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148724 i 
 
 This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS 
 ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE 
 CENTS a day thereafter. It is due on the 
 day indicated below: 
 
 50M— May-54— Form 3 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
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 NCSU Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cottagebeekeeperOOfill 
 
 i 
 
SAXTON'S COTTAGE AND FARM LIBRARY. 
 THE 
 
 COTTAGE BEE KEEPER; 
 
 OR SUGGESnOXS FOR 
 
 THE PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT 
 
 :2lmatnir, (Hottage anb Jar m Apiaries, 
 
 ON SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. 
 
 ■«"rrn an 
 
 APPENDIX OF NOTES, CHIEFLY ILLUSTRATIVE. 
 
 BY A COUNTRY CURATE. 
 
 " Tollite barbarum morem." 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 C. M. SAXTON, AGRICULTURAL BOOK PUBLISHER, 
 No. 152 Fnlton Street. 
 
 M DCCC LI. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by ■ 
 
 C. M. SAXTON, 
 
 in the Clerk's office of the District Court for the Southern District 
 of New York. 
 
 K. o. JENKINS, printer. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The subscriber takes gi-eat pleasure in offering the present little 
 volume, as the first of the series, entitled " Sazton'S Farm and 
 Cottage Xiibrary," to the patronage of the public, in the beUef 
 that it will satisfy all the reasonable expectations of the American 
 bee keeper, who, it is hoped, wUl derive many a useful hint in this 
 interesting branch of knowledge, and wUl be amply remunerated for 
 his pains. 
 
 The object of this series is to present, in a cheap and popular 
 form, short and concise treatises on Bees, Rabbits, Pigeons, Birds, 
 Flowers, Fruits, Sweet and CuHnary Herbs, Recipes for Cooking, and 
 numerous other subjects appertaining to domestic And rural economy, 
 adapted to the taste and capacity of the amateur, the farmer and the 
 gardener. 
 
 Neither labor nor expense will be spared in getting up these 
 treatises, in making them correct, and appropriately illustrating them 
 wherever the subject maj'^ demand. 
 
 C. M. SAXTON, 
 Agricdxtcral Book Pi'blisher, New York. 
 
 152 Fulton Street. 
 
 148724 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 It will naturally be expected by every one who hears of the publi- 
 cation of a new work on bees — in the face of the many excellent 
 treatises already extant, some of which have opened to us many mar- 
 vels in the natural history, while others have facihtated the profitable 
 management, of these wonderful insects — either that the adventurous 
 author has something new to add to the common stock of already 
 acquired knowledge upon the subject, or that he has, at least, some 
 satisfactory reasons to allege for intruding himself upon public notice ; 
 seeing that to write a book, for which there is no v.acant place on the 
 library shelf of the apiarian reader, must undoubtedly be considered 
 a work of no little folly and presumption. Respecting, as he does, 
 this attitude of very natural expectation on the part of the public, the 
 author of the ensuing pages would submit the following observations 
 to the consideration of the candid reader. 
 
 In the first place, there is no one but will readily allow that our 
 knowledge of bees, scientific or practical, however it may have in- 
 creased of late years, is still Umited ; or that there is at least room for 
 improvement. If this admission be made, it at once follows that 
 there is room for a new work on the subject, however the aparian's 
 library may seem at first sight to be complete without it. 
 
 The author hopes that so much of novelty will be found in his book 
 
as shall distinguish it from every antecedent bee book, stamp it with 
 an identity of its own, and make it interesting and acceptable even to 
 the old-established bee keeper, Wliile, however, some matters in this 
 book are undoubtedly new, (whether suggestions originating with, or 
 discoveries and improvements made by, himself,) the author having 
 made a free use of every available theory, suggestion, or practice, 
 (from whatever quarter it came,) it follows that the gi-eater part of 
 the volume is old matter, however it. may have assumed a new shape. 
 His aim has been, first, to recommend a more systematic, and at the 
 same time improved, method of cottage bee management than at pre- 
 sent prevails ; and, secondly , to invite the attention of amateurs to his 
 own i:)eculiar plan of managing bees on scientific principles, founded 
 on the considerable experience of nearly eight years, assisted by much 
 thought on the subject ; and he beheves there are many persons, who, 
 after a due consideration and trial of the system, (artificial though it 
 may appear,) will approve of it as being both simple and effectual, 
 and perhaps better calculated than most other systems, (in the hands 
 of an attentive and inteUigent bee keeper,) to give satisfaction, as well 
 on the ground of economy as of profit. 
 
 The fact is, although it may be said with reason that there never 
 was a time in the whole history of bee-keeping, at least in this coun- 
 try, when the jDursuit has numbered so many votaries as at the pre- 
 sent moment — and certainly never did success promise so well to the 
 lover of bees, thanks to the facility with which every kind of inlbrma- 
 tion on the subject is diffused through the medium of the press — the 
 author believes that the science of practical bee management is yet 
 but imperfectly developed after all, compared with what it may yet 
 become, if our apiarians will only give it the time and attention Avhich 
 it deserves. No practical results, for instance, have proceeded from, 
 at all commensurate with, the splendid discoveries of Huber, Reau- 
 mur, and Shirach, relative to the natural history of the bee ; and yet 
 
rREKACE. VU 
 
 their revelations supply sufficient data upon which a highly scientific 
 treatment of bees might be estabHshed. In tliia little ^YOrk will be 
 found an attempt to bring our higher knowledge upon the subject to 
 bear upon, and improve, the system of bee management actually in 
 vogue among us. 
 
 The few wood cuts, it is hoped, will sufficiently answer their pur- 
 pose of helping out the instructions of the text. If it be complained 
 that they are somewhat rude and primitive, the fault is to be attri- 
 buted to circumstances, not to intention. 
 
 Other bee authors, in di'awing their labors to a conclusion, have 
 thought it well to sohcit the favor of ingenuous mticism; — following 
 in their steps, as considering that many still hidden truths may yet be 
 evoked by a spirit of candid inquiry, tending to throw valuable hght 
 on the subject of these pages, the author would also invite the same. 
 
 March 'iOth, 1851. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PEEUMQIART KOTICES, RECOMMEXDATORT OF COTTAGE AXP AJUTECR BEK-KEEPDJa. 
 
 Page 
 Origin of the -vrork — The study of bees has a moral tendency — Proper way to encour- 
 age cottagers in an improved method of managing bees — Opportunities within 
 reach of the country clergy of furthering this branch of rural economy — Advan- 
 tage to themselves resulting from it — Peculiar difficulties of English bee keepers — 
 Attention and perseverance the best remedy against thetn - ... 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OP THE ESTABUSHMEST OF AN APIART — CHOICE OF A SlTtJATION, AND REQUISITES FOR IT3 
 
 WELFARE. 
 
 What localities are favorable, or otherwise, to the production of honey — Rules to be 
 observed — Shelter from high winds and protection against damp — Importance of 
 coolness of situation — Internal heat alone productive of prosperity — Pedestals — Im- 
 portance of ascertaining the weight of every article of bee furniture — Distance at 
 which hives should stand from each other — Height from the ground — Importance of 
 water — Danger arising from the neigborhood of ponds or rivers — ^Vermin and offen- 
 sive smells to be avoided — Advantage of low shrubs and a screen of trees in front of 
 the apiary — Proper standing ground — Injury arising from drippings of trees, &o. — 
 Apiary should be out of sight of a public highway — But visible from the most fre- 
 quented part of the house .....-.--.. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OP STOCKIXG THE APIART, WITH DIRECTIOSS FOR THE PURCHASE OP STOCKS AND SWARMS. 
 
 Purchase of swarms the cheapest — Best way of commencing an apiary — Proper 
 weight and time of issue of a swarm — Importance of ascertaining the age 
 of the queen bee — Swarms from strong two-year-old stocks to be preferred, if they 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Pago 
 threw off swarms the previous year — A swarm of the current year, out of a last 
 year's swarm, to be rejected — Relative value of swarms and stocks — Purchase of 
 stocks in spring to be preferred, otherwise in autumn — Precautions against decep- 
 tion — Rules to be observed in the selection of stocks — Indications of vigor in a 
 hive — Proper weight — Transporting hives -- 13 
 
 . CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF STRAW COTTAGE HIVES — THEIR SIIAPE, SIZE, AM) CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 The-old fashioned bell hive objectionable — Mr. Payne's hive most suitable for cot- 
 tagers — Though too small — Two sizes recommended — Stock hive large, spoliation 
 hive small— Material and method of construction— Entrance way— Reasons for 
 approval of large hives -17 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE COTTAGE SYSTEM OF BEE MAUAGE5IEST IN THE OPEN AIK. 
 
 Advantage of a bee dress— I. First Year— Propriety of destroying the queen in the 
 spring if her age exceeds two or three years— Method of returning swarms and 
 capture of queen— Rising of the prime swarm with a new queen, and treatment of 
 It— Wl It if the old queen leads off the swarm— Encouragement of a large swarm— 
 Treatm^int of casts— Excision of royal cells— Supplying hive room- Removal of a 
 bee glass, how effected— Weighing hives— Proper weight— Making up a deficiency 
 of food— Sheltering hives from the sun— Wintering bees- :\Ir. Taylor's screens— 
 II. Second Year— Board cleansing— Excision of mouldy comb— Spring feeding- 
 Treatment of weak stocks— Swarming— Bee glasses— Super hives— Driving— Mate- 
 rials for, and manner of conducting the process— Uniting bees— Fumigation— Au- 
 tumn spoliation of hives— Same stocks to be preserved from year to year— Renewal 
 of comb— Summary of advantages peculiar to the system recommended in this 
 chapter nn 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HIVES OP STRAW SriTABLE TO AMATEUR BEE MANAGEMENT. 
 
