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diff --git a/old/51813-0.txt b/old/51813-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 369d16b..0000000 --- a/old/51813-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6224 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bee-keeper's Manual, by Henry Taylor - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Bee-keeper's Manual - or Practical Hints on the Management and Complete - Preservation of the Honey-bee. - -Author: Henry Taylor - -Release Date: April 20, 2016 [EBook #51813] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Tom Cosmas and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber Note - - -Original text lacked a Table of Contents. - -Text emphasis denoted as _Italics_ and =Bold=. WHole and fractional -parts of numbers as 12-3/4. - - - - - THE - BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE - BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL, - - OR - - PRACTICAL HINTS - ON THE - MANAGEMENT AND COMPLETE PRESERVATION - OF - THE HONEY-BEE; - - WITH - A DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST APPROVED HIVES, - AND OTHER APPURTENANCES OF THE APIARY. - - BY - HENRY TAYLOR. - - SIXTH EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS. - - ILLUSTRATED BY NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. - - LONDON: - GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW. - MDCCCLX. - - - - -Contents - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - The Bee-Keeper’s Manual. 1 - The Queen or Mother Bee 4 - The Common or Working Bees 11 - Swarming (or Single Hiving) and Depriving Systems 21 - Common Straw (or Single) Hives 27 - Straw Depriving Hives 30 - Hive-Covers 37 - Floor or Hive-Boards 42 - Hive-Stands, or Pedestals 37 - Wood Box Hives 51 - Wood Bar Boxes 54 - Bar Glass Hives 72 - Straw Bar-Hives 73 - Circular Wooden Hives 75 - Collateral System 78 - White’s Collateral Hive 81 - Nutt’s Collateral Hive 82 - Nadir Hive 87 - Bee Sheds and Houses 94 - Position and Aspect 97 - Bee Passage and Number of Hives 101 - - Summer Management. 106 - Wax and Combs 109 - Propolis 112 - Honey 113 - Pollen and Farina 113 - Water 115 - Shade 115 - Moths, Wasps, Hornets, and Other Enemies 116 - Super-hiving 119 - Bell-glasses 120 - Triplets and Nadirs 122 - - Autumnal Management. 124 - Remove a Full Box or Super 125 - Honey Harvest 128 - Comb-Knives 130 - Robbers 131 - Autumnal Feeding 132 - Feeding-troughs 133 - Bee Food 137 - Winter Store 138 - Autumnal Unions, Fuming, and Transferring Bees 140 - Driving of Bees 152 - - Winter Management. 157 - Winter Positioning 158 - Damp in Hives 161 - Temperature 162 - Dysentery 164 - - Spring Management. 166 - Cleaning or Changing Floor-boards 167 - Comb-pruning 167 - General Directions 168 - Spring Feeding 170 - Enemies and Robbers 175 - Super-hives 176 - Temperature and Weather 177 - Swarming 180 - Returning of Swarms 183 - After-swarms 186 - Uniting of Swarms 192 - Prevention of After-swarms 193 - Maiden Swarms 196 - General Directions on Swarming 196 - Artificial Swarming 199 - Dividing Bar-Hive 204 - Bee-Protector 208 - Remedy for the Sting of a Bee 210 - - Conclusion. 212 - - Index. 217 - - - - -PREFACE - -TO - -THE FOURTH EDITION. - - -Twelve years have elapsed since the original publication of the -Bee-keeper's Manual. For the fourth time the author is called upon to -revise his little book, and he still thinks that the leading object in -offering it to public notice will best be explained in the words with -which it was first introduced. "The existence of the following pages -had its origin, some time ago, in the request of a friend, that the -author would give him a brief practical compendium of the management of -Bees, on the humane or depriving system. Similar applications came from -other quarters. The subject is one which has of late acquired increased -interest; but the hints following would perhaps never have been -prepared for the press, had not the hours of a protracted confinement -by illness required some diversity of occupation and amusement. On -reviewing his experience as an amateur bee-keeper, the author was led -to believe that the result of it, added to a concise view of such -particulars as are usually spread over a large surface in works of -this nature, and arranged according to the progressive order of the -seasons, might be useful to others, seeking like himself occasional -relaxation from weightier matters in watching over and protecting these -interesting and valuable insects. Step by step this or that defect of -construction in his Hives had been remedied, and such conveniences -added as necessity or the spirit of improvement from time to time had -suggested. These are briefly described in the following little work. -If it have the good fortune, though in a small degree, to smooth the -path (usually a rough and uncertain one) of the apiarian novice,--of -removing ignorance and prejudice, or of obviating any portion of the -difficulties with which a more general cultivation of bees has to -contend,--why may not the contribution of this mite be considered a -humble addition to the store of USEFUL KNOWLEDGE?" - -In its present renewed form, the author has been induced partially to -extend his first design (originally much restricted in its scope), by -entering somewhat more at large into the subject of Bee management, -and the general details of practice. Although not professing to offer -his remarks to any particular class of readers, he is, nevertheless, -inclined to think they will frequently be found, in an especial degree, -applicable to the position of the amateur Apiarian. For the peculiar -use of cottage bee-keepers, tracts and scraps innumerable have been -issued,--probably with very uncertain effect. In short, there is -little room for doubt that these can be more effectually benefited by -example and verbal advice, than by any kind of printed instructions. -Be this as it may, putting out of the question the long train of -contingencies incident to locality, season, &c., much must often be -left to individual judgment and careful observation; and no writer can -be expected to meet every supposable case of difficulty in dealing -with insects confessedly often so intractable as bees. The author, -therefore, must be considered as merely laying down a scheme of general -recommendations; aiming much less at novelty than at plain practical -utility; not hesitating occasionally to borrow the language of other -unexceptionable authorities where it clearly expressed his convictions, -or coincided with the results of his own experience; but carefully -abstaining from any interference with the dogmatists and hyper-critics -in the settlement of the affairs of their peculiar vocation. - -If some of the details relative to the construction of hives or their -appurtenances appear to be tedious to the general reader, it must be -borne in mind that these are chiefly addressed to the mechanic, who -will not be found to object that his particular department has received -the aid of a careful attention to matters of description and direction. - -On the whole, the author is induced to hope that the improved -arrangement, additional information, and variety of illustration now -introduced, will render superfluous any apology for a small unavoidable -increase in the size of the book. - - _April, 1850._ - - - - -PREFACE - -TO - -THE FIFTH EDITION. - - -In once more revising the following pages for republication, the -author has still kept in view the purpose in which they originated, -as referred to in a former preface, and which is again prefixed. He -trusts that the intervening period has not been unprofitably occupied -in the task of continued investigation and experiment relative to the -general economy of the Bee; in the introduction either of original -invention or improvement as regards the mechanical requirements of -the Apiary; and in maturing the many useful suggestions derived -in the course of a pretty widely extended correspondence. The -incorporation of matter thus arising must be the apology, if such -is needed, for the omission or abridgment, here and there, of some -that a later experience had superseded or modified. From these causes -the rewriting of many portions of the work became a necessity, -together with the introduction of much new illustration,--on the whole -resulting in a slightly enlarged volume. Under the circumstances of -accumulated materials, condensation was often found more difficult of -accomplishment than expansion, had this been thought desirable; but -brevity throughout has been the aim, so far as seemed consistent with -clear explanation and obvious utility. A work on the Honey-Bee, thus -restricted in its object and scope almost entirely to details of a -practical bearing, may not entitle it to much literary or scientific -consideration, but--without reference to the claims involved in a -large circulation--the author will never regret the time and thought -bestowed, where the leading aim was the welfare and preservation of -one of the most curious of God's creatures; and the dissemination of -knowledge in relation to a pursuit in rural life, of more general -interest, probably, than many kindred ones of higher pretensions. - - _August, 1855._ - - - - -PREFACE - -TO - -THE SIXTH EDITION. - - -A continued, or rather an increasing sale of the Bee-keeper's Manual -has, for the sixth time, rendered a reprint necessary; confirming -the belief that a work, first appearing as the amusement of an idle -hour, has, in its more recent extended form, not been unappreciated, -as supplying a medium between the costly treatises of elaborate -investigators and compilers and the class of mere tracts on Bee -management, that have, with more or less of pretension, abounded -of late years. These are sometimes directed to detached points or -portions only in the wide and diversified field of controversy opened -in relation to the Honey-Bee, or confined by space to the usual -desultory scraps of information for the guidance of the inexperienced -tyro, or supposed cottager; communicating just enough to prove the -necessity of advancing a step further, by consulting works that take -a wider and more systematic view of the subject in its details. The -prefaces to the two last editions of the book are again placed before -the reader, as showing that, in its successive stages, the author's -purpose has been the condensation of a large amount of useful apiarian -knowledge, assisted by an unusual variety of illustration. The present -republication professedly follows in the path of its predecessors; such -additional matter or remark being occasionally introduced as space -permitted, and the onward progress of improvement appeared to demand. - - _May, 1860._ - - - What well appointed Commonwealths! where each - Adds to the stock of happiness for all; - Wisdom's own forums! where professors teach - Eloquent lessons in their vaulted hall: - Galleries of art, and schools of industry! - Stores of rich fragrance! Orchestras of song! - What marvellous seats of hidden alchymy! - How oft, when wandering far and erring long, - Man might learn Truth and Virtue from the Bee! - - Bowring. - - - - -THE - -BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. - - -The Hive or domestic Honey Bee of this country is classed -entomologically _Apis mellifica_, order _Hymenoptera_, as having four -wings.[A] The limits to which a Bee-keeper's Manual of practice is -necessarily confined, permits only the remark that these extraordinary -insects are, as to origin and history, lost in the mists of a remote -antiquity. We know, however, that they, their habits and productions, -are alluded to in Scripture, and attracted marked attention and -admiration in the early eastern communities, where doubtless was -familiar their characteristic Oriental name, _Deburah_,--"she that -speaketh." Subsequently, the bee has spread itself, or been carried, -in spite of clime and temperature, over a large portion of the old -continents; following in the wake of civilized man wherever he has -placed his foot in the primeval forests of the new world; and later on, -in our own time, has been received as a friend and benefactor in the -boundless regions of Australasia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. -From the time of Aristotle down to our own day, treatises on Bees have -ever been popular, and the curious naturalist has no difficulty in -collecting a library relative to a subject apparently inexhaustible. -But space allows us to notice neither the crude speculations to be met -with in ancient literature, the unprofitable disputations too often -prevailing among modern Bee-annalists, nor the endless catalogue of -hives, possible and impossible, of every period, by which the novice is -bewildered. Our present purpose is restricted to a utilitarian view of -the subject of apiarian knowledge, where science, invention, and the -most competent testimony, have combined to place it in our own day. - -[A] Although in the following pages the _Apis mellifica_ alone is -referred to, it may be well here to state that attention has recently -been directed, not only in our own country, but in a still higher -degree in Germany, France, and even in the United States of America, -to the introduction of the Ligurian Bee, or _Apis Ligustica_ of -Italy, the race most probably that was known to Aristotle and Virgil, -and, perhaps, to the ancient Greeks. The combs of this species of -bee closely resemble those of the common kind, but its outward -characteristics exhibit a marked difference; the first rings of the -abdomen being of a reddish colour, instead of dark brown. A fertile -Ligurian queen is readily accepted in an English stock-hive, from which -a common queen has been abstracted, and in due time young Italians are -distinguishable, gradually displacing the original inhabitants. Report -speaks favorably of the superiority of the strangers over our own bee, -as more hardy, more laborious, less irascible, and as swarming earlier. - -To those who may be unacquainted with the leading characteristic of the -Honey Bee, it is necessary to premise that in every family, when fully -constituted, its members are of three kinds of individuals; viz., - - A _Queen_, or _Mother Bee_, [Illustration] - - The _Common_, or _Working Bees_; [Illustration] - - And (during a part of the year) - the _Male_, or _Drone Bees_. [Illustration] - -Thus associated, they severally perform their allotted functions -in great harmony, labouring for the general good, combining in -self-defence, recognising one another, but permitting the intrusion of -no stranger within the hive. - - - - -THE QUEEN OR MOTHER BEE - - -Is darker on the back, longer, and more taper towards the end of her -body than the common bees; has longer legs but shorter wings, and is -of a tawny or yellowish-brown colour underneath. She is supreme in the -hive, admitting no rival or equal; and is armed with a sting, somewhat -more curved in form than that of the common bees, which, however, she -rarely uses. Where she goes the other bees follow; and so indispensable -is her presence to the existence of the commonwealth, that where she is -not none will long remain. She is the mother of the entire community, -her office being to lay the eggs from which all proceed, whether -future queens, drones, or workers. Separate her from the family, and -she instinctively resents the injury, refuses food, pines, and dies. -Without a Queen, or a prospect of one, the labour of the hive is -suspended, and a gradual dispersion or emigration of the community -ensues. - -[Illustration] - -Those who have examined the appearance of a bee-hive, after it has -been filled with combs during a year, will recollect seeing suspended -here and there, certain small inverted cup-shaped forms. These are the -partially destroyed remains of what were designed for the birthplaces -of young queens, and so-called royal cells or cradles. They are much -larger than the common hexagonal cells in which the working bees are -bred; varying also in their composition, the material of which appears -to be a mixture of wax or propolis, and the farina of flowers. Soon -after the foundation of one of them has been laid, an egg is deposited -in it, the work of completion of the cradle being carried on as -required by the increasing growth of its occupant. When finished and -closed up, it presents in form the appearance of an oblong spheroid, -about an inch long, usually appended like a stalactite perpendicularly -to the edge of a comb, the small end or mouth being downwards, a -position most favorable to economy of space in the hive. In number -the royal cells vary from four or five to a dozen, and sometimes -more. They are not peopled till after the usual great spring laying -of eggs for the production of working bees, preparatory to swarming; -and also those to produce drone bees. The existence of the latter, -or in some stage towards existence, is an invariable preliminary to -the construction of royal cells, the reason for which will hereafter -appear. The affectionate attachment evinced by the nurse-bees towards -the royal larvæ is marvellous, the quantity of food given is profuse, -and they arrive severally at maturity on or about the sixteenth day -from the laying of each egg; these having usually an interval between -them of but a few days. Of the young females or princesses, as they are -often called, and the mode of disposing of supernumerary ones, we shall -speak more at large when we come to treat of swarming. The duration -of life in a Queen bee, under ordinary circumstances, is, by a wise -provision for the perpetuation of the species, much more prolonged than -is the case with the common bees, and some observers have imagined -that it may in some instances have reached to nearly five years. So -far as my knowledge extends, the oldest queen bee of which we have an -authentic record, existed, in the apiary of Mr. Robert Golding,[B] -during the space of three years and eleven months. She died in April -or May, showing little sign of decrepitude, judging by her fertility, -for previously she had filled the hive with an abundance of brood of -every kind. I am, however, inclined to believe that a Queen is oftener -changed than we are always aware of, for in nothing in Nature is there -displayed a more careful attention to the due preservation of a family -of bees than in the provision made for supplying the casual vacancies -arising not merely from the natural demise of the sovereign, but from -other causes, especially those involving deficient powers or absolute -sterility. I should, therefore, discountenance any attempt at direct -interference by the forcible removal of a queen, after a prescribed -period, as has sometimes been advocated. If, however, it should happen -that such removal is absolutely necessary, the bees will accept a -successor as soon as they have discovered their loss, which is often -not till after the lapse of several hours. If all is right the previous -agitation will cease. - -[B] See the 'Shilling Bee-book,' by Robert Golding. - -And this leads us on to a curious, if not unique fact in relation to -the natural history of the Honey bee, which though probably not unknown -to the ancients, was rediscovered and promulgated by Schirach, a member -of an apiarian society, formed in the middle of the last century at -Little Bautzen, in Upper Lusatia. In contradistinction to the usual way -in which a young Queen is created, preparatory to the swarming season, -by what is denominated the _natural_ process, the details we are about -to give show that the same thing may be effected by another mode, or, -as it is said, _artificially_. Whether these terms, as opposed to each -other, are rightly applied or not, they at least mark a difference; -and being thus practically understood, we shall follow the example of -other authors in using them. The fact itself, startling as at first it -seemed, has been so clearly authenticated, that any lurking scepticism -has disappeared; and, indeed, the principle is now so well understood -and carried into general use by the scientific Apiculturist that, in -a popular treatise on the Honey bee, our object would he imperfectly -accomplished without entering into a few particulars in connection with -it. And first, we have the assurance that the prevalent opinion as to -any supposed original or generated difference between common eggs and -those laid for the especial production of Queen bees, is founded in -error; an altered and accelerated mode as to the development of the -egg being all that is needed for the maturation of a perfect female. -That we may understand the method of procedure on the part of the -bees, we have to suppose that a hive has been deprived of its Queen -(no matter whether by death or design) at that particular period when -eggs and larvæ are each present in the cells of the combs: such larvæ -being not more than two or three days old, for this is essential. -Could we at such a juncture witness the proceedings of the family, a -spectacle would be presented of much domestic distress and confusion -when it had been discovered that the hive was queenless. Soon, however, -the scene changes to the quietude of hope, for the foundation of a -queen's cell (and as a provision against possible failure, often of -three or four) is commenced by the bees, usually within twenty-four -hours. They select a common grub or larva, and enlarge the cell it -occupies, by sacrificing the three contiguous ones, surrounding it -with a cylindrical enclosure; the new cradle of royalty presenting in -this stage the appearance of an acorn cup. The embryo Princess, for -such she has now become, is amply supplied with a nurture, supposed to -differ from that given to the common larvæ (a point questioned by some -naturalists); her habitation in the meanwhile receiving elongation to -suit her growth. About the fifth day the worm assumes the nymph state, -the cell being now worked into its usual pear-shaped figure; the bees -quitting it as soon as the lower end is finally closed. About the -fourteenth day a perfectly developed female comes forth, in no respect -differing from a Queen bred in the natural way. Fecundation and the -laying of eggs usually follow in a few days, the economy of the hive -then resuming its wonted course. - -The Queen bee rarely leaves home, or is to be seen, except in hives -constructed purposely with a view to observation. In such a one I have -frequently watched the proceedings, as she has leisurely traversed -the combs, the bees clearing a passage on her approach, their heads -turned towards her, and, by repeatedly touching her with their antennæ, -showing a marked attachment, a favour she is occasionally seen to -return. Indeed, in some well-authenticated instances, affection has -been continued even after her death. The great object of her existence -being the perpetuation of the species, her majesty seems intent on -nothing more, during these royal progresses, than peeping into the -cells as she passes them, ever and anon selecting one, within which she -inserts her abdomen, and deposits at the bottom an egg. These are about -the size of those produced by a butterfly, but more elongated, and of a -bluish-white colour. So prolific are some Queens that I have sometimes -witnessed an extraordinary waste of eggs when, as the combs have become -in great part filled with brood or honey, she finds a difficulty in -meeting with a sufficiency of unoccupied cells. In such an emergency, -impelled by necessity, the eggs are dropped at random, and carried off -or devoured by the bees. No doubt an early and productive season tends -often to this result, and marks the necessity of a timely temporary -addition to the storing room of the family. The great laying takes -place in April and May, when the number of eggs has been variously -estimated by naturalists at 200 to 600 in a day, amounting to an -aggregate of 50,000 to 80,000 in the year. "This sounds like a great -number," remarks Dr. Bevan,[C] "but it is much exceeded by some other -insects." Indeed, a wider calculation has been made, in his valuable -remarks on bees, by the Rev. Dr. W. Dunbar,[D] who thinks that some -Queens (for they are not all equally prolific) produce 100,000 eggs -yearly. When we take into account the enormous demand for the supply of -swarms, the constant deaths in the course of nature, and the thousands -of lives always sacrificed by casualties of various kinds, at home -and abroad, I am inclined to lean to the higher estimate. No doubt as -the cold weather advances there is a considerable falling off in the -number of eggs, but the interval is very short in which the queen, in a -flourishing hive, discontinues laying more or less. "Indeed," observes -Mr. Golding, "it appears that at any time when the temperature is not -too low for the bees to appropriate the food that is given to them, the -Queen will deposit eggs." - -[C] See 'The Honey-Bee, its Natural History, Physiology, and -Management.' By Edward Bevan, M.D. - -[D] See the 'Naturalist's Library,' vol. xxxiv. - - - - -THE COMMON OR WORKING BEES - - -Are the least in size, and in point of numbers in a family are -variously calculated at twelve to thirty thousand, according to -the bulk of the swarm; though under certain circumstances they are -sometimes much more numerous. As regards sex, we have seen in the -preceding section that there is no reason to doubt they are females, -only that the reproductive organs and ovaries are not as fully -developed as they are in the case of a perfect Queen; and this has led -to the erroneous use of the term _neuters_, as sometimes applied to the -common bees. If any doubt should remain as to their sex, it is removed -by the knowledge that, in some rare instances, they have been able to -produce eggs. Like the Queen, each has the power of stinging. The use -of the sting, however, usually involves a loss of life, for, being -barbed like an arrow, the bee has rarely the power of withdrawing it. - -The eggs for workers are deposited in the common cells in the centre -of the hive, being the part first selected for that purpose, the Queen -usually laying them equally on each side of a comb, and nearly back to -back. In four or five days' time, they are hatched, when a small worm -is presented, remaining in the larva or grub state four to six days -more, during which period it is assiduously fed by the nurse-bees. The -larvæ then assume the nymph or pupa form, and spin themselves a film or -cocoon, the nurses immediately after sealing them up with a substance -which Huber[E] calls wax. It is, however, a mixture of wax and pollen, -being thicker, more highly coloured, more porous, and less tenacious, -probably to afford air, and facilitate the escape of the imprisoned -tenant. This takes place about the twenty-first day from the laying -of the egg, unless the process has been somewhat retarded by cold -weather. The attentive observer may at this time, in a suitable hive, -witness the struggles and scrambling into the world, generally by its -own exertions, of the now perfect _imago_, the little grey new-born -shaking, brushing, and smoothing itself, preparatory to entering upon -the duties of life, and in a day or two, or sooner, it is busily -occupied in the fields.[F] - -[E] See "Observations on the Natural History of Bees," by Francis -Huber; English edition, London, 1841. An invaluable work to the -scientific apiculturist. - -[F] As soon as the young bee comes forth, the others partially clear -the cell, and it again receives an egg; this being often repeated -four or five times in the season. Afterwards the cells become the -receptacles for honey or farina; but they are found in time to become -contracted or thickened by this rapid succession of tenants, and the -consequent deposits of exuviæ, excrement, &c. It has been asserted by -Huber and other naturalists, that young bees, bred in old contracted -cells, are proportionately smaller in size. Such combs should be -removed from the hive. - -Though we have, as I conceive, no actual proof that the occupation of -individual bees is at all times unchangeably directed to one point (as -some naturalists have imagined), observation shows that the division -of labour is one of their leading characteristics. Some are engaged -in secreting and elaborating wax for the construction of combs in the -hive; others in warming the eggs; in feeding the larvæ, as also their -queen; in ventilating and cleansing the hive; in guarding and giving -notice of attacks or annoyance from without; and the rest in searching -the fields and woods for the purpose of collecting honey and farina, -for present and future store. - -The longevity of the working bees has often furnished matter for -dispute, and erroneous ideas have been engendered where a family -has been seen for a series of years to continue in a populous and -thriving condition. But during this period the Queen (or more than -one in succession) has been incessantly occupied in laying eggs -innumerable, to supply by new births the place of the countless -thousands of bees that periodically disappear. Their dwelling has -remained, but successive generations of tenants have kept its works -in repair, giving way in time to fresh occupants. It is shown clearly -by Dr. Bevan and other good authorities, both by argument and actual -experiment, that six to eight months is the limit of their duration; -for, notwithstanding the immense annual increase, the numbers in a hive -dwindle down gradually, owing to the chills of autumn and towards the -end of the year, to a comparatively few. There is no doubt, therefore, -that every bee existing after Christmas was bred during the latter -part of the summer or autumn; and this is a sufficient answer to those -who sometimes inquire what is to become of the accumulated masses of -bees, in hives managed on the depriving system, where neither swarming -nor destruction takes place. - -We might here allude to a prevalent error as to any inherent -difference, local or otherwise, in the characteristics of the domestic -Honey bee. When we hear it said, that some are "better workers" than -others, all that ought to be understood is, that the family has the -advantage of being under favorable circumstances as to locality or -season; with a fertile Queen, and an abundant population, for without -these essentials, every operation goes on sluggishly, and prosperity -becomes hopeless. - - - - -THE DRONE OR MALE BEES - - -Are computed in the early part of the summer at one to two thousand, -and upwards, in a stock-hive; but the numbers are irregular, for -a weak stock will often have an undue proportion. They possess no -sting; are larger, darker, and more hairy than the common bees; easily -distinguishable by their heavy motion on the wing, and by their louder -humming or _droning_. - -After her great spring laying of common eggs has far advanced, and -as an invariable preliminary to the construction of royal cells, the -Queen proceeds to deposit eggs intended for the production of drones -or males, though often without discontinuing those for workers. The -drone eggs are laid in cells larger in diameter, and stronger than -the others, and usually placed towards the outer extremities of the -hive.[G] A longer period is necessary for the development of a male -than a female, and the drones pass through their various stages in -about twenty-four to twenty-six days, being seldom seen till about -the beginning of May (though occasionally earlier), and then only in -warm weather, in the middle of the day. These are the produce of the -first-laid eggs; for a second smaller laying of drone eggs commonly -takes place about two months later, though the males are rarely found -after August, unless under certain contingencies. - -[G] A curious question for the naturalist arises as to the instinct -which directs a Queen bee invariably to deposit the proper eggs in the -proper cells. The most accurate microscopic observation cannot detect -any difference between the egg of a worker, that of a drone, or of -a Queen, all proceeding indiscriminately from the same ovaries and -oviduct. Ingenious theories have been advanced as to the possibility -of what some call impregnated and unimpregnated eggs being laid at -the option of the Mother bee. Huber's opinion, "that nature does not -allow the Queen the choice of the eggs she is to lay," only adds to the -difficulty of arriving at any satisfactory conclusion. - -The drones take no part in the collection of stores, nor in any -operation or process of the hive, for which they have proverbially -suffered much ignorant and absurd reproach, since Nature has denied -them the necessary means, and in their creation has allotted them -a distinct office. Indeed, their flights from the hive are only -occasional short ones, and they rarely alight during such excursions. -They are of the male sex, their presence in a hive being only required -at that particular period when the young queens are arriving at -maturity; for of all the theories that have been entertained as to -the functions of the drones, that of Huber is undoubtedly the true -one,--impregnation. - -"Naturalists," says Huber, "have been extremely embarrassed to account -for the number of males in most hives, and which seem only a burden -on the community, since they appear to fulfil no function. But we now -begin to discern the object of nature in multiplying them to such an -extent. As fecundation cannot be accomplished within the hive, and as -the queen is obliged to traverse the expanse of the atmosphere, it is -requisite that the males should be numerous, that she may have the -chance of meeting some one of them. Were only two or three in each -hive, there would be little probability of their departure at the same -instant with the Queen, or that they would meet in their excursions; -and most of the females might thus remain sterile." - -Were any doubt to remain on the subject, perhaps the annual destruction -of the drones by the workers throws the most satisfactory light on -the design of their creation. This process varies in point of time, -according to circumstances. Deprive a hive forcibly of its Queen, and, -according to Bonner and Huber, no expulsion of drones takes place. -"In such cases," says the latter, "they are tolerated and fed, and -many are seen even in the middle of January." They are retained under -the inspiration of hope, for a contingency might arise to require -their presence. Where a necessity for swarming has been in any way -superseded, there are either no royal cells constructed, or the young -queens meet with premature destruction. Then frequently commences an -early expulsion of the drones, thus rendered purposeless: they become -mere consumers, an incumbrance in the hive, and as such the common bees -instinctively wage fierce war upon them, ending in total annihilation: -nor are even the male larvæ allowed to remain in their cells. This -expulsive process often commences, under such circumstances, in the -middle, or at any rate towards the end of May, as I have repeatedly -witnessed, and not unfrequently is again resorted to later on in the -season. On the other hand, in the case of swarming hives it does not -take place till July, or even later, according to season and locality, -when all the royal brood is disposed of. The circumstances differ -in the two cases; and the bees in this, as in other parts of their -practice, are sufficiently utilitarians to modify their proceedings -accordantly. In the one instance, the office of the males is rendered -void, and in the other it is indispensable to the young queens. Such of -these as go forth with swarms become fertilized in two or three days -after (though sometimes it is later than this), followed by the laying -of eggs in about a similar distance of time. Thenceforth they remain -fruitful, if not ever after (as is the case with some other insects), -at all events for a year, for young bees are produced, without the -subsequent presence of a single male in the family, till the following -spring. The destruction of the drones, therefore, be it sooner or -later, may be considered an indication that the hive contains no queen -brood, and, consequently, that no swarming is to be expected. - -Conflicting opinions have been formed as to the desirableness of -assisting the working bees in the task of expelling the drones--often a -protracted process--for although the latter are not armed, like their -more numerous opponents, yet their superior size and strength dispose -them often to make a stout resistance. If it can be done at once, -without undue annoyance to the family, much fighting and valuable time -may doubtless be saved by interfering; but no advice can be worse than -that of attempting to accomplish the work piecemeal. When attacked, -the drones, to stave off the impending storm, will congregate together -in a remote part of the hive. Observation led me to think they would -at such a time be glad to retreat for still greater safety into a -separate box, so placed as to be accessible to them. Accordingly, -on the 14th of June, in one of my collateral stock-hives, where the -drones for a day or two had been hard pushed by the others, I opened -a communication on the ground floor into an empty side box. My theory -was completely realised, for the poor drones gladly made their way -into this, where they remained clustered at the top like a swarm, -not a single common bee accompanying them, and would probably have -been starved. The following morning I took away the box of drones and -destroyed them, counting rather more than 2200, besides some few that -had escaped; altogether a greater number than the usual estimate gives -to a family. I did not find among them a solitary working bee; nor -could I discover in the parent stock-hive one remaining drone. The bees -peaceably at once recommenced work, and did well; as if glad in this -wholesale way to be rid of their late unprofitable inmates. What was -the cost of their daily maintenance? And what proportion to the entire -population of the hive did the drones bear? After this apparently large -abstraction, no sensible difference was observable in the crowding. -In this hive the usual second laying of drone eggs took place, and a -good many more drones were expelled at the end of July. I have not been -enabled to repeat this experiment, but have no doubt it would always -succeed under similar circumstances. - - - - -SWARMING (OR SINGLE HIVING) AND DEPRIVING SYSTEMS. - - -The multiplication of families or colonies of bees, in the natural -manner, is accomplished by the secession of a portion of the -inhabitants of a stock-hive, which has become over-peopled, with -insufficient room for the breeding and storing departments. This act -of emigration or swarming is sometimes an affair of expediency only; -and by a timely enlargement and decrease in the temperature of the -hive it may often be