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diff --git a/34044.txt b/34044.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1a397e --- /dev/null +++ b/34044.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1669 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bee Hunting, by John Ready Lockard + +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: Bee Hunting + A Book of Valuable Information for Bee Hunters - Tell How + to Line Bees to Trees, Etc. + +Author: John Ready Lockard + +Release Date: October 8, 2010 [EBook #34044] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEE HUNTING *** + + + + +Produced by Linda M. Everhart, Blairstown, Missouri + + + + +BEE HUNTING + +A BOOK OF VALUABLE INFORMATION +FOR BEE HUNTERS--TELL HOW TO +LINE BEES TO TREES, ETC. + +BY +JOHN R. LOCKARD + +Published by +A. R. HARDING, Publisher +Columbus, Ohio + +Copyright 1908 +By A. R. HARDING PUB. CO. + + + +CONTENTS + + I. Bee Hunting + + II. Early Spring Hunting + + III. Bees Watering--How to Find Them + + IV. Hunting Bees from Sumac + + V. Hunting Bees from Buckwheat + + VI. Fall Hunting + + VII. Improved Method of Burning + + VIII. Facts About Line of Flight + + IX. Baits and Scents + + X. Cutting the Tree and Transferring + + XI. Customs and Ownership of Wild Bees + + XII. Benefactors and Their Inventions + + XIII. Bee Keeping for Profit + + + +SOME MEMORIES OF BEE HUNTING + +I was born in a little valley, hemmed in by mountains running north +and south on either side. It varies in width from one to three +miles from the foot of one range to the other. From my home I have +a clear view of these beautiful Mountains and, as these mountains +and lowlands teemed with game of all kind, and being heavily +timbered, made an ideal location for the home of the wild bee. From +early youth I loved to lure the wild turkey, stalk the deer and +line the bee to his home. Is it any wonder that after forty years +of undiminished passion for sports of this kind that I can +truthfully say there is scarcely a square rod of these mountains +that is not indelibly impressed on my mind in connection with some +of the above mentioned sports or pastimes? I will confine myself in +this work to the subject of Bee Hunting, believing it to be one of +the most fascinating and beneficial of pastimes. + + + +PREFACE + +In the preparation of this work, it has been my aim to instruct the +beginner in the art of bee hunting, rather than offer suggestions +to those who have served an apprenticeship at the fascinating +pastime. I do not wish to leave the impression that I think others +who have made this a study do not know enough on the subject to +give suggestions; far from it. But to be candid with each other, as +lovers of nature and her ways should be, even though we be veterans +in the business, by an exchange of ideas we can always learn +something new and of value. Many books on sports of various kinds +have been written, but outside of an occasional article in +periodicals devoted to bee literature, but little has been written +on the subject of bee hunting. Therefore, I have tried, in this +volume, Bee Hunting for Pleasure and Profit, to give a work in +compact form, the product of what I have learned along this line +during the forty years in nature's school room. + +Brother, if in reading these pages you find something that will be +of value to you, something that will inculcate a desire for manly +pastime and make your life brighter, then my aim will have been +reached. + +I am very truly yours, + +JOHN R LOCKARD. + + + +BEE HUNTING + + + +CHAPTER I. + +AN OLD BEE HUNTER. + +The bee hunters in my early days used one of two methods in hunting +the bee. The hunter would select a clear day, generally during +buckwheat bloom, and after determining on a course, sun them to the +tree. This was done by placing the hat or hand between the eye and +sun as close to the light as the eye would permit. If the hunter +knew the difference between the flight of a loaded bee and an +unloaded one he would keep on the course until the tree was +located. + +This method must undoubtedly be injurious to the eyes and I do not +follow this plan nor advise others to do so. The other method was +what was termed burning or baiting. A fire was built near where the +bee tree was supposed to be, large flat sand stones were placed on +the fire and heated. One of these was removed to some place clear +of trees and underbrush, some bee-comb, dampened with water, was +then placed on the stone, and when the fumes of the comb would go +off into the air any bees flying near were apt to be enticed to the +bait, which was sprinkled on a bunch of bushes and laid near the +stone. Many bees were found in this way, but if they went any great +distance two or more fires had to be built. This would require much +time and often the hunter, not being careful in extinguishing the +fire, the surrounding leaves would catch fire and a destructive +forest fire would result. Therefore it shall be my aim to eliminate +anything of an injurious or objectionable nature in the work I lay +before the reader. + +On a calm morning in the early part of November, I went to the top +of the mountain west of my home. The day was an ideal one. The +trees had shed their leaves, making a thick carpet over the earth. +It seemed that all nature was getting ready for a long winter +sleep. All flowers except a few bunches of mountain goldenrod were +dead. The bees seemed to be aware that their labors were about +ended and were eagerly looking for anything in shape of sweets that +would add to their store of supplies and thus help to tide over the +long winter. After arriving at the top of the mountain I built a +fire, heated a large flat stone and took some bee comb and +proceeded to follow the example before mentioned. After watching +quite a long time and not seeing any bees I was on the point of +giving it up, at this place at least, when that sound so delightful +to the ear of the bee hunter, the silvery tone of the bee in +flight, came to my ear. Several times the sound was repeated but so +far I had not got a sight of it. On looking over the top of the +bushes I saw two bees flying slowly, sometimes coming near the +bait, then darting away, then returning and finally settling down +on the bait. All was anxiety! I must be sure to see these two bees +take their homeward flight. In a very short time one of them slowly +raised from the bait, circled a time or two, and then darted away +so quickly that I knew not where. Now the other one won't escape me +so easily. But when I turned to look, she, too, was gone. In a +short time they were back and lots of others close behind. In a +half hour there must have been a quart of bees on the bait. By this +time I had seen a number of bees fly due west and some due east. So +taking another hot stone and going some distance on the course +west, I put the stone down, burnt more comb, and in a few minutes +had lots of bees. They still continued westward. The next time I +stopped where a swamp extended from the top of the mountain back +some two hundred yards. There were many large gum trees growing in +this swamp. After a while I was convinced that the bees flew at +right angles from the former course. Leaving the bait I went into +the swamp and found them going into a large gum tree about twenty +feet from the ground. My spirits were high, this being the first +bee I had ever found entirely by myself. Taking out my knife and +going up to the tree to put my initials thereon, my spirits fell as +suddenly as they had risen. There in plain view were the letters I. +W. The spirit of selfishness then showed itself. What right had +anyone to take this bee from me? I had almost come to the point of +thinking I had a monopoly in the bee hunting business and that +others had no right to intrude. I trust others do not show this +spirit and am sure I have got rid of it myself. If there is any +pleasure or benefit to be derived from anything, God certainly +intends it for all. The initials would not correspond with the name +of anyone I knew, but supposed that some time I would find out who +I. W. was. Now the bee that flew east could be looked for, but what +was the use? Hadn't the best bee hunters in the country tried to +find it and failed? Beyond a certain point all trees disappeared. +This was the only Italian bee known to be in a radius of ten miles +and it was not a great while after their introduction into this +country. So taking my way to the top of the mountain near the edge +of the swamp, I was surprised to find a cabin, and from indication +it had just been built. On going up to the door my eye fell on the +occupant, a man well up in years. In one corner was a number of +steel traps. In another a rifle of the then modern type. These +signs