 Mr. Gelding's Grecian hive— Its superiority to every other kind of hive— Mr. Tay- 
 lor's straw hive— Slight modification of Mr. Golding's hive— Size too small— Two 
 sizes recommended— Construction— Painting hivee— Boxes unsuitable for the 
 open air-.-.. 41 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER yil. 
 
 THE AlUTETR SYSTEM OF BEE SUXAGEJIEST IX THE CPES AIR. 
 
 Page 
 Of the depriving system ; unsuitable to out-door apiaries — Plan here recommended to 
 the amateur not essentially different in its different features to that before detailed 
 in the fifth chapter — History of artificial swarming — Dr. Scudamore — Difficulties 
 in the way or a general adoption of this method — Proper time for making artificial 
 swarms — Depends on two things ; state of weather and season, and forwardness 
 of stock — Importance of waiting till the commencement of the grand honey harvest, 
 and the considerable appearance of drones — Process of forming artificial swarms 
 — Treatment of the old stock — Xo casts to be permitted — Summer management of 
 the prime swarm — Arrangement of the hives in an apiary — Preservation of brood 
 in the autumn — And of comb — Reasons for recommending artificial swarming - 45 
 
 CHAPTER Till. 
 
 OF BOXES, ETC., SrlTABLE FOR AX K-DOOR APIART. 
 
 Wooden boxes preferable to straw hives— Construction and quality of wood — Dimen- 
 sions — Two coltateral boxes to one colony sufficient — Plenty of room to be given 
 in glasses or caps over the stock hive — Adapters — Bars and their arrangement — 
 Thermometers, how useful, and where to be placed — Guide comb to be affixed to 
 the roof of the box, diagonally- — Two bottom boards to each colony ; one to every 
 box — Closing sides of zinc - ----...--62 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OF THE BEE HOUSE AXT) WINDOW APUBT. 
 
 Observations on bee houses — Sheds objectionable — Dr. Bevan's beehouse — ^Instruc- 
 tions for erecting a bee house — Cross-barred frame for supporting the boxes- 
 Window apiary ; its advantages — Entrance blocks ... ... 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 MAXAGEJfEJTT OF THE BEE HOUSE OR WDfDOW APURT. 
 
 A few hiveg of straw to be kept in the open air — The depriving system not perfect — 
 Treatment of straw hives — How to stock a bee house, Ac. — I. First Ykah— With 
 a prime swarm — Forcing airtificial swarms and destmction of queen — Caation 
 
Xil CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 Natural swarming preferred in the event of the destruction of the old queen — If 
 queen destroyed or not, casts to be expected — Treatment of casts — Feeding new- 
 swarms — Supplying room — Preparing for autumjial formation of artificial stocks 
 — Removal of full bee glass — Method of forming artificial stocks — Uniting bees — 
 Treatment of them — Advantages of such stocks — Second plan for rearing artificial 
 stocks — Autumn feeding — Winter treatment — Board-cleansing — II. Second Year 
 — Spring feeding — Spring treatment — Summer management — New method of in- 
 creasing an apiary, wholly irrespective of swarming — Artificial swarms to be mado 
 out of old straw hives — How to form one good stock out of two old ones — Renova- 
 tion of comb in boxes — Renewing colonies in a bee house by replacing old with 
 young queens 
 
 72 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 OP FEEDING BEES: 
 
 Top feeding preferable to feeding at bottom — Objections to Mr. Nntt's plan — Care 
 to be taken to prevent escape of heat in a hive in spring — Two kinds of feeders re- 
 commended and described — One for copious feeding in autumn — The other for par- 
 tial feeding in winter and spring — Objections to winter feeding — August or Sep- 
 tember feeding to be preferred — Food — Sugared ale — Barley sugar ■ - 96 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 OF CERTAIN INSTRtTMENTS, EITHER OSEFCL OR NECESSARY TO BEE MANAGEMENT. 
 
 Xinc plate — Bee dress — Bee knife of two kinds — ^Weighing machine for garden 
 hives — Conclusion -- ......... 
 
THE 
 
 COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PREUMINARY NOTICES, RECOMMENDATORY OF COTTAaE AND 
 AMATEUR BEE KEEPING. 
 
 THE history of this volume — how and why it came to be -written — I 
 may perhaps be allowed to state in a few words. When I first settled 
 down in an agricultural district, having long been passionately addicted 
 to the study of bees, but chiefly as a recreative pursuit, I turned my 
 attention to the subject anew, with a more practical intent, as I began 
 to view in it one means, among others, of improving the condition, 
 both financial and moral, of the surrounding peasantry, many of whom 
 were sufiering greatly under the pressure of the times. The vicinage, 
 as affording bee pasturage, had ever been considered remarkably good ; 
 and the honey of the district, too, was much esteemed. The culture 
 of bees itself, however, was almost in its lowest condition, at least 
 amongst the poor. I argued to myself, therefore, that if only half-a- 
 dozen famihes could be permanently benefited by my instruction and 
 encouragement, it would amply repay me for any trouble I might 
 incur. To lose no time, I at once established a second apiary of my 
 own, in the management of which I hope to acquire such sound addi- 
 tional knowledge of bee matters, as should qualify me to act as a 
 pioneer, and ultimately to become the propounder, of a better system 
 than that which prevailed around me ; nor was it long before I felt 
 myself in a position to start my plan of cottage bee encouragement. 
 At the same time, I sought other aid in the published treatises of older 
 and more experienced bee keepers, some of whom I knew had en- 
 deavored to write for the benefit of the poor. But seek as I might, 1 
 
 D. H. HILL LIBRARY 
 North Carolina State College 
 
2 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 Fon.gl.t in vain for the tract wliose instructions generally my own 
 experience -vvould justify me in recommending to their notice. It was 
 about this time I formed the design of myself attempting to supply 
 this desideratum in apiarian literature ; but after spoiUng much good 
 paper, and wa ting not a httle valuable time, I \n as fain to give it up 
 in the end, not from any doubt as to the matter or instructions which 
 I designed to give being good and useful, but from a sense of the dif- 
 ficulty I should find in successfully handling the subject, so as to bring 
 it down to the understanchng of the poor. From the dibris of this 
 tract, however, arose the conception and outhne of the present work, 
 which by degrees assumed its actual form — ^less modest and unpre- 
 tending it may be than the parent from whose ashes it proceeded, but, 
 I would fain hope, not the less calculated to please and to be useful. 
 
 My first object, however, remains unaltered. I wish to induce all 
 residents in the country, who have leisure and opportunity, to en- 
 courage bee keeping among their poorer neighbors — and not with a 
 view to their pecuniary advantage only, for the study of bees is capa- 
 ble of ministering to a much higher end. There is scarcely a more in- 
 teresting branch of natural history to be mentioned, and none certain- 
 ly more instructive. To quote the words of Dr. Bevan: "In common 
 with the other branches of natural liistory, it leads to. a salutary exer- 
 cise of the mental faculties ; it induces a habit of observation and re- 
 flection ; no pleasure is more easily attainable, nor less alloyed by any 
 debasing mixture; it tends to enlarge and harmonise the mind, and to 
 elevate it to worthy conceptions of nature and its Author."' Every 
 word of this is true. The rustic bee keeper, if he have only a soul to 
 appreciate .the works of God, and an intelligence of an inquisitive or- 
 der — and intelligence is sure to expand with the attentive study of 
 any branch of natural history — cannot fail to become deeply interested 
 in observing the Avonderful instincts, (instincts akin to reason,) of these 
 admirable creatures ; at the same time that he will learn many lessons 
 of practical wisdom from their examjile. Having acquired a knowl- 
 edge of their habits, not a bee will buzz in liis ear without recalling to 
 liim some of these lessons, and helping to make him a wiser and a 
 better man. It is certain that in all my experience I never yet met 
 with a keeper of bees who was not a respectable, weU-conducted 
 member of society, and a moral, if not a rehgious, man. It is evident, 
 on reflection, that this pursuit, if weU attended to, must occupy soin*^ 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 3 
 
 considerable share of a man's time and thoughts. He must be often 
 about his bees, ^Yhich will help counteract the baneful allurement 
 of the village "pubUc," with all its accompanying syren-hke evils. 
 Whoever is fond of his bees is fond of his home — is an axiom of u-re- 
 fragable truth ; and it is an axiom that will be sure to kindle in every 
 true EngUshman's breast a favorable regard for a pursuit, wliich, 
 though humble, has undoubted power to produce so happy an influ- 
 ence. ""Where the Frenchman sings of his country, we talk o{home. 
 . . .We point with exultation, (and I trust with gratitude,) to the fire- 
 sides of England, and claim the admiration of the world for the virtue 
 which has gained so high a reward." [Xo home-loving American can 
 be a stranger to these feelings, and cannot fail to be susceptible of the 
 same happy influences.] Who will not assist in any eflbrts, great or 
 small, which may continue this our claim to universal admiration? 
 Who, that sees in the love of home the companion of many other 
 TU'tues, which, if not yet developed into active exercise, are still only 
 dormant, and may be roused into wakeful energy at any moment ? 
 