prevented. As soon as warm weather sets in, a -common sized hive becomes crowded and heated to excess; and at length a -separation of the family becomes a matter of necessity. In anticipation -of this event, royal cells are constructed and tenanted for the rearing -of young queens, for without these no swarming occurs. A crowded -dwelling therefore naturally prompts to this preliminary; whilst on the -contrary, a large hive has the effect of retarding the formation of -such cells, and the migration of which they are the precursor. In the -words of Gelieu,[H] "in the swarming season the strong hives are almost -entirely filled with brood-combs. At that time also honey becomes -abundant; and when fine days succeed each other, the working bees amass -an astonishing quantity. But where is it to be stored? Must they wait -till the young bees have left the brood-cells, by which time the early -flowers will be withered? What is to be done in this dilemma? Mark the -resources of the industrious bees. They search in the neighbourhood[I] -for a place where they may deposit their honey, until the young shall -have left the combs in which they were hatched. If they fail in this -object, they crowd together in the front of their habitation, forming -prodigious clusters. It is not uncommon to see them building combs on -the outside." - -[H] See 'The Bee-Preserver,' by Jonas de Gelieu, translated from -the French; Edinburgh, 1829. This valuable little work contains the -substance of sixty-four years' experience. - -[I] The word here translated _neighbourhood_ seems, with some, to -have given rise to a misconception as to the meaning intended to be -conveyed by it. From the context it is clear Gelieu only meant to -imply some place of deposit in proximity to the parent hive, and not -anything actually apart from it. He distinctly says, "provided there be -an accessible way of communication between them." That bees do, in a -degree, leave their usual domicile for the temporary storing of honey -is evident, when from necessity they construct combs (often in the open -air) on the underneath side of their floor; or work in a separate hive -or box, placed against the original one. - -In general, honey-gathering is altogether suspended, necessarily, -under the circumstances we have stated; and, after a long course of -inaction, in the very best part of the season, swarming follows. Indeed -there always appears to be a connexion between swarming and idleness, -induced by a succession of interregnums in the government, causing -a suspension of breeding, when little or no store of any kind is -collected. The proprietor must therefore make his election as to his -course. If the multiplication of stocks is his object, his bees may -thus be impelled to throw off swarms, but he must abandon the prospect -of a large harvest of honey under such circumstances. This method of -bee management is usually called _single hiving_, and is that commonly -followed by cottagers, as on the whole the least expensive. On the -general subject of swarming we shall enter more at large under the head -of "Spring Management." - -_Depriving system._--Opposed to the mode of management in which -swarming is systematically encouraged, is that whereby, under ordinary -circumstances, it may be often prevented, and much valuable time, in -the most productive part of the year, be rendered available for the -purposes of adding to the wealth of the family. Let us observe the -natural instinct of these little animals, and at the proper season -provide them with such an occasional addition of storing-room as will -enable them uninterruptedly to go on constructing fresh combs, to -be filled with honey, unmixed with brood or other substances. This -temporary receptacle, though in communication with the stock-hive, can -at pleasure, in the way which will hereafter be described, be detached -from it, without injury to the bees; these returning to their original -habitation, in which the mother bee (although she may occasionally -perambulate every part of her dominion,) ought exclusively to carry on -the work of breeding. The honey obtained by this act of _Deprivation_ -is always supposed to be in excess of what is required for the wants -of the family, and almost invariably pure in quality. Various have -been the contrivances for effecting the separation of the storing -and breeding departments in a hive. The bees, when pressed for room, -will extend their operations almost in any direction, whether the -accommodation is given above (which is termed _storifying_), at the -bottom (_nadiring_), or _collaterally_. Equally indifferent are they -to the material of the temporary receptacle. A second hive, box, or -glass, placed over the stock, is termed a _duplet_, or more commonly -a _super_; by which general name, as we proceed, any kind of storing -vessel so placed will be designated. A productive season sometimes -admits of a second super (usually introduced between the first and the -stock), called in such case a _triplet_. An empty box or hive, pushed -beneath a full one, is denominated a _Nadir_,--a mode of practice -not always advisable except in the case of swarms of the same year, -or towards the latter end of very abundant seasons. A still smaller -addition to a common hive consists merely of a few bands of straw, -on which it is raised temporarily, and this constitutes an _eke_. -When either this or a nadir is used, and to facilitate its subsequent -removal, a board ought to be placed between the stock-hive and the -nadir, to prevent the combs from being worked down into it. The board -may either be pierced with good-sized holes, throughout, or it may be -cut into the form of parallel bars, as a grate, with about half an inch -of space between them. The entrance to the stock-hive must be stopped, -and one made at the bottom of the eke or nadir. We shall hereafter -describe a modification of the Nadir principle, which, by way of -distinction, I have called _Nethering_. - -In contrasting, as we have done, the Swarming and Depriving systems, -it should not be understood that either of them can invariably be -advantageously carried out exclusively. An occasional change of system -is desirable. In all large apiaries there is always a necessity -for renewals both of Stocks and of Hives, by swarming; and it is -seldom profitable, more especially as respects a common straw hive, -to continue to work it on the depriving plan beyond a few seasons -consecutively. Moreover, the cost of a new hive will be well repaid -by an entire occasional renovation of the colony, stimulated thus to -increased exertion, and with the advantage probably of a changed Queen. - -The preference given to either of the two schemes of Bee management -we have just detailed, must direct the proprietor in the choice of -his hives, and we shall proceed to describe such of them as have -found most favour among modern practitioners; premising that in using -the term _Hive_, we intend its general acceptation, no matter of -what material it is made. Neither is it our object unduly to magnify -the advantages of wooden hives at the expense of those of straw: -prejudice exists on both sides the question. They are each valuable -according to circumstances, and their intended uses. Moreover, he only -deceives himself and others who imagines he has discovered a system -or a hive by which to command an abundance, or an improved quality of -Honey, at pleasure. A favorable season may crown with success some -cherished theory or mechanical device, to be followed in the next -by disappointment; for he has little studied the natural habits of -bees, who believes they can be made at will to conform, under all -circumstances, to any settled scheme of practice we may devise for -them. The attempt has led to the Babel of contrarieties too frequently -exhibited amongst apiarian professors, to the confusion of the novice; -each deprecating everything except the mode of procedure he has found -applicable to his own case or district, and with which of course he -is most familiar. In the words of Mr. Golding, "Let my readers repel -the quackery which would have them believe that it was the _kind of -hive_ which commanded the honeyed store. No; that will be ruled by the -productiveness of the season and the locality." Having taken the Honey -bee under our especial protection, we are bound to provide for its due -preservation from the effects of climate, &c., and perhaps, in addition -to the ordinary attentions, the most that can be done with permanent -advantage is to furnish our intelligent little workmen with a dwelling, -convenient in its form and arrangement for the intended purposes; -bearing in mind, as a general rule, that these are best consulted by an -attention to simplicity in its details. - - - - -COMMON STRAW (OR SINGLE) HIVES. - - -In their wild state, bees have most usually found a secure residence -in the decayed trunks of the thick forest trees. Where they are -domesticated, the kinds and shapes, as well as the materials of -bee-hives, vary according to climate and locality, or the purse of -the proprietor. Those used in many parts of this country are made of -straw, of a bell-shape, and being intended for single hiving, are -usually without any means of enlargement. At the end of the second or -third year, they are too often placed over the pit of destruction; -and thus, with a little impure honey, flavoured with brimstone, the -scene closes. Is it surprising that an unpleasant association is -thus connected with the use of such hives? Happily for the cause -of humanity, experience has decided that this consequence is not -inevitable; and I trust I shall hereafter point out the method by -which it may be avoided, and make it appear to be the interest of the -proprietor _never to kill_ his bees, let the hive be of what kind it -may. - -Common hives are best made of unthreshed rye, or good wheat straw. They -would be much improved by a greater attention to shape, being usually -too high in proportion to the width. It may be well, in this connexion, -to introduce the observation of Gelieu. "One of my chief objects," says -he, "has been to ascertain what shape of hive is the most profitable; -and with this view I have tried all the different kinds, and have -invariably remarked that bees thrive better in low hives than in high -ones; that in general those which are broad and flat amass more honey, -thrive better, and give out stronger and earlier swarms than those -which are high. A hive thrives only in proportion to the success or -perfection of its brood-comb in the spring. It is, therefore, of great -importance to keep up the necessary degree of heat for the hatching -of the brood. If, at that time, the bees are lodged in high and roomy -hives, they will crowd together in vain, and the heat ascending is lost -in the empty space above. This never happens in low flat hives, where -it is more easily concentrated." - -To prevent the combs from falling, sticks are commonly put across, -or along the inside of a hive, as a support to them. But these props -are an annoyance to the Bees, presenting difficulty in subsequently -extracting the combs, and are never required in a hive made with a -proper regard to proportion; in other words, where the combs are not -too large to bear their own weight, when fully loaded. As regards -the area of hives, much difference of opinion prevails, and a -certain degree of latitude must be left for circumstances connected -with locality, &c. Credit has been taken by some apiculturists, and -doubtless with reason, for much reducing the unwieldy hives of our -ancestors. On an average, perhaps, a preference may be given, as -regards a common bell-formed straw hive, to one made about fourteen -inches wide, and not more than eight inches high at the centre of the -crown, both inside measure. There will be less of room wasted in a hive -thus formed, inasmuch as the combs are stored down to the bottom cells, -which is rarely the case in a high and narrow one. A low wooden hoop -is often used, worked at the bottom of the hive; or, as Dr. Bevan says, -"the lower round of straw may be begun upon a wooden hoop, the bottom -of which has been planed smooth; it should be perforated through its -whole course, and the perforations made in an oblique direction, so -distant from each other as to cause all the stitches of the hive to -range in a uniform manner." The hoop gives greater stability to the -hive, preserves the lower edge from decay, and affords facility in -moving it. - -The custom of plastering round the bottom edge of a hive with mortar or -clay is better omitted. Its own increasing weight will settle it down -to its board: at all events no cement is equal to that used by the bees -themselves; any other only serves to accelerate the decay of the hive, -besides presenting an impediment on occasional removal for cleaning or -inspection. - -[Illustration] - - - - -STRAW DEPRIVING HIVES. - - -A reference to the preceding section will show the reasons for giving -a preference to rather shallow common straw hives over high ones, and -the same arguments hold good where they are intended to be managed on -the system usually termed of _Deprivation_; except that then the hive -need be scarcely so large as in the case of single hiving. But to -give facilities for the placing of a second hive, or super, over the -original stock-hive, the latter ought to be made flat on the top, viz., -cylindrical and straight in form. This shape found an advocate in the -late Mr. Payne,[J] one of the most experienced instructors of Cottage -Bee-keepers, who saw reasons for altering the dimensions of his hives -from twelve inches wide to fourteen, and seven, or sometimes eight, -inches in height (both inside measure), and which I have adopted as -preferable. In the centre of the crown of the hive is a three or four -inch hole. The latter, when not in use, is stopped by a piece of worked -straw, like a mat, as seen in the preceding illustration; and this may -be fastened down by pins or a slight weight. At the proper time for -placing a super, the straw mat cover can be removed, and its place -supplied by what is termed an _adapter_, which is usually a piece of -board the same diameter as the top of the hive, having a corresponding -hole through its centre; thus in fact _adapting_ it as the floor-board -to a super. It will often be better, instead of one thick adapter, -to have two very thin ones, of equal form and size, placed together. -In such case, mahogany or some hard wood should be used, to prevent -warping. On the removal of a full super, this double adapter will be -found useful, as any impediment can be removed by passing between the -two boards a knife, or some fine wire. Or a piece of tin, zinc, or thin -wood may be inserted to entirely stop the communication, if desired, at -any time. - -[J] See the 'Bee-keeper's Guide,' by J. H. Payne. - -[Illustration] - -A straw super is best made of the same flat and cylindrical form as -the stock-hive just described. The size may vary in diameter according -to season and locality, from ten to twelve inches, or even the full -width of the stock-hive, and three to six inches in inside height. -In good years two or more of such supers may sometimes be filled in -succession, the appearance of the hive determining its expediency. -Should the stock-hive become hot and crowded before the first cap is -entirely filled, a second smaller one (or triplet,) may be added. In -such cases, the first super is always to remain the upper one, for it -would be useless to put the triplet anywhere except _between_ the two -now in use, and it must have a two-inch hole in its crown as a passage -upwards for the bees. In moving the first super, the upper half of the -double adapter can be lifted with it, first introducing between them a -piece of zinc or tin, to stop the communication with the stock-hive. -In order to give the straw supers a better footing when placed one -upon another, some persons prefer an extra cord or rim of straw to be -worked round the outer bottom and top band. Or, if they are made plain, -a thin hoop may be slipped round at the point of junction, embracing -them both. A few holes are made in the hoop, for the reception of small -pointed iron pins (easily removable), passing through and into the -straw, and thus keeping it in its place. Those who choose may have the -supers made without crowns, which gives facilities for fitting them up -to serve any required purpose. This is done by means of loose wooden -crown-boards: they may be prevented from warping by being made of two -circular smooth boards glued together, the grain of the wood crossing. -These boards are of different diameters; the smaller circle falls -within the inner diameter of the cap; the other should be made an inch -or more larger, to rest upon the upper edge of it. A reference to the -engraving in the next page will illustrate our meaning. A small weight -for a day or two will adjust the crown to its place; but any little -apertures should in some way be stopped, for the escape of too much -warmth must not be permitted. Mr. Golding does this by an effectual -method: "Any little misfit," says he, "through which the bees may get -out, is best stopped with a bit of tea lead, a store of which should -be kept for such purposes." On removing a full cap, the combs can be -separated from its sides with a knife or spatula, when there will be no -difficulty in lifting up the crown-board with the combs suspended from -it, in an unbroken state; and this often enhances their value. - -[Illustration] - -Whether with or without the protection of a bee-house, the supers ought -to be covered. For this object an exterior hive or straw cylinder may -be used, similar in form and diameter to the stock-hive, and of any -required height. The zinc shade and its cover, which will be more -particularly described (under the head of hive-covers), suitably -completes a protection of this kind. At present a reference to the -preceding illustrations will suffice. The upper engraving shows a straw -super with its moveable crown-board, and the method of placing it over -a stock-hive; whilst the lower one represents the appearance of the -whole when put together, with zinc shades and a cover. - -[Illustration] - -We have as yet supposed the stock-hive to be constructed in the -usual way, with a flat straw crown; but many persons are induced to -prefer wood; in which case the hive may be made in the mode pointed -out for the caps, open at both ends alike. The same kind of moveable -crown-board will in that case be suitable; made, as already detailed, -of two circular pieces of wood of different diameters, together about -three fourths of an inch in thickness. A little of some kind of luteing -can, if needed, be used in adjusting the crown-board to its hive; or -the tea lead we have just spoken of may often serve. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -There is another mode of fitting a wood crown. This may be of the same -size as the _outside_ diameter of the hive, a thin hoop being screwed -around its edge, with an inch additional; the whole fitting over as a -cap. A few small pointed iron pins may pass through the lower edge of -the hoop horizontally into the straw, thus sufficiently holding it; -at the same time that its subsequent removal is easy. Instead of a -hoop, I have used a strip of zinc, screwed round, and pinned, as just -mentioned, which fits closer than wood, and when all is painted of one -colour, has a neat appearance. Even without any kind of hoop, the wood -top may be fixed by means of moveable pointed pins going through it, -and down into the upper edge of the hive. Amateurs often prefer the -crown-board cut with three holes, triangularly in position, to a single -central one; as convenience is thus given for working three small -glasses, or a large-sized one, as shown by the circles delineated in -our illustration. The holes may be one and a quarter inch in diameter -at the larger end, tapering two inches down to a point. Three zinc -slides or _dividers_, as they are called, move in grooves, cut two -inches wide from the edge of the crown-board, over the holes. The -supers should be placed each on a separate adapter; and on removal, the -slide is passed underneath the adapter, the whole being then lifted -off together. - -Various opinions have prevailed as to the expediency of painting the -exterior of straw hives, some believing that absorption of vapour best -takes place where it is omitted. My own idea is that, for exposed -hives, an annual coat of paint is desirable, and nothing looks better -for the purpose than a natural straw colour. We may resort to the words -of Gelieu, who says, "it is commonly supposed that bees thrive best in -straw hives, because the straw absorbs the moisture, and the combs are -less liable to mould. For my part I can perceive no difference. The -bees are careful enough to varnish over the interior of the straw hives -with a coating of wax, or rather propolis, to prevent the settlement -of the moths; and in the old hives this varnish is so thick that no -moisture can penetrate between the cords of straw. Wooden hives will -also absorb moisture to a certain extent; and experience has shown me -that it is a matter of indifference which are employed, except as to -the price." - - - - -HIVE-COVERS. - - -Whatever difference of opinion there may be as to the expediency of -the practice of placing straw hives in the open air, independently of -a house or shed, the custom prevails to so great an extent, that our -object would be incomplete were we not to point out some of the modes -resorted to for protecting them in such cases. Of the commoner kinds -of coverings many are sufficiently unsightly; some being of straw -thatch (or hackles), others of earthenware, in various ugly forms, -and often objectionable and injurious to the hive, from their weight. -In the apiary of a friend I have seen a dome-formed straw cover to a -stock-hive, constructed with a projection all round of about three -inches. On the underneath side are attached three or four bands in a -circle, fitting over the outer diameter of the hive. The appearance -of this cover is appropriate; but unless carefully painted, wet will -eventually find admittance. It may, however, be rendered water-proof by -means of some kind of cement. I have sometimes used for this purpose -a mixture of paint with fine sawdust, pounded into the consistence of -paste, and afterwards painted and varnished. - -[Illustration] - -A cover of the same form can be manufactured in zinc, more or less -convex, or sometimes nearly flat, its edges being turned down over -stiff wire. A descending rim of not less than two inches deep is -attached to the underneath side, encircling the upper edge of the hive. -There ought to be perforations immediately under the projection of the -rim, and a space left between the cover and the crown of the hive, -for the passage of air; or a small worked mat, of straw bands, may be -interposed to prevent any ill effect from a hot sun. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -A modification of the last-described zinc cover I have used -satisfactorily for the protecting of flat straw depriving hives, -requiring more than one story in height. Immediately upon the stock-hive -is introduced what, for want of a more distinctive term, I call -a _shade_, encircling the upper edge, as just detailed, with the same -kind of descending rim and air-holes. It is made of moderately thick -sheet zinc, cut of such exterior diameter as to leave a projection -round the outer edge of the hive of three to four inches, and turned -a little downwards over stout wire, to throw off wet. In the centre -of the shade is a circular opening, which, if required, may be of the -same diameter as the interior of the stock-hive, and round it is a -raised rim, standing up not less than half an inch. Within this central -opening it is intended to place the super, of whatever kind it may be. -A reference to what has been said at page 34, and the illustrations -there given, as well as those now annexed, will show the construction -of the shade; also the mode of covering the super by means of a second -straw hive (made with or without a crown), standing upon the shade, -the upright rim of which keeps it in its place. On the top of this -upper hive a second shade, made like the first, may be placed. The -completion of the whole is a slightly convex zinc cap, of about two -inches in height, fitting securely over the central opening, like -the top of a canister or pot. There is a projecting lateral rim to -the cap, underneath which air-holes are made, similar to those under -the projection of the shade. In winter, and at any time when a super -hive is not required, the cap is placed over the shade immediately -surmounting the stock-hive, reducing the edifice to one story. When -feeding is needed by the bees, a pan may be introduced for the purpose -within the central opening, and covered over by the zinc top. In reply -to those who are dubious as to the expediency of using metal coverings, -it may be remarked that no inconvenience arises in the present case, as -neither the shade nor its cover come in contact immediately with the -crown of the hive. - -[Illustration] - -If a straw cover to a super is preferred, it can stand over the rim of -the shade, as seen in the illustration annexed. - -[Illustration] - -An effectual protection to a round hive may be made by means of an -outer case, in fact merely a straw cylinder, with open ends. It must -in diameter be large enough to drop loosely over the hive, and rest -on the floor-board. The height ought to be sufficient to include any -supers that may be required. Surmounting the whole, either one of the -zinc covers, shown at page 39, of an enlarged size, can be used; or the -shade and its top, as seen at page 40. - - - - -FLOOR OR HIVE-BOARDS. - - -The floor on which a hive is placed should be of wood, and not of any -material too retentive either of heat or cold, as stone, slate, &c. -In summer, the melting of the combs often results, and in winter, -numerous lives are lost from chill. Every hive, of whatever kind, -should stand upon its own separate board, so as to give facility for -lifting, cleaning, or weighing the whole together at any time, without -disturbance to the bees. - -[Illustration] - -The entrance into a hive is generally cut out of its bottom edge. This -has a tendency to cause decay in that part, particularly if of straw; -besides that, a hole so made affords but indifferent protection from -driving wet or a scorching sun, and gives imperfect facility for the -escape of moisture from the hive. It is a better plan to sink the -passage out of the thickness of the floor-board, till it reaches the -inside of the hive. There are several ways of doing this, but a simple -one is the following: Let the board be of thick, seasoned wood, and to -prevent warping, screw two strong cross-bars to the underneath side, -seven or eight inches apart. In size the floor-board ought to be a -little larger than the exterior of the hive, from whence it should be -chamfered down every way, to three eighths of an inch at the edge. From -the latter, the entrance must be cut or grooved out, straight and level -till it enters the inside of the hive, when it may slope upwards. This -groove may be about four inches wide, and three eighths of an inch deep -where the hive crosses it; for it is better in all instances that the -requisite space at the door should be given laterally, rather than in -height. This is not only more convenient to the bees, but shuts out -from admission into the hive such guests as the snail or the mouse. In -a board thus constructed a convenient mode of occasionally contracting -the entrance-way is by means of small wooden blocks, of different -widths, so formed that the lower half can be pushed within the hive's -mouth. The board just described, and its blocks, are shown in the -engraving beneath. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -Another kind of hive-board, suitable for some description of boxes, is -made by cutting a rabbet of any required width, and three-eighths of -an inch deep, on all its sides, leaving the raised part of the board -the size of the outside of the box, with an additional half inch beyond -this, every way. The passage into the hive is to be cut from the edge -of the rabbet, and on the same level, for about two inches; after which -it must slope upwards. It may be four to five inches wide, and its -sides should bevel a little outwards. This gives facilities for the -introduction of moveable blocks or mouth-pieces, for the convenience of -contracting or altogether stopping up the entrance, as may be required. -The blocks are an inch wide, and must all be of one size, and of the -same length and bevel as the entrance-way. In height they should be -three quarters of an inch in front; cut down behind, half the width to -three eighths of an inch. Thus made, the lowest half inch of the block -is inserted within the mouth of the hive, and the other half projects -on the outside. To suit all cases and seasons, blocks so formed -may be cut on the lower part, from front to back, with any required -passage-way through them at pleasure. The preceding engraving exhibits -one of these boards, with a front and back view of four blocks thus -varied; the third one being fitted with perforated zinc. - -An entirely covered entrance, for those who desire it, is afforded by a -double board, in which the passage is cut through the floor, altogether -within the hive; and it may be thus made: - -[Illustration] - -Take a piece of inch seasoned wood, an inch or two broader and longer -than the hive. Smooth both sides, and underneath it cut a groove four -or five inches wide, and four inches back from the edge. The part -next the edge should be there hollowed out three eighths of an inch -deep, increasing to double this at the other end, where it enters the -hive. An opening through from the upper side must be made, to meet -the underneath hollow, giving a gradual slope down into it. A piece -of three-quarter inch board, seven to nine inches wide, must then be -screwed underneath, the grain crossing the other; the doorway for -the bees being of course between the two. The lower board should be a -little the longest, the extra length being intended to form a small -alighting board in front. - -All the boards in the preceding illustrations are shown square as to -form; but any of them may at pleasure be made round. - - - - -HIVE-STANDS, OR PEDESTALS. - - -[Illustration] - -Hives standing singly, in the open air, must be so placed as that there -is no risk of their being overthrown by the wind or other casualty, and -various kinds of supports have been devised. Whatever is preferred, it -ought to afford facilities for allowing the lifting up of the hive on -its board at pleasure. A single pedestal or post is sometimes used, -cut flat at the top to six or seven inches square. It may stand out of -the ground fifteen or sixteen inches, and be firmly fixed, to avoid -shaking, which alarms the bees. Sometimes a higher elevation than this -is given, but it is not expedient to subject the hives unnecessarily -to the action of the wind, any more than it is to place them so near -the ground as to cause the bees to be affected by damp exhalations. On -the under side of the centre of the hive-board fix four bars of wood -(or three will do), of about two inches square, so as to form a cap or -socket, fitting over the top of the pedestal. The board may be there -secured by the insertion, diagonally, of one or two pins, through the -sides of the cap and into the post. This plan may be varied by means -of the two pieces or arms, let edgewise flush into the top of a post, -crossing it diagonally: on this the hive-board may rest, or be secured -by a button or two. - -Or, on the top of a pedestal, four or five inches in diameter, a piece -of board, of about nine inches square, may be fixed as a table. Upon -this place the hive-board, of which the cross bars, appended to its -underneath side, are so adjusted in point of distance apart, as to come -on each side of the table, being there secured by a pin or turn-button. - -[Illustration] - -This last-described stand may be improved, at a little further cost. -Nail upon the pedestal a piece of strong board, eight or nine inches -wide, and three inches longer than the outside width of the hive-board. -Underneath the table thus formed, a couple of struts or angle-pieces -must be fixed, to render the whole firm. The under-side bars of the -hive-board are adjusted to fall on each side the table, as before -detailed. The extra three inches of the latter must be thrown to the -front, where it is designed to form a projecting alighting platform for -the bees. This part is occupied by a piece of wood nailed to it, and -chamfered to meet the hive-board, to which it forms a stay. - -[Illustration] - -Another support to an out-door hive is made by means of four props, -driven upright into the ground, and cut off level, at about sixteen -inches high. The hive-board must have two cross bars screwed to its -under side, from front to back, just coming within the uprights: to -make it still more steady, four small blocks can be appended near the -corners, between the cross bars and the edge of the board, to hold the -latter in the opposite direction, as seen by the dotted lines in our -illustration. - -The same remark applies to the hive-stands just described as was made -in the last section, viz., they can be adapted equally well to round -as to square hive-boards. It may be well also to observe that, instead -of sinking a pedestal into the earth, where decay soon ensues, it can -be fixed upon strong cross pieces or feet, these being fastened to the -ground by pins passing downwards through them. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -Where there are a number of hives, instead of a separate stand for -each, they may be placed more economically, and perhaps safely, on -what I term a _hive-range_, of any required length. The range consists -simply of a couple of rails, about an inch thick, and four inches in -depth, nailed to the top outer edge of a series of posts, fixed firmly -in or on the ground, about eighteen inches high. The space between -the rails may be about twelve inches, measured withinside. The most -suitable hive-board for a range is that shown at page 43. The cross -bars on its underneath side must be so cut in point of length, as to -fall within the two rails, where they are held; whilst what remains of -the width of the board lodges upon them, with a convenient projection -before and behind. Nor does it matter whether the hive-boards are made -square or round. A range of this kind occupies very little space, and -presents few facilities for the incursions of insects or other annoyers -of bees. The hives ought to have a good interval between each; but it -is an advantage that on this plan they can be moved, by sliding the -boards to the right or left, if circumstances call for it. A range -on the same principle might readily be made ornamentally, in part or -wholly of iron, standing on feet, moveable anywhere, and setting vermin -at defiance. - -To the intelligent reader it is unnecessary again to repeat, that -bee-stocks ought always to be raised sufficiently from the ground to -protect them, not only from the baneful effects of damp, but from the -incursions of vermin, &c. But inattention on this point is sometimes -met with so gross, that we cannot forbear giving place to the preceding -engraving, from a drawing made on the spot in Dorsetshire, illustrating -the treatment to which the poor bees may be sometimes subjected by -indifference or deplorable ignorance. - - - - -WOODEN BOX HIVES. - - -As far as we have proceeded, our attention has been directed -principally to Straw hives. Those, however, of Wood have in modern -times come pretty generally into use, when cost is not an object, as -being more durable, less liable to harbour vermin, and better adapted, -from their square form, for a convenient arrangement of the combs, -besides admitting of glass windows. - -As regards the plainer kind of boxes, either intended for use on -the swarming system, or on that where deprivation is practised, -I adhere to the opinion expressed as to straw hives, and prefer -those constructed broad and shallow to such as are high and narrow. -They may be made of the lighter and more porous kinds of deal, -some preferring red cedar; but whichever is made use of, it should -be thoroughly seasoned, and well put together; observing that the -grain of the wood always runs in the horizontal direction, when its -tendency to expansion or contraction is rendered of no importance. -Conflicting opinions prevail as to the best size for bee-boxes; -but, like almost everything else where these insects are concerned, -something must be left dependent on circumstances and locality, as -well as the intended mode of working them. A fair average size for a -plain box is eleven and a half inches square, by eight inches deep, -withinside; or, perhaps better, twelve by seven or seven and a half -inches, clear; the thickness of wood throughout being not less than -an inch, or, if exposed, more than this. The cover of the box should -have a small projection on all sides, for better appearance, and to -afford convenience for lifting. On the top a two- or three-inch hole -may be cut in the centre, for the purposes of supering, of feeding, or -ventilation. Instead, however, of one central hole, some persons like -to have three smaller ones, cut triangularly; affording convenience for -the use of a single large, or three small glasses. It is best to leave -the roof of the box, withinside, unplaned, as the bees have sometimes -a difficulty in making the first combs adhere to too smooth a surface. -A window may be placed at the back, and another at one side, about four -inches high, and six wide. The glass should be thick, and secured by -putty; but it must not fit too tightly, or it is apt to crack from the -swelling of the wood. There are various ways of covering the windows, -but the best is, perhaps, by a sliding shutter of zinc. Round the -window there must be a projecting moulding, mitred at the corners. On -one side the piece of moulding is moveable, and to the back of this is -screwed a plate of sheet zinc. This passes into a rabbet to receive it, -cut, on the remaining three sides, at the back of the lower edge of the -moulding. Where uniformity of appearance is studied, blank windows may -be made opposite to the real ones.