in the +construction of their cells, either by chance, or because they are +profoundly versed in the most intricate mathematics? Are we not +compelled to acknowledge that the mathematics must be referred to the +Creator, and not to His puny creature? To an intelligent, candid mind, a +piece of honey comb is a complete demonstration that there is a "<span class="smcap lowercase">GREAT +FIRST CAUSE</span>:" for on no other supposition can we account for so +complicated a shape, and yet the only one which can possibly unite so +many desirable requisites.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"On books deep poring, ye pale sons of toil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who waste in studious trance the midnight oil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Say, can ye emulate with all your rules,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Drawn or from Grecian or from Gothic schools,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This artless frame? Instinct her simple guide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A heaven-taught Insect baffles all your pride.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not all yon marshall'd orbs, that ride so high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Proclaim more loud a present Deity,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than the nice symmetry of these small cells,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where on each angle genuine science dwells."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"> [85]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">PROPOLIS, OR "BEE-GLUE."</span></h2> + + +<p>This substance is obtained by the bees from the resinous buds and limbs +of trees; and when first gathered, it is usually of a bright golden +color, and is exceedingly sticky. The different kinds of poplars furnish +a rich supply. The bees bring it on their thighs just as they do bee +bread; and I have caught them as they were entering with a load, and +taken it from them. It adheres so firmly that it is difficult to remove +it.</p> + +<p>"Huber planted in Spring some branches of the wild poplar, before the +leaves were developed, and placed them in pots near his Apiary; the bees +alighting on them, separated the folds of the largest buds with their +forceps, extracted the varnish in threads, and loaded with it, first one +thigh and then the other; for they convey it like pollen, transferring +it by the first pair of legs to the second, by which it is lodged in the +hollow of the third." The smell of the propolis is often precisely +similar to that of the resin from the poplar, and chemical analysis +proves the identity of the two substances. It is frequently gathered +from the alder, horse-chestnut, birch, and willow; and as some think, +from pines and other trees of the fir kind. I have often known bees to +enter the shops where varnishing was being carried on, attracted +evidently by the smell: and Bevan mentions the fact of their carrying +off a composition of wax and turpentine,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"> [86]</a></span> from trees to which it had +been applied. Dr. Evans says that he has seen them collect the balsamic +varnish which coats the young blossom buds of the hollyhock, and has +known them to rest at least ten minutes on the same bud, moulding the +balsam with their fore feet, and transferring it to the hinder legs, as +described by Huber.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"With merry hum the Willow's copse they scale,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Fir's dark pyramid, or Poplar pale,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Scoop from the Aider's leaf its oozy flood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or strip the Chestnut's resin-coated bud,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Skim the light tear that tips Narcissus' ray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or round the Hollyhock's hoar fragrance play.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Soon temper'd to their will through eve's low beam,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And link'd in airy bands the viscous stream,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They waft their nut-brown loads exulting home,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That form a fret-work for the future comb;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Caulk every chink where rushing winds may roar,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And seal their circling ramparts to the floor."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>A mixture of wax and propolis is used by the bees to strengthen the +attachments of the combs to the top and sides of the hive, and serves +most admirably for this purpose, as it is much more adhesive than wax +alone. If the combs, as soon as they are built, are not filled with +honey or brood, they are beautifully varnished with a most delicate +coating of this material, which adds exceedingly to their strength: but +as this natural varnish impairs their delicate whiteness, they ought not +to be allowed to remain in the surplus honey receptacles, accessible to +the bees, unless when they are actively engaged in storing them with +honey.</p> + +<p>The bees make a very liberal use of this substance to fill up all the +crevices about their premises: and as the natural summer heat of the +hive keeps it soft, the bee moth selects it as a proper place of deposit +for her eggs. For this reason, the hive should be made of sound lumber, +entirely free from cracks, and thoroughly painted on the +inside <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"> [87]</a></span>as well as outside. When glass is used, there is no risk that +the bed moth will find a place in which she can insert her ovi-positor +and lay her eggs. The corners of the hive, which the bees always fill +with propolis, should have a melted mixture of three parts rosin, and +one part bees-wax run into them, which remains hard during the hottest +weather, and bids defiance to the moth. The inside of the hive may be +coated with the same mixture, put on hot with a brush.</p> + +<p>The bees find it difficult to gather the propolis, and equally so to +remove from their thighs, and to work so sticky a material. For this +reason, it is doubly important to save them all unnecessary labor in +amassing it. To men, time is <i>money</i>; to bees, it is <i>honey</i>; and all +the arrangements of the hive should be such as to economize it to the +very utmost.</p> + +<p>Propolis is sometimes put to a very curious use by the bees. "A +snail<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> having crept into one of M. Reaumur's hives early in the +morning, after crawling about for some time, adhered by means of its own +slime to one of the glass panes. The bees having discovered the snail, +surrounded it and formed a border of propolis round the verge of its +shell, and fastened it so securely to the glass that it became +immovable."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Forever closed the impenetrable door,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It naught avails that in his torpid veins<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Year after year, life's loitering spark remains."<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a><br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Maraldi, another eminent Apiarian, has related a somewhat similar +instance. He states that a snail without a shell, or slug, as it is +called, had entered one of his hives; and that the bees, as soon as they +observed it, stung it to death: <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"> [88]</a></span>after which being unable to dislodge +it, they covered it all over with an impervious coat of propolis."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"For soon in fearless ire, their wonder lost,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spring fiercely from the comb the indignant host,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lay the pierced monster breathless on the ground,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And clap in joy their victor pinions round:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While all in vain concurrent numbers strive,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To heave the slime-girt giant from the hive—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sure not alone by force Instinctive swayed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But blest with reason's soul directing aid,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Alike in man or bee, they haste to pour,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thick hard'ning as it falls, the flaky shower;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Embalmed in shroud of glue the mummy lies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No worms invade, no foul miasmas rise."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>"In these cases who can withhold his admiration of the ingenuity and +judgment of the bees? <i>In the first case</i> a troublesome creature gained +admission to the hive, which, from its unwieldiness, they could not +remove, and which, from the impenetrability of its shell, they could not +destroy: here then their only resource was to deprive it of locomotion, +and to obviate putrefaction; both which objects they accomplished most +skilfully and securely—and as is usual with these sagacious creatures, +at the least possible expense of labor and materials. They applied their +cement where alone it was required, round the verge of the shell. <i>In +the latter case</i>, to obviate the evil of decay, by the total exclusion +of air, they were obliged to be more lavish in the use of their +embalming material, and to case over the "slime girt giant" so as to +guard themselves from his noisome smell. What means more effectual could +human wisdom have devised under similar circumstances?"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"If in the insect, Season's twilight ray<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sheds on the darkling mind a doubtful day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Plain is the steady light her <i>Instincts</i> yield,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To point the road o'er life's unvaried field;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If few these instincts, to the destined goal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With surer coarse, their straiten'd currents roll."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"> [89]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">POLLEN, OR BEE-BREAD.</span></h2> + + +<p>This substance is gathered by the bees from the flowers, or blossoms, +and is used <i>for the nourishment of their young</i>. Repeated experiments +have proved that no brood can be raised in a hive, unless the bees are +supplied with it. It contains none of the elements of wax, but is rich +in what chemists call nitrogenous substances, which are not contained in +honey, and which furnish ample nourishment for the development of the +growing bee. Dr. Hunter dissected some immature bees, and found their +stomachs to contain farina, but not a particle of honey.</p> + +<p>We are indebted to Huber for the discovery of the use made by the bees +of pollen. That it did not serve as food for the mature bees, was +evident from the fact that large supplies are often found in hives whose +inmates have starved to death. It was this fact which led the old +observers to conclude that it was gathered for the purpose of building +comb. After Huber had demonstrated that wax is secreted from an entirely +different substance, he was soon led to conjecture that the bee-bread +must be used for the nourishment of the embryo bees. By rigid +experiments he proved the truth of this supposition. Bees were confined +to their hive without any pollen, after being supplied with honey, eggs +and larvæ. In a short time the young all perished. A fresh supply of +brood was given to them, with an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"> [90]</a></span> ample allowance of pollen, and the +development of the larvæ then proceeded in the natural way.</p> + +<p>When a colony is actively engaged in carrying in this article, it may be +taken for granted that they have a fertile queen, and are busy in +breeding. On the contrary, if any colony is not gathering pollen when +others are, the queen is either dead, or diseased, and the hive should +at once be examined.</p> + +<p>In the backward spring of 1852, I had an excellent opportunity of +testing the value of this substance. In one of my hives, was an +artificial swarm of the previous year. The hive was well protected, +being double, and the situation was warm. I opened it on the 5th of +February, and although the weather, until within a week of that time, +had been unusually cold, I found many of the cells filled with brood. On +the 23d, the combs were again examined, and found to contain, neither +eggs, brood, nor bee bread. The bees were then supplied with bee bread +taken from another hive: the next day, this was found to have been used +by them, and a large number of eggs had been deposited in the cells. +When this supply was exhausted, egg-laying ceased, and was again renewed +when more was furnished them.</p> + +<p>During all the time of these experiments, the weather was unpromising, +and as the bees were unable to go out for water, they were supplied at +home with this important article.</p> + +<p>Dzierzon is of opinion that the bees are able to furnish food for the +young, without the presence of pollen in the hive; although he admits +that they can do this only for a short time, and at a great expense of +vital energy; just as the strength of an animal nursing its young is +rapidly reduced, when for want of proper food, the very substance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"> [91]</a></span> of +its own body as it were, is converted into milk. My experiments do not +corroborate this theory, but tend to confirm the views of Huber, and to +show the absolute necessity of pollen to the development of brood. The +same able contributor to Apiarian science, thinks that pollen is used by +the bees when they are engaged in comb-building; and that unless they +are well supplied with it, they cannot rapidly secrete wax, without very +severely taxing their strength. But as all the elements of wax are found +in honey, and none of them in pollen, this opinion does not seem to me, +to be entitled to much weight. That bees cannot live upon pollen without +any honey, is proved by the fact, that large stores of it are often +found, in hives whose occupants have died of starvation; that they can +live without it, is equally well known; but that the full grown bees +make some use of it in connection with honey, for their own nourishment, +I believe to be highly probable.</p> + +<p>The bees prefer to gather <i>fresh</i> bee-bread, even when there are large +accumulations of old stores in the cells. Hence, the great importance of +being able to make the <i>surplus</i> of old colonies supply the <i>deficiency</i> +of young ones. (See No. 28, in the Chapter "<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">On the advantages which +ought to be found in an Improved Hive.</a>")</p> + +<p>If both honey and pollen can be obtained from the same flower, then a +load of <i>each</i> will be secured by the industrious insect. Of this, any +one may convince himself, who will dissect a few pollen gatherers at the +time when honey is plenty: he will generally find their honey-bags full.</p> + +<p>The mode of gathering is very interesting. The body of the bee appears, +to the naked eye, to be covered with fine hairs; to these, when the bee +alights on a flower, the farina adheres. With her legs, she brushes it +off from her body, and packs it in two hollows or <i>baskets</i>, one on each +of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"> [92]</a></span> thighs: these baskets are surrounded by stouter hairs which hold +the load in its place.</p> + +<p>When the bee returns with pollen, she often makes a singular, dancing or +vibratory motion, which attracts the attention of the other bees, who at +once nibble away from her thighs what they want for immediate use; the +rest she deposits in a cell for future need, where it is carefully +packed down, and often sealed over with wax.</p> + +<p>It has been observed that a bee, in gathering pollen, always confines +herself to the same kind of flower on which she begins, even when that +is not so abundant as some others. Thus if you examine a ball of this +substance taken from her thigh, it is found to be of one uniform color +throughout: the load of one will be yellow, another red, and a third +brown; the color varying according to that of the plant from which it +was obtained. It is probable that the pollen of different kinds of +flowers would not pack so well together. It is certain that if they flew +from one species to another, there would be a much greater mixture of +different varieties than there now is, for they carry on their bodies +the pollen or fertilizing principle, and thus aid most powerfully in the +impregnation of plants.</p> + +<p>This is one reason why it is so difficult to preserve pure, the +different varieties of the same vegetables whose flowers are sought by +the bee.</p> + +<p>He must be blind indeed, who will not see, at every step in the natural +history of this insect, the plainest proofs of the wisdom of its +Creator.</p> + +<p>I cannot resist the impression that the honey bee was made for the +especial service and instruction of man. At first the importance of its +products, when honey was the only natural sweet, served most powerfully +to attract his attention to its curious habits; and now since the +cultivation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"> [93]</a></span> of the sugar cane has diminished the relative value of its +luscious sweets, the superior knowledge which has been obtained of its +instincts, is awakening an increasing enthusiasm in its cultivation.</p> + +<p>Virgil in the fourth book of his Georgics, which is entirely devoted to +bees, speaks of them as having received a direct emanation from the +Divine Intelligence. And many modern Apiarians are almost disposed to +rank the bee for sagacity, as next in the scale of creation to man.</p> + +<p>The importance of pollen to the nourishment of the brood, has long been +known, and of late, successful attempts have been made to furnish a +<i>substitute</i>. The bees in Dzierzon's Apiary were observed by him, early +in the spring before the time for procuring pollen, to bring rye meal to +their hives from a neighboring mill. It is now a common practice on the +continent of Europe, where bee keeping is extensively carried on, to +supply the bees, in early spring, with this article. Shallow troughs are +set in front of the Apiaries, which are filled, about two inches deep, +with <i>finely ground, dry, unbolted rye meal</i>. Thousands of bees resort +eagerly to them when the weather is favorable, roll themselves in the +meal, and return heavily laden to their hives. In fine, mild weather, +they labor at this work with astonishing industry; and seem decidedly to +prefer the meal to the <i>old</i> pollen stored in their combs. By this +means, the bees are induced to commence breeding <i>early</i>, and rapidly +recruit their numbers. The feeding is continued till the bees cease to +carry away the meal; that is, until the natural supplies furnish them +with a preferable article. The average consumption of each colony is +about two pounds of meal!</p> + +<p>At the last annual Apiarian Convention in Germany, a cultivator +recommended wheat flour as an excellent substitute<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"> [94]</a></span> for pollen. He says +that in February, 1852, he used it with the best results. The bees +<i>forsook the honey</i> which had been set out for them, and engaged +actively in carrying in large quantities of the wheat flour, which was +placed about twenty paces in front of the hives.</p> + +<p>The construction of my hives, permits the flour to be placed, at once, +where the bees can take it, without being compelled to waste their time +in going out for it, or to suffer for the want of it, when the weather +confines them at home.</p> + +<p>The discovery of this substitute, removes a serious obstacle to the +successful culture of bees. In many districts, there is a great +abundance of honey for a few weeks in the season; and almost any number +of colonies, which are strong when the honey harvest commences, will, in +a good season, lay up sufficient stores for themselves, and a large +surplus for their owners. In many of these districts, however, the +supply of pollen is often so insufficient, that the new colonies of the +previous year are found destitute of this article in the spring; and +unless the season is early, and the weather unusually favorable, the +production of brood is most seriously interfered with; thus the colony +becomes strong too late to avail itself to the best advantage of the +superabundant harvest of honey. (See remarks on the importance of having +strong stocks early in the Spring.)</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"> [95]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">ON THE ADVANTAGES WHICH OUGHT TO BE FOUND IN AN IMPROVED HIVE.</span></h2> + + +<p>In this chapter, I shall enumerate certain very desirable, if not +necessary, qualities of a good hive. I have neither the taste nor the +time for the invidious work of disparaging other hives. I prefer +inviting the attention of bee-keepers to the importance of these +requisites; some of which, as I believe, are contained in no hive but my +own. Let them be most carefully examined, and if they commend themselves +to the enlightened judgment and good common sense of cultivators, let +them be employed to test the comparative merits of the various kinds of +hives in common use.</p> + +<p>1. A good hive should give the Apiarian a perfect control over all the +combs: so that any of them may be taken out at pleasure; and this, +without cutting them, or enraging the bees.</p> + +<p>This advantage is possessed by no hive in use, except my own; and it +forms the very foundation of an improved and profitable system of +bee-culture. Unless the combs are at the entire command of the Apiarian, +he can have no effectual control over his bees. They swarm too much or +too little, just as suits themselves, and their owner is almost entirely +dependent upon their caprice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"> [96]</a></span></p> + +<p>2. It ought to afford suitable protection against extremes of heat and +cold, sudden changes of temperature, and the injurious effects of +dampness.</p> + +<p>In winter, the interior of the hive should be dry, and not a particle of +frost should ever find admission; and in summer, the bees should not be +forced to work to disadvantage in a pent and almost suffocating heat. +(See these points discussed in the Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Protection</a>.)</p> + +<p>3. It should permit all necessary operations to be performed without +hurting or killing a single bee.</p> + +<p>Most hives are so constructed that it is impossible to manage them, +without at times injuring or destroying some of the bees. The mere +destruction of a few bees, would not, except on the score of humanity, +be of much consequence, if it did not very materially increase the +difficulty of managing them. Bees remember injuries done to any of their +number, for some time, and generally find an opportunity to avenge them.</p> + +<p>4. It should allow every thing to be done that is necessary in the most +extensive management of bees, without incurring any serious risk of +exciting their anger. (See Chapter on the <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Anger of Bees</a>.)</p> + +<p>5. Not a single unnecessary step or motion ought to be required of a +single bee.</p> + +<p>The honey harvest, in most locations, is of short continuance; and all +the arrangements of the hive should facilitate, to the utmost, the work +of the busy gatherers. Tall hives, therefore, and all such as compel +them to travel with their heavy burdens through densely crowded combs, +are very objectionable. The bees in my hive, instead of forcing their +way through thick clusters, can easily pass into the surplus honey +boxes, not only from any comb in the hive, but without traveling over +the combs at all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"> [97]</a></span></p> + +<p>6. It should afford suitable facilities for inspecting, at all times, +the condition of the bees.</p> + +<p>When the sides of my hive are of glass, as soon as the outer cover is +elevated, the Apiarian has a view of the interior, and can often at a +glance, determine its condition. If the hive is of wood, or if he wishes +to make a more thorough examination, in a few minutes every comb may be +taken out, and separately inspected. In this way, the exact condition of +every colony may always be easily ascertained, and nothing left, as in +the common hives, to mere conjecture. This is an advantage, the +importance of which it would be difficult to over estimate. (See +Chapters on the <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">loss of the queen</a>, and on the <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Bee Moth</a>.)</p> + +<p>7. While the hive is of a size adapted to the natural instincts of the +bee, it should be capable of being readily adjusted to the wants of +small colonies.</p> + +<p>If a small swarm is put into a large hive, they will be unable to +concentrate their animal heat, so as to work to the best advantage, and +will often become discouraged, and abandon their hive. If they are put +into a small hive, its limited dimensions will not afford them suitable +accommodations for increase. By means of my movable partition, my hive +can, in a few moments, be adapted to the wants of any colony however +small, and can, with equal facility, be enlarged from time to time, or +at once restored to its full dimensions.</p> + +<p>8. It should allow the combs to be removed without any jarring.</p> + +<p>Bees manifest the utmost aversion to any sudden jar; for it is in this +way, that their combs are loosened and detached. However firmly fastened +the frames may be in my hive, they can all be loosened in a few moments, +without injuring or exciting the bees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"> [98]</a></span></p> + +<p>9. It should allow every good piece of comb to be given to the bees, +instead of being melted into wax. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Comb</a>.)</p> + +<p>10. The construction of the hive should induce the bees to build their +combs with great regularity.</p> + +<p>A hive which contains a large proportion of irregular comb, can never be +expected to prosper. Such comb is only suitable for storing honey, or +raising drones. This is one reason why so many colonies never flourish. +A glance will often show that a hive contains so much drone comb, as to +be unfit for the purposes of a stock hive.</p> + +<p>11. It should furnish the means of procuring comb to be used as a guide +to the bees, in building regular combs in empty hives; and to induce +them more readily to take possession of the surplus honey receptacles.</p> + +<p>It is well known that the presence of comb will induce bees to begin +work much more readily than they otherwise Would: this is especially the +case in glass vessels.</p> + +<p>12. It should allow the removal of drone combs from the hive, to prevent +the breeding of too many drones. (See remarks on Drones.)</p> + +<p>13. It should enable the Apiarian, when the combs become too old, to +remove them, and supply their place with new ones.</p> + +<p>No hive can, in this respect, equal one in which, in a few moments, any +comb can be removed, and the part which is too old, be cut off. The +upper part of a comb, which is generally used for storing honey, will +last without renewal for many years.</p> + +<p>14. It ought to furnish the greatest possible security against the +ravages of the Bee-Moth.</p> + +<p>Neither before nor after it is occupied, ought there to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"> [99]</a></span>any cracks +or crevices in the interior. All such places will be filled by the bees +with propolis or bee-glue; a substance, which is always soft in the +summer heat of the hive, and which forms a most congenial place of +deposit for the eggs of the moth. If the sides of the hive are of glass, +and the corners are run with a melted mixture, three parts rosin, and +one part bees-wax, the bees will waste but little time in gathering +propolis, and the bee-moth will find but little chance for laying her +eggs, even if she should succeed in entering the hive.</p> + +<p>My hives are so constructed, that if made of wood, they may be +thoroughly painted inside and outside, without being so smooth as to +annoy the bees; for they travel over the frames to which the combs are +attached; and thus whether the inside surface is glass or wood, it is +not liable to crack, or warp, or absorb moisture, after the hive is +occupied by the bees. If the hives are painted inside, it should be done +sometime before they are used. If the interior of the wooden hive is +brushed with a very hot mixture of the rosin and bees-wax, the hives may +be used immediately.</p> + +<p>15. It should furnish some place accessible to the Apiarian, where the +bee-moth can be tempted to deposit her eggs, and the worms, when full +grown, to wind themselves in their cocoons. (See remarks on the +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Bee-Moth</a>.)</p> + +<p>16. It should enable the Apiarian, if the bee-moth ever gains the upper +hand of the bees, to remove the combs, and expel the worms. (See +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Bee-Moth</a>.)</p> + +<p>17. The bottom board should be permanently attached to the hive; for if +this is not done, it will be inconvenient to move the hive when bees are +in it, and next to impossible to prevent the depredations of moths and +worms.</p> + +<p>Sooner or later, there will be crevices between the bottom board and the +sides of the hive, through which the moths will gain admission, and +under which the worms,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"> [100]</a></span> when fully grown, will retreat to spin their +webs, and to be changed into moths, to enter in their turn, and lay +their eggs. Movable bottom hoards are a great nuisance in the Apiary, +and the construction of my hive, which enables me entirely to dispense +with them, will furnish a very great protection against the bee-moth. +There is no place where they can get in, except at the entrance for the +bees, and this may be contracted or enlarged, to suit the strength of +the colony; and from its peculiar shape, the bees are enabled to defend +it against intruders, with the greatest advantage.</p> + +<p>18. The bottom-board should slant towards the entrance, to assist the +bees in carrying out the dead, and other useless substances; to aid them +in defending themselves against robbers; to carry off all moisture; and +to prevent the rain and snow from beating into the hive. As a farther +precaution against this last evil, the entrance ought to be under a +covered way, which should not, at once lead into the interior.</p> + +<p>19. The bottom-board should be so constructed that it may be readily +cleared of dead bees in cold weather, when the bees are unable to attend +to this business themselves.</p> + +<p>If suffered to remain, they often become mouldy, and injure the health +of the colony. If the bees drag them out, as they will do, if the +weather moderates, they often fall with them on the snow, and are so +chilled that they never rise again; for a bee generally retains its hold +in flying away with the dead, until both fall to the ground.</p> + +<p>20. No part of the interior of the hive should be below the level of the +place of exit.</p> + +<p>If this principle is violated, the bees must, at great disadvantage, +drag their dead, and all the refuse of the hive, <i>up hill</i>. Such hives +will often have their bottom boards covered with small pieces of comb, +bee-bread, and other impurities,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"> [101]</a></span> in which the moth delights +to lay her eggs; and which furnished her progeny with a most congenial +nourishment, until they are able to get access to the combs.</p> + +<p>21. It should afford facilities for feeding the bees both in warm and +cold weather.</p> + +<p>In this respect, my hive has very unusual advantages. Sixty colonies in +warm weather may, in an hour, be fed a quart each, and yet no feeder be +used, and no risk incurred from robbing bees. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Feeding</a>.)</p> + +<p>22. It should allow of the easy hiving of a swarm, without injuring any +of the bees, or risking the destruction of the queen. (See Chapter on +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">Natural Swarming, and Hiving</a>.)</p> + +<p>23. It should admit of the safe transportation of the bees to any +distance whatever.</p> + +<p>The permanent bottom-board, the firm attachment of the combs, each to a +separate frame, and the facility with which, in my hive, any amount of +air can be given to the bees when shut up, most admirably adapt it to +this purpose.</p> + +<p>24. It should furnish the bees with air when the entrance is shut; and +the ventilation for this purpose ought to be unobstructed, even if the +hives should be buried in two or three feet of snow. (See Chapter on +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Protection</a>.)</p> + +<p>25. A good hive should furnish facilities for enlarging, contracting, +and closing the entrance; so as to protect the bees against robbers, and +the bee-moth; and when the entrance is altered, the bees ought not to +lose valuable time in searching for it, as they must do in most hives. +(See Chapters on <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Ventilation</a>, and on <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Robbing</a>.)</p> + +<p>26. It should give the bees the means of ventilating their hives, +without enlarging the entrance too much, so as to expose them to moths +and robbers, and to the risk of losing their brood by a chill in sudden +changes of weather. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Ventilation</a>.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"> [102]</a></span></p> + +<p>To secure this end, the ventilators must not only be independent of the +entrance, but they must owe their efficiency mainly to the co-operation +of the bees themselves, who thus have a free admission of air only when +they want it. To depend on the opening and shutting of the ventilators +by the bee-keeper, is entirely out of the question.</p> + +<p>27. It should furnish facilities for admitting at once, a large body of +air; so that in winter, or early spring, when the weather is at any time +unusually mild, the bees may be tempted to fly out and discharge their +fæces. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Protection</a>.)</p> + +<p>If such a free admission of air cannot be given to hives which are +thoroughly protected against the cold, the bees may lose a favorable +opportunity of emptying themselves; and thus be more exposed than they +otherwise would, to suffer from diseases resulting from too long +confinement. A very free admission of air is also desirable when the +weather is exceedingly hot.</p> + +<p>28. It should enable the Apiarian to remove the excess of bee-bread from +old stocks.</p> + +<p>This article always accumulates in old hives, so that in the course of +time, many of the combs are filled with it, thus unfitting them for the +rearing of brood, and the reception of honey. Young stocks, on the other +hand, will often be so deficient in this important article, that in the +early part of the season, breeding will be seriously interfered with. By +means of my movable frames, the excess of old colonies may be made to +supply the deficiency of young ones, to the mutual benefit of both. (See +Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Pollen</a>.)</p> + +<p>29. It should enable the Apiarian, when he has removed the combs from a +common hive, to place them with the bees, brood, honey and bee-bread, in +the improved hive, so that the bees may be able to attach them in their +natural positions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"> [103]</a></span> (See directions for transferring bees from an old +hive.)</p> + +<p>30. It should allow of the easy and safe dislodgement of the bees from +the hive.</p> + +<p>This requisite is especially important to secure the union of colonies, +when it becomes necessary to break up some of the stocks. (See remarks +on the Union of Stocks.)</p> + +<p>31. It should allow the heat and odor of the main hive, as well as the +bees themselves, to pass in the freest manner, to the surplus honey +receptacles.</p> + +<p>In this respect, all the hives with which I am acquainted, are more or +less deficient: the bees are forced to work in receptacles difficult of +access, and in which, especially in cool nights, they find it impossible +to keep up the animal heat necessary for comb-building. Bees cannot, in +such hives, work to advantage in glass tumblers, or other small vessels. +One of the most important arrangements of my hive, is that by which the +heat ascends into all the receptacles for storing honey, as naturally +and almost as easily as the warmest air ascends to the top of a heated +room.</p> + +<p>32. It should permit the surplus honey to be taken away, in the most +convenient, beautiful and salable forms, at any time, and without any +risk of annoyance from the bees.</p> + +<p>In my hives, it may be taken in tumblers, glass boxes, wooden boxes +small or large, earthen jars, flower-pots; in short, in any +kind of receptacle which may suit the fancy, or the convenience of the +bee-keeper. Or all these may be dispensed with, and the honey may be +taken from the interior of the main hive, by removing the frames with +loaded combs, and supplying their place with empty ones.</p> + +<p>33. It should admit of the easy removal of all the good honey from the +main hive, that its place may be supplied with an inferior article.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"> [104]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bee-Keepers who have but few colonies, and who wish to secure the +largest yield, may remove the loaded combs from my hive, slice off the +covers of the cells, drain out the honey, and restore the empty combs, +into which, if the season of gathering is over, they can first pour the +cheap foreign honey for the use of the bees.</p> + +<p>34. It should allow, when quantity not quality is the object, the +largest amount of honey to be gathered; so that the surplus of strong +colonies may, in the Fall, be given to those which have not a sufficient +supply.</p> + +<p>By surmounting my hive with a box of the same dimensions, the combs may +all be transferred to this box, and the bees, when they commence +building, will descend and fill the lower frames, gradually using the +upper box, as the brood is hatched out, for storing honey. In this way, +the largest possible yield of honey may be secured, as the bees always +prefer to continue their work below, rather than above the main hive, +and will never swarm, when allowed in season, ample room in this +direction. The combs in the upper box, containing a large amount of +bee-bread and being of a size adapted to the breeding of workers, will +be all the better for aiding weak colonies.</p> + +<p>35. It should compel, when desired, the force of the colony to be mainly +directed to raising young bees; so that brood may be on hand to form new +colonies, and strengthen feeble stocks. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_X_2">Artificial +Swarming</a>.)</p> + +<p>36. It ought, while well protected from the weather, to be so +constructed, that in warm, sunny days in early spring, the influence of +the sun may be allowed to penetrate and warm up the hive, so as to +encourage early breeding. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Protection</a>.)</p> + +<p>37. The hive should be equally well adapted to be used as a swarmer, or +non-swarmer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"> [105]</a></span></p> + +<p>In my hives bees may be allowed, if their owner chooses, to swarm just +as they do in common hives, and be managed in the usual way. Even on +this plan, the great protection against the weather which it affords, +and the command over all the combs, will be found to afford great +advantages. (See <a href="#CHAPTER_X">Natural Swarming</a>.)</p> + +<p>Non-swarming hives managed in the ordinary way are liable, in spite of +all precautions, to swarm very unexpectedly, and if not closely watched, +the swarm is lost, and with it the profit of that season. By having the +command of the combs, the queen in my hives can always be caught and +deprived of her wings; thus she cannot go off with a swarm, and they +will not leave without her.</p> + +<p>38. It should enable the Apiarian, if he allows his bees to swarm, and +wishes to secure surplus honey, to prevent them from throwing more than +one swarm in a season.</p> + +<p>Second and third swarms must be returned to the old stock, if the +largest quantities of surplus honey are to be realized. It is +troublesome to watch them, deprive them of their queens, and restore +them to the parent hive. They often issue with new queens again and +again; and waste, in this way, both their own time, and that of their +keeper. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In my hives, +as soon as the first swarm has issued, and been hived, all the queen +cells except one, in the hive from which it came, may be cut out, and +thus all after-swarming will very easily and effectually be prevented. +(See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_X_2">Artificial Swarming</a>, for the use to which these +supernumerary queens may be put.) When the old stock is left with but +one queen, she runs no risk of being killed or crippled in a contest +with rivals. By such contests, a colony is often left without a queen, +or in possession of one which is too much maimed to be of any service. +(See Chapter on the <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Loss of the Queen</a>.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"> [106]</a></span></p> + +<p>39. A good hive should enable the Apiarian, if he relies on natural +swarming, and wishes to multiply his colonies as fast as possible, to +make vigorous stocks of all his small after-swarms.</p> + +<p>Such swarms contain a young queen, and if they can be judiciously +strengthened, usually make the best stock hives. If hived in a common +hive, and left to themselves, unless very early, or in very favorable +seasons, they seldom thrive. They generally desert their hives, or +perish in the winter. If they are small, they cannot be made powerful, +even by the most generous feeding. There are too few bees to build comb, +and take care of the eggs which a healthy queen can lay; and when fed, +they are apt to fill with honey, the cells in which young bees ought to +be raised; thus making the kindness of their owner serve only to hasten +their destruction. My hives enable me to supply all such swarms at once +with combs containing bee-bread, honey and brood almost mature. They are +thus made strong, and flourish as well, nay, often better than the first +swarms which have an old queen, whose fertility is generally not so +great as that of a young one.</p> + +<p>40. It should enable the Apiarian to multiply his colonies with a +certainty and rapidity which are entirely out of the question, if he +depends upon natural swarming. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_X_2">Artificial Swarming</a>.)</p> + +<p>41. It should enable the Apiarian to supply destitute colonies with the +means of obtaining a new queen.</p> + +<p>Every Apiarian would find it, for this reason, if for no other, to his +advantage to possess, at least, one such hive. (See Chapters on +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">Physiology</a>, and <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">loss of Queen</a>.)</p> + +<p>42. It should enable him to catch the queen, for any purpose; especially +to remove an old one whose fertility is impaired by age, that her place +may be supplied with a young <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"> [107]</a></span>one. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_X_2">Artificial Swarming</a>.)</p> + +<p>43. While a good hive is adapted to the wants of those who desire to +enter upon bee-keeping on a large scale, or at least to manage their +colonies on the most improved plans, it ought to be suited to the wants +of those who are too timid, too ignorant, or for any reason indisposed, +to manage them in any other than the common way.</p> + +<p>44. It should enable a single individual to superintend the colonies of +many different persons.</p> + +<p>Many would like to keep bees, if they could have them taken care of, by +those who would undertake their management, just as a gardener does the +gardens and grounds of his employers. No person can agree to do this +with the common hives. If the bees are allowed to swarm, he may be +called in a dozen different directions, and if any accident, such as the +loss of a queen, happens to the colonies of his customers, he can apply +no remedy. If the bees are in non-swarming hives, he cannot multiply the +stocks when this is desired.</p> + +<p>On my plan, gentlemen who desire it, may have the pleasure of witnessing +the industry and sagacity of this wonderful insect, and of gratifying +their palates with its delicious stores, harvested on their own +premises, without incurring either trouble or risk of injury.</p> + +<p>45. All the joints of the hive should be water-tight, and there should +be no doors or slides which are liable to shrink, swell, or get out of +order.</p> + +<p>The importance of this will be sufficiently obvious to any one who has +had the ordinary share of vexatious experience in the use of such +fixtures.</p> + +<p>46. It should enable the bee-keeper entirely to dispense with sheds, and +costly Apiaries; as each hive when properly placed, should alike defy, +heat or cold, rain or snow. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Protection</a>.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"> [108]</a></span></p> + +<p>47. It should allow the contents of a hive, bees, combs and all, to be +taken out; so that any necessary repairs may be made.</p> + +<p>This may be done, with my hives, in a few minutes. "A stitch in +time saves nine." Hives which can be thoroughly overhauled and repaired, +from time to time, if properly attended to, will last for generations.</p> + +<p>48. The hive and fixtures should present a neat and attractive +appearance, and should admit, when desired, of being made highly +ornamental.</p> + +<p>49. The hives ought not to be liable to be blown down in high winds.</p> + +<p>My hives, being very low in proportion to their other dimensions, it +would require almost a hurricane to upset them.</p> + +<p>50. It should enable an Apiarian who lives in the neighborhood of human +pilferers, to lock up the precious contents of his hives, in some cheap, +simple and convenient way.</p> + +<p>A couple of padlocks with some cheap fixtures, will suffice to secure a +long range of hives.</p> + +<p>51. A good hive should be protected against the destructive ravages of +mice in winter.</p> + +<p>It seems almost incredible that so puny an animal should dare to invade +a hive of bees; and yet not unfrequently they slip in when the bees are +compelled by the cold to retreat from the entrance. Having once found +admission, they build themselves a nest in their comfortable abode, eat +up the honey, and such bees as are too much chilled to make any +resistance; and fill the premises with such an abominable +stench, that on the approach of warm weather, the bees often in a body +abandon their desecrated home. As soon as the cold weather approaches, +all my hives may have their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"> [109]</a></span> entrances either entirely closed, or so +contracted that a mouse cannot gain admission.</p> + +<p>52. A good hive should have its alighting board constructed so as to +shelter the bees against wind and wet, and thus to facilitate to the +utmost their entrance when they come home with their heavy burdens.</p> + +<p>If this precaution is neglected, much valuable time and many lives will +be sacrificed, as the colony cannot be encouraged to use to the best +advantage the unpromising days which so often occur in the working +season.</p> + +<p>I have succeeded in arranging my alighting board in such a manner that +the bees are sheltered against wind and wet, and are able to enter the +hive with the least possible loss of time.</p> + +<p>53. A well constructed hive ought to admit of being shut up in winter, +so as to consign the bees to darkness and repose.</p> + +<p>Nothing can be more hazardous than to shut up closely an ill protected +hive. Even if the bees have an abundance of air, it will not answer to +prevent them from flying out, if they are so disposed. As soon as the +warmth penetrating their thin hives tempts them to fly, they crowd to +the entrance, and if it is shut, multitudes worry themselves to death in +trying to get out, and the whole colony is liable to become diseased.</p> + +<p>In my hives as soon as the bees are shut up for Winter, they are most +effectually protected against all atmospheric changes, and never +<i>desire</i> to leave their hives until the entrances are again opened, on +the return of suitable weather. Thus they pass the Winter in a state of +almost absolute repose; they eat much less honey<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> than when wintered +on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"> [110]</a></span>ordinary plan; a much smaller number die in the hives; none are +lost upon the snow, and they are more healthy, and commence breeding +much earlier than they do in the common hives. As some of the holes into +the Protector are left open in Winter, any bee that is diseased and +wishes to leave the hive can do so. Bees when diseased have a strange +propensity to leave their hives, just as animals when sick seek to +retreat from their companions; and in Summer such bees may often be seen +forsaking their home to perish on the ground. If all egress from the +hive in Winter is prevented, the diseased bees will not be able to +comply with an instinct which urges them "To leave their country for +their country's good."</p> + +<p>54. It should possess all these requisites without being too costly for +common bee-keepers, or too complicated to be constructed by any one who +can handle simple tools: and they should be so combined that the result +is a simple hive, which any one can manage who has ordinary intelligence +on the subject of bees.</p> + +<p>I suppose that the very natural conclusion from reading this long list +of desirables, would be that no single hive can combine them all, +without being exceedingly complicated and expensive. On the contrary, +the simplicity and cheapness with which my hive secures all these +results, is one of its most striking peculiarities, the attainment of +which has cost me more study than all the other points besides. As far +as the bees are concerned, they can work in this hive with even greater +facility than in the simple old-fashioned box, as the frames are left +rough by the saw, and thus give an admirable support to the bees when +building their combs; and they can enter the spare honey boxes, with +even more ease than if they were merely continuations of the main hive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"> [111]</a></span></p> + +<p>There are a few desirables to which my hive makes not the slightest +pretensions! It promises no splendid results to those who purchase it, +and yet are too ignorant, or too careless to be entrusted with the +management of bees. In bee-keeping, as in other things, a man must first +understand his business, and then proceed on the good old maxim, that +"the hand of the diligent maketh rich."</p> + +<p>It possesses no talismanic influence by which it can convert a bad +situation for honey, into a good one; or give the Apiarian an abundant +harvest whether the season is productive or otherwise.</p> + +<p>It cannot enable the cultivator rapidly to multiply his stocks, and yet +to secure, the same season, surplus honey from his bees. As well might +the breeder of poultry pretend that he can, in the same year, both raise +the greatest number of chickens, and sell the largest number of eggs.</p> + +<p>Worse than all, it cannot furnish the many advantages enumerated, and +yet be made in as little time, or quite as cheap as a hive which proves, +in the end, to be a very dear bargain.</p> + +<p>I have not constructed my hive in accordance with crude theories, or +mere conjectures, and then insisted that the bees must flourish in such +a fanciful contrivance; but I have studied, for many years, most +carefully, the nature of the honey-bee; and have diligently compared my +observations with those of writers and practical cultivators, who have +spent their lives in extending the sphere of Apiarian knowledge; and as +the result, have endeavored to adapt my hive to the actual wants and +habits of the bee; and to remedy the many difficulties with which I have +found its successful culture to be beset. And more than this, I have +actually tested by experiments long continued and on a large scale, the +merits of this hive, that I might not deceive both myself and others, +and add another to the many useless contrivances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"> [112]</a></span> which have deluded and +disgusted a credulous public. I would, however, most earnestly repudiate +all claims to having devised a "perfect bee-hive." Perfection can belong +only to the works of the great Creator, to whose Omniscient eye, all +causes and effects with all their relations, were present, when he +spake, and from nothing formed the universe and all its glorious +wonders. For man to stamp upon any of his own works, the label of +perfection, is to show both his folly and presumption.</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that the culture of bees is at a very low ebb in +our country, when thousands can be induced to purchase hives which are +in most glaring opposition not only to the true principles of Apiarian +knowledge, but often, to the plainest dictates of simple common sense. +Such have been the losses and disappointments of deluded purchasers, +that it is no wonder that they turn from everything offered in the shape +of a patent bee-hive, as a miserable humbug, if not a most bare-faced +cheat.</p> + +<p>I do not hesitate to say that those old-fashioned bee-keepers, who have +most steadily refused to meddle with any novelties, and who have used +hives of the very simplest construction, or at least such as are only +one remove from the old straw hive, or wooden box, have, as a general +thing, realized by far the largest profits in the management of bees. +They have lost neither time, money nor bees, in the vain hope of +obtaining any unusual results from hives, which, in the very nature of +the case, can secure nothing really in advance of what can be +accomplished by a simple box-hive with an upper chamber.</p> + +<p><i>A hive of the simplest possible construction</i>, is only a close +imitation of the abode of bees in a state of nature; being a mere hollow +receptacle in which they are protected from the weather, and where they +can lay up their stores.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"> [113]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>An improved hive</i> is one which contains, in addition, a separate +apartment in which the bees can be induced to lay up the surplus portion +of their stores, for the use of their owner. All the various hives in +common use, are only modifications of this latter hive, and, as a +general rule, they are bad, exactly in proportion as they depart from +it. Not one of them offers any remedy for the loss of the queen, or +indeed for most of the casualties to which bees are +exposed: they form no reliable basis for any new system of management; +and hence the cultivation of bees, is substantially where it was, fifty +years ago, and the Apiarian as entirely dependent as ever, upon all the +whims and caprices of an insect which may be made completely subject to +his control.</p> + +<p>No hive which does not furnish a thorough control over every comb, can +be considered as any substantial advance on the simple improved or +chamber hive. Of all such hives, the one which with the least expense, +gives the greatest amount of protection, and the readiest access to the +spare honey boxes, is the best.</p> + +<p>Having thus enumerated the tests to which all hives ought to be +subjected, and by which they should stand or fall, I submit them to the +candid examination of practical, common sense bee-keepers, who have had +the largest experience in the management of bees, and are most +conversant with the evils of the present system; and who are therefore +best fitted to apply them to an invention, which, if I may be pardoned +for using the enthusiastic language of an experienced Apiarian on +examining its practical workings, "introduces, not simply an +<i>improvement</i>, but a <i>revolution</i> in bee-keeping."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"> [114]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">PROTECTION AGAINST EXTREMES OF HEAT AND COLD, SUDDEN AND SEVERE CHANGES +OF TEMPERATURE, AND DAMPNESS IN THE HIVES.</span></h2> + + +<p>I specially invite a careful perusal of this chapter, as the subject, +though of the very first importance in the management of bees, is one to +which but little attention has been given by the majority of +cultivators.</p> + +<p>In our climate of great and sudden extremes, many colonies are annually +injured or destroyed by undue exposure to heat or cold. In Summer, thin +hives are often exposed to the direct heat of the sun, so that the combs +melt, and the bees are drowned in their own sweets. Even if they escape +utter ruin, they cannot work to advantage in the almost suffocating heat +of their hives.</p> + +<p>But in those places where the Winters are both long and severe, it is +much more difficult to protect the bees from the cold than from the +heat. Bees are not, as some suppose, in a <i>dormant</i>, or <i>torpid</i> +condition in Winter. It must be remembered that they were intended to +live in colonies, in Winter, as well as Summer. The wasp, hornet, and +other insects which do not live in families in the Winter, lay up no +stores for cold weather, and are so organized as to be able to endure in +a torpid state, a very low temperature; so low that it would be certain +death to a honey-bee, which when frozen, is as surely killed as a frozen +man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"> [115]</a></span></p> + +<p>As soon as the temperature of the hives falls too low for their comfort, +the bees gather themselves into a more compact body, to preserve to the +utmost, their animal heat; and if the cold becomes so great that this +will not suffice, they keep up an incessant, tremulous motion, +accompanied by a loud humming noise; in other words, they take active +exercise in order to keep warm! If a thermometer is pushed up among +them, it will indicate a high temperature, even when the external +atmosphere is many degrees below zero. When the bees are unable to +maintain the necessary amount of animal heat, an occurrence which is +very common with small colonies in badly protected hives, then, as a +matter of course, they must perish.</p> + +<p>Extreme cold, when of long continuance, very frequently destroys +colonies in thin hives, even when they are strong both in bees and +honey. The inside of such hives, is often filled with frost, and the +bees, after eating all the food in the combs in which they are +clustered, are unable to enter the frosty combs, and thus starve in the +midst of plenty. The unskilfull bee-keeper who finds an abundance of +honey in the hives, cannot conjecture the cause of their death.</p> + +<p>If the cold merely destroyed feeble colonies, or strong ones only now +and then, it would not be so formidable an enemy; but every year, it +causes many of the most flourishing stocks to perish by starvation. The +extra quantity of food which they are compelled to eat, in order to keep +up their heat in their miserable hives, is often the turning point with +them, between life and death. They starve, when with proper protection, +they would have had food enough and to spare.</p> + +<p>But some one may say, "What possible difference can the kind of hives in +which bees are kept make in the quantity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"> [116]</a></span> of food which they will +consume?" Enough, I would reply, in some single winters, to pay the +difference between a good hive and a bad one!</p> + +<p>I cannot move my finger, or wink my eye-lids without some waste of +muscle, however small; for it is a well-ascertained law in our animal +economy, that all <i>muscular exertion</i> is attended with a corresponding +<i>waste</i> of muscular fibre. Now this waste must be supplied by the +consumption of food, and it would be as unreasonable to expect constant +heat from a stove without fresh supplies of fuel, as incessant muscular +activity from an insect, without a supply of food proportioned to that +activity. If then we can contrive any way to keep our bees in almost +perfect quiet during the Winter, we may be certain that they will need +much less food than when they are constantly excited.</p> + +<p>In the cold Winter of 1851-2, I kept two swarms in a perfectly dry and +dark cellar, where the temperature was remarkably uniform, seldom +varying two degrees from 50° of Fahrenheit; and I found that the bees +ate very little honey. The hives were of glass, and the bees, when +examined from time to time, were found clustered in almost death-like +repose. If these bees had been exposed in thin hives in the open air, +they would, in all probability, have eaten four times as much; for +whenever the sun shone upon them, or the atmosphere was unusually warm, +they would have been roused to injurious activity, and the same would +have been the case, when the cold was severe. Exposed to sudden changes +and severe cold, they would have been in almost perpetual motion, and +must have been compelled to consume a largely increased quantity of +food. In this way, many colonies are annually starved to death, which if +they had been better protected, would have survived to gladden their +owner with an abundant harvest. This protection,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"> [117]</a></span> as a general thing, +must be given to them in the open air, for it is a very rare thing, to +meet with a cellar which is dry enough to prevent the combs from +moulding, and the bees from becoming diseased.</p> + +<p>Bees never, unless diseased, discharge their fæces in the hive; and the +want of suitable protection, by exciting undue activity, and compelling +them to eat more freely, causes their bodies to be greatly distended +with accumulated fæces. On the return of warm weather, bees in this +condition being often too feeble to fly, crawl from their hives, and +miserably perish.</p> + +<p>I must notice another exceedingly injurious effect of insufficient +protection, in causing the <i>moisture</i> to settle upon the cold top and +sides of the interior of the hive, from whence it drips upon the bees. +In this way, many of their number are chilled and destroyed, and often +the whole colony is infected with dysentery. Not unfrequently, large +portions of the comb are covered with mould, and the whole hive is +rendered very offensive.</p> + +<p>This dampness which causes what may be called a <i>rot</i> among the bees, is +one of the worst enemies with which the Apiarian in a cold climate, has +to contend, as it weakens or destroys many of his best colonies. No +extreme of cold ever experienced in latitudes where bees flourish, can +destroy a strong colony well supplied with honey, except indirectly, by +confining them to empty combs. They will survive our coldest winters, in +thin hives raised on blocks to give a freer admission of air, or even in +suspended hives, without any bottom-board at all. Indeed, in cold +weather, a <i>very free</i> admission of air is necessary in such hives, to +prevent the otherwise ruinous effects of frozen moisture; and hence the +common remark that bees require as much or more air in Winter than in +Summer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"> [118]</a></span></p> + +<p>When bees, in unsuitable hives, are exposed to all the variations of the +external atmosphere, they are frequently tempted to fly abroad if the +weather becomes unseasonably warm, and multitudes are lost on the +<i>snow</i>, at a season when no young are bred to replenish their number, +and when the loss is most injurious to the colony.</p> + +<p>From these remarks, it will be obvious to the intelligent cultivator, +that protection against extremes of heat and cold, is a point of the +<span class="smcap lowercase">VERY FIRST IMPORTANCE</span>; and yet this is the very point, which, in +proportion to its importance, has been most overlooked. We have +discarded, and very wisely, the straw hives of our ancestors; but such +hives, with all their faults, were comparatively warm in Winter, and +cool in Summer. We have undertaken to keep bees, where the cold of +Winter, and the heat of Summer are alike intense; and where sudden and +severe changes are often fatal to the brood: and yet we blindly persist +in expecting success under circumstances in which any marked success is +well nigh impossible.</p> + +<p>That our country is eminently favorable to the production of honey, +cannot be doubted. Many of our forests abound With colonies which are +not only able to protect themselves against all their enemies, the +dreaded bee-moth not excepted, but which often amass prodigious +quantities of honey. Nor are such colonies found merely in <i>new</i> +countries. They exist frequently in the very neighborhood of cultivators +whose hives are weak and impoverished, and who impute to a decay of the +honey resources of the country, the inevitable consequences of their own +irrational system of management. It will not be without profit, to +consider briefly under what circumstances these wild colonies flourish, +and how they are protected against sudden and extreme changes of +temperature.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"> [119]</a></span></p> + +<p>Snugly housed in the hollow of a tree whose thickness and decayed +interior are such admirable materials for excluding atmospheric changes, +the bees in Winter are in a state of almost absolute repose. The +entrance to their abode is generally very small in proportion to the +space within; and let the weather out of doors vary as it may, the +inside temperature is very uniform. These natural hives are dry, because +the moisture finds no cold or icy top, or sides, on which to condense, +and from which it must drip upon the bees, destroying their lives, or +enfeebling their health, by filling the interior of their dwelling with +mould and dampness. As they are very quiet, they eat but little, and +hence their bodies are not distended and diseased by accumulated fæces. +Often they do not stir from their hollows, from November until March or +April; and yet they come forth in the Spring, strong in numbers, and +vigorous in health. If at any time in the winter season, the warmth is +so great as to penetrate their comfortable abodes, and to tempt them to +fly, when they venture out, they find a balmy atmosphere in which they +may disport with impunity. In the Summer, they are protected from the +heat, not merely by the thickness of the hollow tree, but by the leafy +shade of overarching branches, and the refreshing coolness of a forest +home.</p> + +<p>The Russian and Polish bee-keepers, living in a climate whose winters +are much more severe than our own, are among the largest and most +successful cultivators of bees, many of them numbering their colonies by +hundreds, and some even by thousands!</p> + +<p>They have, with great practical sagacity, imitated as closely as +possible, the conditions under which bees are found to flourish so +admirably in a state of nature. We are informed by Mr. Dohiogost, a +Polish writer, that his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"> [120]</a></span> countrymen make their hives of the best plank, +and never less than an inch and a half in thickness. The shape is that +of an old-fashioned churn, and the hive is covered on the outside, +halfway down, with twisted rope cordage, to give it greater protection +against extremes of heat and cold. The hives are placed in a dry +situation, directly upon the hard earth, which is first covered with an +inch or two of clean, dry sand. Chips are then heaped up all around +them, and covered with earth banked up in a sloping direction to carry +off the rain. The entrance is at some distance above the bottom, and is +a triangle, whose sides are only one inch long. In the winter season, +this entrance is contracted so that only one bee can pass at a time. +Such a hive, with us, as it does not furnish the honey in convenient, +beautiful and salable forms, would not meet the demands of our +cultivators. Still, there are some very important lessons to be learned +from it, by all who keep bees in regions of cold winters, and hot +summers. It shows the importance which some of the largest Apiarians in +the world, attach to protection; practical, common sense men, whose +heads have not been turned, as some would express it, by modern theories +and fanciful inventions. They cultivate their bees almost in a state of +nature, and their experience on what we would term a gigantic scale, +ought to convince even the most incredulous, of the folly of pretending +to keep bees, in the miserably thin and unprotected hives to which we +have been accustomed.</p> + +<p>But how, it will be asked, can bees live in Winter, in a hive so closely +shut up as the Polish hive? They do live in such hives, and prosper, +just as they do in hollow trees, with only one small entrance. It is +well known that bees have flourished when their hives were buried in +Winter, and under circumstances in which but a very small amount<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"> [121]</a></span> of air +could possibly gain admission to them. Bees, when kept in a <i>dry</i> place, +in properly protected hives and in a state of almost perfect repose, +need only a small supply of air; and the objection that those +cultivators among us, who shut up their colonies very closely in Winter, +are almost sure to lose them, is of no weight; because the majority of +our hives are so deficient in protection, that if they are too closely +shut up, "the breath of the bees," condensing and freezing upon the +inside, and afterwards thawing, causes the combs to mould, and the bees +to become diseased; just as many substances mould and perish when kept +in a close, damp cellar.</p> + +<p>We are now prepared to discuss the question of protection in its +relations to the construction of hives. We have seen how it is furnished +to the bees in the Polish hives, and in the decayed hollows of trees. If +the Apiarian chooses, he can imitate this plan by constructing his hives +of very thick plank: but such hives would be clumsy, and with us, +expensive. Or he may much more effectually reach the same end, by making +his hives double, so as to enclose an air space all around, which in +Winter may be filled with charcoal, plaster of Paris, straw, or any good +non-conductor, to enable the bees to preserve with the least waste, +their animal heat. I prefer to pack the air-space with plaster of Paris, +as it is one of the very best non-conductors of heat, being used in the +manufacture of the celebrated Salamander fire-proof safes. Hives may be +constructed in this way, which without great expense, may be much better +protected than if they were made of six-inch plank. As the price of +glass is very low, I prefer to construct the inside of my doubled hives +of this material. When a number of hives are to be made, as the lowest +price glass will answer every purpose, I can furnish a given amount of +protection cheaper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"> [122]</a></span> with glass than wood, while the glass possesses some +most decided advantages over any other material. The hives are lighter +and more compact, than when made of doubled wood, and can be more easily +moved, while the Apiarian can gratify his rational curiosity, and +inspect at all times, the condition of his stocks. The very interest +inspired by being able to see what they are doing, will go far to +protect them from that indifference and neglect, which is so often fatal +to their prosperity. The way in which I make my hives, not only protects +the bees against extremes of heat and cold, but it guards them very +effectually, against the injurious and often fatal effects of condensed +moisture. By means of my movable frames, the combs are prevented from +being attached to the sides, top or bottom of the hive; they are in +fact, suspended in the air. If now the dampness can be prevented from +condensing any where, <i>over</i> the bees, so that it may not drip upon +their combs, and if it can be easily discharged from the hive wherever +it may collect, it cannot, under any circumstances, seriously annoy +them. Such are the arrangements in my hives, that but very little +moisture forms in them, and all that does, is deposited on the sides in +preference to any other part of the interior; just as it is upon the +colder walls or windows, rather than the ceiling of a room. But as the +combs are kept away from the sides, this moisture cannot annoy the bees; +nor can it penetrate the glass as it does unpainted wood or straw, thus +causing a more protracted dampness; it must run down their smooth +surfaces, and fall upon the bottom-board, from whence it can be easily +discharged from the hive. By packing in winter, the necessary amount of +protection is secured for the top and sides of the hive, and the very +worst property of glass, (its parting so rapidly with heat,) is changed +into one of the very best for the purposes of a bee-hive. I prefer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"> [123]</a></span> not +only to make the sides of my hive of glass, but of <i>double</i> glass, with +an air space of about an inch between the two panes of glass. The extra +cost<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> of this construction will be amply repaid by the additional +protection given to the bees. It will be absolutely impossible for any +frost ever to penetrate through this air space, and the packing between +the outside case and the main hive. The combs in such a hive cannot be +melted down, even if the hive is exposed to the reflected and +concentrated heat of a blazing sun: the same construction which secures +them against the cold of Winter, equally protecting them from the heat +of Summer. There is one disadvantage to which all well protected hives +of the ordinary construction, are exposed. In the Spring of the year, it +is exceedingly desirable that the warmth of the sun should penetrate the +hives, to encourage the bees in early breeding; but the very arrangement +which protects them from cold, often interferes with this. A bee-hive is +thus like a cellar, warm in Winter, and cool in Summer; but often +unpleasantly cool in the early Spring, when the atmosphere out of doors +is warm and delightful. In my hive, this difficulty is easily remedied. +In the Spring, as soon as the bees begin to fly, on warm, sun-shiny +days, the upper part of the outside case is removed, so that the genial +heat of the sun can penetrate to every part of the hive. The cover must +be replaced while the sun is still shining, so that the hives may be +shut up while they are warm. The labor of doing this, need occupy only a +few minutes daily, and as soon as warm weather fairly sets in, it may be +dispensed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"> [124]</a></span> with. It may be performed without any risk, by a woman or a +boy.</p> + +<p>If the hive is of glass, it will warm up all the better, and as the +combs are on frames, they cannot be melted or injured by the heat. It is +a serious objection to most covered Apiaries, that they do not permit +the hives to receive the genial heat of the sun at a period of the year +when instead of injuring the bees, it exerts a most powerful influence +in developing their brood.</p> + +<p>This is one among many reasons why I have discarded them, and why I +prefer to construct my hives in such a manner that they need no extra +covering, but stand exposed to the full influence of the sun. I have +known strong colonies which have survived the Winter in thin hives, to +increase rapidly and swarm early, because of the stimulating effect of +the sun; while others, deprived of this influence, in dark bee houses +and well protected hives, have sometimes disappointed the hopes of their +owners. Although my glass hives are very beautiful, and most admirably +protected, still hives of doubled wood may often be built to better +advantage by those who construct their own hives, and they can be made +to furnish any desirable amount of protection.</p> + +<p>Enclosed Apiaries are at best but nuisances: they soon become +lurking-places for spiders and moths; and after all the expense wasted +on their construction, afford, but little protection against extreme +cold.</p> + +<p>I have been thus particular on the subject of protection, in order to +convince every bee keeper who exercises common sense, that thin hives +ought to be given up, if either pleasure or profit is sought from his +bees. Such hives an enlightened Apiarian could not be persuaded to +purchase, and he would consider them too expensive in their waste of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"> [125]</a></span> +honey and bees, to be worth accepting, even as a gift. Many strong +colonies which are lodged in badly protected hives, often consume in +extra food, in a single hard winter, more than enough to pay the +difference between the first cost of a good hive over a bad one. In the +severe winter of 1851-2, many cultivators lost nearly all their stocks, +and a large part of those which survived, were too much weakened to be +able to swarm. And yet these same miserable hives, after accomplishing +the work of destruction on one generation of bees, are reserved to +perform the same office for another. And this some call economy!</p> + +<p>I am well aware of the question which many of my readers have for some +time been ready to ask of me. Can you make one of your well protected +hives as cheaply as we construct our common hives? I would remind such +questioners, that it is hardly possible to build a well protected house +as cheaply as a barn.</p> + +<p>And yet by building my hives in solid structures, three together, I am +able to make them for a very moderate price, and still to give them even +better protection than when they are constructed singly. If they are not +built of doubled materials they can be made for as little money as any +other patent hive, and yet afford much greater protection; as the combs +touch neither the top, bottom nor sides of the hive. I recommend however +a construction, which although somewhat more costly at first, is yet +much cheaper in the end.</p> + +<p>Such is the passion of the American people for cheapness in the first +cost of an article, even at the evident expense of dearness in the end, +that many, I doubt not, will continue to lodge their bees in thin hives, +in spite of their conviction of the folly of so doing; just as many of +our shrewdest Yankees build thin wooden houses, in the cold climate of +New England, or plaster their stone or brick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"> [126]</a></span> ones directly on the wall, +when the extra cost of fuel to warm them, far exceeds the interest on +the additional expense which would be necessary to give them the +requisite protection; to say nothing of the doctors' bills, and fatal +diseases which can be traced often to the dreary barns or damp vaults +which they build, and call houses!</p> + + +<h3>Protector.</h3> + +<p>I attach very great importance to the way in which I give the bees +effectual protection against extremes of heat and cold, and sudden +changes of temperature, without removing them from their stands, or +incurring the expense and disadvantages of a covered Bee-House. This I +accomplish by means of what I shall call a <i>Protector</i> which is +constructed substantially as follows.</p> + +<p>Select a dry and suitable location for the bees, where they will not be +disturbed, or prove an annoyance to others. If possible, let it be in +full sight of the sitting room, so that they may be seen in case of +swarming; and let it face the South-East, and be well protected from the +force of strong winds. Dig a trench, about two feet deep; its length +should depend upon the number of hives to be accommodated; and its +breadth should be such that when it is properly walled up, it should +measure from the outside top of one wall to another, just sufficient to +receive the bottom of the hive. The walls, may be built of refuse brick +or stones, and should be about four feet high from the foundation; the +upper six inches being built of good brick, and the back wall about two +inches higher than the front one, so as to give the bottom-board of the +hives, the proper slant towards the entrance. At one end of this +Protector, a wooden chimney should be built, and if the number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"> [127]</a></span> hives +is great, there should be one at each end, admitting air in Winter, and +yet excluding rain and snow. The earth which is thrown out in digging, +should be banked up against the walls as high as the good brick, and in +a slope which, when grassed over, may be easily mowed with a common +scythe. The slope on the back should be more perpendicular than in front +so as not to be in the way when operating upon the hives.</p> + +<p>The bottom may be covered with an inch or two of clean sand and in +winter with straw. In Summer, the ends are left open, so that a free +current of air may pass through, while in Winter, they are properly +banked up; and straw, evergreen boughs, or any other material, suitable +for excluding frost, may if necessary, be placed all around the outside +of the Protector. Such an arrangement will be found very cheap, when +compared with a Bee-House or covered Apiary, and may be made both neat +and highly ornamental. It may be constructed of wood by those who desire +something still cheaper, and any one who can handle a spade, hammer, +plane and saw, can make for himself a structure on which a hundred hives +may stand, at less expense than would be necessary to build a covered +Apiary for ten. As the ventilators of the hive open into this Protector, +the bees are, in Summer, supplied with a cool and refreshing atmosphere, +as closely as possible resembling that which they find in a forest home; +while in Winter, the external entrances of the hives may be safely +closed, and they will receive a supply of air remarkably uniform and +never much below the freezing point. As the hives themselves are double, +no frost can penetrate through them, and thus their interior will almost +always be perfectly dry. When the weather suddenly moderates, and bees +in the common hives fly out, and are lost on the snow, those arranged in +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"> [128]</a></span> manner described, will not know that any change has taken place, +but will remain quiet in their winter quarters, unless the weather is so +warm that their owner judges it safe to open the entrances, so that the +warmth may penetrate their hives, and tempt them to fly, and discharge +their fæces. Let it be remembered that the object of this arrangement is +not to <i>warm up</i> the hives by <i>artificial heat</i>; but merely to enable +the bees to retain to the utmost their own animal heat, to secure the +advantages set forth in this Chapter on Protection. Once or twice during +the Winter, the blocks which regulate the entrances to my hives should +be removed, and as the frames are kept about half an inch from the +bottom-board, by means of a stick or wire, all the dead bees and filth +may, in a few moments, be removed: or as the entrance of the hives by +removing the blocks, may be so enlarged as to offer no obstruction to +its introduction or removal, an old newspaper can be kept on the +bottom-board, and drawn out from time to time, with all its contents.</p> + +<p>A movable board of the same thickness and length with the bottom-boards +of the hive and about six inches wide, separates the hives from each +other, as they stand upon the Protector.</p> + +<p>I have made numerous observations upon the temperature of a Protector +made substantially on the plan described, and find that it is +wonderfully uniform. The lowest range of the thermometer during the +months of January and February, 1853, in the Protector, was 28°; in the +open air, 14° below zero; the highest in the Protector 32°; in the open +air 56°. It will thus be seen that while the thermometer out of doors +had a range of 70°, in the Protector it had a range of only 4°. While +bees in common hives during some warm days flew out and perished in +large numbers on the snow; the bees over the Protector were perfectly +quiet. To this arrangement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"> [129]</a></span> I attach an importance second only to my +movable frames, and believe that combined with doubled hives, it removes +the chief obstacle to the successful cultivation of bees in cold +latitudes.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> In the coldest regions where bees can find supplies in +Summer, they may during a Winter that lasts from November to May, and +during which the mercury congeals, be kept as comfortable as in climates +which seem much more propitious for their cultivation. The more snow the +better, as it serves more the effectually to exclude the cold from the +Protector. However long and dreary the Winter, the bees in their +comfortable quarters feel none of its injurious influences; and actually +consume less, than those which are kept where the winters are short, and +so mild that the bees are often tempted to fly, and are in a state of +almost continual excitement. It is in precisely such latitudes, in +Poland and Russia, that bees are kept in the largest numbers, and with +the most extraordinary success. In the chapter on Pasturage, I shall +show that some of the coldest places in New England, and the Middle +States, are among the most favored spots for obtaining the largest +supplies of the very purest honey.</p> + +<p>Having thoroughly tested the practicability of affording the bees by my +Protector, complete protection against heat and cold, at a very small +expense, and in a way which may be made highly ornamental, the proper +steps will be taken to secure a patent right for the same; although no +extra charge will be made for this, or for any other subsequent +improvement, to those who purchase the right to use my hive.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"> [130]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">VENTILATION OF THE HIVE.</span></h2> + + +<p>If a populous hive is examined on a warm Summer day, a considerable +number of bees will be found standing on the alighting board, with their +heads turned towards the entrance, the extremity of their bodies +slightly elevated, and their wings in such rapid motion that they are +almost as indistinct as the spokes of a wheel, in swift rotation on its +axis. A brisk current of air may be felt proceeding from the hive, and +if a small piece of down be suspended by a thread, it will be blown out +from one part of the entrance, and drawn in at another. What are these +bees expecting to accomplish, that they appear so deeply absorbed in +their fanning occupation, while busy numbers are constantly crowding in +and out of the hive? and what is the meaning of this double current of +air? To Huber, we owe the first satisfactory explanation of these +curious phenomena. These bees plying their rapid wings in such a +singular attitude, are performing the important business of +<i>ventilating</i> the hive; and this double current is composed of pure air +rushing in at one part, to supply the place of the foul air forced out +at another. By a series of the most careful and beautiful experiments, +Huber ascertained that the air of a crowded hive is almost, if not +quite, as pure as the atmosphere by which it is surrounded. Now, as the +entrance to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"> [131]</a></span> such a hive, is often, (more especially in a state of +nature,) very small, the interior air cannot be renewed without resort +to some artificial means. If a lamp is put into a close vessel with only +one small orifice, it will soon exhaust all the oxygen, and go out. If +another small orifice is made, the same result will follow; but if by +some device a current of air is drawn out from one, an equal current +will force its way into the other, and the lamp will burn until the oil +is exhausted.</p> + +<p>It is precisely on this principle, of maintaining a double current by +<i>artificial means</i>, that the bees ventilate their crowded habitations. A +body of active ventilators stands inside of the hive, as well as +outside, all with their heads turned towards the entrance, and by the +rapid fanning of their wings, a current of air is blown briskly out of +the hive, and an equal current drawn in. This important office is one +which requires great physical exertion on the part of those to whom it +is entrusted; and if their proceedings are carefully watched, it will be +found that the exhausted ventilators, are, from time to time, relieved +by fresh detachments. If the interior of the hive will admit of +inspection, in very hot weather, large numbers of these ventilators will +be found in regular files, in various parts of the hive, all busily +engaged in their laborious employment. If the entrance at any time is +contracted, a speedy accession will be made to the numbers, both inside +and outside; and if it is closed entirely, the heat of the hive will +quickly increase, the whole colony will commence a rapid vibration of +their wings, and in a few moments will drop lifeless from the combs, for +want of air.</p> + +<p>It has been proved by careful experiments that pure air is necessary not +only for the respiration of the mature bees, but that without it, +neither the eggs can be hatched, nor the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"> [132]</a></span> larvæ developed. A fine +netting of air-vessels covers the eggs; and the cells of the larvæ are +sealed over with a covering which is full of air holes. In Winter, as +has been stated in the Chapter on Protection, bees, if kept in the dark, +and neither too warm nor too cold, are almost dormant, and seem to +require but a small allowance of air; but even under such circumstances, +they cannot live entirely without air; and if they are excited by being +exposed to atmospheric changes, or by being disturbed, a very loud +humming may be heard in the interior of their hives, and they need quite +as much air as in warm weather.</p> + +<p>If at any time, by moving their hives, or in any other way, bees are +greatly disturbed, it will be unsafe to confine them, especially in warm +weather, unless a very free admission of air is given to them, and even +then, the air ought to be admitted above, as well as below the mass of +bees, or the ventilators may become clogged with dead bees, and the +swarm may perish. Under close confinement, the bees become excessively +heated, and the combs are often melted down. When bees are confined to a +close atmosphere, especially if dampness is added to its injurious +influences, they are sure to become diseased; and large numbers, if not +the whole colony, perish from dysentery. Is it not under circumstances +precisely similar, that cholera and dysentery prove most fatal to human +beings? How often do the filthy, damp and unventilated abodes of the +abject poor, become perfect lazar-houses to their wretched inmates?</p> + +<p>I examined, last Summer, the bees of a new swarm which had been +suffocated for want of air, and found their bodies distended with a +yellow and noisome substance, just as though they had perished from +dysentery. A few were still alive, and instead of honey, their bodies +were filled with this same disgusting fluid; though the bees had not +been shut up, more than two hours.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"> [133]</a></span></p> + +<p>In a medical point of view, I consider these facts as highly +interesting; showing as they do, under what circumstances, and how +speedily, disease may be produced.</p> + +<p>In very hot weather, if thin hives are exposed to the sun's rays, the +bees are excessively annoyed by the intense heat, and have recourse to +the most powerful ventilation, not merely to keep the air of the hive +pure, but to carry off, as much as possible, its internal warmth. They +often leave the interior of the hive, almost in a body, and in thick +masses, cluster on the outside, not simply to escape the close heat +within, but to guard their combs against the danger of being dissolved. +At such times they are particularly careful not to cluster on the combs +containing sealed honey; for as most of these combs have not been lined +with the cocoons of the larvæ, they are, for this reason, as well as on +account of the extra amount of wax used for their covers, much more +liable to be melted, than the breeding cells.</p> + +<p>Apiarians have often noticed the fact, that as a general thing, the bees +leave the honey cells almost entirely bare, as soon as they have sealed +them over; but it seems to have escaped their observation, that in hot +weather, there is often an absolute necessity for such a course. In cool +weather, on the contrary, the bees may often be found clustered among +the sealed honey-combs, because there is then no danger of their melting +down.</p> + +<p>Few things in the range of their wonderful instincts, are so well fitted +to impress the mind with their admirable sagacity, as the truly +scientific device, by which these wise little insects ventilate their +dwellings. I was on the point of saying that it was almost like +human-reason, when the painful and mortifying reflection presented +itself to my mind that in respect to ventilation, the bee is immensely +in advance of the great mass of those who consider themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"> [134]</a></span> as +rational beings. It has, to be sure, no ability to make an elaborate +analysis of the chemical constituents of the atmosphere, and to decide +how large a proportion of oxygen is essential to the support of life, +and how rapidly the process of breathing converts this important element +into a deadly poison. It has not, like Leibig, been able to demonstrate +that God has set the animal and vegetable world, the one over against +the other; so that the carbonic acid produced by the breathing of the +one, furnishes the aliment of the other; which, in turn, gives out its +oxygen for the support of animal life; and that, in this wonderful +manner, God has provided that the atmosphere shall, through all ages, be +as pure as when it first came from His creating hand. But shame upon us! +that with all our intelligence, the most of us live as though pure air +was of little or no importance; while the bee ventilates with a +scientific precision and thoroughness, that puts to the blush our +criminal neglect.</p> + +<p>To this it may be replied that ventilation in our case, cannot be had, +without considerable expense. Can it be had for nothing, by the +industrious bees? Those busy insects, which are so indefatigably plying +their wings, are not engaged in idle amusement; nor might they, as some +would-be utilitarian may imagine, be better employed in gathering honey, +or in superintending some other department in the economy of the hive. +They are at great expense of time and labor, supplying the rest of the +colony with pure air, so conducive in every way, to their health and +prosperity.</p> + +<p>I trust that I shall be permitted to digress, for a short time, from +bees to men, and that the remarks which I shall offer on the subject of +ventilation in human dwellings, may make a deeper impression, in +connection with the wise arrangements of the bee, than they would, if +presented in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"> [135]</a></span> shape of a mere scientific discussion; and that some +who have been in the habit of considering all air, except in the +particular of temperature, as about alike, may be thoroughly convinced +of their mistake.</p> + +<p>Recent statistics prove that consumption and its kindred diseases are +most fearfully on the increase, in the Northern, and more especially in +the New England States; and that the general mortality of Massachusetts +exceeds that of almost every other state in the Union. In these States, +the tendency of increasing attention to manufacturing and mechanical +pursuits, is to compel a larger and larger proportion of the population +to lead an in-door life, and to breathe an atmosphere more or less +vitiated, and thus unfit for the full development of vigorous health. +The importance of pure air can hardly be over-estimated; indeed, the +quality of the air we breath, seems to exert an influence much more +powerful, and hardly less direct, than the mere quality of our food. +Those who, by active exercise in the open air, keep their lungs +saturated as it were, with the pure element, can eat almost anything +with impunity; while those who breath the sorry apology for air which is +to be found in so many habitations, although they may live upon the most +nutritious diet, and avoid the least excess, are incessantly troubled +with head-ache, dyspepsia, and various mental as well as physical +sufferings. Well may such persons, as they witness the healthy forms and +happy faces of so many of the hardy sons of toil, exclaim with the old +Latin poet,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh dura messorum illia!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is with the human family very much as it is with the vegetable +kingdom. Take a plant or tree, and shut it out from the pure air, and +the invigorating light, and though you may supply it with an abundance +of water and the very soil, which by the strictest chemical analysis, is +found to contain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"> [136]</a></span> all the elements that are essential to its vigorous +growth, it will still be a puny thing, ready to droop, if exposed to a +summer's sun, or to be prostrated by the first visitation of a winter's +blast. Compare now, this wretched abortion, with an oak or maple which +has grown upon the comparatively sterile mountain pasture, and whose +branches, in Summer are the pleasant resort of the happy songsters, +while, under its mighty shade, the panting herds drink in a refreshing +coolness. In Winter it laughs at the mighty storms, which wildly toss +its giant branches in the air, and which serve only to exercise the +limbs of the sturdy tree, whose roots deep intertwined among its native +rocks, enable it to bid defiance to anything short of a whirlwind or +tornado.</p> + +<p>To a population, who, for more than two-thirds of the year, are +compelled to breathe an atmosphere heated by artificial means, the +question how can this air be made, at a moderate expense, to resemble, +as far as possible, the purest ether of the skies is, (or as I should +rather say ought to be,) a question of the utmost interest. When open +fires were used, there was no lack of pure air, whatever else might have +been deficient. A capacious chimney carried up through its insatiable +throat, immense volumes of air, to be replaced by the pure element, +whistling in glee, through every crack, crevice and keyhole. Now the +house-builder and stove-maker with but few exceptions<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> seem to have +joined hands in waging a most effectual warfare against the unwelcome +intruder. By labor-saving machinery, they contrive to make the one, the +joints of his wood-work, and the other, those of his iron-work, tighter +and tighter, and if it were possible for them to accomplish fully their +manifest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"> [137]</a></span> design, they would be able to furnish rooms almost as fatal +to life as "the black hole of Calcutta." But in spite of all that they +can do, the materials will shrink, and no fuel has yet been found, which +will burn without any air, so that sufficient ventilation is kept up, to +prevent such deadly occurrences. Still they are tolerably successful in +keeping out the unfriendly element; and by the use of huge +cooking-stoves with towering ovens, and other salamander contrivances, +the little air that can find its way in, is almost as thoroughly cooked, +as are the various delicacies destined for the table.</p> + +<p>On reading an account of a run-away slave, who was for a considerable +time, closely boxed up, a gentleman remarked that if the poor fellow had +only known that a renewal of the air was necessary to the support of +life, he could not have lived there an hour without suffocation: I have +frequently thought that if the occupants of the rooms I have been +describing, could only know as much, they would be in almost similar +danger.</p> + +<p>Bad air, one would think, is bad enough: but when it is heated and dried +to an excessive degree, all its original vileness is stimulated to +greater activity, and thus made doubly injurious by this new element of +evil. Not only our private houses, but our churches and school-rooms, +our railroad cars, and all our places of public assemblage, are, to a +most lamentable degree, either unprovided with any means of ventilation, +or, to a great extent, supplied with those which are so wretchedly +deficient that they</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Keep the word of promise to our ear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And break it to our hope."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>That ultimate degeneracy must surely follow such entire disregard of the +laws of health, cannot be doubted; and those who imagine that the +physical stamina of a people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"> [138]</a></span> can be undermined, and yet that their +intellectual, moral and religious health will suffer no eclipse or +decay, know very little of the intimate connection between body and +mind, which the Creator has seen fit to establish.</p> + +<p>The men may, to a certain extent, resist the injurious influences of +foul air; as their employments usually compel them to live much more out +of doors: but alas, alas! for the poor women! In the very land where +women are treated with more universal deference and respect than in any +other, and where they so well deserve it, there often, no provision is +made to furnish them with that great element of health, cheerfulness and +beauty, heaven's pure, fresh air.</p> + +<p>In Southern climes, where doors and windows may be safely kept open for +a large part of the year, pure air is cheap enough, and can be obtained +without any special effort: but in Northern latitudes, where heated air +must be used for nearly three-quarters of the year, the neglect of +ventilation is fast causing the health and beauty of our women to +disappear. The pallid cheek, or the hectic flush, the angular form and +distorted spine, the debilitated appearance of a large portion of our +females, which to a stranger, would seem to indicate that they were just +recovering from a long illness, all these indications of the lamentable +absence of physical health, to say nothing of the anxious, care-worn +faces and premature wrinkles, proclaim in sorrowful voices, our +violation of God's physical laws, and the dreadful penalty with which He +visits our transgressions.</p> + +<p>Our people must, and I have no doubt that eventually they will be most +thoroughly aroused to the necessity of a vital reform on this important +subject. Open stoves, and cheerful grates and fire-places will again be +in vogue with the mass of the people, unless some better mode of warming +shall be devised, which, at less expense, shall make still more ample<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"> [139]</a></span> +provision for the constant introduction of fresh air. Houses will be +constructed, which, although more expensive in the first cost, will be +far cheaper in the end, and by requiring a much smaller quantity of fuel +to warm the air, will enable us to enjoy the luxury of breathing air +which may be duly tempered, and yet be pure and invigorating. Air-tight +and all other <i>lung-tight</i> stoves will be exploded, as economizing in +fuel only when they allow the smallest possible change of air, and thus +squandering health and endangering life.</p> + +<p>The laws very wisely forbid the erection of wooden buildings in large +cities, and in various ways, prescribe such regulations for the +construction of edifices as are deemed to be essential to the public +welfare; and the time cannot, I trust, be very far distant, when all +public buildings erected for the accommodation of large numbers, will be +required by law, to furnish a supply of fresh air, in some reasonable +degree adequate to the necessities of those who are to occupy them.</p> + +<p>I shall ask no excuse for the honest warmth of language which will +appear extravagant only to those who cannot, or rather will not, see the +immense importance of pure air to the highest enjoyment, not only of +physical, but of mental and moral health. The man who shall succeed in +convincing the mass of the people, of the truth of the views thus +imperfectly presented, and whose inventive mind shall devise a cheap and +efficacious way of furnishing a copious supply of pure air for our +dwellings and public buildings, our steamboats and railroad cars, will +be even more of a benefactor than a Jenner, or a Watt, a Fulton, or a +Morse.</p> + +<p>To return from this lengthy and yet I trust not unprofitable digression.</p> + +<p>In the ventilation of my hive, I have endeavored, as far as possible, to +meet all the necessities of the bees, under the varying circumstances to +which they are exposed, in our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"> [140]</a></span> uncertain climate, whose severe extremes +of temperature impress most forcibly upon the bee-keeper, the maxim of +the Mantuan Bard,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Utraque vis pariter apibus metuenda."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Extremes of heat or cold, alike are hurtful to the bees." In order to +make artificial ventilation of any use to the great majority of +bee-keepers, it must be simple, and not as in Nutt's hive, and many +other labored contrivances, so complicated as to require almost as +constant supervision as a hot-bed or a green-house. The very foundation +of any system of ventilation should be such a construction of the hive +that the bees shall need a change of air only for breathing.</p> + +<p>In the Chapter on Protection, I have explained the construction of my +hives, and of the Protector by which the bees being kept warm in Winter, +and cool in Summer, do not require, as in thin hives, a very free +introduction of air, in hot weather, to keep the combs from softening; +or a still larger supply in Winter, to prevent them from moulding, and +to dry up the moisture which runs from their icy tops and sides; and +which, if suffered to remain, will often affect the bees with dysentery, +or as it is sometimes called, "the rot." The intelligent Apiarian will +perceive that I thus imitate the natural habitation of the bees in the +recesses of a hollow tree in the forest, where they feel neither the +extremes of heat nor cold, and where through the efficacy of their +ventilating powers, a very small opening admits all the air which is +necessary for respiration.</p> + +<p>In the Chapter on the Requisites of a good hive, I have spoken of the +importance of furnishing ventilation, independently of the entrance. By +such an arrangement, I am able to improve upon the method which the bees +are compelled to adopt in a state of nature. As they have no means of +admitting air by wire-cloth, and at the same time, of effectually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"> [141]</a></span> +excluding all intruders, they are obliged in very hot weather, and in a +very crowded state of their dwellings, to employ a larger force in the +laborious business of ventilation, than would otherwise be necessary; +while in Winter, they have no means of admitting air which is only +moderately cool. I can keep the entrance so small, that only a single +bee can go in at once, or I can, if circumstances require, entirely +close it, and yet the bees need not suffer for the want of air. In all +ordinary cases, the ventilators will admit a sufficient supply of duly +tempered air from the Protector, and the bees can, at any time, increase +their efficiency by their own direct agency, while yet they will, at no +time, admit a strong current of chilly air, so as to endanger the life +of the brood. As bees are, at all times, prone to close the ventilators +with propolis, they must be placed where they can easily be removed, and +cleansed, by soaking them in boiling water.</p> + +<p>As respects ventilation from above, as well as from below, so as to +allow a free current of air to pass through the hive, I am decidedly +opposed to it, as in cool and windy weather, such a current often +compels the bees to retire from the brood, which in this way is +destroyed by a fatal chill. In thin hives, ventilation from above may be +desirable in Winter, to carry off the superfluous moisture, but in +properly constructed hives, standing over a Protector, there is, as has +already been remarked, little or no dampness to be carried off. The +construction of my hives will allow, if at all desirable, of ventilation +from above; and I always make use of it, when the bees are to be shut up +for any length of time, in order to be moved; as in this case, there is +always a risk that the ventilators on the bottom-board may be clogged by +dead bees, and the colony suffocated. As the entrance of the hive, may +in a moment, be enlarged to any desirable extent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"> [142]</a></span> without in the least +perplexing the bees, any quantity of air may be admitted, which the +necessities of the bees, under any possible circumstances, may require. +It may be made full 18 inches in length, but as a general rule, in +Summer, in a large colony, it need not exceed six inches: while in +Spring and Fall, two or three inches will suffice. In Winter, it should +be entirely closed; unless in latitudes so warm, that even with the +Protector, the bees cannot be kept quiet. The bee-keeper should never +forget that it is almost certain destruction to a colony, to confine +them when they wish to fly out. The precautions requisite to prevent +robbing, will be subsequently described. In Northern latitudes, in the +months of April and May, I prefer to keep the ventilators entirely +closed; as the air of the Protector, at such times, like the air of a +cellar in Spring, is uncomfortably cool, and has a tendency to interfere +with breeding.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—Since the remarks on the neglect of ventilation were put in +type, my attention has been called by Hon. M. P. Wilder, of +Dorchester, to an article on the same subject, in +the Nov. number of the Horticulturist, for 1850, from the pen of the +lamented Downing. It seems to have been written shortly after his +return from Europe, and when he must have been most deeply impressed +by the woful contrast, in point of physical health between the women +of America and Europe. While he speaks in just and therefore glowing +terms of the virtues of our countrywomen, he says: "But in the +<i>signs of physical health</i> and all that constitutes the outward +aspect of the men and women of the United States, our countrymen and +especially countrywomen, compare most unfavorably with all but the +absolutely starving classes on the other side of the Atlantic." +Close stoves he has most appropriately styled "little demons," and +impure air "The favorite poison of America." His article concludes +as follows:</p> + +<p>"Pale countrymen and countrywomen rouse yourselves! Consider that +God has given us an atmosphere of pure health-giving air 45 miles +high, and <i>ventilate your houses</i>."</p></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"> [143]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">NATURAL SWARMING, AND HIVING OF SWARMS.</span></h2> + + +<p>The swarming of bees has been justly regarded as one of the most +beautiful sights in the whole compass of rural economy. Although, for +reasons which will hereafter be assigned, I prefer to rely chiefly on +artificial means for the multiplication of colonies, I should be very +unwilling to pass a season without participating, to some extent, in the +pleasing excitement of natural swarming.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Up mounts the chief, and to the cheated eye<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ten thousand shuttles dart along the sky;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As swift through æther rise the rushing swarms,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gay dancing to the beam their sun-bright forms;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And each thin form, still ling'ring on the sight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trails, as it shoots, a line of silver light.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">High pois'd on buoyant wing, the thoughtful queen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In gaze attentive, views the varied scene,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And soon her far-fetch'd ken discerns below<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The light laburnum lift her polish'd brow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wave her green leafy ringlets o'er the glade,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And seem to beckon to her friendly shade.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Swift as the falcon's sweep, the monarch bends<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her flight abrupt; the following host descends.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Round the fine twig, like cluster'd grapes, they close<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In thickening wreaths, and court a short repose."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>The swarming of bees, by making provision for the constant +multiplication of colonies, was undoubtedly intended both to guard the +insect against the possibility of extinction, and to make its labors in +the highest degree useful to man. The laws of reproduction in those +insects which do not live<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"> [144]</a></span> in regular colonies, are such as to secure an +ample increase of numbers. The same is true in the case of hornets, +wasps and humble-bees which live in colonies only during the warm +weather. In the Fall of the year, all the males perish, while the +impregnated females retreat into winter quarters and remain dormant, +until the warm weather restores them to activity, and each one becomes +the mother of a new family.</p> + +<p>The honey bee differs from all these insects, in being compelled, by the +laws of its physical organization, to live in communities, during the +entire year. The balmy breezes of Spring will quickly thaw out the +frozen veins of a torpid Wasp; but the bee is incapable of enduring even +a moderate degree of cold: a temperature as low as 50° speedily chills +it, and it would be quite as easy to recall to life the stiffened +corpses in the charnel house of the Convent of the Great St. Bernard, as +to restore to animation, a frozen bee. In cool weather, they must +therefore associate in large numbers, in order to maintain the animal +heat which is necessary to their preservation; and the formation of new +colonies, after the manner of wasps and hornets, is clearly impossible. +If the young queens left the parent stock in Summer, and were able, like +the mother-wasps, to lay the foundations of a new colony, they could not +maintain the warmth requisite for the development of their young, even +if they were able, without any baskets on their thighs, to gather +bee-bread for their support. If all these difficulties were surmounted, +they would still be unable to amass any treasures for our use, or even +to lay up the stores requisite for their own preservation.</p> + +<p>How admirably are all these difficulties obviated by the present +arrangement! Their domicile is well supplied with all the materials for +the rearing of brood, and long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"> [145]</a></span> before any of the insects which depend +upon the heat of the sun, are able to commence breeding, the bees have +added thousands in the full vigor of youth to their already numerous +population. They are thus able to send off in season, colonies +sufficiently powerful to take advantage of the honey-harvest, and +provision the new hive against the approach of Winter. From these +considerations, it is very evident that swarming, so far from being, as +some Apiarians have considered it, a forced or unnatural event, is one, +which in a state of nature, could not possibly be dispensed with.</p> + +<p>Let us now inquire under what circumstances it ordinarily takes place.</p> + +<p>The time when swarms may be expected, depends of course, upon climate, +season, and the strength of the stocks. In the Northern and Middle +States, bees seldom swarm before the latter part of May; and June may be +considered as the great swarming month. The importance of having +powerful swarms early in the season, will be discussed in another place.</p> + +<p>In the Spring, as soon as a hive well filled with comb and bees, becomes +too much crowded to accommodate its teeming population, the bees begin +the necessary preparations for emigration. A number of royal cells are +commenced about the time that the drones first make their appearance; +and by the time that the young queens arrive at maturity, the drones are +always found in the greatest abundance. The first swarm is invariably +led off by the old queen, unless she has previously died from accident +or disease, in which case, it is accompanied by one of the young queens +reared to supply her loss. The old mother leaves soon after the royal +cells are sealed over, unless delayed by unfavorable weather. There are +no signs from which the Apiarian can,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"> [146]</a></span> with certainty, predict the issue +of a first swarm. I devoted annually, much attention to this point, +vainly hoping to discover some infallible indications of first swarming; +until taught by further reflection that, from the very nature of the +case, there can be no such indications. The bees, from an unfavorable +state of the weather, or the failure of the blossoms to yield an +abundant supply of honey, often change their minds, and refuse to swarm, +even after all their preparations have been completed. Nay more, they +sometimes send out no new colonies that season, when a sudden change of +weather has interrupted them on the very day when they were intending to +emigrate, and after they had taken a full supply of honey for their +journey.</p> + +<p>If on a fair, warm day in the swarming season, but few bees leave a +strong hive, while other colonies are busily at work, we may, unless the +weather suddenly prove unfavorable, look with great confidence for a +swarm. As the old queens, which accompany the first swarm, are heavy +with eggs, and fly with considerable difficulty, they are shy of +venturing out, except on fair, still days. If the weather is very +sultry, a swarm will sometimes issue as early as 7 o'clock in the +morning; but from 10 to 2, is the usual time, and the majority of swarms +come off from 11 to 1. Occasionally, a swarm will venture out as late as +5 P. M. An old queen is seldom guilty of such a piece of indiscretion.</p> + +<p>I have in repeated instances witnessed the whole process of swarming, in +my observing hives. On the day fixed for their departure, the queen +appears to be very restless, and instead of depositing her eggs in the +cells, she travels over the combs, and communicates her agitation to the +whole colony. The emigrating bees fill themselves with honey, some time +before their departure: in one instance, I noticed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"> [147]</a></span> them laying in their +supplies, more than two hours before they left. A short time before the +swarm rises, a few bees may generally be seen, sporting in the air, with +their heads turned always to the hive, occasionally flying in and out, +as though they were impatient for the important event to take place. At +length, a very violent agitation commences in the hive: the bees appear +almost frantic, whirling around in a circle, which continually enlarges, +like the circles made by a stone thrown into still water, until at last +the whole hive is in a state of the greatest ferment, and the bees rush +impetuously to the entrance, and pour forth in one steady stream. Not a +bee looks behind, but each one pushes straight ahead, as though flying +"for dear life," or urged on by some invisible power, in its headlong +career. The queen often does not come out, until a large number have +left, and she is frequently so heavy, from the large number of eggs in +her ovaries, that she falls to the ground, incapable of rising with the +colony into the air.</p> + +<p>The bees are very soon aware of her absence, and a most interesting +scene may now be witnessed. A diligent search is immediately made for +their missing mother; the swarm scatters in all directions, and I have +frequently seen the leaves of the adjoining trees and bushes, almost as +thickly covered with the anxious explorers, as they are with drops of +rain after a copious shower. If she cannot be found, they return to the +old hive, though occasionally they attempt to enter some other hive, or +join themselves to another swarm if any is still unhived.</p> + +<p>The ringing of bells, and beating of kettles and frying-pans, is one of +the good old ways more honored by the breach than the observance; it may +answer a very good purpose in amusing the children, but I believe that +as far as the bees are concerned, it is all time thrown away; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"> [148]</a></span> that +it is not a whit more efficacious than the custom practiced by some +savage tribes, who, when the sun is eclipsed, imagining that it has been +swallowed by an enormous dragon, resort to the most frightful noises, to +compel his snake-ship to disgorge their favorite luminary. If a swarm +has selected a new home previous to their departure, no amount of +<i>noise</i> will ever compel them to alight, but as soon as all the bees +which compose the emigrating colony have left the hive, they fly in a +direct course, or "bee-line," to the chosen spot. I have noticed that +when bees are much neglected by those who pretend to take care of them, +such unceremonious leave-taking is quite common; on the contrary, when +proper attention is bestowed on them, it seldom occurs.</p> + +<p>It can seldom if ever occur to those who manage their bees according to +my system; as I shall show in the Chapter on Artificial Swarming. If the +Apiarian perceives that his swarm instead of clustering begins to rise +higher and higher in the air, and evidently means to depart, not a +moment is to be lost: instead of empty noises, he must resort to means +much more effective to stay their vagrant propensities. Handfulls of +dirt cast into the air, or water thrown among them, will often so +disorganize them as to compel them to alight. Of all devices for +stopping them, the most original one that I have ever heard of, is to +flash the sun's rays among them, by the use of a looking glass! I have +never had occasion to try it, but the anonymous writer who recommends +it, says that he never knew it to fail. If they are forcibly prevented +from eloping, then special care must be taken or they will be almost +sure soon after hiving, to leave for their selected home. The queen +should be caught and confined for several days in a way which will be +subsequently described. The same caution must be exercised, when new +swarms abandon their hive. If the queen cannot be caught,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"> [149]</a></span> and there is +reason to dread a desertion, the bees may be carried into the cellar, +and confined in total darkness, until towards sun-set of the third day +after they swarmed, being supplied in the mean time with water and honey +to build their combs.</p> + +<p>If a colony decides to go, they look upon the hive in which they are put +as only a temporary stopping place, and seldom trouble themselves to +build any comb in it. If the hive is so constructed as to permit +inspection, I can tell by a glance whether bees are disgusted with their +new residence, and mean before long to clear out. They not only refuse +to work with that energy so characteristic of a new swarm, but they have +a peculiar look which to the experienced eye at once proclaims the fact +that they are staying only upon sufferance. Their very attitude, hanging +as they do with a sort of dogged or supercilious air, as though they +hated even so much as to touch their detested abode, is equivalent to an +open proclamation that they mean to be off. My numerous experiments in +attempting from the moment of hiving, to make the bees work in observing +hives exposed to the full light of day, instead of keeping them as I now +do in darkness for several days, have made me quite familiar with all +their graceless, do-nothing proceedings before their departure. Bees +sometimes abandon their hives very early in the Spring, or late in +Summer or Fall. They exhibit all the appearance of natural swarming; but +they leave, not because the population is crowded, but because it is +either so small, or the hive so destitute of supplies, that they are +discouraged or driven to desperation. I once knew a colony to leave the +hive under such circumstances, on a springlike day in December! They +seem to have a presentiment that they must perish if they stay, and +instead of awaiting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"> [150]</a></span> the sure approach of famine, they sally +out to see if something cannot be done to better their condition.</p> + +<p>At first sight, it seems strange that so provident an insect should not +always select a suitable domicile before venturing on so important a +step as to abandon the old home. Often before they are safely housed +again, they are exposed to powerful winds and drenching rains, which +beat down and destroy many of their number.</p> + +<p>I solve this problem in the economy of the bee, in the same manner that +I have solved so many others, by considering in what way, this +arrangement conduces to the advantage of man.</p> + +<p>The honey-bee would have been of comparatively little service to him, if +instead of tarrying until he had sufficient time to establish them in a +hive in which to labor for him, their instinct impelled them to decamp, +without any delay, from the restraints of domestication. In this, as in +many other things, we see that what on a superficial view, appeared to +be a very obvious imperfection, proves, on closer examination, to be a +special contrivance to answer important ends.</p> + +<p>To return to our new swarm. The queen sometimes alights first, and +sometimes joins the cluster after it has commenced forming. It is a very +rare thing for the bees ever to cluster, unless the queen is with them; +and when they do, and yet afterwards disperse, I believe that usually +the queen, after first rising with them, has been lost by falling into +some spot where she is unnoticed by the bees. In two instances, I +performed the following interesting experiment.</p> + +<p>Perceiving a hive in the very act of swarming, I contracted the entrance +so as to secure the queen when she made her appearance. In each case, at +least one third of the bees<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"> [151]</a></span> came out, before the queen presented +herself to join them. When I perceived that the swarm had given up their +search for her, and were beginning to return to the parent hive, I +placed her, with her wings clipped, on the limb of a small evergreen +tree: she crawled to the very top of the limb, as if for the purpose of +making herself as conspicuous as possible. A few bees noticed her, and +instead of alighting, darted rapidly away; in a few seconds, the whole +colony were apprised of her presence, flew in a dense cloud to the spot, +and commenced quietly clustering around her. I have often noticed the +surprising rapidity with which bees communicate with each +other, while on the wing. Telegraphic signals are hardly more +instantaneous. (See Chapter on the <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Loss of the Queen</a>.)</p> + +<p>That bees send out scouts to seek a suitable abode, it seems to me, can +admit of no serious question. Swarms have been traced to their new home, +either in their flight directly from their hive, or from the place where +they have clustered; and it is evident, that in such instances, they +have pursued the most direct course. Now such a precision of flight to a +"<i>terra incognita</i>," an unknown home, would plainly be impossible, if +some of their number had not previously selected the spot, so as to be +competent to act as guides to the rest. The sight of the bees for +distant objects, is wonderfully acute, and after rising to a sufficient +elevation, they can see the prominent objects in the vicinity of their +intended abode, even although they may be several miles distant. Whether +the bees send out their scouts <i>before</i> or <i>after</i> swarming, may admit +of more question. In cases where the colony flies without alighting, to +its new home, they are unquestionably dispatched before swarming. If +this were their usual course, then we should naturally expect all the +colonies to take the same speedy departure. Or if, for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"> [152]</a></span> convenience +of the queen over fatigued by the excitement of swarming, or for any +other reason, they should see fit to cluster, then we should expect that +only a transient tarrying would be allowed. Instead of this, they often +remain until the next day, and instances of a more protracted delay are +not unfrequent. The cases which occur, of bees stopping in their flight, +and clustering again on any convenient object, are not inconsistent with +this view of the subject; for if the weather is hot, and the sun shines +directly upon them, they will often leave before they have found a +suitable habitation; and even when they are on the way to their new +home, the queen being heavy with eggs, and unaccustomed to fly, is +sometimes from weariness, compelled to alight, and her colony clusters +around her. Queens, under such circumstances, sometimes seem unwilling +to entrust themselves again to their wings, and the poor bees attempt to +lay the foundations of their colony, on fence rails, hay-stacks, or +other most unsuitable places.</p> + +<p>I have been informed by Mr. Henry M. Zollickoffer of Philadelphia, a +very intelligent and reliable observer, that he knew a swarm to settle +on a willow tree in that city, in a lot owned by the Pennsylvania +Hospital; it remained there for sometime, and the boys pelted it with +stones, to get possession of its comb and honey.</p> + +<p>The absolute necessity for scouts or explorers, is evident from all the +facts in the case, unless we admit that bees have the faculty of flying +in an air-line to a hollow tree, or some suitable abode which they have +never seen, though they cannot find their hive, if, in their absence, it +is moved only a few rods from its former position.</p> + +<p>These obvious considerations are abundantly confirmed by the repeated +instances in which a few bees have been noticed prying very +inquisitively into a hole in a hollow tree<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"> [153]</a></span> or the cornice of a +building, and have been succeeded, before long, by a whole colony. The +importance of these remarks will be more obvious, when I come to discuss +the proper mode of hiving bees.</p> + +<p>Having described the common method of procedure pursued by the new +swarm, when left without interference to their natural instincts, it is +time to return to the parent stock from which they emigrated.</p> + +<p>In witnessing the immense number which have abandoned it, we might +naturally suppose that it must be almost entirely depopulated. It is +sometimes asserted that as bees swarm in the pleasantest part of the +day, the population is replenished by the return of large numbers of +workers that were absent in the fields; this, however, can seldom be the +case, as it is rare for many bees to be absent from the hive at the time +of swarming.</p> + +<p>To those who limit the fertility of the queen to 200, or at most 400 +eggs per day, the rapid replenishing of the hive after swarming, must +ever be a problem incapable of solution; but to those who have ocular +demonstration that she can lay from one to three thousand eggs a day, it +is no mystery at all. A sufficient number of bees is always left behind, +to carry on the domestic operations of the hive, and as the old queen +departs only when the population of the hive is super-abundant; and when +thousands of young bees are hatching daily, and often 30,000 or more, +are rapidly maturing, in a short time the hive is almost as populous as +it was before swarming. Those who assert that the new colony is composed +of young bees which have been forced to emigrate by the older ones, have +certainly failed to use their eyes to much advantage, or they would have +seen, in hiving a new swarm, that it is composed of both young and old; +some, having wings ragged from hard work, while others are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"> [154]</a></span> evidently +quite young. After the tumult of swarming is entirely over, not a bee +that did not participate in it, seeks afterwards to join the new colony, +and not one that did, seeks to return. What determines some to go, and +others to stay, we have no certain means of knowing.</p> + +<p>How wonderfully abiding the impression made upon an insect, which in a +moment causes it to lose all its strong affection for the old home in +which it was bred, and which it has entered, perhaps hundreds of times; +so that when established in another hive, though only a few feet +distant, it never afterwards pays the slightest attention to its former +abode! Often, when the hive into which the new swarm is put, is not +removed from the place where the bees were hived, until some have gone +to the fields, on their return, they fly for hours, in ceaseless circles +about the spot where the missing hive stood. I have often known them to +continue the vain search for their companions until they have, at +length, dropped down from utter exhaustion, and perished in close +proximity to their old homes!</p> + +<p>It has been already stated that the old queen, if the weather is +favorable, generally leaves about the time that the young queens are +sealed over, to be changed into nymphs. In about eight days more, one of +these queens hatches, and the question must now be decided whether any +more colonies are to be sent out that season, or not. If the hive is +well filled with bees, and the season in all respects promising, this +question is generally decided in the affirmative; although colonies +often refuse to swarm more than once when they are very strong, and when +we can assign no reason for such a course; and they sometimes swarm +repeatedly, to the utter ruin of both the old stock, and the +after-swarms.</p> + +<p>If the bees decide to swarm again, the first hatched queen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"> [155]</a></span> is allowed +to have her own way. She rushes immediately to the cells of her sisters, +and, (as was described in the Chapter on Physiology,) stings them to +death. From some observations that I have made, I am inclined to think +that the other bees aid her in this murderous transaction: they +certainly tear open the cradles of the slaughtered innocents, and remove +them from the cells. Their dead bodies may often be found on the ground +in front of the hive.</p> + +<p>When a queen has emerged in the natural way from her cell, the bees +usually nibble away the now useless abode, until only a small acorn cup +remains; but when by violence she has met with an untimely end, they +take down entirely the whole of the cell. By counting these acorn-cups, +it can always be ascertained how many young queens have hatched in a +hive.</p> + +<p>Before the queens emerge from their cells, a fluttering sound is +frequently heard, which is caused by the rapid motion of their wings, +and which must not be confounded with the piping notes which will soon +be described. If the bees of the parent stock decide to swarm again, the +first hatched queen is prevented from killing the others. A strong guard +is kept over their cells, and as often as she approaches them with +murderous intent, she is bitten, or otherwise rudely treated, and given +to understand by the most uncourtier-like demonstrations, that she +cannot, in all things, do just as she pleases.</p> + +<p>When thus repulsed, like men and women who cannot have their own way, +she is highly offended and utters an angry sound, given forth in a quick +succession of notes, and which sounds not unlike the rapid utterance of +the words, "peep, peep." I have frequently, by holding a queen in the +closed hand, caused her to make the same noise. To this angry note, one +or more of the queens still unhatched,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"> [156]</a></span> will respond, in a somewhat +hoarser key, just as chicken-cocks, by crowing, bid defiance to each +other. These sounds are entirely unlike the usual steady hum of the +bees, and when heard, are the almost infallible indications that a +second swarm will soon issue. They are occasionally so loud that they +may be heard at some distance from the hive.</p> + +<p>About a week after first swarming, the Apiarian should, early in the +morning or at evening, when the bees are still, place his ear against +the hive, and he will, if the queens are piping, readily recognize their +peculiar sounds. If their notes are not heard, at the very latest, +sixteen days after the departure of the first swarm, by which time the +young queens are mature, even if the first colony left as soon as the +eggs were deposited in the royal cells, it is an infallible indication +that the first hatched queen is without rivals in the hive, and that +swarming is over, in that stock, for the season.</p> + +<p>The second swarm usually issues on the second or third day after this +sound is heard: although I have known them to delay coming out, until +the fifth day, in consequence of a very unfavorable state of the +weather. Occasionally, the weather is so unfavorable, that the bees +permit the oldest queen to kill the others, and refuse to swarm again. +This is a rare occurrence, as the young queens, unlike the old ones, do +not appear to be very particular about the weather, and sometimes +venture out, not merely when it is cloudy, but even when rain is +falling. On this account, if a very close watch is not kept, they are +often lost. As piping ordinarily commences about eight or nine days +after first swarming, the second swarm generally issues ten or twelve +days after the first. It has been known to issue as early as the third +day after the first, and as late as the seventeenth. Such cases, +however, are of rare occurrence. It frequently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"> [157]</a></span> happens in the agitation +of swarming, that several of the young queens emerge from their cells at +the same time, and accompany the colony: when this is the case, the bees +often alight in two or more separate clusters. Young queens not having +their ovaries burdened with eggs, are much more quick on the wing, than +old ones, and fly frequently much farther from the parent stock, before +they alight; though I never knew a second swarm to depart to the woods +without clustering at all. After the departure of a second swarm, the +oldest of the remaining queens leaves her cell; and if another swarm is +to be sent forth, piping will still be heard, and so before the issue of +each swarm after the first. I once had five stocks issue from one swarm, +and they all came out in about two weeks. In warm latitudes more than +twice this number of swarms have been known to issue in one season from +a single stock. The third swarm commonly makes its appearance on the +second or third day after the second swarm, and the others, at intervals +of about a day.</p> + +<p>After-swarms, or casts, (these names are given to all swarms after the +first,) reduce very seriously the strength of the parent stock; for +after the departure of the old queen, no more eggs are deposited in the +cells, until all swarming is over. It is a very wise arrangement that +the second swarm does not ordinarily issue until all the eggs left by +the first queen are hatched, and the young fed and sealed over, so as to +require no further care. The departure of the second swarm earlier than +this, would leave too few laborers to attend to the wants of the young +bees. As it is, if the weather after swarming, suddenly becomes chilly, +and the hives are thin and admit too much air, the bees are too much +reduced in numbers, to maintain the heat requisite for the proper +development of the brood, and numbers are destroyed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"> [158]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the Chapter on Artificial Swarming, I shall discuss the effect of too +frequent swarming, on the profits of the Apiary. If the bee-keeper +desires to have no casts, he can, by the use of my hives, very easily, +prevent their issue. As soon as the first swarm is hived, the parent +stock may be opened, and all the queen cells except one removed. How +much better this is, than to attempt to return the after-swarms to the +parent hive, can only be appreciated by one who has thoroughly tried +both plans. If the Apiarian desires the most rapid multiplication of +colonies possible, where natural swarming is relied on, full directions +will be furnished, in the sequel, for building up all after-swarms, +however small, into vigorous stocks. It will be remembered that both the +parent stock from which the swarm issues, and all the colonies except +the first, have a young queen. These queens never leave the hive for +impregnation, until after they have been established as the acknowledged +heads of independent families. They generally go out for this purpose, +the first pleasant day after they are thus acknowledged, early in the +afternoon, at which hour the drones are flying in the greatest numbers. +On first leaving their hive, they always fly with their heads turned +towards it, and enter and depart often several times before they finally +soar up into the air. Such precautions on the part of a young queen, are +highly necessary that she may not mistake her own hive on her return, +and lose her life by attempting to enter that of another colony. +Mistakes of this kind are frequently made when the hives stand near, and +closely resemble each other, and are fatal, not only to the queen, but +to her whole colony. In the new hive there is no brood at all, and in +the old one it is too far advanced towards maturity to answer for +raising new queens. Such calamities, in my hive, admit of a very easy +remedy, as I shall show in the Chapter on the Loss of the Queen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"> [159]</a></span></p> + +<p>To guard the young queen against such frequent mistakes, I paint the +covered fronts of my hives, with the alighting boards, and blocks +guarding the entrance, of different colors. This answers the same +purpose as to paint the whole surface of the boxes, some of one color, +and some of another. The only proper color for a hive when exposed to +the weather, is a perfect white; any shade of color will absorb the heat +of the sun, so as to warp the wood-work of the hive, besides exposing +the bees to a pent and suffocating heat.</p> + +<p>When a young queen leaves the hive for the purpose above mentioned, the +bees, on missing her, are often filled with alarm, and rush from the +hive, just as though they were intending to swarm. Their agitation soon +calms down, if she returns to them in safety. I shall give through the +medium of the Latin tongue, some statements which are important only to +the scientific naturalist, and entomologist.</p> + +<p>Post coitum fucus statim perit. Penis ejectio, ut ego comperi, lenem +compressionem fuci ventris, consequitur; et fucus extemplo similis +fulmine tacto, moritur. Dominus Huber sæpe videbat fuci organum post +congressum, in corpore feminæ hæsisse. Vidi semel tam firme inhærens, ut +nisi disruptione reginæ ventris, non possim divellere.</p> + +<p>The queen commences laying eggs, about two days after impregnation, and +for the first season, lays none but the eggs of workers; no males being +needed in colonies which will throw no swarm till another season. It is +seldom until after she has commenced replenishing the cells with eggs, +that she is treated with any special attention by the bees; although if +deprived of her before this time, they show, by their despair, that they +thoroughly comprehended her vast importance to their welfare.</p> + +<p>I shall now give such practical directions for the easy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"> [160]</a></span> hiving of +swarms, as will, I trust, greatly facilitate the whole operation, not +merely to the novice, but even to many experienced bee-keepers; and I +shall try to make these directions sufficiently minute, to guide those +who having never seen a swarm hived, are very apt to imagine that the +process must be a formidable one, instead of being, as it usually is to +those who are fond of bees, a most delightful entertainment. Experience +in this, as in other things, will speedily give the requisite skill and +confidence; and the cry of "the bees are swarming," will soon be hailed +with greater pleasure than an invitation to the most sumptuous banquet.</p> + +<p>The hives for the new swarms should all be in readiness before the +swarming season begins, and should be painted long enough beforehand, to +have the paint most thoroughly dried. The smell of fresh paint is well +known to be exceedingly injurious to human beings, and is such an +abomination to the bees, that they will often desert a new hive sooner +than put up with it. If the hives cannot be painted in ample season, +then such paints should be used, as contain no white lead, and they +should be mixed in such a manner as to dry as quickly as possible. Thin +hives ought never to stand in the sun, and then, when heated to an +insufferable degree, be used for a new swarm. Bees often refuse to enter +such hives at all, and at best, are very slow in taking possession of +them. It should be borne in mind, that bees, when they swarm, are +greatly excited, and unnaturally heated. The temperature of the hive, at +the moment of swarming, rises very suddenly, and many of the bees are +often drenched with such a profuse perspiration that they are unable to +take wing and join the departing colony. The attempt to make bees enter +a heated hive in a blazing sun, is as irrational as it would be to try +to force a panting crowd of human beings into the suffocating atmosphere +of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"> [161]</a></span> close garret. If bees are to be put in hives through which the +heat of the sun can penetrate, the process should be accomplished in the +shade, or if this cannot conveniently be done, the hive should be +covered with a sheet, or shaded with leafy boughs. If a hive with my +movable frames is used, these should all be furnished, or at least, +every other one, with a small piece of worker-comb, attached to the +center of the frame, with melted wax or rosin. Without such a guide +comb, the bees will almost always work some of the combs out of the true +direction, and this will interfere with their easy removal. A sheet of +comb, not larger than five inches square, will answer for all the frames +of one hive. If even so small a piece of comb as this cannot be +procured, let a thin line of melted wax be drawn, lengthwise, over the +middle of each frame, and let the colony be examined, on the second day +after hiving, and all the frames which contain irregular comb, be +removed. This comb may be cut off, and attached so as to serve as a +proper guide to the bees. The possession of six frames containing good +worker comb, and wrought with perfect accuracy, may be made by the +following device, to answer a most admirable end. Put them into a hive +with six empty frames; first a frame with comb, then an empty one, &c. +After the bees have had possession of this hive two or three days, visit +them, and very politely inform them that the full frames were intended +as a loan, and not as a gift; and that having served to set them an +example how they should work, you must now have them to teach other +young swarms the same useful lesson; and that the new combs which they +have built with such admirable regularity, are beautiful patterns for +the empty ones which you must give them. In this way, the same combs may +be made to answer for many successive swarms.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"> [162]</a></span></p> + +<p>Drone combs should never be attached to the frames as a guide, unless it +is desired to have the bees follow the pattern, and build large ranges +of drone comb, to breed a vast horde of useless consumers. Such comb, if +white, may be used to great advantage in the surplus honey-boxes; if old +and discolored, it should be melted for wax. I am now engaged in a +course of experiments, which I hope, will enable me to dispense with the +necessity of guide-combs for my frames, as they are sometimes difficult +to be procured by those who have just commenced bee-keeping. As a +general thing, however, every one, after a few weeks' experience, may +have enough and to spare, for such purposes. Every piece of good +worker-comb, if large enough to be attached to a frame, should be used +both for its intrinsic value, and because bees are so wonderfully +pleased when they find such unexpected treasures in a hive, that they +will seldom desert it. A new swarm has been known to take possession of +an old hive without any occupants, but well stored with comb. Though +dozens of empty hives may be in the Apiary, they never unless under such +circumstances, enter a hive, of their own accord. It might seem as +though an instinct impelling them to do so, would have been a most +admirable one, and so doubtless, it may seem to some that it would have +been much better for man, if the earth had only brought forth +spontaneously all things requisite for the support of man and beast, +without any necessity for the sweat of the brow. The first and last +frames in my hive, are placed about a quarter of an inch from the ends, +and the others just half an inch apart. When first put in, it will be +advisable to attach them slightly with a very little glue or melted wax, +to keep them in their places, until they are fastened with propolis, by +the bees. The rubbing of hives with various kinds of herbs or washes, +has always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"> [163]</a></span> seemed to me, useless, and often positively injurious. There +ought always to be some small trees near the hives, on which the swarms +can cluster, and from which they can be easily gathered. If there are +none, limbs of trees about six feet high, (evergreens are best,) may be +fastened into the ground, a few rods in front of the hives, and they +will answer a very good temporary purpose. It will inspire the +inexperienced Apiarian with much greater confidence, to remember that +almost all the bees in a swarm, have filled themselves with honey, +before leaving the parent stock, and are therefore in a very peaceable +mood. If he is at all timid, or liable, as some are, to suffer severely +from the sting of a single bee, he should, by all means, furnish himself +with the protection of a bee-dress. (See <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Bee-Dress</a>.)</p> + +<p>I shall, in another place, give the best remedies for the relief of a +sting. As soon as the bees have quietly clustered around their queen, +preparation should be made to hive them without any unnecessary delay. +The headlong haste of some Apiarians, which, by throwing them into a +profuse perspiration, renders them very liable to be stung, is +altogether unnecessary. The very fact that the bees have clustered, +after leaving the parent stock, is almost equivalent to a certainty that +they will not leave, for at least one or two hours. All convenient +despatch should be used, however, lest other colonies issue before the +first one is hived, and attempt to add themselves, as they frequently +do, to the first swarm. The proper course to be pursued, in such a case, +will be subsequently explained. If my hives are used, the entrance on +the whole front must be opened, so that the bees may have every chance +to enter as rapidly as possible; and a sheet must be fastened to the +alighting-board, to keep the bees from being separated from each other +or soiled by dirt, for a bee thoroughly covered with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"> [164]</a></span> dust or dirt, is +almost sure to perish. Unless the bees cluster at a considerable +distance from the place where they are intended to be permanently +stationed, the new hive which receives them may stand on the Protector +in its proper place, with the sheet tacked or pinned to the +alighting-board, and spread out over the mound in front of the entrance. +If the common hives are used, they must generally be carried to the +swarm, and propped up on the sheet, so as to give the bees a free +admission. When the bees alight where they can be easily reached from +the ground, the limb on which they have clustered, should, with one +hand, be shaken, so that they may gently fall into a basket held under +them, by the other. If the basket is sufficiently open to admit the air +freely, and not so open as to allow the bees to get through the sides, +it will answer all the better. The bees should now be carried very +slowly to their new home, and be gently shaken, or poured out, on the +sheet, in front of it. If they seem at all reluctant to enter, take up a +few of them in a large spoon, (a cup will answer equally well,) and +shake them close to the entrance. As they go in, they will fan with +their wings, and raise a peculiar note, which communicates the joyful +news that they have found a home, to the rest of their companions; and +in a short time, the whole swarm will enter, and they are thus safely +hived, without injury to a single bee. When bees are once shaken down on +the sheet, the great mass of them are very unwilling to take wing again; +for they are loaded with honey, and like heavily armed troops, they +desire to march slowly and sedately to the place of encampment. If the +sheet hangs in folds, or is not stretched out, so as to present an +uninterrupted surface, they are often greatly confused, and take a long +time to find the entrance to the hive. If it is desired to have them +enter sooner than they are sometimes inclined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"> [165]</a></span> to do, they may be gently +separated, with a feather, or leafy twig, when they cluster in bunches +on the sheet. On first shaking them down into the basket, multitudes +will again take wing, and multitudes more will be left on the tree, but +they will speedily form a line of communication with those on the sheet, +and enter the hive with them; for many of them will follow the Apiarian, +as he slowly carries the basket to the hive.</p> + +<p>It sometimes happens that the queen is left on the tree: in this case, +the bees will either refuse to enter the hive, or if they go in, will +speedily come out, and all take wing again, to join their queen. This +happens much more frequently in the case of after-swarms, whose young +queens, instead of exhibiting the gravity of the old matron, are apt to +be constantly flying about, and frisking in the air. When the bees +cluster again on the tree, the process of hiving must be repeated.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian has a pair of sharp pruning-shears, and the limb on +which the bees have clustered, is of no value, and so small, that it can +be cut without jarring them off, this may be done, and the bees carried +on it and then shaken off on the sheet.</p> + +<p>If the bees settle too high to be easily reached, the basket should be +fastened to a pole, and raised directly under the swarm; a quick motion +of the basket will cause the mass of the bees to fall into it, when it +may be carried to the hive, and the bees poured out from it on the +sheet.</p> + +<p>If the bees light on the trunk of a tree, or any thing from which they +cannot easily be gathered in a basket, place a leafy bough over them, +(it may be fastened with a gimlet,) and if they do not mount it of their +own accord, a little smoke will compel them to do so. If the place is +inaccessible, and this is about the worst case that occurs, they will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"> [166]</a></span> +enter a basket well shaded by cotton cloth fastened around it, and +elevated so as to rest with its open top sideways to the mass of the +bees. When small trees, or limbs fastened into the ground, are placed +near the hives, and there are no large trees near, there will seldom be +found any difficulty in hiving swarms. If two swarms light together, I +advise that they should be put into one hive, and abundant room at once +be given them, for storing surplus honey. This can always be readily +done in my hives. Large quantities of honey are generally obtained from +such stocks, if the season is favorable, and they have issued early. If +it is desired to separate them, place in each of the hives which is to +receive them, a comb containing brood and eggs, from which, in case of +necessity, a new queen may be raised. Shake a portion of the bees in +front of each hive, sprinkling them thoroughly, both before and after +they are shaken out from the basket, so that they will not take wing to +unite again. If possible, secure the queens, so that one may be given to +each hive. If this cannot be done, the hives should be examined the next +day, and if the two queens entered the same hive, one will have killed +the other, and the queenless hive will be found building royal cells. It +should be supplied with a sealed queen nearly mature, taken from another +hive, not only to save time, but to prevent them from filling their hive +with comb unfit for the rearing of workers. (See <a href="#CHAPTER_X_2">Artificial Swarming</a>.) +Of course, this cannot be done with the common hives, and if the +Apiarian does not succeed in getting a queen for each hive, the +queenless one will refuse to stay, and will go back to the old stock.</p> + +<p>The old-fashioned way of hiving bees, by mounting trees, cutting and +lowering down large limbs, (often to the injury of valuable trees,) and +placing the hive over the bees, frequently crushing large numbers, and +endangering the life of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"> [167]</a></span> the queen, should be entirely abandoned. A +swarm may be hived in the proper way with far less risk and trouble, and +in much less time. In large Apiaries managed on the swarming plan, where +a number of swarms come out on the same day, and there is constant +danger of their mixing,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> the speedy hiving of swarms is an object of +great importance. If the new hive does not stand where it is to remain +for the season, it should be removed to its permanent stand as soon as +the bees have entered; for if allowed to remain to be removed in the +evening, or early next morning, the scouts which have left the cluster, +in search of a hollow tree, will find the bees when they return, and +will often entice them from the hive. There is the greater danger of +this, if the bees have remained on the tree, a considerable time before +they were hived. I have invariably found that swarms which abandon a +suitable hive for the woods, have been hived near the spot where they +clustered, and allowed to remain to be moved in the evening. If the bees +swarm early in the day, they will generally <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"> [168]</a></span>begin to work in a few +hours (or in less time, if they have empty comb,) and many more may be +lost by returning next day to the place where they were hived, than +would be lost, by removing them as soon as they have entered; in this +latter case, the few that are on the wing, will generally be able to +find the hive if it is slowly moved to its permanent stand.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian wishes to secure the queen, the bees should be shaken +from the hiving basket, about a foot from the entrance to the hive, and +if a careful look-out is kept, she will generally be seen as she passes +over the sheet, to the entrance. Care must be taken to brush the bees +back from the entrance when they press forward in such dense masses that +the queen is likely to enter unnoticed. An experienced eye readily +catches a glance of her peculiar form and color. She may be taken up +without danger, as she never stings, unless engaged in combat with +another queen. As it will sometimes happen, even to careful bee-keepers, +that swarms will come off when no suitable hives are in readiness to +receive them, I shall show what may be done in such an emergency. Take +any old hive, box, cask, or measure, and hive the bees in it, placing +them with suitable protection against the sun, where their new hive is +to stand; when this is ready, they may, by a quick jerking motion, be +easily shaken out on a sheet, and hived in it, just as though they were +shaken from the hiving basket. If they are to remain in the temporary +hive over the second day, they ought to be shaken out on a sheet, and +after their comb is taken from them, allowed to enter it again, or else +there will be danger of crushing the queen by the weight of the comb.</p> + +<p>I have endeavored, even at the risk of being tedious, to give such +specific directions as will qualify the novice to hive a swarm of bees, +under almost any circumstances; for I know the necessity of such +directions and how seldom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"> [169]</a></span> they are to be met with, even in large +treatises on Bee-Keeping. Vague or imperfect directions always fail, +just at the moment that the inexperienced attempt to put them into +practice.</p> + +<p>Before leaving this subject, I will add to the directions for hiving +already given, a method which I have practiced with good success.