 To gain the attention, however, of the poor themselves, with the 
 hope ot successfully instructing them in an improved system of bee 
 culture, is confessedly not an easy task. While in other countries the 
 peasantry need httle instruction from their superiors in this matter — 
 their own quick intelligence supplying them with every necessary en- 
 couragement — it must be acknowledged that our rustic poor are 
 slow of apprehension to a proverb, and unready at learning even from 
 the successful examples of others. Hence it is proper to give them 
 gradual instruction, taking care to make the first converts in a neigh- 
 borhood of the most industrious and inteUigent of its cottagers. It is 
 obviously useless, also, to recommend to their notice any system of 
 comphcated machinery or of fanciful contrivance. Every suggestion 
 and every improvement which it is intended they shall take in, must 
 be of the most simple kind. I do not think it necessary to say much 
 on the subject of expense ; for costly experiments must ever oppose 
 an insuperable barrier to bee improvement among the poor. Sim- 
 pUcity of detail, therefore, and perseverance in instruction, as well as 
 personal example, must go hand in hand together in any attempts to 
 increase the number of or to improve the system actually in vogue 
 among, cottage bee keepers. I would fain trust that the system of 
 cottage management, explained further on, wiU not be found so diffi- 
 
4 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 cult as to prevent its answering the first of the requisites above men- 
 tioned ; for the other, the benevolence of the higher classes and their 
 kind co-operation must be looked to. 
 
 It is because I believe our rural clergy have it in their power more 
 than any body else to encourage tliis branch of rural economy, that I 
 would address these pages especially to them. Owing to their con- 
 tinual residence within their parishes or cures, they have the best op- 
 portunities, both of acquiring themselves a thorough knowledge of 
 the practical management of 'bees, and, at the same time, of recom- 
 mending it to the notice of their people by precept and example. Nor 
 is it alone in respect of the more extended good which they may 
 do to others that I would call their attention to this subject, but also 
 oir account of the peculiar inte?est -and pleasure which they themselves 
 may derive from it. Independently of the interest which attaches to the 
 apiarian art from economic considerations, and the pleasure of appro- 
 priating to one's own use the surplus produce of bee industry — a plea- 
 sure, by the way, of a very exquisite kind, as every bee master will 
 bear me witness — it merits, as a branch of natural history, the attention 
 of every lover of nature, and the curious investigator of her secret things. 
 There is still so much mystery attached to the habits of the bee, and 
 especially to the internal economy of the hive, that the scientific study 
 of these insects affords ample scope for much patient and hopeful re- 
 search. Supposing, however, that the whole history of the hive bee 
 had been opened up so as to preclude the hope of further discovery, 
 there is quite enough in the simple verification of the discoveries of 
 others to interest and astonish the lover of nature. In every way, in- 
 deed, the study of bees is so fascinating and instructive, that I would 
 gladly induce many of my brethren in the ministry to share its plea- 
 sures with me. 
 
 Having said thus much on the subject of bee-keeping generally, by 
 way of recommending an increased attention to it, let me say a few 
 words as to its difficulties. These certainly are neither few nor trifling, 
 although perfectly easy of mastery by the patient, intelligent, and per- 
 severing bee owner. The less he can lay claim to this complex char- 
 acter, the greater of course will his difficulties become. But are not these 
 qualifications considered necessary to success in every branch of rural 
 economy — I may say, in every pursuit of life? Did one ever hear of 
 stupidity, sloth, or inattention succeeding in any enterprise of whatever 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARBI SEE KEEPER. 5 
 
 kind ? The farmer who is content ■ndth an occasional stroll over his 
 fields, and a similar inspection over his yards and granaries, will in 
 vain expect to thiive. Can we wonder at the iU success of an igno- 
 rant or negligent bee keeper ? And yet how often is the expression 
 of surprise heard from the Ups of some individual who has started an 
 apiary, that his bees have disappointed him ; when, if particular inquiries 
 were instituted into the cause of the disaster, ten to one it would be 
 found that the hives had been left unnoticed from October to May, and 
 from May to October! The management of bees, which always re- 
 quh-es some delicacy, and not a little dexterity of treatment, assuredly 
 demands no less attention and care than other matters of a similar nature. 
 A considerable apprenticeship is necessary in order to obtain the mastery 
 over it as a science. There is no " royal road" to successful bee-keep- 
 ing, as there is none in any thing else. ,In his preface to his very 
 useful book, Mr. Taylor has well styled the tyro apiarian's path, " usu- 
 ally a rough and uncertain one;" so rough, indeed, and uncertain, 
 (chiefly owing to a lack of care and pains,) that three out of every five 
 I^ersous, who take up this study even warmly, will be found to reUn- 
 quish it with disgust at the end of a few years. Not to dwell here on 
 faults of management, there are other causes of failure, almost peculiar to 
 this country, a few of which I may briefly enumerate. "While in America 
 or Australia,* it is almost incredible of how large an apiary one hive 
 may become the parent in a very few years ; in England, a similar hive 
 may stand year after year, without change, apparently strong, yet un- 
 productive in either swarms or honey, perhaps in both together. A stock, 
 at the time of purchase, may have had a three or four-year-old queen, 
 (an evil which is seldom acknowledged, and still more seldom guarded 
 against,) who dies some time in our long winter before there is a brood 
 wherewith to replace her ; the winter may be mild and the spring cold 
 and late, and no honey gathered till the end of May, whence proceeds 
 the death from starvation of many a colony of bees, (which might be 
 saved by a judicious and timely supply of food,) or its productiveness 
 for the current season destroyed. A rainy summer, too, may foUow, 
 or a very dry one, neither of which yields much honey ; in short, a 
 
 * In a late work on New South Wales, I read the following astonishing account of the 
 produce of a single stock of bees : — ' In the district Illawarra, near Sydney, one hive haisbeen 
 known to multiply itself to 300 ( 1 1 ) in tlie course of three years !' 
 
6 THE COTTAGE AND FARM EEE KEEPER, 
 
 thousand are the casualties to be feared in this fitful climate, with 
 which the more fortunate bee keeper of other countries is happily un- 
 acquainted. Say then, whether it is reasonable to expect success in 
 the face of these difficulties, where a considerable skill and much per- 
 severing watchfulness are not present to meet and counteract them ? 
 To be successful in bee-keeping, there must be a sufficient experience 
 in bee management, whether derived from a practical acquaintance 
 Avith the subject, or from a diligent study of the best manuals of yistruc- 
 tion in the matter ; it is requisite to be thoroughly initiated in the 
 mysteries of judicious feeding, and to understand somewhat of that 
 improved system of bee culture, by whose means the great honey har- 
 vests are secured at those rare but favored seasons when they occur, 
 and the most is made of indifferent years ; while at the same time the 
 acquisitive propensity is kept duly in check, so that if much is iahen 
 as legitimate spoil, enough shall still be left to support the prosperity of 
 the hive. Difficult, however, as unquestionably is the science of bee- 
 keeping, it is not beyond the reach of attentive perseverance ; and 
 the very difficulties, as iu most cases, only serve to enhance the pleas- 
 sure and gratification of the patient bee master. It has been judi- 
 ciously observed, that " no one who pays a fair amount of attention to 
 the management of those very interesting insects will willingly rehn- 
 quish the keeping of them." Carelessness and indifference alone find 
 the difficulties to which I have alluded insurmountable, and I take leave 
 to say they deserve to do so. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APIARY, CHOICE OF A SITUATION, 
 AND REQUISITES FOR ITS WELFARE. 
 
 There are some parts of England where, it is to be feared, the utmost 
 attention to bee-keeping can meet with only very partial success. In 
 such places, it is but once, perhaps, in four or five years that anything 
 like a fan- harvest of honey is obtained. It may be asked, therefore, 
 is it worth while encountering the many vexations and discourage- 
 ments of the intermediate years, for the sake of this inadequate, and 
 only occasional, remuneration ? This is a question, of course, for every 
 intenchng bee keeper to answer for himself. Having myself kept bees 
 for about seven j^ears in a locaUty of this kind, I can speak feehngly 
 of the disappointment and loss occasioned by it. In all that time, I 
 never had the good fortune to obtain a single pound of honey by fair 
 moans ; and what I did obtain, at the cost of a hive's sacrifice, was both 
 poor in quality and insignificant in quantity. Nor was my case at all 
 singular in this respect, my neighbors to a man complaining of the like 
 ill success, in spite of attention and pains bestowed, without grudging. 
 I was in consequence very nearly giving up the piu-suit, as many oth- 
 ers had done before me, although not reputed to be readily daunted 
 by mishaps. My advice, therefore, to every aspiring bee keeper, who 
 can assure himself that the locality in which he happens to reside is 
 of this nature, is this : to let hee-Tieeping alone. Happily, however, such 
 instances of very bad locahty are rare. Most places will at least amply 
 repay the labor and cost of estabUshing an apiary ; while some few 
 highly-favored districts will yield astonishing suppUes of the most de- 
 hcious nectar. Whoever happens to reside in the vicinity of large 
 woods, heaths, or commons, or still better, within reach of aU these 
 together, may ron.=iider himself especially fortunate. A broken coun- 
 try, however — by which I mean a country devoted to no particular 
 
8 THE COTTAGE AND FAUM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 branch of husbandry — is not far inferior, where water, woods, and 
 meadows divide the land between them. 
 