[K] No entrance-way should be cut in -the box, as this more properly belongs to the floor-board. - -[Illustration] - -[K] As regards windows, they are always useful to inspect a hive, but -should, as a rule, be kept darkened. At the same time there is no doubt -that bees will work exposed to the light, when the option of darkness -is not allowed them. A friend put a swarm into a unicomb hive, made -without shutters on each side, and exposed to the full glare of light -at a window, which I frequently inspected. The bees filled the hive -in a short time, paying apparently no attention to the eyes often -observing their operations. It is to be remarked, however, that whether -bees are in light or darkness, the one or the other must be continuous, -as alternations disturb and alarm them. We shall hereafter give a -design for an experimental _Light Hive_. - -A reference to the engraving will show a box thus made, with its -sliding shutter. It ought to be painted a sufficient time before use, -or the smell is offensive to the bees; indeed, I have known a swarm -forsake a box in consequence. I may observe, however, that some persons -prefer boxes, when in a house, to be unpainted. They are always best -placed under some kind of cover, as protection from wet and a hot sun -is necessary to prevent warping and splitting, and not unfrequently -the melting of the combs. Some German bee-keepers have recommended -box-hives made long from back to front, and narrow from side to side. - - - - -WOODEN BAR BOXES. - - -An undoubted improvement on the box described in the last section, -consists in the addition of separate moveable bars of wood, crossing -the top of the hive, in parallel lines, to which the combs are to -be attached. By this means any comb, on removal of the cover, can -be separately extracted, adhering to its own particular bar. The -_bar-system_, as we may call it, has had many advocates, but to none -are we more indebted than to Dr. Bevan and Mr. Golding, for reducing -to fixed rules what had previously been undefined and uncertain. The -latter, however, appears to have a preference for straw hives, and -has given instructions for adapting bars to them. We shall hereafter -describe a hive of this kind, but varying in some respects from Mr. -Golding's. With Dr. Bevan, many prefer boxes; and a square form is -better than any other, as in these every bar has the advantage of -being alike, fitting anywhere, either in the same or another box. At -all events, "whatever the construction of the hive," says Mr. Golding, -"without some such facility as bars, whereby every comb can be made -individually available, there is something wanted, something wrong." -With no claim, therefore, to the invention of any new principle, the -boxes I have constructed are modifications of those that preceded them; -the object in view being to render these, at a small extra cost, more -manageable to the amateur. In short, I know of no hive more completely -under control. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -I may premise that the boxes (as illustrated in a former edition), -following those described by Dr. Bevan, were adapted for the reception -of seven bars. Subsequent experience has shown that these may be -advantageously increased to eight in number, extending the square of -the hive, but diminishing its height. In thickness the wood ought not -to be less than a full inch. The dimensions withinside are thirteen -and a quarter inches square; the height being seven inches, inclusive -of the bars. As regards windows, there may be one at the back and -at the side, four inches high by seven or eight inches long; with -sliding shutters, like those described in the preceding section. The -glass ought to be so fixed as to leave as little recess as possible -withinside the box, otherwise the extraction of the combs is impeded. -Indeed, it is better to have the panes introduced flush, and cemented -from the inner side into a fine rabbet. The best kind of cement for -this purpose is a mixture of powdered chalk and glue. The bars must -be one and an eighth inch wide, and half an inch thick; being best -unplaned on the under side, to enable the combs to adhere to them. -Recesses of a full eighth of an inch are cut from the upper inner edge -of the box, to receive the ends of the bars, into which they should -fall easily, ranged from front to back. It is essential to follow the -rules laid down by Dr. Bevan, who says, "if the distances of the bars -from each other be nicely adjusted, there will be interspaces between -them of about half an inch. The _precise_ width of the bars should -be attended to, and also their distances from each other, as any -deviation in this respect would throw the combs wrong. It is better -to be somewhat _within_ the rule than to exceed it by ever so little, -for the tendency is generally to make the combs approximate. This has -induced me to vary a little the relative distances of the bars, the -three (four) centre ones being placed only seven sixteenths of an inch -from each other, whilst the rest gradually recede from that distance." -For the purpose of ensuring the needful uniformity and correctness of -workmanship requisite in all points, I constructed a pattern gauge, -as seen in the annexed engraving. It is made of sheet metal, brass -being the best, of the same dimensions as the interior square of the -boxes, exclusive of the end projections. These latter denote the exact -interspaces between the bars; so that if the gauge is placed upon the -inner edge of the box, the position of the recesses into which the bars -are intended to fall may be indicated at each end. Moreover, the gauge -gives a correct pattern for making the bars, as also the position of -the holes through the crown and centre boards. - -[Illustration] - -It may be well here to allude to what some have thought to be an -improvement in the construction of the bars, the object being to render -the combs more accessible, and the usual cutting, to detach them -from the sides of the hive, avoided. A reference to the accompanying -engraving will exhibit a bar with a frame suspended beneath it, but so -made as not to touch either the sides or bottom of the hive, and within -which the combs are, or ought to be, wrought. Doubtless, advantages -may arise from the facilities thus given for removal, provided these -are not counterbalanced by the evil of greater complication, and the -inconvenience arising from the possible attachment by the bees of -the frame itself to the sides of the hive, and so setting them fast. -Moreover, as such frames curtail space in the hive, allowance is -necessary in its external dimensions. - -[Illustration] - -A cover or crown board, three quarters of an inch thick, clamped at -the ends, and projecting all round nearly half an inch, is fixed down, -flush with the bars, with two or three long screws. To prevent rusting, -these may be of brass. - -Some objection has been raised against screws, as being occasionally -troublesome to remove. The engravings annexed (drawn half size) show -another mode of attaching the crown board by means of brass rings, -elongated like the link of a chain, and held loosely at the bottom by -the head of a screw, inserted at the side of the box. An aperture is -cut in the projection of the crown board, through which the link passes -to the top, into a recess made to receive it, and where it is fixed by -a moveable lateral pin, leaving a flush surface. On removing the pin -the link drops down upon the screw head, and the crown board becomes -released. Instead of a ring, a similarly formed link can be cut from a -piece of sheet metal. - -It is not always that amateurs are possessed of the nerve requisite -to perform, periodically, the operation of changing the cover -immediately over a populous stock. The construction of my bar-hive -renders this unnecessary. Through the cover are three openings, cut -as a passage upward for the bees into a super. For convenience, two -of these are placed within three inches of the front of the box -(measuring inside), to the centre of the holes, which are one inch -and a quarter in diameter at the outer end, lengthening towards the -centre to three inches; there diminished to a point, and leaving two -intermediate inches between them. I have found it well in this part to -give an increased facility to the bees in passing over the bars, which -otherwise too much intercept the passage. To accomplish this, let the -crown board be turned bottom upwards, grooving out the central portion -coming immediately underneath and between the two holes, for the space -of six or seven inches long, one and a half inch wide, and three -eighths of an inch deep. The third hole is made an inch and a half from -the back of the cover (measured inside); of the same size and form as -the others, but an inch shorter. This will be useful in working glasses -and in feeding. The elongated form given to the holes is best adapted -to prevent killing or maiming the bees in introducing the dividing -slides. The latter are plates of stout zinc or copper, two inches wide, -sliding within a recess or groove, cut their own thickness, across the -top of the crown board, over the holes. The slides are long enough -to meet in the centre, their outer ends being a little turned up for -convenience. If the last inch is perforated with small holes, the slide -becomes a ventilator, by drawing it out a little. - -This hive may be used either for single or double hiving, or with any -kind of super; but to render it complete for all purposes, there ought -to be three boxes, forming a set, as seen in the engravings at p. 56, in -which the stock-box is the bottom one. In many seasons and localities, -however, the third box might not be called for. For convenience of -description, the numbers 1, 2, and 3, are used in reference to the -_stock-box_, the _first super_, and the _centre box_; all to be of equal -size as to the square. No. 2 should be fitted with bars and windows, like -the first; but in height it may be one inch, or sometimes two, lower. -Moreover, there must be no holes through its crown board, for whether -two or three boxes are in use, No. 2 is always the upper one. A great -convenience is given by the introduction of a loose centre board, placed -on the top of the stock-box, and of the same dimensions; being in fact an -adapter to the super, which can be lifted upon it, on removal. It is of -half-inch wood, clamped, having openings cut through, corresponding in -form and position with those of the stock-box, but without any recess. -The slides move beneath the centre board, opening or shutting off the -communication from box to box, as required. No. 3 box differs from the -others in being still shallower, and having no moveable bars. Moreover, -the central portion of its cover is cut through into the semblance of -a grating, as shown in the illustration, with six bars, nine inches -long, of an inch and an eighth in width, and with interspaces of half an -inch. In certain very productive seasons, and when the super No. 2 is -filled, No. 3 may be introduced _between_ the two others; not removing -the upper box till the bees have commenced working in No. 3. A temporary -close cover must then be placed over the grated one of the latter. Many -experienced apiarians, however, object to using more than one super -hive, preferring to give any further room that may be required, at the -_bottom_ of the stock. The box No. 3 is equally well adapted for either -alternative; for it may go as a nadir, beneath the stock-hive, taking its -place on the hive-board, in which latter is the entrance for the bees, no -other being permitted. - -A hive-board suitable is either like the one shown at p. 43, or that at -p. 44; the boxes being placed upon it, with the bars ranging from front -to back. Some persons are inclined, instead of one central entrance to -the stock-box, to prefer two smaller ones, placed respectively at the -outer extremities of the front, of course cut from the floor board; and -it is probable that this departure from the general practice may not -be without its occasional advantage, in winter especially, in a broad, -shallow hive. - -[Illustration] - -These boxes, like all wooden hives, should be placed in a house of some -kind, if possible; but instances occur where such a convenience is not -available. To meet these, I will describe a substitute, which gives -effectual protection, though it would still be better standing under -a shed. A recurrence to the engraving in the next page will show that -our plan comprises an outer casing, in two compartments, and surmounted -by a top cover or roof. They may be of half-inch wood, large enough -in the square to drop loosely over the boxes, the lower compartment -resting upon the rabbet of the hive-board, which may be made as shown -at page 44, and wide enough to leave, on three sides, an outside -margin of an inch. On the front side a rather more extended margin -may be expedient. The height of the lower compartment, measuring from -the rabbet of the floor board, reaches to the top of the stock-box, -except just as much as will allow the slides to pass over its edge. A -good-sized elliptical opening faces the mouth of the hive; or increased -to two, where there is a second entrance. The other compartment of -the case should be high enough to enclose within it the two upper -boxes. To its outer bottom edge, a band or fillet, about two inches -wide, and nearly half an inch thick, is appended, half its width. The -other half-width is intended to overlap the outer upper edge of the -lower case, when placed one upon the other; and this part should be -chamfered, so as to go on and off easily. For appearance' sake, another -band is appended to the upper case, near its top; unless any other -exterior architectural embellishment is preferred. A reference to the -engraving will show the whole design is completed by a hipped roof or -cover. Under the four projecting edges of the latter is a suspended -cornice, about two inches deep, on its outer sides. When in its place, -about three quarters of an inch of the cornice ought to overhang, -dropping loosely over the upper outer edge of the case (a little -chamfered); to regulate this, recessed at the four angles, within the -cover, are attached cross corner blocks. For the purpose of ventilating -the roof, long lateral openings are cut out on the four sides, from the -upper part of the cornice, under the projecting edges of the roof. The -total projection of this may be two inches, or a little more. The cover -ought to fit equally well upon either compartment of the case; for in -winter the edifice can be reduced to one story only. - -The stand for the whole is simply an open frame, of the same outside -dimensions as the cases; with inch-thick rails, four inches deep, -framed at the corners to four posts or legs. These may be two inches -square, and eighteen inches high; either sunk into the ground, or -placed upon it, by means of cross-pieces, pinned or pegged down. The -hive-board drops loosely down into the frame, and rests upon the -rails, showing a projection all round of an inch; the cross bars on its -underneath side retaining it steadily. - -[Illustration] - -In a former edition, this kind of hive, when thus fitted up with an -outer covering, obtained the name of the _double_ bar-hive, by way of -distinction from another mode of constructing it, which will now be -detailed. - -Whatever may be said about the inexpediency of placing wooden hives -in exposure to the weather, the one we are now proceeding to describe -was intended to meet the wishes of some bee-proprietors, who objected -to the small degree of trouble, involved in using any kind of outer -casing; obtaining from this circumstance the appellation of the -_single_ bar-hive. - -[Illustration] - -The three boxes, forming the set, differ but little from those last -described; the interior dimensions, bars, windows, crown-boards, &c., -being similar; but the centre board is omitted, and the thickness of -the wood must be increased to not less than one and a quarter inch. A -rabbet of a quarter of an inch is cut round all the crown-boards, to -receive a super box, or the roof cover; the better to retain it in -its place. The outside projection should be extended to not less than -an inch and a half; this part being chamfered to throw off wet. The -plan of the roof cover will be seen on reference to our illustration. -The square appended within it is in interior diameter the same as the -boxes, to fit over any of them, resting upon it sufficiently to allow -the projecting parts of the crown-board to be seen as a cornice. Beyond -this, there is a further projection of the roof of an inch, provision -for ventilation being made by a double set of openings, cut as shown -in our engraving. For better security in winter, loose wooden blocks, -to the stock-box, may be made to fill the space intervening between -the glass windows and the sliding shutters. The hive-board may be that -shown either at p. 43, or 44, of the same dimensions as that of the -crown-boards, and chamfered off. The stand to receive it is like the -one described and shown at p. 66, the square of its frame being the -same as that of the exterior of the boxes. Our engraving exhibits a -simple method of adding a useful kind of porch to the entrance of the -stock-box, by means of a strip of zinc or other material, of the width -of the front projection of the floor board. It can be bent into the -form of an elliptical arch, the two lower extremities being held by -going down within the sunken part of the board, whilst the upper part -derives support by being pressed back beneath the window moulding. - -[Illustration] - -Those who study economy may, instead of the entire set of boxes just -described, retain the stock-box only, with a cover to receive any kind -of super, as shown above. The cover will do if made of half-inch wood, -nine inches high to the square of the roof; the outside dimensions -being the same as in the stock-box. A slanting projecting roof forms a -part of the cover. Under its projecting edges openings for ventilation -can be cut. The cover is retained in its place by a rabbet cut round -the top of the stock-box, and preventing the admission of wet. - -The object of the bars we have said is to furnish parallel foundations -on which the combs are to be worked, for without an observance of this -regularity, subsequent extraction becomes impossible; showing the -necessity for a proper _beginning_. To induce the bees to preserve a -straight direction, it has usually been found expedient to append what -are termed _guide-combs_ to three or four of the centre bars of the -stock-box, previously to hiving a swarm into it; and for the purpose -some pieces of clean _worker-comb_ ought to be kept in reserve. In -giving the needful directions for fixing the guides, we cannot do -better than use the words of Mr. Golding, who says, "this is easily -effected by heating a common flat-iron, slightly warming the bars with -it, then melting a little bees'-wax upon it. The comb is now drawn -quickly across the heated iron, and held down upon the centre of the -bar, to which it firmly adheres, if properly managed. These pieces of -guide-comb need not be more than two or three inches in diameter. Care -should be taken that the pitch or inclination of the cells is upwards -from the centre of each comb." Or it may do equally well, if the edge -of the comb is dipped in melted wax. - -In the absence of guide-combs another mode of proceeding has been -sometimes successfully resorted to. Take a flat piece of tin or zinc -(or stiff paper might do), of the length and width of one of the bars: -cut out the central portion to the extent of half an inch in width. -Lay the pattern thus prepared upon the bar, and with a brush smear, -in a straight line, some melted bees'-wax along the central half-inch -opening, and so proceed with four or five other bars. The bees will -usually commence working first upon the waxed part of the bar, and -this tends to uniformity subsequently. Nothing can be more beautiful -than a box of honey-combs thus regularly worked; nor is it possible -in any other way to have them so perfect and unbroken, when detached. -Indeed, the convenience of moveable bars can only be appreciated -by those accustomed to their use. Their advantage is apparent when -it has become expedient to remove old combs from stock-hives. They -may be made available in cases where one box has more and another -less of sufficient store of honey: in such event, or as a substitute -for feeding, a loaded bar or two can be transferred from the one to -the other; or from a super to a stock-box. For the object of making -artificial swarms great facility is given, more especially when a comb -contains a royal cell. A brood-comb may in like manner be taken and -inserted in a weak stock, to strengthen the population; or for the -purpose of rearing a Queen artificially, in a hive wanting one. So -also, in the swarming season, supernumerary royal cells may be cut out: -likewise, a superabundance of drone-combs can be removed, and the bees -will fill the vacancies with common ones. - -We shall, under the head of _Autumnal management_, give general -directions for the removal or deprivation of full super boxes; but -it may be well here to describe the method to be pursued where it -is necessary to operate on a _stock-hive_. In such a case, a piece -of board is useful, of the same width and thickness as the top, or -crown-board. In the middle of the day, unscrew the latter, sliding it -sideways; the extra board covering over the vacancy as you proceed. In -this way, only as much space as is wanted to get at any given bar need -be exposed. "A few puffs of smoke," says Mr. Golding, "may now be blown -down the sides of the comb to be taken out, which will intimidate the -bees, and drive them away. A double-edged knife-blade, an inch and a -half long, and three eighths of an inch wide, turned at right angles -from the end of an iron rod of about a foot in length, is now passed -down the edges of the comb, to detach them from the hive. After this -is done, the comb may be easily lifted; such bees as still adhere to -it being swept down into the hive as the bar is lifted upwards. Such -operations as these are much less formidable than many persons believe. -The fact is, the bees, when once intimidated by the smoke, may be done -almost anything with. Quietness and a little tact are all that is -required. When combs are taken out, they may be either detached from -the bars at once, and the bars returned, or spare bars may be kept on -hand wherewith to replace such as have been extracted." - - - - -BAR GLASS-HIVE. - - -[Illustration] - -Before we leave the subject of box-hives, it may be interesting to -give a description of one recently constructed by me for experimental -purposes, as referred to in the note at page 53, and here illustrated. -It may not improperly be termed a _Light_, or _Observatory Hive_, in -distinction from the usual mode of rendering the dwelling as dark as -possible. The hive itself resembles the bar-boxes just described, -as to its interior dimensions, bars, crown-board, &c.; but differs -inasmuch as it is made simply as a frame, filled in on the four sides -with thick glass, flush with the inside surface of the wood. For the -purpose of preventing the bees from attaching the combs to the glass, -thin upright strips of wood, rather more than half an inch wide, are -tacked under the centre of each bar, at both ends, extending from top -to bottom inside of the hive. Or some might prefer to use frame-bars, -like the one described and illustrated at page 58; but guides or waxed -bars must be used, to ensure the regularity of the combs, and prevent -an obstruction to the sight. The hive ought to be placed in a house, -and in winter should be carefully covered; an outer case or box going -over all. - - - - -STRAW BAR-HIVE. - - -We have already alluded to hives of straw, fitted with bars. The one -now about to be described differs from those commonly used, in several -respects, as will be seen on reference to the annexed illustration. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -In form, my hive is an open cylinder, 14 inches in inside diameter, -and 7 inches in height, to the upper side of the bars, which are -eight in number; similar in size, and interspaced like those in the -square bar-hive, described at page 56. For the purpose of supporting -the bars, a well-seasoned hoop is introduced within, and on a level -with, the upper edge of the hive--nearly two inches in depth, and a -quarter inch thick; its interior diameter being the same as that of -the hive. The two upper straw bands of the latter are reduced in size, -sufficiently to form a recess equal to the thickness of the hoop,--the -outside of the hive remaining flush. The hoop is there retained by a -few small brad-nails, driven through it and into the straw; and thus no -impediment is offered on extracting the combs. A difficulty presented -itself in attaching the bars to the edge of the hoop, to overcome which -I constructed a pattern-gauge, differing in form from that seen at -page 57. Our illustration will show that the outer edges of the gauge -are divided, so as, when laid flat upon the hoop, to give the precise -position of the indentations for the reception of the ends of the bars: -moreover, these may severally be correctly fashioned by following -the form shown upon the gauge. The adjustment of the bars should be -done previously to attaching the hoop to the hive, not allowing them -to fit too tight. The cover is a flat piece of worked straw, which -ought to lie _close_ upon the bars. I have found no better method of -securing the cover in its place than by the use of a few pointed iron -pins, going down through it and into the upper edge of the hive. For -convenience of working supers, a three-inch hole is left in the centre -of the cover; stopped, when not in use, by a small piece of worked -straw, pinned down. Some persons might prefer a wooden top, which -may be perforated either with one hole or three. It should rest upon -the bars, and can be held in its place by pins, in the way we have -just mentioned, and which at any time are removable; or a hoop may be -attached to the edge of the crown-board, as described and shown at page -35. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -CIRCULAR WOODEN HIVES. - - -I have sometimes turned my attention to cylinders of wood, as offering -great advantages in constructing a hive; not only in attaching bars, -but also the desirable convenience of windows. The facilities for -procuring them made with the requisite correctness of form, however, -depends on circumstances not always at command; the process of -construction being the same of steaming, rolling, and shaping, employed -by the manufacturers of our common wooden corn measures, &c. The cost -of the wood cylinders alone are not much more than the straw ones, and -being made of oak or ash, they are very durable. Softer and more porous -wood would doubtless be preferable, but a difficulty attends the use -of such. In size, the dimensions before recommended are adhered to; -viz., 14 inches clear, by seven inches in height, for hives with or -without bars; the thickness being about half an inch. A reference to -our illustration, and to the accompanying pattern gauge, will show the -mode of cutting and adjusting the bars; these resting rather loosely in -rabbets, cut the width of the bar, half through the thickness of the -hive. The crown-board may be made and cut in the way already described, -and can be fixed by means of a few small screws; or, if preferred, in -the method detailed and illustrated at page 59. When the hive is not -fitted with bars, it is an advantage partially to sink the crown-board -within the diameter of the cylinder, which ensures a more perfect -joint. At the back is a window of bent glass, protected by a sliding -zinc shutter, moving in a frame of rabbeted moulding; all following the -curved form of the wood. A suitable staining and varnishing gives to -the whole a neat appearance. Two of the hives may be placed one upon -the other, for supering; an adapter or centre board going between them: -or smaller wooden round hives, of any size, with thin tops, can be used -for the same purpose; and these might be made by a common cooper. - -[Illustration] - -These hives are of too recent introduction to warrant saying more than -that, to adapt them to the object in view, it is essential that they -be placed in a house or cover, as from the density of the wood they -are not calculated to bear exposure to the sun and weather. In winter -attention should be given to close covering them. I may add that, in -using a thinner cylinder, I have tried the experiment of coating the -outside with an envelope of _gutta percha_, giving the advantage of -improved appearance, and doubtless of utility, but at a considerable -increase of cost. - - - - -COLLATERAL SYSTEM. - - -[Illustration] - -Various modes of working hives collaterally, or side by side, have been -devised, but a very simple one has been practised with success by a -correspondent, which as adapted by me may with propriety be termed a -_doubling-board_. It is formed of a plain board not less than an inch -thick. It must be of sufficient width to take a broad shallow hive, -and long enough to contain two of these, with six or eight inches to -spare. A stock-hive is in the first instance placed over the centre -circular mark, within which is the double outlet for the bees. When -more space is required, it must be moved over one of the side circles, -and a second hive placed over the other. The double outlet forms -a communication within the floor-board from hive to hive. The part -hollowed out for this purpose is five inches wide, six inches long, and -half an inch high inside, a sloping way being cut on the two further -sides down into it. Two covered passages lead from this, terminating -at one point on the alighting-board. The bees, having been accustomed -to both these passages, will commonly take to the second hive, and -commence working therein, particularly if smeared with honey. In order -to show the position of the parts hollowed out, these are slightly -shaded in the engraving. They are cut from the bottom side of the -board, in the way described at page 45. A second piece of wood, nine -or ten inches wide, must be screwed to the under side, to enclose -the openings. This ought to reach back nearly the width of the upper -board; at the same time projecting far enough in front to form the -alighting-place. Another cross piece may be screwed to the under side, -at each end. - -When it is required to take away one of the hives, the communication -below must be cut off between them. This is done by means of a divider -of strong tin, copper, or iron, pushed in from behind, in a groove -cut edgewise in the bottom side of the main board, and resting on the -under one. The dotted line in the engraving shows the position of the -divider, which must in depth be the same as the passage between the -two hives, so as, when in its place, to stop it entirely across the -centre. - -Another plan of working hives side by side is shown below, two boards -being required. - -[Illustration] - -They are made on the double plan, as described at page 45; alike in -size and thickness, with the entrance passages cut out from beneath. -There must, however, be two entrances to the board intended for the -second hive--one in front, and the other at the side, with doorways not -less than six inches wide. A wedge or two of wood will contract them -as needed. When room is required, the first board with its hive must -be moved so far sideways that the second one can precisely occupy its -place. At the same time it must be turned half round, so that its mouth -and that on the side of the new hive meet and fit close together. The -bees will pass into the other hive on going out: on returning it will -be the same, for the alighting-board (which ought to be a fixture) will -remain as usual. On removing a full hive, the other must be restored -to its original position. - -[Illustration] - - - - -WHITE'S COLLATERAL HIVE. - - -As regards collateral bee-boxes, we owe our original acquaintance with -them principally to White, nearly a century ago.[L] His plan requires -two boxes, placed side by side, with means of communication, open -or stopped at pleasure. These hives do not appear to have been very -extensively used; perhaps a good deal owing to the imperfect way in -which they were made. For my own use, I endeavoured to improve upon the -original design, of which the engraving following will give an idea. -The boxes and their boards are shown a little separated; the passages -from one to the other being made along the top and bottom of each box. -These openings can be closed by the introduction horizontally of slides -of thick tin or copper, of an inch and a quarter wide, inserted from -behind; let into the boxes their own thickness, and there loosely kept -by cases or strips of tin, cut to correspond with the openings. The -tins may be about two and a half inches wide. Their form, and that of -the slides, is here shown. - -[L] See 'Collateral Bee-boxes; or a new, easy, and advantageous method -of managing Bees.' By Stephen White, Holton, Suffolk, London, three -editions, 1756, 1763, and 1764. - -[Illustration] - - - - -NUTT'S COLLATERAL HIVE. - - -The modes we have hitherto noticed as applicable to hives worked -side by side suppose two to be employed; but Nutt, a few years ago, -introduced _three_ boxes, as forming a set; and these hives had their -day, where cost and space were not objects.[M] - -[M] See 'Humanity to Honey Bees.' By Thomas Nutt. - -The three boxes are placed together collaterally, with an entrance -from the centre box to the side ones, each way, through what may be -termed a grating; which communication can either be open, or cut off -by means of a divider, made of sheet tin, pushed between. The centre -box Nutt named the _Pavilion_, into which the bees must be hived, and -not afterwards disturbed. As more space is required by the bees, it -is given by withdrawing the divider. They then take possession of one -or both of the side boxes, which when filled can be removed. There are -holes on the top of the side boxes for the reception of ventilators. -In the construction of these hives the theory of Nutt supposes that a -warmer temperature is required in the seat of breeding from that in -which comb-building and the storing of honey ought to take place, than -which no greater fallacy is possible, as during the formation of a comb -the bees cluster round it in masses, to generate the highest degree -of warmth. By the agency of ventilation in his side boxes, these are -injuriously rendered cooler than the centre one; a thermometer inserted -within the ventilator determining the relative degrees of heat.[N] - -[N] Another point on which Nutt laid much stress may be mentioned, -viz., the supposed advantage to the bees in working on one level, -without the necessity of _climbing_, as in storified hives. I long -thought this was indisputable. Further consideration led me more -minutely to examine the habits of the bee in this respect, and I became -convinced that nature had given it equal facilities for moving in every -direction. A scientific correspondent thus writes on this subject: "I -once propounded the question to a very eminent mathematician, and his -reply was, that, if any, the difference was too minute to admit of -calculation between the horizontal and the perpendicular movement; it -was, in the language of the present day, infinitesimal." Although few -of Nutt's positions have been found to stand the test of practice, it -ought not to be said that his crude speculations and rash assertions -have been altogether without useful results, as they undoubtedly led to -farther investigation, and several modern improvements had thus their -origin. - -[Illustration] - -Although at one time I inclined to the principle propounded by Nutt, -yet in the working of his hives, I found several disadvantages in their -details. I therefore, for my own convenience, altered in part the form, -and mode of communication between the boxes, as shown in White's hive; -in the absence of a bee-house, completing the fabric by the addition of -an outer cover and weather-boarded roof. The details of this hive have -so frequently been repeated in former editions, that a reference to the -preceding engravings will now suffice to give a general idea of the -ground and separated plan, and elevation. - -[Illustration] - -The ventilators I constructed for my Nutt's hive, after trying various -forms, consist of double tin or zinc tubes, both resting on a flanch -or rim, in the holes prepared for them on the top of the box, usually -near the back. The outer tube is of one inch diameter, and six inches -long, with six half-inch holes dispersed over it. It is soon fixed down -in its place by the bees, and so must remain. The inner tube is of -perforated zinc, with a projecting top as a handle, and a cap to put on -or off this, as required. The bees will stop up the inner tube where -they can get at it, when it may be turned round a little to present a -new surface. When wholly stopped, it can be withdrawn from its place, -and a clean tube substituted. A small thermometer fits within the inner -tube. The scientific apiarian, with experimental objects in view, will -often find this kind of apparatus, which is applicable to any plain -box-hive, of use. - -[Illustration] - -There is nothing to prevent the adoption, in this hive, of an entrance -from beneath the floor-board, in the way described at page 45. In this -case, the portico and its adjuncts are superseded; as seen below, in an -improved elevation. - - - - -NADIR HIVE. - - -[Illustration: _Elevation_] - -Bees not unfrequently take advantage of a hole or crack in the -floor of their domicile to commence building combs underneath it, a -position possessing some advantages. Deriving a hint from themselves, -I contrived what, from this peculiarity, I used to term by way of -distinction a _Nadir Hive_, the store box being placed underneath the -stock, coming out at the back, as a drawer. The details of construction -of the _Nadir Hive_ have appeared several times in our former -editions, but by way of illustrating the principle and methods of its -application, the engravings annexed will not be without their utility. -In practice I found no indisposition on the part of the bees to enter -and work in the store drawer, into which they have access through the -floor-board above, and which is in part made like that shown at page -78. It will be seen that the entire design supposes an out-door hive, -with a hipped cover. The stock-box is enclosed by four panels, moving -up and down in grooves or rabbets, cut in the corner pilasters, the -latter being attached to the box. - -[Illustration: Separated Plan.] - -[Illustration: _Floor-board._] - -[Illustration: _Nadir drawer and loose cover._] - -This mode of applying the Nadir, or rather Nether principle, must not -be confounded with the usual plan of disturbing the stock-hive for the -purpose of placing an empty one beneath it, with a new entrance in the -latter for the bees. Under such circumstances the Queen will commonly -descend and breed in the nadir, which is converted into the stock, -occasioning much subsequent inconvenience. I have not found such to be -the case where the stock, and the entrance into it, is not interfered -with; and am inclined to believe that this adaptation of bottom-hiving -is worthy of much more attention than it has received; to say nothing -of its simplicity, safety in management, and obvious convenience to -the bees. I will therefore proceed to show in what way it may be made -applicable, generally, to the purposes of an apiary. - -We have just pointed out that the mode we are now discussing differs -from the Nadir principle, and by way of distinction, the term _Nether_ -will be used, not only to mark the difference, but as presenting a -contrast to the opposite word _Super_. - -We are to suppose that the shelf on which the hives are ranged in a -bee-house is perforated under the centre of each, from back to front, -with an opening through, three inches long, and about three quarter -inch wide. The hive-board must be a separate loose one; and it ought -to lie flat on the shelf, with a perforation similar to the other, the -holes in each coming together: to ensure this the shelf can be marked. -By moving the hive-board (which is best square) a little sideways -of this mark, the position of the two holes is altered, and the -communication downwards becomes stopped; always doing this cautiously, -to avoid injuring the bees. Or, the same object is perhaps better -attained by means of a narrow zinc or tin slide, inserted from behind, -between the two boards, moving in a groove ploughed its own thickness -out of the shelf. A reference to our last engraving sufficiently -exhibits a box, or rather drawer (of suitable size), which, when in its -place, moves close on the underneath side of the bee-house shelf, by -means of blocks and runners; drawing out at the back by a handle. It -may have a window and shutter, but no entrance for the bees, except -downwards through the cover, in which is an aperture, corresponding in -size and position with those in the boards above it. It will be seen -that the cover of the drawer is a moveable one, of half inch board, -fitting down flush into it, and resting at the four corners upon wire -supports, or small blocks, placed the thickness of the cover, across -the angles. The edges of the cover (except at the corners) are cut -away just enough to admit of passing a knife-blade down, to separate -the combs from the sides, when the whole may be lifted up, with the -combs attached. The honey thus obtained is of the purest kind, and I -have known a large quantity made available with the least possible -disturbance to the bees, on removal. The drawer may be sometimes -further made useful for the purpose of feeding, a trough being placed -in it, close up to the opening in the cover. A small opening or -perforation, at or near the bottom of the drawer, will give ventilation -should it be needed. - -[Illustration: FIG. 1. FRONT.