told me that a new hunter had taken up his abode among us. He +told me to be seated and moved over on the rude bench to make room +for me. He began by asking me what I was doing out on the mountain, +and as I was so young, no doubt had an idea that I was lost. + +I told him that I was bee hunting and had found one but some one +had found it before I had, and that the initials I. W. were cut on +the tree. Turning to me he said, "You don't know who that stands +for? Well, young man, I kin tell you. I. W. stands for Ike Ward, +and that's me. The little fellers come sippin' around my cabin and +I give 'em a little sweet water and found 'em in a jiffy." I then +told him of the Italian bee. He asked me why I didn't find it. The +reply was that the very best bee hunters in the country had tried +it and failed and I supposed it would be of no use for me to try +it. "Well, they must be great bee hunters; why, young man, I would +rather undertake to find a bee than ketch a rabbit in a good +trackin' snow. The rabbit might jump up and run away, but after I +get my bee started, he's mine." It was getting well along in the +afternoon and I told him I must go home. "Well, your folks might +think something has happened to you and I won't ask ye to stay any +longer; but come up again and we will find that yaller bee." I +thanked him and asked when it would suit him to go. "You kin come +any time you keer to, but ye'd better come early when you do come, +fer I might be out scoutin' round and not be home." That proposed +bee hunt was the only thing thought of on my way home, the only +thought that went with me to my bed, and in my dreams I saw the +most beautiful yellow bees in the world on combs of snowy +whiteness, some of them as large as a door. + +Early the next morning, before the sun had shown himself to the +people down in the valley, I was far on my way up the mountain on +my way to the hunter's cabin. Great drops of sweat were standing +all over my face, but I never slackened my pace until I heard the +cheering "Good morning" from the old hunter at the cabin. "Jist +come and rest yerself. It's a little too early fer bees to fly +yit." I replied that I wasn't tired. "When I was your age I didn't +get tired either, but if you get to be as old as me you won't walk +so fast up hill; you're all a lather of sweat." + +About an hour later we went out to where I had first baited the +bees. I began to gather wood to start a fire and burn for them +again. "What are ye goin' to do with that wood?" was his inquiry. +On being informed that this was the way I got them to bait, he +chuckled to himself and said he would show me a better and easier +way. He then took a handkerchief from his pocket, then a small +bottle containing something that was of a fluid form, and sprinkled +the handkerchief with it. He then got a pole eight or ten feet long +and put the cloth on one end, raised it as high in the air as he +could, moving it back and forth in the breeze. Very soon hundred of +bees were darting through the air. The pole was slowly lowered +until the handkerchief rested on the ground, sweetened water was +sprinkled on some bushes, and in a few minutes the yellow bees were +flying east and the black ones found previously flying west. + +This was a very simple, but a new departure from the mode followed +in those days. He explained to me that the little vial contained +water, with a few drops of the oil of anisseed added, and there +were other scents perhaps better, but this being the only kind he +had at that time was the reason for using it. We went directly east +on the course four or five hundred yards. This brought us to the +top of the mountain and to a large rock that was fully one hundred +feet from the ground at the base to the top. From this rock we had +a clear view of the valley below. The eastern side of the mountain +was very hilly, and covered with a dense growth of trees, and +farther down, this forest never hearing the sound of the woodman's +ax, became so dense that the sun could scarcely find an opening to +the earth. The cloth was sprinkled with more of the scent, waved a +few times in the air, and laid beside the bait, which was composed +of sugar and water, on the rock. Bees came in abundance. Very soon +we could see some bees, heavily loaded, circle around and dart off +down, down, until lost to our sight. Others would fly both north +and south along the top, making three distinct courses. The old +hunter watched these different flights for a considerable time, +then going some distance along the top, and after a short time came +back saying, "Just as I expected. These fly out there, make a turn, +and come back to join the course that flies straight down. Now come +with me out the other way and we will see if the others don't do +the same." Sure enough! Taking our station some fifty yards from +the bait we could see them coming heavily loaded, bend down and +back toward the main course. + +"I have found many bees in my time, young man, an' never saw one +act this way unless the tree was close. They act like they don't +want to leave that rock; but we will go down and look at some of +that timber." As all the timber far below had been looked at many +times in the past I thought it useless but did not say so. After +looking at the nearest trees below, those farther down were +examined. The morning had been cloudy but now the sun was bright +and clear. The hunter placed his hand before his eyes and gazing up +at the sun said he "never saw sich actin'; they seem to come right +toward the ground. I have found 'em in queer places but never in +the ground." Just then a bee lit on some leaves in front of me. I +called his attention to it. "Now ain't it a beauty? Poor little +fellow; got too heavy a load an' has to rest. Now watch sharp; when +he goes he will likely fly straight." In a short time he slowly +raised, made a half circle, darted down the mountain, and was lost +to me. Not so with my companion. Stooped low, his arm thrust +forward as though guiding the bee in its flight, he slowly turned +his arm, still following, until he was pointing straight up the +hill. "As sure as my name is Ike Ward that bee flew up the hill, +and just as sure its home is there, too." + +Up the hill he went, looking more carefully at every tree, until +the last tree below the rock had been reached. I was on the upper +side of this tree and was almost sure that it must be in this one. +The old hunter was on the lower side, gazing intently up the hill +toward the rock. For some time he stood thus, then said, "You had +better look behind you if you want to find the yaller bee." On +turning round I saw a steady stream of bees going in and coming out +from the very base of the rock. The mystery was a mystery no +longer. They had baffled all the bee hunters in the community for +three years, but at last they gave up the secret of their hidden +home to Ike Ward. + +Taking a piece of paper and writing thereon these words: "This bee +was found by Ike Ward and pard; if any person find it please don't +mislest it." He laid the paper above the entrance of the bees, and, +laying a stone on it to keep it in place, we ended this our first +bee-hunt together. This was only one of the many delightful trips +which I took with the hunter, only one of the many valuable lessons +received from him on this fascinating pastime. He has long since +passed away, but the book of nature was open to him at all times +and with a spirit that had no taint of selfishness in it, was +always ready to impart knowledge to others. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +EARLY SPRING HUNTING. + +Bees are very fond of salt in the early spring, and, in fact, in +all parts of the season when brood rearing is in progress. Now we +will start out some fine spring morning, take a hatchet or an ax +and a polk of salt, and we will go up on the side of the mountain +and chop out a little trough large enough to hold a quart or more, +then sprinkle a little water, scented with oil of anise or +bergamont, on the outside of this trough, then put a few corncobs +and a handful of salt in the trough and place the trough in the +fork of a small tree out of the way of any stock that may be +pasturing in the woods. Our work is now done at this place. We can +go on and put out several of these baits along the mountain. The +first rain that comes will fill the trough, dissolve the salt, +which will soak into the corncobs, and the scent which we placed on +the outside of the trough will entice any bees that may be flying. +After this we go home and a day or so after the first good rain +that comes, we will go back and the chances are that we will have +several good courses. Now we will cover the trough over with a +bunch of leaves--green boughs--and sprinkle these freely with +sweetened water. Take a pint bottle, fill it one-fourth full of +granulated sugar and fill up with water. This is better than more +sugar, for when the syrup is too thick it requires more time for +the bees to load up and if too thick, in a short time the bushes +become sticky. + +After several bees have loaded up and gone home, we will take a +cloth and saturate it with the same scent used on the trough, then +take the bait--bunch of bushes--with us on the course, hunt a place +as free from timber as possible and lay out bait on the top of a +bush, the cloth beside it, and in a short time we should have +plenty of bees. After determining on the course the same tactics +are pursued until we arrive at the tree, or, if we have good reason +to believe the bee stands in any certain group of trees and we fail +to find the tree, to make sure that our ideas are correct we will +move our bait off to one side of the original course and thus get a +cross course, and at the junction of the first line of flight and +this second line, the bees must certainly have their home. We must +look at every tree with the utmost care, for it is a very easy +matter to overlook a bee tree, even experienced bee hunters have +done this. But if we take time to examine a tree from all sides we +should always be able to locate them. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BEES WATERING. HOW TO FIND THEM. + +As soon as the bees begin to stir in the spring they go searching +around for water, for this is one essential element in +brood-rearing. Early in the season the ground is generally so full +of water that bees are not confined to any certain place in order +to get the amount needed. But later in the season, when the ground +has dried off and wet weather springs have dried up, if we go into +the woods along the mountain and visit the never-failing springs +sure to be found in the hollows and low flat places, we will be +pretty sure to find bees at some of these places. + +It is not often that bees are numerous enough at these springs to +make what would be termed a strong course, but by following the +plan which I here give, you can, in a short space of time, have all +the bees necessary, with no danger of having bees from other trees +or from our neighbors' stands, which would make a mix-up, and make +it much harder for us to follow the bee that is watering. When we +go on a trip of this kind first we will provide ourselves with a +small glass tumbler; a cover, made of some dark heavy material, +long enough so that when slipped over the glass it will come within +one-fourth of an inch of the open end. Then we will take a few +drops of honey in a small vial, the scent, cloth, and bait of sugar +and water mentioned previously. When we find the bees watering we +take the glass, without cover, and place it over the bee, which +will immediately try to fly and finding himself a prisoner, will +crawl around the upper part of the glass. Previous to this a few +drops of the honey were placed on a piece of cardboard or large +leaf. Then we lift the glass and place the hand under to prevent +the bee escaping and place it on the cardboard or leaf. Now place +the black hood over it and watch the result. There is but one place +for light to enter and this is the narrow opening at lower end of +cover. In a moment the bee can be seen crawling around the bottom, +sometimes reaching down to the cardboard. Now he has found a drop +of the honey and seemingly forgets his sad plight of a moment ago +and proceeds to take a meal. The glass is lifted gently off, the +dark thick cover preventing him from seeing our hand. As soon as he +is loaded he starts and circles many times and then goes home, and +in some manner that we can't explain, tells others of what +delicious sweets he has found. No more water for that bee; he is +bound to come back and search for more honey. + +We can go and catch as many bees as we think it necessary, but +generally five or six would be ample. Then the scented cloth is +placed on the ground, a bunch of green bushes laid on the spot +where the cardboard had been sprinkled freely with sweetened water, +and we are soon ready to start on the course, following the +instructions given in previous chapter. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HUNTING BEES FROM SUMAC. + +Sumac begins to bloom about the first of July and continues through +the month. It is unquestionably the greatest source of honey in the +country in which I live. From the time the dew is off until dusk +the bee is busy on it. Every old worn-out field is plentifully +supplied with it and a different variety is found growing in small +patches all over the mountains. I have found more bee trees by the +plan now given than perhaps any other. + +We will visit some of these places and select a spot where there +are a few bunches near together, if no more than a half dozen +bunches the better. Now having our bottle containing bait prepared, +let us select two or three bunches standing close together and +sprinkle them freely with the bait, then break off all others +standing near. At first the bees will fly around as if they don't +like to light on the wet bushes but the ones that were used to +getting honey from these flowers may visit other flowers and fly +away, but they are sure to come back, and, after taking a sip, +finding it a quicker method of getting a load of sweets, settle +down to business and in a short space of time adapt themselves to +the new order of things and are soon on their way home, never +failing to return, bringing others along. Keeping the bushes well +supplied with bait, we will soon discover a course and perhaps two +or more. Then take the scented cloth, lay it near the bait, and +after ten or fifteen minutes break these bushes off a foot or more +below the flowers and we are ready to start on the course. After +going two or three hundred yards, select a place clear of trees so +that they can fly on their course without being compelled to fly +around timber, lay the scent cloth near by, and in five or ten +minutes you will have plenty of bees, or, we may be going on the +line of flight and find the bees suddenly cease to come to bait. +This is an unfailing sign that we have passed the tree or are very +close to it. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HUNTING BEES FROM BUCKWHEAT. + +During buckwheat bloom, which occurs in the month of August and +early part of September, many bees are found. Some hunters line +them to the tree by sunning. This method requires a very clear day +and unless the hunter thoroughly understands this art, knows an +unloaded bee from a loaded one, he is not apt to be very +successful. Besides this fact I have known many hunters to so +injure their eyesight as to become, in old age, partially blind and +perhaps altogether so. I, myself, have found many bees in this way +and feel certain that my eyesight has been injured, but am very +thankful that I discarded this method many years ago. + +Bees do their work on buckwheat from the time the dew is leaving +until near noon; and on a hot, clear day but few bees, if any, will +be found working on it after 12 M. One of the greatest elements of +success in hunting bees by the baiting method is to use a scent +that is the same as the flower the bee is working on. Therefore, +gather some of the flowers of the buckwheat and have them +distilled, or, if this is out of the question, put some of the +flowers in a quart jar, say half full, well packed down, then just +cover with diluted alcohol and let it stand a few days and you have +an ideal scent to use at this particular time. After getting a +course from a field of buckwheat, about ten or half-past ten go on +the course, and when you come to a place clear of underbrush and no +large trees to bother the flight of bees, sprinkle some of the +scent mentioned above on some leaves and near the scent place a +bunch of bushes sprinkled with bait made by filling a pint bottle +one-fourth full of honey, one-fourth of granulated sugar and +one-half water. Many bees, at this time of day, are going to and +fro from the field. Some of them find nectar harder to get than it +was an hour before and some fly on the homeward journey lightly +loaded. They are beginning to lose faith in the buckwheat field and +these are the very ones that detect the scent first. Others are +becoming dissatisfied as these first ones did--one rubs against +another, and in bee language tells that he has found something +mighty good down in the bushes, and by the time the bait is licked +up we should have a direct course from this location and be ready +to repeat the operation farther on the course. The next time the +bait is put down we should have plenty of bees in not more than ten +minutes, and if they are tardy about coming, providing we had a +fair amount at the first location, we have either passed the tree, +are nearly under it, or have gone far off the course. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +FALL HUNTING. + +The main sources of the honey supply are now over, and if the +methods given in the preceding chapters are followed it is +necessary for us to get out on the mountains or fields far distant +from home apiaries and look for the few flowers that have escaped +killing frosts. A few bunches of mountain goldenrod are found here +and there scattered over the mountain-side. A white flower, growing +on a stem about two feet in height, is also found in many +locations. I am unable to give the botanical name of this latter +flower, but every bee hunter who has had much experience has seen +many bees on it when other flowers have ceased to exist or have +been rendered useless by frosts, as a source of honey. + +If but a few of these flowers are found growing together and a few +bees are seen on them, sprinkle freely with bait before described, +and in a short time you will find ten bees to where there was one +at first. Now if you start them from goldenrod, scent of almost +anything used in bee hunting will serve to draw them on the course; +but essence of goldenrod is far superior at this season of the +year. As I have before stated, a scent should be used to conform as +nearly as possible to the scent of the flower the bee is working on +at any particular time. It would be a superfluity to explain any +farther, as the same tactics must be followed as described earlier +in this work. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE LATEST IMPROVED METHOD OF BURNING. + +We now come to the time of the year when all flowers, by the laws +of nature, cease to bloom. Indian summer is here with its nice +balmy days. Just right--not too warm not yet too cool. The very +time when even those of us who are getting up in years begin to +feel young again. How sad it would be to the one who loves nature +and her ways to be obliged to lay aside all thought of sport until +nature unfurled her robes again! Some of the happiest moments of my +life have come during this part of the year, and I hope to be able +to convince my readers that we should always say "welcome" to the +aged year. Well do I remember when I used to go along with the old +hunter in search of the bee. A fire would be made, some large fiat +stones heated and carried to a convenient place, then bee comb +moistened with water, placed on them and soon bees would be seen +darting through the air. Some might settle on the bait, but if not +enough to satisfy the hunter, another hot stone was brought, and +the process repeated until there were enough bees working on the +bait to give a strong course. Then taking another hot stone and +going a long ways on the course we would proceed to burn again. +Perhaps the stone had cooled off by this time and the bee failed to +come quickly or in sufficient numbers. Then we had to either go +back, replenish the fire, heat more stones, or build another fire +at the new location. Carrying the hot stones from place to place +was the work generally assigned to me. Sometimes stones of a slaty +nature would be heated and when becoming quite hot would burst with +a loud report and fly in all directions. At that time I would just +about as soon approach a loaded cannon. After twisting a stick +around the stone it was carried at arm's length to the new location +and with sweat streaming down my face I was glad when the time came +to lay it down. This was undoubtedly laborious, but the excitement +connected with the sport was at such a pitch that the thought of +labor being in any way connected with bee hunting never entered my +mind. + +But as time wore on I got to thinking that there might be other +plans much easier and quicker than the one described, and I feel +sure that those who love the sport will agree that the plan laid +before the readers is in every way superior to the old method. + +First get a small tin pail, holding about a half gallon. Cut out, +from the bottom upwards, a hole four or five inches up and down and +two inches wide. Have a pan made so that it will fit down inside +the pail just deep enough to come down to upper edge of the hole +cut out of pail. There should be a rim on top part of the pan to +prevent it working lower down than the hole in the pail. Now get a +miner's lamp, which will not cost more than from fifteen to +twenty-five cents. Coal oil can be used but lard oil is much +better, and better than either of these is alcohol. A small lamp +suitable for burning this can be purchased at a small cost. + +Now you are ready to start out. Take some refuse honey and your +bottle of bait, get far out on the mountains, so there will be +little danger of drawing bees from apiaries that may be situated in +the valleys. When a suitable place is found, clear of underbrush +and no large trees to bother the bees when starting for home, set +pail down, put some of the honey in the upper part of the pail (or +pan), strike a match, touch it to the wick of the lamp. The spout +of the lamp should come within about two inches of the bottom of +the pan. The honey begins to boil immediately and sends its scent +out over the mountains. A few drops of the oil of anise and +bergamont mixed can be dropped into the pan, and a bunch of bushes +held over the fumes until it is scented. This is then laid on the +top of a bush or stump close by and sprinkled with bait. By this +time bees may be heard darting through the air or seen hunting +slowly through the bushes in search of something to eat. It is a +very good plan to blow the lamp out when the first bees are flying +around. The scent is strong all around and when the lamp is blown +out the scent soon dies out except near the bait and the bees find +the bait much sooner than if the lamp was kept burning. There may +be plenty of bees to start with from the first burning and if not, +all we have to do is to light the lamp again. + +If you have your course and are about to start, it only requires a +second of time to pick up the burning apparatus and the bunch of +bushes and start on the course. But for fear you may be only a +beginner and make a mistake which might discourage you, I want to +have a little talk with you before starting from the first +location. + +In reading articles relating to bee hunting, some of the writers +tell how, after loading up, the bees would circle round and round +before starting on the homeward journey. I believe I have seen a +few bees make a complete circle. I have seen hundreds of thousands +that did not. As a rule when a bee raises from the bait it will act +as though it intends to circle, but watch closely and you find +before coming around to the place of starting it will quickly turn +in the opposite direction, repeating this several times--always +widening out. It will seem to fall far back with a downward motion, +then gather up and come slowly back, often passing to the opposite +side of the bait and making a sudden motion, is lost to sight. This +fact might make you think the bee really went in this direction. I +want to stake my reputation as a bee hunter of years of experience, +that when a bee is seen to make these half circles on one side of +the bait and seem to fall off in any direction, bearing down toward +the earth, that this is the general direction in which the tree +stands, and if I can see a bee make a few of these half circles +(though it may be the first one on the bait), it settles the matter +in my mind as to the general direction of the tree. But even if our +minds are made up in regard to this line of flight, it is wise to +take more time and watch closely, for there is no good reason why +we should not get two or possibly more courses from this first +location. Then go on the strongest course until we find the tree +and then come back and start on the others. + +In going on the course don't fail to look well at every tree, for +sometimes they are found in very small trees when there are lots of +large ones standing all around. + +I will give my experience in finding a bee that has taught me to +look at every thing on the course, not even discarded stumps, logs +and bushes, for I have found bees in the two former and hanging on +the latter. In early November I had a strong course from bait. They +flew directly up on the side of the mountain. The course flew over +a large barren thicket and after looking at the timber on the lower +edge of the barrens, the bait was moved across the thicket. There +were a few chestnut trees standing between the upper edge and the +place I selected to bait them again. Soon they came and flew back +down. I was sure they must be in one of