 The question being settled, " to be or not to be," as regards the es- 
 tablishment of an apiary ; next are to be considered sundry necessaria 
 to its well-being, wliich, for facihty of reference and conciseness, I 
 have drawn up in a set of rules, gleaned for the most part from a vari- 
 ety of sources, both ancient and modern, at the same time attested by 
 my OAvn experience or approval. They have reference in general to 
 the requisites of every kind of apiary, but are drawn up for the more 
 especial instruction of those who prefer the use of the cottage liive, 
 standing in the open air. I think it unnecessary to dwell upon the 
 subject of pasturage, which has been fully treated of by other writers, 
 because nothing but supplying it, (if it must be supplied artificially,) 
 on a large scale is of any material advantage to the prosperity of an 
 apiary. 'White clover and huckwheat, (the latter of which is excellent 
 food for poultry,) may be sown largely with double advantage — clover 
 more especially, as sheep and cattle are extremely fond of it ; also the 
 more laurustinus about a house the better for early spring-feeding; 
 but, beyond this, I would recommend no especial provision for the 
 apiary, as the land so occupied may be cultivated to a much better 
 advantage. To proceed, then. 
 
 1. AU out-door bee hives of wood or straw must be placed in a 
 woll-sheltered situation. A garden in a valley, well protected on all 
 sides from the effect of liigh winds, undoubtedly ranks among the first 
 of bee localities ; but it is of little importance Avhere the apiary is sit- 
 uated, so that it be not in a damp spot, nor exposed to the fury of high 
 winds from any quarter. These last are especially detrimental to the 
 prosperity of an apiary, those more particularly which blow from the 
 southwest, round by north, to northeast, and east. 
 
 2. It is of less consequence that the hives be warmly situated in 
 ■svinter, than that they be screened from the morning sun in the very 
 early spring, and from the fierce noonday heat of summer and autumn. 
 This is most injurious, although but Httle attention has been paid to 
 the matter generally. Therefore, by all means let them be protected, 
 if possible, by some verandah or screen from the sun's rays. In this 
 case, the best aspect for them is undoubtedly the southeast or south. 
 If, however, they cannot be thus conveniently and effectually shaded, 
 the hives must be set at the back side of a high wall or fence of trees, 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM BEE KEEPER. 9 
 
 facing eastward or "westward — the latter aspect, I tbiuk the best of the 
 two. So much alive are some apiarians to this evil, that they prefer 
 tm-ning their hives with a point to the north ; nay, it has been pro- 
 posed, (and with a show of reason,) to keep them always facing the 
 direct north. In then* natural state, we know bees seek a uniform 
 temperature, by burying themselves deep in the hearts of forests, 
 where the sun's rays seldom, if ever, penetrate. Their own restless 
 activity keeps them ahve enough in summer, while they are so snugly 
 housed in winter as seldom to be induced to sally forth ; hence arises 
 this further advantage, that they prey but Uttle on their stores. It 
 cannot be too urgently recommended to keep the hives as cool as pos- 
 sible in the late spring and summer, for it will be found as a general 
 rule, that, in proportion as this be carefully attended to, the swarms 
 ■will be stronger, the bees more vigorous and indefatigable in the col- 
 lection of honey, and the honey itself more wholesome and pure. It 
 may seem paradoxical to recommend coolness of situation, when it is 
 at the same time fully acknowledged that heat is the great promoter 
 of early and vigorous swarming ; yet the advice is not the less based 
 upon sound reason and experience. It is true, some bee keepers re- 
 move all cover from their hives in a hot May or June sun, with a view 
 expressly to compel early swarming ; I have done so myself in the 
 days of my noviciate ; nothing, however, can be conceived more fatal 
 than such a proceeding. The queen will leave the liive very Uttle 
 sooner for such treatment — certainly it cannot expedite the birth of 
 royal issue a single moment — but the harm done to the hive's pros- 
 perity is incalculable. Before swarming takes place under such cir- 
 cumstances, the queen bee and her subjects wiU long have been griev- 
 ously incommoded ; the process of breeding will have been hindered ; 
 many of the grubs will have perished, or at least thousands of eggs 
 become abortive ; while certainly no addition will have been made to 
 the stores of honey, if the combs do not actually give way under the 
 influence of the unusual heat. Thus tlie issuing swarm must needs 
 be weak, and the old hive from which it issued impoverished in every 
 way. This, therefore, I lay down as a rule of sound doctrine, that 
 internal heat, arising from an over-crowded population, is alone pro- 
 ductive of prosperity in the economy of bee management.* 
 
 * See Appendix, Note A. 
 
10 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 3. Every hive should have its own stand and single pedestal ; that 
 is, a pedestal and board on the top, firmly nailed to it, distinct from 
 the bottom board of the hive. The pedestal itself may be of pine, 
 slightly charred where it enters the ground, and its top of stout inch 
 oak. I advise the use of a separate bottom board for each hive, for 
 faciUty of weighing, cleansing, &c. Mr. Taylor has given a useful hint 
 for those who would dispense with tliis second board at page 30 of his 
 Bee Keeper's Manual. He recommends a square-topped pedestal, and 
 advises the construction of a sort of cap, made of pieces of wood 
 nailed to the under side of the bottom board, so as to fit on the top 
 of the pedestal. A screw, passing through one of the sides of this 
 cap into the pedestal, secures the board with the hive upon it. If this 
 plan be adopted of securing the hive, let every cap or socket of every 
 board, as well as every pedestal, be of exactly the same size, so as to 
 allow of the boards being shifted, as occasion may require, from one 
 pedestal to another. To those, hoAvever, who may be disposed to fol- 
 low the plan of management detailed in the following pages, I doubt 
 not the use of a second board to every hive will appear more advan- 
 tageous. A friend of mine has constructed a very neat, and indeed 
 
 ornamental, stand in his garden, consisting 
 of a post let into the ground, having two 
 pieces of Avood arranged crosswise on the 
 top, in the manner, as seen in the adjoining 
 sketch. A couple of screws would secure 
 ^^l^?~ the hive from accident, if passed through 
 the board into the bars. Wliile on the 
 subject of hive boards, let me urge the advantage of carefully ascer- 
 taining the weight of every article of bee furniture, (as liives, boards, 
 &c.,) and marking the weight legibly on each, so as to be able at any 
 moment to ascertain the weight of the contents of every liive. This 
 will save much trouble. 
 
 4. As a general rule, there ought to be a space of three feet, at least, 
 between the hives as they stand together in a row ; or, to suit the 
 plan of management hereafter to be described, each prime swarm tif 
 the year had better stand within a foot and a half of its parent hive, 
 at its side ; every two hives so placed standing as a duett, (if I may so 
 call it,) at a distance of four feet from the neighboring hives. Hives 
 BO managed would occupy about the same space in an apiary as if they 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM BEE KEEPER. 11 
 
 stood individually three feet apart from each other. I advise tliis for 
 the manifest advantage wliich will accrue at the time of the autumnal 
 harvest, when the bees out of one hive, on plundering it, may be saved 
 and united to the adjoining stock, at the least possible waste of bee 
 life, and without creating a confusion in the apiary. A good height 
 from the gi'ouud is sixteen inches. Not too many stocks should stand 
 together in the same place ; from eight to ten hives are sufficient ibr 
 one locaUty. WTiere more liives are kept, the apiary should be divi- 
 ded into two or more parts, as widely sepai'ated as possible. "Where 
 bees are domiciled too closely together, and in too many families, much 
 confusion is apt to be created at swarming time, when the agitation 
 wliich one hive occasions during the process of swarming, not seldom 
 communicates itself to the others. 
 
 5. It is of the utmost importance tliat water be at hand, especially 
 in spring, when bees consume great quantities of it. In very dry 
 weather, it is almost essential to the existence of an apiary, that it be 
 suppUed artificially, if there are no rippling streams or other suitable 
 waters at hand. Some large pans filled with stones and water, and 
 covered witli moss or sticks, for the bees to alight upon and drink with 
 safety, should be placed near the hives. Wliile, however, water is so 
 essential, the vicinity of rivers or large ponds, or sheets of water, is 
 to be deprecated, as tending to endanger the hves of thousands of 
 these valuable insects in windy or showery weather. 
 
 6. Keep away from the bees' neighborhood all vermin and foul 
 smells of every kind. Among bee pests may be enumerated pigs, 
 (with then" sties, and all dung heaps,) fowls, mice, slugs, snails, ants, 
 hornets, and wasps. Of these, the latter are decidedly the most formi- 
 dable. The vicinity of Hme or brick kilns, tan yards, gas houses, and 
 ofiensive premises of every kind, is annoying to them. 
 
 7. The garden in which the apiary is situated, especially in fi:ont and 
 about it, should be well stocked with low shrubs or espaliers, at a 
 convenient distance, backed, if possible, by taller trees. These are, 
 of course, requisite to allure the bees at swarming time to settle near 
 home, for convenience of hiving, instead of wandering off, as they 
 are very apt to do when the coast is clear, nobody knows whither. 
 
 8. A well-mown and cleanly-kept grass plat, or a gravel walk, affords 
 a capital ground for the hives to stand upon. They should not, how- 
 ever, be far distant from some wall or thick fence in the rear ; but 
 
12 THK COTTAGE AXD FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 there must ha plenty of room behind for the performing of every neces- 
 sary operation. 
 