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 1. BACK.] - -With a further view of facilitating the practice of under-hiving, when -favorable circumstances allow of it, we will proceed to describe what I -have termed a _Nether_, which may be used as an adjunct to a straw or -any other hive, as shown in the illustrations Fig. 1, back and front. -It may be of half inch wood, 11 or 11-1/2 inches square withinside, -and 6 to 7 inches deep, as circumstances require (see Fig. 4). It has -a window and shutter at the back, but neither a fixed top nor bottom, -these being moveable boards, of half inch wood, made to project half an -inch beyond the Nether box; except that, as respects the bottom board, -the projection is increased at the back, with a view to give facilities -on the removal of the Nether. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) To receive and -enclose the Nether, there is an outer case or cover, also of half inch -wood, 13 to 13-1/2 inches square withinside, made half an inch higher -than the Nether, its top and bottom boards inclusive. The outer case -is closed on all sides except the top and back. (See Fig. 2.) Upon it -rests the floor-board of the stock-hive, which may be of inch wood, -showing a projection all round of an inch, except at the front, where -an additional three inches is given, to form the alighting board, this -part bevelling forwards. A square of half inch wood must be screwed -to the under side of the floor-board, of a size to drop easily within -the square of the outer case, and thus retaining it in its place. -Between the two pieces of which the floor-board is composed, a groove -is ploughed out, from front to back, two inches wide, to receive a zinc -dividing slide, pushing in from behind. An opening, about three inches -long, is cut through the floor-board, towards the front, and also -through the cover of the Nether, to correspond, so that a passage for -the bees can be opened on withdrawing the divider. (See Figs. 6, front -and back.) - -[Illustration: FIG. 6. BACK: 6. FRONT: 5, 4, 3, 2] - -A reversal of this proceeding enables possession or inspection to be -had of the Nether box, by withdrawing it (upon its bottom board) from -behind, the stock-hive being entirely undisturbed by the operation. - -It is well here to remark that experience has shown that it is seldom -expedient to apply the Nether principle to any but strong and populous -stocks, and especially in only moderately warm weather, as otherwise -the bees will prefer to follow the warmth upwards, into a super. On -their first admission into the Nether, a few bees will often be lost -in consequence of their inability to find the way out, so that, as -a precaution, a frequent inspection of the window is at such time -desirable. A small aperture behind, at the bottom or side of the -Nether, may be made, as a mode of exit for the prisoners, to be closed -at pleasure. - - - - -BEE SHEDS AND HOUSES. - - -Under the head of _Hive-covers_ we have shown in what way exposed -hives can be protected from the effects of weather; and where only -one or two of them are kept, any of these might suffice. The case, -however, is altered when a well-stocked apiary is aimed at, requiring -a more complete provision for permanent safety. For this purpose, some -proprietors like a covered shed or verandah, in a well-screened spot, -partially open in the front only. There should be ample space inside -for a passage behind the hives, which may be ranged far enough from the -front to be beyond the reach of wet and too much sun. At page 49, is -given a description of a _Hive-range_ well adapted for a position like -this. - -The common wooden bee-houses, as usually constructed, open in front, -and closed altogether behind, retaining the sun's heat as an oven, -are objectionable. These are frequently the receptacles of dirt and -vermin, and most inconvenient to operate in. It would be an improvement -to make them deeper backwards; or with a falling front, moving on -hinges, so that the hives can be recessed behind it, away from the -influence of weather. At the back should be folding doors, opening -from top to bottom, allowing a good access to the hives. For greater -convenience, it is best only to have them in a single row, with good -head room. But a still more desirable plan is to board up the front of -the house entirely, making oblong openings through for a passage to the -bees, with an exterior alighting board, a good deal slanted downwards -(the bees preferring this to a flat surface). The hives are arranged -immediately behind, upon a shelf, the further apart the better, as -the bees occasionally mistake their own homes, and fall a sacrifice -in consequence. This kind of house is capable of receiving some -architectural form; and, with locked doors at the back, gives better -security than most others against depredation; for hive-stealing is by -no means rare, in many localities. - -[Illustration] - -A spare room in a dwelling or an outhouse may often be fitted up to -serve the purpose of an apiary, with great convenience; but a lower -room is to be preferred, as bees placed at a high elevation often fly -a long distance before they alight when swarming, or, perhaps, may -settle on the top of a tree. A shelf can be fixed along the wall, with -perforated passages facing the hives, leading outside. Any space there -may be between the mouth of the hive and the wall should be filled up -by means of a suitably formed wooden block or covered passage, well -hollowed out on the underneath side; admitting the bees freely through -it into their dwelling, but excluding them from the room itself, and -thus ensuring safety in operating. Even at a common window, I have -sometimes placed a stock-hive on a doubling-board; the latter fitting -within the frame of the window, which is raised, to admit of its being -projected under the lower edge, so that the bees have no admission -except to their domicile. - -[Illustration] - - - - -POSITION AND ASPECT. - - -As regards position, it is of great importance that an apiary should -be as free from damp, or the drippings of trees, and as little exposed -to the direct influence of the wind as possible, for which end a -sheltered nook on a low level is preferable to an elevated one. A dry -gravel, or well-mown grass plot, is often to be preferred; closed in -with evergreens, especially the laurel and laurustinus, which are much -resorted to by the bees; but always leaving an approach at the back -of the hives. Let these not be placed too near water, into which the -bees are apt to fall or be blown; and it is desirable that they should -be within sight of some dwelling-house, to prevent losses in swarming -time. The absence from noise and of bad smells ought to be studied; for -no sense in bees is so acute as that of scent. Disturbers of any kind, -as fowls, dogs, pigs, &c., should be kept at a distance. Experience -has shown that where bees are very extensively kept, the apiary is -best divided on the same premises, so as not to have the whole crowded -together; often inconvenient, particularly in the season of swarming. -Nothing high enough to obstruct the direct flight of the bees should -be allowed immediately in front of the hives; but a few low plants are -rather useful as resting-places; for bees, from fatigue, often fall to -the ground just on reaching home, especially in an evening, and numbers -in consequence fall a prey to cold, and various enemies. Many lives may -be saved by spreading out a cloth or mat in front of a hive, when this -is observed. Shrubs or bushes, at no great distance, are convenient in -the swarming season for the bees to alight upon; and often prevent a -longer flight, or collecting on high trees, &c. - -As regards aspect for bees, many and conflicting have been the -recommendations relative to it, influenced by locality and climate. So -many circumstances have to be taken into account, that it is difficult -to lay down any rule of universal application, and they have been -known to prosper in all positions, from due south to north. We know -that it has been sometimes advised to turn the hives from the sun in -winter, and to screen them from its direct rays in summer: this has -led to an opinion that a permanent north aspect is the best; and often -it is so. Still local considerations must have their weight, and we -are to look to these as regards shelter from cutting winds; the more -necessary where no sun reaches the front of the hives. A north aspect -need not necessarily be an exposed one in winter; nor at other times -one wholly uninfluenced by the effects of the sun. We have recommended -doors at the back of a bee-house, by opening which at proper times, in -the case of a north frontage, the sun's rays have access from behind, -with sufficiently good effect in producing a genial general warmth. -In forming a decision as to aspect, we ought to take into account -the position of buildings, trees, &c., for we have already observed -that the flight of the bees from the hives should be uninterrupted. -Moreover, the kind of house must have its weight in the scale; for -where this is one closed at the front from the immediate influence -of the sun, aspect is of less importance. Dr. Bevan placed his hives -around the interior of an octagon erection, without perceiving any -sensible difference in their well-doing. It may, however, be remarked -that, occasionally, in a hive exposed to the earliest rays of the sun, -the bees have been prematurely tempted out in the spring months, and -fallen victims to the effects of a damp and chilly atmosphere. - -When once fixed, do not move your bees, the mischief of which is -self-evident. I cannot enforce this recommendation better than Gelieu -has done. "I have seen people," says he, "shift about their hives -very inconsiderately; but change of place invariably weakens them, as -the bees will return to their old residence, the environs of which -are so familiar to them. A hive should remain as fixed to the spot as -the ancient oaks, in the hollows of which they delight to establish -themselves; where they have their young, their companions, their -beloved queen, and all their treasures. When the young bees take wing -for the first time, they do it with great precaution, turning round -and round, and fluttering about the entrance, to examine the hive -well before taking flight. They do the same in returning, so that -they may be easily distinguished, conducting themselves nearly after -the same manner as the workers of a newly-hived swarm. When they have -made a few excursions, they set off without examining the locality; -and returning in full flight will know their own hive in the midst of -a hundred others. But if you change its place you perplex them, much -the same as you would be if, during a short absence, some one lifted -your house and placed it a mile off. The poor bees return loaded, and, -seeking in vain for their habitation, either fall down and perish with -fatigue, or throw themselves into the neighbouring hives, where they -are speedily put to death. When hives are transported to a considerable -distance, there is no fear that the bees will return. But this -inconvenience would be sure to take place if they were removed only a -few hundred paces from the spot they have been accustomed to. The hive -may not perish, but it will be greatly weakened. In my opinion, if the -situation is to be changed at all, they should be taken at least a mile -and a half." This removal should only be attempted in winter or early -spring, under usual circumstances. It might, however, happen that it -was required to move a hive only a very short distance, in the summer -time; when no harm would arise were the change of location made by -daily shifting it a few inches. - - - -BEE PASTURAGE, AND NUMBER OF HIVES. - - -It is almost needless to say that on the nature and extent of the -vegetable productions, following in succession, in the immediate -neighbourhood of an apiary, must mainly depend its prosperity. After -every care has been bestowed on all points of housing and management, -it is in vain to expect a large harvest of honey where nature has -limited the sources of supply, or restricted them to a particular -season of the year. The most highly-cultivated corn districts are -rarely so favorable to bees as those in which wild commons, woods, -and heathy moors prevail; or where some such farm products as Dutch -clover, trefoil, saintfoin, buck-wheat, tares, mustard, colewort, -turnip and cabbage blossoms, &c., do not enter largely into the staple -of the country. The neighbourhood of certain kinds of willows, and of -hazels, in the opening spring, is of great advantage to our little -collectors in furnishing farina; as also the blossoms of the furze, -broom, bramble, wild thyme, &c. To these we may add the large early -stores of honey and farina available from many of the products of -our horticultural gardens and orchards, as gooseberries, currants, -raspberries, apples, pears, plums, and other fruits. Payne says, "I -have always found the advantage of planting in the vicinity of my hives -a large quantity of the common kinds of crocus, single blue hepatica, -helleborus niger, and tussilago petasites, all of which flower early, -and are rich in honey and farina. Salvia memorosa (of Sir James Smith), -which flowers very early in June, and lasts all the summer, is in an -extraordinary manner sought after by the bees; and, when room is not -an object, twenty or thirty square yards of it may be grown with -advantage. Origanum humile, and origanum rubescens (of Haworth), and -mignonette may also be grown. Cuscuta sinensis is a great favorite with -them; and the pretty little plant anacampseros populifolium, when in -flower, is literally covered by them. Garden cultivation, beyond this, -exclusively for bees, I believe answers very little purpose." - -It will follow as a matter of course from what we have said, that -the size of an apiary in any district must be mainly determined by -circumstances. In some seasons, so prolific a harvest of blossoms and -honey comes all at once, that a large number of hives may abundantly be -filled together. The locality must be the chief guide; and I have known -instances where fewer stocks would have yielded a much better return; -for one rich colony is worth more than two or three half-starved ones. - -The distance to which bees will resort during the honey harvest has -been the subject of controversy; some limiting their flight to one -mile, and others extending it to three or four. When pressed for -stores, they will doubtless fly a long distance, directed probably by -their very acute sense of smell; but I am inclined to believe, with Dr. -Dunbar, that the ordinary range of their excursions is comprised within -the radius of a comparatively small circle. - -[Illustration] - - - - -SUMMER MANAGEMENT. - - -The question has often been put to me, "How and at what time can -an apiary be best commenced?" Some remarks in reference to this -subject will be found under the heads both of _Autumnal_ and _Spring -Management_. At present the reader is supposed to have been put in -possession of a prime swarm, in the season, which is the best method of -stocking a new hive of whatever kind, and the earlier the better.[O] -On this head we may with advantage quote the words of Mr. Golding. -"Notwithstanding," says he, "all that has been said about tenanting -hives by the removal of the bees of other hives into them, there is no -plan so safe or certain as peopling them by good early swarms. When -these are brought from a distance, it should be on the day in which -they are hived, and in a cloth of coarse texture, which should be tied -round near the bottom of the hive, so as to prevent the escape of the -bees. Tie up the cloth by its corners over the top of the hive; and, if -carried by the hand, or properly suspended, a swarm may be removed in -this manner for miles." - -[O] All careful bee proprietors will take the precaution to record -the weight of the empty hive, and of its floor-board, before stocking -it; a matter of subsequent importance in ascertaining the contents. A -journal, also, recording dates, and the various operations of the hive, -as they arise, will be useful in many ways. - -All experienced apiculturists know that no colony of bees thrives, -or works so well, as one that is populous at the outset. Should any -doubt exist on this point, it is often expedient to unite a second -smaller swarm to the first, but this can only be attempted within a -few days, before many combs are made, or mischief would result. Our -recommendation applies with greater force in a late season, or to the -case of second swarms, which are rarely strong enough, separately, -to collect sufficient winter stores. Of the mode of proceeding in -effecting these junctions we shall hereafter speak, when treating of -Uniting Swarms, under the section _Spring Management_. - -The plan originally proposed in the Bee-keeper's Manual supposes, as -has before been intimated, an arrangement embracing directions for -the management of an apiary, "according to the order of the seasons." -Our legitimate commencement, therefore, must practically date from -the separate existence of the recently established colony; noticing, -as we proceed, the various substances stored or used in a hive, and -collected more or less abundantly, according to circumstances and -season. - -Should the weather now be fine, operations are commenced with -astonishing activity, the bees being at first solely intent on -preparing their new dwelling for its intended objects--the rearing of -young, and storing supplies for the future requirements of the family. -If, however, circumstances are such as to prevent them from quitting -the hive for several successive days following swarming, and before -provision is accumulated, recourse to feeding becomes expedient, or -starvation might ensue. Under any circumstances, some apiculturists -have advised giving honey, or a syrup of sugar, to a newly-hived -colony. It is well known that, on leaving the parent stock, the bees -carry with them a good deal of honey. There is little doubt that the -main object in this provident proceeding is to enable them at once to -commence the work of building: this they do almost as soon as they are -hived, a piece of comb being frequently made on the same day, which is -as quickly appropriated, either as a receptacle of honey or of eggs, -if the Queen is already fertile. Where a young Queen has accompanied -the swarm, such is not always the case, and this occasions a delay in -laying of several days. - -The entrance of the hive should now (and at all times when the bees -are at full work) be opened to its whole extent.[P] - -[P] To the spectator the view of a recent swarm is animated in the -extreme, and probably suggested the - - SONG OF THE BEES. - - We watch for the light of the morn to break, - And colour the gray eastern sky - With its blended hues of saffron and lake; - Then say to each other, "Awake, awake! - For our winter's honey is all to make, - And our bread for a long supply." - - Then off we hie to the hill and the dell, - To the field, the wild-wood and bower; - In the columbine's horn we love to dwell, - To dip in the lily, with snow-white bell, - To search the balm in its odorous cell, - The thyme and the rosemary flower. - - We seek for the bloom of the eglantine, - The lime, pointed thistle, and brier; - And follow the course of the wandering vine, - Whether it trail on the earth supine, - Or round the aspiring tree-top twine, - And reach for a stage still higher. - - As each for the good of the whole is bent, - And stores up its treasure for all, - We hope for an evening with hearts content, - For the winter of life, without lament - That summer is gone, with its hours misspent, - And the harvest is past recall! - - -_Wax and Combs._--The material of which the combs are so curiously -formed is wax, _secreted by the bees_ themselves, and not any -substance directly conveyed into the hive, as is generally, but -erroneously, supposed. Its component parts are carbon, oxygen, and -hydrogen. To enable them to form this secretion, the workers must have -access to honey or some other saccharine matter; and this is the first -thing sought by a new colony. The quantity required is very great, it -being estimated that thirteen to twenty pounds are necessary to make -one pound of wax. The common opinion is, that the substance often seen -adhering so abundantly to the legs of bees is wax, and as such is the -basis of the combs. Has it never appeared strange to the observer of -a new swarm, that at the time when comb-building is proceeding more -rapidly than at any other period, the bees are loaded with but little -of this substance? On the other hand, is it not equally clear, that -in the early spring, when few or no combs are constructed, they carry -it into the hive with the utmost avidity? "To see the wax-pockets in -the hive-bee," observes Kirby and Spence, "you must press the abdomen, -so as to cause its distension; you will then find on each of the four -intermediate ventral segments, separated by the carina or elevated -central part, two trapeziform whitish pockets, of a soft membranaceous -texture; on these the laminæ of wax are formed, in different states, -more or less perceptible." "Whenever combs are wanted," says Dr. Bevan, -"bees fill their crops with honey, and, retaining it in them, hang -together in a cluster from the top of the hive, and remain apparently -in a state of profound inactivity about twenty-four hours. During -this time, the wax is secreted, and may be seen in laminæ, under the -abdominal scales, whence it is removed by the hind legs of the bee, -and transferred to the fore legs; from them it is taken by the jaws, -and after being masticated, the fabrication of comb commences." An -extraordinary degree of heat always accompanies comb-building, supplied -no doubt by the large quantity of oxygen at that time generated. - -"In the height of the honey season," Dr. Dunbar observes, "in one day -the bees will construct no fewer than 4000 cells. The whole structure -is so delicately thin, that three or four of their sides, placed upon -one another, have no more thickness than a leaf of common paper." The -best authorities have estimated that about half a pound of wax is -yielded to fifteen pounds of honey. - -The form and number of the combs in a hive vary considerably, the bees -adapting them according to the shape of their domicile, so as to fit -and fill in every part, and often very irregularly. At first they are -beautifully white, but soon, from the heat of the hive, become tinged, -and finally turn nearly black. The worker-breeding cells are made the -first: they are invariably hexagonal in form, and of one uniform size -and depth; but those intended only for the storing of honey are often -somewhat larger and elongated; sometimes more so on one side than the -other. A small dip or inclination upwards is given to the cells, the -better to prevent the honey from running out, assisted, moreover, by a -small bar or thickened border of wax, at the entrances. The cells in -which the drones are bred are larger in diameter than the common ones, -and they are generally placed nearer the outside of the hive, though -occasionally joined on to the others. When this takes place, our little -architects have the sagacity to interpose two or three rows of cells of -an intermediate size, gradually enlarged to the proper dimensions. In -this, as in everything else, the bees adapt their operations according -to circumstances; constructing their combs, either by suspending them -from the top of their dwelling, or occasionally by working them from -the bottom, upwards. - - -_Propolis._--To attach the combs firmly in their place, the bees -employ a pliable substance of balsamic odour, called _propolis_, a -glutinous exudation from certain trees, or their buds, of a grayish -colour, which they collect immediately on swarming, blending with it a -portion of wax. With this material they varnish the lids of the closed -honey-cells, glue up all crevices in the hive, and cement it down to -the floor. - - -_Honey._--We have seen that the first want of the swarm is honey, for -the purpose of comb-building. This valuable article the bees collect, -by means of their proboscis, from the nectaries of certain flowers, -from whence it derives a higher or less degree of flavour, together -with its colouring matter; sometimes nearly transparent, to various -shades of brown. They receive it into their first stomach or honey-bag, -the greater portion being subsequently regurgitated into the cells, -employing for the purpose those of both workers and drones. As these -become severally filled, they are coated over or sealed with a thin -covering of wax. The honey-cells, when thus closed, are distinguishable -from those containing brood, by being whiter in appearance, and often -slightly concave. The brood-cells are more coloured, besides being a -little convex. In some seasons honey is abundantly collected when in -the state of what is termed _honey-dew_, a viscous substance found -adhering to the leaves of particular trees, especially the oak. This -only occurs in certain years, for in others it is found very sparingly, -or not at all. - - -_Pollen, or Farina._--The hive will be rapidly filled with combs, and -progressively with an increased population, for the eggs, as we have -seen in page 13, are matured in three weeks. In the mean time, the -bees will have commenced a new labour--that of collecting pollen or -farina. This is the anther-dust of the stamina of flowers, varying -in colour according to the source from whence it is derived; and it -may be remarked that the bees in their collection never mix together -the pollen of different plants, but in each excursion visit only one -species of flower. By a peculiar adaptation, they are enabled to brush -this off, and pack it into the spoon-like cavities (or baskets as they -have been termed), furnished for this object, on the centre joint of -their hind legs; being often, as has been already pointed out, mistaken -for wax. The powder or meal thus conveyed into the hive is by other -bees afterwards kneaded up into paste, and stored for use in the worker -cells, adjoining those containing brood. To preserve it from the air, a -small portion of honey is put on the top of each cell, coated over with -wax. Thus prepared, it is a very heavy substance; and this often leads -to a false estimate of the value of a hive; for the annual collection -of pollen has been variously estimated at thirty to one hundred pounds -in a single family. - -Naturalists are, I believe, pretty well agreed that the store of -pollen or farina is used (with a mixture of honey and water) chiefly -for feeding the larvæ; though a portion of such compound may form, -occasionally, the sustenance of the bees themselves. Indeed, it has -been asserted that pollen is often found in the stomach of bees engaged -in the fabrication of wax. - - -_Water._--At certain dry periods, but always in the breeding time, bees -require a supply of water, which is necessary in preparing the farina -and honey for the brood, as well as to enable them to secrete wax. If -no pond or brook is within a reasonable distance, a shallow vessel will -do, filled frequently to the brim, having a piece of thin perforated -wood floating on it and covering the whole surface; or it may be filled -with moss or pebbles, pouring in water to the top, and placing it near -the apiary. Precaution is necessary, for the bees easily slip into -the water and are drowned. So essential is water, that it has been -recommended to place a supply, early in the year, within the hive. - - -_Shade._--It has already been observed that out-door hives ought not to -be left exposed to the mid-day and afternoon sun in sultry weather; the -heat not only rendering the bees extremely irascible, but subjecting -the combs to melting, and especially in wooden boxes, with most -disastrous consequences. In all such cases it is well, therefore, to -give the comfort of a mat, or something of the kind, thrown over them. -In the words of Gelieu, "they delight best in thick forests, because -they there find a uniform temperature and a propitious shade. It is a -mistake to suppose that bees exposed to the sun produce the earliest -and strongest swarms: I have often experienced the reverse. Bees like -the shade when working, and the sun only when in the fields." - - -_Moths, Wasps, Hornets, and other Enemies._--In the warm summer -evenings, bees are often much annoyed by the attempted inroads of -moths, particularly the small _Wax Moth (Tinea Mellonella)_, of -a whitish gray colour. These are sometimes formidable foes, and -their appearance at dusk on the alighting-board is the signal for a -commotion. It is difficult to eject them if they obtain a footing in a -hive, where they will deposit their eggs, spinning their silken webs, -and they now and then increase so as to cause its entire destruction. -When these vermin have established themselves, there is no remedy but -driving the bees into another hive. To prevent the ingress of these -troublesome invaders, it is sometimes desirable for an hour or two in -an evening to close the entrance, by placing before it a screen of -gauze, wire-grating, or perforated zinc, to be removed at dark.[Q] - -[Q] A difficulty sometimes occurs when it is necessary to confine bees, -or drive them into the hive, as the alighting-board is often covered -with them in an evening, and the numbers are increased on the least -alarm. In this case take a small watering-pot, and gently sprinkle the -board and entrance, when the bees, mistaking this for rain, will retire -withinside. - -Poultry, and some kinds of birds, are destroyers of bees; and many, -that from weakness or other causes fall to the ground, become a -sacrifice to them. In particular, that little marauder, the Blue Tomtit -or Titmouse (_Parus major_ of Linnæus), must not be tolerated. In -summer he will devour bees, and feed his young with them; and in winter -he will even try to force an entrance into the hive.[R] Rats and mice -must also be guarded against, as well as slugs and snails. - -[R] In some parts these birds are very numerous; and poison has been -found efficacious, placed at the hive mouth, in little balls of lard, -oatmeal, and nux vomica, mixed together. - -The nests of wasps ought to be destroyed: from their superiority in -strength and activity, they are very annoying, and often destructive, -to bees towards the end of summer; and the nuisance must forthwith -be met by contracting the entrance to the hive, when the passage -is more readily defended.