</p> + +<p>When the situation of the bees does not admit of the basket being easily +elevated to them, the bee-keeper may carry it with him to the cluster, +and then after shaking the bees into it, may lower it down by a string, +to an assistant standing below.</p> + +<p>That Natural Swarming may, with suitable hives, be made highly +profitable, I cannot for a moment question. As it is the most simple and +obvious way of multiplying colonies, and the one which requires the +least amount of knowledge or skill, it will undoubtedly, for many years +at least, be the favorite method with a large number of bee-keepers. I +have therefore, been careful to furnish suitable directions for its +successful practice; and before I discuss the question of Artificial +Increase, I shall show how it may be more profitably conducted than ever +before; many of the most embarrassing difficulties in the way of its +successful management being readily obviated by the use of my hives.</p> + +<p>1. The common hives fail to furnish adequate protection in Winter, +against cold, and those sudden changes to unseasonable warmth, by which +bees are tempted to come out and perish in large numbers on the snow; +and the colonies are thus prevented from breeding on a large scale, as +early as they otherwise would. Under such circumstances, they can make +no profitable use of the early honey-harvest; and they will swarm so +late, if they swarm at all, as to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"> [170]</a></span> but little opportunity for +laying up surplus honey, while often they do not gather enough even for +their own use, and their owner closes the season by purchasing honey to +preserve them from starvation. The way in which I give the bees that +amount of protection in Winter, which conduces most powerfully to early +swarming, has already been described in the Chapter on Protection.</p> + +<p>2. Another serious objection to all the ordinary swarming hives, is the +vexatious fact that if the bees swarm at all, they are liable to swarm +so often as to destroy the value of both the parent stock and the +after-swarms. Experienced bee-keepers obviate this difficulty, by +uniting second swarms, so as to make one good colony out of two; and +they return to the parent stock all swarms after the second, and even +this if the season is far advanced. Such operations consume much time, +and often give much more trouble than they are worth. By removing all +the queen cells but one, after the first swarm has left, second swarming +in my hives will always be prevented; and by removing all but two, +provision may be made for the issue of second swarms, and yet all +after-swarming be prevented. The process of returning after-swarms is +not only objectionable, on account of the time it requires, having often +to be repeated again and again before one queen is allowed to destroy +the others; but it also causes a large portion of the gathering season +to be wasted; for the bees seem unwilling to work with energy, so long +as the pretensions of several rival queens are unsettled.</p> + +<p>3. Another very serious objection to Natural Swarming, as practiced with +the common hives, is the inability of the Apiarian who wishes rapidly to +multiply his colonies, to aid his late and small swarms, so as to build +them up into vigorous stocks. The time and money which are ordinarily +spent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"> [171]</a></span> upon small colonies, are almost always thrown away; by +far the larger portion of them never survive the Winter, and the +majority of those that do, are so enfeebled, as to be of little or no +value. If they escape being robbed by stronger stocks, or destroyed by +the moth, they seldom recruit in season to swarm, and very often the +feeding must be repeated, the second Fall, or they will at last perish. +I doubt not that many of my readers will, from their own experience, +endorse every word of these remarks, as true to the very letter. All who +have ever attempted to multiply colonies by nursing and feeding small +swarms, on the ordinary plans, have found it attended with nothing but +loss and vexation. The more a man has of such stocks, the poorer he is: +for by their weakness, they are constantly tempting his strong swarms to +evil courses; so that at last, they prefer to live as far as they can, +by stealing, rather than by habits of honest industry; and if the feeble +colonies escape being plundered, they often become mere nurseries for +raising a plentiful supply of moths, to ravage his whole Apiary.</p> + +<p>I have already shown, in what way by the use of my hives, the smallest +swarms that ever issue, may be so managed as to become powerful stocks. +In the same way the Apiarian can easily strengthen all his colonies +which are feeble in Spring.</p> + +<p>4. As the loss of the young queens in the parent stock after it has +swarmed, and in the after-swarms, is a very common occurrence, a hive +which like mine, furnishes the means of easily remedying this +misfortune, will greatly promote the success of those who practice +natural swarming. A very intelligent bee-keeper once assured me, that he +must use at least one such hive in his Apiary, for this purpose, even if +in other respects it possessed no superior merits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"> [172]</a></span></p> + +<p>5. Bees, as is well known, often refuse to swarm at all, and most of the +swarming hives are so constructed, that proper accommodations for +storing honey, cannot be furnished to the super-abundant population. +Under such circumstances, they often hang for several months, in black +masses on the outside of the hive; and are worse than useless, as they +consume the honey which the others have gathered. In my hives, an +abundance of room for storing honey can always be given them, <i>not all +at once</i>, so as to prevent them from swarming, but by degrees, as their +necessities require: so that if they are indisposed, for any reason to +swarm, they may have suitable receptacles easily accessible, and +furnished with guide comb to make them more attractive, in which to +store up any amount of honey that they can possibly collect.</p> + +<p>6. In the common hives, but little can be done to dislodge the bee-moth, +when once it has gained the mastery of the bees; whereas in mine, it can +be most effectually rooted out when it has made a lodgment. (See <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Remarks +on Bee-Moth</a>.)</p> + +<p>7. In the common hives, nothing can be done except with great +difficulty, to remove the old queen when her fertility is impaired; +whereas in my hives, (as will be shown in the Chapter on +Artificial Swarming,) this can easily be effected, so that +an Apiary may constantly contain a stock of young queens, in the full +vigor of their re-productive powers.</p> + +<p>I trust that these remarks will convince intelligent Apiarians, that I +have not spoken boastfully or at random, in asserting that natural +swarming can be carried on with much greater certainty and success, by +the use of my hives, than in any other way; and that they will see that +many of the most perplexing embarrassments and mortifying +discouragements under which they have hitherto prosecuted it, may be +effectually remedied.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X_2" id="CHAPTER_X_2"></a>CHAPTER X.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"> [173]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">ARTIFICIAL SWARMING.</span></h2> + + +<p>The numerous efforts which have been made for the last fifty years or +more, to dispense with natural swarming, plainly indicate the anxiety of +Apiarians to find some better mode of increasing their colonies.</p> + +<p>Although I am able to propagate bees by natural swarming, with a +rapidity and certainty unattainable except by the complete control of +all the combs in the hive, still there are difficulties in this mode of +increase, inherent to the system itself, and therefore entirely +incapable of being removed by any kind of hive. Before describing the +various methods which I employ to increase colonies by artificial means, +I shall first enumerate these difficulties, in order that each +individual bee-keeper may decide for himself, in which way he can most +advantageously propagate his bees.</p> + +<p>1. The large number of swarms lost every year, is a powerful argument +against natural swarming.</p> + +<p>An eminent Apiarian has estimated that one fourth of the best swarms are +lost every season! This estimate can hardly be considered too high, if +all who keep bees are taken into account. While some bee-keepers are so +careful that they seldom lose a swarm, the majority, either from the +grossest negligence, or from necessary hindrances during the swarming +season, are constantly incurring serious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"> [174]</a></span> losses, by the flight of their +bees to the woods. It is next to impossible, entirely to prevent such +occurrences, if bees are allowed to swarm at all.</p> + +<p>2. The great amount of time and labor required by natural swarming, has +always been regarded as a decided objection to this mode of increase.</p> + +<p>As soon as the swarming season begins, the Apiary must be closely +watched almost every day, or some of the new swarms will be lost. If +this business is entrusted to thoughtless children, or careless adults, +many swarms will be lost by their neglect. It is very evident that but +few persons who keep bees, can always be on hand to watch them and to +hive the new swarms. But, in the height of the swarming season, if any +considerable number of colonies is kept, the Apiarian, to guard against +serious losses, should either be always on the spot himself, or have +some one who can be entrusted with the care of his bees. Even the +Sabbath cannot be observed as a day of rest; and often, instead of being +able to go to the House of God, the bee-keeper is compelled to labor +among his bees, as hard as on other days, or even harder. That he is as +justifiable in hiving his bees on the Sabbath, as in taking care of his +stock, can admit of no serious doubt; but the very liability of being +called to do so, is with many, a sufficient objection against Apiarian +pursuits.</p> + +<p>The merchant, mechanic and professional man, are often so situated that +they would take great interest in bees, if they were not deterred from +their cultivation by inability to take care of them, during the swarming +season; and they are thus debarred from a pursuit, which is intensely +fascinating, not merely to the lover of Nature, but to every one +possessed of an inquiring mind. No man who spends some of his leisure +hours in studying the wonderful habits and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"> [175]</a></span> instincts of bees, will ever +complain that he can find nothing to fill up his time out of the range +of his business, or the gratification of his appetites. Bees may be kept +with great advantage, even in large cities, and those who are debarred +from every other rural pursuit, may still listen to the soothing hum of +the industrious bee, and harvest annually its delicious nectar.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian could always be on hand during the swarming season, it +would still, in many instances, be exceedingly inconvenient for him to +attend to his bees. How often is the farmer interrupted in the business +of hay-making, by the cry that his bees are swarming; and by the time he +has hived them, perhaps a shower comes up, and his hay is injured more +than his swarm is worth. In this way, the keeping of a few bees, instead +of a source of profit, often becomes rather an expensive luxury; and if +a very large stock is kept, the difficulties and embarrassments are +often most seriously increased. If the weather becomes pleasant after a +succession of days unfavorable for swarming, it often happens that +several swarms rise at once, and cluster together, to the great +annoyance of the Apiarian; and not unfrequently, in the noise and +confusion, other swarms fly off, and are entirely lost. I have seen the +Apiarian so perplexed and exhausted under such circumstances, as to be +almost ready to wish that he had never seen a bee.</p> + +<p>3. The managing of bees by natural swarming, must, in our country, +almost entirely prevent the establishment of large Apiaries.</p> + +<p>Even if it were possible, in this way, to multiply bees with certainty +and rapidity, and without any of the perplexities which I have just +described, how few persons are so situated as to be able to give almost +the whole of their time in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"> [176]</a></span> the busiest part of the year, to the +management of their bees. The swarming season is with the farmer, the +very busiest part of the whole year, and if he purposes to keep a large +number of swarming hives, he must not only devote nearly the whole of +his time, for a number of weeks, to their supervision, but at a season +when labor commands the highest price, he will often be compelled to +hire additional assistance.</p> + +<p>I have long been convinced that, as a general rule, the keeping of a few +colonies in swarming hives, costs more than they are worth, and that the +keeping of a very large number is entirely out of the question, unless +with those who are so situated that they can afford to devote their +time, for about two months every year, almost entirely to their bees. +The number of persons who can afford to do this must be very small; and +I have seldom heard of a bee-keeper, in our country, who has an Apiary +on a scale extensive enough to make bee-keeping anything more than a +subordinate pursuit. Multitudes have tried to make it a large and +remunerating business, but hitherto, I believe that they have nearly all +been disappointed in their expectations. In such countries as Poland and +Russia where labor is deplorably cheap, it may be done to great +advantage; but never to any considerable extent in our own.</p> + +<p>4. A serious objection to natural swarming, is the discouraging fact +that the bees often refuse to swarm at all, and the Apiarian finds it +impossible to multiply his colonies with any certainty or rapidity, even +although he may find himself in all respects favorably +situated for the cultivation of bees, and may be exceedingly anxious to +engage in the business on a much more extensive scale.</p> + +<p>I am acquainted with many careful bee-keepers who have managed their +bees according to the most reliable information<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"> [177]</a></span> they could obtain, +never destroying any of their colonies, and endeavoring to multiply them +to the best of their ability, who yet have not as many stocks as they +had ten years ago. Most of them would abandon the pursuit, if they +looked upon bee-keeping simply in the light of dollars and cents, rather +than as a source of pleasant recreation; and some do not hesitate to say +that much more money has been spent, by the mass of those who have used +patent hives, than they have ever realized from their bees.</p> + +<p>It is a very simple matter to make calculations on paper, which shall +seem to point out a road to wealth, almost as flattering, as a tour to +the gold mines of Australia or California. Only purchase a patent +bee-hive, and if it fulfills all or even a part of the promises of its +sanguine inventor, a fortune must, in the course of a few years, be +certainly realized; but such are the disappointments resulting from the +bees refusing often to swarm at all, that if the hive could remedy all +the other difficulties in the way of bee-keeping, it would still fail to +answer the reasonable wishes of the experienced Apiarian. If every swarm +of bees could be made to yield a profit of 20 dollars a year, and if the +Apiarian could be sure of selling his new swarms at the most extravagant +prices, he could not, like the growers of mulberry trees, or the +breeders of fancy fowls, multiply his stocks so as to meet the demand, +however extensive; but would be entirely dependent upon the whims and +caprices of his bees; or rather, upon the natural laws which control +their swarming.</p> + +<p>Every practical bee-keeper is well aware of the utter uncertainty of +natural swarming. Under no circumstances, can its occurrence be +confidently relied on. While some stocks swarm regularly and repeatedly, +others, strong in numbers and rich in stores, although the season may, +in all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"> [178]</a></span> respects, be propitious, refuse to swarm at all. Such colonies, +on examination, will often be found to have taken no steps for raising +young queens. In some cases, the wings of the old mother will be found +defective, while in others, she is abundantly able to fly, but seems to +prefer the riches of the old hive, to the risks attending the formation +of a new colony. It frequently happens, in our uncertain climate, that +when all the necessary preparations have been made for swarming, the +weather proves unpropitious for so long a time, that the young queens +coming to maturity before the old one can leave, are all destroyed. This +is a very frequent occurrence, and under such circumstances, swarming is +almost certain to be prevented, for that season. The young queens are +frequently destroyed, even although the weather is pleasant, in +consequence of some sudden and perhaps only temporary suspension of the +honey-harvest; for bees seldom colonize even if all their +preparations are completed, unless the flowers are yielding an abundant +supply of honey.</p> + +<p>From these and other causes which my limits will not permit me to +notice, it has hitherto been found impossible, in the uncertain climate +of our Northern States, to multiply colonies very rapidly, by natural +swarming; and bee-keeping, on this plan, offers very poor inducements to +those who are aware how little has been accomplished, even by the most +enthusiastic, experienced and energetic Apiarians.</p> + +<p>The numerous perplexities which have ever attended natural swarming, +have for ages, directed the attention of practical cultivators, to the +importance of devising some more reliable method of increasing their +colonies. Columella, who lived about the middle of the first century of +the Christian Era, and who wrote twelve books on husbandry (De re +rustica,) has given directions for making artificial colonies.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"> [179]</a></span> He says, +"you must examine the hive, and view what honey-combs it has; then +afterwards from the wax which contains the seeds of the young bees, you +must cut away that part wherein the offspring of the royal brood is +animated: for this is easy to be seen; because at the very end of the +wax-works there appears, as it were, a thimble-like process (somewhat +similar to an acorn,) rising higher, and having a wider cavity, than the +rest of the holes, wherein the young bees of vulgar note are contained."</p> + +<p>Hyginus, who flourished before Columella, had evidently noticed the +royal jelly; for he speaks of cells larger than those of the common +bees, "filled as it were with a solid substance of a <i>red color</i>, out of +which the winged king is at first formed." This ancient observer must +undoubtedly have seen the quince-like jelly, a portion of which is +always found at the base of the royal cells, after the queens have +emerged. The ancients generally called the queen a king, although +Aristotle says that some in his time called her the mother. Swammerdam +was the first to prove by dissection that the queen is a perfect female, +and the only one in the hive, and that the drone is the male.</p> + +<p>For reasons which I shall shortly mention, the ancient methods of +artificial increase appear to have met with but small success. Towards +the close of the last century, a new impulse was given to the artificial +production of swarms, by the discovery of Schirach, a German clergyman, +that bees are able to rear a queen from worker-brood. For want, however, +of a more thorough knowledge of some important principles in the economy +of the bee, these efforts met with slender encouragement.</p> + +<p>Huber, after his splendid discoveries in the physiology of the bee, +perceived at once, the importance of multiplying colonies by some method +more reliable than that of natural<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"> [180]</a></span> swarming. His leaf or book hive +consisted of 12 frames, each an inch and a half in width; any one of +which could be opened at pleasure. He recommends forming artificial +swarms, by dividing one of these hives into two parts; adding to each +part six empty frames. After using a Huber hive for a number of years, I +became perfectly convinced that it could only be made servicable, by an +adroit, experienced and fearless Apiarian. The bees fasten the frames in +such a manner, with their propolis, that they cannot, except with +extreme care, be opened without jarring the bees, and exciting their +anger; nor can they be shut without constant danger of crushing them. +Huber nowhere speaks of having multiplied colonies extensively by such +hives, and although they have been in use more than sixty years, they +have never been successfully employed for such a purpose. If Huber had +only contrived a plan for suspending his frames, instead of folding them +together like the leaves of a book, I believe that the cause of Apiarian +science would have been fifty years in advance of what it now is.</p> + +<p>Dividing hives of various kinds have been used in this country. After +giving some of the best of them a thorough trial, and inventing others +which somewhat resembled the Huber hive, I found that they could not +possibly be made to answer any valuable end in securing artificial +swarms. For a long time I felt that the plan <i>ought</i> to succeed, and it +was not until I had made numerous experiments with my hive substantially +as now constructed, that I ascertained the precise causes of failure.</p> + +<p>It may be regarded as one of the laws of the bee-hive, that bees, when +not in possession of a mature queen, seldom build any comb except such +as being designed merely for storing honey, is <i>too coarse for the +rearing of workers</i>. Until I became acquainted with the discoveries of +Dzierzon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"> [181]</a></span> I supposed myself to be the only observer who had noticed +this remarkable fact, and who had been led by it, to modify the whole +system of artificial swarming. The perusal of Mr. Wagner's manuscript +translation of that author, showed me that he had arrived at precisely +similar results.</p> + +<p>It may seem at first, very unaccountable that bees should go on to fill +their hives with comb unfit for breeding, when the young queen will so +soon require worker-cells for her eggs; but it must be borne in mind, +that bees, under such circumstances, are always in an <i>unnatural</i> state. +They are attempting to rear a new queen in a hive which is only +partially filled with comb; whereas, if left to follow their own +instincts, they never construct royal cells except in hives which are +well filled with comb, for it is only in such hives that they make any +preparations for swarming. It must be confessed that they do not show +their ordinary sagacity in filling a hive with unsuitable comb; but if +it were not for a few instances of this kind of bad management, we +should perhaps, form too exalted an idea of their intelligence, and +should almost fail to notice the marked distinction between reason in +man, and even the most refined instincts of some of the animals by which +he is surrounded.</p> + +<p>The determination of bees, when they have no mature queen, if they build +any comb at all, to build such as is suited only for storing honey, and +unfit for breeding, will show at once, the folly of attempting to +multiply colonies by the dividing-hives. Even if the Apiarian has been +perfectly successful in dividing a colony, and the part without a queen +takes the necessary steps to supply her loss, if the bees are +sufficiently numerous to build a large quantity of new comb, (and they +ought to be in order to make the artificial colony of any value,) they +will build this comb in such a manner that it will answer only for +storing honey, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"> [182]</a></span> they will use the half of the hive with the old +comb, for the purposes of breeding. The next year, if an attempt is made +to divide this hive, one half will contain nearly all the brood and +mature bees, while the other, having most of the honey, in combs unfit +for breeding, the new colony formed from it will be a complete failure.</p> + +<p>Even with a Huber hive, the plan of multiplying colonies by dividing a +full hive into two parts, and adding an empty half to each, will be +attended with serious difficulties; although some of them may be +remedied in consequence of the hive being constructed so as to divide +into many parts; the very attempt to remedy them, however, will be found +to require a degree of skill and knowledge far in advance of what can be +expected of the great mass of bee-keepers.</p> + +<p>The common dividing hives, separating into two parts, can never, under +any circumstances, be made of the least practical value; and the +business of multiplying colonies by them, will be found far more +laborious, uncertain and vexatious, than to rely on natural swarming. I +do not know of a solitary practical Apiarian, who, on trial of this +system, has not been compelled to abandon it, and allow the bees to +swarm from his dividing hives in the old-fashioned way.</p> + +<p>Some Apiarians have attempted to multiply their colonies by putting a +piece of brood comb containing the materials for raising a new queen, +into an empty hive, set in the place of a strong stock which has been +removed to a new stand when thousands of its inmates were abroad in the +fields. This method is still worse than the one which has just been +described. In the dividing hive, the bees already had a large amount of +suitable comb for breeding, while in this having next to none, they +build all their combs until the queen is hatched, of a size unsuitable +for rearing workers. In the first case, the queenless part of the +dividing hive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"> [183]</a></span> may have had a young queen almost mature, so that the +process of building large combs would be of short continuance; for as +soon as the young queen begins to lay, the bees at once commence +building combs adapted to the reception of worker eggs. In some of my +attempts to rear artificial swarms by moving a full stock, as described +above, I have had combs built of enormous size, nearly four inches +through! and these monster combs have afterwards been pieced out on +their lower edge, with worker cells for the accommodation of the young +queen! So uniformly do the bees with an unhatched queen, build in the +way described, that I can often tell at a single glance, by seeing what +kind of comb they are building, that a hive is queenless, or that having +been so, they have now a fertile young queen. When a new colony is +formed, by dividing the old hive, the queenless part has thousands of +cells filled with brood and eggs, and young bees will be hourly +hatching, for at least three weeks: and by this time, the young queen +will be laying eggs, so that there will be an interval of not more than +three weeks, during which no accessions will be made to the numbers of +the colony. But when a new swarm is formed by moving, not an egg will be +deposited for nearly three weeks; and not a bee will be hatched for +nearly six weeks; and during all this time, the colony will rapidly +decrease, until by the time that the progeny of the young queen begins +to emerge from their cells, the number of bees in the new hive will be +so small, that it would be of no value, even if its combs were of the +best construction.</p> + +<p>Every observing bee-keeper must have noticed how rapidly even a powerful +swarm diminishes in number, for the first three weeks after it has been +hived. In many cases, before the young begin to hatch, it does not +contain one half its original number; so very great is the mortality of +bees during the height of the working season.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"> [184]</a></span></p> + +<p>I have most thoroughly tested, in the only way in which it can be +practiced in the ordinary hives, this last plan of artificial swarming, +and do not hesitate to say that it does not possess the very slightest +practical value; and as this is the method which Apiarians have usually +tried, it is not strange that they have almost unanimously pronounced +Artificial swarming to be utterly worthless. The experience of Dzierzon +on this point has been the same with my own.</p> + +<p>Another method of artificial swarming has been zealously advocated, +which, if it could only be made to answer, would be, of all conceivable +plans the most effectual, and as it would require the smallest amount of +labor, experience, or skill, would be everywhere practiced. A number of +hives must be put in connection with each other, so as to communicate by +holes which allow the bees to travel from any one apartment to the +others. The bees, on this plan, are to <i>colonize themselves</i>, and in +time, a single swarm will, of its own accord, multiply so as to form a +large number of independent families, each one possessing its own queen, +and all living in perfect harmony.</p> + +<p>This method so beautiful and fascinating in theory, has been repeatedly +tried with various ingenious modifications, but in every instance, as +far as I know, it has proved an entire failure. It will always be found +if bees are allowed to pass from one hive to another, that they will +still, for the most part, confine their breeding operations to a single +apartment, if it is of the ordinary size, while the others will be used, +chiefly for the storing of honey. This is almost invariably the case, if +the additional room is given by collateral or side boxes, as the queen +seldom enters such apartments for the purpose of breeding. If the new +hive is directly <i>below</i> that in which the swarm is first lodged, then +if the connections are suitable, the queen will be almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"> [185]</a></span> certain to +descend and lay her eggs in the new combs, as soon as they are commenced +by the bees; in this case, the upper hive is almost entirely abandoned +by her, and the bees store the cells with honey, as fast as the brood is +hatched, as their instinct impels them always, if they can, to keep +their stores of honey <i>above</i> the breeding cells. So long as bees have +an abundance of room below their main hive, they will never swarm, but +will use it in the way that I have described; if the room is on the +sides of their hive, and very accessible, they seldom swarm, but if it +is above them, they frequently prefer to swarm rather than to take +possession of it. But in none of these cases, do they ever, <i>if left to +themselves</i>, form separate and independent colonies.</p> + +<p>I am aware that the Apiarian, by separating from the main hive with a +slide, an apartment that contains brood, and directing to it by some +artificial contrivance a considerable number of bees, may succeed in +rearing an artificial colony; but unless all his hives admit of the most +thorough inspection, as he can never know their exact condition, he must +always work in the dark, and will be much more likely to fail than +succeed. Success indeed can only be possible when a skillful Apiarian +devotes a large portion of his time to watching and managing his bees, +so as to <i>compel</i> them to colonize, and even then it will be very +uncertain; so that this plausible theory to be reduced to even a most +precarious practice, requires more skill, care, labor and time, than are +necessary to manage the ordinary swarming hives.</p> + +<p>The failure of so many attempts to increase colonies by artificial +means, as well in the hands of scientific and experienced Apiarians, as +under the direction of those who are almost totally ignorant of the +physiology of the bee, has led many to prefer to use non-swarming hives. +In this way, very large harvests of honey are often obtained from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"> [186]</a></span> a +powerful stock of bees; but it is very evident that if the increase of +new colonies were entirely discouraged, the insect would soon be +exterminated. To prevent this, the advocates of the non-swarming plan, +must either have their bees swarm, to some extent, or rely upon those +who do.</p> + +<p>My hive may be used as a non-swarmer, and may be made more effectually +to prevent swarming, than any with which I am acquainted: as in the +Spring, (See No. 34. p. <a href="#Page_104">104</a>,) ample accommodations may be given to the +bees, below their main works, and when this is seasonably done, swarming +will <i>never</i> take place.</p> + +<p>There are certain objections however, which must always prevent the +non-swarming plan from being the most successful mode of +managing bees. To say nothing of the loss to the bee-keeper, who has, +after some years, only one stock, when if the natural mode of increase +had been allowed, he ought to have a number, it is usually found that +after bees have been kept in a non-swarming hive for several seasons, +they seem to work with much less vigor than usual. Of this, any one may +convince himself, who will compare the industrious working of a new +swarm, with that of a much more powerful stock in a non-swarming hive. +The former will work with such astonishing zeal, that to one +unacquainted with the facts, it would be taken to be by far the more +powerful stock.</p> + +<p>As the fertility of the queen decreases by age, the disadvantage of +using non-swarming hives of the ordinary construction, will be obvious. +This objection to the system can be remedied in my hive, as the old +queen can be easily caught and removed; but when hives are used in which +this cannot be done, the Apiary, instead of containing a race of young +queens in the full vigor of their reproductive powers, will contain many +that have passed their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"> [187]</a></span> prime, and these old queens may die when there +are no eggs in the hive to enable the bees to replace them, and thus the +whole colony will perish.</p> + +<p>If the bee-keeper wishes to winter only a certain number of stocks, I +will, in another place, show him a way in which this can be done, so as +to obtain more honey from them, than from an equal number kept on the +non-swarming plan, while at the same time, they may all be maintained in +a state of the highest health and vigor.</p> + +<p>I shall now describe a method of artificial swarming, which may be +successfully practiced with almost any hive, by those who have +sufficient experience in the management of bees.</p> + +<p>About the time that natural swarming may be expected, a populous hive, +rich in stores is selected, and what I shall call a <i>forced swarm</i> is +obtained from it, by the following process. Choose that part of a +pleasant day, say from 10 A. M. to 2 P. M., when the largest number of +bees are abroad in the fields; if any bees are clustered in front of the +hive, or on the bottom-board, puff among them a few whiffs of smoke from +burning rags or paper, so as to force them to go up among the combs. +This can be done with greater ease, if the hive is elevated, by small +wedges, about one quarter of an inch above the bottom-board. Have an +empty hive or box in readiness, the diameter of which is as nearly as +possible, the same with that of the hive from which you intend to drive +the swarm. Lift the hive very gently, and without the slightest jar, +from its bottom-board; invert it and carry it in the same careful +manner, about a rod from its old stand, as bees are always much more +inclined to be peaceable, when removed a short distance, than when any +operation is performed on the familiar spot. If the hive is carefully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"> [188]</a></span> +placed on the ground, upside down, scarcely a single bee will fly out, +and there will be little danger of being stung. Timid and inexperienced +Apiarians will, of course, protect themselves with a bee-dress, and they +may have an assistant to sprinkle the hive gently with +sugar-water, as soon as it is inverted. After placing the hive in an +inverted position on the ground, the empty hive must be put over it, and +every crack from which a bee might escape, must be carefully closed with +paper or any convenient material. The upper hive ought to be furnished +with two or three slats, about an inch and a half wide, and fastened one +third of the distance from the top, so as to give the bees every +opportunity to cluster.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Apiarian is perfectly sure that the bees cannot escape, +he should place an empty hive upon the stand from which they were +removed, so that the multitudes which return from the fields may enter +it, instead of dispersing to other hives, where some of them may meet +with a very unkind reception; although as a general rule, a bee with a +load of freshly gathered honey, after the extent of his resources is +ascertained, is almost always, welcomed by any hive to which he may +carry his treasures; while a poor unfortunate that ventures to present +itself empty and poverty stricken, is generally at once destroyed! The +one meets with as friendly a reception as a wealthy gentleman who +proposes to take up his abode in a country village, while the other is +as much an object of dislike as a pauper who is suspected of wishing to +become a parish charge!</p> + +<p>To return to our imprisoned bees. Beginning at the top, or what is now, +(as the hive is upside down,) the bottom, their hive should be beaten +smartly with two small rods on the front and back, or on the sides to +which the combs are attached, so as to run no risk of loosening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"> [189]</a></span> them. +If the hive when removed from its stand was put upon a stool or table, +or something not so solid as the ground, the drumming will cause more +motion, and yet be less apt to start any of the combs. These "rappings" +which certainly are not of a very "spiritual" character, produce +nevertheless, a most decided effect upon the bees: their first impulse +is to sally out and wreak their vengeance upon those who have thus +rudely assailed their honied dome; but as soon as they find that they +are shut in, a sudden fear that they are to be driven from their +treasures, seems to take possession of them. If the two hives have glass +windows, so that all the operations can be witnessed, the bees, in a few +moments, will be seen most busily engaged in gorging themselves with +honey. During all this time, the rapping must be continued, and in about +five minutes, nearly every bee will have filled itself to its utmost +capacity, and they are now prepared for their forced emigration; a +prodigious hum is heard, and the bees begin to mount into the upper box. +In about ten minutes from the time the rapping began, the mass of the +bees with their queen will have ascended, and will hang clustered, just +like a natural swarm. The box with the expelled bees must now be gently +lifted off, and should be placed upon a bottom-board with a gauze wire +ventilator, so that the bees may be confined, and yet have plenty of +air. A shallow vessel or a piece of old comb containing water, ought to +be first placed on the bottom-board. If no gauze wire bottom-board is at +hand, the hive must be wedged up, so as to admit an abundance of air, +and be set in a shady place.</p> + +<p>The hive from which the bees were driven, must now be set, without +crushing any of the bees, on its old spot, in the place of the decoy +hive, that all the bees which have returned from abroad, may enter. +Before this change is made,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"> [190]</a></span> these bees will be running in and out of +the empty hive, (See p. <a href="#Page_72">72</a>,) but as soon as the opportunity is given +them, they will crowd into their well-known home, and if there are no +royal cells started, will proceed, almost at once, to construct them, +and the next day they will act as though the forced swarm had left of +its own accord. When the operation is delayed until about the season for +natural swarming, the hive will contain immature queens, if the bees +were intending to swarm, and a new queen will soon take the place of the +old one, just as in natural swarming. If it is performed too early, and +before the drones have made their appearance, the young queen may not be +seasonably impregnated, and the parent stock will perish.</p> + +<p>It will be obvious that this whole process, in order to be successfully +performed, requires a knowledge of the most important points in the +economy of the bee-hive; indeed the same remark may be made of almost +any operation, and those who are willing to remain ignorant of the laws +which regulate the breeding of bees, ought not to depart in the least, +from the old-fashioned mode of management. All such deviations will only +be attended with a wanton sacrifice of bees. A man may use the common +swarming hives a whole life-time, and yet remain ignorant of the very +first principles in the physiology of the bee, unless he gains his +information from other sources; while, by the use of my hives, any +intelligent cultivator may, in a single season, verify for himself, the +discoveries which have only been made by the accumulated toil of many +observers, for more than two thousand years. The ease with which +Apiarians may now, by the sight of their own eyes, gain a knowledge of +all the important facts in the economy of the hive, will stimulate them +most powerfully, to study the nature of the bee and thus to prepare +themselves for an enlightened system of management.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"> [191]</a></span></p> + +<p>In giving directions for the creation of forced swarms, I advised that +it should be done during the pleasantest part of the day, when the +largest number of bees are foraging abroad. If the operation is +performed when all the bees are at home, and they are all driven into +the empty hive, the old hive will be so depopulated that many of the +young will perish for want of suitable attention, and the parent stock +will be greatly deteriorated in value. If only a part of the bees are +expelled, the queen may be left behind, and the whole operation will be +a failure, and at best it will be difficult to make a suitable division +of the bees between the two hives. Indeed, under any circumstances, this +is the most difficult part of the process, and it often requires no +little judgment to equalize the two colonies.</p> + +<p>Some recommend placing the forced swarm on the old stand, and removing +the parent hive with the bees that are deemed sufficient, to a new +place. If this is done, and the bees have their liberty, so many of them +will leave for the familiar spot, that the hive will be almost deserted, +and a very large proportion of its brood will perish. The bees in this +hive, if it is to be set in a new place, must have water given to them, +and be so shut up as to have an abundance of air, until late in the +afternoon of the third day, when the hive may be opened, and they will +take wing, almost as though they were intending to swarm. Some will even +then, return to the place where they originally stood, and join the +forced swarm, but the most of them, after hovering in the air for a +short time, will re-enter the hive. During the time that they have been +shut up, thousands of young bees will have emerged from their cells, and +these, knowing no other home, will aid in taking care of the larvæ, and +in carrying on the work of the hive.</p> + +<p>Instead of trying to make an equitable division at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"> [192]</a></span> time of driving +out the bees, I prefer to expel all that I can, and to rely upon the +bees returning from their gatherings, to replenish the old stock. If the +number appears to be too small, I open temporarily the entrance of the +hive containing the forced swarm, and permit as many as I judge best, to +come out and enter their old abode. It must here be borne in mind, that +bees which are thus ejected from a hive, do not, in all respects, act +like a natural swarm, which having left the parent stock, of its own +accord, never seeks, unless it has lost its queen, to return; whereas, +many of the forced swarm, as soon as they leave the hive into which they +have been driven, will return to their former abode. The same is true of +bees which are moved to any distance not far enough to be beyond the +limits of their previous excursions in search of food. If we could only +make our bees when moved, or forced to swarm, adhere to their hives as +faithfully as a natural swarm, many difficulties which now perplex us, +would be at once removed.</p> + +<p>Having ascertained that the parent hive contains a sufficient number of +bees to carry on operations, about sun-set, after the bees are all at +home, it may be removed to a new stand, and the bees, after being +supplied with water, must be shut up, according to the directions +previously given. If the hive is so constructed that water cannot be +conveniently given them, the following plan I have found to answer most +admirably. Bore a small hole towards the top on the front side, and with +a straw, water may be injected with scarcely any trouble. A mouthful +once or twice a day, will be sufficient. If the bees are confined +without water, they will not be able to prepare the food for the larvæ, +and multitudes of them must necessarily perish.</p> + +<p>The expelled colony must be placed, on the same evening, precisely where +the hive from which they were driven<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"> [193]</a></span> stood, and have their liberty +given to them. The next morning, they will work with as much vigor as +though they had swarmed in the natural way.</p> + +<p>The directions which have here been given for creating forced swarms, +will be found to differ in some important respects from any which other +Apiarians have previously furnished. I have already shown that it is +difficult to secure the right number of bees for the parent stock, +unless it is set temporarily on its old stand, so as to catch up the +returning bees. The common plan has been to try to leave in it, as many +bees as are needed, and then to shut it up for a few days, having placed +it in a new spot, while the forced swarm is immediately replaced so that +all the stragglers may be added to it. If we could always be sure of +driving out the queen, and with her, as many bees as we want and <i>no +more</i>, this would undoubtedly be the simplest plan; but for the reasons +already assigned, it will be found a very precarious operation.</p> + +<p>Some Apiarians recommend putting the forced swarm in a new place in the +Apiary; but as large numbers of the bees will be sure, when they go out +to work, to return to the familiar spot, the new colony will often be so +seriously depopulated as to be of but little value. If the Apiarian can +remove his forced swarms, some two or three miles off, he may give them +their liberty at once, and in the course of a few weeks, he can, without +risk, bring them back to his Apiary.</p> + +<p>If he chooses, he may allow the parent stock to remain on the old stand, +and confine the forced swarm, until about an hour before sun set of the +third day. They must in the mean time be supplied with both honey and +water, and if they cannot be kept cool and quiet, they should be removed +into the cellar until they are placed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"> [194]</a></span> in their new position. Many will +even then return to the old spot, but not enough to interfere seriously +with their prosperity. If the bees cannot, as in my hives, be kept cool +and dark, they will be excessively uneasy, and may suffer very seriously +from so long confinement: hence the very great importance of setting +them in the cellar.</p> + +<p>It may seem strange, that bees, when their hive is moved, or when they +are forcibly expelled from it, should not adhere to the new spot, just +as when they have swarmed of their own accord. In each case, as soon as +a bee leaves its new place, it flies with its head turned towards the +hive, in order to mark the surrounding objects, that it may be able to +return to the same spot; but when they have not emigrated of their own +accord, many of them seem, when they rise in the air, or return from +work, entirely to forget that their location has been changed; and they +return to the place where they have lived so long, and if no hive is +there, they often die on the deserted and desolate, yet home-like spot. +If, on the contrary, they swarmed of their own accord, they seldom, if +ever, make such a mistake. It may truly be said that</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A 'bee removed' against its will<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is of the same opinion still."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I have been thus minute in describing the whole process of creating +forced swarms, not merely on account of the importance of the plan in +multiplying colonies, but because the driving or drumming out of bees +from a common hive, is employed with great success in a variety of ways +which will be hereafter specified. I doubt not that many bee-keepers, on +reading this mode of creating colonies, are ready to object that it not +only requires more skill, but more time and labor, than to allow them to +swarm, and then to hive them in the old-fashioned way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"> [195]</a></span></p> + +<p>As practiced with ordinary hives, it is undoubtedly liable to this +serious objection, and I would easily with my basket hiver, undertake to +hive four natural swarms, in the time that it would require to create +one forced swarm; to say nothing of the care which must be bestowed upon +the artificial swarms, with their parent stocks, after the driving +process has been completed. For this reason, I do not advise the +bee-keeper to force his swarms from the common hives, until he has first +ascertained that they are not likely to swarm in tolerably good season, +of their own accord, unless he is afraid that they will come out during +his absence, and decamp to the woods.</p> + +<p>By the aid of my hives, this process may be most expeditiously +performed. An empty hive, with its frames furnished with guide combs, +must be in readiness. The cover of the full hive should be removed, and +the bees gently sprinkled with sugar-water from a watering pot that +discharges a fine stream. In about two minutes, the frames may be taken +out, and the bees, by a quick motion, shaken on a sheet directly in +front of their hive. As fast as a comb is deprived of its bees, it +should be set in a proper position in the new hive, and an empty frame +put in its place. Two or three of the combs containing brood, eggs, &c., +should be left in the old hive, as well to give them greater +encouragement, as to prevent them from being dissatisfied if their queen +should, by any possibility, be taken from them. In removing the frames +with the bees, I always look for the queen, and if I see her, as I +generally do, I return to the hive the frame which contains her, without +shaking off the bees. In that case, I put several of the necessary combs +into the new hive, with all the bees upon them.</p> + +<p>In dislodging the bees upon the sheet, I do not shake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"> [196]</a></span> them all off from +the frames; but leave about one quarter of them on, and put them with +the combs into the new hive. I never knew the queen to be left on a +frame after it was shaken so that the larger portion of the bees would +fall off. As soon as the operation is completed, and the necessary +number of bees have been transferred with their comb to the new hive, it +should be managed according to the directions previously given, in the +case of the old hive from which a swarm was drummed out.</p> + +<p>If in the operation the Apiarian does not see the queen, he must, in the +course of the third day, examine the hive having the larger portion of +bees, and if they have commenced building royal cells among the combs +given to them, he may be certain that she is in the other hive. The comb +containing the royal cells may then be transferred to that hive, and the +queen searched for, and returned with the combs on which she is found, +to her proper place. A little experience, however, will enable the +operator to be sure from the first, that the queen is with the right +division.</p> + +<p>To most persons, it would seem to be of little consequence, in which +hive the queen is placed: but if the bees which have only a few frames +of comb, are compelled to rear another, they will be sure to fill their +hive with comb unfit for breeding purposes, and will also be so long +before they can have additions to their number, as to be of but little +value.</p> + +<p>If many swarms are to be created in this manner, and the operation is +delayed until near swarming time, in some of them, numerous royal cells +will be found, so that each stock which has no queen, may have one +nearly mature, given to it, and thus much valuable time may be saved.</p> + +<p>By making a few forced swarms, about a week or ten days before the time +in which the most will be made, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"> [197]</a></span> Apiarian may be sure of having an +abundance of sealed queens almost mature, so that every swarm may have +one. If he can give each hive that needs it, an unhatched queen, without +removing her from her frame, so much the better; but if he has not +enough frames with sealed queens, while some of them contain two or more +queens, he must proceed as follows:</p> + +<p>With a very sharp knife, carefully cut out a queen cell, on a piece of +comb an inch or more square; cut a place in one of the combs of the hive +to which this cell is to be given, just about large enough to receive it +in a natural position, and if it is not secure, put a little melted wax +with a feather, where the edges meet. The bees will soon fasten it, so +as to make all right. Unless very great care is used in transferring +these royal cells, the enclosed queens will be destroyed; as their +bodies, until they are nearly mature, are so exceedingly soft, that a +very slight compression of their cell often kills them. For this reason, +I prefer not to remove them, until they are within three or four days of +hatching. As the forcing of a swarm may always be conducted, with my +hives, in such a manner that the Apiarian can be sure to effect a +suitable division of the bees, the process may be performed at any time +when the sun is above the horizon, and the weather is not too +unpleasant. It ought not to be attempted when the weather is so cool as +to endanger the destruction of the brood, by a chill; and never unless +when there is not only sufficient light to enable the Apiarian to see +distinctly, but enough for the bees that take wing, to see the hive, and +direct their flight to its entrance. If hives are meddled with, when it +is dark, the bees are always more irascible, and as they cannot see +where to fly, they will constantly be alighting upon the person of the +bee-keeper, who will be almost sure to receive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"> [198]</a></span> some stings. I have +seldom attempted night-work upon my bees, without having occasion most +thoroughly to rue my folly. If the weather is not too cool, early in the +morning, before the bees are stirring, will be the best time, as there +will be less danger of annoyance from robber-bees.</p> + +<p>If honey-water is used instead of sugar-water in sprinkling the bees +when the hive is first opened, the smell will be almost certain to +entice marauders from other hives to attempt to take possession of +treasures which do not belong to them, and when they once commence such +a pilfering course of life, they will be very loth to lay it aside. When +the honey harvest is abundant, (and this is the very time for forcing +swarms,) bees, with proper precautions, are seldom inclined to rob. I +have sometimes found it difficult to induce them to notice honey-combs +which I wished them to empty, even when they were placed in an exposed +situation. This subject, however, will be more fully treated in the +remarks on Robbing.</p> + +<p>Perhaps some of my readers will hardly be able to convince themselves +that bees may be dealt with after the fashion I have been describing, +without becoming greatly enraged; so far is this from being the case, +that in my operations, I often use neither sugar-water nor bee-dress, +although I do not recommend the neglect of such precautions.</p> + +<p>The artificial swarm may be created with perfect safety, even at +mid-day, when thousands of bees are returning to the hive: for these +bees being laden with honey, never venture upon making an attack, while +those at home may be easily pacified.</p> + +<p>I find a very great advantage in the peculiar shape of my hive, which +allows the top to be easily removed, and the sugar-water to be sprinkled +upon the bees, before they attempt to take wing. If like the Dzierzon +hive, it opened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"> [199]</a></span> on the end, it would be impossible for me to use the +sweetened water, so as to make it run down between all the ranges of +comb, and I should be forced, as he does, to employ smoke, in all my +operations. Huber thus speaks of the pacific effect produced upon the +bees by the use of his leaf hive. "On opening the hive, no stings are to +be dreaded, for one of the most singular and valuable properties +attending my construction, is its rendering the bees tractable. I +ascribe their tranquility to the manner in which they are affected by +the sudden admission of light, they appear rather to testify fear than +anger. Many retire, and entering the cells, seem to conceal themselves." +I will admit that Huber has here fallen into an error which he would not +have made, had he used his own eyes. The bees do indeed enter the cells +when the frames are exposed, but not "to conceal themselves;" they +imagine that their sweets, thus unceremoniously exposed to the light of +day, are to be taken from them, and they fill themselves to their utmost +capacity, in order to save all that they can. I always expect them to +appropriate the contents of the open cells, as soon as I remove their +frames from the hive. It is not merely the <i>sudden</i> admission of light, +but its introduction from an <i>unexpected quarter</i>, that seems for the +time to disarm the hostility of the bees. They appear for a few moments, +almost as much confounded as we should be, if without any warning the +roof and ceiling of a house should suddenly fly off into the air. Before +they recover from their amazement, the sweet libation is poured out upon +them, and surprize is quickly converted into pleasure rather than anger. +I believe that in the working season, almost all the bees near the top +are gorged with honey, and that this is the reason why opening the hive +from <span class="smcap lowercase">ABOVE</span> is so easily effected. The bees below that are disposed to +resent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"> [200]</a></span> any intrusions, are met in their threatening ascent, with an +avalanche of nectar which "like a soft answer," most effectually +"turneth away wrath." Who would ever be willing to use the sickening +fumes of the disgusting weed, when so much pleasure instead of pain may +be given to his bees. That bees never seem to be prepared to make an +instant assault from the top of their hive, but only near the entrance, +any one may be convinced of, who will put my frames into a suspended +hive with a movable bottom which may be made to drop at pleasure. If +now, for any purpose, he attempts to meddle with the combs from below, +he will find that unless he uses smoke, the bees will be almost, if not +quite unmanageable.</p> + +<p>I shall now give some directions, which will greatly assist the Apiarian +in his operations. He must bear in mind that nothing irritates bees more +than a sudden jar, and that this must, in all cases, be most carefully +avoided. The inside cover of the hive, or as I shall term it, the +<i>honey-board</i>, because the surplus honey receptacles stand upon it, can +never be very firmly attached by the bees: it may always be readily +loosened with a thin knife, or better still, with an apothecary's +spatula, which will be very useful for many purposes in the Apiary. When +the honey-board is removed, its lower surface will be usually covered +with bees, and it should be carefully set on end, so as not to crush +them. There is not the least danger that one of them will offer to +sting, as they are completely bewildered by the sudden introduction of +light, and their removal from the hive. As soon as the cover is disposed +of, the Apiarian should sprinkle the bees with the sweet solution. This +should descend from the watering-pot in a fine stream, so as not to +<i>drench</i> the bees, and should fall upon the tops of the frames, as well +as between the ranges of comb. The bees will at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"> [201]</a></span> once, accept the +proffered treat, and will begin lapping it up, as peaceably as so many +chickens helping themselves to corn. While they are thus engaged, the +frames must be very gently pried by a stick, from their attachments to +the rabbets on which they rest; this may be done without any jar and +without wounding or enraging a single bee. They may all be loosened +preparatory to removing them, in less than a minute.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> By this time, +the sprinkled bees will have filled themselves, or if all have not done +so, the grateful intelligence that sweets have been furnished them, will +diffuse an unusual good nature through all the honied realm. The +Apiarian should now remove one of the outside frames, taking hold of its +two ends which rest upon the rabbets, and carefully lifting it out +without inclining it from its perpendicular position, so as not to +injure a single bee. The removal of the next comb, and of all the +succeeding ones, will be more easily effected, as there will be more +room to operate to advantage. If bees were disposed to fly away at once +from their combs, as soon as they were taken out, it would be very +difficult to manage them, but so far are they from doing this, that they +adhere to them with most wonderful tenacity. I have sometimes removed +all the combs, and arranged them in a continued line, and the bees have +not only refused to leave them, but have stoutly defended them against +the thieving propensities of other bees. By shaking off the bees from +the combs upon a sheet, and securing the queen, I can, on any pleasant +day, exhibit nearly all the appearances of natural swarming. The bees, +as soon as they miss their queen, will rise into the air, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"> [202]</a></span>by +placing her on the twig of a tree, they will soon cluster around her in +the manner already described.</p> + +<p>A word as to the manner of catching the queen. I seize her very gently, +as I espy her among the bees, and by taking care to crush none of them, +run not the least risk of being stung. The queen herself never stings, +even if handled ever so roughly.</p> + +<p>In removing the frames from the hive, it will be found very convenient +to have a box with suitable rabbets in which they may be temporarily +put, and covered over with a piece of cotton cloth. They may thus be +very easily protected from the cold, and from robbing bees, if they are +to be kept out of the hive for some time; and such a box will be very +convenient to receive frames that are lifted out for examination. In +returning the frames to a hive, care must be taken not to crush the bees +where their ends rest upon the rabbets; they must be put in slowly, so +that a bee, when he feels the slightest pressure may have a chance to +creep from under them, before he is hurt.</p> + +<p>The honey-cover, for convenience, is generally in two pieces: these +cannot be laid down on the hive, without danger of killing many bees; +they are therefore very carefully <i>slid</i> on, so that any bees which may +be in the way, are pushed before them, instead of being crushed. If any +bees are upon such parts of the hive as to be imprisoned if the outside +cover is closed, it should be left a little open, until they have flown +to the entrance of the hive. It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the +bee-keeper, that all his motions must be slow and gentle, and that the +bees must not be injured or breathed upon. If he will carefully follow +the directions I have given, he may soon open a hundred hives and +perform any necessary operation upon them, without any bee-dress, and +yet with very little risk of being stung,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"> [203]</a></span> but I almost despair of being +able to convince even the most experienced Apiarians, of the ease and +safety with which bees may be managed on my plan, until they have +actually been eye-witnesses of its successful operation.</p> + +<p>I can make an artificial colony in the way above described in ten +minutes from the time that I open the hive, and if I see the queen as +quickly as I often do, in not more than five minutes. Fifteen minutes +will be a very liberal allowance of time to complete the whole work. If +I had an Apiary of a hundred colonies, in less than a week, if the +weather was pleasant, I could without any assistance easily finish the +business of swarming for the whole season.</p> + +<p>But how can the Apiarian, if he delays the formation of artificial +swarms until nearly the season for natural swarming, be sure that his +bees will not swarm in the usual way? Must he not still be constantly on +hand, or run the risk of losing many of his best swarms? I come now to +the entirely novel plan by which such objections are completely +obviated. If the Apiarian decides that he can most advantageously +multiply his colonies by artificial swarming, he must see that all his +fertile queens are deprived of their wings, so as to be unable to lead +off new swarms. As an old queen never leaves the hive except to +accompany a new swarm, the loss of her wings does not, in the least +interfere with her usefulness, or with the attachment of the bees. +Occasionally, a wingless queen is so bent on emigrating, that in spite +of her inability to fly, she tries to go off with a swarm; she has "a +will," but contrary to the old maxim she can find "no way," but +helplessly falls upon the ground instead of gaily mounting into the air. +If the bees succeed in finding her, they will never desert her, but +cluster directly around her, and may thus be easily secured by the +Apiarian. If she is not found, the bees will return to the parent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"> [204]</a></span> stock +to await the maturity of the young queens. The Apiarian will ordinarily +be prepared to form his artificial colonies before any of these young +queens are hatched.</p> + +<p>The following is the best plan for removing the wings from the queens. +Every hive which contains a young queen, ought to be examined about a +week after she has hatched, (see Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Loss of the Queen</a>,) in order +to ascertain that she has been impregnated, and has begun to lay eggs. +Some of the central combs or those on which the bees are most thickly +clustered, should be first lifted out, for she will almost always be +found on one of them; the Apiarian when he has caught her, should remove +the wings on one side with a pair of scissors taking care not to hurt +her. On examining his hives next season, let him remove one of the two +remaining wings from the queen. The third season, he may deprive her of +her last wing. Bees always have four wings, a pair on each side. This +plan saves him the trouble of marking his hives so as to know the age of +the queens they contain.</p> + +<p>As the fertility of the queen generally decreases after the second year, +I prefer, just before the drones are destroyed, to kill all the old +queens that have entered their third year. In this way, I guard against +some of my stocks becoming queenless, in consequence of the queen dying +of old age, when there is no worker-brood in the hive, from which they +can rear another: or of having a worthless, drone-laying queen whose +impregnation has been retarded. These old queens are removed at that +period of the year when their colony is strong in numbers; and as the +honey-harvest is by this time, nearly over, their removal is often a +positive benefit, instead of a loss. The population is prevented from +being over crowded at a time when the bees are consumers and not +producers, and when the young queen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"> [205]</a></span> reared in the place of the old one +matures, she will rapidly fill the cells with eggs, and raise a large +number of bees to take advantage of the late honey-harvest, and to +prepare the hive to winter most advantageously.</p> + +<p>The certainty, rapidity and ease of making artificial swarms with my +hives, will be such as to amaze those most who have had the greatest +experience and success in the management of bees. Instead of weeks +wasted in watching the Apiary, in addition to all the other vexations +and embarrassments which are so often found to attend reliance on +natural swarming, the Apiarian will find not only that he can create all +his new colonies in a very short time, but that he can, if he chooses, +entirely prevent the issue of all after-swarms. In order to do this, he +ought to examine the stocks which are raising young queens, in season to +cut out all the queen cells but one, before the larvæ come to maturity. +If he gave them a sealed queen nearly mature, they will raise no others, +and no swarming, for that season, will take place. If the Apiarian +wishes to do more than to double his stocks in one season, and is +favorably situated for practicing natural swarming, he can allow the +stocks that raise young queens to swarm if they will, and he can +strengthen the small swarms by giving to them comb with honey and +maturing brood from other hives. Or he can, after an interval of about +three weeks, make one swarm from every two good ones in his Apiary, in a +way that will soon be described.</p> + +<p>I do not know that I can find a better place in which to impress certain +highly important principles upon the attention of the bee-keeper. I am +afraid, that in spite of all that I can say, many persons as soon as +they find themselves able to multiply colonies at pleasure, will so +overdo the matter, as to run the risk of losing all their bees. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"> [206]</a></span> the +Apiarian aims at obtaining a large quantity of honey in any one season, +he cannot at the furthest, more than double the number of his stocks: +nor can he do this, unless they are all strong, and the season +favorable. The moment that he aims, in any one season, at a more rapid +increase, he must not only renounce the idea of having any surplus +honey, but must expect to purchase food for the support of his colonies, +unless he is willing to see them all perish by starvation. The time, +food, care and skill required to multiply stocks with very great +rapidity, in our short and uncertain climate, are so great that not one +Apiarian in a hundred can expect to make it profitable; while the great +mass of those who attempt it, will be almost sure, at the close of the +season, to find themselves in possession of stocks which have been so +managed as to be of very little value.</p> + +<p>Before explaining some other methods of artificial swarming, which I +have employed to great advantage, I shall endeavor to impress upon the +mind of the bee-keeper, the great importance of thoroughly understanding +each season, the precise object at which he is aiming, before he enters +on the work of increasing his colonies. If his object is, in any one +season, to get the largest yield of surplus honey, he must at once make +up his mind to be content with a very moderate increase of stocks. If, +on the contrary, he desires to multiply his colonies, say, three or four +fold, he must be prepared, not only to relinquish the expectation of +obtaining any surplus honey, if the season should prove unfavorable, but +to purchase food for the support of his bees. Rapid multiplication of +colonies, and large harvests of surplus honey cannot, in the very nature +of things, be secure in our climate, in any one season.</p> + +<p>If the number of colonies is to be increased to a large extent, then the +bees in the Apiary will be tasked to the utmost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"> [207]</a></span> in building new comb, +as well as in rearing brood. For these purposes, they must consume the +supply of honey which, under other circumstances, they would have stored +up, a part for their own use in the main hive, and the balance for their +owner, in the spare honey-boxes.</p> + +<p>To make this matter perfectly plain, let us suppose a colony to swarm. +If the new hive, into which the swarm is put, holds, as it ought, about +a bushel, it will require about two pounds of wax to fill it with comb, +and at least forty pounds of honey will be used in its manufacture! If +the season is favorable, and the swarm was large and early, they may +gather, not only enough to build this comb and to store it with honey +sufficient for their own use, but a number of pounds in addition, for +the benefit of their owner. If the old stock does not swarm again, it +will rapidly replenish its numbers, and as it has no new comb to build +in the main hive which already contains much honey, it will be able to +store up a generous allowance in the upper boxes. These favorable +results are all on the supposition that the season was ordinarily +productive in honey, and that the hive was so powerful in numbers as to +be able to swarm early. If the season should prove to be very +unfavorable, the first swarm cannot be expected to gather more than +enough for its own use, while the parent stock will yield only a small +return. The profits of the bee-keeper, in such an unfortunate season, +will be mainly in the increase of his stocks. If the swarm was late, in +consequence of the stock being weak in Spring, the early part of the +honey-harvest will pass away, and the bees will be able to obtain from +it, but a small share of honey. During all this time of comparative +inactivity, the orchards may present</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"One boundless blush, one white empurpled shower<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of mingled blossoms,"<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"> [208]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>and tens of thousands of bees from stronger stocks, may be engaged all +day, in sipping the fragrant sweets, so that every gale which "fans its +odoriferous wings" about their dwellings, dispenses</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Native perfumes, and whispers whence they stole<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Those balmy spoils."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>By the time that the feeble stock is prepared to swarm, if it swarm at +all that season, the honey-harvest is almost over, and the new colony +will seldom be able to gather enough for its own use, so that unless +fed, it must perish the succeeding Winter. Bee-keeping with colonies +feeble in the Spring, is most emphatically nothing but "folly and +vexation of spirit."</p> + +<p>I have shown how the bee-keeper, with a strong stock-hive which has +swarmed early and but once, may in a favorable season realize handsome +profits from his bees. If the parent stock throws a second swarm, then, +as a general rule, unless this swarm was very early, and the honey +season good, if managed on the ordinary plan, it will seldom prove of +any value. It will almost always perish in the Winter, if it does not +desert its hive in the Fall, and the family from which it issued, will +not only gather no surplus honey, (unless it was secured before the +first swarm issued,) but will very often perish likewise. Thus the +inexperienced owner who was so delighted with the rapid increase of his +colonies, begins the next season with no more colonies than he had the +year before, and has very often lost all the time he has bestowed upon +his bees. I can, to be sure, on my plan, prevent the death of the bees, +and can build up all the feeble colonies, so as to make them strong and +powerful: <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"> [209]</a></span>but only by giving up all idea of obtaining a single pound of +honey. From the first swarm, I must take combs containing maturing +brood, to strengthen my weak swarms, and this first swarm however +powerful or early, instead of being able to store its combs with honey, +will be constantly tasked in building new combs to replace those taken +away, so that when the honey harvest closes, it will have scarcely any +honey, and must be fed to prevent it from starving. Any man who has +sense enough to be entrusted with bees, can, from these remarks, +understand exactly why it is impossible to multiply colonies rapidly in +any one season, and yet obtain from them large supplies of honey. Even +the doubling of stocks in one season, will very often be too rapid an +increase, if the greatest quantity of spare honey is to be obtained from +them; and when the largest yield of honey is desired, I much prefer to +form, in a way soon to be described, only one new stock from two old +ones; this will give even more from the three, than could have been +obtained from the two, on the ordinary non-swarming plan.</p> + +<p>I would very strongly dissuade any but experienced Apiarians, from +attempting at the furthest, to do more than to triple their stocks in +one year. In order to furnish directions for very rapid multiplication, +sufficiently full and explicit to be of any value to the inexperienced, +I should have to write a book on this one topic; and even then, the most +of those who should undertake it, would be sure at first to fail.</p> + +<p>I have no doubt that with ten strong stocks of bees in a good location, +in one favorable season, I could so increase them as to have, on the +approach of Winter, one hundred good colonies: but I should expect to +feed hundreds of pounds of honey, to devote nearly all my time to their +management, and to bring to the work, the experience of many years,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"> [210]</a></span> and +the wisdom acquired by numerous failures. After all, what we most need, +in order to be successful in the cultivation of bees, is a <i>certain</i>, +rather than a <i>rapid</i> multiplication of stocks. It would require but a +very few years to stock our whole country with bees, if colonies could +only be doubled annually; and an increase of even one third, would +before long, give us bees enough. This rate of increase I should always +encourage in the swarming season, even if, in the Fall, I reduced my +stocks (see <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Union of Stocks</a>) to the Spring number. In the long run, it +will keep the colonies in a much more prosperous condition, and secure +from them the largest yield of honey.</p> + +<p>I have never myself hesitated to sacrifice one or more colonies, in +order to ascertain a single fact, and it would require a separate volume +quite as large as this, to detail the various experiments which I have +made on the subject of Artificial Swarming. The practical bee-keeper, +however, should never, for a moment, lose sight of the important +distinction between an Apiary managed principally for the purposes of +experiment and discovery, and one conducted almost exclusively with +reference to pecuniary profit. Any bee-keeper can easily experiment with +my hives: but I would recommend him to do so, at first, on a small +scale, and if profit is his object, to follow the directions furnished +in this treatise, until he is <i>sure</i> that he has discovered others which +are preferable. These cautions are given to prevent persons from +incurring serious losses and disappointments, if they use hives which, +if they are not on their guard, may tempt them into rash and +unprofitable courses, by allowing so easily of all manner of +experiments. Let the practical Apiarian remember that the less he +disturbs the stocks on which he relies for surplus honey, the better. +After they are properly lodged in their new hive, they ought by all +means to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"> [211]</a></span> allowed to carry on their labors without any interruption. +The object of giving the control over every comb in the hive, is not to +enable him to be incessantly taking them in and out, and subjecting the +bees to all sorts of annoyances. Unless he is conducting a course of +experiments, such interference will be almost as silly as the conduct of +children who pull up the seeds which they have planted, to see whether +they have sprouted, or how much they have grown. If after these +cautions, any still choose to disregard them, the blame of their losses +will fall, not upon the hive, but upon their own mismanagement.</p> + +<p>Let me not, for a moment, be understood as wishing to discourage +investigation, or to intimate that perfection has been so nearly +attained that no more important discoveries remain to be made. On the +contrary, I should be glad to learn that many who have the time and +means, are disposed to use the facilities furnished by hives which give +the control of each comb, to experiment on a large scale; and I hope +that every intelligent bee-keeper who follows my plans, will experiment +at least on a small scale. In this way, we may soon expect to see, more +satisfactorily elucidated, some points in the Natural History of the +bee, which are still involved in doubt.</p> + +<p>Having described the way in which forced swarms are made, both in common +hives and in my own, when the Apiarian wishes in one season merely to +double his colonies, I shall now show in what way he can secure the +largest yield of honey, by forming only one new colony from two old +ones.</p> + +<p>Early in the season, before the bees fly out, or better still, after +they ceased to fly in the previous Fall, the two hives from which the +new colony is to be formed, should be placed near each other, unless +they are already, not more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"> [212]</a></span> than a foot apart. When the time for forming +the artificial colony has arrived, these hives should be removed from +their stand, and the bees driven from them, precisely in the manner +already described. If all the bees are at home, I sometimes shut up the +hives on their stand, and drum long enough to cause the bees to fill +themselves before the hive is removed. Timid Apiarians may find some +advantage in this course, as the bees will all be quiet after they are +well drummed, and the hive may then be removed with greater safety. In +five minutes I can in this way reduce any swarm to a peaceable +condition. After the forced swarms are secured, the removed hives are +replaced, in order to catch up all the returning bees, and the forced +swarms must be shut up, until towards sunset; unless it is judged best +to keep the entrances temporarily open, so as to secure the return of a +sufficient number of bees to the parent stocks. The old stocks are now +moved to a new place, and managed according to the previous directions. +If neither of the expelled swarms was driven into the hive intended for +the new colony, then the proper hive must be placed, as near as +possible, in the center of the space previously occupied by the original +colonies. One of the swarms must now be shaken out upon a sheet, in +front of this hive which should be elevated, so as to enable the bees to +enter it readily. As soon as they are shaken out, they should be gently +sprinkled with sugar-water scented with peppermint, or any other +fragrant odor. Diligent search must now be made for the Queen, and if +found, she should be carefully removed, and given to the hive to which +she belongs. If the queen of the first swarm has been found, the second +colony may be shaken out, and sprinkled in the same way, and allowed to +enter without any further trouble. If the queen of the first colony was +not found,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"> [213]</a></span> then that of the second one must be sought for; if neither +can be found, (though this, after a little experience, will very seldom +happen,) one of the Queens will soon kill the other, and reign over the +united family. The next day, the doubled colony will be found working +with amazing vigor, and it will not only fill its main hive, but will, +in any ordinary season, gather large quantities of surplus honey +besides.</p> + +<p>The Apiarian who relies upon natural swarming, can double his new +colonies if they issue at the same time, by hiving them together, or if +this cannot be done, he may hive them in separate hives, and then, +towards evening, set one hive on a sheet, and shake down the bees from +the other, so that they can enter and join the first. It may be safely +done, even if several days have elapsed before the second colony swarms; +although in this case, I prefer after turning up their hive to sprinkle +the oldest swarm with scented sugar-water, and then to give the new +swarm the same treatment. I have doubled natural swarms in this way, +repeatedly, and have never, when they were early, failed to secure from +them a large quantity of honey. In sprinkling bees, let the operator +remember that they are not to be <i>drenched</i>, or almost drowned, as in +this case, they will require a long time to enter the hive. Bees seem to +recognize each other by the sense of smell; and when they are made to +have the same odor, they will always mingle peaceably. This is the +reason why I use a few drops of peppermint in the sugar-water.</p> + +<p>If one of the queens of the forced swarms can be returned to her own +colony, it will of course, save them the time which would otherwise be +lost in raising another. I do not know that I can better illustrate the +importance of the inexperienced Apiarian following carefully my +directions, than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"> [214]</a></span> by supposing him to return the queen to the colony to +which she does not belong. Now I can easily imagine that some +bee-keeper may do so, conceiving that I am foolishly precise in my +directions, and that the queen might be just as well given to one hive +as to the other. But if this is done before at least 24 hours have +elapsed since they were deprived of their own, she will almost certainly +be destroyed. The bees do not <i>sting</i> a queen to death, but have a +curious mode of crowding or knotting around her, so that she is soon +smothered; and while thus imprisoned, she will often make the same +piping note which has already been described. In all this treatise, I +have constantly aimed to give no directions which are not important; and +while I utterly repudiate the notion that these directions may not be +modified and improved, I am quite certain that this cannot be done by +any but those who have considerable experience in the management of +bees.</p> + +<p>The formation of one new swarm from two old colonies, may, of course, be +very much simplified by the use of my hives. The two old hives are first +opened and sprinkled, and the bees taken from them and put into the new +hive in the same way in which the process was conducted when only one +colony was expelled, some brood comb being given to the united family. +There will be no difficulty in rightly proportioning the bees; one queen +may always be caught and preserved, and the operation may be performed +at any time when the sun is above the horizon. I have no doubt that +those who have a strong stock of bees, and who are anxious to realize +the largest profits in honey, will find this mode of increase, by far +the simplest and best. If judiciously practiced, they will find that +their colonies may always be kept powerful, and that they may be managed +with very great economy in time and labor. As Apiarians may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"> [215]</a></span> so +situated as to wish to increase their bees quite rapidly, I shall give +such methods as from numerous experiments, many of them conducted on a +large scale, I have found to be the best. I wish it however to be most +distinctly understood, that I do not consider <i>very</i> rapid +multiplication as likely to succeed, except in the hands of skillful +Apiarians; and under ordinary circumstances it requires too much time, +care and honey, to be of very great practical value. Its chief merit +consists in the short time which it requires to build up an Apiary. +After trying my mode of management for a few seasons, a bee-keeper may +find out, that he is in all respects, favorably situated for taking care +of a large stock of bees. Suppose him to have acquired both skill and +confidence, and that he has ten powerful colonies. If he is willing to +do without surplus honey for one season, and the honey-harvest should be +very productive, he may without feeding, and without very much labor, +safely increase his ten colonies to thirty. If he chooses to feed +largely, he may <i>possibly</i> end the season with fifty or sixty, or even +more; but he will <i>probably</i> end it in such a manner as most thoroughly +to disgust him with his folly, and to teach him that in bee-keeping, as +well as in other things, "Haste makes waste."</p> + +<p>On the supposition that by the time the fruit-trees are in blossom, the +Apiarian has, in hives of my construction, ten powerful colonies, let +him select four of the strongest, and make from each a forced swarm. He +will now have four queenless colonies, which will at once, proceed to +supply themselves with a young queen. In about ten days, he may make +from his other six stocks, six more forced swarms. He will probably find +in making these, many sealed queens, if he has delayed the operation +until about swarming time; so that he may give to each of the six stocks +from which he has expelled a swarm, the means of soon obtaining<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"> [216]</a></span> +another. If he has not enough for this purpose, he must take the +required number from the four stocks which are raising young queens, the +exact condition of which ought to have been previously ascertained. Some +of these stocks will be found to contain a large number of +queen cells. Huber, in one of his experiments, found twenty-four in one +hive, and even a larger number has sometimes been reared by a single +colony. As the Apiarian will always have many more queens than are +wanted, he ought to select those combs which contain a sealed queen, so +as to secure say, about fifteen combs, each of which has one or more +queens. If necessary, he can cut out some of the cells, and adjust them +in the manner previously described. Each comb containing a sealed queen +must be put with all the bees adhering to it, into an empty hive; and by +a divider, or movable partition, they must be confined to about one +quarter of the hive; water should be given to them, and honey, if none +is contained in the comb. I always prefer to select a comb which +contains a large number of workers almost mature, and some of which are +just beginning to hatch, so that even if a considerable number of the +bees should return to the parent stock, after their liberty is given +them, there will still be a sufficient number hatched, to attend to the +young, and especially to watch over the maturing queens. If the comb +contains a large number of bees just emerging from their cells, I prefer +to confine them only one day, otherwise I keep them shut up until about +an hour before sunset of the third day. The hives containing the small +colonies, ought, if they are not well protected by being made double, to +be set where they are thoroughly sheltered from the intense +heat of the sun; and the ventilators should give them an abundance of +air. They should also be closed in such a manner, as to keep the +interior in entire darkness,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"> [217]</a></span> so that the bees may not become too uneasy +during their confinement. I accomplish this by shutting up their +entrance, and replacing their front board, just as though I were +intending to put them into winter quarters.</p> + +<p>These small colonies I shall call <i>nuclei</i>, and the system of forming +stocks from them, my nucleus system; and before I describe this system +more particularly, I shall show other ways in which the nuclei can be +formed. If the Apiarian chooses, he can take a frame containing bees +just ready to mature, and eggs and young worms, all of the worker kind, +together with the old bees which cluster on it, and shut them up in the +manner previously described; even if he has no sealed queen to give +them. If all things are favorable, they will set about raising a queen +in a few hours. I once took not more than a tea-cup full of bees and +confined them with a small piece of brood comb in a dark place, and +found that in about an hour's time, they had begun to enlarge some of +the cells, to raise a new queen! If the Apiarian has sealed queens on +hand, they ought, by all means, to be given to the nuclei, in order to +save all the time possible.</p> + +<p>I sometimes make these nuclei as follows. The suitable comb with bees +&c., is taken from a stock-hive, and set in an empty one, made to stand +partly in the place of the old hive, which, of course, must previously +be moved a little on one side. In this way, I am able to direct a +considerable number of the bees from the old stock to my nucleus, and +the necessity of shutting it up, is done away with. If the bees from the +old stock do not enter the small one, in sufficient numbers, I sometimes +close their hive, so that the returning bees can find no other place to +enter. My object is not to catch up a <i>large</i> number of bees. For +reasons previously assigned, I do not want enough to build new comb, but +only enough to adhere to the removed comb, and raise a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"> [218]</a></span> new queen +from the brood, or develop the sealed one which has been given +them. A short time after one nucleus has in this way, been formed, +another may be made by moving the old hive again, and so a third or +fourth, if so many are wanted. This plan requires considerable skill and +experience, to secure the right number of bees, without +getting too many.</p> + +<p>If bees are to be made to enter a new hive, by removing the old one from +its stand, it will always be very desirable not only to have the new one +contain a piece of comb, but a considerable number of bees <i>clustered</i> +on that comb. I repeatedly found my bees, after entering the hive, +refuse to have anything to do with the brood comb, and for a long time, +I was unable to conjecture the cause; until I ascertained that they were +dissatisfied with its deserted appearance, and that, by taking the +precaution to have it well covered with bees, I seldom failed to +reconcile them to my system of forced colonization. I can usually tell, +in less than two minutes, whether the operation will succeed or not. If +the returning bees are content, they will, however much agitated at +first, soon begin to join the cluster on the comb; while if they are +dissatisfied, they will abandon the hive, and nearly all the bees that +were originally on the comb, will leave with them. They seem capricious +in this matter, and are sometimes so very self-willed, that they refuse +to have anything to do with the brood comb, when I can see no good +reason why they should be so rebellious.</p> + +<p>I shall here state some <i>conjectures</i> which have occurred to me on this +subject. Is it absolutely certain that bees can raise a queen from <i>any</i> +egg or young larva which would produce a worker? Or if this is possible, +is it certain that <i>any kind of workers</i> can accomplish this? Huber +ascertained to his own satisfaction that there were two kinds of workers +in a hive. He thus describes them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"> [219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One of these is, in general, destined for the elaboration of wax, and +its size is considerably enlarged when full of honey; the other +immediately imparts what it has collected to its companions, its abdomen +undergoes no sensible change, or it retains only the honey necessary for +its own subsistence. The particular function of the bees of this kind is +to take care of the young, for they are not charged with provisioning +the hive. In opposition to the wax workers, we shall call them small +bees or nurses."</p> + +<p>"Although the external difference be inconsiderable, this is not an +imaginary distinction. Anatomical observations prove that the capacity +of the stomach is not the same—experiments have ascertained that one of +the species cannot fulfil all the functions shared among the workers of +a hive. We painted those of each class with different colors, in order +to study their proceedings; and these were not interchanged. In another +experiment, after supplying a hive deprived of a queen with brood and +pollen, we saw the small bees quickly occupied in nutrition of the +larvæ, while those of the wax working class neglected them. Small bees +also produce wax, but in a very inferior quantity to what is elaborated +by the real wax workers."</p> + +<p>Now if these statements can be relied on, and thus far I have nearly +always found Huber's statements, where-ever I had an opportunity to test +them, to be most wonderfully reliable, then it may be that when bees +refuse to cluster on the brood comb and to proceed at once to rear a new +queen, it is because they find that some of the conditions necessary for +success are wanting. Either there may not be a sufficient number of +wax-workers, to enlarge the cells, or a sufficient number of nurses to +take charge of the larvæ; or it may be that the cells contain only young +wax-workers which cannot be developed into queens,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"> [220]</a></span> or only young +nurses, which may be in the same predicament.</p> + +<p>If any of my readers imagine that the work of carefully experimenting, +in order to establish facts upon the solid basis of complete +demonstration, is an easy work, let them attempt now to prove or +disprove the truth of any or all of my conjectures upon this single +topic. They will probably find the task more difficult than to blot over +whole quires and reams of paper with careless assertions.</p> + +<p>All operations of any kind which interfere in the very least, with the +natural mode of forming colonies, are best performed in the swarming +season: or at least, at a time when the bees are breeding freely, and +are able to bring in large stores of honey from the fields. At other +times, they are very precarious, and unless under the management of +persons who have great experience, they will in most cases, end in +nothing but vexatious losses and disappointments.</p> + +<p>It is quite amusing to see how bees act, when they find, on their return +from foraging abroad, that their hive has been moved, and another put in +its place. If the new hive is precisely similar to their own, in size +and outward appearance, they enter it as though all was right; but in a +few moments, they rush out in violent agitation, imagining that they +have made a prodigious mistake and have entered the wrong place. They +now take wing again in order to correct their blunder, but find to their +increasing surprise, that they had previously directed their flight to +the familiar spot; again they enter, and again they tumble out, in +bewildered crowds, until, at length, if they can find the means of +raising a new queen, or one is already there, they seem to make up their +minds that if this is not home, it not only looks like it, but stands +just where their home ought to be, and is at all events the only home +they are likely to get. No doubt they often feel that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"> [221]</a></span> a very hard +bargain has been imposed upon them, but they seem generally determined +to make the best of it.</p> + +<p>There is one trait in the character of bees, for which I feel, not +merely admiration, but the most profound respect. Such is their +indomitable energy and perseverance, that under circumstances +apparently the most despairing, they will still labor to +the utmost, to retrieve their losses, and sustain the sinking state. So +long as they have a queen, or any prospect of raising one, they struggle +most vigorously against impending ruin, and never give up, unless their +condition is absolutely desperate. In one of my observing hives, I once +had a colony of bees, the whole of which might have been spread out on +my two hands, busy at work in raising a new queen, from a small piece of +brood comb. For two long weeks, they adhered with unfailing perseverance +and industry, to their forlorn hope: until at last, one of the two +queens which they raised, came forth, and destroyed the other while +still in her cell. The bees had now dwindled away to less than half +their original number, and the new queen had wings so imperfect that she +was unable to fly. I watched their proceedings with great interest; they +actually paid very unusual attention to this crippled queen, and treated +her more as they are wont to treat a fertile one. In the course of a +week, there were not more than a dozen left in the hive, and in a few +days more, I missed the queen, and saw only a few disconsolate wretches +crawling over the deserted comb! Shame upon the faint-hearted and +cowardly of our own race, who, if overtaken by calamity, instead of +nobly breasting the dark waters of affliction, and manfully buffetting +with their tumultuous waves, meanly resign themselves to their ignoble +fate, and sink and perish where they might have lived and triumphed; and +double shame upon those who thus "faint in the day of adversity," when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"> [222]</a></span> +living in a Christian land, they might, if they would only receive the +word of God, and open the eye of faith, behold a bow of promise spanning +the still stormy clouds, and hear a voice bidding them, like the great +apostle of the Gentiles, learn not merely to "rejoice in hope of the +glory of God," but to "glory in tribulations also."</p> + +<p>I have been informed by Mr. Wagner, that Dzierzon has recently devised a +plan of <i>forming nuclei</i>, substantially the same with my own. His book, +however, contemplates having two Apiaries, three or four miles apart, +and his plans for multiplying colonies, as there described, were based +upon the supposition that the Apiarian will have two such +establishments. Such an arrangement would no doubt very greatly +facilitate many operations. Our forced swarms might all be removed from +the Apiary where they were formed, to the other, and our nuclei treated +in the same way, and there would be no necessity for confining the bees +after their removal. There are however, weighty objections to such an +arrangement, which will prevent it, at least for some time, from being +extensively adopted. The labor of removing the bees backwards and +forwards, is a serious objection to the whole plan; and in addition to +this, the necessity of having a skillful Apiarian at each establishment, +puts its adoption out of the question, with most persons who keep bees. +It might answer, however, if two bee-keepers, sufficiently far apart, +would enter into partnership, and manage their bees as a joint concern. +Dzierzon's new plan of creating nuclei, is as follows. Towards evening, +remove a piece of brood comb, with eggs and bees just hatching, and put +it, with a sufficient number of mature bees, into an empty hive; there +must be enough to keep the brood from being chilled over night. If the +operation is performed so late that the bees are not disposed to take +wing and leave the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"> [223]</a></span> hive, by morning a sufficient number will have +hatched, to supply the place of those which may abandon the nucleus. In +my numerous experiments last Summer, in the formation of +artificial swarms, I tried this plan and found that it +answered a good purpose; the chief objection to it, is the difficulty +often of selecting the suitable kind of comb, if the operation is +delayed until late in the afternoon. I prefer, therefore, to perform it, +when the sun is an hour or two high, and to confine the bees until dark. +If there are not a sufficient number of bees on the comb, I shake off +some from another frame, directly into the hive, and shut them all up, +giving them a supply of water. Sealed queens if possible, should be used +in all these operations.</p> + +<p>I shall now give a novel mode of creating nuclei, which I have devised, +and which I find to be attended with great success. Hive a new swarm in +the usual manner, in an old box, and as soon as the bees have entered +it, shut them up and carry them down into the cellar. About an hour +before sunset, take combs suitable to form as many nuclei as you judge +best, say five or six, or even eight or ten if the swarm was large, and +you need as many. Bring up the new swarm and shake it out upon a sheet, +sprinkling it gently with sugar-water. With a large tumbler or saucer, +scoop up without hurting any of the bees, a pint or more of them, and +place them before the mouth of one of the hives containing a brood comb; +repeat the process, until each nucleus has, say, a quart of bees. If you +see the queen, you may give the hive in which you put her, three or four +times as many bees as any other; and the next day it may be strengthened +with a few combs containing brood, just ready to mature. If you did not +find her, at the time of forming the nuclei, when you afterwards examine +them, the one which contains her may be properly reinforced with bees +and comb, so as to enable it to work to the best advantage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"> [224]</a></span></p> + +<p>If this plan of forming nuclei, were attempted earlier in the afternoon +it would be difficult to prevent the bees from communicating on the +wing, and all going to the hive which contained their queen. If however, +the bees when first shaken out of the temporary hive, are so thoroughly +sprinkled, as not to be able to take wing and unite together, this mode +of forming colonies may be practiced at any hour of the day; and an +experienced Apiarian may prefer to do it, as soon as he has fairly hived +the new swarm. When the bees are shaken out in front of a hive which has +a sealed queen, or eggs from which they can raise one, having a whole +night in which to accustom themselves to their new situation, they will +be found, the next day, to adhere to the place where they were put, with +as much tenacity as a natural swarm does to their new hive. How +wonderful that the act of swarming should so thoroughly impress upon the +bees, an absolute indisposition to return to the parent stock. If this +were a fixed and invariable unwillingness, a sort of blind, unreasoning +instinct, it would not be so surprising, but we have already seen that +in case the bees lose their queen, they return in a very short time to +the stock from which they issued! If the nuclei formed in the manner +just described, found in their new hive, no means of obtaining a queen, +they would all return, next morning, to the parent stock.</p> + +<p>When the Apiarian can obtain a natural swarm from any other Apiary, it +may be divided into nuclei in the same way, and even a forced swarm, if +brought from a distance, will answer equally well. If the Apiarian +wishes to form colonies earlier than the season of natural swarming, and +cannot conveniently obtain a forced swarm from an Apiary, at least a +mile distant, he may, before the bees begin to fly out in the Spring, +transport one of his stocks to a neighbor's, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"> [225]</a></span> force from it a swarm +at the desired time. Even if it is moved not more than half a mile off, +the operation will be almost sure to succeed. Of all modes of forming +the nuclei, this I believe will be found to be the neatest, simplest and +best.</p> + +<p>Having thus described the various ways in which I have successfully +formed my nuclei, I shall now show how they may be all built up into +powerful stocks. It will be very obvious that on the ordinary plan of +management, they would be absolutely worthless, even if it were possible +to form them with the common hives. If they were not fed, they would be +unable to collect the means of building new comb, and would gradually +dwindle away, just as third or fourth swarms which issue late in the +season; nor could they be saved even by the most generous feeding, as +they would only use their supplies to fill up the little comb they had; +so that when the queen was ready to lay, there would be no empty cells +to receive her eggs, and too few bees to build any, even if they had all +the honey that they required. Such small colonies must gradually waste +away, unless they can be speedily and effectually supplied with the +requisite number of bees, and this can be done only by hives which give +the control of all the combs. With such hives, I can speedily build up +my nuclei, (provided I have not formed too many,) to the strength +necessary to make them powerful stocks. The hives containing them, ought +if possible, to stand at some distance from other hives, say two or +three feet: and if this cannot conveniently be done, they should in some +way, be so distinguished from the adjoining hives, that the young queens +when they are hatched and go out to seek the drones, will not be liable +to lose their lives by entering a wrong hive on their return. A small +leafy twig fastened on the alighting board of such hives, when they +stand near to others, will be almost sure to prevent such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"> [226]</a></span> +catastrophe: if they stand near to each other, some may be marked in +this way, and others with a piece of colored cloth. (See Page <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.) To +guard them against robbers, &c., the entrances to these nuclei should be +contracted, so that only a few bees can enter at once. Those which were +confined, should be examined, the day after their liberty is given to +them; the others, the day after they were formed, when, if they were not +supplied with a sealed queen, they will be found actively engaged in +constructing royal cells. A new range of comb should now be given to +each one, and it should contain no old bees, but brood rapidly maturing, +and if possible, eggs and worms only a few days old.</p> + +<p>This new addition of strength will greatly encourage the nuclei, and +give them the means of starting young queens, if they have not succeeded +in doing so with the first comb. I have very frequently found that for +some cause which I have not yet ascertained, they often start a large +number of queen cells, which in a few days, are all discontinued and +untenanted. The second attempt seldom fails. Does practice in this thing +make them more expert? But I will simply state the fact, referring to my +conjectures on page <a href="#Page_218">218</a>; and remarking that when they make a second +attempt, they seem frequently disposed to start a much larger number +than they otherwise would have done. In two or three days after giving +them the first piece of comb, I give them another, if their queen is +nearly mature, and I now let them alone until she ought to be depositing +eggs in the hive. I then give them, at intervals of a few days, two or +three combs more, and they will now be sufficiently powerful in bees, to +gather large quantities of honey, and fill the empty part of their hive. +The young queen is supplying with thousands of worker-eggs, the cells +from which the brood has emerged, and also the new ones built by the +bees, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"> [227]</a></span> the new colony will soon be one of the best stock hives in +the Apiary. If some of the full frames are moved, and empty ones placed +between them, as soon as the bees begin to build powerfully, there need +be no guide combs on the empty frames, and still the work will be +executed with the most beautiful regularity.</p> + +<p>But what, in the mean time, is the condition of the hives from which we +are taking so many brood combs for the proper development of our nuclei; +are they not weakened so much as to become quite enfeebled? I come now +to the very turning point of the whole nucleus system. If due judgment +has not been used, and the sanguine bee-keeper has endeavored to +multiply his colonies too rapidly, a most grievous disappointment awaits +him. Either his nuclei cannot be strengthened at the right time, or this +can be done, only by impoverishing the old stocks, and the result of the +whole operation will be a most decided failure, and if he is in the +vicinity of sugar-houses, confectionaries, or other tempting places of +bee resort, he will find the population of his colonies very seriously +diminished, and will have to break up the most of the nuclei which he +had formed, and incur the danger of losing nearly the whole of his +stock. I lay it down as a fundamental principle in my nucleus system, +that the old stocks must never be so much weakened by the removal of +brood-comb and bees that they are not able to keep their numbers +sufficiently strong to refill rapidly all the vacancies among their +combs. If the Apiarian attempts to multiply his stocks so rapidly that +this cannot be done, I will ensure him ample cause to repent at leisure +of his folly. If however, the attempt at very rapid multiplication is +made only by those who are favorably situated, and who have skill in the +management of bees, a very large gain may be made in the number of +stocks, and they may all be strong and flourishing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"> [228]</a></span></p> + +<p>If a strong stock of bees in a hive of moderate size, which admits of +thorough inspection, is examined at the height of the honey harvest, +nearly all the cells will often be found filled with brood, honey or +bee-bread. The great laying of the queen, according to some writers, is +now over, not however as they erroneously imagine, because her fertility +has decreased, but merely because there is not <i>room</i> in the hive for +all her eggs. She may often be seen restlessly traversing the combs, +seeking in vain for empty cells, until finding none, she is compelled to +extrude her eggs only to be devoured by the bees. (See p. <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.) If some +of the full combs are removed, and empty ones substituted in their +place, she will speedily fill them, laying at the rate of two or three +thousand a day! When my strong stocks are from time to time deprived of +one or two combs, if honey can easily be procured,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> the bees proceed +at once to replace them, and the queen commences laying in the new combs +as soon as the cells are fairly started. If the combs are not removed +<i>too fast</i>, and care is taken not to deprive the stock of so much brood +that the bees cannot keep up a vigorous population, a queen in a hive so +managed, will lay her eggs in cells to be nurtured by the bees, instead +of being eaten up; and thus, in the course of the season, she may become +the mother of three or four times as many bees, as are reared in a hive +under other circumstances. By careful management, brood enough may, in +this way, be taken from a single hive, to build up a large number of +nuclei. Towards the close of the season however, as such a hive has been +constantly tasked in building comb and feeding young bees, almost all +its honey will have been used for these purposes, and although it may be +very populous, unless it is liberally fed, it will be sure to perish. +Since the discovery that unbolted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"> [229]</a></span>rye flour will answer so admirably as +a substitute for pollen, we can supply the bees not only with honey, +when none can be obtained from the blossoms, but with an abundance of +bee-bread, when pollen is scarce. As I am writing this chapter, (March +29, 1853,) my bees are zealously engaged in taking the flour from some +old combs in front of their hives, and they can be seen most beautifully +moulding the little pellets on their thighs. By my movable combs, I can +give them the flour at once in their hives, as it can easily be rubbed +into an empty comb. The importance of Dzierzon's discovers of a +substitute for pollen, can hardly be over-estimated. If he had done +nothing more for the cause of Apiarian science, no true-hearted +bee-keeper would ever allow his name to be forgotten.</p> + +<p>In the Chapter on Feeding, I shall give more specific directions as to +the way in which the cultivator must feed his bees, when he aims at +increasing, as rapidly as possible, the number of his stocks. Unless +this work is done with great judgment, he will find often that the more +he feeds, the less bees he has in his hives, the cells being all +occupied with honey instead of brood. Such is the passion of bees for +storing away honey, that large supplies of it will always most seriously +interfere with breeding, unless the bees are sufficiently numerous to +build new comb in which the queen can find room for her eggs.</p> + +<p>I have no doubt that some who have but little experience in the +management of bees, are ready to imagine that they could easily strike +out a simpler and better way of increasing the number of colonies. For +instance: let a full hive have half its comb and bees put into an empty +hive, and the work of doubling, is without further trouble, effectually +accomplished. But what will the queenless hive do, under <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"> [230]</a></span>such +circumstances? Why, build of course, queen cells, and rear another. But +what kind of comb will they fill their hives with, before the young +queen begins to breed? Of that, perhaps, you had never thought. Let me +now lay down the only safe rule for all who engage in the multiplication +of artificial swarms. Never, under <i>any</i> circumstances, take so much +comb and brood from your stock hives, as seriously to reduce their +numbers. This should be to the Apiarian, as "the law of the Medes and +Persians, which altereth not."</p> + +<p>Suppose that I divide a populous stock, about swarming season, into four +or five colonies; the strong probability is, that not one of them, if +left to themselves, will be strong enough to survive the Winter. If fed +in the ordinary way, and yet not supplied with combs and bees, their +ruin will often be only accelerated. If, on the contrary, I had taken, +from time to time, combs sufficient to form three or four nuclei, and +had strengthened the new colonies, in such a way as not to draw too +severely upon the resources of the parent stock, I might +expect to see them all, in due time, strong and flourishing.</p> + +<p>In the Spring of the year, if I desire to determine the strength of a +colony principally to raising young bees, I can easily effect it by the +following plan. A box is made, of the same inside dimensions with the +lower hive, into which the combs and bees of a full hive can all be +transferred, as soon as the bees are gathering honey enough to build new +combs. This box is now set over the old hive, which contains its +complement of frames with guide combs, or better still, with empty +combs. As soon as the bees begin to build, they take possession of the +lower hive, through which they go in and out, and the queen descends +with them, in order to lay her eggs in the lower combs. As soon as the +old apartment becomes pretty well filled, a large number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"> [231]</a></span> combs with +maturing bees, may be taken from the upper one, and when the hive below +is full, they may all be safely removed. If none of the upper combs are +removed, they will be filled with honey, as soon as the brood is +hatched; and as they will contain large stores of bee-bread, they will +answer admirably for replenishing stocks which have an insufficient +supply. In no other way, so far as I know, can so much honey be secured, +and if quantity, not quality, is aimed at, or if the test of quality is +its fitness for the use of the bees, I would recommend this mode as +superior to any other. If two swarms are hived together, or a very +powerful stock is lodged in a hive, so that at once they can have access +to the upper apartment, an extraordinary quantity of honey can be +secured, and of a very excellent quality. As soon as the bees have +raised one generation of young, in the combs of the upper box, or rather +in a part of them, they will use it chiefly for storing honey, and all +that it contains may be taken from them. In flavor, it will be found to +be nearly as good as honey stored in what is called "virgin comb."</p> + +<p>In the Chapter on the Requisites of a good hive, I have said that in +size it should be adapted to the natural instincts of the bee, and yet +admit of enlarging or contracting, according to the wants of the colony +placed in it. I never use a hive, the main apartment of which, holds +less than a Winchester bushel. If small colonies are placed in such a +hive, it must be temporarily partitioned off, to suit the size of its +inmates; for if bees have too much room given to them, they cannot +concentrate their animal heat, and are so much discouraged that they +often abandon their hive. I am aware that many judicious Apiarians +recommend hives of much smaller dimensions, and I shall now give my +reasons for using one so large. If a hive is too small, then in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"> [232]</a></span> +Spring, the combs are soon filled with honey, bee-bread and brood, and +the surprising fertility of the queen bee, can be turned to no efficient +account. If the honey-harvest in any year, is deficient, such a colony +is very apt to perish in the succeeding Winter; whereas in a large hive, +the honey stored up in a fruitful season, is a reserve supply, in time +of need. In very large hives, I have seen large accumulations of honey +which have been untouched for years, while on the same stand, stocks of +about the same age, in small hives have perished by starvation. A good +early swarm in any situation at all favorable, will fill, the first +season, a hive that holds a bushel: and if there is any location in +which they cannot do this, a doubled swarm should be put into the hive, +or bee-keeping may, as far as profit is concerned, be abandoned. But it +may be objected that if the swarm was not sufficiently strong to fill +their hive, the bees often suffer from the cold in Winter, and become +too much reduced in numbers, to build early and rapidly in the ensuing +Spring. This is undoubtedly true, and hence the great importance of +putting a generous allowance of bees into a hive at the first start, +unless, as on my plan, the requisite strength can be given to them, at a +subsequent period. The hive, if large, should be all the more carefully +protected from extremes of cold, in order to give the bees an +opportunity of developing their natural powers of re-production, to the +best advantage.</p> + +<p>In such a hive, the queen will be able to breed almost every month in +the year, even in the coldest climates where bees flourish, and on the +return of Spring, thousands of young bees will be found in it, which +could not have been bred in a small, or badly protected hive. The Polish +hives described by Mr. Dohiogost, have already been referred to. Some of +these hold about three bushels, and yet the bees swarm from them with +great regularity, and the swarms<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"> [233]</a></span> are often of immense size. These hives +are admirably protected, and at the time of hiving at least <i>four</i> times +the number of bees are lodged in them, that are ordinarily put into one +of our hives. The queen bee, in such a hive, has ample room to lay her +three thousand eggs, or more, daily: and a prodigious colony is raised, +which often stores enormous supplies of honey. As all the frames in my +hives are of the same dimensions, the size of the hive may be +conveniently varied, to suit the views of different bee-keepers; for +they may be large or small, according to the number of frames designed +to be used. I hope, before long, to experiment with hives as large +again, as those that I now use; or rather, with such, as by containing +an upper box, may be made to accommodate twice as many bees. This whole +subject of the proper size of hives, certainly needs to be taken +entirely out of the region of conjecture, and to be put upon the basis +of careful observations. Unquestionably the size will require, in some +respects, to be modified by the more or less favorable character of the +country for bee-keeping; but I am satisfied that small hives will be +found of but little profit, and that large ones, unless well stocked +with bees, from the first, and thoroughly protected, will often fail to +answer any good end. If I should find on further experiment, that the +very large hives of which I have spoken, are better, my hives are at +present so constructed that without any alteration of existing parts, +they can easily be supplied with the required additions. I have already +mentioned that I sometimes build my hives, three in one structure, in +order to save expense in their construction. I do not however, wish to +be considered as recommending such hives as the best for general use. +For some purposes a single hive is unquestionably the best, as it can be +easily moved by one person; and this, will many times be found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"> [234]</a></span> to be a +point of great importance. The double hives, or two in one, are for most +purposes, decidedly the best, as well as the cheapest. I have quite +recently contrived a plan of constructing my wooden hives in such a +manner as to give them very great protection against extremes of heat +and cold, while at the same time they can be easily and cheaply made, by +any one who can handle the simplest mechanical tools.</p> + +<p>It has been previously stated that the queen bee cannot be induced to +sting, by any kind of treatment however severe. The reason of this +strange unwillingness to use her natural and powerful weapon, will be +obvious, when we consider how indispensable the preservation of her life +is to the very existence of the colony, and that her single sting, the +loss of which would be her death, could avail but little for their +defence, in case of an attack. She never uses her weapon, except when +engaged in mortal combat with another queen. As soon as the two rivals +come together, they clinch, at once, with every demonstration of the +most vindictive hatred. Why then, are not both of them often destroyed? +and why are not hives, in the swarming season, almost certain to become +queenless? We can never sufficiently admire the provision so simple and +yet so effectual, by which such a calamity is prevented. The queen bee +never stings unless she has such an advantage in the combat, that she +can curve her body under that of her rival, in such a manner as to +inflict a deadly wound, without any risk of being stung herself! The +moment that the position of the two combatants is such that neither has +the advantage, and that both are liable to perish, they not only refuse +to sting, but disengage themselves, and suspend their conflict for a +short time! If it were not for this peculiarity of instinct, such +combats would very often terminate in the death<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"> [235]</a></span> of both the parties, +and the race of bees would be in danger of becoming extinct.</p> + +<p>The unwillingness of a swarm of bees, which has been deprived of its +queen, to receive another, until after some time has elapsed, must +always be borne in mind, by those who have anything to do with making +artificial swarms. About 24 hours must elapse before it will be safe to +introduce a strange mother into a queenless hive; and even then, if she +is not fertile, she will run a great risk of being destroyed. To prevent +such losses, I adopt the German plan of confining the queen, in what +they call, "a queen cage." A small hole, about as large as a thimble, +may be gouged out of a block, and covered over with wire gauze, or any +other kind of perforated cover, so that when the queen is put in, the +bees cannot enter to destroy her. Before long, they will cultivate an +acquaintance, by thrusting their antennæ through to her; so that, when +she is liberated the next day, they will gladly adopt her in place of +the one they have lost. If a hole large enough for her to creep out, is +closed with wax, they will gnaw the wax away, and liberate her +themselves, from her confinement. Queens that seem bent on departing to +the woods, may be confined in the same way, until the colony has given +up all thoughts of forsaking its hive. A small paste-board box with +suitable holes, or a wooden match-box thoroughly scalded, I have found +to answer a very good purpose.</p> + +<p>I shall here describe what may be called a <i>Queen Nursery</i> which I have +contrived to aid those who are engaged in the rapid multiplication of +colonies by artificial means. A solid block about an inch and a quarter +thick, is substituted for one of my frames; holes, about one and a half +inches in diameter, are bored through it, and covered on both sides, +with gauze wire slides; the wire ought to be such as will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"> [236]</a></span> allow a +common bee to pass through, but should be too small to permit a queen to +do the same. Any kind of perforated cover may be made to answer the same +purpose as the gauze wire. If a number of sealed queens are on hand, and +there is danger that some may hatch, and destroy the others, before the +Apiarian can make use of them in forming artificial swarms, he may very +carefully cut out the combs containing them, and place them each in a +separate cradle! The bees having access to them, will give them proper +attention, and as soon as they are hatched, will supply them with food, +and thus they will always be on hand for use when they are needed. This +Nursery must of course, be established in a hive which has no mature +queen, or it will quickly be transformed into a slaughter house by the +bees. I have not yet tested this plan so thoroughly as to be <i>certain</i> +that it will succeed; and I know so well the immense difference between +theoretical conjectures and practical results, that I consider nothing +in the bee line, or indeed in any other line, as established, until it +has been submitted to the most rigorous demonstrations, and has +triumphantly passed from the mere regions of the brain to those of +actual fact. A theory on any subject may seem so plausible as almost to +amount to a positive demonstration, and yet when put to the working +test, it is often found to be encumbered by some unforeseen difficulty, +which speedily convinces even its sanguine projector, that it has no +practical value. Nine things out of ten may work to a charm, and yet the +tenth may be so connected with the other nine, that its failure renders +their success of no account. When I first used this Nursery, I did not +give the bees access to it, and I found that the queens were not +properly developed, and died in their cells. Perhaps they did not +receive sufficient warmth, or were not treated in some other important +respects, as they would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"> [237]</a></span> have been if left under the care of the bees. +In the multiplicity of my experiments, I did not repeat this one under a +sufficient variety of circumstances, to ascertain the precise cause of +failure; nor have I as yet, tried whether it will answer perfectly, by +admitting the bees to the queen cells.</p> + +<p>Last Spring, I made one queen supply several hives with eggs, so as to +keep them strong in numbers while they were constantly engaged in +rearing a large number of spare queens. Two hives which I shall call A +and B, were deprived at intervals of a week, each of its queen,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> in +order to induce them to raise a number of young sealed queens for the +use of the Apiary. As soon as the queens in A, were of an age suitable +to be removed, I took them away and gave the colony a fertile queen from +another hive, C; as soon as she had laid a large number of eggs in the +empty cells, I removed the queen cells now sealed over, from B, and gave +them the loan of this fertile mother, until she had performed the same +necessary office for them. By this time, the queen cells in C, were +sealed over; these were now removed, and the queen restored; she had +thus made one circuit, and laid a very large number of eggs in the two +hives which were first deprived of their queens. After allowing her to +replenish her own hive with eggs, I sent her out again on her +perambulating mission, and by this new device was able to get an +extraordinary number of young queens from the three hives, and at the +same time to preserve their numbers from seriously diminishing. Two +queens may in this way, be made in six hives to furnish all the +supernumerary queens which will be wanted in quite a large Apiary.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"> [238]</a></span></p> +<p>It will be perfectly obvious to every intelligent and ingenious +Apiarian, that the perfect control of the comb, is the <i>soul</i> of an +entirely new system of practical management, and that it may be modified +to suit the wants of all who wish to cultivate bees. Even the advocate +of the old fashioned plan of killing the bees, can with one of my hives, +destroy his faithful laborers, by shaking them into a tub of water, +almost, if not quite as speedily as by setting them over a sulphur pit; +while after the work of death is accomplished, his honey will be free +from disgusting fumes, and all the labor of cutting it out of the hive, +may be dispensed with.</p> + +<p>I am now prepared to answer an objection which doubtless has been +present in the minds of many, all the time that they have been reading +the various processes on which I rely for the multiplication of +colonies. A very large number of persons who keep bees, or who wish to +keep them, are so much afraid of them that they object entirely even to +natural swarming, because they are in danger of being stung in the +process of hiving the bees. How are such persons to manage bees on my +plan, which seems like bearding a lion in its very den! The truth is +that some persons are so very timid, or suffer so dreadfully from the +sting of a bee, that they are every way disqualified from having +anything to do with them, and ought either to have no bees upon their +premises, or to entrust the care of them to some suitable person. By +managing bees according to the directions furnished in this treatise, +almost any one can learn, by using a bee-dress, to superintend them, +with very little risk; while those who are favorites with them, may +dispense entirely with any protection. I find in short, that the risk of +being stung is really diminished by the use of my hives; although it +will be hard to convince those who have not seen them in use, that this +can be so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"> [239]</a></span></p> + +<p>There is still another class who either keep bees or can be induced to +keep them, and who are anxiously inquiring for some new hive or new plan +by which, with little or no trouble, they may reap copious harvests of +the precious nectar. This is emphatically <i>the</i> class to seize hold of +every new device, and waste their time and money to fill the coffers of +the ignorant or unprincipled. There never will be a "royal road" to +profitable bee-keeping. If there is any branch of rural economy which +more than all others demands care and experience, for its profitable +management, it is the keeping of bees; and those who have a painful +consciousness that the disposition to put off and neglect, was, so to +speak, born in them, and has never been got out of them, will do well to +let bees alone, unless they hope, by the study of their systematic +industry, to reform evil habits which are well nigh incurable.</p> + +<p>While I feel very sanguine that my system of management will be used +extensively and very advantageously, by careful and skillful Apiarians, +I know too much of the world to expect that it will, with the masses, +very speedily supercede other methods, even if it were so absolutely +perfect, as to admit of no possible improvement. I hope, however, that I +may, without being charged with presumption, be permitted to put on +record the prediction, that <i>movable frames</i> will in due season, be +almost universally employed; and this, whether bees are allowed to swarm +naturally, or are increased by artificial means, or are kept in hives in +which they are not expected to swarm at all.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—The very day on which I first contrived the plan, so +perfectly simple, and yet so efficacious, of gaining the control of +the combs by these frames, I not only foresaw all the consequences +which would follow their adoption, but wrote as follows, in my +Bee-Journal. "The use of these frames will, I am persuaded, give a +new impulse to the easy and profitable management of bees; and will +render the making of artificial swarms an easy operation."</p></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"> [240]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">THE BEE-MOTH, AND OTHER ENEMIES OF BEES. DISEASES OF BEES.</span></h2> + + +<p>Of all the numerous enemies of the honey-bee, the Bee-Moth (Tinea +mellonella,) in climates of hot Summers, is by far, the most to be +dreaded. So wide spread and fatal have been its ravages in this country, +that thousands have abandoned the cultivation of bees in despair, and in +districts which once produced abundant supplies of the purest honey, +bee-keeping has gradually dwindled down into a very insignificant +pursuit. Contrivances almost without number, have been devised, to +defend the bees against this invidious foe, but still it continues its +desolating inroads, almost unchecked, laughing as it were to scorn, at +all the so-called "moth-proof" hives, and turning many of the ingenious +fixtures designed to entrap or exclude it, into actual aids and comforts +in its nefarious designs.</p> + +<p>I should feel but little confidence in being able to reinstate +bee-keeping in our country, into a certain and profitable pursuit, if I +could not show the Apiarian in what way he can safely bid defiance to +the pestiferous assaults of this, his most implacable enemy. I have +patiently studied its habits for years, and I am at length able to +announce a system of management founded upon the peculiar construction +of my hives, which will enable the careful bee-keeper to protect his +colonies against the monster. The <span class="smcap">careful</span> bee-keeper,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"> [241]</a></span> I say: for to +pretend that the careless one, can by any contrivance effect this, is "a +snare and a delusion;" and no well-informed man, unless he is steeped to +the very lips, in fraud and imposture, will ever claim to accomplish any +thing of the kind. The bee-moth infects our Apiaries, just as weeds take +possession of a fertile soil; and the negligent bee-keeper will find a +"moth-proof" hive, when the sluggard finds a <i>weed-proof</i> soil, and I +suspect not until a consummation so devoutly wished for by the slothful +has arrived. Before explaining the means upon which I rely, to +circumvent the moth, I will first give a brief description of its +habits.</p> + +<p>Swammerdam, towards the close of the 17th century, gave a very accurate +description of this insect, which was then called by the very expressive +name of the "bee-wolf." He has furnished good drawings of it, in all its +changes, from the worm to the perfect moth, together with the peculiar +webs or galleries which it constructs and from which the name of Tinea +Galleria or gallery moth, has been given to it by some entomologists. He +failed, however, to discriminate between the male and female, which, +because they differ so much in size and appearance, he supposed to be +two different species of the wax-moth. It seems to have been a great +pest in his time; and even Virgil speaks of the "dirum tineæ genus," the +dreadful <i>offspring</i> of the moth; that is the worm. This destroyer +usually makes its appearance about the hives, in April or May; the time +of its coming, depending upon the warmth of the climate, or the +forwardness of the season. It is seldom seen on the wing, (unless +startled from its lurking place about the hive,) until towards dark, and +is evidently, chiefly nocturnal in its habits. In dark cloudy days, +however, I have noticed it on the wing long before sunset, and if +several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"> [242]</a></span> such days follow in succession, the female oppressed with the +urgent necessity of laying her eggs, may be seen endeavoring to gain +admission to the hives. The female is much larger than the male, and +"her color is deeper and more inclining to a darkish gray, with small +spots or blackish streaks on the interior edge of her upper wings." The +color of the male inclines more to a light gray; they might easily be +mistaken for different species of moths. These insects are surprisingly +agile, both on foot and on the wing. The motions of a bee are very slow +in comparison. "They are," says Reaumur, "the most nimble-footed +creatures that I know." "If the approach to the Apiary<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> be observed +of a moonlight evening, the moths will be found flying or running round +the hives, watching an opportunity to enter, whilst the bees that have +to guard the entrances against their intrusion, will be seen acting as +vigilant sentinels, performing continual rounds near this important +post, extending their antennæ to the utmost, and moving them to the +right and left alternately. Woe to the unfortunate moth that comes +within their reach!" "It is curious," says Huber, "to observe how +artfully the moth knows how to profit, to the disadvantage of the bees, +which require much light for seeing objects; and the precautions taken +by the latter in reconnoitering and expelling so dangerous an enemy."</p> + +<p>The entrance of the moth into a hive, and the ravages committed by her +progeny, forcibly remind one of the sad havoc which sin often makes of +character and happiness, when it finds admission into the human heart, +and is allowed to prey unchecked, upon all its most precious treasures; +and he who would not be so enslaved by its power, as to lose all his +spiritual life and prosperity, must be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"> [243]</a></span>constantly on the defensive, and +ever on the "watch" against its fatal intrusions.</p> + +<p>Only some tiny eggs are deposited by the moth, and they give birth to a +very delicate, innocent-looking worm; but let these apparently +insignificant creatures once "get the upper hand," and all the fragrance +of the honied dome, is soon corrupted by their abominable stench; every +thing beautiful and useful, is ruthlessly destroyed; the hum of happy +industry is stilled, and at last, nothing is left in the desecrated +hive, but a set of ravenous, half famished worms, knotting and writhing +around each other, in most loathsome convolutions.</p> + +<p>Wax is the proper aliment of the larvæ of the bee-moth: and upon this +seemingly indigestible substance, they thrive and fatten. When obliged +to steal their living as best they can, among a powerful stock of bees, +they are exposed, during their growth, to many perils, and seldom fare +well enough to reach their natural size: but if they are rioting at +pleasure, among the full combs of a feeble and discouraged population, +they often attain a size and corpulency truly astonishing. If the +bee-keeper wishes to see their innate capabilities fully developed, let +him rear a lot for himself among some old combs, and if prizes were +offered for fat and full grown worms, he might easily obtain one. In the +course of a few weeks, the larva like that of the silk-worm, stops +eating, and begins to think of a suitable place for encasing itself in +its silky shroud. In hives where they reign uncontrolled, this is a work +of but little difficulty; almost any place will answer their purpose, +and they often pile their cocoons, one on top of another, or join them +in long rows together: but in hives strongly guarded by healthy bees, +this is a matter not very easily accomplished; and many a worm while it +is cautiously prying about, to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"> [244]</a></span> where it can find some snug place in +which to ensconce itself, is caught by the nape of the neck, and very +unceremoniously served with an instant writ of ejection from the hive. +If a hive is thoroughly made, of sound materials, and has no cracks or +crevices under which the worm can retreat, it is obliged to leave the +interior in search of such a place, and it runs a most dangerous +gantlet, as it passes, for this purpose, through the ranks of its +enraged foes. Even in the worm state, however, its motions are +exceedingly quick; it can crawl backwards or forwards, and as well one +way as another: it can twist round on itself, curl up almost into a +knot, and flatten itself out like a pancake! in short, it is full of +stratagems and cunning devices. If obliged to leave the hive, it gets +under any board or concealed crack, spins its cocoon, and patiently +awaits its transformation. In most of the common hives, it is under no +necessity of leaving its birth place for this purpose. It is almost +certain to find a crack or flaw into which it can creep, or a small +space between the bottom-board and the edges of the hive which rest upon +it. A <i>very</i> small crevice will answer all its purposes. It enters, by +flattening itself out almost as much as though it had been passed under +a roller, and as soon as it is safe from the bees, it speedily begins to +give its cramped tenement, the requisite proportions. It is utterly +amazing how an insect apparently so feeble, can do this; but it will +often gnaw for itself a cavity, even in solid wood, and thus enlarge its +retreat, until it has ample room for making its cocoon! The time when it +will break forth into a winged insect, depends entirely upon the degree +of heat to which it is exposed. I have had them spin their cocoons and +hatch in a temperature of about 70°, in ten or eleven days, and I have +known them to spin so late in the Fall, that they remained all Winter, +undeveloped, and did not emerge until the warm weather of the ensuing +Spring!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"> [245]</a></span></p> + +<p>If they are hatched in the hive, they leave it, in order to attend to +the business of impregnation. In the moth state, they do not actually +attack the hives, to plunder them of food, although they have a "sweet +tooth" in their head, and are easily attracted by the odor of liquid +sweets. The male, having no special business in the hive, usually keeps +himself at a safe distance from the bees: but the female, impelled by an +irresistible instinct, seeks admission, in order to deposit her eggs +where her offspring may gain the readiest access to their natural food. +She carefully explores all the cracks and crevices about the +bottom-board, and if she finds a suitable place under them, lays her +eggs among the parings of the combs, and other refuse matter which has +fallen from the hive. If she enters a feeble or discouraged stock, where +she can act her own pleasure, she will lay her eggs among the combs. In +a hive where she is too closely watched to effect this, she will insert +them in the corners, into the soft propolis, or in any place where there +are small pieces of wax and bee-bread, which have fallen upon the +bottom-board, and which will furnish a temporary place of concealment +for her progeny, and also the requisite nourishment, until they have +strength and enterprise enough to reach the main combs of the hive, and +fortify themselves there. "As soon as hatched,<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> the worm encloses +itself in a case of white silk, which it spins around its body; at first +it is like a mere thread, but gradually increases in size, and during +its growth, feeds upon the cells around it, for which purpose it has +only to put forth its head, and find its wants supplied. It devours its +food with great avidity, and consequently increases so much in bulk, +that its gallery soon becomes too short and narrow, and the creature is +obliged to thrust itself forward and lengthen the gallery, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"> [246]</a></span>as well to +obtain more room as to procure an additional supply of food. Its +augmented size exposing it to attacks from surrounding foes, the wary +insect fortifies its new abode with additional strength and thickness, +by blending with the filaments of its silken covering, a mixture of wax +and its own excrement, for the external barrier of a new gallery, the +<i>interior</i> and partitions of which are lined with a smooth surface of +white silk, which admits the occasional movements of the insect, without +injury to its delicate (?) texture. In performing these operations, the +insect might be expected to meet with opposition from the bees, and to +be gradually rendered more assailable as it advanced in age. It never, +however, exposes any part but its head and neck, both of which are +covered with stout helmets or scales impenetrable to the sting of a bee, +as is the composition of the galleries that surround it." As soon as it +has reached its full growth, it seeks in the manner previously +described, a secure place for undergoing its changes into a winged +insect.</p> + +<p>Before describing the way in which I protect my hives from this deadly +pest, I shall first show why the bee-moth has so wonderfully increased +in numbers in this country, and how the use of patent hives has so +powerfully contributed to encourage its ravages. It ought to be borne in +mind that our climate is altogether more propitious to its rapid +increase, than that of Great Britain. Our intensely hot summers develop +most rapidly and powerfully, insect life, and those parts of our country +where the heat is most protracted and intense, have, as a general thing, +suffered most from the devastations of the bee-moth.</p> + +<p>The bee is not a native of the American continent; it was first brought +here by colonists from Great Britain, and was called by the Indians, the +white man's fly. With the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"> [247]</a></span> bee, was introduced its natural enemy, +created for the special purpose, not of destroying the insect, on whose +industry it thrives, and whose extermination would be fatal to the moth +itself, but that it might gain its livelihood as best it could in this +busy world. Finding itself in a country whose climate is exceedingly +propitious to its rapid increase, it has multiplied and increased a +thousand fold, until now there is hardly a spot where the bees inhabit, +which is not infested by its powerful enemy.</p> + +<p>I have often listened to the glowing accounts of the vast supplies of +honey obtained by the first settlers, from their bees. Fifty years ago, +the markets in our large cities were much more abundantly supplied than +they now are, and it was no uncommon thing to see exposed for sale, +large washing-tubs filled with the most beautiful honey. Various reasons +have been assigned for the present depressed state of Apiarian pursuits. +Some imagine that newly settled countries are most favorable for the +labors of the bee: others, that we have overstocked our farms, so that +the bees cannot find a sufficient supply of food. That neither of these +reasons will account for the change, I shall prove more at length, in my +remarks on Honey, and when I discuss the question of overstocking a +district with bees. Others lay all the blame upon the bee-moth, and +others still, upon our departure from the good old-fashioned way of +managing bees. That the bee-moth has multiplied most astonishingly, is +undoubtedly true. In many districts, it so superabounds, that the man +who should expect to manage his bees with as little care as his father +and grandfather bestowed upon them, and yet realize as large profits, +would find himself most wofully mistaken. The old bee-keeper often never +looked at his bees after the swarming season, until the time came for +appropriating their spoils. He then carefully "hefted"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"> [248]</a></span> all his hives so +as to be able to judge as well as he could, how much honey they +contained. All which were found to be too light to survive the Winter, +he at once condemned; and if any were deficient in bees, or for any +other reason, appeared to be of doubtful promise, they were, in like +manner, sentenced to the sulphur pit. A certain number of those +containing the largest supplies of honey, were also treated in the same +summary way: while the requisite number of the <i>very best</i>, were +reserved to replenish his stock another season. If the same system +precisely, were now followed, a number of colonies would still perish +annually, through the increased devastations of the moth.</p> + +<p>The change which has taken place in the circumstances of the bee-keeper, +may be illustrated by supposing that when the country was first settled, +weeds were almost unknown. The farmer plants his corn, and then lets it +alone, and as there are no weeds to molest it, at the end of the season +he harvests a fair crop. Suppose, however, that in process of time, the +weeds begin to spread more and more, until at last, this farmer's son or +grandson finds that they entirely choke his corn, and that he cannot, in +the old way, obtain a remunerating crop. Now listen to him, as he +gravely informs you that he cannot tell how it is, but corn with him has +all "run out." He manages it precisely as his father or grandfather +always managed theirs, but somehow the pestiferous weeds will spring up, +and he has next to no crop. Perhaps you can hardly conceive of such +transparent ignorance and stupidity; but it would be difficult to show +that it would be one whit greater than that of a large number who keep +bees in places where the bee-moth abounds, and who yet imagine that +those plans which answered perfectly well fifty or a hundred years ago, +when moths were scarce, will answer just as well now.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"> [249]</a></span></p> + +<p>If however, the old plan had been rigidly adhered to, the ravages of the +bee-moth would never have been so great as they now are. The +introduction of <i>patent hives</i> has contributed most powerfully, to fill +the land with the devouring pest. I am perfectly aware that this is a +bold assertion, and that it may, at first sight, appear to be very +uncourteous, if not unjust, to the many intelligent and ingenious +Apiarians, who have devoted much time, and spent large sums of money, in +perfecting hives designed to enable the bee-keeper to contend most +successfully against his worst enemy. As I do not wish to treat such +persons with even the appearance of disrespect, I shall endeavor to show +just how the use of the hives which they have devised, has contributed +to undermine the prosperity of the bees. Many of these hives have +valuable properties, and if they were always used in strict accordance +with the enlightened directions of those who have invented them, they +would undoubtedly be real and substantial improvements over the old box +or straw hive, and would greatly aid the bee-keeper in his contest with +the moth. The great difficulty is that they are none of them, able to +give him the facilities which alone can make him victorious. No hive, as +I shall soon show, can ever do this, which does not give the complete +and easy control of all the combs.</p> + +<p>I do not know of a single improved hive which does not aim at entirely +doing away with the old-fashioned plan of killing the bees. Such a +practice is denounced as being almost as cruel and silly as to kill a +hen for the sake of obtaining her feathers or a few of her eggs. Now if +the Apiarian can be furnished with suitable instructions, and such as he +will <i>practice</i>, for managing his bees so as to avoid this necessity, +then I admit the full force of all the objections which have been urged +against it. I have never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"> [250]</a></span> read the beautiful verses of the poet +Thompson, without feeling all their force:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ah, see, where robbed and murdered in that pit<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lies the still heaving hive! at evening snatched,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And fixed o'er sulphur! while, not dreaming ill,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The happy people, in their waxen cells,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sat tending public cares;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sudden, the dark oppressive steam ascends,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, used to milder scents, the tender race,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By thousands, tumble from their honied dome!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Into a gulf of blue sulphureous flame."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The plain matter of fact however, is, that in our country, as many bees, +if not more, die of starvation in their hives, as ever were killed by +the fumes of sulphur. Commend me rather to the humanity of the +old-fashioned bee-keeper, who put to a speedy and therefore merciful +death, the poor bees which are now, by millions, tortured by slow +starvation among their empty combs! At the present time, (April 1853,) I +am almost daily hearing of swarms which have perished in this way, +during the last Winter; and I know of only one person who was merciful +enough to kill his weak stocks, rather than suffer them to die so cruel +a death.</p> + +<p>If the use of the common patent hives could only keep the stocks strong +in numbers, and if the bee-keepers would always see that they were well +supplied with honey, then I admit that to kill the bees would be both +cruel and unnecessary. Such however, are the discouragements and losses +necessarily attending the use of any hive which does not give the +control of the combs, that there will be few who do not continually find +that some of their stocks are too feeble to be worth the labor and +expense of attempting to preserve them over Winter. How many colonies +are annually wintered, which are not only of no value to their owner, +but are positive nuisances in his Apiary; being so feeble in the Spring, +that they are speedily overcome by the moth, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"> [251]</a></span> answer only to breed a +horde of destroyers to ravage the rest of his Apiary. The time spent +upon them is often as absolutely wasted, as the time devoted to a sick +animal incurably diseased, and which can never be of any service, while +by nursing it along, its owner incurs the risk of infecting his whole +stock with its deadly taint. If, on the score of kindness, he should +shut it up, and let it starve to death, few of us, I imagine, would care +to cultivate a very intimate acquaintance with one so extremely original +in the exhibition of his humanity!</p> + +<p>Ever since the introduction of patent hives, the notion has almost +universally prevailed, that stocks must not, under <i>any</i> circumstances, +be voluntarily broken up; and hence, instead of Apiaries, filled in the +Spring, with strong and healthy stocks of bees, easily able to protect +themselves against the bee-moth, and all other enemies, we have +multitudes of colonies which, if they had been kept on purpose to +furnish food for the worms, could scarcely have answered a more valuable +end in encouraging their increase. The simple truth is, that improved +hives, without an improved system of management, have done on the whole +more harm than good; in no country have they been so extensively used as +in our own, and no where has the moth so completely gained the +ascendency. Just so far as they have discouraged bee-keepers from the +old plan of killing off all their weak swarms in the Fall, just so far +have they extended "aid and comfort" to the moth, and made the condition +of the bee-keeper worse than it was before. That some of them might be +managed so as in all ordinary cases, to give the bees complete +protection against their scourge, I do not, for a moment, question; but +that they cannot, from the very nature of the case, answer fully in all +emergencies, the ends for which they were designed, I shall endeavor to +prove and not to assert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"> [252]</a></span></p> + +<p>The kind of hives of which I have been speaking, are such as have been +devised by intelligent and honest men, practically acquainted with the +management of bees: as for many of the hives which have been introduced, +they not only afford the Apiarian no assistance against the inroads of +the bee-moth, but they are so constructed as positively to aid it in its +nefarious designs. The more they are used, the worse the poor bees are +off: just as the more a man uses the lying nostrums of the brazen-faced +quack, the further he finds himself from health and vigor.</p> + +<p>I once met with an intelligent man who told me that he had paid a +considerable sum, to a person who professed to be in possession of many +valuable <i>secrets</i> in the management of bees, and who promised, among +other things, to impart to him an infallible remedy against the +bee-moth. On the receipt of the money, he very gravely told him that the +secret of keeping the moth out of the hive, was to keep the bees strong +and vigorous! A truer declaration he could not have made, but I believe +that the bee-keeper felt, notwithstanding, that he had been imposed +upon, as outrageously, as a poor man would be, who after paying a quack +a large sum of money for an infallible, life-preserving secret, should +be turned off with the truism that the secret of living forever, was to +keep well!</p> + +<p>There is not an intelligent, observing Apiarian who has been in the +habit of carefully examining the operations of bees, not only in his own +Apiary, but wherever he could find them, who has not seen strong stocks +flourishing under almost any conceivable circumstances. They may be seen +in hives of the most miserable construction, unpainted and unprotected, +sometimes with large open cracks and clefts extending down their sides, +and yet laughing to defiance, the bee-moth, and all other adverse +influences.