the trees mentioned, for +there was nothing growing in the thicket large enough for a bee to +go in. After looking at the few trees spoken of and not finding +them, I went back down to the lower edge and could see them fly +nearly half way across the thicket. I was puzzled, and proceeded to +look at the few logs that were laying down and still failed to +locate them. My next move was to hang my burning bucket on a limb +and burn. In no time there were bees by the quart on the bait, +flying in all directions. Singling out some of the steady flying +ones, they seemed to fly a short distance, and drop into the brush. +On investigating, I found them hanging on a little bush, working +away as though they had the best place in the world to store their +honey. They had evidently been there for a long time as they had +several good sized combs fastened to the bush. I knew they were +bound to perish, for cold weather was coming on, so I told a friend +where to find it, and gave it to him with the understanding that he +was to hive it, putting the combs and brood in the hive. + +The above is mentioned to prove that bees are sometimes found in +places out of the ordinary, and in closing this part of my work I +want to impress you with the fact that it always pays to go slow +and look well while on the course. + +* * * + +NOTE--If not convenient and a vessel of the kind described (for +burning) cannot be had, any small tin pail will do without cutting +out the hole for lamp. A couple of stones laid on the ground a few +inches apart will make a place for the lamp and the bucket placed +over it on the stones, although the first mentioned will be found +more convenient. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SOME FACTS ABOUT LINE OF FLIGHT. + +You have all heard the term "bee line" used, and naturally infer +that it means a straight line. This was what I believed it to be in +my earlier days, but from numerous observations I am led to believe +that the terms "bee line" and "straight line" are in some cases +incompatible. If the line of flight is over ground unbroken by +hills and hollows, a bee will fly as straight home after loading up +as anything having wings can. But in following a course through a +wooded country, along the side of hills or mountains containing +ridges and deep hollows, the line of flight deviates far from a +straight line. + +To illustrate and prove the above assertion, I will here give an +incident in connection with bee hunting that occurred not many +years ago, and which goes to prove that bees do not always fly in a +perfectly straight line. East of my home about one mile there is a +mountain extending north and south. Along the foot of this +mountain, a stream, known as Sideling Hill creek, runs the entire +length of the valley. The mountain extending up from this creek is +made up of ridges and hollows. A friend of mine, one day in July, +found bees watering along the creek and nearly east of my home. The +bees flew south with the creek along the foot of the mountain. +After trying to find them, (consuming two days' time in the +attempt), he came for me to help him out, telling me that he had +looked at every tree near the course for a distance of a mile. It +was a very finely marked Italian bee, and being anxious to find and +hive it, offered to pay me for my time whether we found the bee or +not. I asked him if he had baited them at the water. He said he had +tried but not a bee could be induced to take bait. My time being +limited just then, I told him I would get them to bait for him and +after this he certainly could find it himself. "Oh, yes, that's all +I ask," he replied. Going with him, I used the method described in +an early chapter entitled "Hunting the Bee from Water." In a short +space of time I had lots of them loading up and flying south along +the creek. About a half mile on the course an old clearing ran up +some distance on a ridge, and the course seemed to go about midway +through it. My instructions were to put the bait on this place, as +it was clear of all bushes that might bother him from getting a +direct course, and after giving all necessary instruction I went +home and awaited results. The next evening he told me he had gone +into the old field and, as the bees were a little slow in coming to +the bait, he built a fire and proceeded to burn and got bees in +abundance, still flying on the same course; then moving the bait +much farther on the course to another old field, found that they +continued on the same line of flight; and from this last location +followed them in sight of a house, the owner having thirty stands +of bees, thus convincing him that the bees all had come from this +apiary. + +But I was convinced he had overlooked the bees started with, for +these reasons: This apiary was two miles from where the bees +watered; the same stream flowed near by the apiary--there were many +springs near and water in abundance all along the course. Then the +clearing first mentioned had lots of sumac growing in it; many bees +from the apiary were working on this and other flowers, and by +burning, these bees were enticed to the bait in such numbers that +the few that may have been on bait from the tree were not noticed +by an inexperienced hunter. After telling him of my suspicions, he +was the more anxious that I should go along with him again and see +for myself that there was no wild bee on the course. + +I was equally anxious to prove to him that there was. So the +following morning found us in the old field where he had first +placed the bait. Taking my bottle containing bait. I sprinkled some +on a bunch of bushes left there the day previous. This was all that +was required and the bees that had been having a feast at this +location the day before soon found it out and eagerly settled down +for another feast. It seemed that the whole apiary had swarmed out +and come to the bait--hundreds were soon flying towards this +apiary. Here my friend ventured to ask if I was not convinced that +they went to the apiary. I had been watching very close and knew +very well that the majority of the bees did go there, but I had +also seen a few bees fly a short distance on the course and bear +off to the left. I said nothing about this at the time, thinking it +best to be positive before giving a final opinion. There was a deep +hollow running up from the opposite side of the clearing and +getting in a more favorable position I could see many bees bear off +from the main course and go up to the hollow. Now I was ready to +tell him he had been outwitted by the bees. + +Calling him to me, I showed him the bees flying up the hollow. We +then moved the bait about one hundred yards farther up and found +that they still went on up. We left the bait and proceeded to look +at the timber. Finally one hundred yards above this last place +there was a large white pine standing on the left side of the +hollow and not over ten feet from the ground they were pouring in, +in a steady stream, pure golden Italians. Was he convinced this was +the bee we had started with from the watering place? No, not at +all. It was too far from the course. I told him we would cut it and +take it home, and if bees still continued to water at the same +location I would give in. The bee was cut next day and taken home +and all watering ceased at that place. This was evidence enough for +him and proved to him, as it must to every one, that under certain +conditions bees will vary very much from a straight line of flight. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +BAITS AND SCENTS. + +In rambling through the woods and over the mountains I have seen +bee hunters using bait with the oil of anise in it, or perhaps a +bait containing several different scents. They did not seem to +know, nor care, that bait containing these oils was injurious to +bees; but the fact is well known that they are injurious--not to +our neighbor's bees alone, but to the ones we are trying to find. +Therefore, never combine baits with scents of any kind. The former +is intended to furnish feed for the bee, and when loaded will +always start for the home. The latter is used as a means of getting +them to come to bait. + +There are many different scents used for enticing the bee to bait. +Some hunters prefer oil of anise, others use bergamont; then some +combine these or other scents. But bear in mind that what should be +used ought to conform as nearly as possible in scent to the main +source of nectar at any particular season of the year. + +In preparing these scents, take an ounce of the oil you may prefer, +put it into a pint bottle and fill bottle one-fourth full of +alcohol; let it stand a few days and then fill up with water. This +would make sufficient scent to last any one for several years. A +small vial can be filled and taken along--even an ounce vial will +last several trips; or a few drops of the oil can be put into a +bottle and water added, but as water will not cut the oil, it +remains insoluble and when the bottle is turned in order that the +mixture will run out, it often happens that our scent (after using +a time or two) is no good, the oil having disappeared. But by +cutting the scent with alcohol, the last drop will be just as +strongly scented as the first. + +I have used about all the different scents known to bee hunters and +oil of anise was my standby for many years. I found bergamont to be +good. Horse mint, goldenrod, and many other oils and scents were +used at some particular time of the year, but the most powerful and +lasting scent I ever used was oil of sweet clover. Having run out +of the oil and not knowing where to get it without sending to some +drug house, I bought a toilet preparation labled "essence of sweet +clover," and found it filled the bill. A few drops were spilled on +my sleeve and in going on a course this was all that was needed. If +I stopped but a moment, my arm was covered with bees. + +I don't advocate the use of the hunting-box for bee hunting. I +tried them long ago and found the method slow and uncertain. In +carrying my box from one location to another and releasing the +imprisoned bees I would always see them circle around and light on +a leaf and consume from five minutes to a half hour in cleaning +themselves up and when they did depart, there was no assurance that +they would come back. However, some hunters must meet with better +success than I have had in hunting by the box method, and to those +I would say, if bringing the bees to your box is what you want, +just rub a few drops of the oil of sweet clover on the side of your +box and that part of finding the bee is done. + +It is hardly necessary to say more about baits. My views have been +given in the earlier chapters on bee hunting. A few drops of pure +honey is perhaps the best that can be used in starting the bees on +bait, but as soon as several have loaded with the honey, sprinkle +your bunch of bushes which you intend to carry on the course with a +bait made by filling a bottle one-fourth full of pure granulated +sugar, then a little honey and filling the bottle up with water. +This will make the bait sweet enough and it will not become so +sticky as if more sugar or honey were used. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +CUTTING THE TREE AND TRANSFERRING. + +I hope those who read this book may find something in its pages +that will be beneficial. In your excursions through the forests you +are unconsciously getting the benefit of the greatest source in the +world of physical perfection--God's pure air--and, at the same time +there are no reasons why one with reasonable tact cannot be +benefited financially. + +When should a bee tree be cut and transferred to the hive? There is +a difference of opinion in regard to the time of the year and also +to the manner in which it should be done. I respect the opinions of +those who have expressed themselves on the subject, but after +trying nearly all the methods described I found nothing in them +that came up to my ideal of a perfect plan of transferring the bee +from the tree to the hive. + +My first plan was to cut the tree and, if not too large, saw it off +both above and below the bees, keep them in with smoke, and tack +screen over the place of entrance. Then hire someone to help carry +it home. It was set up on end and left to take care of itself and +if a swarm would issue from it and we were successful in hiving it +in the old box hive (the kind mostly in use in my boyhood days), we +thought the last chapter of bee-keeping had been learned. Then, +after the movable frame hive came into use the tree would be cut, +the bees drove into a box, the honey taken from the tree and with a +few pieces of brood all was taken home. The small bits of comb were +tied in the central frames for the bees to cluster on and the bees +shaken from the box in front of the hive. This plan was certainly +superior to the first mentioned but had one serious drawback--the +brood that was in the tree was left to perish. + +After seeing the serious defects in the described methods, my next +move was to take a hive with me on going to cut the tree. All comb +containing brood was placed in the frames, the bees run into the +hive, which was left at the tree for a week or more in order that +the bees might have all the combs joined to the frames, and then +brought home. This was another advance in the method of +transferring, for the thousands of young bees about to emerge from +their cells were saved, and the colony having its brood and +strength undiminished should be able to fill at least one super of +honey besides all stores needed for themselves. Taking it for +granted that we cut the bee in the early part of the summer, one +super would be a low estimate, but even this would pay all expenses +connected with the cutting, buying a hive and fixtures, and as the +bee is now in an ideal hive we can hopefully look forward to the +next year when our profits are coming in. + +There could be other plans given, some of them having virtue, but I +will now lay a plan before the reader which if followed will prove +more remunerative, and with less expense, than the former methods. +To carry a hive and tools necessary to cut a bee tree will require +the service of an assistant and when, after a week or so, we return +to bring the bee home, more help is needed. A man is worthy of his +hire and of course is paid. Carrying a hive over rough and uneven +ground is hard work. So by the time we have the bee home and sum +the matter up, the financial part of bee hunting don't impress us +very strongly. + +I have been in the habit of hunting bees during the fall months, +but if I need a day's outing, no month from early spring, until +late fall fails to find me on my tramps through the forest in +search of a bee tree. No difference what time of the year I find my +bee nor how many may be found in any particular season, they are +always left stand over winter and cut the following spring, but not +before May, for I want the bee to be strong in bee with abundance +of brood. About this time of year I take a box eight inches square +at the end and two feet in length. Over the one end some wire +screen is nailed and a lid, the center being cut out and replaced +with wire screen, serves as a covering for the other end. + +With bucket, ax, and this box we will go to the tree, cut it, being +careful to fell it as easy as possible. When it falls the bees +should be smoked at once to prevent them rising in the air. For +good reasons I prefer to cut the tree about nine or ten o'clock in +the forenoon. After blowing a little smoke in at the entrance, +proceed to chop a hole in the tree low down on the side, then +another hole farther up or down the tree, depending on whether the +bee works up or down from the place of entrance. After this is +done, split the piece out, blow more smoke on the bees and take the +combs out. Brush the bees off, lay them on the log some distance +from the bees, place the forcing box over the main body of the bees +and by brushing and smoking drive them into it. The box should be +in an elevated position, say forty-five degrees or more, as bees +will go on the upper end much more readily when the box is in this +position. Be sure the queen is in, which can generally be +determined by the manner in which the bees enter the box. If they +are inclined to run back out after being forced in, it is a pretty +sure sign the queen is not with them. When you are sure the queen +is with them, and there is a sufficient number of bees with her, +lift the box gently off, turn it upside down and place the lid on +and fasten with a couple of tacks taken along. Now place the brood +combs back in the tree. First a comb then a couple of small sticks +crosswise to form a bee space. Continue this until all the combs +are back in the tree, and as the top part of the log was not split +off, the piece split from the side can be fit in, bark and flat +stones can be used to form a covering that will keep the rain from +getting in. By cutting the tree at this time of day thousands of +bees are out in search of nectar and when they come home and find +their home gone, will fly around in the air until becoming +exhausted, and will then settle on the leaves and bushes in bunches +and knots by the hundreds. If there was any nice white honey we +have it in the bucket and picking up the box start on the homeward +journey. Presuming we have a movable frame hive at home with an +inch of starter in the frames or, what would be better, a hive +filled with comb from the year