[S] In this place it may be well to draw -attention to a very simple mode of dealing with wasps attacking a -hive. We shall have occasion hereafter to notice the fondness of bees -for barley-sugar: let a piece of this be laid across, or just within, -the entrance of the hive, so as greatly to narrow it. This is so -attractive to the bees, that they muster at the door in greater force -than the wasps durst venture to assail. As fast as the fortification -is devoured, it ought to be renewed, and the out-generalled enemy will -retire from a hopeless contest. - -[S] Amongst well-informed apiculturists an apology might seem to be -necessary in referring to so bigoted an author as Huish; but Huber's -observations on some of the habits of bees have frequently been the -subject of his ignorant ridicule; and particularly where he says that -they occasionally erect barricades, for greater security. Mr. Golding -has given a confirmation of Huber's assertion. He says, "At the end of -summer, a kind of curtain, apparently a compound of wax and propolis, -and about a sixteenth of an inch thick, was erected before the entrance -of one of my hives; about two inches and a half in length, and half -an inch in height, with the exception of a small aperture at each -end." Dr. Bevan, in the 'Honey-Bee,' exhibits a drawing of this piece -of fortification. My own experience is perfectly conclusive, as the -following extract from my journal will show:--"July 31, 1842. Weather -fine. Removed a box of honey from a collateral hive. The wasps had been -troublesome for some days, and as the entrance to the centre box was -left fully open, the bees had contracted it for better defence. A thin -wall of what appeared to be propolis was attached from the upper edge -of the doorway, extending along its centre, and closing all up but a -space of about three quarters of an inch at each end. I never witnessed -a more convincing proof of the sagacity of the bees than this beautiful -proceeding." So runs my journal; to which I may add, that the entrance -to the box, so contracted, was five inches in length, and three eighths -of an inch high; or double that of Mr. Golding's. From the hint thus -derived from the bees themselves, I constructed the moveable blocks or -mouth-pieces described and shown at page 44. - -Insects of all kinds, as earwigs, spiders, wood-lice, &c., should be -cleared away from the hives and stands, and ants' nests destroyed. -Cobwebs must not be permitted to remain, or numerous deaths would ensue -to the bees from entanglement in them. In short, we may sum up by a -general recommendation of cleanliness, in every way, and the removal of -whatever serves as a harbour to dirt and vermin. - - -_Super-hiving._--Should the weather continue favorable for -honey-gathering, the colony must be inspected in about three weeks from -the time of hiving. Indeed in sultry weather, and where the swarm is a -large one, it is often politic to place a glass or small super upon it -very soon, as a ventilator, to moderate the temperature, and prevent -the clustering of the bees at the mouth of the hive. If the combs are -worked pretty nearly down to the floor, and the cells in a good measure -filled, no time should be lost in supplying additional working-room; -more especially if symptoms of crowding are apparent, for by this time -young bees are coming forth. We may here observe that many experienced -bee-keepers object to supering in the case of a new colony, preferring -to give the requisite room at the bottom, by means of a _Nadir_; which, -as the bees carry their stores upwards, often ensures abundance in -the stock-hive, the nadir being removed in the autumn. Under the head -_Depriving System_, are some remarks as to the mode of using nadirs; -as also under that of _Nadir Hive_, and _Nadiring Stocks_. - -[Illustration] - -_Bell-glasses._--As these are commonly formed, nothing can be more -objectionable: inconveniently high and narrow, a few misshapen combs -are all that can be packed into the space; and these are afterwards -only to be extracted by a general mash. The same remark applies to -all supers, of any material, where breadth of surface enough is not -afforded for a large number of bees to cluster and labour at one time. -Can it be a matter of wonder, that a chimney-formed vessel should be -twice as long in being filled (supposing that the bees do not forsake -it) as a broad one, in which a genial warmth is concentrated, and -where several combs can be in progress simultaneously? A reversal of -the usual proportions, both in straw and glass supers, is therefore to -be recommended. The latter may advantageously be from nine to eleven -inches across; the depth being about half the diameter: straight at -the sides, and flat on the top. A piece or two of guide-comb, slightly -melted, and fixed by its edge to the top of the glass, previously made -warm, will serve as an attraction; or in a large glass, four or eight -pieces, radiating from the centre uniformly, will direct the bees in -working with a regular design, producing a pleasing effect. A useful -adjunct to a glass is a small circular tube of perforated zinc, having -a rim round its upper end, by which it is held suspended within a small -hole on the top. It should be long enough to reach nearly down to the -level of the floor. To the tube, when a little warmed, a narrow piece -of guide-comb will adhere, and act as an attraction to the bees: it -will be further useful as a central support to the loaded combs. - -Whatever may be said as to the pleasing appearance of glass supers, -it is doubtful whether in point of utility and economy they can -compete with those of straw, made as directed under the head of -"Straw Depriving Hives," and which can readily be packed and sent to -a distance, if needed: or shallow supers, as wide as the stock-hive -admits, may be cheaply made by means of a wood hoop, three or four -inches deep, on which is fixed a thin top, by two or three small -screws. These are readily withdrawn, when the top can be lifted up with -the combs suspended. Under the head _Circular Wooden Hives_ are some -remarks on the subject of wood supers. - -In the use of Glasses it is always well at first to prevent the escape -of warmth, especially at night, till the bees are well established in -their new work-room; and the admission of light is best avoided. A -little ventilation afterwards, in sultry weather, is desirable; which -may be given by slightly wedging up the lower edge of the super. If -a double adapter is in use, it is easy to insert a slip or two of tin -or zinc between the two boards, so as to keep them a little separated, -for the passage of air, when it seems necessary. Sometimes it is even -advisable to introduce between the stock and the super a very shallow -box, as a moderator of the temperature. I have found, by experiment -with the thermometer, that at a temperature between 95 and 100, the -combs will soften so much as to be in danger of collapsing. - - -_Triplets and Nadirs._--In good seasons and localities, the first super -is sometimes filled in time to admit of the introduction of another (or -triplet), on an adapter, observing the rules laid down at page 32. But -even where the first super is completely filled, it is often politic -not to remove it for a few days, as its attraction induces the bees to -occupy the triplet. On the other hand, if from any cause a super has -been left only partially filled upon one hive, it may be removed (the -bees being first ejected), and placed upon some other for completion. -Instead of a separate triplet, an addition may often be made to the -first super, especially if of straw, by placing beneath it an eke, -consisting merely of two or three bands of the same material; in fact a -hoop. This will save the bees the labour of laying the foundations of -fresh combs, as they have but to continue the old ones downwards. We -may here call attention to what has been said at page 62, respecting -the use of box, No. 3, of the bar-hive, and of Nadiring. - -After the main honey season is over, which is usually as soon as the -dry July weather sets in, it is useless, in most localities, to give -any further extension of working room; and, indeed, from the end -of this month there is, under common circumstances, often rather a -diminution than an increase of store. - -In proportion to the wealth of the colony is the determination of -the bees to defend it; and their irascibility and vigilance are now -greater than heretofore, the strongest stocks showing it the most. The -work of the year being pretty well over, all their attention is turned -towards home. They become more and more suspicious, and the less they -are approached or annoyed the better; for they are slow to forget or -forgive an injury. - - - - -AUTUMNAL MANAGEMENT. - - -Much of what has been said in the preceding section is equally -applicable in practice to the later periods of the summer. The month -of August is usually associated with the collection of harvest. -Though this may often hold good as regards honey, yet the storified -or doubled stocks of the spring are commonly ready for deprivation at -an earlier period, occasionally in May, and so on throughout July; -the spring-gathered honey being usually to be preferred in point of -quality. I know of no better rule as to the fitness of a super, or -side hive, for removal, than an observation of the state of the combs -and cells, which ought to be completely filled and sealed over, to -prevent a loss of honey by running out. In this stage the sooner -it is appropriated the better, as a longer continuance only leads -to discoloration. As respects a colony of the same year, Dr. Bevan -remarks, "as a general rule, no honey should be taken from a colony the -first season of its being planted, though there may be an extraordinary -season now and then, which may justify a departure from this rule:" the -produce in such a case is usually denominated _virgin honey_, though -that term is often applied indiscriminately to any in combs free from -brood. But in any event the stock-hive should be previously examined, -for there is a disposition in bees to carry their stores into a super, -though afterwards they sometimes remove it into the stock-hive. In -cases where doubt exists as to a sufficiency of winter store, it is -often well to allow them to do this; recollecting the further advice of -Dr. Bevan, that, "it should be an invariable rule never to remove an -upper box or hive till an under one be quite full; nor to diminish the -weight of a stock-box below seventeen or eighteen pounds, exclusive of -the box itself." - - -_To remove a full Box or Super._--The middle of a sunny day may be -recommended as the best time to take away for deprivation a box or -glass of honey. The mode usually adopted is at once to remove it from -its position to a distance from the stock-hive, and there get rid -of the bees. I have often found it well to reverse this proceeding. -Whether the box to be taken is a collateral or storified one, let the -communication from the parent hive be previously cut off, and without -any jarring. Entire quietness is the main requisite. Gently lift up -the super on one side, inserting under it a small wedge or two, so as -just to allow an exit for the bees. The position of the queen bee will -soon become apparent. If she is not in the super (and she seldom is -there after it is filled), the silence that at first prevailed will be -exchanged for a murmuring hum, attended by a commotion among the bees; -and they shortly after begin to quit the super, without attempting any -attack. Should the queen be present, however, a very different scene -would ensue, and a hubbub would then commence in the stock-hive; though -the loss of their queen is sometimes not discovered by the bees for a -considerable time. In such a case, the box must be reinstated in its -former position, and the communication reopened till some other day. -The process might happen to be complicated by the presence of brood, -for this the bees leave very reluctantly, and often not at all. In an -emergency of this kind, it is best to restore matters to their previous -state, and let the super remain till the brood is perfected. A little -patience is sometimes necessary: but all attempts at ejection of the -bees by tapping, smoking, or driving usually do more harm than good. -So long as they continue to leave the super, it may remain where it -is, for on these occasions young bees are sometimes numerous; and if -the super is removed, though only to a short distance, these are in -part lost, not having become sufficiently acquainted with the position -of their home; or, if they enter a wrong hive, they pay the penalty -with their lives. This freedom from disturbance has the further good -effect of preventing in a great degree the intrusion of robber bees, -readily distinguishable from the others by their hovering about the -box, instead of flying from it. These are strangers from various -quarters, immediately attracted by the scent attending the removal of -a full box or glass. Should a few of these plunderers once obtain a -taste or sample of the honey, they speedily convey the good news to -their associates, when large reinforcements from every hive in the -neighbourhood will be at once on the alert, and quickly leave nothing -behind but empty combs. Let the separated super, therefore, not be -left or lost sight of, but if scented out by robbers, be conveyed into -some room or out-building to prevent a general battle; and which might -extend itself to all the neighbouring hives. The remaining bees may -here be brushed out, escaping by the window or door. Mr. Golding has -sometimes found the advantage of using for the purpose a darkened room, -with the exception of a very small aperture, to which the bees will fly -and make their exit. Others like to remove a super at once to a short -distance from the stock-hive, leaving it shut up in perfect darkness, -for an hour or two. Its edge is then raised up, when the bees will -evacuate it. In the case of a bar-hive super, after most of the bees -have left it, it can be placed across a couple of rails or sticks, -when the top cover may be unscrewed and detached. It is then readily -cleared of bees by brushing them downwards between the bars, with a -feather or a twig. - -The same general directions apply when a full glass is to be removed. -If it stands on a double adapter, a piece of tin or zinc can be -inserted between them, and the upper part then lifted with the glass. -Payne, however, says, "I have found the process much simplified by -placing an empty box between the glass and the parent hive, and leaving -it a few hours. The bees by that time have quitted the glass, and by -this plan robbing is entirely prevented, whilst the bees are less -irritated." It might occasionally happen that a piece of comb had -been worked upwards, so as to be connected with the underneath hive, -and thus causing a difficulty on attempting a separation. There is no -better way of meeting such an emergency than by passing a bit of fine -wire beneath the lower edge of the super, from side to side, and thus -cutting through the obstruction. It may be well to observe that on -removal, the box or glass ought to be kept in its original position, to -prevent the honey, which at first is thin and fluid, from running out -of the cells, and especially in hot weather. - - -_Honey Harvest._--As regards the quantity of honey to be taken from -a hive in any one year, there can, in our uncertain climate, be no -general rule, though now and then I have known a very large amount -obtained by deprivation. - -Payne says, as the result of his own experience with depriving hives, -"It is usual to obtain from every good stock twenty or perhaps thirty -pounds of honey annually." This would be thought too high an estimate, -in many districts; as in my own, near London. It must be remembered -that honey thus harvested sells at a higher rate than that procured -by suffocating the bees, as in the common single hives; for then the -brimstone not only imparts a disagreeable flavour, but there is no -means of preventing the intermixture with the honey more or less of -pollen and brood. After deprivation, the sooner the honey is drained -from the comb the better, as it soon thickens, particularly if not kept -warm. For the purpose of straining it off, a hair sieve is commonly -used, within which the combs are inverted; the waxen seals on both -sides being first sliced off. The honey will of course run off the -sooner if placed before a fire, but exposure to heat is injurious to -fine flavour. We may here resort to the advice of Payne, who says, -"the honey should be put into jars, quite filled, and tied down with -a bladder; for exposure to the air, even for a few hours, very much -deteriorates its flavour. I may observe that honey in the combs keeps -remarkably well, if folded in writing paper, sealed up to exclude the -air, and kept dry." - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -_Comb-knives._--A difficulty sometimes arises in extracting the combs -from common hives or boxes. A large spatula will separate them from the -sides, but to detach them from the top, an instrument of a different -kind is requisite. The one often preferred is simply a bar of steel -about fourteen inches in total length, half an inch wide, and an -eighth of an inch thick. At one end it is bent at a right angle with -the handle, and at the other at an angle of 80° or 90°. The part thus -turned up is in both cases an inch and a half long, rather less than -half an inch wide, and made spear-pointed, or lancet-shaped; sharp on -both sides, to cut either way. The one end is used when the top of -the hive is flat; and the other is adapted to the common dome-formed -roof. Another useful instrument is the one employed in detaching the -combs from the bar-hives, made as recommended by Mr. Golding, with a -double-edge blade, an inch and a half long, and three eighths of an -inch wide; turned at right angles from the end of a rod, which may be -of quarter-inch square iron. For occasional convenience, the other end -may be turned the flat way, sharpened at both edges. - - -_Robbers._--Should an attack upon a hive from strange bees take place, -which sometimes occurs at this season (the strong robbing the weak), -no time ought to be lost in narrowing the entrance, for if allowed to -continue a day or two the ruin of the family might be the consequence. -Indeed, it is always well gradually to do this as the working season -draws to a close. An assault from robber bees is often a much more -formidable evil than one from wasps, although it is said that one of -these is a match for three bees. Unless the colony is very weak, they -are usually soon expelled, if the methods pointed out at page 117 are -resorted to. Not so with bees, for if but one or two strangers gain -admittance into a hive they will return again and again, always with an -accession of force; and for a day or two it is often necessary entirely -to close the entrance against them, opening it only at night. In such -case the robber bees will sometimes collect in vast numbers at the -mouth of the hive, when a shower from a watering-pot will send them -away to dry themselves. The thieves are generally distinguishable; and -they are often cunning enough to commence their marauding practices -early in the morning and late at night. A supply of honey given on -the top, or even sprinkled among the combs of contending hives, will -often divert the attention of the combatants; or smoke is sometimes -effectual, puffed into both hives. If fighting recommences on the -succeeding day, the smoking should be repeated, followed by a feed of -honey. Others have found it advantageous to remove for some days a -plundered hive to a distance; or even to make the belligerent hives -change places in the apiary; which, as a friend remarked to me, "gives -a new turn to their ideas of meum and tuum." A German proprietor, -after removing an attacked stock, put in its place a hive filled with -wormwood leaves, so distasteful to the robbers that they forsook the -spot, when the stock was brought back again. - - -_Autumnal Feeding._--All labour is now usually suspended for the year, -and it remains to see that ample provision is laid up for the coming -winter and spring. There ought not to be less than seventeen to twenty -pounds of honey in a hive of the same year; but in the case of an old -one, eight or ten pounds more must be allowed in estimating the weight; -for old combs are much heavier than new ones; besides that they are -a good deal filled with stale pollen, and sometimes contain candied -honey, of no use to the bees.[T] In a healthy stock there should be no -scarcity of food, if the season has been tolerable. The worst, however, -must be provided for; and if, from any cause, it should be necessary, -recourse must be had to supplying the deficiencies of nature. "A stock -of bees," observes Dr. Bevan, "generally consumes from a pound to a -pound and a half of honey per month, betwixt the first of October and -the first of March. From this time to the end of May, they will consume -double that quantity." - -[T] In reference to this part of our subject, it may be useful to quote -the following estimate, as given by Dr. Dunbar:--"A common straw hive -weighs, when empty, from five to six pounds; an ordinary swarm about -four pounds; the wax of a full hive of the current year, nearly two -pounds; of the preceding year, at least three pounds; and the farina in -the cells, not less than one pound; making in all about fifteen pounds. -A stock, therefore, to be secure, ought to be double that weight in -the gross; that is, should contain not less than fifteen pounds of -honey."--_Naturalists' Library._ - -The requisite feeding to make up the winter store ought not to be -delayed later than the beginning of October, and the weather should be -fine. Food must never be placed in the open air, but under a cover; -otherwise the smell would attract wasps or, what is worse, strange -bees; in the latter case a battle generally following. - - -_Feeding-troughs._--The feeding of bees, though apparently a simple -matter, is often a troublesome process, and without due precaution -sometimes leads to a good deal of commotion. The common swarming hives -present much difficulty, from their construction. Having no opening -at the crown, the clumsy and dangerous mode must be resorted to of -bottom-feeding, in any way possible; either by tearing up the hive for -every supply of food, or by means of an eke, pushed for the purpose -beneath it. An improved hive gives facilities for presenting food on -the top, obviating these inconveniences; and where it may be supplied -in any quantity, without disturbance; at the same time that it is -inaccessible to all enemies. - -[Illustration] - -When there is a hole in the centre of the top of the hive, a trough -may be used, made of tin or zinc, seven or eight inches square, and -one inch and a quarter deep; having a circular two-inch hole in the -middle of the bottom, with a rim round it, standing up half an inch, -through which the bees enter the pan from below. Another circular rim -or partition, as large in diameter as the square of the pan will admit, -is soldered down within it at the four points where it touches the -sides. It must not go down to the bottom, but a space should there be -left of nearly an eighth of an inch, as a passage for the food, which -is poured in at the four angles. A perforated thin wooden bottom or -float is fitted loosely into the pan, between the circles, removing an -objection sometimes made against the chilling effects of metal upon -bees. The float should be a little raised by means of two thin strips -of wood, appended below, to allow the liquid to flow beneath. A cover -is made by a piece of glass, resting on the larger circle, but cut -nearly octagonal in form, so as to leave the corners open. The circle -on which the glass rests should be an eighth of an inch lower than the -outer rim. In making a trough of this kind, it is sometimes customary -to append beneath it a central descending rim or tube, fitting down -into the hole on the top of the hive. This is worse than useless, and -it is in the way on the removal of the pan; on which occasion it is -expedient to push beneath it a piece of sheet tin or zinc, to stop the -communication from below. - -Such a pan is perhaps made more readily without the inner circle; in -which case, all that is needed for pouring in the food is a partition -going nearly down to the bottom, so as to cut off a portion at one -corner. The glass pane can rest on angle-pieces, sunk an eighth of an -inch, at three of the corners, and upon the partition at the fourth -one, this part being left open. - -[Illustration] - -A charge is sometimes brought against zinc feeding-pans, as tending -to create acidity in the food. There is perhaps some truth in this, -where it is suffered to remain too long; together with another cause of -mischief,--a very general neglect of cleanliness. Those, however, who -prefer wood altogether may have troughs made of that material, either -square or round in form, as that given in our illustration, which is -turned from hard wood in a lathe; a piece being divided off on one side -by a partition, under which the food passes, beneath a wood float. A -pane of glass rests upon a circular rabbet turned out to receive it, -leaving uncovered the part beyond the partition. - -[Illustration] - -For the purpose of feeding the bees in my bar-hive, a zinc or tin -trough is provided, of a form adapted to the position of the openings -cut through the crown-board to the stock-box. The extreme length is ten -inches and a half, four inches wide, and an inch and a half deep. At -one end is a partition an inch and a quarter wide, going down nearly -to the bottom. Into this the honey or other food is poured, running -under a wooden perforated float, and fitted loosely within the bottom. -A pane of glass rests on two angle pieces, at one end, and on the cross -division at the other, all sunk a quarter of an inch, and covering the -pan as far as the partition. The latter is strengthened in the centre -by a cross-stay, against which the glass rests. At the bottom is an -opening seven inches long and half an inch wide, with a rim around it, -about half an inch high. This opening is placed so as to correspond -with that communicating through the bars beneath. Draw out the slides, -and the bees will have access to the pan. This proceeding is of course -reversed on its removal. - -[Illustration] - - -_Bee Food._--Nothing that can be presented to bees is so acceptable -as their natural food--pure honey. At this season, as it is chiefly -stored for future consumption, it is best unmixed with water. Fill -the pan every evening till the requisite quantity is given, for it -will speedily be emptied. Refuse honey may be given to the bees in -the combs, piled in a pan, a little separated, and covered by a box -or hive. The sooner the feeding is ended the better, the bees, if in -health, being on these occasions much excited and often irascible. Let -enough be given when you are about it. Gelieu says, "Let there be no -higgling with bees; better that they have too much than too little." -Recollect that little of your bounty is now eaten, but is conveyed -and stored for the day of need; the bees sometimes extending the -combs purposely to receive it, and often of pollen as well; for it is -observable that feeding at any time stimulates them to foraging abroad. -Nothing is wasted, and whatever there is to spare will be repaid with -interest in the spring. It must also be borne in mind, that what food -is likely to be wanted must be supplied _now_, for very rarely should -any further attempts at feeding be made till the returning spring -restores animation to the family. A reference to _Spring Feeding_ will -supply information as to various substitutes for honey. - - -_Winter Store._--Under the head of _Autumnal Feeding_ we have mentioned -the usual estimate as to the requisite supply of honey for the winter. -Anomalous as it may seem, it has been remarked, that the quantity -apparently required is not dependent on the population of the hive. -The number of mouths make little sensible difference, even when two or -three stocks have been united. This fact was first noticed by Gelieu, -and has been corroborated by other observers. - -"In doubling the population," says Gelieu, "I naturally conceived that -we must also double the quantity of food; for I had always seen that -two or three families, living together, used more meat than each would -have done singly, however rigid their economy. The more mouths the more -meat, thought I; and, in consequence, I augmented greatly the amount of -provision the first time that I doubled a hive; but to my astonishment, -when I weighed it again in the spring, I found that the united swarm -had not consumed more than each would have done singly. I could not -believe my eyes, but thought there must be some mistake; nor could I be -convinced until I had repeated the experiment a hundred times over, and -had always the same result." - -This seeming anomaly, Gelieu and others have attempted to account for -on the principle that the increased heat of an augmented population -is in some measure a substitute for food; but this is opposed to all -experience, which proves that warmth is a stimulus to consumption. -A more satisfactory way of disposing of the question seems to be, -in the first place, that the bees in a well-peopled hive feel in a -lower degree the evils consequent on frequent changes of temperature -occurring in winter, than is observable in a less populous one; for -alternations of cold and warmth have an injurious effect, generally -leading to an increased consumption of stores. The next consideration -is that the junction of stocks, alluded to by Gelieu, ensures a larger -supply of labourers in the early spring. It is not in the cold weather -that much consumption of food takes place, but after the month of -February, when the great hatching comes on; and then not so much by -the _bees_, as by the _brood_. In a thinly-populated hive, almost the -whole family is required within-doors at this time, to warm the eggs -and feed the young; and consequently little is added to the continually -diminishing stock of honey and farina. Nothing is more common than -to see a hive, apparently well stored in February, on the point of -perishing in the month of April. This is not the case where a large -number of bees can be spared to go abroad and bring in fresh supplies, -to keep pace with, or even to exceed, the demands of the craving brood. - - -_Autumnal Unions, Fuming, and Transferring Bees._[U]--The subject of -autumnal unions of bee stocks is strongly advocated by Gelieu; and -in this country has not always received the attention it demands. -Perhaps this is in part owing to ignorance as to a ready mode of -accomplishing the object; and in some degree from the supposed doubt -about maintaining the bees, when collected in a large body, through the -winter. The latter difficulty is removed by a reference to what has -been said on the subject of winter store, in the last section. I hope -I shall be able to show that, by a safe and simple expedient, the bees -of two or three weak or worn-out families may be joined together, to -form one vigorous stock; at the same time saving thousands of valuable -lives. The late Apiarian Society of Oxford is entitled to credit for -the care it bestowed on this branch of bee economy; and the method of -procedure now to be explained was there successfully practised. It -should be done about September, and in warm weather. - -[U] It may be well in this place to call attention to the distinction -between the system of _Transferring Bees_, in _Autumn_, in the way now -pointed out, and what has sometimes been confounded with it; namely, -the practice of _Transferring Bees and Combs together_, from one hive -to another. This I never advocated, except in bar-hives, when it is -sometimes practicable, provided the combs are built in straight lines. - -[Illustration] - -The custom of stupefying bees by some narcotic substance has long -been in practice; and, observes Dr. Dunbar, "there is no more useful -auxiliary in every operation in an apiary than smoke." By subjecting -them to the fumes, the bees are rendered insensible and harmless for a -time; but soon recover, with no ill-effects subsequently. Apparatus -more or less complicated has been invented for fuming; but perhaps the -most simple was that used at Oxford, which is a tin tube, eighteen -inches long, and three quarters of an inch in diameter; readily made by -any tin-worker. One end is extended and flattened to adapt it to the -entrance of the hive, whilst the other is applied to the mouth of the -operator. In the centre of the tube is a box, two inches and a half -long, and two inches in diameter, to contain the fumigating material; -and to receive which, one end is made to draw out like a telescope. The -two ends of the box, where the tubes join it, are stopped withinside -by divisions of perforated tin. This part must be put together, by -rivetting, and without solder, which the heat would melt. An instrument -of this form is adapted for most purposes where smoke is needed, it -being applicable to fuming a hive at the mouth, or, in some cases, -from the top; for it is, occasionally, more in accordance with the -object in view that the bees should be driven down, rather than -upwards. When, therefore, this is proposed, a bend in the tube becomes -expedient, which is readily managed by having the farther end made -in two pieces to be disconnected at pleasure, after the plan of a -watering-pot. Another end-piece can then be slipped on like a nozzle, -turned downwards, to enter the hole through the top of the hive. The -instrument just described is of course used in the hand; but another -kind is sometimes applicable, made not unlike a pepper-box, upon a -foot, which stands on, or in a hole in, the ground, whilst the hive -about to be fumed is placed over it. The top lifts off to receive the -fungus; and this, as well as the lower end, is pierced with holes. - -[Illustration] - -The substance hitherto chiefly recommended for the fumigation or -stupefying of bees is a kind of fungus, found growing often very large -and round, mostly in rich pastures or plantations, in the autumn. -It is the _Lycoperdon Giganteum_, but variously called, as Devil's -snuff-box, fuzz-ball, or puff-ball. It should be gathered when nearly -ripe. Dry it in the sun, or a cool oven, and preserve it from damp. It -is then a spongy substance, containing brown dust; and burns with an -offensive smell. The difficulty often of procuring this material led -me to make trial of another kind of fungus, called _Racodium Cellare_, -or mouse-skin _Byssus_. It may be found growing in large wine or beer -vaults, in immense dark-coloured bunches or festoons, suspended from -the roof, often wearing a handsome appearance. In a single such vault, -in London, I have seen as much as would suffice for a large portion -of the bee-keepers in Great Britain; and I can recommend it (not -too freely used) as even more efficacious than the other fungus. It -requires no preparation, igniting and smouldering readily, and may be -preserved for years. Whatever be the material employed, let the box of -the tube be about two-thirds full; and a few puffs will cause it to -send forth smoke abundantly. The hive which it is intended to deprive -of its tenants may be lifted gently from its place soon after dusk, -and placed over some kind of receptacle. An empty hive, turned bottom -upwards, might answer with a little management, but there must be no -place of escape for the bees. The best thing is a box or bowl, about -ten inches square withinside, and four or five inches deep; with a wide -flat rim all round. The first introduction of the smoke will cause an -uproar among the bees, which will speedily be followed by silence, as -they fall down from its effect. A minute or two generally suffices for -this, assisted by striking the sides and top of the hive. When all is -quiet, turn up the hive, and you will have received the greater part -of its inhabitants in the bowl, in a stupefied state and perfectly -subdued. A portion will remain sticking in the combs, which must be cut -out one by one, and the bees swept with a feather into the bowl, where -a little more smoke will, if needed, keep them quiet in the interim. As -respects the Queen, if perceived, she can be taken away, but the bees -will commonly dispose of her in their own way, by the next morning. The -whole being thus collected, they soon begin to show signs of returning -animation; and when this is about to take place, sprinkle them pretty -freely with a mixture of sugared ale. Next, lift quietly from its stand -the hive to which the smoked bees are to be united, placing it over -the bowl, but leaving no opening except the mouth, for air. The bees -from above, attracted by the scent, will go down, and begin licking the -sprinkled ones. The whole become intermixed, and ascend together into -the hive over them, in perfect goodwill. Leave them till the following -morning early, when the bowl will generally be found empty. Replace the -doubled hive on its original stand, and the work is complete. If it is -thought desirable still further to augment its strength, the bees of -a second hive may be added in the bowl; or a second union may be made -in a night or two afterwards. All that remains is to see that the hive -contains honey to last the winter; and whatever is wanted to make up -about eighteen pounds must be supplied for that purpose, in the way -pointed out in a previous section. - -We will now detail another mode of proceeding, at once speedy and -efficacious, and attended with no risk to the operator. With the tube -of which we have before spoken, in the evening puff some smoke into the -mouth of the hive you wish to take, without removing it. Compel as many -of the bees to fall down as you can; then lift the hive, and brush out -those remaining; taking away the Queen if you can find her without much -trouble. Collect the whole in a heap on the floor-board, and sprinkle -them pretty well with sugared ale. You may now, if the numbers are -still thought insufficient, add to the first, the smoked bees of a -second hive. Next puff some smoke within the stock-hive into which the -bees thus collected are to be transferred, quietly where it stands; -just sufficient to stupify its inhabitants, and produce a uniformity -of scent. Turn it bottom upwards, floor-board and all, so as to drop -no bees; and place it, if of straw, in a pail, or some similar kind of -support. In this position lift off the floor-board, and sprinkle these -bees also with a smaller portion of the ale, in the hive where they -are. After this is done, before they have recovered, sweep the smoked -bees uniformly among the combs of the hive destined to receive them. -Clean and scrape its floor-board, and as soon as symptoms of returning -animation begin to appear, replace it, turning the whole again into -the right position. All that remains is to restore it at once to its -original place or stand. Before the hive is left, clear away from the -entrance any bees that may have fallen down, so that the passage for -air is not obstructed. In the absence of a tube like the one described, -it is very practicable to make use of a common pipe and tobacco; but -the latter should be of a mild kind, and not too freely used, or many -deaths might ensue. - -In selecting the future domicile of the family thus augmented, it will -be well to observe that the hive is not one of long standing, in which -the combs have become thickened with age. Indeed, a colony of the same -year is to be preferred, and more particularly where the Queen is a -young one. If, however, it is desired to cut out the old combs from -the intended future stock-hive, it can now be done with safety; first -turning on to the board as many of the bees as you can. A supply of -honey will invigorate the new community, and the vacancies will be -filled up with fresh combs, provided the operation has not been delayed -too late in the season. - -It is of great importance here to observe, that after making autumnal -unions, in cases where the bees have been expelled from hives -possessing fresh combs, the latter ought to be left undisturbed, -as so much gain to a spring swarm, which will gladly accept a house -ready furnished: moreover, a vast saving of honey results, for the -fabrication of comb, as we have shown at page 110, consumes a great -deal of this. The same remark applies to supers partly filled with -combs; but they should be kept clean and dry. It is worthy of remark, -that some authorities maintain the opinion that bees will now and then -re-work portions of old combs or wax, but it must be free from impurity. - -As far as it can be managed, it is desirable that attention should be -paid to the previous position of the hives intended to form unions, -for there is always a disposition in bees to return to the spot to -which they have been accustomed. Where it is practicable, therefore, it -is best to unite adjoining families; or when the union is to consist -of three, unite to a hive in the centre, one on each side. A little -foresight at the time of swarming, in the arrangement of the hives, -will often facilitate after proceedings. Some have resorted to the -plan of confinement of the bees, but this does not always meet the -difficulty; for, on the first opportunity, many of them will return to -their old haunts, and seek in vain their former dwelling. - -Fumigation may often be resorted to in cases where a superabundance of -honey exists in a hive at this season; for after the introduction of -a little smoke the bees will fall down. It may then be reversed, and -a portion of comb cut away in due moderation. Restore the bees to the -hive, and replace its board, when the whole may be turned back to its -proper position without injury. - -Under the head of _Common Straw Hives_, we have remarked that -suffocation with brimstone is the usual mode of obtaining possession -of their stores; the stocks of the second or third year's standing -being commonly selected for destruction. If, however, such stocks -can be made strong and healthy in the way we have been detailing, -good policy would point to the colonies of the present year as those -affording the richest harvest of honey, and of the best quality, as -being in new combs. These will never be of more value for the market -than in the first autumn, provided the proprietor is satisfied as -to the state of his older stocks for the next year's swarming. Such -of the latter, moreover, as have sent out swarms in the same season -will of course possess young Queens. In some districts this principle -is carried out in practice, and doubtless with advantage, when a -proper discretion is used. Under any circumstances, it is clear that -in gaining possession of the honey, destruction of the bees may be -avoided by adopting the fuming and uniting plan, instead of that of -suffocation; for whether the hive be new or old, rich or poor, the -same principle applies, with no amount of time, trouble, or expense, -greater than under the brimstone system. The plea of necessity no -longer exists for a wanton waste of valuable life; and to this point -the attention of the cottager, in particular, might surely be directed, -as one often involving his future profits. Let him know that it is his -interest not to _kill his bees_; but, when expelled from one hive, to -unite them to another, where augmented numbers will require no more -than the usual stock of winter food. Inform him that he is acting on -a mistaken principle when he imagines that his bees are worn out with -age--the common plea for destroying them: that these are short-lived, -and periodically renewed, so that the _hive_ alone becomes old: -moreover, that a large proportion of the bees at the close of the -season are those produced in the later months; the older ones gradually -disappearing in the autumn, to be succeeded by others destined to -become the early labourers of the opening new year.