 9. No dripping of trees, nor water drops from the eaves of houses, 
 should be suflered to fall upon, nor near the apiary ; for damp is of aU 
 things perhaps the most hurtful to bees. It may be asked, "Why not 
 elevate the hives at a greater height from the ground, such being the 
 case ? To this I answer, that of two evils the lesser is chosen, the 
 stands being low to preserve the hives from the effects of high winds. 
 No long grass nor tangled weeds of any kind, no cabbage nor lettuce 
 jjlants, should be suffered to grow within two yards of an apiary, more 
 particularly in front, for the young or weak bees alighting upon them, 
 wiU fall into them and perish, on their return from the fields in cool 
 weather. 
 
 10. Let the apiary be so situated, (in the last place.) as to be in full 
 view from the most frequented part of the house, for the instant dis- 
 covery and remedy of accidents, and the observation of rising swarms. 
 The hives had also better be removed out of sight of a highway, to 
 avoid the danger of their bein": stolen. 
 
TllK COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER . 13 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OF STOCKINa THE APIARY, WITH riRECTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE 
 OF STOCKS AMD SWARMS. 
 
 There are two methods of stocking an apiary — by swarms purchased 
 in the spring, and by stock hives, bought at the close or beginning of 
 the year. The former, as being the cheapest, will ever be the favorite 
 method resorted to by cottagers. To be worth the purchase, a swarm, 
 which 7nitst always be the first orp?v'me swarm, sliould not weigli less 
 than four pounds, and it should issue from the parent hive not later 
 than the 7th or 8th of June, [in England] ; for every week after that 
 date, eighteen pence or a half crown, (according to the price current 
 of a swarm,) must be deducted from its value. After the 21st of June, 
 it is not worth five shUhngs, unless indeed the season should be very 
 fine, and the swarm very large. The most valuable swarms, perhaps, 
 are those which issue early in the fortnight previous to the 7tli of that 
 month ; but, of course, much will depend ujion the season ; for, should it 
 be late and unpropitious, a swarm of this date wiU be more valuable than 
 one which issued on the 25th of May ; while in some forward years, a 
 most profitable swarm wUl be thrown a fortnight earlier than this. 
 
 If possible, in the purchase of a swarm, the age of its queen should 
 be ascertained, and a young mother selected. The best swarms 
 undoubtedly, (casteris paribus,) are those which proceed from two- 
 year-old stocks of large size, that sent out a swarm the previous year ; 
 because it is certain they have young and vigorous queens, and 
 the condition of the parent hive is eminently favorable still to the 
 production of a healthy brood. This ad%ace, as every well-instruct- 
 ed apiarian will at once perceive, is based upon the knowledge 
 we possess, that every prime swarm, (the exception proves the 
 rule,) is led forth or accompanied by the old queen, who in so doing 
 vacates her throne in favor of one of the shortly-expected princess- 
 es. But a swarm from a very old stock, although it may have a young 
 
14 THE COTTAGE AND FAKM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 queen, is carefully to he rejected ; for the bees having been bred for the 
 most part in contracted and, perhaps, vermin-eaten cells, will be gen- 
 erall}^ found of small size and insignificant in numbers. Sufficient at- 
 tention is very seldom paid to this matter, most people being content 
 with any ])vyvae swarm they can procure, from an idea, that because 
 it is a prime swarm,, it must therefore of necessity succeed ; and yet it 
 may be often worthless, as containing an old queen of say three or 
 four years of age, who will very probably die in the course of the en- 
 suing autumn or winter. To this ignorance are to be attributed most 
 of the mishaps and ill successes of bee-keeping. I am aware of the diffi- 
 culty there is, in the present low condition of bee science, in follow- 
 ing tills advice, when there is not a cottager in the three kingdoms 
 but would stare, on being asked so, (to him,) incomprehensible a ques- 
 tion as the age and pedigree of his queen bees ! I rather throw this 
 out as a hint for the instruction of cottagers, who should be taught the 
 advantage of putting down in a book the date of issue of every queen 
 in their apiaries. There might be affixed to these swarms or stocks a 
 regular price according to their value. Thus, for instance, twenty-five 
 shillings, [.$6,] would not be too much to ask for a stock in the spring 
 that has well survived the winter, of which the bees are in full vigor, 
 and the weight over 18 lbs., it being moreover a stock of two years' 
 standing, tvhicli swarmed the year before. No one who was aware of 
 the value of such a stock ought to grudge giving twenty-five shiUings 
 for it. It might be considered worth a pound sterling if purchased 
 before the winter. Again, a current year's swarm, which proceeded 
 from a stock of tliis kind, would be worth full fifteen shilHngs, if it is- 
 sued before the 1st of June, and even later. Other swarms and stocks 
 might have a price put upon them in proportion to their individual 
 value. Such a plan Avould tend to reduce bee management to a sys- 
 tem, and would help remove many of its uncertainties; nor is it 
 at all difficult cither to acquire a knowledge of its details, or to impart 
 the same, when acquired, to others. 
 
 As to the other method of stocking an apiary, I decidedly prefer the 
 purchase of a stock hive or Jiives in the autumn or spring, especially the 
 latter ; that is, about March or April, when the winter is safely pas- 
 sed. Independently, however, of the larger sum Avhich is usually asked 
 for stocks that have survived the winter, it is often difficult to get them 
 at any price, as the cottagers are naturally unwilling to diminish their 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 15 
 
 stock of brood hives when the return of the profitable season is so 
 near at hand, thinned as they not seldom are by the casualties of 
 ■nnnter, besides which it is almost cruel to tempt them to do so even 
 with a large bribe. And yet if such hives can be bought without 
 scruple, a good March or April-purchased stock ought not to be over- 
 looked, on account of the more speedy and large return which may be 
 expected from it. Should it be found necessary, however, to com- 
 mence with autumn-purchased hives, as will generally be the case, let 
 two good stocks be transferred *at once to the apiary; this will give 
 double chance of success, nor wiU the loss of one hive the following 
 spring be felt so much, if its fellow survives and thrives ad libitum. 
 
 If the commencing bee keeper is not over confident in his own ex- 
 perience, which he will do well not to be, let him procure the assist- 
 ance of some apiarian friend of long standing and tried acquaintance 
 with the whole science of the matter, for true is often the case in this 
 instance as in other things — " all is not gold that gUtters ;" of this, the 
 " gude wives" all over the country are well aware ; and, as report says, 
 they are not always, (to their shame be it spoken,) anxious to do to 
 others as they would be done by, not seldom will they take grievous 
 advantage of the ignorance of a novice. If such an experienced friend 
 is not to be found, the following rules will be found useful Where 
 the word of the bee merchant is at all to be depended on, let the age 
 of every hive and queen in the apiary be first inquired 5,fler, and then 
 proceed to the examination. 
 
 1. A prime swarm of the current year may generally be known by its 
 abundant population, the completeness of its works, and especially by 
 the pale brown or straw colour of its comb. 
 
 2. The bees must be vigorous as well as strong in numbers ; while they 
 fill up well the interstices between the combs, they must be on the 
 alert and waspish — ready, I mean, to resent any intrusion or attempt- 
 ed approach to them. On a fair day, at either season, (but especially 
 in the spring,) they ought to play in and out of their hive with much 
 activity, by far the greater proportion of them being seen, (at least in 
 spring,) to re-enter the hive with well-laden thighs. This is in itself 
 almost decisive, being an unfailing criterion of the present vigor of a 
 hive. 
 
 3. If a current year sivarm, the stock should not weigh less than 23 
 lbs. or 2i lbs., exclusive of hive, at or soon after Michaelmas, [September 
 
16 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 29th]. If bought about Lady day, [March 25th,] it should weigh at 
 least 16 lbs. of contents. A two-yeai'-old stock should weigh a pound 
 or two more. 
 
 When a sivarm is to commence an apiary, let the hive in which it is 
 to be placed be sent some time previously to the bee keeper with 
 whom the purchaser is in treaty. It ought also to be located on its 
 destined stand in the apiary on the evening of the day on which it 
 issued from the parent hive. In the transport of a stock, (should such 
 be bought,) great care is requisite to ^gyent concussion, lest any of 
 the combs should break down. Where these are fresh, the danger, 
 of course, is greatest. They may l?e removed at any time between 
 Michaelmas and Lady day. The greater the distance from which a 
 stock is brought, the less chance there is of the bees wandering back to 
 their old haunts and there perishing. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM DEE KEEPER. 17 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF STRAW COTTAGE HIVES— THEIR SHAPE, SIZE, AND CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 The bee master, who has safely reared an autumn-purchased stock 
 through the ■winter, or procured one in the spring, as well as the cot- 
 tager who is on the look out for an early swarm, will, with the arrival 
 of April, be making preparations for suitably accommodating with 
 liive room the expected addition to their cares. The old cottage bell 
 hive it will be well to discard altogether, as being wholly unsuited to 
 an improved and profitable system of bee management Wliat kind 
 of bee domicile, however, shall be substituted in its place is a matter 
 of some difficulty to determine, owing to the multitude and the varie- 
 ty of liives which one author and another have put forward with aU 
 the earnestness of self-recommendatory enthusiasm. Most apiarians 
 have each their own favorite hive — favorite, because in some way or 
 other modified and improved according to their peculiar fancy. Of all 
 that I have either seen or heard of, the most suitable for cottagers on 
 the ground of cheapness and simphcity, is, I think, !Mr. Payne's hive. 
 I have but one objection to it, on the score of size. It is, I think too 
 small for single stock hives, kept for swarming purposes, and too large 
 for a doubled or storified colony. For the former, I would recommend, 
 instead of twelve inches in diameter by nine inches high, not less than 
 fifteen inches in diameter, inside measure, by eight inches high. This 
 size will do for any kind of system, where strong swarms are an object 
 of attainment. 
 