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"> [253]</a></span></p> + +<p>Almost any thing hollow, in which the bees can establish themselves, and +where they have once succeeded in becoming strong, will often be +successfully tenanted by them for a series of years. To see such hives, +as they sometimes may be seen, in possession of persons both ignorant +and careless, and who hardly know a bee-moth from any other kind of +moth, may at first sight well shake the confidence of the inquirer, in +the necessity or value of any particular precautions to preserve his +hives from the devastations of the moth.</p> + +<p>After looking at these powerful stocks in what may be called log-cabin +hives, let us examine some in the most costly hives, which have ever +been constructed; in what have been called real "Bee-Palaces;" and we +shall often find them weak and impoverished, infested and almost +devoured by the worms. Their owner, with books in his hand, and all the +newest devices and appliances in the Apiarian line, unable to protect +his bees against their enemies, or to account for the reason why some +hives seem, like the children of the poor, almost to thrive upon +ill-treatment and neglect, while others, like the offspring of the rich +and powerful, are feeble and diseased, almost in exact proportion to the +means used to guard them against noxious influences, and to minister +most lavishly to all their wants.</p> + +<p>I once used to be much surprised to hear so many bee-keepers speak of +having "good luck," or "bad luck" with their bees; but really as bees +are generally managed, success or failure does seem to depend almost +entirely upon what the ignorant or superstitious are wont to call +"luck."</p> + +<p>I shall now try to do what I have never yet seen satisfactorily done by +any writer on bees; viz.: show exactly under what circumstances the +bee-moth succeeds in establishing itself in a hive; thus explaining why +some stocks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"> [254]</a></span> flourish in spite of all neglect, while others, in the +common hives, fall a prey to the moth, let their owner be as careful as +he will, I shall finally show how in suitable hives, with proper +precautions, it may always be kept from seriously annoying the bees.</p> + +<p>It often happens, when a large number of stocks are kept, that in spite +of all precautions, some of them are found in the Spring, so greatly +reduced in numbers, that if left to themselves, they are in danger of +falling a prey to the devouring moth. Bees, when in feeble colonies, +seem often to lose a portion of their wonted vigilance, and as they have +a large quantity of empty comb which they cannot guard, even if they +would, the moth enters the hive, and deposits a large number of eggs, +and thus before the bees have become sufficiently numerous to protect +themselves, the combs are filled with worms, and the destruction of the +colony speedily follows. The ignorant or careless bee-keeper is informed +of the ravages which are going on in such a hive, only when its ruin is +fully completed, and a cloud of winged pests issues from it, to destroy +if they can, the rest of his stocks. But how, it may be asked, can it be +ascertained that a hive is seriously infested with the all-devouring +worms? The aspect of the bees, so discouraged and forlorn, proclaims at +once that there is trouble of some kind within. If the hive be slightly +elevated, the bottom-board will be found covered with pieces of +bee-bread, &c. mixed with the <i>excrement of the worms</i> which looks +almost exactly like fine grains of powder. As the bees in Spring, clean +out their combs, and prepare the cells for the reception of brood, their +bottom-board will often be so covered with parings of comb and with +small pieces of bee-bread, that the hive may appear to be in danger of +being destroyed by the worms. If, however, none of the <i>black</i> excrement +is perceived, the refuse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"> [255]</a></span> on the bottom-board, like the shavings in a +carpenter's shop, are proofs of industry and not the signs of +approaching ruin. It is highly important, however, to keep the +bottom-boards clean, and if a piece of zinc be slipt in, (or even an old +newspaper,) by removing and cleansing it from time to time, the bees +will be greatly assisted in their operations. As soon as the hive is +well filled with bees, this need no longer be done.</p> + +<p>Even the most careful and experienced Apiarian will find, too often, +that although he is perfectly well aware of the plague that is reigning +within, his knowledge can be turned to no good account, the interior of +the hive being almost as inaccessible as the interior of the human body. +The way in which I manage, in such cases, is as follows.</p> + +<p>Having ascertained, in the Spring, as soon as the bees begin to fly out, +that a colony although feeble, has a fertile queen, I take the +precaution at once to give it the strength which is indispensable, not +merely to its safety, but to its ability for any kind of successful +labor.</p> + +<p>As a certain number of bees are needed in a hive, in order as well to +warm and hatch the thousands of eggs which a healthy queen can lay, as +to feed and properly develop the larvæ after they are hatched, I know +that a feeble colony must remain feeble for a long time, unless they can +at once be supplied with a considerable accession of numbers. Even if +there were no moths in existence to trouble such a hive, it would not be +able to rear a large number of bees, until after the best of the +honey-harvest had passed away: and then it would become powerful only +that its increasing numbers might devour the food which the others had +previously stored in the cells. If the small colony has a considerable +number of bees, and is able to cover and warm at least one comb in +addition to those containing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"> [256]</a></span> brood which they already have, I take from +one of my strong stocks, a frame containing some three or four thousand +or more young bees, which are sealed over in their cells, and are just +ready to emerge. These bees which require no food, and need nothing but +warmth to develop them, will, in a few days, hatch in the new hive to +which they are given, and thus the requisite number of workers, in the +full vigor and energy of youth, will be furnished to the hive, and the +discouraged queen, finding at once a suitable number of experienced +nurses<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> to take charge of her eggs, deposits them in the proper +cells, instead of simply extruding them, to be devoured by the bees. +While bees often attack full grown strangers which are introduced into +their hive, they never fail to receive gladly all the brood comb that we +choose to give them. If they are sufficiently numerous, they will always +cherish it, and in warm weather, they will protect it, even if it is +laid against the outside of their hive! If the bees in the weak stock, +are too much reduced in numbers, to be able to cover the brood comb +taken from another hive, I give them this comb with all the old bees +that are clustered upon it, and shut up the hive, after supplying them +with water, until two or three days have passed away. By this time, most +of the strange bees will have formed an inviolable attachment to their +new home, and even if a portion of them should return to the parent +hive, a large number of the maturing young will have hatched, to supply +their desertion. A little sugar-water scented with peppermint, may be +used to sprinkle the bees, at the time that the comb is introduced, +although I have never yet found that they had the least disposition, to +quarrel with each other. The original settlers are <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"> [257]</a></span>only too glad to +receive such a valuable accession to their scanty numbers, and the +expatriated bees are too-much confounded with their unexpected +emigration, to feel any desire for making a disturbance. If a sufficient +increase of numbers has not been furnished by one range of comb, the +operation may, in the course of a few days, be repeated. Instead of +leaving the colony to the discouraging feeling that they are in a large, +empty and desolate house, a divider should be run down into the hive, +and they should be confined to a space which they are able to warm and +defend, and the rest of the hive, until they need its additional room, +should be carefully shut up against all intruders. If this operation is +judiciously performed, the bees will be powerful in numbers, long before +the weather is warm enough to develop the bee-moth, and they will thus +be most effectually protected from the hateful pest.</p> + +<p>A very simple change in the organization of the bee-moth would have +rendered it almost if not quite impossible to protect the bees from its +ravages. If it had been so constituted as to require but a very small +amount of heat for its full development, it would have become very +numerous early in the Spring, and might then have easily entered the +hives and deposited its eggs among the combs, without any let or +hindrance; for at this season, not only do the bees at night maintain no +guard at the entrance of their hive, but there are large portions of +their comb bare of bees, and of course, entirely unprotected. How does +every fact in the history of the bee, when properly investigated, point +with unerring certainty to the power, wisdom and goodness, of Him who +made it!</p> + +<p>If there is reason to apprehend that the combs which are not occupied +with brood, contain any of the eggs of the moth, these combs may be +removed, and thoroughly smoked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"> [258]</a></span> with the fumes of burning sulphur; and +then, in a few days, after they have been exposed to the fresh air, they +may be returned to the hive. I hope I may be pardoned for feeling not +the slightest pity for the unfortunate progeny of the moth, thus +unceremoniously destroyed.</p> + +<p>Bees, as is well known to every experienced bee-keeper, frequently swarm +so often as to expose themselves to great danger of being destroyed by +the moth. After the departure of the after-swarms, the parent colony +often contains too few bees to cover and protect their combs from the +insidious attacks of their wily enemy. As a number of weeks must elapse +before the brood of the young queen is mature, the colony, for a +considerable time, at the season when the moths are very numerous, are +constantly diminishing in numbers, and before they can begin to +replenish the exhausted hive, the destroyer has made a fatal lodgment.</p> + +<p>In my hives, such calamities are easily prevented. If artificial +increase is relied upon for the multiplication of colonies, it can be so +conducted as to give the moth next to no chance to fortify itself in the +hive. No colony is ever allowed to have more room than it needs, or more +combs than it can cover and protect; and the entrance to the hive may be +contracted, if necessary, so that only a single bee can go in and out, +at a time, and yet the bees will have, from the ventilators, as much air +as they require.</p> + +<p>If natural swarming is allowed, after-swarms may be prevented from +issuing, by cutting out all the queen cells but one, soon after the +first swarm leaves the hive; or if it is desired to have as fast an +increase of stocks, as can possibly be obtained from natural swarming, +then instead of leaving the combs in the parent hive to be attacked by +the moth, a certain portion of them may be taken out, when swarming is +over, and given to the second and third swarms, so as to aid in building +them up into strong stocks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"> [259]</a></span></p> + +<p>But I have not yet spoken of the most fruitful cause of the desolating +ravages of the bee-moth. If a colony has <i>lost its queen</i>, and this loss +cannot be supplied, it must, as a matter of course, fall a sacrifice to +the bee-moth: and I do not hesitate to assert that by far the larger +proportion of colonies which are destroyed by it, are destroyed under +precisely such circumstances! Let this be remembered by all who have any +thing to do with bees, and let them understand that unless a remedy for +the loss of the queen, can be provided, they must constantly expect to +see some of their best colonies hopelessly ruined. The crafty moth, +after all, is not so much to blame, as we are apt to imagine; for a +colony, once deprived of its queen, and possessing no means of securing +another, would certainly perish, even if never attacked by so deadly an +enemy; just as the body of an animal, when deprived of life, will +speedily go to decay, even if it is not, at once, devoured by ravenous +swarms of filthy flies and worms.</p> + +<p>In order to ascertain all the important points connected with the habits +of the bee-moth, I have purposely deprived colonies in some of my +observing hives, of their queen, and have thus reduced them to a state +of despair, that I might closely watch all their proceedings. I have +invariably found that in this state, they have made little or no +resistance to the entrance of the bee-moth, but have allowed her to +deposit her eggs, just where she pleased. The worms, after hatching, +have always appeared to be even more at home than the poor dispirited +bees themselves, and have grown and thrived, in the most luxurious +manner. In some instances, these colonies, so far from losing all spirit +to resent other intrusions, were positively the most vindictive set of +bees in my whole Apiary. One especially, assaulted every body that came +near it, and when reduced in numbers to a mere handful, seemed as ready +for fight as ever.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"> [260]</a></span></p> + +<p>How utterly useless then, for defending a queenless colony against the +moth, are all the traps and other devices which have been, of late +years, so much relied upon. If a single female gains admission, she will +lay eggs enough to destroy in a short time, the strongest colony that +ever existed, if once it has lost its queen, and has no means of +procuring another. But not only do the bees of a hive which is +hopelessly queenless, make little or no opposition to the entrance of +the bee-moth, and to the ravages of the worms, but by their forlorn +condition, they positively invite the attacks of their destroyers. The +moth seems to have an instinctive knowledge of the condition of such a +hive, and no art of man can ever keep her out. She will pass by other +colonies to get at the queenless one, for she seems to know that there +she will find all the conditions that are necessary to the proper +development of her young. There are many mysteries in the insect world, +which we have not yet solved; nor can we tell just how the moth arrives +at so correct a knowledge of the condition of the queenless hives in the +Apiary. That such hives, very seldom, maintain a guard about the +entrance, is certain; and that they do not fill the air with the +pleasant voice of happy industry, is equally certain; for even to our +dull ears, the difference between the hum of the prosperous hive, and +the unhappy note of the despairing one, is sufficiently obvious. May it +not be even more obvious to the acute senses of the provident mother, +seeking a proper place for the development of her young?</p> + +<p>The unerring sagacity of the moth, closely resembles that peculiar +instinct by which the vulture and other birds that prey upon carrion, +are able to single out a diseased animal from the herd, which they +follow with their dismal croakings, hovering over its head, or sitting +in ill-omened flocks, on the surrounding trees, watching it as its life +ebbs away, and stretching out their filthy and naked necks, and opening +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"> [261]</a></span> snapping their blood-thirsty beaks that they may be all ready to +tear out its eyes just glazing in death, and banquet upon its flesh +still warm with the blood of life! Let any fatal accident befall an +animal, and how soon will you see them, first from one quarter of the +heavens, and then from another, speeding their eager flight to their +destined prey, when only a short time before, not a single one could be +seen or heard.</p> + +<p>I have repeatedly seen powerful colonies speedily devoured by the worms, +because of the loss of their queen, when they have stood, side by side +with feeble colonies which being in possession of a queen, have been +left untouched!</p> + +<p>That the common hives furnish no available remedy for the loss of the +queen, is well known: indeed, the owner cannot, in many cases, be sure +that his bees are queenless, until their destruction is certain, while +not unfrequently, after keeping bees for many years, he does not even so +much as believe that there is such a thing as a queen bee!</p> + +<p>In the Chapter on the Loss of the Queen, I shall show in what way this +loss can be ascertained, and ordinarily remedied, and thus the bees be +protected from that calamity which more than all others, exposes them to +destruction. When a colony has become hopelessly queenless, then moth or +no moth, its destruction is absolutely certain. Even if the bees +retained their wonted industry in gathering stores, and their usual +energy in defending themselves against all their enemies, their ruin +could only be delayed for a short time. In a few months, they would all +die a natural death, and there being none to replace them, the hive +would be utterly depopulated. Occasionally, such instances occur in +which the bees have died, and large stores of honey have been found +untouched in their hives. This, however, but seldom happens: for they +rarely escape from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"> [262]</a></span> the assaults of other colonies, even if after the +death of their queen, they do not fall a prey to the bee-moth. A +motherless hive is almost always assaulted by stronger stocks, which +seem to have an instinctive knowledge of its orphanage, and hasten at +once, to take possession of its spoils. (See Remarks on <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Robbing</a>.) If it +escape the Scylla of these pitiless plunderers, it is soon dashed upon a +more merciless Charybdis, when the miscreant moths have ascertained its +destitution. Every year, large numbers of hives are bereft of their +queen, and every year, the most of such hives are either robbed by other +bees, or sacked by the bee-moth, or first robbed, and afterwards sacked, +while their owner imputes all the mischief that is done, to something +else than the real cause. He might just as well imagine that the birds, +or the carrion worms which are devouring his dead horse, were actually +the primary cause of its untimely end. How often we see the same kind of +mistake made by those who impute the decay of a tree, to the insects +which are banqueting upon its withering foliage; when often these +insects are there, because the disease of the tree has both furnished +them with their proper aliment, and deprived the plant of the vigor +necessary to enable it to resist their attack.</p> + +<p>The bee keeper can easily gather from these remarks, the means upon +which I most rely, to protect my colonies from the bee-moth. Knowing +that strong stocks supplied with a fertile queen, are always able to +take care of themselves, in almost any kind of hive, I am careful to +keep them in the state which is practically found to be one of such +security. If they are weak, they must be properly strengthened, and +confined to only as much space as they can warm and defend: and if they +are queenless, they must be supplied with the means of repairing their +loss, or if that cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"> [263]</a></span> be done, they should be at once broken up, (See +Remarks on <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Queenlessness</a>, and <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Union of Stocks</a>,) and added to other +stocks.</p> + +<p>It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the mind of the bee-keeper, that +a small colony ought always to be confined to a small space, if we wish +the bees to work with the greatest energy, and to offer the stoutest +resistance to their numerous enemies. Bees do most unquestionably, +"abhor a vacuum," if it is one which they can neither fill, warm nor +defend. Let the prudent bee-master only keep his stocks strong, and they +will do more to defend themselves against all intruders, than he can +possibly do for them, even if he spends his whole time in watching and +assisting them.</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary, after the preceding remarks, to say much upon +the various contrivances to which so many resort, as a safeguard against +the bee-moth. The idea that gauze-wire doors, to be shut daily at dusk, +and opened again at morning, can exclude the moth, will not weigh much +with one who has seen them flying and seeking admission, especially in +dull weather, long before the bees have given over their work for the +day. Even if the moth could be excluded by such a contrivance, it would +require, on the part of those who rely upon it, a regularity almost akin +to that of the heavenly bodies in their courses; a regularity so +systematic, in short, as either to be impossible, or likely to be +attained but by very few.</p> + +<p>An exceedingly ingenious contrivance, to say the least, to remedy the +necessity for such close supervision, is that by which the movable doors +of all the hives are governed by a long lever in the shape of a +hen-roost, so that the hives may all be closed seasonably and regularly, +by the crowing and cackling tribe, when they go to bed at night, and +opened at once when they fly from their perch, to greet the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"> [264]</a></span> merry morn. +Alas! that so much ingenuity should be all in vain! Chickens are often +sleepy, and wish to retire sometime before the bees feel that they have +completed their full day's work, and some of them are so much opposed to +early rising, either from ill-health, or downright laziness, that they +sit moping on their roost, long after the cheerful sun has purpled the +glowing East. Even if this device were perfectly successful, it could +not save from ruin, a colony which has lost its queen. The truth is, +that almost all the contrivances upon which we are instructed to rely, +are just about equivalent to the lock carefully put upon the stable +door, after the horse has been stolen; or to attempts to prevent +corruption from fastening upon the body of an animal, after the breath +of life has forever departed.</p> + +<p>Are there then no precautions to which we may resort, except by using +hives which give the control over every comb? Certainly there are, and I +shall now describe them in such a manner as to aid all who find +themselves annoyed by the inroads of the bee-moth.</p> + +<p>Let the prudent bee-master be deeply impressed with the very great +importance of destroying <i>early</i> in the season, the larvæ of the +bee-moth. "Prevention is," at all times, "better than cure": a single +pair of worms that are permitted to undergo their changes into the +winged insect, may give birth to some hundreds which before the close of +the season, may fill the Apiary with thousands of their kind. The +destruction of a single worm early in the Spring, may thus be more +efficacious than that of hundreds, at a later period. If the common +hives are used, these worms must be sought for in their hiding places, +under the edges of the hive; or the hive may be propped up, on the two +ends, with strips of wood, about three eighths of an inch thick; and a +piece of old woolen rag put between the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"> [265]</a></span> bottom-board and the back of +the hive. Into this warm hiding place, the full grown worm will retreat +to spin its cocoon, and it may then be very easily caught and +effectually dealt with. Hollow sticks, or split joints of cane may be +set under the hives, so as to elevate them, or may be laid on the +bottom-board, and if they have a few small openings through which the +bees cannot enter, the worms will take possession of them, and may +easily be destroyed. Only provide some hollow, inaccessible to the bees, +but communicating with the hive and easily accessible to the worms when +they want to spin, and to yourself when you want them, and if the bees +are in good health, so that they will not permit the worms to spin among +the combs, you can, with ease, entrap nearly all of them. If the hive +has lost its queen, and the worms have gained possession of it, you can +do nothing for it better than to break it up as soon as possible, unless +you prefer to reserve it as a moth trap to devastate your whole Apiary.</p> + +<p>I make use of blocks of a peculiar construction, in order both to entrap +the worms, and to exclude the moth from my hives. The only place where +the moth can enter, is just where the bees are going in and out, and +this passage may be contracted so as to suit the size of the colony: the +very shape of it is such that if the moth attempts to force an entrance, +she is obliged to travel over a space which is continually narrowing, +and of course, is more and more easily defended by the bees. My traps +are slightly elevated, so that the heat and odor of the hive pass under +them, and come out through small openings into which the moth can enter, +but which do not admit her into the hive. These openings, which are so +much like the crevices between the common hives and their bottom-boards, +the moth will enter, rather than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"> [266]</a></span> attempt to force her way through the +guards, and finding here the nibblings and parings of comb and +bee-bread, in which her young can flourish, she deposits her eggs in a +place where they may be reached and destroyed. All this is on the +supposition that the hive has a healthy queen, and that the bees are +confined to a space which they can warm and defend. If there are no +guards and no resistance, or at best but a very feeble one, she will not +rest in any outer chamber, but will penetrate to the very heart of the +citadel, and there deposit her seeds of mischief. These same blocks have +also grooves which communicate with the <i>interior</i> of the hives, and +which appear to the prowling worm in search of a comfortable nest, just +the very best possible place, so warm and snug and secure, in which to +spin its web, and "bide its time." When the hand of the bee-master +lights upon it, doubtless it has reason to feel that it has been caught +in its own craftiness.</p> + +<p>If asked how much will such contrivances help the careless bee-man, I +answer, not one iota; nay, they will positively furnish him greater +facilities for destroying his bees. Worms will spin and hatch, and moths +will lay their eggs, under the blocks, and he will never remove them: +thus instead of traps he will have most beautiful devices for giving +more effectual aid and comfort to his enemies. Such persons, if they +ever attempt to keep bees on my plans, should use only my smooth blocks, +which will enable them to control, at will, the size of the entrance to +the hives, and which are exceedingly important in aiding the bees to +defend themselves against moths and robbers, and all enemies which seek +admission to their castle.</p> + +<p>Let me, however, strongly advise the thoroughly and incorrigibly +careless, to have nothing to do with bees, either on my plan of +management, or any other; for they will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"> [267]</a></span> find their time and money +almost certainly thrown away; unless their mishaps open their eyes to +the secret of their failure in other things, as well as in bee-keeping.</p> + +<p>If I find that the worms, by any means have got the upper hand in one of +my hives, I take out the combs, shake off the bees, route out the worms +and restore the combs again to the bees: if there is reason to fear that +they contain eggs and small worms, I smoke them thoroughly with sulphur, +and air them well before they are returned. Such operations, however, +will very seldom be required. Shallow vessels containing sweetened +water, placed on the hives after sunset, will often entrap many of the +moths. Pans of milk are recommended by some as useful for this purpose. +So fond are the moths of something sweet, that I have caught them +<i>sticking fast</i> to pieces of moist sugar-candy.</p> + +<p>I cannot deny myself the pleasure of making an extract from an +article<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> from the pen of that accomplished scholar, and well-known +enthusiast in bee-culture, Henry K. Oliver, Esq. "We add a few words +respecting the enemies of bees. The mouse, the toad, the ant, the +stouter spiders, the wasp, the death-head moth, (Sphinx +atropos,) and all the varieties of gallinaceous birds, have, each and +all, "a sweet tooth," and like, very well, a dinner of raw bee. But the +ravages of all these are but a baby bite to the destruction caused by +the bee-moth, (Tinea mellonella.) These nimble-footed little mischievous +vermin may be seen, on any evening, from early May to October, +fluttering about the apiary, or running about the hives, at a speed to +outstrip the swiftest bee, and endeavoring to effect an entrance into +the door way, for it is within the hive that their instinct teaches them +they must deposit their eggs. You can hardly find them by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"> [268]</a></span>day, for they +are cunning and secrete themselves. "They love darkness rather than +light, because their deeds are evil." They are a paltry looking, +insignificant little grey-haired pestilent race of wax-and-honey-eating +and bee-destroying rascals, that have baffled all contrivances that +ingenuity has devised to conquer or destroy them."</p> + +<p>"Your committee would be very glad indeed to be able to suggest any +effectual means, by which to assist the honey-bee and its friends, +against the inroads of this, its bitterest and most successful foe, +whose desolating ravages are more lamented and more despondingly +referred to, than those of any other enemy. Various contrivances have +been announced, but none have proved efficacious to any full extent, and +we are compelled to say that there really is no security, except in a +very full, healthy and vigorous stock of bees, and in a very close and +well made hive, the door of which is of such dimensions of length and +height, that the nightly guards can effectually protect it. Not too long +a door, nor too high. If too long, the bees cannot easily guard it, and +if too high, the moth will get in over the heads of the guards. If the +guards catch one of them, her life is not worth insuring. But if the +moths, in any numbers, effect a lodgment in the hive, then the hive is +not worth insuring. They immediately commence laying their eggs, from +which comes, in a few days, a brownish white caterpillar, which encloses +itself, all but its head, in a silken cocoon. This head, covered with an +impenetrable coat of scaly mail, which bids defiance to the bees, is +thrust forward, just outside of the silken enclosure, and the gluttonous +pest eats all before it, wax, pollen, and exuviæ, until ruin to the +stock is inevitable. As says the Prophet Joel, speaking of the ravages +of the locust, "the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and +behind them a desolate wilderness." Look out, brethren,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"> [269]</a></span> bee lovers, and +have your hives of the best unshaky, unknotty stock, with close fitting +joints, and well covered with three or four coats of paint. He who shall +be successful in devising the means of ridding the bee world of this +destructive and merciless pest, will richly deserve to be crowned "King +Bee," in perpetuity, to be entitled to a never-fading wreath of budding +honey flowers, from sweetly breathing fields, all murmuring with bees, +to be privileged to use, during his natural life, "night tapers from +their waxen thighs," best wax candles, (two to the pound!) to have an +annual offering from every bee-master, of ten pounds each, of very best +virgin honey, and to a body guard, for protection against all foes, of +thrice ten thousand workers, all armed and equipped, as Nature's law +directs. Who shall have these high honors?"</p> + +<p>It might seem highly presumptuous for me, at this early date, to lay +claim to them, but I beg leave to enroll myself among the list of +honorable candidates, and I cheerfully submit my pretensions to the +suffrages of all intelligent keepers of bees.</p> + +<p>In the chapter on Requisites, I have spoken of the ravages of the mouse, +and have there described the way in which my hives are guarded against +its intrusion. That some kinds of birds are fond of bees, every Apiarian +knows, to his cost; still, I cannot advise that any should, on this +account, be destroyed. It has been stated to me, by an intelligent +observer, that the King-bird, which devours them by scores, confines +himself always, in the season of drones, to those fat and lazy gentlemen +of leisure. I fear however, that this, as the children say, "is too good +news to be true," and that not only the industrious portion of the busy +community fall a prey to his fatal snap, but that the luxurious gourmand +can distinguish perfectly well, between an empty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"> [270]</a></span> bee in search of food, +and one which is returning full laden to its fragrant home, and whose +honey-bag sweetens the delicious tit-bit, as the crushed unfortunate, +all ready sugared, glides daintily down his voracious maw! Still, I have +never yet been willing to destroy a bird, because of its fondness for +bees; and I advise all lovers of bees to have nothing to do with such +foolish practices. Unless we can check among our people, the stupid, as +well as inhuman custom of destroying so wantonly, on any pretence, and +often on none at all, the insectivorous birds, we shall soon, not only +be deprived of their aerial melody, among the leafy branches, but shall +lament over the ever increasing horde of destructive insects, which +ravage our fields and desolate our orchards, and from whose successful +inroads, nothing but the birds can ever protect us. Think of it, ye who +can enjoy no music made by these winged choristers of the skies, except +that of their agonizing screams, as they fall before your well-aimed +weapons, and flutter out their innocent lives before your heartless +gaze! Drive away as fast and as far as you please, from your cruel +premises, all the little birds that you cannot destroy, and then find, +if you can, those who will sympathize with you, when the caterpillars +weave their destroying webs over your leafless trees, and insects of all +kinds riot in glee, upon your blasted harvests! I hope that such a +healthy public opinion will soon prevail, that the man or boy +who is armed with a gun to shoot the little birds, will be scouted from +all humane and civilized society, and if he should be caught about such +contemptible business, will be too much ashamed even to look an honest +man in the face. I shall close what I have to say about the birds, with +the following beautiful translation of an old Greek poet's address to +the swallow.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Attic maiden, honey fed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Chirping warbler, bear'st away,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"> [271]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou the busy buzzing bee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To thy callow brood a prey?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Warbler, thou a warbler seize?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Winged, one with lovely wings?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Guest thyself, by Summer brought,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yellow guest whom Summer brings?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wilt not quickly let it drop?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Tis not fair, indeed 'tis wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That the ceaseless warbler should<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Die by mouth of ceaseless song."<br /></span> +<span class="author2">Merivale's Translation.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>I have not the space to speak at length of the other enemies of the +honied race: nor indeed is it at all necessary. If the Apiarian only +succeeds in keeping his stocks strong, they will be their own best +protectors, and if he does not succeed in this, they would be of little +value, even if they had no enemies ever vigilant, to watch for their +halting. Nations which are both rich and feeble, invite attack, as well +as unfit themselves for vigorous resistance. Just so with the +commonwealth of bees. Unless amply guarded by thousands ready to die in +its defence, it is ever liable to fall a prey to some one of its many +enemies, which are all agreed in this one opinion, at least, that stolen +honey is much more sweet than the slow accumulations of patient +industry.</p> + +<p>In the Chapters on Protection and Ventilation, I have spoken of the +fatal effects of dysentery. This disease can always be prevented by +proper caution on the part of the bee-keeper. Let him be careful not to +feed his bees, late in the season, on liquid honey, (see Chapter on +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Feeding</a>,) and let him keep them in dry and thoroughly protected hives. +If his situation is at all damp, and there is danger that water will +settle under his Protector, let him build it entirely <i>above ground</i>; +otherwise it may be as bad as a damp cellar, and incomparably worse than +nothing at all.</p> + +<p>There is one disease, called by the Germans, "foul brood," of which I +know nothing, by my own observation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"> [272]</a></span> but which is, of all others, the +most fatal in its effects. The brood appear to die in the cells, after +they are sealed over by the bees, and the stench from their decaying +bodies infects the hive, and seems to paralyze the bees. This disease +is, in two instances, attributed by Dzierzon, to feeding bees on +"American Honey," or, as we call it, Southern Honey, which is brought +from Cuba, and other West India Islands. That such honey is not +ordinarily poisonous, is well known: probably that used by him, was +taken from diseased colonies. It is well known that if any honey or +combs are taken from a hive in which this pestilence is raging, it will +most surely infect the colonies to which they may be given. No foreign +honey ought therefore to be extensively used, until its quality has been +thoroughly tested. The extreme violence of this disease may be inferred +from the fact, that Dzierzon in one season, lost by it, between four and +five hundred colonies! As at present advised, if my colonies were +attacked by it, I should burn up the bees, combs, honey, frames, and +all, from every diseased hive; and then thoroughly scald and smoke with +sulphur, all such hives, and replenish them with bees from a healthy +stock.</p> + +<p>There is a peculiar kind of dysentery which does not seem to affect a +whole colony, but confines its ravages to a small number of the bees. In +the early stages of this disease, those attacked are excessively +irritable, and will attempt to sting any one who comes near the hives. +If dissected, their stomachs are found to be already discolored by the +disease. In the latter stages of this complaint, they not only lose all +their irascibility, but seem very stupid, and may often be seen crawling +upon the ground unable to fly. Their abdomens are now unnaturally +swollen, and of a much lighter color than usual, owing to their being +filled with a yellow matter exceedingly offensive to the smell. I have +not yet ascertained the cause of this disease.</p> + + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"> [273]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">LOSS OF THE QUEEN.</span></h2> + + +<p>That the queen of a hive is often lost, and that the ruin of the whole +colony soon follows, unless such a loss is seasonably remedied, are +facts which ought to be well known to every observing bee-keeper.</p> + +<p>Some queens appear to die of old age or disease, and at a time when +there are no worker-eggs, or larvæ of a suitable age, to enable the bees +to supply their loss. It is evident, however, that no very large +proportion of the queens which perish, are lost under such +circumstances. Either the bees are aware of the approaching end of their +aged mother, and take seasonable precautions to rear a successor; or +else she dies very suddenly, so as to leave behind her, brood of a +suitable age. It is seldom that a queen in a hive that is strong in +numbers and stores, dies either at a period of the year when there is no +brood from which another can be reared, or when there are no drones to +impregnate the one reared in her place. In speaking of the age of bees, +it has already been stated that queens commonly die in their fourth +year, while none of the workers live to be a year old. Not only is the +queen much longer lived than the other bees, but she seems to be +possessed of greater tenacity of life, so that when any disease +overtakes the colony, she is usually among the last to perish. By a most +admirable provision, their death ordinarily takes place under +circumstances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"> [274]</a></span> the most favorable to their bereaved family. If it were +otherwise, the number of colonies which would annually perish, would be +very much greater than it now is; for as a number of superannuated +queens must die every year, many, or even most of them might die at a +season when their loss would necessarily involve the ruin of their whole +colony. In non-swarming hives, I have found cells in which queens were +reared, not to lead out a new swarm, but to supply the place of the old +one which had died in the hive. There are a few well authenticated +instances, in which a young queen has been matured before the death of +the old one, but after she had become quite aged and infirm. Still, +there are cases where old queens die, either so suddenly as to leave no +young brood behind them, or at a season when there are no drones to +impregnate the young queens.</p> + +<p>That queens occasionally live to such an age as to become incapable of +laying worker eggs, is now a well established fact. The seminal +reservoir sometimes becomes exhausted, before the queen dies of old age, +and as it is never replenished, (see p. <a href="#Page_44">44</a>,) she can only lay +unimpregnated eggs, or such as produce drones instead of workers. This +is an additional confirmation of the theory first propounded by +Dzierzon. I am indebted to Mr. Wagner for the following facts. "In the +Bienenzeitung, for August, 1852, Count Stosch gives us the case of a +colony examined by himself, with the aid of an experienced Apiarian, on +the 14th of April, previous. The worker-brood was then found to be +healthy. In May following, the bees worked industriously, and built new +comb. Soon afterwards they ceased to build, and appeared dispirited; and +when, in the beginning of June, he examined the colony again, he found +plenty of drone brood in worker cells! The queen appeared weak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"> [275]</a></span> and +languid. He confined her in a queen cage, and left her in the hive. The +bees clustered around the cage; but next morning the queen was found to +be dead. Here we seem to have the commencement, progress and termination +of super-annuation, all in the space of five or six weeks."</p> + +<p>In the Spring of the year, as soon as the bees begin to fly, if their +motions are carefully watched, the Apiarian may even in the common +hives, generally ascertain from their actions, whether they are in +possession of a fertile queen. If they are seen to bring in bee-bread +with great eagerness, it follows, as a matter of course, that they have +brood, and are anxious to obtain fresh food for its nourishment. If any +hive does not industriously gather pollen, or accept the rye flour upon +which the others are feasting, then there is an almost absolute +certainty either that it has not a queen, or that she is not fertile, or +that the hive is seriously infested with worms, or that it is on the +very verge of starvation. An experienced eye will decide upon the +queenlessness, (to use the German term,) of a hive, from the restless +appearance of the bees. At this period of the year when they first +realize the magnitude of their loss, and before they have become in a +manner either reconciled to it, or indifferent to their fate, they roam +in an inquiring manner, in and out of the hive, and over its outside as +well as inside, and plainly manifest that something calamitous has +befallen them. Often those that return from the fields, instead of +entering the hive with that dispatchful haste so characteristic of a bee +returning well stored to a prosperous home, linger about the entrance +with an idle and very dissatisfied appearance, and the colony is +restless, long after the other stocks are quiet. Their home, like that +of the man who is cursed rather than blessed in his domestic relations, +is a melancholy place: and they only enter it with reluctant and +slow-moving steps!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"> [276]</a></span></p> + +<p>If I could address a friendly word of advice to every married woman, I +would say, "Do all that you can to make your husband's home a place of +attraction. When absent from it, let his heart glow at the very thought +of returning to its dear enjoyments; and let his countenance +involuntarily put on a more cheerful look, and his joy-quickened steps +proclaim, as he is approaching, that he feels in his "heart of hearts," +that "there is no place like home." Let her whom he has chosen as a wife +and companion, be the happy and honored Queen in his cheerful +habitation: let her be the center and soul about which his best +affections shall ever revolve. I know that there are brutes in the guise +of men, upon whom all the winning attractions of a prudent, virtuous +wife, make little or no impression. Alas that it should be so! but who +can tell how many, even of the most hopeless cases, have been saved for +two worlds, by a union with a virtuous woman, in whose "tongue was the +law of kindness," and of whom it could be said, "the heart of her +husband doth safely trust in her," for "she will do him good and not +evil, all the days of her life."</p> + +<p>Said a man of large experience, "I scarcely know a woman who has an +intemperate husband, who did not either marry a man whose habits were +already bad, or who did not drive her husband to evil courses, (often +when such a calamitous result was the furthest possible from her +thoughts or wishes,) by making him feel that he had no happy home." +Think of it, ye who find that home is not full of dear delights, as well +to yourselves, as to your affectionate husbands! Try how much virtue +there may be in winning words and happy smiles, and the cheerful +discharge of household duties, and prove the utmost possible efficacy of +love and faith and prayer, before those words of fearful agony are +extorted from your despairing lips,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"> [277]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Anywhere, anywhere<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Out of the world;"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>when amid tears and sighs of inexpressible agony, you settle down into +the heart-breaking conviction that you can have no home until you have +passed into that habitation not fashioned by human hands, or inhabited +by human hearts!</p> + +<p>Is there any husband who can resist all the sweet attractions of a +lovely wife? who does not set a priceless value upon the very gem of his +life?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"If such there be, go mark him well;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">High though his titles, proud his fame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Boundless his wealth as wish can claim,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wretch, concentered all in self,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Living, shall forfeit fair renown,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And doubly dying, shall go down<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the vile dust from whence he sprung<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unwept, unhonored, and unsung."—<i>Scott.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I trust my readers, remembering my profession, will pardon this long +digression to which I felt myself irresistibly impelled.</p> + +<p>When the bees commence their work in the Spring, they give, as +previously stated, reliable evidence either that all is well, or that +ruin lurks within. In the common hives however, it is not always easy to +decide upon their real condition. The queenless ones do not, in all +cases, disclose their misfortune, any more than all unhappy husbands or +wives see fit to proclaim the full extent of their domestic +wretchedness: there is a vast amount of <i>seeming</i> even in the little +world of the bee-hive. One great advantage in my mode of construction is +that I am never obliged to leave anything to vague conjecture; but I +can, in a few moments, open the interior, and know precisely what is the +real condition of the bees.</p> + +<p>On one occasion I found that a colony which had been queenless for a +considerable time, utterly refused to raise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"> [278]</a></span> another, and devoured all +the eggs which were given to them for that purpose! This colony was +afterwards supplied with an unimpregnated queen, but they refused to +accept of her, and attempted at once to smother her to death. I then +gave them a fertile queen, but she met with no better treatment. Facts +of a similar kind have been noticed, by other observers: thus it seems +that bees may not only become reconciled, as it were, to living without +a mother, but may pass into such an unnatural state as not only to +decline to provide themselves with another, but actually to refuse to +accept of one by whose agency they might be rescued from impending ruin! +Before expressing too much astonishment at such foolish conduct, let us +seriously inquire if it has not often an exact parallel in our obstinate +rejection of the provisions which God has made in the Gospel for our +moral and religious welfare.</p> + +<p>If a colony which refuses to rear another queen, has a range of comb +given to it containing maturing brood, these poor motherless innocents, +as soon as they are able to work, perceive their loss, and will proceed +at once, if they have the means, to supply it! They have not yet grown +so hardened by habit to unnatural and ruinous courses, as not to feel +that something absolutely indispensable to their safety is wanting in +their hive.</p> + +<p>A word to the young who may read this treatise. Although enjoined to +"remember your Creator in the days of your youth," you are constantly +tempted to neglect your religious duties, and to procrastinate their +performance until some more convenient season. Like the old bees in a +hive without a queen, that seek only their present enjoyment, forgetful +of the ruin which must surely overtake them, so you may find that when +manhood and old age arrive, you will have even less disposition to love +and serve the Lord than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"> [279]</a></span> you now have. The fetters which bind you to +sinful habits will have strengthened with years until you find both the +inclination and ability to break them continually decreasing.</p> + +<p>In the Spring, as soon as the weather becomes sufficiently pleasant, I +carefully examine all the hives which do not present the most +unmistakable evidences of health and vigor. If a queen is wanting, I at +once, if the colony is small, break it up, and add the bees to another +stock. If however, the colony should be very large, I sometimes join to +it one of my small stocks which has a healthy queen. It may be asked why +not supply the queenless stock with the means of raising another? Simply +because there would be no drones to impregnate her, in season; and the +whole operation would therefore result in an entire failure. Why not +endeavor then to preserve it, until the season for drones +approaches, and then give it a queen? Because it is in danger of being +robbed or destroyed by the moth, while the bees, if added to another +stock, can do me far more service than they could, if left to idleness +in their old hive. It must be remembered that I am not like the +bee-keepers on the old plan, extremely anxious to save every colony, +however feeble: as I can, at the proper season, form as many as I want, +and with far less trouble and expense than are required to make anything +out of such discouraged stocks.</p> + +<p>If any of my colonies are found to be feeble in the Spring, but yet in +possession of a healthy queen, I help them to combs containing maturing +brood, in the manner already described. In short, I ascertain, at the +opening of the season, the exact condition of all my stock, and apply +such remedies as I find to be needed, giving to some, maturing brood, to +others honey, and breaking up all whose <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"> [280]</a></span>condition appears to admit of +no remedy. If however, the bees have not been multiplied too rapidly, +and proper care was taken to winter none but strong stocks, they will +need but little assistance in the Spring; and nearly all of them will +show indubitable signs of health and vigor.</p> + +<p>I strongly recommend every prudent bee-keeper who uses my hives, to give +them all a most thorough over-hauling and cleansing, soon after the bees +begin to work in the Spring. The bees of any stock may, with their +combs, &c., all be transferred, in a few minutes, to a clean hive; and +their hive, after being thoroughly cleansed, may be used for another +transferred stock; and in this way, with one spare hive, the bees may +all be lodged in habitations from which every speck of dirt has been +removed. They will thus have hives which can by no possibility, harbor +any of the eggs, or larvæ of the moth, and which may be made perfectly +free from the least smell of must or mould or anything offensive to the +delicate senses of the bees. In making this thorough cleansing of all +the hives, the Apiarian will necessarily gain an exact knowledge of the +true condition of each stock, and will know which have spare honey, and +which require food: in short, which are in need of help in any respect, +and which have the requisite strength to lend a helping hand to others. +If any hive needs repairing, it may be put into perfect order, before it +is used again. Hives managed in this fashion, if the roofs and outside +covers are occasionally painted anew, will last for generations, and +will be found, on the score of cheapness, preferable, in the long run, +to any other kind. But I ought to beg pardon of the Genius of American +cheapness, who so kindly presides over the making of most of our +manufactures, and under whose shrewd tuition we are fast beginning to +believe that cheapness in the first cost of an article, is the main +point to which our attention should be directed!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"> [281]</a></span></p> + +<p>Let us to be sure, save all that we can in the cost of construction, by +the greatest economy in the use of materials; let us compel every minute +to yield the greatest possible practical result, by the employment of +the most skillful workmen and the most ingenious machinery; but do let +us learn that slighting an article, so as to get up a mere sham, having +all the appearance of reality, with none of the substance, is the +poorest possible kind of pretended economy; to say nothing of the +tendency of such a system, to encourage in all the pursuits of life, the +narrow and selfish policy of doing nothing thoroughly, but everything +with reference to mere outside show, or the urgent necessities of the +present moment.</p> + +<p>We have yet to describe under what circumstances, by far the larger +proportion of hives, become queenless. After the first swarm has gone +out with the old mother, then both the parent stock and all the +subsequent swarms, will have each a young queen which must always leave +the hive in order to be impregnated. It sometimes happens that the wings +of the young female are, from her birth, so imperfect that she either +refuses to sally out, or is unable to return to the hive, if she +ventures abroad. In either case, the old stock must, if left to its own +resources, speedily perish. Queens, in their contests with each other, +are sometimes so much crippled as to unfit them for flight, and +sometimes they are disabled by the rude treatment of the bees, who +insist on driving them away from the royal cells. The great majority, +however, of queens which are lost, perish when they leave the hive in +search of the drones. Their <i>extra size</i> and <i>slower flight</i> make them a +most tempting prey to the birds, ever on the watch in the vicinity of +the hives; and many in this way, perish. Others are destroyed by sudden +gusts of winds, which dash them against some hard object, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"> [282]</a></span> blow them +into the water; for queens are by no means, exempt from the misfortunes +common to the humblest of their race. Very frequently, in spite of all +their caution in noticing the position and appearance of their +habitation, before they left it, they make a fatal mistake on their +return, and are imprisoned and destroyed as they attempt to enter the +wrong hive. The precautions which should be used, to prevent such a +calamity, have been already described. If these are neglected, those who +build their hives of uniform size and appearance, will find themselves +losing many more queens than the person who uses the old-fashioned +boxes, hardly any two of which look just alike.</p> + +<p>The bees seem to me, to have, as it were, an instinctive perception of +the dangers which await their new queen when she makes her excursion in +search of the drones, and often gather around her, and confine her, as +though they could not bear to have her leave! I have repeatedly noticed +them doing this, although I cannot affirm with positive certainty, why +they do it. They are usually excessively agitated when the queen leaves, +and often exhibit all the appearance of swarming. If the queen of an old +stock is lost in this way, her colony will gradually dwindle away. If +the queen of an after-swarm fails to return, the bees very speedily come +to nothing, if they remain in the hive; as a general rule, however, they +soon leave and attempt to add themselves to other colonies.</p> + +<p>It would be highly interesting to ascertain in what way the bees become +informed of the loss of their queen. When she is taken from them under +such circumstances as to excite the whole colony, then we can easily see +how they find out that she is gone; for when greatly excited, they +always seek first to assure themselves of her safety; just as a tender +mother in time of danger forgets herself in her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"> [283]</a></span> anxiety for her +helpless children! If however, the queen is carefully removed, so that +the colony is not disturbed, it is sometimes a day, or even more, before +they realize their loss. How do they first become aware of it? Perhaps +some dutiful bee feels that it is a long time since it has seen its +mother, and anxious to embrace her, makes diligent search for her +through the hive! The intelligence that she cannot anywhere be found, is +soon noised abroad, and the whole community are at once alarmed. At such +times, instead of calmly conversing by merely touching each other's +antennæ, they may be seen violently striking as it were, their antennæ +together, and by the most impassioned demonstrations manifesting their +agony and despair. I once removed a queen in such a manner as to cause +the bees to take wing and fill the air in search of her. She was +returned in a few minutes, and yet, on examining the colony, two days +after, I found that they had actually commenced the building of royal +cells, in order to raise another! The queen was unhurt and the cells +were not tenanted. Was this work begun by some that refused for a long +time to believe the others, when told that she was safe? Or was it begun +from the apprehension that she might again be removed?</p> + +<p>Every colony which has a new queen, should be watched, in order that the +Apiarian may be seasonably apprised of her loss. The restless conduct of +the bees, on the evening of the day that she fails to return, will at +once inform the experienced bee-master of the accident which has +befallen his hive. If the bees cannot be supplied with another queen, or +with the means of raising one, if an old swarm it must be broken up, and +the bees added to another stock; if a new swarm it must always be broken +up, unless it can be supplied with a queen nearly mature, or else they +will build<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"> [284]</a></span> combs unfit for the rearing of workers. By the use of my +movable comb hives, all these operations can be easily performed. If any +hives have lost their young queen, they may be supplied, either with the +means of raising another, or with sealed queens from other hives, or, +(if the plan is found to answer,) with mature ones from the "Nursery."</p> + +<p>As a matter of precaution, I generally give to all my stocks that are +raising young queens, or which have unimpregnated ones, a range of comb +containing brood and eggs, so that they may, in case of any accident to +their queen, proceed at once, to supply their loss. In this way, I +prevent them from being so dissatisfied as to leave the hive.</p> + +<p>About a week after the young queens have hatched, I examine all the +hives which contain them, lifting out usually, some of the largest +combs, and those which ought to contain brood. If I find a comb which +has eggs or larvæ, I am satisfied that they have a fertile queen, and +shut up the hive; unless I wish to find her, in order to deprive her of +her wings, (see p. <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.) I can thus often satisfy myself in one or two +minutes. If no brood is found, I suspect that the queen has been lost, +or that she has some defect which has prevented her from leaving the +hive. If the brood-comb which I put into the hive, contains any +newly-formed royal cells, I <i>know</i>, without any further examination, +that the queen has been lost. If the weather has been unfavorable, or +the colony is quite weak, the young queen is sometimes not impregnated +as early as usual, and an allowance of a few days must be made on this +account. If the weather is favorable, and the colony a good one, the +queen usually leaves, the day after she finds herself mistress of a +family. In about two days more, she begins to lay her eggs. By waiting +about a week before the examination is made, ample allowance, in most +cases, is made.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"> [285]</a></span></p> + +<p>Early in the month of September, I examine carefully all my hives, so as +to see that in every respect, they are in suitable condition for +wintering. If any need feeding, (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Feeding</a>,) they are fed +at this time. If any have more vacant room than they ought to have, I +partition off that part of the hive which they do not need. I always +expect to find some brood in every healthy hive at this time, and if in +any hive I find none, and ascertain that it is queenless, I either at +once break it up, or if it is strong in numbers supply it with a queen, +by adding to it some feebler stock. If bees, however, are properly +attended to, at the season when their young queens are impregnated, it +will be a very rare occurrence to find a queenless colony in the Fall.</p> + +<p>The practical bee-keeper without further directions, will readily +perceive how any operation, which in the common hives, is performed with +difficulty, if it can be performed at all, is reduced to simplicity and +certainty, by the control of the combs. If however, bee-keepers will be +negligent and ignorant, no hive can possible make them very successful. +If they belong to the fraternity of "no eyes," who have kept bees all +their lives, and do not know that there is a queen, they will probably +derive no special pleasure from being compelled to believe what they +have always derided as humbug or book-knowledge; although I have seen +some bee-keepers very intelligent on most matters, who never seem to +have learned the first rudiments in the natural history of the bee. +Those who cannot, or will not learn for themselves, or who have not the +leisure or disposition to manage their own bees, may yet with my hives, +entrust their care to suitable persons who may, at the proper time, +attend to all their wants. Practical gardeners may find the management +of bees for their employers, to be quite a lucrative part of their +profession. With but little extra labor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"> [286]</a></span> and with great certainty, they +may, from time to time, do all that the prosperity of the bees require; +carefully over-hauling them in the Spring, making new colonies, at the +suitable period, if any are wanted, giving them their surplus honey +receptacles, and removing them when full; and on the approach of Winter, +putting all the colonies into proper condition, to resist its rigors. +The business of the practical Apiarian, and that of the Gardener, seem +very naturally to go together, and one great advantage of my hive and +mode of management is the ease with which they may be successfully +united.</p> + +<p>Some Apiarians after all that has been said, may still have doubts +whether the young queens leave the hive for impregnation; or may think +that the old ones occasionally leave, even when they do not go out to +lead a swarm. Such persons may, if they choose, easily convince +themselves by the following experiments of the accuracy of my +statements. About a week after hiving a second swarm, or after the birth +of a young queen in a hive, and after she has begun to lay eggs, open +the hive and remove her: carry her a few rods in front of the Apiary, +and let her fly; she will at once enter her own hive and thus show that +she has previously left it. If, however, an old queen is removed a short +time after hiving the swarm, she will not be able to distinguish her own +hive from any other, and will thus show that she has not left it, since +the swarm was hived. If this experiment is performed upon an old queen, +in a hive in which she was put the year before, when unimpregnated, the +same result will follow; for as she never left it after that event, she +will have lost all recollection of its relative position in the Apiary. +The first of these experiments has been suggested by Dzierzon.</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"> [287]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">UNION OF STOCKS. TRANSFERRING BEES FROM THE COMMON HIVE. STARTING AN +APIARY.</span></h2> + + +<p>Frequent allusions have been made to the importance, for various +reasons, of breaking up stocks and uniting them to other families in the +Apiary. Colonies which in the early Spring, are found to be queenless, +ought at once to be managed in this way, for even if not speedily +destroyed by their enemies, they are only consumers of the stores which +they gathered in their happier days. The same treatment should also be +extended to all that in the Fall, are found to be in a similar +condition.</p> + +<p>As small colonies, even though possessed of a healthy queen, are never +able to winter as advantageously as large ones, the bees from several +such colonies ought to be put together, to enable them by keeping up the +necessary supply of heat, to survive the Winter on a smaller supply of +food. A certain quantity of animal heat must be maintained by bees, in +order to live at all, and if their numbers are too small, they can only +keep it up, by eating more than they would otherwise require. A small +swarm will thus not unfrequently, consume as much honey as one +containing two or three times as many bees. These are facts which have +been most thoroughly tested on a very large scale. If a hundred persons +are required to occupy, with comfort, a church that is capable of +accommodating a thousand,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"> [288]</a></span> as much fuel or even more will be required, +to warm the small number as the large one.</p> + +<p>If the stocks which are to be wintered, are in the common hives, the +condemned ones must be drummed out of their old encampment, sprinkled +with sugar-water scented with peppermint, or some other pleasant odor, +and added to the others, (see p. <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.) The colonies which are to be +united ought if possible, to stand side by side, some time before this +process is attempted. This can almost always be effected by a little +management, for while it would not be safe to move a colony all at once, +even a few yards to the right or left of the line of flight in which +the bees sally out to the fields, (especially if other hives are near,) +they may be moved a slight distance one day, and a little more the next, +and so on, until we have them at last in the desired place.</p> + +<p>As persons may sometimes be obliged to move their Apiaries, during the +working season, I will here describe the way by which I was able to +accomplish such a removal, so as to benefit, instead of injuring my +bees. Selecting a pleasant day, I moved, early in the morning, a portion +of my very best stocks. A considerable number of bees from these +colonies, returned in the course of the day to the familiar spot; after +flying about for some time, in search of their hives, (if the weather +had been chilly many of them would have perished,) they at length +entered those standing next to their old homes. More of the strongest +were removed, on the next pleasant day: and this process was repeated, +until at last only one hive was left in the old Apiary. This was then +removed, and only a few bees returned to the old spot. I thus lost no +more bees, in moving a number of hives, than I should have lost in +moving one: and I conducted the process in such a way, as to strengthen +some of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"> [289]</a></span> my feeble stocks, instead of very seriously diminishing their +scanty numbers. I have known the most serious losses to result from the +removal of an Apiary, conducted in the manner in which a change of +location is usually made.</p> + +<p>The process of uniting colonies in my hive, is exceedingly simple. The +combs may, after the two colonies are sprinkled, be at once lifted out +from the one which is to be broken up, and put with all the bees upon +them, directly into the other hive. If the Apiarian judges it best to +save any of his very small colonies, he can confine them to one half or +one third of the central part of the hive, and fill the two empty ends +with straw, shavings, or any good non-conductor. Any one of my frames, +can, in a few minutes, by having tacked to it a thin piece of board or +paste-board, or even an old newspaper, be fashioned into a divider, +which will answer all practical purposes, and if it is stuffed with +cotton waste, &c., it will keep the bees uncommonly warm. If a <i>very</i> +small colony is to be preserved over Winter, the queen must be confined, +in the Fall, in a queen cage, to prevent the colony from deserting the +hive.</p> + +<p>I shall now show how the bee-keeper who wishes only to keep a given +number of stocks, may do so, and yet secure from that number the largest +quantity of surplus honey.</p> + +<p>If his bees are kept in non-swarming hives, he may undoubtedly, reap a +bounteous harvest from the avails of their industry. I do not however, +recommend this mode of bee-keeping as the best: still there are many so +situated that it may be much the best for them. Such persons, by using +my hives, can pursue the non-swarming plan to the best advantage. They +can by taking off the wings of their queens, be sure that their colonies +will not suddenly leave them; a casualty to which all other non-swarming +hives are sometimes liable; and by taking away the honey in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"> [290]</a></span> small +quantities, they will always give the bees plenty of spare room for +storage, and yet avoid discouraging them, as is so often done when large +boxes are taken from them. (See Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Honey</a>.)</p> + +<p>By removing from time to time, the old queens, the colonies can all be +kept in possession of queens, at the height of their fertility, and in +this way a very serious objection to the non-swarming, or as it is +frequently called, the storifying system, may be avoided. If at any +time, new colonies are wanted, they may be made in the manner already +described. In districts where the honey harvest is of very short +continuance, the non-swarming plan may be found to yield the largest +quantity of honey, and in case the season should prove unfavorable for +the gathering of honey, it will usually secure the largest returns from +a given number of stocks. I therefore prefer to keep a considerable +number of my colonies, on the storifying plan, and am confident of +securing from them, a good yield of honey, even in the most unfavorable +seasons. If bee-keepers will pursue the same system, they will not only +be on the safe side, but will be able to determine which method it will +be best for them to adopt, in order to make the most from their bees. As +a general rule, the Apiarian who increases the number of his colonies, +one third in a season, making one very powerful swarm from two, (See p. +<a href="#Page_211">211</a>,) will have more surplus honey from the three, than he could have +obtained from the two, to say nothing of the value of his new swarms. +If, at the approach of Winter, he wishes to reduce his stocks down to +the Spring number, he may unite them in the manner described, +appropriating all the good honey of those which he breaks up, and saving +all their empty comb for the new colonies of the next season. The bees +in the doubled stock will winter most admirably; will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"> [291]</a></span> consume but +little honey, in proportion to their numbers, and will be in most +excellent condition when the Spring opens. It must not, however, be +forgotten, that although they eat comparatively little in the Winter, +they must be well supplied in the Spring; as they will then have a very +large number of mouths to feed, to say nothing of the thousands of young +bees bred in the hive. If any old-fashioned bee-keeper wishes, he can +thus pursue the old plan, with only this modification; that he preserves +the lives of the bees in the hives which he wishes to take up; secures +his honey without any fumes of sulphur, and saves the empty comb to make +it worth nearly ten times as much to himself, as it would be, if melted +into wax. Let no humane bee-keeper ever feel that there is the slightest +necessity for so managing his bees as to make the comparison of +Shakespeare always apposite:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"When like the Bee, tolling from every flower<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The virtuous sweets;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our thighs packed with wax, our mouths, with honey,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We bring it to the hive; and like the bees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are murdered for our pains."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>While I am an advocate for breaking up all stocks which cannot be +wintered advantageously, I never advise that a single bee should be +killed. Self interest and Christianity alike forbid the unnecessary +sacrifice.</p> + + +<h3>Transferring Bees from the Common Hive to the Movable Comb Hive.</h3> + +<p>The construction of my hive is such, as to permit me to transfer bees +from the common hives, during all the season that the weather is warm +enough to permit them to fly; and yet to be able to guarantee that they +will receive no serious damage by the change.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of November, 1852, in the latitude of Northern<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"> [292]</a></span> +Massachusetts, I transferred a colony which wintered in good health, and +which now, May, 1853, promises to make an excellent stock. The day was +warm, but after the operation was completed, the weather suddenly became +cold, and as the bees were not able to leave the hive in order to obtain +the water necessary for repairing their comb, they were supplied with +that indispensable article. They went to work <i>very</i> busily, and in a +short time mended up their combs and attached them firmly to the frames.</p> + +<p>The transfer may be made of any healthy colony, and if they are strong +in numbers, and the hive is well provisioned, and the weather is not too +cool when the operation is attempted, they will scarcely feel the +change. If the weather should be too chilly, it will be found almost +impossible to make a colony leave its old hive, and if the combs are cut +out, and the bees removed upon them, large numbers of them will take +wing, and becoming chilled, will be unable to join their companions, and +so will perish.</p> + +<p>The process of transferring bees to my hives, is performed as follows. +Let the old hive be shut up and well drummed<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> and the bees, if +possible, be driven into an upper box. If they will not leave the hive +of their own accord, they will fill themselves, and when it is +ascertained that they are determined, if they can help it, not to be +tenants at will, the upper box must be removed, and the bees gently +sprinkled, so that they may all be sure to have nothing done to them on +an empty stomach. If possible, an end of the old box parallel with the +combs, must be pried off, so that they may be easily cut out. An old +hive or box should stand upon a sheet, in place of the removed stock, +and as fast as a comb is cut out, the bees should be shaken from it, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"> [293]</a></span>upon the sheet; a wing or anything soft, will often be of service in +brushing off the bees. Remember that they must not be hurt. If the +weather is so pleasant that many bees from other hives, are on the wing, +great care must be taken to prevent them from robbing. As fast therefore +as the bees are shaken from the combs, these should be put into an empty +hive or box, and covered with a cloth, or set in some place where they +will not be disturbed. As soon as all the combs have been removed, the +Apiarian should proceed to select and arrange them for his new hive. If +the transfer is made late in the season, care must be taken, of course, +to give the bees combs containing a generous allowance of honey for +their winter supplies; together with such combs as have brood, or are +best fitted for the rearing of workers. All coarse combs except such as +contain the honey which they need, should be rejected. Lay a frame upon +a piece of comb, and mark it so as to be able to cut it a trifle larger, +so that it will just <i>crowd</i> into the frame, to remain in its place +until the bees have time to attach it. If the size of the combs is such, +that some of them cannot be cut so as to fit, then cut them to the best +advantage, and after putting them into the frames, wind some thread +around the upper and lower slats of the frame, so as to hold the combs +in their place, until the bees can fasten them. If however, any of the +combs which do not fit, have no honey in them, they may be fastened very +easily, by dipping their upper edges into melted rosin. When the +requisite number of combs are put into the frames, they should be placed +in the new hive, and slightly fastened on the rabbets with a mere touch +of paste, so as to hold them firmly in their places; this will be the +more necessary if the transfer is made so late in the season that the +bees cannot obtain the propolis necessary to fasten them, themselves.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"> [294]</a></span>As soon as the hive is thus prepared, let the temporary box into which +the bees have been driven, be removed, and their new home put in its +place. Shake out now the bees from the box, upon a sheet in front of +this hive, and the work is done; bees, brood, honey, bee-bread, empty +combs and all, have been nicely moved, and without any more serious loss +than is often incurred by any other moving family, which has to mourn +over some broken crockery, or other damage done in the necessary work of +establishing themselves in a new home! If this operation is performed at +a season of the year when there is much brood in the hive, and when the +weather is cool, care must be taken not to expose the brood, so that it +may become fatally chilled.</p> + +<p>The best time for performing it, is late in the Fall, when there is but +little brood in the hive; or about ten days after the voluntary or +forced departure of a first swarm from the old stock. By this time, the +brood left by the old queen, will all be sealed over, and old enough to +bear exposure, especially as the weather, at swarming time, is usually +quite warm. A temperature, not lower than 70°, will do them no harm, for +if exposed to such a temperature, they will hatch, even if taken from +the bees.</p> + +<p>I have spoken of the <i>best</i> time for performing this operation. It may +be done at any season of the year, when the bees can fly without any +danger of being chilled, and I should not be afraid to attempt it, in +mid-winter, if the weather was as warm as it sometimes is. Let me here +earnestly caution all who keep bees, against meddling with them when the +weather is cool. Irreparable mischief is often done to them at such +times; they are tempted to fly, and thus perish from the cold, and +frequently they become so much excited, that they cannot +retain their fæces, but void them among the combs. If nothing worse +ensues, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"> [295]</a></span> are disturbed when they ought to be in almost death-like +repose, and are thus tempted to eat a much larger quantity of food than +they would otherwise have needed. Let the Apiarian remember that not a +single unnecessary motion should be required of a single bee: for all +this, to say nothing else, involves a foolish waste of food. (See p. +<a href="#Page_116">116</a>.)</p> + +<p>In all operations involving the transferring of bees, it is exceedingly +desirable that the new hives to which they are transferred should be +put, as near as possible, where the old ones stood. If other colonies +are in close proximity, the bees may be tempted to enter the wrong +hives, if their position is changed only a little; they are almost sure +to do this if the others resemble more closely than the new one, their +former habitation. If will be often advisable, to transport to the +distance of one or two miles, the stocks which are to be transferred; so +that the operation may be performed to the best advantage. In a few +weeks they may be brought back to the Apiary. In hiving swarms, and +transferring stocks, care must be taken to prevent the bees from getting +mixed with those of other colonies. If this precaution is neglected many +bees will be lost by joining other stocks, where they may be kindly +welcomed, or may at once be put to death. It is exceedingly difficult, +to tell before hand, what kind of a reception strange bees will meet +with, from a colony which they attempt to join. In the working season +they are much more likely to be well received, than at any other time, +especially if they come loaded with honey: still new swarms full of +honey, that attempt to enter other hives, are often killed at once. If a +colony which has an unimpregnated queen seeks to unite with another +which has a fertile one, then almost as a matter of course they are +destroyed! If by moving their hive, or in any other way, bees are made +to enter a hive containing an unimpregnated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"> [296]</a></span> queen, they will often +destroy her, if they came from a family which was in possession of a +fertile one! If any thing of this kind is ever attempted, the queen +ought first to be confined in a queen cage. If while attempting a +transfer of the bees to a new hive, I am apprehensive of robbers +attacking the combs, or am pressed for want of time, I put only such +combs as contain brood into the frames, and set the others in a safe +place. The bees are now at once allowed to enter their new hive, and the +other combs are given to them at a more convenient time. The whole +process of transferal need not occupy more than an hour, and in some +cases it can be done in fifteen minutes. If the weather is hot, the +combs must not be exposed at all to the heat of the sun.</p> + +<p>Until I had tested the feasibility of transferring bees from the old +hives, by means of my frames, I felt strongly opposed to any attempt to +dislodge them from their previous habitation. If they are transferred in +the usual way, it must be done when the combs are filled with brood; for +if delayed until late in the season, they will have no time to lay in a +store of provision against the Winter. Who can look without disgust, +upon the wanton destruction of thousands of their young, and the silly +waste of comb, which can be replaced only by the consumption of large +quantities of honey? In the great majority of such cases, the transfer, +unless made about the swarming season, and <i>previous</i> to the issue of +the first swarm, will be an entire failure, and if made before, at best +only one colony is obtained, instead of the two, which are secured on my +plan. I never advise the transfer of a colony into <i>any</i> hive, unless +their combs can be transferred with them, nor do I advise any except +practical Apiarians, to attempt to transfer them even to my hives. But +what if a colony is so old that its combs can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"> [297]</a></span> only breed dwarfs? When I +find such a colony, I shall think it worth while to give specific +directions as to how it should be managed. The truth is, that of all the +many mistakes and impositions which have disgusted multitudes with the +very sound of "patent hive," none has been more fatal than the notion +that an old colony of bees could not be expected to prosper. Thousands +of the very best stocks have been wantonly sacrificed to this Chimera; +and so long as bee-keepers instead of studying the habits of the bee, +prefer to listen to the interested statements of ignorant, or +enthusiastic, or fraudulent persons, thousands more will suffer the same +fate. As to old stocks, the prejudice against them is just as foolish as +the silly notions of some who imagine that a woman is growing old, long +before she has reached her prime. Many a man of mature years who has +married a girl or a child, instead of a woman, has often had both time +enough, and cause enough to lament his folly.</p> + +<p>It cannot be too strongly urged upon all who keep bees, either for love +or for money, to be exceedingly cautious in trying any new hive, or new +system of management. If you are ever so well satisfied that it will +answer all your expectations, enter upon it, at first, only on a small +scale; then, if it fulfills all its promises, or if <i>you</i> can make it do +so, you may safely adopt it: at all events, you will not have to mourn +over large sums of money spent for nothing, and numerous powerful +colonies entirely destroyed. "Let well enough alone," should, to a great +extent, be the motto of every prudent bee-keeper. There is, however, a +golden mean between that obstinate and stupid conservatism which tries +nothing new, and, of course, learns nothing new, and that craving after +mere novelty, and that rash experimenting on an extravagant scale, which +is so characteristic of a large portion of our American people. It would +be difficult to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"> [298]</a></span> find a better maxim than that which is ascribed to +David Crockett; "<i>Be sure you're right, then go ahead.</i>"</p> + +<p>What old bee-keeper has not had abundant proof that stocks eight or ten +years old, or even older, are often among the very best, in his whole +Apiary, always healthy and swarming with almost unfailing regularity! I +have seen such hives, which for more than fifteen years, have scarcely +failed, a single season, to throw a powerful swarm. I have one now ten +years old, in admirable condition, which a few years ago, swarmed three +times, and the first swarm sent off a colony the same season. All these +swarms were so early that they gathered ample supplies of honey, and +wintered without any assistance!</p> + +<p>I have already spoken of old stocks flourishing for a long term of years +in hives of the roughest possible construction; and I shall now in +addition to my previous remarks assign a new reason for such unusual +prosperity. Without a single exception, I have found one or both of two +things to be true, of every such hive. Either it was a very large hive, +or else if not of unusual size, it contained a large quantity of +worker-comb. No hive which does not contain a good allowance of regular +comb of a size adapted to the rearing of workers, can ever in the nature +of things, prove a valuable stock hive. Many hives are so full of drone +combs that they breed a cloud of useless consumers, instead of +the thousands of industrious bees which ought to have occupied their +places in the combs. It frequently happens that when bees are put into a +new hive, the honey-harvest is at its height, and the bees finding it +difficult to build worker comb fast enough to hold their gatherings, are +tempted to construct long ranges of drone comb to receive their stores. +In this way, a hive often contains so small an allowance of +worker-comb,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"> [299]</a></span> that it can never flourish, as the bees refuse to pull +down, and build over any of their old combs. All this can be easily +remedied by the use of the movable comb hive.</p> + + +<h3>Procuring Bees to start an Apiary.</h3> + +<p>A person ignorant of bees, must depend in a very great measure, on the +honesty of those from whom he purchases them. Many stocks are not worth +accepting as a gift: like a horse or cow, incurably diseased, they will +only prove a bill of vexatious expense. If an inexperienced person +wishes to commence bee-keeping, I advise him, by all means, to purchase +a new swarm of bees. It ought to be a large and early one. Second swarms +and all late and small first swarms, ought never to be purchased by one +who has no experience in Apiarian pursuits. They are very apt, in such +hands, to prove a failure. If all bee-keepers were of that exemplary +class of whom the Country Curate speaks, (see p. <a href="#Page_33">33</a>,) it would be +perfectly safe to order a swarm of any one keeping a stock of bees. This +however, is so far from being true, that some offer for sale, old stocks +which are worthless, or impose on the ignorant, small first swarms, and +second and even third swarms, as prime swarms worth the very highest +market price. If the novice purchases an old stock, he will have the +perplexities of swarming, &c., the first season, and before he has +obtained any experience. As it may, however, be sometimes advisable that +this should be done, unless he makes his purchase of a man known to be +honest, he should select his stock himself, at a period of the day when +the bees, in early Spring, are busily engaged in plying their labors. He +should purchase a colony which is very actively engaged in carrying in +bee-bread, and which, from the large number going in and out,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"> [300]</a></span> +undoubtedly contains a vigorous population. The hive should be removed +at an hour when the bees are all at home. It may be gently inverted, and +a coarse towel placed over it, and then tacked fast, when the bees are +shut in. Have a steady horse, and before you start, be very sure that it +is <i>impossible</i> for any bees to get out. Place the hive on some straw, +in a wagon that has easy springs, and the bees will have plenty of air, +and the combs, from the inverted position of the hive, will not be so +liable to be jarred loose. Never purchase a hive which contains much +comb just built; for it will be next to impossible to move it, in warm +weather, without loosening the new combs. If a new swarm is purchased, +it may be brought home as follows. Furnish the person on whose premises +it is to be hived, with a box holding at the very least, a cubic foot of +clear contents. Let the bottom-board of this temporary hive be clamped +on both ends, the clamps being about two inches wider than the thickness +of the board, so that when the hive is set on the bottom-board, it will +slip in between the upper projections of the clamps, and be kept an inch +from the ground, by the lower ones, so that air may pass under it. There +should be a hole in the bottom-board, about four inches in diameter, and +two of the same size in the opposite sides of the box, covered with wire +gauze, so that the bees may have an abundance of air, when they are shut +up. Three parallel strips, an inch and a half wide, should be nailed, +about one third of the way from the top of the temporary hive, at equal +distances apart, so that the bees may have every opportunity to cluster; +a few pieces of old comb, fastened strongly in the top with melted +rosin, will make the bees like it all the better. A handle made of a +strip of leather, should be nailed on the top. Let the bees be hived in +this box, and kept well shaded; at evening, or very early next morning, +the temporary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"> [301]</a></span> hive which was propped up, when the bees were put into +it, may be shut close to its bottom-board, and a few screws put into the +upper projection of the clamps, so as to run through into the ends of +the box. In such a box, bees may be safely transported, almost any +reasonable distance: care being taken not to handle them roughly, and +never to keep them in the sun, or in any place where they have not +sufficient air. If the box is too small, or sufficient ventilators are +not put in, or if the bees are exposed to too much heat, they will be +sure to suffocate. If the swarm is unusually large, and the weather +excessively warm, they ought to be moved at night. Unless great care is +taken in moving bees, in very hot weather, they will be almost sure to +perish; therefore always be <i>certain</i> that they have an abundance of +air. If they appear to be suffering for want of it, especially if they +begin to fall down from the cluster, and to lie in heaps on the +bottom-board, they should immediately be carried into a field or any +convenient place, and at once be allowed to fly: in such a case they +cannot be safely moved again, until towards night. This will never be +necessary if the box is large enough, and suitably ventilated.</p> + +<p>I have frequently made a box for transporting new swarms, out of an old +tea-chest. When a new swarm is brought in this way to its intended home, +the bottom-board may be unscrewed, and the bees transferred at once, to +the new hive; (See p. <a href="#Page_168">168</a>.) In some cases, it may be advisable to send +away the new hive. In this case, if one of my hives is used, the spare +honey-board should be screwed down, and all the holes carefully stopped, +except two or three which ought to have some ventilators tacked over +them: the frames should be fastened with a little paste, so that they +will not start from their place, and after the bees are hived, the +blocks which close the entrance should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"> [302]</a></span> screwed down to their place, +keeping them however, a trifle less than an eighth of an inch from the +entrance, so as to give the bees all the air which they need. I very +much prefer sending a box for the bees: one person can easily carry two +such boxes, each with a swarm of bees; and if he chooses to fasten them +to two poles, or to a very large hoop, he may carry four, or even more.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian wishes, to be sure the first season, of getting some +honey from his bees, he will do well to procure two good swarms, and put +them both into one hive. (See p. <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.) To those who do not object to the +extra expense, I strongly recommend this course. Not unfrequently, they +will in a good season, obtain in spare honey from their doubled swarm, +an ample equivalent for its increased cost: at all events, such a +powerful swarm lays the foundations of a flourishing stock, which seldom +fails to answer all the reasonable expectations of its owner. If the +Apiary is commenced with swarms of the current season, and they have an +abundance of spare room in the upper boxes, there will be no swarming, +that season, and the beginner will have ample time to make himself +familiar with his bees, before being called to hive new swarms, or to +multiply colonies by artificial means.</p> + +<p>Let no inexperienced person commence bee-keeping on a large scale; very +few who do so, find it to their advantage, and the most of them not only +meet with heavy losses, but abandon the pursuit in disgust. By the use +of my hives, the bee-keeper can easily multiply very rapidly, the number +of his colonies, as soon as he finds, not merely that money can be made +by keeping bees, but <i>that he can make it</i>. While I am certain that more +money can be made by a careful and experienced bee-keeper in a good +situation, from a given sum invested in an Apiary, than from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"> [303]</a></span> same +money invested in any other branch of rural economy, I am equally +certain that there is none in which a careless or inexperienced person +would be more sure to find his outlay result in an almost entire loss. +An Apiary neglected or mismanaged, is far worse than a farm overgrown +with weeds, or exhausted by ignorant tillage: for the land is still +there, and may, by prudent management, soon be made again to blossom +like the rose; but the bees, when once destroyed, can never be brought +back to life, unless the poetic fables of the Mantuan Bard, can be +accepted as the legitimate results of actual experience, and swarms of +bees, instead of clouds of filthy flies, can once more be obtained from +the carcases of decaying animals! I have seen an old medical work in +which Virgil's method of obtaining colonies of bees from the putrid body +of a cow slain for this special purpose, is not only credited, but +minutely described.</p> + +<p>A large book would hardly suffice to set forth all the superstitions +connected with bees. I will refer to one which is very common and which +has often made a deep impression upon many minds. When any member of a +family dies, the bees are believed to be aware of what has happened, and +the hives are by some dressed in mourning, to pacify their sorrowing +occupants! Some persons imagine that if this is not done, the bees will +never afterwards prosper, while others assert, that the bees often take +their loss so much to heart, as to alight upon the coffin whenever it is +exposed! An intelligent clergyman on reading the sheets of this work, +stated to me that he had always refused to credit this latter fact, +until present at a funeral where the bees gathered in such large numbers +upon the coffin, as soon as it was brought out from the house, as to +excite considerable alarm. Some years after this occurrence, being +engaged in varnishing a table, and finding that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"> [304]</a></span> bees came and lit +upon it, he was convinced that the love of varnish, (see p. <a href="#Page_85">85</a>,) instead +of sorrow or respect for the dead, was the occasion of their gathering +round the coffin! How many superstitions in which often intelligent +persons most firmly confide, might if all the facts were known, be as +easily explained.</p> + +<p>Before closing this Chapter, I must again strongly caution all +inexperienced bee-keepers, against attempting to transfer colonies from +an old hive. I am determined that if any find that they have made a +wanton sacrifice of their bees, they shall not impute their loss to my +directions. If they persist in making the attempt, let them, by all +means, either do it at break of day, before the bees of other hives will +be induced to commence robbing; or better still, let them do it not only +early in the morning, but let them carry the hive on which they intend +to operate, to a very considerable distance from the vicinity of the +other hives, and entirely out of sight of the Apiary. I prefer myself +this last plan, as I then run no risk of attracting other bees to steal +the honey, and acquire mischievous habits.</p> + +<p>The bee-keeper is very often reminded by the actions of his bees of some +of the worst traits in poor human nature. When a man begins to sink +under misfortunes, how many are ready not simply to abandon him, but to +pounce upon him like greedy harpies, dragging, if they can, the very bed +from under his wife and helpless children, and appropriating all which +by any kind of maneuvering, they can possibly transfer to +their already overgrown coffers! With much the same spirit, more +pardonable to be sure in an insect, the bees from other hives, will +gather round the one which is being broken up, and while the +disconsolate owners are lamenting over their ruined prospects, will, +with all imaginable rapacity and glee, bear off every drop which they +can possibly seize.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"> [305]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">ROBBING.</span></h2> + + +<p>Bees are exceedingly prone to rob each other, and unless suitable +precautions are used to prevent it, the Apiarian will often have cause +to mourn over the ruin of some of his most promising stocks. The moment +a departure is made from the old-fashioned mode of managing bees, the +liability to such misfortunes is increased, unless all operations are +performed by careful and well informed persons.</p> + +<p>Before describing the precautions which I successfully employ, to guard +my colonies from robbing each other, or from being robbed by bees from a +strange Apiary, I shall first explain under what circumstances they are +ordinarily disposed to plunder each other. Idleness is with bees, as +well as with men, a most fruitful mother of mischief. Hence, it is +almost always when they are doing nothing in the fields, that they are +tempted to increase their stores by dishonest courses. Bees are, +however, much more excusable than the lazy rogues of the human family; +for the <i>bees</i> are idle, not because they are indisposed to work, but +because they can find nothing to do. Unless there is some gross +mismanagement, on the part of their owner, they seldom attempt to live +upon stolen sweets, when they have ample opportunity to reap the +abundant harvests of honest industry. In this chapter, I shall be +obliged, however much against my will, to acknowledge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"> [306]</a></span> that some +branches of morals in my little friends, need very close watching, and +that they too often make the lowest sort of distinction, between "mine +and thine." Still I feel bound to show that when thus overcome by +temptation, it is almost always, under circumstances in which their +careless owner is by far the most to blame.</p> + +<p>In the Spring, as soon as the bees are able to fly abroad, "innatus +urget amor habendi," as Virgil has expressed it; that is, they begin to +feel the force of an innate love of honey-getting. They can find nothing +in the fields, and they begin at once, to see if they cannot +appropriate the spoils of some weaker hive. They are often +impelled to this, by the pressure of immediate want, or the salutary +dread of approaching famine: but truth obliges me to confess that not +unfrequently some of the strongest stocks, which have more than they +would be able to consume, even if they gathered nothing more for a whole +year, are the most anxious to prey upon the meager possessions of some +feeble colony. Just like some rich men who have more money than they can +ever use, urged on by the insatiable love of gain, "oppress the hireling +in his wages, the widow and the fatherless," and spin on all sides, +their crafty webs to entrap their poorer neighbors, who seldom escape +from their toils, until every dollar has been extracted from them, and +as far as their worldly goods are concerned, they resemble the skins and +skeletons which line the nest of some voracious old spider.</p> + +<p>When I have seen some powerful hive of the kind just described, +condemned by its owner, in the Fall, to the sulphur pit, or deprived +unexpectedly of its queen, its stores plundered, and its combs eaten up +by the worms, I have often thought of the threatenings which God has +denounced against those who make dishonest gains "their hope, and say +unto the fine gold, Thou art my confidence."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"> [307]</a></span></p> + +<p>In order to prevent colonies from attempting to rob, I always examine +them in the Spring, to ascertain that they have honey and are in +possession of a fertile queen. If they need food they are supplied with +it, (see Chapter on <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Feeding</a>,) and if they are feeble or +queenless, they are managed according to the directions previously +given. Bees seem to have an instinctive perception of the weakness of a +colony, and like the bee-moth, they are almost certain to attack such +stocks, especially when they have no queen. Hence I can almost always +tell that a colony is queenless, by seeing robbers constantly attempting +to force an entrance into it.</p> + +<p>It requires some knowledge of the habits of bees, to tell from their +motions, whether they are flying about a strange hive with some evil +intent, or whether they belong to the hive before which they are +hovering. A little experience however, will soon enable us to +discriminate between the honest inhabitants of a hive, and the robbers +which so often mingle themselves among the crowd. There is an +unmistakable air of roguery about a thieving bee, which to the observing +Apiarian, proclaims the nature of his calling, just as truly as the +appearance of a pickpocket in a crowd, enables the experienced police +officer to distinguish him from the honest folks, on whom he intends to +exercise his skill.</p> + +<p>There is a certain sneaking look about a rogue of a bee, almost +indescribable, and yet perfectly obvious. It does not alight on the +hive, and boldly enter at once like an honest bee which is carrying home +its load. If they could only assume such an appearance of transparent +honesty, they would often be allowed by the unsuspecting door-keepers to +enter unquestioned, to see all the sights within, and to help themselves +to the very fat of the land. But there is a sort of nervous haste, and +guilty agitation in all their movements:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"> [308]</a></span> they never alight boldly upon +the entrance board, or face the guards which watch the passage to the +hive; they know too well that if caught and overhauled by these trusty +guardians of the hive, their lives would hardly be worth insuring; hence +their anxiety to glide in, without touching one of the sentinels. If +detected, as they have no password to give, (having a strange smell,) +they are very speedily dealt with, according to their just deserts. If +they can only effect a secret entrance, those within take it for granted +that all is right, and seldom subject them to a close examination.</p> + +<p>Sometimes bees which have lost their way, are mistaken by the +inexperienced, for robbers; there is however, a most marked distinction +between the conduct of the two. The arrant rogue when caught, attempts +with might and main, to pull away from his executioners, while the poor +bewildered unfortunate shrinks into the smallest compass, like a cowed +dog, and submits to whatever fate his captors may see fit to award him.</p> + +<p>The class of dishonest bees which I have been describing, may be termed +the "Jerry Sneaks" of their profession, and after they have followed it +for some time, they lose all disposition for honest pursuits, and assume +a hang-dog sort of look, which is very peculiar. Constantly employed in +creeping into small holes, and daubing themselves with honey, they often +lose all the bright feathers and silky plumes which once so beautifully +adorned their bodies, and assume a smooth and almost black appearance; +just as the hat of the thievish loafer, acquires a "seedy" aspect, and +his garments, a shining and threadbare look. Dzierzon is of opinion that +the black bees which Huber describes, as being so bitterly persecuted by +the rest, are nothing more <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"> [309]</a></span>than these thieving bees. I call them old +convicts, dressed in prison garments, and incurably given up to +dishonest pursuits.</p> + +<p>Bees sometimes act the part of highway robbers; some half dozen or more +of them, will waylay and attack a poor humble-bee which is returning +with a sack full of honey to his nest, like an honest trader, jogging +home with a well filled purse. They seize the poor bee, and give him at +once to understand that they must have the earnings of his industry. +They do not slay him. Oh no! they are much too selfish to endanger their +own precious persons; and even if they could kill him, without losing +their weapons, they would still be unable to extract his sweets from the +deep recesses of his honey bag: they therefore begin to bite and teaze +him, after the most approved fashion, all the time singing in his ears, +"not your money," but, "your honey or your life;" until utterly +discouraged, he delivers up his purse, by disgorging his honey from its +capacious receptacle. The graceless creatures cry "hands off," and +release him at once, while they lick up his spoils and carry it off to +their home.</p> + +<p>The remark is frequently made that were rogues to spend half as much +time and ingenuity in gaining an honest living, as they do, in seeking +to impose upon their fellow-men, their efforts would often be crowned +with abundant success. Just so of many a dishonest bee. If it only knew +its true interests, it would be safely roving the smiling fields, in +search of honey, instead of longing for a tempting and yet dangerous +taste of forbidden sweets.</p> + +<p>Bees sometimes carry on their depredations on a more magnificent scale. +Having ascertained the weakness of some neighboring colony, through the +sly intrusions of those who have entered the hive to spy out all "the +nakedness of the land," they prepare themselves for war, in the shape +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"> [310]</a></span> a pitched battle. The well-armed warriors sally out by thousands, to +attack the feeble hive against which they have so unjustly declared a +remorseless warfare. A furious onset is at once made, and the ground in +front of the assaulted hive is soon covered with the dead and dying +bodies of innumerable victims. Sometimes the baffled invaders are +compelled to sound a retreat; too often however, as in human contests, +right proves but a feeble barrier against superior might; the citadel is +stormed, and the work of rapine and pillage forthwith begins. And yet +after all, matters are not nearly so bad, as at first they seem to be. +The conquered bees, perceiving that there is no hope for them in +maintaining the unequal struggle, submit themselves to the pleasure of +the victors; nay more, they aid them in carrying off their own stores, +and are immediately incorporated into the triumphant nation! The poor +mother however, is left behind in her deserted home, some few of her +children which are faithful to the last, remaining with her, to perish +by her side, amid the sad ruins of their once happy home!</p> + +<p>If the bee-keeper is unwilling to have his bees so demoralized, that +their value will be seriously diminished, he will be exceedingly careful +to do all that he possibly can to prevent them from robbing each other. +He will see that all queenless colonies are seasonably broken up in the +Spring, and all weak ones strengthened, and confined to a space which +they can warm and defend. If once his bees get a taste of forbidden +sweets, they will seldom stop until they have tested the strength of +every stock, and destroyed all that they possibly can. Even if the +colonies are able to defend themselves, many bees will be lost in these +encounters, and a large waste of time will invariably follow; for bees +whether engaged in attempting to rob, or in battling against the robbery +of others, are, to a very great extent, cut off both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"> [311]</a></span> from the +disposition and the ability to engage in useful labors. They are like +nations that are impoverished by mutual assaults on each other: or in +which the apprehension of war, exerts a most blighting influence upon +every branch of peaceful industry.</p> + +<p>I place very great reliance on the movable blocks which guard the +entrance to my hive, to assist colonies in defending themselves against +robbing bees, as well as the prowling bee-moth. These blocks are +triangular in shape, and enable the Apiarian to enlarge or contract the +entrance to the hive, at pleasure. In the Spring, the entrance is kept +open only about two inches, and if the colony is feeble, not more than +half an inch. If there is any sign of robbers being about, the small +colonies have their entrances closed, so that only a single bee can go +in and out at once. As the bottom-board slants forwards, the entrance is +on an inclined plane, and the bees which defend it, have a very great +advantage over those which attack them; the same in short, that the +inhabitants of a besieged fortress would have in defending a +pass-way similarly constructed. As only one bee can enter at a time, he +is sure to be overhauled, if he attempts ever so slyly to slip in: his +credentials are roughly demanded, and as he can produce none, he is at +once delivered over to the executioners. If an attempt is made to gain +admission by force, then as soon as a bee gets in, he finds hundreds, if +not thousands, standing in battle array, and he meets with a reception +altogether too warm for his comfort. I have sometimes stopped robbing, +even after it had proceeded so far that the assaulted bees had ceased to +offer any successful resistance, by putting my blocks +before the entrance, and permitting only a single bee to enter at once: +the dispirited colony have at once recovered heart, and have battled so +stoutly and successfully, as to beat off their assailants.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"> [312]</a></span></p> + +<p>When bees are engaged in robbing a hive, they will often continue their +depredations to as late an hour as possible, and not unfrequently some +of them return home so late with their ill-gotten spoils, that they +cannot find the entrance to their own hive. Like the wicked man who +"deviseth mischief on his bed, and setteth himself in a way that is not +good," they are all night long, meditating new violence, and with the +very first peep of light, they sally out to complete their unlawful +doings.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the Apiarian may be in doubt whether a colony is being robbed +or not, and may mistake the busy numbers that arrive and depart, for the +honest laborers of the hive; but let him look into the matter a little +more closely, and he will soon ascertain the true state of the case: the +bees that enter, instead of being heavily laden, with bodies hanging +down, unwieldy in their flight, and slow in all their movements, are +almost as hungry looking as Pharaoh's lean kine, while those that come +out, show by their burly looks, that like aldermen who have dined at the +expense of the City, they are filled to their utmost capacity.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian wishes to guard his bees against the fatal propensity to +plunder each other, he must be exceedingly careful not to have any combs +filled with honey unnecessarily exposed. An ignorant or careless person +attempting to multiply colonies on my plan, will be almost sure to tempt +his bees to rob each other. If he leaves any of the combs which he +removes, so that strange bees find them, they will, after once getting a +taste of the honey, fly to any hive upon which he begins to operate, and +attempt to appropriate a part of its contents. (See p. <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.) I have +already stated that when they can find an abundance of food in the +fields, bees are seldom inclined to rob; for this reason, with proper +precautions, it is not difficult to perform all the operations which are +necessary on my plan of management, at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"> [313]</a></span> the proper season, without any +danger of demoralizing the bees. If however, they are attempted when +honey cannot be obtained, they should be performed with extreme caution, +and early in the morning, or late in the evening; or if possible, on a +day when the bees are not flying out from their hives. I have sometimes +seen the most powerful colonies in an Apiary, either robbed and +destroyed, or very greatly reduced in numbers, by the gross carelessness +or ignorance of their owner. He neglects to examine his hives at the +proper season, and the bees begin to rob a weak or queenless stock: as +soon as they are at the very height of their nefarious operations, he +attempts to interfere with their proceedings, either by shutting up the +hive, or by moving it to a new place. The air is now filled with greedy +and disappointed bees, and rather than fail in obtaining the expected +treasures, they assail with almost frantic desperation, some of the +neighboring stocks: in this way, the most powerful colonies are +sometimes utterly ruined, or if they escape, thousands of bees are slain +in defending their treasures, and thousands more of the assailants meet +with the same untimely end.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian perceives that one of his colonies is being robbed, he +should at once contract the entrance, so that only a single bee can get +in at a time; and if the robbers still persist in entering, he must +close it entirely. In a few minutes the outside of the hive will be +black with the greedy cormorants, and they will not abandon it, until +they have explored every crevice, and attempted to force themselves +through even the smallest openings. Before they assail a neighboring +colony, they should be sprinkled with cold water, and then instead of +feeling courage for new crimes, they will be glad to escape, thoroughly +drenched, to their proper <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"> [314]</a></span>homes. Unless the bees that are shut up can, +as in my hives, have an abundance of air, it will be necessary to carry +them at once into a dark and cool place. Early next morning the +condition of the hive should be examined, and the proper remedies if it +is weak or queenless should be applied; or if its condition is past +remedy, it should at once be broken up, and the bees united to another +stock.</p> + +<p>I have been credibly informed of an exceedingly curious kind of robbing +among bees. Two colonies, both in good condition, seemed determined to +appropriate each other's labors: neither made any resistance to the +entrance of the plundering bees; but each seemed too busily intent upon +its own dishonest gains, to notice<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> that the work of subtraction kept +pace with that of addition. An intelligent Apiarian stated to me this +singular fact as occurring in his own Apiary. This is a very near +approximation to the story of the Kilkenny cats. Alas! that there should +be so much of equally short-sighted policy among human beings; +individuals, communities and nations seeking often to thrive by +attempting to prey upon the labors of others, instead of doing all that +they can, by industry and enterprise, to add to the common stock. I have +never, in my own experience, met with an instance of such silly +pilfering as the one described; but I have occasionally known bees to be +carrying on their labors, while others were stealing more than the +occupants of the hive were gathering, without their being aware of it.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"> [315]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING BEES.</span></h2> + + +<p>Few things in the practical department of the Apiary, are more important +and yet more shamefully neglected, or grossly mismanaged, than the +feeding of bees. In order to make this subject as clear as possible, I +shall begin with the Spring examination of the hives, and furnish +suitable directions for feeding during the whole season in which it +ought to be attempted. In the movable comb hives, the exact condition of +the bees with regard to stores, may be easily ascertained as soon as the +weather is warm enough to lift out the frames. In the common hives, this +can sometimes be ascertained from the glass sides; but often no reliable +information can be obtained. Even if the weight of the hive is known, +this will be no sure criterion of the quantity of honey it contains. The +comb in old hives, is often very thick, and of course, unusually heavy; +while vast stores of useless bee-bread have frequently been accumulated, +which entirely deceive the Apiarian, who attempts to judge of the +resources of a hive from its weight alone. On my system of bee-culture, +such an injurious surplus of bee-bread, is easily prevented; (See p. +<a href="#Page_102">102</a>.)</p> + +<p>If the bee-keeper ascertains or even suspects, in the Spring, that his +bees have not sufficient food, he must at once supply them with what +they need. Bees, at this season of the year, consume a very large +quantity of honey:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"> [316]</a></span> they are stimulated to great activity by the +returning warmth, and are therefore compelled to eat much more than when +they were almost dormant among their combs. In addition to this extra +demand, they are now engaged in rearing thousands of young, and all +these require a liberal supply of food. Owing to the inexcusable neglect +of many bee-keepers, thousands of swarms perish annually after the +Spring has opened, and when they might have been saved, with but little +trouble or expense. Such abominable neglect is incomparably more cruel +than the old method of taking up the bees with sulphur; and those who +are guilty of it, are either too ignorant or too careless, to have any +thing to do with the management of bees. What would be thought of a +farmer's skill in his business, who should neglect to provide for the +wants of his cattle, and allow them to drop down lifeless in their +stalls, or in his barn-yard, when the fields, in a few weeks, will be +clothed again with the green mantle of delightful Spring! If any farmer +should do this, when food might easily be purchased, and should then, +while engaged in the work of skinning the skeleton carcasses of his +neglected herd, pretend that he could not afford to furnish, for a few +weeks, the food which would have kept them alive, he would not be a whit +more stupid than the bee-keeper attempting to justify himself on the +score of economy, while engaged in melting down the combs of a hive, +starved to death, after the Spring has fairly opened! Let such a person +blush at the pretence that he could not afford to feed his bees, the few +pounds of sugar or honey, which would have saved their lives, and +enabled them to repay him tenfold for his prudent care.</p> + +<p>I always feed my bees a little, even if I know that they have enough and +to spare. There seems to be an intimate connection between the getting +of honey, and the rapid increase<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"> [317]</a></span> of breeding, in a hive; and the taste +of something sweet, however small, to be added to their hoards, exerts a +very stimulating effect upon the bees; a few spoonsfull a day, will be +gratefully received, and will be worth much more to a stock of bees in +the Spring, than at any other time.</p> + +<p>By judicious early feeding, a whole Apiary may be not only encouraged to +breed much faster than they otherwise would have done; but they will be +inspired with unusual vigor and enterprise, and will afterwards increase +their stores with unusual rapidity. Great caution must be exercised in +supplying bees at this time with food, both to prevent them from being +tempted to rob each other, or to fill up with honey, the cells which +ought to be supplied with brood. Only a small allowance should be given +to them, and this from time to time, unless they are destitute of +supplies; and as soon as they begin to gather from the fields, the +feeding should be discontinued. Feeding, intended merely to encourage +the bees, and to promote early breeding, may be done in the open air. No +greater mistake can be made than to feed largely at this season of the +year. The bees take, to be sure, all that they can, and stow it up in +their cells, but what is the consequence? The honey which has been fed +to them, fills up their brood combs, and the increase of population is +most seriously interfered with; so that often when stocks which have not +been over-fed, are prepared not only to fill all the store combs in +their main hive, but to take speedy possession of the spare honey boxes, +a colony imprudently fed, is too small in numbers, to gather even as +much as the one which was not fed at all! The inexperienced Apiarian has +thus often made a worse use of his honey than he would have done, if he +had actually thrown it away! while all the time, he is deluding himself +with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"> [318]</a></span> vain expectation of reaping some wonderful profits, from what +he considers an improved mode of managing bees.</p> + +<p>Such conduct in its results, appears to me very much like the noxious +influences under which too many of the children of the rich are so +fatally reared. With every want gratified, pampered and fed to the very +full, how often do we see them disappoint all the fond expectations of +parents and friends, their money proving only a curse, while not +unfrequently beggared in purse, and bankrupt in character, they +prematurely sink to an ignoble or dishonored grave. Think of it, ye who +are slaving in the service of Mammon, that ye may leave to your sons, +the overgrown wealth which usually proves a legacy of withering curses, +while you neglect to train them up in those habits of stern morality and +steady industry, and noble self-reliance, without which the wealth of +Crœsus would be but a despicable portion! Think of it, as you +contrast its results in the bitter experience of thousands, with the +happier influences under which so many of our noblest men in Church and +State, have been nurtured and developed, and then pursue your sordid +policy, if you can. "There is that withholdeth" from good objects, "more +than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty:" yes, to poverty of Christian +virtue and manliness, and of those "treasures" which we are all +entreated by God himself, to "lay up" in the store-house of Heaven. Call +your narrow-mindedness and gross deficiencies in Christian liberality, +nothing more than a natural love of your children, and an earnest desire +to provide for your own household. Little fear there may be that <i>you</i> +will ever incur the charge of being "worse than an infidel" on this +point; but lay not on this account, any flattering unction +to your souls; look within, and see if the base idolatry of gold has not +more to do with your whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"> [319]</a></span> course of thinking and acting, than any love +of wife or children, relatives or friends!</p> + +<p>Another <i>sermon</i>! does some one exclaim? Would then that it might be to +some of my readers a sermon indeed; "a word fitly spoken," "like apples +of gold in pictures of silver."</p> + +<p>The prudent Apiarian will always regard the feeding of bees, except the +little, given to them by way of encouragement, as an evil to be +submitted to, only when absolutely necessary; and will very much prefer +to obtain his supplies from what Shakspeare has so beautifully termed +the "merry pillage" of the blooming fields, than from the more costly +stores of the neighboring grocery. If not engaged in the rapid increase +of stocks, he will seldom see a season so unfavorable as to be obliged +to purchase any food for his bees, unless he chooses to buy a cheaper +article, to replace the choice honey of which he has deprived them. Just +as soon as the Apiarian begins to multiply his stocks with very great +rapidity, he must calculate upon feeding great quantities of honey to +his bees. Before he attempts this on a large scale, let me once more +give him a friendly caution, and if possible, persuade him to try very +rapid multiplication with only a few of his stocks. In this way, he may +experiment to his heart's content, without running the risk of seriously +injuring his whole Apiary, and he may not only gain the skill and +experience which will enable him subsequently to conduct a rapid +increase, on a large scale, but may learn whether he is so situated that +he can profitably devote to it the time and money which it will +inevitably require.</p> + +<p>Before giving directions for feeding bees when a rapid increase of +colonies is aimed at, I shall first show in what manner the bee-keeper +may feed his weak swarms in the Spring. If they are in the common hives, +a small quantity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"> [320]</a></span> of liquid honey may, at once be poured among the combs +in which the bees are clustered: this may be done by pouring it into the +holes leading to the spare honey boxes, but a much better way is to +invert the hives, and pour in about a tea-cup full at once. The Apiarian +can then see just where to pour it; he need not fear that the bees will +be hurt by it; any more than a child will be either hurt or displeased +by the sweets which adhere to its hands and face, as it feasts upon a +generous allowance of the best sugar candy! When the bees have taken up +all that has been poured upon them, the hive may be replaced, and the +operation repeated in a few days: the oftener it is done, the better it +will suit them. If the weather is sufficiently warm to allow the bees to +fly without being chilled, the food may be put in some old combs, or in +a feeder, and set in a sunny place, a rod or more from their hives. If +placed too near, the bees may be tempted to rob each other. With my +hives, I can pour the honey into some empty comb, and then put the frame +containing it, directly into the hive; or I can set the feeder or honey +in the comb, in the hive near the frames which contain the bees. I have +already stated, (see p. <a href="#Page_225">225</a>,) that unless a colony can be supplied with +a sufficient number of bees, it cannot be aided by giving it food. If +the bees are not numerous enough to take charge of the eggs which the +queen can lay, or at least, of a large number of them, they can seldom, +unless they have a tropical season before them, increase rapidly enough +to be of any value. If they are numerous enough to raise a great many +young bees, but too few to build new comb, they must be fed very +moderately, or they will be sure to fill up their brood comb with honey, +instead of devoting themselves to the rapid increase of their numbers. +If the Apiarian has plenty of empty worker comb which he can give them, +he ought to supply them quite sparingly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"> [321]</a></span> with honey, even when they are +considerably numerous, in order to have them breed as fast as possible; +not so sparingly however, as to prevent them from storing up any honey +in sealed cells; or they will not be encouraged to breed as fast as they +otherwise would. If he has no spare comb, and the hive is populous +enough to build new comb, it must be supplied moderately, and by all +means, <i>regularly</i> with the means of doing this; the object being to +have comb building and breeding go together, so as mutually to aid each +other. If the feeding is not regular, so as to resemble the natural +supplies when honey is obtained from the blossoms, the bees will not use +the food given to them, in building new comb, but chiefly in filling up +all the cells previously built. If honey can be obtained regularly, and +in sufficient quantities from the blossoms, the small colonies or nuclei +will need no feeding until the failure of the natural supplies.</p> + +<p>In all these operations, the main object should be to make every thing +bend to the most rapid production of <i>brood</i>; give me the bees, and I +can easily show how they may be fed, so as to make strong and prosperous +stocks; whereas if the bees are wanting, every thing else will be in +vain: just as a land where there are many stout hands and courageous +hearts, although comparatively barren, will in due time, be made to "bud +and blossom as the rose," while a second Eden, if inhabited by a scanty +and discouraged population, must speedily be overgrown with briars and +thorns.</p> + +<p>If strong stocks are deprived of a portion of their combs, so that they +cannot from natural sources, at once begin to refill all vacancies, they +too must be fed.</p> + +<p>I have probably said enough to show the inexperienced that the rapid +multiplication of colonies is not a very simple matter, and that they +will do well not to attempt it on a large scale. By the time the honey +harvest ordinarily closes, all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"> [322]</a></span> the colonies in the Apiaries of all +except the skillful, ought to be both strong in numbers and in stores; +at least the <i>aggregate</i> resources of the colonies should be such that +when an equal division is made among them, there will be enough for them +all. This may ordinarily be effected, and yet the number of the colonies +be tripled in one season; and in situations where buckwheat is +extensively cultivated, a considerable quantity of surplus honey may +even then be frequently obtained from the bees. Early in the month of +September, or better still, by the middle of August, if the colonies are +sufficiently strong in numbers, I advise that if feeding is necessary to +winter the bees, it should be thoroughly attended to. If delayed later +than this, in the latitude of our Northern States, the bees may not have +sufficient time to seal over the honey fed to them, and will be almost +sure to suffer from dysentery, during the ensuing Winter. Unsealed +honey, almost always, in cool weather, attracts moisture, and sours in +the combs, and if the bees are compelled to feed upon it, they are very +liable to become diseased. This is the reason why bees when fed with +liquid honey, late in the Fall, or during the Winter, are almost sure to +suffer from disease. A very interesting fact confirming these views as +to the danger resulting from the use of sour food, has come under my +notice this Spring. A colony of bees were fed for some time with +suitable food, and appeared to be in perfect health, flying in and out +with great animation. Their owner, on one occasion, before leaving for +the day, gave them some molasses which was so <i>sour</i>, that it could not +be used in the family. On returning, at evening, he was informed that +the bees had been dropping their filth over every thing in the vicinity +of the hive. On examining them, next day, they were all found dead on +the bottom-board and among the combs! The acid food had acted upon them +as a violent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"> [323]</a></span> cathartic, and had brought on a complaint of which they +all died in less than 24 hours: the hive was found to contain an ample +allowance of honey and bee-bread.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian, on examining the condition of his stocks, finds that +some have more than they need, and others not enough, his most prudent +course will be to make an equitable division of the honey, among his +different stocks. This may seem to be a very Agrarian sort of procedure, +and yet it will answer perfectly well in the management of bees. Those +that were helped, will not spend the next season in idleness, relying +upon the same sort of aid; nor will those that were relieved of their +surplus stores, remember the deprivation, and limit the extent of their +gatherings to a bare competency. With men, most unquestionably, such an +annual division, unless they were perfect, would derange the whole +course of affairs, and speedily impoverish any community in which it +might be attempted. I always prefer to take away a considerable quantity +of honey from my stocks, which have too generous a supply, and to +replace it with empty combs suitable for the rearing of workers; as I +find that when bees have too much honey in the Fall, they do not +ordinarily breed as fast in the ensuing Spring, as they otherwise would. +A portion of this honey should be carefully put away in the frames, and +kept in a close box, safe against all intruders, and where it will not +be exposed to frost; so that if any colonies in the Spring, are found to +be in want of food, they may easily be supplied.</p> + +<p>In the Spring examination, if any colonies have too much honey, a +portion of it ought by all means to be taken away. Such a deprivation, +if judiciously performed, will always stimulate them to increased +activity. Every strong stock, as soon as it can gather enough honey to +construct comb, ought to have one or two combs which contain no brood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"> [324]</a></span> +removed, and their places supplied with empty frames, in order that they +may be induced to exert themselves to the utmost. An empty frame +inserted between full ones, will be replenished with comb very speedily, +and often the combs removed will be so much clear gain. If at any time +there is a sudden supply of honey, and the bees are reluctant to enter +the boxes, or it is not probable that the supply will continue long +enough to enable them to fill them, the removal of some of the combs +from the main hive so as to have empty ones filled, will often be highly +advantageous.</p> + +<p>If in the Fall of the year, the bee-keeper finds that some of his +colonies need feeding, and if they are not populous enough to make good +stock hives in the ensuing Spring, then instead of wasting time and +money on them, he should at once, break them up; (See p. <a href="#Page_322">322</a>.) They will +seldom pay for the labor bestowed on them, and the bees will be much +more serviceable, if added to other stocks. The Apiarian cannot be too +deeply impressed with the important truth, that his profits in +bee-keeping will all come from his <i>strong</i> stocks, and that if he +cannot manage so as to have such colonies early, he had better let +bee-keeping alone.</p> + +<p>If liquid honey is fed to bees, it should always, (see p. <a href="#Page_322">322</a>,) be given +to them seasonably, so that they may seal it over before the approach of +cold weather. West India honey has for many years, been used to very +good advantage, as a bee-feed. It should never be used in its raw state, +as it is often filled with impurities, and is very liable to sour or +candy in the cells, but should be mixed with about two parts of good +white sugar, to three of honey and one of water, and brought to the +boiling point; as soon as it begins to boil, it should be set to cool, +and all the impurities will rise to the top, and may be skimmed off. If +it is found to be too thick, a little more water may be added to it; it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"> [325]</a></span> +ought however, never to be made thinner than the natural consistence of +good honey. Such a mixture will cost for a small quantity, about seven +cents a pound, and will probably be found the cheapest liquid food, +which can be given to bees. Brown sugar may be used with the honey, but +the food will not be so good.</p> + +<p>If one of my hives is used, the bee-keeper may feed his bees at the +proper season, without using any feeder at all, or rather he may use the +<i>bottom-board</i> of the hive as a feeder. On this plan, the bees should be +fed at evening; so as to run no risk of their robbing each other. The +hive which is to be fed, should have the front edge of its bottom-board +elevated on a block, so as to slant <i>backwards</i>, and the honey should be +poured into a small tin gutter inserted at the entrance; one such will +answer for a whole Apiary, and may be made by bending up the edges of +any old piece of tin. As the frames in my hive are kept about half an +inch above the bottom-board, which is water-tight, the honey runs under +them, and is as safe as in a dish, while the bees stand on the bottom of +the frames, and help themselves. The quantity poured in, should of +course, depend upon the size and necessities of the colony; no more +ought to be given at one time than the bees can take up during the +night, and the entrance to the hive ought always to be kept very small +during the process of feeding, to prevent robber bees from getting in; a +good colony will easily take up a quart. It is desirable to get through +the feeding as rapidly as possible, as the bees are excited during the +whole process, and consume more than they otherwise would; to say +nothing of the demand made upon the time of the Apiarian, by feeding in +small quantities. If the bees cannot, in favorable weather, dispose of +at least a pint at one time, the colony must be too small to make it +worth while to feed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"> [326]</a></span> them, if they are in hives by which they can be +readily united to stronger stocks.</p> + +<p>If the bees have not a good allowance of comb, it will not, as a general +rule, pay to feed them. This will be obvious to any one who reflects +that at least 20 pounds of honey are required to elaborate one pound of +wax. I know that this estimate may to some, appear enormous; but it is +given as the result of very accurate experiments, instituted on a large +scale, to determine this very point. The Country Curate says, "Having +driven the population of four stocks, on the 5th of August, and united +them together, I fed them with about 50 pounds of a mixture of sugar, +honey, salt and beer, for about five weeks. At that time, the box was +only 16 pounds heavier than when the bees were put into it." He then +makes an estimate that at least 25 pounds of the mixture were consumed +in making about half a pound of wax!! No one who has ever tried it, will +undertake to feed bees for profit, when they are destitute of both comb +and honey.</p> + +<p>If the weather is cool when bees are fed, it will generally be necessary +to resort to top feeding. For this, my hive is admirably adapted: a +feeder may be put over one of the holes in the honey-board directly over +the mass of the bees, into which the heat of the hive naturally arises, +and where the bees can get at their food without any risk of being +chilled. This is <i>always</i> the best place for a feeder, as the smell of +the food is not so likely to attract the notice of robbing bees.</p> + +<p>I shall here describe the way in which a feeder can at small expense, be +made to answer admirably every purpose. Take any wooden box which will +hold, say, at least one quart; make it honey-tight, by pouring into the +joints the melted mixture, (see p. <a href="#Page_99">99</a>,) and brush the whole interior<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"> [327]</a></span> +with the mixture, so that the honey may not soak into the wood. Make a +float of thin wood, filled with quarter inch holes, with clamps nailed +on the lower sides to prevent warping, and to keep the float from +settling to the bottom of the box, so as to stick fast: it should have +ample play, so that it may settle, as fast as the bees consume the +honey. Tacks on the clamps will always be sure to prevent sticking. +Before you waste any time in making small holes, for fear the bees will +be drowned in the large ones, try a float made as directed. In one +corner of the box, fasten with the melted mixture, a thin strip of wood, +about one inch wide; let it project above the top of the box about an +inch, and be kept about half an inch from the bottom; this answers as a +spout for pouring the honey into the feeder, and when not in use, it +should be stopped up. Have for the lid of the box, a piece of glass with +the corner cut off next the spout, so as to cover the feeder and keep +the bees in, and at the same time allow the bee-keeper to see when they +have consumed all their food. The feeder is now complete, with one +important exception; it has, as yet no way of admitting the bees. On the +outside corners of one of the ends, glue or tack two strips, inch and a +half wide, extending down to the bottom of the box, and half an inch +from the top; fasten over them a piece of thin board, (paste-board will +answer.) You have now a shallow passage without top or bottom, outside +of your feeder; give it a top of any kind; cut out just below the level +of this top, a passage into the feeder for the bees. It is now complete, +and when properly placed over any hole on the top of the hive, will +admit the bees from the hive, into the shallow passage which has no +bottom, and through this into the feeder. Such a feeder will not only be +cheap, but it might almost be made by a child, and yet it will answer +every purpose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"> [328]</a></span> most admirably. If you have no wooden box that will +answer, a feeder may be made of pasteboard, and if brushed with the +melted mixture it will be honey-tight. By packing cotton or wool around +it, it might be used in most hives, even in the dead of Winter. Bees +however, ought never to need feeding in Winter, and if they do, it will +always be unsafe at this season to feed them with liquid honey.</p> + +<p>I ought here to speak of the importance of <i>water</i> to the bees. It is +absolutely indispensable when they are building comb, or raising brood. +In the early Spring, they take advantage of the first warm weather, to +bring it to their hives, and they may be seen busily drinking around +pumps, drains, and other moist places. As they are not noticed +frequenting such spots much, except in the early part of the season, +many suppose that they need water only at this period. This is a great +mistake, for they need it, and must have it, during the whole breeding +season. But as soon as the grass starts, and the trees are covered with +leaves, they prefer to sip the dew from them. If a few cold days come +on, after the bees have commenced breeding, so as to prevent them from +going abroad for water, a very serious check will be given to their +operations. Even when it is not so cold as to prevent their leaving the +hive, many become so chilled in their search for water, that they are +not able to return.</p> + +<p>Every wise bee-keeper will see that his bees have an abundant supply of +water. If he has not some warm and sunny spot where they can safely +obtain it, he will furnish them with shallow wooden troughs or vessels +filled with pebbles, from which they can drink, without any risk of +drowning, and where they will be sheltered from cold winds, and warmed +by the genial rays of the sun. I believe that the reason why bees very +much prefer the impure water of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"> [329]</a></span> barn-yards and drains, is not because +they find any medicinal quality in it, but because as it is <i>near</i> their +hives and <i>warm</i>, they can fill themselves without being fatally +chilled.</p> + +<p>I have used water feeders of the same construction with my honey +feeders, with great success. The bees are able to enter them at all +times, as they are filled with the warm air of the hive, and thus +breeding goes on, without interruption, and the lives of many bees are +saved.</p> + +<p>The same end may be obtained, by pouring daily, a few table spoonsfull +of water into the hive, through one of the holes leading to the spare +honey boxes. As soon as the weather becomes warm, and the bees can +supply themselves from the dew on the grass and leaves, it will not be +worth while to give them water in their hives.</p> + +<p>When supplied with water in their hives, I advise that enough honey or +sugar be added to it, to make it tolerably sweet. They will take it with +greater relish, and it will stimulate them more powerfully to the +raising of brood.</p> + +<p>I come now to mention a substitute for liquid honey, the value of which +has been extensively and thoroughly tested in Germany, and which I have +used with great advantage. It was not discovered by Dzierzon, although +he speaks of its excellence, in the most decided terms. The article to +which I refer, is <i>plain sugar candy</i>, or as it is often called, barley +candy. It has been ascertained that about four pounds of this, will +sustain a colony during the Winter, when they have scarcely any honey in +their hive! If it is placed where they can get access to it without +being chilled, they will cluster upon it, and gradually eat it up. It +not only goes further than double the quantity of liquid honey which +could be bought for the same money, but is found to agree with the bees +perfectly; while the liquid honey is almost sure to sour in the unsealed +cells, and expose them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"> [330]</a></span> to dangerous, and often fatal attacks of +dysentery. I have sometimes, in the old-fashioned box hives, pushed +sticks of candy between the ranges of comb, and have found it even then +to answer a good purpose. In any hive which has surplus honey boxes, the +candy may be put into a small box, which after being covered thoroughly +with cotton or wool, may have another box put over it, the outside of +which may be also covered. Unless great precautions are used, the boxes +will be so cold, that the bees will not be able to enter them in Winter, +and may thus perish in close proximity to abundant stores.</p> + +<p>In my hives, the candy may be laid on the top of the frames, in the +shallow chamber between the frames and the honey-board; it will here, if +the honey-board is covered with straw, be always accessible to the bees, +even in the coldest weather. I sometimes put it directly into a frame, +and confine it with a piece of twine, or fine wire.</p> + +<p>I have made a very convenient use of sugar candy, as a bee-feed in the +Summer, when I wished to give small colonies a little food, and yet not +to be at the trouble to use a feeder, or incur the risk of their being +robbed by putting it where strange bees might be attracted by the scent. +A small stick of candy, slid in on the bottom-board, under the frames, +answers admirably for such a purpose. If a little liquid food must be +used in warm weather, I advise that it be the best white sugar, +dissolved in water; this makes an admirable food; costs but little more +than brown sugar, and has no smell to tempt robbers to try to gain an +entrance into the hive.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian is skillful, and attends to his bees, at the proper +time, they will rarely need much feeding; if he manages them in such a +manner that this is frequently and extensively needed, I can assure him, +if he has not already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"> [331]</a></span> found it out to his sorrow, that his bees will be +nothing but a bill of cost and vexation.</p> + +<p>The question how much honey a colony of bees needs, in order to carry +them safely through the perils of Winter, is one to which it is +impossible to give an answer which will be definite, under all +circumstances. Very much will depend upon the hive in which they are +kept, and the forwardness of the ensuing Spring; (see Chapter on +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Protection</a>.) It is often absolutely impossible in the common hives, to +form any reliable estimate, as to the quantity of honey which they +contain, for the combs are often so heavy with bee-bread, as entirely to +deceive even the most experienced bee-keeper.</p> + +<p>I should always wish to leave at least 20 lbs. of honey in a hive; and +as I can examine each comb, I am never at a loss to know how much a +colony has. If I have the least apprehension that their supplies may +fail, I prefer to put a few pounds of sugar candy where they can easily +get access to it, in case of need. In my hive, the careful bee-keeper +may not only know the exact extent of the resources of each hive, in the +Fall, but he may, very early in the Spring, ascertain precisely how much +honey is still on hand, and whether his bees need feeding, in order to +preserve their lives. It is a shameful fact that a large number of +colonies perish after they have begun to fly out, and when, they might +easily have been saved, in any kind of hive.</p> + + +<h3>Feeding, to make a profit by selling the Honey stored up by the Bees.</h3> + +<p>For many years, Apiarians have attempted to make the feeding of bees on +a large scale, profitable to their owners. All such attempts however, +must, from the very nature<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"> [332]</a></span> of the case, meet with very limited success. +If large quantities of cheap West India honey are fed to the bees in the +Fall, they are induced to fill their hives to such an extent, that in +the Spring, the queen does not find the necessary accommodations for +breeding. If they are largely fed in the Spring, the case is still +worse; (See p. <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.) It must therefore be obvious that the feeding of +cheap honey can only be made profitable where it serves as a substitute +for an equal quantity of choice honey taken from the bees. In the latter +part of Summer, the Apiarian may take away from the main hive, some of +the combs which contain the best honey, and replace them with combs into +which he has poured the cheaper article; or if he has no spare combs on +hand, he may slice off the covers of the cells, drain out the honey, +fill the empty combs with West India honey, and return them to the bees: +giving them at the same time, the additional food which they need to +elaborate wax to seal them over. If he attempts to take away their full +combs, and gives them honey in order to enable them, first to replace +their combs, and then to fill them, the operation, (see p. <a href="#Page_326">326</a>,) will +result in a loss, instead of a gain.</p> + +<p>I am aware that for a number of years, persons have attempted to derive +a profit from supplying the markets of some of our large cities, with an +article professing to be the best of honey, but which has been nothing +more than the cheap West India honey fed to the bees, and stored up by +them in new comb. In the City of Philadelphia, large quantities of such +honey have been sold at the highest prices, and <i>perhaps</i> at some profit +to the persons who have fed it to their bees. Within the last two years, +however, the article has become so well known that it can hardly be sold +at any price; as those who purchase honey, instead of paying 25 cents +per pound for West India honey in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"> [333]</a></span> comb, much prefer to buy it, (if +they want it at all,) for 6 or 7 cents, in a liquid state! It must be +perfectly obvious that to sell a cheap and ill-flavored article at a +high price, under the pretence that it is a superior article, is nothing +less than downright cheating.</p> + +<p>I am perfectly well aware that many persons imagine that if any thing +<i>sweet</i> is fed to bees, they will quickly transmute it into the purest +nectar. There is, however, no more truth in such a conceit, than there +would be in that of a man who supposed that he had found the veritable +philosopher's stone; and that he was able to change all our copper and +silver coins into the purest gold! Bees to be sure, can make white and +beautiful <i>comb</i>, from almost any kind of sweet; and why? because wax is +a natural secretion of the bee, (see p. <a href="#Page_76">76</a>,) and can be made from any +sweet; just as fat can be put upon the ribs of an ox, by any kind of +nourishing food.</p> + +<p>"But," some of my readers may ask, "do you mean to assert that bees do +not secrete honey out of the raw material which they gather, or which is +furnished to them, just as cows secrete milk from grass and hay?" I +certainly do mean to assert that they can do nothing of the kind, and no +intelligent man who has carefully <i>studied their habits</i>, will for a +moment, venture to affirm that they can, unless for the sake of "filthy +lucre," he is attempting to deceive an unwary community. What bee-keeper +does not know, or rather ought not to know that the quality of honey +depends entirely upon the sources from whence it is gathered; and that +the different kinds of honey can easily be distinguished by any one who +is a judge of the article.</p> + +<p>Apple-blossom honey, white clover honey, buckwheat honey, and all the +different kinds of honey, each has its own peculiar flavor, and it is +utterly amazing how any sensible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"> [334]</a></span> man, acquainted with bees, can be so +deluded as to imagine any thing to the contrary. But as this is a matter +of great practical importance, let us examine it more closely.</p> + +<p>When bees are engaged in rapidly storing up honey in their combs, they +may be seen, as <i>soon</i> as they return from the fields, or from the +feeding boxes, putting their heads at once into the cells, and +disgorging the contents of their "honey-bags." Now that the contents of +their sacs undergo no change at all, during the short time that they +remain in them, I will not absolutely affirm, because I have endeavored, +through this whole treatise, never to assert positively when I had not +positive evidence for so doing: but that they can undergo +but a <i>very slight</i> change, must be evident from the fact that when thus +stored up, the different kinds of honey or sugar can be almost if not +quite as readily distinguished as before they were fed to the bees. The +only perceptible change which they appear to undergo in the cells, is to +have the large quantity of water evaporated from them, which is added +from thoughtlessness, or from the vain expectation that it will be just +so much water sold for honey, to the defrauded purchaser! This +evaporation of the water from the honey by the heat of the hive, is +about the only marked change that it appears to undergo, from its +natural state in the nectaries of the blossoms; and it is exceedingly +interesting to see how unwilling bees are to seal up honey, until it is +reduced to such a consistency that there is no danger of its souring in +the cells. They are as careful as to the quality of their nectar, as the +good lady of the house is, to have the syrup of her preserves boiled +down to a suitable thickness to keep them sweet.</p> + +<p>Let all who for any purpose whatever, feed bees, keep this fact in mind, +and never add to the food which they give them, more water than is +absolutely necessary. To do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"> [335]</a></span> so, is a piece of as great stupidity as to +pour a barrel of water into the sugar pans, for every barrel of sap from +the maples, or juice from the canes! If a strong colony is set upon a +platform scale, it will be found on a pleasant day, during the height of +the honey harvest, to gain a number of pounds; if examined again, early +next morning, it will be found to have lost considerably, during the +night. This is owing to the evaporation of the water from the freshly +gathered honey, and it may often be seen running down in quite a stream +from the bottom-board.</p> + +<p>Those who feed cheap honey to sell it in the market at a high advance +over its first cost, are either deceivers or deceived; if any of my +readers have been deceived by the plausible representations of ignorant +or unprincipled men, I trust they will be able from these remarks, to +see exactly <i>how</i> they have been deceived, and they will no longer +persist in an adulteration, the profits of which can never be great, and +the morality of which can never be defended. A man who offers for sale, +inferior honey, or sugar which he calls honey, and which he is able to +sell because it is stored in white comb, to those who would never +purchase it if they knew what it was, or once had a taste of it, is not +a whit more honest, if he understands the nature of the article in which +he deals, than a person engaged in counterfeiting the current coin of +the realm: for poor honey in white comb, is no less a fraud than eagles +or dollars, golden to be sure, on their honest exteriors, but containing +a baser metal within! "The Golden Age" of bee-keeping, in which inferior +honey can be quickly transmuted into such balmy spoils as are gathered +by the bees of Hybla, has not yet dawned upon us; or at least only in +the fairy visions of the poet who saw</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A golden hive, on a Golden Bank,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where golden bees, by alchemical prank,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gathered Gold instead of Honey."<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"> [336]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>If a pound of West India honey costs about 6 cents, and the bees use, as +they will, about one pound to make the comb in which it is stored, it +costs the producer at least 12 cents a pound, and if to this, he adds, +say 5 cents more, for extra time and labor in feeding, then his inferior +honey costs him at least as much as the market price of the very best +honey on the spot where it is produced! If the bee-keeper allows his +bees to make what they will, from the blossoms, and then begins to feed, +after he has harvested the produce from the natural supplies, the +advance over the first cost will hardly pay for the trouble, even if it +were fair to palm off such inferior honey as a first-rate article. If, +however, bees are fed on this food very largely in the latter part of +Summer, they will fill up their hive with it, before they put it into +the spare honey boxes, and the production of brood will often be most +seriously interfered with, at a season of the year when +it is important to have the hives well stocked with bees, that they may +winter to the best advantage.