previous, we place the hive on its +permanent stand and take the lid from the box and shake the bees +down at the entrance. For fear the queen has been left in the tree +it would be well to have an entrance guard placed on the hive, as +this would exclude the queen and as soon as the queen is seen the +guard can be removed. In a short time we can tell whether they take +kindly to their new home. The queen is a laying one and some pollen +should be taken in the following day. I always made sure I had the +queen and never had a bee so treated to swarm out after being +hived. + +Now what about the bee in the tree? When we left it there were +thousands flying around and settling on the leaves and bushes, +other thousands in all stages of development in the combs. The ones +that are hanging on the bushes begin to make further investigation +and finding their brood soon cover it and with the bees hatching +out every hour soon make the colony almost as populous as it was +before the tree was cut. In taking the combs out we may have seen +some queen cells started. If so, so much the better. If not, there +certainly were eggs in some of the combs and in sixteen days at the +most they can rear a queen from these eggs. When this time has +elapsed, take your box and smoker. Take the combs out as before; +drive the bees into the box, and as the brood is nearly all hatched +out by this time you will have nearly as many bees as you got the +first time. These are brought home and treated as the first swarm +and the combs can be placed in the log again for the few remaining +bees that may have been left, to cluster on and these can be +brought home later and joined to the second swarm. By this method +you get two strong colonies from one tree. There is no help needed; +no heavy lifting and carrying of hives to and from the tree. By +following this plan you can soon have quite an apiary and be on +your way to enjoy the profits as well as the pleasures of bee +hunting. This plan is original with me and I believe it to be the +very best plan given so far, and I expect to follow it until +someone gives us something superior. + +The profits of bee hunting will depend on the ability of the man to +manipulate the bees after taking them from the tree. You must agree +with me that in cutting the tree, there is nearly always some of +the combs containing honey broken up and covered with dirt, and +this honey can never be classed as salable. Therefore, if we hunt +bees merely for what honey may be in the tree and leave the bees to +perish from starvation and cold, it were far better, from a moral +and financial point of view, to let the tree stand. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +CUSTOMS AND OWNERSHIP OF WILD BEES. + +There are customs in vogue among sportsmen that have been handed +down from generation to generation, that have almost become laws. +Indeed, we have heard it said that custom becomes law. + +A hunter may wound a deer, follow it for a distance and find that +another hunter has shot and killed it. The question might arise as +to whom the deer belonged. A bee hunter may find a bee tree and +mark it and some other hunter might find it afterwards and cut it. +The same question might arise as to whom it legally belonged. If +sportsmen were to settle the disputes they would refer back to +custom and say the deer belonged to the one first wounding it, +providing the wound was of such nature that the one first wounding +it would have been pretty sure of getting it, by following on, and +they would also decide that the bee belonged to the one who first +found and marked it. + +A custom that may seem to be founded on justice is pretty apt to be +followed by laws that may coincide with the custom. But we must +remember there are statute laws relating to the ownership of wild +animals and bees, and though we all band together as sportsmen, we +cannot abrogate nor set aside these laws already formed. + +In my boyhood days, when I would find a bee, I was very slow to +tell any one just where it was for fear they might cut it. Was this +true sportsmanship? I think not. Some other bee hunter might hunt +for that bee a day or more and finding it would have reason to say +that I had deceived him and he could hardly be blamed if he cut it. +I have been used just this very way more than once, and felt like +retaliating by cutting a bee that was found prior by another party. +But am glad to say that I never did. Since I became more mature in +years I have had more confidence in my fellow sportsmen and now +after finding a bee tree the first time I see any one who is likely +to look for the bee, he is told its exact location, thus probably +saving him much valuable time in not looking for a bee that is +found. + +As a fitting close to this work it might be well to quote the +statute laws relating to the ownership of wild bees. + +"Bees while unreclaimed, are by nature wild animals. Those which +take up their abode in a tree belong to the owner of the soil, if +unreclaimed, but if reclaimed and identified, they belong to the +former owner. If a swarm leave a hive they belong to the owner as +long as they are in sight and are easily taken; otherwise they +become the property of the first occupant. Merely finding a bee on +the land of another and marking the tree does not vest the property +of the bees in the finder. _They do not become private property +until they are in a hive."_ + +This is a statute law. But true sportsmen do not think of going to +law for adjustment of these matters, but rather depend on that +fraternal spirit by which all questions relating to ownership are +settled amicably. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SOME OF OUR BENEFACTORS AND THEIR INVENTIONS. + +Bee keeping as a source of revenue dates far back in ancient +history. With the advent of the movable frame hive and the +increased demand for honey all over the world as a source of food +supply, it received a new impetus and there are many bee keepers in +this and other countries who are not only making an honest living +in the pursuit, but have become wealthy as well. + +Over half a century ago, Rev. L. L. Langstroth invented the movable +frame hive and became the benefactor of the bee-keeping fraternity. +Prior to this time there was no way of telling the condition of a +bee except what could be learned from an external diagnosis. If +from their actions we were led to believe the colony was diseased, +or that the bee moth was holding sway, there was no way by which we +could remedy the evil. But this invention gives us access at all +times to the brood chamber and we are able to see just what is +wrong and apply the proper remedy. Perhaps it is fair to add that +all bee keepers do not agree that the movable frame was invented by +Father Langstroth. This honor is conceded by many to belong to +Huber or Dzierzon, German bee keepers. Be this as it may, the +movable frame hive of today, used throughout America and many +foreign countries, is the product of the inventive genius of this +great benefactor of the bee-keeping fraternity. + +The invention of many accessories since the death of Father +Langstroth, many years ago, would almost make us believe that there +is nothing further to be desired, that perfection has been reached. +But well we know that perfection cannot be reached on this earth, +and so we will look forward, knowing as time goes on that other +great minds will add to the store of knowledge now possessed by the +bee keeper, and bee keeping of the future will be as far in advance +of the present as the present is of the past. + +With the help of appliances and the instruction given by able +writers in many magazines and bee papers anyone with a fair amount +of ability should be able to make a success at this vocation. There +are many men who, while they have proved to be benefactors to us, +have at the same time become wealthy. There are many instances of +this, but I will mention The A. I. Root Co., of Medina, O. A. I. +Root, the senior member of this firm, was an apiarist of note while +I was still a little boy. After a while he began the manufacture of +hives and appliances. He invented the pound section box, the +extractor and many other accessories that could not be dispensed +with at the present day. Many of his inventions were never +patented, thus saving that cost to those whom he wished to +befriend, and by honest dealing, selling the best of everything +needed by the apiarist at the lowest possible cost consistent +with superior workmanship, he has today, the most extensive +manufacturing establishment in America, and possibly the world. In +connection, the firm publishes, "Gleanings in Bee Culture," a +monthly magazine, devoted to the interest of bee keeping. The +ablest writers, men who have made this their life work, contribute +regularly and give us advice which, if followed will lead to +success. + +Therefore, when the bee history is completed, and the names of many +who have been our benefactors are recorded, the names of L. L. +Langstroth and A. I. Root will shine with lustre. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +BEEKEEPING FOR PROFIT. + +It is not generally known that beekeeping is quite an industry in +the United States and that this country maintains a lead over all +other lands both as to the quantity and quality of the honey it +produces. This is the case, however, and America is recognized by +other countries as the honey-land par excellence, where beekeepers +turn out honey by the carload and this is so, for California, in +one lone year, produced 800 carloads, and of this 500 were shipped +out of the state. Texas is also a heavy producer and year in and +year out will actually outrank California. + +Although produced in such vast quantities it must not be inferred +that quality is neglected; on the contrary we cannot be excelled +when merit is considered. Our apiarists are scientific to a very +high degree and possibly no branch of American farming has been +worked up to so great a pitch of excellence, only dairying and +horsebreeding can be compared with it, but American apiculturists +lead the world, whereas, our horsemen or dairymen do not. + +This proud position is owing to the splendid discoveries and +inventions of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth of Oxford, Ohio, who has +been dead for some years, but whose spirit still lives. Previous to +his time beekeeping was only an amusement or pastime, or more +accurately speaking, a hobby. + +Now, the industry is founded on a sound scientific basis and bids +fair to grow at a lively rate in the years that are to come. At +present, the amount of money invested in bees and bee appliances is +not less than one hundred million dollars. The annual income from +this source cannot be much less than $20,000,000, and in a good +year all over the country, it would approximate $50,000,000 though +it is very seldom that there is a good season for bees all over +this vast country. Beekeeping is a branch of agriculture and like +other pursuits belonging to that science there are fat years and +lean years. It is not an uncommon event for a beekeeper to clean up +a sum of money for his crop which will more than equal the value of +his bees and all the appliances he uses. Other years may be total +failures, but year in and year out no industry pays larger returns +on the labor and money expended. The wise beekeeper is not deterred +by a bad season but simply bides his chance. He knows that in +course of time the bees will make good all losses and give in +addition a handsome profit to the owner for his kind attention and +thoughtful consideration. + +There are still many opportunities for bee-keepers in this country. +This is particularly true of West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky, +where the conditions for beekeeping are almost ideal and where, as +a usual thing, the market for honey is good. All through the South +there are openings for beekeepers and it will be a long time yet +before all openings are filled. Southwest Texas is a sort of +beekeeper's paradise and only a part of it has been occupied as +yet. Arkansas is a particularly good state for bees, but it has +only been partially developed by up-to-date beekeepers. Parts of +Pennsylvania are open to good beekeepers and so are portions of +Michigan, one of the leading states of the Union. Ontario and +Quebec are excellent for bees--none better. Nearly all the western +states are good for bees and some of them rank high as honey +producers. This is true of Colorado and Utah. Idaho, Montana, +Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington and Oregon offer +excellent openings for first-class beekeepers. In the West, +beekeepers, usually select an irrigated region where alfalfa and +sweet clover are common, so that during the long dry summers the +bees are kept busy storing honey of a very high quality. + +Successful beekeepers are found in every state, and it would be +hazardous for anyone to say just what state is best for bees. Ohio, +Indiana and Illinois produce large quantities of fine honey, but +this is nearly all consumed within their own borders at fair prices +so that beekeepers do fairly well. + +What hinders beekeeping more than any other fault is the neglect of +the beekeepers in not providing adequate shelter for the bees +during cold weather, and also from the heat of summer. In the +Northern and Central states good protection must be provided +against zero weather. Our bees originally came from the tropics, +and for that reason they require ample protection. The ordinary +hives must have an outer case placed around them and then leaves, +straw or sawdust well packed around them. Fixed in this way they +will withstand the rigors of an arctic winter. Lack of adequate +winter protection is the weakest point in American bee culture, and +yet is easily provided. This accounts for the saying of many who +have tried it, "Beekeeping doesn't pay." Perhaps at no time is +protection more necessary than in early spring when the hives are +full of young and tender brood. The hives may also be covered with +layers of thick paper or asbestos board. A small hole will allow +all of the fresh air necessary for bees in a state of sleep. These +points are first mentioned because neglect of them accounts for +most of the failures we often hear of. + +No success can be anticipated unless one uses the best hives made +on the Langstroth principle. We have no space here in which to give +a complete account of the hives now made on that plan. The better +way would be for anyone interested to write for a sample of +"Gleanings in Bee Culture" Medina, Ohio, or to American Bee +Journal, Hamilton, Illinois, so as to get in touch with the +publishers, who issue books adapted to the wants of beginners. +These magazines also issue supply catalogues and in other ways are +quite helpful. Splendid books can be purchased at a low price +giving complete information with regard to the bee industry. Many +persons have learned the whole art of beekeeping by a careful study +of a good book on bee culture supplemented of course by +observation. + +Nothing very important, however, can be learned about bees unless +one possesses a colony of bees in a movable comb hive. In fact it +is useless to attempt to obtain a knowledge of bees without a hive +to work with. I, therefore, earnestly recommend any beginner to +obtain a colony at the earliest opportunity. Very often an ordinary +box hive can be secured for a "song." This will do to begin with. +Next send for two complete standard Langstroth hives, a smoker, a +veil and a bee book; also a swarm-catcher. + +If the box hive is of a medium size it will probably east two +swarms in spring about fruit-bloom time or a little later. When the +swarms emerge they may be quickly taken down by means of the +swarm-catcher, if they happen to lodge in a branch of a tree, as +they usually do. If the hives are in readiness it is no great feat +to safely place the swarms in their new homes and all will go well. +The parent colony may be disposed of in a week or ten days (not +later) after the second swarm issues, by drumming the bees out of +the box into the hive which holds the second swarm. This is done by +giving them smoke from the smoker and then battering on the hive +with a stick, which so alarms the inmates that they rush over the +side of the upturned hive into the new one. What is left is simply +a lot of dirty combs fit only for the melting pot. This is +probably, the neatest, cleanest and cheapest method of making a +start in beekeeping. It is well within the ability of most men and +the cost is comparatively small. If the bees are native blacks, +later on they may be changed to Italians simply by purchasing young +pure bred queens for about a dollar each. The old queens are killed +and new ones introduced in a cage till the bees make her +acquaintance, when she is automatically released. In two months' +time very few of the original bees will be found, all having died +from hard work and old age, and their places taken by rich golden +yellow Italian bees. It may be well to add this caution, "Do not +experiment with any other race of bees." + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bee Hunting, by John Ready Lockard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEE HUNTING *** + +***** This file should be named 34044.txt or 34044.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/0/4/34044/ + +Produced by Linda M. 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