 For myself, as wiU be seen in the plan of bee management explain- 
 ed in the follo-wnng chapter, I aim at separating the breeding from the 
 remunerating business of the apiary, by encouraging the process of 
 breeding in one hive of large size, (which hive is kept on from year 
 to year for this purpose alone,) and the harvesting of lioney in 
 
 B 
 
18 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 another dwelling composed of /u'o hives, each individually smaller than 
 the other, though collectively larger. In this way, as soon as the 
 stock hive has thrown off its prime swarm, it is put in this doubled 
 hive, and suffered to remain till autumn, when the bees are driven 
 from it, and returned again to the hive whence they issued earlier in 
 the season, while the entire contents become the spoil of the bee 
 master. For this second or spoliation hive, (as I call it,) I recom- 
 mend a size of eleven inches in diameter by nine inches in depth ; that 
 is, (where the two hives are put together,) of eleven inches in dianie- 
 ter by eighteen inches in height, which makes it considerably larger 
 than the breeding hive. I prefer two hives to one large one, because 
 it favors the storing of a purer kind of honey, (in the upper part, at 
 least,) than if it were all laid up in the same hive, to every part of 
 which the queen mother has free access for laying eggs ; otherwise, I 
 would recommend a size of seventeen or eighteen inches by twelve 
 for a single spoliation hive. The swarm put into this hiva is encour- 
 aged to increase itself to the greatest possible size, (which the large 
 dimensions of the parent hive tend to favor,) before its issue, after 
 which, all casts are returned, and the old hive, with a new queen, suf- 
 fered to enrich itself for another year. 
 
 The material of which all hives of straw should be, if possible, con- 
 structed, is sound unthreshed rye straw, the universal testimony of all 
 bee writers justly recommending it. Let the hives be made rather 
 stouter than usual, especially if they are to stand in a cold situation — 
 one inch and a half thick is not too much, well and tightly bound to- 
 gether. The boards upon which these hives rest must be of stout inch 
 or one-and-a-half-inch stuff, and they will be of two sizes, agreeing 
 with the dimensions of the stocks to be placed on them ; but each 
 board should project at least one inch beyond the hive in every direc- 
 tion, being planed to a slope three inches all round for carrying off the 
 water. Moreover, the lowest band in every hive should be worked 
 upon a hoop of wood of as nearly as possible the same thickness.* In 
 this case, the entrance way may be cut in it, three eighths of an 
 inch high, (rather more than less,) and four inches M'ide; otherwise, the 
 
 * Care must be taken, in affixing this hoop, not to increase the height of the interior 
 space of the hives beyond the eight or* nine inches respectively. Allowance must therefore 
 be made for it on first constructing a hive. 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM BEE KEEPER. 19 
 
 entrance might, and I think mth greater advantage, be grooved out 
 of the floor board itself, having a gradual ascent into the middle of the 
 hive. The "wooden hoop recommended above " gives greater stabiUty 
 to the hive, (says Mr. Taj'lor,) preserves the lower edge from decay, 
 and aflfords facihty in removing it" — all weighty reasons in its favor. 
 
 Some persons will probably object to the larger hive on accoimt of 
 its size. I am, however, perfectly con\4nced* that large hives are fa- 
 vorable to the production of large swarms, without the securing of 
 which no apiary can be reputed as weU conducted, neither certainly 
 can it be profitable. To all who are disposed to dispute it, I say, give 
 large hives a fair trial, and they will ftilly agree with me. 
 
 * See Appendix, Note B. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE COTTAGE SYSTEM OF BEE MANAGEMENT IN THE OPEN AIR, 
 
 It is my intention in this chapter to follow through two years of his 
 experience the fortunes of some imaginary bee keeper, of the cottager 
 class, who is supposed to have been weU instructed in my pecuhar plan. 
 If I shall seem prohx and over minute, I must crave the indulgence of the 
 kind reader, who wiU, I trust, bear with me, a principal object in this 
 chapter being the complete guidance of the novice in the somewhat 
 deUcate manipulations necessary to success in this matter. I have 
 been greatly surprised at the idea of mystery which many persons 
 seem to attach to the simplest of bee operations, as well as at the 
 amount of courage thought requisite by not a few in approacliing bees. 
 With respect to the latter, I am bound to confess there are few per- 
 sons more afraid of these insects than myself, and yet I have obtained 
 a perfect command over them, as witness the success of my experi- 
 ments. The fact is, knowing from experience that I am never safe 
 from an attack, I take care always to be well protected against their 
 stings ; and this is the secret of my coolness and daring in conducting 
 any, however difficult, process, of bee management. Should any of 
 my readers labor under a similar fear of bees' stings, let me suggest to 
 them the use of a bee dress, which wiU render them proof against all 
 possible attack from any number of these insects, otherwise so justly 
 formidable. As to mystification, I have yet to learn wherein it con- 
 sists. There are many persons, however, so extremely simple, so ut- 
 terly " lost for want of hints," that unless everything be explained in the 
 minutest manner, it does not fail to wear an appearance of mystery in 
 their eyes. To such persons, I address myself in tliis particular chapter. 
 First year . — Let us suppose, then, that our commencing bee mas- 
 ter, having purchased a stock* in March or April, or in the preceding 
 
 * I do not notice the case of a cottager who may haTe commenceJ his apiary by the 
 purchase of a swarm, as he will learn from the second year's treatment of the apiary, as 
 given further on, everything requisite for him to know in the matter. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 21 
 
 autumn, (which has survived the perils of the -winter,) has the gratifi- 
 cation of beholding, after some patience, the issue of a fine swarm on 
 a sunny morning in May. No sooner is it settled, (which was none 
 the speedier for his " tanging," should he have resorted to that primi- 
 tive and enhghtened practice,) than he proceeds, with his bee dress 
 on, to the bush or ti'ee on which the bees have aUghted, whence he 
 sweeps them, with a goose wing, or with his gloved hand, into a honey- 
 smeared hive of the larger kind, (as recommended in the last chapter,) 
 whose weight ought previously to have been carefully ascertained. 
 
 Now if this swarm issued early, say on or before the 25th of May, 
 it were best to return it at once to the parent hive, after destroying its 
 queen, unless indeed it be ascertained of a certainty that her age does 
 not exceed two full years ; though even here I should feel disposed 
 to get rid of her to make way for a youug queen, as there is no doubt 
 whatever that the queen bee is in her prime for breeding the second 
 year of her existence, after which her vigor sensibly declines. While, 
 therefore, she may readily be suffered without hazard to five over a 
 third spring, it is, I think, far more profitable to keep up a succession 
 of royalty in its prime only, by getting rid of the old queen every year. 
 It may seem a difficult operation to catch and destroy a queen, where- 
 as, in truth, aU that is required is a cool and fearless temper, (wliich a 
 bee di'ess ought to give,) a good pair of eyes, and a quick but steady 
 hand. The delay in swarming wiU not be great nor injurious, while the 
 greatest possible advantage wUl accrue from this treatment, not only 
 in securing the inestimable advantage of a young queen, who will be 
 in her prime the following spring, but also in the increased jpopidation 
 that will he added to the swarm on its second issue. I lay great stress 
 upon this advantage, as it is a main feature of my system that the 
 prime swarm should be, if possible, twice as large as such swarms 
 usually are. The process of catching the old queen, and returning the 
 swarm, is extremely simple and interesting. It is as follows: — First, 
 the new swarm having been temporarily hived in the ordinary way, is 
 quietly placed on a stool or table as near as possible to the place where 
 it alighted, taking care to shade it effectually from the sun, after which 
 the bee master hastens to the old hive, and blocks up the entrance hole 
 by means of a piece of list wound round the hive, (tied in a bow,) so that 
 not a bee may pass in nor out. A httle space should be left, perhaps, 
 
22 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 for the admission of air, by thrusting a few bits of slate beneath the 
 edge of the hive. This done, a sheet or table cloth is spread on the 
 ground in a shady place, not less than tliree yards distant, (though not 
 too far,) from the old hive. Next the hive is brought, in which the 
 new swarm has been temporarily located, and its contents dashed out 
 upon the middle of the sheet by a sudden and smart blow or two on 
 its top. The bees thus exposed to view — startled, as well they may, 
 by the rude treatment they have received — appear confused and almost 
 stupified, and seem scarcely disposed to move. Noiu is the time to 
 search for the queen, and the more eyes the better; scrutinise the mass 
 carefully, seek everywhere, examine with a smaU stick or spoon every 
 heap of bees which seems larger than another, until the person of 
 majesty is secured. If, on being knocked out of the hive, the bees take 
 wing, (which however will rarely, if ever, be the case, where the oper- 
 ation is conducted in the shade,) the whole swarm will return to the 
 old stock, (their flying elsewhere is now inconceivable,) where they will 
 congregate in a large cluster near the entrance, vainly endeavoring to 
 get admission, owing to the impediment of the list bandage. Ilere, then, 
 the apiator comes, and searches everywhere among the living mass 
 until successful in his search. As soon as the queen is caught, let him 
 quit the scene of operation instantly, and either destroy her at once, 
 or put her under a glass or tumbler inverted, together with a few 
 workers ; she would prove an invaluable boon to the weak hive of 
 some neighboring cottager, if not too old. Eeturning 'then quickly to 
 the garden, the bee master loosens the hst bandage, if somebody else 
 have not done this already, and permits to the outlying bees free ac- 
 cess to their ancient home, into which they will speedily enter. At 
 first, they will be somewhat restless, but everything will have become 
 tranquil long before night, the bees consoling themselves the more 
 readily for the loss of their queen, with the prospect of a speedy issue 
 of royal brood. The apiator must now watch carefuUy for the second 
 rising of the swarm, which will generally take -place between the seventh 
 and tenth day after, though sometimel sooner or later, as the case may 
 be. It will rise, however, with greater readiness and regularity than 
 the first, as well on account of the crowded state of the hive, as be- 
 cause young queens are known to be less dependent on the weather 
 than the old ones. When risen and settled, let them be speedily hived, 
 as before, in (heir improved permanent building, (a large hive if it 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEK KEEPElt, 23 
 
 is to be kept to another year,) and located the same evening on their 
 new stand,* at a distance of a foot and a half from the joarent stock. 
 Should the season be at all propitious, this swarm ought to weigh from 
 60 to 90 lbs,, at the end of eight weeks' time, and yield magnificent 
 swarms the following year. 
 