</p> + +<p>If Apiarians are anxious to have large quantities of choice honey, let +them manage their bees so as to have powerful stocks in the early +Spring, and they will then be able to have heavy purses and light +consciences into the bargain. I shall now show how liquid honey, +exceedingly beautiful to the eye, and tempting to the taste, may be made +to great advantage.</p> + +<p>Dissolve two pounds of the purest white sugar, in as much hot water as +will be just necessary to reduce it to a syrup; take one pound of the +nicest white clover honey, (any other light colored honey of good flavor +will answer,) and after warming it, add it to the sugar syrup, and stir +the contents. When cool, this compound will be pronounced, even by the +best judges of honey, to be one of the most luscious articles which they +ever tasted; and will be, by almost every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337"> [337]</a></span> one, preferred to the unmixed +honey. Refined loaf sugar is a perfectly pure and inodorous sweet, and +one pound of honey will communicate the honey flavor, in high +perfection, to twice that quantity of sugar: while the new article will +be destitute of that smarting taste which honey alone, so often has, and +will be often found to agree perfectly with those who cannot eat the +clear honey with impunity. If those engaged in the artificial +manufacture of honey, never brought any thing worse than this, to the +market, the purchasers would have no reason to complain. As however, the +compound can be furnished much cheaper than the pure honey, many may +prefer to purchase the materials, and mix them themselves. If desired, +any kind of flavor may be given to the manufactured article; thus it may +be made to resemble in fragrance, the classic honey of Mount Hymettus, +by adding to it the fine aroma of the lemon balm, or wild thyme; or it +may have the flavor of the orange groves, or the delicate fragrance of +beds of roses washed with dew.</p> + +<p>I have recently ascertained that if two pounds of the best refined sugar +be added to one of common maple sugar, the compound will be a light +colored article, retaining perfectly the maple taste, and yet far +superior to the common maple sugar. After making this discovery, I +learned that a large part of the very nicest maple sugar is made in this +way!</p> + +<p>Attempts have been made to feed to bees, to be stored in the honey +boxes, a mixture of the whitest honey and loaf sugar; but the result +shows a loss rather than a gain. The mixture, before it is fed, will +cost about 10 cents per pound. At the very furthest, not more than one +half of what is fed, can be secured in the comb, for it requires about +one pound of honey, to manufacture comb enough to hold a pound of honey. +The actual cost of the honey in the comb, will therefore be, at least 20 +cents per pound; and the pure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338"> [338]</a></span> white clover honey can be bought for less +than that. Those who desire to have something exceedingly beautiful to +the eye, and delicate to the taste, at a season when the bees are not +storing up honey from the blossoms, and in situations where the natural +supply is of an inferior quality, if they do not regard expense, can +place upon their tables, something which will be pronounced by the best +judges, a little superior to any thing they ever tasted before.</p> + +<p>I have repeatedly spoken of the great care which is necessary to prevent +bees from getting a taste of forbidden sweets, so as to be tempted to +engage in dishonest courses. The experienced Apiarian will fully +appreciate the necessity of these cautions, and the inexperienced, if +they neglect them, will be taught a lesson that they will not soon +forget. Let it be remembered that the bee was intended to gather its +sweets from the nectaries of flowers: to use the exquisitely beautiful language of him whose wonderful +writings supply us on almost every subject, with the richest thoughts +and happiest illustrations, they were created to</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which pillage they with merry march bring home<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the tent royal of their emperor:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who, busied in his majesty, surveys<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The singing masons, building roofs of gold."—<i>Shakspeare.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>When thus engaged, the bees work in perfect accordance with their +natural instincts, and seem to have little or no disposition to meddle +with property that does not belong to them. If however, their incautious +owner tempts them with liquid food, especially at times when they can +obtain nothing from the blossoms, they seem to be so infatuated with +such easy gatherings, as to lose all discretion, and they will perish by +thousands, if the vessels which contain the food are not furnished with +floats, on which they can stand and help themselves in safety.</p> + +<p>The fly was intended to feed, not upon the blossoms, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339"> [339]</a></span> upon food in +which, without care, it could easily be drowned; and hence it alights +most cautiously, on the edge of any vessel containing liquid food, and +warily helps itself: while the poor bee, without any caution, plunges +right in and speedily perishes. The sad fate of their unfortunate +companions, does not in the least, deter others who approach the +tempting lure: but they madly alight on the bodies of the dying and the +dead, to share the same miserable end! No one can understand the full +extent of their infatuation, until after seeing a confectioner's shop, +assailed by thousands and tens of thousands of hungry bees. I have seen +thousands strained out from the syrups in which they had perished; +thousands more alighting even upon the boiling sweets; the floors +covered, and windows darkened with bees, some crawling, others flying, +and others still, so completely daubed as to be able neither to crawl +nor fly; not one bee in ten able to carry home its ill-gotten spoils, +and yet the air filled with new hosts of thoughtless comers.</p> + +<p>It will be for the interest of all engaged in the manufacture of candy +and syrups, to fit gauze wire windows and doors to their premises, and +thus save themselves from constant loss and annoyance: for if only one +bee in a hundred escapes with his load, the confectioner will be +subjected in the course of the season to serious loss. I once furnished +such an establishment, after the bees had commenced their depredations, +with such protection; and when they found themselves excluded, they lit +on the wire by thousands, and fairly squealed with vexation and +disappointment, as they tried to force a passage through the meshes. At +last as they were daring enough to descend the chimney, reeking with +sweet odors, even although the most who attempted it, fell with scorched +wings into the fire, it became necessary to put wire gauze over the top +of the chimney also!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340"> [340]</a></span></p> + +<p>How often, as I have seen thousands of bees, in such places destroyed, +and thousands more deprived of all ability to fly, and hopelessly +struggling in the deluding sweets, and yet thousands more blindly +hovering over them, all unmindful of their danger, and apparently eager +to share the same destruction, how often has the spectacle of their +infatuation seemed to me, to be an exact picture of the woful delusion +of those who surrender themselves to the fatal influences of the +intoxicating cup. Even although they see the miserable victims of this +degrading vice, falling all around them, into premature and dishonored +graves, they still press on, madly trampling as it were, over their dead +and dying bodies, that they too may sink into the same abyss of agonies, +and that their sun may also go down in darkness and hopeless gloom. Even +although they know that the next cup may send them, with all their sins +upon their heads, to the dread tribunal of their God, that cup of bitter +sorrows and untold degradation, they will drain even to its most +loathsome dregs.</p> + +<p>The avaricious bee that despised the slow process of extracting nectar +from "every opening flower," and plunged recklessly into the tempting +sweets, has ample time to bewail its folly. Even if it has not paid the +forfeit of its life, but has been able to obtain its fill, it returns +home with all its beautiful plumage sullied and besmeared, and with a +woe-begone look, and sorrowful note, in marked contrast with the bright +hues and merry sounds with which the industrious bee returns from its +happy rovings amid "the budding honey flowers, and sweetly breathing +fields."</p> + +<p>Just so, has many a pilgrim from the golden shores of California and +Australia, returned; enfeebled in body and mind, bankrupt often in +character and happiness, if not in purse, and unfitted in every way, for +the calm and sober pursuits of common industry; while thousands, yes, +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341"> [341]</a></span> tens of thousands too, shall never more behold their once happy +homes. Bibles and Sabbaths, altars and firesides, parents and friends, +wife and children, how often have all these been wantonly abandoned, in +the accursed greed for gain, by those who might have been happy and +prosperous at home, and who wandered from its sacred precincts only +because they were determined to make the possession of wealth, the chief +object of life, but whose bones now lie amid the coral reefs of the +ocean, or moulder in the howling wastes of the "overland passage;" just +as the bones of the unbelieving Israelites whitened the sands of the +desert. Of those who have reached the "land of" golden "promise," how +many have died in despair, or worse still, are living so besotted by +vice, so lost to all power of virtuous resolutions, that they shall +never more see the happy homes from which they so thoughtlessly +wandered, never more hear the soft accents of loving friends; never more +worship God, in a peaceful Sanctuary, or ever again behold an opened +Bible!</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bright and yellow, hard and cold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Molten, graven, hammer'd, and roll'd;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Heavy to get, and light to hold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hoarded, barter'd, bought, and sold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stolen, borrow'd, squander'd, doled:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spurn'd by the young, but hugg'd by the old<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the very verge of the churchyard mould;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Price of many a crime untold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Good or bad a thousand-fold!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How widely its agencies vary—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To save—to ruin—to curse—to bless—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As even its minted coins express,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now stamp'd with the image of Good Queen Bess,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And now of a Bloody Mary!"<br /></span> +<span class="author">Hood.</span> +</div></div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342"> [342]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">HONEY. PASTURAGE. OVERSTOCKING.</span></h2> + + +<p>In the chapter on Feeding, it has already been stated that honey is not +a natural secretion of the bee, but a substance obtained from the +nectaries of the blossoms; it is not therefore, made, but merely +gathered by the bees. The truth is well expressed in the lines so +familiar to most of us from our childhood,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"How doth the little busy bee<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Improve each shining hour,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <i>gather</i> honey all the day<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From every opening flower."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Bees not only gather honey from the blossoms, but often obtain it in +large quantities from what have been called honey dews; "a term applied +to those sweet, clammy drops that glitter on the foliage of many trees +in hot weather." Two different opinions have been zealously advocated as +to the origin of honey-dews. By some, they are considered a natural +exudation from the leaves of trees, a perspiration as it were, +occasioned often by ill health, though sometimes a provision to enable +the plants to resist the fervent heats to which they are exposed. Others +insist that this sweet substance is discharged from the bodies of those +aphides or small lice which infest the leaves of so many plants. +Unquestionably they are produced in both ways.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343"> [343]</a></span></p> + +<p>Messrs. Kirby and Spence, in their interesting work on Entomology, have +given a description of the kind of honey-dew furnished by the aphides.</p> + +<p>"The loves of the ants and the aphides have long been celebrated; and +that there is a connection between them, you may, at any time in the +proper season, convince yourself; for you will always find the former +very busy on those trees and plants on which the latter abound; and if +you examine more closely, you will discover that the object of the ants, +in thus attending upon the aphides, is to obtain the saccharine fluid +secreted by them, which may well be denominated their milk. This fluid, +which is scarcely inferior to honey in sweetness, issues in limpid drops +from the abdomen of these insects, not only by the ordinary passage, but +also by two setiform tubes placed, one on each side, just above it. +Their sucker being inserted in the tender bark, is without intermission +employed in absorbing the sap, which, after it has passed through their +system, they keep continually discharging by these organs. When no ants +attend them, by a certain jerk of the body, which takes place at regular +intervals, they ejaculate it to a distance."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Knight once observed," says Bevan, "a shower of honey-dew +descending in innumerable small globules, near one of his oak-trees, <i>on +the 1st of September</i>; he cut off one of the branches, took it into the +house, and holding it in a stream of light, which was purposely admitted +through a small opening, distinctly saw the aphides ejecting the fluid +from their bodies with considerable force, and this accounts for its +being frequently found in situations where it could not have arrived by +the mere influence of gravitation. The drops that are thus spurted out, +unless interrupted by the surrounding foliage, or some other interposing +body, fall upon the ground; and the spots may often be observed, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344"> [344]</a></span> +some time, beneath and around the trees affected with honey-dew, till +washed away by the rain. The power which these insects possess of +ejecting the fluid from their bodies, seems to have been wisely +instituted to preserve cleanliness in each individual fly, and indeed +for the preservation of the whole family; for pressing as they do upon +one another, they would otherwise soon be glued together, and rendered +incapable of stirring. On looking steadfastly at a group of these +insects (<i>Aphides Salicis</i>) while feeding on the bark of the willow, +their superior size enables us to perceive some of them elevating their +bodies and emitting a transparent substance in the form of a small +shower."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Nor scorn ye now, fond elves, the foliage sear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the light aphids, arm'd with puny spear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Probe each emulgent vein, till bright below,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like falling stars, clear drops of nectar glow."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>"The <i>willow</i> accommodates the bees in a kind of threefold succession; +from the flowers they obtain both honey and farina;—from the bark +propolis;—and the leaves frequently afford them honey-dew at a time +when other resources are beginning to fail."</p> + +<p>"Honey-dew usually appears upon the leaves as a viscid, transparent +substance, as sweet as honey itself, sometimes in the form of globules, +at others resembling a syrup; it is generally most abundant from the +middle of June to the middle of July, sometimes as late as September."</p> + +<p>"It is found chiefly upon the <i>oak</i>, the <i>elm</i>, the <i>maple</i>, the +<i>plane</i>, the <i>sycamore</i>, the <i>lime</i>, the <i>hazel</i>, and the <i>blackberry</i>; +occasionally also on the <i>cherry</i>, <i>currant</i>, and other fruit trees. +Sometimes only one species of trees is affected at a time. The oak +generally affords the largest quantity. At the season of its greatest +abundance, the happy humming noise of the bees may be heard at a +considerable distance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345"> [345]</a></span> from the trees, sometimes nearly equalling in +loudness the united hum of swarming."</p> + +<p>In some seasons, extraordinary quantities of honey are furnished by the +honey-dews, and bees will often, in a few days, fill their hives with +it. If at such times, they can be furnished with empty combs, the amount +stored up by them, will be truly wonderful. No certain reliance, +however, can be placed upon this article of bee-food, as in some years, +there is scarcely any to be found, and it is only once in three or four +years, that it is very abundant. The honey obtained from this source, is +generally of a very good quality, though seldom as clear as that +gathered from the choicest blossoms.</p> + +<p>The quality of honey is exceedingly various, some being dark, and often +bitter and disagreeable to the taste, while occasionally it is gathered +from poisonous flowers, and is very noxious to the human system.</p> + +<p>An intelligent Mandingo African informed a lady of my acquaintance, that +they do not in his country, dare to eat <i>unsealed</i> honey, until it is +first <i>boiled</i>. In some of the Southern States, all unsealed honey is +generally rejected. It appears to me highly probable that the noxious +qualities of the honey gathered from some flowers, is, for the most +part, evaporated, before it is sealed over by the bees, while the honey +is thickening in the cells. Boiling the honey, would, of course, expel +it much more effectually, and it is a well ascertained fact that some +persons are not able to eat even the best honey with impunity, until +after it has been boiled! I believe that if persons who are injured by +honey would subject it to this operation, they would usually find it to +exert no injurious influence on the system. Honey is improved by age, +and many are able to use with impunity, that which has been for a long +time, in the hive, and which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346"> [346]</a></span> seems to be much milder than any freshly +gathered by the bees.</p> + +<p>Honey, when taken from the bees, should be carefully put where it will +be safe from all intruders, and where it will not be exposed to so low a +temperature as to candy in the cells. The little red ant, and the large +black ant are extravagantly fond of it, and unless placed where they +cannot reach it, they will soon carry off large quantities. I paste +paper over all my boxes, glasses, &c., so as to make them air-tight, and +carefully store them away for future use. If it is drained from the +combs, it may be kept in tight vessels, although in this state it will +be almost sure to candy. By putting the vessels in water, and bringing +it to the boiling point, it will be as nice as when first strained from +the comb. In this way, I prefer to keep the larger portion of my honey. +The appearance of white honey in the comb, is however, so beautiful, +that many will prefer to keep it in this form, especially, if intended +for sale.</p> + +<p>In my hives, it may be taken from the bees, in a great variety of ways. +Some may prefer to construct the main hive in such a form, that the +surplus honey can be taken from it, on the frames. Others will prefer to +take it on frames put in an upper box; (see p. <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.) Glass vessels of +almost any size or form will make beautiful receptacles for the spare +honey. They ought always, however, to have a piece of comb fastened in +them, before they are given to the bees; (see p. <a href="#Page_161">161</a>) and if the weather +is cool, they must be carefully covered with something warm, or they +will part with their heat so quickly, as to discourage the bees from +building in them. Unless warmly covered, glass vessels will often be so +lined with moisture, as to annoy the bees. This is occasioned by the rapid evaporation of the water from the +newly gathered honey, (see p. <a href="#Page_335">335</a>.) All<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347"> [347]</a></span> hives during the height of the +gathering season, abound in moisture, and this no doubt furnishes the +bees, for the most part, with the water they then need.</p> + +<p>Honey, when stored in a pint tumbler, just large enough to receive one +comb, has a most beautiful appearance, and may be easily taken out +whole, and placed in an elegant shape upon the table. The expense of +such glass vessels is one objection to their use; the ease with which +they part with their heat, another, and a more serious objection still, +is the fact that the shallow cells, so many of which must be made in a +round vessel, require as large a consumption of honey for their wax +covers, as those which hold more than twice their quantity of honey.</p> + +<p>I prefer rectangular boxes made of pasteboard, to any other: they are +neat, warm and cheap; and if a small piece of glass is pasted in one of +their ends, the Apiarian can always see when they are full. When the +honey is taken from the bees, the box has its cover put on, and is +pasted tight, so as to exclude air and insects. In this form, honey may +be packed, and sent to market very conveniently: and when the boxes are +opened, the purchaser can always see the quality of the article which he +buys. The box in which these small boxes of honey are packed in order to +be sent to market, should be furnished with rope handles, so that it can +be easily lifted, without the least jarring. Honey should be handled +with just as much care as glass. A box, four inches wide, will admit of +two combs, and if small pieces of comb are put in the top, the bees will +build them, of the proper dimensions, and will thus make them too large +for brood combs, and of the best size to contain their surplus honey. +The use of my hives enables the Apiarian to get access to all the comb +which he needs for such purposes, and he will find it to his interest,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348"> [348]</a></span> +never to give the bees a box which does not contain some comb, as well +for encouragement as for a pattern. I have never seen the use of +pasteboard boxes suggested, but after experimenting with a great many +materials, I believe they will be found, all things considered, +preferable to any others. Wooden boxes, with a piece of glass, are very +good for storing honey: but they are much more expensive than those made +of pasteboard, and the covers cannot be removed so conveniently.</p> + +<p>Honey may be safely removed from the surplus honey boxes of my hives, +even by the most timid. When the outside case which covers the boxes, is +elevated, a shield is thrown between the Apiarian and the bees which are +entering and leaving the hive. Before removing a vessel or box, a thin +knife should be carefully passed under it, so as to loosen the +attachments of the comb to the honey-board, without injuring the bees; +then a small piece of tin or zinc may be pushed under to prevent the +bees that are below, from coming up, when the honey is removed. The +Apiarian should now tap gently on the box, and the bees in it, +perceiving that they are separated from the main hive, will at once +proceed to fill themselves, so as to save as much as possible, of their +precious sweets. In about five minutes, or as soon as they are full, and +run over the combs, trying to get out, the glass or box may at once be +removed, and they will fly directly to the hive with what they have been +able to secure. Bees under such circumstances, <i>never</i> attempt to sting, +and a child of ten years, may remove, with ease and safety, all their +surplus stores. If a person is too timid to approach a hive when any +bees are flying, the honey may be removed towards evening, or early in +the morning, before the bees are flying, in any considerable numbers. In +performing this operation, it should always be borne in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349"> [349]</a></span> mind, that +large quantities of honey should never be taken from them at once, +unless when the honey-harvest is over. Bees are exceedingly discouraged +by such wholesale appropriations, and often refuse entirely, to work in +the empty boxes, even although honey abounds in the fields. Not +unfrequently when large boxes are removed, and being found only +partially filled, are returned, the bees will carry every particle of +honey down into the main hive! If, however, the honey is removed in +small boxes, one at a time, and an empty box with guide comb is put +instantly in its place, the bees, so far from being discouraged, work +with more than their wonted energy, and usually begin in a few hours, to +enlarge the comb.</p> + +<p>I would here repeat the caution already given, against needlessly +opening and shutting the hives, or in any way meddling with the bees so +as to make them feel insecure in their possessions. Such a course tends +to discourage them, and may seriously diminish the yield of honey.</p> + +<p>If the Apiarian wishes to remove honey from the interior of the hive, he +must remove the combs, as directed on page 195, and shake the bees off, +on the alighting board, or directly into the hive.</p> + + +<h3>Pasturage.</h3> + +<p>Some blossoms yield only pollen, and others only honey; but by far the +largest number, both honey and pollen. Since the discovery that rye +flour will answer so admirably as a substitute, before the bees are able +to gather the pollen from the flowers, early blossoms producing pollen +alone, are not so important in the vicinity of an Apiary. Willows are +among the most desirable trees to have within reach of the bees: some +kinds of willow put out their catkins very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350"> [350]</a></span> early, and yield an +abundance of both bee-bread and honey. All the willows furnish an +abundance of food for the bees; and as there is considerable difference +in the time of their blossoming, it is desirable to have such varieties +as will furnish the bees with food, as long as possible.</p> + +<p>The Sugar Maple furnishes a large supply of very delicious honey, and +its blossoms hanging in drooping fringes, will be all alive with bees. +The Apricot, Peach, Plum and Cherry are much frequented by the bees; +Pears and Apples furnish very copious supplies of the richest honey. The +Tulip tree, <i>Liriodendron</i>, is probably one of the greatest +honey-producing trees in the world. In rich lands this magnificent tree +will grow over one hundred feet high, and when covered with its large +bell-shaped blossoms of mingled green and golden yellow, it is one of +the most beautiful trees in the world. The blossoms are expanding in +succession, often for more than two weeks, and a new swarm will +frequently fill its hive from these trees alone. The honey though dark +in color, is of a rich flavor. This tree has been successfully +cultivated as a shade tree, even as far North as Southern Vermont, and +for the extraordinary beauty of its foliage and blossoms, deserves to be +introduced wherever it can be made to grow. The Winter of 1851-2, was +exceedingly cold, the thermometer in Greenfield, Mass. sinking as low as +30° below zero, and yet a tulip tree not only survived the Winter +uninjured, but was covered the following season with blossoms.</p> + +<p>The American Linden or Bass Wood, is another tree which yields large +supplies of very pure and white honey. It is one of our most beautiful +native trees, and ought to be planted much more extensively than it is, +in our villages and country seats. The English Linden is worthless for +bees, and in many places, has been so infested by worms, as to make it +necessary to cut it down.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351"> [351]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Linden blossoms soon after the white clover begins to fail, and a +majestic tree covered with its yellow clusters, at a season when very +few blossoms are to be seen, is a sight most beautiful and refreshing.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Here their delicious task, the fervent bees<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In swarming millions tend: around, athwart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Through the soft air the busy nations fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cling to the bud, and with inserted tube,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Suck its pure essence, its etherial soul."<br /></span> +<span class="author2">Thomson.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>Our villages would be much more attractive, if instead of being filled +as they often are, almost exclusively with maples and elms, they were +adorned with a greater variety of our native trees. The remark has often +been made, that these trees are much more highly valued abroad than at +home, and that to see them in perfection, we must either visit their +native forests, or the pleasure grounds of some wealthy English or +European gentleman.</p> + +<p>Of all the various sources from which the bees derive their supplies, +white clover is the most important. It yields large quantities of very +white honey, and of the purest quality, and wherever it flourishes in +abundance, the honey-bee will always gather a rich harvest. In this +country at least, it seems to be the most certain reliance of the +Apiary. It blossoms at a season of the year when the weather is usually +both dry and hot, and the bees gather the honey from it, after the sun +has dried off the dew: so that its juices are very thick, and almost +ready to be sealed over at once in the cells.</p> + +<p>Every observant bee-keeper must have noticed, that in some seasons, the +blossoms of various kinds yield much less honey than in others. Perhaps +no plant varies so little in this respect, as the white clover. This +clover ought to be much more extensively cultivated than it now is, and +I consider myself as conferring a benefit not only on bee-keepers, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352"> [352]</a></span> +on the agricultural community at large, in being able to state on the +authority of one of New England's ablest practical farmers, and writers +on agricultural subjects, Hon. Frederick Holbrook, of Brattleboro', +Vermont, that the common white clover may be cultivated on some soils to +very great profit, as a hay crop. In an article for the New England +Farmer, for May, 1853, he speaks as follows:—</p> + +<p>"The more general sowing of white clover-seed is confidently +recommended. If land is in good heart at the time of stocking it to +grass, white clover sown with the other grass-seeds will thicken up the +bottom of mowings, growing some eight or ten inches high and in a thick +mat, and the burden of hay will prove much heavier than it seemed likely +to be before mowing. Soon after the practice of sowing white clover on +the tillage-fields commences, the plant will begin to show itself in +various places on the farm, and ultimately gets pretty well scattered +over the pastures, as it seeds very profusely, and the seeds are carried +from place to place in the manure and otherwise. The price of the seed +per pound in market is high; but then one pound of it will seed more +land, than two pounds of red clover seed; so that in fact the former is +the cheaper seed of the two, for an acre."</p> + +<p>"Red-top, red clover and white clover seeds, sown together, produce a +quality of hay universally relished by stock. My practice is, to seed +all dry, sandy and gravelly lands with this mixture. The red and white +clover pretty much make the crop the first year; the second year, the +red clover begins to disappear, and the red-top to take its place; and +after that, the red-top and white clover have full possession and make +the very best hay for horses or oxen, milch cows or young stock, that I +have been able to produce. The crop per acre, as compared with +herds-grass, is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353"> [353]</a></span> not so bulky; but tested by weight and by spending +quality in the Winter, it is much the most valuable."</p> + +<p>"Herds-grass hay grown on moist uplands or reclaimed meadows, and swamps +of a mucky soil, or lands not overcharged with silica, is of good +quality; but when grown on sandy and gravelly soils abounding in silex, +the stalks are hard, wiry, coated with silicates as with glass, and +neither horses nor cattle will eat it as well, or thrive as well on it +as on hay made of red-top and clover; and as for milch cows, they winter +badly on it, and do not give out the milk as when fed on softer and more +succulent hay."</p> + +<p>By managing white clover, according to Mr. Holbrook's plan, it might be +made to blossom abundantly in the second crop, and thus lengthen out, to +very great advantage, the pasture for the bees. For fear that any of my +readers might suspect Mr. Holbrook of looking at the white clover, +through a pair of <i>bee-spectacles</i>, I would add that although he has ten +acres of it in mowing, he has no bees, and has never particularly +interested himself in this branch of rural economy. When we can succeed +in directing the attention of such men to bee-culture, we may hope to +see as rapid an advance in this as in some other important branches of +agriculture.</p> + +<p>Sweet-scented clover, (<i>Mellilotus Leucantha</i>,) affords a rich +bee-pasturage. It blossoms the second year from the seed, and grows to a +great height, and is always swarming with bees until quite late in the +Fall. Attempts have been made to cultivate it for the sake of its value +as a hay crop, but it has been found too coarse in its texture, to be +very profitable. Where many bees are kept, it might however, be so +valuable for them as to justify its extensive cultivation. During the +early part of the season, it might be mowed and fed to the cattle, in a +green and tender state,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354"> [354]</a></span> and allowed to blossom later in the season, +when the bees can find but few sources to gather from.</p> + +<p>For years, I have attempted to procure, through botanists, a hybrid or +cross between the red and white clover, in order to get something with +the rich honey-producing properties of the red, and yet with a short +blossom into which the honey-bee might insert its proboscis. +The red clover produces a vast amount of food for the bumble-bee, but is +of no use at all to the honey-bee. I had hoped to procure a variety +which might answer all the purposes of our farmers as a field crop. +Quite recently I have ascertained that such a hybrid has been originated +in Sweden, and has been imported into this country, by Mr. B. C. Rogers, +of Philadelphia. It grows even taller than the red clover, bears many +blossoms on a stalk which are small, resembling the white, and is said +to be preferred by cattle, to any other kind of grass, while it answers +admirably for bees.</p> + +<p>Buckwheat furnishes a most excellent Fall feed for bees; the honey is +not so well-flavored as some other kinds, but it comes at a season when +it is highly important to the bees, and they are often able to fill +their hives with a generous supply against Winter. Buckwheat honey is +gathered when the dew is upon the blossoms, and instead of being thick, +like white clover honey, is often quite thin; the bees sweat out a large +portion of its moisture, but still they do not exhaust the whole of it, +and in wet seasons especially, it is liable to sour in the cells. Honey +gathered in a dry season, is always thicker, and of course more valuable +than that gathered in a wet one, as it contains much less water. +Buckwheat is uncertain in its honey-bearing qualities; in some seasons, +it yields next to none, and hardly a bee will be seen upon a large +field, while in others, it furnishes an extraordinary supply. The most +practical and scientific agriculturists<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355"> [355]</a></span> agree that so far from being an +impoverishing crop, it is on many soils, one of the most profitable that +can be raised. Every bee-keeper should have some in the vicinity of his +hives.</p> + +<p>The raspberry, it is well known, is a great favorite with the bees; and +the honey supplied by it, is very delicious. Those parts of New England, +which are hilly and rough, are often covered with the wild raspberry, +and would furnish food for numerous colonies of bees.</p> + +<p>It will be observed that thus far, I have said nothing about cultivating +flowers in the garden, to supply the bees with food. What can be done in +this way, is of scarcely any account; and it would be almost as +reasonable to expect to furnish food for a stock of cattle, from a small +grass plat, as honey for bees, from garden plants. The cultivation of +bee-flowers is more a matter of pleasure than profit, to those who like +to hear the happy hum of the busy bees, as they walk in their gardens. +It hardly seems expedient, at least for the present, to cultivate any +field crops except such as are profitable in themselves, without any +reference to the bees.</p> + +<p>Mignonnette is excellent for bees, but of all flowers, none seems to +equal the Borage. It blossoms in June, and continues in bloom until +severe frost, and is always covered with bees, even in dull weather, as +its pendant blossoms keep the honey from the moisture; the honey yielded +by it, is of a very superior quality. If any plant which does not in +itself make a valuable crop, would justify cultivation, there is no +doubt that borage would. An acre of it would support a large number of +stocks. If in a village those who keep bees would unite together and +secure the sowing of an acre, in their immediate vicinity, each person +paying in proportion to the number of stocks kept, it might be found +profitable. The plants should have about two feet of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356"> [356]</a></span> space every way, +and after they covered the ground, would need no further attention. They +would come into full blossom, cultivated in this manner, about the time +that the white clover begins to fail, and would not only furnish rich +pasture for the bees, but would keep them from the groceries and shops +in which so many perish.</p> + +<p>If those who are engaged in adorning our villages and country residences +with shade trees, would be careful to set out a liberal allowance of +such kinds as are not only beautiful to us, but attractive to the bees, +in process of time the honey resources of the country might be very +greatly increased.</p> + + +<h3>Overstocking a District with Bees.</h3> + +<p>I come now to a point of the very first importance to all interested in +the cultivation of bees. If the opinions which the great majority of +American bee-keepers entertain, are correct, then the keeping of bees +must, in our country, be always an insignificant pursuit. I confess that +I find it difficult to repress a smile, when the owner of a few hives, +in a district where as many hundreds might be made to prosper, gravely +imputes his ill success, to the fact that too many bees are kept in his +vicinity! The truth is, that as bees are frequently managed, they are of +but little value, even though in "a land flowing with milk and honey." +If in the Spring, a colony of bees is prosperous and healthy, (see p. +<a href="#Page_207">207</a>) it will gather abundant stores, even if hundreds equally strong, +are in its immediate vicinity, while if it is feeble, it will be of +little or no value, even if there is not another swarm within a dozen +miles of it.</p> + +<p>Success in bee-keeping requires that a man should be in some things, a +very close imitator of Napoleon, who always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357"> [357]</a></span> aimed to have an +overwhelming force, at the right time and in the right place; so the +bee-keeper must be sure that his colonies are numerous, just at the time +when their numbers can be turned to the best account. If the bees cannot +get up their numbers until the honey-harvest is well nigh gone, numbers +will then be of as little service as many of the famous armies against +which "the soldier of Europe" contended; which, after the fortunes of +the campaign were decided, only served to swell the triumphant spoils of +the mighty conqueror. A bee-keeper with feeble stocks in +the Spring, which become strong only when there is nothing to get, is +like a farmer who contrives to hire no hands to reap his harvests, but +suffers the crops to rot upon the ground, and then at great expense, +hires a number of stalworth laborers to idle about his premises and eat +him out of house and home!</p> + +<p>I do not believe that there is a <i>single square mile</i> in this whole +country, which is overstocked with bees, unless it is one so unsuitable +for bee-keeping as to make it unprofitable to attempt it at all. Such an +assertion will doubtless, appear to many, very unguarded; and yet it is +made advisedly, and I am happy to be able to confirm it, by reference to +the experience of the largest cultivators in Europe. The following +letter from Mr. Wagner, will I trust, do more than I can possibly do in +any other way, to show our bee-keepers how mistaken they are in their +opinion as to the danger of overstocking their districts, and also what +large results might be obtained from a more extensive cultivation of +bees.</p> + +<p class="newsection"> +<span class="signature"><span class="smcap">York</span>, March 16, 1853.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap indent">Dear Sir</span>: +</p> + +<p>In reply to your enquiry respecting the <i>overstocking</i> of a district, I +would say that the present opinion of the correspondents of the +Bienenzeitung, appears to be that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358"> [358]</a></span> <i>cannot readily be done</i>. Dzierzon +says, in practice at least, "<i>it never is done</i>;" and Dr. Radlkofer, of +Munich, the President of the second Apiarian Convention, declares that +his apprehensions on that score were dissipated by observations which he +had opportunity and occasion to make, when on his way home from the +Convention. I have numerous accounts of Apiaries in pretty close +proximity, containing from 200 to 300 colonies each. Ehrenfels had a +thousand hives, at three separate establishments indeed, but so close to +each other that he could visit them all in half an hour's ride; and he +says that in 1801, the average net yield of his Apiaries was $2 per +hive. In Russia and Hungary, Apiaries numbering from 2000 to 5000 +colonies are said not to be unfrequent; and we know that as many as 4000 +hives are oftentimes congregated, in Autumn, at one point on the heaths +of Germany. Hence I think we need not fear that any district of this +country, so distinguished for abundant natural vegetation and +diversified culture, will very speedily be overstocked, particularly +after the importance of having stocks populous early in the Spring, +comes to be duly appreciated. A week or ten days of favorable weather, +at that season, when pasturage abounds, will enable a <i>strong</i> colony to +lay up an ample supply for the year, if its labor be properly directed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kaden, one of the ablest contributors to the Bienenzeitung, in the +number for December, 1852, noticing the communication from Dr. +Radlkofer, says: "I also concur in the opinion that a district of +country cannot be overstocked with bees; and that, however numerous the +colonies, all can procure sufficient sustenance if the surrounding +country contain honey-yielding plants and vegetables, in the usual +degree. Where utter barrenness prevails, the case is different, of +course, as well as rare."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359"> [359]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Fifteenth Annual Meeting of German Agriculturists was held in the +City of Hanover, on the 10th of September, 1852, and in compliance with +the suggestions of the Apiarian Convention, a distinct section devoted +to bee-culture was instituted. The programme propounded sixteen +questions for discussion, the fourth of which was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Can a district of country embracing meadows, arable land, +orchards, and woodlands or forests, be so overstocked with bees, that +these may no longer find adequate sustenance and yield a remunerating +surplus of their products?"</p> + +<p>This question was debated with considerable animation. The Rev. Mr. +Kleine, (nine-tenths of the correspondents of the Bee-Journal are +clergyman,) President of the section, gave it as his opinion that "it +was hardly conceivable that such a country could be overstocked with +bees." Counsellor Herwig, and the Rev. Mr. Wilkens, on the contrary, +maintained that "it might be overstocked." In reply, Assessor Heyne +remarked that "whatever might be supposed possible as an extreme case, +it was certain that as regards the kingdom of Hanover, it could not be +even remotely apprehended that too many Apiaries would ever be +established; and that consequently the greatest possible multiplication +of colonies might safely be aimed at and encouraged." At the same time, +he advised a proper distribution of Apiaries.</p> + +<p>I might easily furnish you with more matter of this sort, and designate +a considerable number of Apiaries in various parts of Germany, +containing from 25 to 500 colonies. But the question would still recur, +do not these Apiaries occupy comparatively isolated positions? and at +this distance from the scene, it would obviously be impossible to give a +perfectly satisfactory answer.</p> + +<p>According to the statistical tables of the kingdom of Hannover, the +annual production of bees-wax in the province of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360"> [360]</a></span> Lunenburg, is 300,000 +lbs., about one half of which is exported; and assuming one pound of wax +as the yield of each hive, we must suppose that 300,000 hives are +annually "<i>brimstoned</i>" in the province; and assuming further, in view +of casualties, local influences, unfavorable seasons, &c., that only +one-half of the whole number of colonies maintained, produce a swarm +each, every year, it would require a total of at least 600,000 colonies, +(141, to each square mile,) to secure the result given in the tables.</p> + +<p>The number of square miles stocked even to this extent, in this country, +are, I suspect, "few and far between." The Shakers at Lebanon, have +about 600 colonies; but I doubt whether a dozen Apiaries equally large +can be found in the Union. It is very evident, that this country is far +from being overstocked; nor it is likely that it ever will be.</p> + +<p>A German writer alleges that "the bees of Lunenburg, pay all the taxes +assessed on their proprietors, and leave a surplus besides." The +importance attached to bee-culture accounts in part for the remarkable +fact that the people of a district so barren that it has been called +"the Arabia of Germany," are almost without exception in easy and +comfortable circumstances. Could not still more favorable results be +obtained in this country under a rational system of management, availing +itself of the aid of science, art and skill?</p> + +<p>But, I am digressing. My design was to furnish you with an account of +bee-culture as it exists <i>in an entire district of country</i>, in the +hands of <i>the common peasantry</i>. This I thought would be more +satisfactory, and convey a better idea of what may be done on a large +scale, than any number of instances which might be selected of splendid +success in isolated cases.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="dedent">Very truly yours,</span><br /> +<span class="dedent2">SAMUEL WAGNER.</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +<span class="smcap indent">Rev. L. L. Langstroth.</span> +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361"> [361]</a></span>The question how far bees will fly in search of honey, has been very +differently answered by different Apiarians. I am satisfied that they +will fly over three miles in search of food, but I believe as a general +rule, that if their food is not within a circle of about two miles in +every direction from the Apiary, they will be able to store up but +little surplus honey. The nearer, the better. In all my arrangements, +(see p. <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.) I have made it a constant study to save <i>every step</i> for +the bees that I possibly can, economizing to the very utmost, their +time, which will all be transmuted into honey; an inspection of the +Frontispiece of this treatise will exhibit the general aspect of the +alighting board of my hives, and will show the intelligent Apiarian, +with what ease bees will enter such a hive, even in very windy weather. +By such arrangements, they will be able to store up more honey, even if +they have to go a considerable distance in search of it, than they would +in many other hives, when the honey abounded in their more immediate +vicinity. Such considerations are entirely overlooked, by most +bee-keepers, and they seem to imagine that they are matters of no +importance. By the utter neglect of any kind of precautions to +facilitate the labors of their bees, you might suppose that they +imagined these delicate insects to be possessed of nerves of steel and +sinews of iron or adamant; or else that they took them for miniature +locomotives, always fired up and capable of an indefinite amount of +exertion. A bee <i>cannot</i> put forth more than a certain amount of +physical exertion, and if a large portion of this is spent in absolutely +fighting against difficulties, from which it might easily be guarded, it +must be very obvious to any one who thinks on the subject at all, that a +great loss must be sustained by its owner.</p> + +<p>If some of these thoughtless owners returning home with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362"> [362]</a></span> a heavy burden, +were compelled to fall down stairs half a dozen times before they could +get into the house, they might perhaps think it best to guard their +industrious workers against such discouraging accidents. If bees are +tossed violently about by the winds, as they attempt to enter their +hives, they are often fatally injured, and the whole colony so +<i>discouraged</i>, to say nothing more, that they do not gather near so much +as they otherwise would.</p> + +<p>The arrangement of my Protector is such that the bees, if blown down, +fall upon a sloping bank of soft grass, and are able to enter the hives +without much inconvenience.</p> + +<p>Just as soon as our cultivators can be convinced, by practical results, +that bee-keeping, for the capital invested, may be made a most +profitable branch of rural economy, they will see the importance of +putting their bees into suitable hives, and of doing all that they can, +to give them a fair chance; until then, the mass of them will follow the +beaten track, and attribute their ill success, not to their own +ignorance, carelessness or stupidity, but to their want of "luck," or to +the overstocking of the country with bees. I hope, before many years, to +see the price of good honey so reduced that the poor man can place it on +his table and feast upon it, as one of the cheapest luxuries within his +reach.</p> + +<p>On page 20, a statement was given of Dzierzon's experience as to the +profits of bee-keeping. The section of country in which he resides, is +regarded by him as unfavorable to Apiarian pursuits. I shall now give +what I consider a safe estimate for almost any section in our country; +while in unusually favorable locations it will fall far below the +results which may be attained. It is based upon the supposition that the +bees are kept in properly constructed hives so as to be strong early in +the season, and that the increase of stocks is limited to one new one +from two old ones. Under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363"> [363]</a></span> proper management, one year with another, +about ten dollars worth of honey may be obtained for every two stocks +wintered over. The worth of the new colonies, I set off as an equivalent +for labor of superintendence, and interest on the money invested in +bees, hives, fixtures, &c.</p> + +<p>A careful, prudent man who will enter into bee-keeping moderately at +first, and extend his operations only as his skill and experience +increase, will, by the use of my hives, find that the preceding estimate +is not too large. Even on the ordinary mode of bee-keeping, there are +many who will consider it rather below than above the mark. If +thoroughly careless persons are determined to "try their luck," as they +call it, with bees, I advise them by all means, in mercy to the bees, to +adopt the non-swarming plan. Improved methods of management with such +persons will be of little or no use, unless you could improve their +habits first, and very often their brains too! Every dollar that such +persons spend upon bees, unless with the slightest possible departure +from the old-fashioned plans, is a dollar worse than thrown away. In +those parts of Europe where bee-keeping is carried on upon the largest +scale, the mass adhere to the old system; this they understand, and by +this they secure a certainty, whereas in our country, thousands have +been induced to enter upon the wildest schemes, or at least to use hives +which could not furnish them the very information needed for their +successful management. A simple box furnished with my frames, will +enable the masses, without departing materially from the common system, +to increase largely the yield from their bees.</p> + +<p>In addition to the information given in the Introduction, respecting the +success of Dzierzon's system of management, I have recently ascertained +that one of its ablest opponents in Germany, has become thoroughly +convinced of its superior<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364"> [364]</a></span> value. The Government of Norway has +appropriated $300, per annum, for the ensuing three years, towards +diffusing a knowledge of Dzierzon's method, in that country; having +previously despatched Mr. Hanser, Collector of Customs, to Silesia to +visit Mr. Dzierzon, and acquire a practical knowledge of his system of +management. He is now employed in distributing model hives, in the +provinces, and imparting information on improved bee-culture.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—The time has hardly come when the attention of any of our +State authorities can be attracted to the importance of bee-culture. +It is only of late that they have seemed to manifest any peculiar +interest in promoting the advancement of agricultural pursuits. A +Department of Agriculture ought to have been established, years ago, +by the National Government at Washington. Let us hope that the +Administration now in power, will establish a lasting claim to the +gratitude of posterity, by taking wise and efficient steps to +advance the agricultural interests of the country. A National +Society to promote these interests has recently been established, +and much may be hoped from its wisdom and energy. Until some +disinterested tribunal can be established, before which all +inventions and discoveries can be fairly tested, honest +men will suffer, and ignorance and imposture will continue to +flourish. Lying advertisements and the plausible misrepresentations +of brazen-faced impostors, will still drain the purses of the +credulous, while thousands, disgusted with the horde of impositions +which are palmed off upon the community, will settle down into a +dogged determination to try nothing new. A society before which +every thing, claiming to be an improvement in rural economy, could +be fairly tested, would undoubtedly be shunned by ignorant and +unprincipled men, who now find it an easy task to procure any number +of certificates, but who dread nothing so much as honest and +intelligent investigation. The reports of such a society after the +most thorough trials and examinations, would inspire confidence, +save the community from severe losses, and encourage the ablest +minds to devote their best energies to the improvement of +agricultural implements.</p></div> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365"> [365]</a></span><br /> +<span class="normal">THE ANGER OF BEES. REMEDY FOR THEIR STING. BEE-DRESS. INSTINCTS OF BEES.</span></h2> + + +<p>If the bee was disposed to use, without any provocation, the effective +weapon with which it has been provided, its domestication would be +entirely out of the question. The same remark however, is equally true +of the ox, the horse or the dog. If these faithful servants of man were +respectively determined to use, to the very utmost their horns, their +heels and their teeth, to his injury, he would never have been able to +subject them to his peaceful authority. The gentleness of the honey-bee, +when kindly treated, and managed by those who properly understand its +instincts, has in this treatise been frequently spoken of, and is truly +astonishing. They will, especially in swarming time, or whenever they +are gorged with honey, allow any amount of handling which does not hurt +them, without the slightest show of anger. For the gratification of +others, I have frequently taken them up, by handfuls, suffered them to +run over my face, and even smoothed down their glossy backs as they +rested on my person! Standing before the hives, I have, by a rapid sweep +of my hands, caught numbers of them at once, just as though they were so +many harmless flies, and allowed them, one by one, to crawl out, by the +smallest opening, to the light of day; and I have even gone so far as to +imitate many of the feats which the celebrated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366"> [366]</a></span> English Apiarian, +Wildman, was accustomed to perform; who having once secured the queen of +a hive, could make the bees cluster on his head, or hang, like a flowing +beard, in large festoons, from his chin. Wildman, for a long time, made +as great a mystery of his wonderful performances, as the spirit-rappers +of the present day, do of theirs; but at last, he was induced to explain +his whole mode of procedure; and the magic control which he possessed +over the bees, and which was, by the ignorant, ascribed to his having +bewitched them, was found to be owing entirely to his superior +acquaintance with their instincts, and his uncommon dexterity and +boldness.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Such was the spell, which round a Wildman's arm<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Twin'd in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bright o'er his breast the glittering legions led,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or with a living garland bound his head.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His dextrous hand, with firm yet hurtless hold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Could seize the chief, known by her scales of gold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Prune 'mid the wondering train her filmy wing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or o'er her folds the silken fetter fling."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>M. Lombard, a skillful French Apiarian narrates the following +interesting occurrence, which shows how peaceable bees are in swarming +time, and how easily managed by those who have both skill and +confidence.</p> + +<p>"A young girl of my acquaintance," he says, "was greatly afraid of bees, +but was completely cured of her fear by the following incident. A swarm +having come off, I observed the queen alight by herself at a little +distance from the Apiary. I immediately called my little friend that I +might show her the queen; she wished to see her more nearly, so after +having caused her to put on her gloves, I gave the queen into her hand. +We were in an instant surrounded by the whole bees of the swarm. In this +emergency I encouraged the girl to be steady, bidding her be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367"> [367]</a></span> silent and +fear nothing, and remaining myself close by her; I then made her stretch +out her right hand, which held the queen, and covered her head and +shoulders with a very thin handkerchief. The swarm soon fixed on her +hand and hung from it, as from the branch of a tree. The little girl was +delighted above measure at the novel sight, and so entirely freed from +all fear, that she bade me uncover her face. The spectators were charmed +with the interesting spectacle. At length I brought a hive, and shaking +the swarm from the child's hand, it was lodged in safety, and without +inflicting a single wound."</p> + +<p>The indisposition of bees to sting, when swarming, is a fact familiar to +every practical bee-keeper: but I have not in all my reading or +acquaintance with Apiarians, ever met with a single observation which +has convinced me that the philosophy of this strange fact was thoroughly +understood. As far as I know, I am the only person who has ever +ascertained that when bees are filled with honey, they lose all +disposition to volunteer an assault, and who has made this curious law +the foundation of an extensive and valuable system of practical +management. It was only after I had thoroughly tested its universality +and importance, that I began to feel the desirableness of obtaining a +perfect control over each comb in the hive; for it was only then that I +saw that such control might be made available, in the hands of any one +who could manage bees in the ordinary way. The result of my whole +system, is to make the bees unusually gentle, so that they are not only +peaceable when any necessary operation is being performed, but at all +other times. Even if I could open hives and safely manage at pleasure, +still if the result of such proceedings was to leave the bees in an +excited state, so as to make them unusually irritable, it would all +avail but very little.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368"> [368]</a></span></p> + +<p>There is, however, one difficulty in managing bees so as not to incur +the risk of being stung at all, which attaches to every system of +bee-culture. If an Apiary is approached when the bees are out in great +numbers, thousands and tens of thousands will continue their busy +pursuits without at all interfering with those who do not molest them. +Frequently, however, there will be a few cross bees which come buzzing +around our ears, and seem determined to sting without the very slightest +provocation. From such lawless bees no person without a bee-dress is +absolutely safe. By repeated examinations I have ascertained that +<i>disease</i> is the cause of such unreasonable irritability. I am never +afraid that a healthy bee will attack me unless unusually provoked; and +am always sure as soon as I hear one singing about my ears that it is +incurably diseased. If such a bee is dissected it will be found to +exhibit the unmistakable evidence that a peculiar kind of dysentery has +already fastened upon its system. In the first stages of this complaint +the insect is very irritable, refuses to labor, and seems unable or +unwilling to distinguish friend from foe. As the disease progresses, it +becomes stupid, its body swells up, and is filled with a great mass of +yellow matter, and being unable to fly, it crawls on the ground, in +front of the hive, and speedily perishes. I have never been able to +ascertain the cause of this singular malady, nor can I suggest any +remedy for it. I hope that some scientific Apiarians will investigate it +closely, for if it could only be remedied, we might have hundreds of +colonies on our premises and in our gardens, and yet be perfectly safe.</p> + +<p>A person thoroughly acquainted with the leading principles of +bee-culture as they are set forth in this Manual, will <i>never under any +circumstances</i> find it necessary to provoke to fury a colony of bees. +Let it be remembered that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369"> [369]</a></span> nothing can be more terribly vindictive than +a family of bees when thoroughly aroused by gross abuse or unskillful +treatment. Let their hive be suddenly overthrown or violently jarred, or +let them be provoked by the presence of a sweaty horse, or any animal +offensive to them, so that the anger at first manifested by a few, is +extended to the whole community, and the most severe and sometimes +dangerous consequences may ensue. In the same way in the management of +the animals most useful to man, by ignorance or abuse, they may be +roused to a state of frantic desperation, and limbs may be broken, and +often lives destroyed; and yet no one possessed of common sense, +attributes such calamities, except in very rare instances, to any thing +else than carelessness or want of skill. Let it be remembered that even +the most peaceable stock of bees can, in a very few days, by abusive +treatment be taught to look on every living thing as an enemy, and to +sally forth with the most spiteful intentions, as soon as any one +approaches their domicile. How often does it happen that the vicious +beast, which its owner so passionately belabors, is far less to blame +for its obstinacy, than the equally vicious brute who so unmercifully +beats it!</p> + +<p>A word now to those timid females who are almost ready to faint, or to +go into hysterics if a bee enters the house, or approaches them in the +garden or fields. Such alarm is entirely uncalled for. It is only in the +vicinity of their homes, and in resistance to what they consider an evil +design upon their very altars and firesides that these insects ever +volunteer an attack. Away from home, they are as peaceably inclined as +you could desire. If you attack them, they are much more eager to escape +than to offer you any annoyance, and they can be induced to sting, only +when they are compressed, either by accident or design.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370"> [370]</a></span></p> + +<p>Let not any of my readers think that they have even a slight +encouragement, from this conduct of the bee, to reserve all their sweet +smiles and honied words for the world abroad, while they give free vent, +in the sacred precincts of home, to ill-natured looks and +ill-tempered language; for towards the occupants of its honied dome, the +bee is all kindness and affection. In the experience of many years I +never saw an instance in which two bees, members of the same family, +ever seemed to be actuated by any but the very kindest feelings toward +each other. In their busy haste they often jostle against each other, +but where every thing is well meant, every thing is well received: tens +of thousands all live together in the sweetest harmony and peace, when +very often if there are only two or three children in a family, the +whole household is tormented by their constant bickerings and +contention. Among the bees the good mother is the honored queen of her +happy family; they all wait upon her steps with unbounded reverence and +affection, make way for her as she moves over the combs, smooth and +brush her beautiful plumes, offer her food from time to time, and in +short do all that they possibly can to make her perfectly happy; while +too often children treat their mothers with irreverence or neglect, and +instead of striving with loving zeal to lighten their labors and save +their steps, they treat them more as though they were servants hired +only to wait upon every whim and to humor every caprice.</p> + +<p>Let us pause for a moment, and contemplate further the admirable +arrangement by which the instinct of the bee which disposes it to defend +its treasures, is made so perfectly compatible with the safety both of +man and the domestic animals under his care. Suppose that away from +home, bees were as easily provoked, as they are in the immediate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371"> [371]</a></span> +vicinity of their hives, what would become of our domestic animals among +the clover fields in the pastures? A tithe of the merry gambols they now +so safely indulge in, would speedily bring about them a swarm of these +infuriated insects. In all our rambles among the green fields, we should +constantly be in peril; and no jocund mower would ever whet his +glittering scythe, or swing his peaceful weapon, unless first clad in a +dress impervious to their stings. In short, the bee, instead of being +the friend of man, would be one of his most vexatious enemies, and as +has been the case with the wolves and the bears, every effort would be +made for their utter extermination.</p> + +<p>The sting of a bee often produces very painful, and upon some persons, +very dangerous effects. I am persuaded, from the result of my own +observation, that the bee seldom stings those whose systems are not +sensitive to its venom, while it seems to take a special and malicious +pleasure in attacking those upon whom it produces the most painful +effects! It may be that something in the secretions of such persons both +provokes the attack, and causes its consequences to be more severe.</p> + +<p>I should not advise persons upon whose system the sting of a bee +produces the most agonizing pain, and violent, if not dangerous +symptoms, to devote any attention to the practical part of an Apiary; +although I am acquainted with a lady who is thus severely affected, and +who yet, strange to say, is a great enthusiast in Apiarian pursuits! I +have met with individuals, upon whom a sting produced the singular +effect of causing their breath to smell like the venom of the enraged +insect! The smell of the poison resembles almost perfectly that of a +ripe banana. It produces a very irritating effect upon the bees +themselves; for if a minute drop of it is extended to them, on a stick, +they at once manifest the most decided anger.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372"> [372]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is well known that the bee is a lover of sweet odors, and that +unpleasant ones are very apt to excite its anger. And here I may as well +speak plainly, and say that bees have a special dislike to persons whose +habits are not cleanly, and particularly to those who bear about them, a +perfume not in the very least resembling those</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">"Sabean odors<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the spicy shores of Araby the blest,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>of which the poet so beautifully discourses. Those who belong to the +family of the "great unwashed," will find to their cost that bees are +decided foes to all of their tribe. The peculiar odor of some persons, +however cleanly, may account for the fact that the bees have such a +decided antipathy to their presence, in the vicinity of their hives. It +is related of an enthusiastic Apiarian, that after a long and severe +attack of fever, he was never able to take any more pleasure in his +bees; his secretions seem to have undergone some change, so that the +bees assailed him as soon as he ventured to approach their hives.</p> + +<p>Nothing is more offensive to bees than the impure breath exhaled from +human lungs; it excites them at once to fury. Would that in their hatred +for impure air, human beings had only a tithe of the sagacity exercised +by bees! It would not be long before the thought of breathing air loaded +with all manner of impurities from human lungs, to say nothing of its +loss of oxygen, would excite unutterable loathing and disgust.</p> + +<p>As the smell of a sweaty horse is very offensive to the bees, it is +never safe to allow these animals to go near a hive, as they are +sometimes attacked and killed by the furious insects. Those engaged in +bee-culture on a large scale, will do well to enclose their Apiaries +with a strong fence, so as to prevent cattle from molesting the hives. +If the Apiary is enclosed by a high fence, with sharp and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373"> [373]</a></span> strong +pickets, and the door is furnished with a strong lock, it will prevent +the losses which in some localities are so common from human pilferers. +Such losses may be guarded against, by fastening a wrought iron ring +into the top of each hive, well clinched on the inside; an iron rod may +run through these rings, and thus with two padlocks and fixtures, (one +at each end,) a dozen or more hives may be secured. I am happy to say +that in most localities such precautions are entirely unnecessary. A +place in which the stealing of honey and fruit is practiced by any +except those who are candidates for State's Prison, is in a fair way of +being soon considered as a very undesirable place of residence. If +owners of Apiaries, gardens and orchards, could be induced to pursue a +more liberal policy, and not be so meanly penurious as they often are, I +am persuaded that they would find it conduce very highly to their +interests. The honey and fruit expended with a cheerful, hearty +liberality, would be more than repaid to them in the good will secured, +and in the end would cost much less than bars and bolts. Reader! do not +imagine that I have the least idea that a thoroughly selfish man, can +ever be made to practice this or any other doctrine of benevolence. +Demonstrate it again and again, until even to his narrow and contracted +view it seems almost as clear as light, still he will never find the +heart to reduce it to practice. You might almost as well expect to +transform an incarnate fiend into an angel of light, by demonstrating +that "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness," while "the path of the +transgressor is hard," as to attempt to stamp upon a heart encrusted +with the adamant of selfishness, the noble impress of a liberal spirit.</p> + +<p>Of all the senses, that of smell in the bee, seems to be the most +perfect. Huber has demonstrated its exceeding acuteness, by numerous +interesting experiments. If honey is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374"> [374]</a></span> placed in vessels from which the +odor can escape, but in which it cannot be seen, the bees will soon +alight upon them and eagerly attempt to find an entrance. It is by this +sense, unquestionably, that they recognize the members of their own +community, although it seems to us very singular that each colony should +have its own peculiar scent. Not only can two colonies be safely united +by giving them the same odor, but in the same way any number of colonies +may be made to live in perfect peace. If hundreds of hives are all +connected by gauze wire ventilators, so that the air passes freely from +one to another, the bees will all live in absolute harmony, and if any +bee attempts to enter the wrong hive, he will not be molested. The same +result can often be attained by feeding colonies from a common vessel. I +have seen literally hundreds of thousands of bees that after being +treated in this way so as to acquire the same odor, were always gentle +towards each other, while if a single bee from a strange Apiary, lit +upon the feeder, it was sure to be killed.</p> + +<p>I have described, (p. <a href="#Page_213">213</a>,) the use which I make of peppermint, in order +to prevent bees from quarreling when they are united. The Rev. Mr. +Kleine, (see p. <a href="#Page_359">359</a>,) in a recent number of the Bienenzeitung, has +recommended the use of another article, which he finds to be very useful +in preventing robbing. His statement would have come in more +appropriately in the Chapter on Robbing, but was not received until too +late. He says that the most convenient and effectual mode of arresting +and repelling the attacks of robbers, is, to impart to the attacked hive +some intensely powerful and unaccustomed odor. He effects this most +readily, by placing a small portion of <i>musk</i> in the attacked hive, late +in the evening, when all the robbers have retreated. On the following +morning, the bees, (provided they have a healthy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375"> [375]</a></span> queen,) will promptly +and boldly meet their assailants, and these in turn are non-plussed by +the unwonted odor, and if any of them enter the hive and carry off some +of the coveted booty, they will not be recognized nor received at home +on their return, on account of their strange smell, but will be at once +seized as strangers, and killed by their own household. Thus the robbing +is speedily brought to a close.</p> + +<p>In combination with my blocks, this device might be made very effectual. +When the Apiarian perceives that a hive is being robbed, let him shut up +the entrance: before dusk he can open it and allow the robbers to go +home, and then: put in a small piece of musk: the entrance next day may +be kept so contracted that only a single bee can enter at once. In the +union of stocks the same substance might be used advantageously. A short +time before the process is attempted, each colony might have a small +dose of musk (a piece of musk tied up in a little bag,) and they would +then be sure to agree. I prefer, however, in most cases, the use of +scented sugar-water.</p> + +<p>By using my double hives, and putting a small piece of gauze-wire on an +opening made in the partition, the two colonies having the same scent +will always agree; this will be very convenient where they are compelled +to live as such near neighbors, and enables the Apiarian at any time to +unite them and appropriate their surplus stores. These double hives are +admirably adapted to the wants of those who wish to make the smallest +possible departure from the old system, as they need make no change, +except to unite the stocks instead of killing the bees.</p> + +<p>I have already remarked that no operation should ever be attempted upon +bees, by which a whole colony is liable to be excited to an ungovernable +pitch of fury. Such operations are <i>never</i> necessary; and a +skillful Apiarian will, by availing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376"> [376]</a></span> himself of the principles laid down +in this Treatise, both easily and safely do everything that is at all +desirable, even to the driving of a powerful colony from an old box +hive. When bees are improperly dealt with, they will "compass" their +assailant "about," with the most savage ferocity, and woe be to him if +they can creep up his clothes, or find on his person a single +unprotected spot! On the contrary, when not provoked by foolish +management or wanton abuse, the few who are bent on mischief, appear to +retain still some touch of grace, amid all their desperation. Like the +thorough bred scold, who by the elevated pitch of her voice, often gives +timely warning to those who would escape from the sharp sword of her +tongue, a bee bent upon mischief raises its note almost an octave above +the peaceable pitch, and usually gives us timely warning, that it means +to sting, if it can. Even then, it will seldom proceed to extremities, +unless it can leave its sting somewhere upon the face of its victim, and +usually as near as possible to the eye; for bees and all other members +of the stinging tribe, seem to have, as it were, an intuitive perception +that this is the most vulnerable spot upon the "human face divine." If +the head is quietly lowered, and the face covered with the hands, they +will often follow a person for some rods, all the time sounding their +war note in his ears, taunting him for his sneaking conduct, and daring +him, just for one single moment, to look up and allow them to catch but +a glimpse of his coward face!</p> + +<p>If a person is suddenly attacked by angry bees, no matter how numerous +or vindictive they may be, not the slightest attempt should ever be made +to act on the offensive. If a single bee is violently struck at, a dozen +will soon be on hand to avenge the insult, and if the resistance is +still continued, hundreds and at last thousands will join in the +attack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377"> [377]</a></span> The assailed party should quickly retreat from the vicinity of +the hives, to the protection of a building, or if none is near, he +should hide himself in a clump of bushes, and lie perfectly still, with +his head covered, until the bees leave him.</p> + + +<h3>Remedies for the Sting of a Bee.</h3> + +<p>If only a few of the host of remedies, so zealously advocated, could be +made effectual, few persons would have much reason to dread being stung. +Most of them, however, are of no manner of use whatever. Like the +prescriptions of the quack, they are absolutely worse than doing nothing +at all.</p> + +<p>The first thing to be done after being stung, is to pull the sting out +of the wound <i>as quickly as possible</i>. Even after it is torn from the +body of the bee, (see p. <a href="#Page_60">60</a>,) the muscles which control it, are in +active operation, and it penetrates deeper and deeper into the flesh, +injecting continually more and more of its poison into the wound. Every +Apiarian should have about his person, or close at hand, a small piece +of looking-glass, so that he may be able with the least possible delay +to find and remove a sting. In most cases if it is at once removed, it +will produce no serious consequences; whereas if suffered to empty all +its vials of wrath, it may cause great inflammation and severe +suffering. After the sting is removed, the utmost possible care should +be taken, not to irritate the wound by the very <i>slightest rubbing</i>. +However intense the smarting, and of course the disposition to apply +friction to the wound, it should never be done, as the poison will at +once be carried through the circulating system, and severe consequences +may ensue. As most of the popular remedies are rubbed in, they are of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378"> [378]</a></span> +course worse than nothing. Be careful not to <i>suck</i> the wound as so many +persons do; this produces irritation in the same way with rubbing. Who +does not know that a musquito bite, even after the lapse of several +days, may be brought to life again, by violent rubbing or sucking? The +moment that the blood is put into a violent and unnatural circulation, +the poison is quickly diffused over a considerable part of the system. +If the mouth is applied to the wound, other unpleasant consequences may +ensue. While the poison of most snakes and many other noxious animals +affects only the circulating system, and may therefore be swallowed with +impunity, the poison of the bee acts powerfully, not only upon the +circulating system, but upon the organs of digestion. The most +distressing head-aches are often produced by it.</p> + +<p>From my own experience, I recommend <i>cold water</i> as the very best remedy +with which I am acquainted, for the sting of a bee. It is often applied +in the shape of a plaster of mud, but may be better used by wetting +cloths and holding them gently to the wound. Cold water seems to act in +two ways. The poison of the bee being very volatile, is quickly +dissolved in water; and the coldness of the water has also a powerful +tendency to check inflammation and to prevent the virus from being taken +up by the absorbents and carried through the system. The leaves of the +plantain, crushed and applied to the wound, will answer as a very good +substitute when water cannot at once be procured. The broad-leafed +plantain, or as some call it, "the toad plantain," is regarded by many +as possessing a very great efficacy. Bevan recommends the use of spirits +of hartshorn, applied to the wound, and says that in cases of severe +stinging its internal use is beneficial. Whatever remedy is applied, +should be used if possible, without a moment's delay.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379"> [379]</a></span> The immediate +extraction of the sting, will be found, even if nothing more is done, +much more efficacious than any remedy that can be applied, after it has +been allowed to remain and discharge all its venom into the wound.</p> + +<p>It may be some comfort to those who are anxious to cultivate bees, to +know that after a while the poison will produce less and less effect +upon their system. When I first became interested in bees, a sting was +quite a formidable thing, the pain often being very intense, and the +wound swelling so as sometimes to obstruct my sight. At present, the +pain is usually slight, and if I can only succeed in quickly extracting +the sting, no unpleasant consequences ensue, even if no remedies are +used. Huish speaks of seeing the bald head of Bonner, a celebrated +practical Apiarian, lined with bee stings which seemed to produce upon +him no unpleasant effects. Like Mithridates, king of Pontus, he seemed +almost to thrive upon poison itself!</p> + +<p>I have met with a highly amusing remedy very gravely propounded by an +old English Apiarian. I mention it more as a matter of curiosity, than +because I imagine that any of my readers will be likely to make trial of +it. He says, let the person who has been stung, catch as speedily as +possible, another bee, and make it sting on the same spot! It requires +some courage even in an enthusiastic disciple of Huber, to venture upon +such a singular homeopathic remedy; but as this old writer had +previously stated that the oftener a person was stung, the less he +suffered from the venom, and as I had proved, in my own experience, the +truth of this assertion, I determined to make trial of his remedy. I +allowed a bee to sting me upon the finger and suffered the sting to +remain until it had discharged all its venom. I then compelled another +bee to insert its sting as near as possible in the same spot. I used no +remedies of any kind, and had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380"> [380]</a></span> the satisfaction, in my zeal for new +discoveries, of suffering more from the pain and swelling, than I had +previously experienced for years.</p> + +<p>An old writer recommends a powder of dried bees, for distressing cases +of stoppages; and some of the highest medical authorities have recently +recommended a tea made by pouring boiling water upon bees, for the same +complaint, while the homeopathic physicians employ the poison of the +bee, which they call <i>apis</i>, for a great variety of maladies. That it is +capable of producing intense head-aches any one who has been stung, or +who has tasted the poison, very well knows.</p> + + +<h3>Bee-Dress.</h3> + +<p>Timid Apiarians, and all who are liable to suffer severely from the +sting of a bee, should by all means furnish themselves with the +protection of a bee-dress. The great objection to gauze-wire veils or +other materials of which such a dress has been usually made, is that +they obstruct clear vision, so highly important in all operations, +besides producing such excessive heat and perspiration, as to make the +Apiarian peculiarly offensive to the bees. I prefer to use what I shall +call a <i>bee-hat</i>, of entirely novel construction. It is made of wire +cloth, the meshes of which are too fine to admit a bee, and yet coarse +enough to allow a free circulation of air, and to permit distinct sight. +The wire cloth should first be fastened together in a circular shape, +like a hat, and large enough to go very easily over the head; its top +may be of cotton cloth, and it should have the same material fastened +around its lower edge, and furnished with strings to draw it so closely +around the neck and shoulders that a bee cannot creep under it. Woolen +stockings may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381"> [381]</a></span> then be drawn over the hands, or better still, India +Rubber gloves, such as are now in very common use, may be worn; these +gloves are impenetrable to the sting of a bee, and yet are so soft and +pliant as scarcely in the least to interfere with the operations of the +Apiarian.</p> + +<p>If it were not for the diseased bees of which I have several times +spoken, such precautions would be entirely unnecessary. The best +Apiarians as it is, dispense with them, even at the cost of a sting now +and then.</p> + + +<h3>Instincts of Bees.</h3> + +<p>This treatise has already grown to such a length, that I must be +exceedingly brief on a point peculiarly interesting to all who delight +in investigating the wonders of the insect world. In the preceding parts +of the work, numerous proofs have been given of the refined instincts of +the bee. It is impossible always to draw the line between instinct and +reason, and very often some of the actions of animals and insects appear +to be the result of a process of reasoning apparently almost the same +with the exercise of the reasoning faculty in man. "There is this +difference" says Mr. Spence, "between intellect in man, and the rest of +the animal creation. Their intellect teaches them to follow the lead of +their senses, and to make such use of the external world as their +appetites or instincts incline them to,—and <i>this is their wisdom</i>: +while the intellect of man, being associated with an immortal principle, +and connected with a world above that which his senses reveal to him, +can, by aid derived from Heaven, control those senses, and render them +obedient to the governing power of his nature; and <i>this is his +wisdom</i>."</p> + +<p>This subject has seldom been more happily expressed than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382"> [382]</a></span> by Mr. Spence. +The line of distinction between man and the lower orders of creation, is +not the mere fact that he reasons and they do not, but that he has a +moral and accountable nature, while they have nothing of +the kind.</p> + +<p>"It will be evident," says Bevan, "that though I make a distinction +between the instinct and the reason of bees, I do not confound their +reason with the reason of man. But to obviate all possibility of +misconception, I will at once define my meaning, when I use the terms +insect reason and instinct."</p> + +<p>"By <i>reason</i>, I mean the power of making deductions from previous +experience or observation, and thereby of adapting means to ends. +<i>Instinct</i> I regard as a disposition and power to perform certain +actions in the same uniform manner, depending upon nice mechanism and +having no reference either to observation or experience; operating on +the means, without anticipation of the end, incited by no hope, +controlled by no foreboding. Those who have attended to this subject, +will be aware that <i>insect reason</i>, as above defined, is more restricted +in its functions than <i>the reason of man</i>; to which is superadded the +power of distinguishing between the true and the false, and, according +to some metaphysicians, between right and wrong. Reason, in man, has a +regular growth and a slow progression; all the arts he practices evince +skill and dexterity, proportioned to the pains which have been taken in +acquiring them. In the lower links of creation, but little of this +gradual improvement is observable; their powers carry them almost +directly to their object. They are perfect, as Bacon says, in all their +members and organs from the very beginning."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Far different Man, to higher fates assign'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unfolds with tardier step his Proteus mind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With numerous Instincts fraught, that lose their force<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like shallow streams, divided in their course;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383"> [383]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Long weak, and helpless, on the fostering breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In fond dependence leans the infant guest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till reason ripens what young impulse taught,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And builds, on sense, the lofty pile of thought;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From earth, sea, air, the quick perceptions rise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And swell the mental fabric to the skies."<br /></span> +<span class="author">Evans.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>I shall here narrate a very remarkable instance of sagacity which seems +to approach as near to human reason, as any thing in the bee which has +ever fallen under my notice. In the year 1851, I had a small model hive +constructed, into which I temporarily placed a swarm of bees. The +particular object which I had in view, was to test the feasibility of +some plans which I had recently devised, for facilitating the storing of +honey in small tumblers. The bees, in a short time, filled the hive and +stored about a dozen glasses with honey. I was called away from them, +for a few days, and was much surprised, on my return, to find that the +honey which had been stored up in the hive and sealed over for Winter +use, was all gone, and the cells filled with eggs and young worms! The +hive stood in a covered bee house, and the bees had built a large +quantity of comb on the <i>outside</i> of the hive, into which they had +transferred the honey taken from the interior. The object of this +unusual procedure was, beyond all question, to give the poor queen a +place within the hive for laying her eggs: for this purpose they +uncapped and emptied all the cells so carefully sealed over, instead of +using the new comb on the outside for the brood.</p> + +<p>Those who wish to study the Natural History of the honey-bee, to the +best advantage, will derive great aid in their investigations, from the +use of my <i>Observing Hives</i>. Each comb in these hives is attached to a +movable frame, and they all admit of easy removal. In this respect the +construction of the hive is entirely new, and while it greatly +facilitates the business of observation, it enables the Apiarian,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384"> [384]</a></span> on +the approach of cool weather, to transfer his bees from a hive in which +they cannot winter, to one of the common construction. As soon as the +weather in the Spring is sufficiently warm, they may again be placed in +the observing hive, in which, (as both sides of every comb admit of +inspection,) every bee can be seen, and all the wonders of the hive are +exposed to the full light of day; (see p. <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.) In the common observing +hives experiments are often conducted with great difficulty, by cutting +away parts of the comb, whereas in mine, they can all be performed by +the simple removal of one of the frames, and if the colony becomes +reduced in numbers, it may, in a few moments, be strengthened by helping +it to maturing brood from one of the other hives. A very intelligent +writer in a description of the different hives exhibited at the World's +Fair, in London, lamented that no method had yet been devised of +enabling bees to cluster, in cool weather, in an observing hive, and +that it was found next to impossible to preserve them in such hives over +Winter. By the use of the movable frames, this difficulty is entirely +obviated.</p> + +<p>I cannot allow this work to come to a close, without acknowledging my +great obligations to Mr. Samuel Wagner, of York, Pennsylvania. To him I +am indebted for a knowledge of Dzierzon's discoveries, and for many +valuable suggestions scattered throughout the Treatise.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The author of this work regrets that his experience does +not enable him to speak with such absolute confidence as to the +character of all the bee keepers whom he has known.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> In this way she is sure to deposit the egg in the cell she +has selected.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> If ever there lived a genuine naturalist, Swammerdam was +the man. In his History of Insects, published in 1737, he has given a +most beautiful drawing of the ovaries of the queen bee. The sac which he +supposed secreted a fluid for sticking the eggs to the base of the cells +is the seminal reservoir or spermatheca.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Bevan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> This work being intended chiefly for practical purposes, I +have thought best to use, as little as possible, the technical terms and +minute anatomical descriptions of the scientific entomologist.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Bevan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Having already spoken of Swammerdam, I shall give a brief +extract from the celebrated Dr. Boerhaave's memoir of this wonderful +naturalist, which should put to the blush, if any thing can, the +arrogance of those superficial observers who are too wise in their own +conceit, to avail themselves of the knowledge of others. +</p> +<p> +"This treatise on Bees proved so fatiguing a performance, that +Swammerdam never afterwards recovered even the appearance of his former +health and vigor. He was almost continually engaged by day in making +observations, and as constantly engaged by night in recording them by +drawings and suitable explanations." +</p> +<p> +"This being summer work, his daily labor began at six in the morning, +when the sun afforded him light enough to survey such minute objects; +and from that hour till twelve, he continued without interruption, all +the while exposed in the open air to the scorching heat of the sun, +bareheaded for fear of intercepting his sight, and his head in a manner +dissolving into sweat under the irresistible ardors of that powerful +luminary. And if he desisted at noon, it was only because the strength +of his eyes was too much weakened, by the extraordinary afflux of light +and the use of microscopes, to continue any longer upon such small +objects, though as discernible in the afternoon, as they had been in the +forenoon." +</p> +<p> +"Our author, the better to accomplish his vast, unlimited views, often +wished for a year of perpetual heat and light to perfect his inquiries, +with a polar night to reap all the advantages of them by proper drawings +and descriptions."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> The formation of swarms will be particularly described in +another chapter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Suppose that we are unable to give a satisfactory answer to +any of these questions, does our ignorance on these points disprove the +<i>fact</i> of the existence of such a jelly?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Bevan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Some very extraordinary instances are related of the +protraction of life in snails. After they had lain in a cabinet above +fifteen years, immersing them in water caused them to revive and crawl +out of their shells.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> A writer in the New England Farmer for March, 1853, +estimates that the mild winter has been worth in the saving of fodder to +the farmers of New Hampshire alone, two and a half millions of dollars! +By suitable arrangements, bees even in the very coldest climates can +have all the advantages of a mild winter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> The cost of the glass for one hive so as to give the air +space all around, if purchased at the wholesale prices will not exceed +25 cts. Where three hives are made in one structure, the glass for the +three will cost less than 50 cents; if double glass is not used, the +expense would be less by one half.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> The observations to test the temperature of the Protector +were made in Greenfield, Massachusetts, in latitude 42 deg. 36 min.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> The beautiful open or Franklin stoves, manufactured by +Messrs. Jagger, Treadwell and Perry, of Albany, deserve the highest +commendation: they economize fuel as well as life and health.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Dr. Scudamore, an English physician who has written a +small tract on the formation of artificial swarms, says that he once +knew "as many as ten swarms go forth at once, and settle and mingle +together, forming literally a monster meeting!" Instances are on record +of a much larger number of swarms clustering together. A venerable +clergyman, in Western Massachusetts, related to me the following +remarkable occurrence. In the Apiary of one of his parishioners, five +swarms lit in one mass. As there was no hive which would hold them, a +very large box was roughly nailed together, and the bees were hived in +it. They were taken up by sulphur in the Fall, when it was perfectly +evident that the five swarms had occupied the same box as independent +colonies. Four of them had commenced their works, each one near a +corner, and the fifth one in the middle, and there was a distinct +interval separating the works of the different colonies. In Cotton's "My +Bee Book," there is a cut illustrating a hive in which two colonies had +built in the same manner.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> I have often spent more than ten minutes in opening and +shutting a single frame in the Huber hive, and even then, have sometimes +crushed some of the bees.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> The scent of the hives, during the height of the gathering +season, will usually inform us from what sources the bees have gathered +their supplies.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> If they cannot obtain it, the Apiarian must himself +furnish it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> The queens taken from such hives may be advantageously +used in forming artificial colonies.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Bevan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Bevan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> A bee, a few days after it is hatched, is as fully +competent for all its duties, as it ever will be, at any subsequent +period of its life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Report on bees to the Essex County Agricultural Society, +1851.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Instead of using sticks, I much prefer to make the +drumming with the open palms of my hands.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> The bees in each colony had probably contracted the same +smell, and could not distinguish friends from foes.</p></div> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Langstroth on the Hive and the +Honey-Bee, by L. 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L. Langstroth + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee + A Bee Keeper's Manual + +Author: L. L. Langstroth + +Release Date: February 11, 2008 [EBook #24583] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Giacomelli, Constanze Hofmann and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images produced by Core +Historical Literature in Agriculture (CHLA), Cornell +University) + + + + + + +[Illustration: + + So work the Honey Bees. + Creatures that by a rule in Nature, teach + The art of order to a peopled kingdom.--_Shakspeare._] + +[Illustration: Worker. Drone. Queen. + +The above are a very accurate representations of the QUEEN, the WORKER +and the DRONE. The group of bees in the title page, represents the +attitude in which the bees surround their Queen or Mother as she rests +upon the comb.] + + + + +LANGSTROTH +ON THE +HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE, + +A Bee Keeper's Manual, + +BY + +REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. + +[Illustration: EVERY GOOD MOTHER SHOULD BE THE +HONORED QUEEN OF A HAPPY FAMILY.] + +NORTHAMPTON: +HOPKINS, BRIDGMAN & COMPANY. +1853. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by +L. L. LANGSTROTH, +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. + + +C. A. MIRICK, PRINTER, GREENFIELD. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This Treatise on the Hive and the Honey-Bee, is respectfully submitted +by the Author, to the candid consideration of those who are interested +in the culture of the most useful as well as wonderful Insect, in all +the range of Animated Nature. The information which it contains will be +found to be greatly in advance of anything which has yet been presented +to the English Reader; and, as far as facilities for practical +management are concerned, it is believed to be a very material advance +over anything which has hitherto been communicated to the Apiarian +Public. + +Debarred, by the state of his health, from the more appropriate duties +of his Office, and compelled to seek an employment which would call him, +as much as possible, into the open air, the Author indulges the hope +that the result of his studies and observations, in an important branch +of Natural History, will be found of service to the Community as well as +to himself. The satisfaction which he has taken in his researches, has +been such that he has felt exceedingly desirous of interesting others, +in a pursuit which, (without any reference to its pecuniary profits,) +is capable of exciting the delight and enthusiasm of all intelligent +observers. The Creator may be seen in all the works of his hands; but in +few more directly than in the wise economy of the Honey-Bee. + + "What well appointed commonwealths! where each + Adds to the stock of happiness for all; + Wisdom's own forums! whose professors teach + Eloquent lessons in their vaulted hall! + Galleries of art! and schools of industry! + Stores of rich fragrance! Orchestras of song! + What marvelous seats of hidden alchemy! + How oft, when wandering far and erring long, + Man might learn truth and virtue from the BEE!" + _Bowring._ + +The attention of Clergymen is particularly solicited to the study of +this branch of Natural History. An intimate acquaintance with the +wonders of the Bee-Hive, while it would benefit them in various ways, +might lead them to draw their illustrations, more from natural objects +and the world around them, and in this way to adapt them better to the +comprehension and sympathies of their hearers. It was, we know, the +constant practice of our Lord and Master, to illustrate his teachings +from the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, and the common walks +of life and pursuits of men. Common Sense, Experience and Religion alike +dictate that we should follow his example. + + L. L. LANGSTROTH. + _Greenfield, Mass., May 25, 1853._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION--CHAPTER I. + +Deplorable state of bee-keeping. New era anticipated, 13. Huber's +discoveries and hives. Double hives for protection against extremes of +temperature, 14. Necessary to obtain complete control of the combs. +Taming bees. Hives with movable bars. Their results important, 15. +Bee-keeping made profitable and certain. Movable frames for comb. Bees +will work in glass hives exposed to the light. Dzierzon's discoveries, +16. Wagner's letter on the merits of Dzierzon's hive and the movable +comb hive, 17. Superiority of movable comb hive, 19. Superiority of +Dzierzon's over the old mode, 20. Success attending it, 22. Bee-Journal +to be established. Two of them in Germany. Important facts connected +with bees heretofore discredited, 23. Every thing seen in observing +hives, 24. + +CHAPTER II. + +BEES CAPABLE OF DOMESTICATION. Astonishment of persons at their +tameness, 25. Bees intended for the comfort of man. Properties fitting +them for domestication. Bees never attack when filled with honey, 26. +Swarming bees fill their honey bags and are peaceable. Hiving of bees +safe, 27. Bees cannot resist the temptation to fill themselves with +sweets. Manageable by means of sugared water, 28. Special aversion to +certain persons. Tobacco smoke to subdue bees should not be used. +Motions about a hive should be slow and gentle, 29. + +CHAPTER III. + +THE QUEEN BEE. THE DRONE. THE WORKER, 30. Knowledge of facts relating to +them, necessary to rear them with profit. Difficult to reason with some +bee-keepers. Queen bee the mother of the colony--described, 31. +Importance of queen to the colony. Respect shown her by the other bees. +Disturbance occasioned by her loss, 32. Bee-keepers cannot fail to be +interested in the habits of bees, 33. Whoever is fond of his bees is +fond of his home. Fertility of queen bees under-estimated. Fecundation +of eggs of the queen bees, 34-36. Huber vindicated. Francis Burnens. +Huber the prince of Apiarians, 35. Dr. Leidy's curious dissections, 37. +Wasps and hornets fertilized like queen bees. Huish's inconsistency, 38. +Retarded fecundation productive of drones only. Fertile workers produce +only drones, 39. Dzierzon's opinions on this subject, 40. Wagner's +theory. Singular fact in reference to a drone-rearing colony. +Drone-laying queen on dissection, unimpregnated. Dzierzon's theory +sustained, 41. Dead drone for queen, mistake of bees, 43. Eggs +unfecundated produce drones. Fecundated produce workers; theory +therefor, 44. Aphides but once impregnated for a series of generations. +Knowledge necessary for success, Queen bee, process of laying, 45. Eggs +described. Hatching, 46. Larva, its food, its nursing. Caps of breeding +and honey cells different, 47. Nymph or pupa, working. Time of +gestation. Cells contracted by cocoons sometimes become too small. Queen +bee, her mode of development, 48. Drone's development. Development of +young bees slow in cool weather or weak swarms. Temperature above 70 +deg. for the production of young. Thin hives, their insufficiency. Brood +combs, danger of exposure to low temperature, 49. Cocoons of drones and +workers perfect. Cocoons of queens imperfect, the cause, 50. Number of +eggs dependent on the weather, &c. Supernumerary eggs, how disposed of, +51. Queen bee, fertility diminishes after her third year. Dies in her +fourth year, 52. Drones, description of. Their proper office. Destroyed +by the bees. When first appear, 53. None in weak hives. Great number of +them. Rapid increase of bees in tropical climates, 54. How to prevent +their over production. Expelled from the hive, 55. If not expelled, hive +should be examined. Provision to avoid "in and in breeding," 56. Close +breeding enfeebles colonies. Working bees, account of. Number in a hive, +58. All females with imperfect ovaries. Fertile workers not tolerated +where there are queens, 59. Honey receptacle. Pollen basket. The sting. +Sting of bees, 60. Often lost in using. Penalty of its loss. Sting not +lost by other insects. Labors of workers, 61. Age of bees, 62. Bees +useful to the last, 63. Cocoons not removed by the bees. Breeding cells +becoming too small are reconstructed. Old comb should be removed. Brood +comb not to be changed every year, 64. Inventors of hives too often men +of "one idea." Folly of large closets for bees, 65. Reason of limited +colonies. Mother wasps and hornets only survive Winter. Queen, process +of rearing, 66. Royal cells, 67. Royal Jelly, 68. Its effect on the +larvae, 69. Swammerdam, 70. Queen departs when successors are provided +for. Queens, artificial rearing, 71. Interesting experiment, 72. +Objections against the Bible illustrated, 73. Huish against Huber, 74. +His objections puerile. Objections to the Bible ditto, 75. + +CHAPTER IV. + +COMB. Wax, how made. Formed of any saccharine substance. Huber's +experiments, 76. High temperature necessary to its composition, 77. Heat +generated in forming. Twenty pounds of honey to form one of wax. Value +of empty comb in the new hive. How to free comb from eggs of the moth, +78. Combs having bee-bread of great value. How to empty comb and replace +it in the hive, 79. Artificial comb. Experiment with wax proposed, 80. +Its results, if successful. Comb made chiefly in the night. 81. Honey +and comb made simultaneously. Wax a non-conductor of heat. Some of the +brood cells uniform in size, others vary, 82. Form of cells +mathematically perfect, 83. Honey comb a demonstration of a "Great First +Cause," 84. + +CHAPTER V. + +PROPOLIS OR BEE GLUE. Whence it is obtained. Huber's experiment, 85. Its +use. Comb varnished with it. The moth deposits her eggs in it, 85. +Propolis difficult for bees to work. Curious use of it by bees, 87. +Ingenuity of bees admirable, 88. + +CHAPTER VI. + +POLLEN OR BEE-BREAD. Whence obtained. Its use. Brood cannot be raised +without it. Pollen nitrogenous. Its use discovered by Huber, 89. Its +collection by bees indicates a healthy queen. Experiment showing the +importance of bee-bread to a colony, 90. Not used in making comb. Bees +prefer it fresh. Surplus in old hives to be used to supply its want to +young hives. Pollen and honey both secured at the same time by bees. +Mode of gathering pollen, 91. Packing down. Bees gather one kind of +pollen at a time. They aid in the impregnation of plants. History of the +bee plain proof of the wisdom of the Creator. Bees made for man, 92. +Virgil's opinion of bees. Rye meal a substitute for pollen. Quantity +used by each colony, 93. Wheat flour a substitute. The improved hive +facilitates feeding bees with meal. The discovery of a substitute for +pollen removes an obstacle to the cultivation of honey bees, 94. + +CHAPTER VII. + +Fifty-four Advantages which ought to be found in an improved hive, +95-110. Some desirable qualities the movable comb hive does not pretend +to! Is the result of years of study and observation. It has been tested +by experience, 111. Not claimed as a perfect hive. Old-fashioned +bee-keepers found most profit, &c. Simplest form of hive, 112. Bee +culture where it was fifty years ago. Best hives. New hive is submitted +to the judgment of candid bee-keepers, 113. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PROTECTION AGAINST EXTREMES OF HEAT, COLD AND DAMPNESS. Many colonies +destroyed by extremes of weather. Evils of thin hives. Bees not torpid +in Winter. When frozen are killed, 114. Take exercise to keep warm. +Perish if unable to preserve suitable degree of warmth. Are often +starved in the midst of plenty. Eat an extra quantity of food in thin, +cold hives, 115. Muscular exertion occasions waste of muscular fiber. +Bees need less food when quiet than when excited. Experiment, wintering +bees in a dry cellar, 116. Protection must generally be given in open +air. None but diseased bees discharge faeces in the hive. Moisture, its +injurious effects. Free air needful in cold weather, with the common +hive, 117. Loss by their flying out in cold weather. Protection against +extremes of weather of the very first importance. Honey, our country +favorable to its production. Colonies in forests strong. Reasons for +this, 118. Russian and Polish bee-keepers successful. Their mode of +management, 119. Objection of want of air answered, 120. Bees need but +little air in Winter if protected. Protection in reference to the +construction of hives. Double hives, preferable to plank. Made warm in +Winter by packing. Double hives, inside may be of glass, 121. Advantages +of glass over wood, 122. Advantages of double glass. Disadvantages of +double hives in Spring. Avoided by the improved hive, 123. Covered +Apiaries exclude the sun in Spring. Reason for discarding them. Sun, its +effect in producing early swarms in thin hives. Protected hives fall for +want of sun. Enclosed Apiaries, nuisances. Thin hives ought to be given +up, they are expensive in waste of honey and bees, 124. Comparative +cheapness of new and old hives, 125. Protector against injurious +weather. Proper location of bees. Preparations for setting hives, 126. +Protector should be open in Summer and banked in Winter. Cheaper than an +Apiary. Summer air of Protector like forest air. In Winter uniform and +mild, 127. Bees will not be enticed out in improper weather. Secures +their natural heat. Dead bees, &c., to be removed in Winter. Temperature +of the Protector, 128. Importance of the Protector. Its economy in food, +129. + +CHAPTER IX. + +VENTILATION. Artificial ventilation produced by bees. Purity of air in +the hive, 130. Bad air fatal to bees, eggs and larvae, 131. Bees when +disturbed need much air. Dysentery, how produced. Post mortem condition +of suffocated bees, 132. Great annoyance of excessive heat. Bees leave +the hive to save the comb. Ventilating instinct wonderful, 133. Should +shame man for his neglect of ventilation. Comparative expense of +ventilation to man and bees, 134. Importance of ventilation to man. Its +neglect induces disease, 135. Plants cannot thrive without free air. The +union of warmth and ventilation in Winter an important question. +House-builder and stove-maker combine against fresh air, 136. Run-away +slave boxed up. Evil qualities of bad air aggravated by heat. Dwellings +and public buildings generally deficient in ventilation. Degeneracy will +ensue, 137. Women the greatest sufferers. Necessity of reform, 138. +Public buildings should be required to have plenty of air. Improved +hive, its adaptedness to secure ventilation, 139. Nutt's hive too +complicated. Ventilation independent of the entrance, 140. Hive may be +entirely closed without incommoding the bees. Ventilators should be +easily removable to be cleansed. Ventilation from above injurious except +when bees are to be moved, 141. Variable size of the entrance adapts it +to all seasons. Ventilators should be closed in Spring. Downing on +ventilation, (note,) 142. + +CHAPTER X. + +SWARMING AND HIVING. Bees swarming a beautiful sight. Poetic description +by Evans. Design of swarming, 143. The honey bee unlike other insects in +its colonizing habits. It is chilled by a temperature below 50 deg. +Would perish in Winter if not congregated in masses. Admirable +adaptation, 144. Swarming necessary. Circumstances in which it takes +place. June the swarming month. Preparations for swarming. Old queen +accompanies the first swarm. No infallible signs of 1st swarming, 145. +Fickleness of bees about swarming. Indications of swarming. Hours of +swarming, 146. Proceedings within the hive before swarming. Interesting +scene. Bells and frying-pans useless, 147. Neglected bees apt to fly +away in swarming. Bees properly cared for seldom do it. Methods of +arresting their flight when started, 148. Conduct of bees in +disagreeable hives, 149. Why bees swarm before selecting a new home. +They rarely cluster without the queen. Interesting experiment, 150. +Scouts to search for new abodes. Scouts sent out before and after +swarming, 151. Bees remain awhile after alighting. Curious incident +stated by Mr. Zollickoffer. Necessity of scouts. Considerations +confirmed, 152. Re-population of the hive, 153. Inability of bees to +find their hive when it has been removed. After swarms, 154. Different +treatment to the cells of dead and living queens. Royal larvae sometimes +protected against the queens. Anger of the queen at such interference, +155. Second swarming, its indications. Time, 156. Double swarms. Third +swarm. After swarms seriously reduce the strength of the hive. Wise +arrangement, 157. After-swarming avoided by the improved hive. +Impregnation of queens. Dangerous for queens to mistake their own hives, +158. Precautions against this. Proper color for hives. Time of laying +eggs. None but worker eggs, the first season, 159. Directions for +hiving. Hives should be painted and well dried. Bees reluctant to enter +thin warm hives in the sun, 160. Management with the improved hives, +161. Drone combs should never be used as guide comb. Pleasure of bees in +finding comb in their new quarters. Bees never voluntarily enter empty +hives. Rubbing the hive with herbs useless, 162. Small trees or bushes +in front of hives. Inexperienced Apiarian should wear a bee-dress. +Moderate dispatch in hiving needful, 163. Process of hiving particularly +described, 164. Old method of hiving should be abandoned, 166. +Importance of speedy hiving. Should be moved as soon as hived. Curious +fact stated by Dr. Scudamore, (note), 167. How to secure the queen. She +does not sting. Hiving before the hives are ready, 168. Another method +of hiving. Natural swarming profitable. Objections to natural swarming. +Common hive gives inadequate winter protection, 169. With it, the bees +often swarm too much. With the improved hive this is avoided. +Disadvantages of returning after-swarms. Third objection, inability to +strengthen small late swarms, 170. Evils of feeble stocks. Fourth +objection, loss of queen irreparable. By the new hive her loss is easily +supplied, 171. Fifth, common hives inconvenient when bees do not swarm. +This objection removed by the new hive. Sixth, the ravages of the moth +easily prevented by the improved hive. Seventh, the old queen, when +infertile, cannot be removed or replaced. Both can be done by the new +hive, 172. + +CHAPTER X. + +(Two Chapters numbered x, by error of the Press.) + +ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. Numerous efforts to dispense with natural swarming. +Difficulties of natural swarming. First, many swarms are lost, 173. +Second, time and labor required. Sabbath labor, 174. Perplexities to +farmers. Third, large Apiaries cannot be established, 175. Fourth, +uncertainty of swarming. Disappointments from this source, 176. Efforts +to devise a surer method, 178. Columellas's mode of obtaining swarms. +Hyginus. Small success which attended, those efforts, Schirach's +discovery, 179. Huber's directions. Not adapted to general use. Dividing +hives in this country unsuitable. Bees without mature queens make no +preparation to rear workers, 180. Dividing hives to multiply colonies +will not answer, 181. Huber's hive even, inadequate. Common dividing +hives unsuccessful. Multiplying by brood comb in an empty hive, vain, +182. Multiplying by removal and substitution useless. Mortality of bees +in working season, 183. Connecting apartments a failure, 184. Many +prefer non-swarming hives, 185. Profitable in honey but calculated to +exterminate the insect. Improved hive good non-swarmer, if desired. +Disadvantages of non-swarming. Queen bee becomes infertile. Remedied by +the use of the improved hive, 186. Practicable mode of artificial +swarming, 187. Bees will welcome to their hives strange bees that come +loaded. Will destroy such as come empty, 188. Forced swarming requires +knowledge of the economy of the bee-hive. Common hives give no facility +for learning the bee's habits. Equalizing a divided swarm, 190. Bees in +parent hive, if removed, to be confined and watered, 191. Bees removed +will return to their old place. Supplying bees with water by a straw. +Water necessary to prepare food for the larvae, 192. New forced swarms to +be returned to the place of the old one, or removed to a distance. +Treatment to wont them to new place in the Apiary, 193. Bees forget +their new locations. Objection to forced swarming in common hives, 194. +Forced swarming by the new hives removes the objection. Mode of forcing +swarms by the new hives, 195. Queen to be searched for. Important that +she should be in the right hive, 196. Convenience of forced swarming in +supplying extra queens. Mode of supplying them. Should be done by day +light and in pleasant weather, 197. Honey-water not to be used. Safety +to the operator. Forced swarming may be performed at mid-day. Advantages +of the shape of the new hive, 198. Huber's observation on the effect of +sudden light in the hive. True solution of the phenomenon. Bees at the +top of the hive, less belligerent than those at the bottom, 199. Sudden +jars to be avoided. Removal of honey-board. Sprinkling with sugar-water, +200. Loosening the frames. Removing the comb. Bees will adhere to their +comb, 201. Natural swarming imitated. How to catch the queen. Frames +protected from cold and robbery by bees. Frames returned to the hive. +Honey-cover, how managed. Motions of bee-keeper to be gentle. Bees must +not be breathed on. Success in the operation certain, 202. New colonies +may be thus formed in ten minutes. Natural swarming wholly prevented. If +attempted by the bees cannot succeed. How to remove the wings of the +queens, 203. Precaution against loss of queen by old age. Advantages of +this, 204. Certainty and ease of artificial swarming with the new hive. +After-swarms prevented if desired, 205. Large harvests of honey and +after-swarming impracticable. Danger of too rapid increase of stocks. +Importance of understanding his object, by the bee-keeper, 206. The +matter made plain, 207. Apiarians dissuaded from more than tripling +their stocks in a year. Tenfold increase of stocks attainable, 209. +Certain increase, not rapid, most needed. Cautions concerning +experiments, 210. Honey, largest yield obtained by doubling colonies. +The process, 211. May be done at swarming time. Bees recognize each +other by smell, 213. Importance of following these directions +illustrated. Process of uniting swarms simplified by the new hive, 214. +Very rapid increase of colonies precarious. Mode of effecting the most +rapid increase, 215. Nucleus system, 217. Can a queen be raised from any +egg? Two sorts of workers, wax workers and nurses, 218. Probable +explication of a difficulty, 219. Experimenting difficult work. Swarming +season best time for artificial swarming. Amusing perplexity of bees on +finding their hive changed, 220. Perseverance of bees. Interesting +incident illustrating it, 221. Novel and successful mode of forming +nuclei, 223. Mode of managing nuclei, 225. Danger of over-feeding. +Increasing stocks by doubling hives, 229. Important rule for multiplying +stocks. How to direct the strength of a colony to the rearing of young +bees, 230. Proper dimensions of hives. Reasons therefor, 231. Easy +construction of the improved hive. Precaution of queen bees in their +combats, 234. Reluctance of bees to receive a new queen. Expedient to +overcome this. Queen nursery, 235. Mode of rearing numerous queens, 237. +Control of the comb the soul of good bee-culture. Objection against +bee-keeping answered, 233. No "royal road" to bee-keeping. A prediction, +239. + +CHAPTER XI. + +ENEMIES OF BEES. Bee-moth, its ravages. Defiance against it, 240. Its +habits. Known to Virgil. Time of appearance. Nocturnal in habits, 241. +Their agility. Vigilance of the bees against the moth. Havoc of sin in +the heart, 242. Disgusting effects of the moth worm in a hive. Wax the +food of the moth larvae. Making their cocoons, 243. Devices to escape the +bees. Time of development, 244. Habits of the female when laying eggs. +Of the worm when hatched, 245. Our climate favorable to the increase of +the moth. Moth not a native of America, 246. Honey, its former plenty. +Present depressure of its culture. Old mode of culture described, 247. +Depredations of the moth increased by patent hives. Aim of patent hives. +Sulphur or starvation, 249. Feeble swarms a nuisance, 250. Notion +prevailing in relation to breaking up stocks. Improved hives valueless +without improved system of treatment, 251. Pretended secrets in the +management of bees. Strong stocks thrive under almost any circumstances, +252. Stocks in costly hives. Circumstances under which the moth succeeds +in a hive, 253. Signs of worms in a hive, 254. When entrenched difficult +to remove. Method of avoiding their ravages, 255. Combs having moth eggs +to be removed and smoked, 257. Uncovered comb to be removed, 258. Loss +of the queen the most fruitful occasion of ravages by the moth. +Experiments on this point, 259. Attempts to defend a queenless swarm +against the moth useless, 260. Strong queenless colonies destroyed when +feeble ones with queens are untouched. Common hives furnish no remedy +for the loss of the queen. Colonies without queens will perish, if not +destroyed by the moth, 261. Strong stocks rob queenless ones. Principal +reasons of protection, 262. Small stocks should have small space. +Inefficiency of various contrivances, 263. Useful precautions when using +common hives. Destroy the larvae of the moth early. Decoy of a woolen +rag, 264. Hollow or split sticks for traps. If the queen be lost, and +worms infest the colony, break it up. Provision of the improved hives +against moths, 265. Moth-traps no help to careless bee-keepers. +Incorrigibly careless persons should have nothing to do with bees, 266. +Worms, how removed from an improved hive. Sweet solutions useful to +catch the moths. Interesting remarks of H. K. Oliver, on the bee-moth, +267. Ravages of mice. Birds. Observations on the king-bird, 269. +Inhumanity and injurious effects of destroying birds, 270. Other +enemies of the bee. Precautions against dysentery. Bees not to be fed on +liquid honey late in the season. Foul brood of the Germans, 271. +Produced by "American Honey." Peculiar kind of dysentery, 272. + +CHAPTER XII. + +LOSS OF THE QUEEN. Queen often lost. Queens of strong hives seldom +perish without providing for successors. Their death commonly occurs +under favorable circumstances, 273. Young queen sometimes matured before +the death of the old one. Superannuated queens incapable of laying +worker eggs. Case of precocious superannuation, 274. Signs that there is +no queen in a hive. Signs of queenless hives, 275. Exhortation to wives, +276. Difficult in common hives, to decide on the condition of the stock. +Always easy with the movable comb hive, 277. Bees sometimes refuse to +accept of aid in their queenless state. Parallel in human conduct. Young +bees in such hives will at once provide for a queen. An appeal to the +young, 278. Hives should be examined early in Spring. Destitute stocks +should be united to others having queens. Reasons therefor. General +treatment in early Spring, 279. Hives should be cleansed in Spring. +Durability and cheapness of hives, 280. Undue regard to mere cheapness. +Various causes destructive of queens, 281. Agitation of the bees on +missing their queen, 282. Treatment of swarms that have lost their +queens, 283. Examination of the hive needful, 284. Examination and +treatment in the Fall. Persons who cannot attend to their bees +themselves, may safely entrust their care to others, 285. Business of +the Apiarian united with that of the gardner. Experiments with queen +bees, 286. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +UNION OF STOCKS. TRANSFERRING BEES. STARTING AN APIARY. Queenless +colonies should be broken up, Spring and Fall. Small colonies should be +united. Animal heat necessary in a hive. Small swarms in Winter consume +much honey, 287. Colonies to be united, should stand side by side. How +to effect this. Removal of an Apiary in the working season, 288. To +secure the largest quantity of honey from a given number of stocks, 289. +Non-swarming plan. Moderate increase best, 290. Transferring bees from +common, to the movable comb hive, 291. Successful experiment. Should not +be attempted in cold weather. The process of transfer, 292. Best time. +May be done at any season when the weather is warm, 294. Precaution +against robbing, 295. Combs should be transferred with the bees, 296. +Caution on trying new hives, 297. Thrifty old swarms. Conditions of +their thrift, 298. Procuring bees to start an Apiary. New early swarms +best. Signs to guide the inexperienced buyer, 299. Directions for +removing old colonies. For removing new swarms, 300. To procure honey +the first season. Novices should begin in a small way. Neglected Apiary, +303. Superstitions about bees. Cautions to the inexperienced, against +transferring, renewed. Parallel between bees and covetous men, 304. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ROBBING. Idleness a great cause of it, 305. Colonies should be examined +and supplied with food in Spring. Appearance of robber bees, 306. Their +suspicious actions. Are real "Jerry Sneaks," 308. Highway robbers, 309. +Bee battles. Subjected bees unite with the conquerors. Cautions against +robbery. Importance of guarding against robbery, 310. Efficiency of the +movable blocks to this end. Comb with honey not to be exposed, 311. +Curious case of robbery, 314. + +CHAPTER XV. + +DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING BEES. Feeding greatly mismanaged. Condition of +the bees should be ascertained in the Spring. They should be supplied if +needy, 315. Many perish from want. Connection between feeding and +breeding in the hive, 316. Caution in feeding necessary. Results of over +feeding, 317. Necessary to feed largely in multiplying stocks. How to +feed weak swarms in Spring, 319. Considerations governing the quantity +of food, 320. Main object to produce bees. Proper condition of an Apiary +at close of honey season, 321. Feeding for Winter attended to in August. +Unsealed honey sours. Sour food is unwholesome to bees. Striking +instance, 322. Spare honey to be apportioned among the stocks. Swarms +with overstocks of honey do not breed so well. Surplus honey in Spring +to be removed, 323. Full frames exchanged for empty ones. Feeble stocks +in Fall, to be broken up. Profits all come from strong swarms. +Composition of a good bee-feed, 324. Directions for feeding with the +improved hive, 325. Feeding useless when but little comb in the hive, +326. Top feeding. Feeder described. Importance of water to bees, 328. +Sugar candy a valuable substitute for honey. Summer feeding, 330. Bees +with proper care need but little feeding. Quantity of honey necessary to +winter a stock, 331. Feeding as a source of profit. Selling W. I. honey +a cheat, 332. Honey not a secretion of the bee. Evaporation of its water +the principal change it undergoes, 334. Folly of diluting the feed of +bees too much. Feeders of cheap honey for market, deceivers or deceived, +335. Artificial liquid honey, 336. Improved Maple sugar, 337. Feeding +bees on artificial honey not profitable, 337. Dangerous feeding bees +without floats. Their infatuation for liquid sweets, 339. Like that of +the inebriate for his cups, 340. Avarice in bees and men, 341. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HONEY. PASTURAGE. OVERSTOCKING. Honey the product of flowers, 342. Honey +dew. Aphides, 343. Qualities of honey, 345. Poisonous honey. Innoxious +by boiling. Preserving honey, 346. Modes of taking honey from the hive. +Objections to glass vessels, 347. Pasteboard boxes preferred. Honey +should be handled carefully. Pattern comb to be used in the boxes. Honey +safely removed, 348. Should not be taken from the bees in large +quantities during honey harvest. Pasturage, 349. The Willow. Sugar Maple +and other honey-yielding trees, 350. Linden tree as an ornament. White +clover, 351. Recommended by Hon. Frederick Holbrook as a grass crop, +352. Sweet-scented clover, 363. Hybrid clover front Sweden, 354. +Buckwheat. Raspberry, 355. Garden flowers. Overstocking, 356. Little +danger of it. Bee-keepers and Napoleon. No overstocking in this country. +Letter from Mr. Wagner on the subject, 357. Flight of bees for food, +361. Advantages of a good hive in saving time and honey. Energies of +bees limited. Bees injured by winds, 362. Protector saves them from +harm. Estimated profits of bee-culture. Advice to the careless, 363. +Value of Dzierzon's system. Adopted by the government of Norway. Want of +National encouragement to agriculture, (note), 364. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ANGER OF BEES. REMEDY FOR THEIR STING. BEE-DRESS. INSTINCTS OF BEES. +Gentleness of the bee, 365. Feats of Wildman. Interesting incident, 366. +Discovery of a universal law. Its importance and results, 367. Cross +bees diseased. Never necessary to provoke a whole colony of bees, 368. +Danger from bees when provoked. A word to females, 369. Kindness of bees +to one another. Contrast with some children, 370. Effects of a sting. +The poison, 371. Peculiar odors offensive to bees. Precautions against +animals and human robbers, 372. Sense of smell in the bee, 373. By this +they distinguish their hive companions. Robbers repelled by odors, 374. +Stocks united by them, 375. Warning given by bees before stinging. How +to act when assaulted by bees, 376. Remedies for the sting, 377. +Bee-dress, 380. Instincts of bees, 381. Distinction between instinct in +animals and reason in men. Remarkable instance of sagacity in bees, 383. +Facilities afforded by the Author's Improved Observing Hive. +Indebtedness of the author to S. Wagner, Esq., 384. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT + +L. L. LANGSTROTH'S MOVABLE COMB HIVE. + +Patented October 5, 1862. + + +Each comb in this hive is attached to a separate, movable frame, and in +less than five minutes they may all be taken out, without cutting or +injuring them, or at all enraging the bees. Weak stocks may be quickly +strengthened by helping them to honey and maturing brood from stronger +ones; queenless colonies may be rescued from certain ruin by supplying +them with the means of obtaining another queen; and the ravages of the +moth effectually prevented, as at any time the hive may be readily +examined and all the worms, &c., removed from the combs. New colonies +may be formed in less time than is usually required to hive a natural +swarm; or the hive may be used as a non-swarmer, or managed on the +common swarming plan. The surplus honey may be taken from the interior +of the hive on the frames or in upper boxes or glasses, in the most +convenient, beautiful and saleable forms. Colonies may be safely +transferred from any other hive to this, at any season of the year, from +April to October, as the brood, combs, honey and all the contents of the +hive are transferred with them, and securely fastened in the frames. +That the combs can always be removed from this hive with ease and +safety, and that the new system, by giving the perfect control over all +the combs, effects a complete revolution in practical bee-keeping, the +subscriber prefers to _prove_ rather than assert. Practical Apiarians +and all who wish to purchase rights and hives, are invited to visit his +Apiary, where combs, honey and bees will be taken from the hives; +colonies which may be brought to him for that purpose, transferred from +any old hive; queens, and the whole process of rearing them constantly +exhibited; new colonies formed, and all processes connected with the +practical management of an Apiary fully illustrated and explained. + +Those who have any considerable number of bees, will find it to their +interest to have at least one movable comb-hive in their Apiary, from +which they may, in a few minutes, supply any colony which has lost its +queen, with the means of rearing another. + +The hive and right will be furnished on the following terms. For an +individual or farm right, five dollars. This will entitle the purchaser +to use and construct for his own use on his own premises, as many hives +as he chooses. The hives are manufactured by machinery, and can probably +be delivered, freight included, at any Railroad Station in New England, +or New York, cheaper than they could be made in small quantities on the +spot. On receipt of a hive, the purchaser can decide for himself, +whether he prefers to make them, or to order them of the Patentee. For +one dollar, postage paid, the book will be sent free by mail. On receipt +of ten dollars, a beautiful hive showing all the combs, (with glass on +four sides,) will be sent with right, freight paid to any railroad +station in New England or New York: a right and hive which will +accommodate _two_ colonies, with glass on each side, for twelve dollars; +for seven dollars, a right and a well made hive that any one can +construct who can handle the simplest tools. In all cases where the +hives are sent out of New England or New York, as the freight will not +be prepaid, a dollar will be deducted from the above prices. + Address + L. L. LANGSTROTH, + _Greenfield, Mass._ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +CHAPTER I. + + +The present condition of practical bee-keeping in this country, is known +to be deplorably low. From the great mass of agriculturists, and others +favorably situated for obtaining honey, it receives not the slightest +attention. Notwithstanding the large number of patent hives which have +been introduced, the ravages of the bee-moth have increased, and success +is becoming more and more precarious. Multitudes have abandoned the +pursuit in disgust, while many of the most experienced, are fast +settling down into the conviction that all the so-called "Improved +Hives" are delusions, and that they must return to the simple box or +hollow log, and "_take up_" their bees with sulphur, in the +old-fashioned way. + +In the present state of public opinion, it requires no little courage to +venture upon the introduction of a new hive and system of management; +but I feel confident that a _new era_ in bee-keeping has arrived, and +invite the attention of all interested, to the reasons for this belief. +A perusal of this Manual, will, I trust, convince them that there is a +better way than any with which they have yet been acquainted. They will +here find many hitherto mysterious points in the physiology of the +honey-bee, clearly explained, and much valuable information never before +communicated to the public. + +It is now nearly fifteen years since I first turned my attention to the +cultivation of bees. The state of my health having compelled me to live +more and more in the open air, I have devoted a large portion of my +time, of late years, to a careful investigation of their habits, and to +a series of minute and thorough experiments in the construction of +hives, and the best methods of managing them, so as to secure the +largest practical results. + +Very early in my Apiarian studies, I procured an imported copy of the +work of the celebrated Huber, and constructed a hive on his plan, which +furnished me with favorable opportunities of verifying some of his most +valuable discoveries; and I soon found that the prejudices existing +against him, were entirely unfounded. Believing that his discoveries +laid the foundation for a more extended and profitable system of +bee-keeping, I began to experiment with hives of various construction. + +The result of all these investigations fell far short of my +expectations. I became, however, most thoroughly convinced that no hives +were fit to be used, unless they furnished _uncommon protection_ against +_extremes_ of _heat_ and more especially of COLD. I accordingly +discarded all thin hives made of inch stuff, and constructed my hives of +_doubled_ materials, enclosing a "dead air" space all around. + +These hives, although more expensive in the first cost, proved to be +much cheaper in the end, than those I had previously used. The bees +_wintered_ remarkably well in them, and swarmed _early_ and with unusual +_regularity_. My next step in advance, was, while I secured my surplus +honey in the most convenient, beautiful and salable forms, so to +facilitate the entrance of the bees into the honey receptacles, as to +secure the largest fruits from their labors. + +Although I felt confident that my hive possessed some valuable +peculiarities, I still found myself unable to remedy many of the +casualties to which bee-keeping is liable. I now perceived that no hive +could be made to answer my expectations unless it gave me the _complete +control of the combs_, so that I might remove any, or all of them at +pleasure. The use of the Huber hive had convinced me that with proper +precautions, the combs might be removed without _enraging_ the bees, and +that these insects were capable of being domesticated or _tamed_, to a +most surprising degree. A knowledge of these facts was absolutely +necessary to the further progress of my invention, for without it, I +should have regarded a hive designed to allow of the removal of the +combs, as too dangerous in use, to be of any practical value. At first, +I used movable slats or bars placed on rabbets in the front and back of +the hive. The bees were induced to build their combs upon these bars, +and in carrying them down, to fasten them to the sides of the hive. By +severing the attachments to the sides, I was able, at any time, to +remove the combs suspended from the bars. There was nothing _new_ in the +use of movable _bars_; the invention being probably, at least, a hundred +years old; and I had myself used such hives on Bevan's plan, very early +in the commencement of my experiments. The chief peculiarity in my +hives, as now constructed, was the facility with which these bars could +be removed without enraging the bees, and their combination with my new +mode of obtaining the surplus honey. + +With hives of this construction I commenced experimenting on a larger +scale than ever, and soon arrived at results which proved to be of the +very first importance. I found myself able, if I wished it, to _dispense +entirely_ with _natural swarming_, and yet to multiply colonies with +much greater _rapidity_ and _certainty_ than by the common methods. I +could, in a _short time, strengthen my feeble colonies_, and furnish +those which had _lost their Queen_ with the means of _obtaining +another_. If I suspected that any thing was the matter with a hive, I +could _ascertain_ its _true condition_, by making a thorough examination +of every part, and if the _worms had gained a lodgment_, I could quickly +_dispossess_ them. In short, I could perform all the operations which +will be explained in this treatise, and I now believed that bee-keeping +could be made _highly profitable_, and as much a matter of _certainty_, +as any other branch of rural economy. + +I perceived, however, that one thing was _yet_ wanting. The _cutting_ of +the combs from their attachments to the _sides_ of the hive, in order to +remove them, was attended with much loss of _time_ to myself and to the +bees, and in order to _facilitate_ this operation, the construction of +my hive was necessarily _complicated_. This led me to invent a method by +which the combs were attached to MOVABLE FRAMES, and suspended in the +hives, _so as to touch neither the top, bottom, nor sides_. By this +device, I was able to remove the combs at pleasure, and if desired, I +could speedily transfer them, bees and all, _without any cutting_, to +another hive. I have experimented largely with hives of this +construction, and find that they answer most admirably, all the ends +proposed in their invention. + +While experimenting in the summer of 1851, with some observing hives of +a peculiar construction, I discovered that bees could be made to work in +glass hives, _exposed to the full light of day_. The notice, in a +Philadelphia newspaper, of this discovery, procured me the pleasure of +an acquaintance with Rev. Dr. Berg, pastor of a Dutch Reformed church in +that city. From him, I first learned that a Prussian clergyman, of the +name of Dzierzon, (pronounced Tseertsone,) had attracted the attention +of crowned heads, by his important discoveries in the management of +bees. Before he communicated the particulars of these discoveries, I +explained to Dr. Berg, my system of management, and showed him my hive. +He expressed the greatest astonishment at the wonderful similarity in +our methods of management, both of us having carried on our +investigations without the slightest knowledge of each other's labors. +Our hives, he found to differ in some very important respects. In the +Dzierzon hive, the combs are not attached to _movable frames_, but to +_bars_, so that they cannot, _without cutting_, be removed from the +hive. In my hive, which is opened _from the top_, any comb may be taken +out, without at all disturbing the others; whereas, in the Dzierzon +hive, which is opened from one of the ends, it is often necessary to +_cut_ and _remove many_ combs, in order to get access to a particular +one; thus, if the _tenth_ comb from the end is to be removed, _nine_ +combs must be first _cut and taken out_. All this consumes a large +amount of time. The German hive does not furnish the surplus honey in a +form which would be found most salable in our markets, or which would +admit of safe transportation in the comb. Notwithstanding these +disadvantages, it has achieved a _great triumph_ in Germany, and given a +_new impulse_ to the cultivation of bees. + +The following letter from Samuel Wagner, Esq., cashier of the bank in +York, Pennsylvania, will show the results which have been obtained in +Germany, by the new system of management, and his estimate of the +superior value of my hive to those in use there. + + YORK, PA., DEC. 24, 1852. + DEAR SIR, + +The Dzierzon theory and the system of bee-management based thereon, were +originally promulgated, _hypothetically_, in the "Eichstadt +Bienenzeitung" or Bee-journal, in 1845, and at once arrested my +attention. Subsequently, when in 1848, at the instance of the Prussian +government, the Rev. Mr. Dzierzon published his "Theory and Practice of +Bee Culture," I imported a copy, which reached me in 1849, and which I +translated prior to January 1850. Before the translation was completed, +I received a visit from my friend, the Rev. Dr. Berg, of Philadelphia, +and in the course of conversation on bee-keeping, mentioned to him the +Dzierzon theory and system, as one which I regarded as new and very +superior, though I had had no opportunity for testing it practically. In +February following, when in Philadelphia, I left with him the +translation in manuscript--up to which period, I doubt whether any other +person in this country had any knowledge of the Dzierzon theory; except +to Dr. Berg I had never mentioned it to any one, save in very general +terms. + +In September, 1851, Dr. Berg again visited York, and stated to me your +investigations, discoveries and inventions. From the account Dr. Berg +gave me, I felt assured that you had devised substantially the _same +system_ as that so successfully pursued by Mr. Dzierzon; but how far +_your hive_ resembled his I was unable to judge from description alone. +I inferred, however, several points of difference. The coincidence as to +system, and the principles on which it was evidently founded, struck me +as exceedingly singular and interesting, because I felt confident that +you had no more knowledge of Mr. Dzierzon and his labors, before Dr. +Berg mentioned him and his book to you, than Mr. Dzierzon had of you. +These circumstances made me very anxious to examine your hives, and +induced me to visit your Apiary in the village of West Philadelphia, +last August. In the absence of the keeper, as I informed you, I took the +liberty to explore the premises thoroughly, opening and inspecting a +number of the hives, and noticing the internal arrangement of the parts. +The result was, that I came away convinced that though your system was +based on the same principles as Dzierzon's, yet that your hive was +almost totally different from his, in construction and arrangement; that +while the same objects _substantially_ are attained by each, your hive +is more simple, more convenient, and much better adapted for general +introduction and use, since the mode of using it can be more easily +taught. Of its ultimate and triumphant success I have no doubt. I +sincerely believe that when it comes under the notice of Mr. Dzierzon, +he will himself prefer it to his own. It in fact combines all the good +properties which a hive ought to possess, while it is free from the +complication, clumsiness, _vain whims_, and decidedly objectionable +features, which characterize most of the inventions which profess to be +at all superior to the simple box, or the common chamber hive. + +You may certainly claim _equal credit_ with Dzierzon for originality in +observation and discovery in the natural history of the honey bee, and +for success in deducing principles and devising a most valuable system +of management from observed facts. But in _invention_, as far as +neatness, compactness, and adaptation of means to ends are concerned, +the sturdy German must yield the palm to you. You will find a case of +similar coincidence detailed in the Westminster Review for October, +1852, page 267, et seq. + +I send you herewith some interesting statements respecting Dzierzon, and +the estimate in which his system is held in Germany. + + Very truly yours, + SAMUEL WAGNER. + REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. + +The following are the statements to which Mr. Wagner refers.-- + +"As the best test of the value of Mr. Dzierzon's system, is the +_results_ which have been made to flow from it, a brief account of its +rise and progress maybe found interesting. In 1835 he commenced +bee-keeping in the common way, with 12 colonies--and after various +mishaps, which taught him the defects of the common hives and the old +mode of management, his stock was so reduced that in 1838 he had +virtually to begin anew. At this period he contrived his improved hive +in its ruder form, which gave him the command over all the combs, and he +began to experiment on the theory which observation and study had +enabled him to devise. Thenceforward his progress was as rapid as his +success was complete and triumphant. Though he met with frequent +reverses--about 70 colonies having been stolen from him, sixty destroyed +by fire, and 24 by a flood--yet in 1846 his stock had increased to 360 +colonies, and he realized from them that year six thousand pounds of +honey, besides several hundred weight of wax. At the same time most of +the cultivators in his vicinity who pursued the common methods, had +fewer hives than they had when he commenced. + +In the year 1848, a fatal pestilence, known by the name of "foul brood," +prevailed among his bees, and destroyed nearly all his colonies before +it could be subdued--only about ten having escaped the malady, which +attacked alike the old stocks and his artificial swarms. He estimates +his entire loss that year at over 500 _colonies_. Nevertheless he +succeeded so well in multiplying by artificial swarms, the few that +remained healthy, that in the fall of 1851 his stock consisted of nearly +400 colonies. He must, therefore, have multiplied his stocks more than +three fold each year." + +The highly prosperous condition of his colonies is attested by the +Report of the Secretary of the Annual Apiarian Convention which met in +his vicinity last spring. This Convention, the fourth which has been +held, consisted of 112 experienced and enthusiastic bee-keepers from +various districts of Germany and neighboring countries, and among them +were some who when they assembled were strong opposers of his system. + +They visited and personally examined the Apiaries of Mr. Dzierzon. The +report speaks in the very highest terms of his success, and of the +manifest superiority of his system of management. He exhibited and +satisfactorily explained to his visitors his practice and principles; +and they remarked, with astonishment, the _singular docility_ of his +bees, and the thorough control to which they were subjected. After a +full detail of the proceedings, the Secretary goes on to say:-- + +"Now that I have seen Dzierzon's method practically demonstrated, I must +admit that it is attended with fewer difficulties than I had supposed. +With his hive and system of management it would seem that bees become at +once more docile than they are in other cases. I consider his system the +simplest and best means of elevating bee-culture to a profitable +pursuit, and of spreading it far and wide over the land--especially as +it is peculiarly adapted to districts in which the bees do not readily +and regularly swarm. His eminent success in re-establishing his stock +after suffering so heavily from the devastating pestilence--in short the +recuperative power of the system demonstrates conclusively, that it +furnishes the best, perhaps the only means of reinstating bee-culture lo +a profitable branch of rural economy. + +Dzierzon modestly disclaimed the idea of having attained perfection in +his hive. He dwelt rather upon the truth and importance of his _theory_ +and _system_ of _management_." + +_From the Leipzig Illustrated Almanac--Report on Agriculture for 1846._ + +"Bee culture is no longer regarded as of any importance in rural +economy." + +From the same for 1851, and 1853. + +"Since Dzierzon's system has been made known an entire revolution in bee +culture has been produced. A new era has been created for it, and +bee-keepers are turning their attention to it with renewed zeal. The +merits of his discoveries are appreciated by the government, and they +recommend his system as worthy the attention of the teachers of common +schools. + +Mr. Dzierzon resides in a poor sandy district of Middle Silesia, which, +according to the common notions of Apiarians, is unfavorable to +bee-culture. Yet despite of this and of various mishaps, he has +succeeded in realizing 900 dollars as the product of his bees in one +season! + +By his mode of management, his bees yield, even in the poorest years, +from 10 to 15 per cent on the capital invested, and where the colonies +are produced by the Apiarian's own skill and labor they cost him only +about one-fourth the price at which they are usually valued. In ordinary +seasons the profit amounts to from 30 to 50 per cent, and in very +favorable seasons from 80 to 100 per cent." + +In communicating these facts to the public, I have several objects in +view. I freely acknowledge that I take an honest pride in establishing +my claims as an independent observer; and as having matured by my own +discoveries, the same system of bee-culture, as that which has excited +so much interest in Germany; I desire also to have the testimony of the +translator of Dzierzon to the superior merits of my hive. Mr. Wagner is +extensively known as an able German scholar. He has taken all the +numbers of the Bee Journal, a monthly periodical which has been +published for more than fifteen years in Germany, and is probably more +familiar with the state of Apiarian culture abroad, than any man in this +country. + +I am anxious further to show that the great importance which I attach to +my system of management, is amply justified by the success of those who +while pursuing the same system with inferior hives, have attained +results, which to common bee-keepers, seem almost incredible. Inventors +are very prone to form exaggerated estimates of the value of their +labors; and the American public has been so often deluded with patent +hives, devised by persons ignorant of the most important principles in +the natural history of the bee, and which have utterly failed to answer +their professed objects, that they are scarcely to be blamed for +rejecting every new hive as unworthy of confidence. + +There is now a prospect that a Bee Journal will before long, be +established in this country. Such a publication has long been needed. +Properly conducted, it will have a most powerful influence in +disseminating information, awakening enthusiasm, and guarding the public +against the miserable impositions to which it has so long been +subjected. + +Two such journals are now published monthly in Germany, one of which has +been in existence for more than 15 years--and their wide circulation has +made thousands well acquainted with those principles, which must +constitute the foundation of any enlightened and profitable system of +culture. + +The truth is that while many of the principal facts in the physiology of +the honey bee have long been familiar to scientific observers, it has +unfortunately happened that some of the most important have been widely +discredited. In themselves they are so _wonderful_, and to those who +have not witnessed them, often _so incredible_, that it is not at all +strange that they have been rejected as fanciful conceits, or bare-faced +inventions. + +Many persons have not the slightest idea that _every thing_ may be +_seen_ that takes place in a bee-hive. But hives have for many years, +been in use, containing only one large comb, enclosed on both sides, by +glass. These hives are darkened by shutters, and when opened, the queen +is exposed to observation, as well as all the other bees. Within the +last two years, I have discovered that with proper precautions, colonies +can be made to work in observing hives, without shutters, and exposed +continually to the _full light of day_; so that observations may be made +at all times, without in the least interrupting the ordinary operations +of the bees. By the aid of such hives, some of the most intelligent +citizens of Philadelphia have seen in my Apiary, the queen bee +depositing her eggs in the cells, and constantly surrounded by an +affectionate circle of her devoted children. They have also witnessed, +with astonishment and delight, all the steps in the mysterious process +of raising queens from eggs which with the ordinary development, would +have produced only the common bees. For more than three months, there +was not a day in which some of my colonies were not engaged in making +new queens to supply the place of those taken from them, and I had the +pleasure of exhibiting all the facts to bee-keepers who never before +felt willing to credit them. As _all_ my hives are so made that each +comb can be taken out, and examined at pleasure, those who use them, can +obtain from them all the information which they need, and, are no longer +forced to take any thing upon trust. + +May I be permitted to express the hope that the time is now at hand, +when the number of practical observers will be so multiplied, that +ignorant and designing men will neither be able to impose their conceits +and falsehoods upon the public, nor be sustained in their attempts to +depreciate the valuable discoveries of those who have devoted years of +observation and experiment to promote the advancement of Apiarian +knowledge. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HONEY BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED OR DOMESTICATED TO A MOST +SURPRISING DEGREE. + + +If the bee had not such a necessary and yet formidable weapon both of +offence and defence, multitudes would be induced to enter upon its +cultivation, who are now afraid to have any thing to do with it. As the +new system of management which I have devised, seems to add to this +inherent difficulty, by taking the greatest possible liberties with so +irascible an insect, I deem it important to show clearly, in the very +outset, how bees may be managed, so that all necessary operations may be +performed in an Apiary, without incurring any serious risk of exciting +their anger. + +Many persons have been unable to control their expressions of wonder and +astonishment, on seeing me open hive after hive, in my experimental +Apiary, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, removing the combs covered with +bees, and shaking them off in front of the hives; exhibiting the queen, +transferring the bees to another hive, and, in short, dealing with them +as if they were as harmless as so many flies. I have sometimes been +asked if the bees with which I was experimenting, had not been +subjected to a long course of instruction, to prepare them for public +exhibition; when in some cases, the very hives which I was opening, +contained swarms which had been brought only the day before, to my +establishment. + +Before entering upon the natural history of the bee, I shall anticipate +some principles in its management, in order to prepare my readers to +receive, without the doubts which would otherwise be very natural, the +statements in my book, and to convince them that almost any one +favorably situated, may safely enjoy the pleasure and profit of a +pursuit, which has been most appropriately styled, "the poetry of rural +economy;" and that, without being made too familiar with a sharp little +weapon, which can most speedily and effectually convert all the poetry +into very sorry prose. + +The Creator intended the bee for the comfort of man, as truly as he did +the horse or the cow. In the early ages of the world, indeed until very +recently, honey was almost the only natural sweet; and the promise of "a +land flowing with milk and honey," had then a significance, the full +force of which it is difficult for us to realize. The honey bee was, +therefore, created not merely with the ability to store up its delicious +nectar for its own use, but with certain properties which fitted it to +be domesticated, and to labor for man, and without which, he would no +more have been able to subject it to his control, than to make a useful +beast of burden of a lion or a tiger. + +One of the peculiarities which constitutes the very foundation, not +merely of my system of management, but of the ability of man to +domesticate at all so irascible an insect, has never, to my knowledge, +been clearly stated as a great and controlling principle. It may be thus +expressed. + +A HONEY BEE NEVER VOLUNTEERS AN ATTACK, OR ACTS ON THE OFFENSIVE, WHEN +IT IS GORGED OR FILLED WITH HONEY. + +The man who first attempted to lodge a swarm of bees in an artificial +hive, was doubtless agreeably surprised at the ease with which he was +able to accomplish it. For when the bees are intending to swarm, they +fill their honey-bags to their utmost capacity. This is wisely ordered, +that they may have materials for commencing operations immediately in +their new habitation; that they may not starve if several stormy days +should follow their emigration; and that when they leave their hives, +they may be in a suitable condition to be secured by man. + +They issue from their hives in the most peaceable mood that can well be +imagined; and unless they are abused, allow themselves to be treated +with great familiarity. The hiving of bees by those who understand their +nature, could almost always be conducted without the risk of any +annoyance, if it were not the case that some improvident or unfortunate +ones occasionally come forth without the soothing supply; and not being +stored with honey, are filled with the gall of the bitterest hate +against all mankind and animal kind in general, and any one who dares to +meddle with them in particular. Such radicals are always to be dreaded, +for they must vent their spleen on something, even though they lose +their life in the act. + +Suppose the whole colony, on sallying forth, to possess such a ferocious +spirit; no one would ever dare to hive them, unless clad in a coat of +mail, at least bee-proof, and not even then, until all the windows of +his house were closed, his domestic animals bestowed in some safe place, +and sentinels posted at suitable stations, to warn all comers to look +out for something almost as much to be dreaded, as a fiery locomotive +in full speed. In short, if the propensity to be exceedingly +good-natured after a hearty meal, had not been given to the bee, it +could never have been domesticated, and our honey would still be +procured from the clefts of rocks, or the hollows of trees. + +A second peculiarity in the nature of the bee, and one of which I +continually avail myself with the greatest success, may be thus stated. + +BEES CANNOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO FILL +THEMSELVES WITH LIQUID SWEETS. + +It would be quite as easy for an inveterate miser to look with +indifference upon a golden shower of double eagles, falling at his feet +and soliciting his appropriation. If then we can contrive a way to call +their attention to a treat of running sweets, when we wish to perform +any operation which might provoke them, we may be sure they will accept +it, and under its genial influence, allow us without molestation, to do +what we please. + +We must always be particularly careful not to handle them roughly, for +they will never allow themselves to be pinched or hurt without thrusting +out their sting to resent such an indignity. I always keep a small +watering-pot or sprinkler, in my Apiary, and whenever I wish to operate +upon a hive, as soon as the cover is taken off, and the bees exposed, I +sprinkle them gently with water sweetened with sugar. They help +themselves with the greatest eagerness, and in a few moments, are in a +perfectly manageable state. The truth is, that bees managed on this plan +are always glad to see visitors, and you cannot look in upon them too +often, for they expect at every call, to receive a sugared treat by way +of a peace-offering. + +I can superintend a large number of hives, performing every operation +that is necessary for pleasure or profit, and yet not run the risks of +being stung, which must frequently be incurred in attempting to manage, +in the simplest way, the common hives. Those who are timid may, at +first, use a bee-dress; though they will soon discard every thing of the +kind, unless they are of the number of those to whom the bees have a +special aversion. Such unfortunates are sure to be stung whenever they +show themselves in the vicinity of a bee-hive, and they will do well to +give the bees a very wide berth. + +Apiarians have, for many years, employed the smoke of tobacco for +subduing their bees. It deprives them, at once, of all disposition to +sting, but it ought never to be used for such a purpose. If the +construction of the hives will not permit the bees to be sprinkled with +sugar water, the smoke of burning paper or rags will answer every +purpose, and the bees will not be likely to resent it; whereas when they +recover from the effect of the tobacco, they not unfrequently remember, +and in no very gentle way, the operator who administered the nauseous +dose. + +Let all your motions about your hives be gentle and slow. Accustom your +bees to your presence; never crush or injure them in any operation; +acquaint yourself fully with the principles of management detailed in +this treatise, and you will find that you have but little more reason to +dread the sting of a bee, than the horns of your favorite cow, or the +heels of your faithful horse. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE QUEEN OR MOTHER-BEE, THE DRONES, AND THE WORKERS; WITH VARIOUS +HIGHLY IMPORTANT FACTS IN THEIR NATURAL HISTORY. + + +Bees can flourish only when associated in large numbers, as a colony. In +a solitary state, a single bee is almost as helpless as a new-born +child; it is unable to endure even the ordinary chill of a cool summer +night. + +If a strong colony of bees is examined, a short time before it swarms, +three different kinds of bees will be found in the hive. + +1st. A bee of peculiar shape, commonly called the _Queen Bee_. + +2d. Some hundreds, more or less, of large bees called _Drones_. + +3d. Many thousands of a smaller kind, called _Workers_ or common bees, +and similar to those which are seen on the blossoms. A large number of +the cells will be found filled with honey and bee-bread; while vast +numbers contain eggs, and immature workers and drones. A few cells of +unusual size, are devoted to the rearing of young queens, and are +ordinarily to be found in a perfect condition, only in the swarming +season. + +The _Queen-Bee_ is the only _perfect female_ in the hive, and all the +eggs are laid by her. The _Drones_ are the _males_, and the _Workers_ +are _females_, whose ovaries or "egg-bags" are so _imperfectly +developed_ that they are incapable of breeding, and which retain the +instinct of females, only so far as to give the most devoted attention +to feeding and rearing the brood. + +These facts have all been demonstrated repeatedly, and are as well +established as the most common facts in the breeding of our domestic +animals. The knowledge of them in their most important bearings, is +absolutely essential to all who expect to realize large profits from an +improved method of rearing bees. Those who will not acquire the +necessary information, if they keep bees at all, should manage them in +the old-fashioned way, which requires the smallest amount either of +knowledge or skill. + +I am perfectly aware how difficult it is to reason with a large class of +bee-keepers, some of whom have been so often imposed upon, that they +have lost all faith in the truth of any statements which may be made by +any one interested in a patent hive, while others stigmatize all +knowledge which does not square with their own, as "book-knowledge," and +unworthy the attention of practical men. + +If any such read this book, let me remind them again, that all my +assertions may be put to the test. So long as the interior of a hive, +was to common observers, a profound mystery, ignorant and designing men +might assert what they pleased, about what passed in its dark recesses; +but now, when all that takes place in it, can, _in a few moments_, be +exposed to the _full light of day_, and every one who keeps bees, can +_see and examine_ for himself, the man who attempts to palm upon the +community, his own conceits for facts, will speedily earn for himself, +the character both of a fool and an impostor. + +THE QUEEN BEE, or as she may more properly be called THE MOTHER BEE, is +the common mother of the whole colony. She reigns therefore, most +unquestionably, by a divine right, as every mother is, or ought to be, a +queen in her own family. Her shape is entirely different from that of +the other bees. While she is not near so bulky as a drone, her body is +longer, and of a more _tapering_, or sugar-loaf form than that of a +worker, so that she has somewhat of a wasp-like appearance. Her wings +are much shorter, in proportion, than those of the drone, or worker; the +under part of her body is of a golden color, and the upper part darker +than that of the other bees. Her motions are usually slow and matronly, +although she can, when she pleases, move with astonishing quickness. + +No colony can long exist without the presence of this all-important +insect. She is just as necessary to its welfare, as the soul is to the +body, for a colony without a queen must as certainly perish, as a body +without the spirit hasten to inevitable decay. + +She is treated by the bees, as every mother ought to be, by her +children, with the most unbounded respect and affection. A circle of her +loving offspring constantly surround her, testifying, in various ways, +their dutiful regard; offering her honey, from time to time, and always, +most politely getting out of her way, to give her a clear path when she +wishes to move over the combs. If she is taken from them, as soon as +they have ascertained their loss, the whole colony is thrown into a +state of the most intense agitation; all the labors of the hive are at +once abandoned; the bees run wildly over the combs, and frequently, the +whole of them rush forth from the hive, and exhibit all the appearance +of anxious search for their beloved mother. Not being able anywhere to +find her, they return to their desolate home, and by their mournful +tones, reveal their deep sense of so deplorable a calamity. Their note, +at such times, more especially when they first realize her loss, is of +a peculiarly mournful character; it sounds something like _a succession +of wails on the minor key_, and can no more be mistaken by the +experienced bee-keeper, for their ordinary, happy hum, than the piteous +moanings of a sick child can be confounded, by an anxious mother, with +its joyous crowings, when overflowing with health and happiness. + +I am perfectly aware that all this will sound to many, much more like +romance than sober reality; but I have determined, in writing this book, +to state facts, however wonderful, just as they are; confident that they +will, before long, be universally received, and hoping that the many +wonders in the economy of the honey bee will not only excite a wider +interest in its culture, but will lead those who observe them, to adore +the wisdom of Him who gave them such admirable instincts. I cannot +refrain from quoting here, the forcible remarks of an English clergyman, +who appears to be a very great enthusiast in bee-culture. + +"Every bee-keeper, if he have only a soul to appreciate the works of +God, and an intelligence of an inquisitive order, cannot fail to become +deeply interested in observing the wonderful instincts, (instincts akin +to reason,) of these admirable creatures; at the same time that he will +learn many lessons of practical wisdom from their example. Having +acquired a knowledge of their habits, not a bee will buzz in his ear, +without recalling to him some of these lessons, and helping to make him +a wiser and a better man. It is certain that in all my experience, I +never yet met with a keeper of bees, who was not a respectable, +well-conducted member of society, and a moral, if not a religious +man.[1] It is evident, on reflection, that this pursuit, if well +attended to, must occupy some considerable share of a man's time and +thoughts. He must be often about his bees, which will help to counteract +the baneful effect of the village inn. "_Whoever is fond of his bees is +fond of his home_," is an axiom of irrefragable truth, and one which +ought to kindle in every one's breast, a favorable regard for a pursuit +which has the power to produce so happy an influence. The love of home +is the companion of many other virtues, which, if not yet developed into +actual exercise, are still only dormant, and may be roused into wakeful +energy at any moment." + +The fertility of the queen bee has been much under-estimated by most +writers. It is truly astonishing. During the height of the breeding +season, she will often, under favorable circumstances, lay from two to +three thousand eggs, a day! In my observing hives, I have seen her lay, +at the rate of six eggs a minute! The fecundity of the female of the +white ant, is much greater than this, as she will lay as many as sixty +eggs a minute! but then her eggs are simply extruded from her body, to +be carried by the workers into suitable nurseries, while the queen bee +herself deposits her eggs in their appropriate cells. + + +ON THE WAY IN WHICH THE EGGS OF THE QUEEN BEE ARE FECUNDATED. + +I come now to a subject of great practical importance, and one which, +until quite recently, has been _attended_ with apparently insuperable +difficulties. + +It has been noticed that the queen bee commences laying in the latter +part of winter, or early in spring, and long before there are any +drones or males in the hive. (See remarks on Drones.) In what way are +these eggs impregnated? Huber, by a long course of the most +indefatigable observations, threw much light upon this subject. Before +stating his discoveries, I must pay my humble tribute of gratitude and +admiration, to this wonderful man. It is mortifying to every scientific +naturalist, and I might add, to every honest man acquainted with the +facts, to hear such a man as Huber abused by the veriest quacks and +imposters; while others who have appropriated from his labors, nearly +all that is of any value in their works, to use the words of Pope, + + "Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, + And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer." + +Huber, in early manhood, lost the use of his eyes. His opponents imagine +that in stating this fact, they have thrown merited discredit on all his +pretended discoveries. But to make their case still stronger, they +delight to assert that he saw every thing through the medium of his +servant Francis Burnens, an ignorant peasant. Now this ignorant peasant +was a man of strong native intellect, possessing that indefatigable +energy and enthusiasm which are so indispensable to make a good +observer. He was a noble specimen of a self-made man, and afterwards +rose to be the chief magistrate in the village where he resided. Huber +has paid the most admirable tribute to his intelligence, fidelity and +indomitable patience, energy and skill. + +It would be difficult to find, in any language, a better specimen of the +true Baconian or _inductive_ system of reasoning, than Huber's work upon +bees, and it might be studied as a model of the only true way of +investigating nature, so as to arrive at reliable results. + +Huber was assisted in his investigations, not only by Burnens, but by +his own wife, to whom he was engaged before the loss of his sight, and +who nobly persisted in marrying him, notwithstanding his misfortune, and +the strenuous dissuasions of her friends. They lived for more than the +ordinary term of human life, in the enjoyment of uninterrupted domestic +happiness, and the amiable naturalist scarcely felt, in her assiduous +attentions, the loss of his sight. + +Milton is believed by many, to have been a better poet, for his +blindness; and it is highly probable that Huber was a better Apiarian, +for the same cause. His active and yet reflective mind demanded constant +employment; and he found in the study of the habits of the honey bee, +full scope for all his powers. All the facts observed, and experiments +tried by his faithful assistants, were daily reported to him, and many +inquiries were stated and suggestions made by him, which would probably +have escaped his notice, if he had possessed the use of his eyes. + +Few have such a command of both time and money as to enable them to +carry on, for a series of years, on a grand scale, the most costly +experiments. Apiarians owe more to Huber than to any other person. I +have repeatedly verified the most important of his observations, and I +take _the greatest delight_ in acknowledging my obligations to him, and +in holding him up to my countrymen, as the PRINCE OF APIARIANS. + +My Readers will pardon this digression. It would have been morally +impossible for me to write a work on bees, without saying at least as +much as this, in vindication of Huber. + +I return to his discoveries on the impregnation of the Queen Bee. By a +long course of experiments most carefully conducted, he ascertained that +like many other insects, she is fecundated in the open air, and on the +wing, and that the influence of this lasts for several years, and +probably for life. He could not form any satisfactory conjecture, as to +the way in which the eggs which were not yet developed in her ovaries, +could be fertilized. Years ago, the celebrated Dr. John Hunter, and +others, supposed that there must be a permanent receptacle for the male +sperm, opening into the passage for the eggs called the oviduct. +Dzierzon, who must be regarded as one of the ablest contributors of +modern times, to Apiarian science, maintains this opinion, and states +that he has found such a receptacle filled with a fluid, resembling the +semen of the drones. He nowhere, to my knowledge, states that he ever +made microscopic examinations, so as to put the matter on the footing of +demonstration. + +In January and February of 1852, I submitted several Queen Bees to Dr. +Joseph Leidy of Philadelphia, for a scientific examination. I need +hardly say to any Naturalist in this country, that Dr. Leidy has +obtained the very highest reputation, both at home and abroad, as a +skillful naturalist and microscopic anatomist. No man in this country or +Europe, was more competent to make the investigations that I desired. He +found in making his dissections, a small globular sac, not larger than a +grain of mustard seed, (about 1/33 of an inch in diameter,) +communicating with the oviduct, and filled with a whitish fluid, which +when examined under the microscope, was found to abound in spermatozoa, +or the animalculae, which are the unmistakable characteristics of the +seminal fluid. Later in the season, the same substance was compared with +some taken from the drones, and found to be exactly similar to it. + +These examinations have settled, on the impregnable basis of +demonstration, the mode in which the eggs of the Queen are vivified. In +descending the oviduct to be deposited in the cells, they pass by the +mouth of this seminal sac or spermatheca, and receive a portion of its +fertilizing contents. Small as it is, its contents are sufficient to +impregnate hundreds of thousands of eggs. In precisely the same way, +the mother wasps and hornets are fecundated. The females alone of these +insects survive the winter, and they begin, single-handed, the +construction of a nest, in which, at first, only a few eggs are +deposited. How could these eggs hatch, if the females which laid them, +had not been impregnated, the previous season? Dissection proves them to +have a spermatheca, similar to that of the Queen Bee. + +Of all who have written against Huber, no one has treated him with more +unfairness, misrepresentation, and I might almost add, malignity, than +Huish. He maintains that the eggs of the Queen are impregnated by the +drones, after she has deposited them in the cells, and accounts for the +fact that brood is produced in the Spring, long before the existence of +any drones in the hive, by asserting that these eggs were deposited and +impregnated late in the previous season, and have remained dormant, all +winter, in the hive: and yet the same writer, while ridiculing the +discoveries of Huber, advises that all the mother wasps should be killed +in the Spring, to prevent them from founding families to commit +depredations upon the bees! It never seems to have occurred to him, that +the existence of a permanently impregnated mother wasp, was just as +difficult to be accounted for, as the existence of a similarly +impregnated Queen Bee. + + +EFFECT OF RETARDED IMPREGNATION ON THE QUEEN BEE. + +I shall now mention a fact in the physiology of the Queen Bee, more +singular than any which has yet been related. + +Huber, while experimenting to ascertain how the Queen was fecundated, +confined some of his young Queens to their hives, by contracting the +entrances, so that they were not able to go in search of the drones, +until three weeks after their birth. To his amazement, these Queens +whose impregnation was thus unnaturally retarded, _never laid any eggs +but such as produced drones_!! + +He tried the experiment again and again, but always with the same +result. Some Bee-Keepers, long before his time, had observed that all +the brood in a hive were occasionally drones, and of course, that such +colonies rapidly went to ruin. Before attempting any explanation of this +astonishing fact, I must call the attention of the reader, to another of +the mysteries of the Bee-Hive, + + +FERTILE WORKERS. + +It has already been remarked, that the workers are proved by dissection +to be females, all of which, under ordinary circumstances, are barren. +Occasionally, some of them appear to be more fully developed than +common, so as to be capable of laying eggs: these eggs, like those of +Queens whose impregnation has been retarded, _always produce drones_! +Sometimes, when a colony has lost its Queen, these drone-laying workers +are exalted to her place, and treated with equal respect and affection, +by the bees. Huber ascertained that these fertile workers were generally +reared in the neighborhood of the young Queens, and he thought that they +received some particles of the peculiar food or jelly on which the +Queens are reared. (See Royal Jelly.) He did not pretend to account for +the effect of retarded impregnation; and made no experiments to +determine the facts, as to the fecundation of these fertile workers. + +Since the publication of Huber's work, nearly 50 years ago, no light has +been shed upon the mysteries of drone-laying Queens and workers, until +quite recently. Dzierzon appears to have been the first to ascertain the +truth on this subject; and his discovery must certainly be ranked as +unfolding one of the most astonishing facts in all the range of +animated nature. This fact seems, at first view, so absolutely +incredible, that I should not dare to mention it, if it were not +supported by the most indubitable evidence, and if I had not, (as I have +already observed,) determined to state all important and well +ascertained facts, without seeking, by any concealments, to pander to +the prejudices of conceited, and often, very ignorant Bee-Keepers. + +Dzierzon advances the opinion that impregnation is not needed in order +that the eggs of the Queen may produce drones; but, that all impregnated +eggs produce females, either workers or Queens; and all unimpregnated +ones, males or drones! He states that he found drone-laying Queens in +several of his hives, whose wings were so imperfect that they could not +fly, and that on examination, they proved to be unfecundated. Hence he +concluded that the eggs of the Queen Bee or fertile worker, had from the +previous impregnation of the egg which produced them, sufficient +vitality to produce the drone, which is a less highly organized insect, +and one inferior to the Queen or workers. It had long been known, that +the Queen deposits drone eggs in the large or drone cells, and worker +eggs in the small or worker cells, and that she makes no mistakes. +Dzierzon inferred, therefore, that there was some way in which she was +able to decide as to the sex of the egg before it was laid, and that she +must have a control over the mouth of the seminal sac, so as to be able +to extrude her eggs, allowing them to receive or not, just as she +pleased, a portion of its fertilizing contents. In this way he thought +she determined the sex, according to the size of the cells in which she +laid them. Mr. Samuel Wagner of York, Pa., has recently communicated to +me a very original and exceedingly ingenious theory of his own, which he +thinks will account for all the facts without admitting that the Queen +Bee has any special knowledge or will on the subject. He supposes that +when she deposits her eggs in the worker cells, her body is slightly +compressed by the size of the cells, and that the eggs, as they pass the +spermatheca, receive in this manner, its vivifying influence. On the +contrary, when she is egg-laying in drone cells, this compression cannot +take place, the mouth of the spermatheca is kept closed, and the eggs +are, necessarily, unfecundated. This theory may prove to be true, but at +present, it is encumbered with some difficulties and requires further +investigation, before it can be considered as fully established. + +Leaving then the question whether the Queen exercises any volition in +this matter, for the present undecided, I shall state some facts which +occurred in the summer of 1852, in my own Apiary, and shall then +endeavor to relieve, as far as possible, this intricate subject from +some of the difficulties which embarrass it. + +In the Autumn of 1852, my assistant found, in one of my hives, a young +Queen, the whole of whose progeny was drones. The colony had been formed +by removing part of the combs containing bees, brood and eggs from +another hive. It had only a few combs, and but a small number of bees. +They raised a new Queen in the manner which will hereafter be +particularly described. This Queen had laid a number of eggs in one of +the combs, and the young bees from some of them were already emerging +from the cells. I perceived, at the first glance, that they were drones. +As there were none but worker cells in the hive, they were reared in +them, and not having space for full development, they were dwarfed in +size, although the bees, in order to give them more room, had pieced out +the cells so as to make them larger than usual! Size excepted, they +appeared as perfect as any other drones. + +I was not only struck with the singularity of finding drones reared in +worker cells, but with the equally singular fact that a young Queen, who +at first lays only the eggs of workers, should be laying drone eggs at +all; and at once conjectured that this was a case of a drone-laying, +unimpregnated Queen, as sufficient time had not elapsed for her +impregnation to be unnaturally retarded. I saw the great importance of +taking all necessary precautions to determine this point. The Queen was +removed from the hive, and carefully examined. Her wings, although they +appeared to be perfect, were so paralized that she could not fly. It +seemed probable, therefore, that she had never been able to leave the +hive for impregnation. + +To settle the question beyond the possibility of doubt, I submitted this +Queen to Dr. Joseph Leidy for microscopic examination. The following is +an extract from his report: "The ovaries were filled with eggs; the +poison sac was full of fluid, and I took the whole of it into my mouth; +the poison produced a strong metallic taste, lasting for a considerable +time, and at first, it was pungent to the tip of the tongue. The +spermatheca was distended with a perfectly colorless, transparent, +viscid liquid, _without a trace of spermatozoa_." + +This examination seems perfectly to sustain the theory of Dzierzon, and +to demonstrate that Queens do not need to be impregnated, in order to +lay the eggs of males. + +I must confess that very considerable doubts rested on my mind, as to +the accuracy of Dzierzon's statements on this subject, and chiefly +because of his having hazarded the unfortunate conjecture that the place +of the poison bag in the worker, is occupied in the Queen, by the +spermatheca. Now this is so completely contrary to fact, that it was a +very natural inference that this acute and thoroughly honest observer, +made no microscopic dissections of the insects which he examined. I +consider myself peculiarly fortunate in having enjoyed the benefit of +the labors of a Naturalist, so celebrated as Dr. Leidy, for microscopic +dissections. The exceeding minuteness of some of the insects which he +has completely figured and described, almost passes belief. + +On examining this same colony a few days later, I obtained the most +satisfactory evidence that these drone eggs were laid by the Queen which +had been removed. No fresh eggs had been deposited in the cells, and the +bees, on missing her, had commenced the construction of royal cells, to +rear if possible, another Queen, a thing which they would not have done, +if a fertile worker had been present, by which the drone eggs had been +laid. + +Another very interesting fact proves that _all_ the eggs laid by this +Queen, were drone eggs. Two of the royal cells were, in a short time, +discontinued, and were found to be empty, while a third contained a +worm, which was sealed over the usual way, to undergo its changes from a +worm to a perfect Queen. + +I was completely at a loss to account for this, as the bees having an +unimpregnated drone-laying Queen, ought not to have had a single female +egg from which they could rear a Queen. + +At first I imagined that they might have _stolen_ it from another hive, +but when I opened this cell, it contained, instead of a queen, _a dead +drone_! + +I then remembered that Huber has described the same mistake on the part +of some of his bees. At the base of this cell, was an extraordinary +quantity of the peculiar jelly or paste, which is fed to the young that +are to be transformed into queens. The poor bees in their desperation, +appear to have dosed the unfortunate drone to death: as though they +expected by such liberal feeding, to produce some hopeful change in his +sexual organization! + +It appears to me that these facts constitute all the links in a perfect +chain, and demonstrate beyond the possibility of doubt, that +unfecundated queens are not only capable of laying eggs, (this would be +no more remarkable than the same occurrence in a hen,) but that these +eggs are possessed of sufficient vitality to produce drones. Aristotle, +who flourished before the Christian era, had noticed that there was no +difference in appearance, between the eggs producing drones and those +producing workers; and he states that drones only are produced in hives +which have no queen; of course the eggs producing them, were laid by +fertile workers. Having now the aid of powerful microscopes, we are +still unable to detect the slightest difference in size or appearance in +the eggs, and this is precisely what we should expect if the same egg +will produce either a worker or a drone, according as it is or is not +impregnated. The theory which I propose, will, I think, perfectly +harmonize with all the observed facts on this subject. + +I believe that after fecundation has been delayed for about three weeks, +the mouth of the spermatheca becomes permanently closed, so that +impregnation can no longer be effected; just as the parts of a flower, +after a certain time, wither and shut up, and the plant is incapable of +fructification. The fertile drone-laying workers, are in my opinion, +physically incapable of being impregnated. However strange it may +appear, or even improbable, that an unimpregnated egg can give birth to +a living being, or that the sex can be dependent on impregnation, we are +not at liberty to reject facts, because we cannot comprehend the reasons +of them. He who allows himself to be guilty of such folly, if he seeks +to maintain his consistency, will be plunged, sooner or later, into the +dreary gulf of atheism. Common sense, philosophy and religion alike +teach us to receive all undoubted facts in the natural and the +spiritual world, with becoming reverence; assured that however +mysterious to us, they are all most beautifully harmonious and +consistent in the sight of Him whose "understanding is infinite." + +There is something analogous to these wonders in the bee, in what takes +place in the aphides or green lice which infest our rose bushes and +other plants. We have the most undoubted evidence that a fecundated +female gives birth to other females, and they in turn to others still, +all of which, without impregnation, are able to bring forth young, until +at length, after a number of generations, perfect males and females are +produced, and the series starts anew! + +The unequaled facilities, furnished by my hives, have seemed to render +it peculiarly incumbent on me, to do all in my power to clear up the +difficulties in this intricate and yet highly important branch of +Apiarian knowledge. All the leading facts in the breeding of bees ought +to be as well known to the bee keeper, as the same class of facts in the +rearing of his domestic animals. A few crude and hasty notions, but half +understood and half digested, will answer only for the old fashioned bee +keeper, who deals in the brimstone matches. He who expects to conduct +bee keeping on a safe and profitable system, must learn that on this, as +on all other subjects, "knowledge is power." + +The extraordinary fertility of the queen bee has already been noticed. +The process of laying has been well described by the Rev. W. Dunbar, a +Scotch Apiarian. + +"When the queen is about to lay, she puts her head into a cell, and +remains in that position for a second or two, to ascertain its fitness +for the deposit which she is about to make. She then withdraws her +head, and curving her body downwards,[2] inserts the lower part of it +into the cell: in a few seconds she turns half round upon herself and +withdraws, leaving an egg behind her. When she lays a considerable +number, she does it equally on each side of the comb, those on the one +side being as exactly opposite to those on the other as the relative +position of the cells will admit. The effect of this is to produce the +utmost possible concentration and economy of heat for developing the +various changes of the brood!" + +Here as at every step in the economy of the bee our minds are filled +with admiration as we witness the perfect adaptation of means to ends. +Who can blame the warmest enthusiasm of the Apiarian in view of a +sagacity which seems scarcely inferior to that of man. + +"The eggs of bees," I quote from the admirable treatise of Bevan, "are +of a lengthened oval shape, with a slight curvature, and of a bluish +white color: being besmeared at the time of laying, with a glutinous +substance,[3] they adhere to the bases of the cells, and remain +unchanged in figure or situation for three or four days; they are then +hatched, the bottom of each cell presenting to view a small white worm. +On its growing so as to touch the opposite angle of the cell, it coils +itself up, to use the language of Swammerdam, like a dog when going to +sleep; and floats in a whitish transparent fluid, which is deposited in +the cells by the nursing-bees, and by which it is probably nourished; it +becomes gradually enlarged in its dimensions, till the two extremities +touch one another and form a ring. In this state it is called a larva or +worm. So nicely do the bees calculate the quantity of food which will be +required, that none remains in the cell when it is transformed to a +nymph. It is the opinion of many eminent naturalists that farina does +not constitute the sole food of the larva, but that it consists of a +mixture of farina, honey and water, partly digested in the stomachs of +the nursing-bees." + +"The larva having derived its support, in the manner above described, +for four, five or six days, according to the season," (the development +being retarded in cool weather, and badly protected hives,) "continues +to increase during that period, till it occupies the whole breadth and +nearly the length of the cell. The nursing bees now seal over the cell, +with a light _brown cover_, externally more or less _convex_, (the cap +of a drone cell is more convex than that of a worker,) and thus +differing from that of a honey cell which is _paler_ and somewhat +_concave_." The cap of the brood cell appears to be made of a mixture of +bee-bread and wax; it is not air tight as it would be if made of wax +alone; but when examined with a microscope it appears to be reticulated, +or full of fine holes through which the enclosed insect can have air for +all necessary purposes. From its texture and shape it is easily thrust +off by the bee when mature, whereas, if it consisted wholly of wax, the +young bee would either perish for lack of air, or be unable to force its +way into the world! Both the material and shape of the lids which seal +up the honey cells are different, because an entirely different object +was aimed at; they are of pure wax to make them air tight and thus to +prevent the honey from souring or candying in the cells! They are +concave or hollowed inwards to give them greater strength to resist the +pressure of their contents! + +To return to Bevan. "The larva is no sooner perfectly inclosed than it +begins to line the cell by spinning round itself, after the manner of +the silk worm, a whitish silky film or cocoon, by which it is encased, +as it were, in a pod. When it has undergone this change, it has usually +borne the name of _nymph_ or _pupa_. The insect has now attained its +full growth, and the large amount of nutriment which it has taken serves +as a store for developing the perfect insect." + +"The _working bee nymph_ spins its cocoon in thirty-six hours. After +passing about three days in this state of preparation for a new +existence, it gradually undergoes so great a change as not to wear a +vestige of its previous form, but becomes armed with a firmer mail, and +with scales of a dark brown hue. On its belly six rings become +distinguishable, which by slipping one over another enables the bee to +shorten its body whenever it has occasion to do so. + +"When it has reached the twenty-first day of its existence, counting +from the moment the egg is laid, it comes forth a perfect winged insect. +The cocoon is left behind, and forms a closely attached and exact lining +to the cell in which it was spun; by this means the breeding cells +become smaller and their partitions stronger, the oftener they change +their tenants; and may become so much diminished in size as not to admit +of the perfect development of full sized bees." + +"Such are the respective stages of the working bee: those of the royal +bee are as follows: she passes three days in the egg and is five a worm; +the workers then close her cell, and she immediately begins spinning her +cocoon, which occupies her twenty four hours. On the tenth and eleventh +days and a part of the twelfth, as if exhausted by her labor, she +remains in complete repose. Then she passes four days and a part of the +fifth as a nymph. It is on the sixteenth day therefore that the perfect +state of queen is attained." + +"The drone passes three days in the egg, six and a half as a worm, and +changes into a perfect insect on the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth day +after the egg is laid." + +"The _development_ of _each species_ likewise proceeds more slowly when +the colonies are weak or the air cool, and when the weather is very cold +it is entirely suspended. Dr. Hunter has observed that the eggs, worms +and nymphs all require a heat above 70 deg. of Fahrenheit for their +evolution." + +In the chapter on protection against extremes of _heat_ and _cold_, I +have dwelt, at some length, upon the importance of constructing the +hives in such a manner as to enable the bees to preserve, as far as +possible, a uniform temperature in their tenement. In thin hives exposed +to the sun, the heat is sometimes so great as to destroy the eggs and +the larvae, even when the combs escape from being melted; and the cold is +often so severe as to check the development of the brood, and sometimes +to kill it outright. + +In such hives, when the temperature out of doors falls suddenly and +severely, the bees at once feel the unfavorable change; they are obliged +in self defence to huddle together to keep warm, and thus large portions +of the brood comb are often abandoned, and the brood either destroyed at +once by the cold, or so enfeebled that they never recover from the +shock. Let every bee keeper, in all his operations, remember that brood +comb must never be exposed to a low temperature so as to become chilled: +the disastrous effects are almost as certain, as when the eggs of a +setting hen are left, for too long a time, by the careless mother. The +brood combs are never safe when taken for any considerable time from the +bees, unless the temperature is fully up to summer heat. + +"[4]The young bees break their envelope with their teeth, and assisted, +as soon as they come forth, by the older ones, proceed to cleanse +themselves from the moisture and exuviae with which they were surrounded. +Both drones and workers on emerging from the cell are, at first grey, +soft and comparatively helpless so that some time elapses before they +take wing. + +"With respect to the cocoons spun by the different larvae, both workers +and drones spin _complete cocoons_, or inclose themselves on every side; +royal larvae construct only _imperfect cocoons_, open behind, and +enveloping only the head, thorax, and first ring of the abdomen; and +Huber concludes, without any hesitation, that the final cause of their +forming only incomplete cocoons is, that they may thus be exposed to the +mortal sting of the first hatched queen, whose instinct leads her +instantly to seek the destruction of those who would soon become her +rivals. + +"If the royal larvae spun complete cocoons, the stings of the queens +seeking to destroy their rivals might be so entangled in their meshes +that they could not be disengaged. 'Such,' says Huber, 'is the +instinctive enmity of young queens to each other, that I have seen one +of them, immediately on its emergence from the cell, rush to those of +its sisters, and tear to pieces even the imperfect larvae. Hitherto +philosophers have claimed our admiration of nature for her care in +preserving and multiplying the species. But from these facts we must now +admire her precautions in exposing certain individuals to a mortal +hazard.'" + +The cocoon of the royal larva is very much stronger and coarser than +that spun by the drone or worker, its texture considerably resembling +that of the silk worm's. The young queen does not come forth from her +cell until she is quite mature; and as its great size gives her abundant +room to exercise her wings she is capable of flying as soon as she quits +it. While still in her cell she makes the fluttering and piping noises +with which every observant bee keeper is so well acquainted. + +Some Apiarians have supposed that the queen bee has the power to +regulate the development of eggs in her ovaries, so that few or many are +produced, according to the necessities of the colony. This is evidently +a mistake. Her eggs, like those of the domestic hen, are formed without +any volition of her own, and when fully developed, must be extruded. If +the weather is unfavorable, or if the colony is too feeble to maintain +sufficient heat, a smaller number of eggs are developed in her ovaries, +just as unfavorable circumstances diminish the number of eggs laid by +the hen; if the weather is very cold, egg-laying usually ceases +altogether. In the latitude of Philadelphia, I opened one of my hives on +the 5th day of February, and found an abundance of eggs and brood, +although the winter had been an unusually cold one, and the temperature +of the preceding month very low. The fall of 1852 was a warm one, and +eggs and brood were found in a hive which I examined on the 21st of +October. Powerful stocks in well protected hives contain some brood, at +least ten months in the year; in warm countries, bees probably breed, +every month in the year. + +It is highly interesting to see in what way the supernumerary eggs of +the queen are disposed of. When the number of workers is too small to +take charge of all her eggs, or when there is a deficiency of bee bread +to nourish the young, (See chapter on Pollen,) or when, for any reason, +she judges it not best to deposit them in cells, she stands upon a comb, +and simply extrudes them from her oviduct, and the workers devour them +as fast as they are laid! This I have repeatedly witnessed in my +observing hives, and admired the sagacity of the queen in economizing +her necessary work after this fashion, instead of laboriously depositing +the eggs in cells where they are not wanted. What a difference between +her wise management and the stupidity of a hen obstinately persisting to +set upon addled eggs, or pieces of chalk, and often upon nothing at all. + +The workers eat up also all the eggs which are dropped, or deposited out +of place by the queen; in this way, nothing goes to waste, and even a +tiny egg is turned to some account. Was there ever a better comment upon +the maxim? "Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of +themselves." + +Do the workers who appear to be so fond of a tit-bit in the shape of a +new laid egg, ever experience a struggle between their appetites and the +claims of duty, and does it cost them some self denial to refrain from +making a breakfast on a fresh laid egg? It is really very difficult for +one who has carefully watched the habits of bees, to speak of his little +favorites in any other way than as though they possessed an intelligence +almost, if not quite, akin to reason. + +It is well known to every breeder of poultry, that the fertility of a +hen decreases with age, until at length, she becomes entirely barren; it +is equally certain that the fertility of the queen bee ordinarily +diminishes after she has entered upon her third year. She sometimes +ceases to lay Worker eggs, a considerable time before she dies of old +age; the contents of the spermatheca are exhausted; the eggs can no +longer be impregnated and must therefore produce drones. + +The queen bee usually dies of old age, some time in her fourth year, +although instances are on record of some having survived a year longer. +It is highly important to the bee keeper who would receive the largest +returns from his bees, to be able, as in my hives, to catch the queen +and remove her, when she has passed the period of her greatest +fertility. In the sequel, full directions will be given, as to the +proper time and mode of effecting it. + +Before proceeding farther in the natural history of the queen bee, I +shall describe more particularly, the other inmates of the hive. + + +THE DRONES OR MALE BEES. + +The drones are, unquestionably, the male bees. Dissection proves that +they have the appropriate organs of generation. They are much larger and +stouter than either the queen or workers; although their bodies are not +quite so long as that of the queen. They have no sting with which to +defend themselves; no proboscis which is suitable for gathering honey +from the flowers, and no baskets on their thighs for holding the +bee-bread. They are thus physically disqualified for work, even if they +were ever so well disposed to it. Their proper office is to impregnate +the young queens, and they are usually destroyed by the bees, soon after +this is completed. + +Dr. Evans the author of a beautiful poem on bees thus appropriately +describes them:-- + + "Their short proboscis sips + No luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips, + From the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal, + Nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal: + On other's toils in pamper'd leisure thrive + The lazy fathers of the industrious hive." + +The drones begin to make their appearance in April or May; earlier or +later, according to climate and the forwardness of the season, and +strength of the stock. They require about twenty-four days for their +full development from the egg. In colonies which are too weak to swarm, +none, as a general rule, are reared: they are not needed, for in such +hives, as no young queens are raised, they would be only useless +consumers. + +The number of drones in a hive is often very great, amounting, not +merely to hundreds, but sometimes to thousands. It seems, at first, very +difficult to understand why there should be so many, especially since it +has been ascertained that a single one will impregnate a queen for life. +But as intercourse always takes place high in the air, the young queens +are obliged to leave the hive for this purpose; and it is exceedingly +important to their safety, that they should be sure of finding one, +without being compelled to make frequent excursions. Being larger than a +worker, and less quick on the wing, they are more exposed to be caught +by birds, or blown down and destroyed by sudden gusts of wind. + +In a large Apiary, a few drones in each hive, or the number usually +found in one, might be amply sufficient. But it must be borne in mind, +that under these circumstances, bees are not in a state of nature. +Before they were domesticated, a colony living in a forest, often had no +neighbors for miles. Now a good stock in our climate, sometimes sends +out three or more swarms, and in the tropical climates, of which the bee +is a native, they increase with astonishing rapidity. At Sydney, in +Australia, a single colony is stated to have multiplied to 300 in three +years. All the new swarms except the first, are led off by a young +queen, and as she is never impregnated until after she has been +established as the head of a separate family, it is important that they +should all be accompanied by a goodly number of drones; and this +renders it necessary that a large number should be produced in the +parent hive. + +As this necessity no longer exists, when the bee is domesticated, the +production of so many drones should be discouraged. Traps have been +invented to destroy them, but it is much better to save the bees the +labor and expense of rearing such a host of useless consumers. This can +readily be done by the use of my hives. The cells in which the drones +are reared, are much larger than those appropriated to the raising of +workers. The combs containing them may be taken out, to have their +places supplied with worker's cells, and thus the over production of +drones may easily be prevented. Some colonies contain so much drone comb +as to be nearly worthless. + +I have no doubt that some of my readers will object to this mode of +management as interfering with nature: but let them remember that the +bee is not in a state of nature, and that the same objection might be +urged against killing off the super-numerary males of our domestic +animals. + +In July or August, soon after the swarming season is over, the bees +expel the drones from the hive. They sometimes sting them, and sometimes +gnaw the roots of their wings, so that when driven from the hive, they +cannot return. If not treated in either of these summary ways, they are +so persecuted and starved, that they soon perish. The hatred of the bees +extends even to the young which are still unhatched: they are +mercilessly pulled from the cells, and destroyed with the rest. How +wonderful that instinct which teaches the bees that there is no longer +any occasion for the services of the drones, and which impels them to +destroy those members of the colony, which, a short time before, they +reared with such devoted attention! + +A colony which neglects to expel its drones at the usual season, ought +always to be examined. The queen is probably either diseased or dead. In +my hives, such an examination may be easily made, the true state of the +case ascertained, and the proper remedies at once applied. (See Chapter +on the Loss of the Queen.) + + +THE PRODUCTION OF SO MANY DRONES NECESSARY, IN A STATE OF NATURE, TO +PREVENT DEGENERACY FROM "IN AND IN BREEDING." + +I have often been able, by the reasons previously assigned, to account +for the necessity of such a large number of drones in a state of nature, +to the satisfaction of others, but never fully to my own. I have +repeatedly queried, why impregnation might not just as well have been +effected _in the hive_, as on the wing, in the open air. Two very +obvious and highly important advantages would have resulted from such an +arrangement. 1st. A few dozen drones would have amply sufficed for the +wants of any colony, even if, (as in tropical climates,) it swarmed half +a dozen times or oftener, in the same season. 2d. The young queens would +have been exposed to none of those risks which they now incur, in +leaving the hive for fecundation. + +I was unable to show how the existing arrangement is best; although I +never doubted that there must be a satisfactory reason for this seeming +imperfection. To suppose otherwise, would be highly unphilosophical, +since we constantly see, as the circle of our knowledge is enlarged, +many mysteries in nature hitherto inexplicable, fully cleared up. + +Let me here ask if the disposition which too many students of nature +cherish, to reject some of the doctrines of revealed religion, is not +equally unphilosophical. Neither our ignorance of all the facts +necessary to their full elucidation, nor our inability to harmonize +these facts in their mutual relations and dependencies, will justify us +in rejecting any truth which God has seen fit to reveal, either in the +book of nature, or in His holy word. The man who would substitute his +own speculations for the divine teachings, has embarked, without rudder +or chart, pilot or compass, upon the uncertain ocean of theory and +conjecture; unless he turns his prow from its fatal course, no Sun of +Righteousness will ever brighten for him the dreary expanse of waters; +storms and whirlwinds will thicken in gloom, on his "voyage of life," +and no favoring gales will ever waft his shattered bark to a peaceful +haven. + +The thoughtful reader will require no apology for the moralizing strain +of many of my remarks, nor blame a clergyman, if forgetting sometimes to +speak as the mere naturalist, he endeavors to find, + + "Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, + _Sermons_ in '_bees_,' and 'GOD' in every thing." + +To return to the point from which I have digressed; a new attempt to +account for the existence of so many drones. If a farmer persists in +what is called "breeding in and in," that is, from the same stock +without changing the blood, it is well known that a rapid degeneracy is +the inevitable consequence. This law extends, as far as we know, to all +animal life, and even man is not exempt from its influence. Have we any +reason to suppose that the bee is an exception? or that ultimate +degeneracy would not ensue, unless some provision was made to counteract +the tendency to in and in breeding? If fecundation had taken place in +the hive, the queen bee must of necessity, have been impregnated by +drones from a common parent, and the same result must have taken place +in each successive generation, until the whole species would eventually +have "run out." By the present arrangement, the young females, when they +leave the hive, often find the air swarming with drones, many of which +belong to other colonies, and thus by crossing the breed, a provision is +constantly made to prevent deterioration. + +Experience has proved not only that it is unnecessary to impregnation +that there should be drones in the colony of the young queen, but that +this may be effected even when there are no drones in the Apiary, and +none except at some considerable distance. Intercourse takes place very +high in the air, (perhaps that less risk may be incurred from birds,) +and this is the more favorable to the continual crossing of stocks. + +I am strongly persuaded that the decay of many flourishing stocks, even +when managed with great care, is to be attributed to the fact that they +have become enfeebled by "close breeding," and are thus unable to resist +the injurious influences which were comparatively harmless when the bees +were in a state of high physical vigor. I shall, in the chapter on +Artificial Swarming, explain in what way, by the use of my hives, the +stock of bees may be easily crossed, when a cultivator is too remote +from other Apiaries, to depend upon its being naturally effected. + + +THE WORKERS OR COMMON BEES. + +The number of workers in a hive varies very much. A good swarm ought to +contain 15,000 or 20,000; and in large hives, strong colonies which are +not reduced by swarming, frequently number two or three times as many, +during the height of the breeding season. We have well-authenticated +instances of stocks much more populous than this. The Polish hives will +hold several bushels, and yet we are informed by Mr. Dohiogost, that +they swarm regularly, and that the swarms are so powerful that "they +resemble a little cloud in the air." I shall hereafter consider how the +size of the hive affects the number of bees that it may be expected to +produce. + +The workers, (as has been already stated,) are all females whose ovaries +are too imperfectly developed to admit of their laying eggs. For a long +time, they were regarded as neither males nor females, and were called +Neuters; but more careful microscopic examinations have enabled us to +detect the rudiments of their ovaries, and thus to determine their sex. +The accuracy of these examinations has been verified by the well-known +facts respecting _fertile workers_. + +Riem, a German Apiarian, first discovered that workers sometimes lay +eggs. Huber, in the course of his investigations on this subject, +ascertained that such workers were raised in hives that had lost their +queen, and in the vicinity of the royal cells in which young queens were +being reared. He conjectured that they received accidentally, a small +portion of the peculiar food of these infant queens, and in this way, he +accounted for their reproductive organs being more developed than those +of other workers. Workers reared in such hives, are in close proximity +to the young queens, and there is certainly much probability that some +of the royal jelly may be accidentally dropped into their cells; as, in +these hives, the queen cells when first commenced are parallel to the +horizon, instead of being perpendicular to it, as they are in other +hives. I do not feel confident, however, that they are not sometimes +bred in hives which have not lost their queen. The kind of eggs laid by +these fertile workers, has already been noticed. Such workers are seldom +tolerated in hives containing a fertile, healthy queen, though instances +of this kind have been known to occur. The worker is much smaller than +either the queen or the drone.[5] It is furnished with a tongue or +proboscis, of the most curious and complicated structure, which, when +not in use, is nicely folded under its abdomen; with this, it licks or +brushes up the honey, which is thence conveyed to its honey-bag. This +receptacle is not larger than a very small pea, and is so perfectly +transparent, as to appear when filled, of the same color with its +contents; it is properly the first stomach of the bee, and is surrounded +by muscles which enable the bee to compress it, and empty its contents +through her proboscis into the cells. (See Chapter on Honey.) + +The hinder legs of the worker are furnished with a spoon-shaped hollow +or basket, to receive the pollen or bee bread which she gathers from the +flowers. (See Chapter on Pollen.) + +Every worker is armed with a formidable sting, and when provoked, makes +instant and effectual use of her natural weapon. The sting, when +subjected to microscopic examination, exhibits a very curious and +complicated mechanism. "It is moved[6] by muscles which, though +invisible to the eye, are yet strong enough to force the sting, to the +depth of one twelfth of an inch, through the thick skin of a man's hand. +At its root are situated two glands by which the poison is secreted: +these glands uniting in one duct, eject the venemous liquid along the +groove, formed by the junction of the two piercers. There are four barbs +on the outside of each piercer: when the insect is prepared to sting, +one of these piercers, having its point a little longer than the other, +first darts into the flesh, and being fixed by its foremost beard, the +other strikes in also, and they alternately penetrate deeper and deeper, +till they acquire a firm hold of the flesh with their barbed hooks, and +then follows the sheath, conveying the poison into the wound. The action +of the sting, says Paley, affords an example of the union of _chemistry_ +and mechanism; of chemistry in respect to the _venom_, which can produce +such powerful effects; of mechanism as the sting is a compound +instrument. The machinery would have been comparatively useless had it +not been for the chemical process, by which in the insect's body _honey_ +is converted into _poison_; and on the other hand, the poison would have +been ineffectual, without an instrument to wound, and a syringe to +inject it." + +"Upon examining the edge of a very keen razor by the microscope, it +appears as broad as the back of a pretty thick knife, rough, uneven, and +full of notches and furrows, and so far from anything like sharpness, +that an instrument, as blunt as this seemed to be, would not serve even +to cleave wood. An exceedingly small needle being also examined, it +resembled a rough iron bar out of a smith's forge. The sting of a bee +viewed through the same instrument, showed everywhere a polish amazingly +beautiful, without the least flaw, blemish, or inequality, and ended in +a point too fine to be discerned." + +The extremity of the sting being barbed like an arrow, the bee can +seldom withdraw it, if the substance into which she darts it is at all +tenacious. In losing her sting she parts with a portion of her +intestines, and of necessity, soon perishes. + +As the loss of the sting is always fatal to the bees, they pay a dear +penalty for the exercise of their patriotic instincts; but they always +seem ready, (except when they have taken "a drop too much," and are +gorged with honey,) to die in defence of their home and treasures; or as +the poet has expressed it, they + + "Deem life itself to vengeance well resign'd, + Die on the wound, and leave their sting behind." + +Hornets, wasps and other stinging insects are able to withdraw their +stings from the wound. I have never seen any attempt to account for the +exception in the case of the honey bee. But if the Creator intended the +bee for the use of man, as He most certainly did, has He not given it +this peculiarity, to make it less formidable, and therefore more +completely subject to human control? Without a sting, it would have +stood no chance of defending its tempting sweets against a host of +greedy depredators; but if it could sting a number of times, it would be +much more difficult to bring it into a state of thorough domestication. +A quiver full of arrows in the hand of a skilful marksman, is far more +to be dreaded than a single shaft. + +The defence of the colony against enemies, the construction of the +cells, the storing of them with honey and bee-bread, the rearing of the +young, in short, the whole work of the hive, the laying of eggs +excepted, is carried on by the industrious little workers. + +There may be _gentlemen_ of leisure in the commonwealth of bees, but +most assuredly there are no such _ladies_, whether of high or low +degree. The queen herself, has her full share of duties, for it must be +admitted that the royal office is no sinecure, when the mother who fills +it, must superintend daily the proper deposition of several thousand +eggs! + + +AGE OF BEES. + +The queen bee, (as has been already stated,) will live four, and +sometimes, though very rarely, five years. As the life of the drones is +usually cut short by violence, it is not easy to ascertain its precise +limit. Bevan, in some interesting statements on the longevity of bees, +estimates it not to exceed four months. The workers are supposed by him, +to live six or seven months. Their age depends, however, very much upon +their greater or less exposure to injurious influences and severe +labors. Those reared in the spring and early part of summer, and on whom +the heaviest labors of the hive must necessarily devolve, do not appear +to live more than two or three months, while those which are bred at the +close of summer, and early in autumn, being able to spend a large part +of their time in repose, attain a much greater age. It is very evident +that "the bee," (to use the words of a quaint old writer,) "is a summer +bird," and that with the exception of the queen, none live to be a year +old. + +Notched and ragged wings, instead of gray hairs and wrinkled faces, are +the signs of old age in the bee, and indicate that its season of toil +will soon be over. They appear to die rather suddenly, and often spend +their last days, and sometimes even their last hours, in useful labors. +Place yourself before a hive, and see the indefatigable energy of these +aged veterans, toiling along with their heavy burdens, side by side with +their more youthful compeers, and then say if you can, that _you_ have +done work enough, and that you will give yourself up to slothful +indulgence, while the ability for useful labor still remains. Let the +cheerful hum of their industrious old age inspire you with better +resolutions, and teach you how much nobler it is to meet death in the +path of duty, striving still, as you "have opportunity," to "do good +unto all men." + +The age which individual members of the community may attain, must not +be confounded with that of the colony. Bees have been known to occupy +the same domicile for a great number of years. I have seen flourishing +colonies which were twenty years old, and the Abbe Della Rocca speaks +of some over forty years old! Such cases have led to the erroneous +opinion that bees are a long-lived race. But this, as Dr. Evans has +observed, is just as wise as if a stranger, contemplating a populous +city, and personally unacquainted with its inhabitants, should on paying +it a second visit, many years afterwards, and finding it equally +populous, imagine that it was peopled by the same individuals, not one +of whom might then be living. + + "Like leaves on trees, the race of bees is found, + Now green in youth, now withering on the ground; + Another race the Spring or Fall supplies, + They droop successive, and successive rise." + +The cocoons spun by the larvae, are never removed by the bees; they stick +so closely to the sides of the cells, that the knowing bee well +understands that the labor of removal would cost more than it would be +worth. In process of time, the breeding cells become too small for the +proper development of the young. In some cases, the bees must take down +and reconstruct the old combs, for if they did not, the young issuing +from them would always be dwarfs; whereas I once compared with other +bees, those of a colony more than fifteen years old, and found no +perceptible difference. That they do not always renew the old combs, +must be admitted, as the young from some old hives are often +considerably below the average size. On this account, it is very +desirable to be able to remove the old combs occasionally, that their +place may be supplied with new ones. + +It is a great mistake to imagine that the brood combs ought to be +changed every year. In my hives, they might, if it were desirable, be +easily changed several times in a year: but once in five or six years is +often enough; oftener than this requires a needless consumption of honey +to replace them, besides being for other reasons undesirable, as the +bees are always in winter, colder in new comb than in old. Inventors of +hives have too often been, most emphatically "men of one idea:" and that +one, instead of being a well established and important fact in the +physiology of the bee, has frequently, (like the necessity for a yearly +change of the brood combs,) been merely a conceit, existing nowhere but +in the brain of a visionary projector. This is all harmless enough, +until an effort is made to impose such miserable crudities upon an +ignorant public, either in the shape of a patented hive, _or worse +still, of an UNPATENTED hive, the pretended RIGHT to use which, is +FRAUDULENTLY sold to the cheated purchaser_!! + +For want of proper knowledge with regard to the age of bees, huge "bee +palaces," and large closets in garrets or attics, have been constructed, +and their proprietors have vainly imagined that the bees would fill +them, however roomy; for they can see no reason why a colony should not +continue to increase indefinitely, until at length it numbers its +inhabitants by millions or billions! As the bees can never at one time +equal, still less exceed the number which the queen is capable of +producing in one season, these spacious dwellings have always an +abundance of "spare rooms." It seems strange that men can be thus +deceived, when often in their own Apiary, they have healthy stocks which +have not swarmed for a year or more, and which yet in the spring are not +a whit more populous than those which have regularly parted with +vigorous swarms. + +It is certain that the Creator, has for some wise reason, set a limit to +the increase of numbers in a single colony; and I shall venture to +assign what appears to me to have been one reason for His so doing. +Suppose that He had given to the bee, a length of life as great as that +of the horse or the cow, or had made each queen capable of laying +daily, some hundreds of thousands of eggs, or had given several hundred +queens to each hive, then from the Very nature of the case, a colony +must have gone on increasing, until it became a scourge rather than a +benefit to man. In the warm climates of which the bee is a native, they +would have established themselves in some cavern or capacious cleft in +the rocks, and would there have quickly become so powerful as to bid +defiance to all attempts to appropriate the avails of their labors. + +It has already been stated, that none, except the mother wasps and +hornets, survive the winter. If these insects had been able, like the +bee, to commence the season with the accumulated strength of a large +colony, long before its close, they would have proved a most intolerable +nuisance. If, on the contrary, the queen bee had been compelled, +solitary and alone, to lay the foundations of a new commonwealth, the +honey-harvest would have disappeared before she could have become the +parent of a numerous family. + +In the laws which regulate the increase of bees as well as in all other +parts of their economy, we have the plainest proofs that the insect was +formed for the special service of the human race. + + +THE PROCESS OF REARING THE QUEEN MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED. + +If in the early part of the season, the population of a hive becomes +uncomfortably crowded, the bees usually make preparations for swarming. +A number of royal cells are commenced, and they are placed almost always +upon those edges of the combs which are not attached to the sides of the +hive. These cells somewhat resemble a small ground-nut or pea-nut, and +are about an inch deep, and one-third of an inch in diameter: they are +very thick, and require a large quantity of material for their +construction. They are seldom seen in a perfect state, as the bees +nibble them away after the queen has hatched, leaving only their +remains, in the shape of a very small acorn-cup. While the other cells +open sideways, these always hang with their mouth _downwards_. Much +speculation has arisen as to the reason for this deviation: some have +conjectured that their peculiar position exerted an influence upon the +development of the royal larvae; while others, having ascertained that no +injurious effect was produced by turning them upwards, or placing them +in any other position, have considered this deviation as among the +inscrutable mysteries of the bee-hive. So it always seemed to me, until +more careful reflection enabled me to solve the problem. The queen cells +open downwards, simply _to save room_! The distance between the parallel +ranges of comb being usually less than half an inch, the bees could not +have made the royal cells to open sideways, without sacrificing the +cells opposite to them. In order to economize space, to the very utmost, +they put them upon the unoccupied edges of the comb, as the only place +where there is always plenty of room for such very large cells. + +The number of royal cells varies greatly; sometimes there are only two +or three, ordinarily there are five or six, and I have occasionally seen +more than a dozen. They are not all commenced at once, for the bees do +not intend that the young queens shall all arrive at maturity, at the +same time. I do not consider it as fully settled, how the eggs are +deposited in these cells. In some few instances, I have known the bees +to transfer the eggs from common to queen cells, and this _may_ be their +general method of procedure. I shall hazard the conjecture that the +queen deposits her eggs in cells on the edges of the comb, in a crowded +state of the hive, and that some of these are afterwards enlarged and +changed into royal cells by the workers. Such is the instinctive hatred +of the queen to her own kind, that it does not seem to me probable, that +she is intrusted with even the initiatory steps for securing a race of +successors. That the eggs from which the young queens are produced, are +of the same kind with those producing workers, has been repeatedly +demonstrated. On examining the queen cells while they are in progress, +one of the first things which excites our notice, is the very unusual +amount of attention bestowed upon them by the workers. There is scarcely +a second in which a bee is not peeping into them, and just as fast as +one is satisfied, another pops its head in, to examine if not to report, +progress. The importance of their inmates to the bee-community, might +easily be inferred from their being the center of so much attraction. + + +ROYAL JELLY. + +The young queens are supplied with a much larger quantity of food than +is allotted to the other larvae, so that they seem almost to float in a +thick bed of jelly, and there is usually a portion of it left unconsumed +at the base of the cells, after the insects have arrived at maturity. It +is different from the food of either drones or workers, and in +appearance, resembles a light quince jelly, having a slightly acid +taste. + +I submitted a portion of the royal jelly for analysis, to Dr. Charles M. +Wetherill, of Philadelphia; a very interesting account of his +examination may be found in the proceedings of the Phila. Academy of +Nat. Sciences for July, 1852. He speaks of the substance as "truly a +bread-containing, albuminous compound." I hope in the course of the +coming summer to obtain from this able analytical chemist, an analysis +of the food of the young drones and workers. A comparison of its +elements with those of the royal jelly, may throw some light on subjects +as yet involved in obscurity. + +The effects produced upon the larvae by this peculiar food and method of +treatment, are very remarkable. For one, I have never considered it +strange that such effects should be rejected as idle whims, by nearly +all except those who have either been eye-witnesses to them, or have +been well acquainted with the character and opportunities for accurate +observation, of those on whose testimony they have received them. They +are not only in themselves most marvelously strange, but on the face of +them so entirely opposed to all common analogies, and so very +improbable, that many men when asked to believe them, feel almost as +though an insult were offered to their common sense. The most important +of these effects, I shall now proceed to enumerate. + +1st. The peculiar mode in which the worm designed to be reared as a +queen, is treated, causes it to arrive at maturity, about one-third +earlier than if it had been bred a worker. And yet it is to be much more +fully developed, and according to ordinary analogy, ought to have had a +_slower growth_! + +2d. Its organs of reproduction are completely developed, so that it is +capable of fulfilling the office of a mother. + +3d. Its size, shape and color are all greatly changed. (See p. 32.) Its +lower jaws are shorter, its head rounder, and its legs have neither +brushes nor baskets, while its sting is more curved, and one-third +longer than that of a worker. + +4th. Its _instincts_ are entirely changed. Reared as a worker, it would +have been ready to thrust out its sting, upon the least provocation; +whereas now, it may be pulled limb from limb, without attempting to +sting. As a worker it would have treated a queen with the greatest +consideration; whereas now, if placed under a glass with another queen, +it rushes forthwith to mortal combat with its rival. As a worker, it +would frequently have left the hive, either for labor or exercise: as a +queen, after impregnation, it never leaves the hive except to accompany +a new swarm. + +5th. The term of its life is remarkably lengthened. As a worker, it +would have lived not more than six or seven months at farthest; as a +queen it may live seven or eight times as long! All these wonders rest +on the impregnable basis of complete demonstration, and instead of being +witnessed by only a select few, may now, by the use of my hive, be +familiar sights to any bee keeper, who prefers to acquaint himself with +facts, rather than to cavil and sneer at the labors of others.[7] + +When provision has been made, in the manner described, for a new race of +queens, the old mother always departs with the first swarm, before her +successors have arrived at maturity.[8] + + +ARTIFICIAL REARING OF QUEENS. + +The distress of the bees when they lose their queen, has already been +described. If they have the means of supplying her loss, they soon calm +down, and commence forthwith, the necessary steps for rearing another. +The process of rearing queens artificially, to meet some special +emergency, is even more wonderful than the natural one, which has +already been described. Its success depends on the bees having +worker-eggs or worms not more than three days old; (if older, the larva +has been too far developed as a worker to admit of any change:) the bees +nibble away the partitions of two cells adjoining a third, so as to make +one large cell out of the three. They destroy the eggs or worms in two +of these cells, while they place before the occupant of the third, the +usual food of the young queens, and build out its cell, so as to give it +ample space for development. They do not confine themselves to the +attempt to rear a single queen, but to guard against failure, start a +considerable number, although the work on all except a few, is usually +soon discontinued. + +In twelve or fourteen days, they are in possession of a new queen, +precisely similar to one reared in the natural way, while the eggs which +were laid at the same time in the adjoining cells, and which have been +developed in the usual way, are nearly a week longer in coming to +maturity. + +I will give in this connection a description of an interesting +experiment: + +A large hive which stood at a distance from any other colony, was +removed in the morning of a very pleasant day, to a new place, and +another hive containing only empty comb, was put upon its stand. +Thousands of workers which were out in the fields, or which left the old +hive after its removal, returned to the familiar spot. It was affecting +to witness their grief and despair: they flew in restless circles about +the place which once contained their happy home, entered and left the +new hive continually, expressing, in various ways, their lamentations +over their cruel bereavement. Towards evening, they ceased to take wing, +and roamed in restless platoons, in and out of the hive, and over its +surface, acting all the time, as though in search of some lost treasure. +I now gave them a piece of brood comb, containing worker eggs and worms, +taken from a second swarm which being just established with its young +queen, in a new hive, could have no intention of rearing young queens +that season; therefore, it cannot be contended that this piece of comb +contained what some are pleased to call "royal eggs." What followed the +introduction of this brood comb, took place much quicker than it can be +described. The bees which first touched it, raised a peculiar note, and +in a moment, the comb was covered with a dense mass; their restless +motions and mournful noises ceased, and a cheerful hum at once attested +their delight! Despair gave place to hope, as they recognized in this +small piece of comb, the means of deliverance. Suppose a large building +filled with thousands of persons, tearing their hair, beating their +breasts, and by piteous cries, as well as frantic gestures, giving vent +to their despair; if now some one should enter this house of mourning, +and by a single word, cause all these demonstrations of agony to give +place to smiles and congratulations, the change could not be more +wonderful and instantaneous, than that produced when the bees received +the brood comb! + +The Orientals call the honey bee, Deburrah, "She that speaketh." Would +that this little insect might speak, and in words more eloquent than +those of man's device, to the multitudes who allow themselves to reject +the doctrines of revealed religion, because, as they assert, they are, +on their face so utterly improbable, that they labor under an _a priori_ +objection strong enough to be fatal to their credibility. Do not nearly +all the steps in the development of a queen from a worker-egg, labor +under precisely the same objection? and have they not, for this very +reason, always been regarded by great numbers of bee keepers, as +unworthy of credence? If the favorite argument of infidels and errorists +will not stand the test when applied to the wonders of the bee-hive, can +it be regarded as entitled to any serious weight, when employed in +framing objections against religious truths, and arrogantly taking to +task the infinite Jehovah, for what He has been pleased to do or to +teach? Give me the same latitude claimed by such objectors, and I can +easily prove that a man is under no obligation to receive any of the +wonders in the economy of the bee-hive, although he is himself an +intelligent eye-witness that they are all substantial verities. + +I shall quote, in this connection, from Huish, an English Apiarian of +whom I have already spoken, because his objections to the discoveries +of Huber, remind me so forcibly of both the spirit and principles of the +great majority of those who object to the doctrines of revealed +religion. + +"If an individual, with the view of acquiring some knowledge of the +natural history of the bee, or of its management, consult the works of +Bagster, Bevan, or any of the periodicals which casually treat upon the +subject, will he not rise from the study of them with his mind +surcharged with falsities and mystification? Will he not discover +through the whole of them a servile acquiescence in the opinions and +discoveries of one man, however at variance they may be with truth or +probability; and if he enter upon the discussion with his mind free from +prejudice, will he not experience that an outrage has been committed +upon his reason, in calling upon him to give assent to positions and +principles which at best are merely assumed, but to which he is called +upon dogmatically to subscribe his acquiescence as the indubitable +results of experience, skill and ability? The editors of the works above +alluded to, should boldly and indignantly have declared, that from their +own experience in the natural economy of the insect, they were able to +pronounce the circumstances as related by Huber to be directly +_impossible_, and the whole of them based on fiction and imposition." + +Let the reader change only a few words in this extract: for "the natural +history of the bee or its management," let him write, "the subject of +religion;" for, "the works of Bagster, Bevan," &c., let him put, "the +works of Moses, Paul," &c.; for, "their own experience in the natural +economy of the insect," let him substitute, "their own experience in the +nature of man;" and for, "circumstances as related by Huber," let him +insert, "as related by Luke or John," and it will sound almost precisely +like a passage from some infidel author. + +I resume the quotation from Huish; "If we examine the account which +Huber gives of his invention (!) of the royal jelly, the existence and +efficacy of which are fully acquiesced in by the aforesaid editors, to +what other conclusions are we necessarily driven, than that they are the +dupes of a visionary enthusiast, whose greatest merit consists in his +inventive powers, no matter how destitute those powers may be of all +affinity with truth or probability? Before, however, these editors +bestowed their unqualified assent on the existence of this royal jelly, +did they stop to put to themselves the following questions? By what kind +of bee is it made?[9] Whence is it procured? Is it a natural or an +elaborated substance? If natural, from what source is it derived? If +elaborated, in what stomach of the bee is it to be found? How is it +administered? What are its constituent principles? Is its existence +optional or definite? Whence does it derive its miraculous power of +converting a common egg into a royal one? Will any of the aforesaid +editors publicly answer these questions? and ought they not to have been +able to answer them, before they so unequivocally expressed their belief +in its existence, its powers and administration?" + +How puerile does all this sound to one who has _seen_ and _tasted_ the +royal jelly! And permit me to add, how equally unmeaning do the +objections of infidels seem, to those who have an experimental +acquaintance with the divine hopes and consolations of the Gospel of +Christ. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The author of this work regrets that his experience does not enable +him to speak with such absolute confidence as to the character of all +the bee keepers whom he has known. + +[2] In this way she is sure to deposit the egg in the cell she has +selected. + +[3] If ever there lived a genuine naturalist, Swammerdam was the man. In +his History of Insects, published in 1737, he has given a most beautiful +drawing of the ovaries of the queen bee. The sac which he supposed +secreted a fluid for sticking the eggs to the base of the cells is the +seminal reservoir or spermatheca. + +[4] Bevan. + +[5] This work being intended chiefly for practical purposes, I have +thought best to use, as little as possible, the technical terms and +minute anatomical descriptions of the scientific entomologist. + +[6] Bevan. + +[7] Having already spoken of Swammerdam, I shall give a brief extract +from the celebrated Dr. Boerhaave's memoir of this wonderful naturalist, +which should put to the blush, if any thing can, the arrogance of those +superficial observers who are too wise in their own conceit, to avail +themselves of the knowledge of others. + +"This treatise on Bees proved so fatiguing a performance, that +Swammerdam never afterwards recovered even the appearance of his former +health and vigor. He was almost continually engaged by day in making +observations, and as constantly engaged by night in recording them by +drawings and suitable explanations." + +"This being summer work, his daily labor began at six in the morning, +when the sun afforded him light enough to survey such minute objects; +and from that hour till twelve, he continued without interruption, all +the while exposed in the open air to the scorching heat of the sun, +bareheaded for fear of intercepting his sight, and his head in a manner +dissolving into sweat under the irresistible ardors of that powerful +luminary. And if he desisted at noon, it was only because the strength +of his eyes was too much weakened, by the extraordinary afflux of light +and the use of microscopes, to continue any longer upon such small +objects, though as discernible in the afternoon, as they had been in the +forenoon." + +"Our author, the better to accomplish his vast, unlimited views, often +wished for a year of perpetual heat and light to perfect his inquiries, +with a polar night to reap all the advantages of them by proper drawings +and descriptions." + +[8] The formation of swarms will be particularly described in another +chapter. + +[9] Suppose that we are unable to give a satisfactory answer to any of +these questions, does our ignorance on these points disprove the _fact_ +of the existence of such a jelly? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +COMB. + + +Wax is a natural secretion of the bees; it may be called _their oil or +fat_. If they are gorged with honey, or any liquid sweet, and remain +quietly clustered together, it is formed in small wax pouches on their +abdomen, and comes out in the shape of very delicate scales. Soon after +a swarm is hived, the bottom board will be covered with these scales. + + "Thus, filtered through yon flutterer's folded mail, + Clings the cooled wax, and hardens to a scale. + Swift, at the well known call, the ready train, + (For not a buz boon Nature breathes in vain,) + Spring to each falling flake, and bear along + Their glossy burdens to the builder throng. + These with sharp sickle or with sharper tooth, + Pare each excrescence, and each angle smooth, + Till now, in finish'd pride, two radiant rows + Of snow white cells one mutual base disclose. + Six shining panels gird each polish'd round, + The door's fine rim, with waxen fillet bound, + While walls so thin, with sister walls combined, + Weak in themselves, a sure dependence find." + _Evans._ + +Huber was the first to demonstrate that wax is a natural secretion of +the bee, when fed on honey or any saccharine substance. Most Apiarians +before his time, supposed that it was made from pollen or bee-bread, +either in a crude or digested state. He confined a new swarm of bees in +a hive placed in a dark and cool room, and on examining them, at the +end of five days, found several beautiful white combs in their +tenement: these were taken from them, and they were again confined and +supplied with honey and water, and a second time new combs were +constructed. Five times in succession their combs were removed, and were +in each instance replaced, the bees being all the time prevented from +ranging the fields, to supply themselves with bee-bread. By subsequent +experiments he proved that sugar answered the same end with honey. + +He then confined a swarm, giving them no honey, but an abundance of +fruit and pollen. They subsisted on the fruit, but refused to touch the +pollen; and no combs were constructed, nor any wax scales formed in +their pouches. These experiments are conclusive; and are interesting, +not merely as proving that wax is secreted from honey or saccharine +substances, but because they show in what a thorough manner the +experiments of Huber were conducted. Confident assertions are easily +made, requiring only a little breath or a drop of ink; and the men who +deal most in them, have often a profound contempt for observation and +experiment. To establish even a simple truth, on the solid foundation of +demonstrated facts, often requires the most patient and protracted toil. + +_A high temperature_ is necessary for comb-building, in order that the +wax may be soft enough to be moulded into shape. The very process of its +secretion helps to furnish the amount of heat which is required to work +it. This is a very interesting fact which seems never before to have +been noticed. + +Honey or sugar is found to contain by weight, about eight pounds of +oxygen to one of carbon and hydrogen. When changed into wax, the +proportions are entirely reversed: the wax contains only one pound of +oxygen to more than sixteen pounds of hydrogen and carbon. Now as +oxygen is the grand supporter of animal heat, the consumption of so +large a quantity of it, aids in producing the extraordinary heat which +always accompanies comb-building, and which is necessary to keep the wax +in the soft and plastic state requisite to enable the bees to mould it +into such exquisitely delicate and beautiful shapes! Who can fail to +admire the wisdom of the Creator in this beautiful instance of +adaptation? + +The most careful experiments have clearly established the fact, that at +least _twenty pounds_ of honey are consumed in making a single pound of +wax. If any think that this is incredible, let them bear in mind that +wax is an animal oil secreted from honey, and let them consider how many +pounds of corn or hay they must feed to their stock, in order to have +them gain a single pound of fat. + +Many Apiarians are entirely ignorant of the great value of empty comb. +Suppose the honey to be worth only 15 cts. per lb., and the comb when +rendered into wax, to be worth 30 cts. per lb., the bee-master who melts +a pound of comb, loses nearly three dollars by the operation, and this, +without estimating the time which the bees have consumed in building the +comb. Unfortunately, in the ordinary hives, but little use can be made +of empty comb, unless it is new, and can be put into the surplus +honey-boxes: but by the use of my movable frames, every piece of good +worker-comb may be used to the best advantage, as it can be given to the +bees, to aid them in their labors. + +It has been found very difficult to preserve comb from the bee-moth, +when it is taken from the bees. If it contains only a _few_ of the eggs +of this destroyer, these, in due time, will produce a progeny sufficient +to devour it. The comb, if it is attached to my frames, may be suspended +in a box or empty hive, and thoroughly smoked with sulphur; this will +kill any _worms_ which it may contain. When the weather is warm enough +to hatch the eggs of the moth, this process must be repeated a few +times, at intervals of about a week, so as to insure the destruction of +the worms as they hatch, for the sulphur does not seem always to destroy +the vitality of the eggs. The combs may now be kept in a tight box or +hive, with perfect safety. + +Combs containing bee-bread, are of great value, and if given to young +colonies, which in spring are frequently destitute of this article, they +will materially assist them in early breeding. + +Honey may be taken from my hives in the frames, and the covers of the +cells sliced off with a sharp knife; the honey can then be drained out, +and the empty combs returned to be filled again. A strong stock of bees, +in the height of the honey harvest, will fill empty combs with wonderful +rapidity. I lay it down, as one of my _first principles_ in bee culture, +that no good comb should ever be melted; it should all be carefully +preserved and given to the bees. If it is new, it may be easily attached +to the frames, or the honey-receptacles, by dipping the edge into melted +wax, pressing it gently until it stiffens, and then allowing it to cool. +If the comb is old, or the pieces large and full of bee-bread, it will +be best to dip them into melted rosin, which, besides costing much less +than wax, will secure a much firmer adhesion. When comb is put into +tumblers or other small vessels, the bees will begin to work upon it the +sooner, if it is simply crowded in, so as to be held in place by being +supported against the sides. It would seem as though they were disgusted +with such unworkmanlike proceedings, and that they cannot rest until +they have taken it into hand, and endeavored to "make a job of it." + +If the bee-keeper in using his choicest honey will be satisfied to +dispense with looks, and will carefully drain it from the beautiful +comb, he may use all such comb again to great advantage; not only saving +its intrinsic value, but greatly encouraging his bees to occupy and fill +all receptacles in which a portion of it is put. Bees seem to fancy _a +good start in life_, about as well as their more intelligent owners. To +this use all suitable drone comb should be put, as soon as it is removed +from the main hive. (See remarks on Drones.) + +Ingenious efforts have been made, of late years, to construct +_artificial_ honey combs of porcelain, to be used for _feeding_ bees. No +one, to my knowledge, has ever attempted to imitate the delicate +mechanism of the bee so closely, as to construct artificial combs for +the ordinary uses of the hive; although for a long time I have +entertained the idea as very desirable, and yet as barely possible. I am +at present engaged in a course of experiments on this subject, the +results of which, in due time, I shall communicate to the public. + +While writing this treatise, it has occurred to me that bees might be +induced to use old wax for the construction of their combs. Very fine +parings may be shaved off with glass, and if given to the bees, under +favorable circumstances, it seems to me very probable that they would +use them, just as they do the scales which are formed in their wax +pouches. Let strong colonies be deprived of some of their combs, after +the honey harvest is over, and supplied abundantly with these parings of +wax. Whether "nature abhors a vacuum," or not, bees certainly do, when +it occurs among the combs of their main hive. They will not use the +honey stored up for winter use to replace the combs taken from them; +they can gather none from the flowers; and I have strong hopes that +necessity will with bees as well as men, prove the mother of invention, +and lead them to use the wax, as readily as they do the substitutes +offered them for pollen. (See Chapter on Pollen.) + +If this conjecture should be verified by actual results, it would exert +a most powerful influence in the cheap and rapid multiplication of +colonies, and would enable the bees to store up most prodigious +quantities of honey. A pound of bees wax might then be made to store up +twenty pounds of honey, and the gain to the bee keeper would be the +difference in price between the pound of wax, and the twenty pounds of +honey, which the bees would have consumed in making the same amount of +comb. Strong stocks might thus during the dull season, when no honey can +be procured, be most profitably employed in building spare comb, to be +used in strengthening feeble stocks, and for a great variety of +purposes. Give me the means of cheaply obtaining large amounts of comb, +and I have almost found the philosopher's stone in bee keeping. + +The building of comb is carried on with the greatest activity in the +night, while the honey is gathered by day. Thus no time is lost. If the +weather is too forbidding to allow the bees to go abroad, the combs are +very rapidly constructed, as the labor is carried on both by day and by +night. On the return of a fair day, the bees gather unusual quantities +of honey, as they have plenty of room for its storage. Thus it often +happens, that by their wise economy of time, they actually lose nothing, +even if confined, for several days, to their hive. + + "How doth the little busy bee, improve each _shining_ hour!" + +The poet might with equal truth have described her, as improving the +gloomy days, and the dark nights, in her useful labors. + +It is an interesting fact, which I do not remember ever to have seen +particularly noticed by any writer, that honey gathering, and comb +building, go on simultaneously; so that when one stops, the other ceases +also. I have repeatedly observed, that as soon as the honey harvest +fails, the bees intermit their labors in building new comb, even when +large portions of their hive are unfilled. They might enlarge their +combs by using some of their stores; but then they would incur the risk +of perishing in the winter, by starvation. When honey no longer abounds +in the fields, it is wisely ordered, that they should not consume their +hoarded treasures, in expectation of further supplies, which may never +come. I do not believe, that any other safe rule could have been given +them; and if honey gathering was our business, with all our boasted +reason, we should be obliged to adopt the very same course. + +Wax is one of the best non-conductors of heat, so that when it is warmed +by the animal heat of the bees, it can more easily be worked, than if it +parted with its heat too readily. By this property, the combs serve also +to keep the bees warm, and there is not so much risk of the honey +candying in the cells, or the combs cracking with frost. If wax was a +good conductor of heat, the combs would often be icy cold, moisture +would condense and freeze upon them, and they would fail to answer the +ends for which they are intended. + +The size of the cells, in which workers are reared, never varies: the +same may substantially be said of the drone cells which are very +considerably larger; the cells in which honey is stored, often vary +exceedingly in depth, while in diameter, they are of all sizes from that +of the worker cells to that of the drones. + +The cells of the bees are found perfectly to answer all the most refined +conditions of a very intricate mathematical problem! Let it be required +to find what shape a given quantity of matter must take, in order to +have _the greatest capacity, and the greatest strength_, requiring at +the same time, _the least space, and the least labor_ in its +construction. This problem has been solved by the most refined processes +of the higher mathematics, and the result is the hexagonal or six-sided +cell of the honey bee, with its three four-sided figures at the base! + +The shape of these figures cannot be altered, _ever so little, except +for the worse_. Besides possessing the desirable qualities already +described, they answer as _nurseries_ for the rearing of the young, and +as _small air-tight vessels_ in which the honey is preserved from +souring or candying. Every prudent housewife who puts up her preserves +in tumblers, or small glass jars, and carefully pastes them over, to +keep out the air, will understand the value of such an arrangement. + +"There are only three possible figures of the cells," says Dr. Reid, +"which can make them all equal and similar, without any useless spaces +between them. These are the equilateral triangle, the square and the +regular hexagon. It is well known to mathematicians that there is not a +fourth way possible, in which a plane may be cut into little spaces that +shall be equal, similar and regular, without leaving any interstices." + +An equilateral triangle would have made an uncomfortable tenement for an +insect with a round body; and a square would not have been much better. +At first sight a circle would seem to be the best shape for the +development of the larvae: but such a figure would have caused a needless +sacrifice of space, materials and strength; while the honey which now +adheres so admirably to the many angles or corners of the six-sided +cell, would have been much more liable to run out! I will venture to +assign a new reason for the hexagonal form. The body of the immature +insect as it undergoes its changes, is charged with a super-abundance of +moisture which passes off through the reticulated cover which the bees +build over its cell: a hexagon while it approaches so nearly the shape +of a circle as not to incommode the young bee, furnishes in its six +corners the necessary vacancies for its more thorough ventilation! + +So invariably uniform in size, as well as perfect in other respects, are +the cells in which the workers are bred, that some mathematicians have +proposed their adoption, as the best unit for measures of capacity to +serve for universal use. + +Can we believe that these little insects unite so many requisites in the +construction of their cells, either by chance, or because they are +profoundly versed in the most intricate mathematics? Are we not +compelled to acknowledge that the mathematics must be referred to the +Creator, and not to His puny creature? To an intelligent, candid mind, a +piece of honey comb is a complete demonstration that there is a "GREAT +FIRST CAUSE:" for on no other supposition can we account for so +complicated a shape, and yet the only one which can possibly unite so +many desirable requisites. + + "On books deep poring, ye pale sons of toil, + Who waste in studious trance the midnight oil, + Say, can ye emulate with all your rules, + Drawn or from Grecian or from Gothic schools, + This artless frame? Instinct her simple guide, + A heaven-taught Insect baffles all your pride. + Not all yon marshall'd orbs, that ride so high, + Proclaim more loud a present Deity, + Than the nice symmetry of these small cells, + Where on each angle genuine science dwells." + _Evans._ + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PROPOLIS, OR "BEE-GLUE." + + +This substance is obtained by the bees from the resinous buds and limbs +of trees; and when first gathered, it is usually of a bright golden +color, and is exceedingly sticky. The different kinds of poplars furnish +a rich supply. The bees bring it on their thighs just as they do bee +bread; and I have caught them as they were entering with a load, and +taken it from them. It adheres so firmly that it is difficult to remove +it. + +"Huber planted in Spring some branches of the wild poplar, before the +leaves were developed, and placed them in pots near his Apiary; the bees +alighting on them, separated the folds of the largest buds with their +forceps, extracted the varnish in threads, and loaded with it, first one +thigh and then the other; for they convey it like pollen, transferring +it by the first pair of legs to the second, by which it is lodged in the +hollow of the third." The smell of the propolis is often precisely +similar to that of the resin from the poplar, and chemical analysis +proves the identity of the two substances. It is frequently gathered +from the alder, horse-chestnut, birch, and willow; and as some think, +from pines and other trees of the fir kind. I have often known bees to +enter the shops where varnishing was being carried on, attracted +evidently by the smell: and Bevan mentions the fact of their carrying +off a composition of wax and turpentine, from trees to which it had +been applied. Dr. Evans says that he has seen them collect the balsamic +varnish which coats the young blossom buds of the hollyhock, and has +known them to rest at least ten minutes on the same bud, moulding the +balsam with their fore feet, and transferring it to the hinder legs, as +described by Huber. + + "With merry hum the Willow's copse they scale, + The Fir's dark pyramid, or Poplar pale, + Scoop from the Aider's leaf its oozy flood, + Or strip the Chestnut's resin-coated bud, + Skim the light tear that tips Narcissus' ray, + Or round the Hollyhock's hoar fragrance play. + Soon temper'd to their will through eve's low beam, + And link'd in airy bands the viscous stream, + They waft their nut-brown loads exulting home, + That form a fret-work for the future comb; + Caulk every chink where rushing winds may roar, + And seal their circling ramparts to the floor." + _Evans._ + +A mixture of wax and propolis is used by the bees to strengthen the +attachments of the combs to the top and sides of the hive, and serves +most admirably for this purpose, as it is much more adhesive than wax +alone. If the combs, as soon as they are built, are not filled with +honey or brood, they are beautifully varnished with a most delicate +coating of this material, which adds exceedingly to their strength: but +as this natural varnish impairs their delicate whiteness, they ought not +to be allowed to remain in the surplus honey receptacles, accessible to +the bees, unless when they are actively engaged in storing them with +honey. + +The bees make a very liberal use of this substance to fill up all the +crevices about their premises: and as the natural summer heat of the +hive keeps it soft, the bee moth selects it as a proper place of deposit +for her eggs. For this reason, the hive should be made of sound lumber, +entirely free from cracks, and thoroughly painted on the inside as well +as outside. When glass is used, there is no risk that the bed moth will +find a place in which she can insert her ovi-positor and lay her eggs. +The corners of the hive, which the bees always fill with propolis, +should have a melted mixture of three parts rosin, and one part bees-wax +run into them, which remains hard during the hottest weather, and bids +defiance to the moth. The inside of the hive may be coated with the same +mixture, put on hot with a brush. + +The bees find it difficult to gather the propolis, and equally so to +remove from their thighs, and to work so sticky a material. For this +reason, it is doubly important to save them all unnecessary labor in +amassing it. To men, time is _money_; to bees, it is _honey_; and all +the arrangements of the hive should be such as to economize it to the +very utmost. + +Propolis is sometimes put to a very curious use by the bees. "A +snail[10] having crept into one of M. Reaumur's hives early in the +morning, after crawling about for some time, adhered by means of its own +slime to one of the glass panes. The bees having discovered the snail, +surrounded it and formed a border of propolis round the verge of its +shell, and fastened it so securely to the glass that it became +immovable." + + "Forever closed the impenetrable door, + It naught avails that in his torpid veins + Year after year, life's loitering spark remains."[11] + _Evans._ + +"Maraldi, another eminent Apiarian, has related a somewhat similar +instance. He states that a snail without a shell, or slug, as it is +called, had entered one of his hives; and that the bees, as soon as they +observed it, stung it to death: after which being unable to dislodge +it, they covered it all over with an impervious coat of propolis." + + "For soon in fearless ire, their wonder lost, + Spring fiercely from the comb the indignant host, + Lay the pierced monster breathless on the ground, + And clap in joy their victor pinions round: + While all in vain concurrent numbers strive, + To heave the slime-girt giant from the hive-- + Sure not alone by force Instinctive swayed, + But blest with reason's soul directing aid, + Alike in man or bee, they haste to pour, + Thick hard'ning as it falls, the flaky shower; + Embalmed in shroud of glue the mummy lies, + No worms invade, no foul miasmas rise." + _Evans._ + +"In these cases who can withhold his admiration of the ingenuity and +judgment of the bees? _In the first case_ a troublesome creature gained +admission to the hive, which, from its unwieldiness, they could not +remove, and which, from the impenetrability of its shell, they could not +destroy: here then their only resource was to deprive it of locomotion, +and to obviate putrefaction; both which objects they accomplished most +skilfully and securely--and as is usual with these sagacious creatures, +at the least possible expense of labor and materials. They applied their +cement where alone it was required, round the verge of the shell. _In +the latter case_, to obviate the evil of decay, by the total exclusion +of air, they were obliged to be more lavish in the use of their +embalming material, and to case over the "slime girt giant" so as to +guard themselves from his noisome smell. What means more effectual could +human wisdom have devised under similar circumstances?" + + "If in the insect, Season's twilight ray + Sheds on the darkling mind a doubtful day, + Plain is the steady light her _Instincts_ yield, + To point the road o'er life's unvaried field; + If few these instincts, to the destined goal, + With surer coarse, their straiten'd currents roll." + _Evans._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] Bevan. + +[11] Some very extraordinary instances are related of the protraction of +life in snails. After they had lain in a cabinet above fifteen years, +immersing them in water caused them to revive and crawl out of their +shells. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +POLLEN, OR BEE-BREAD. + + +This substance is gathered by the bees from the flowers, or blossoms, +and is used _for the nourishment of their young_. Repeated experiments +have proved that no brood can be raised in a hive, unless the bees are +supplied with it. It contains none of the elements of wax, but is rich +in what chemists call nitrogenous substances, which are not contained in +honey, and which furnish ample nourishment for the development of the +growing bee. Dr. Hunter dissected some immature bees, and found their +stomachs to contain farina, but not a particle of honey. + +We are indebted to Huber for the discovery of the use made by the bees +of pollen. That it did not serve as food for the mature bees, was +evident from the fact that large supplies are often found in hives whose +inmates have starved to death. It was this fact which led the old +observers to conclude that it was gathered for the purpose of building +comb. After Huber had demonstrated that wax is secreted from an entirely +different substance, he was soon led to conjecture that the bee-bread +must be used for the nourishment of the embryo bees. By rigid +experiments he proved the truth of this supposition. Bees were confined +to their hive without any pollen, after being supplied with honey, eggs +and larvae. In a short time the young all perished. A fresh supply of +brood was given to them, with an ample allowance of pollen, and the +development of the larvae then proceeded in the natural way. + +When a colony is actively engaged in carrying in this article, it may be +taken for granted that they have a fertile queen, and are busy in +breeding. On the contrary, if any colony is not gathering pollen when +others are, the queen is either dead, or diseased, and the hive should +at once be examined. + +In the backward spring of 1852, I had an excellent opportunity of +testing the value of this substance. In one of my hives, was an +artificial swarm of the previous year. The hive was well protected, +being double, and the situation was warm. I opened it on the 5th of +February, and although the weather, until within a week of that time, +had been unusually cold, I found many of the cells filled with brood. On +the 23d, the combs were again examined, and found to contain, neither +eggs, brood, nor bee bread. The bees were then supplied with bee bread +taken from another hive: the next day, this was found to have been used +by them, and a large number of eggs had been deposited in the cells. +When this supply was exhausted, egg-laying ceased, and was again renewed +when more was furnished them. + +During all the time of these experiments, the weather was unpromising, +and as the bees were unable to go out for water, they were supplied at +home with this important article. + +Dzierzon is of opinion that the bees are able to furnish food for the +young, without the presence of pollen in the hive; although he admits +that they can do this only for a short time, and at a great expense of +vital energy; just as the strength of an animal nursing its young is +rapidly reduced, when for want of proper food, the very substance of +its own body as it were, is converted into milk. My experiments do not +corroborate this theory, but tend to confirm the views of Huber, and to +show the absolute necessity of pollen to the development of brood. The +same able contributor to Apiarian science, thinks that pollen is used by +the bees when they are engaged in comb-building; and that unless they +are well supplied with it, they cannot rapidly secrete wax, without very +severely taxing their strength. But as all the elements of wax are found +in honey, and none of them in pollen, this opinion does not seem to me, +to be entitled to much weight. That bees cannot live upon pollen without +any honey, is proved by the fact, that large stores of it are often +found, in hives whose occupants have died of starvation; that they can +live without it, is equally well known; but that the full grown bees +make some use of it in connection with honey, for their own nourishment, +I believe to be highly probable. + +The bees prefer to gather _fresh_ bee-bread, even when there are large +accumulations of old stores in the cells. Hence, the great importance of +being able to make the _surplus_ of old colonies supply the _deficiency_ +of young ones. (See No. 28, in the Chapter "On the advantages which +ought to be found in an Improved Hive.") + +If both honey and pollen can be obtained from the same flower, then a +load of _each_ will be secured by the industrious insect. Of this, any +one may convince himself, who will dissect a few pollen gatherers at the +time when honey is plenty: he will generally find their honey-bags full. + +The mode of gathering is very interesting. The body of the bee appears, +to the naked eye, to be covered with fine hairs; to these, when the bee +alights on a flower, the farina adheres. With her legs, she brushes it +off from her body, and packs it in two hollows or _baskets_, one on each +of her thighs: these baskets are surrounded by stouter hairs which hold +the load in its place. + +When the bee returns with pollen, she often makes a singular, dancing or +vibratory motion, which attracts the attention of the other bees, who at +once nibble away from her thighs what they want for immediate use; the +rest she deposits in a cell for future need, where it is carefully +packed down, and often sealed over with wax. + +It has been observed that a bee, in gathering pollen, always confines +herself to the same kind of flower on which she begins, even when that +is not so abundant as some others. Thus if you examine a ball of this +substance taken from her thigh, it is found to be of one uniform color +throughout: the load of one will be yellow, another red, and a third +brown; the color varying according to that of the plant from which it +was obtained. It is probable that the pollen of different kinds of +flowers would not pack so well together. It is certain that if they flew +from one species to another, there would be a much greater mixture of +different varieties than there now is, for they carry on their bodies +the pollen or fertilizing principle, and thus aid most powerfully in the +impregnation of plants. + +This is one reason why it is so difficult to preserve pure, the +different varieties of the same vegetables whose flowers are sought by +the bee. + +He must be blind indeed, who will not see, at every step in the natural +history of this insect, the plainest proofs of the wisdom of its +Creator. + +I cannot resist the impression that the honey bee was made for the +especial service and instruction of man. At first the importance of its +products, when honey was the only natural sweet, served most powerfully +to attract his attention to its curious habits; and now since the +cultivation of the sugar cane has diminished the relative value of its +luscious sweets, the superior knowledge which has been obtained of its +instincts, is awakening an increasing enthusiasm in its cultivation. + +Virgil in the fourth book of his Georgics, which is entirely devoted to +bees, speaks of them as having received a direct emanation from the +Divine Intelligence. And many modern Apiarians are almost disposed to +rank the bee for sagacity, as next in the scale of creation to man. + +The importance of pollen to the nourishment of the brood, has long been +known, and of late, successful attempts have been made to furnish a +_substitute_. The bees in Dzierzon's Apiary were observed by him, early +in the spring before the time for procuring pollen, to bring rye meal to +their hives from a neighboring mill. It is now a common practice on the +continent of Europe, where bee keeping is extensively carried on, to +supply the bees, in early spring, with this article. Shallow troughs are +set in front of the Apiaries, which are filled, about two inches deep, +with _finely ground, dry, unbolted rye meal_. Thousands of bees resort +eagerly to them when the weather is favorable, roll themselves in the +meal, and return heavily laden to their hives. In fine, mild weather, +they labor at this work with astonishing industry; and seem decidedly to +prefer the meal to the _old_ pollen stored in their combs. By this +means, the bees are induced to commence breeding _early_, and rapidly +recruit their numbers. The feeding is continued till the bees cease to +carry away the meal; that is, until the natural supplies furnish them +with a preferable article. The average consumption of each colony is +about two pounds of meal! + +At the last annual Apiarian Convention in Germany, a cultivator +recommended wheat flour as an excellent substitute for pollen. He says +that in February, 1852, he used it with the best results. The bees +_forsook the honey_ which had been set out for them, and engaged +actively in carrying in large quantities of the wheat flour, which was +placed about twenty paces in front of the hives. + +The construction of my hives, permits the flour to be placed, at once, +where the bees can take it, without being compelled to waste their time +in going out for it, or to suffer for the want of it, when the weather +confines them at home. + +The discovery of this substitute, removes a serious obstacle to the +successful culture of bees. In many districts, there is a great +abundance of honey for a few weeks in the season; and almost any number +of colonies, which are strong when the honey harvest commences, will, in +a good season, lay up sufficient stores for themselves, and a large +surplus for their owners. In many of these districts, however, the +supply of pollen is often so insufficient, that the new colonies of the +previous year are found destitute of this article in the spring; and +unless the season is early, and the weather unusually favorable, the +production of brood is most seriously interfered with; thus the colony +becomes strong too late to avail itself to the best advantage of the +superabundant harvest of honey. (See remarks on the importance of having +strong stocks early in the Spring.) + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ON THE ADVANTAGES WHICH OUGHT TO BE FOUND IN AN IMPROVED HIVE. + + +In this chapter, I shall enumerate certain very desirable, if not +necessary, qualities of a good hive. I have neither the taste nor the +time for the invidious work of disparaging other hives. I prefer +inviting the attention of bee-keepers to the importance of these +requisites; some of which, as I believe, are contained in no hive but my +own. Let them be most carefully examined, and if they commend themselves +to the enlightened judgment and good common sense of cultivators, let +them be employed to test the comparative merits of the various kinds of +hives in common use. + +1. A good hive should give the Apiarian a perfect control over all the +combs: so that any of them may be taken out at pleasure; and this, +without cutting them, or enraging the bees. + +This advantage is possessed by no hive in use, except my own; and it +forms the very foundation of an improved and profitable system of +bee-culture. Unless the combs are at the entire command of the Apiarian, +he can have no effectual control over his bees. They swarm too much or +too little, just as suits themselves, and their owner is almost entirely +dependent upon their caprice. + +2. It ought to afford suitable protection against extremes of heat and +cold, sudden changes of temperature, and the injurious effects of +dampness. + +In winter, the interior of the hive should be dry, and not a particle of +frost should ever find admission; and in summer, the bees should not be +forced to work to disadvantage in a pent and almost suffocating heat. +(See these points discussed in the Chapter on Protection.) + +3. It should permit all necessary operations to be performed without +hurting or killing a single bee. + +Most hives are so constructed that it is impossible to manage them, +without at times injuring or destroying some of the bees. The mere +destruction of a few bees, would not, except on the score of humanity, +be of much consequence, if it did not very materially increase the +difficulty of managing them. Bees remember injuries done to any of their +number, for some time, and generally find an opportunity to avenge them. + +4. It should allow every thing to be done that is necessary in the most +extensive management of bees, without incurring any serious risk of +exciting their anger. (See Chapter on the Anger of Bees.) + +5. Not a single unnecessary step or motion ought to be required of a +single bee. + +The honey harvest, in most locations, is of short continuance; and all +the arrangements of the hive should facilitate, to the utmost, the work +of the busy gatherers. Tall hives, therefore, and all such as compel +them to travel with their heavy burdens through densely crowded combs, +are very objectionable. The bees in my hive, instead of forcing their +way through thick clusters, can easily pass into the surplus honey +boxes, not only from any comb in the hive, but without traveling over +the combs at all. + +6. It should afford suitable facilities for inspecting, at all times, +the condition of the bees. + +When the sides of my hive are of glass, as soon as the outer cover is +elevated, the Apiarian has a view of the interior, and can often at a +glance, determine its condition. If the hive is of wood, or if he wishes +to make a more thorough examination, in a few minutes every comb may be +taken out, and separately inspected. In this way, the exact condition of +every colony may always be easily ascertained, and nothing left, as in +the common hives, to mere conjecture. This is an advantage, the +importance of which it would be difficult to over estimate. (See +Chapters on the loss of the queen, and on the Bee Moth.) + +7. While the hive is of a size adapted to the natural instincts of the +bee, it should be capable of being readily adjusted to the wants of +small colonies. + +If a small swarm is put into a large hive, they will be unable to +concentrate their animal heat, so as to work to the best advantage, and +will often become discouraged, and abandon their hive. If they are put +into a small hive, its limited dimensions will not afford them suitable +accommodations for increase. By means of my movable partition, my hive +can, in a few moments, be adapted to the wants of any colony however +small, and can, with equal facility, be enlarged from time to time, or +at once restored to its full dimensions. + +8. It should allow the combs to be removed without any jarring. + +Bees manifest the utmost aversion to any sudden jar; for it is in this +way, that their combs are loosened and detached. However firmly fastened +the frames may be in my hive, they can all be loosened in a few moments, +without injuring or exciting the bees. + +9. It should allow every good piece of comb to be given to the bees, +instead of being melted into wax. (See Chapter on Comb.) + +10. The construction of the hive should induce the bees to build their +combs with great regularity. + +A hive which contains a large proportion of irregular comb, can never be +expected to prosper. Such comb is only suitable for storing honey, or +raising drones. This is one reason why so many colonies never flourish. +A glance will often show that a hive contains so much drone comb, as to +be unfit for the purposes of a stock hive. + +11. It should furnish the means of procuring comb to be used as a guide +to the bees, in building regular combs in empty hives; and to induce +them more readily to take possession of the surplus honey receptacles. + +It is well known that the presence of comb will induce bees to begin +work much more readily than they otherwise Would: this is especially the +case in glass vessels. + +12. It should allow the removal of drone combs from the hive, to prevent +the breeding of too many drones. (See remarks on Drones.) + +13. It should enable the Apiarian, when the combs become too old, to +remove them, and supply their place with new ones. + +No hive can, in this respect, equal one in which, in a few moments, any +comb can be removed, and the part which is too old, be cut off. The +upper part of a comb, which is generally used for storing honey, will +last without renewal for many years. + +14. It ought to furnish the greatest possible security against the +ravages of the Bee-Moth. + +Neither before nor after it is occupied, ought there to be any cracks +or crevices in the interior. All such places will be filled by the bees +with propolis or bee-glue; a substance, which is always soft in the +summer heat of the hive, and which forms a most congenial place of +deposit for the eggs of the moth. If the sides of the hive are of glass, +and the corners are run with a melted mixture, three parts rosin, and +one part bees-wax, the bees will waste but little time in gathering +propolis, and the bee-moth will find but little chance for laying her +eggs, even if she should succeed in entering the hive. + +My hives are so constructed, that if made of wood, they may be +thoroughly painted inside and outside, without being so smooth as to +annoy the bees; for they travel over the frames to which the combs are +attached; and thus whether the inside surface is glass or wood, it is +not liable to crack, or warp, or absorb moisture, after the hive is +occupied by the bees. If the hives are painted inside, it should be done +sometime before they are used. If the interior of the wooden hive is +brushed with a very hot mixture of the rosin and bees-wax, the hives may +be used immediately. + +15. It should furnish some place accessible to the Apiarian, where the +bee-moth can be tempted to deposit her eggs, and the worms, when full +grown, to wind themselves in their cocoons. (See remarks on the +Bee-Moth.) + +16. It should enable the Apiarian, if the bee-moth ever gains the upper +hand of the bees, to remove the combs, and expel the worms. (See +Bee-Moth.) + +17. The bottom board should be permanently attached to the hive; for if +this is not done, it will be inconvenient to move the hive when bees are +in it, and next to impossible to prevent the depredations of moths and +worms. + +Sooner or later, there will be crevices between the bottom board and the +sides of the hive, through which the moths will gain admission, and +under which the worms, when fully grown, will retreat to spin their +webs, and to be changed into moths, to enter in their turn, and lay +their eggs. Movable bottom hoards are a great nuisance in the Apiary, +and the construction of my hive, which enables me entirely to dispense +with them, will furnish a very great protection against the bee-moth. +There is no place where they can get in, except at the entrance for the +bees, and this may be contracted or enlarged, to suit the strength of +the colony; and from its peculiar shape, the bees are enabled to defend +it against intruders, with the greatest advantage. + +18. The bottom-board should slant towards the entrance, to assist the +bees in carrying out the dead, and other useless substances; to aid them +in defending themselves against robbers; to carry off all moisture; and +to prevent the rain and snow from beating into the hive. As a farther +precaution against this last evil, the entrance ought to be under a +covered way, which should not, at once lead into the interior. + +19. The bottom-board should be so constructed that it may be readily +cleared of dead bees in cold weather, when the bees are unable to attend +to this business themselves. + +If suffered to remain, they often become mouldy, and injure the health +of the colony. If the bees drag them out, as they will do, if the +weather moderates, they often fall with them on the snow, and are so +chilled that they never rise again; for a bee generally retains its hold +in flying away with the dead, until both fall to the ground. + +20. No part of the interior of the hive should be below the level of the +place of exit. + +If this principle is violated, the bees must, at great disadvantage, +drag their dead, and all the refuse of the hive, _up hill_. Such hives +will often have their bottom boards covered with small pieces of comb, +bee-bread, and other impurities, in which the moth delights to lay her +eggs; and which furnished her progeny with a most congenial nourishment, +until they are able to get access to the combs. + +21. It should afford facilities for feeding the bees both in warm and +cold weather. + +In this respect, my hive has very unusual advantages. Sixty colonies in +warm weather may, in an hour, be fed a quart each, and yet no feeder be +used, and no risk incurred from robbing bees. (See Chapter on Feeding.) + +22. It should allow of the easy hiving of a swarm, without injuring any +of the bees, or risking the destruction of the queen. (See Chapter on +Natural Swarming, and Hiving.) + +23. It should admit of the safe transportation of the bees to any +distance whatever. + +The permanent bottom-board, the firm attachment of the combs, each to a +separate frame, and the facility with which, in my hive, any amount of +air can be given to the bees when shut up, most admirably adapt it to +this purpose. + +24. It should furnish the bees with air when the entrance is shut; and +the ventilation for this purpose ought to be unobstructed, even if the +hives should be buried in two or three feet of snow. (See Chapter on +Protection.) + +25. A good hive should furnish facilities for enlarging, contracting, +and closing the entrance; so as to protect the bees against robbers, and +the bee-moth; and when the entrance is altered, the bees ought not to +lose valuable time in searching for it, as they must do in most hives. +(See Chapters on Ventilation, and on Robbing.) + +26. It should give the bees the means of ventilating their hives, +without enlarging the entrance too much, so as to expose them to moths +and robbers, and to the risk of losing their brood by a chill in sudden +changes of weather. (See Chapter on Ventilation.) + +To secure this end, the ventilators must not only be independent of the +entrance, but they must owe their efficiency mainly to the co-operation +of the bees themselves, who thus have a free admission of air only when +they want it. To depend on the opening and shutting of the ventilators +by the bee-keeper, is entirely out of the question. + +27. It should furnish facilities for admitting at once, a large body of +air; so that in winter, or early spring, when the weather is at any time +unusually mild, the bees may be tempted to fly out and discharge their +faeces. (See Chapter on Protection.) + +If such a free admission of air cannot be given to hives which are +thoroughly protected against the cold, the bees may lose a favorable +opportunity of emptying themselves; and thus be more exposed than they +otherwise would, to suffer from diseases resulting from too long +confinement. A very free admission of air is also desirable when the +weather is exceedingly hot. + +28. It should enable the Apiarian to remove the excess of bee-bread from +old stocks. + +This article always accumulates in old hives, so that in the course of +time, many of the combs are filled with it, thus unfitting them for the +rearing of brood, and the reception of honey. Young stocks, on the other +hand, will often be so deficient in this important article, that in the +early part of the season, breeding will be seriously interfered with. By +means of my movable frames, the excess of old colonies may be made to +supply the deficiency of young ones, to the mutual benefit of both. (See +Chapter on Pollen.) + +29. It should enable the Apiarian, when he has removed the combs from a +common hive, to place them with the bees, brood, honey and bee-bread, in +the improved hive, so that the bees may be able to attach them in their +natural positions. (See directions for transferring bees from an old +hive.) + +30. It should allow of the easy and safe dislodgement of the bees from +the hive. + +This requisite is especially important to secure the union of colonies, +when it becomes necessary to break up some of the stocks. (See remarks +on the Union of Stocks.) + +31. It should allow the heat and odor of the main hive, as well as the +bees themselves, to pass in the freest manner, to the surplus honey +receptacles. + +In this respect, all the hives with which I am acquainted, are more or +less deficient: the bees are forced to work in receptacles difficult of +access, and in which, especially in cool nights, they find it impossible +to keep up the animal heat necessary for comb-building. Bees cannot, in +such hives, work to advantage in glass tumblers, or other small vessels. +One of the most important arrangements of my hive, is that by which the +heat ascends into all the receptacles for storing honey, as naturally +and almost as easily as the warmest air ascends to the top of a heated +room. + +32. It should permit the surplus honey to be taken away, in the most +convenient, beautiful and salable forms, at any time, and without any +risk of annoyance from the bees. + +In my hives, it may be taken in tumblers, glass boxes, wooden boxes +small or large, earthen jars, flower-pots; in short, in any kind of +receptacle which may suit the fancy, or the convenience of the +bee-keeper. Or all these may be dispensed with, and the honey may be +taken from the interior of the main hive, by removing the frames with +loaded combs, and supplying their place with empty ones. + +33. It should admit of the easy removal of all the good honey from the +main hive, that its place may be supplied with an inferior article. + +Bee-Keepers who have but few colonies, and who wish to secure the +largest yield, may remove the loaded combs from my hive, slice off the +covers of the cells, drain out the honey, and restore the empty combs, +into which, if the season of gathering is over, they can first pour the +cheap foreign honey for the use of the bees. + +34. It should allow, when quantity not quality is the object, the +largest amount of honey to be gathered; so that the surplus of strong +colonies may, in the Fall, be given to those which have not a sufficient +supply. + +By surmounting my hive with a box of the same dimensions, the combs may +all be transferred to this box, and the bees, when they commence +building, will descend and fill the lower frames, gradually using the +upper box, as the brood is hatched out, for storing honey. In this way, +the largest possible yield of honey may be secured, as the bees always +prefer to continue their work below, rather than above the main hive, +and will never swarm, when allowed in season, ample room in this +direction. The combs in the upper box, containing a large amount of +bee-bread and being of a size adapted to the breeding of workers, will +be all the better for aiding weak colonies. + +35. It should compel, when desired, the force of the colony to be mainly +directed to raising young bees; so that brood may be on hand to form new +colonies, and strengthen feeble stocks. (See Chapter on Artificial +Swarming.) + +36. It ought, while well protected from the weather, to be so +constructed, that in warm, sunny days in early spring, the influence of +the sun may be allowed to penetrate and warm up the hive, so as to +encourage early breeding. (See Chapter on Protection.) + +37. The hive should be equally well adapted to be used as a swarmer, or +non-swarmer. + +In my hives bees may be allowed, if their owner chooses, to swarm just +as they do in common hives, and be managed in the usual way. Even on +this plan, the great protection against the weather which it affords, +and the command over all the combs, will be found to afford great +advantages. (See Natural Swarming.) + +Non-swarming hives managed in the ordinary way are liable, in spite of +all precautions, to swarm very unexpectedly, and if not closely watched, +the swarm is lost, and with it the profit of that season. By having the +command of the combs, the queen in my hives can always be caught and +deprived of her wings; thus she cannot go off with a swarm, and they +will not leave without her. + +38. It should enable the Apiarian, if he allows his bees to swarm, and +wishes to secure surplus honey, to prevent them from throwing more than +one swarm in a season. + +Second and third swarms must be returned to the old stock, if the +largest quantities of surplus honey are to be realized. It is +troublesome to watch them, deprive them of their queens, and restore +them to the parent hive. They often issue with new queens again and +again; and waste, in this way, both their own time, and that of their +keeper. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In my hives, +as soon as the first swarm has issued, and been hived, all the queen +cells except one, in the hive from which it came, may be cut out, and +thus all after-swarming will very easily and effectually be prevented. +(See Chapter on Artificial Swarming, for the use to which these +supernumerary queens may be put.) When the old stock is left with but +one queen, she runs no risk of being killed or crippled in a contest +with rivals. By such contests, a colony is often left without a queen, +or in possession of one which is too much maimed to be of any service. +(See Chapter on the Loss of the Queen.) + +39. A good hive should enable the Apiarian, if he relies on natural +swarming, and wishes to multiply his colonies as fast as possible, to +make vigorous stocks of all his small after-swarms. + +Such swarms contain a young queen, and if they can be judiciously +strengthened, usually make the best stock hives. If hived in a common +hive, and left to themselves, unless very early, or in very favorable +seasons, they seldom thrive. They generally desert their hives, or +perish in the winter. If they are small, they cannot be made powerful, +even by the most generous feeding. There are too few bees to build comb, +and take care of the eggs which a healthy queen can lay; and when fed, +they are apt to fill with honey, the cells in which young bees ought to +be raised; thus making the kindness of their owner serve only to hasten +their destruction. My hives enable me to supply all such swarms at once +with combs containing bee-bread, honey and brood almost mature. They are +thus made strong, and flourish as well, nay, often better than the first +swarms which have an old queen, whose fertility is generally not so +great as that of a young one. + +40. It should enable the Apiarian to multiply his colonies with a +certainty and rapidity which are entirely out of the question, if he +depends upon natural swarming. (See Chapter on Artificial Swarming.) + +41. It should enable the Apiarian to supply destitute colonies with the +means of obtaining a new queen. + +Every Apiarian would find it, for this reason, if for no other, to his +advantage to possess, at least, one such hive. (See Chapters on +Physiology, and loss of Queen.) + +42. It should enable him to catch the queen, for any purpose; especially +to remove an old one whose fertility is impaired by age, that her place +may be supplied with a young one. (See Chapter on Artificial Swarming.) + +43. While a good hive is adapted to the wants of those who desire to +enter upon bee-keeping on a large scale, or at least to manage their +colonies on the most improved plans, it ought to be suited to the wants +of those who are too timid, too ignorant, or for any reason indisposed, +to manage them in any other than the common way. + +44. It should enable a single individual to superintend the colonies of +many different persons. + +Many would like to keep bees, if they could have them taken care of, by +those who would undertake their management, just as a gardener does the +gardens and grounds of his employers. No person can agree to do this +with the common hives. If the bees are allowed to swarm, he may be +called in a dozen different directions, and if any accident, such as the +loss of a queen, happens to the colonies of his customers, he can apply +no remedy. If the bees are in non-swarming hives, he cannot multiply the +stocks when this is desired. + +On my plan, gentlemen who desire it, may have the pleasure of witnessing +the industry and sagacity of this wonderful insect, and of gratifying +their palates with its delicious stores, harvested on their own +premises, without incurring either trouble or risk of injury. + +45. All the joints of the hive should be water-tight, and there should +be no doors or slides which are liable to shrink, swell, or get out of +order. + +The importance of this will be sufficiently obvious to any one who has +had the ordinary share of vexatious experience in the use of such +fixtures. + +46. It should enable the bee-keeper entirely to dispense with sheds, and +costly Apiaries; as each hive when properly placed, should alike defy, +heat or cold, rain or snow. (See Chapter on Protection.) + +47. It should allow the contents of a hive, bees, combs and all, to be +taken out; so that any necessary repairs may be made. + +This may be done, with my hives, in a few minutes. "A stitch in time +saves nine." Hives which can be thoroughly overhauled and repaired, from +time to time, if properly attended to, will last for generations. + +48. The hive and fixtures should present a neat and attractive +appearance, and should admit, when desired, of being made highly +ornamental. + +49. The hives ought not to be liable to be blown down in high winds. + +My hives, being very low in proportion to their other dimensions, it +would require almost a hurricane to upset them. + +50. It should enable an Apiarian who lives in the neighborhood of human +pilferers, to lock up the precious contents of his hives, in some cheap, +simple and convenient way. + +A couple of padlocks with some cheap fixtures, will suffice to secure a +long range of hives. + +51. A good hive should be protected against the destructive ravages of +mice in winter. + +It seems almost incredible that so puny an animal should dare to invade +a hive of bees; and yet not unfrequently they slip in when the bees are +compelled by the cold to retreat from the entrance. Having once found +admission, they build themselves a nest in their comfortable abode, eat +up the honey, and such bees as are too much chilled to make any +resistance; and fill the premises with such an abominable stench, that +on the approach of warm weather, the bees often in a body abandon their +desecrated home. As soon as the cold weather approaches, all my hives +may have their entrances either entirely closed, or so contracted that +a mouse cannot gain admission. + +52. A good hive should have its alighting board constructed so as to +shelter the bees against wind and wet, and thus to facilitate to the +utmost their entrance when they come home with their heavy burdens. + +If this precaution is neglected, much valuable time and many lives will +be sacrificed, as the colony cannot be encouraged to use to the best +advantage the unpromising days which so often occur in the working +season. + +I have succeeded in arranging my alighting board in such a manner that +the bees are sheltered against wind and wet, and are able to enter the +hive with the least possible loss of time. + +53. A well constructed hive ought to admit of being shut up in winter, +so as to consign the bees to darkness and repose. + +Nothing can be more hazardous than to shut up closely an ill protected +hive. Even if the bees have an abundance of air, it will not answer to +prevent them from flying out, if they are so disposed. As soon as the +warmth penetrating their thin hives tempts them to fly, they crowd to +the entrance, and if it is shut, multitudes worry themselves to death in +trying to get out, and the whole colony is liable to become diseased. + +In my hives as soon as the bees are shut up for Winter, they are most +effectually protected against all atmospheric changes, and never +_desire_ to leave their hives until the entrances are again opened, on +the return of suitable weather. Thus they pass the Winter in a state of +almost absolute repose; they eat much less honey[12] than when wintered +on the ordinary plan; a much smaller number die in the hives; none are +lost upon the snow, and they are more healthy, and commence breeding +much earlier than they do in the common hives. As some of the holes into +the Protector are left open in Winter, any bee that is diseased and +wishes to leave the hive can do so. Bees when diseased have a strange +propensity to leave their hives, just as animals when sick seek to +retreat from their companions; and in Summer such bees may often be seen +forsaking their home to perish on the ground. If all egress from the +hive in Winter is prevented, the diseased bees will not be able to +comply with an instinct which urges them "To leave their country for +their country's good." + +54. It should possess all these requisites without being too costly for +common bee-keepers, or too complicated to be constructed by any one who +can handle simple tools: and they should be so combined that the result +is a simple hive, which any one can manage who has ordinary intelligence +on the subject of bees. + +I suppose that the very natural conclusion from reading this long list +of desirables, would be that no single hive can combine them all, +without being exceedingly complicated and expensive. On the contrary, +the simplicity and cheapness with which my hive secures all these +results, is one of its most striking peculiarities, the attainment of +which has cost me more study than all the other points besides. As far +as the bees are concerned, they can work in this hive with even greater +facility than in the simple old-fashioned box, as the frames are left +rough by the saw, and thus give an admirable support to the bees when +building their combs; and they can enter the spare honey boxes, with +even more ease than if they were merely continuations of the main hive. + +There are a few desirables to which my hive makes not the slightest +pretensions! It promises no splendid results to those who purchase it, +and yet are too ignorant, or too careless to be entrusted with the +management of bees. In bee-keeping, as in other things, a man must first +understand his business, and then proceed on the good old maxim, that +"the hand of the diligent maketh rich." + +It possesses no talismanic influence by which it can convert a bad +situation for honey, into a good one; or give the Apiarian an abundant +harvest whether the season is productive or otherwise. + +It cannot enable the cultivator rapidly to multiply his stocks, and yet +to secure, the same season, surplus honey from his bees. As well might +the breeder of poultry pretend that he can, in the same year, both raise +the greatest number of chickens, and sell the largest number of eggs. + +Worse than all, it cannot furnish the many advantages enumerated, and +yet be made in as little time, or quite as cheap as a hive which proves, +in the end, to be a very dear bargain. + +I have not constructed my hive in accordance with crude theories, or +mere conjectures, and then insisted that the bees must flourish in such +a fanciful contrivance; but I have studied, for many years, most +carefully, the nature of the honey-bee; and have diligently compared my +observations with those of writers and practical cultivators, who have +spent their lives in extending the sphere of Apiarian knowledge; and as +the result, have endeavored to adapt my hive to the actual wants and +habits of the bee; and to remedy the many difficulties with which I have +found its successful culture to be beset. And more than this, I have +actually tested by experiments long continued and on a large scale, the +merits of this hive, that I might not deceive both myself and others, +and add another to the many useless contrivances which have deluded and +disgusted a credulous public. I would, however, most earnestly repudiate +all claims to having devised a "perfect bee-hive." Perfection can belong +only to the works of the great Creator, to whose Omniscient eye, all +causes and effects with all their relations, were present, when he +spake, and from nothing formed the universe and all its glorious +wonders. For man to stamp upon any of his own works, the label of +perfection, is to show both his folly and presumption. + +It must be confessed that the culture of bees is at a very low ebb in +our country, when thousands can be induced to purchase hives which are +in most glaring opposition not only to the true principles of Apiarian +knowledge, but often, to the plainest dictates of simple common sense. +Such have been the losses and disappointments of deluded purchasers, +that it is no wonder that they turn from everything offered in the shape +of a patent bee-hive, as a miserable humbug, if not a most bare-faced +cheat. + +I do not hesitate to say that those old-fashioned bee-keepers, who have +most steadily refused to meddle with any novelties, and who have used +hives of the very simplest construction, or at least such as are only +one remove from the old straw hive, or wooden box, have, as a general +thing, realized by far the largest profits in the management of bees. +They have lost neither time, money nor bees, in the vain hope of +obtaining any unusual results from hives, which, in the very nature of +the case, can secure nothing really in advance of what can be +accomplished by a simple box-hive with an upper chamber. + +_A hive of the simplest possible construction_, is only a close +imitation of the abode of bees in a state of nature; being a mere hollow +receptacle in which they are protected from the weather, and where they +can lay up their stores. + +_An improved hive_ is one which contains, in addition, a separate +apartment in which the bees can be induced to lay up the surplus portion +of their stores, for the use of their owner. All the various hives in +common use, are only modifications of this latter hive, and, as a +general rule, they are bad, exactly in proportion as they depart from +it. Not one of them offers any remedy for the loss of the queen, or +indeed for most of the casualties to which bees are exposed: they form +no reliable basis for any new system of management; and hence the +cultivation of bees, is substantially where it was, fifty years ago, and +the Apiarian as entirely dependent as ever, upon all the whims and +caprices of an insect which may be made completely subject to his +control. + +No hive which does not furnish a thorough control over every comb, can +be considered as any substantial advance on the simple improved or +chamber hive. Of all such hives, the one which with the least expense, +gives the greatest amount of protection, and the readiest access to the +spare honey boxes, is the best. + +Having thus enumerated the tests to which all hives ought to be +subjected, and by which they should stand or fall, I submit them to the +candid examination of practical, common sense bee-keepers, who have had +the largest experience in the management of bees, and are most +conversant with the evils of the present system; and who are therefore +best fitted to apply them to an invention, which, if I may be pardoned +for using the enthusiastic language of an experienced Apiarian on +examining its practical workings, "introduces, not simply an +_improvement_, but a _revolution_ in bee-keeping." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] A writer in the New England Farmer for March, 1853, estimates that +the mild winter has been worth in the saving of fodder to the farmers of +New Hampshire alone, two and a half millions of dollars! By suitable +arrangements, bees even in the very coldest climates can have all the +advantages of a mild winter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PROTECTION AGAINST EXTREMES OF HEAT AND COLD, SUDDEN AND SEVERE CHANGES +OF TEMPERATURE, AND DAMPNESS IN THE HIVES. + + +I specially invite a careful perusal of this chapter, as the subject, +though of the very first importance in the management of bees, is one to +which but little attention has been given by the majority of +cultivators. + +In our climate of great and sudden extremes, many colonies are annually +injured or destroyed by undue exposure to heat or cold. In Summer, thin +hives are often exposed to the direct heat of the sun, so that the combs +melt, and the bees are drowned in their own sweets. Even if they escape +utter ruin, they cannot work to advantage in the almost suffocating heat +of their hives. + +But in those places where the Winters are both long and severe, it is +much more difficult to protect the bees from the cold than from the +heat. Bees are not, as some suppose, in a _dormant_, or _torpid_ +condition in Winter. It must be remembered that they were intended to +live in colonies, in Winter, as well as Summer. The wasp, hornet, and +other insects which do not live in families in the Winter, lay up no +stores for cold weather, and are so organized as to be able to endure in +a torpid state, a very low temperature; so low that it would be certain +death to a honey-bee, which when frozen, is as surely killed as a frozen +man. + +As soon as the temperature of the hives falls too low for their comfort, +the bees gather themselves into a more compact body, to preserve to the +utmost, their animal heat; and if the cold becomes so great that this +will not suffice, they keep up an incessant, tremulous motion, +accompanied by a loud humming noise; in other words, they take active +exercise in order to keep warm! If a thermometer is pushed up among +them, it will indicate a high temperature, even when the external +atmosphere is many degrees below zero. When the bees are unable to +maintain the necessary amount of animal heat, an occurrence which is +very common with small colonies in badly protected hives, then, as a +matter of course, they must perish. + +Extreme cold, when of long continuance, very frequently destroys +colonies in thin hives, even when they are strong both in bees and +honey. The inside of such hives, is often filled with frost, and the +bees, after eating all the food in the combs in which they are +clustered, are unable to enter the frosty combs, and thus starve in the +midst of plenty. The unskilfull bee-keeper who finds an abundance of +honey in the hives, cannot conjecture the cause of their death. + +If the cold merely destroyed feeble colonies, or strong ones only now +and then, it would not be so formidable an enemy; but every year, it +causes many of the most flourishing stocks to perish by starvation. The +extra quantity of food which they are compelled to eat, in order to keep +up their heat in their miserable hives, is often the turning point with +them, between life and death. They starve, when with proper protection, +they would have had food enough and to spare. + +But some one may say, "What possible difference can the kind of hives in +which bees are kept make in the quantity of food which they will +consume?" Enough, I would reply, in some single winters, to pay the +difference between a good hive and a bad one! + +I cannot move my finger, or wink my eye-lids without some waste of +muscle, however small; for it is a well-ascertained law in our animal +economy, that all _muscular exertion_ is attended with a corresponding +_waste_ of muscular fibre. Now this waste must be supplied by the +consumption of food, and it would be as unreasonable to expect constant +heat from a stove without fresh supplies of fuel, as incessant muscular +activity from an insect, without a supply of food proportioned to that +activity. If then we can contrive any way to keep our bees in almost +perfect quiet during the Winter, we may be certain that they will need +much less food than when they are constantly excited. + +In the cold Winter of 1851-2, I kept two swarms in a perfectly dry and +dark cellar, where the temperature was remarkably uniform, seldom +varying two degrees from 50 deg. of Fahrenheit; and I found that the bees +ate very little honey. The hives were of glass, and the bees, when +examined from time to time, were found clustered in almost death-like +repose. If these bees had been exposed in thin hives in the open air, +they would, in all probability, have eaten four times as much; for +whenever the sun shone upon them, or the atmosphere was unusually warm, +they would have been roused to injurious activity, and the same would +have been the case, when the cold was severe. Exposed to sudden changes +and severe cold, they would have been in almost perpetual motion, and +must have been compelled to consume a largely increased quantity of +food. In this way, many colonies are annually starved to death, which if +they had been better protected, would have survived to gladden their +owner with an abundant harvest. This protection, as a general thing, +must be given to them in the open air, for it is a very rare thing, to +meet with a cellar which is dry enough to prevent the combs from +moulding, and the bees from becoming diseased. + +Bees never, unless diseased, discharge their faeces in the hive; and the +want of suitable protection, by exciting undue activity, and compelling +them to eat more freely, causes their bodies to be greatly distended +with accumulated faeces. On the return of warm weather, bees in this +condition being often too feeble to fly, crawl from their hives, and +miserably perish. + +I must notice another exceedingly injurious effect of insufficient +protection, in causing the _moisture_ to settle upon the cold top and +sides of the interior of the hive, from whence it drips upon the bees. +In this way, many of their number are chilled and destroyed, and often +the whole colony is infected with dysentery. Not unfrequently, large +portions of the comb are covered with mould, and the whole hive is +rendered very offensive. + +This dampness which causes what may be called a _rot_ among the bees, is +one of the worst enemies with which the Apiarian in a cold climate, has +to contend, as it weakens or destroys many of his best colonies. No +extreme of cold ever experienced in latitudes where bees flourish, can +destroy a strong colony well supplied with honey, except indirectly, by +confining them to empty combs. They will survive our coldest winters, in +thin hives raised on blocks to give a freer admission of air, or even in +suspended hives, without any bottom-board at all. Indeed, in cold +weather, a _very free_ admission of air is necessary in such hives, to +prevent the otherwise ruinous effects of frozen moisture; and hence the +common remark that bees require as much or more air in Winter than in +Summer. + +When bees, in unsuitable hives, are exposed to all the variations of the +external atmosphere, they are frequently tempted to fly abroad if the +weather becomes unseasonably warm, and multitudes are lost on the +_snow_, at a season when no young are bred to replenish their number, +and when the loss is most injurious to the colony. + +From these remarks, it will be obvious to the intelligent cultivator, +that protection against extremes of heat and cold, is a point of the +VERY FIRST IMPORTANCE; and yet this is the very point, which, in +proportion to its importance, has been most overlooked. We have +discarded, and very wisely, the straw hives of our ancestors; but such +hives, with all their faults, were comparatively warm in Winter, and +cool in Summer. We have undertaken to keep bees, where the cold of +Winter, and the heat of Summer are alike intense; and where sudden and +severe changes are often fatal to the brood: and yet we blindly persist +in expecting success under circumstances in which any marked success is +well nigh impossible. + +That our country is eminently favorable to the production of honey, +cannot be doubted. Many of our forests abound With colonies which are +not only able to protect themselves against all their enemies, the +dreaded bee-moth not excepted, but which often amass prodigious +quantities of honey. Nor are such colonies found merely in _new_ +countries. They exist frequently in the very neighborhood of cultivators +whose hives are weak and impoverished, and who impute to a decay of the +honey resources of the country, the inevitable consequences of their own +irrational system of management. It will not be without profit, to +consider briefly under what circumstances these wild colonies flourish, +and how they are protected against sudden and extreme changes of +temperature. + +Snugly housed in the hollow of a tree whose thickness and decayed +interior are such admirable materials for excluding atmospheric changes, +the bees in Winter are in a state of almost absolute repose. The +entrance to their abode is generally very small in proportion to the +space within; and let the weather out of doors vary as it may, the +inside temperature is very uniform. These natural hives are dry, because +the moisture finds no cold or icy top, or sides, on which to condense, +and from which it must drip upon the bees, destroying their lives, or +enfeebling their health, by filling the interior of their dwelling with +mould and dampness. As they are very quiet, they eat but little, and +hence their bodies are not distended and diseased by accumulated faeces. +Often they do not stir from their hollows, from November until March or +April; and yet they come forth in the Spring, strong in numbers, and +vigorous in health. If at any time in the winter season, the warmth is +so great as to penetrate their comfortable abodes, and to tempt them to +fly, when they venture out, they find a balmy atmosphere in which they +may disport with impunity. In the Summer, they are protected from the +heat, not merely by the thickness of the hollow tree, but by the leafy +shade of overarching branches, and the refreshing coolness of a forest +home. + +The Russian and Polish bee-keepers, living in a climate whose winters +are much more severe than our own, are among the largest and most +successful cultivators of bees, many of them numbering their colonies by +hundreds, and some even by thousands! + +They have, with great practical sagacity, imitated as closely as +possible, the conditions under which bees are found to flourish so +admirably in a state of nature. We are informed by Mr. Dohiogost, a +Polish writer, that his countrymen make their hives of the best plank, +and never less than an inch and a half in thickness. The shape is that +of an old-fashioned churn, and the hive is covered on the outside, +halfway down, with twisted rope cordage, to give it greater protection +against extremes of heat and cold. The hives are placed in a dry +situation, directly upon the hard earth, which is first covered with an +inch or two of clean, dry sand. Chips are then heaped up all around +them, and covered with earth banked up in a sloping direction to carry +off the rain. The entrance is at some distance above the bottom, and is +a triangle, whose sides are only one inch long. In the winter season, +this entrance is contracted so that only one bee can pass at a time. +Such a hive, with us, as it does not furnish the honey in convenient, +beautiful and salable forms, would not meet the demands of our +cultivators. Still, there are some very important lessons to be learned +from it, by all who keep bees in regions of cold winters, and hot +summers. It shows the importance which some of the largest Apiarians in +the world, attach to protection; practical, common sense men, whose +heads have not been turned, as some would express it, by modern theories +and fanciful inventions. They cultivate their bees almost in a state of +nature, and their experience on what we would term a gigantic scale, +ought to convince even the most incredulous, of the folly of pretending +to keep bees, in the miserably thin and unprotected hives to which we +have been accustomed. + +But how, it will be asked, can bees live in Winter, in a hive so closely +shut up as the Polish hive? They do live in such hives, and prosper, +just as they do in hollow trees, with only one small entrance. It is +well known that bees have flourished when their hives were buried in +Winter, and under circumstances in which but a very small amount of air +could possibly gain admission to them. Bees, when kept in a _dry_ place, +in properly protected hives and in a state of almost perfect repose, +need only a small supply of air; and the objection that those +cultivators among us, who shut up their colonies very closely in Winter, +are almost sure to lose them, is of no weight; because the majority of +our hives are so deficient in protection, that if they are too closely +shut up, "the breath of the bees," condensing and freezing upon the +inside, and afterwards thawing, causes the combs to mould, and the bees +to become diseased; just as many substances mould and perish when kept +in a close, damp cellar. + +We are now prepared to discuss the question of protection in its +relations to the construction of hives. We have seen how it is furnished +to the bees in the Polish hives, and in the decayed hollows of trees. If +the Apiarian chooses, he can imitate this plan by constructing his hives +of very thick plank: but such hives would be clumsy, and with us, +expensive. Or he may much more effectually reach the same end, by making +his hives double, so as to enclose an air space all around, which in +Winter may be filled with charcoal, plaster of Paris, straw, or any good +non-conductor, to enable the bees to preserve with the least waste, +their animal heat. I prefer to pack the air-space with plaster of Paris, +as it is one of the very best non-conductors of heat, being used in the +manufacture of the celebrated Salamander fire-proof safes. Hives may be +constructed in this way, which without great expense, may be much better +protected than if they were made of six-inch plank. As the price of +glass is very low, I prefer to construct the inside of my doubled hives +of this material. When a number of hives are to be made, as the lowest +price glass will answer every purpose, I can furnish a given amount of +protection cheaper with glass than wood, while the glass possesses some +most decided advantages over any other material. The hives are lighter +and more compact, than when made of doubled wood, and can be more easily +moved, while the Apiarian can gratify his rational curiosity, and +inspect at all times, the condition of his stocks. The very interest +inspired by being able to see what they are doing, will go far to +protect them from that indifference and neglect, which is so often fatal +to their prosperity. The way in which I make my hives, not only protects +the bees against extremes of heat and cold, but it guards them very +effectually, against the injurious and often fatal effects of condensed +moisture. By means of my movable frames, the combs are prevented from +being attached to the sides, top or bottom of the hive; they are in +fact, suspended in the air. If now the dampness can be prevented from +condensing any where, _over_ the bees, so that it may not drip upon +their combs, and if it can be easily discharged from the hive wherever +it may collect, it cannot, under any circumstances, seriously annoy +them. Such are the arrangements in my hives, that but very little +moisture forms in them, and all that does, is deposited on the sides in +preference to any other part of the interior; just as it is upon the +colder walls or windows, rather than the ceiling of a room. But as the +combs are kept away from the sides, this moisture cannot annoy the bees; +nor can it penetrate the glass as it does unpainted wood or straw, thus +causing a more protracted dampness; it must run down their smooth +surfaces, and fall upon the bottom-board, from whence it can be easily +discharged from the hive. By packing in winter, the necessary amount of +protection is secured for the top and sides of the hive, and the very +worst property of glass, (its parting so rapidly with heat,) is changed +into one of the very best for the purposes of a bee-hive. I prefer not +only to make the sides of my hive of glass, but of _double_ glass, with +an air space of about an inch between the two panes of glass. The extra +cost[13] of this construction will be amply repaid by the additional +protection given to the bees. It will be absolutely impossible for any +frost ever to penetrate through this air space, and the packing between +the outside case and the main hive. The combs in such a hive cannot be +melted down, even if the hive is exposed to the reflected and +concentrated heat of a blazing sun: the same construction which secures +them against the cold of Winter, equally protecting them from the heat +of Summer. There is one disadvantage to which all well protected hives +of the ordinary construction, are exposed. In the Spring of the year, it +is exceedingly desirable that the warmth of the sun should penetrate the +hives, to encourage the bees in early breeding; but the very arrangement +which protects them from cold, often interferes with this. A bee-hive is +thus like a cellar, warm in Winter, and cool in Summer; but often +unpleasantly cool in the early Spring, when the atmosphere out of doors +is warm and delightful. In my hive, this difficulty is easily remedied. +In the Spring, as soon as the bees begin to fly, on warm, sun-shiny +days, the upper part of the outside case is removed, so that the genial +heat of the sun can penetrate to every part of the hive. The cover must +be replaced while the sun is still shining, so that the hives may be +shut up while they are warm. The labor of doing this, need occupy only a +few minutes daily, and as soon as warm weather fairly sets in, it may be +dispensed with. It may be performed without any risk, by a woman or a +boy. + +If the hive is of glass, it will warm up all the better, and as the +combs are on frames, they cannot be melted or injured by the heat. It is +a serious objection to most covered Apiaries, that they do not permit +the hives to receive the genial heat of the sun at a period of the year +when instead of injuring the bees, it exerts a most powerful influence +in developing their brood. + +This is one among many reasons why I have discarded them, and why I +prefer to construct my hives in such a manner that they need no extra +covering, but stand exposed to the full influence of the sun. I have +known strong colonies which have survived the Winter in thin hives, to +increase rapidly and swarm early, because of the stimulating effect of +the sun; while others, deprived of this influence, in dark bee houses +and well protected hives, have sometimes disappointed the hopes of their +owners. Although my glass hives are very beautiful, and most admirably +protected, still hives of doubled wood may often be built to better +advantage by those who construct their own hives, and they can be made +to furnish any desirable amount of protection. + +Enclosed Apiaries are at best but nuisances: they soon become +lurking-places for spiders and moths; and after all the expense wasted +on their construction, afford, but little protection against extreme +cold. + +I have been thus particular on the subject of protection, in order to +convince every bee keeper who exercises common sense, that thin hives +ought to be given up, if either pleasure or profit is sought from his +bees. Such hives an enlightened Apiarian could not be persuaded to +purchase, and he would consider them too expensive in their waste of +honey and bees, to be worth accepting, even as a gift. Many strong +colonies which are lodged in badly protected hives, often consume in +extra food, in a single hard winter, more than enough to pay the +difference between the first cost of a good hive over a bad one. In the +severe winter of 1851-2, many cultivators lost nearly all their stocks, +and a large part of those which survived, were too much weakened to be +able to swarm. And yet these same miserable hives, after accomplishing +the work of destruction on one generation of bees, are reserved to +perform the same office for another. And this some call economy! + +I am well aware of the question which many of my readers have for some +time been ready to ask of me. Can you make one of your well protected +hives as cheaply as we construct our common hives? I would remind such +questioners, that it is hardly possible to build a well protected house +as cheaply as a barn. + +And yet by building my hives in solid structures, three together, I am +able to make them for a very moderate price, and still to give them even +better protection than when they are constructed singly. If they are not +built of doubled materials they can be made for as little money as any +other patent hive, and yet afford much greater protection; as the combs +touch neither the top, bottom nor sides of the hive. I recommend however +a construction, which although somewhat more costly at first, is yet +much cheaper in the end. + +Such is the passion of the American people for cheapness in the first +cost of an article, even at the evident expense of dearness in the end, +that many, I doubt not, will continue to lodge their bees in thin hives, +in spite of their conviction of the folly of so doing; just as many of +our shrewdest Yankees build thin wooden houses, in the cold climate of +New England, or plaster their stone or brick ones directly on the wall, +when the extra cost of fuel to warm them, far exceeds the interest on +the additional expense which would be necessary to give them the +requisite protection; to say nothing of the doctors' bills, and fatal +diseases which can be traced often to the dreary barns or damp vaults +which they build, and call houses! + + +PROTECTOR. + +I attach very great importance to the way in which I give the bees +effectual protection against extremes of heat and cold, and sudden +changes of temperature, without removing them from their stands, or +incurring the expense and disadvantages of a covered Bee-House. This I +accomplish by means of what I shall call a _Protector_ which is +constructed substantially as follows. + +Select a dry and suitable location for the bees, where they will not be +disturbed, or prove an annoyance to others. If possible, let it be in +full sight of the sitting room, so that they may be seen in case of +swarming; and let it face the South-East, and be well protected from the +force of strong winds. Dig a trench, about two feet deep; its length +should depend upon the number of hives to be accommodated; and its +breadth should be such that when it is properly walled up, it should +measure from the outside top of one wall to another, just sufficient to +receive the bottom of the hive. The walls, may be built of refuse brick +or stones, and should be about four feet high from the foundation; the +upper six inches being built of good brick, and the back wall about two +inches higher than the front one, so as to give the bottom-board of the +hives, the proper slant towards the entrance. At one end of this +Protector, a wooden chimney should be built, and if the number of hives +is great, there should be one at each end, admitting air in Winter, and +yet excluding rain and snow. The earth which is thrown out in digging, +should be banked up against the walls as high as the good brick, and in +a slope which, when grassed over, may be easily mowed with a common +scythe. The slope on the back should be more perpendicular than in front +so as not to be in the way when operating upon the hives. + +The bottom may be covered with an inch or two of clean sand and in +winter with straw. In Summer, the ends are left open, so that a free +current of air may pass through, while in Winter, they are properly +banked up; and straw, evergreen boughs, or any other material, suitable +for excluding frost, may if necessary, be placed all around the outside +of the Protector. Such an arrangement will be found very cheap, when +compared with a Bee-House or covered Apiary, and may be made both neat +and highly ornamental. It may be constructed of wood by those who desire +something still cheaper, and any one who can handle a spade, hammer, +plane and saw, can make for himself a structure on which a hundred hives +may stand, at less expense than would be necessary to build a covered +Apiary for ten. As the ventilators of the hive open into this Protector, +the bees are, in Summer, supplied with a cool and refreshing atmosphere, +as closely as possible resembling that which they find in a forest home; +while in Winter, the external entrances of the hives may be safely +closed, and they will receive a supply of air remarkably uniform and +never much below the freezing point. As the hives themselves are double, +no frost can penetrate through them, and thus their interior will almost +always be perfectly dry. When the weather suddenly moderates, and bees +in the common hives fly out, and are lost on the snow, those arranged in +the manner described, will not know that any change has taken place, +but will remain quiet in their winter quarters, unless the weather is so +warm that their owner judges it safe to open the entrances, so that the +warmth may penetrate their hives, and tempt them to fly, and discharge +their faeces. Let it be remembered that the object of this arrangement is +not to _warm up_ the hives by _artificial heat_; but merely to enable +the bees to retain to the utmost their own animal heat, to secure the +advantages set forth in this Chapter on Protection. Once or twice during +the Winter, the blocks which regulate the entrances to my hives should +be removed, and as the frames are kept about half an inch from the +bottom-board, by means of a stick or wire, all the dead bees and filth +may, in a few moments, be removed: or as the entrance of the hives by +removing the blocks, may be so enlarged as to offer no obstruction to +its introduction or removal, an old newspaper can be kept on the +bottom-board, and drawn out from time to time, with all its contents. + +A movable board of the same thickness and length with the bottom-boards +of the hive and about six inches wide, separates the hives from each +other, as they stand upon the Protector. + +I have made numerous observations upon the temperature of a Protector +made substantially on the plan described, and find that it is +wonderfully uniform. The lowest range of the thermometer during the +months of January and February, 1853, in the Protector, was 28 deg.; in the +open air, 14 deg. below zero; the highest in the Protector 32 deg.; in the open +air 56 deg.. It will thus be seen that while the thermometer out of doors +had a range of 70 deg., in the Protector it had a range of only 4 deg.. While +bees in common hives during some warm days flew out and perished in +large numbers on the snow; the bees over the Protector were perfectly +quiet. To this arrangement I attach an importance second only to my +movable frames, and believe that combined with doubled hives, it removes +the chief obstacle to the successful cultivation of bees in cold +latitudes.[14] In the coldest regions where bees can find supplies in +Summer, they may during a Winter that lasts from November to May, and +during which the mercury congeals, be kept as comfortable as in climates +which seem much more propitious for their cultivation. The more snow the +better, as it serves more the effectually to exclude the cold from the +Protector. However long and dreary the Winter, the bees in their +comfortable quarters feel none of its injurious influences; and actually +consume less, than those which are kept where the winters are short, and +so mild that the bees are often tempted to fly, and are in a state of +almost continual excitement. It is in precisely such latitudes, in +Poland and Russia, that bees are kept in the largest numbers, and with +the most extraordinary success. In the chapter on Pasturage, I shall +show that some of the coldest places in New England, and the Middle +States, are among the most favored spots for obtaining the largest +supplies of the very purest honey. + +Having thoroughly tested the practicability of affording the bees by my +Protector, complete protection against heat and cold, at a very small +expense, and in a way which may be made highly ornamental, the proper +steps will be taken to secure a patent right for the same; although no +extra charge will be made for this, or for any other subsequent +improvement, to those who purchase the right to use my hive. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[13] The cost of the glass for one hive so as to give the air space all +around, if purchased at the wholesale prices will not exceed 25 cts. +Where three hives are made in one structure, the glass for the three +will cost less than 50 cents; if double glass is not used, the expense +would be less by one half. + +[14] The observations to test the temperature of the Protector were made +in Greenfield, Massachusetts, in latitude 42 deg. 36 min. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +VENTILATION OF THE HIVE. + + +If a populous hive is examined on a warm Summer day, a considerable +number of bees will be found standing on the alighting board, with their +heads turned towards the entrance, the extremity of their bodies +slightly elevated, and their wings in such rapid motion that they are +almost as indistinct as the spokes of a wheel, in swift rotation on its +axis. A brisk current of air may be felt proceeding from the hive, and +if a small piece of down be suspended by a thread, it will be blown out +from one part of the entrance, and drawn in at another. What are these +bees expecting to accomplish, that they appear so deeply absorbed in +their fanning occupation, while busy numbers are constantly crowding in +and out of the hive? and what is the meaning of this double current of +air? To Huber, we owe the first satisfactory explanation of these +curious phenomena. These bees plying their rapid wings in such a +singular attitude, are performing the important business of +_ventilating_ the hive; and this double current is composed of pure air +rushing in at one part, to supply the place of the foul air forced out +at another. By a series of the most careful and beautiful experiments, +Huber ascertained that the air of a crowded hive is almost, if not +quite, as pure as the atmosphere by which it is surrounded. Now, as the +entrance to such a hive, is often, (more especially in a state of +nature,) very small, the interior air cannot be renewed without resort +to some artificial means. If a lamp is put into a close vessel with only +one small orifice, it will soon exhaust all the oxygen, and go out. If +another small orifice is made, the same result will follow; but if by +some device a current of air is drawn out from one, an equal current +will force its way into the other, and the lamp will burn until the oil +is exhausted. + +It is precisely on this principle, of maintaining a double current by +_artificial means_, that the bees ventilate their crowded habitations. A +body of active ventilators stands inside of the hive, as well as +outside, all with their heads turned towards the entrance, and by the +rapid fanning of their wings, a current of air is blown briskly out of +the hive, and an equal current drawn in. This important office is one +which requires great physical exertion on the part of those to whom it +is entrusted; and if their proceedings are carefully watched, it will be +found that the exhausted ventilators, are, from time to time, relieved +by fresh detachments. If the interior of the hive will admit of +inspection, in very hot weather, large numbers of these ventilators will +be found in regular files, in various parts of the hive, all busily +engaged in their laborious employment. If the entrance at any time is +contracted, a speedy accession will be made to the numbers, both inside +and outside; and if it is closed entirely, the heat of the hive will +quickly increase, the whole colony will commence a rapid vibration of +their wings, and in a few moments will drop lifeless from the combs, for +want of air. + +It has been proved by careful experiments that pure air is necessary not +only for the respiration of the mature bees, but that without it, +neither the eggs can be hatched, nor the larvae developed. A fine +netting of air-vessels covers the eggs; and the cells of the larvae are +sealed over with a covering which is full of air holes. In Winter, as +has been stated in the Chapter on Protection, bees, if kept in the dark, +and neither too warm nor too cold, are almost dormant, and seem to +require but a small allowance of air; but even under such circumstances, +they cannot live entirely without air; and if they are excited by being +exposed to atmospheric changes, or by being disturbed, a very loud +humming may be heard in the interior of their hives, and they need quite +as much air as in warm weather. + +If at any time, by moving their hives, or in any other way, bees are +greatly disturbed, it will be unsafe to confine them, especially in warm +weather, unless a very free admission of air is given to them, and even +then, the air ought to be admitted above, as well as below the mass of +bees, or the ventilators may become clogged with dead bees, and the +swarm may perish. Under close confinement, the bees become excessively +heated, and the combs are often melted down. When bees are confined to a +close atmosphere, especially if dampness is added to its injurious +influences, they are sure to become diseased; and large numbers, if not +the whole colony, perish from dysentery. Is it not under circumstances +precisely similar, that cholera and dysentery prove most fatal to human +beings? How often do the filthy, damp and unventilated abodes of the +abject poor, become perfect lazar-houses to their wretched inmates? + +I examined, last Summer, the bees of a new swarm which had been +suffocated for want of air, and found their bodies distended with a +yellow and noisome substance, just as though they had perished from +dysentery. A few were still alive, and instead of honey, their bodies +were filled with this same disgusting fluid; though the bees had not +been shut up, more than two hours. + +In a medical point of view, I consider these facts as highly +interesting; showing as they do, under what circumstances, and how +speedily, disease may be produced. + +In very hot weather, if thin hives are exposed to the sun's rays, the +bees are excessively annoyed by the intense heat, and have recourse to +the most powerful ventilation, not merely to keep the air of the hive +pure, but to carry off, as much as possible, its internal warmth. They +often leave the interior of the hive, almost in a body, and in thick +masses, cluster on the outside, not simply to escape the close heat +within, but to guard their combs against the danger of being dissolved. +At such times they are particularly careful not to cluster on the combs +containing sealed honey; for as most of these combs have not been lined +with the cocoons of the larvae, they are, for this reason, as well as on +account of the extra amount of wax used for their covers, much more +liable to be melted, than the breeding cells. + +Apiarians have often noticed the fact, that as a general thing, the bees +leave the honey cells almost entirely bare, as soon as they have sealed +them over; but it seems to have escaped their observation, that in hot +weather, there is often an absolute necessity for such a course. In cool +weather, on the contrary, the bees may often be found clustered among +the sealed honey-combs, because there is then no danger of their melting +down. + +Few things in the range of their wonderful instincts, are so well fitted +to impress the mind with their admirable sagacity, as the truly +scientific device, by which these wise little insects ventilate their +dwellings. I was on the point of saying that it was almost like +human-reason, when the painful and mortifying reflection presented +itself to my mind that in respect to ventilation, the bee is immensely +in advance of the great mass of those who consider themselves as +rational beings. It has, to be sure, no ability to make an elaborate +analysis of the chemical constituents of the atmosphere, and to decide +how large a proportion of oxygen is essential to the support of life, +and how rapidly the process of breathing converts this important element +into a deadly poison. It has not, like Leibig, been able to demonstrate +that God has set the animal and vegetable world, the one over against +the other; so that the carbonic acid produced by the breathing of the +one, furnishes the aliment of the other; which, in turn, gives out its +oxygen for the support of animal life; and that, in this wonderful +manner, God has provided that the atmosphere shall, through all ages, be +as pure as when it first came from His creating hand. But shame upon us! +that with all our intelligence, the most of us live as though pure air +was of little or no importance; while the bee ventilates with a +scientific precision and thoroughness, that puts to the blush our +criminal neglect. + +To this it may be replied that ventilation in our case, cannot be had, +without considerable expense. Can it be had for nothing, by the +industrious bees? Those busy insects, which are so indefatigably plying +their wings, are not engaged in idle amusement; nor might they, as some +would-be utilitarian may imagine, be better employed in gathering honey, +or in superintending some other department in the economy of the hive. +They are at great expense of time and labor, supplying the rest of the +colony with pure air, so conducive in every way, to their health and +prosperity. + +I trust that I shall be permitted to digress, for a short time, from +bees to men, and that the remarks which I shall offer on the subject of +ventilation in human dwellings, may make a deeper impression, in +connection with the wise arrangements of the bee, than they would, if +presented in the shape of a mere scientific discussion; and that some +who have been in the habit of considering all air, except in the +particular of temperature, as about alike, may be thoroughly convinced +of their mistake. + +Recent statistics prove that consumption and its kindred diseases are +most fearfully on the increase, in the Northern, and more especially in +the New England States; and that the general mortality of Massachusetts +exceeds that of almost every other state in the Union. In these States, +the tendency of increasing attention to manufacturing and mechanical +pursuits, is to compel a larger and larger proportion of the population +to lead an in-door life, and to breathe an atmosphere more or less +vitiated, and thus unfit for the full development of vigorous health. +The importance of pure air can hardly be over-estimated; indeed, the +quality of the air we breath, seems to exert an influence much more +powerful, and hardly less direct, than the mere quality of our food. +Those who, by active exercise in the open air, keep their lungs +saturated as it were, with the pure element, can eat almost anything +with impunity; while those who breath the sorry apology for air which is +to be found in so many habitations, although they may live upon the most +nutritious diet, and avoid the least excess, are incessantly troubled +with head-ache, dyspepsia, and various mental as well as physical +sufferings. Well may such persons, as they witness the healthy forms and +happy faces of so many of the hardy sons of toil, exclaim with the old +Latin poet, + + "Oh dura messorum illia!" + +It is with the human family very much as it is with the vegetable +kingdom. Take a plant or tree, and shut it out from the pure air, and +the invigorating light, and though you may supply it with an abundance +of water and the very soil, which by the strictest chemical analysis, is +found to contain all the elements that are essential to its vigorous +growth, it will still be a puny thing, ready to droop, if exposed to a +summer's sun, or to be prostrated by the first visitation of a winter's +blast. Compare now, this wretched abortion, with an oak or maple which +has grown upon the comparatively sterile mountain pasture, and whose +branches, in Summer are the pleasant resort of the happy songsters, +while, under its mighty shade, the panting herds drink in a refreshing +coolness. In Winter it laughs at the mighty storms, which wildly toss +its giant branches in the air, and which serve only to exercise the +limbs of the sturdy tree, whose roots deep intertwined among its native +rocks, enable it to bid defiance to anything short of a whirlwind or +tornado. + +To a population, who, for more than two-thirds of the year, are +compelled to breathe an atmosphere heated by artificial means, the +question how can this air be made, at a moderate expense, to resemble, +as far as possible, the purest ether of the skies is, (or as I should +rather say ought to be,) a question of the utmost interest. When open +fires were used, there was no lack of pure air, whatever else might have +been deficient. A capacious chimney carried up through its insatiable +throat, immense volumes of air, to be replaced by the pure element, +whistling in glee, through every crack, crevice and keyhole. Now the +house-builder and stove-maker with but few exceptions[15] seem to have +joined hands in waging a most effectual warfare against the unwelcome +intruder. By labor-saving machinery, they contrive to make the one, the +joints of his wood-work, and the other, those of his iron-work, tighter +and tighter, and if it were possible for them to accomplish fully their +manifest design, they would be able to furnish rooms almost as fatal +to life as "the black hole of Calcutta." But in spite of all that they +can do, the materials will shrink, and no fuel has yet been found, which +will burn without any air, so that sufficient ventilation is kept up, to +prevent such deadly occurrences. Still they are tolerably successful in +keeping out the unfriendly element; and by the use of huge +cooking-stoves with towering ovens, and other salamander contrivances, +the little air that can find its way in, is almost as thoroughly cooked, +as are the various delicacies destined for the table. + +On reading an account of a run-away slave, who was for a considerable +time, closely boxed up, a gentleman remarked that if the poor fellow had +only known that a renewal of the air was necessary to the support of +life, he could not have lived there an hour without suffocation: I have +frequently thought that if the occupants of the rooms I have been +describing, could only know as much, they would be in almost similar +danger. + +Bad air, one would think, is bad enough: but when it is heated and dried +to an excessive degree, all its original vileness is stimulated to +greater activity, and thus made doubly injurious by this new element of +evil. Not only our private houses, but our churches and school-rooms, +our railroad cars, and all our places of public assemblage, are, to a +most lamentable degree, either unprovided with any means of ventilation, +or, to a great extent, supplied with those which are so wretchedly +deficient that they + + "Keep the word of promise to our ear, + And break it to our hope." + +That ultimate degeneracy must surely follow such entire disregard of the +laws of health, cannot be doubted; and those who imagine that the +physical stamina of a people can be undermined, and yet that their +intellectual, moral and religious health will suffer no eclipse or +decay, know very little of the intimate connection between body and +mind, which the Creator has seen fit to establish. + +The men may, to a certain extent, resist the injurious influences of +foul air; as their employments usually compel them to live much more out +of doors: but alas, alas! for the poor women! In the very land where +women are treated with more universal deference and respect than in any +other, and where they so well deserve it, there often, no provision is +made to furnish them with that great element of health, cheerfulness and +beauty, heaven's pure, fresh air. + +In Southern climes, where doors and windows may be safely kept open for +a large part of the year, pure air is cheap enough, and can be obtained +without any special effort: but in Northern latitudes, where heated air +must be used for nearly three-quarters of the year, the neglect of +ventilation is fast causing the health and beauty of our women to +disappear. The pallid cheek, or the hectic flush, the angular form and +distorted spine, the debilitated appearance of a large portion of our +females, which to a stranger, would seem to indicate that they were just +recovering from a long illness, all these indications of the lamentable +absence of physical health, to say nothing of the anxious, care-worn +faces and premature wrinkles, proclaim in sorrowful voices, our +violation of God's physical laws, and the dreadful penalty with which He +visits our transgressions. + +Our people must, and I have no doubt that eventually they will be most +thoroughly aroused to the necessity of a vital reform on this important +subject. Open stoves, and cheerful grates and fire-places will again be +in vogue with the mass of the people, unless some better mode of warming +shall be devised, which, at less expense, shall make still more ample +provision for the constant introduction of fresh air. Houses will be +constructed, which, although more expensive in the first cost, will be +far cheaper in the end, and by requiring a much smaller quantity of fuel +to warm the air, will enable us to enjoy the luxury of breathing air +which may be duly tempered, and yet be pure and invigorating. Air-tight +and all other _lung-tight_ stoves will be exploded, as economizing in +fuel only when they allow the smallest possible change of air, and thus +squandering health and endangering life. + +The laws very wisely forbid the erection of wooden buildings in large +cities, and in various ways, prescribe such regulations for the +construction of edifices as are deemed to be essential to the public +welfare; and the time cannot, I trust, be very far distant, when all +public buildings erected for the accommodation of large numbers, will be +required by law, to furnish a supply of fresh air, in some reasonable +degree adequate to the necessities of those who are to occupy them. + +I shall ask no excuse for the honest warmth of language which will +appear extravagant only to those who cannot, or rather will not, see the +immense importance of pure air to the highest enjoyment, not only of +physical, but of mental and moral health. The man who shall succeed in +convincing the mass of the people, of the truth of the views thus +imperfectly presented, and whose inventive mind shall devise a cheap and +efficacious way of furnishing a copious supply of pure air for our +dwellings and public buildings, our steamboats and railroad cars, will +be even more of a benefactor than a Jenner, or a Watt, a Fulton, or a +Morse. + +To return from this lengthy and yet I trust not unprofitable digression. + +In the ventilation of my hive, I have endeavored, as far as possible, to +meet all the necessities of the bees, under the varying circumstances to +which they are exposed, in our uncertain climate, whose severe extremes +of temperature impress most forcibly upon the bee-keeper, the maxim of +the Mantuan Bard, + + "Utraque vis pariter apibus metuenda." + +"Extremes of heat or cold, alike are hurtful to the bees." In order to +make artificial ventilation of any use to the great majority of +bee-keepers, it must be simple, and not as in Nutt's hive, and many +other labored contrivances, so complicated as to require almost as +constant supervision as a hot-bed or a green-house. The very foundation +of any system of ventilation should be such a construction of the hive +that the bees shall need a change of air only for breathing. + +In the Chapter on Protection, I have explained the construction of my +hives, and of the Protector by which the bees being kept warm in Winter, +and cool in Summer, do not require, as in thin hives, a very free +introduction of air, in hot weather, to keep the combs from softening; +or a still larger supply in Winter, to prevent them from moulding, and +to dry up the moisture which runs from their icy tops and sides; and +which, if suffered to remain, will often affect the bees with dysentery, +or as it is sometimes called, "the rot." The intelligent Apiarian will +perceive that I thus imitate the natural habitation of the bees in the +recesses of a hollow tree in the forest, where they feel neither the +extremes of heat nor cold, and where through the efficacy of their +ventilating powers, a very small opening admits all the air which is +necessary for respiration. + +In the Chapter on the Requisites of a good hive, I have spoken of the +importance of furnishing ventilation, independently of the entrance. By +such an arrangement, I am able to improve upon the method which the bees +are compelled to adopt in a state of nature. As they have no means of +admitting air by wire-cloth, and at the same time, of effectually +excluding all intruders, they are obliged in very hot weather, and in a +very crowded state of their dwellings, to employ a larger force in the +laborious business of ventilation, than would otherwise be necessary; +while in Winter, they have no means of admitting air which is only +moderately cool. I can keep the entrance so small, that only a single +bee can go in at once, or I can, if circumstances require, entirely +close it, and yet the bees need not suffer for the want of air. In all +ordinary cases, the ventilators will admit a sufficient supply of duly +tempered air from the Protector, and the bees can, at any time, increase +their efficiency by their own direct agency, while yet they will, at no +time, admit a strong current of chilly air, so as to endanger the life +of the brood. As bees are, at all times, prone to close the ventilators +with propolis, they must be placed where they can easily be removed, and +cleansed, by soaking them in boiling water. + +As respects ventilation from above, as well as from below, so as to +allow a free current of air to pass through the hive, I am decidedly +opposed to it, as in cool and windy weather, such a current often +compels the bees to retire from the brood, which in this way is +destroyed by a fatal chill. In thin hives, ventilation from above may be +desirable in Winter, to carry off the superfluous moisture, but in +properly constructed hives, standing over a Protector, there is, as has +already been remarked, little or no dampness to be carried off. The +construction of my hives will allow, if at all desirable, of ventilation +from above; and I always make use of it, when the bees are to be shut up +for any length of time, in order to be moved; as in this case, there is +always a risk that the ventilators on the bottom-board may be clogged by +dead bees, and the colony suffocated. As the entrance of the hive, may +in a moment, be enlarged to any desirable extent, without in the least +perplexing the bees, any quantity of air may be admitted, which the +necessities of the bees, under any possible circumstances, may require. +It may be made full 18 inches in length, but as a general rule, in +Summer, in a large colony, it need not exceed six inches: while in +Spring and Fall, two or three inches will suffice. In Winter, it should +be entirely closed; unless in latitudes so warm, that even with the +Protector, the bees cannot be kept quiet. The bee-keeper should never +forget that it is almost certain destruction to a colony, to confine +them when they wish to fly out. The precautions requisite to prevent +robbing, will be subsequently described. In Northern latitudes, in the +months of April and May, I prefer to keep the ventilators entirely +closed; as the air of the Protector, at such times, like the air of a +cellar in Spring, is uncomfortably cool, and has a tendency to interfere +with breeding. + + NOTE.--Since the remarks on the neglect of ventilation were put in + type, my attention has been called by Hon. M. P. Wilder, of + Dorchester, to an article on the same subject, in the Nov. number of + the Horticulturist, for 1850, from the pen of the lamented Downing. + It seems to have been written shortly after his return from Europe, + and when he must have been most deeply impressed by the woful + contrast, in point of physical health between the women of America + and Europe. While he speaks in just and therefore glowing terms of + the virtues of our countrywomen, he says: "But in the _signs of + physical health_ and all that constitutes the outward aspect of the + men and women of the United States, our countrymen and especially + countrywomen, compare most unfavorably with all but the absolutely + starving classes on the other side of the Atlantic." Close stoves he + has most appropriately styled "little demons," and impure air "The + favorite poison of America." His article concludes as follows: + + "Pale countrymen and countrywomen rouse yourselves! Consider that + God has given us an atmosphere of pure health-giving air 45 miles + high, and _ventilate your houses_." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] The beautiful open or Franklin stoves, manufactured by Messrs. +Jagger, Treadwell and Perry, of Albany, deserve the highest +commendation: they economize fuel as well as life and health. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +NATURAL SWARMING, AND HIVING OF SWARMS. + + +The swarming of bees has been justly regarded as one of the most +beautiful sights in the whole compass of rural economy. Although, for +reasons which will hereafter be assigned, I prefer to rely chiefly on +artificial means for the multiplication of colonies, I should be very +unwilling to pass a season without participating, to some extent, in the +pleasing excitement of natural swarming. + + "Up mounts the chief, and to the cheated eye + Ten thousand shuttles dart along the sky; + As swift through aether rise the rushing swarms, + Gay dancing to the beam their sun-bright forms; + And each thin form, still ling'ring on the sight, + Trails, as it shoots, a line of silver light. + High pois'd on buoyant wing, the thoughtful queen, + In gaze attentive, views the varied scene, + And soon her far-fetch'd ken discerns below + The light laburnum lift her polish'd brow, + Wave her green leafy ringlets o'er the glade, + And seem to beckon to her friendly shade. + Swift as the falcon's sweep, the monarch bends + Her flight abrupt; the following host descends. + Round the fine twig, like cluster'd grapes, they close + In thickening wreaths, and court a short repose." + _Evans._ + +The swarming of bees, by making provision for the constant +multiplication of colonies, was undoubtedly intended both to guard the +insect against the possibility of extinction, and to make its labors in +the highest degree useful to man. The laws of reproduction in those +insects which do not live in regular colonies, are such as to secure an +ample increase of numbers. The same is true in the case of hornets, +wasps and humble-bees which live in colonies only during the warm +weather. In the Fall of the year, all the males perish, while the +impregnated females retreat into winter quarters and remain dormant, +until the warm weather restores them to activity, and each one becomes +the mother of a new family. + +The honey bee differs from all these insects, in being compelled, by the +laws of its physical organization, to live in communities, during the +entire year. The balmy breezes of Spring will quickly thaw out the +frozen veins of a torpid Wasp; but the bee is incapable of enduring even +a moderate degree of cold: a temperature as low as 50 deg. speedily chills +it, and it would be quite as easy to recall to life the stiffened +corpses in the charnel house of the Convent of the Great St. Bernard, as +to restore to animation, a frozen bee. In cool weather, they must +therefore associate in large numbers, in order to maintain the animal +heat which is necessary to their preservation; and the formation of new +colonies, after the manner of wasps and hornets, is clearly impossible. +If the young queens left the parent stock in Summer, and were able, like +the mother-wasps, to lay the foundations of a new colony, they could not +maintain the warmth requisite for the development of their young, even +if they were able, without any baskets on their thighs, to gather +bee-bread for their support. If all these difficulties were surmounted, +they would still be unable to amass any treasures for our use, or even +to lay up the stores requisite for their own preservation. + +How admirably are all these difficulties obviated by the present +arrangement! Their domicile is well supplied with all the materials for +the rearing of brood, and long before any of the insects which depend +upon the heat of the sun, are able to commence breeding, the bees have +added thousands in the full vigor of youth to their already numerous +population. They are thus able to send off in season, colonies +sufficiently powerful to take advantage of the honey-harvest, and +provision the new hive against the approach of Winter. From these +considerations, it is very evident that swarming, so far from being, as +some Apiarians have considered it, a forced or unnatural event, is one, +which in a state of nature, could not possibly be dispensed with. + +Let us now inquire under what circumstances it ordinarily takes place. + +The time when swarms may be expected, depends of course, upon climate, +season, and the strength of the stocks. In the Northern and Middle +States, bees seldom swarm before the latter part of May; and June may be +considered as the great swarming month. The importance of having +powerful swarms early in the season, will be discussed in another place. + +In the Spring, as soon as a hive well filled with comb and bees, becomes +too much crowded to accommodate its teeming population, the bees begin +the necessary preparations for emigration. A number of royal cells are +commenced about the time that the drones first make their appearance; +and by the time that the young queens arrive at maturity, the drones are +always found in the greatest abundance. The first swarm is invariably +led off by the old queen, unless she has previously died from accident +or disease, in which case, it is accompanied by one of the young queens +reared to supply her loss. The old mother leaves soon after the royal +cells are sealed over, unless delayed by unfavorable weather. There are +no signs from which the Apiarian can, with certainty, predict the issue +of a first swarm. I devoted annually, much attention to this point, +vainly hoping to discover some infallible indications of first swarming; +until taught by further reflection that, from the very nature of the +case, there can be no such indications. The bees, from an unfavorable +state of the weather, or the failure of the blossoms to yield an +abundant supply of honey, often change their minds, and refuse to swarm, +even after all their preparations have been completed. Nay more, they +sometimes send out no new colonies that season, when a sudden change of +weather has interrupted them on the very day when they were intending to +emigrate, and after they had taken a full supply of honey for their +journey. + +If on a fair, warm day in the swarming season, but few bees leave a +strong hive, while other colonies are busily at work, we may, unless the +weather suddenly prove unfavorable, look with great confidence for a +swarm. As the old queens, which accompany the first swarm, are heavy +with eggs, and fly with considerable difficulty, they are shy of +venturing out, except on fair, still days. If the weather is very +sultry, a swarm will sometimes issue as early as 7 o'clock in the +morning; but from 10 to 2, is the usual time, and the majority of swarms +come off from 11 to 1. Occasionally, a swarm will venture out as late as +5 P. M. An old queen is seldom guilty of such a piece of indiscretion. + +I have in repeated instances witnessed the whole process of swarming, in +my observing hives. On the day fixed for their departure, the queen +appears to be very restless, and instead of depositing her eggs in the +cells, she travels over the combs, and communicates her agitation to the +whole colony. The emigrating bees fill themselves with honey, some time +before their departure: in one instance, I noticed them laying in their +supplies, more than two hours before they left. A short time before the +swarm rises, a few bees may generally be seen, sporting in the air, with +their heads turned always to the hive, occasionally flying in and out, +as though they were impatient for the important event to take place. At +length, a very violent agitation commences in the hive: the bees appear +almost frantic, whirling around in a circle, which continually enlarges, +like the circles made by a stone thrown into still water, until at last +the whole hive is in a state of the greatest ferment, and the bees rush +impetuously to the entrance, and pour forth in one steady stream. Not a +bee looks behind, but each one pushes straight ahead, as though flying +"for dear life," or urged on by some invisible power, in its headlong +career. The queen often does not come out, until a large number have +left, and she is frequently so heavy, from the large number of eggs in +her ovaries, that she falls to the ground, incapable of rising with the +colony into the air. + +The bees are very soon aware of her absence, and a most interesting +scene may now be witnessed. A diligent search is immediately made for +their missing mother; the swarm scatters in all directions, and I have +frequently seen the leaves of the adjoining trees and bushes, almost as +thickly covered with the anxious explorers, as they are with drops of +rain after a copious shower. If she cannot be found, they return to the +old hive, though occasionally they attempt to enter some other hive, or +join themselves to another swarm if any is still unhived. + +The ringing of bells, and beating of kettles and frying-pans, is one of +the good old ways more honored by the breach than the observance; it may +answer a very good purpose in amusing the children, but I believe that +as far as the bees are concerned, it is all time thrown away; and that +it is not a whit more efficacious than the custom practiced by some +savage tribes, who, when the sun is eclipsed, imagining that it has been +swallowed by an enormous dragon, resort to the most frightful noises, to +compel his snake-ship to disgorge their favorite luminary. If a swarm +has selected a new home previous to their departure, no amount of +_noise_ will ever compel them to alight, but as soon as all the bees +which compose the emigrating colony have left the hive, they fly in a +direct course, or "bee-line," to the chosen spot. I have noticed that +when bees are much neglected by those who pretend to take care of them, +such unceremonious leave-taking is quite common; on the contrary, when +proper attention is bestowed on them, it seldom occurs. + +It can seldom if ever occur to those who manage their bees according to +my system; as I shall show in the Chapter on Artificial Swarming. If the +Apiarian perceives that his swarm instead of clustering begins to rise +higher and higher in the air, and evidently means to depart, not a +moment is to be lost: instead of empty noises, he must resort to means +much more effective to stay their vagrant propensities. Handfulls of +dirt cast into the air, or water thrown among them, will often so +disorganize them as to compel them to alight. Of all devices for +stopping them, the most original one that I have ever heard of, is to +flash the sun's rays among them, by the use of a looking glass! I have +never had occasion to try it, but the anonymous writer who recommends +it, says that he never knew it to fail. If they are forcibly prevented +from eloping, then special care must be taken or they will be almost +sure soon after hiving, to leave for their selected home. The queen +should be caught and confined for several days in a way which will be +subsequently described. The same caution must be exercised, when new +swarms abandon their hive. If the queen cannot be caught, and there is +reason to dread a desertion, the bees may be carried into the cellar, +and confined in total darkness, until towards sun-set of the third day +after they swarmed, being supplied in the mean time with water and honey +to build their combs. + +If a colony decides to go, they look upon the hive in which they are put +as only a temporary stopping place, and seldom trouble themselves to +build any comb in it. If the hive is so constructed as to permit +inspection, I can tell by a glance whether bees are disgusted with their +new residence, and mean before long to clear out. They not only refuse +to work with that energy so characteristic of a new swarm, but they have +a peculiar look which to the experienced eye at once proclaims the fact +that they are staying only upon sufferance. Their very attitude, hanging +as they do with a sort of dogged or supercilious air, as though they +hated even so much as to touch their detested abode, is equivalent to an +open proclamation that they mean to be off. My numerous experiments in +attempting from the moment of hiving, to make the bees work in observing +hives exposed to the full light of day, instead of keeping them as I now +do in darkness for several days, have made me quite familiar with all +their graceless, do-nothing proceedings before their departure. Bees +sometimes abandon their hives very early in the Spring, or late in +Summer or Fall. They exhibit all the appearance of natural swarming; but +they leave, not because the population is crowded, but because it is +either so small, or the hive so destitute of supplies, that they are +discouraged or driven to desperation. I once knew a colony to leave the +hive under such circumstances, on a springlike day in December! They +seem to have a presentiment that they must perish if they stay, and +instead of awaiting the sure approach of famine, they sally +out to see if something cannot be done to better their condition. + +At first sight, it seems strange that so provident an insect should not +always select a suitable domicile before venturing on so important a +step as to abandon the old home. Often before they are safely housed +again, they are exposed to powerful winds and drenching rains, which +beat down and destroy many of their number. + +I solve this problem in the economy of the bee, in the same manner that +I have solved so many others, by considering in what way, this +arrangement conduces to the advantage of man. + +The honey-bee would have been of comparatively little service to him, if +instead of tarrying until he had sufficient time to establish them in a +hive in which to labor for him, their instinct impelled them to decamp, +without any delay, from the restraints of domestication. In this, as in +many other things, we see that what on a superficial view, appeared to +be a very obvious imperfection, proves, on closer examination, to be a +special contrivance to answer important ends. + +To return to our new swarm. The queen sometimes alights first, and +sometimes joins the cluster after it has commenced forming. It is a very +rare thing for the bees ever to cluster, unless the queen is with them; +and when they do, and yet afterwards disperse, I believe that usually +the queen, after first rising with them, has been lost by falling into +some spot where she is unnoticed by the bees. In two instances, I +performed the following interesting experiment. + +Perceiving a hive in the very act of swarming, I contracted the entrance +so as to secure the queen when she made her appearance. In each case, at +least one third of the bees came out, before the queen presented +herself to join them. When I perceived that the swarm had given up their +search for her, and were beginning to return to the parent hive, I +placed her, with her wings clipped, on the limb of a small evergreen +tree: she crawled to the very top of the limb, as if for the purpose of +making herself as conspicuous as possible. A few bees noticed her, and +instead of alighting, darted rapidly away; in a few seconds, the whole +colony were apprised of her presence, flew in a dense cloud to the spot, +and commenced quietly clustering around her. I have often noticed the +surprising rapidity with which bees communicate with each other, while +on the wing. Telegraphic signals are hardly more instantaneous. (See +Chapter on the Loss of the Queen.) + +That bees send out scouts to seek a suitable abode, it seems to me, can +admit of no serious question. Swarms have been traced to their new home, +either in their flight directly from their hive, or from the place where +they have clustered; and it is evident, that in such instances, they +have pursued the most direct course. Now such a precision of flight to a +"_terra incognita_," an unknown home, would plainly be impossible, if +some of their number had not previously selected the spot, so as to be +competent to act as guides to the rest. The sight of the bees for +distant objects, is wonderfully acute, and after rising to a sufficient +elevation, they can see the prominent objects in the vicinity of their +intended abode, even although they may be several miles distant. Whether +the bees send out their scouts _before_ or _after_ swarming, may admit +of more question. In cases where the colony flies without alighting, to +its new home, they are unquestionably dispatched before swarming. If +this were their usual course, then we should naturally expect all the +colonies to take the same speedy departure. Or if, for the convenience +of the queen over fatigued by the excitement of swarming, or for any +other reason, they should see fit to cluster, then we should expect that +only a transient tarrying would be allowed. Instead of this, they often +remain until the next day, and instances of a more protracted delay are +not unfrequent. The cases which occur, of bees stopping in their flight, +and clustering again on any convenient object, are not inconsistent with +this view of the subject; for if the weather is hot, and the sun shines +directly upon them, they will often leave before they have found a +suitable habitation; and even when they are on the way to their new +home, the queen being heavy with eggs, and unaccustomed to fly, is +sometimes from weariness, compelled to alight, and her colony clusters +around her. Queens, under such circumstances, sometimes seem unwilling +to entrust themselves again to their wings, and the poor bees attempt to +lay the foundations of their colony, on fence rails, hay-stacks, or +other most unsuitable places. + +I have been informed by Mr. Henry M. Zollickoffer of Philadelphia, a +very intelligent and reliable observer, that he knew a swarm to settle +on a willow tree in that city, in a lot owned by the Pennsylvania +Hospital; it remained there for sometime, and the boys pelted it with +stones, to get possession of its comb and honey. + +The absolute necessity for scouts or explorers, is evident from all the +facts in the case, unless we admit that bees have the faculty of flying +in an air-line to a hollow tree, or some suitable abode which they have +never seen, though they cannot find their hive, if, in their absence, it +is moved only a few rods from its former position. + +These obvious considerations are abundantly confirmed by the repeated +instances in which a few bees have been noticed prying very +inquisitively into a hole in a hollow tree or the cornice of a +building, and have been succeeded, before long, by a whole colony. The +importance of these remarks will be more obvious, when I come to discuss +the proper mode of hiving bees. + +Having described the common method of procedure pursued by the new +swarm, when left without interference to their natural instincts, it is +time to return to the parent stock from which they emigrated. + +In witnessing the immense number which have abandoned it, we might +naturally suppose that it must be almost entirely depopulated. It is +sometimes asserted that as bees swarm in the pleasantest part of the +day, the population is replenished by the return of large numbers of +workers that were absent in the fields; this, however, can seldom be the +case, as it is rare for many bees to be absent from the hive at the time +of swarming. + +To those who limit the fertility of the queen to 200, or at most 400 +eggs per day, the rapid replenishing of the hive after swarming, must +ever be a problem incapable of solution; but to those who have ocular +demonstration that she can lay from one to three thousand eggs a day, it +is no mystery at all. A sufficient number of bees is always left behind, +to carry on the domestic operations of the hive, and as the old queen +departs only when the population of the hive is super-abundant; and when +thousands of young bees are hatching daily, and often 30,000 or more, +are rapidly maturing, in a short time the hive is almost as populous as +it was before swarming. Those who assert that the new colony is composed +of young bees which have been forced to emigrate by the older ones, have +certainly failed to use their eyes to much advantage, or they would have +seen, in hiving a new swarm, that it is composed of both young and old; +some, having wings ragged from hard work, while others are evidently +quite young. After the tumult of swarming is entirely over, not a bee +that did not participate in it, seeks afterwards to join the new colony, +and not one that did, seeks to return. What determines some to go, and +others to stay, we have no certain means of knowing. + +How wonderfully abiding the impression made upon an insect, which in a +moment causes it to lose all its strong affection for the old home in +which it was bred, and which it has entered, perhaps hundreds of times; +so that when established in another hive, though only a few feet +distant, it never afterwards pays the slightest attention to its former +abode! Often, when the hive into which the new swarm is put, is not +removed from the place where the bees were hived, until some have gone +to the fields, on their return, they fly for hours, in ceaseless circles +about the spot where the missing hive stood. I have often known them to +continue the vain search for their companions until they have, at +length, dropped down from utter exhaustion, and perished in close +proximity to their old homes! + +It has been already stated that the old queen, if the weather is +favorable, generally leaves about the time that the young queens are +sealed over, to be changed into nymphs. In about eight days more, one of +these queens hatches, and the question must now be decided whether any +more colonies are to be sent out that season, or not. If the hive is +well filled with bees, and the season in all respects promising, this +question is generally decided in the affirmative; although colonies +often refuse to swarm more than once when they are very strong, and when +we can assign no reason for such a course; and they sometimes swarm +repeatedly, to the utter ruin of both the old stock, and the +after-swarms. + +If the bees decide to swarm again, the first hatched queen is allowed +to have her own way. She rushes immediately to the cells of her sisters, +and, (as was described in the Chapter on Physiology,) stings them to +death. From some observations that I have made, I am inclined to think +that the other bees aid her in this murderous transaction: they +certainly tear open the cradles of the slaughtered innocents, and remove +them from the cells. Their dead bodies may often be found on the ground +in front of the hive. + +When a queen has emerged in the natural way from her cell, the bees +usually nibble away the now useless abode, until only a small acorn cup +remains; but when by violence she has met with an untimely end, they +take down entirely the whole of the cell. By counting these acorn-cups, +it can always be ascertained how many young queens have hatched in a +hive. + +Before the queens emerge from their cells, a fluttering sound is +frequently heard, which is caused by the rapid motion of their wings, +and which must not be confounded with the piping notes which will soon +be described. If the bees of the parent stock decide to swarm again, the +first hatched queen is prevented from killing the others. A strong guard +is kept over their cells, and as often as she approaches them with +murderous intent, she is bitten, or otherwise rudely treated, and given +to understand by the most uncourtier-like demonstrations, that she +cannot, in all things, do just as she pleases. + +When thus repulsed, like men and women who cannot have their own way, +she is highly offended and utters an angry sound, given forth in a quick +succession of notes, and which sounds not unlike the rapid utterance of +the words, "peep, peep." I have frequently, by holding a queen in the +closed hand, caused her to make the same noise. To this angry note, one +or more of the queens still unhatched, will respond, in a somewhat +hoarser key, just as chicken-cocks, by crowing, bid defiance to each +other. These sounds are entirely unlike the usual steady hum of the +bees, and when heard, are the almost infallible indications that a +second swarm will soon issue. They are occasionally so loud that they +may be heard at some distance from the hive. + +About a week after first swarming, the Apiarian should, early in the +morning or at evening, when the bees are still, place his ear against +the hive, and he will, if the queens are piping, readily recognize their +peculiar sounds. If their notes are not heard, at the very latest, +sixteen days after the departure of the first swarm, by which time the +young queens are mature, even if the first colony left as soon as the +eggs were deposited in the royal cells, it is an infallible indication +that the first hatched queen is without rivals in the hive, and that +swarming is over, in that stock, for the season. + +The second swarm usually issues on the second or third day after this +sound is heard: although I have known them to delay coming out, until +the fifth day, in consequence of a very unfavorable state of the +weather. Occasionally, the weather is so unfavorable, that the bees +permit the oldest queen to kill the others, and refuse to swarm again. +This is a rare occurrence, as the young queens, unlike the old ones, do +not appear to be very particular about the weather, and sometimes +venture out, not merely when it is cloudy, but even when rain is +falling. On this account, if a very close watch is not kept, they are +often lost. As piping ordinarily commences about eight or nine days +after first swarming, the second swarm generally issues ten or twelve +days after the first. It has been known to issue as early as the third +day after the first, and as late as the seventeenth. Such cases, +however, are of rare occurrence. It frequently happens in the agitation +of swarming, that several of the young queens emerge from their cells at +the same time, and accompany the colony: when this is the case, the bees +often alight in two or more separate clusters. Young queens not having +their ovaries burdened with eggs, are much more quick on the wing, than +old ones, and fly frequently much farther from the parent stock, before +they alight; though I never knew a second swarm to depart to the woods +without clustering at all. After the departure of a second swarm, the +oldest of the remaining queens leaves her cell; and if another swarm is +to be sent forth, piping will still be heard, and so before the issue of +each swarm after the first. I once had five stocks issue from one swarm, +and they all came out in about two weeks. In warm latitudes more than +twice this number of swarms have been known to issue in one season from +a single stock. The third swarm commonly makes its appearance on the +second or third day after the second swarm, and the others, at intervals +of about a day. + +After-swarms, or casts, (these names are given to all swarms after the +first,) reduce very seriously the strength of the parent stock; for +after the departure of the old queen, no more eggs are deposited in the +cells, until all swarming is over. It is a very wise arrangement that +the second swarm does not ordinarily issue until all the eggs left by +the first queen are hatched, and the young fed and sealed over, so as to +require no further care. The departure of the second swarm earlier than +this, would leave too few laborers to attend to the wants of the young +bees. As it is, if the weather after swarming, suddenly becomes chilly, +and the hives are thin and admit too much air, the bees are too much +reduced in numbers, to maintain the heat requisite for the proper +development of the brood, and numbers are destroyed. + +In the Chapter on Artificial Swarming, I shall discuss the effect of too +frequent swarming, on the profits of the Apiary. If the bee-keeper +desires to have no casts, he can, by the use of my hives, very easily, +prevent their issue. As soon as the first swarm is hived, the parent +stock may be opened, and all the queen cells except one removed. How +much better this is, than to attempt to return the after-swarms to the +parent hive, can only be appreciated by one who has thoroughly tried +both plans. If the Apiarian desires the most rapid multiplication of +colonies possible, where natural swarming is relied on, full directions +will be furnished, in the sequel, for building up all after-swarms, +however small, into vigorous stocks. It will be remembered that both the +parent stock from which the swarm issues, and all the colonies except +the first, have a young queen. These queens never leave the hive for +impregnation, until after they have been established as the acknowledged +heads of independent families. They generally go out for this purpose, +the first pleasant day after they are thus acknowledged, early in the +afternoon, at which hour the drones are flying in the greatest numbers. +On first leaving their hive, they always fly with their heads turned +towards it, and enter and depart often several times before they finally +soar up into the air. Such precautions on the part of a young queen, are +highly necessary that she may not mistake her own hive on her return, +and lose her life by attempting to enter that of another colony. +Mistakes of this kind are frequently made when the hives stand near, and +closely resemble each other, and are fatal, not only to the queen, but +to her whole colony. In the new hive there is no brood at all, and in +the old one it is too far advanced towards maturity to answer for +raising new queens. Such calamities, in my hive, admit of a very easy +remedy, as I shall show in the Chapter on the Loss of the Queen. + +To guard the young queen against such frequent mistakes, I paint the +covered fronts of my hives, with the alighting boards, and blocks +guarding the entrance, of different colors. This answers the same +purpose as to paint the whole surface of the boxes, some of one color, +and some of another. The only proper color for a hive when exposed to +the weather, is a perfect white; any shade of color will absorb the heat +of the sun, so as to warp the wood-work of the hive, besides exposing +the bees to a pent and suffocating heat. + +When a young queen leaves the hive for the purpose above mentioned, the +bees, on missing her, are often filled with alarm, and rush from the +hive, just as though they were intending to swarm. Their agitation soon +calms down, if she returns to them in safety. I shall give through the +medium of the Latin tongue, some statements which are important only to +the scientific naturalist, and entomologist. + +Post coitum fucus statim perit. Penis ejectio, ut ego comperi, lenem +compressionem fuci ventris, consequitur; et fucus extemplo similis +fulmine tacto, moritur. Dominus Huber saepe videbat fuci organum post +congressum, in corpore feminae haesisse. Vidi semel tam firme inhaerens, ut +nisi disruptione reginae ventris, non possim divellere. + +The queen commences laying eggs, about two days after impregnation, and +for the first season, lays none but the eggs of workers; no males being +needed in colonies which will throw no swarm till another season. It is +seldom until after she has commenced replenishing the cells with eggs, +that she is treated with any special attention by the bees; although if +deprived of her before this time, they show, by their despair, that they +thoroughly comprehended her vast importance to their welfare. + +I shall now give such practical directions for the easy hiving of +swarms, as will, I trust, greatly facilitate the whole operation, not +merely to the novice, but even to many experienced bee-keepers; and I +shall try to make these directions sufficiently minute, to guide those +who having never seen a swarm hived, are very apt to imagine that the +process must be a formidable one, instead of being, as it usually is to +those who are fond of bees, a most delightful entertainment. Experience +in this, as in other things, will speedily give the requisite skill and +confidence; and the cry of "the bees are swarming," will soon be hailed +with greater pleasure than an invitation to the most sumptuous banquet. + +The hives for the new swarms should all be in readiness before the +swarming season begins, and should be painted long enough beforehand, to +have the paint most thoroughly dried. The smell of fresh paint is well +known to be exceedingly injurious to human beings, and is such an +abomination to the bees, that they will often desert a new hive sooner +than put up with it. If the hives cannot be painted in ample season, +then such paints should be used, as contain no white lead, and they +should be mixed in such a manner as to dry as quickly as possible. Thin +hives ought never to stand in the sun, and then, when heated to an +insufferable degree, be used for a new swarm. Bees often refuse to enter +such hives at all, and at best, are very slow in taking possession of +them. It should be borne in mind, that bees, when they swarm, are +greatly excited, and unnaturally heated. The temperature of the hive, at +the moment of swarming, rises very suddenly, and many of the bees are +often drenched with such a profuse perspiration that they are unable to +take wing and join the departing colony. The attempt to make bees enter +a heated hive in a blazing sun, is as irrational as it would be to try +to force a panting crowd of human beings into the suffocating atmosphere +of a close garret. If bees are to be put in hives through which the +heat of the sun can penetrate, the process should be accomplished in the +shade, or if this cannot conveniently be done, the hive should be +covered with a sheet, or shaded with leafy boughs. If a hive with my +movable frames is used, these should all be furnished, or at least, +every other one, with a small piece of worker-comb, attached to the +center of the frame, with melted wax or rosin. Without such a guide +comb, the bees will almost always work some of the combs out of the true +direction, and this will interfere with their easy removal. A sheet of +comb, not larger than five inches square, will answer for all the frames +of one hive. If even so small a piece of comb as this cannot be +procured, let a thin line of melted wax be drawn, lengthwise, over the +middle of each frame, and let the colony be examined, on the second day +after hiving, and all the frames which contain irregular comb, be +removed. This comb may be cut off, and attached so as to serve as a +proper guide to the bees. The possession of six frames containing good +worker comb, and wrought with perfect accuracy, may be made by the +following device, to answer a most admirable end. Put them into a hive +with six empty frames; first a frame with comb, then an empty one, &c. +After the bees have had possession of this hive two or three days, visit +them, and very politely inform them that the full frames were intended +as a loan, and not as a gift; and that having served to set them an +example how they should work, you must now have them to teach other +young swarms the same useful lesson; and that the new combs which they +have built with such admirable regularity, are beautiful patterns for +the empty ones which you must give them. In this way, the same combs may +be made to answer for many successive swarms. + +Drone combs should never be attached to the frames as a guide, unless it +is desired to have the bees follow the pattern, and build large ranges +of drone comb, to breed a vast horde of useless consumers. Such comb, if +white, may be used to great advantage in the surplus honey-boxes; if old +and discolored, it should be melted for wax. I am now engaged in a +course of experiments, which I hope, will enable me to dispense with the +necessity of guide-combs for my frames, as they are sometimes difficult +to be procured by those who have just commenced bee-keeping. As a +general thing, however, every one, after a few weeks' experience, may +have enough and to spare, for such purposes. Every piece of good +worker-comb, if large enough to be attached to a frame, should be used +both for its intrinsic value, and because bees are so wonderfully +pleased when they find such unexpected treasures in a hive, that they +will seldom desert it. A new swarm has been known to take possession of +an old hive without any occupants, but well stored with comb. Though +dozens of empty hives may be in the Apiary, they never unless under such +circumstances, enter a hive, of their own accord. It might seem as +though an instinct impelling them to do so, would have been a most +admirable one, and so doubtless, it may seem to some that it would have +been much better for man, if the earth had only brought forth +spontaneously all things requisite for the support of man and beast, +without any necessity for the sweat of the brow. The first and last +frames in my hive, are placed about a quarter of an inch from the ends, +and the others just half an inch apart. When first put in, it will be +advisable to attach them slightly with a very little glue or melted wax, +to keep them in their places, until they are fastened with propolis, by +the bees. The rubbing of hives with various kinds of herbs or washes, +has always seemed to me, useless, and often positively injurious. There +ought always to be some small trees near the hives, on which the swarms +can cluster, and from which they can be easily gathered. If there are +none, limbs of trees about six feet high, (evergreens are best,) may be +fastened into the ground, a few rods in front of the hives, and they +will answer a very good temporary purpose. It will inspire the +inexperienced Apiarian with much greater confidence, to remember that +almost all the bees in a swarm, have filled themselves with honey, +before leaving the parent stock, and are therefore in a very peaceable +mood. If he is at all timid, or liable, as some are, to suffer severely +from the sting of a single bee, he should, by all means, furnish himself +with the protection of a bee-dress. (See Bee-Dress.) + +I shall, in another place, give the best remedies for the relief of a +sting. As soon as the bees have quietly clustered around their queen, +preparation should be made to hive them without any unnecessary delay. +The headlong haste of some Apiarians, which, by throwing them into a +profuse perspiration, renders them very liable to be stung, is +altogether unnecessary. The very fact that the bees have clustered, +after leaving the parent stock, is almost equivalent to a certainty that +they will not leave, for at least one or two hours. All convenient +despatch should be used, however, lest other colonies issue before the +first one is hived, and attempt to add themselves, as they frequently +do, to the first swarm. The proper course to be pursued, in such a case, +will be subsequently explained. If my hives are used, the entrance on +the whole front must be opened, so that the bees may have every chance +to enter as rapidly as possible; and a sheet must be fastened to the +alighting-board, to keep the bees from being separated from each other +or soiled by dirt, for a bee thoroughly covered with dust or dirt, is +almost sure to perish. Unless the bees cluster at a considerable +distance from the place where they are intended to be permanently +stationed, the new hive which receives them may stand on the Protector +in its proper place, with the sheet tacked or pinned to the +alighting-board, and spread out over the mound in front of the entrance. +If the common hives are used, they must generally be carried to the +swarm, and propped up on the sheet, so as to give the bees a free +admission. When the bees alight where they can be easily reached from +the ground, the limb on which they have clustered, should, with one +hand, be shaken, so that they may gently fall into a basket held under +them, by the other. If the basket is sufficiently open to admit the air +freely, and not so open as to allow the bees to get through the sides, +it will answer all the better. The bees should now be carried very +slowly to their new home, and be gently shaken, or poured out, on the +sheet, in front of it. If they seem at all reluctant to enter, take up a +few of them in a large spoon, (a cup will answer equally well,) and +shake them close to the entrance. As they go in, they will fan with +their wings, and raise a peculiar note, which communicates the joyful +news that they have found a home, to the rest of their companions; and +in a short time, the whole swarm will enter, and they are thus safely +hived, without injury to a single bee. When bees are once shaken down on +the sheet, the great mass of them are very unwilling to take wing again; +for they are loaded with honey, and like heavily armed troops, they +desire to march slowly and sedately to the place of encampment. If the +sheet hangs in folds, or is not stretched out, so as to present an +uninterrupted surface, they are often greatly confused, and take a long +time to find the entrance to the hive. If it is desired to have them +enter sooner than they are sometimes inclined to do, they may be gently +separated, with a feather, or leafy twig, when they cluster in bunches +on the sheet. On first shaking them down into the basket, multitudes +will again take wing, and multitudes more will be left on the tree, but +they will speedily form a line of communication with those on the sheet, +and enter the hive with them; for many of them will follow the Apiarian, +as he slowly carries the basket to the hive. + +It sometimes happens that the queen is left on the tree: in this case, +the bees will either refuse to enter the hive, or if they go in, will +speedily come out, and all take wing again, to join their queen. This +happens much more frequently in the case of after-swarms, whose young +queens, instead of exhibiting the gravity of the old matron, are apt to +be constantly flying about, and frisking in the air. When the bees +cluster again on the tree, the process of hiving must be repeated. + +If the Apiarian has a pair of sharp pruning-shears, and the limb on +which the bees have clustered, is of no value, and so small, that it can +be cut without jarring them off, this may be done, and the bees carried +on it and then shaken off on the sheet. + +If the bees settle too high to be easily reached, the basket should be +fastened to a pole, and raised directly under the swarm; a quick motion +of the basket will cause the mass of the bees to fall into it, when it +may be carried to the hive, and the bees poured out from it on the +sheet. + +If the bees light on the trunk of a tree, or any thing from which they +cannot easily be gathered in a basket, place a leafy bough over them, +(it may be fastened with a gimlet,) and if they do not mount it of their +own accord, a little smoke will compel them to do so. If the place is +inaccessible, and this is about the worst case that occurs, they will +enter a basket well shaded by cotton cloth fastened around it, and +elevated so as to rest with its open top sideways to the mass of the +bees. When small trees, or limbs fastened into the ground, are placed +near the hives, and there are no large trees near, there will seldom be +found any difficulty in hiving swarms. If two swarms light together, I +advise that they should be put into one hive, and abundant room at once +be given them, for storing surplus honey. This can always be readily +done in my hives. Large quantities of honey are generally obtained from +such stocks, if the season is favorable, and they have issued early. If +it is desired to separate them, place in each of the hives which is to +receive them, a comb containing brood and eggs, from which, in case of +necessity, a new queen may be raised. Shake a portion of the bees in +front of each hive, sprinkling them thoroughly, both before and after +they are shaken out from the basket, so that they will not take wing to +unite again. If possible, secure the queens, so that one may be given to +each hive. If this cannot be done, the hives should be examined the next +day, and if the two queens entered the same hive, one will have killed +the other, and the queenless hive will be found building royal cells. It +should be supplied with a sealed queen nearly mature, taken from another +hive, not only to save time, but to prevent them from filling their hive +with comb unfit for the rearing of workers. (See Artificial Swarming.) +Of course, this cannot be done with the common hives, and if the +Apiarian does not succeed in getting a queen for each hive, the +queenless one will refuse to stay, and will go back to the old stock. + +The old-fashioned way of hiving bees, by mounting trees, cutting and +lowering down large limbs, (often to the injury of valuable trees,) and +placing the hive over the bees, frequently crushing large numbers, and +endangering the life of the queen, should be entirely abandoned. A +swarm may be hived in the proper way with far less risk and trouble, and +in much less time. In large Apiaries managed on the swarming plan, where +a number of swarms come out on the same day, and there is constant +danger of their mixing,[16] the speedy hiving of swarms is an object of +great importance. If the new hive does not stand where it is to remain +for the season, it should be removed to its permanent stand as soon as +the bees have entered; for if allowed to remain to be removed in the +evening, or early next morning, the scouts which have left the cluster, +in search of a hollow tree, will find the bees when they return, and +will often entice them from the hive. There is the greater danger of +this, if the bees have remained on the tree, a considerable time before +they were hived. I have invariably found that swarms which abandon a +suitable hive for the woods, have been hived near the spot where they +clustered, and allowed to remain to be moved in the evening. If the bees +swarm early in the day, they will generally begin to work in a few +hours (or in less time, if they have empty comb,) and many more may be +lost by returning next day to the place where they were hived, than +would be lost, by removing them as soon as they have entered; in this +latter case, the few that are on the wing, will generally be able to +find the hive if it is slowly moved to its permanent stand. + +If the Apiarian wishes to secure the queen, the bees should be shaken +from the hiving basket, about a foot from the entrance to the hive, and +if a careful look-out is kept, she will generally be seen as she passes +over the sheet, to the entrance. Care must be taken to brush the bees +back from the entrance when they press forward in such dense masses that +the queen is likely to enter unnoticed. An experienced eye readily +catches a glance of her peculiar form and color. She may be taken up +without danger, as she never stings, unless engaged in combat with +another queen. As it will sometimes happen, even to careful bee-keepers, +that swarms will come off when no suitable hives are in readiness to +receive them, I shall show what may be done in such an emergency. Take +any old hive, box, cask, or measure, and hive the bees in it, placing +them with suitable protection against the sun, where their new hive is +to stand; when this is ready, they may, by a quick jerking motion, be +easily shaken out on a sheet, and hived in it, just as though they were +shaken from the hiving basket. If they are to remain in the temporary +hive over the second day, they ought to be shaken out on a sheet, and +after their comb is taken from them, allowed to enter it again, or else +there will be danger of crushing the queen by the weight of the comb. + +I have endeavored, even at the risk of being tedious, to give such +specific directions as will qualify the novice to hive a swarm of bees, +under almost any circumstances; for I know the necessity of such +directions and how seldom they are to be met with, even in large +treatises on Bee-Keeping. Vague or imperfect directions always fail, +just at the moment that the inexperienced attempt to put them into +practice. + +Before leaving this subject, I will add to the directions for hiving +already given, a method which I have practiced with good success. + +When the situation of the bees does not admit of the basket being easily +elevated to them, the bee-keeper may carry it with him to the cluster, +and then after shaking the bees into it, may lower it down by a string, +to an assistant standing below. + +That Natural Swarming may, with suitable hives, be made highly +profitable, I cannot for a moment question. As it is the most simple and +obvious way of multiplying colonies, and the one which requires the +least amount of knowledge or skill, it will undoubtedly, for many years +at least, be the favorite method with a large number of bee-keepers. I +have therefore, been careful to furnish suitable directions for its +successful practice; and before I discuss the question of Artificial +Increase, I shall show how it may be more profitably conducted than ever +before; many of the most embarrassing difficulties in the way of its +successful management being readily obviated by the use of my hives. + +1. The common hives fail to furnish adequate protection in Winter, +against cold, and those sudden changes to unseasonable warmth, by which +bees are tempted to come out and perish in large numbers on the snow; +and the colonies are thus prevented from breeding on a large scale, as +early as they otherwise would. Under such circumstances, they can make +no profitable use of the early honey-harvest; and they will swarm so +late, if they swarm at all, as to have but little opportunity for +laying up surplus honey, while often they do not gather enough even for +their own use, and their owner closes the season by purchasing honey to +preserve them from starvation. The way in which I give the bees that +amount of protection in Winter, which conduces most powerfully to early +swarming, has already been described in the Chapter on Protection. + +2. Another serious objection to all the ordinary swarming hives, is the +vexatious fact that if the bees swarm at all, they are liable to swarm +so often as to destroy the value of both the parent stock and the +after-swarms. Experienced bee-keepers obviate this difficulty, by +uniting second swarms, so as to make one good colony out of two; and +they return to the parent stock all swarms after the second, and even +this if the season is far advanced. Such operations consume much time, +and often give much more trouble than they are worth. By removing all +the queen cells but one, after the first swarm has left, second swarming +in my hives will always be prevented; and by removing all but two, +provision may be made for the issue of second swarms, and yet all +after-swarming be prevented. The process of returning after-swarms is +not only objectionable, on account of the time it requires, having often +to be repeated again and again before one queen is allowed to destroy +the others; but it also causes a large portion of the gathering season +to be wasted; for the bees seem unwilling to work with energy, so long +as the pretensions of several rival queens are unsettled. + +3. Another very serious objection to Natural Swarming, as practiced with +the common hives, is the inability of the Apiarian who wishes rapidly to +multiply his colonies, to aid his late and small swarms, so as to build +them up into vigorous stocks. The time and money which are ordinarily +spent upon small colonies, are almost always thrown away; by far the +larger portion of them never survive the Winter, and the majority of +those that do, are so enfeebled, as to be of little or no value. If they +escape being robbed by stronger stocks, or destroyed by the moth, they +seldom recruit in season to swarm, and very often the feeding must be +repeated, the second Fall, or they will at last perish. I doubt not that +many of my readers will, from their own experience, endorse every word +of these remarks, as true to the very letter. All who have ever +attempted to multiply colonies by nursing and feeding small swarms, on +the ordinary plans, have found it attended with nothing but loss and +vexation. The more a man has of such stocks, the poorer he is: for by +their weakness, they are constantly tempting his strong swarms to evil +courses; so that at last, they prefer to live as far as they can, by +stealing, rather than by habits of honest industry; and if the feeble +colonies escape being plundered, they often become mere nurseries for +raising a plentiful supply of moths, to ravage his whole Apiary. + +I have already shown, in what way by the use of my hives, the smallest +swarms that ever issue, may be so managed as to become powerful stocks. +In the same way the Apiarian can easily strengthen all his colonies +which are feeble in Spring. + +4. As the loss of the young queens in the parent stock after it has +swarmed, and in the after-swarms, is a very common occurrence, a hive +which like mine, furnishes the means of easily remedying this +misfortune, will greatly promote the success of those who practice +natural swarming. A very intelligent bee-keeper once assured me, that he +must use at least one such hive in his Apiary, for this purpose, even if +in other respects it possessed no superior merits. + +5. Bees, as is well known, often refuse to swarm at all, and most of the +swarming hives are so constructed, that proper accommodations for +storing honey, cannot be furnished to the super-abundant population. +Under such circumstances, they often hang for several months, in black +masses on the outside of the hive; and are worse than useless, as they +consume the honey which the others have gathered. In my hives, an +abundance of room for storing honey can always be given them, _not all +at once_, so as to prevent them from swarming, but by degrees, as their +necessities require: so that if they are indisposed, for any reason to +swarm, they may have suitable receptacles easily accessible, and +furnished with guide comb to make them more attractive, in which to +store up any amount of honey that they can possibly collect. + +6. In the common hives, but little can be done to dislodge the bee-moth, +when once it has gained the mastery of the bees; whereas in mine, it can +be most effectually rooted out when it has made a lodgment. (See Remarks +on Bee-Moth.) + +7. In the common hives, nothing can be done except with great +difficulty, to remove the old queen when her fertility is impaired; +whereas in my hives, (as will be shown in the Chapter on Artificial +Swarming,) this can easily be effected, so that an Apiary may constantly +contain a stock of young queens, in the full vigor of their +re-productive powers. + +I trust that these remarks will convince intelligent Apiarians, that I +have not spoken boastfully or at random, in asserting that natural +swarming can be carried on with much greater certainty and success, by +the use of my hives, than in any other way; and that they will see that +many of the most perplexing embarrassments and mortifying +discouragements under which they have hitherto prosecuted it, may be +effectually remedied. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[16] Dr. Scudamore, an English physician who has written a small tract +on the formation of artificial swarms, says that he once knew "as many +as ten swarms go forth at once, and settle and mingle together, forming +literally a monster meeting!" Instances are on record of a much larger +number of swarms clustering together. A venerable clergyman, in Western +Massachusetts, related to me the following remarkable occurrence. In the +Apiary of one of his parishioners, five swarms lit in one mass. As there +was no hive which would hold them, a very large box was roughly nailed +together, and the bees were hived in it. They were taken up by sulphur +in the Fall, when it was perfectly evident that the five swarms had +occupied the same box as independent colonies. Four of them had +commenced their works, each one near a corner, and the fifth one in the +middle, and there was a distinct interval separating the works of the +different colonies. In Cotton's "My Bee Book," there is a cut +illustrating a hive in which two colonies had built in the same manner. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. + + +The numerous efforts which have been made for the last fifty years or +more, to dispense with natural swarming, plainly indicate the anxiety of +Apiarians to find some better mode of increasing their colonies. + +Although I am able to propagate bees by natural swarming, with a +rapidity and certainty unattainable except by the complete control of +all the combs in the hive, still there are difficulties in this mode of +increase, inherent to the system itself, and therefore entirely +incapable of being removed by any kind of hive. Before describing the +various methods which I employ to increase colonies by artificial means, +I shall first enumerate these difficulties, in order that each +individual bee-keeper may decide for himself, in which way he can most +advantageously propagate his bees. + +1. The large number of swarms lost every year, is a powerful argument +against natural swarming. + +An eminent Apiarian has estimated that one fourth of the best swarms are +lost every season! This estimate can hardly be considered too high, if +all who keep bees are taken into account. While some bee-keepers are so +careful that they seldom lose a swarm, the majority, either from the +grossest negligence, or from necessary hindrances during the swarming +season, are constantly incurring serious losses, by the flight of their +bees to the woods. It is next to impossible, entirely to prevent such +occurrences, if bees are allowed to swarm at all. + +2. The great amount of time and labor required by natural swarming, has +always been regarded as a decided objection to this mode of increase. + +As soon as the swarming season begins, the Apiary must be closely +watched almost every day, or some of the new swarms will be lost. If +this business is entrusted to thoughtless children, or careless adults, +many swarms will be lost by their neglect. It is very evident that but +few persons who keep bees, can always be on hand to watch them and to +hive the new swarms. But, in the height of the swarming season, if any +considerable number of colonies is kept, the Apiarian, to guard against +serious losses, should either be always on the spot himself, or have +some one who can be entrusted with the care of his bees. Even the +Sabbath cannot be observed as a day of rest; and often, instead of being +able to go to the House of God, the bee-keeper is compelled to labor +among his bees, as hard as on other days, or even harder. That he is as +justifiable in hiving his bees on the Sabbath, as in taking care of his +stock, can admit of no serious doubt; but the very liability of being +called to do so, is with many, a sufficient objection against Apiarian +pursuits. + +The merchant, mechanic and professional man, are often so situated that +they would take great interest in bees, if they were not deterred from +their cultivation by inability to take care of them, during the swarming +season; and they are thus debarred from a pursuit, which is intensely +fascinating, not merely to the lover of Nature, but to every one +possessed of an inquiring mind. No man who spends some of his leisure +hours in studying the wonderful habits and instincts of bees, will ever +complain that he can find nothing to fill up his time out of the range +of his business, or the gratification of his appetites. Bees may be kept +with great advantage, even in large cities, and those who are debarred +from every other rural pursuit, may still listen to the soothing hum of +the industrious bee, and harvest annually its delicious nectar. + +If the Apiarian could always be on hand during the swarming season, it +would still, in many instances, be exceedingly inconvenient for him to +attend to his bees. How often is the farmer interrupted in the business +of hay-making, by the cry that his bees are swarming; and by the time he +has hived them, perhaps a shower comes up, and his hay is injured more +than his swarm is worth. In this way, the keeping of a few bees, instead +of a source of profit, often becomes rather an expensive luxury; and if +a very large stock is kept, the difficulties and embarrassments are +often most seriously increased. If the weather becomes pleasant after a +succession of days unfavorable for swarming, it often happens that +several swarms rise at once, and cluster together, to the great +annoyance of the Apiarian; and not unfrequently, in the noise and +confusion, other swarms fly off, and are entirely lost. I have seen the +Apiarian so perplexed and exhausted under such circumstances, as to be +almost ready to wish that he had never seen a bee. + +3. The managing of bees by natural swarming, must, in our country, +almost entirely prevent the establishment of large Apiaries. + +Even if it were possible, in this way, to multiply bees with certainty +and rapidity, and without any of the perplexities which I have just +described, how few persons are so situated as to be able to give almost +the whole of their time in the busiest part of the year, to the +management of their bees. The swarming season is with the farmer, the +very busiest part of the whole year, and if he purposes to keep a large +number of swarming hives, he must not only devote nearly the whole of +his time, for a number of weeks, to their supervision, but at a season +when labor commands the highest price, he will often be compelled to +hire additional assistance. + +I have long been convinced that, as a general rule, the keeping of a few +colonies in swarming hives, costs more than they are worth, and that the +keeping of a very large number is entirely out of the question, unless +with those who are so situated that they can afford to devote their +time, for about two months every year, almost entirely to their bees. +The number of persons who can afford to do this must be very small; and +I have seldom heard of a bee-keeper, in our country, who has an Apiary +on a scale extensive enough to make bee-keeping anything more than a +subordinate pursuit. Multitudes have tried to make it a large and +remunerating business, but hitherto, I believe that they have nearly all +been disappointed in their expectations. In such countries as Poland and +Russia where labor is deplorably cheap, it may be done to great +advantage; but never to any considerable extent in our own. + +4. A serious objection to natural swarming, is the discouraging fact +that the bees often refuse to swarm at all, and the Apiarian finds it +impossible to multiply his colonies with any certainty or rapidity, even +although he may find himself in all respects favorably situated for the +cultivation of bees, and may be exceedingly anxious to engage in the +business on a much more extensive scale. + +I am acquainted with many careful bee-keepers who have managed their +bees according to the most reliable information they could obtain, +never destroying any of their colonies, and endeavoring to multiply them +to the best of their ability, who yet have not as many stocks as they +had ten years ago. Most of them would abandon the pursuit, if they +looked upon bee-keeping simply in the light of dollars and cents, rather +than as a source of pleasant recreation; and some do not hesitate to say +that much more money has been spent, by the mass of those who have used +patent hives, than they have ever realized from their bees. + +It is a very simple matter to make calculations on paper, which shall +seem to point out a road to wealth, almost as flattering, as a tour to +the gold mines of Australia or California. Only purchase a patent +bee-hive, and if it fulfills all or even a part of the promises of its +sanguine inventor, a fortune must, in the course of a few years, be +certainly realized; but such are the disappointments resulting from the +bees refusing often to swarm at all, that if the hive could remedy all +the other difficulties in the way of bee-keeping, it would still fail to +answer the reasonable wishes of the experienced Apiarian. If every swarm +of bees could be made to yield a profit of 20 dollars a year, and if the +Apiarian could be sure of selling his new swarms at the most extravagant +prices, he could not, like the growers of mulberry trees, or the +breeders of fancy fowls, multiply his stocks so as to meet the demand, +however extensive; but would be entirely dependent upon the whims and +caprices of his bees; or rather, upon the natural laws which control +their swarming. + +Every practical bee-keeper is well aware of the utter uncertainty of +natural swarming. Under no circumstances, can its occurrence be +confidently relied on. While some stocks swarm regularly and repeatedly, +others, strong in numbers and rich in stores, although the season may, +in all respects, be propitious, refuse to swarm at all. Such colonies, +on examination, will often be found to have taken no steps for raising +young queens. In some cases, the wings of the old mother will be found +defective, while in others, she is abundantly able to fly, but seems to +prefer the riches of the old hive, to the risks attending the formation +of a new colony. It frequently happens, in our uncertain climate, that +when all the necessary preparations have been made for swarming, the +weather proves unpropitious for so long a time, that the young queens +coming to maturity before the old one can leave, are all destroyed. This +is a very frequent occurrence, and under such circumstances, swarming is +almost certain to be prevented, for that season. The young queens are +frequently destroyed, even although the weather is pleasant, in +consequence of some sudden and perhaps only temporary suspension of the +honey-harvest; for bees seldom colonize even if all their preparations +are completed, unless the flowers are yielding an abundant supply of +honey. + +From these and other causes which my limits will not permit me to +notice, it has hitherto been found impossible, in the uncertain climate +of our Northern States, to multiply colonies very rapidly, by natural +swarming; and bee-keeping, on this plan, offers very poor inducements to +those who are aware how little has been accomplished, even by the most +enthusiastic, experienced and energetic Apiarians. + +The numerous perplexities which have ever attended natural swarming, +have for ages, directed the attention of practical cultivators, to the +importance of devising some more reliable method of increasing their +colonies. Columella, who lived about the middle of the first century of +the Christian Era, and who wrote twelve books on husbandry (De re +rustica,) has given directions for making artificial colonies. He says, +"you must examine the hive, and view what honey-combs it has; then +afterwards from the wax which contains the seeds of the young bees, you +must cut away that part wherein the offspring of the royal brood is +animated: for this is easy to be seen; because at the very end of the +wax-works there appears, as it were, a thimble-like process (somewhat +similar to an acorn,) rising higher, and having a wider cavity, than the +rest of the holes, wherein the young bees of vulgar note are contained." + +Hyginus, who flourished before Columella, had evidently noticed the +royal jelly; for he speaks of cells larger than those of the common +bees, "filled as it were with a solid substance of a _red color_, out of +which the winged king is at first formed." This ancient observer must +undoubtedly have seen the quince-like jelly, a portion of which is +always found at the base of the royal cells, after the queens have +emerged. The ancients generally called the queen a king, although +Aristotle says that some in his time called her the mother. Swammerdam +was the first to prove by dissection that the queen is a perfect female, +and the only one in the hive, and that the drone is the male. + +For reasons which I shall shortly mention, the ancient methods of +artificial increase appear to have met with but small success. Towards +the close of the last century, a new impulse was given to the artificial +production of swarms, by the discovery of Schirach, a German clergyman, +that bees are able to rear a queen from worker-brood. For want, however, +of a more thorough knowledge of some important principles in the economy +of the bee, these efforts met with slender encouragement. + +Huber, after his splendid discoveries in the physiology of the bee, +perceived at once, the importance of multiplying colonies by some method +more reliable than that of natural swarming. His leaf or book hive +consisted of 12 frames, each an inch and a half in width; any one of +which could be opened at pleasure. He recommends forming artificial +swarms, by dividing one of these hives into two parts; adding to each +part six empty frames. After using a Huber hive for a number of years, I +became perfectly convinced that it could only be made servicable, by an +adroit, experienced and fearless Apiarian. The bees fasten the frames in +such a manner, with their propolis, that they cannot, except with +extreme care, be opened without jarring the bees, and exciting their +anger; nor can they be shut without constant danger of crushing them. +Huber nowhere speaks of having multiplied colonies extensively by such +hives, and although they have been in use more than sixty years, they +have never been successfully employed for such a purpose. If Huber had +only contrived a plan for suspending his frames, instead of folding them +together like the leaves of a book, I believe that the cause of Apiarian +science would have been fifty years in advance of what it now is. + +Dividing hives of various kinds have been used in this country. After +giving some of the best of them a thorough trial, and inventing others +which somewhat resembled the Huber hive, I found that they could not +possibly be made to answer any valuable end in securing artificial +swarms. For a long time I felt that the plan _ought_ to succeed, and it +was not until I had made numerous experiments with my hive substantially +as now constructed, that I ascertained the precise causes of failure. + +It may be regarded as one of the laws of the bee-hive, that bees, when +not in possession of a mature queen, seldom build any comb except such +as being designed merely for storing honey, is _too coarse for the +rearing of workers_. Until I became acquainted with the discoveries of +Dzierzon, I supposed myself to be the only observer who had noticed +this remarkable fact, and who had been led by it, to modify the whole +system of artificial swarming. The perusal of Mr. Wagner's manuscript +translation of that author, showed me that he had arrived at precisely +similar results. + +It may seem at first, very unaccountable that bees should go on to fill +their hives with comb unfit for breeding, when the young queen will so +soon require worker-cells for her eggs; but it must be borne in mind, +that bees, under such circumstances, are always in an _unnatural_ state. +They are attempting to rear a new queen in a hive which is only +partially filled with comb; whereas, if left to follow their own +instincts, they never construct royal cells except in hives which are +well filled with comb, for it is only in such hives that they make any +preparations for swarming. It must be confessed that they do not show +their ordinary sagacity in filling a hive with unsuitable comb; but if +it were not for a few instances of this kind of bad management, we +should perhaps, form too exalted an idea of their intelligence, and +should almost fail to notice the marked distinction between reason in +man, and even the most refined instincts of some of the animals by which +he is surrounded. + +The determination of bees, when they have no mature queen, if they build +any comb at all, to build such as is suited only for storing honey, and +unfit for breeding, will show at once, the folly of attempting to +multiply colonies by the dividing-hives. Even if the Apiarian has been +perfectly successful in dividing a colony, and the part without a queen +takes the necessary steps to supply her loss, if the bees are +sufficiently numerous to build a large quantity of new comb, (and they +ought to be in order to make the artificial colony of any value,) they +will build this comb in such a manner that it will answer only for +storing honey, while they will use the half of the hive with the old +comb, for the purposes of breeding. The next year, if an attempt is made +to divide this hive, one half will contain nearly all the brood and +mature bees, while the other, having most of the honey, in combs unfit +for breeding, the new colony formed from it will be a complete failure. + +Even with a Huber hive, the plan of multiplying colonies by dividing a +full hive into two parts, and adding an empty half to each, will be +attended with serious difficulties; although some of them may be +remedied in consequence of the hive being constructed so as to divide +into many parts; the very attempt to remedy them, however, will be found +to require a degree of skill and knowledge far in advance of what can be +expected of the great mass of bee-keepers. + +The common dividing hives, separating into two parts, can never, under +any circumstances, be made of the least practical value; and the +business of multiplying colonies by them, will be found far more +laborious, uncertain and vexatious, than to rely on natural swarming. I +do not know of a solitary practical Apiarian, who, on trial of this +system, has not been compelled to abandon it, and allow the bees to +swarm from his dividing hives in the old-fashioned way. + +Some Apiarians have attempted to multiply their colonies by putting a +piece of brood comb containing the materials for raising a new queen, +into an empty hive, set in the place of a strong stock which has been +removed to a new stand when thousands of its inmates were abroad in the +fields. This method is still worse than the one which has just been +described. In the dividing hive, the bees already had a large amount of +suitable comb for breeding, while in this having next to none, they +build all their combs until the queen is hatched, of a size unsuitable +for rearing workers. In the first case, the queenless part of the +dividing hive may have had a young queen almost mature, so that the +process of building large combs would be of short continuance; for as +soon as the young queen begins to lay, the bees at once commence +building combs adapted to the reception of worker eggs. In some of my +attempts to rear artificial swarms by moving a full stock, as described +above, I have had combs built of enormous size, nearly four inches +through! and these monster combs have afterwards been pieced out on +their lower edge, with worker cells for the accommodation of the young +queen! So uniformly do the bees with an unhatched queen, build in the +way described, that I can often tell at a single glance, by seeing what +kind of comb they are building, that a hive is queenless, or that having +been so, they have now a fertile young queen. When a new colony is +formed, by dividing the old hive, the queenless part has thousands of +cells filled with brood and eggs, and young bees will be hourly +hatching, for at least three weeks: and by this time, the young queen +will be laying eggs, so that there will be an interval of not more than +three weeks, during which no accessions will be made to the numbers of +the colony. But when a new swarm is formed by moving, not an egg will be +deposited for nearly three weeks; and not a bee will be hatched for +nearly six weeks; and during all this time, the colony will rapidly +decrease, until by the time that the progeny of the young queen begins +to emerge from their cells, the number of bees in the new hive will be +so small, that it would be of no value, even if its combs were of the +best construction. + +Every observing bee-keeper must have noticed how rapidly even a powerful +swarm diminishes in number, for the first three weeks after it has been +hived. In many cases, before the young begin to hatch, it does not +contain one half its original number; so very great is the mortality of +bees during the height of the working season. + +I have most thoroughly tested, in the only way in which it can be +practiced in the ordinary hives, this last plan of artificial swarming, +and do not hesitate to say that it does not possess the very slightest +practical value; and as this is the method which Apiarians have usually +tried, it is not strange that they have almost unanimously pronounced +Artificial swarming to be utterly worthless. The experience of Dzierzon +on this point has been the same with my own. + +Another method of artificial swarming has been zealously advocated, +which, if it could only be made to answer, would be, of all conceivable +plans the most effectual, and as it would require the smallest amount of +labor, experience, or skill, would be everywhere practiced. A number of +hives must be put in connection with each other, so as to communicate by +holes which allow the bees to travel from any one apartment to the +others. The bees, on this plan, are to _colonize themselves_, and in +time, a single swarm will, of its own accord, multiply so as to form a +large number of independent families, each one possessing its own queen, +and all living in perfect harmony. + +This method so beautiful and fascinating in theory, has been repeatedly +tried with various ingenious modifications, but in every instance, as +far as I know, it has proved an entire failure. It will always be found +if bees are allowed to pass from one hive to another, that they will +still, for the most part, confine their breeding operations to a single +apartment, if it is of the ordinary size, while the others will be used, +chiefly for the storing of honey. This is almost invariably the case, if +the additional room is given by collateral or side boxes, as the queen +seldom enters such apartments for the purpose of breeding. If the new +hive is directly _below_ that in which the swarm is first lodged, then +if the connections are suitable, the queen will be almost certain to +descend and lay her eggs in the new combs, as soon as they are commenced +by the bees; in this case, the upper hive is almost entirely abandoned +by her, and the bees store the cells with honey, as fast as the brood is +hatched, as their instinct impels them always, if they can, to keep +their stores of honey _above_ the breeding cells. So long as bees have +an abundance of room below their main hive, they will never swarm, but +will use it in the way that I have described; if the room is on the +sides of their hive, and very accessible, they seldom swarm, but if it +is above them, they frequently prefer to swarm rather than to take +possession of it. But in none of these cases, do they ever, _if left to +themselves_, form separate and independent colonies. + +I am aware that the Apiarian, by separating from the main hive with a +slide, an apartment that contains brood, and directing to it by some +artificial contrivance a considerable number of bees, may succeed in +rearing an artificial colony; but unless all his hives admit of the most +thorough inspection, as he can never know their exact condition, he must +always work in the dark, and will be much more likely to fail than +succeed. Success indeed can only be possible when a skillful Apiarian +devotes a large portion of his time to watching and managing his bees, +so as to _compel_ them to colonize, and even then it will be very +uncertain; so that this plausible theory to be reduced to even a most +precarious practice, requires more skill, care, labor and time, than are +necessary to manage the ordinary swarming hives. + +The failure of so many attempts to increase colonies by artificial +means, as well in the hands of scientific and experienced Apiarians, as +under the direction of those who are almost totally ignorant of the +physiology of the bee, has led many to prefer to use non-swarming hives. +In this way, very large harvests of honey are often obtained from a +powerful stock of bees; but it is very evident that if the increase of +new colonies were entirely discouraged, the insect would soon be +exterminated. To prevent this, the advocates of the non-swarming plan, +must either have their bees swarm, to some extent, or rely upon those +who do. + +My hive may be used as a non-swarmer, and may be made more effectually +to prevent swarming, than any with which I am acquainted: as in the +Spring, (See No. 34. p. 104,) ample accommodations may be given to the +bees, below their main works, and when this is seasonably done, swarming +will _never_ take place. + +There are certain objections however, which must always prevent the +non-swarming plan from being the most successful mode of managing bees. +To say nothing of the loss to the bee-keeper, who has, after some years, +only one stock, when if the natural mode of increase had been allowed, +he ought to have a number, it is usually found that after bees have been +kept in a non-swarming hive for several seasons, they seem to work with +much less vigor than usual. Of this, any one may convince himself, who +will compare the industrious working of a new swarm, with that of a much +more powerful stock in a non-swarming hive. The former will work with +such astonishing zeal, that to one unacquainted with the facts, it would +be taken to be by far the more powerful stock. + +As the fertility of the queen decreases by age, the disadvantage of +using non-swarming hives of the ordinary construction, will be obvious. +This objection to the system can be remedied in my hive, as the old +queen can be easily caught and removed; but when hives are used in which +this cannot be done, the Apiary, instead of containing a race of young +queens in the full vigor of their reproductive powers, will contain many +that have passed their prime, and these old queens may die when there +are no eggs in the hive to enable the bees to replace them, and thus the +whole colony will perish. + +If the bee-keeper wishes to winter only a certain number of stocks, I +will, in another place, show him a way in which this can be done, so as +to obtain more honey from them, than from an equal number kept on the +non-swarming plan, while at the same time, they may all be maintained in +a state of the highest health and vigor. + +I shall now describe a method of artificial swarming, which may be +successfully practiced with almost any hive, by those who have +sufficient experience in the management of bees. + +About the time that natural swarming may be expected, a populous hive, +rich in stores is selected, and what I shall call a _forced swarm_ is +obtained from it, by the following process. Choose that part of a +pleasant day, say from 10 A. M. to 2 P. M., when the largest number of +bees are abroad in the fields; if any bees are clustered in front of the +hive, or on the bottom-board, puff among them a few whiffs of smoke from +burning rags or paper, so as to force them to go up among the combs. +This can be done with greater ease, if the hive is elevated, by small +wedges, about one quarter of an inch above the bottom-board. Have an +empty hive or box in readiness, the diameter of which is as nearly as +possible, the same with that of the hive from which you intend to drive +the swarm. Lift the hive very gently, and without the slightest jar, +from its bottom-board; invert it and carry it in the same careful +manner, about a rod from its old stand, as bees are always much more +inclined to be peaceable, when removed a short distance, than when any +operation is performed on the familiar spot. If the hive is carefully +placed on the ground, upside down, scarcely a single bee will fly out, +and there will be little danger of being stung. Timid and inexperienced +Apiarians will, of course, protect themselves with a bee-dress, and they +may have an assistant to sprinkle the hive gently with sugar-water, as +soon as it is inverted. After placing the hive in an inverted position +on the ground, the empty hive must be put over it, and every crack from +which a bee might escape, must be carefully closed with paper or any +convenient material. The upper hive ought to be furnished with two or +three slats, about an inch and a half wide, and fastened one third of +the distance from the top, so as to give the bees every opportunity to +cluster. + +As soon as the Apiarian is perfectly sure that the bees cannot escape, +he should place an empty hive upon the stand from which they were +removed, so that the multitudes which return from the fields may enter +it, instead of dispersing to other hives, where some of them may meet +with a very unkind reception; although as a general rule, a bee with a +load of freshly gathered honey, after the extent of his resources is +ascertained, is almost always, welcomed by any hive to which he may +carry his treasures; while a poor unfortunate that ventures to present +itself empty and poverty stricken, is generally at once destroyed! The +one meets with as friendly a reception as a wealthy gentleman who +proposes to take up his abode in a country village, while the other is +as much an object of dislike as a pauper who is suspected of wishing to +become a parish charge! + +To return to our imprisoned bees. Beginning at the top, or what is now, +(as the hive is upside down,) the bottom, their hive should be beaten +smartly with two small rods on the front and back, or on the sides to +which the combs are attached, so as to run no risk of loosening them. +If the hive when removed from its stand was put upon a stool or table, +or something not so solid as the ground, the drumming will cause more +motion, and yet be less apt to start any of the combs. These "rappings" +which certainly are not of a very "spiritual" character, produce +nevertheless, a most decided effect upon the bees: their first impulse +is to sally out and wreak their vengeance upon those who have thus +rudely assailed their honied dome; but as soon as they find that they +are shut in, a sudden fear that they are to be driven from their +treasures, seems to take possession of them. If the two hives have glass +windows, so that all the operations can be witnessed, the bees, in a few +moments, will be seen most busily engaged in gorging themselves with +honey. During all this time, the rapping must be continued, and in about +five minutes, nearly every bee will have filled itself to its utmost +capacity, and they are now prepared for their forced emigration; a +prodigious hum is heard, and the bees begin to mount into the upper box. +In about ten minutes from the time the rapping began, the mass of the +bees with their queen will have ascended, and will hang clustered, just +like a natural swarm. The box with the expelled bees must now be gently +lifted off, and should be placed upon a bottom-board with a gauze wire +ventilator, so that the bees may be confined, and yet have plenty of +air. A shallow vessel or a piece of old comb containing water, ought to +be first placed on the bottom-board. If no gauze wire bottom-board is at +hand, the hive must be wedged up, so as to admit an abundance of air, +and be set in a shady place. + +The hive from which the bees were driven, must now be set, without +crushing any of the bees, on its old spot, in the place of the decoy +hive, that all the bees which have returned from abroad, may enter. +Before this change is made, these bees will be running in and out of +the empty hive, (See p. 72,) but as soon as the opportunity is given +them, they will crowd into their well-known home, and if there are no +royal cells started, will proceed, almost at once, to construct them, +and the next day they will act as though the forced swarm had left of +its own accord. When the operation is delayed until about the season for +natural swarming, the hive will contain immature queens, if the bees +were intending to swarm, and a new queen will soon take the place of the +old one, just as in natural swarming. If it is performed too early, and +before the drones have made their appearance, the young queen may not be +seasonably impregnated, and the parent stock will perish. + +It will be obvious that this whole process, in order to be successfully +performed, requires a knowledge of the most important points in the +economy of the bee-hive; indeed the same remark may be made of almost +any operation, and those who are willing to remain ignorant of the laws +which regulate the breeding of bees, ought not to depart in the least, +from the old-fashioned mode of management. All such deviations will only +be attended with a wanton sacrifice of bees. A man may use the common +swarming hives a whole life-time, and yet remain ignorant of the very +first principles in the physiology of the bee, unless he gains his +information from other sources; while, by the use of my hives, any +intelligent cultivator may, in a single season, verify for himself, the +discoveries which have only been made by the accumulated toil of many +observers, for more than two thousand years. The ease with which +Apiarians may now, by the sight of their own eyes, gain a knowledge of +all the important facts in the economy of the hive, will stimulate them +most powerfully, to study the nature of the bee and thus to prepare +themselves for an enlightened system of management. + +In giving directions for the creation of forced swarms, I advised that +it should be done during the pleasantest part of the day, when the +largest number of bees are foraging abroad. If the operation is +performed when all the bees are at home, and they are all driven into +the empty hive, the old hive will be so depopulated that many of the +young will perish for want of suitable attention, and the parent stock +will be greatly deteriorated in value. If only a part of the bees are +expelled, the queen may be left behind, and the whole operation will be +a failure, and at best it will be difficult to make a suitable division +of the bees between the two hives. Indeed, under any circumstances, this +is the most difficult part of the process, and it often requires no +little judgment to equalize the two colonies. + +Some recommend placing the forced swarm on the old stand, and removing +the parent hive with the bees that are deemed sufficient, to a new +place. If this is done, and the bees have their liberty, so many of them +will leave for the familiar spot, that the hive will be almost deserted, +and a very large proportion of its brood will perish. The bees in this +hive, if it is to be set in a new place, must have water given to them, +and be so shut up as to have an abundance of air, until late in the +afternoon of the third day, when the hive may be opened, and they will +take wing, almost as though they were intending to swarm. Some will even +then, return to the place where they originally stood, and join the +forced swarm, but the most of them, after hovering in the air for a +short time, will re-enter the hive. During the time that they have been +shut up, thousands of young bees will have emerged from their cells, and +these, knowing no other home, will aid in taking care of the larvae, and +in carrying on the work of the hive. + +Instead of trying to make an equitable division at the time of driving +out the bees, I prefer to expel all that I can, and to rely upon the +bees returning from their gatherings, to replenish the old stock. If the +number appears to be too small, I open temporarily the entrance of the +hive containing the forced swarm, and permit as many as I judge best, to +come out and enter their old abode. It must here be borne in mind, that +bees which are thus ejected from a hive, do not, in all respects, act +like a natural swarm, which having left the parent stock, of its own +accord, never seeks, unless it has lost its queen, to return; whereas, +many of the forced swarm, as soon as they leave the hive into which they +have been driven, will return to their former abode. The same is true of +bees which are moved to any distance not far enough to be beyond the +limits of their previous excursions in search of food. If we could only +make our bees when moved, or forced to swarm, adhere to their hives as +faithfully as a natural swarm, many difficulties which now perplex us, +would be at once removed. + +Having ascertained that the parent hive contains a sufficient number of +bees to carry on operations, about sun-set, after the bees are all at +home, it may be removed to a new stand, and the bees, after being +supplied with water, must be shut up, according to the directions +previously given. If the hive is so constructed that water cannot be +conveniently given them, the following plan I have found to answer most +admirably. Bore a small hole towards the top on the front side, and with +a straw, water may be injected with scarcely any trouble. A mouthful +once or twice a day, will be sufficient. If the bees are confined +without water, they will not be able to prepare the food for the larvae, +and multitudes of them must necessarily perish. + +The expelled colony must be placed, on the same evening, precisely where +the hive from which they were driven stood, and have their liberty +given to them. The next morning, they will work with as much vigor as +though they had swarmed in the natural way. + +The directions which have here been given for creating forced swarms, +will be found to differ in some important respects from any which other +Apiarians have previously furnished. I have already shown that it is +difficult to secure the right number of bees for the parent stock, +unless it is set temporarily on its old stand, so as to catch up the +returning bees. The common plan has been to try to leave in it, as many +bees as are needed, and then to shut it up for a few days, having placed +it in a new spot, while the forced swarm is immediately replaced so that +all the stragglers may be added to it. If we could always be sure of +driving out the queen, and with her, as many bees as we want and _no +more_, this would undoubtedly be the simplest plan; but for the reasons +already assigned, it will be found a very precarious operation. + +Some Apiarians recommend putting the forced swarm in a new place in the +Apiary; but as large numbers of the bees will be sure, when they go out +to work, to return to the familiar spot, the new colony will often be so +seriously depopulated as to be of but little value. If the Apiarian can +remove his forced swarms, some two or three miles off, he may give them +their liberty at once, and in the course of a few weeks, he can, without +risk, bring them back to his Apiary. + +If he chooses, he may allow the parent stock to remain on the old stand, +and confine the forced swarm, until about an hour before sun set of the +third day. They must in the mean time be supplied with both honey and +water, and if they cannot be kept cool and quiet, they should be removed +into the cellar until they are placed in their new position. Many will +even then return to the old spot, but not enough to interfere seriously +with their prosperity. If the bees cannot, as in my hives, be kept cool +and dark, they will be excessively uneasy, and may suffer very seriously +from so long confinement: hence the very great importance of setting +them in the cellar. + +It may seem strange, that bees, when their hive is moved, or when they +are forcibly expelled from it, should not adhere to the new spot, just +as when they have swarmed of their own accord. In each case, as soon as +a bee leaves its new place, it flies with its head turned towards the +hive, in order to mark the surrounding objects, that it may be able to +return to the same spot; but when they have not emigrated of their own +accord, many of them seem, when they rise in the air, or return from +work, entirely to forget that their location has been changed; and they +return to the place where they have lived so long, and if no hive is +there, they often die on the deserted and desolate, yet home-like spot. +If, on the contrary, they swarmed of their own accord, they seldom, if +ever, make such a mistake. It may truly be said that + + "A 'bee removed' against its will + Is of the same opinion still." + +I have been thus minute in describing the whole process of creating +forced swarms, not merely on account of the importance of the plan in +multiplying colonies, but because the driving or drumming out of bees +from a common hive, is employed with great success in a variety of ways +which will be hereafter specified. I doubt not that many bee-keepers, on +reading this mode of creating colonies, are ready to object that it not +only requires more skill, but more time and labor, than to allow them to +swarm, and then to hive them in the old-fashioned way. + +As practiced with ordinary hives, it is undoubtedly liable to this +serious objection, and I would easily with my basket hiver, undertake to +hive four natural swarms, in the time that it would require to create +one forced swarm; to say nothing of the care which must be bestowed upon +the artificial swarms, with their parent stocks, after the driving +process has been completed. For this reason, I do not advise the +bee-keeper to force his swarms from the common hives, until he has first +ascertained that they are not likely to swarm in tolerably good season, +of their own accord, unless he is afraid that they will come out during +his absence, and decamp to the woods. + +By the aid of my hives, this process may be most expeditiously +performed. An empty hive, with its frames furnished with guide combs, +must be in readiness. The cover of the full hive should be removed, and +the bees gently sprinkled with sugar-water from a watering pot that +discharges a fine stream. In about two minutes, the frames may be taken +out, and the bees, by a quick motion, shaken on a sheet directly in +front of their hive. As fast as a comb is deprived of its bees, it +should be set in a proper position in the new hive, and an empty frame +put in its place. Two or three of the combs containing brood, eggs, &c., +should be left in the old hive, as well to give them greater +encouragement, as to prevent them from being dissatisfied if their queen +should, by any possibility, be taken from them. In removing the frames +with the bees, I always look for the queen, and if I see her, as I +generally do, I return to the hive the frame which contains her, without +shaking off the bees. In that case, I put several of the necessary combs +into the new hive, with all the bees upon them. + +In dislodging the bees upon the sheet, I do not shake them all off from +the frames; but leave about one quarter of them on, and put them with +the combs into the new hive. I never knew the queen to be left on a +frame after it was shaken so that the larger portion of the bees would +fall off. As soon as the operation is completed, and the necessary +number of bees have been transferred with their comb to the new hive, it +should be managed according to the directions previously given, in the +case of the old hive from which a swarm was drummed out. + +If in the operation the Apiarian does not see the queen, he must, in the +course of the third day, examine the hive having the larger portion of +bees, and if they have commenced building royal cells among the combs +given to them, he may be certain that she is in the other hive. The comb +containing the royal cells may then be transferred to that hive, and the +queen searched for, and returned with the combs on which she is found, +to her proper place. A little experience, however, will enable the +operator to be sure from the first, that the queen is with the right +division. + +To most persons, it would seem to be of little consequence, in which +hive the queen is placed: but if the bees which have only a few frames +of comb, are compelled to rear another, they will be sure to fill their +hive with comb unfit for breeding purposes, and will also be so long +before they can have additions to their number, as to be of but little +value. + +If many swarms are to be created in this manner, and the operation is +delayed until near swarming time, in some of them, numerous royal cells +will be found, so that each stock which has no queen, may have one +nearly mature, given to it, and thus much valuable time may be saved. + +By making a few forced swarms, about a week or ten days before the time +in which the most will be made, the Apiarian may be sure of having an +abundance of sealed queens almost mature, so that every swarm may have +one. If he can give each hive that needs it, an unhatched queen, without +removing her from her frame, so much the better; but if he has not +enough frames with sealed queens, while some of them contain two or more +queens, he must proceed as follows: + +With a very sharp knife, carefully cut out a queen cell, on a piece of +comb an inch or more square; cut a place in one of the combs of the hive +to which this cell is to be given, just about large enough to receive it +in a natural position, and if it is not secure, put a little melted wax +with a feather, where the edges meet. The bees will soon fasten it, so +as to make all right. Unless very great care is used in transferring +these royal cells, the enclosed queens will be destroyed; as their +bodies, until they are nearly mature, are so exceedingly soft, that a +very slight compression of their cell often kills them. For this reason, +I prefer not to remove them, until they are within three or four days of +hatching. As the forcing of a swarm may always be conducted, with my +hives, in such a manner that the Apiarian can be sure to effect a +suitable division of the bees, the process may be performed at any time +when the sun is above the horizon, and the weather is not too +unpleasant. It ought not to be attempted when the weather is so cool as +to endanger the destruction of the brood, by a chill; and never unless +when there is not only sufficient light to enable the Apiarian to see +distinctly, but enough for the bees that take wing, to see the hive, and +direct their flight to its entrance. If hives are meddled with, when it +is dark, the bees are always more irascible, and as they cannot see +where to fly, they will constantly be alighting upon the person of the +bee-keeper, who will be almost sure to receive some stings. I have +seldom attempted night-work upon my bees, without having occasion most +thoroughly to rue my folly. If the weather is not too cool, early in the +morning, before the bees are stirring, will be the best time, as there +will be less danger of annoyance from robber-bees. + +If honey-water is used instead of sugar-water in sprinkling the bees +when the hive is first opened, the smell will be almost certain to +entice marauders from other hives to attempt to take possession of +treasures which do not belong to them, and when they once commence such +a pilfering course of life, they will be very loth to lay it aside. When +the honey harvest is abundant, (and this is the very time for forcing +swarms,) bees, with proper precautions, are seldom inclined to rob. I +have sometimes found it difficult to induce them to notice honey-combs +which I wished them to empty, even when they were placed in an exposed +situation. This subject, however, will be more fully treated in the +remarks on Robbing. + +Perhaps some of my readers will hardly be able to convince themselves +that bees may be dealt with after the fashion I have been describing, +without becoming greatly enraged; so far is this from being the case, +that in my operations, I often use neither sugar-water nor bee-dress, +although I do not recommend the neglect of such precautions. + +The artificial swarm may be created with perfect safety, even at +mid-day, when thousands of bees are returning to the hive: for these +bees being laden with honey, never venture upon making an attack, while +those at home may be easily pacified. + +I find a very great advantage in the peculiar shape of my hive, which +allows the top to be easily removed, and the sugar-water to be sprinkled +upon the bees, before they attempt to take wing. If like the Dzierzon +hive, it opened on the end, it would be impossible for me to use the +sweetened water, so as to make it run down between all the ranges of +comb, and I should be forced, as he does, to employ smoke, in all my +operations. Huber thus speaks of the pacific effect produced upon the +bees by the use of his leaf hive. "On opening the hive, no stings are to +be dreaded, for one of the most singular and valuable properties +attending my construction, is its rendering the bees tractable. I +ascribe their tranquility to the manner in which they are affected by +the sudden admission of light, they appear rather to testify fear than +anger. Many retire, and entering the cells, seem to conceal themselves." +I will admit that Huber has here fallen into an error which he would not +have made, had he used his own eyes. The bees do indeed enter the cells +when the frames are exposed, but not "to conceal themselves;" they +imagine that their sweets, thus unceremoniously exposed to the light of +day, are to be taken from them, and they fill themselves to their utmost +capacity, in order to save all that they can. I always expect them to +appropriate the contents of the open cells, as soon as I remove their +frames from the hive. It is not merely the _sudden_ admission of light, +but its introduction from an _unexpected quarter_, that seems for the +time to disarm the hostility of the bees. They appear for a few moments, +almost as much confounded as we should be, if without any warning the +roof and ceiling of a house should suddenly fly off into the air. Before +they recover from their amazement, the sweet libation is poured out upon +them, and surprize is quickly converted into pleasure rather than anger. +I believe that in the working season, almost all the bees near the top +are gorged with honey, and that this is the reason why opening the hive +from ABOVE is so easily effected. The bees below that are disposed to +resent any intrusions, are met in their threatening ascent, with an +avalanche of nectar which "like a soft answer," most effectually +"turneth away wrath." Who would ever be willing to use the sickening +fumes of the disgusting weed, when so much pleasure instead of pain may +be given to his bees. That bees never seem to be prepared to make an +instant assault from the top of their hive, but only near the entrance, +any one may be convinced of, who will put my frames into a suspended +hive with a movable bottom which may be made to drop at pleasure. If +now, for any purpose, he attempts to meddle with the combs from below, +he will find that unless he uses smoke, the bees will be almost, if not +quite unmanageable. + +I shall now give some directions, which will greatly assist the Apiarian +in his operations. He must bear in mind that nothing irritates bees more +than a sudden jar, and that this must, in all cases, be most carefully +avoided. The inside cover of the hive, or as I shall term it, the +_honey-board_, because the surplus honey receptacles stand upon it, can +never be very firmly attached by the bees: it may always be readily +loosened with a thin knife, or better still, with an apothecary's +spatula, which will be very useful for many purposes in the Apiary. When +the honey-board is removed, its lower surface will be usually covered +with bees, and it should be carefully set on end, so as not to crush +them. There is not the least danger that one of them will offer to +sting, as they are completely bewildered by the sudden introduction of +light, and their removal from the hive. As soon as the cover is disposed +of, the Apiarian should sprinkle the bees with the sweet solution. This +should descend from the watering-pot in a fine stream, so as not to +_drench_ the bees, and should fall upon the tops of the frames, as well +as between the ranges of comb. The bees will at once, accept the +proffered treat, and will begin lapping it up, as peaceably as so many +chickens helping themselves to corn. While they are thus engaged, the +frames must be very gently pried by a stick, from their attachments to +the rabbets on which they rest; this may be done without any jar and +without wounding or enraging a single bee. They may all be loosened +preparatory to removing them, in less than a minute.