[V] - -[V] In a case where a proprietor had been obstinately bent on resorting -to the old mode of destruction, the bees were stupefied by a wiser -neighbour; taken home by him, and added to one of his own weak stocks, -which turned to good account in the following spring. - -Before we leave this part of our subject, a word may be said -to those who are disposed to fancy there may be an evil in a -super-abundant winter population in a hive. I never observed any -permanent inconvenience arising from this; and no doubt can exist as -to the advantage of maintaining a comfortable temperature, the Queen -continuing to lay later in the autumn under such stimulant. Moreover, -it must not be imagined that all the bees collected together to form -a stock, at this time, are destined to survive till the spring. -The day of life may, with many of them, be already far spent; but -we have shown in what way their presence, though but temporary in -the hive, indirectly contributes to augment the numbers of future -spring labourers. Were it not so, there would be nothing to mark the -well-known distinction between a populous and a half-tenanted hive. It -is certain that, however numerous may be the eggs laid in the spring, -a portion only are of avail in any but a hive so well peopled as to -create a favorable temperature for hatching them, and to supply the -means necessary to their full development. Thus strength in one year -begets it in succeeding ones; and it must be remembered how influential -is warmth to the early productive powers of the Queen, without which -all goes wrong; and how important it is in the opening spring to be -able to spare from the home duties of the hive a large number of -collectors to add to the stores, which would otherwise not keep pace -with the cravings of the rising generation. - -Following up the principle thus laid down, I entirely agree with those -who carry it out still further, by never destroying, if it can be -avoided, the brood often found in quantity in a hive treated in the -way we have been advising; for it is obvious that the latest hatched -bees are those most likely to be of use in the spring. Where it is -practicable, therefore, those combs which contain brood should, with -as little loss of time as possible, to avoid chill, be arranged in -a natural position, in a well-covered super, and placed over a hive -requiring to be strengthened. The bees from below will ascend and -cluster upon them and, in due time, a valuable accession of numbers -will result. A deprived bar-hive offers many facilities in such cases, -without injuring the combs. - -It may not be misplaced here to remark, that, in the language of -apiculturists, the hives of the year, _made up_, as it is termed, -for the winter, now assume the name of _stocks_. Hitherto they have -been denominated swarms or colonies. At this time a good selection of -stocks may be made by those about to establish an apiary, to be removed -at Christmas. In addition to the usual characteristics of vigour, -such families are to be preferred as exhibit a certain degree of -irascibility, for this is often most observable where there is most to -defend. - - -_Driving of Bees._--In the preceding section we have detailed the -modes in practice for uniting bees, and for obtaining possession of -their honey, by the aid of _fumigation_. Many proprietors, however, -prefer to arrive at the same object by resorting to what is termed -_Driving_; by which process the inmates of one hive are impelled to -abandon it, and enter some other. When skilfully performed, this -operation is often successful in attaining the end in view; but it is -seldom well to attempt it, except in a pretty full hive. Mr. Golding -has given, in a small compass, general directions as to the mode of -procedure in common cases of Driving, and we will, therefore, adopt -his words. "Towards dusk, when the family will be all at home, let the -hive be raised gently from its floor-board, and supported on wedges -about half an inch thick. When the bees shall have quietly ascended -from the floor up into the hive, it may be inverted steadily on a small -tub or pail. An empty hive, of the same diameter, being at hand, should -be quickly set over the one turned up to receive it. A lighted pipe -may be ready to give a puff or two if necessary, but the operation -can generally be effected without using it. Tie a cloth firmly round -the junction of the hives so that the bees cannot escape. Proceed to -drum upon the full hive (opposite the sides of the combs, so as not -to detach them), with the open hands or a couple of sticks; the bees -will be so alarmed that in a few minutes they will have ascended -into the hive set over them. A hive full of combs, and well peopled, -always drives better than a weak and partly-filled one. The operation -should never be attempted excepting in warm weather. If the object be -to furnish another hive with the bees, there is nothing to do but to -reverse the hive in which they are, and place the other upon it, again -tying the cloth round the junction. A few raps upon the peopled hive -will cause them to ascend, and early next morning they should be placed -upon their usual stand. Those who still adhere to the common cottage -hive may, by driving, deprive well-stored families of part of their -honey. Having previously weighed the hive, calculate how much may be -taken with safety, and cut away the external combs accordingly. The -bees may then be returned as directed." Some operators vary the above -proceeding, and perhaps diminish the danger, by placing, as the first -step, the empty hive at the bottom, and the full one gently upon this. -After making the junction complete between them, the two hives are -reversed carefully together, so that the unoccupied one comes to the -top, and the drumming then proceeds. This should be continued from five -to ten minutes, according as circumstances indicate its necessity. - -There are diversified ways of uniting the bees after they have been -driven into an empty hive. Dr. Dunbar says, "turn up the stock-hive -which is to receive the addition to its population: with a bunch of -feathers, or a very small watering-pot, drench them with a solution of -ale and sugar, or water and sugar, made a little warm. Do the same to -the expelled bees: then placing these last over the stock, mouth to -mouth, a rap on the top of the hive will drive them down among the bees -and combs of the underneath hive. Place this last on its pedestal, and -the operation is completed. The strong flavour of the solution will -prevent the bees from distinguishing between friend and stranger." - -Payne advocates the middle of a fine day as the best time for driving; -removing the hive to be operated upon to a shady place, and then -inverting over it an empty hive, as already described. A little smoke -might sometimes be needful. Having ascertained that the bees have gone -into the upper hive, Payne continues, "take the latter immediately to -the place where the driven hive was taken from, and place it upon the -same floor-board. Carry the driven hive fifty or sixty yards away; the -few bees that remain in it, as well as those that are out at work, will -return to the other hive, at the accustomed spot. All is now finished -until an hour after sunset (excepting emptying the driven hive of its -store), when two sticks may be laid upon the ground, about nine inches -apart, opposite the stock-hive to which the driven bees are to be -joined; then with a smart stroke dash out the bees between the sticks; -and instantly, but gently, place the stock-hive over them upon the -sticks: leave them for the night, protecting them from the weather, and -an hour before sunrise restore the stock-hive to its original position. -Here will be an increased population, enabled to stand through the -winter much better, and to send out an earlier swarm, than if the union -had not been effected." - -The autumnal driving of bees is a common practice when the proprietors -reside within a few miles of the moors and heaths, to which the hives -are conveyed in time to luxuriate in a second harvest of blossom, -now available from the heather. In such districts, it is not unusual -to appropriate the whole contents of the driven hive; the bees being -compelled to begin the world again in a new house and locality, like -a recent swarm. Or, two or three small families may be driven into -one. In a good season, a few weeks suffice to enable them to fill -their second dwelling with combs, brood, and honey of the very finest -quality. On their return home from the moors, some of the hives are -again driven, and deprived of a portion of their stores; or united -in many instances two or three together, to form strong families as -stocks; for the value of population is too well understood to allow of -any unnecessary destruction of life. - - - - -WINTER MANAGEMENT. - - -The management of bees in the winter season is probably that which is -less understood than any other department of the apiary, and various -have been the modes urged for ensuring safety through its various -dangers. It seems, however, to be pretty generally admitted that it is -better to allow the hives to remain in their usual position throughout -the year; and our care therefore should be directed to ward off the -casualties now to be guarded against. Ignorant attention, nevertheless, -is sometimes worse even than neglect; and having once made the needful -winter arrangements, there ought to be as little subsequent disturbance -as possible. The great points to be observed are, adequate exterior -covering and complete protection from the effects of wind, wet, and -sudden changes of weather; a sufficiency of food to last till the -spring; and preservation from damp in the hive, with its attendant -evils. As regards the store of honey, we have already said that this -is a matter to be clearly ascertained and supplied in autumn. When, -therefore, as the cold weather sets in, and the bees have collected -and clustered together, there must be no more attempts at feeding. -The mouth of the hive should gradually be contracted, as the winter -advances, though never entirely closed. After every fall of snow, let -it be cleared away from the hives, and about the stand or house, to -prevent the chance of reflection, which always injuriously arouses the -bees, and for the better security from moist exhalation on thawing. - -[Illustration] - - -_Winter position._--It is extremely desirable in winter to keep off -the influence of the sun from the front of the hives. Some persons -recommend moving them from their summer position to a north aspect, -or turning them round on their stands. But this shifting of quarters -involves the necessity of shutting up the bees close prisoners till -the spring; for all that casually left the hive would fly back to the -original familiar spot, never more to revisit home. I entirely agree -with those who assert that bees are never healthy where confinement -has been long continued. "Who shuts up the wild bees in the forests of -Lithuania, where they thrive so well?" asks Gelieu. Surely in this, -as in other parts of our practice, we cannot do better than follow -the guidance of nature. On a fine day, with the thermometer at or -not much below 50° (and these are not of unfrequent occurrence in -winter), the bees avail themselves of it, sallying forth in evident -delight, with certain advantage to health and cleanliness; for they -void nothing in the hive, unless compelled by long necessity. This is -the point at which disease commences: indeed the retention of their -fæces sometimes occasions death. Their impatience of confinement is -excessive, and increases as the season advances, so that they will -leave the hive at a lower temperature after Christmas than before. -But in thus advocating the principle of liberty, I am not insensible -to the evil it may bring with it, if not guarded against. The most -disastrous consequences follow the flight of bees on a frosty day, -when the gleams and deceitful warmth of a winter sun reach their -domicile, particularly with snow on the ground, the glare of which -allures them out to destruction, for they soon fall down to rise no -more. The remedy for this is the screening of the hive in some way from -its effects; and it should be done as soon as winter actually sets -in. At the same time it is important that no obstruction to the free -passage of air is presented, or dysentery among the bees would be the -certain consequence. Where the hives stand singly, I have always seen -the advantage of fixing before each a wooden screen, nailed to a post, -sunk in the ground, and large enough to throw the whole front into -shade. This does not interfere with the coming forth of the bees at a -proper temperature; and it supersedes any necessity for shutting them -up when snow is on the ground. The screen should be fixed a foot or -two in advance, and so as to intercept the sun's rays, which will be -chiefly in winter towards the west side. Other plans have been tried -for effecting the same object, such as blocks placed at the mouth of -the hive; but these answer no good end, as the rays of light penetrate -underneath and around them. In a bee-house, entirely enclosed at the -front, the hives and their boards may sometimes at this season be -advantageously shifted a little sideways of the exterior entrance way; -with hollowed blocks (see page 96), shaped in accordance, to intercept -the light, but not the air. - -A screen of the kind we have described has the further tendency to -promote the security of the bees, where other enemies than wind, -frost, snow, or sun might sometimes endanger them. One of these, at -this time, is the blue Titmouse, to which we have before alluded. Old -Purchas says, "She will eat ten or twelve bees at a time, and by-and-by -be ready for more. When she cometh to the hive and findeth none, she -knocketh with her bill at the door, and as soon as the bees come out to -inquire the cause, she catcheth first one and then another, until her -belly be full." At page 117 we have described a mode of dealing with -these marauders. - - -_Damp in Hives._--Perhaps there is nothing more prejudicial than the -moisture often engendered in exposed hives at this time, particularly -after frost, and in certain states of the atmosphere. It accumulates -on the top and sides, moulding and rendering offensive the combs, and -producing disease amongst the bees. For this reason, hives with flat -roofs have sometimes been objected to; and perhaps justly, where no -provision is made for ventilation. Gelieu obviated the evil by placing -caps or small hives (cemented down) over the stocks; the moisture -ascending, evaporated through the opening, "as by a chimney," I have -tried different experiments, and have found nothing better than the -practice of condensing the vapour of the hive as much as possible, and -conveying it away. At the beginning of winter, over the hole on the -top, a piece of perforated zinc or wood is placed. Upon this let one of -the common feeding troughs, already described, be put, from which the -glass cover, and, if you please, the perforated bottom, are previously -removed; the hole in the pan being placed over the one below. This -may be covered with a bell-glass, standing within the pan. As the -exhalation rises from the bees below, it is condensed on the glass, -and received, often in considerable quantity, in the pan. The hole -at the top of the glass may be stopped, opening it occasionally on a -fine day, to allow the escape of vitiated air. The change of air in a -hive, in mild, dry weather, is always conducive to health, till the -early spring breeding begins, when caution against chill to the bees is -needed. In the absence of a bell-glass, the glass cover to the trough -may be kept in its place as a substitute. We have already recommended -the giving to all hives or boxes a slight inclination forwards, as -being useful in conveying away the moisture. - -[Illustration] - -Where there is no feeding pan, a bell-glass may be put within a -circular leaden or zinc trough, having the centre open, and placed over -the hole below. - - -_Temperature._--With good protection from cutting winds, from wet -without, and from damp within, the effects of cold alone, unless of -extreme severity, need not be apprehended, for the bees of a strong -stock will generate sufficient warmth; and a dry season is often better -sustained than a mild, moist one. It is of importance to guard against -_sudden changes_ of temperature, often occurring in winter; and -experienced bee-keepers have recommended covering each hive with a mat, -or something of the kind, as a regulator. - -It is certain that less food is consumed at a low than a high -temperature, and that the bees are often healthy in proportion. I have -known the thermometer down to 32° in a box, with no bad effect to the -bees when _clustered together_; but they would become torpid if exposed -_singly_ to this, or to a much less degree of cold, especially towards -the close of winter; and could then only be recovered by artificial -warmth.[W] The action of very severe frost, moreover, has an injurious -effect upon the honey, which becomes candied at the extremities of the -combs, and sometimes throughout. It is thenceforth useless as food for -the bees.[X] - -[W] It is frequently the case in winter that a number of bees may -be found, apparently dead, about a hive, particularly after sudden -disturbance. The greater part of these are merely paralysed on coming -out into a lower temperature, and may be recovered by taking them to -the fire. But this should be done with caution; for, if placed too -near, the bees are not so likely permanently to recover, as when the -restoration is gradual. The best way is to put the bees into a large -basin, spreading over it a piece of muslin to confine them till they -are restored to the hive. - -[X] In two stocks which I had an opportunity of examining, at the end -of February, 1838, after a very severe winter, I found cells filled -with honey in a granulated state, and perfectly white. This was -untouched by the bees, though distressed for food. Notwithstanding the -unusual severity of the season, there was brood in various stages of -progression. - -A thermometer is not always a criterion of the state of the hive at -this season, as I have often found; for the temperature varies as the -bees recede from it, and they frequently shift their quarters, moving -in a mass to preserve the warmth. When congregated immediately about -the thermometer, I have known it rise as much as 30° on a frosty day; -and an increase of temperature always follows any commotion, from -whatever cause, or partial activity in the dwelling, resulting in an -increased consumption of food. - - -_Dysentery._--Care should be taken to clear away any dead bees at the -mouth of the hive, for these give great offence, besides endangering -the safety of the family, by preventing the passage of air. Whilst the -bees are in activity, they carefully remove every dead body from the -hive; but in winter this service should be occasionally performed for -them. In particular it should be attended to if signs of dysentery -appear, which may be known by the dark-coloured evacuations, offensive -smell in the hive, and frequent deaths. This malady often attacks the -strongest hives, too much closed at the mouth, particularly at the -latter part of winter or in early spring, the most critical time for -bees; and no doubt it is attributable to unnaturally retained fæces -in a damp impure atmosphere, with deficient covering and ventilation. -It has been thought that the want of water predisposes the bees to -dysentery. As soon as the disease is apparent, no time should be lost -in lifting the hive from its board, expelling the vitiated air, and -scraping and washing away all impurity; repeating the same process, -if requisite, on some fine subsequent day. But the board should be -dried before the hive is replaced on it; or a fresh one may be at -once substituted for it, with less loss of time and annoyance to the -bees. I have restored a stock to perfect health by thoroughly cleaning -and ventilating it, after a third of the inhabitants had fallen a -sacrifice. All remedies, as they are called, by feeding with various -prescriptions, do more harm than good. "Bees," says Gelieu, "have no -real disease: dysentery, about which so much noise has been made, and -for which so many remedies have been prescribed, never attacks the -bees of a well-stocked hive that is left open at all seasons, but only -those that are too long and too closely confined. They are always in -good health as long as they are at liberty; when they are warm enough -and have plenty of food. All their pretended diseases are the result -of cold, hunger, or the infection produced by a too close and long -confinement during the winter." - - - - -SPRING MANAGEMENT. - - -Those who commence an apiary by the purchase of established -stock-hives, and who did not secure such in the autumn, can, with -the opening of February, and for the five or six weeks ensuing, -make a selection of those that have the characteristics of health -and strength, which may generally be ascertained on a fine day, by -observing the quantity of farina carried into a hive. "The best time," -says Payne, "to establish an apiary is from the middle of February to -the middle of March. The stocks will have passed through the winter, -and the removal is safe and easy. There are few commodities in which -a person can be so easily deceived as in a hive of bees. I would, -therefore, recommend the young apiarian to take the opinion of some -experienced person before he makes his purchase. If the hive is not of -the preceding year, its weight is no criterion of its value; for an -old stock contains a large quantity of pollen." An examination of the -combs, as to discoloration, will often be a useful criterion of age. -The selected stocks should be removed to their new quarters by hand, at -dusk, to be no more disturbed. - - -_Cleaning or changing Floor-boards._--All who have been accustomed to -the care of bees must have perceived the saving of labour to them, in -the early spring, in the cleaning of their floor-boards, by scraping -away all filth, removing dead bees, refuse wax, &c., and thoroughly -drying them. In many cases the best and quickest plan is to change the -board, and particularly when it shows signs of decay, which always -leads to mischief. - - -_Comb-pruning._--In conjunction with an examination of the -floor-boards, opportunity can be taken of observing the state of the -hives, as respects their combs. Where these are seen to be old, mouldy, -mildewed, or infected by moths, they should be cut away; as also when -they have become filled with a mass of stale pollen and useless honey; -at the same time taking care not to disturb any brood there may be. -Hives sometimes contain too large a proportion of drone-combs, which -can now be removed with advantage. Some persons use a little smoke, but -at this season it must be resorted to sparingly, as the bees are weak. -They will speedily fill up the vacancies thus made, and a stock in -this way partially renewed may be continued in health several years, -provided the hive itself is in good state. Nevertheless, it may be well -to recur to an opinion we have already expressed, that it is often more -to the interest of the proprietor to allow a stock to swarm rather than -to persevere for several succeeding seasons in preventing it, in a hive -constantly becoming worse for occupation. - - -_General directions._--As soon as vegetation begins to appear, with -genial weather, all obstructions to the free access to the hives must -be removed; and by degrees extended space given at the mouth. The -critical time for the bees is now approaching; for in February brood -often rapidly increases, requiring greater attention to a uniform -warmth. The tops of the hives, therefore, should be closed in, to -prevent currents of cold air, often at this time fatal both to the -eggs and larvæ, as may be seen by the ejectment of dead grubs. Even -much later on in the season the recurrence of cold days will leave -certain proofs of mischief; and at such times the mouths of the hives -ought again to be contracted and screened; carefully retaining till all -danger is past the outer coverings to the hives. - -The bees will now, in fine weather, go forth in search of pollen, which -they bring into the hive in large or apparently in useless quantity, -so as sometimes to render it necessary afterwards to remove it, at a -great expense of labour. "This," says Gelieu, "is the only point on -which they can be accused of a want of that prudence and foresight, -so admirable in every other respect." A supply of pollen, together -with water, are the first requirements of the spring, both essential -to the brood, and the eagerness of the bees to seek them is a certain -indication of health and strength in the hive.[Y] At page 102, a list -is given of early flowering plants, which it is desirable to have in -the immediate vicinity of the hives. At present the bees are weak, and -incapable of a long flight: the weather, too, is often unfavorable for -it. - -[Y] It is worthy of attention that a distinguished German apiculturist -has recently introduced a substitute for pollen in the early year, -when the bees have no means of procuring it. Observing that his bees -frequented a neighbouring mill, he found them engaged in conveying from -thence a quantity of rye meal. Deriving a hint from this discovery, he -placed a trough of the meal in front of his apiary, which was eagerly -carried to the hives, the bees preferring it to old pollen; and this -continued till the opening blossoms supplied the natural article. Some -hives consumed as much as two pounds. Subsequent experimentalists, at -home, have used the flour of wheat, or other grain, with success. The -knowledge that the collection of pollen and the need of water by the -bees are simultaneous, led these observers a step further, by giving a -supply of both these essentials at the same time. As this assistance -has been afforded as early as January, it would seem necessary, in our -climate, to place both articles in some accessible part within the -hive. In the absence of any better provision, wet sponge or moss has -been found to answer; or old combs will suffice as receptacles either -of water or flour. Stocks thus treated are said to be greatly forwarded -both in breeding and swarming. - -An attentive observer will now readily distinguish the strong, healthy -stocks; but now and then a family may be seen sluggish in its work, -though, perhaps, not deficient in numbers. The cause may generally be -traced to an unfruitful Queen, to be got rid of as soon as the season -is a little more advanced, and a successor can be reared in the way -described under the head _Queen Bee_. Or, it might happen if the Queen -dies before the bees have the means of establishing another, when -an abandonment of the hive often ensues, though honey may still be -plentiful in store. Prudence will at this time point out the expediency -of surveying the state of the apiary as to repairs, painting, &c., to -be done before the bees have fully entered into a state of activity. - - -_Spring-feeding._--It is well now to examine the remaining stock of -food, for much will shortly be required for the increasing numbers. If -needed, some must be given, though in less quantity than in autumn; and -it ought to be placed within the hive, either at the top or bottom; but -the time is arrived when every precaution should be used to prevent -the effects of chill to the brood, by the creation of cold currents. -It usually suffices to supply food about three times a week, but the -feeding trough must be closely covered, to keep up the temperature, -or the bees will not at first enter into it. When this is the case, -some proprietors do not hesitate to invert a hive, and pour a cup of -honey amongst the combs: the bees will soon lick one another clean. Or, -in lieu of a trough, I have used a tin vessel, holding nearly half a -pint, open at each end, made somewhat taper downwards, the lower end -fitting into a hole on the top of the hive, of about two inches. This -part is somewhat loosely tied over with linen cloth, through which the -bees suck the food. It may be made cylindrical, if preferred, with -a flanch to rest upon. At this season it is well to give the food -slightly warmed. Many persons recommend feeding even the strong hives, -for it is certain the bees are stimulated by the increased temperature -to which it gives rise; and there can be no doubt of the importance -of bringing the stocks forward as early as possible. But no feeding, -unless from absolute necessity, should be resorted to till a certain -degree of animation is visible in the dwelling, otherwise the bees -are prematurely put in motion, and numbers perish, unable to reach -home. Nor is it of less importance to observe that feeding is not -discontinued too soon; for even after warm days there will be a return -of ungenial weather, and a stock might perish where a very little -additional food would have saved it. But some limit should be put to -the quantity as the weather becomes fine and warm; for I have known -evil arise where the cells have been filled by the bees with sugared -mixtures, at the time when the Queen requires them to deposit eggs. We -have already alluded to the advantages of a supply of water withinside, -in the very early year, before the bees can go abroad. - -Where honey is abundant, it is of course preferable; and it is no worse -for being slightly made liquid with water. In other cases various kinds -of substitutes have been resorted to. I have used good sound ale, -sweetened with sugar and honey, and boiled for a minute or two: the -usual proportion is a pint to a pound of refined sugar, adding a fourth -part of pure honey, which imparts a flavour the most agreeable to the -bees. A tablespoonful of rum still further improves the compound. Mr. -Golding recommends a very similar mixture; to which, however, he adds a -teaspoonful of salt and a glass of wine. Payne prescribes lump sugar, -in the proportion of three pounds to a pint of water, boiled for two or -three minutes, and mixed with a pound of honey. - -The kind of food we have been describing is that which is most commonly -used for bees at this season. I have, however, turned my attention, -occasionally, to the saving of trouble that arises where food can -be given them in a concrete form, to supersede some of the evils -attending the common methods of administering liquids at this season. -In one of my feeding troughs I have sometimes put some large lumps of -refined sugar, dipped previously in water till pretty well saturated, -which the bees will appropriate. Of the various concrete saccharine -preparations, however, I have found none entirely combining the -needful requisites except that in which the crystallizing properties -of the sugar had been altogether destroyed. It is well known that this -change can be effected by certain methods of boiling. I believe I am -correct in stating that the heat required to convert crystallizable -into uncrystallizable sugar is from 320° to 360° of Fahrenheit. If, -therefore, to two pounds of loaf sugar half a pint of water is added in -a saucepan, it must be boiled up to a temperature not exceeding 360° -of heat. This may be pretty well known when the syrup becomes brittle; -ascertainable by suddenly cooling a little on a cold substance, or -plate, when it begins to assume a pale yellow colour. The longer it -is exposed to heat, up to this point, the more perfect is the change -produced; but about twenty minutes' boiling is usually sufficient. If, -instead of water alone, a fifth to a fourth part of vinegar is mixed -with it, the process is expedited; and when thus made, the bees appear -to give it a preference. The whole must be poured out gradually upon -a cold dish, or a slab of stone, marble, or slate, previously rubbed -with a very little fine oil, or other unctuous matter, to prevent -adhesion. In a few minutes it is sufficiently stiffened to allow of -being cut, with a pair of scissors, into such conveniently-formed -pieces as are best adapted for insertion into the hive at its mouth. -To those who do not object to the trouble of preparing this kind of -bee-food themselves, the cost may be estimated at that of the sugar, -as there does not appear to arise any loss in weight. It will be seen -that this preparation differs but little from the common confection, -familiarly known as barley-sugar. The bees, as lambent insects, have -no difficulty, from the deliquescent properties of this concrete, in -appropriating it speedily; and in the use of a large quantity I have -always found it to be unaccompanied by the usual degree of disturbance, -observable when honey is administered. It may be given at any time -of the day; and an impoverished family might frequently be saved by -inserting a few sticks of barley-sugar within a hive, when any other -mode of feeding was impracticable. In fact it would appear that no -other artificial food is so acceptable to the bees; and much of it -doubtless returns to the proprietor, intermixed with natural honey. By -the process we have described, common sugar has now been converted into -a substance much resembling in its properties the saccharine matter -of certain fruits, as grapes, &c., known as uncrystallizable sugar; -probably nearly identical with the honey collected by the bees from -the nectaries of flowering plants. After exposure to the action of -a moist atmosphere, the concrete soon assumes a dissolved form; and -so, thenceforth, remains, as I have proved by keeping it, in any way -unaltered, for several years; in short, it becomes a substance very -much resembling honey.