 Should it be ascertained, however, that the age of the queen bee 
 does not exceed two full years, and it be thought desirable that she 
 should head the swarm, or if the swarm should issue after the 25 th 
 of May, (in wliich case the prime swarm might be delayed too long 
 if the queen were destroyed,) -yvhen the bees have been quietly settled 
 a few minutes in their new or larger hive, let the old hive be removed 
 from its accustomed stand to some shady and remote part of the gar- 
 den till evening, it bein,g there tied up, and its inhabitants kept prison- 
 ers until then. The new hive should now be put upon a suitable 
 board, and made to replace the old hive. The object of tliis proceeding 
 is the strengthening of the new swarm to its utmost extent, and tho 
 prevention of casting. The former is not of so much importance the first 
 year as afterwards, when, the apiary having attained its full and intend- 
 ed size, or nearly so, these prime swarvxs are to he b^okeii up in the au- 
 iumn, and spoiled of th^ir contents. At present, the prime swarm, I shall 
 suppose, is ii^tended to remain as a stock o.ver the coming winter. The 
 plan to be pm-sued with a view to strengthen it, (and even when the hive 
 is to be kept, it may be strengthened witli advantage,) is as follows : — 
 About an hour before dusk, the old hive is brought to the stand which it 
 is intended permanently to occupy ; here the bandage is loosened, when 
 a rush of the imprisoned bees will take place, eager to eryo.y the pure 
 air after their confinement. Ma7iy of them, after a short flight, will 
 return, but, not a few, instead of flying back to their hive, will go to 
 their former vxll-knoivn quarters, now occupied hy. the new swarm. 
 There finding their queen and friends, tl^ey will remain to increase 
 the strength of the new swarm, by the welcome addition of their 
 numbers. Nothing remains but to restore its hackle to the old hive, 
 and to give a milk pan to the new one — this having aflat top, but not 
 so the other. The pan should be elevated an inch from the top of the 
 
 ♦ That is, if the swarm appears vny strong ; otherwise, let it be treated aocording to the 
 directions given in the ensuing paragraph. 
 
24 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEl'ER. 
 
 hive, by the insertion of a lew stones, to allow space for a current of 
 cool air between it and the hive, which will be very grateful to the 
 bees, and tend to further the hive's prosperity. 
 
 Now in this case, that is, the substitution of the new liive for the 
 old one, in all probability no further issue of swarms will take place 
 from the old stock, for the major part of the population having gone 
 ofi' with, or subsequently joined, the prime swarm, there is every like- 
 lihood that the first-hatched princess will issue from her cradle before 
 the population shall have sufficiently increased as effectually to control 
 her actions, notwithstanding the large quantity of brood which is 
 always left behind by the old queen. In this case, which will happen 
 nine times out of ten, the newly-hberated C{ueen rushes wildly about 
 the hive, inflamed by instinctive impulse to a most vindictive rage, 
 plunges her sting into every royal cell still occupied by brood, and 
 destroys every rival, thus remaining undisputed mistress of the hive. 
 Here, of course, no more swarms will issue ; but — and mark the ad- 
 vantage of this result — instead of a succession of miserable casts pro- 
 ceeding from the hive to trouble and annoy the apiator, and blight his 
 prospects for another year, (which casting almost invariably produces, 
 as the casts are in general worthless, and the old stock becomes too 
 impoverished to survive tlie Avinter,) there will stand till the spring 
 following the original stock, besides the prime swarm, both presided 
 over by young and vigorous queens, and having a teeming and youth- 
 ful population. 
 
 In the former case, however, where the first-hatched princess of the 
 year was forced to le^d off the prime swarm, (this being not located 
 on the old stand,) a cast must certainly be looke 1 for, which wiU prob- 
 ably issue from the liive two or three days after the first ; that is, un- 
 less the first swarm was remarkably large. Instead of suffering it to 
 stand as a distinct stock, I would advise it to be returned to its parent 
 hive the same day. As, however, it would probably re-issue the fol- 
 lowing day, (and every day so long as there remained any royal brood,) 
 I would recommend the apiator, after hiving the cast in the usual way, 
 to lift the old hive off its stand, turn it up in a pail, and cut out every 
 royal cell iliat he can see. Owing to the probably small number of bees 
 left behind, after the issue of the cast, the operation is a very simple 
 and easy one. When the royal cells have been removed, bring the 
 cast ii) its temporary hive, and turn it quickly bottom upwards in the 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM BEE KEEPER. 25 
 
 pail, and set the old hive over it. The bees will immediately ascend 
 up into it ; nor will there be any further issue, especially if the junc- 
 tion be effected towards evening. It is well to perform the operation 
 close to the old stand of the old hive, to which, (when the bees have 
 crept up into it,) the hive may be removed ; were the junction effected 
 at a distance, it might happen that a good many bees would lose them- 
 selves in seeking for their home in its well-known locality, particularly 
 if the old hive were not replaced till evening. 
 
 The old-fashioned bee keeper will, I doubt not, object to the system 
 here proposed, that it promises no nectar spoil the first year, owing to 
 my discouragem^ent of casting; all scientific apiarians, however, are 
 agreed in recommending either the return of casts, or their junction 
 with one or more others. Of these two methods, I decidedly give the 
 preference to the former ; and I think it stands to reason, that two old 
 hives, (if still clean, and not too old as to their comb,) with a returned 
 population of youthful workers and vigorous queens, will do far more, 
 and yield a much larger profit in the end, than the united casts of these 
 hives would do, together with the same old stocks, if preserved to 
 another year — seeing these will each have a weak population. More- 
 over, the season must be bad indeed which does not see some surplus 
 boney gathered by, and obtained from, the monster prime swarm. 
 Large though the hive may be, it will be found to fall short of the 
 space demanded by the wants of the thronging and busy insects ; the 
 bee master ought, therefore, about the eighteenth day after its estab- 
 lishment, (according to the season,) to withdraw the bung from the 
 top hole, and place a large glass or cap over it, having a piece of comb 
 fastened to its side by the application of heat, to tempt the bees up 
 into it. Should a glass be preferred to a cap of straw, it must have a 
 warm flannel covering closely fitting over it, to prevent the escape 
 of heat ; in very hot weather, of course this may be removed, but put 
 on again should a change of weather occur and a cold temperature 
 prevail. A common bell hive painted should be made to cover the 
 glass or cap, surmounted by a neat hackle, projecting in part over the 
 lower hive, as a protection from rain and sun. Should more room be 
 wanted, which will be known by the thronging of the bees about the 
 entrance, a low flat-topped hive should be introduced between the 
 glass, already partially filled, and the hive itself; or else, if the hive 
 have several holes in its crown board, other glasses may be set over 
 
26 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 it, large or small, according to circumstances, Avhicli I prefer greatly 
 to the piling of sujyers one over the other. 
 
 The next matter, which will claim the attention of the cottager, will 
 be the removal of the honeyful cap or glass whenever that happy cir- 
 cumstance is ascertained, which may be known by seeing most of the 
 cells that are visible ceiled in with a waxen lid. As soon as this is 
 certainly known — if the glass or cap seems ready for spoliation on or 
 before the 7th of July — another smaller glass or cajj may be substitu- 
 ted for it. After that date, it will be advisable to suffer the bees to fill 
 their empty store room in the hive below. The bee master need not 
 regret the transfer of the honey that may be collected after that time 
 from himself to his bees, as after the middle of July what honey is 
 collected is generally poor, and has often a peculiar flavor, far from 
 agreeable. While, however, this honey will be of little value to liim- 
 self, it is good enough for his bees, and a treasure to them. 
 
 The removal of a glass or cap, and the substitution of another in its 
 place, is not a matter of much difficulty. The best time for perform- 
 ing the operation is towards the brightest part of a fine day, when 
 most of the bees are luxuriating in the fields. This usually occurs 
 about one or two o'clock, p.m. The apiator should be carefully armed 
 against the possibility of being stung, as bees are often greatly en- 
 raged, especially if their hive receive any blow or jar in the event of 
 the operation being awkwardly performed. The actual removal of the 
 glass is an easy matter. It is not from the bees who may happen to 
 be in the glass, or at the hole in the top, that an attack is to be appre- 
 hended ; the sudden admission of Hght at an unguarded point, where 
 an invasion is least expected by them, seems so greatly to confound 
 them, that they never attempt to fly, except they are breathed upon; 
 tills makes it very easy to remove a glass in a bee house, where the in- 
 and-out-flying bees cannot annoy. 
 