[17] By this time, +the sprinkled bees will have filled themselves, or if all have not done +so, the grateful intelligence that sweets have been furnished them, will +diffuse an unusual good nature through all the honied realm. The +Apiarian should now remove one of the outside frames, taking hold of its +two ends which rest upon the rabbets, and carefully lifting it out +without inclining it from its perpendicular position, so as not to +injure a single bee. The removal of the next comb, and of all the +succeeding ones, will be more easily effected, as there will be more +room to operate to advantage. If bees were disposed to fly away at once +from their combs, as soon as they were taken out, it would be very +difficult to manage them, but so far are they from doing this, that they +adhere to them with most wonderful tenacity. I have sometimes removed +all the combs, and arranged them in a continued line, and the bees have +not only refused to leave them, but have stoutly defended them against +the thieving propensities of other bees. By shaking off the bees from +the combs upon a sheet, and securing the queen, I can, on any pleasant +day, exhibit nearly all the appearances of natural swarming. The bees, +as soon as they miss their queen, will rise into the air, and by +placing her on the twig of a tree, they will soon cluster around her in +the manner already described. + +A word as to the manner of catching the queen. I seize her very gently, +as I espy her among the bees, and by taking care to crush none of them, +run not the least risk of being stung. The queen herself never stings, +even if handled ever so roughly. + +In removing the frames from the hive, it will be found very convenient +to have a box with suitable rabbets in which they may be temporarily +put, and covered over with a piece of cotton cloth. They may thus be +very easily protected from the cold, and from robbing bees, if they are +to be kept out of the hive for some time; and such a box will be very +convenient to receive frames that are lifted out for examination. In +returning the frames to a hive, care must be taken not to crush the bees +where their ends rest upon the rabbets; they must be put in slowly, so +that a bee, when he feels the slightest pressure may have a chance to +creep from under them, before he is hurt. + +The honey-cover, for convenience, is generally in two pieces: these +cannot be laid down on the hive, without danger of killing many bees; +they are therefore very carefully _slid_ on, so that any bees which may +be in the way, are pushed before them, instead of being crushed. If any +bees are upon such parts of the hive as to be imprisoned if the outside +cover is closed, it should be left a little open, until they have flown +to the entrance of the hive. It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the +bee-keeper, that all his motions must be slow and gentle, and that the +bees must not be injured or breathed upon. If he will carefully follow +the directions I have given, he may soon open a hundred hives and +perform any necessary operation upon them, without any bee-dress, and +yet with very little risk of being stung, but I almost despair of being +able to convince even the most experienced Apiarians, of the ease and +safety with which bees may be managed on my plan, until they have +actually been eye-witnesses of its successful operation. + +I can make an artificial colony in the way above described in ten +minutes from the time that I open the hive, and if I see the queen as +quickly as I often do, in not more than five minutes. Fifteen minutes +will be a very liberal allowance of time to complete the whole work. If +I had an Apiary of a hundred colonies, in less than a week, if the +weather was pleasant, I could without any assistance easily finish the +business of swarming for the whole season. + +But how can the Apiarian, if he delays the formation of artificial +swarms until nearly the season for natural swarming, be sure that his +bees will not swarm in the usual way? Must he not still be constantly on +hand, or run the risk of losing many of his best swarms? I come now to +the entirely novel plan by which such objections are completely +obviated. If the Apiarian decides that he can most advantageously +multiply his colonies by artificial swarming, he must see that all his +fertile queens are deprived of their wings, so as to be unable to lead +off new swarms. As an old queen never leaves the hive except to +accompany a new swarm, the loss of her wings does not, in the least +interfere with her usefulness, or with the attachment of the bees. +Occasionally, a wingless queen is so bent on emigrating, that in spite +of her inability to fly, she tries to go off with a swarm; she has "a +will," but contrary to the old maxim she can find "no way," but +helplessly falls upon the ground instead of gaily mounting into the air. +If the bees succeed in finding her, they will never desert her, but +cluster directly around her, and may thus be easily secured by the +Apiarian. If she is not found, the bees will return to the parent stock +to await the maturity of the young queens. The Apiarian will ordinarily +be prepared to form his artificial colonies before any of these young +queens are hatched. + +The following is the best plan for removing the wings from the queens. +Every hive which contains a young queen, ought to be examined about a +week after she has hatched, (see Chapter on Loss of the Queen,) in order +to ascertain that she has been impregnated, and has begun to lay eggs. +Some of the central combs or those on which the bees are most thickly +clustered, should be first lifted out, for she will almost always be +found on one of them; the Apiarian when he has caught her, should remove +the wings on one side with a pair of scissors taking care not to hurt +her. On examining his hives next season, let him remove one of the two +remaining wings from the queen. The third season, he may deprive her of +her last wing. Bees always have four wings, a pair on each side. This +plan saves him the trouble of marking his hives so as to know the age of +the queens they contain. + +As the fertility of the queen generally decreases after the second year, +I prefer, just before the drones are destroyed, to kill all the old +queens that have entered their third year. In this way, I guard against +some of my stocks becoming queenless, in consequence of the queen dying +of old age, when there is no worker-brood in the hive, from which they +can rear another: or of having a worthless, drone-laying queen whose +impregnation has been retarded. These old queens are removed at that +period of the year when their colony is strong in numbers; and as the +honey-harvest is by this time, nearly over, their removal is often a +positive benefit, instead of a loss. The population is prevented from +being over crowded at a time when the bees are consumers and not +producers, and when the young queen, reared in the place of the old one +matures, she will rapidly fill the cells with eggs, and raise a large +number of bees to take advantage of the late honey-harvest, and to +prepare the hive to winter most advantageously. + +The certainty, rapidity and ease of making artificial swarms with my +hives, will be such as to amaze those most who have had the greatest +experience and success in the management of bees. Instead of weeks +wasted in watching the Apiary, in addition to all the other vexations +and embarrassments which are so often found to attend reliance on +natural swarming, the Apiarian will find not only that he can create all +his new colonies in a very short time, but that he can, if he chooses, +entirely prevent the issue of all after-swarms. In order to do this, he +ought to examine the stocks which are raising young queens, in season to +cut out all the queen cells but one, before the larvae come to maturity. +If he gave them a sealed queen nearly mature, they will raise no others, +and no swarming, for that season, will take place. If the Apiarian +wishes to do more than to double his stocks in one season, and is +favorably situated for practicing natural swarming, he can allow the +stocks that raise young queens to swarm if they will, and he can +strengthen the small swarms by giving to them comb with honey and +maturing brood from other hives. Or he can, after an interval of about +three weeks, make one swarm from every two good ones in his Apiary, in a +way that will soon be described. + +I do not know that I can find a better place in which to impress certain +highly important principles upon the attention of the bee-keeper. I am +afraid, that in spite of all that I can say, many persons as soon as +they find themselves able to multiply colonies at pleasure, will so +overdo the matter, as to run the risk of losing all their bees. If the +Apiarian aims at obtaining a large quantity of honey in any one season, +he cannot at the furthest, more than double the number of his stocks: +nor can he do this, unless they are all strong, and the season +favorable. The moment that he aims, in any one season, at a more rapid +increase, he must not only renounce the idea of having any surplus +honey, but must expect to purchase food for the support of his colonies, +unless he is willing to see them all perish by starvation. The time, +food, care and skill required to multiply stocks with very great +rapidity, in our short and uncertain climate, are so great that not one +Apiarian in a hundred can expect to make it profitable; while the great +mass of those who attempt it, will be almost sure, at the close of the +season, to find themselves in possession of stocks which have been so +managed as to be of very little value. + +Before explaining some other methods of artificial swarming, which I +have employed to great advantage, I shall endeavor to impress upon the +mind of the bee-keeper, the great importance of thoroughly understanding +each season, the precise object at which he is aiming, before he enters +on the work of increasing his colonies. If his object is, in any one +season, to get the largest yield of surplus honey, he must at once make +up his mind to be content with a very moderate increase of stocks. If, +on the contrary, he desires to multiply his colonies, say, three or four +fold, he must be prepared, not only to relinquish the expectation of +obtaining any surplus honey, if the season should prove unfavorable, but +to purchase food for the support of his bees. Rapid multiplication of +colonies, and large harvests of surplus honey cannot, in the very nature +of things, be secure in our climate, in any one season. + +If the number of colonies is to be increased to a large extent, then the +bees in the Apiary will be tasked to the utmost in building new comb, +as well as in rearing brood. For these purposes, they must consume the +supply of honey which, under other circumstances, they would have stored +up, a part for their own use in the main hive, and the balance for their +owner, in the spare honey-boxes. + +To make this matter perfectly plain, let us suppose a colony to swarm. +If the new hive, into which the swarm is put, holds, as it ought, about +a bushel, it will require about two pounds of wax to fill it with comb, +and at least forty pounds of honey will be used in its manufacture! If +the season is favorable, and the swarm was large and early, they may +gather, not only enough to build this comb and to store it with honey +sufficient for their own use, but a number of pounds in addition, for +the benefit of their owner. If the old stock does not swarm again, it +will rapidly replenish its numbers, and as it has no new comb to build +in the main hive which already contains much honey, it will be able to +store up a generous allowance in the upper boxes. These favorable +results are all on the supposition that the season was ordinarily +productive in honey, and that the hive was so powerful in numbers as to +be able to swarm early. If the season should prove to be very +unfavorable, the first swarm cannot be expected to gather more than +enough for its own use, while the parent stock will yield only a small +return. The profits of the bee-keeper, in such an unfortunate season, +will be mainly in the increase of his stocks. If the swarm was late, in +consequence of the stock being weak in Spring, the early part of the +honey-harvest will pass away, and the bees will be able to obtain from +it, but a small share of honey. During all this time of comparative +inactivity, the orchards may present + + "One boundless blush, one white empurpled shower + Of mingled blossoms," + +and tens of thousands of bees from stronger stocks, may be engaged all +day, in sipping the fragrant sweets, so that every gale which "fans its +odoriferous wings" about their dwellings, dispenses + + "Native perfumes, and whispers whence they stole[18] + Those balmy spoils." + +By the time that the feeble stock is prepared to swarm, if it swarm at +all that season, the honey-harvest is almost over, and the new colony +will seldom be able to gather enough for its own use, so that unless +fed, it must perish the succeeding Winter. Bee-keeping with colonies +feeble in the Spring, is most emphatically nothing but "folly and +vexation of spirit." + +I have shown how the bee-keeper, with a strong stock-hive which has +swarmed early and but once, may in a favorable season realize handsome +profits from his bees. If the parent stock throws a second swarm, then, +as a general rule, unless this swarm was very early, and the honey +season good, if managed on the ordinary plan, it will seldom prove of +any value. It will almost always perish in the Winter, if it does not +desert its hive in the Fall, and the family from which it issued, will +not only gather no surplus honey, (unless it was secured before the +first swarm issued,) but will very often perish likewise. Thus the +inexperienced owner who was so delighted with the rapid increase of his +colonies, begins the next season with no more colonies than he had the +year before, and has very often lost all the time he has bestowed upon +his bees. I can, to be sure, on my plan, prevent the death of the bees, +and can build up all the feeble colonies, so as to make them strong and +powerful: but only by giving up all idea of obtaining a single pound of +honey. From the first swarm, I must take combs containing maturing +brood, to strengthen my weak swarms, and this first swarm however +powerful or early, instead of being able to store its combs with honey, +will be constantly tasked in building new combs to replace those taken +away, so that when the honey harvest closes, it will have scarcely any +honey, and must be fed to prevent it from starving. Any man who has +sense enough to be entrusted with bees, can, from these remarks, +understand exactly why it is impossible to multiply colonies rapidly in +any one season, and yet obtain from them large supplies of honey. Even +the doubling of stocks in one season, will very often be too rapid an +increase, if the greatest quantity of spare honey is to be obtained from +them; and when the largest yield of honey is desired, I much prefer to +form, in a way soon to be described, only one new stock from two old +ones; this will give even more from the three, than could have been +obtained from the two, on the ordinary non-swarming plan. + +I would very strongly dissuade any but experienced Apiarians, from +attempting at the furthest, to do more than to triple their stocks in +one year. In order to furnish directions for very rapid multiplication, +sufficiently full and explicit to be of any value to the inexperienced, +I should have to write a book on this one topic; and even then, the most +of those who should undertake it, would be sure at first to fail. + +I have no doubt that with ten strong stocks of bees in a good location, +in one favorable season, I could so increase them as to have, on the +approach of Winter, one hundred good colonies: but I should expect to +feed hundreds of pounds of honey, to devote nearly all my time to their +management, and to bring to the work, the experience of many years, and +the wisdom acquired by numerous failures. After all, what we most need, +in order to be successful in the cultivation of bees, is a _certain_, +rather than a _rapid_ multiplication of stocks. It would require but a +very few years to stock our whole country with bees, if colonies could +only be doubled annually; and an increase of even one third, would +before long, give us bees enough. This rate of increase I should always +encourage in the swarming season, even if, in the Fall, I reduced my +stocks (see Union of Stocks) to the Spring number. In the long run, it +will keep the colonies in a much more prosperous condition, and secure +from them the largest yield of honey. + +I have never myself hesitated to sacrifice one or more colonies, in +order to ascertain a single fact, and it would require a separate volume +quite as large as this, to detail the various experiments which I have +made on the subject of Artificial Swarming. The practical bee-keeper, +however, should never, for a moment, lose sight of the important +distinction between an Apiary managed principally for the purposes of +experiment and discovery, and one conducted almost exclusively with +reference to pecuniary profit. Any bee-keeper can easily experiment with +my hives: but I would recommend him to do so, at first, on a small +scale, and if profit is his object, to follow the directions furnished +in this treatise, until he is _sure_ that he has discovered others which +are preferable. These cautions are given to prevent persons from +incurring serious losses and disappointments, if they use hives which, +if they are not on their guard, may tempt them into rash and +unprofitable courses, by allowing so easily of all manner of +experiments. Let the practical Apiarian remember that the less he +disturbs the stocks on which he relies for surplus honey, the better. +After they are properly lodged in their new hive, they ought by all +means to be allowed to carry on their labors without any interruption. +The object of giving the control over every comb in the hive, is not to +enable him to be incessantly taking them in and out, and subjecting the +bees to all sorts of annoyances. Unless he is conducting a course of +experiments, such interference will be almost as silly as the conduct of +children who pull up the seeds which they have planted, to see whether +they have sprouted, or how much they have grown. If after these +cautions, any still choose to disregard them, the blame of their losses +will fall, not upon the hive, but upon their own mismanagement. + +Let me not, for a moment, be understood as wishing to discourage +investigation, or to intimate that perfection has been so nearly +attained that no more important discoveries remain to be made. On the +contrary, I should be glad to learn that many who have the time and +means, are disposed to use the facilities furnished by hives which give +the control of each comb, to experiment on a large scale; and I hope +that every intelligent bee-keeper who follows my plans, will experiment +at least on a small scale. In this way, we may soon expect to see, more +satisfactorily elucidated, some points in the Natural History of the +bee, which are still involved in doubt. + +Having described the way in which forced swarms are made, both in common +hives and in my own, when the Apiarian wishes in one season merely to +double his colonies, I shall now show in what way he can secure the +largest yield of honey, by forming only one new colony from two old +ones. + +Early in the season, before the bees fly out, or better still, after +they ceased to fly in the previous Fall, the two hives from which the +new colony is to be formed, should be placed near each other, unless +they are already, not more than a foot apart. When the time for forming +the artificial colony has arrived, these hives should be removed from +their stand, and the bees driven from them, precisely in the manner +already described. If all the bees are at home, I sometimes shut up the +hives on their stand, and drum long enough to cause the bees to fill +themselves before the hive is removed. Timid Apiarians may find some +advantage in this course, as the bees will all be quiet after they are +well drummed, and the hive may then be removed with greater safety. In +five minutes I can in this way reduce any swarm to a peaceable +condition. After the forced swarms are secured, the removed hives are +replaced, in order to catch up all the returning bees, and the forced +swarms must be shut up, until towards sunset; unless it is judged best +to keep the entrances temporarily open, so as to secure the return of a +sufficient number of bees to the parent stocks. The old stocks are now +moved to a new place, and managed according to the previous directions. +If neither of the expelled swarms was driven into the hive intended for +the new colony, then the proper hive must be placed, as near as +possible, in the center of the space previously occupied by the original +colonies. One of the swarms must now be shaken out upon a sheet, in +front of this hive which should be elevated, so as to enable the bees to +enter it readily. As soon as they are shaken out, they should be gently +sprinkled with sugar-water scented with peppermint, or any other +fragrant odor. Diligent search must now be made for the Queen, and if +found, she should be carefully removed, and given to the hive to which +she belongs. If the queen of the first swarm has been found, the second +colony may be shaken out, and sprinkled in the same way, and allowed to +enter without any further trouble. If the queen of the first colony was +not found, then that of the second one must be sought for; if neither +can be found, (though this, after a little experience, will very seldom +happen,) one of the Queens will soon kill the other, and reign over the +united family. The next day, the doubled colony will be found working +with amazing vigor, and it will not only fill its main hive, but will, +in any ordinary season, gather large quantities of surplus honey +besides. + +The Apiarian who relies upon natural swarming, can double his new +colonies if they issue at the same time, by hiving them together, or if +this cannot be done, he may hive them in separate hives, and then, +towards evening, set one hive on a sheet, and shake down the bees from +the other, so that they can enter and join the first. It may be safely +done, even if several days have elapsed before the second colony swarms; +although in this case, I prefer after turning up their hive to sprinkle +the oldest swarm with scented sugar-water, and then to give the new +swarm the same treatment. I have doubled natural swarms in this way, +repeatedly, and have never, when they were early, failed to secure from +them a large quantity of honey. In sprinkling bees, let the operator +remember that they are not to be _drenched_, or almost drowned, as in +this case, they will require a long time to enter the hive. Bees seem to +recognize each other by the sense of smell; and when they are made to +have the same odor, they will always mingle peaceably. This is the +reason why I use a few drops of peppermint in the sugar-water. + +If one of the queens of the forced swarms can be returned to her own +colony, it will of course, save them the time which would otherwise be +lost in raising another. I do not know that I can better illustrate the +importance of the inexperienced Apiarian following carefully my +directions, than by supposing him to return the queen to the colony to +which she does not belong. Now I can easily imagine that some bee-keeper +may do so, conceiving that I am foolishly precise in my directions, and +that the queen might be just as well given to one hive as to the other. +But if this is done before at least 24 hours have elapsed since they +were deprived of their own, she will almost certainly be destroyed. The +bees do not _sting_ a queen to death, but have a curious mode of +crowding or knotting around her, so that she is soon smothered; and +while thus imprisoned, she will often make the same piping note which +has already been described. In all this treatise, I have constantly +aimed to give no directions which are not important; and while I utterly +repudiate the notion that these directions may not be modified and +improved, I am quite certain that this cannot be done by any but those +who have considerable experience in the management of bees. + +The formation of one new swarm from two old colonies, may, of course, be +very much simplified by the use of my hives. The two old hives are first +opened and sprinkled, and the bees taken from them and put into the new +hive in the same way in which the process was conducted when only one +colony was expelled, some brood comb being given to the united family. +There will be no difficulty in rightly proportioning the bees; one queen +may always be caught and preserved, and the operation may be performed +at any time when the sun is above the horizon. I have no doubt that +those who have a strong stock of bees, and who are anxious to realize +the largest profits in honey, will find this mode of increase, by far +the simplest and best. If judiciously practiced, they will find that +their colonies may always be kept powerful, and that they may be managed +with very great economy in time and labor. As Apiarians may be so +situated as to wish to increase their bees quite rapidly, I shall give +such methods as from numerous experiments, many of them conducted on a +large scale, I have found to be the best. I wish it however to be most +distinctly understood, that I do not consider _very_ rapid +multiplication as likely to succeed, except in the hands of skillful +Apiarians; and under ordinary circumstances it requires too much time, +care and honey, to be of very great practical value. Its chief merit +consists in the short time which it requires to build up an Apiary. +After trying my mode of management for a few seasons, a bee-keeper may +find out, that he is in all respects, favorably situated for taking care +of a large stock of bees. Suppose him to have acquired both skill and +confidence, and that he has ten powerful colonies. If he is willing to +do without surplus honey for one season, and the honey-harvest should be +very productive, he may without feeding, and without very much labor, +safely increase his ten colonies to thirty. If he chooses to feed +largely, he may _possibly_ end the season with fifty or sixty, or even +more; but he will _probably_ end it in such a manner as most thoroughly +to disgust him with his folly, and to teach him that in bee-keeping, as +well as in other things, "Haste makes waste." + +On the supposition that by the time the fruit-trees are in blossom, the +Apiarian has, in hives of my construction, ten powerful colonies, let +him select four of the strongest, and make from each a forced swarm. He +will now have four queenless colonies, which will at once, proceed to +supply themselves with a young queen. In about ten days, he may make +from his other six stocks, six more forced swarms. He will probably find +in making these, many sealed queens, if he has delayed the operation +until about swarming time; so that he may give to each of the six stocks +from which he has expelled a swarm, the means of soon obtaining +another. If he has not enough for this purpose, he must take the +required number from the four stocks which are raising young queens, the +exact condition of which ought to have been previously ascertained. Some +of these stocks will be found to contain a large number of queen cells. +Huber, in one of his experiments, found twenty-four in one hive, and +even a larger number has sometimes been reared by a single colony. As +the Apiarian will always have many more queens than are wanted, he ought +to select those combs which contain a sealed queen, so as to secure say, +about fifteen combs, each of which has one or more queens. If necessary, +he can cut out some of the cells, and adjust them in the manner +previously described. Each comb containing a sealed queen must be put +with all the bees adhering to it, into an empty hive; and by a divider, +or movable partition, they must be confined to about one quarter of the +hive; water should be given to them, and honey, if none is contained in +the comb. I always prefer to select a comb which contains a large number +of workers almost mature, and some of which are just beginning to hatch, +so that even if a considerable number of the bees should return to the +parent stock, after their liberty is given them, there will still be a +sufficient number hatched, to attend to the young, and especially to +watch over the maturing queens. If the comb contains a large number of +bees just emerging from their cells, I prefer to confine them only one +day, otherwise I keep them shut up until about an hour before sunset of +the third day. The hives containing the small colonies, ought, if they +are not well protected by being made double, to be set where they are +thoroughly sheltered from the intense heat of the sun; and the +ventilators should give them an abundance of air. They should also be +closed in such a manner, as to keep the interior in entire darkness, so +that the bees may not become too uneasy during their confinement. I +accomplish this by shutting up their entrance, and replacing their front +board, just as though I were intending to put them into winter quarters. + +These small colonies I shall call _nuclei_, and the system of forming +stocks from them, my nucleus system; and before I describe this system +more particularly, I shall show other ways in which the nuclei can be +formed. If the Apiarian chooses, he can take a frame containing bees +just ready to mature, and eggs and young worms, all of the worker kind, +together with the old bees which cluster on it, and shut them up in the +manner previously described; even if he has no sealed queen to give +them. If all things are favorable, they will set about raising a queen +in a few hours. I once took not more than a tea-cup full of bees and +confined them with a small piece of brood comb in a dark place, and +found that in about an hour's time, they had begun to enlarge some of +the cells, to raise a new queen! If the Apiarian has sealed queens on +hand, they ought, by all means, to be given to the nuclei, in order to +save all the time possible. + +I sometimes make these nuclei as follows. The suitable comb with bees +&c., is taken from a stock-hive, and set in an empty one, made to stand +partly in the place of the old hive, which, of course, must previously +be moved a little on one side. In this way, I am able to direct a +considerable number of the bees from the old stock to my nucleus, and +the necessity of shutting it up, is done away with. If the bees from the +old stock do not enter the small one, in sufficient numbers, I sometimes +close their hive, so that the returning bees can find no other place to +enter. My object is not to catch up a _large_ number of bees. For +reasons previously assigned, I do not want enough to build new comb, but +only enough to adhere to the removed comb, and raise a new queen from +the brood, or develop the sealed one which has been given them. A short +time after one nucleus has in this way, been formed, another may be made +by moving the old hive again, and so a third or fourth, if so many are +wanted. This plan requires considerable skill and experience, to secure +the right number of bees, without getting too many. + +If bees are to be made to enter a new hive, by removing the old one from +its stand, it will always be very desirable not only to have the new one +contain a piece of comb, but a considerable number of bees _clustered_ +on that comb. I repeatedly found my bees, after entering the hive, +refuse to have anything to do with the brood comb, and for a long time, +I was unable to conjecture the cause; until I ascertained that they were +dissatisfied with its deserted appearance, and that, by taking the +precaution to have it well covered with bees, I seldom failed to +reconcile them to my system of forced colonization. I can usually tell, +in less than two minutes, whether the operation will succeed or not. If +the returning bees are content, they will, however much agitated at +first, soon begin to join the cluster on the comb; while if they are +dissatisfied, they will abandon the hive, and nearly all the bees that +were originally on the comb, will leave with them. They seem capricious +in this matter, and are sometimes so very self-willed, that they refuse +to have anything to do with the brood comb, when I can see no good +reason why they should be so rebellious. + +I shall here state some _conjectures_ which have occurred to me on this +subject. Is it absolutely certain that bees can raise a queen from _any_ +egg or young larva which would produce a worker? Or if this is possible, +is it certain that _any kind of workers_ can accomplish this? Huber +ascertained to his own satisfaction that there were two kinds of workers +in a hive. He thus describes them. + +"One of these is, in general, destined for the elaboration of wax, and +its size is considerably enlarged when full of honey; the other +immediately imparts what it has collected to its companions, its abdomen +undergoes no sensible change, or it retains only the honey necessary for +its own subsistence. The particular function of the bees of this kind is +to take care of the young, for they are not charged with provisioning +the hive. In opposition to the wax workers, we shall call them small +bees or nurses." + +"Although the external difference be inconsiderable, this is not an +imaginary distinction. Anatomical observations prove that the capacity +of the stomach is not the same--experiments have ascertained that one of +the species cannot fulfil all the functions shared among the workers of +a hive. We painted those of each class with different colors, in order +to study their proceedings; and these were not interchanged. In another +experiment, after supplying a hive deprived of a queen with brood and +pollen, we saw the small bees quickly occupied in nutrition of the +larvae, while those of the wax working class neglected them. Small bees +also produce wax, but in a very inferior quantity to what is elaborated +by the real wax workers." + +Now if these statements can be relied on, and thus far I have nearly +always found Huber's statements, where-ever I had an opportunity to test +them, to be most wonderfully reliable, then it may be that when bees +refuse to cluster on the brood comb and to proceed at once to rear a new +queen, it is because they find that some of the conditions necessary for +success are wanting. Either there may not be a sufficient number of +wax-workers, to enlarge the cells, or a sufficient number of nurses to +take charge of the larvae; or it may be that the cells contain only young +wax-workers which cannot be developed into queens, or only young +nurses, which may be in the same predicament. + +If any of my readers imagine that the work of carefully experimenting, +in order to establish facts upon the solid basis of complete +demonstration, is an easy work, let them attempt now to prove or +disprove the truth of any or all of my conjectures upon this single +topic. They will probably find the task more difficult than to blot over +whole quires and reams of paper with careless assertions. + +All operations of any kind which interfere in the very least, with the +natural mode of forming colonies, are best performed in the swarming +season: or at least, at a time when the bees are breeding freely, and +are able to bring in large stores of honey from the fields. At other +times, they are very precarious, and unless under the management of +persons who have great experience, they will in most cases, end in +nothing but vexatious losses and disappointments. + +It is quite amusing to see how bees act, when they find, on their return +from foraging abroad, that their hive has been moved, and another put in +its place. If the new hive is precisely similar to their own, in size +and outward appearance, they enter it as though all was right; but in a +few moments, they rush out in violent agitation, imagining that they +have made a prodigious mistake and have entered the wrong place. They +now take wing again in order to correct their blunder, but find to their +increasing surprise, that they had previously directed their flight to +the familiar spot; again they enter, and again they tumble out, in +bewildered crowds, until, at length, if they can find the means of +raising a new queen, or one is already there, they seem to make up their +minds that if this is not home, it not only looks like it, but stands +just where their home ought to be, and is at all events the only home +they are likely to get. No doubt they often feel that a very hard +bargain has been imposed upon them, but they seem generally determined +to make the best of it. + +There is one trait in the character of bees, for which I feel, not +merely admiration, but the most profound respect. Such is their +indomitable energy and perseverance, that under circumstances apparently +the most despairing, they will still labor to the utmost, to retrieve +their losses, and sustain the sinking state. So long as they have a +queen, or any prospect of raising one, they struggle most vigorously +against impending ruin, and never give up, unless their condition is +absolutely desperate. In one of my observing hives, I once had a colony +of bees, the whole of which might have been spread out on my two hands, +busy at work in raising a new queen, from a small piece of brood comb. +For two long weeks, they adhered with unfailing perseverance and +industry, to their forlorn hope: until at last, one of the two queens +which they raised, came forth, and destroyed the other while still in +her cell. The bees had now dwindled away to less than half their +original number, and the new queen had wings so imperfect that she was +unable to fly. I watched their proceedings with great interest; they +actually paid very unusual attention to this crippled queen, and treated +her more as they are wont to treat a fertile one. In the course of a +week, there were not more than a dozen left in the hive, and in a few +days more, I missed the queen, and saw only a few disconsolate wretches +crawling over the deserted comb! Shame upon the faint-hearted and +cowardly of our own race, who, if overtaken by calamity, instead of +nobly breasting the dark waters of affliction, and manfully buffetting +with their tumultuous waves, meanly resign themselves to their ignoble +fate, and sink and perish where they might have lived and triumphed; and +double shame upon those who thus "faint in the day of adversity," when +living in a Christian land, they might, if they would only receive the +word of God, and open the eye of faith, behold a bow of promise spanning +the still stormy clouds, and hear a voice bidding them, like the great +apostle of the Gentiles, learn not merely to "rejoice in hope of the +glory of God," but to "glory in tribulations also." + +I have been informed by Mr. Wagner, that Dzierzon has recently devised a +plan of _forming nuclei_, substantially the same with my own. His book, +however, contemplates having two Apiaries, three or four miles apart, +and his plans for multiplying colonies, as there described, were based +upon the supposition that the Apiarian will have two such +establishments. Such an arrangement would no doubt very greatly +facilitate many operations. Our forced swarms might all be removed from +the Apiary where they were formed, to the other, and our nuclei treated +in the same way, and there would be no necessity for confining the bees +after their removal. There are however, weighty objections to such an +arrangement, which will prevent it, at least for some time, from being +extensively adopted. The labor of removing the bees backwards and +forwards, is a serious objection to the whole plan; and in addition to +this, the necessity of having a skillful Apiarian at each establishment, +puts its adoption out of the question, with most persons who keep bees. +It might answer, however, if two bee-keepers, sufficiently far apart, +would enter into partnership, and manage their bees as a joint concern. +Dzierzon's new plan of creating nuclei, is as follows. Towards evening, +remove a piece of brood comb, with eggs and bees just hatching, and put +it, with a sufficient number of mature bees, into an empty hive; there +must be enough to keep the brood from being chilled over night. If the +operation is performed so late that the bees are not disposed to take +wing and leave the hive, by morning a sufficient number will have +hatched, to supply the place of those which may abandon the nucleus. In +my numerous experiments last Summer, in the formation of artificial +swarms, I tried this plan and found that it answered a good purpose; the +chief objection to it, is the difficulty often of selecting the suitable +kind of comb, if the operation is delayed until late in the afternoon. I +prefer, therefore, to perform it, when the sun is an hour or two high, +and to confine the bees until dark. If there are not a sufficient number +of bees on the comb, I shake off some from another frame, directly into +the hive, and shut them all up, giving them a supply of water. Sealed +queens if possible, should be used in all these operations. + +I shall now give a novel mode of creating nuclei, which I have devised, +and which I find to be attended with great success. Hive a new swarm in +the usual manner, in an old box, and as soon as the bees have entered +it, shut them up and carry them down into the cellar. About an hour +before sunset, take combs suitable to form as many nuclei as you judge +best, say five or six, or even eight or ten if the swarm was large, and +you need as many. Bring up the new swarm and shake it out upon a sheet, +sprinkling it gently with sugar-water. With a large tumbler or saucer, +scoop up without hurting any of the bees, a pint or more of them, and +place them before the mouth of one of the hives containing a brood comb; +repeat the process, until each nucleus has, say, a quart of bees. If you +see the queen, you may give the hive in which you put her, three or four +times as many bees as any other; and the next day it may be strengthened +with a few combs containing brood, just ready to mature. If you did not +find her, at the time of forming the nuclei, when you afterwards examine +them, the one which contains her may be properly reinforced with bees +and comb, so as to enable it to work to the best advantage. + +If this plan of forming nuclei, were attempted earlier in the afternoon +it would be difficult to prevent the bees from communicating on the +wing, and all going to the hive which contained their queen. If however, +the bees when first shaken out of the temporary hive, are so thoroughly +sprinkled, as not to be able to take wing and unite together, this mode +of forming colonies may be practiced at any hour of the day; and an +experienced Apiarian may prefer to do it, as soon as he has fairly hived +the new swarm. When the bees are shaken out in front of a hive which has +a sealed queen, or eggs from which they can raise one, having a whole +night in which to accustom themselves to their new situation, they will +be found, the next day, to adhere to the place where they were put, with +as much tenacity as a natural swarm does to their new hive. How +wonderful that the act of swarming should so thoroughly impress upon the +bees, an absolute indisposition to return to the parent stock. If this +were a fixed and invariable unwillingness, a sort of blind, unreasoning +instinct, it would not be so surprising, but we have already seen that +in case the bees lose their queen, they return in a very short time to +the stock from which they issued! If the nuclei formed in the manner +just described, found in their new hive, no means of obtaining a queen, +they would all return, next morning, to the parent stock. + +When the Apiarian can obtain a natural swarm from any other Apiary, it +may be divided into nuclei in the same way, and even a forced swarm, if +brought from a distance, will answer equally well. If the Apiarian +wishes to form colonies earlier than the season of natural swarming, and +cannot conveniently obtain a forced swarm from an Apiary, at least a +mile distant, he may, before the bees begin to fly out in the Spring, +transport one of his stocks to a neighbor's, and force from it a swarm +at the desired time. Even if it is moved not more than half a mile off, +the operation will be almost sure to succeed. Of all modes of forming +the nuclei, this I believe will be found to be the neatest, simplest and +best. + +Having thus described the various ways in which I have successfully +formed my nuclei, I shall now show how they may be all built up into +powerful stocks. It will be very obvious that on the ordinary plan of +management, they would be absolutely worthless, even if it were possible +to form them with the common hives. If they were not fed, they would be +unable to collect the means of building new comb, and would gradually +dwindle away, just as third or fourth swarms which issue late in the +season; nor could they be saved even by the most generous feeding, as +they would only use their supplies to fill up the little comb they had; +so that when the queen was ready to lay, there would be no empty cells +to receive her eggs, and too few bees to build any, even if they had all +the honey that they required. Such small colonies must gradually waste +away, unless they can be speedily and effectually supplied with the +requisite number of bees, and this can be done only by hives which give +the control of all the combs. With such hives, I can speedily build up +my nuclei, (provided I have not formed too many,) to the strength +necessary to make them powerful stocks. The hives containing them, ought +if possible, to stand at some distance from other hives, say two or +three feet: and if this cannot conveniently be done, they should in some +way, be so distinguished from the adjoining hives, that the young queens +when they are hatched and go out to seek the drones, will not be liable +to lose their lives by entering a wrong hive on their return. A small +leafy twig fastened on the alighting board of such hives, when they +stand near to others, will be almost sure to prevent such a +catastrophe: if they stand near to each other, some may be marked in +this way, and others with a piece of colored cloth. (See Page 159.) To +guard them against robbers, &c., the entrances to these nuclei should be +contracted, so that only a few bees can enter at once. Those which were +confined, should be examined, the day after their liberty is given to +them; the others, the day after they were formed, when, if they were not +supplied with a sealed queen, they will be found actively engaged in +constructing royal cells. A new range of comb should now be given to +each one, and it should contain no old bees, but brood rapidly maturing, +and if possible, eggs and worms only a few days old. + +This new addition of strength will greatly encourage the nuclei, and +give them the means of starting young queens, if they have not succeeded +in doing so with the first comb. I have very frequently found that for +some cause which I have not yet ascertained, they often start a large +number of queen cells, which in a few days, are all discontinued and +untenanted. The second attempt seldom fails. Does practice in this thing +make them more expert? But I will simply state the fact, referring to my +conjectures on page 218; and remarking that when they make a second +attempt, they seem frequently disposed to start a much larger number +than they otherwise would have done. In two or three days after giving +them the first piece of comb, I give them another, if their queen is +nearly mature, and I now let them alone until she ought to be depositing +eggs in the hive. I then give them, at intervals of a few days, two or +three combs more, and they will now be sufficiently powerful in bees, to +gather large quantities of honey, and fill the empty part of their hive. +The young queen is supplying with thousands of worker-eggs, the cells +from which the brood has emerged, and also the new ones built by the +bees, and the new colony will soon be one of the best stock hives in +the Apiary. If some of the full frames are moved, and empty ones placed +between them, as soon as the bees begin to build powerfully, there need +be no guide combs on the empty frames, and still the work will be +executed with the most beautiful regularity. + +But what, in the mean time, is the condition of the hives from which we +are taking so many brood combs for the proper development of our nuclei; +are they not weakened so much as to become quite enfeebled? I come now +to the very turning point of the whole nucleus system. If due judgment +has not been used, and the sanguine bee-keeper has endeavored to +multiply his colonies too rapidly, a most grievous disappointment awaits +him. Either his nuclei cannot be strengthened at the right time, or this +can be done, only by impoverishing the old stocks, and the result of the +whole operation will be a most decided failure, and if he is in the +vicinity of sugar-houses, confectionaries, or other tempting places of +bee resort, he will find the population of his colonies very seriously +diminished, and will have to break up the most of the nuclei which he +had formed, and incur the danger of losing nearly the whole of his +stock. I lay it down as a fundamental principle in my nucleus system, +that the old stocks must never be so much weakened by the removal of +brood-comb and bees that they are not able to keep their numbers +sufficiently strong to refill rapidly all the vacancies among their +combs. If the Apiarian attempts to multiply his stocks so rapidly that +this cannot be done, I will ensure him ample cause to repent at leisure +of his folly. If however, the attempt at very rapid multiplication is +made only by those who are favorably situated, and who have skill in the +management of bees, a very large gain may be made in the number of +stocks, and they may all be strong and flourishing. + +If a strong stock of bees in a hive of moderate size, which admits of +thorough inspection, is examined at the height of the honey harvest, +nearly all the cells will often be found filled with brood, honey or +bee-bread. The great laying of the queen, according to some writers, is +now over, not however as they erroneously imagine, because her fertility +has decreased, but merely because there is not _room_ in the hive for +all her eggs. She may often be seen restlessly traversing the combs, +seeking in vain for empty cells, until finding none, she is compelled to +extrude her eggs only to be devoured by the bees. (See p. 52.) If some +of the full combs are removed, and empty ones substituted in their +place, she will speedily fill them, laying at the rate of two or three +thousand a day! When my strong stocks are from time to time deprived of +one or two combs, if honey can easily be procured,[19] the bees proceed +at once to replace them, and the queen commences laying in the new combs +as soon as the cells are fairly started. If the combs are not removed +_too fast_, and care is taken not to deprive the stock of so much brood +that the bees cannot keep up a vigorous population, a queen in a hive so +managed, will lay her eggs in cells to be nurtured by the bees, instead +of being eaten up; and thus, in the course of the season, she may become +the mother of three or four times as many bees, as are reared in a hive +under other circumstances. By careful management, brood enough may, in +this way, be taken from a single hive, to build up a large number of +nuclei. Towards the close of the season however, as such a hive has been +constantly tasked in building comb and feeding young bees, almost all +its honey will have been used for these purposes, and although it may be +very populous, unless it is liberally fed, it will be sure to perish. +Since the discovery that unbolted rye flour will answer so admirably as +a substitute for pollen, we can supply the bees not only with honey, +when none can be obtained from the blossoms, but with an abundance of +bee-bread, when pollen is scarce. As I am writing this chapter, (March +29, 1853,) my bees are zealously engaged in taking the flour from some +old combs in front of their hives, and they can be seen most beautifully +moulding the little pellets on their thighs. By my movable combs, I can +give them the flour at once in their hives, as it can easily be rubbed +into an empty comb. The importance of Dzierzon's discovers of a +substitute for pollen, can hardly be over-estimated. If he had done +nothing more for the cause of Apiarian science, no true-hearted +bee-keeper would ever allow his name to be forgotten. + +In the Chapter on Feeding, I shall give more specific directions as to +the way in which the cultivator must feed his bees, when he aims at +increasing, as rapidly as possible, the number of his stocks. Unless +this work is done with great judgment, he will find often that the more +he feeds, the less bees he has in his hives, the cells being all +occupied with honey instead of brood. Such is the passion of bees for +storing away honey, that large supplies of it will always most seriously +interfere with breeding, unless the bees are sufficiently numerous to +build new comb in which the queen can find room for her eggs. + +I have no doubt that some who have but little experience in the +management of bees, are ready to imagine that they could easily strike +out a simpler and better way of increasing the number of colonies. For +instance: let a full hive have half its comb and bees put into an empty +hive, and the work of doubling, is without further trouble, effectually +accomplished. But what will the queenless hive do, under such +circumstances? Why, build of course, queen cells, and rear another. But +what kind of comb will they fill their hives with, before the young +queen begins to breed? Of that, perhaps, you had never thought. Let me +now lay down the only safe rule for all who engage in the multiplication +of artificial swarms. Never, under _any_ circumstances, take so much +comb and brood from your stock hives, as seriously to reduce their +numbers. This should be to the Apiarian, as "the law of the Medes and +Persians, which altereth not." + +Suppose that I divide a populous stock, about swarming season, into four +or five colonies; the strong probability is, that not one of them, if +left to themselves, will be strong enough to survive the Winter. If fed +in the ordinary way, and yet not supplied with combs and bees, their +ruin will often be only accelerated. If, on the contrary, I had taken, +from time to time, combs sufficient to form three or four nuclei, and +had strengthened the new colonies, in such a way as not to draw too +severely upon the resources of the parent stock, I might expect to see +them all, in due time, strong and flourishing. + +In the Spring of the year, if I desire to determine the strength of a +colony principally to raising young bees, I can easily effect it by the +following plan. A box is made, of the same inside dimensions with the +lower hive, into which the combs and bees of a full hive can all be +transferred, as soon as the bees are gathering honey enough to build new +combs. This box is now set over the old hive, which contains its +complement of frames with guide combs, or better still, with empty +combs. As soon as the bees begin to build, they take possession of the +lower hive, through which they go in and out, and the queen descends +with them, in order to lay her eggs in the lower combs. As soon as the +old apartment becomes pretty well filled, a large number of combs with +maturing bees, may be taken from the upper one, and when the hive below +is full, they may all be safely removed. If none of the upper combs are +removed, they will be filled with honey, as soon as the brood is +hatched; and as they will contain large stores of bee-bread, they will +answer admirably for replenishing stocks which have an insufficient +supply. In no other way, so far as I know, can so much honey be secured, +and if quantity, not quality, is aimed at, or if the test of quality is +its fitness for the use of the bees, I would recommend this mode as +superior to any other. If two swarms are hived together, or a very +powerful stock is lodged in a hive, so that at once they can have access +to the upper apartment, an extraordinary quantity of honey can be +secured, and of a very excellent quality. As soon as the bees have +raised one generation of young, in the combs of the upper box, or rather +in a part of them, they will use it chiefly for storing honey, and all +that it contains may be taken from them. In flavor, it will be found to +be nearly as good as honey stored in what is called "virgin comb." + +In the Chapter on the Requisites of a good hive, I have said that in +size it should be adapted to the natural instincts of the bee, and yet +admit of enlarging or contracting, according to the wants of the colony +placed in it. I never use a hive, the main apartment of which, holds +less than a Winchester bushel. If small colonies are placed in such a +hive, it must be temporarily partitioned off, to suit the size of its +inmates; for if bees have too much room given to them, they cannot +concentrate their animal heat, and are so much discouraged that they +often abandon their hive. I am aware that many judicious Apiarians +recommend hives of much smaller dimensions, and I shall now give my +reasons for using one so large. If a hive is too small, then in the +Spring, the combs are soon filled with honey, bee-bread and brood, and +the surprising fertility of the queen bee, can be turned to no efficient +account. If the honey-harvest in any year, is deficient, such a colony +is very apt to perish in the succeeding Winter; whereas in a large hive, +the honey stored up in a fruitful season, is a reserve supply, in time +of need. In very large hives, I have seen large accumulations of honey +which have been untouched for years, while on the same stand, stocks of +about the same age, in small hives have perished by starvation. A good +early swarm in any situation at all favorable, will fill, the first +season, a hive that holds a bushel: and if there is any location in +which they cannot do this, a doubled swarm should be put into the hive, +or bee-keeping may, as far as profit is concerned, be abandoned. But it +may be objected that if the swarm was not sufficiently strong to fill +their hive, the bees often suffer from the cold in Winter, and become +too much reduced in numbers, to build early and rapidly in the ensuing +Spring. This is undoubtedly true, and hence the great importance of +putting a generous allowance of bees into a hive at the first start, +unless, as on my plan, the requisite strength can be given to them, at a +subsequent period. The hive, if large, should be all the more carefully +protected from extremes of cold, in order to give the bees an +opportunity of developing their natural powers of re-production, to the +best advantage. + +In such a hive, the queen will be able to breed almost every month in +the year, even in the coldest climates where bees flourish, and on the +return of Spring, thousands of young bees will be found in it, which +could not have been bred in a small, or badly protected hive. The Polish +hives described by Mr. Dohiogost, have already been referred to. Some of +these hold about three bushels, and yet the bees swarm from them with +great regularity, and the swarms are often of immense size. These hives +are admirably protected, and at the time of hiving at least _four_ times +the number of bees are lodged in them, that are ordinarily put into one +of our hives. The queen bee, in such a hive, has ample room to lay her +three thousand eggs, or more, daily: and a prodigious colony is raised, +which often stores enormous supplies of honey. As all the frames in my +hives are of the same dimensions, the size of the hive may be +conveniently varied, to suit the views of different bee-keepers; for +they may be large or small, according to the number of frames designed +to be used. I hope, before long, to experiment with hives as large +again, as those that I now use; or rather, with such, as by containing +an upper box, may be made to accommodate twice as many bees. This whole +subject of the proper size of hives, certainly needs to be taken +entirely out of the region of conjecture, and to be put upon the basis +of careful observations. Unquestionably the size will require, in some +respects, to be modified by the more or less favorable character of the +country for bee-keeping; but I am satisfied that small hives will be +found of but little profit, and that large ones, unless well stocked +with bees, from the first, and thoroughly protected, will often fail to +answer any good end. If I should find on further experiment, that the +very large hives of which I have spoken, are better, my hives are at +present so constructed that without any alteration of existing parts, +they can easily be supplied with the required additions. I have already +mentioned that I sometimes build my hives, three in one structure, in +order to save expense in their construction. I do not however, wish to +be considered as recommending such hives as the best for general use. +For some purposes a single hive is unquestionably the best, as it can be +easily moved by one person; and this, will many times be found to be a +point of great importance. The double hives, or two in one, are for most +purposes, decidedly the best, as well as the cheapest. I have quite +recently contrived a plan of constructing my wooden hives in such a +manner as to give them very great protection against extremes of heat +and cold, while at the same time they can be easily and cheaply made, by +any one who can handle the simplest mechanical tools. + +It has been previously stated that the queen bee cannot be induced to +sting, by any kind of treatment however severe. The reason of this +strange unwillingness to use her natural and powerful weapon, will be +obvious, when we consider how indispensable the preservation of her life +is to the very existence of the colony, and that her single sting, the +loss of which would be her death, could avail but little for their +defence, in case of an attack. She never uses her weapon, except when +engaged in mortal combat with another queen. As soon as the two rivals +come together, they clinch, at once, with every demonstration of the +most vindictive hatred. Why then, are not both of them often destroyed? +and why are not hives, in the swarming season, almost certain to become +queenless? We can never sufficiently admire the provision so simple and +yet so effectual, by which such a calamity is prevented. The queen bee +never stings unless she has such an advantage in the combat, that she +can curve her body under that of her rival, in such a manner as to +inflict a deadly wound, without any risk of being stung herself! The +moment that the position of the two combatants is such that neither has +the advantage, and that both are liable to perish, they not only refuse +to sting, but disengage themselves, and suspend their conflict for a +short time! If it were not for this peculiarity of instinct, such +combats would very often terminate in the death of both the parties, +and the race of bees would be in danger of becoming extinct. + +The unwillingness of a swarm of bees, which has been deprived of its +queen, to receive another, until after some time has elapsed, must +always be borne in mind, by those who have anything to do with making +artificial swarms. About 24 hours must elapse before it will be safe to +introduce a strange mother into a queenless hive; and even then, if she +is not fertile, she will run a great risk of being destroyed. To prevent +such losses, I adopt the German plan of confining the queen, in what +they call, "a queen cage." A small hole, about as large as a thimble, +may be gouged out of a block, and covered over with wire gauze, or any +other kind of perforated cover, so that when the queen is put in, the +bees cannot enter to destroy her. Before long, they will cultivate an +acquaintance, by thrusting their antennae through to her; so that, when +she is liberated the next day, they will gladly adopt her in place of +the one they have lost. If a hole large enough for her to creep out, is +closed with wax, they will gnaw the wax away, and liberate her +themselves, from her confinement. Queens that seem bent on departing to +the woods, may be confined in the same way, until the colony has given +up all thoughts of forsaking its hive. A small paste-board box with +suitable holes, or a wooden match-box thoroughly scalded, I have found +to answer a very good purpose. + +I shall here describe what may be called a _Queen Nursery_ which I have +contrived to aid those who are engaged in the rapid multiplication of +colonies by artificial means. A solid block about an inch and a quarter +thick, is substituted for one of my frames; holes, about one and a half +inches in diameter, are bored through it, and covered on both sides, +with gauze wire slides; the wire ought to be such as will allow a +common bee to pass through, but should be too small to permit a queen to +do the same. Any kind of perforated cover may be made to answer the same +purpose as the gauze wire. If a number of sealed queens are on hand, and +there is danger that some may hatch, and destroy the others, before the +Apiarian can make use of them in forming artificial swarms, he may very +carefully cut out the combs containing them, and place them each in a +separate cradle! The bees having access to them, will give them proper +attention, and as soon as they are hatched, will supply them with food, +and thus they will always be on hand for use when they are needed. This +Nursery must of course, be established in a hive which has no mature +queen, or it will quickly be transformed into a slaughter house by the +bees. I have not yet tested this plan so thoroughly as to be _certain_ +that it will succeed; and I know so well the immense difference between +theoretical conjectures and practical results, that I consider nothing +in the bee line, or indeed in any other line, as established, until it +has been submitted to the most rigorous demonstrations, and has +triumphantly passed from the mere regions of the brain to those of +actual fact. A theory on any subject may seem so plausible as almost to +amount to a positive demonstration, and yet when put to the working +test, it is often found to be encumbered by some unforeseen difficulty, +which speedily convinces even its sanguine projector, that it has no +practical value. Nine things out of ten may work to a charm, and yet the +tenth may be so connected with the other nine, that its failure renders +their success of no account. When I first used this Nursery, I did not +give the bees access to it, and I found that the queens were not +properly developed, and died in their cells. Perhaps they did not +receive sufficient warmth, or were not treated in some other important +respects, as they would have been if left under the care of the bees. +In the multiplicity of my experiments, I did not repeat this one under a +sufficient variety of circumstances, to ascertain the precise cause of +failure; nor have I as yet, tried whether it will answer perfectly, by +admitting the bees to the queen cells. + +Last Spring, I made one queen supply several hives with eggs, so as to +keep them strong in numbers while they were constantly engaged in +rearing a large number of spare queens. Two hives which I shall call A +and B, were deprived at intervals of a week, each of its queen,[20] in +order to induce them to raise a number of young sealed queens for the +use of the Apiary. As soon as the queens in A, were of an age suitable +to be removed, I took them away and gave the colony a fertile queen from +another hive, C; as soon as she had laid a large number of eggs in the +empty cells, I removed the queen cells now sealed over, from B, and gave +them the loan of this fertile mother, until she had performed the same +necessary office for them. By this time, the queen cells in C, were +sealed over; these were now removed, and the queen restored; she had +thus made one circuit, and laid a very large number of eggs in the two +hives which were first deprived of their queens. After allowing her to +replenish her own hive with eggs, I sent her out again on her +perambulating mission, and by this new device was able to get an +extraordinary number of young queens from the three hives, and at the +same time to preserve their numbers from seriously diminishing. Two +queens may in this way, be made in six hives to furnish all the +supernumerary queens which will be wanted in quite a large Apiary. + +It will be perfectly obvious to every intelligent and ingenious +Apiarian, that the perfect control of the comb, is the _soul_ of an +entirely new system of practical management, and that it may be modified +to suit the wants of all who wish to cultivate bees. Even the advocate +of the old fashioned plan of killing the bees, can with one of my hives, +destroy his faithful laborers, by shaking them into a tub of water, +almost, if not quite as speedily as by setting them over a sulphur pit; +while after the work of death is accomplished, his honey will be free +from disgusting fumes, and all the labor of cutting it out of the hive, +may be dispensed with. + +I am now prepared to answer an objection which doubtless has been +present in the minds of many, all the time that they have been reading +the various processes on which I rely for the multiplication of +colonies. A very large number of persons who keep bees, or who wish to +keep them, are so much afraid of them that they object entirely even to +natural swarming, because they are in danger of being stung in the +process of hiving the bees. How are such persons to manage bees on my +plan, which seems like bearding a lion in its very den! The truth is +that some persons are so very timid, or suffer so dreadfully from the +sting of a bee, that they are every way disqualified from having +anything to do with them, and ought either to have no bees upon their +premises, or to entrust the care of them to some suitable person. By +managing bees according to the directions furnished in this treatise, +almost any one can learn, by using a bee-dress, to superintend them, +with very little risk; while those who are favorites with them, may +dispense entirely with any protection. I find in short, that the risk of +being stung is really diminished by the use of my hives; although it +will be hard to convince those who have not seen them in use, that this +can be so. + +There is still another class who either keep bees or can be induced to +keep them, and who are anxiously inquiring for some new hive or new plan +by which, with little or no trouble, they may reap copious harvests of +the precious nectar. This is emphatically _the_ class to seize hold of +every new device, and waste their time and money to fill the coffers of +the ignorant or unprincipled. There never will be a "royal road" to +profitable bee-keeping. If there is any branch of rural economy which +more than all others demands care and experience, for its profitable +management, it is the keeping of bees; and those who have a painful +consciousness that the disposition to put off and neglect, was, so to +speak, born in them, and has never been got out of them, will do well to +let bees alone, unless they hope, by the study of their systematic +industry, to reform evil habits which are well nigh incurable. + +While I feel very sanguine that my system of management will be used +extensively and very advantageously, by careful and skillful Apiarians, +I know too much of the world to expect that it will, with the masses, +very speedily supercede other methods, even if it were so absolutely +perfect, as to admit of no possible improvement. I hope, however, that I +may, without being charged with presumption, be permitted to put on +record the prediction, that _movable frames_ will in due season, be +almost universally employed; and this, whether bees are allowed to swarm +naturally, or are increased by artificial means, or are kept in hives in +which they are not expected to swarm at all. + + NOTE.--The very day on which I first contrived the plan, so + perfectly simple, and yet so efficacious, of gaining the control of + the combs by these frames, I not only foresaw all the consequences + which would follow their adoption, but wrote as follows, in my + Bee-Journal. "The use of these frames will, I am persuaded, give a + new impulse to the easy and profitable management of bees; and will + render the making of artificial swarms an easy operation." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] I have often spent more than ten minutes in opening and shutting a +single frame in the Huber hive, and even then, have sometimes crushed +some of the bees. + +[18] The scent of the hives, during the height of the gathering season, +will usually inform us from what sources the bees have gathered their +supplies. + +[19] If they cannot obtain it, the Apiarian must himself furnish it. + +[20] The queens taken from such hives may be advantageously used in +forming artificial colonies. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE BEE-MOTH, AND OTHER ENEMIES OF BEES. DISEASES OF BEES. + + +Of all the numerous enemies of the honey-bee, the Bee-Moth (Tinea +mellonella,) in climates of hot Summers, is by far, the most to be +dreaded. So wide spread and fatal have been its ravages in this country, +that thousands have abandoned the cultivation of bees in despair, and in +districts which once produced abundant supplies of the purest honey, +bee-keeping has gradually dwindled down into a very insignificant +pursuit. Contrivances almost without number, have been devised, to +defend the bees against this invidious foe, but still it continues its +desolating inroads, almost unchecked, laughing as it were to scorn, at +all the so-called "moth-proof" hives, and turning many of the ingenious +fixtures designed to entrap or exclude it, into actual aids and comforts +in its nefarious designs. + +I should feel but little confidence in being able to reinstate +bee-keeping in our country, into a certain and profitable pursuit, if I +could not show the Apiarian in what way he can safely bid defiance to +the pestiferous assaults of this, his most implacable enemy. I have +patiently studied its habits for years, and I am at length able to +announce a system of management founded upon the peculiar construction +of my hives, which will enable the careful bee-keeper to protect his +colonies against the monster. The CAREFUL bee-keeper, I say: for to +pretend that the careless one, can by any contrivance effect this, is "a +snare and a delusion;" and no well-informed man, unless he is steeped to +the very lips, in fraud and imposture, will ever claim to accomplish any +thing of the kind. The bee-moth infects our Apiaries, just as weeds take +possession of a fertile soil; and the negligent bee-keeper will find a +"moth-proof" hive, when the sluggard finds a _weed-proof_ soil, and I +suspect not until a consummation so devoutly wished for by the slothful +has arrived. Before explaining the means upon which I rely, to +circumvent the moth, I will first give a brief description of its +habits. + +Swammerdam, towards the close of the 17th century, gave a very accurate +description of this insect, which was then called by the very expressive +name of the "bee-wolf." He has furnished good drawings of it, in all its +changes, from the worm to the perfect moth, together with the peculiar +webs or galleries which it constructs and from which the name of Tinea +Galleria or gallery moth, has been given to it by some entomologists. He +failed, however, to discriminate between the male and female, which, +because they differ so much in size and appearance, he supposed to be +two different species of the wax-moth. It seems to have been a great +pest in his time; and even Virgil speaks of the "dirum tineae genus," the +dreadful _offspring_ of the moth; that is the worm. This destroyer +usually makes its appearance about the hives, in April or May; the time +of its coming, depending upon the warmth of the climate, or the +forwardness of the season. It is seldom seen on the wing, (unless +startled from its lurking place about the hive,) until towards dark, and +is evidently, chiefly nocturnal in its habits. In dark cloudy days, +however, I have noticed it on the wing long before sunset, and if +several such days follow in succession, the female oppressed with the +urgent necessity of laying her eggs, may be seen endeavoring to gain +admission to the hives. The female is much larger than the male, and +"her color is deeper and more inclining to a darkish gray, with small +spots or blackish streaks on the interior edge of her upper wings." The +color of the male inclines more to a light gray; they might easily be +mistaken for different species of moths. These insects are surprisingly +agile, both on foot and on the wing. The motions of a bee are very slow +in comparison. "They are," says Reaumur, "the most nimble-footed +creatures that I know." "If the approach to the Apiary[21] be observed +of a moonlight evening, the moths will be found flying or running round +the hives, watching an opportunity to enter, whilst the bees that have +to guard the entrances against their intrusion, will be seen acting as +vigilant sentinels, performing continual rounds near this important +post, extending their antennae to the utmost, and moving them to the +right and left alternately. Woe to the unfortunate moth that comes +within their reach!" "It is curious," says Huber, "to observe how +artfully the moth knows how to profit, to the disadvantage of the bees, +which require much light for seeing objects; and the precautions taken +by the latter in reconnoitering and expelling so dangerous an enemy." + +The entrance of the moth into a hive, and the ravages committed by her +progeny, forcibly remind one of the sad havoc which sin often makes of +character and happiness, when it finds admission into the human heart, +and is allowed to prey unchecked, upon all its most precious treasures; +and he who would not be so enslaved by its power, as to lose all his +spiritual life and prosperity, must be constantly on the defensive, and +ever on the "watch" against its fatal intrusions. + +Only some tiny eggs are deposited by the moth, and they give birth to a +very delicate, innocent-looking worm; but let these apparently +insignificant creatures once "get the upper hand," and all the fragrance +of the honied dome, is soon corrupted by their abominable stench; every +thing beautiful and useful, is ruthlessly destroyed; the hum of happy +industry is stilled, and at last, nothing is left in the desecrated +hive, but a set of ravenous, half famished worms, knotting and writhing +around each other, in most loathsome convolutions. + +Wax is the proper aliment of the larvae of the bee-moth: and upon this +seemingly indigestible substance, they thrive and fatten. When obliged +to steal their living as best they can, among a powerful stock of bees, +they are exposed, during their growth, to many perils, and seldom fare +well enough to reach their natural size: but if they are rioting at +pleasure, among the full combs of a feeble and discouraged population, +they often attain a size and corpulency truly astonishing. If the +bee-keeper wishes to see their innate capabilities fully developed, let +him rear a lot for himself among some old combs, and if prizes were +offered for fat and full grown worms, he might easily obtain one. In the +course of a few weeks, the larva like that of the silk-worm, stops +eating, and begins to think of a suitable place for encasing itself in +its silky shroud. In hives where they reign uncontrolled, this is a work +of but little difficulty; almost any place will answer their purpose, +and they often pile their cocoons, one on top of another, or join them +in long rows together: but in hives strongly guarded by healthy bees, +this is a matter not very easily accomplished; and many a worm while it +is cautiously prying about, to see where it can find some snug place in +which to ensconce itself, is caught by the nape of the neck, and very +unceremoniously served with an instant writ of ejection from the hive. +If a hive is thoroughly made, of sound materials, and has no cracks or +crevices under which the worm can retreat, it is obliged to leave the +interior in search of such a place, and it runs a most dangerous +gantlet, as it passes, for this purpose, through the ranks of its +enraged foes. Even in the worm state, however, its motions are +exceedingly quick; it can crawl backwards or forwards, and as well one +way as another: it can twist round on itself, curl up almost into a +knot, and flatten itself out like a pancake! in short, it is full of +stratagems and cunning devices. If obliged to leave the hive, it gets +under any board or concealed crack, spins its cocoon, and patiently +awaits its transformation. In most of the common hives, it is under no +necessity of leaving its birth place for this purpose. It is almost +certain to find a crack or flaw into which it can creep, or a small +space between the bottom-board and the edges of the hive which rest upon +it. A _very_ small crevice will answer all its purposes. It enters, by +flattening itself out almost as much as though it had been passed under +a roller, and as soon as it is safe from the bees, it speedily begins to +give its cramped tenement, the requisite proportions. It is utterly +amazing how an insect apparently so feeble, can do this; but it will +often gnaw for itself a cavity, even in solid wood, and thus enlarge its +retreat, until it has ample room for making its cocoon! The time when it +will break forth into a winged insect, depends entirely upon the degree +of heat to which it is exposed. I have had them spin their cocoons and +hatch in a temperature of about 70 deg., in ten or eleven days, and I have +known them to spin so late in the Fall, that they remained all Winter, +undeveloped, and did not emerge until the warm weather of the ensuing +Spring! + +If they are hatched in the hive, they leave it, in order to attend to +the business of impregnation. In the moth state, they do not actually +attack the hives, to plunder them of food, although they have a "sweet +tooth" in their head, and are easily attracted by the odor of liquid +sweets. The male, having no special business in the hive, usually keeps +himself at a safe distance from the bees: but the female, impelled by an +irresistible instinct, seeks admission, in order to deposit her eggs +where her offspring may gain the readiest access to their natural food. +She carefully explores all the cracks and crevices about the +bottom-board, and if she finds a suitable place under them, lays her +eggs among the parings of the combs, and other refuse matter which has +fallen from the hive. If she enters a feeble or discouraged stock, where +she can act her own pleasure, she will lay her eggs among the combs. In +a hive where she is too closely watched to effect this, she will insert +them in the corners, into the soft propolis, or in any place where there +are small pieces of wax and bee-bread, which have fallen upon the +bottom-board, and which will furnish a temporary place of concealment +for her progeny, and also the requisite nourishment, until they have +strength and enterprise enough to reach the main combs of the hive, and +fortify themselves there. "As soon as hatched,[22] the worm encloses +itself in a case of white silk, which it spins around its body; at first +it is like a mere thread, but gradually increases in size, and during +its growth, feeds upon the cells around it, for which purpose it has +only to put forth its head, and find its wants supplied. It devours its +food with great avidity, and consequently increases so much in bulk, +that its gallery soon becomes too short and narrow, and the creature is +obliged to thrust itself forward and lengthen the gallery, as well to +obtain more room as to procure an additional supply of food. Its +augmented size exposing it to attacks from surrounding foes, the wary +insect fortifies its new abode with additional strength and thickness, +by blending with the filaments of its silken covering, a mixture of wax +and its own excrement, for the external barrier of a new gallery, the +_interior_ and partitions of which are lined with a smooth surface of +white silk, which admits the occasional movements of the insect, without +injury to its delicate (?) texture. In performing these operations, the +insect might be expected to meet with opposition from the bees, and to +be gradually rendered more assailable as it advanced in age. It never, +however, exposes any part but its head and neck, both of which are +covered with stout helmets or scales impenetrable to the sting of a bee, +as is the composition of the galleries that surround it." As soon as it +has reached its full growth, it seeks in the manner previously +described, a secure place for undergoing its changes into a winged +insect. + +Before describing the way in which I protect my hives from this deadly +pest, I shall first show why the bee-moth has so wonderfully increased +in numbers in this country, and how the use of patent hives has so +powerfully contributed to encourage its ravages. It ought to be borne in +mind that our climate is altogether more propitious to its rapid +increase, than that of Great Britain. Our intensely hot summers develop +most rapidly and powerfully, insect life, and those parts of our country +where the heat is most protracted and intense, have, as a general thing, +suffered most from the devastations of the bee-moth. + +The bee is not a native of the American continent; it was first brought +here by colonists from Great Britain, and was called by the Indians, the +white man's fly. With the bee, was introduced its natural enemy, +created for the special purpose, not of destroying the insect, on whose +industry it thrives, and whose extermination would be fatal to the moth +itself, but that it might gain its livelihood as best it could in this +busy world. Finding itself in a country whose climate is exceedingly +propitious to its rapid increase, it has multiplied and increased a +thousand fold, until now there is hardly a spot where the bees inhabit, +which is not infested by its powerful enemy. + +I have often listened to the glowing accounts of the vast supplies of +honey obtained by the first settlers, from their bees. Fifty years ago, +the markets in our large cities were much more abundantly supplied than +they now are, and it was no uncommon thing to see exposed for sale, +large washing-tubs filled with the most beautiful honey. Various reasons +have been assigned for the present depressed state of Apiarian pursuits. +Some imagine that newly settled countries are most favorable for the +labors of the bee: others, that we have overstocked our farms, so that +the bees cannot find a sufficient supply of food. That neither of these +reasons will account for the change, I shall prove more at length, in my +remarks on Honey, and when I discuss the question of overstocking a +district with bees. Others lay all the blame upon the bee-moth, and +others still, upon our departure from the good old-fashioned way of +managing bees. That the bee-moth has multiplied most astonishingly, is +undoubtedly true. In many districts, it so superabounds, that the man +who should expect to manage his bees with as little care as his father +and grandfather bestowed upon them, and yet realize as large profits, +would find himself most wofully mistaken. The old bee-keeper often never +looked at his bees after the swarming season, until the time came for +appropriating their spoils. He then carefully "hefted" all his hives so +as to be able to judge as well as he could, how much honey they +contained. All which were found to be too light to survive the Winter, +he at once condemned; and if any were deficient in bees, or for any +other reason, appeared to be of doubtful promise, they were, in like +manner, sentenced to the sulphur pit. A certain number of those +containing the largest supplies of honey, were also treated in the same +summary way: while the requisite number of the _very best_, were +reserved to replenish his stock another season. If the same system +precisely, were now followed, a number of colonies would still perish +annually, through the increased devastations of the moth. + +The change which has taken place in the circumstances of the bee-keeper, +may be illustrated by supposing that when the country was first settled, +weeds were almost unknown. The farmer plants his corn, and then lets it +alone, and as there are no weeds to molest it, at the end of the season +he harvests a fair crop. Suppose, however, that in process of time, the +weeds begin to spread more and more, until at last, this farmer's son or +grandson finds that they entirely choke his corn, and that he cannot, in +the old way, obtain a remunerating crop. Now listen to him, as he +gravely informs you that he cannot tell how it is, but corn with him has +all "run out." He manages it precisely as his father or grandfather +always managed theirs, but somehow the pestiferous weeds will spring up, +and he has next to no crop. Perhaps you can hardly conceive of such +transparent ignorance and stupidity; but it would be difficult to show +that it would be one whit greater than that of a large number who keep +bees in places where the bee-moth abounds, and who yet imagine that +those plans which answered perfectly well fifty or a hundred years ago, +when moths were scarce, will answer just as well now. + +If however, the old plan had been rigidly adhered to, the ravages of the +bee-moth would never have been so great as they now are. The +introduction of _patent hives_ has contributed most powerfully, to fill +the land with the devouring pest. I am perfectly aware that this is a +bold assertion, and that it may, at first sight, appear to be very +uncourteous, if not unjust, to the many intelligent and ingenious +Apiarians, who have devoted much time, and spent large sums of money, in +perfecting hives designed to enable the bee-keeper to contend most +successfully against his worst enemy. As I do not wish to treat such +persons with even the appearance of disrespect, I shall endeavor to show +just how the use of the hives which they have devised, has contributed +to undermine the prosperity of the bees. Many of these hives have +valuable properties, and if they were always used in strict accordance +with the enlightened directions of those who have invented them, they +would undoubtedly be real and substantial improvements over the old box +or straw hive, and would greatly aid the bee-keeper in his contest with +the moth. The great difficulty is that they are none of them, able to +give him the facilities which alone can make him victorious. No hive, as +I shall soon show, can ever do this, which does not give the complete +and easy control of all the combs. + +I do not know of a single improved hive which does not aim at entirely +doing away with the old-fashioned plan of killing the bees. Such a +practice is denounced as being almost as cruel and silly as to kill a +hen for the sake of obtaining her feathers or a few of her eggs. Now if +the Apiarian can be furnished with suitable instructions, and such as he +will _practice_, for managing his bees so as to avoid this necessity, +then I admit the full force of all the objections which have been urged +against it. I have never read the beautiful verses of the poet +Thompson, without feeling all their force: + + "Ah, see, where robbed and murdered in that pit + Lies the still heaving hive! at evening snatched, + Beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night, + And fixed o'er sulphur! while, not dreaming ill, + The happy people, in their waxen cells, + Sat tending public cares; + Sudden, the dark oppressive steam ascends, + And, used to milder scents, the tender race, + By thousands, tumble from their honied dome! + Into a gulf of blue sulphureous flame." + +The plain matter of fact however, is, that in our country, as many bees, +if not more, die of starvation in their hives, as ever were killed by +the fumes of sulphur. Commend me rather to the humanity of the +old-fashioned bee-keeper, who put to a speedy and therefore merciful +death, the poor bees which are now, by millions, tortured by slow +starvation among their empty combs! At the present time, (April 1853,) I +am almost daily hearing of swarms which have perished in this way, +during the last Winter; and I know of only one person who was merciful +enough to kill his weak stocks, rather than suffer them to die so cruel +a death. + +If the use of the common patent hives could only keep the stocks strong +in numbers, and if the bee-keepers would always see that they were well +supplied with honey, then I admit that to kill the bees would be both +cruel and unnecessary. Such however, are the discouragements and losses +necessarily attending the use of any hive which does not give the +control of the combs, that there will be few who do not continually find +that some of their stocks are too feeble to be worth the labor and +expense of attempting to preserve them over Winter. How many colonies +are annually wintered, which are not only of no value to their owner, +but are positive nuisances in his Apiary; being so feeble in the Spring, +that they are speedily overcome by the moth, and answer only to breed a +horde of destroyers to ravage the rest of his Apiary. The time spent +upon them is often as absolutely wasted, as the time devoted to a sick +animal incurably diseased, and which can never be of any service, while +by nursing it along, its owner incurs the risk of infecting his whole +stock with its deadly taint. If, on the score of kindness, he should +shut it up, and let it starve to death, few of us, I imagine, would care +to cultivate a very intimate acquaintance with one so extremely original +in the exhibition of his humanity! + +Ever since the introduction of patent hives, the notion has almost +universally prevailed, that stocks must not, under _any_ circumstances, +be voluntarily broken up; and hence, instead of Apiaries, filled in the +Spring, with strong and healthy stocks of bees, easily able to protect +themselves against the bee-moth, and all other enemies, we have +multitudes of colonies which, if they had been kept on purpose to +furnish food for the worms, could scarcely have answered a more valuable +end in encouraging their increase. The simple truth is, that improved +hives, without an improved system of management, have done on the whole +more harm than good; in no country have they been so extensively used as +in our own, and no where has the moth so completely gained the +ascendency. Just so far as they have discouraged bee-keepers from the +old plan of killing off all their weak swarms in the Fall, just so far +have they extended "aid and comfort" to the moth, and made the condition +of the bee-keeper worse than it was before. That some of them might be +managed so as in all ordinary cases, to give the bees complete +protection against their scourge, I do not, for a moment, question; but +that they cannot, from the very nature of the case, answer fully in all +emergencies, the ends for which they were designed, I shall endeavor to +prove and not to assert. + +The kind of hives of which I have been speaking, are such as have been +devised by intelligent and honest men, practically acquainted with the +management of bees: as for many of the hives which have been introduced, +they not only afford the Apiarian no assistance against the inroads of +the bee-moth, but they are so constructed as positively to aid it in its +nefarious designs. The more they are used, the worse the poor bees are +off: just as the more a man uses the lying nostrums of the brazen-faced +quack, the further he finds himself from health and vigor. + +I once met with an intelligent man who told me that he had paid a +considerable sum, to a person who professed to be in possession of many +valuable _secrets_ in the management of bees, and who promised, among +other things, to impart to him an infallible remedy against the +bee-moth. On the receipt of the money, he very gravely told him that the +secret of keeping the moth out of the hive, was to keep the bees strong +and vigorous! A truer declaration he could not have made, but I believe +that the bee-keeper felt, notwithstanding, that he had been imposed +upon, as outrageously, as a poor man would be, who after paying a quack +a large sum of money for an infallible, life-preserving secret, should +be turned off with the truism that the secret of living forever, was to +keep well! + +There is not an intelligent, observing Apiarian who has been in the +habit of carefully examining the operations of bees, not only in his own +Apiary, but wherever he could find them, who has not seen strong stocks +flourishing under almost any conceivable circumstances. They may be seen +in hives of the most miserable construction, unpainted and unprotected, +sometimes with large open cracks and clefts extending down their sides, +and yet laughing to defiance, the bee-moth, and all other adverse +influences. + +Almost any thing hollow, in which the bees can establish themselves, and +where they have once succeeded in becoming strong, will often be +successfully tenanted by them for a series of years. To see such hives, +as they sometimes may be seen, in possession of persons both ignorant +and careless, and who hardly know a bee-moth from any other kind of +moth, may at first sight well shake the confidence of the inquirer, in +the necessity or value of any particular precautions to preserve his +hives from the devastations of the moth. + +After looking at these powerful stocks in what may be called log-cabin +hives, let us examine some in the most costly hives, which have ever +been constructed; in what have been called real "Bee-Palaces;" and we +shall often find them weak and impoverished, infested and almost +devoured by the worms. Their owner, with books in his hand, and all the +newest devices and appliances in the Apiarian line, unable to protect +his bees against their enemies, or to account for the reason why some +hives seem, like the children of the poor, almost to thrive upon +ill-treatment and neglect, while others, like the offspring of the rich +and powerful, are feeble and diseased, almost in exact proportion to the +means used to guard them against noxious influences, and to minister +most lavishly to all their wants. + +I once used to be much surprised to hear so many bee-keepers speak of +having "good luck," or "bad luck" with their bees; but really as bees +are generally managed, success or failure does seem to depend almost +entirely upon what the ignorant or superstitious are wont to call +"luck." + +I shall now try to do what I have never yet seen satisfactorily done by +any writer on bees; viz.: show exactly under what circumstances the +bee-moth succeeds in establishing itself in a hive; thus explaining why +some stocks flourish in spite of all neglect, while others, in the +common hives, fall a prey to the moth, let their owner be as careful as +he will, I shall finally show how in suitable hives, with proper +precautions, it may always be kept from seriously annoying the bees. + +It often happens, when a large number of stocks are kept, that in spite +of all precautions, some of them are found in the Spring, so greatly +reduced in numbers, that if left to themselves, they are in danger of +falling a prey to the devouring moth. Bees, when in feeble colonies, +seem often to lose a portion of their wonted vigilance, and as they have +a large quantity of empty comb which they cannot guard, even if they +would, the moth enters the hive, and deposits a large number of eggs, +and thus before the bees have become sufficiently numerous to protect +themselves, the combs are filled with worms, and the destruction of the +colony speedily follows. The ignorant or careless bee-keeper is informed +of the ravages which are going on in such a hive, only when its ruin is +fully completed, and a cloud of winged pests issues from it, to destroy +if they can, the rest of his stocks. But how, it may be asked, can it be +ascertained that a hive is seriously infested with the all-devouring +worms? The aspect of the bees, so discouraged and forlorn, proclaims at +once that there is trouble of some kind within. If the hive be slightly +elevated, the bottom-board will be found covered with pieces of +bee-bread, &c. mixed with the _excrement of the worms_ which looks +almost exactly like fine grains of powder. As the bees in Spring, clean +out their combs, and prepare the cells for the reception of brood, their +bottom-board will often be so covered with parings of comb and with +small pieces of bee-bread, that the hive may appear to be in danger of +being destroyed by the worms. If, however, none of the _black_ excrement +is perceived, the refuse on the bottom-board, like the shavings in a +carpenter's shop, are proofs of industry and not the signs of +approaching ruin. It is highly important, however, to keep the +bottom-boards clean, and if a piece of zinc be slipt in, (or even an old +newspaper,) by removing and cleansing it from time to time, the bees +will be greatly assisted in their operations. As soon as the hive is +well filled with bees, this need no longer be done. + +Even the most careful and experienced Apiarian will find, too often, +that although he is perfectly well aware of the plague that is reigning +within, his knowledge can be turned to no good account, the interior of +the hive being almost as inaccessible as the interior of the human body. +The way in which I manage, in such cases, is as follows. + +Having ascertained, in the Spring, as soon as the bees begin to fly out, +that a colony although feeble, has a fertile queen, I take the +precaution at once to give it the strength which is indispensable, not +merely to its safety, but to its ability for any kind of successful +labor. + +As a certain number of bees are needed in a hive, in order as well to +warm and hatch the thousands of eggs which a healthy queen can lay, as +to feed and properly develop the larvae after they are hatched, I know +that a feeble colony must remain feeble for a long time, unless they can +at once be supplied with a considerable accession of numbers. Even if +there were no moths in existence to trouble such a hive, it would not be +able to rear a large number of bees, until after the best of the +honey-harvest had passed away: and then it would become powerful only +that its increasing numbers might devour the food which the others had +previously stored in the cells. If the small colony has a considerable +number of bees, and is able to cover and warm at least one comb in +addition to those containing brood which they already have, I take from +one of my strong stocks, a frame containing some three or four thousand +or more young bees, which are sealed over in their cells, and are just +ready to emerge. These bees which require no food, and need nothing but +warmth to develop them, will, in a few days, hatch in the new hive to +which they are given, and thus the requisite number of workers, in the +full vigor and energy of youth, will be furnished to the hive, and the +discouraged queen, finding at once a suitable number of experienced +nurses[23] to take charge of her eggs, deposits them in the proper +cells, instead of simply extruding them, to be devoured by the bees. +While bees often attack full grown strangers which are introduced into +their hive, they never fail to receive gladly all the brood comb that we +choose to give them. If they are sufficiently numerous, they will always +cherish it, and in warm weather, they will protect it, even if it is +laid against the outside of their hive! If the bees in the weak stock, +are too much reduced in numbers, to be able to cover the brood comb +taken from another hive, I give them this comb with all the old bees +that are clustered upon it, and shut up the hive, after supplying them +with water, until two or three days have passed away. By this time, most +of the strange bees will have formed an inviolable attachment to their +new home, and even if a portion of them should return to the parent +hive, a large number of the maturing young will have hatched, to supply +their desertion. A little sugar-water scented with peppermint, may be +used to sprinkle the bees, at the time that the comb is introduced, +although I have never yet found that they had the least disposition, to +quarrel with each other. The original settlers are only too glad to +receive such a valuable accession to their scanty numbers, and the +expatriated bees are too-much confounded with their unexpected +emigration, to feel any desire for making a disturbance. If a sufficient +increase of numbers has not been furnished by one range of comb, the +operation may, in the course of a few days, be repeated. Instead of +leaving the colony to the discouraging feeling that they are in a large, +empty and desolate house, a divider should be run down into the hive, +and they should be confined to a space which they are able to warm and +defend, and the rest of the hive, until they need its additional room, +should be carefully shut up against all intruders. If this operation is +judiciously performed, the bees will be powerful in numbers, long before +the weather is warm enough to develop the bee-moth, and they will thus +be most effectually protected from the hateful pest. + +A very simple change in the organization of the bee-moth would have +rendered it almost if not quite impossible to protect the bees from its +ravages. If it had been so constituted as to require but a very small +amount of heat for its full development, it would have become very +numerous early in the Spring, and might then have easily entered the +hives and deposited its eggs among the combs, without any let or +hindrance; for at this season, not only do the bees at night maintain no +guard at the entrance of their hive, but there are large portions of +their comb bare of bees, and of course, entirely unprotected. How does +every fact in the history of the bee, when properly investigated, point +with unerring certainty to the power, wisdom and goodness, of Him who +made it! + +If there is reason to apprehend that the combs which are not occupied +with brood, contain any of the eggs of the moth, these combs may be +removed, and thoroughly smoked with the fumes of burning sulphur; and +then, in a few days, after they have been exposed to the fresh air, they +may be returned to the hive. I hope I may be pardoned for feeling not +the slightest pity for the unfortunate progeny of the moth, thus +unceremoniously destroyed. + +Bees, as is well known to every experienced bee-keeper, frequently swarm +so often as to expose themselves to great danger of being destroyed by +the moth. After the departure of the after-swarms, the parent colony +often contains too few bees to cover and protect their combs from the +insidious attacks of their wily enemy. As a number of weeks must elapse +before the brood of the young queen is mature, the colony, for a +considerable time, at the season when the moths are very numerous, are +constantly diminishing in numbers, and before they can begin to +replenish the exhausted hive, the destroyer has made a fatal lodgment. + +In my hives, such calamities are easily prevented. If artificial +increase is relied upon for the multiplication of colonies, it can be so +conducted as to give the moth next to no chance to fortify itself in the +hive. No colony is ever allowed to have more room than it needs, or more +combs than it can cover and protect; and the entrance to the hive may be +contracted, if necessary, so that only a single bee can go in and out, +at a time, and yet the bees will have, from the ventilators, as much air +as they require. + +If natural swarming is allowed, after-swarms may be prevented from +issuing, by cutting out all the queen cells but one, soon after the +first swarm leaves the hive; or if it is desired to have as fast an +increase of stocks, as can possibly be obtained from natural swarming, +then instead of leaving the combs in the parent hive to be attacked by +the moth, a certain portion of them may be taken out, when swarming is +over, and given to the second and third swarms, so as to aid in building +them up into strong stocks. + +But I have not yet spoken of the most fruitful cause of the desolating +ravages of the bee-moth. If a colony has _lost its queen_, and this loss +cannot be supplied, it must, as a matter of course, fall a sacrifice to +the bee-moth: and I do not hesitate to assert that by far the larger +proportion of colonies which are destroyed by it, are destroyed under +precisely such circumstances! Let this be remembered by all who have any +thing to do with bees, and let them understand that unless a remedy for +the loss of the queen, can be provided, they must constantly expect to +see some of their best colonies hopelessly ruined. The crafty moth, +after all, is not so much to blame, as we are apt to imagine; for a +colony, once deprived of its queen, and possessing no means of securing +another, would certainly perish, even if never attacked by so deadly an +enemy; just as the body of an animal, when deprived of life, will +speedily go to decay, even if it is not, at once, devoured by ravenous +swarms of filthy flies and worms. + +In order to ascertain all the important points connected with the habits +of the bee-moth, I have purposely deprived colonies in some of my +observing hives, of their queen, and have thus reduced them to a state +of despair, that I might closely watch all their proceedings. I have +invariably found that in this state, they have made little or no +resistance to the entrance of the bee-moth, but have allowed her to +deposit her eggs, just where she pleased. The worms, after hatching, +have always appeared to be even more at home than the poor dispirited +bees themselves, and have grown and thrived, in the most luxurious +manner. In some instances, these colonies, so far from losing all spirit +to resent other intrusions, were positively the most vindictive set of +bees in my whole Apiary. One especially, assaulted every body that came +near it, and when reduced in numbers to a mere handful, seemed as ready +for fight as ever. + +How utterly useless then, for defending a queenless colony against the +moth, are all the traps and other devices which have been, of late +years, so much relied upon. If a single female gains admission, she will +lay eggs enough to destroy in a short time, the strongest colony that +ever existed, if once it has lost its queen, and has no means of +procuring another. But not only do the bees of a hive which is +hopelessly queenless, make little or no opposition to the entrance of +the bee-moth, and to the ravages of the worms, but by their forlorn +condition, they positively invite the attacks of their destroyers. The +moth seems to have an instinctive knowledge of the condition of such a +hive, and no art of man can ever keep her out. She will pass by other +colonies to get at the queenless one, for she seems to know that there +she will find all the conditions that are necessary to the proper +development of her young. There are many mysteries in the insect world, +which we have not yet solved; nor can we tell just how the moth arrives +at so correct a knowledge of the condition of the queenless hives in the +Apiary. That such hives, very seldom, maintain a guard about the +entrance, is certain; and that they do not fill the air with the +pleasant voice of happy industry, is equally certain; for even to our +dull ears, the difference between the hum of the prosperous hive, and +the unhappy note of the despairing one, is sufficiently obvious. May it +not be even more obvious to the acute senses of the provident mother, +seeking a proper place for the development of her young? + +The unerring sagacity of the moth, closely resembles that peculiar +instinct by which the vulture and other birds that prey upon carrion, +are able to single out a diseased animal from the herd, which they +follow with their dismal croakings, hovering over its head, or sitting +in ill-omened flocks, on the surrounding trees, watching it as its life +ebbs away, and stretching out their filthy and naked necks, and opening +and snapping their blood-thirsty beaks that they may be all ready to +tear out its eyes just glazing in death, and banquet upon its flesh +still warm with the blood of life! Let any fatal accident befall an +animal, and how soon will you see them, first from one quarter of the +heavens, and then from another, speeding their eager flight to their +destined prey, when only a short time before, not a single one could be +seen or heard. + +I have repeatedly seen powerful colonies speedily devoured by the worms, +because of the loss of their queen, when they have stood, side by side +with feeble colonies which being in possession of a queen, have been +left untouched! + +That the common hives furnish no available remedy for the loss of the +queen, is well known: indeed, the owner cannot, in many cases, be sure +that his bees are queenless, until their destruction is certain, while +not unfrequently, after keeping bees for many years, he does not even so +much as believe that there is such a thing as a queen bee! + +In the Chapter on the Loss of the Queen, I shall show in what way this +loss can be ascertained, and ordinarily remedied, and thus the bees be +protected from that calamity which more than all others, exposes them to +destruction. When a colony has become hopelessly queenless, then moth or +no moth, its destruction is absolutely certain. Even if the bees +retained their wonted industry in gathering stores, and their usual +energy in defending themselves against all their enemies, their ruin +could only be delayed for a short time. In a few months, they would all +die a natural death, and there being none to replace them, the hive +would be utterly depopulated. Occasionally, such instances occur in +which the bees have died, and large stores of honey have been found +untouched in their hives. This, however, but seldom happens: for they +rarely escape from the assaults of other colonies, even if after the +death of their queen, they do not fall a prey to the bee-moth. A +motherless hive is almost always assaulted by stronger stocks, which +seem to have an instinctive knowledge of its orphanage, and hasten at +once, to take possession of its spoils. (See Remarks on Robbing.) If it +escape the Scylla of these pitiless plunderers, it is soon dashed upon a +more merciless Charybdis, when the miscreant moths have ascertained its +destitution. Every year, large numbers of hives are bereft of their +queen, and every year, the most of such hives are either robbed by other +bees, or sacked by the bee-moth, or first robbed, and afterwards sacked, +while their owner imputes all the mischief that is done, to something +else than the real cause. He might just as well imagine that the birds, +or the carrion worms which are devouring his dead horse, were actually +the primary cause of its untimely end. How often we see the same kind of +mistake made by those who impute the decay of a tree, to the insects +which are banqueting upon its withering foliage; when often these +insects are there, because the disease of the tree has both furnished +them with their proper aliment, and deprived the plant of the vigor +necessary to enable it to resist their attack. + +The bee keeper can easily gather from these remarks, the means upon +which I most rely, to protect my colonies from the bee-moth. Knowing +that strong stocks supplied with a fertile queen, are always able to +take care of themselves, in almost any kind of hive, I am careful to +keep them in the state which is practically found to be one of such +security. If they are weak, they must be properly strengthened, and +confined to only as much space as they can warm and defend: and if they +are queenless, they must be supplied with the means of repairing their +loss, or if that cannot be done, they should be at once broken up, (See +Remarks on Queenlessness, and Union of Stocks,) and added to other +stocks. + +It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the mind of the bee-keeper, that +a small colony ought always to be confined to a small space, if we wish +the bees to work with the greatest energy, and to offer the stoutest +resistance to their numerous enemies. Bees do most unquestionably, +"abhor a vacuum," if it is one which they can neither fill, warm nor +defend. Let the prudent bee-master only keep his stocks strong, and they +will do more to defend themselves against all intruders, than he can +possibly do for them, even if he spends his whole time in watching and +assisting them. + +It is hardly necessary, after the preceding remarks, to say much upon +the various contrivances to which so many resort, as a safeguard against +the bee-moth. The idea that gauze-wire doors, to be shut daily at dusk, +and opened again at morning, can exclude the moth, will not weigh much +with one who has seen them flying and seeking admission, especially in +dull weather, long before the bees have given over their work for the +day. Even if the moth could be excluded by such a contrivance, it would +require, on the part of those who rely upon it, a regularity almost akin +to that of the heavenly bodies in their courses; a regularity so +systematic, in short, as either to be impossible, or likely to be +attained but by very few. + +An exceedingly ingenious contrivance, to say the least, to remedy the +necessity for such close supervision, is that by which the movable doors +of all the hives are governed by a long lever in the shape of a +hen-roost, so that the hives may all be closed seasonably and regularly, +by the crowing and cackling tribe, when they go to bed at night, and +opened at once when they fly from their perch, to greet the merry morn. +Alas! that so much ingenuity should be all in vain! Chickens are often +sleepy, and wish to retire sometime before the bees feel that they have +completed their full day's work, and some of them are so much opposed to +early rising, either from ill-health, or downright laziness, that they +sit moping on their roost, long after the cheerful sun has purpled the +glowing East. Even if this device were perfectly successful, it could +not save from ruin, a colony which has lost its queen. The truth is, +that almost all the contrivances upon which we are instructed to rely, +are just about equivalent to the lock carefully put upon the stable +door, after the horse has been stolen; or to attempts to prevent +corruption from fastening upon the body of an animal, after the breath +of life has forever departed. + +Are there then no precautions to which we may resort, except by using +hives which give the control over every comb? Certainly there are, and I +shall now describe them in such a manner as to aid all who find +themselves annoyed by the inroads of the bee-moth. + +Let the prudent bee-master be deeply impressed with the very great +importance of destroying _early_ in the season, the larvae of the +bee-moth. "Prevention is," at all times, "better than cure": a single +pair of worms that are permitted to undergo their changes into the +winged insect, may give birth to some hundreds which before the close of +the season, may fill the Apiary with thousands of their kind. The +destruction of a single worm early in the Spring, may thus be more +efficacious than that of hundreds, at a later period. If the common +hives are used, these worms must be sought for in their hiding places, +under the edges of the hive; or the hive may be propped up, on the two +ends, with strips of wood, about three eighths of an inch thick; and a +piece of old woolen rag put between the bottom-board and the back of +the hive. Into this warm hiding place, the full grown worm will retreat +to spin its cocoon, and it may then be very easily caught and +effectually dealt with. Hollow sticks, or split joints of cane may be +set under the hives, so as to elevate them, or may be laid on the +bottom-board, and if they have a few small openings through which the +bees cannot enter, the worms will take possession of them, and may +easily be destroyed. Only provide some hollow, inaccessible to the bees, +but communicating with the hive and easily accessible to the worms when +they want to spin, and to yourself when you want them, and if the bees +are in good health, so that they will not permit the worms to spin among +the combs, you can, with ease, entrap nearly all of them. If the hive +has lost its queen, and the worms have gained possession of it, you can +do nothing for it better than to break it up as soon as possible, unless +you prefer to reserve it as a moth trap to devastate your whole Apiary. + +I make use of blocks of a peculiar construction, in order both to entrap +the worms, and to exclude the moth from my hives. The only place where +the moth can enter, is just where the bees are going in and out, and +this passage may be contracted so as to suit the size of the colony: the +very shape of it is such that if the moth attempts to force an entrance, +she is obliged to travel over a space which is continually narrowing, +and of course, is more and more easily defended by the bees. My traps +are slightly elevated, so that the heat and odor of the hive pass under +them, and come out through small openings into which the moth can enter, +but which do not admit her into the hive. These openings, which are so +much like the crevices between the common hives and their bottom-boards, +the moth will enter, rather than attempt to force her way through the +guards, and finding here the nibblings and parings of comb and +bee-bread, in which her young can flourish, she deposits her eggs in a +place where they may be reached and destroyed. All this is on the +supposition that the hive has a healthy queen, and that the bees are +confined to a space which they can warm and defend. If there are no +guards and no resistance, or at best but a very feeble one, she will not +rest in any outer chamber, but will penetrate to the very heart of the +citadel, and there deposit her seeds of mischief. These same blocks have +also grooves which communicate with the _interior_ of the hives, and +which appear to the prowling worm in search of a comfortable nest, just +the very best possible place, so warm and snug and secure, in which to +spin its web, and "bide its time." When the hand of the bee-master +lights upon it, doubtless it has reason to feel that it has been caught +in its own craftiness. + +If asked how much will such contrivances help the careless bee-man, I +answer, not one iota; nay, they will positively furnish him greater +facilities for destroying his bees. Worms will spin and hatch, and moths +will lay their eggs, under the blocks, and he will never remove them: +thus instead of traps he will have most beautiful devices for giving +more effectual aid and comfort to his enemies. Such persons, if they +ever attempt to keep bees on my plans, should use only my smooth blocks, +which will enable them to control, at will, the size of the entrance to +the hives, and which are exceedingly important in aiding the bees to +defend themselves against moths and robbers, and all enemies which seek +admission to their castle. + +Let me, however, strongly advise the thoroughly and incorrigibly +careless, to have nothing to do with bees, either on my plan of +management, or any other; for they will find their time and money +almost certainly thrown away; unless their mishaps open their eyes to +the secret of their failure in other things, as well as in bee-keeping. + +If I find that the worms, by any means have got the upper hand in one of +my hives, I take out the combs, shake off the bees, route out the worms +and restore the combs again to the bees: if there is reason to fear that +they contain eggs and small worms, I smoke them thoroughly with sulphur, +and air them well before they are returned. Such operations, however, +will very seldom be required. Shallow vessels containing sweetened +water, placed on the hives after sunset, will often entrap many of the +moths. Pans of milk are recommended by some as useful for this purpose. +So fond are the moths of something sweet, that I have caught them +_sticking fast_ to pieces of moist sugar-candy. + +I cannot deny myself the pleasure of making an extract from an +article[24] from the pen of that accomplished scholar, and well-known +enthusiast in bee-culture, Henry K. Oliver, Esq. "We add a few words +respecting the enemies of bees. The mouse, the toad, the ant, the +stouter spiders, the wasp, the death-head moth, (Sphinx atropos,) and +all the varieties of gallinaceous birds, have, each and all, "a sweet +tooth," and like, very well, a dinner of raw bee. But the ravages of all +these are but a baby bite to the destruction caused by the bee-moth, +(Tinea mellonella.) These nimble-footed little mischievous vermin may be +seen, on any evening, from early May to October, fluttering about the +apiary, or running about the hives, at a speed to outstrip the swiftest +bee, and endeavoring to effect an entrance into the door way, for it is +within the hive that their instinct teaches them they must deposit their +eggs. You can hardly find them by day, for they are cunning and secrete +themselves. "They love darkness rather than light, because their deeds +are evil." They are a paltry looking, insignificant little grey-haired +pestilent race of wax-and-honey-eating and bee-destroying rascals, that +have baffled all contrivances that ingenuity has devised to conquer or +destroy them." + +"Your committee would be very glad indeed to be able to suggest any +effectual means, by which to assist the honey-bee and its friends, +against the inroads of this, its bitterest and most successful foe, +whose desolating ravages are more lamented and more despondingly +referred to, than those of any other enemy. Various contrivances have +been announced, but none have proved efficacious to any full extent, and +we are compelled to say that there really is no security, except in a +very full, healthy and vigorous stock of bees, and in a very close and +well made hive, the door of which is of such dimensions of length and +height, that the nightly guards can effectually protect it. Not too long +a door, nor too high. If too long, the bees cannot easily guard it, and +if too high, the moth will get in over the heads of the guards. If the +guards catch one of them, her life is not worth insuring. But if the +moths, in any numbers, effect a lodgment in the hive, then the hive is +not worth insuring. They immediately commence laying their eggs, from +which comes, in a few days, a brownish white caterpillar, which encloses +itself, all but its head, in a silken cocoon. This head, covered with an +impenetrable coat of scaly mail, which bids defiance to the bees, is +thrust forward, just outside of the silken enclosure, and the gluttonous +pest eats all before it, wax, pollen, and exuviae, until ruin to the +stock is inevitable. As says the Prophet Joel, speaking of the ravages +of the locust, "the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and +behind them a desolate wilderness." Look out, brethren, bee lovers, and +have your hives of the best unshaky, unknotty stock, with close fitting +joints, and well covered with three or four coats of paint. He who shall +be successful in devising the means of ridding the bee world of this +destructive and merciless pest, will richly deserve to be crowned "King +Bee," in perpetuity, to be entitled to a never-fading wreath of budding +honey flowers, from sweetly breathing fields, all murmuring with bees, +to be privileged to use, during his natural life, "night tapers from +their waxen thighs," best wax candles, (two to the pound!) to have an +annual offering from every bee-master, of ten pounds each, of very best +virgin honey, and to a body guard, for protection against all foes, of +thrice ten thousand workers, all armed and equipped, as Nature's law +directs. Who shall have these high honors?" + +It might seem highly presumptuous for me, at this early date, to lay +claim to them, but I beg leave to enroll myself among the list of +honorable candidates, and I cheerfully submit my pretensions to the +suffrages of all intelligent keepers of bees. + +In the chapter on Requisites, I have spoken of the ravages of the mouse, +and have there described the way in which my hives are guarded against +its intrusion. That some kinds of birds are fond of bees, every Apiarian +knows, to his cost; still, I cannot advise that any should, on this +account, be destroyed. It has been stated to me, by an intelligent +observer, that the King-bird, which devours them by scores, confines +himself always, in the season of drones, to those fat and lazy gentlemen +of leisure. I fear however, that this, as the children say, "is too good +news to be true," and that not only the industrious portion of the busy +community fall a prey to his fatal snap, but that the luxurious gourmand +can distinguish perfectly well, between an empty bee in search of food, +and one which is returning full laden to its fragrant home, and whose +honey-bag sweetens the delicious tit-bit, as the crushed unfortunate, +all ready sugared, glides daintily down his voracious maw! Still, I have +never yet been willing to destroy a bird, because of its fondness for +bees; and I advise all lovers of bees to have nothing to do with such +foolish practices. Unless we can check among our people, the stupid, as +well as inhuman custom of destroying so wantonly, on any pretence, and +often on none at all, the insectivorous birds, we shall soon, not only +be deprived of their aerial melody, among the leafy branches, but shall +lament over the ever increasing horde of destructive insects, which +ravage our fields and desolate our orchards, and from whose successful +inroads, nothing but the birds can ever protect us. Think of it, ye who +can enjoy no music made by these winged choristers of the skies, except +that of their agonizing screams, as they fall before your well-aimed +weapons, and flutter out their innocent lives before your heartless +gaze! Drive away as fast and as far as you please, from your cruel +premises, all the little birds that you cannot destroy, and then find, +if you can, those who will sympathize with you, when the caterpillars +weave their destroying webs over your leafless trees, and insects of all +kinds riot in glee, upon your blasted harvests! I hope that such a +healthy public opinion will soon prevail, that the man or boy who is +armed with a gun to shoot the little birds, will be scouted from all +humane and civilized society, and if he should be caught about such +contemptible business, will be too much ashamed even to look an honest +man in the face. I shall close what I have to say about the birds, with +the following beautiful translation of an old Greek poet's address to +the swallow. + + "Attic maiden, honey fed, + Chirping warbler, bear'st away, + Thou the busy buzzing bee, + To thy callow brood a prey? + Warbler, thou a warbler seize? + Winged, one with lovely wings? + Guest thyself, by Summer brought, + Yellow guest whom Summer brings? + Wilt not quickly let it drop? + 'Tis not fair, indeed 'tis wrong, + That the ceaseless warbler should + Die by mouth of ceaseless song." + _Merivale's Translation._ + +I have not the space to speak at length of the other enemies of the +honied race: nor indeed is it at all necessary. If the Apiarian only +succeeds in keeping his stocks strong, they will be their own best +protectors, and if he does not succeed in this, they would be of little +value, even if they had no enemies ever vigilant, to watch for their +halting. Nations which are both rich and feeble, invite attack, as well +as unfit themselves for vigorous resistance. Just so with the +commonwealth of bees. Unless amply guarded by thousands ready to die in +its defence, it is ever liable to fall a prey to some one of its many +enemies, which are all agreed in this one opinion, at least, that stolen +honey is much more sweet than the slow accumulations of patient +industry. + +In the Chapters on Protection and Ventilation, I have spoken of the +fatal effects of dysentery. This disease can always be prevented by +proper caution on the part of the bee-keeper. Let him be careful not to +feed his bees, late in the season, on liquid honey, (see Chapter on +Feeding,) and let him keep them in dry and thoroughly protected hives. +If his situation is at all damp, and there is danger that water will +settle under his Protector, let him build it entirely _above ground_; +otherwise it may be as bad as a damp cellar, and incomparably worse than +nothing at all. + +There is one disease, called by the Germans, "foul brood," of which I +know nothing, by my own observation, but which is, of all others, the +most fatal in its effects. The brood appear to die in the cells, after +they are sealed over by the bees, and the stench from their decaying +bodies infects the hive, and seems to paralyze the bees. This disease +is, in two instances, attributed by Dzierzon, to feeding bees on +"American Honey," or, as we call it, Southern Honey, which is brought +from Cuba, and other West India Islands. That such honey is not +ordinarily poisonous, is well known: probably that used by him, was +taken from diseased colonies. It is well known that if any honey or +combs are taken from a hive in which this pestilence is raging, it will +most surely infect the colonies to which they may be given. No foreign +honey ought therefore to be extensively used, until its quality has been +thoroughly tested. The extreme violence of this disease may be inferred +from the fact, that Dzierzon in one season, lost by it, between four and +five hundred colonies! As at present advised, if my colonies were +attacked by it, I should burn up the bees, combs, honey, frames, and +all, from every diseased hive; and then thoroughly scald and smoke with +sulphur, all such hives, and replenish them with bees from a healthy +stock. + +There is a peculiar kind of dysentery which does not seem to affect a +whole colony, but confines its ravages to a small number of the bees. In +the early stages of this disease, those attacked are excessively +irritable, and will attempt to sting any one who comes near the hives. +If dissected, their stomachs are found to be already discolored by the +disease. In the latter stages of this complaint, they not only lose all +their irascibility, but seem very stupid, and may often be seen crawling +upon the ground unable to fly. Their abdomens are now unnaturally +swollen, and of a much lighter color than usual, owing to their being +filled with a yellow matter exceedingly offensive to the smell. I have +not yet ascertained the cause of this disease. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[21] Bevan. + +[22] Bevan. + +[23] A bee, a few days after it is hatched, is as fully competent for +all its duties, as it ever will be, at any subsequent period of its +life. + +[24] Report on bees to the Essex County Agricultural Society, 1851. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +LOSS OF THE QUEEN. + + +That the queen of a hive is often lost, and that the ruin of the whole +colony soon follows, unless such a loss is seasonably remedied, are +facts which ought to be well known to every observing bee-keeper. + +Some queens appear to die of old age or disease, and at a time when +there are no worker-eggs, or larvae of a suitable age, to enable the bees +to supply their loss. It is evident, however, that no very large +proportion of the queens which perish, are lost under such +circumstances. Either the bees are aware of the approaching end of their +aged mother, and take seasonable precautions to rear a successor; or +else she dies very suddenly, so as to leave behind her, brood of a +suitable age. It is seldom that a queen in a hive that is strong in +numbers and stores, dies either at a period of the year when there is no +brood from which another can be reared, or when there are no drones to +impregnate the one reared in her place. In speaking of the age of bees, +it has already been stated that queens commonly die in their fourth +year, while none of the workers live to be a year old. Not only is the +queen much longer lived than the other bees, but she seems to be +possessed of greater tenacity of life, so that when any disease +overtakes the colony, she is usually among the last to perish. By a most +admirable provision, their death ordinarily takes place under +circumstances the most favorable to their bereaved family. If it were +otherwise, the number of colonies which would annually perish, would be +very much greater than it now is; for as a number of superannuated +queens must die every year, many, or even most of them might die at a +season when their loss would necessarily involve the ruin of their whole +colony. In non-swarming hives, I have found cells in which queens were +reared, not to lead out a new swarm, but to supply the place of the old +one which had died in the hive. There are a few well authenticated +instances, in which a young queen has been matured before the death of +the old one, but after she had become quite aged and infirm. Still, +there are cases where old queens die, either so suddenly as to leave no +young brood behind them, or at a season when there are no drones to +impregnate the young queens. + +That queens occasionally live to such an age as to become incapable of +laying worker eggs, is now a well established fact. The seminal +reservoir sometimes becomes exhausted, before the queen dies of old age, +and as it is never replenished, (see p. 44,) she can only lay +unimpregnated eggs, or such as produce drones instead of workers. This +is an additional confirmation of the theory first propounded by +Dzierzon. I am indebted to Mr. Wagner for the following facts. "In the +Bienenzeitung, for August, 1852, Count Stosch gives us the case of a +colony examined by himself, with the aid of an experienced Apiarian, on +the 14th of April, previous. The worker-brood was then found to be +healthy. In May following, the bees worked industriously, and built new +comb. Soon afterwards they ceased to build, and appeared dispirited; and +when, in the beginning of June, he examined the colony again, he found +plenty of drone brood in worker cells! The queen appeared weak and +languid. He confined her in a queen cage, and left her in the hive. The +bees clustered around the cage; but next morning the queen was found to +be dead. Here we seem to have the commencement, progress and termination +of super-annuation, all in the space of five or six weeks." + +In the Spring of the year, as soon as the bees begin to fly, if their +motions are carefully watched, the Apiarian may even in the common +hives, generally ascertain from their actions, whether they are in +possession of a fertile queen. If they are seen to bring in bee-bread +with great eagerness, it follows, as a matter of course, that they have +brood, and are anxious to obtain fresh food for its nourishment. If any +hive does not industriously gather pollen, or accept the rye flour upon +which the others are feasting, then there is an almost absolute +certainty either that it has not a queen, or that she is not fertile, or +that the hive is seriously infested with worms, or that it is on the +very verge of starvation. An experienced eye will decide upon the +queenlessness, (to use the German term,) of a hive, from the restless +appearance of the bees. At this period of the year when they first +realize the magnitude of their loss, and before they have become in a +manner either reconciled to it, or indifferent to their fate, they roam +in an inquiring manner, in and out of the hive, and over its outside as +well as inside, and plainly manifest that something calamitous has +befallen them. Often those that return from the fields, instead of +entering the hive with that dispatchful haste so characteristic of a bee +returning well stored to a prosperous home, linger about the entrance +with an idle and very dissatisfied appearance, and the colony is +restless, long after the other stocks are quiet. Their home, like that +of the man who is cursed rather than blessed in his domestic relations, +is a melancholy place: and they only enter it with reluctant and +slow-moving steps! + +If I could address a friendly word of advice to every married woman, I +would say, "Do all that you can to make your husband's home a place of +attraction. When absent from it, let his heart glow at the very thought +of returning to its dear enjoyments; and let his countenance +involuntarily put on a more cheerful look, and his joy-quickened steps +proclaim, as he is approaching, that he feels in his "heart of hearts," +that "there is no place like home." Let her whom he has chosen as a wife +and companion, be the happy and honored Queen in his cheerful +habitation: let her be the center and soul about which his best +affections shall ever revolve. I know that there are brutes in the guise +of men, upon whom all the winning attractions of a prudent, virtuous +wife, make little or no impression. Alas that it should be so! but who +can tell how many, even of the most hopeless cases, have been saved for +two worlds, by a union with a virtuous woman, in whose "tongue was the +law of kindness," and of whom it could be said, "the heart of her +husband doth safely trust in her," for "she will do him good and not +evil, all the days of her life." + +Said a man of large experience, "I scarcely know a woman who has an +intemperate husband, who did not either marry a man whose habits were +already bad, or who did not drive her husband to evil courses, (often +when such a calamitous result was the furthest possible from her +thoughts or wishes,) by making him feel that he had no happy home." +Think of it, ye who find that home is not full of dear delights, as well +to yourselves, as to your affectionate husbands! Try how much virtue +there may be in winning words and happy smiles, and the cheerful +discharge of household duties, and prove the utmost possible efficacy of +love and faith and prayer, before those words of fearful agony are +extorted from your despairing lips, + + "Anywhere, anywhere + Out of the world;" + +when amid tears and sighs of inexpressible agony, you settle down into +the heart-breaking conviction that you can have no home until you have +passed into that habitation not fashioned by human hands, or inhabited +by human hearts! + +Is there any husband who can resist all the sweet attractions of a +lovely wife? who does not set a priceless value upon the very gem of his +life? + + "If such there be, go mark him well; + High though his titles, proud his fame, + Boundless his wealth as wish can claim, + The wretch, concentered all in self, + Living, shall forfeit fair renown, + And doubly dying, shall go down + To the vile dust from whence he sprung + Unwept, unhonored, and unsung."--_Scott._ + +I trust my readers, remembering my profession, will pardon this long +digression to which I felt myself irresistibly impelled. + +When the bees commence their work in the Spring, they give, as +previously stated, reliable evidence either that all is well, or that +ruin lurks within. In the common hives however, it is not always easy to +decide upon their real condition. The queenless ones do not, in all +cases, disclose their misfortune, any more than all unhappy husbands or +wives see fit to proclaim the full extent of their domestic +wretchedness: there is a vast amount of _seeming_ even in the little +world of the bee-hive. One great advantage in my mode of construction is +that I am never obliged to leave anything to vague conjecture; but I +can, in a few moments, open the interior, and know precisely what is the +real condition of the bees. + +On one occasion I found that a colony which had been queenless for a +considerable time, utterly refused to raise another, and devoured all +the eggs which were given to them for that purpose! This colony was +afterwards supplied with an unimpregnated queen, but they refused to +accept of her, and attempted at once to smother her to death. I then +gave them a fertile queen, but she met with no better treatment. Facts +of a similar kind have been noticed, by other observers: thus it seems +that bees may not only become reconciled, as it were, to living without +a mother, but may pass into such an unnatural state as not only to +decline to provide themselves with another, but actually to refuse to +accept of one by whose agency they might be rescued from impending ruin! +Before expressing too much astonishment at such foolish conduct, let us +seriously inquire if it has not often an exact parallel in our obstinate +rejection of the provisions which God has made in the Gospel for our +moral and religious welfare. + +If a colony which refuses to rear another queen, has a range of comb +given to it containing maturing brood, these poor motherless innocents, +as soon as they are able to work, perceive their loss, and will proceed +at once, if they have the means, to supply it! They have not yet grown +so hardened by habit to unnatural and ruinous courses, as not to feel +that something absolutely indispensable to their safety is wanting in +their hive. + +A word to the young who may read this treatise. Although enjoined to +"remember your Creator in the days of your youth," you are constantly +tempted to neglect your religious duties, and to procrastinate their +performance until some more convenient season. Like the old bees in a +hive without a queen, that seek only their present enjoyment, forgetful +of the ruin which must surely overtake them, so you may find that when +manhood and old age arrive, you will have even less disposition to love +and serve the Lord than you now have. The fetters which bind you to +sinful habits will have strengthened with years until you find both the +inclination and ability to break them continually decreasing. + +In the Spring, as soon as the weather becomes sufficiently pleasant, I +carefully examine all the hives which do not present the most +unmistakable evidences of health and vigor. If a queen is wanting, I at +once, if the colony is small, break it up, and add the bees to another +stock. If however, the colony should be very large, I sometimes join to +it one of my small stocks which has a healthy queen. It may be asked why +not supply the queenless stock with the means of raising another? Simply +because there would be no drones to impregnate her, in season; and the +whole operation would therefore result in an entire failure. Why not +endeavor then to preserve it, until the season for drones approaches, +and then give it a queen? Because it is in danger of being robbed or +destroyed by the moth, while the bees, if added to another stock, can do +me far more service than they could, if left to idleness in their old +hive. It must be remembered that I am not like the bee-keepers on the +old plan, extremely anxious to save every colony, however feeble: as I +can, at the proper season, form as many as I want, and with far less +trouble and expense than are required to make anything out of such +discouraged stocks. + +If any of my colonies are found to be feeble in the Spring, but yet in +possession of a healthy queen, I help them to combs containing maturing +brood, in the manner already described. In short, I ascertain, at the +opening of the season, the exact condition of all my stock, and apply +such remedies as I find to be needed, giving to some, maturing brood, to +others honey, and breaking up all whose condition appears to admit of +no remedy. If however, the bees have not been multiplied too rapidly, +and proper care was taken to winter none but strong stocks, they will +need but little assistance in the Spring; and nearly all of them will +show indubitable signs of health and vigor. + +I strongly recommend every prudent bee-keeper who uses my hives, to give +them all a most thorough over-hauling and cleansing, soon after the bees +begin to work in the Spring. The bees of any stock may, with their +combs, &c., all be transferred, in a few minutes, to a clean hive; and +their hive, after being thoroughly cleansed, may be used for another +transferred stock; and in this way, with one spare hive, the bees may +all be lodged in habitations from which every speck of dirt has been +removed. They will thus have hives which can by no possibility, harbor +any of the eggs, or larvae of the moth, and which may be made perfectly +free from the least smell of must or mould or anything offensive to the +delicate senses of the bees. In making this thorough cleansing of all +the hives, the Apiarian will necessarily gain an exact knowledge of the +true condition of each stock, and will know which have spare honey, and +which require food: in short, which are in need of help in any respect, +and which have the requisite strength to lend a helping hand to others. +If any hive needs repairing, it may be put into perfect order, before it +is used again. Hives managed in this fashion, if the roofs and outside +covers are occasionally painted anew, will last for generations, and +will be found, on the score of cheapness, preferable, in the long run, +to any other kind. But I ought to beg pardon of the Genius of American +cheapness, who so kindly presides over the making of most of our +manufactures, and under whose shrewd tuition we are fast beginning to +believe that cheapness in the first cost of an article, is the main +point to which our attention should be directed! + +Let us to be sure, save all that we can in the cost of construction, by +the greatest economy in the use of materials; let us compel every minute +to yield the greatest possible practical result, by the employment of +the most skillful workmen and the most ingenious machinery; but do let +us learn that slighting an article, so as to get up a mere sham, having +all the appearance of reality, with none of the substance, is the +poorest possible kind of pretended economy; to say nothing of the +tendency of such a system, to encourage in all the pursuits of life, the +narrow and selfish policy of doing nothing thoroughly, but everything +with reference to mere outside show, or the urgent necessities of the +present moment. + +We have yet to describe under what circumstances, by far the larger +proportion of hives, become queenless. After the first swarm has gone +out with the old mother, then both the parent stock and all the +subsequent swarms, will have each a young queen which must always leave +the hive in order to be impregnated. It sometimes happens that the wings +of the young female are, from her birth, so imperfect that she either +refuses to sally out, or is unable to return to the hive, if she +ventures abroad. In either case, the old stock must, if left to its own +resources, speedily perish. Queens, in their contests with each other, +are sometimes so much crippled as to unfit them for flight, and +sometimes they are disabled by the rude treatment of the bees, who +insist on driving them away from the royal cells. The great majority, +however, of queens which are lost, perish when they leave the hive in +search of the drones. Their _extra size_ and _slower flight_ make them a +most tempting prey to the birds, ever on the watch in the vicinity of +the hives; and many in this way, perish. Others are destroyed by sudden +gusts of winds, which dash them against some hard object, or blow them +into the water; for queens are by no means, exempt from the misfortunes +common to the humblest of their race. Very frequently, in spite of all +their caution in noticing the position and appearance of their +habitation, before they left it, they make a fatal mistake on their +return, and are imprisoned and destroyed as they attempt to enter the +wrong hive. The precautions which should be used, to prevent such a +calamity, have been already described. If these are neglected, those who +build their hives of uniform size and appearance, will find themselves +losing many more queens than the person who uses the old-fashioned +boxes, hardly any two of which look just alike. + +The bees seem to me, to have, as it were, an instinctive perception of +the dangers which await their new queen when she makes her excursion in +search of the drones, and often gather around her, and confine her, as +though they could not bear to have her leave! I have repeatedly noticed +them doing this, although I cannot affirm with positive certainty, why +they do it. They are usually excessively agitated when the queen leaves, +and often exhibit all the appearance of swarming. If the queen of an old +stock is lost in this way, her colony will gradually dwindle away. If +the queen of an after-swarm fails to return, the bees very speedily come +to nothing, if they remain in the hive; as a general rule, however, they +soon leave and attempt to add themselves to other colonies. + +It would be highly interesting to ascertain in what way the bees become +informed of the loss of their queen. When she is taken from them under +such circumstances as to excite the whole colony, then we can easily see +how they find out that she is gone; for when greatly excited, they +always seek first to assure themselves of her safety; just as a tender +mother in time of danger forgets herself in her anxiety for her +helpless children! If however, the queen is carefully removed, so that +the colony is not disturbed, it is sometimes a day, or even more, before +they realize their loss. How do they first become aware of it? Perhaps +some dutiful bee feels that it is a long time since it has seen its +mother, and anxious to embrace her, makes diligent search for her +through the hive! The intelligence that she cannot anywhere be found, is +soon noised abroad, and the whole community are at once alarmed. At such +times, instead of calmly conversing by merely touching each other's +antennae, they may be seen violently striking as it were, their antennae +together, and by the most impassioned demonstrations manifesting their +agony and despair. I once removed a queen in such a manner as to cause +the bees to take wing and fill the air in search of her. She was +returned in a few minutes, and yet, on examining the colony, two days +after, I found that they had actually commenced the building of royal +cells, in order to raise another! The queen was unhurt and the cells +were not tenanted. Was this work begun by some that refused for a long +time to believe the others, when told that she was safe? Or was it begun +from the apprehension that she might again be removed? + +Every colony which has a new queen, should be watched, in order that the +Apiarian may be seasonably apprised of her loss. The restless conduct of +the bees, on the evening of the day that she fails to return, will at +once inform the experienced bee-master of the accident which has +befallen his hive. If the bees cannot be supplied with another queen, or +with the means of raising one, if an old swarm it must be broken up, and +the bees added to another stock; if a new swarm it must always be broken +up, unless it can be supplied with a queen nearly mature, or else they +will build combs unfit for the rearing of workers. By the use of my +movable comb hives, all these operations can be easily performed. If any +hives have lost their young queen, they may be supplied, either with the +means of raising another, or with sealed queens from other hives, or, +(if the plan is found to answer,) with mature ones from the "Nursery." + +As a matter of precaution, I generally give to all my stocks that are +raising young queens, or which have unimpregnated ones, a range of comb +containing brood and eggs, so that they may, in case of any accident to +their queen, proceed at once, to supply their loss. In this way, I +prevent them from being so dissatisfied as to leave the hive. + +About a week after the young queens have hatched, I examine all the +hives which contain them, lifting out usually, some of the largest +combs, and those which ought to contain brood. If I find a comb which +has eggs or larvae, I am satisfied that they have a fertile queen, and +shut up the hive; unless I wish to find her, in order to deprive her of +her wings, (see p. 203.) I can thus often satisfy myself in one or two +minutes. If no brood is found, I suspect that the queen has been lost, +or that she has some defect which has prevented her from leaving the +hive. If the brood-comb which I put into the hive, contains any +newly-formed royal cells, I _know_, without any further examination, +that the queen has been lost. If the weather has been unfavorable, or +the colony is quite weak, the young queen is sometimes not impregnated +as early as usual, and an allowance of a few days must be made on this +account. If the weather is favorable, and the colony a good one, the +queen usually leaves, the day after she finds herself mistress of a +family. In about two days more, she begins to lay her eggs. By waiting +about a week before the examination is made, ample allowance, in most +cases, is made. + +Early in the month of September, I examine carefully all my hives, so as +to see that in every respect, they are in suitable condition for +wintering. If any need feeding, (See Chapter on Feeding,) they are fed +at this time. If any have more vacant room than they ought to have, I +partition off that part of the hive which they do not need. I always +expect to find some brood in every healthy hive at this time, and if in +any hive I find none, and ascertain that it is queenless, I either at +once break it up, or if it is strong in numbers supply it with a queen, +by adding to it some feebler stock. If bees, however, are properly +attended to, at the season when their young queens are impregnated, it +will be a very rare occurrence to find a queenless colony in the Fall. + +The practical bee-keeper without further directions, will readily +perceive how any operation, which in the common hives, is performed with +difficulty, if it can be performed at all, is reduced to simplicity and +certainty, by the control of the combs. If however, bee-keepers will be +negligent and ignorant, no hive can possible make them very successful. +If they belong to the fraternity of "no eyes," who have kept bees all +their lives, and do not know that there is a queen, they will probably +derive no special pleasure from being compelled to believe what they +have always derided as humbug or book-knowledge; although I have seen +some bee-keepers very intelligent on most matters, who never seem to +have learned the first rudiments in the natural history of the bee. +Those who cannot, or will not learn for themselves, or who have not the +leisure or disposition to manage their own bees, may yet with my hives, +entrust their care to suitable persons who may, at the proper time, +attend to all their wants. Practical gardeners may find the management +of bees for their employers, to be quite a lucrative part of their +profession. With but little extra labor and with great certainty, they +may, from time to time, do all that the prosperity of the bees require; +carefully over-hauling them in the Spring, making new colonies, at the +suitable period, if any are wanted, giving them their surplus honey +receptacles, and removing them when full; and on the approach of Winter, +putting all the colonies into proper condition, to resist its rigors. +The business of the practical Apiarian, and that of the Gardener, seem +very naturally to go together, and one great advantage of my hive and +mode of management is the ease with which they may be successfully +united. + +Some Apiarians after all that has been said, may still have doubts +whether the young queens leave the hive for impregnation; or may think +that the old ones occasionally leave, even when they do not go out to +lead a swarm. Such persons may, if they choose, easily convince +themselves by the following experiments of the accuracy of my +statements. About a week after hiving a second swarm, or after the birth +of a young queen in a hive, and after she has begun to lay eggs, open +the hive and remove her: carry her a few rods in front of the Apiary, +and let her fly; she will at once enter her own hive and thus show that +she has previously left it. If, however, an old queen is removed a short +time after hiving the swarm, she will not be able to distinguish her own +hive from any other, and will thus show that she has not left it, since +the swarm was hived. If this experiment is performed upon an old queen, +in a hive in which she was put the year before, when unimpregnated, the +same result will follow; for as she never left it after that event, she +will have lost all recollection of its relative position in the Apiary. +The first of these experiments has been suggested by Dzierzon. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +UNION OF STOCKS. TRANSFERRING BEES FROM THE COMMON HIVE. STARTING AN +APIARY. + + +Frequent allusions have been made to the importance, for various +reasons, of breaking up stocks and uniting them to other families in the +Apiary. Colonies which in the early Spring, are found to be queenless, +ought at once to be managed in this way, for even if not speedily +destroyed by their enemies, they are only consumers of the stores which +they gathered in their happier days. The same treatment should also be +extended to all that in the Fall, are found to be in a similar +condition. + +As small colonies, even though possessed of a healthy queen, are never +able to winter as advantageously as large ones, the bees from several +such colonies ought to be put together, to enable them by keeping up the +necessary supply of heat, to survive the Winter on a smaller supply of +food. A certain quantity of animal heat must be maintained by bees, in +order to live at all, and if their numbers are too small, they can only +keep it up, by eating more than they would otherwise require. A small +swarm will thus not unfrequently, consume as much honey as one +containing two or three times as many bees. These are facts which have +been most thoroughly tested on a very large scale. If a hundred persons +are required to occupy, with comfort, a church that is capable of +accommodating a thousand, as much fuel or even more will be required, +to warm the small number as the large one. + +If the stocks which are to be wintered, are in the common hives, the +condemned ones must be drummed out of their old encampment, sprinkled +with sugar-water scented with peppermint, or some other pleasant odor, +and added to the others, (see p. 212.) The colonies which are to be +united ought if possible, to stand side by side, some time before this +process is attempted. This can almost always be effected by a little +management, for while it would not be safe to move a colony all at once, +even a few yards to the right or left of the line of flight in which +the bees sally out to the fields, (especially if other hives are near,) +they may be moved a slight distance one day, and a little more the next, +and so on, until we have them at last in the desired place. + +As persons may sometimes be obliged to move their Apiaries, during the +working season, I will here describe the way by which I was able to +accomplish such a removal, so as to benefit, instead of injuring my +bees. Selecting a pleasant day, I moved, early in the morning, a portion +of my very best stocks. A considerable number of bees from these +colonies, returned in the course of the day to the familiar spot; after +flying about for some time, in search of their hives, (if the weather +had been chilly many of them would have perished,) they at length +entered those standing next to their old homes. More of the strongest +were removed, on the next pleasant day: and this process was repeated, +until at last only one hive was left in the old Apiary. This was then +removed, and only a few bees returned to the old spot. I thus lost no +more bees, in moving a number of hives, than I should have lost in +moving one: and I conducted the process in such a way, as to strengthen +some of my feeble stocks, instead of very seriously diminishing their +scanty numbers. I have known the most serious losses to result from the +removal of an Apiary, conducted in the manner in which a change of +location is usually made. + +The process of uniting colonies in my hive, is exceedingly simple. The +combs may, after the two colonies are sprinkled, be at once lifted out +from the one which is to be broken up, and put with all the bees upon +them, directly into the other hive. If the Apiarian judges it best to +save any of his very small colonies, he can confine them to one half or +one third of the central part of the hive, and fill the two empty ends +with straw, shavings, or any good non-conductor. Any one of my frames, +can, in a few minutes, by having tacked to it a thin piece of board or +paste-board, or even an old newspaper, be fashioned into a divider, +which will answer all practical purposes, and if it is stuffed with +cotton waste, &c., it will keep the bees uncommonly warm. If a _very_ +small colony is to be preserved over Winter, the queen must be confined, +in the Fall, in a queen cage, to prevent the colony from deserting the +hive. + +I shall now show how the bee-keeper who wishes only to keep a given +number of stocks, may do so, and yet secure from that number the largest +quantity of surplus honey. + +If his bees are kept in non-swarming hives, he may undoubtedly, reap a +bounteous harvest from the avails of their industry. I do not however, +recommend this mode of bee-keeping as the best: still there are many so +situated that it may be much the best for them. Such persons, by using +my hives, can pursue the non-swarming plan to the best advantage. They +can by taking off the wings of their queens, be sure that their colonies +will not suddenly leave them; a casualty to which all other non-swarming +hives are sometimes liable; and by taking away the honey in small +quantities, they will always give the bees plenty of spare room for +storage, and yet avoid discouraging them, as is so often done when large +boxes are taken from them. (See Chapter on Honey.) + +By removing from time to time, the old queens, the colonies can all be +kept in possession of queens, at the height of their fertility, and in +this way a very serious objection to the non-swarming, or as it is +frequently called, the storifying system, may be avoided. If at any +time, new colonies are wanted, they may be made in the manner already +described. In districts where the honey harvest is of very short +continuance, the non-swarming plan may be found to yield the largest +quantity of honey, and in case the season should prove unfavorable for +the gathering of honey, it will usually secure the largest returns from +a given number of stocks. I therefore prefer to keep a considerable +number of my colonies, on the storifying plan, and am confident of +securing from them, a good yield of honey, even in the most unfavorable +seasons. If bee-keepers will pursue the same system, they will not only +be on the safe side, but will be able to determine which method it will +be best for them to adopt, in order to make the most from their bees. As +a general rule, the Apiarian who increases the number of his colonies, +one third in a season, making one very powerful swarm from two, (See p. +211,) will have more surplus honey from the three, than he could have +obtained from the two, to say nothing of the value of his new swarms. +If, at the approach of Winter, he wishes to reduce his stocks down to +the Spring number, he may unite them in the manner described, +appropriating all the good honey of those which he breaks up, and saving +all their empty comb for the new colonies of the next season. The bees +in the doubled stock will winter most admirably; will consume but +little honey, in proportion to their numbers, and will be in most +excellent condition when the Spring opens. It must not, however, be +forgotten, that although they eat comparatively little in the Winter, +they must be well supplied in the Spring; as they will then have a very +large number of mouths to feed, to say nothing of the thousands of young +bees bred in the hive. If any old-fashioned bee-keeper wishes, he can +thus pursue the old plan, with only this modification; that he preserves +the lives of the bees in the hives which he wishes to take up; secures +his honey without any fumes of sulphur, and saves the empty comb to make +it worth nearly ten times as much to himself, as it would be, if melted +into wax. Let no humane bee-keeper ever feel that there is the slightest +necessity for so managing his bees as to make the comparison of +Shakespeare always apposite: + + "When like the Bee, tolling from every flower + The virtuous sweets; + Our thighs packed with wax, our mouths, with honey, + We bring it to the hive; and like the bees, + Are murdered for our pains." + +While I am an advocate for breaking up all stocks which cannot be +wintered advantageously, I never advise that a single bee should be +killed. Self interest and Christianity alike forbid the unnecessary +sacrifice. + + +TRANSFERRING BEES FROM THE COMMON HIVE TO THE MOVABLE COMB HIVE. + +The construction of my hive is such, as to permit me to transfer bees +from the common hives, during all the season that the weather is warm +enough to permit them to fly; and yet to be able to guarantee that they +will receive no serious damage by the change. + +On the 10th of November, 1852, in the latitude of Northern +Massachusetts, I transferred a colony which wintered in good health, and +which now, May, 1853, promises to make an excellent stock. The day was +warm, but after the operation was completed, the weather suddenly became +cold, and as the bees were not able to leave the hive in order to obtain +the water necessary for repairing their comb, they were supplied with +that indispensable article. They went to work _very_ busily, and in a +short time mended up their combs and attached them firmly to the frames. + +The transfer may be made of any healthy colony, and if they are strong +in numbers, and the hive is well provisioned, and the weather is not too +cool when the operation is attempted, they will scarcely feel the +change. If the weather should be too chilly, it will be found almost +impossible to make a colony leave its old hive, and if the combs are cut +out, and the bees removed upon them, large numbers of them will take +wing, and becoming chilled, will be unable to join their companions, and +so will perish. + +The process of transferring bees to my hives, is performed as follows. +Let the old hive be shut up and well drummed[25] and the bees, if +possible, be driven into an upper box. If they will not leave the hive +of their own accord, they will fill themselves, and when it is +ascertained that they are determined, if they can help it, not to be +tenants at will, the upper box must be removed, and the bees gently +sprinkled, so that they may all be sure to have nothing done to them on +an empty stomach. If possible, an end of the old box parallel with the +combs, must be pried off, so that they may be easily cut out. An old +hive or box should stand upon a sheet, in place of the removed stock, +and as fast as a comb is cut out, the bees should be shaken from it, +upon the sheet; a wing or anything soft, will often be of service in +brushing off the bees. Remember that they must not be hurt. If the +weather is so pleasant that many bees from other hives, are on the wing, +great care must be taken to prevent them from robbing. As fast therefore +as the bees are shaken from the combs, these should be put into an empty +hive or box, and covered with a cloth, or set in some place where they +will not be disturbed. As soon as all the combs have been removed, the +Apiarian should proceed to select and arrange them for his new hive. If +the transfer is made late in the season, care must be taken, of course, +to give the bees combs containing a generous allowance of honey for +their winter supplies; together with such combs as have brood, or are +best fitted for the rearing of workers. All coarse combs except such as +contain the honey which they need, should be rejected. Lay a frame upon +a piece of comb, and mark it so as to be able to cut it a trifle larger, +so that it will just _crowd_ into the frame, to remain in its place +until the bees have time to attach it. If the size of the combs is such, +that some of them cannot be cut so as to fit, then cut them to the best +advantage, and after putting them into the frames, wind some thread +around the upper and lower slats of the frame, so as to hold the combs +in their place, until the bees can fasten them. If however, any of the +combs which do not fit, have no honey in them, they may be fastened very +easily, by dipping their upper edges into melted rosin. When the +requisite number of combs are put into the frames, they should be placed +in the new hive, and slightly fastened on the rabbets with a mere touch +of paste, so as to hold them firmly in their places; this will be the +more necessary if the transfer is made so late in the season that the +bees cannot obtain the propolis necessary to fasten them, themselves. + +As soon as the hive is thus prepared, let the temporary box into which +the bees have been driven, be removed, and their new home put in its +place. Shake out now the bees from the box, upon a sheet in front of +this hive, and the work is done; bees, brood, honey, bee-bread, empty +combs and all, have been nicely moved, and without any more serious loss +than is often incurred by any other moving family, which has to mourn +over some broken crockery, or other damage done in the necessary work of +establishing themselves in a new home! If this operation is performed at +a season of the year when there is much brood in the hive, and when the +weather is cool, care must be taken not to expose the brood, so that it +may become fatally chilled. + +The best time for performing it, is late in the Fall, when there is but +little brood in the hive; or about ten days after the voluntary or +forced departure of a first swarm from the old stock. By this time, the +brood left by the old queen, will all be sealed over, and old enough to +bear exposure, especially as the weather, at swarming time, is usually +quite warm. A temperature, not lower than 70 deg., will do them no harm, for +if exposed to such a temperature, they will hatch, even if taken from +the bees. + +I have spoken of the _best_ time for performing this operation. It may +be done at any season of the year, when the bees can fly without any +danger of being chilled, and I should not be afraid to attempt it, in +mid-winter, if the weather was as warm as it sometimes is. Let me here +earnestly caution all who keep bees, against meddling with them when the +weather is cool. Irreparable mischief is often done to them at such +times; they are tempted to fly, and thus perish from the cold, and +frequently they become so much excited, that they cannot retain their +faeces, but void them among the combs. If nothing worse ensues, they are +disturbed when they ought to be in almost death-like repose, and are +thus tempted to eat a much larger quantity of food than they would +otherwise have needed. Let the Apiarian remember that not a single +unnecessary motion should be required of a single bee: for all this, to +say nothing else, involves a foolish waste of food. (See p. 116.) + +In all operations involving the transferring of bees, it is exceedingly +desirable that the new hives to which they are transferred should be +put, as near as possible, where the old ones stood. If other colonies +are in close proximity, the bees may be tempted to enter the wrong +hives, if their position is changed only a little; they are almost sure +to do this if the others resemble more closely than the new one, their +former habitation. If will be often advisable, to transport to the +distance of one or two miles, the stocks which are to be transferred; so +that the operation may be performed to the best advantage. In a few +weeks they may be brought back to the Apiary. In hiving swarms, and +transferring stocks, care must be taken to prevent the bees from getting +mixed with those of other colonies. If this precaution is neglected many +bees will be lost by joining other stocks, where they may be kindly +welcomed, or may at once be put to death. It is exceedingly difficult, +to tell before hand, what kind of a reception strange bees will meet +with, from a colony which they attempt to join. In the working season +they are much more likely to be well received, than at any other time, +especially if they come loaded with honey: still new swarms full of +honey, that attempt to enter other hives, are often killed at once. If a +colony which has an unimpregnated queen seeks to unite with another +which has a fertile one, then almost as a matter of course they are +destroyed! If by moving their hive, or in any other way, bees are made +to enter a hive containing an unimpregnated queen, they will often +destroy her, if they came from a family which was in possession of a +fertile one! If any thing of this kind is ever attempted, the queen +ought first to be confined in a queen cage. If while attempting a +transfer of the bees to a new hive, I am apprehensive of robbers +attacking the combs, or am pressed for want of time, I put only such +combs as contain brood into the frames, and set the others in a safe +place. The bees are now at once allowed to enter their new hive, and the +other combs are given to them at a more convenient time. The whole +process of transferal need not occupy more than an hour, and in some +cases it can be done in fifteen minutes. If the weather is hot, the +combs must not be exposed at all to the heat of the sun. + +Until I had tested the feasibility of transferring bees from the old +hives, by means of my frames, I felt strongly opposed to any attempt to +dislodge them from their previous habitation. If they are transferred in +the usual way, it must be done when the combs are filled with brood; for +if delayed until late in the season, they will have no time to lay in a +store of provision against the Winter. Who can look without disgust, +upon the wanton destruction of thousands of their young, and the silly +waste of comb, which can be replaced only by the consumption of large +quantities of honey? In the great majority of such cases, the transfer, +unless made about the swarming season, and _previous_ to the issue of +the first swarm, will be an entire failure, and if made before, at best +only one colony is obtained, instead of the two, which are secured on my +plan. I never advise the transfer of a colony into _any_ hive, unless +their combs can be transferred with them, nor do I advise any except +practical Apiarians, to attempt to transfer them even to my hives. But +what if a colony is so old that its combs can only breed dwarfs? When I +find such a colony, I shall think it worth while to give specific +directions as to how it should be managed. The truth is, that of all the +many mistakes and impositions which have disgusted multitudes with the +very sound of "patent hive," none has been more fatal than the notion +that an old colony of bees could not be expected to prosper. Thousands +of the very best stocks have been wantonly sacrificed to this Chimera; +and so long as bee-keepers instead of studying the habits of the bee, +prefer to listen to the interested statements of ignorant, or +enthusiastic, or fraudulent persons, thousands more will suffer the same +fate. As to old stocks, the prejudice against them is just as foolish as +the silly notions of some who imagine that a woman is growing old, long +before she has reached her prime. Many a man of mature years who has +married a girl or a child, instead of a woman, has often had both time +enough, and cause enough to lament his folly. + +It cannot be too strongly urged upon all who keep bees, either for love +or for money, to be exceedingly cautious in trying any new hive, or new +system of management. If you are ever so well satisfied that it will +answer all your expectations, enter upon it, at first, only on a small +scale; then, if it fulfills all its promises, or if _you_ can make it do +so, you may safely adopt it: at all events, you will not have to mourn +over large sums of money spent for nothing, and numerous powerful +colonies entirely destroyed. "Let well enough alone," should, to a great +extent, be the motto of every prudent bee-keeper. There is, however, a +golden mean between that obstinate and stupid conservatism which tries +nothing new, and, of course, learns nothing new, and that craving after +mere novelty, and that rash experimenting on an extravagant scale, which +is so characteristic of a large portion of our American people. It would +be difficult to find a better maxim than that which is ascribed to +David Crockett; "_Be sure you're right, then go ahead._" + +What old bee-keeper has not had abundant proof that stocks eight or ten +years old, or even older, are often among the very best, in his whole +Apiary, always healthy and swarming with almost unfailing regularity! I +have seen such hives, which for more than fifteen years, have scarcely +failed, a single season, to throw a powerful swarm. I have one now ten +years old, in admirable condition, which a few years ago, swarmed three +times, and the first swarm sent off a colony the same season. All these +swarms were so early that they gathered ample supplies of honey, and +wintered without any assistance! + +I have already spoken of old stocks flourishing for a long term of years +in hives of the roughest possible construction; and I shall now in +addition to my previous remarks assign a new reason for such unusual +prosperity. Without a single exception, I have found one or both of two +things to be true, of every such hive. Either it was a very large hive, +or else if not of unusual size, it contained a large quantity of +worker-comb. No hive which does not contain a good allowance of regular +comb of a size adapted to the rearing of workers, can ever in the nature +of things, prove a valuable stock hive. Many hives are so full of drone +combs that they breed a cloud of useless consumers, instead of the +thousands of industrious bees which ought to have occupied their places +in the combs. It frequently happens that when bees are put into a new +hive, the honey-harvest is at its height, and the bees finding it +difficult to build worker comb fast enough to hold their gatherings, are +tempted to construct long ranges of drone comb to receive their stores. +In this way, a hive often contains so small an allowance of +worker-comb, that it can never flourish, as the bees refuse to pull +down, and build over any of their old combs. All this can be easily +remedied by the use of the movable comb hive. + + +PROCURING BEES TO START AN APIARY. + +A person ignorant of bees, must depend in a very great measure, on the +honesty of those from whom he purchases them. Many stocks are not worth +accepting as a gift: like a horse or cow, incurably diseased, they will +only prove a bill of vexatious expense. If an inexperienced person +wishes to commence bee-keeping, I advise him, by all means, to purchase +a new swarm of bees. It ought to be a large and early one. Second swarms +and all late and small first swarms, ought never to be purchased by one +who has no experience in Apiarian pursuits. They are very apt, in such +hands, to prove a failure. If all bee-keepers were of that exemplary +class of whom the Country Curate speaks, (see p. 33,) it would be +perfectly safe to order a swarm of any one keeping a stock of bees. This +however, is so far from being true, that some offer for sale, old stocks +which are worthless, or impose on the ignorant, small first swarms, and +second and even third swarms, as prime swarms worth the very highest +market price. If the novice purchases an old stock, he will have the +perplexities of swarming, &c., the first season, and before he has +obtained any experience. As it may, however, be sometimes advisable that +this should be done, unless he makes his purchase of a man known to be +honest, he should select his stock himself, at a period of the day when +the bees, in early Spring, are busily engaged in plying their labors. He +should purchase a colony which is very actively engaged in carrying in +bee-bread, and which, from the large number going in and out, +undoubtedly contains a vigorous population. The hive should be removed +at an hour when the bees are all at home. It may be gently inverted, and +a coarse towel placed over it, and then tacked fast, when the bees are +shut in. Have a steady horse, and before you start, be very sure that it +is _impossible_ for any bees to get out. Place the hive on some straw, +in a wagon that has easy springs, and the bees will have plenty of air, +and the combs, from the inverted position of the hive, will not be so +liable to be jarred loose. Never purchase a hive which contains much +comb just built; for it will be next to impossible to move it, in warm +weather, without loosening the new combs. If a new swarm is purchased, +it may be brought home as follows. Furnish the person on whose premises +it is to be hived, with a box holding at the very least, a cubic foot of +clear contents. Let the bottom-board of this temporary hive be clamped +on both ends, the clamps being about two inches wider than the thickness +of the board, so that when the hive is set on the bottom-board, it will +slip in between the upper projections of the clamps, and be kept an inch +from the ground, by the lower ones, so that air may pass under it. There +should be a hole in the bottom-board, about four inches in diameter, and +two of the same size in the opposite sides of the box, covered with wire +gauze, so that the bees may have an abundance of air, when they are shut +up. Three parallel strips, an inch and a half wide, should be nailed, +about one third of the way from the top of the temporary hive, at equal +distances apart, so that the bees may have every opportunity to cluster; +a few pieces of old comb, fastened strongly in the top with melted +rosin, will make the bees like it all the better. A handle made of a +strip of leather, should be nailed on the top. Let the bees be hived in +this box, and kept well shaded; at evening, or very early next morning, +the temporary hive which was propped up, when the bees were put into +it, may be shut close to its bottom-board, and a few screws put into the +upper projection of the clamps, so as to run through into the ends of +the box. In such a box, bees may be safely transported, almost any +reasonable distance: care being taken not to handle them roughly, and +never to keep them in the sun, or in any place where they have not +sufficient air. If the box is too small, or sufficient ventilators are +not put in, or if the bees are exposed to too much heat, they will be +sure to suffocate. If the swarm is unusually large, and the weather +excessively warm, they ought to be moved at night. Unless great care is +taken in moving bees, in very hot weather, they will be almost sure to +perish; therefore always be _certain_ that they have an abundance of +air. If they appear to be suffering for want of it, especially if they +begin to fall down from the cluster, and to lie in heaps on the +bottom-board, they should immediately be carried into a field or any +convenient place, and at once be allowed to fly: in such a case they +cannot be safely moved again, until towards night. This will never be +necessary if the box is large enough, and suitably ventilated. + +I have frequently made a box for transporting new swarms, out of an old +tea-chest. When a new swarm is brought in this way to its intended home, +the bottom-board may be unscrewed, and the bees transferred at once, to +the new hive; (See p. 168.) In some cases, it may be advisable to send +away the new hive. In this case, if one of my hives is used, the spare +honey-board should be screwed down, and all the holes carefully stopped, +except two or three which ought to have some ventilators tacked over +them: the frames should be fastened with a little paste, so that they +will not start from their place, and after the bees are hived, the +blocks which close the entrance should be screwed down to their place, +keeping them however, a trifle less than an eighth of an inch from the +entrance, so as to give the bees all the air which they need. I very +much prefer sending a box for the bees: one person can easily carry two +such boxes, each with a swarm of bees; and if he chooses to fasten them +to two poles, or to a very large hoop, he may carry four, or even more. + +If the Apiarian wishes, to be sure the first season, of getting some +honey from his bees, he will do well to procure two good swarms, and put +them both into one hive. (See p. 213.) To those who do not object to the +extra expense, I strongly recommend this course. Not unfrequently, they +will in a good season, obtain in spare honey from their doubled swarm, +an ample equivalent for its increased cost: at all events, such a +powerful swarm lays the foundations of a flourishing stock, which seldom +fails to answer all the reasonable expectations of its owner. If the +Apiary is commenced with swarms of the current season, and they have an +abundance of spare room in the upper boxes, there will be no swarming, +that season, and the beginner will have ample time to make himself +familiar with his bees, before being called to hive new swarms, or to +multiply colonies by artificial means. + +Let no inexperienced person commence bee-keeping on a large scale; very +few who do so, find it to their advantage, and the most of them not only +meet with heavy losses, but abandon the pursuit in disgust. By the use +of my hives, the bee-keeper can easily multiply very rapidly, the number +of his colonies, as soon as he finds, not merely that money can be made +by keeping bees, but _that he can make it_. While I am certain that more +money can be made by a careful and experienced bee-keeper in a good +situation, from a given sum invested in an Apiary, than from the same +money invested in any other branch of rural economy, I am equally +certain that there is none in which a careless or inexperienced person +would be more sure to find his outlay result in an almost entire loss. +An Apiary neglected or mismanaged, is far worse than a farm overgrown +with weeds, or exhausted by ignorant tillage: for the land is still +there, and may, by prudent management, soon be made again to blossom +like the rose; but the bees, when once destroyed, can never be brought +back to life, unless the poetic fables of the Mantuan Bard, can be +accepted as the legitimate results of actual experience, and swarms of +bees, instead of clouds of filthy flies, can once more be obtained from +the carcases of decaying animals! I have seen an old medical work in +which Virgil's method of obtaining colonies of bees from the putrid body +of a cow slain for this special purpose, is not only credited, but +minutely described. + +A large book would hardly suffice to set forth all the superstitions +connected with bees. I will refer to one which is very common and which +has often made a deep impression upon many minds. When any member of a +family dies, the bees are believed to be aware of what has happened, and +the hives are by some dressed in mourning, to pacify their sorrowing +occupants! Some persons imagine that if this is not done, the bees will +never afterwards prosper, while others assert, that the bees often take +their loss so much to heart, as to alight upon the coffin whenever it is +exposed! An intelligent clergyman on reading the sheets of this work, +stated to me that he had always refused to credit this latter fact, +until present at a funeral where the bees gathered in such large numbers +upon the coffin, as soon as it was brought out from the house, as to +excite considerable alarm. Some years after this occurrence, being +engaged in varnishing a table, and finding that the bees came and lit +upon it, he was convinced that the love of varnish, (see p. 85,) instead +of sorrow or respect for the dead, was the occasion of their gathering +round the coffin! How many superstitions in which often intelligent +persons most firmly confide, might if all the facts were known, be as +easily explained. + +Before closing this Chapter, I must again strongly caution all +inexperienced bee-keepers, against attempting to transfer colonies from +an old hive. I am determined that if any find that they have made a +wanton sacrifice of their bees, they shall not impute their loss to my +directions. If they persist in making the attempt, let them, by all +means, either do it at break of day, before the bees of other hives will +be induced to commence robbing; or better still, let them do it not only +early in the morning, but let them carry the hive on which they intend +to operate, to a very considerable distance from the vicinity of the +other hives, and entirely out of sight of the Apiary. I prefer myself +this last plan, as I then run no risk of attracting other bees to steal +the honey, and acquire mischievous habits. + +The bee-keeper is very often reminded by the actions of his bees of some +of the worst traits in poor human nature. When a man begins to sink +under misfortunes, how many are ready not simply to abandon him, but to +pounce upon him like greedy harpies, dragging, if they can, the very bed +from under his wife and helpless children, and appropriating all which +by any kind of maneuvering, they can possibly transfer to their already +overgrown coffers! With much the same spirit, more pardonable to be sure +in an insect, the bees from other hives, will gather round the one which +is being broken up, and while the disconsolate owners are lamenting over +their ruined prospects, will, with all imaginable rapacity and glee, +bear off every drop which they can possibly seize. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[25] Instead of using sticks, I much prefer to make the drumming with +the open palms of my hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ROBBING. + + +Bees are exceedingly prone to rob each other, and unless suitable +precautions are used to prevent it, the Apiarian will often have cause +to mourn over the ruin of some of his most promising stocks. The moment +a departure is made from the old-fashioned mode of managing bees, the +liability to such misfortunes is increased, unless all operations are +performed by careful and well informed persons. + +Before describing the precautions which I successfully employ, to guard +my colonies from robbing each other, or from being robbed by bees from a +strange Apiary, I shall first explain under what circumstances they are +ordinarily disposed to plunder each other. Idleness is with bees, as +well as with men, a most fruitful mother of mischief. Hence, it is +almost always when they are doing nothing in the fields, that they are +tempted to increase their stores by dishonest courses. Bees are, +however, much more excusable than the lazy rogues of the human family; +for the _bees_ are idle, not because they are indisposed to work, but +because they can find nothing to do. Unless there is some gross +mismanagement, on the part of their owner, they seldom attempt to live +upon stolen sweets, when they have ample opportunity to reap the +abundant harvests of honest industry. In this chapter, I shall be +obliged, however much against my will, to acknowledge that some +branches of morals in my little friends, need very close watching, and +that they too often make the lowest sort of distinction, between "mine +and thine." Still I feel bound to show that when thus overcome by +temptation, it is almost always, under circumstances in which their +careless owner is by far the most to blame. + +In the Spring, as soon as the bees are able to fly abroad, "innatus +urget amor habendi," as Virgil has expressed it; that is, they begin to +feel the force of an innate love of honey-getting. They can find nothing +in the fields, and they begin at once, to see if they cannot appropriate +the spoils of some weaker hive. They are often impelled to this, by the +pressure of immediate want, or the salutary dread of approaching famine: +but truth obliges me to confess that not unfrequently some of the +strongest stocks, which have more than they would be able to consume, +even if they gathered nothing more for a whole year, are the most +anxious to prey upon the meager possessions of some feeble colony. Just +like some rich men who have more money than they can ever use, urged on +by the insatiable love of gain, "oppress the hireling in his wages, the +widow and the fatherless," and spin on all sides, their crafty webs to +entrap their poorer neighbors, who seldom escape from their toils, until +every dollar has been extracted from them, and as far as their worldly +goods are concerned, they resemble the skins and skeletons which line +the nest of some voracious old spider. + +When I have seen some powerful hive of the kind just described, +condemned by its owner, in the Fall, to the sulphur pit, or deprived +unexpectedly of its queen, its stores plundered, and its combs eaten up +by the worms, I have often thought of the threatenings which God has +denounced against those who make dishonest gains "their hope, and say +unto the fine gold, Thou art my confidence." + +In order to prevent colonies from attempting to rob, I always examine +them in the Spring, to ascertain that they have honey and are in +possession of a fertile queen. If they need food they are supplied with +it, (see Chapter on Feeding,) and if they are feeble or queenless, they +are managed according to the directions previously given. Bees seem to +have an instinctive perception of the weakness of a colony, and like the +bee-moth, they are almost certain to attack such stocks, especially when +they have no queen. Hence I can almost always tell that a colony is +queenless, by seeing robbers constantly attempting to force an entrance +into it. + +It requires some knowledge of the habits of bees, to tell from their +motions, whether they are flying about a strange hive with some evil +intent, or whether they belong to the hive before which they are +hovering. A little experience however, will soon enable us to +discriminate between the honest inhabitants of a hive, and the robbers +which so often mingle themselves among the crowd. There is an +unmistakable air of roguery about a thieving bee, which to the observing +Apiarian, proclaims the nature of his calling, just as truly as the +appearance of a pickpocket in a crowd, enables the experienced police +officer to distinguish him from the honest folks, on whom he intends to +exercise his skill. + +There is a certain sneaking look about a rogue of a bee, almost +indescribable, and yet perfectly obvious. It does not alight on the +hive, and boldly enter at once like an honest bee which is carrying home +its load. If they could only assume such an appearance of transparent +honesty, they would often be allowed by the unsuspecting door-keepers to +enter unquestioned, to see all the sights within, and to help themselves +to the very fat of the land. But there is a sort of nervous haste, and +guilty agitation in all their movements: they never alight boldly upon +the entrance board, or face the guards which watch the passage to the +hive; they know too well that if caught and overhauled by these trusty +guardians of the hive, their lives would hardly be worth insuring; hence +their anxiety to glide in, without touching one of the sentinels. If +detected, as they have no password to give, (having a strange smell,) +they are very speedily dealt with, according to their just deserts. If +they can only effect a secret entrance, those within take it for granted +that all is right, and seldom subject them to a close examination. + +Sometimes bees which have lost their way, are mistaken by the +inexperienced, for robbers; there is however, a most marked distinction +between the conduct of the two. The arrant rogue when caught, attempts +with might and main, to pull away from his executioners, while the poor +bewildered unfortunate shrinks into the smallest compass, like a cowed +dog, and submits to whatever fate his captors may see fit to award him. + +The class of dishonest bees which I have been describing, may be termed +the "Jerry Sneaks" of their profession, and after they have followed it +for some time, they lose all disposition for honest pursuits, and assume +a hang-dog sort of look, which is very peculiar. Constantly employed in +creeping into small holes, and daubing themselves with honey, they often +lose all the bright feathers and silky plumes which once so beautifully +adorned their bodies, and assume a smooth and almost black appearance; +just as the hat of the thievish loafer, acquires a "seedy" aspect, and +his garments, a shining and threadbare look. Dzierzon is of opinion that +the black bees which Huber describes, as being so bitterly persecuted by +the rest, are nothing more than these thieving bees. I call them old +convicts, dressed in prison garments, and incurably given up to +dishonest pursuits. + +Bees sometimes act the part of highway robbers; some half dozen or more +of them, will waylay and attack a poor humble-bee which is returning +with a sack full of honey to his nest, like an honest trader, jogging +home with a well filled purse. They seize the poor bee, and give him at +once to understand that they must have the earnings of his industry. +They do not slay him. Oh no! they are much too selfish to endanger their +own precious persons; and even if they could kill him, without losing +their weapons, they would still be unable to extract his sweets from the +deep recesses of his honey bag: they therefore begin to bite and teaze +him, after the most approved fashion, all the time singing in his ears, +"not your money," but, "your honey or your life;" until utterly +discouraged, he delivers up his purse, by disgorging his honey from its +capacious receptacle. The graceless creatures cry "hands off," and +release him at once, while they lick up his spoils and carry it off to +their home. + +The remark is frequently made that were rogues to spend half as much +time and ingenuity in gaining an honest living, as they do, in seeking +to impose upon their fellow-men, their efforts would often be crowned +with abundant success. Just so of many a dishonest bee. If it only knew +its true interests, it would be safely roving the smiling fields, in +search of honey, instead of longing for a tempting and yet dangerous +taste of forbidden sweets. + +Bees sometimes carry on their depredations on a more magnificent scale. +Having ascertained the weakness of some neighboring colony, through the +sly intrusions of those who have entered the hive to spy out all "the +nakedness of the land," they prepare themselves for war, in the shape +of a pitched battle. The well-armed warriors sally out by thousands, to +attack the feeble hive against which they have so unjustly declared a +remorseless warfare. A furious onset is at once made, and the ground in +front of the assaulted hive is soon covered with the dead and dying +bodies of innumerable victims. Sometimes the baffled invaders are +compelled to sound a retreat; too often however, as in human contests, +right proves but a feeble barrier against superior might; the citadel is +stormed, and the work of rapine and pillage forthwith begins. And yet +after all, matters are not nearly so bad, as at first they seem to be. +The conquered bees, perceiving that there is no hope for them in +maintaining the unequal struggle, submit themselves to the pleasure of +the victors; nay more, they aid them in carrying off their own stores, +and are immediately incorporated into the triumphant nation! The poor +mother however, is left behind in her deserted home, some few of her +children which are faithful to the last, remaining with her, to perish +by her side, amid the sad ruins of their once happy home! + +If the bee-keeper is unwilling to have his bees so demoralized, that +their value will be seriously diminished, he will be exceedingly careful +to do all that he possibly can to prevent them from robbing each other. +He will see that all queenless colonies are seasonably broken up in the +Spring, and all weak ones strengthened, and confined to a space which +they can warm and defend. If once his bees get a taste of forbidden +sweets, they will seldom stop until they have tested the strength of +every stock, and destroyed all that they possibly can. Even if the +colonies are able to defend themselves, many bees will be lost in these +encounters, and a large waste of time will invariably follow; for bees +whether engaged in attempting to rob, or in battling against the robbery +of others, are, to a very great extent, cut off both from the +disposition and the ability to engage in useful labors. They are like +nations that are impoverished by mutual assaults on each other: or in +which the apprehension of war, exerts a most blighting influence upon +every branch of peaceful industry. + +I place very great reliance on the movable blocks which guard the +entrance to my hive, to assist colonies in defending themselves against +robbing bees, as well as the prowling bee-moth. These blocks are +triangular in shape, and enable the Apiarian to enlarge or contract the +entrance to the hive, at pleasure. In the Spring, the entrance is kept +open only about two inches, and if the colony is feeble, not more than +half an inch. If there is any sign of robbers being about, the small +colonies have their entrances closed, so that only a single bee can go +in and out at once. As the bottom-board slants forwards, the entrance is +on an inclined plane, and the bees which defend it, have a very great +advantage over those which attack them; the same in short, that the +inhabitants of a besieged fortress would have in defending a pass-way +similarly constructed. As only one bee can enter at a time, he is sure +to be overhauled, if he attempts ever so slyly to slip in: his +credentials are roughly demanded, and as he can produce none, he is at +once delivered over to the executioners. If an attempt is made to gain +admission by force, then as soon as a bee gets in, he finds hundreds, if +not thousands, standing in battle array, and he meets with a reception +altogether too warm for his comfort. I have sometimes stopped robbing, +even after it had proceeded so far that the assaulted bees had ceased to +offer any successful resistance, by putting my blocks before the +entrance, and permitting only a single bee to enter at once: the +dispirited colony have at once recovered heart, and have battled so +stoutly and successfully, as to beat off their assailants. + +When bees are engaged in robbing a hive, they will often continue their +depredations to as late an hour as possible, and not unfrequently some +of them return home so late with their ill-gotten spoils, that they +cannot find the entrance to their own hive. Like the wicked man who +"deviseth mischief on his bed, and setteth himself in a way that is not +good," they are all night long, meditating new violence, and with the +very first peep of light, they sally out to complete their unlawful +doings. + +Sometimes the Apiarian may be in doubt whether a colony is being robbed +or not, and may mistake the busy numbers that arrive and depart, for the +honest laborers of the hive; but let him look into the matter a little +more closely, and he will soon ascertain the true state of the case: the +bees that enter, instead of being heavily laden, with bodies hanging +down, unwieldy in their flight, and slow in all their movements, are +almost as hungry looking as Pharaoh's lean kine, while those that come +out, show by their burly looks, that like aldermen who have dined at the +expense of the City, they are filled to their utmost capacity. + +If the Apiarian wishes to guard his bees against the fatal propensity to +plunder each other, he must be exceedingly careful not to have any combs +filled with honey unnecessarily exposed. An ignorant or careless person +attempting to multiply colonies on my plan, will be almost sure to tempt +his bees to rob each other. If he leaves any of the combs which he +removes, so that strange bees find them, they will, after once getting a +taste of the honey, fly to any hive upon which he begins to operate, and +attempt to appropriate a part of its contents. (See p. 304.) I have +already stated that when they can find an abundance of food in the +fields, bees are seldom inclined to rob; for this reason, with proper +precautions, it is not difficult to perform all the operations which are +necessary on my plan of management, at the proper season, without any +danger of demoralizing the bees. If however, they are attempted when +honey cannot be obtained, they should be performed with extreme caution, +and early in the morning, or late in the evening; or if possible, on a +day when the bees are not flying out from their hives. I have sometimes +seen the most powerful colonies in an Apiary, either robbed and +destroyed, or very greatly reduced in numbers, by the gross carelessness +or ignorance of their owner. He neglects to examine his hives at the +proper season, and the bees begin to rob a weak or queenless stock: as +soon as they are at the very height of their nefarious operations, he +attempts to interfere with their proceedings, either by shutting up the +hive, or by moving it to a new place. The air is now filled with greedy +and disappointed bees, and rather than fail in obtaining the expected +treasures, they assail with almost frantic desperation, some of the +neighboring stocks: in this way, the most powerful colonies are +sometimes utterly ruined, or if they escape, thousands of bees are slain +in defending their treasures, and thousands more of the assailants meet +with the same untimely end. + +If the Apiarian perceives that one of his colonies is being robbed, he +should at once contract the entrance, so that only a single bee can get +in at a time; and if the robbers still persist in entering, he must +close it entirely. In a few minutes the outside of the hive will be +black with the greedy cormorants, and they will not abandon it, until +they have explored every crevice, and attempted to force themselves +through even the smallest openings. Before they assail a neighboring +colony, they should be sprinkled with cold water, and then instead of +feeling courage for new crimes, they will be glad to escape, thoroughly +drenched, to their proper homes. Unless the bees that are shut up can, +as in my hives, have an abundance of air, it will be necessary to carry +them at once into a dark and cool place. Early next morning the +condition of the hive should be examined, and the proper remedies if it +is weak or queenless should be applied; or if its condition is past +remedy, it should at once be broken up, and the bees united to another +stock. + +I have been credibly informed of an exceedingly curious kind of robbing +among bees. Two colonies, both in good condition, seemed determined to +appropriate each other's labors: neither made any resistance to the +entrance of the plundering bees; but each seemed too busily intent upon +its own dishonest gains, to notice[26] that the work of subtraction kept +pace with that of addition. An intelligent Apiarian stated to me this +singular fact as occurring in his own Apiary. This is a very near +approximation to the story of the Kilkenny cats. Alas! that there should +be so much of equally short-sighted policy among human beings; +individuals, communities and nations seeking often to thrive by +attempting to prey upon the labors of others, instead of doing all that +they can, by industry and enterprise, to add to the common stock. I have +never, in my own experience, met with an instance of such silly +pilfering as the one described; but I have occasionally known bees to be +carrying on their labors, while others were stealing more than the +occupants of the hive were gathering, without their being aware of it. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[26] The bees in each colony had probably contracted the same smell, and +could not distinguish friends from foes. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING BEES. + + +Few things in the practical department of the Apiary, are more important +and yet more shamefully neglected, or grossly mismanaged, than the +feeding of bees. In order to make this subject as clear as possible, I +shall begin with the Spring examination of the hives, and furnish +suitable directions for feeding during the whole season in which it +ought to be attempted. In the movable comb hives, the exact condition of +the bees with regard to stores, may be easily ascertained as soon as the +weather is warm enough to lift out the frames. In the common hives, this +can sometimes be ascertained from the glass sides; but often no reliable +information can be obtained. Even if the weight of the hive is known, +this will be no sure criterion of the quantity of honey it contains. The +comb in old hives, is often very thick, and of course, unusually heavy; +while vast stores of useless bee-bread have frequently been accumulated, +which entirely deceive the Apiarian, who attempts to judge of the +resources of a hive from its weight alone. On my system of bee-culture, +such an injurious surplus of bee-bread, is easily prevented; (See p. +102.) + +If the bee-keeper ascertains or even suspects, in the Spring, that his +bees have not sufficient food, he must at once supply them with what +they need. Bees, at this season of the year, consume a very large +quantity of honey: they are stimulated to great activity by the +returning warmth, and are therefore compelled to eat much more than when +they were almost dormant among their combs. In addition to this extra +demand, they are now engaged in rearing thousands of young, and all +these require a liberal supply of food. Owing to the inexcusable neglect +of many bee-keepers, thousands of swarms perish annually after the +Spring has opened, and when they might have been saved, with but little +trouble or expense. Such abominable neglect is incomparably more cruel +than the old method of taking up the bees with sulphur; and those who +are guilty of it, are either too ignorant or too careless, to have any +thing to do with the management of bees. What would be thought of a +farmer's skill in his business, who should neglect to provide for the +wants of his cattle, and allow them to drop down lifeless in their +stalls, or in his barn-yard, when the fields, in a few weeks, will be +clothed again with the green mantle of delightful Spring! If any farmer +should do this, when food might easily be purchased, and should then, +while engaged in the work of skinning the skeleton carcasses of his +neglected herd, pretend that he could not afford to furnish, for a few +weeks, the food which would have kept them alive, he would not be a whit +more stupid than the bee-keeper attempting to justify himself on the +score of economy, while engaged in melting down the combs of a hive, +starved to death, after the Spring has fairly opened! Let such a person +blush at the pretence that he could not afford to feed his bees, the few +pounds of sugar or honey, which would have saved their lives, and +enabled them to repay him tenfold for his prudent care. + +I always feed my bees a little, even if I know that they have enough and +to spare. There seems to be an intimate connection between the getting +of honey, and the rapid increase of breeding, in a hive; and the taste +of something sweet, however small, to be added to their hoards, exerts a +very stimulating effect upon the bees; a few spoonsfull a day, will be +gratefully received, and will be worth much more to a stock of bees in +the Spring, than at any other time. + +By judicious early feeding, a whole Apiary may be not only encouraged to +breed much faster than they otherwise would have done; but they will be +inspired with unusual vigor and enterprise, and will afterwards increase +their stores with unusual rapidity. Great caution must be exercised in +supplying bees at this time with food, both to prevent them from being +tempted to rob each other, or to fill up with honey, the cells which +ought to be supplied with brood. Only a small allowance should be given +to them, and this from time to time, unless they are destitute of +supplies; and as soon as they begin to gather from the fields, the +feeding should be discontinued. Feeding, intended merely to encourage +the bees, and to promote early breeding, may be done in the open air. No +greater mistake can be made than to feed largely at this season of the +year. The bees take, to be sure, all that they can, and stow it up in +their cells, but what is the consequence? The honey which has been fed +to them, fills up their brood combs, and the increase of population is +most seriously interfered with; so that often when stocks which have not +been over-fed, are prepared not only to fill all the store combs in +their main hive, but to take speedy possession of the spare honey boxes, +a colony imprudently fed, is too small in numbers, to gather even as +much as the one which was not fed at all! The inexperienced Apiarian has +thus often made a worse use of his honey than he would have done, if he +had actually thrown it away! while all the time, he is deluding himself +with the vain expectation of reaping some wonderful profits, from what +he considers an improved mode of managing bees. + +Such conduct in its results, appears to me very much like the noxious +influences under which too many of the children of the rich are so +fatally reared. With every want gratified, pampered and fed to the very +full, how often do we see them disappoint all the fond expectations of +parents and friends, their money proving only a curse, while not +unfrequently beggared in purse, and bankrupt in character, they +prematurely sink to an ignoble or dishonored grave. Think of it, ye who +are slaving in the service of Mammon, that ye may leave to your sons, +the overgrown wealth which usually proves a legacy of withering curses, +while you neglect to train them up in those habits of stern morality and +steady industry, and noble self-reliance, without which the wealth of +Croesus would be but a despicable portion! Think of it, as you +contrast its results in the bitter experience of thousands, with the +happier influences under which so many of our noblest men in Church and +State, have been nurtured and developed, and then pursue your sordid +policy, if you can. "There is that withholdeth" from good objects, "more +than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty:" yes, to poverty of Christian +virtue and manliness, and of those "treasures" which we are all +entreated by God himself, to "lay up" in the store-house of Heaven. Call +your narrow-mindedness and gross deficiencies in Christian liberality, +nothing more than a natural love of your children, and an earnest desire +to provide for your own household. Little fear there may be that _you_ +will ever incur the charge of being "worse than an infidel" on this +point; but lay not on this account, any flattering unction to your +souls; look within, and see if the base idolatry of gold has not more to +do with your whole course of thinking and acting, than any love of wife +or children, relatives or friends! + +Another _sermon_! does some one exclaim? Would then that it might be to +some of my readers a sermon indeed; "a word fitly spoken," "like apples +of gold in pictures of silver." + +The prudent Apiarian will always regard the feeding of bees, except the +little, given to them by way of encouragement, as an evil to be +submitted to, only when absolutely necessary; and will very much prefer +to obtain his supplies from what Shakspeare has so beautifully termed +the "merry pillage" of the blooming fields, than from the more costly +stores of the neighboring grocery. If not engaged in the rapid increase +of stocks, he will seldom see a season so unfavorable as to be obliged +to purchase any food for his bees, unless he chooses to buy a cheaper +article, to replace the choice honey of which he has deprived them. Just +as soon as the Apiarian begins to multiply his stocks with very great +rapidity, he must calculate upon feeding great quantities of honey to +his bees. Before he attempts this on a large scale, let me once more +give him a friendly caution, and if possible, persuade him to try very +rapid multiplication with only a few of his stocks. In this way, he may +experiment to his heart's content, without running the risk of seriously +injuring his whole Apiary, and he may not only gain the skill and +experience which will enable him subsequently to conduct a rapid +increase, on a large scale, but may learn whether he is so situated that +he can profitably devote to it the time and money which it will +inevitably require. + +Before giving directions for feeding bees when a rapid increase of +colonies is aimed at, I shall first show in what manner the bee-keeper +may feed his weak swarms in the Spring. If they are in the common hives, +a small quantity of liquid honey may, at once be poured among the combs +in which the bees are clustered: this may be done by pouring it into the +holes leading to the spare honey boxes, but a much better way is to +invert the hives, and pour in about a tea-cup full at once. The Apiarian +can then see just where to pour it; he need not fear that the bees will +be hurt by it; any more than a child will be either hurt or displeased +by the sweets which adhere to its hands and face, as it feasts upon a +generous allowance of the best sugar candy! When the bees have taken up +all that has been poured upon them, the hive may be replaced, and the +operation repeated in a few days: the oftener it is done, the better it +will suit them. If the weather is sufficiently warm to allow the bees to +fly without being chilled, the food may be put in some old combs, or in +a feeder, and set in a sunny place, a rod or more from their hives. If +placed too near, the bees may be tempted to rob each other. With my +hives, I can pour the honey into some empty comb, and then put the frame +containing it, directly into the hive; or I can set the feeder or honey +in the comb, in the hive near the frames which contain the bees. I have +already stated, (see p. 225,) that unless a colony can be supplied with +a sufficient number of bees, it cannot be aided by giving it food. If +the bees are not numerous enough to take charge of the eggs which the +queen can lay, or at least, of a large number of them, they can seldom, +unless they have a tropical season before them, increase rapidly enough +to be of any value. If they are numerous enough to raise a great many +young bees, but too few to build new comb, they must be fed very +moderately, or they will be sure to fill up their brood comb with honey, +instead of devoting themselves to the rapid increase of their numbers. +If the Apiarian has plenty of empty worker comb which he can give them, +he ought to supply them quite sparingly with honey, even when they are +considerably numerous, in order to have them breed as fast as possible; +not so sparingly however, as to prevent them from storing up any honey +in sealed cells; or they will not be encouraged to breed as fast as they +otherwise would. If he has no spare comb, and the hive is populous +enough to build new comb, it must be supplied moderately, and by all +means, _regularly_ with the means of doing this; the object being to +have comb building and breeding go together, so as mutually to aid each +other. If the feeding is not regular, so as to resemble the natural +supplies when honey is obtained from the blossoms, the bees will not use +the food given to them, in building new comb, but chiefly in filling up +all the cells previously built. If honey can be obtained regularly, and +in sufficient quantities from the blossoms, the small colonies or nuclei +will need no feeding until the failure of the natural supplies. + +In all these operations, the main object should be to make every thing +bend to the most rapid production of _brood_; give me the bees, and I +can easily show how they may be fed, so as to make strong and prosperous +stocks; whereas if the bees are wanting, every thing else will be in +vain: just as a land where there are many stout hands and courageous +hearts, although comparatively barren, will in due time, be made to "bud +and blossom as the rose," while a second Eden, if inhabited by a scanty +and discouraged population, must speedily be overgrown with briars and +thorns. + +If strong stocks are deprived of a portion of their combs, so that they +cannot from natural sources, at once begin to refill all vacancies, they +too must be fed. + +I have probably said enough to show the inexperienced that the rapid +multiplication of colonies is not a very simple matter, and that they +will do well not to attempt it on a large scale. By the time the honey +harvest ordinarily closes, all the colonies in the Apiaries of all +except the skillful, ought to be both strong in numbers and in stores; +at least the _aggregate_ resources of the colonies should be such that +when an equal division is made among them, there will be enough for them +all. This may ordinarily be effected, and yet the number of the colonies +be tripled in one season; and in situations where buckwheat is +extensively cultivated, a considerable quantity of surplus honey may +even then be frequently obtained from the bees. Early in the month of +September, or better still, by the middle of August, if the colonies are +sufficiently strong in numbers, I advise that if feeding is necessary to +winter the bees, it should be thoroughly attended to. If delayed later +than this, in the latitude of our Northern States, the bees may not have +sufficient time to seal over the honey fed to them, and will be almost +sure to suffer from dysentery, during the ensuing Winter. Unsealed +honey, almost always, in cool weather, attracts moisture, and sours in +the combs, and if the bees are compelled to feed upon it, they are very +liable to become diseased. This is the reason why bees when fed with +liquid honey, late in the Fall, or during the Winter, are almost sure to +suffer from disease. A very interesting fact confirming these views as +to the danger resulting from the use of sour food, has come under my +notice this Spring. A colony of bees were fed for some time with +suitable food, and appeared to be in perfect health, flying in and out +with great animation. Their owner, on one occasion, before leaving for +the day, gave them some molasses which was so _sour_, that it could not +be used in the family. On returning, at evening, he was informed that +the bees had been dropping their filth over every thing in the vicinity +of the hive. On examining them, next day, they were all found dead on +the bottom-board and among the combs! The acid food had acted upon them +as a violent cathartic, and had brought on a complaint of which they +all died in less than 24 hours: the hive was found to contain an ample +allowance of honey and bee-bread. + +If the Apiarian, on examining the condition of his stocks, finds that +some have more than they need, and others not enough, his most prudent +course will be to make an equitable division of the honey, among his +different stocks. This may seem to be a very Agrarian sort of procedure, +and yet it will answer perfectly well in the management of bees. Those +that were helped, will not spend the next season in idleness, relying +upon the same sort of aid; nor will those that were relieved of their +surplus stores, remember the deprivation, and limit the extent of their +gatherings to a bare competency. With men, most unquestionably, such an +annual division, unless they were perfect, would derange the whole +course of affairs, and speedily impoverish any community in which it +might be attempted. I always prefer to take away a considerable quantity +of honey from my stocks, which have too generous a supply, and to +replace it with empty combs suitable for the rearing of workers; as I +find that when bees have too much honey in the Fall, they do not +ordinarily breed as fast in the ensuing Spring, as they otherwise would. +A portion of this honey should be carefully put away in the frames, and +kept in a close box, safe against all intruders, and where it will not +be exposed to frost; so that if any colonies in the Spring, are found to +be in want of food, they may easily be supplied. + +In the Spring examination, if any colonies have too much honey, a +portion of it ought by all means to be taken away. Such a deprivation, +if judiciously performed, will always stimulate them to increased +activity. Every strong stock, as soon as it can gather enough honey to +construct comb, ought to have one or two combs which contain no brood +removed, and their places supplied with empty frames, in order that they +may be induced to exert themselves to the utmost. An empty frame +inserted between full ones, will be replenished with comb very speedily, +and often the combs removed will be so much clear gain. If at any time +there is a sudden supply of honey, and the bees are reluctant to enter +the boxes, or it is not probable that the supply will continue long +enough to enable them to fill them, the removal of some of the combs +from the main hive so as to have empty ones filled, will often be highly +advantageous. + +If in the Fall of the year, the bee-keeper finds that some of his +colonies need feeding, and if they are not populous enough to make good +stock hives in the ensuing Spring, then instead of wasting time and +money on them, he should at once, break them up; (See p. 322.) They will +seldom pay for the labor bestowed on them, and the bees will be much +more serviceable, if added to other stocks. The Apiarian cannot be too +deeply impressed with the important truth, that his profits in +bee-keeping will all come from his _strong_ stocks, and that if he +cannot manage so as to have such colonies early, he had better let +bee-keeping alone. + +If liquid honey is fed to bees, it should always, (see p. 322,) be given +to them seasonably, so that they may seal it over before the approach of +cold weather. West India honey has for many years, been used to very +good advantage, as a bee-feed. It should never be used in its raw state, +as it is often filled with impurities, and is very liable to sour or +candy in the cells, but should be mixed with about two parts of good +white sugar, to three of honey and one of water, and brought to the +boiling point; as soon as it begins to boil, it should be set to cool, +and all the impurities will rise to the top, and may be skimmed off. If +it is found to be too thick, a little more water may be added to it; it +ought however, never to be made thinner than the natural consistence of +good honey. Such a mixture will cost for a small quantity, about seven +cents a pound, and will probably be found the cheapest liquid food, +which can be given to bees. Brown sugar may be used with the honey, but +the food will not be so good. + +If one of my hives is used, the bee-keeper may feed his bees at the +proper season, without using any feeder at all, or rather he may use the +_bottom-board_ of the hive as a feeder. On this plan, the bees should be +fed at evening; so as to run no risk of their robbing each other. The +hive which is to be fed, should have the front edge of its bottom-board +elevated on a block, so as to slant _backwards_, and the honey should be +poured into a small tin gutter inserted at the entrance; one such will +answer for a whole Apiary, and may be made by bending up the edges of +any old piece of tin. As the frames in my hive are kept about half an +inch above the bottom-board, which is water-tight, the honey runs under +them, and is as safe as in a dish, while the bees stand on the bottom of +the frames, and help themselves. The quantity poured in, should of +course, depend upon the size and necessities of the colony; no more +ought to be given at one time than the bees can take up during the +night, and the entrance to the hive ought always to be kept very small +during the process of feeding, to prevent robber bees from getting in; a +good colony will easily take up a quart. It is desirable to get through +the feeding as rapidly as possible, as the bees are excited during the +whole process, and consume more than they otherwise would; to say +nothing of the demand made upon the time of the Apiarian, by feeding in +small quantities. If the bees cannot, in favorable weather, dispose of +at least a pint at one time, the colony must be too small to make it +worth while to feed them, if they are in hives by which they can be +readily united to stronger stocks. + +If the bees have not a good allowance of comb, it will not, as a general +rule, pay to feed them. This will be obvious to any one who reflects +that at least 20 pounds of honey are required to elaborate one pound of +wax. I know that this estimate may to some, appear enormous; but it is +given as the result of very accurate experiments, instituted on a large +scale, to determine this very point. The Country Curate says, "Having +driven the population of four stocks, on the 5th of August, and united +them together, I fed them with about 50 pounds of a mixture of sugar, +honey, salt and beer, for about five weeks. At that time, the box was +only 16 pounds heavier than when the bees were put into it." He then +makes an estimate that at least 25 pounds of the mixture were consumed +in making about half a pound of wax!! No one who has ever tried it, will +undertake to feed bees for profit, when they are destitute of both comb +and honey. + +If the weather is cool when bees are fed, it will generally be necessary +to resort to top feeding. For this, my hive is admirably adapted: a +feeder may be put over one of the holes in the honey-board directly over +the mass of the bees, into which the heat of the hive naturally arises, +and where the bees can get at their food without any risk of being +chilled. This is _always_ the best place for a feeder, as the smell of +the food is not so likely to attract the notice of robbing bees. + +I shall here describe the way in which a feeder can at small expense, be +made to answer admirably every purpose. Take any wooden box which will +hold, say, at least one quart; make it honey-tight, by pouring into the +joints the melted mixture, (see p. 99,) and brush the whole interior +with the mixture, so that the honey may not soak into the wood. Make a +float of thin wood, filled with quarter inch holes, with clamps nailed +on the lower sides to prevent warping, and to keep the float from +settling to the bottom of the box, so as to stick fast: it should have +ample play, so that it may settle, as fast as the bees consume the +honey. Tacks on the clamps will always be sure to prevent sticking. +Before you waste any time in making small holes, for fear the bees will +be drowned in the large ones, try a float made as directed. In one +corner of the box, fasten with the melted mixture, a thin strip of wood, +about one inch wide; let it project above the top of the box about an +inch, and be kept about half an inch from the bottom; this answers as a +spout for pouring the honey into the feeder, and when not in use, it +should be stopped up. Have for the lid of the box, a piece of glass with +the corner cut off next the spout, so as to cover the feeder and keep +the bees in, and at the same time allow the bee-keeper to see when they +have consumed all their food. The feeder is now complete, with one +important exception; it has, as yet no way of admitting the bees. On the +outside corners of one of the ends, glue or tack two strips, inch and a +half wide, extending down to the bottom of the box, and half an inch +from the top; fasten over them a piece of thin board, (paste-board will +answer.) You have now a shallow passage without top or bottom, outside +of your feeder; give it a top of any kind; cut out just below the level +of this top, a passage into the feeder for the bees. It is now complete, +and when properly placed over any hole on the top of the hive, will +admit the bees from the hive, into the shallow passage which has no +bottom, and through this into the feeder. Such a feeder will not only be +cheap, but it might almost be made by a child, and yet it will answer +every purpose most admirably. If you have no wooden box that will +answer, a feeder may be made of pasteboard, and if brushed with the +melted mixture it will be honey-tight. By packing cotton or wool around +it, it might be used in most hives, even in the dead of Winter. Bees +however, ought never to need feeding in Winter, and if they do, it will +always be unsafe at this season to feed them with liquid honey. + +I ought here to speak of the importance of _water_ to the bees. It is +absolutely indispensable when they are building comb, or raising brood. +In the early Spring, they take advantage of the first warm weather, to +bring it to their hives, and they may be seen busily drinking around +pumps, drains, and other moist places. As they are not noticed +frequenting such spots much, except in the early part of the season, +many suppose that they need water only at this period. This is a great +mistake, for they need it, and must have it, during the whole breeding +season. But as soon as the grass starts, and the trees are covered with +leaves, they prefer to sip the dew from them. If a few cold days come +on, after the bees have commenced breeding, so as to prevent them from +going abroad for water, a very serious check will be given to their +operations. Even when it is not so cold as to prevent their leaving the +hive, many become so chilled in their search for water, that they are +not able to return. + +Every wise bee-keeper will see that his bees have an abundant supply of +water. If he has not some warm and sunny spot where they can safely +obtain it, he will furnish them with shallow wooden troughs or vessels +filled with pebbles, from which they can drink, without any risk of +drowning, and where they will be sheltered from cold winds, and warmed +by the genial rays of the sun. I believe that the reason why bees very +much prefer the impure water of barn-yards and drains, is not because +they find any medicinal quality in it, but because as it is _near_ their +hives and _warm_, they can fill themselves without being fatally +chilled. + +I have used water feeders of the same construction with my honey +feeders, with great success. The bees are able to enter them at all +times, as they are filled with the warm air of the hive, and thus +breeding goes on, without interruption, and the lives of many bees are +saved. + +The same end may be obtained, by pouring daily, a few table spoonsfull +of water into the hive, through one of the holes leading to the spare +honey boxes. As soon as the weather becomes warm, and the bees can +supply themselves from the dew on the grass and leaves, it will not be +worth while to give them water in their hives. + +When supplied with water in their hives, I advise that enough honey or +sugar be added to it, to make it tolerably sweet. They will take it with +greater relish, and it will stimulate them more powerfully to the +raising of brood. + +I come now to mention a substitute for liquid honey, the value of which +has been extensively and thoroughly tested in Germany, and which I have +used with great advantage. It was not discovered by Dzierzon, although +he speaks of its excellence, in the most decided terms. The article to +which I refer, is _plain sugar candy_, or as it is often called, barley +candy. It has been ascertained that about four pounds of this, will +sustain a colony during the Winter, when they have scarcely any honey in +their hive! If it is placed where they can get access to it without +being chilled, they will cluster upon it, and gradually eat it up. It +not only goes further than double the quantity of liquid honey which +could be bought for the same money, but is found to agree with the bees +perfectly; while the liquid honey is almost sure to sour in the unsealed +cells, and expose them to dangerous, and often fatal attacks of +dysentery. I have sometimes, in the old-fashioned box hives, pushed +sticks of candy between the ranges of comb, and have found it even then +to answer a good purpose. In any hive which has surplus honey boxes, the +candy may be put into a small box, which after being covered thoroughly +with cotton or wool, may have another box put over it, the outside of +which may be also covered. Unless great precautions are used, the boxes +will be so cold, that the bees will not be able to enter them in Winter, +and may thus perish in close proximity to abundant stores. + +In my hives, the candy may be laid on the top of the frames, in the +shallow chamber between the frames and the honey-board; it will here, if +the honey-board is covered with straw, be always accessible to the bees, +even in the coldest weather. I sometimes put it directly into a frame, +and confine it with a piece of twine, or fine wire. + +I have made a very convenient use of sugar candy, as a bee-feed in the +Summer, when I wished to give small colonies a little food, and yet not +to be at the trouble to use a feeder, or incur the risk of their being +robbed by putting it where strange bees might be attracted by the scent. +A small stick of candy, slid in on the bottom-board, under the frames, +answers admirably for such a purpose. If a little liquid food must be +used in warm weather, I advise that it be the best white sugar, +dissolved in water; this makes an admirable food; costs but little more +than brown sugar, and has no smell to tempt robbers to try to gain an +entrance into the hive. + +If the Apiarian is skillful, and attends to his bees, at the proper +time, they will rarely need much feeding; if he manages them in such a +manner that this is frequently and extensively needed, I can assure him, +if he has not already found it out to his sorrow, that his bees will be +nothing but a bill of cost and vexation. + +The question how much honey a colony of bees needs, in order to carry +them safely through the perils of Winter, is one to which it is +impossible to give an answer which will be definite, under all +circumstances. Very much will depend upon the hive in which they are +kept, and the forwardness of the ensuing Spring; (see Chapter on +Protection.) It is often absolutely impossible in the common hives, to +form any reliable estimate, as to the quantity of honey which they +contain, for the combs are often so heavy with bee-bread, as entirely to +deceive even the most experienced bee-keeper. + +I should always wish to leave at least 20 lbs. of honey in a hive; and +as I can examine each comb, I am never at a loss to know how much a +colony has. If I have the least apprehension that their supplies may +fail, I prefer to put a few pounds of sugar candy where they can easily +get access to it, in case of need. In my hive, the careful bee-keeper +may not only know the exact extent of the resources of each hive, in the +Fall, but he may, very early in the Spring, ascertain precisely how much +honey is still on hand, and whether his bees need feeding, in order to +preserve their lives. It is a shameful fact that a large number of +colonies perish after they have begun to fly out, and when, they might +easily have been saved, in any kind of hive. + + +FEEDING, TO MAKE A PROFIT BY SELLING THE HONEY STORED UP BY THE BEES. + +For many years, Apiarians have attempted to make the feeding of bees on +a large scale, profitable to their owners. All such attempts however, +must, from the very nature of the case, meet with very limited success. +If large quantities of cheap West India honey are fed to the bees in the +Fall, they are induced to fill their hives to such an extent, that in +the Spring, the queen does not find the necessary accommodations for +breeding. If they are largely fed in the Spring, the case is still +worse; (See p. 320.) It must therefore be obvious that the feeding of +cheap honey can only be made profitable where it serves as a substitute +for an equal quantity of choice honey taken from the bees. In the latter +part of Summer, the Apiarian may take away from the main hive, some of +the combs which contain the best honey, and replace them with combs into +which he has poured the cheaper article; or if he has no spare combs on +hand, he may slice off the covers of the cells, drain out the honey, +fill the empty combs with West India honey, and return them to the bees: +giving them at the same time, the additional food which they need to +elaborate wax to seal them over. If he attempts to take away their full +combs, and gives them honey in order to enable them, first to replace +their combs, and then to fill them, the operation, (see p. 326,) will +result in a loss, instead of a gain. + +I am aware that for a number of years, persons have attempted to derive +a profit from supplying the markets of some of our large cities, with an +article professing to be the best of honey, but which has been nothing +more than the cheap West India honey fed to the bees, and stored up by +them in new comb. In the City of Philadelphia, large quantities of such +honey have been sold at the highest prices, and _perhaps_ at some profit +to the persons who have fed it to their bees. Within the last two years, +however, the article has become so well known that it can hardly be sold +at any price; as those who purchase honey, instead of paying 25 cents +per pound for West India honey in the comb, much prefer to buy it, (if +they want it at all,) for 6 or 7 cents, in a liquid state! It must be +perfectly obvious that to sell a cheap and ill-flavored article at a +high price, under the pretence that it is a superior article, is nothing +less than downright cheating. + +I am perfectly well aware that many persons imagine that if any thing +_sweet_ is fed to bees, they will quickly transmute it into the purest +nectar. There is, however, no more truth in such a conceit, than there +would be in that of a man who supposed that he had found the veritable +philosopher's stone; and that he was able to change all our copper and +silver coins into the purest gold! Bees to be sure, can make white and +beautiful _comb_, from almost any kind of sweet; and why? because wax is +a natural secretion of the bee, (see p. 76,) and can be made from any +sweet; just as fat can be put upon the ribs of an ox, by any kind of +nourishing food. + +"But," some of my readers may ask, "do you mean to assert that bees do +not secrete honey out of the raw material which they gather, or which is +furnished to them, just as cows secrete milk from grass and hay?" I +certainly do mean to assert that they can do nothing of the kind, and no +intelligent man who has carefully _studied their habits_, will for a +moment, venture to affirm that they can, unless for the sake of "filthy +lucre," he is attempting to deceive an unwary community. What bee-keeper +does not know, or rather ought not to know that the quality of honey +depends entirely upon the sources from whence it is gathered; and that +the different kinds of honey can easily be distinguished by any one who +is a judge of the article. + +Apple-blossom honey, white clover honey, buckwheat honey, and all the +different kinds of honey, each has its own peculiar flavor, and it is +utterly amazing how any sensible man, acquainted with bees, can be so +deluded as to imagine any thing to the contrary. But as this is a matter +of great practical importance, let us examine it more closely. + +When bees are engaged in rapidly storing up honey in their combs, they +may be seen, as _soon_ as they return from the fields, or from the +feeding boxes, putting their heads at once into the cells, and +disgorging the contents of their "honey-bags." Now that the contents of +their sacs undergo no change at all, during the short time that they +remain in them, I will not absolutely affirm, because I have endeavored, +through this whole treatise, never to assert positively when I had not +positive evidence for so doing: but that they can undergo but a _very +slight_ change, must be evident from the fact that when thus stored up, +the different kinds of honey or sugar can be almost if not quite as +readily distinguished as before they were fed to the bees. The only +perceptible change which they appear to undergo in the cells, is to have +the large quantity of water evaporated from them, which is added from +thoughtlessness, or from the vain expectation that it will be just so +much water sold for honey, to the defrauded purchaser! This evaporation +of the water from the honey by the heat of the hive, is about the only +marked change that it appears to undergo, from its natural state in the +nectaries of the blossoms; and it is exceedingly interesting to see how +unwilling bees are to seal up honey, until it is reduced to such a +consistency that there is no danger of its souring in the cells. They +are as careful as to the quality of their nectar, as the good lady of +the house is, to have the syrup of her preserves boiled down to a +suitable thickness to keep them sweet. + +Let all who for any purpose whatever, feed bees, keep this fact in mind, +and never add to the food which they give them, more water than is +absolutely necessary. To do so, is a piece of as great stupidity as to +pour a barrel of water into the sugar pans, for every barrel of sap from +the maples, or juice from the canes! If a strong colony is set upon a +platform scale, it will be found on a pleasant day, during the height of +the honey harvest, to gain a number of pounds; if examined again, early +next morning, it will be found to have lost considerably, during the +night. This is owing to the evaporation of the water from the freshly +gathered honey, and it may often be seen running down in quite a stream +from the bottom-board. + +Those who feed cheap honey to sell it in the market at a high advance +over its first cost, are either deceivers or deceived; if any of my +readers have been deceived by the plausible representations of ignorant +or unprincipled men, I trust they will be able from these remarks, to +see exactly _how_ they have been deceived, and they will no longer +persist in an adulteration, the profits of which can never be great, and +the morality of which can never be defended. A man who offers for sale, +inferior honey, or sugar which he calls honey, and which he is able to +sell because it is stored in white comb, to those who would never +purchase it if they knew what it was, or once had a taste of it, is not +a whit more honest, if he understands the nature of the article in which +he deals, than a person engaged in counterfeiting the current coin of +the realm: for poor honey in white comb, is no less a fraud than eagles +or dollars, golden to be sure, on their honest exteriors, but containing +a baser metal within! "The Golden Age" of bee-keeping, in which inferior +honey can be quickly transmuted into such balmy spoils as are gathered +by the bees of Hybla, has not yet dawned upon us; or at least only in +the fairy visions of the poet who saw + + "A golden hive, on a Golden Bank, + Where golden bees, by alchemical prank, + Gathered Gold instead of Honey." + +If a pound of West India honey costs about 6 cents, and the bees use, as +they will, about one pound to make the comb in which it is stored, it +costs the producer at least 12 cents a pound, and if to this, he adds, +say 5 cents more, for extra time and labor in feeding, then his inferior +honey costs him at least as much as the market price of the very best +honey on the spot where it is produced! If the bee-keeper allows his +bees to make what they will, from the blossoms, and then begins to feed, +after he has harvested the produce from the natural supplies, the +advance over the first cost will hardly pay for the trouble, even if it +were fair to palm off such inferior honey as a first-rate article. If, +however, bees are fed on this food very largely in the latter part of +Summer, they will fill up their hive with it, before they put it into +the spare honey boxes, and the production of brood will often be most +seriously interfered with, at a season of the year when it is important +to have the hives well stocked with bees, that they may winter to the +best advantage. + +If Apiarians are anxious to have large quantities of choice honey, let +them manage their bees so as to have powerful stocks in the early +Spring, and they will then be able to have heavy purses and light +consciences into the bargain. I shall now show how liquid honey, +exceedingly beautiful to the eye, and tempting to the taste, may be made +to great advantage. + +Dissolve two pounds of the purest white sugar, in as much hot water as +will be just necessary to reduce it to a syrup; take one pound of the +nicest white clover honey, (any other light colored honey of good flavor +will answer,) and after warming it, add it to the sugar syrup, and stir +the contents. When cool, this compound will be pronounced, even by the +best judges of honey, to be one of the most luscious articles which they +ever tasted; and will be, by almost every one, preferred to the unmixed +honey. Refined loaf sugar is a perfectly pure and inodorous sweet, and +one pound of honey will communicate the honey flavor, in high +perfection, to twice that quantity of sugar: while the new article will +be destitute of that smarting taste which honey alone, so often has, and +will be often found to agree perfectly with those who cannot eat the +clear honey with impunity. If those engaged in the artificial +manufacture of honey, never brought any thing worse than this, to the +market, the purchasers would have no reason to complain. As however, the +compound can be furnished much cheaper than the pure honey, many may +prefer to purchase the materials, and mix them themselves. If desired, +any kind of flavor may be given to the manufactured article; thus it may +be made to resemble in fragrance, the classic honey of Mount Hymettus, +by adding to it the fine aroma of the lemon balm, or wild thyme; or it +may have the flavor of the orange groves, or the delicate fragrance of +beds of roses washed with dew. + +I have recently ascertained that if two pounds of the best refined sugar +be added to one of common maple sugar, the compound will be a light +colored article, retaining perfectly the maple taste, and yet far +superior to the common maple sugar. After making this discovery, I +learned that a large part of the very nicest maple sugar is made in this +way! + +Attempts have been made to feed to bees, to be stored in the honey +boxes, a mixture of the whitest honey and loaf sugar; but the result +shows a loss rather than a gain. The mixture, before it is fed, will +cost about 10 cents per pound. At the very furthest, not more than one +half of what is fed, can be secured in the comb, for it requires about +one pound of honey, to manufacture comb enough to hold a pound of honey. +The actual cost of the honey in the comb, will therefore be, at least 20 +cents per pound; and the pure white clover honey can be bought for less +than that. Those who desire to have something exceedingly beautiful to +the eye, and delicate to the taste, at a season when the bees are not +storing up honey from the blossoms, and in situations where the natural +supply is of an inferior quality, if they do not regard expense, can +place upon their tables, something which will be pronounced by the best +judges, a little superior to any thing they ever tasted before. + +I have repeatedly spoken of the great care which is necessary to prevent +bees from getting a taste of forbidden sweets, so as to be tempted to +engage in dishonest courses. The experienced Apiarian will fully +appreciate the necessity of these cautions, and the inexperienced, if +they neglect them, will be taught a lesson that they will not soon +forget. Let it be remembered that the bee was intended to gather its +sweets from the nectaries of flowers: to use the exquisitely beautiful +language of him whose wonderful writings supply us on almost every +subject, with the richest thoughts and happiest illustrations, they were +created to + + "Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds, + Which pillage they with merry march bring home + To the tent royal of their emperor: + Who, busied in his majesty, surveys + The singing masons, building roofs of gold."--_Shakspeare._ + +When thus engaged, the bees work in perfect accordance with their +natural instincts, and seem to have little or no disposition to meddle +with property that does not belong to them. If however, their incautious +owner tempts them with liquid food, especially at times when they can +obtain nothing from the blossoms, they seem to be so infatuated with +such easy gatherings, as to lose all discretion, and they will perish by +thousands, if the vessels which contain the food are not furnished with +floats, on which they can stand and help themselves in safety. + +The fly was intended to feed, not upon the blossoms, but upon food in +which, without care, it could easily be drowned; and hence it alights +most cautiously, on the edge of any vessel containing liquid food, and +warily helps itself: while the poor bee, without any caution, plunges +right in and speedily perishes. The sad fate of their unfortunate +companions, does not in the least, deter others who approach the +tempting lure: but they madly alight on the bodies of the dying and the +dead, to share the same miserable end! No one can understand the full +extent of their infatuation, until after seeing a confectioner's shop, +assailed by thousands and tens of thousands of hungry bees. I have seen +thousands strained out from the syrups in which they had perished; +thousands more alighting even upon the boiling sweets; the floors +covered, and windows darkened with bees, some crawling, others flying, +and others still, so completely daubed as to be able neither to crawl +nor fly; not one bee in ten able to carry home its ill-gotten spoils, +and yet the air filled with new hosts of thoughtless comers. + +It will be for the interest of all engaged in the manufacture of candy +and syrups, to fit gauze wire windows and doors to their premises, and +thus save themselves from constant loss and annoyance: for if only one +bee in a hundred escapes with his load, the confectioner will be +subjected in the course of the season to serious loss. I once furnished +such an establishment, after the bees had commenced their depredations, +with such protection; and when they found themselves excluded, they lit +on the wire by thousands, and fairly squealed with vexation and +disappointment, as they tried to force a passage through the meshes. At +last as they were daring enough to descend the chimney, reeking with +sweet odors, even although the most who attempted it, fell with scorched +wings into the fire, it became necessary to put wire gauze over the top +of the chimney also! + +How often, as I have seen thousands of bees, in such places destroyed, +and thousands more deprived of all ability to fly, and hopelessly +struggling in the deluding sweets, and yet thousands more blindly +hovering over them, all unmindful of their danger, and apparently eager +to share the same destruction, how often has the spectacle of their +infatuation seemed to me, to be an exact picture of the woful delusion +of those who surrender themselves to the fatal influences of the +intoxicating cup. Even although they see the miserable victims of this +degrading vice, falling all around them, into premature and dishonored +graves, they still press on, madly trampling as it were, over their dead +and dying bodies, that they too may sink into the same abyss of agonies, +and that their sun may also go down in darkness and hopeless gloom. Even +although they know that the next cup may send them, with all their sins +upon their heads, to the dread tribunal of their God, that cup of bitter +sorrows and untold degradation, they will drain even to its most +loathsome dregs. + +The avaricious bee that despised the slow process of extracting nectar +from "every opening flower," and plunged recklessly into the tempting +sweets, has ample time to bewail its folly. Even if it has not paid the +forfeit of its life, but has been able to obtain its fill, it returns +home with all its beautiful plumage sullied and besmeared, and with a +woe-begone look, and sorrowful note, in marked contrast with the bright +hues and merry sounds with which the industrious bee returns from its +happy rovings amid "the budding honey flowers, and sweetly breathing +fields." + +Just so, has many a pilgrim from the golden shores of California and +Australia, returned; enfeebled in body and mind, bankrupt often in +character and happiness, if not in purse, and unfitted in every way, for +the calm and sober pursuits of common industry; while thousands, yes, +and tens of thousands too, shall never more behold their once happy +homes. Bibles and Sabbaths, altars and firesides, parents and friends, +wife and children, how often have all these been wantonly abandoned, in +the accursed greed for gain, by those who might have been happy and +prosperous at home, and who wandered from its sacred precincts only +because they were determined to make the possession of wealth, the chief +object of life, but whose bones now lie amid the coral reefs of the +ocean, or moulder in the howling wastes of the "overland passage;" just +as the bones of the unbelieving Israelites whitened the sands of the +desert. Of those who have reached the "land of" golden "promise," how +many have died in despair, or worse still, are living so besotted by +vice, so lost to all power of virtuous resolutions, that they shall +never more see the happy homes from which they so thoughtlessly +wandered, never more hear the soft accents of loving friends; never more +worship God, in a peaceful Sanctuary, or ever again behold an opened +Bible! + + "Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! + Bright and yellow, hard and cold, + Molten, graven, hammer'd, and roll'd; + Heavy to get, and light to hold; + Hoarded, barter'd, bought, and sold, + Stolen, borrow'd, squander'd, doled: + Spurn'd by the young, but hugg'd by the old + To the very verge of the churchyard mould; + Price of many a crime untold; + Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! + Good or bad a thousand-fold! + How widely its agencies vary-- + To save--to ruin--to curse--to bless-- + As even its minted coins express, + Now stamp'd with the image of Good Queen Bess, + And now of a Bloody Mary!" + _Hood._ + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HONEY. PASTURAGE. OVERSTOCKING. + + +In the chapter on Feeding, it has already been stated that honey is not +a natural secretion of the bee, but a substance obtained from the +nectaries of the blossoms; it is not therefore, made, but merely +gathered by the bees. The truth is well expressed in the lines so +familiar to most of us from our childhood, + + "How doth the little busy bee + Improve each shining hour, + And _gather_ honey all the day + From every opening flower." + +Bees not only gather honey from the blossoms, but often obtain it in +large quantities from what have been called honey dews; "a term applied +to those sweet, clammy drops that glitter on the foliage of many trees +in hot weather." Two different opinions have been zealously advocated as +to the origin of honey-dews. By some, they are considered a natural +exudation from the leaves of trees, a perspiration as it were, +occasioned often by ill health, though sometimes a provision to enable +the plants to resist the fervent heats to which they are exposed. Others +insist that this sweet substance is discharged from the bodies of those +aphides or small lice which infest the leaves of so many plants. +Unquestionably they are produced in both ways. + +Messrs. Kirby and Spence, in their interesting work on Entomology, have +given a description of the kind of honey-dew furnished by the aphides. + +"The loves of the ants and the aphides have long been celebrated; and +that there is a connection between them, you may, at any time in the +proper season, convince yourself; for you will always find the former +very busy on those trees and plants on which the latter abound; and if +you examine more closely, you will discover that the object of the ants, +in thus attending upon the aphides, is to obtain the saccharine fluid +secreted by them, which may well be denominated their milk. This fluid, +which is scarcely inferior to honey in sweetness, issues in limpid drops +from the abdomen of these insects, not only by the ordinary passage, but +also by two setiform tubes placed, one on each side, just above it. +Their sucker being inserted in the tender bark, is without intermission +employed in absorbing the sap, which, after it has passed through their +system, they keep continually discharging by these organs. When no ants +attend them, by a certain jerk of the body, which takes place at regular +intervals, they ejaculate it to a distance." + +"Mr. Knight once observed," says Bevan, "a shower of honey-dew +descending in innumerable small globules, near one of his oak-trees, _on +the 1st of September_; he cut off one of the branches, took it into the +house, and holding it in a stream of light, which was purposely admitted +through a small opening, distinctly saw the aphides ejecting the fluid +from their bodies with considerable force, and this accounts for its +being frequently found in situations where it could not have arrived by +the mere influence of gravitation. The drops that are thus spurted out, +unless interrupted by the surrounding foliage, or some other interposing +body, fall upon the ground; and the spots may often be observed, for +some time, beneath and around the trees affected with honey-dew, till +washed away by the rain. The power which these insects possess of +ejecting the fluid from their bodies, seems to have been wisely +instituted to preserve cleanliness in each individual fly, and indeed +for the preservation of the whole family; for pressing as they do upon +one another, they would otherwise soon be glued together, and rendered +incapable of stirring. On looking steadfastly at a group of these +insects (_Aphides Salicis_) while feeding on the bark of the willow, +their superior size enables us to perceive some of them elevating their +bodies and emitting a transparent substance in the form of a small +shower." + + "Nor scorn ye now, fond elves, the foliage sear, + When the light aphids, arm'd with puny spear, + Probe each emulgent vein, till bright below, + Like falling stars, clear drops of nectar glow." + _Evans._ + +"The _willow_ accommodates the bees in a kind of threefold succession; +from the flowers they obtain both honey and farina;--from the bark +propolis;--and the leaves frequently afford them honey-dew at a time +when other resources are beginning to fail." + +"Honey-dew usually appears upon the leaves as a viscid, transparent +substance, as sweet as honey itself, sometimes in the form of globules, +at others resembling a syrup; it is generally most abundant from the +middle of June to the middle of July, sometimes as late as September." + +"It is found chiefly upon the _oak_, the _elm_, the _maple_, the +_plane_, the _sycamore_, the _lime_, the _hazel_, and the _blackberry_; +occasionally also on the _cherry_, _currant_, and other fruit trees. +Sometimes only one species of trees is affected at a time. The oak +generally affords the largest quantity. At the season of its greatest +abundance, the happy humming noise of the bees may be heard at a +considerable distance from the trees, sometimes nearly equalling in +loudness the united hum of swarming." + +In some seasons, extraordinary quantities of honey are furnished by the +honey-dews, and bees will often, in a few days, fill their hives with +it. If at such times, they can be furnished with empty combs, the amount +stored up by them, will be truly wonderful. No certain reliance, +however, can be placed upon this article of bee-food, as in some years, +there is scarcely any to be found, and it is only once in three or four +years, that it is very abundant. The honey obtained from this source, is +generally of a very good quality, though seldom as clear as that +gathered from the choicest blossoms. + +The quality of honey is exceedingly various, some being dark, and often +bitter and disagreeable to the taste, while occasionally it is gathered +from poisonous flowers, and is very noxious to the human system. + +An intelligent Mandingo African informed a lady of my acquaintance, that +they do not in his country, dare to eat _unsealed_ honey, until it is +first _boiled_. In some of the Southern States, all unsealed honey is +generally rejected. It appears to me highly probable that the noxious +qualities of the honey gathered from some flowers, is, for the most +part, evaporated, before it is sealed over by the bees, while the honey +is thickening in the cells. Boiling the honey, would, of course, expel +it much more effectually, and it is a well ascertained fact that some +persons are not able to eat even the best honey with impunity, until +after it has been boiled! I believe that if persons who are injured by +honey would subject it to this operation, they would usually find it to +exert no injurious influence on the system. Honey is improved by age, +and many are able to use with impunity, that which has been for a long +time, in the hive, and which seems to be much milder than any freshly +gathered by the bees. + +Honey, when taken from the bees, should be carefully put where it will +be safe from all intruders, and where it will not be exposed to so low a +temperature as to candy in the cells. The little red ant, and the large +black ant are extravagantly fond of it, and unless placed where they +cannot reach it, they will soon carry off large quantities. I paste +paper over all my boxes, glasses, &c., so as to make them air-tight, and +carefully store them away for future use. If it is drained from the +combs, it may be kept in tight vessels, although in this state it will +be almost sure to candy. By putting the vessels in water, and bringing +it to the boiling point, it will be as nice as when first strained from +the comb. In this way, I prefer to keep the larger portion of my honey. +The appearance of white honey in the comb, is however, so beautiful, +that many will prefer to keep it in this form, especially, if intended +for sale. + +In my hives, it may be taken from the bees, in a great variety of ways. +Some may prefer to construct the main hive in such a form, that the +surplus honey can be taken from it, on the frames. Others will prefer to +take it on frames put in an upper box; (see p. 231.) Glass vessels of +almost any size or form will make beautiful receptacles for the spare +honey. They ought always, however, to have a piece of comb fastened in +them, before they are given to the bees; (see p. 161) and if the weather +is cool, they must be carefully covered with something warm, or they +will part with their heat so quickly, as to discourage the bees from +building in them. Unless warmly covered, glass vessels will often be so +lined with moisture, as to annoy the bees. This is occasioned by the +rapid evaporation of the water from the newly gathered honey, (see +p. 335.) All hives during the height of the gathering season, abound in +moisture, and this no doubt furnishes the bees, for the most part, with +the water they then need. + +Honey, when stored in a pint tumbler, just large enough to receive one +comb, has a most beautiful appearance, and may be easily taken out +whole, and placed in an elegant shape upon the table. The expense of +such glass vessels is one objection to their use; the ease with which +they part with their heat, another, and a more serious objection still, +is the fact that the shallow cells, so many of which must be made in a +round vessel, require as large a consumption of honey for their wax +covers, as those which hold more than twice their quantity of honey. + +I prefer rectangular boxes made of pasteboard, to any other: they are +neat, warm and cheap; and if a small piece of glass is pasted in one of +their ends, the Apiarian can always see when they are full. When the +honey is taken from the bees, the box has its cover put on, and is +pasted tight, so as to exclude air and insects. In this form, honey may +be packed, and sent to market very conveniently: and when the boxes are +opened, the purchaser can always see the quality of the article which he +buys. The box in which these small boxes of honey are packed in order to +be sent to market, should be furnished with rope handles, so that it can +be easily lifted, without the least jarring. Honey should be handled +with just as much care as glass. A box, four inches wide, will admit of +two combs, and if small pieces of comb are put in the top, the bees will +build them, of the proper dimensions, and will thus make them too large +for brood combs, and of the best size to contain their surplus honey. +The use of my hives enables the Apiarian to get access to all the comb +which he needs for such purposes, and he will find it to his interest, +never to give the bees a box which does not contain some comb, as well +for encouragement as for a pattern. I have never seen the use of +pasteboard boxes suggested, but after experimenting with a great many +materials, I believe they will be found, all things considered, +preferable to any others. Wooden boxes, with a piece of glass, are very +good for storing honey: but they are much more expensive than those made +of pasteboard, and the covers cannot be removed so conveniently. + +Honey may be safely removed from the surplus honey boxes of my hives, +even by the most timid. When the outside case which covers the boxes, is +elevated, a shield is thrown between the Apiarian and the bees which are +entering and leaving the hive. Before removing a vessel or box, a thin +knife should be carefully passed under it, so as to loosen the +attachments of the comb to the honey-board, without injuring the bees; +then a small piece of tin or zinc may be pushed under to prevent the +bees that are below, from coming up, when the honey is removed. The +Apiarian should now tap gently on the box, and the bees in it, +perceiving that they are separated from the main hive, will at once +proceed to fill themselves, so as to save as much as possible, of their +precious sweets. In about five minutes, or as soon as they are full, and +run over the combs, trying to get out, the glass or box may at once be +removed, and they will fly directly to the hive with what they have been +able to secure. Bees under such circumstances, _never_ attempt to sting, +and a child of ten years, may remove, with ease and safety, all their +surplus stores. If a person is too timid to approach a hive when any +bees are flying, the honey may be removed towards evening, or early in +the morning, before the bees are flying, in any considerable numbers. In +performing this operation, it should always be borne in mind, that +large quantities of honey should never be taken from them at once, +unless when the honey-harvest is over. Bees are exceedingly discouraged +by such wholesale appropriations, and often refuse entirely, to work in +the empty boxes, even although honey abounds in the fields. Not +unfrequently when large boxes are removed, and being found only +partially filled, are returned, the bees will carry every particle of +honey down into the main hive! If, however, the honey is removed in +small boxes, one at a time, and an empty box with guide comb is put +instantly in its place, the bees, so far from being discouraged, work +with more than their wonted energy, and usually begin in a few hours, to +enlarge the comb. + +I would here repeat the caution already given, against needlessly +opening and shutting the hives, or in any way meddling with the bees so +as to make them feel insecure in their possessions. Such a course tends +to discourage them, and may seriously diminish the yield of honey. + +If the Apiarian wishes to remove honey from the interior of the hive, he +must remove the combs, as directed on page 195, and shake the bees off, +on the alighting board, or directly into the hive. + + +PASTURAGE. + +Some blossoms yield only pollen, and others only honey; but by far the +largest number, both honey and pollen. Since the discovery that rye +flour will answer so admirably as a substitute, before the bees are able +to gather the pollen from the flowers, early blossoms producing pollen +alone, are not so important in the vicinity of an Apiary. Willows are +among the most desirable trees to have within reach of the bees: some +kinds of willow put out their catkins very early, and yield an +abundance of both bee-bread and honey. All the willows furnish an +abundance of food for the bees; and as there is considerable difference +in the time of their blossoming, it is desirable to have such varieties +as will furnish the bees with food, as long as possible. + +The Sugar Maple furnishes a large supply of very delicious honey, and +its blossoms hanging in drooping fringes, will be all alive with bees. +The Apricot, Peach, Plum and Cherry are much frequented by the bees; +Pears and Apples furnish very copious supplies of the richest honey. The +Tulip tree, _Liriodendron_, is probably one of the greatest +honey-producing trees in the world. In rich lands this magnificent tree +will grow over one hundred feet high, and when covered with its large +bell-shaped blossoms of mingled green and golden yellow, it is one of +the most beautiful trees in the world. The blossoms are expanding in +succession, often for more than two weeks, and a new swarm will +frequently fill its hive from these trees alone. The honey though dark +in color, is of a rich flavor. This tree has been successfully +cultivated as a shade tree, even as far North as Southern Vermont, and +for the extraordinary beauty of its foliage and blossoms, deserves to be +introduced wherever it can be made to grow. The Winter of 1851-2, was +exceedingly cold, the thermometer in Greenfield, Mass. sinking as low as +30 deg. below zero, and yet a tulip tree not only survived the Winter +uninjured, but was covered the following season with blossoms. + +The American Linden or Bass Wood, is another tree which yields large +supplies of very pure and white honey. It is one of our most beautiful +native trees, and ought to be planted much more extensively than it is, +in our villages and country seats. The English Linden is worthless for +bees, and in many places, has been so infested by worms, as to make it +necessary to cut it down. + +The Linden blossoms soon after the white clover begins to fail, and a +majestic tree covered with its yellow clusters, at a season when very +few blossoms are to be seen, is a sight most beautiful and refreshing. + + "Here their delicious task, the fervent bees + In swarming millions tend: around, athwart, + Through the soft air the busy nations fly, + Cling to the bud, and with inserted tube, + Suck its pure essence, its etherial soul." + _Thomson._ + +Our villages would be much more attractive, if instead of being filled +as they often are, almost exclusively with maples and elms, they were +adorned with a greater variety of our native trees. The remark has often +been made, that these trees are much more highly valued abroad than at +home, and that to see them in perfection, we must either visit their +native forests, or the pleasure grounds of some wealthy English or +European gentleman. + +Of all the various sources from which the bees derive their supplies, +white clover is the most important. It yields large quantities of very +white honey, and of the purest quality, and wherever it flourishes in +abundance, the honey-bee will always gather a rich harvest. In this +country at least, it seems to be the most certain reliance of the +Apiary. It blossoms at a season of the year when the weather is usually +both dry and hot, and the bees gather the honey from it, after the sun +has dried off the dew: so that its juices are very thick, and almost +ready to be sealed over at once in the cells. + +Every observant bee-keeper must have noticed, that in some seasons, the +blossoms of various kinds yield much less honey than in others. Perhaps +no plant varies so little in this respect, as the white clover. This +clover ought to be much more extensively cultivated than it now is, and +I consider myself as conferring a benefit not only on bee-keepers, but +on the agricultural community at large, in being able to state on the +authority of one of New England's ablest practical farmers, and writers +on agricultural subjects, Hon. Frederick Holbrook, of Brattleboro', +Vermont, that the common white clover may be cultivated on some soils to +very great profit, as a hay crop. In an article for the New England +Farmer, for May, 1853, he speaks as follows:-- + +"The more general sowing of white clover-seed is confidently +recommended. If land is in good heart at the time of stocking it to +grass, white clover sown with the other grass-seeds will thicken up the +bottom of mowings, growing some eight or ten inches high and in a thick +mat, and the burden of hay will prove much heavier than it seemed likely +to be before mowing. Soon after the practice of sowing white clover on +the tillage-fields commences, the plant will begin to show itself in +various places on the farm, and ultimately gets pretty well scattered +over the pastures, as it seeds very profusely, and the seeds are carried +from place to place in the manure and otherwise. The price of the seed +per pound in market is high; but then one pound of it will seed more +land, than two pounds of red clover seed; so that in fact the former is +the cheaper seed of the two, for an acre." + +"Red-top, red clover and white clover seeds, sown together, produce a +quality of hay universally relished by stock. My practice is, to seed +all dry, sandy and gravelly lands with this mixture. The red and white +clover pretty much make the crop the first year; the second year, the +red clover begins to disappear, and the red-top to take its place; and +after that, the red-top and white clover have full possession and make +the very best hay for horses or oxen, milch cows or young stock, that I +have been able to produce. The crop per acre, as compared with +herds-grass, is not so bulky; but tested by weight and by spending +quality in the Winter, it is much the most valuable." + +"Herds-grass hay grown on moist uplands or reclaimed meadows, and swamps +of a mucky soil, or lands not overcharged with silica, is of good +quality; but when grown on sandy and gravelly soils abounding in silex, +the stalks are hard, wiry, coated with silicates as with glass, and +neither horses nor cattle will eat it as well, or thrive as well on it +as on hay made of red-top and clover; and as for milch cows, they winter +badly on it, and do not give out the milk as when fed on softer and more +succulent hay." + +By managing white clover, according to Mr. Holbrook's plan, it might be +made to blossom abundantly in the second crop, and thus lengthen out, to +very great advantage, the pasture for the bees. For fear that any of my +readers might suspect Mr. Holbrook of looking at the white clover, +through a pair of _bee-spectacles_, I would add that although he has ten +acres of it in mowing, he has no bees, and has never particularly +interested himself in this branch of rural economy. When we can succeed +in directing the attention of such men to bee-culture, we may hope to +see as rapid an advance in this as in some other important branches of +agriculture. + +Sweet-scented clover, (_Mellilotus Leucantha_,) affords a rich +bee-pasturage. It blossoms the second year from the seed, and grows to a +great height, and is always swarming with bees until quite late in the +Fall. Attempts have been made to cultivate it for the sake of its value +as a hay crop, but it has been found too coarse in its texture, to be +very profitable. Where many bees are kept, it might however, be so +valuable for them as to justify its extensive cultivation. During the +early part of the season, it might be mowed and fed to the cattle, in a +green and tender state, and allowed to blossom later in the season, +when the bees can find but few sources to gather from. + +For years, I have attempted to procure, through botanists, a hybrid or +cross between the red and white clover, in order to get something with +the rich honey-producing properties of the red, and yet with a short +blossom into which the honey-bee might insert its proboscis. The red +clover produces a vast amount of food for the bumble-bee, but is of no +use at all to the honey-bee. I had hoped to procure a variety which +might answer all the purposes of our farmers as a field crop. Quite +recently I have ascertained that such a hybrid has been originated in +Sweden, and has been imported into this country, by Mr. B. C. Rogers, of +Philadelphia. It grows even taller than the red clover, bears many +blossoms on a stalk which are small, resembling the white, and is said +to be preferred by cattle, to any other kind of grass, while it answers +admirably for bees. + +Buckwheat furnishes a most excellent Fall feed for bees; the honey is +not so well-flavored as some other kinds, but it comes at a season when +it is highly important to the bees, and they are often able to fill +their hives with a generous supply against Winter. Buckwheat honey is +gathered when the dew is upon the blossoms, and instead of being thick, +like white clover honey, is often quite thin; the bees sweat out a large +portion of its moisture, but still they do not exhaust the whole of it, +and in wet seasons especially, it is liable to sour in the cells. Honey +gathered in a dry season, is always thicker, and of course more valuable +than that gathered in a wet one, as it contains much less water. +Buckwheat is uncertain in its honey-bearing qualities; in some seasons, +it yields next to none, and hardly a bee will be seen upon a large +field, while in others, it furnishes an extraordinary supply. The most +practical and scientific agriculturists agree that so far from being an +impoverishing crop, it is on many soils, one of the most profitable that +can be raised. Every bee-keeper should have some in the vicinity of his +hives. + +The raspberry, it is well known, is a great favorite with the bees; and +the honey supplied by it, is very delicious. Those parts of New England, +which are hilly and rough, are often covered with the wild raspberry, +and would furnish food for numerous colonies of bees. + +It will be observed that thus far, I have said nothing about cultivating +flowers in the garden, to supply the bees with food. What can be done in +this way, is of scarcely any account; and it would be almost as +reasonable to expect to furnish food for a stock of cattle, from a small +grass plat, as honey for bees, from garden plants. The cultivation of +bee-flowers is more a matter of pleasure than profit, to those who like +to hear the happy hum of the busy bees, as they walk in their gardens. +It hardly seems expedient, at least for the present, to cultivate any +field crops except such as are profitable in themselves, without any +reference to the bees. + +Mignonnette is excellent for bees, but of all flowers, none seems to +equal the Borage. It blossoms in June, and continues in bloom until +severe frost, and is always covered with bees, even in dull weather, as +its pendant blossoms keep the honey from the moisture; the honey yielded +by it, is of a very superior quality. If any plant which does not in +itself make a valuable crop, would justify cultivation, there is no +doubt that borage would. An acre of it would support a large number of +stocks. If in a village those who keep bees would unite together and +secure the sowing of an acre, in their immediate vicinity, each person +paying in proportion to the number of stocks kept, it might be found +profitable. The plants should have about two feet of space every way, +and after they covered the ground, would need no further attention. They +would come into full blossom, cultivated in this manner, about the time +that the white clover begins to fail, and would not only furnish rich +pasture for the bees, but would keep them from the groceries and shops +in which so many perish. + +If those who are engaged in adorning our villages and country residences +with shade trees, would be careful to set out a liberal allowance of +such kinds as are not only beautiful to us, but attractive to the bees, +in process of time the honey resources of the country might be very +greatly increased. + + +OVERSTOCKING A DISTRICT WITH BEES. + +I come now to a point of the very first importance to all interested in +the cultivation of bees. If the opinions which the great majority of +American bee-keepers entertain, are correct, then the keeping of bees +must, in our country, be always an insignificant pursuit. I confess that +I find it difficult to repress a smile, when the owner of a few hives, +in a district where as many hundreds might be made to prosper, gravely +imputes his ill success, to the fact that too many bees are kept in his +vicinity! The truth is, that as bees are frequently managed, they are of +but little value, even though in "a land flowing with milk and honey." +If in the Spring, a colony of bees is prosperous and healthy, (see p. +207) it will gather abundant stores, even if hundreds equally strong, +are in its immediate vicinity, while if it is feeble, it will be of +little or no value, even if there is not another swarm within a dozen +miles of it. + +Success in bee-keeping requires that a man should be in some things, a +very close imitator of Napoleon, who always aimed to have an +overwhelming force, at the right time and in the right place; so the +bee-keeper must be sure that his colonies are numerous, just at the time +when their numbers can be turned to the best account. If the bees cannot +get up their numbers until the honey-harvest is well nigh gone, numbers +will then be of as little service as many of the famous armies against +which "the soldier of Europe" contended; which, after the fortunes of +the campaign were decided, only served to swell the triumphant spoils of +the mighty conqueror. A bee-keeper with feeble stocks in the Spring, +which become strong only when there is nothing to get, is like a farmer +who contrives to hire no hands to reap his harvests, but suffers the +crops to rot upon the ground, and then at great expense, hires a number +of stalworth laborers to idle about his premises and eat him out of +house and home! + +I do not believe that there is a _single square mile_ in this whole +country, which is overstocked with bees, unless it is one so unsuitable +for bee-keeping as to make it unprofitable to attempt it at all. Such an +assertion will doubtless, appear to many, very unguarded; and yet it is +made advisedly, and I am happy to be able to confirm it, by reference to +the experience of the largest cultivators in Europe. The following +letter from Mr. Wagner, will I trust, do more than I can possibly do in +any other way, to show our bee-keepers how mistaken they are in their +opinion as to the danger of overstocking their districts, and also what +large results might be obtained from a more extensive cultivation of +bees. + + YORK, March 16, 1853. + DEAR SIR: + +In reply to your enquiry respecting the _overstocking_ of a district, I +would say that the present opinion of the correspondents of the +Bienenzeitung, appears to be that it _cannot readily be done_. Dzierzon +says, in practice at least, "_it never is done_;" and Dr. Radlkofer, of +Munich, the President of the second Apiarian Convention, declares that +his apprehensions on that score were dissipated by observations which he +had opportunity and occasion to make, when on his way home from the +Convention. I have numerous accounts of Apiaries in pretty close +proximity, containing from 200 to 300 colonies each. Ehrenfels had a +thousand hives, at three separate establishments indeed, but so close to +each other that he could visit them all in half an hour's ride; and he +says that in 1801, the average net yield of his Apiaries was $2 per +hive. In Russia and Hungary, Apiaries numbering from 2000 to 5000 +colonies are said not to be unfrequent; and we know that as many as 4000 +hives are oftentimes congregated, in Autumn, at one point on the heaths +of Germany. Hence I think we need not fear that any district of this +country, so distinguished for abundant natural vegetation and +diversified culture, will very speedily be overstocked, particularly +after the importance of having stocks populous early in the Spring, +comes to be duly appreciated. A week or ten days of favorable weather, +at that season, when pasturage abounds, will enable a _strong_ colony to +lay up an ample supply for the year, if its labor be properly directed. + +Mr. Kaden, one of the ablest contributors to the Bienenzeitung, in the +number for December, 1852, noticing the communication from Dr. +Radlkofer, says: "I also concur in the opinion that a district of +country cannot be overstocked with bees; and that, however numerous the +colonies, all can procure sufficient sustenance if the surrounding +country contain honey-yielding plants and vegetables, in the usual +degree. Where utter barrenness prevails, the case is different, of +course, as well as rare." + +The Fifteenth Annual Meeting of German Agriculturists was held in the +City of Hanover, on the 10th of September, 1852, and in compliance with +the suggestions of the Apiarian Convention, a distinct section devoted +to bee-culture was instituted. The programme propounded sixteen +questions for discussion, the fourth of which was as follows:-- + +"Can a district of country embracing meadows, arable land, orchards, and +woodlands or forests, be so overstocked with bees, that these may no +longer find adequate sustenance and yield a remunerating surplus of +their products?" + +This question was debated with considerable animation. The Rev. Mr. +Kleine, (nine-tenths of the correspondents of the Bee-Journal are +clergyman,) President of the section, gave it as his opinion that "it +was hardly conceivable that such a country could be overstocked with +bees." Counsellor Herwig, and the Rev. Mr. Wilkens, on the contrary, +maintained that "it might be overstocked." In reply, Assessor Heyne +remarked that "whatever might be supposed possible as an extreme case, +it was certain that as regards the kingdom of Hanover, it could not be +even remotely apprehended that too many Apiaries would ever be +established; and that consequently the greatest possible multiplication +of colonies might safely be aimed at and encouraged." At the same time, +he advised a proper distribution of Apiaries. + +I might easily furnish you with more matter of this sort, and designate +a considerable number of Apiaries in various parts of Germany, +containing from 25 to 500 colonies. But the question would still recur, +do not these Apiaries occupy comparatively isolated positions? and at +this distance from the scene, it would obviously be impossible to give a +perfectly satisfactory answer. + +According to the statistical tables of the kingdom of Hannover, the +annual production of bees-wax in the province of Lunenburg, is 300,000 +lbs., about one half of which is exported; and assuming one pound of wax +as the yield of each hive, we must suppose that 300,000 hives are +annually "_brimstoned_" in the province; and assuming further, in view +of casualties, local influences, unfavorable seasons, &c., that only +one-half of the whole number of colonies maintained, produce a swarm +each, every year, it would require a total of at least 600,000 colonies, +(141, to each square mile,) to secure the result given in the tables. + +The number of square miles stocked even to this extent, in this country, +are, I suspect, "few and far between." The Shakers at Lebanon, have +about 600 colonies; but I doubt whether a dozen Apiaries equally large +can be found in the Union. It is very evident, that this country is far +from being overstocked; nor it is likely that it ever will be. + +A German writer alleges that "the bees of Lunenburg, pay all the taxes +assessed on their proprietors, and leave a surplus besides." The +importance attached to bee-culture accounts in part for the remarkable +fact that the people of a district so barren that it has been called +"the Arabia of Germany," are almost without exception in easy and +comfortable circumstances. Could not still more favorable results be +obtained in this country under a rational system of management, availing +itself of the aid of science, art and skill? + +But, I am digressing. My design was to furnish you with an account of +bee-culture as it exists _in an entire district of country_, in the +hands of _the common peasantry_. This I thought would be more +satisfactory, and convey a better idea of what may be done on a large +scale, than any number of instances which might be selected of splendid +success in isolated cases. + + Very truly yours, + SAMUEL WAGNER. + REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. + +The question how far bees will fly in search of honey, has been very +differently answered by different Apiarians. I am satisfied that they +will fly over three miles in search of food, but I believe as a general +rule, that if their food is not within a circle of about two miles in +every direction from the Apiary, they will be able to store up but +little surplus honey. The nearer, the better. In all my arrangements, +(see p. 96.) I have made it a constant study to save _every step_ for +the bees that I possibly can, economizing to the very utmost, their +time, which will all be transmuted into honey; an inspection of the +Frontispiece of this treatise will exhibit the general aspect of the +alighting board of my hives, and will show the intelligent Apiarian, +with what ease bees will enter such a hive, even in very windy weather. +By such arrangements, they will be able to store up more honey, even if +they have to go a considerable distance in search of it, than they would +in many other hives, when the honey abounded in their more immediate +vicinity. Such considerations are entirely overlooked, by most +bee-keepers, and they seem to imagine that they are matters of no +importance. By the utter neglect of any kind of precautions to +facilitate the labors of their bees, you might suppose that they +imagined these delicate insects to be possessed of nerves of steel and +sinews of iron or adamant; or else that they took them for miniature +locomotives, always fired up and capable of an indefinite amount of +exertion. A bee _cannot_ put forth more than a certain amount of +physical exertion, and if a large portion of this is spent in absolutely +fighting against difficulties, from which it might easily be guarded, it +must be very obvious to any one who thinks on the subject at all, that a +great loss must be sustained by its owner. + +If some of these thoughtless owners returning home with a heavy burden, +were compelled to fall down stairs half a dozen times before they could +get into the house, they might perhaps think it best to guard their +industrious workers against such discouraging accidents. If bees are +tossed violently about by the winds, as they attempt to enter their +hives, they are often fatally injured, and the whole colony so +_discouraged_, to say nothing more, that they do not gather near so much +as they otherwise would. + +The arrangement of my Protector is such that the bees, if blown down, +fall upon a sloping bank of soft grass, and are able to enter the hives +without much inconvenience. + +Just as soon as our cultivators can be convinced, by practical results, +that bee-keeping, for the capital invested, may be made a most +profitable branch of rural economy, they will see the importance of +putting their bees into suitable hives, and of doing all that they can, +to give them a fair chance; until then, the mass of them will follow the +beaten track, and attribute their ill success, not to their own +ignorance, carelessness or stupidity, but to their want of "luck," or to +the overstocking of the country with bees. I hope, before many years, to +see the price of good honey so reduced that the poor man can place it on +his table and feast upon it, as one of the cheapest luxuries within his +reach. + +On page 20, a statement was given of Dzierzon's experience as to the +profits of bee-keeping. The section of country in which he resides, is +regarded by him as unfavorable to Apiarian pursuits. I shall now give +what I consider a safe estimate for almost any section in our country; +while in unusually favorable locations it will fall far below the +results which may be attained. It is based upon the supposition that the +bees are kept in properly constructed hives so as to be strong early in +the season, and that the increase of stocks is limited to one new one +from two old ones. Under proper management, one year with another, +about ten dollars worth of honey may be obtained for every two stocks +wintered over. The worth of the new colonies, I set off as an equivalent +for labor of superintendence, and interest on the money invested in +bees, hives, fixtures, &c. + +A careful, prudent man who will enter into bee-keeping moderately at +first, and extend his operations only as his skill and experience +increase, will, by the use of my hives, find that the preceding estimate +is not too large. Even on the ordinary mode of bee-keeping, there are +many who will consider it rather below than above the mark. If +thoroughly careless persons are determined to "try their luck," as they +call it, with bees, I advise them by all means, in mercy to the bees, to +adopt the non-swarming plan. Improved methods of management with such +persons will be of little or no use, unless you could improve their +habits first, and very often their brains too! Every dollar that such +persons spend upon bees, unless with the slightest possible departure +from the old-fashioned plans, is a dollar worse than thrown away. In +those parts of Europe where bee-keeping is carried on upon the largest +scale, the mass adhere to the old system; this they understand, and by +this they secure a certainty, whereas in our country, thousands have +been induced to enter upon the wildest schemes, or at least to use hives +which could not furnish them the very information needed for their +successful management. A simple box furnished with my frames, will +enable the masses, without departing materially from the common system, +to increase largely the yield from their bees. + +In addition to the information given in the Introduction, respecting the +success of Dzierzon's system of management, I have recently ascertained +that one of its ablest opponents in Germany, has become thoroughly +convinced of its superior value. The Government of Norway has +appropriated $300, per annum, for the ensuing three years, towards +diffusing a knowledge of Dzierzon's method, in that country; having +previously despatched Mr. Hanser, Collector of Customs, to Silesia to +visit Mr. Dzierzon, and acquire a practical knowledge of his system of +management. He is now employed in distributing model hives, in the +provinces, and imparting information on improved bee-culture. + + NOTE.--The time has hardly come when the attention of any of our + State authorities can be attracted to the importance of bee-culture. + It is only of late that they have seemed to manifest any peculiar + interest in promoting the advancement of agricultural pursuits. A + Department of Agriculture ought to have been established, years ago, + by the National Government at Washington. Let us hope that the + Administration now in power, will establish a lasting claim to the + gratitude of posterity, by taking wise and efficient steps to + advance the agricultural interests of the country. A National + Society to promote these interests has recently been established, + and much may be hoped from its wisdom and energy. Until some + disinterested tribunal can be established, before which all + inventions and discoveries can be fairly tested, honest men will + suffer, and ignorance and imposture will continue to flourish. Lying + advertisements and the plausible misrepresentations of brazen-faced + impostors, will still drain the purses of the credulous, while + thousands, disgusted with the horde of impositions which are palmed + off upon the community, will settle down into a dogged determination + to try nothing new. A society before which every thing, claiming to + be an improvement in rural economy, could be fairly tested, would + undoubtedly be shunned by ignorant and unprincipled men, who now find + it an easy task to procure any number of certificates, but who dread + nothing so much as honest and intelligent investigation. The reports + of such a society after the most thorough trials and examinations, + would inspire confidence, save the community from severe losses, and + encourage the ablest minds to devote their best energies to the + improvement of agricultural implements. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE ANGER OF BEES. REMEDY FOR THEIR STING. BEE-DRESS. INSTINCTS OF BEES. + + +If the bee was disposed to use, without any provocation, the effective +weapon with which it has been provided, its domestication would be +entirely out of the question. The same remark however, is equally true +of the ox, the horse or the dog. If these faithful servants of man were +respectively determined to use, to the very utmost their horns, their +heels and their teeth, to his injury, he would never have been able to +subject them to his peaceful authority. The gentleness of the honey-bee, +when kindly treated, and managed by those who properly understand its +instincts, has in this treatise been frequently spoken of, and is truly +astonishing. They will, especially in swarming time, or whenever they +are gorged with honey, allow any amount of handling which does not hurt +them, without the slightest show of anger. For the gratification of +others, I have frequently taken them up, by handfuls, suffered them to +run over my face, and even smoothed down their glossy backs as they +rested on my person! Standing before the hives, I have, by a rapid sweep +of my hands, caught numbers of them at once, just as though they were so +many harmless flies, and allowed them, one by one, to crawl out, by the +smallest opening, to the light of day; and I have even gone so far as to +imitate many of the feats which the celebrated English Apiarian, +Wildman, was accustomed to perform; who having once secured the queen of +a hive, could make the bees cluster on his head, or hang, like a flowing +beard, in large festoons, from his chin. Wildman, for a long time, made +as great a mystery of his wonderful performances, as the spirit-rappers +of the present day, do of theirs; but at last, he was induced to explain +his whole mode of procedure; and the magic control which he possessed +over the bees, and which was, by the ignorant, ascribed to his having +bewitched them, was found to be owing entirely to his superior +acquaintance with their instincts, and his uncommon dexterity and +boldness. + + "Such was the spell, which round a Wildman's arm + Twin'd in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm; + Bright o'er his breast the glittering legions led, + Or with a living garland bound his head. + His dextrous hand, with firm yet hurtless hold, + Could seize the chief, known by her scales of gold, + Prune 'mid the wondering train her filmy wing, + Or o'er her folds the silken fetter fling." + _Evans._ + +M. Lombard, a skillful French Apiarian narrates the following +interesting occurrence, which shows how peaceable bees are in swarming +time, and how easily managed by those who have both skill and +confidence. + +"A young girl of my acquaintance," he says, "was greatly afraid of bees, +but was completely cured of her fear by the following incident. A swarm +having come off, I observed the queen alight by herself at a little +distance from the Apiary. I immediately called my little friend that I +might show her the queen; she wished to see her more nearly, so after +having caused her to put on her gloves, I gave the queen into her hand. +We were in an instant surrounded by the whole bees of the swarm. In this +emergency I encouraged the girl to be steady, bidding her be silent and +fear nothing, and remaining myself close by her; I then made her stretch +out her right hand, which held the queen, and covered her head and +shoulders with a very thin handkerchief. The swarm soon fixed on her +hand and hung from it, as from the branch of a tree. The little girl was +delighted above measure at the novel sight, and so entirely freed from +all fear, that she bade me uncover her face. The spectators were charmed +with the interesting spectacle. At length I brought a hive, and shaking +the swarm from the child's hand, it was lodged in safety, and without +inflicting a single wound." + +The indisposition of bees to sting, when swarming, is a fact familiar to +every practical bee-keeper: but I have not in all my reading or +acquaintance with Apiarians, ever met with a single observation which +has convinced me that the philosophy of this strange fact was thoroughly +understood. As far as I know, I am the only person who has ever +ascertained that when bees are filled with honey, they lose all +disposition to volunteer an assault, and who has made this curious law +the foundation of an extensive and valuable system of practical +management. It was only after I had thoroughly tested its universality +and importance, that I began to feel the desirableness of obtaining a +perfect control over each comb in the hive; for it was only then that I +saw that such control might be made available, in the hands of any one +who could manage bees in the ordinary way. The result of my whole +system, is to make the bees unusually gentle, so that they are not only +peaceable when any necessary operation is being performed, but at all +other times. Even if I could open hives and safely manage at pleasure, +still if the result of such proceedings was to leave the bees in an +excited state, so as to make them unusually irritable, it would all +avail but very little. + +There is, however, one difficulty in managing bees so as not to incur +the risk of being stung at all, which attaches to every system of +bee-culture. If an Apiary is approached when the bees are out in great +numbers, thousands and tens of thousands will continue their busy +pursuits without at all interfering with those who do not molest them. +Frequently, however, there will be a few cross bees which come buzzing +around our ears, and seem determined to sting without the very slightest +provocation. From such lawless bees no person without a bee-dress is +absolutely safe. By repeated examinations I have ascertained that +_disease_ is the cause of such unreasonable irritability. I am never +afraid that a healthy bee will attack me unless unusually provoked; and +am always sure as soon as I hear one singing about my ears that it is +incurably diseased. If such a bee is dissected it will be found to +exhibit the unmistakable evidence that a peculiar kind of dysentery has +already fastened upon its system. In the first stages of this complaint +the insect is very irritable, refuses to labor, and seems unable or +unwilling to distinguish friend from foe. As the disease progresses, it +becomes stupid, its body swells up, and is filled with a great mass of +yellow matter, and being unable to fly, it crawls on the ground, in +front of the hive, and speedily perishes. I have never been able to +ascertain the cause of this singular malady, nor can I suggest any +remedy for it. I hope that some scientific Apiarians will investigate it +closely, for if it could only be remedied, we might have hundreds of +colonies on our premises and in our gardens, and yet be perfectly safe. + +A person thoroughly acquainted with the leading principles of +bee-culture as they are set forth in this Manual, will _never under any +circumstances_ find it necessary to provoke to fury a colony of bees. +Let it be remembered that nothing can be more terribly vindictive than +a family of bees when thoroughly aroused by gross abuse or unskillful +treatment. Let their hive be suddenly overthrown or violently jarred, or +let them be provoked by the presence of a sweaty horse, or any animal +offensive to them, so that the anger at first manifested by a few, is +extended to the whole community, and the most severe and sometimes +dangerous consequences may ensue. In the same way in the management of +the animals most useful to man, by ignorance or abuse, they may be +roused to a state of frantic desperation, and limbs may be broken, and +often lives destroyed; and yet no one possessed of common sense, +attributes such calamities, except in very rare instances, to any thing +else than carelessness or want of skill. Let it be remembered that even +the most peaceable stock of bees can, in a very few days, by abusive +treatment be taught to look on every living thing as an enemy, and to +sally forth with the most spiteful intentions, as soon as any one +approaches their domicile. How often does it happen that the vicious +beast, which its owner so passionately belabors, is far less to blame +for its obstinacy, than the equally vicious brute who so unmercifully +beats it! + +A word now to those timid females who are almost ready to faint, or to +go into hysterics if a bee enters the house, or approaches them in the +garden or fields. Such alarm is entirely uncalled for. It is only in the +vicinity of their homes, and in resistance to what they consider an evil +design upon their very altars and firesides that these insects ever +volunteer an attack. Away from home, they are as peaceably inclined as +you could desire. If you attack them, they are much more eager to escape +than to offer you any annoyance, and they can be induced to sting, only +when they are compressed, either by accident or design. + +Let not any of my readers think that they have even a slight +encouragement, from this conduct of the bee, to reserve all their sweet +smiles and honied words for the world abroad, while they give free vent, +in the sacred precincts of home, to ill-natured looks and ill-tempered +language; for towards the occupants of its honied dome, the bee is all +kindness and affection. In the experience of many years I never saw an +instance in which two bees, members of the same family, ever seemed to +be actuated by any but the very kindest feelings toward each other. In +their busy haste they often jostle against each other, but where every +thing is well meant, every thing is well received: tens of thousands all +live together in the sweetest harmony and peace, when very often if +there are only two or three children in a family, the whole household is +tormented by their constant bickerings and contention. Among the bees +the good mother is the honored queen of her happy family; they all wait +upon her steps with unbounded reverence and affection, make way for her +as she moves over the combs, smooth and brush her beautiful plumes, +offer her food from time to time, and in short do all that they possibly +can to make her perfectly happy; while too often children treat their +mothers with irreverence or neglect, and instead of striving with loving +zeal to lighten their labors and save their steps, they treat them more +as though they were servants hired only to wait upon every whim and to +humor every caprice. + +Let us pause for a moment, and contemplate further the admirable +arrangement by which the instinct of the bee which disposes it to defend +its treasures, is made so perfectly compatible with the safety both of +man and the domestic animals under his care. Suppose that away from +home, bees were as easily provoked, as they are in the immediate +vicinity of their hives, what would become of our domestic animals among +the clover fields in the pastures? A tithe of the merry gambols they now +so safely indulge in, would speedily bring about them a swarm of these +infuriated insects. In all our rambles among the green fields, we should +constantly be in peril; and no jocund mower would ever whet his +glittering scythe, or swing his peaceful weapon, unless first clad in a +dress impervious to their stings. In short, the bee, instead of being +the friend of man, would be one of his most vexatious enemies, and as +has been the case with the wolves and the bears, every effort would be +made for their utter extermination. + +The sting of a bee often produces very painful, and upon some persons, +very dangerous effects. I am persuaded, from the result of my own +observation, that the bee seldom stings those whose systems are not +sensitive to its venom, while it seems to take a special and malicious +pleasure in attacking those upon whom it produces the most painful +effects! It may be that something in the secretions of such persons both +provokes the attack, and causes its consequences to be more severe. + +I should not advise persons upon whose system the sting of a bee +produces the most agonizing pain, and violent, if not dangerous +symptoms, to devote any attention to the practical part of an Apiary; +although I am acquainted with a lady who is thus severely affected, and +who yet, strange to say, is a great enthusiast in Apiarian pursuits! I +have met with individuals, upon whom a sting produced the singular +effect of causing their breath to smell like the venom of the enraged +insect! The smell of the poison resembles almost perfectly that of a +ripe banana. It produces a very irritating effect upon the bees +themselves; for if a minute drop of it is extended to them, on a stick, +they at once manifest the most decided anger. + +It is well known that the bee is a lover of sweet odors, and that +unpleasant ones are very apt to excite its anger. And here I may as well +speak plainly, and say that bees have a special dislike to persons whose +habits are not cleanly, and particularly to those who bear about them, a +perfume not in the very least resembling those + + "Sabean odors + From the spicy shores of Araby the blest," + +of which the poet so beautifully discourses. Those who belong to the +family of the "great unwashed," will find to their cost that bees are +decided foes to all of their tribe. The peculiar odor of some persons, +however cleanly, may account for the fact that the bees have such a +decided antipathy to their presence, in the vicinity of their hives. It +is related of an enthusiastic Apiarian, that after a long and severe +attack of fever, he was never able to take any more pleasure in his +bees; his secretions seem to have undergone some change, so that the +bees assailed him as soon as he ventured to approach their hives. + +Nothing is more offensive to bees than the impure breath exhaled from +human lungs; it excites them at once to fury. Would that in their hatred +for impure air, human beings had only a tithe of the sagacity exercised +by bees! It would not be long before the thought of breathing air loaded +with all manner of impurities from human lungs, to say nothing of its +loss of oxygen, would excite unutterable loathing and disgust. + +As the smell of a sweaty horse is very offensive to the bees, it is +never safe to allow these animals to go near a hive, as they are +sometimes attacked and killed by the furious insects. Those engaged in +bee-culture on a large scale, will do well to enclose their Apiaries +with a strong fence, so as to prevent cattle from molesting the hives. +If the Apiary is enclosed by a high fence, with sharp and strong +pickets, and the door is furnished with a strong lock, it will prevent +the losses which in some localities are so common from human pilferers. +Such losses may be guarded against, by fastening a wrought iron ring +into the top of each hive, well clinched on the inside; an iron rod may +run through these rings, and thus with two padlocks and fixtures, (one +at each end,) a dozen or more hives may be secured. I am happy to say +that in most localities such precautions are entirely unnecessary. A +place in which the stealing of honey and fruit is practiced by any +except those who are candidates for State's Prison, is in a fair way of +being soon considered as a very undesirable place of residence. If +owners of Apiaries, gardens and orchards, could be induced to pursue a +more liberal policy, and not be so meanly penurious as they often are, I +am persuaded that they would find it conduce very highly to their +interests. The honey and fruit expended with a cheerful, hearty +liberality, would be more than repaid to them in the good will secured, +and in the end would cost much less than bars and bolts. Reader! do not +imagine that I have the least idea that a thoroughly selfish man, can +ever be made to practice this or any other doctrine of benevolence. +Demonstrate it again and again, until even to his narrow and contracted +view it seems almost as clear as light, still he will never find the +heart to reduce it to practice. You might almost as well expect to +transform an incarnate fiend into an angel of light, by demonstrating +that "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness," while "the path of the +transgressor is hard," as to attempt to stamp upon a heart encrusted +with the adamant of selfishness, the noble impress of a liberal spirit. + +Of all the senses, that of smell in the bee, seems to be the most +perfect. Huber has demonstrated its exceeding acuteness, by numerous +interesting experiments. If honey is placed in vessels from which the +odor can escape, but in which it cannot be seen, the bees will soon +alight upon them and eagerly attempt to find an entrance. It is by this +sense, unquestionably, that they recognize the members of their own +community, although it seems to us very singular that each colony should +have its own peculiar scent. Not only can two colonies be safely united +by giving them the same odor, but in the same way any number of colonies +may be made to live in perfect peace. If hundreds of hives are all +connected by gauze wire ventilators, so that the air passes freely from +one to another, the bees will all live in absolute harmony, and if any +bee attempts to enter the wrong hive, he will not be molested. The same +result can often be attained by feeding colonies from a common vessel. I +have seen literally hundreds of thousands of bees that after being +treated in this way so as to acquire the same odor, were always gentle +towards each other, while if a single bee from a strange Apiary, lit +upon the feeder, it was sure to be killed. + +I have described, (p. 213,) the use which I make of peppermint, in order +to prevent bees from quarreling when they are united. The Rev. Mr. +Kleine, (see p. 359,) in a recent number of the Bienenzeitung, has +recommended the use of another article, which he finds to be very useful +in preventing robbing. His statement would have come in more +appropriately in the Chapter on Robbing, but was not received until too +late. He says that the most convenient and effectual mode of arresting +and repelling the attacks of robbers, is, to impart to the attacked hive +some intensely powerful and unaccustomed odor. He effects this most +readily, by placing a small portion of _musk_ in the attacked hive, late +in the evening, when all the robbers have retreated. On the following +morning, the bees, (provided they have a healthy queen,) will promptly +and boldly meet their assailants, and these in turn are non-plussed by +the unwonted odor, and if any of them enter the hive and carry off some +of the coveted booty, they will not be recognized nor received at home +on their return, on account of their strange smell, but will be at once +seized as strangers, and killed by their own household. Thus the robbing +is speedily brought to a close. + +In combination with my blocks, this device might be made very effectual. +When the Apiarian perceives that a hive is being robbed, let him shut up +the entrance: before dusk he can open it and allow the robbers to go +home, and then: put in a small piece of musk: the entrance next day may +be kept so contracted that only a single bee can enter at once. In the +union of stocks the same substance might be used advantageously. A short +time before the process is attempted, each colony might have a small +dose of musk (a piece of musk tied up in a little bag,) and they would +then be sure to agree. I prefer, however, in most cases, the use of +scented sugar-water. + +By using my double hives, and putting a small piece of gauze-wire on an +opening made in the partition, the two colonies having the same scent +will always agree; this will be very convenient where they are compelled +to live as such near neighbors, and enables the Apiarian at any time to +unite them and appropriate their surplus stores. These double hives are +admirably adapted to the wants of those who wish to make the smallest +possible departure from the old system, as they need make no change, +except to unite the stocks instead of killing the bees. + +I have already remarked that no operation should ever be attempted upon +bees, by which a whole colony is liable to be excited to an ungovernable +pitch of fury. Such operations are _never_ necessary; and a skillful +Apiarian will, by availing himself of the principles laid down in this +Treatise, both easily and safely do everything that is at all desirable, +even to the driving of a powerful colony from an old box hive. When bees +are improperly dealt with, they will "compass" their assailant "about," +with the most savage ferocity, and woe be to him if they can creep up +his clothes, or find on his person a single unprotected spot! On the +contrary, when not provoked by foolish management or wanton abuse, the +few who are bent on mischief, appear to retain still some touch of +grace, amid all their desperation. Like the thorough bred scold, who by +the elevated pitch of her voice, often gives timely warning to those who +would escape from the sharp sword of her tongue, a bee bent upon +mischief raises its note almost an octave above the peaceable pitch, and +usually gives us timely warning, that it means to sting, if it can. Even +then, it will seldom proceed to extremities, unless it can leave its +sting somewhere upon the face of its victim, and usually as near as +possible to the eye; for bees and all other members of the stinging +tribe, seem to have, as it were, an intuitive perception that this is +the most vulnerable spot upon the "human face divine." If the head is +quietly lowered, and the face covered with the hands, they will often +follow a person for some rods, all the time sounding their war note in +his ears, taunting him for his sneaking conduct, and daring him, just +for one single moment, to look up and allow them to catch but a glimpse +of his coward face! + +If a person is suddenly attacked by angry bees, no matter how numerous +or vindictive they may be, not the slightest attempt should ever be made +to act on the offensive. If a single bee is violently struck at, a dozen +will soon be on hand to avenge the insult, and if the resistance is +still continued, hundreds and at last thousands will join in the +attack. The assailed party should quickly retreat from the vicinity of +the hives, to the protection of a building, or if none is near, he +should hide himself in a clump of bushes, and lie perfectly still, with +his head covered, until the bees leave him. + + +REMEDIES FOR THE STING OF A BEE. + +If only a few of the host of remedies, so zealously advocated, could be +made effectual, few persons would have much reason to dread being stung. +Most of them, however, are of no manner of use whatever. Like the +prescriptions of the quack, they are absolutely worse than doing nothing +at all. + +The first thing to be done after being stung, is to pull the sting out +of the wound _as quickly as possible_. Even after it is torn from the +body of the bee, (see p. 60,) the muscles which control it, are in +active operation, and it penetrates deeper and deeper into the flesh, +injecting continually more and more of its poison into the wound. Every +Apiarian should have about his person, or close at hand, a small piece +of looking-glass, so that he may be able with the least possible delay +to find and remove a sting. In most cases if it is at once removed, it +will produce no serious consequences; whereas if suffered to empty all +its vials of wrath, it may cause great inflammation and severe +suffering. After the sting is removed, the utmost possible care should +be taken, not to irritate the wound by the very _slightest rubbing_. +However intense the smarting, and of course the disposition to apply +friction to the wound, it should never be done, as the poison will at +once be carried through the circulating system, and severe consequences +may ensue. As most of the popular remedies are rubbed in, they are of +course worse than nothing. Be careful not to _suck_ the wound as so many +persons do; this produces irritation in the same way with rubbing. Who +does not know that a musquito bite, even after the lapse of several +days, may be brought to life again, by violent rubbing or sucking? The +moment that the blood is put into a violent and unnatural circulation, +the poison is quickly diffused over a considerable part of the system. +If the mouth is applied to the wound, other unpleasant consequences may +ensue. While the poison of most snakes and many other noxious animals +affects only the circulating system, and may therefore be swallowed with +impunity, the poison of the bee acts powerfully, not only upon the +circulating system, but upon the organs of digestion. The most +distressing head-aches are often produced by it. + +From my own experience, I recommend _cold water_ as the very best remedy +with which I am acquainted, for the sting of a bee. It is often applied +in the shape of a plaster of mud, but may be better used by wetting +cloths and holding them gently to the wound. Cold water seems to act in +two ways. The poison of the bee being very volatile, is quickly +dissolved in water; and the coldness of the water has also a powerful +tendency to check inflammation and to prevent the virus from being taken +up by the absorbents and carried through the system. The leaves of the +plantain, crushed and applied to the wound, will answer as a very good +substitute when water cannot at once be procured. The broad-leafed +plantain, or as some call it, "the toad plantain," is regarded by many +as possessing a very great efficacy. Bevan recommends the use of spirits +of hartshorn, applied to the wound, and says that in cases of severe +stinging its internal use is beneficial. Whatever remedy is applied, +should be used if possible, without a moment's delay. The immediate +extraction of the sting, will be found, even if nothing more is done, +much more efficacious than any remedy that can be applied, after it has +been allowed to remain and discharge all its venom into the wound. + +It may be some comfort to those who are anxious to cultivate bees, to +know that after a while the poison will produce less and less effect +upon their system. When I first became interested in bees, a sting was +quite a formidable thing, the pain often being very intense, and the +wound swelling so as sometimes to obstruct my sight. At present, the +pain is usually slight, and if I can only succeed in quickly extracting +the sting, no unpleasant consequences ensue, even if no remedies are +used. Huish speaks of seeing the bald head of Bonner, a celebrated +practical Apiarian, lined with bee stings which seemed to produce upon +him no unpleasant effects. Like Mithridates, king of Pontus, he seemed +almost to thrive upon poison itself! + +I have met with a highly amusing remedy very gravely propounded by an +old English Apiarian. I mention it more as a matter of curiosity, than +because I imagine that any of my readers will be likely to make trial of +it. He says, let the person who has been stung, catch as speedily as +possible, another bee, and make it sting on the same spot! It requires +some courage even in an enthusiastic disciple of Huber, to venture upon +such a singular homeopathic remedy; but as this old writer had +previously stated that the oftener a person was stung, the less he +suffered from the venom, and as I had proved, in my own experience, the +truth of this assertion, I determined to make trial of his remedy. I +allowed a bee to sting me upon the finger and suffered the sting to +remain until it had discharged all its venom. I then compelled another +bee to insert its sting as near as possible in the same spot. I used no +remedies of any kind, and had the satisfaction, in my zeal for new +discoveries, of suffering more from the pain and swelling, than I had +previously experienced for years. + +An old writer recommends a powder of dried bees, for distressing cases +of stoppages; and some of the highest medical authorities have recently +recommended a tea made by pouring boiling water upon bees, for the same +complaint, while the homeopathic physicians employ the poison of the +bee, which they call _apis_, for a great variety of maladies. That it is +capable of producing intense head-aches any one who has been stung, or +who has tasted the poison, very well knows. + + +BEE-DRESS. + +Timid Apiarians, and all who are liable to suffer severely from the +sting of a bee, should by all means furnish themselves with the +protection of a bee-dress. The great objection to gauze-wire veils or +other materials of which such a dress has been usually made, is that +they obstruct clear vision, so highly important in all operations, +besides producing such excessive heat and perspiration, as to make the +Apiarian peculiarly offensive to the bees. I prefer to use what I shall +call a _bee-hat_, of entirely novel construction. It is made of wire +cloth, the meshes of which are too fine to admit a bee, and yet coarse +enough to allow a free circulation of air, and to permit distinct sight. +The wire cloth should first be fastened together in a circular shape, +like a hat, and large enough to go very easily over the head; its top +may be of cotton cloth, and it should have the same material fastened +around its lower edge, and furnished with strings to draw it so closely +around the neck and shoulders that a bee cannot creep under it. Woolen +stockings may then be drawn over the hands, or better still, India +Rubber gloves, such as are now in very common use, may be worn; these +gloves are impenetrable to the sting of a bee, and yet are so soft and +pliant as scarcely in the least to interfere with the operations of the +Apiarian. + +If it were not for the diseased bees of which I have several times +spoken, such precautions would be entirely unnecessary. The best +Apiarians as it is, dispense with them, even at the cost of a sting now +and then. + + +INSTINCTS OF BEES. + +This treatise has already grown to such a length, that I must be +exceedingly brief on a point peculiarly interesting to all who delight +in investigating the wonders of the insect world. In the preceding parts +of the work, numerous proofs have been given of the refined instincts of +the bee. It is impossible always to draw the line between instinct and +reason, and very often some of the actions of animals and insects appear +to be the result of a process of reasoning apparently almost the same +with the exercise of the reasoning faculty in man. "There is this +difference" says Mr. Spence, "between intellect in man, and the rest of +the animal creation. Their intellect teaches them to follow the lead of +their senses, and to make such use of the external world as their +appetites or instincts incline them to,--and _this is their wisdom_: +while the intellect of man, being associated with an immortal principle, +and connected with a world above that which his senses reveal to him, +can, by aid derived from Heaven, control those senses, and render them +obedient to the governing power of his nature; and _this is his +wisdom_." + +This subject has seldom been more happily expressed than by Mr. Spence. +The line of distinction between man and the lower orders of creation, is +not the mere fact that he reasons and they do not, but that he has a +moral and accountable nature, while they have nothing of the kind. + +"It will be evident," says Bevan, "that though I make a distinction +between the instinct and the reason of bees, I do not confound their +reason with the reason of man. But to obviate all possibility of +misconception, I will at once define my meaning, when I use the terms +insect reason and instinct." + +"By _reason_, I mean the power of making deductions from previous +experience or observation, and thereby of adapting means to ends. +_Instinct_ I regard as a disposition and power to perform certain +actions in the same uniform manner, depending upon nice mechanism and +having no reference either to observation or experience; operating on +the means, without anticipation of the end, incited by no hope, +controlled by no foreboding. Those who have attended to this subject, +will be aware that _insect reason_, as above defined, is more restricted +in its functions than _the reason of man_; to which is superadded the +power of distinguishing between the true and the false, and, according +to some metaphysicians, between right and wrong. Reason, in man, has a +regular growth and a slow progression; all the arts he practices evince +skill and dexterity, proportioned to the pains which have been taken in +acquiring them. In the lower links of creation, but little of this +gradual improvement is observable; their powers carry them almost +directly to their object. They are perfect, as Bacon says, in all their +members and organs from the very beginning." + + "Far different Man, to higher fates assign'd, + Unfolds with tardier step his Proteus mind, + With numerous Instincts fraught, that lose their force + Like shallow streams, divided in their course; + Long weak, and helpless, on the fostering breast, + In fond dependence leans the infant guest, + Till reason ripens what young impulse taught, + And builds, on sense, the lofty pile of thought; + From earth, sea, air, the quick perceptions rise, + And swell the mental fabric to the skies." + _Evans._ + +I shall here narrate a very remarkable instance of sagacity which seems +to approach as near to human reason, as any thing in the bee which has +ever fallen under my notice. In the year 1851, I had a small model hive +constructed, into which I temporarily placed a swarm of bees. The +particular object which I had in view, was to test the feasibility of +some plans which I had recently devised, for facilitating the storing of +honey in small tumblers. The bees, in a short time, filled the hive and +stored about a dozen glasses with honey. I was called away from them, +for a few days, and was much surprised, on my return, to find that the +honey which had been stored up in the hive and sealed over for Winter +use, was all gone, and the cells filled with eggs and young worms! The +hive stood in a covered bee house, and the bees had built a large +quantity of comb on the _outside_ of the hive, into which they had +transferred the honey taken from the interior. The object of this +unusual procedure was, beyond all question, to give the poor queen a +place within the hive for laying her eggs: for this purpose they +uncapped and emptied all the cells so carefully sealed over, instead of +using the new comb on the outside for the brood. + +Those who wish to study the Natural History of the honey-bee, to the +best advantage, will derive great aid in their investigations, from the +use of my _Observing Hives_. Each comb in these hives is attached to a +movable frame, and they all admit of easy removal. In this respect the +construction of the hive is entirely new, and while it greatly +facilitates the business of observation, it enables the Apiarian, on +the approach of cool weather, to transfer his bees from a hive in which +they cannot winter, to one of the common construction. As soon as the +weather in the Spring is sufficiently warm, they may again be placed in +the observing hive, in which, (as both sides of every comb admit of +inspection,) every bee can be seen, and all the wonders of the hive are +exposed to the full light of day; (see p. 24.) In the common observing +hives experiments are often conducted with great difficulty, by cutting +away parts of the comb, whereas in mine, they can all be performed by +the simple removal of one of the frames, and if the colony becomes +reduced in numbers, it may, in a few moments, be strengthened by helping +it to maturing brood from one of the other hives. A very intelligent +writer in a description of the different hives exhibited at the World's +Fair, in London, lamented that no method had yet been devised of +enabling bees to cluster, in cool weather, in an observing hive, and +that it was found next to impossible to preserve them in such hives over +Winter. By the use of the movable frames, this difficulty is entirely +obviated. + +I cannot allow this work to come to a close, without acknowledging my +great obligations to Mr. Samuel Wagner, of York, Pennsylvania. To him I +am indebted for a knowledge of Dzierzon's discoveries, and for many +valuable suggestions scattered throughout the Treatise. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Langstroth on the Hive and the +Honey-Bee, by L. L. 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