[Z] - -[Z] I am not amongst the number of those who (to my apprehension) go -out of their way to maintain that this vegetable secretion undergoes -some kind of chemical change by passing into the stomach of the bees -(in reality a mere receiving bag), from whence it is often regurgitated -into the cells of the combs in a few minutes, or even seconds, of time. -Honey doubtless derives both its colour and flavour immediately from -the plants supplying it; the bees not possessing the power of altering -either. It even sometimes contains an original poisonous matter. Its -subsequent thickened consistency naturally results from the effect of a -lowered temperature; acting in a greater or less degree, according to -circumstances, season, &c. That the bees have not the ability to change -chemically the contents received into their honey-bags, is shown by -an examination of the saccharine mixtures given to them as artificial -food; in which I never could detect any alteration after being stored -in the combs. - - -_Enemies and robbers._--The enemies of bees, already pointed out at -p. 116, should now have the attention of the proprietor; and more -especially robber-bees, for these are sometimes troublesome at this -season, particularly where the hives are placed not sufficiently apart. -On this subject we would refer to what has been said at p. 131. Let a -vigilant look-out be given for Queen-wasps, now becoming common, and -destroy them in any way possible; remembering that each of these is the -parent of a future family. When the wasps are seen to alight, the use -of a garden syringe and water is often effectual in disabling them from -flying, when they are easily killed. - - -_Super-hives._--As the season continues to open, young bees will -become numerous, timidly peeping out of the hive, and distinguishable -by the lightness of their colour. With genial weather, wealth also -rapidly accumulates; and the strong odour of the hive, and increased -activity of its inmates, attest the growing prosperity of the family. -Attention now is requisite to these symptoms of a rising temperature, -and, consequently, to the crowding of the hive. If the glass windows -become sensibly warm, attended with clustering at the mouth, increased -building room should at once be given, as detailed at pp. 23 and -119, or under the head of _Nadiring stocks_; for a fertile Queen -will require a large proportion of the stock-hive for the purpose of -depositing eggs. Should a few cold nights ensue, the supers must be -kept covered; and more especially glasses, which the bees will desert -unless a warm temperature is fully preserved in them. - -I much doubt the probability of preventing the swarming of bees, -where the extra storing room is delayed till royal cells have become -tenanted, or, perhaps, only formed. Mischief has also frequently arisen -where the bees have all at once had a large additional space given -them of too cold a temperature; and often rendered more unacceptable -by undue or ill-timed ventilation, as in using Nutt's hives was often -the case. The same cause has sometimes operated to prevent progress -of any kind; and in a collateral hive, thus managed, I witnessed the -fact that, during five or six successive seasons, there was no more -breeding or storing than barely sufficed to keep the unhappy family in -existence, the proprietor deriving no benefit whatever. - - -_Temperature and weather._--With the advance of the season, and a -more abundant efflorescence, the buzz of the hive becomes louder and -more general, and particularly when the family are all assembled at -night. And now the exertions of the bees are called into action for -the purpose of promoting ventilation, and expelling the vitiated air. -This they accomplish by means of a rapid and continuous fanning, -or vibration of their wings, giving rise collectively to the sound -usually termed _humming_; and which is readily distinguishable from the -sharp, angry note emitted by a bee under the excitement of irritation. -Sometimes the heat of the hives impels the inhabitants to seek a cooler -temperature by clustering on the outside. At such times it is often -well to aid in moderating the warmth by slightly raising up the bottom -edge of the supers with a few strips of wood or lead. At p. 115, we -have given some general recommendations relative to the shading of -exposed hives, now to be attended to; as also on the subject of water. - -In most localities, the best part of the honey season will now be -approaching; and much consequently depends on the state of the -weather. In particular, a prevalence of dry easterly winds, acting on -vegetation, causes the suspension of almost all operations; so that -the main honey-storing time is often limited to three or four weeks -in the season, or frequently even less, in our uncertain climate. -The secretion of honey is remarkably promoted by an electric state -of the atmosphere. Huber says truly of the bees: "I have remarked -that the collection by these creatures is never more abundant, nor -their operations in wax more active, than when the wind is from the -south, the air moist and warm, and a storm approaching." A certain -commencement of the latter is to be looked for when the bees are seen -rapidly hurrying home in crowds to the hive. Payne may be cited in this -connexion. "I am not aware," he observes, "that bees have ever been -placed in the list of those animals which are said to foretell the -changes of weather, as many of the feathered and insect tribes are; -but in my opinion they stand foremost of the weather-wise. A nice -observer, by looking at them in the early morning during the working -season, will very soon be able to form an opinion as to what the day -will be, and that almost to a certainty; for they will sometimes appear -sluggish and inactive, although the morning is very bright, and showing -every appearance for a fine day; but the sun soon becomes clouded, -and rain follows. And, again, the morning may be dull and cloudy, and -sometimes rain may be falling; still the bees will be observed going -out in considerable numbers; and as sure as this is seen the day -becomes bright and fair." - - "Thou wert out betimes, thou busy, busy bee! - When abroad I took my early way: - Before the cow from her resting-place - Had risen up, and left her trace - On the meadow, with dew so gray, - I saw thee, thou busy, busy bee! - - Thou wert alive, thou busy, busy bee! - When the crowd in their sleep were dead - Thou wert abroad in the freshest hour, - When the sweetest odour comes from the flower; - Man will not learn to leave his lifeless bed, - And be wise, and copy thee, thou busy, busy bee! - - Thou wert working late, thou busy, busy bee! - After the fall of the cistus flower; - I heard thee last as I saw thee first, - When the primrose free blossom was ready to burst; - In the coolness of the evening hour, - I heard thee, thou busy, busy bee!" - - Southey. - - -_Swarming._--The month of May, in fine seasons, usually brings with -it the period of the greatest interest to the proprietor, as regards -the swarming stocks of bees; on which subject we would refer to p. 21. -Drones now begin to make their appearance, darting out of the hive in -the middle of warm days, though occasionally in strong stocks they may -be seen in April; in which event early swarming may be looked for. -The usual limits during which swarming takes place vary in different -localities; but in general they are comprised in the months of May and -June; though in extraordinary circumstances a swarm may issue somewhat -earlier, or a little later than this. When it is expected, the hive -should be watched from ten in the morning till two or three o'clock, -after which time swarming rarely occurs. In particular, the bees ought -not to be left for five minutes if a hot sun intervene between showers; -for a greater predisposition to swarming then exists than in dry -weather; it seldom, however, takes place with an east or north wind. - -It is not always easy to distinguish the appearances that precede a -first (or _prime_) swarm, and experienced apiculturists are sometimes -deceived. If, however, we had access to the interior of the hive, -the usual time would always be found (accidents as to weather not -interfering) to be that in which the larvæ of the royal cells were -about to be transformed into nymphs, and therein sealed up; viz., -eight or nine days before the young Queens are matured; for it is to -be remembered that on the occasion of a first swarm it is always the -_old_ Queen that accompanies it. The issue of a swarm is frequently -to be expected when the bees have remained for some time previously -in a state of seeming inertness, followed by an unusual commotion -among the drones; and more especially if these make their appearance -in the morning, hanging out with a cluster of bees; conjointly with a -disinclination to foraging abroad, among the workers. If, in addition, -the honey previously stored in a super is observed to disappear -suddenly, swarming may be anticipated, as the bees load themselves -before leaving home. But mere clustering at the mouth of the hive -is not invariably the precursor of a swarm; and the bees frequently -continue to congregate in unmeaning idleness on the outside, even -though honey may be abundant. "In this case," says Dr. Bevan, "the -cluster may be swept into an empty hive towards dusk, and carried to a -short distance from the apiary, when they will gradually return, and -generally join the family." This, however, is often only a temporary -expedient; and the prolonged continuance of a period of inaction -frequently denotes the absence, from abortion, or other cause, of -a young Queen; the old one not choosing to leave the hive without -the prospect of a successor. Or it may be that the hive contains an -unfruitful Queen, and a weak population with insufficient warmth, when -little of store is collected, and often no drone eggs are produced, -these being always the preliminary of royal cells. A continuation of -unfavorable weather, moreover, notwithstanding the sealing up of the -Queen-cells, will often prevent any issue of a swarm; for the reigning -sovereign will avail herself of this compulsory detention in severally -destroying the young princesses as they are matured. An old Queen is -permitted by the bees to do this, but it is otherwise with a young -one, till a later stage. Neither as to swarming will the state of the -thermometer be an invariable guide. I have rarely seen it reach as high -as 95° within a stock-hive, but I have observed the issue of swarms at -a temperature four or five degrees below this; and in one instance it -occurred when the thermometer ranged but little above 80°.[AA] - -[AA] Some naturalists, and amongst them Huber, have imagined a much -higher degree of heat at the time of swarming; but in this there must -be some error, for I have proved that the combs collapse and fall at a -temperature a little above 100°. I am almost ashamed to say that this -experiment cost me the destruction of a fine stock-hive. - -It is common to imagine that a swarm consists exclusively of the young -bees of the season; but Nature is no such bungler, or what would -become of the parent stock? Accordingly, we find that bees of all -ages, and usually several hundreds of drones, go forth intermingled, -to form the new family. It is not always an easy matter to estimate -the strength of a swarm. The bulk is not entirely a criterion, as the -temperature of the weather causes the bees to cluster together more or -less closely. A pint will usually contain about 2000. Five thousand -bees are estimated to weigh nearly a pound; but this also varies, for -on swarming they are always provident enough to load themselves more or -less with honey before their departure. A good swarm, however, ought to -weigh about four pounds. Some have reached to six pounds, but this is -rare. - - -_Returning of swarms._--Cases sometimes occur in which it is thought -desirable to compel the return of a swarm to the stock-hive. On this -subject we will use the words of Payne. "The process," says he, "is -very simple, and I have always found it succeed. As soon as the swarm -is settled in the hive, turn it bottom upwards, and, if the Queen-bee -does not make her appearance in a few seconds, dash the bees out upon -a cloth, or a gravel walk, and with a wine-glass she may be easily -captured. Upon this the bees will return to their parent hive. The -queen may also very easily be taken during the departure of a swarm; -for she appears to leave the hive reluctantly, and may be seen running -backwards and forwards upon the alighting-board before she takes wing." -I have sometimes found it advantageous, instead of a cloth, to place -on the ground four or five sheets of large paper. On these the bees -have been spread, and the sheets carried in opposite directions, thus -enabling a better search to be made for the Queen; and especially in -the case of a second swarm, for then there are frequently three or -four. Where there is no Queen, the bees will soon be in confusion -and fly to their original home; but in the reverse case, she may be -discovered by their congregating in one particular part. Nor is there -any danger in thus proceeding; for the bees, being gorged with honey, -are not often disposed to attack, with the precaution of not breathing -upon them. Moreover, any such operation is best done in the shade, as -a hot sun makes the bees less tractable at all times. Occasionally it -might happen that, on the issuing of a swarm, the Queen, from inability -to fly, falls to the ground, when the bees will return to the hive, -which is often attended with advantage. - -In judging of the desirableness of compelling the return of a first -swarm, we must be guided by circumstances. Should it be a large issue, -expediency would dictate the hiving it at once, as a new colony; for -the Queen may reasonably be supposed to be a vigorous one, and a -compulsory returning of the bees to the parent hive (the result of -destroying her) would occasion a loss of valuable time; a young Queen -not yet being in a state to commence laying eggs. On the other hand, a -poor swarm might denote an unfruitful Queen, to be got rid of in the -way we have just pointed out. The bees would re-issue under a young -sovereign, after the usual interval, with a large accession of numbers, -the produce of the brood matured in the mean time; and this might have -the further good effect of preventing an after-swarm, which is always -desirable. - -It has already been said that on the occasion of a first swarm the -_old_ Queen invariably issues with it. It is also a fact that she -leaves no actual successor, but that an interregnum usually occurs of -eight or nine days; the royal larva being left short of maturity by -this period, unless bad weather has interposed to delay the issuing of -the swarm, in which event this interval may be much shortened; it is -also subject to extension under certain contingencies of weather. The -first princess that is subsequently liberated from her cell becomes the -future mistress of the hive, unless she leaves it with an after-issue; -for the law of primogeniture has been observed to be strictly followed. -It is therefore evident that no regal disagreement can occur except in -the cases of after-swarms, when a Queen returning to the stock-hive -might chance to find a rival, and would have to contest her way to the -supremacy. - - -_After-swarms._--It is not an unusual thing to hear a boast of a number -of swarms from a stock-hive; but nothing is proved by this beyond the -fact, that a thriving community has been weakened (if not destroyed) -by too much subdivision. The proprietor, therefore, must not imagine -that his care is ended with the return of a swarm to the parent hive. -Though one Queen has been removed, several successors are usually at -hand, and swarming may occur again and again, so long as more than -one is left. The hive must be watched more especially from the eighth -to about the twelfth day from the departure of a first swarm, after -which another rarely issues; the probability, or rather the certainty, -then being, that the first-liberated young Queen has succeeded in -destroying the others--an event always to be desired. But the symptoms -which precede a second issue are more unequivocal than those in the -previous case. The young princesses are now arriving at maturity, and -two or more may be ready to come forth at the same time; impatiently -awaiting the assistance of the bees to liberate them from imprisonment; -for, unlike the workers and drones, they are not allowed by their own -volition to leave their cells. In this state of confinement they are -objects of great solicitude, and are supplied with food through a small -orifice in their cocoon, till one of them is set at liberty, which -is never till she is able to fly. At this precise period, a singular -and plaintive call or croak, proceeding from the young Queens, may -be heard, often at a distance of several feet from the hive, and more -particularly in the evening. These notes are of two kinds, according -as the princesses emit them from without or within their cells. For -want of a more distinctive term, these sounds have obtained the name of -_piping_. To Huber we are largely indebted for the knowledge we possess -as regards this peculiarity in the natural history of the bee; and -his observations have since received abundant confirmation,--perhaps -from no apiarian more satisfactorily than from Mr. Golding. "The first -note of piping heard," says the latter, "is low and plaintive, and is -uttered by the princess already _at liberty_, and I have frequently -seen her emit it. She traverses the hive, stopping upon or near the -royal cells which still contain brood, and emits her _long_ plaintive -note. This, when the other young Queens are sufficiently forward -(generally in about two days), is answered by them from _within_ -their cells, in a quick, _short_, hoarse note. After these last have -been heard for about two days, the swarm may be expected to come -off." "These sounds, therefore," in the words of Keys, "convey to the -apiarian one certain warning, that when heard, he may be assured the -first or prime swarm has escaped." But universal as this rule has -been considered, it has not been entirely without exception; for in a -stock-hive of Dr. Bevan's, in the remarkable season of 1852, swarming -had been so long prevented by bad weather, that a young Queen became -liberated, and escaping into a super, piping was the consequence for -two days before the issue of a _prime_ swarm. - -After-swarms are frequently accompanied by more than one young Queen; -often by three or four, and always in the virgin state. "Indeed," -observes Mr. Golding, "it would appear that all which are ready to quit -their cells (one only, be it remembered, being at liberty in the hive, -until the moment of swarming) go off with the swarm; leaving the more -forward of the younger princesses to come off with subsequent swarms, -or 'fight out' their title to the sovereignty of the parent stock at -home." - -A third and even a fourth issue sometimes takes place, the intervening -periods successively becoming shorter, and more piping being heard. -As all the royal cells must have been tenanted before the old Queen -departed from the hive, it follows that from sixteen to eighteen -days comprise the limit during which, under ordinary circumstances, -swarming can occur; and thenceforth the Queen-bee is mute for the year. -Moreover, the worker brood originally left in the hive will now, or in -a few days, be matured, leaving the combs less occupied, probably in -any way, than at any other period of the year, until the young reigning -Queen is in a condition again to stock them with eggs. This state of -the hive is therefore considered by some as the most favorable for -examination and excision of old combs, and other operations usually -attended to in the spring. - -I have known piping after a second swarm has departed, where no third -issue has followed. The second swarm, however, in this instance, -was restored to the stock-hive on the same evening, together with -one Queen. This is often the best time for making a reunion of -after-swarms; for I have usually found that all the Queens except one -are ejected on the day of swarming: she, being stronger than those -still in the parent hive, is able to destroy them on her return to -it. If a cloth is spread on a table, placed in front of the old hive, -at dusk, the bees of the swarm can be jerked out upon it, and guided -to its mouth. In two hours after the reunion just mentioned, piping -from a Queen at liberty was heard. The next day two young Queens were -ejected; one of them torn from its cell, not having attained its full -growth. From the other the sting was protruding, evidently the result -of a recent combat. Piping was again heard on the following morning; -and soon after, another princess, doubtless the last, was cast out of -the hive, which I took away still alive; making five in all, since the -issue of the first swarm. We may observe that when swarming has taken -place more than once, the original utilitarian principle no longer -impels the bees to guard the royal cells; the reigning princess being -then permitted to tear them open and destroy any prospective rival. - -No point has been better established, than the fact recorded by Huber, -as to the destruction of the supernumerary young Queens by their -combating together; the sovereignty remaining with the single survivor. -"In order," says Huber, "that at no time there may be a plurality of -females in a hive, Nature has inspired Queens with an innate inveteracy -against one another. They never meet without endeavouring to fight, and -accomplish their mutual destruction. If one combatant is older than -the rest, she is stronger, and the advantage will be with her. She -will destroy her rivals successively as produced. Thence, if the old -Queen did not leave the hive before the young ones undergo their last -metamorphosis, it could produce no more swarms, and the species would -perish." - -It is not clear by what instinct bees are guided as respects -after-swarms, or rather as to the construction of royal cells; for, as -has been shown, these abound much more in some hives than in others. -The repeated issues occasioned by the presence of supernumerary young -Queens, although there has previously been a rapid development of -brood, not only leaves a hive comparatively depopulated, but the -succession of interregnums is mischievous as operating to suspend, -not breeding alone, but almost entirely the gathering of honey. -A different kind of instinct appears to direct the bees than is -observable at the time of the original issue; for the young Queens will -depart in weather that would be thought unfavorable for the issuing of -an _old_ one. "The reason seems evident," observes Mr. Golding; "for -when the proper age of the young Princesses has arrived, the swarm -must go off, or not at all, as the younger would be destroyed by the -eldest." As a natural consequence, there is evidently less of foresight -as regards the future place of abode. Where so much of prudence and -seeming intelligence are discernible in all the proceedings of these -wonderful insects, it is hardly to be expected that mere chance -should direct on so important an occasion as the change of residence; -although when a swarm suddenly finds itself in a comfortable dwelling, -by the act of hiving, it is rarely inclined to relinquish it. A hive -containing a few combs, placed in the season near an apiary, is almost -certain to receive a colony, which will sometimes fly to it at once, -without any previous clustering.[AB] The instances are numerous of -prime swarms proceeding a considerable distance to a new domicile, -carefully inspected and cleaned beforehand. I was an eye-witness to -an example of this, where the bees, taking a dislike to the hive in -which they had been housed, soon after quitted it; and, mounting high -in the air, flew in a direct line to the roof of a church nearly a -mile distant. But an after-swarm appears to have little or nothing of -preparation; and has been known, in seeming perplexity, to commence -comb-building in the bush on which it had alighted. - -[AB] In the garden of a friend stood an untenanted hive, in which were -a few empty combs. Some straggling strange bees were observed hovering -about and in it, for several successive days; and, at my suggestion, -the hive was left undisturbed. On the day following, a fine swarm of -bees suddenly made its appearance, undoubtedly from a distance, and -entered the hive. In this instance, a few hundreds, or perhaps dozens, -of pioneers alone could have been in the secret as to the locality of -the chosen domicile to which they so sagaciously conducted their Queen -and a community of perhaps 20,000 bees. - - -_Uniting of Swarms._--It has been shown that it is easy to compel the -return of a swarm of bees to the parent hive; but their remaining there -depends much upon accidental circumstances. We have seen that several -young Queens are often only waiting their time and opportunity to leave -their cells and depart from the hive; and till all these are in some -way or other disposed of, there can be no progress made in the family. -Under such circumstances, many persons think it best to hive all swarms -in the usual way, and to strengthen the later ones by joining two or -three of them together; for, separately, these are rarely of any value. -In cases where more than one after-swarm or subdivided swarm, comes -out on the same day, each can often with little difficulty be shaken -into the same hive, at the time: or the branches on which such swarms -cluster may be cut off, and brought to one hive. Otherwise, a generally -certain method of union may be resorted to at night. At any time, -within a few days after the first swarm has been established, another -may be added to it. On the same evening of the issue, in front of the -one to which it is to be joined, place a table, over which spread a -cloth. By a sudden and smart stroke the bees may be displaced from the -second hive, and will fall on the table in a lump. Take the first-hived -colony and place it over them, raising it a little at the bottom, when -the bees below will ascend and join it, forming one family. In moving -this hive, let it be done with caution, for the combs, being at present -new and brittle, are otherwise apt to fall down. It is seldom that any -quarrel takes place if the business be done properly; but some persons -think that a little smoke previously blown into both the hives, has a -tendency to prevent fighting. Early the next morning move the hive back -to its former position, when one of the Queens will have been deposed. -In thus uniting swarms, the doubled colony should always occupy the -first hive. As a general rule, it may be remarked, that the mode the -most likely to succeed is that in which the bees are suddenly blended -together, without space or opportunity for individual recognition or -fighting, bee against bee; but it must be done when the first hive -contains but a few combs. - -In this place it may be noticed, that in an apiary where a weak and -sluggish old stock is now observed, opportunity can be taken to add to -its numbers, by uniting to it an after-swarm, in the mode just pointed -out; though some persons would prefer puffing a little smoke to both -parties. If either Queen be removed, the strangers will usually be well -received, and this accession of numbers is almost certain to lead to a -vastly increased action and industry. - -Like most other operations on bees, the mode of uniting swarms admits -of variety, according to choice and circumstance; and some apiarians -prefer to drive them, in the way for which general directions have -been given at page 152; a plan that may be resorted to almost at any -time. Another mode of junction can be effected by the aid of a sheet -of perforated zinc, inserted between the two hives about to be united. -There is little reason to doubt that the members of each colony of bees -are distinguishable amongst themselves by a certain peculiarity of -odour, which, if assimilated, appears to have the effect of preventing -mutual dissension. When the construction, therefore, of the hives -admits of their being brought into juxtaposition, the perforated zinc -allows a free circulation of scent between them, without permitting -actual contact of the bees. After leaving matters in this position -for two or three days, I have usually found, on withdrawing the zinc -divider, that no disturbance has ensued. - - -_Prevention of After-swarms._--Where the construction of the hive -admits of it, no doubt the repetition of swarming may be prevented by -depriving it of the royal cells. Under the head _Bar-Hives_, we have -alluded to the facilities given for this object; and it may be done -immediately on the issuing of a swarm, when but a small portion of the -bees will remain in it. Let the cover be unscrewed, and moved sideways -as required, puffing in some smoke on each side the combs, which must -be lifted separately, beginning first at one end of the hive, and then -the other, so as to work to the centre. Cut out the Queen cells as -you proceed, replacing the bar. A quarter of an hour will suffice for -the operation. In the meanwhile, the swarm may be hived in the usual -way, and afterwards permanently returned; for her majesty has now no -alternative; "stay at home," as Mr. Golding says, "she _must_. Or," he -continues, "after the first swarm is gone off, subsequent ones may be -prevented in this way: so soon as the _long_ note of piping has been -heard, cut away at the royal cells. The young princess, _already at -liberty_, will then remain Queen of the stock." - - -_Maiden Swarms._--Under peculiar circumstances of early season and -situation, a prime swarm will occasionally send forth another, the -original Queen again going with it; in such instances, termed a maiden -swarm; rarely, however, of much value. "In this case," says Dr. Bevan, -"it usually occurs between the twenty-eighth and thirtieth day of its -establishment. The only indication of the approach of such an issue, -besides those already enumerated, is the worker-combs, with which first -swarms generally store their hives, becoming edged with drone-cells." -Indeed, an indispensable condition necessary to a maiden swarm is a -Queen, capable of producing drones; and this rarely happens in the case -of a young one. - - -_General Directions on Swarming._--An absurd custom is very general -of beating a metal pan, or some such sonorous thing, usually called -_tanging_, on the occasion of bee-swarming. The practice, doubtless, -originated in the precaution formerly observed of ringing a bell, -or giving some signal of the flight of bees, with a view to an -identification of the property in case of its straying to a distance. -By degrees the idea became prevalent that the bees themselves were the -parties interested in the hubbub; but as regards them it is worse -than useless, and frequently prevents their settling so soon as they -would do if left quietly to themselves. The drenching or anointing of -a hive, intended for a swarm, with any kind of material, is another -common practice much better avoided. A dry clean hive is preferable; -only, if of straw, cutting off the loose ends. As respects the precise -mode of housing a swarm, no directions will meet all cases. After -rushing in great apparent excitement from the family domicile, the bees -form a cloud in the air, wheeling about in a thousand directions, and -exhibiting a scene of the greatest animation; then, for the purpose -of assembling together, they alight and cluster round the Queen that -has accompanied them, usually on a bush or branch of a low tree. The -hive must now be put close under the swarm, into which it is easily -shaken; or, according to circumstances, swept with a light brush, -which is all the better if made of very fine shavings; but care should -be taken not to crush any bees. The success of the operation depends -upon the inclusion of the Queen, when the new family will soon collect -with her, within the hive, on placing this in its proper position, a -little raised on one side, and shaded in some way from the sun. On -the occasion of swarming, bees are seldom much inclined to use their -stings, unless irritated by wind. The hiving ought not to be delayed, -especially with a hot sun, or the bees would soon again take wing, -perhaps for a long flight, and be hopelessly lost. A somewhat larger -hive may be selected for a full-sized early swarm than for a later one. -In case a swarm returns to the parent hive, which sometimes happens, -let the latter be watched, for it will soon re-issue, and perhaps on -the same day. Occasionally a swarm will divide and settle in two parts, -which, if near together, can be shaken into one hive. Otherwise a -junction may be made at night, in the way pointed out at page 193. An -observance of the advice of Gelieu, and others, is to be recommended, -not to allow the swarm to remain where it had been hived till the -evening, as is customary, but to place it at once, as soon as settled, -or within a quarter of an hour, on the spot (if at hand) it is destined -to occupy. In sultry weather raise the hive a little to admit air, -especially if a large swarm. When first hived, it is curious to observe -the caution with which bees mark the site of their new position, making -circuits in the air, wider and wider, till they clearly understand -the locality. Having done this, they are much perplexed at any -subsequent removal of their dwelling; nor do they ever, under ordinary -circumstances, re-enter the original parent-hive. - -We may say a word as to the practice of some proprietors, with a -view of giving additional strength to a recent swarm: the stock-hive -from whence the issue took place is moved to a little distance, and -immediately that the swarm is settled in its new hive, the latter is -placed on the site which the other had just left. The outlying bees, on -returning home, will of course fly to the original spot, joining and -strengthening the new family. The old one must necessarily be weakened -in the same proportion, but it will soon be recruited by the maturation -of the brood which it is sure to contain. Sometimes this shifting of -the stock-hive has been allowed to be permanent; whilst, in other -instances, it has been found more expedient only to do it for two or -three hours immediately following the swarming. The hives should, under -the latter supposition, then be made to change places, and no bees -would be lost, as one or the other of the two positions would be sought -by them. - -It may be well to refer the reader to what has been said at page 108, -relative to the occasional necessity that might exist for feeding a -newly-hived family of bees. - - -_Artificial Swarming._--Many apiculturists have practised the making -of what have been termed artificial swarms of bees;--in other words, -have compelled them to leave the parent hive sooner than they would -have done in their own natural way. What is more common than to see -a large bunch of bees hanging in idleness, often for weeks, on the -outside of a stock-hive, at the best part of the season. Is it not a -great gain if we can contrive in some way to set this unprofitable -community to work, in a new home? The advantages of early swarms have -been already pointed out, and in our uncertain climate the risk is -often great, either of losing them altogether, or of their coming too -late for the principal season of blossoming. Such considerations have -led to the compulsory system, which may, in one form or another, often -be successfully resorted to by the practised hand, but otherwise, it -is scarcely to be wondered at that failure sometimes ensues. Different -operators have succeeded in different ways of proceeding; and we will -briefly point out some of them. The raising of a young Queen from -worker larvæ has been already described under the head _Queen Bee_; -and for the purpose we have now immediately in view, we will suppose -the use of a bar-hive, as the one best adapted; the time of year being -that when it is ascertained to contain eggs and young larvæ, both of -workers and drones. A comb must be abstracted from a full box, and put -into an empty one, care being taken that it is not allowed to chill -during removal. In describing the subsequent process, we may adopt -the words of Dr. Bevan. "Towards noon of a fine day, or almost at any -time, if the bees cluster out much (for there ought to be plenty of -them), let a stock-hive be removed to a distance, and a spare hive -or box be put in its place, to one bar of which is attached a comb -containing worker-eggs, or very young larvæ of the same sex (better -still if the hive contain also one or two other worker combs); the -outliers, or the bees that are abroad, or both, will then enter the new -habitation, cluster round the brood, construct one or more royal cells, -and raise a young sovereign: and thus, if the season be favorable, form -a flourishing stock; whilst the old removed family, with beneficially -reduced numbers, will soon be reconciled to their new situation." But -we may often proceed a step further, and at once ensure the presence -in the new hive of an embryo sovereign, by inspecting a stock about -the time of closing up the royal cells, and deprive it of a comb, -containing one or more of these, as alluded to under the section -_Prevention of After-swarms_. In this way the double advantage will be -gained of ensuring greater certainty, and saving valuable time; for, -from the commencement of the process of raising a Queen from the worm, -to the period at which young bees may be looked for--her progeny--can -scarcely be less than seven weeks. - -Artificial swarm-making is sometimes successfully accomplished by means -of driving the bees; to the general principles of which process we -have directed attention at page 152. A diversity in the objects to be -obtained, of course, leads to a little alteration in the details of -the proceedings; and we have now in view, not, as before, the creation -of a young Queen in the new hive, but forcing the old one into the -latter. Dr. Dunbar thus narrates his own method of procedure, and -which will usually be found to answer. "We carried," says he, "the -full hive into a dark place, turned it up, fixed it in the frame of a -chair from which the bottom had been removed, placed an empty hive over -it, mouth to mouth, and partially drove it. As soon as we perceived -that about half of the bees had ascended into the empty hive (knowing -that in these cases the Queen is generally amongst the foremost), we -immediately replaced the old hive on its former station, and removed -the new one, now containing the Queen, to a little distance. As the -former had plenty of eggs and brood, they were at no loss to procure -another Queen; whilst the other, having a Queen, proceeded to work -in all respects as a natural swarm." To avoid annoyance, and loss of -the foraging bees, as they continue to return homewards, during the -process of the preceding operation, it is well to set an empty hive -(or it may have a few combs) on the site just before occupied by the -parent stock. The bees will be in no very placid mood, and this piece -of deception has a tendency to divert their attention temporarily, till -the re-establishment of their old house restores them to their proper -home. - -Some operators so far depart from the mode of proceeding we have -described as to prefer placing the newly driven swarm, possessing the -Queen, on the old site. In such case the original stock-hive is removed -to a little distance, and the entrance door stopped up, but raising the -bottom edge sufficiently to admit a sufficiency of air only, with but -little of light or sun. The bees thus confined are left undisturbed -during two days, and will probably have spent their time in founding -a prospective new monarchy. They may then be safely again trusted -abroad, for in their anxiety about the requirements of the provisional -government, they will no more trouble their old companions. Another -variation of plan, recommended by some, is, instead of shutting up -either portion of the bees, immediately to convey those driven into the -new hive, to a distance of not less than a mile, leaving the original -position for the old one.[AC] - -[AC] I may here not inappropriately call attention to a subject touched -upon by Mr. Golding. His remarks are borne out by my own observation; -and I believe it would be for mutual benefit were bee-keepers, resident -a few miles apart, occasionally to exchange swarms in the season. I -make no apology for introducing a passage from the 'Shilling Bee-Book.' -"Though I can give no satisfactory reasons for the fact, yet it -certainly is one, that bees brought from a distance very generally -thrive better than families long domiciled on the spot. I am borne out -in this opinion by the concurrent testimony of my apiarian friends. -Whether they ply more vigorously on finding themselves in a strange -situation, or what can be the reason, I leave others to guess at." An -American author observes on this subject, "I am strongly persuaded that -the decay of many stocks may be attributed to the fact that the bees -have become enfeebled by _close breeding_. The cultivator should guard -against this evil by occasionally changing his stocks." - -[Illustration] - - - -_Dividing Bar-Hive._--So far we are supposed to have proceeded in -forcing artificial swarms with hives of the usual kind. But an idea -has often been suggested of having boxes so made as to be divisible -vertically into equal halves; and, in this way, to create the basis -of two distinct families without swarming. Such hives are alluded to -by various authors, and, amongst them, by Dr. Dunbar and Dr. Bevan; -but we have hitherto had no guide as to any intelligible details of -construction; and on these depends the possibility of proceeding -with advantage. My own views on the subject induced me to think -that my eight-bar hive, already described, possessed, with a little -modification, the required facilities; and, indeed, I know of no other -that could be so adapted. Moreover, as the original dimensions are -preserved, the other boxes and all adjuncts remain as detailed at p. -54, so that the hive can be used without reference to the provision -made for subdividing it; this being altogether a super-added advantage. -The chief novelty is in the stock-box, which, with its cover, is -cut from front to back into two equal parts, but so as not to alter -the regular interspacing of the bars, four of which will of course -appertain to each compartment. In addition to the usual side-windows, -there should be a small one at the back of both the half-boxes. The -hive-board must also be divided, so as to be lifted up each half -independently of the other. Cross bars are appended on the underneath -side of the boards, the ends meeting in the centre. A groove is here -notched out from the upper side of the extremities of the cross bars, -to receive a moveable tongue, as it may be called, of half-inch wood -and an inch wide, inserted from behind, and passing through to the -front. The tongue connects the half-boards together on one level, and -forms a joint below. The entrance for the bees is in the centre,--half -being cut out of each board; though, probably, some persons might -prefer to have, instead, a smaller one at the two outer extremities. -In order to stiffen and serve as a stay or tie at the divided ends, I -have found the utility of a piece of very strong tinned wire, crossing -each half-box, horizontally. All that is needed is to cut the wire -into the requisite lengths, turn the ends at a right angle, and drive -them flush into the wood; where, as they fall within the space between -the two central bars, they are not at all in the way. A reference -to the illustration will be found sufficiently explanatory, the two -half-boxes being shown a little separated. When placed together, to -form one hive, they are held in position by means of the centre-board, -covering the whole top, and secured at the four corners by means of -iron pins going down through the centre-board and the projecting edge -of the crown-board of the boxes. On the occasion of hiving a swarm, -for the purpose of stocking the dividing-hive, a cord or strap must be -passed round the whole, and guide-combs should be used; for successful -subsequent separation of the two halves depends altogether upon the -regular working of the combs in straight lines upon the bars. - -It will naturally occur, that to carry out the design of a _Dividing -Hive_ every part must have its duplicate, so that four halves, boards, -&c., are necessary; each made so precisely alike as to fit and be -attached to any other half-box. We must suppose the time of year to be -arrived (usually in May) when the combs are well filled with brood, -both of worker and drone bees. In the middle, or, as some would -prefer, the evening, of a fine day, the two halves of the hive can -be separated. To effect this with as little disturbance as possible, -two _dividers_ may be used. These are made of strong, well-flattened -sheet zinc or tin, the full size of the box, in length; and deep enough -to include the hive-board, besides an inch at the top edge to spare. -This latter part should be turned back, as a rim or flanch, at a right -angle, as seen in the illustration. Commence by withdrawing the wooden -tongue underneath the hive-board, and removing the centre-board; then, -with a thin knife-blade, the half-boxes can be loosened at their point -of junction; not allowing the knife to enter beyond the thickness -of the wood. This done, gently insert one of the dividing plates -horizontally from behind, its whole length; there being no obstruction, -unless the combs are worked across the bars. The other divider is to be -pushed in in a similar way, the flanches resting respectively right and -left on the upper edge of each half-box. The latter may then be moved -apart on their boards in safety. An empty half-box is to be adjusted -to each of the full halves, when the dividers may be withdrawn. We -have thus two families, which must be moved some distance apart. The -Queen will, of course, be in one of them; and, probably, Queen larvæ -in the other, or in both halves. A little tapping will serve to show -the position of the Queen, as the bees will soon become quiet where -she is, whilst in the queenless box confusion will continue to prevail. -The latter should then be put on the original stand, to receive the -foraging bees as they return home; whilst the presence of the old -Queen will secure a sufficiency in the other hive, which may be placed -at a little distance. In about twenty-four hours, preparation will -have commenced for founding one or more royal cells, if required, in -the queenless half-hive; and thus a new colony will arise, without -swarming.[AD] - -[AD] The dividing hive, and some other inventions described in the -'Bee-keeper's Manual,' may be seen at Messrs. Neighbour and Sons, 127, -High Holborn, and 149, Regent Street, London. - - - - -BEE-PROTECTOR. - - -It ought to be remarked that, in general, all important operations on -bees should be conducted in the middle of the day, that being the time -when it is least annoying to them, and the safest to the operator, as a -large portion are then engaged abroad. Indeed, the bees are always more -suspicious and irascible by night. On their homeward way they are not -disposed to attack, any more than they are when at work in the fields. -The defence of _home_ is their actuating principle; and the danger -arises from the bees furiously darting out on any supposed enemy, from -within the hive. Make as little bustle and disturbance as possible, -and have at hand an assistant and whatever is likely to be wanted, for -a very trifling matter will often mar an operation irretrievably. Let -all things be done coolly and quietly, and without hurried motions of -any kind, which cause suspicion and irritation. Avoid breathing on the -bees; and, above all, be careful to kill none, for the smell of the -wounded body exasperates them exceedingly: in short, the aim should be -to do what is needed without the bees being conscious of it. Another -precaution may be mentioned, which is, in operating, not to employ any -one known to be obnoxious to bees; for without going the length of -saying with some that certain individuals are recognised by them, it is -well known that, from their nice discrimination of scent, the persons -of others are objects of constant and very marked dislike. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -Security from attack, however, is essential to self-possession, and I -know of no covering so effectual as an envelope I devised of a kind of -light net, or gauze, sometimes called _leno_. It should be so made at -the top as to go over a hat or cap; with sleeves, tied at the wrists, -and strings at the bottom to draw and fasten round the waist. The -sleeves may be made of some stronger material. (See preceding page.) -The entire upper part of the person is in this way enveloped, as seen -in our engraving annexed. The projection of the hat keeps the dress -clear of the face, and it is sufficiently transparent. A thick pair of -gloves, which some think are best made of buck-skin, is all that is -further necessary to complete protection. - - - - -REMEDY FOR THE STING OF A BEE. - - -If attacked by a bee, the best plan is not to offer resistance, but to -walk away and thrust your head into a neighbouring shrub or bush, when -the enemy will in all probability retire. However, an accidental sting -may now and then be received, for which various remedies have been -prescribed. In the first place, the sting should at once be removed, -but without rubbing the part. My own experience leads me to recommend, -in preference to anything else, the immediate application of _liquor -potassæ_ to the spot, as a powerful alkali, to neutralize the poison of -the sting, which is an acid. It should be used in small quantity, on -a point of some kind, as a needle, introduced into the wound. In the -absence of this, _pure liquid ammonia_ is said on good authority to -succeed, if properly applied. Keep it in a close-stopped, small-necked -bottle, which should be turned bottom upwards, and held very tight over -the part. Some persons have found relief from an immediate application -of cold water. Indeed, any remedy to be efficacious must be speedily -resorted to; and particularly in the warm months, for then the poison -is much more active than in winter. - - - - -CONCLUSION. - - -In the foregoing pages I have given an outline of my own experience in -the general management of bees, freely availing myself of such further -information, derived from the most trustworthy sources, as seemed most -likely to interest and instruct the reader. My aim, however, has been -restricted primarily to matters of a _practical_ bearing, passing -over the obsolete speculations of by-gone periods, and relying on the -superior intelligence of a later day. Those who wish to enter more -fully into the natural history and physiology of the bee may consult -a variety of works, at the head of which it is usual to place that of -Huber; followed by the later comprehensive and highly satisfactory one, -'The Honey Bee,' of the late Dr. Bevan; both publications to which we -have often had occasion to refer. That portion of the subject relating -to the structure and arrangement of their combs and cells is treated -of at considerable length by Lord Brougham, in his 'Dissertations on -Subjects of Science connected with Natural Theology.' Perhaps the -accurate observations and elaborate mathematical demonstrations of the -noble author have left little more to be desired in the particular -department to which he has devoted the energies of his powerful mind. -With his summary of the progress of apiarian knowledge, we may not -inappropriately close the 'Bee-keeper's Manual.' - -"The attention," says Lord Brougham,[AE] "which has been paid at -various times to the structure and habits of the bee is one of the -most remarkable circumstances in the history of science. The ancients -studied it with unusual minuteness, although being, generally speaking, -indifferent observers of fact, they made but little progress in -discovering the singular economy of this insect. Of the observations -of Aristomachus, who spent sixty years, it is said, in studying the -subject, we know nothing; nor of those which were made by Philissus, -who passed his life in the woods, for the purpose of examining this -insect's habits; but Pliny informs us that both of them wrote works -upon it. Aristotle's three chapters on bees and wasps[AF] contain -little more than the ordinary observations, mixed up with an unusual -portion of vulgar and even gross errors. How much he attended to -the subject is, however, manifest from the extent of the first of -these chapters, which is of great length. Some mathematical writers, -particularly Pappus, studied the form of the cells, and established -one or two of the fundamental propositions respecting the economy -of labour and wax resulting from the plan of the structure. The -application of modern naturalists to the inquiry is to be dated from -the beginning of the eighteenth century, when Maraldi examined it with -his accustomed care; and Reaumur afterwards, as we have seen, carried -his investigations much farther. The interest of the subject seemed to -increase with the progress made in their inquiries; and about the year -1765 a society was formed at Little Bautzen in Upper Lusatia, whose -sole object was the study of bees. It was formed under the patronage of -the Elector of Saxony. The celebrated Schirach was one of its original -members; and soon after its establishment he made his famous discovery -of the power which the bees have to supply the loss of their Queen, by -forming a large cell out of three common ones, and feeding the grub of -a worker upon royal jelly; a discovery so startling to naturalists, -that Bonnet, in 1769, earnestly urged the society not to lower its -credit by countenancing such a wild error, which he regarded as -repugnant to all we know of the habits of insects; admitting, however, -that he should not be so incredulous of any observations tending -to prove the propagation of the race of the Queen-bee, without any -co-operation of a male,[AG] a notion since shown by Huber to be wholly -chimerical. In 1771 a second institution, with the same limited object, -was founded at Lauter, under the Elector Palantine's patronage, and of -this Riem, scarcely less known in this branch of science than Schirach, -was a member. - -[AE] Vol. i, pp. 333-36. - -[AF] Hist. An., lib. ix, cap. 40, 41, 42. - -[AG] Oeuvres, x, 100, 104. - -"The greatest progress, however, was afterwards made by Huber, whose -discoveries, especially of the Queen-bee's mode of impregnation, the -slaughter of the drones or males, and the mode of working, have justly -gained him a very high place among naturalists. Nor are his discoveries -of the secretion of wax from saccharine matter, the nature of propolis, -and the preparation of wax, for building, to be reckoned less -important. To these truths the way had been led by John Hunter, whose -vigorous and original genius never was directed to the cultivation of -any subject without reaping a harvest of discovery." - - * * * * * - -In conclusion, whatever may be the degree of ignorance or doubt in -which on certain points respecting the Honey-bee we are still involved -(and these are probably not often practically important), there are few -but may receive instruction and example from these wonderful little -creatures, in the duties of persevering industry, prudence, economy, -and peaceful subordination; whilst all may be taught, by their perfect -organization and faultless adaptation of means to an end, a lesson of -humility; and, finally, by the contemplation of their beautiful works, -"to look from Nature up to Nature's God." - -[Illustration] - - - - -INDEX - - Adapter, 31. - After-swarms, 186, 188, 190, 195. - Ancient bee observers, 213. - Apiarian authors, 212. - societies, 214. - Apiary, management in summer, 106. - autumn, 124. - winter, 157. - spring, 166. - Apiary, plan of, 94, 95. - position and aspect, 97. - repairs of, 170. - size of, 103. - to commence, 106, 152, 166. - Apis Ligustica, 1. - Mellifica, 1. - Artificial food, 172. - swarming, 199, 204, 206. - Aspect, 97. - Authors on Bees, 212. - Autumnal management, 124. - feeding, 132. - unions, 140. - - Bar hive, 54, - advantages of, 55, 69, 195. - dividing, 204. - double, 66. - glass or observatory, 72. - single, 66. - straw, 73. - wooden box, 54. - Bar system, 54. - Bars, size of, 57, 58. - Bee, Queen, or mother, 3, 4, 170, 181, 184, 186, 190, 214. - common or working, 3, 11. - drone or male, 3, 15, 16, 180. - authors, 212. - boxes, size of, 52. - duration of life, 14, 151. - eggs, 6, 10, 12, 16. - flowers, 102. - food, 137, 172. - ligurian, 1. - pasturage, and number of hives, 101, 156. - protector, 208. - sex of, 12, 17. - sheds and houses, 94. - sting, 4, 12, 210. - Bees, confinement of, 148, 158. - destruction of, 28, 149. - driving of, 152, 201. - enemies of, 116, 175. - fighting, 131. - flight of, 103. - fortification of, 117. - fuming of, 140. - humming of, 177. - increase of, 10. - longevity of, 14, 150. - number of, 11. - removal of, 100, 107, 167, 198. - to hive, 196. - to unite, 140, 192. - various occupations of, 13. - weather-wise, 178. - working, 11. - Bell-glasses, 120. - Blocks, 43, 44, 96, 160. - Box hive, 51. - Brood, 12, 126, 151, 168. - - Cells, common, 13, 111. - drone, 15, 112. - royal, 4, 180, 182, 187, 195, 200, 201, 208. - Cement, 38. - Circular wooden hives, 75. - Cleaning or changing hive-boards, 165, 167. - Cocoons, 12. - Collateral system, 24, 78. - hive, White's, 81. - Nutt's, 82. - Colony of bees, 106, 152. - Comb-knives, 130. - pruning, 147, 167, 189. - Combs, 5, 29, 109, 147. - and wax, 109. - and cells, construction of, 109. - Common, or working bees, 3, 11. - straw hives, 27. - Condensing trough, 161. - Confinement of bees, 148, 158. - Covers to hives, 37. - Crown-boards, 35. - - Damp, 157. - Deprivation, 23, 125, 148. - Depriving hives, 30, 51. - system, 21, 23. - Destroying of bees, 28, 149. - Directions on swarming, 196. - Disease, 159. - Dividers, 36. - Dividing bar-hive, 204. - Doubling-board, 78. - Driving, 152, 201. - Drone, or male bee, 3, 15, 180, 181, 183. - cells, 16, 112. - Drones, destroying of, 18, 19. - expulsion of, 18. - number of, 20. - office of, 17. - Duplet, 24. - Dysentery, 159. - - Eggs, 8, 9, 10, 16, 151. - Eke, 25, 122. - Enemies of bees, 116, 175. - Evaporation, 161. - - Farina, or pollen, 113, 168. - substitute for, 169. - Feeding in autumn, 132, 137. - in spring, 170. - swarms, 108, 199. - Feeding troughs, 133. - Flight of bees, 103. - Floor- or hive-boards, 42. - to clean or change, 165, 167. - Food, artificial, 172. - Fortification, 117. - Frame-bar, 58. - Fumigation, 140, 146. - Fuming bees, 140, 148. - material, 143. - tube, 142. - Fungus, 143. - - Gauge, 57, 74, 76. - General directions in operations on bees, 209. - on swarming, 196. - Glasses, 120. - to remove, 128. - Glass or light-hive, 72. - Guide-combs, 69, 120, 206. - - Hive, bar, 54. - dividing, 204. - double, 66. - observatory, 72. - single, 66. - straw, 73. - wooden, 54. - boards, 42. - circular wooden, 75. - common straw, 27. - covers, 37. - nadir, 25, 87. - nether, 91. - Hive, Nutt's collateral, 82. - protector, 41. - range, 49. - shade, 39. - stands or pedestals, 46. - White's collateral, 81. - Hives, collateral, 81. - number of, 101. - shape of, 28. - size of, 29, 31. - super, 24, 119, 176. - wooden box, 51. - Hiving, 196. - Honey, 113, 128, 175, 178. - comb, 5, 109. - dew, 113. - harvest, 128, 149. - season, 178. - store of, 132, 138. - to strain, 129. - virgin, 124. - Hornets, 116. - Humming, 177. - - Imago, 13. - Impregnation, 17, 19. - Increase of bees, 10. - Italian bee, 1. - - Journal, 106. - - Knives, 71, 130. - - Larvæ, 12. - Light in hives, 53, 72. - or observatory hive, 72. - Ligurian bee, 1. - Longevity of bees, 14, 150. - - Maiden swarms, 196. - Male bee, 3, 15, 180, 181, 183. - Management in summer, 106. - autumn, 124. - winter, 157. - spring, 166. - Moisture in hives, 161. - Moths, wasps, hornets, and other enemies, 116. - Moving of bees, 100, 106, 166, 203. - - Nadir, 25, 62, 87, 119, 122. - drawer, 89. - Nadir-hive, 87. - Nadiring, 25, 87, 89, 119, 122. - Nether-hive, 91. - Number of hives, 101. - Nutt's collateral hive, 82. - Nymph, or Pupa, 12. - - Observatory, or light hive, 72. - Odour of bees, 194. - Office of drones, 17. - - Painting, 37, 54. - Pasturage, 101, 156. - Pattern gauge, 57, 74, 76. - Pedestals, or stands for hives, 46. - Piping, 186. - Pollen, or farina, 113, 168. - substitute for, 169. - Population, 107, 139, 150. - Position and aspect, 97, 158. - Prevention of after-swarms, 195. - Princesses, 6, 185, 186, 192. - Propolis, 112. - Protectors, 208. - Pruning combs, 147, 167, 189. - - Queen, or mother bee, 3, 4, 170, 181, 183, 184, 190. - cells, 4, 5, 180, 182, 185, 187, 195, 201, 208. - Queens, combats of, 186, 190. - duration of life, 6. - fertility of, 10. - impregnation of, 17. - piping of, 186. - Queens, reared artificially, 7, 208, 214. - unfruitful, 170. - - Range for Lives, 49. - Remedy for the sting of a bee, 210. - Removal of bees, 106, 167, 203. - Removal of a box or super-hive, 125. - Removing of swarms, 106, 198, 203. - Returning of swarms, 183, 186. - Robber bees, 127, 131. - Robbers, 134, 175. - Royal cells, or cradles, 4, 5, 176, 180, 186, 195, 200. - - Screen in winter, 159. - Sex, 12. - Shade, 115, 178. - Single hiving, 21. - Snow, to clear, 158. - Song of the bees, 109. - Spring feeding, 170. - flowers, 102, 169. - management, 166. - Stands for hives, 46. - Sting, 4, 12, 210. - Stocks, 152, 166. - to strengthen, 194. - Store of honey, 128, 132, 137. - Storifying, 24. - Straw bar-hive, 73. - common hives, 27, 28. - depriving hives, 30. - Straw hives, painting of, 37. - Strength of a colony, 107, 192. - Stupefying bees, 140, 143. - Suffocation, 28, 149. - Summary of apiarian knowledge, 213. - Summer management, 106. - Super-hiving, 119. - Supers, 24, 31, 34, 119, 125, 176. - to remove, 125, 128. - Swarming, 21, 180, 182, 191, 196. - artificial, 199. - Swarms, 180, 186. - maiden, 196. - removing of, 106, 198, 203. - to feed, 108, 199. - to return, 183, 184, 189, 195. - to strengthen, 107, 198. - to unite, 192. - weight of, 183. - - Tanging bees, on swarming, 196. - Temperature, 13, 83, 119, 122, 139, 151, 158, 168, 170, 177, 182. - Temperature and weather, 177. - Thermometer, 83, 163, 182. - Titmouse, 117, 160. - Top-feeding, 133, 170. - Transferring bees, 140. - Triplets, 24, 32, 122. - Triplets and Nadirs, 122. - Trough, feeding, 133. - Tube for fuming, 142. - - Uniting bees, 107, 140, 192. - Uniting swarms, 107, 189, 192. - - Ventilation, 83, 119, 121, 161, 177. - Ventilators, 85. - Virgin honey, 124. - - Wasps, &c., 116, 117, 175. - Water, 115, 169, 178. - Wax and combs, 109. - Wax moth, 116. - White's collateral hive, 81. - Winter management, 157. - position, 158. - screens, 159. - store, 132, 138. - Wooden bar-boxes, 54. - circular hives, 75. - hives, 51. - Worker cells, 13, 111. - - Printed by J. E. Adlard, Bartholomew Close, London. - - * * * * * - -[Illustration: GRACE AGUILAR'S WORKS] - -I. - -_Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, price 5s., with a Memoir of the Author,_ - - -HOME INFLUENCE; - -A TALE FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS. - - -By GRACE AGUILAR. - - "Grace Aguilar wrote and spoke as one inspired; she condensed and - spiritualized, and all her thoughts and feelings were steeped in the - essence of celestial love and truth. To those who really knew Grace - Aguilar, all eulogium falls short of her deserts, and she has left a - blank in her particular walk of literature, which we never expect to - see filled up."--_Pilgrimages to English Shrines, by Mrs. Hall._ - - "A clever and interesting tale, corresponding well to its name, - illustrating the silent, constant influence of a wise and affectionate - parent over characters the most diverse."--_Christian Lady's Magazine._ - - "This interesting volume unquestionably contains many valuable hints - on domestic education, much powerful writing, and a moral of vast - importance."--_Englishwoman's Magazine._ - - "It is very pleasant, after reading a book, to speak of it in terms - of high commendation. The tale before us is an admirable one, and - is executed with taste and ability. The language is beautiful and - appropriate; the analysis of character is skilful and varied. The - work ought to be in the hands of all who are interested in the proper - training of the youthful mind."--_Palladium._ - - "In reviewing this work, we hardly know what words in the English - language are strong enough to express the admiration we have felt in - its perusal."--_Bucks Chronicle._ - - "The object and end of the writings of Grace Aguilar were to improve - the heart, and to lead her readers to the consideration of higher - motives and objects than this world can ever afford."--_Bell's Weekly - Messenger._ - - "'Home Influence' will not be forgotten by any who have perused - it."--_Critic._ - - "A well-known and valuable tale."--_Gentleman's Magazine._ - - "A work which possesses an extraordinary amount of influence to - elevate the mind and educate the heart, by showing that rectitude and - virtue conduce no less to material prosperity, and worldly comfort and - happiness, than to the satisfaction of the conscience, the approval - of the good, and the hope and certainty of bliss hereafter."--_Herts - County Press._ - - -II. - - THE SEQUEL TO HOME INFLUENCE. - - _Fcap. 8vo, with a Portrait of the Author and other Illustrations, - price 6s._, - - THE - - MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE; - - A SEQUEL TO - - "Home Influence, a Tale for Mothers and Daughters." - - By GRACE AGUILAR. - - "Grace Aguilar belonged to the school of which Maria Edgeworth was - the foundress. The design of the book is carried out forcibly and - constantly. 'The Home Influences' exercised in earlier years being - shown in active germination."--_Atlas._ - - "The writings of Grace Aguilar have a charm inseparable from - productions in which feeling is combined with intellect; they go - directly to the heart. 'Home Influence,' the deservedly popular story - to which this is a Sequel, admirably teaches the lesson implied in its - name. In the present tale we have the same freshness, earnestness, - and zeal--the same spirit of devotion, and love of virtue--the same - enthusiasm and sincere religion which characterised that earlier work. - We behold the mother now blessed in the love of good and affectionate - offspring, who, parents themselves, are, after her example, training - their children in the way of rectitude and piety."--_Morning - Chronicle._ - - "This beautiful story was completed when the authoress was little - above the age of nineteen, yet it has the sober sense of middle age. - There is no age nor sex that will not profit by its perusal, and it - will afford as much pleasure as profit to the reader."--_Critic._ - - "The same kindly spirit, the same warm charity and fervour of - devotion which breathes in every line of that admirable book, 'Home - Influence,' will be found adorning and inspiring 'The Mother's - Recompense.'"--_Morning Advertiser._ - - "The good which she (Grace Aguilar) has effected is acknowledged - on all hands, and it cannot be doubted but that the appearance of - this volume will increase the usefulness of one who may yet be said - to be still speaking to the heart and to the affections of human - nature."--_Bell's Messenger._ - - "It will be found an interesting supplement, not only to the book - to which it specially relates, but to all the writer's other - works."--_Gentleman's Magazine._ - - "'The Mother's Recompense' forms a fitting close to its predecessor, - 'Home Influence.' The results of maternal care are fully developed, - its rich rewards are set forth, and its lesson and its moral are - powerfully enforced."--_Morning Post._ - - "We heartily commend this volume; a better or more useful present to a - youthful friend or a young wife could not well be selected."--_Herts - County Press._ - - -III. - - _Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, price 5s._, - - WOMAN'S FRIENDSHIP; - - A STORY OF DOMESTIC LIFE. - - By GRACE AGUILAR. - - "To show us how divine a thing - A woman may be made."--Wordsworth. - - "This story illustrates, with feeling and power, that beneficial - influence which women exercise, in their own quiet way, over - characters and events in our every-day life."--_Britannia._ - - "The book is one of more than ordinary interest in various ways, - and presents an admirable conception of the depths and sincerity of - female friendship, as exhibited in England by Englishwomen."--_Weekly - Chronicle._ - - "We began to read the volume late in the evening; and although it - consists of about 400 pages, our eyes could not close in sleep - until we had read the whole. This excellent book should find a - place on every drawing-room table--nay, in every library in the - kingdom."--_Bucks Chronicle._ - - "We congratulate Miss Aguilar on the spirit, motive, and composition - of this story. Her aims are eminently moral, and her cause comes - recommended by the most beautiful associations. These, connected with - the skill here evinced in their development, ensure the success of her - labours."--_Illustrated News._ - - "As a writer of remarkable grace and delicacy, she devoted herself to - the inculcation of the virtues, more especially those which are the - peculiar charm of women."--_Critic._ - - "It is a book for all classes of readers; and we have no hesitation - in saying, that it only requires to be generally known to become - exceedingly popular. In our estimation, it has far more attractions - than Miss Burney's celebrated, but over-estimated, novel of - 'Cecilia.'"--_Herts County Press._ - - "This very interesting and agreeable tale has remained longer without - notice on our part than we could have desired; but we would now - endeavour to make amends for the delay, by assuring our readers that - it is a most ably-written publication, full of the nicest points - of information and utility that could have been by any possibility - constructed; and, as a proof of its value, it may suffice to say, - that it has been taken from our table again and again by several - individuals, from the recommendation of those who had already perused - it, and so prevented our giving an earlier attention to its manifold - claims for favourable criticism. It is peculiarly adapted for the - young, and wherever it goes will be received with gratification, and - command very extensive approbation."--_Bell's Weekly Messenger._ - - "This is a handsome volume; just such a book as we would expect to - find among the volumes composing a lady's library. Its interior - corresponds with its exterior; it is a most fascinating tale, full of - noble and just sentiments."--_Palladium._ - - -IV. - - _Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, price 5s._, - - THE VALE OF CEDARS; - - OR, - - The Martyr. - - - A STORY OF SPAIN IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. - - By GRACE AGUILAR. - - "The authoress of this most fascinating volume has selected for her - field one of the most remarkable eras in modern history--the reigns - of Ferdinand and Isabella. The tale turns on the extraordinary extent - to which concealed Judaism had gained footing at that period in - Spain. It is marked by much power of description, and by a woman's - delicacy of touch, and it will add to its writer's well-earned - reputation."--_Eclectic Review._ - - "The scene of this interesting tale is laid during the reign of - Ferdinand and Isabella. The Vale of Cedars is the retreat of a Jewish - family, compelled by persecution to perform their religious rites - with the utmost secrecy. On the singular position of this fated - race in the most Catholic land of Europe, the interest of the tale - mainly depends; whilst a few glimpses of the horrors of the terrible - Inquisition are afforded the reader, and heighten the interest of the - narrative."--_Sharpe's Magazine._ - - "Anything which proceeds from the pen of the authoress of this - volume is sure to command attention and appreciation. There is so - much of delicacy and refinement about her style, and such a faithful - delineation of nature in all she attempts, that she has taken her - place amongst the highest class of modern writers of fiction. We - consider this to be one of Miss Aguilar's best efforts."--_Bell's - Weekly Messenger._ - - "We heartily commend the work to our readers as one exhibiting, not - merely talent, but genius, and a degree of earnestness, fidelity to - nature, and artistic grace rarely found."--_Herts County Press._ - - "The 'Vale of Cedars' is indeed one of the most touching and - interesting stories that have ever issued from the press. There is a - life-like reality about it, which is not often observed in works of - this nature; while we read it we felt as if we were witnesses of the - various scenes it depicts."--_Bucks Chronicle._ - - "It is a tale of deep and pure devotion, very touchingly - narrated."--_Atlas._ - - "The authoress has already received our commendation; her present work - is calculated to sustain her reputation."--_Illustrated News._ - - "It is indeed a historical romance of a high class. Seeing how steady - and yet rapid was her improvement--how rich the promise of her - genius--it is impossible to close this notice of her last and best - work, without lamenting that the authoress was so untimely snatched - from a world she appeared destined, as certainly she was singularly - qualified, to adorn and to improve."--_Critic._ - - -V. - - _Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated with Frontispiece and Vignette, - price 6s._, - - THE DAYS OF BRUCE; - - A Story from Scottish History. - - By GRACE AGUILAR. - - "We have had an opportunity of observing the interest it awakens in - different classes of readers, and in no instance has it failed to - rivet attention, and to induce a high estimate of the author's powers. - Miss Aguilar was evidently well read in the times of Bruce. It is long - since we met with a work which combines so happily the best qualities - of historical fiction."--_Eclectic Review._ - - "The life of the hero of Bannockburn has furnished matter for - innumerable tales in prose and verse, but we have met with - no records of that famous era so instructive as 'The Days of - Bruce.'"--_Britannia._ - - "'The Days of Bruce' was written when, in the vigour of intellectual - strength, Grace Aguilar was planning many things, and all for - good; it was we know her especial favourite: it is full of deep - interest."--_Mrs. S. C. Hall, in Sharpe's Magazine._ - - "It is a volume which may be considered as solid history, but is - nevertheless entertaining as the most charming novel ever produced - by genius. Sir Walter Scott's name as an author would not have been - disgraced by it had it appeared on the title-page instead of Grace - Aguilar."--_Bucks Chronicle._ - - "This deeply interesting romance--a composition of great eloquence, - written with practised polish and enthusiastic energy. We are not - surprised at the elegance, the warmth, and the pathos with which - Grace Aguilar paints love passages; but we are astonished at the - fire and accuracy with which she depicts scenes of daring and of - death."--_Observer._ - - "The tale is well told, the interest warmly sustained throughout, and - the delineation of female character is marked by a delicate sense of - moral beauty. It is a work that may be confided to the hands of a - daughter by her parent."--_Court Journal._ - - "Every one who knows the works of this lamented author, must observe - that she rises with her subjects. In 'The Days of Bruce' she has - thrown herself into the rugged life of the fourteenth century, and has - depicted the semi-civilization of the period in a manner that is quite - marvellous in a young woman. Grace Aguilar always excelled in her - delineation of female characters, while the skill she evinces in the - illustration of the historical personages, and her individualization - of the imaginary ones, might at once entitle her to a birthplace among - historical novelists."--_Ladies Companion._ - - "Her pen was ever devoted to the cause of virtue; and her various - publications, exhibiting the beauties and enforcing the practice - of the 'tender charities' of domestic life, have, we doubt not, - recommended themselves to the hearts of numbers of her countrywomen. - The work before us differs from the former publications of its author, - inasmuch as it is in fact an historical romance, for this species of - writing the high feeling of Grace Aguilar peculiarly fitted her; many - of the scenes are very highly wrought; and while it will fix in the - reader's mind a truthful idea of the history and style of manners of - 'The Days of Bruce,' it will also impress upon him a strong sense of - the ability and noble cast of thought which distinguished its lamented - author."--_Englishwoman's Magazine._ - - GRACE AGUILAR'S WORKS - - "We look upon 'The Days of Bruce' as an elegantly-written and - interesting romance, and place it by the side of Miss Porter's - Scottish Chiefs."--_Gentleman's Magazine._ - - "A very pleasing and successful attempt to combine ideal delineation - of character with the records of history. Very beautiful and very true - are the portraits of the female mind and heart which Grace Aguilar - knew how to draw. This is the chief charm of all her writings, and - in 'The Days of Bruce' the reader will have the pleasure of viewing - this skilful portraiture in the characters of Isoline and Agnes, and - Isabella of Buchan."--_Literary Gazette._ - - "What a fertile mind was that of Grace Aguilar! What an early - development of reflection, of feeling, of taste, of power of - invention, of true and earnest eloquence! 'The Days of Bruce' is a - composition of her early youth, but full of beauty. Grace Aguilar - knew the female heart better than any writer of our day, and in - every fiction from her pen we trace the same masterly analysis and - development of the motives and feelings of woman's nature. 'The Days - of Bruce' possesses also the attractions of an extremely interesting - story, that absorbs the attention, and never suffers it to flag till - the last page is closed, and then the reader will lay down the volume - with regret."--_Critic._ - - -VI. - - _Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated with Frontispiece, price 5s._, - - HOME SCENES & HEART STUDIES. - - Tales. - - By GRACE AGUILAR. - - The Perez Family. - The Stone-cutter's Boy of Possagno. - Amete and Yafeh. - The Fugitive. - The Edict; a Tale of 1492. - The Escape; a Tale of 1755. - Red Rose Villa. - Gonzalvo's Daughter. - The Authoress. - Helon. - Lucy. - The Spirit's Entreaty. - Idalie. - Lady Gresham's Fete. - The Group of Sculpture. - The Spirit of Night. - The Recollections of a Rambler. - Cast thy Bread upon the Waters. - The Triumph of Love. - - -VII. - - _Second Edition, in Two Volumes, Foolscap 8vo, price 10s._, - - THE WOMEN OF ISRAEL; - - Or, Characters and Sketches from the Holy Scriptures, illustrative - of the past History, present Duties, and future Destiny of - Hebrew Females, as based on the Word of God. - - By GRACE AGUILAR. - - Principal Contents of the Work. - - First Period--Wives of the Patriarchs. - - Eve. - Sarah. - Rebekah. - Leah and Rachel. - - Second Period--The Exodus and the Law. - - Egyptian Captivity, and Jochebed. - The Exodus--Mothers of Israel. - Laws for Wives in Israel. - Laws for Widows and Daughters in Israel. - Maid Servants in Israel, and other Laws. - - Third Period--Between the Delivery of the Law and the Monarchy. - - Miriam. - Tabernacle Workers--Caleb's Daughter. - Deborah. - Wife of Manoah. - Naomi. - Hannah. - - Fourth Period--The Monarchy. - - Michal. - Abigail. - Wise Woman of Tekoah. - Woman of Abel. - Rispah. - Prophet's Widow. - The Shunamite. - Little Israelitish Maid. - Huldah. - - Fifth Period--Babylonian Captivity. - - The Captivity. - Review of Book of Ezra. - Suggestions as to the Identity of the Ahasuerus of Scripture. - Esther. - Review of Events narrated in Ezra and Nehemiah. - - Sixth Period--Continuance of the Second Temple. - - Review of Jewish History, from the Return from Babylon to the - Appeal of Hyrcanus and Aristobulus to Pompey. - Jewish History from the Appeal to Pompey to the Death of - Herod. - Jewish History from the Death of Herod to the War. - The Martyr Mother. - Alexandra. - Mariamne. - Salome. - Helena. - Berenice. - - Seventh Period--Women of Israel in the Present as influenced by - the Past. - - The War and Dispersion. - Thoughts on the Talmud. - Talmudic Ordinances & Tales. - Effects of Dispersion and Persecution. - General Remarks. - - "A work that is sufficient of itself to create and crown a - reputation."--_Pilgrimages to English Shrines, by Mrs. S. C. Hall._ - - - London: GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row. - - - GRACE AGUILAR'S WORKS. - - - NEW EDITIONS, ILLUSTRATED. - - I. HOME INFLUENCE. - - A TALE FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS. - - Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, Price 5_s._ - - - II. THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE. - - A SEQUEL TO "HOME INFLUENCE." - - Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, Price 6_s._ - - - III. WOMAN'S FRIENDSHIP. - - A STORY OF DOMESTIC LIFE. - - Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, Price 5_s._ - - - IV. THE VALE OF CEDARS. - - A STORY OF SPAIN IN THE 15th CENTURY. - - Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, Price 5_s._ - - - V. THE DAYS OF BRUCE. - - A STORY FROM SCOTTISH HISTORY. - - Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, Price 6_s._ - - - VI. HOME SCENES AND HEART STUDIES. - - TALES. - - Fcap. 8vo, Illustrated, Price 5_s._ - - - VII. THE WOMEN OF ISRAEL. - - Two Vols., fcap. 8vo, Price 10_s._ - - - London: GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row. - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber Note - - -Illustrations were moved so as to not split paragraphs. 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