 A favorable opportunity having presented itself, let the bee master 
 proceed to his apiary with a fresh glass in his hand, a plate or dish 
 large enough to hold the full one, a stout piece of thread, and a knife 
 or pj^atula. After gently removing the hackle and covering hive, 
 the knife must be passed round the edges of the cap or glass so as to 
 break the propoUs which makes it adhere to the hive top. Next let 
 him pass the string, holding it with both hands, under the glass, to 
 sever the comb above from its attachments below — for it has generally 
 
THE COITAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPFR. 27 
 
 a communication through the hole with the combs below. This must 
 be done carefully, so as to destroy as few bees as possible — care being 
 taken also to cut the combs from end to end lengthwise, and not side- 
 ways or across, for fear of disengaging them from the sides, or crush- 
 ing a number of bees between them, and so spoihng the honeycomb. 
 The full glass should now be raised gently, yet ciuickly, oflP, and put in 
 the plate that was provided for the purpose, after which the fresh glass 
 must be elevated over the hole in the place of the former, and its 
 coverings restored as before. Should it be thought proper to give no 
 more room additional, of course the straw bung will be placed over 
 the hole, and the milk pan covering restored. 
 
 Let the full glass now be removed either into the cottage or to some 
 shady part of the garden, placed on a table, and covered over with 
 some dark cloth or handkerchief for the space of thirty or forty 
 minutes. By this tune, the imprisoned bees wQl generally be found in 
 the greatest commotion, which is the best augury of success, for the 
 queen mother is known by this to be absent from among them ; it is 
 a sign, also, in general, that there is no brood in the glass. As to 
 brood, however, it is utterly unlikely that any will be found where 
 the hive itself is a large one ; the queen never breeds in a bell glass 
 except when the dimensions of her proper dwelhng are too contracted 
 for her wants. Now, then, must the glass be turned bottom upwards 
 in the plate, it being still partially covered by the cloth. In a very 
 few minutes, every bee will have flown away. Care must be taken 
 not to breathe upon, fumigate, nor tap the glass, for this only diverts 
 the bees' attention, and counteracts the influence of the royal instinct, 
 now all-prevalent. If left alone, they will hie home with all speed, 
 eager to rejoin their beloved queen mother. "When the operation is 
 performed in the house, the room into which the glass is taken must 
 be darkened in every part, save only at one open space in one of the 
 windows, through which the insects may fly out unimpeded ; more- 
 over, the window should look out directly upon, or not be far from, 
 the apiary, otherwise the bees will be apt to return into the room to 
 the annoyance of the apiator, being at a loss to find their way home. 
 He must also be present most of the time until the glass is empty, for 
 sometimes the bees will return with an accession of force, and rifle 
 every drop of honey they can find. Should any symptom be apparent 
 of an invasion of this sort before the glass is emptied of its contents, it 
 
28 THE COTTAGE AND FAKM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 must be removed elsewhere, and the bees imprisoned for a short 
 space; but this wLU very rarely happen, except where the bee 
 master is most culpably neghgent. 
 
 It sometimes happens, as I have hinted above, that the queen bee 
 is imprisoned among her subjects in the glass. If so — and it will be 
 known by the comparative silence Avhich reigns within, and the Uttle 
 disposition of the bees to fly away, as well as, (though after a longer 
 interval, and then not always,) by the restlessness of the bees in the 
 old stock — the glass must be restored to the parent hive till the queen 
 is ascertained to have descended ; or, better stUl, the queen may be 
 hunted for in the glass, and her person secured. In this case, she 
 might be destroyed, if found to be small in size, and thought to be old; 
 but this must be done with caution, especially if the hive from which 
 she is taken be intended for a permanent stock; that is, to remain at least 
 over the following winter ; for a queen may often be lost from a hive 
 without the bees ever perceiving it, in which case, she must inevitably 
 perish. If not destroyed, let the queen be put on the alighting board 
 of the hive, into which she will speedily enter. 
 
 Where brood is found in the glass, if in any quantity, it ought to be 
 returned ; otherwise, the sacrifice of it is of little importance. 
 
 As soon as August is fairly over, it will be time to prepare for 
 winter, by weighing the hives, and supplying any deficiency in the 
 weight by a timely and liberal supply of food. The new stock ought 
 to weigh upwards of 23 lbs. of contents, and the old one about the 
 same, for the difference in age in the one case will about equalize, in 
 weight of comb, &c., the difference in the other ; that is, if one hive 
 contains old, and therefore heavy comb, the other wUl probably con- 
 tain a greater abundance of pollen, as wcU as more comb, than the 
 other. Should either hive weigh less than the figure above specified, 
 (and each ought to weigh very much more than this,) feed copiousl}'-, 
 and in the shortest possible space of time, (in order that the exciting 
 cause may be the quicker removed, when bees consume more food 
 than usual,) either with honey or prepared food, full directions for the 
 making of which will be found further on in this book. 
 
 The business of the apiary being now concluded for the year, all 
 that remains to be done is to shelter the hives from the winter sun, 
 should they be at all exposed to its influence. This part of bee 
 management, namely, the wintering of bees, has rarely been properly 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM CEE KEEPER. 29 
 
 attended to* ; aud yet there can scarcely be imagined a more import- 
 ant duty of the bee keeper. We have, indeed, had suggestions, many 
 and variouSj from different quarters, as to the best method of winter- 
 ing liives ; but no certain or uniform plan, as the result of a careful 
 trial of all available methods, has yet been put forward ; and it is evi- 
 dent that no one can speak of any method being the best, until the 
 various merits of such methods have been fairly tested. Some persons 
 have successfully kept bees through the winter by burial under gi'ound, 
 while others have stowed their hives in cool barns and dry cellars with 
 a like result, yet experiments of this kind have been isolated, and no 
 certain inference can be drawn from them in favor of those particular 
 plans as generally reconimAdable. One bee master suggests the 
 transfer of hives to the north side of a wall or building, while a second 
 (as !Mr. Taylor,) recommends their being sheltered fi-om the sun by a 
 large wooden screen placed in front of them, without removing them 
 "from their summer stands. In the present condition of our ignorance 
 on the subject, (for I cannot call it knowledge), I should advise a trial 
 of these screens, one to each hive ; or, better perhaps, (because cheaper 
 and less awkward.) a double line stretched on poles, firmly fixed in the 
 ground, and covered with hass mntting, might be made to protect 
 several hives at once. Of the two former plans, it is impossible yet to 
 speak with any certainty, until their merits shall have been largely 
 tried. Nothing is more certain than that all hives become greatly 
 weakened which are suffered to remain throughout the winter ex- 
 posed to the sun's influence ; for many bees wiU be lured out of their 
 comfortable quarters to almost certain ruin, while an increased con- 
 sumption of food takes place. "Where a suitable locality is chosen, 
 (well sheltered.) I am very much disposed to consider a permanent 
 north or northwest situation as presenting an aspect the most desira- 
 ble for bee hives ; but time, and the increasing enterest in scientific 
 bee management, which is rapidly developing itself, will assuredly dis- 
 close to us many truths yet only guessed at. 
 
 Second year. — The severity of winter no sooner yields to the 
 soft influence of February zephyrs, [this wiU apply to Virginia and Ken- 
 tucky or other states south, but at the north, the season will not be 
 
 See Appendix, Note C. 
 
so THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 sufficiently advanced,] than our little favorites sally forth in quest of 
 nourishment for their young, many of whom, it may be, are already 
 hatched in the hive. Warned by their drony hum, (for it has a pecu- 
 liar sound at this season of the year,) the bee master should pay an 
 early visit to his apiary, taking with him a clean and dry bottom board. 
 The process of board-cleansing is another rarely-considered duty of 
 the apiarian, but not the less important on that account. To the ne- 
 glect of this precaution is to be attributed the ruin of not a few hives 
 by the wax moth, and the impoverishment of many more, annually. 
 These insects are on the alert sometimes as early as March, if the 
 weather is mild, and may be seen at morn and eve hovering busily around ' 
 the hives. They lay a good deal in the icfterstices between the hive and 
 the board, on that side where the latter is most tliickly covered with 
 the debris of comb, (for they quickly scent it out,) if this is not 
 removed. Where the hive is well glued by propolis to the board, 
 it is a question if the larvae, when the eggs are hatched, can get in, 
 on which account it may seem a dubious good to break up the hives 
 from their boards. If, however, these latter are frequently cleansed — 
 and the oftener the better — no danger on this score need be appre- 
 hended , besides, the bees will be spared much labor. The best way 
 to conduct this operation, is to substitute a fresh board for that of one 
 of the hives, which may be cleansed and dried eflectually ere it be 
 substituted tlie foUoAving day for the board of the second hive, and so 
 on throughout the apiary, where more than two hives are kept. The 
 last removed board, after being thoroughly cleansed, may be laid by 
 for future use. 
 
 While the above operation is being performed, a good opportunity 
 presents for examining the condition of the comb in the old hives. 
 Let these, therefore, be turned up, and any old, black, or mouldy comb 
 that may be visible, removed, taking care not tp cut too deep into the 
 hive, so as to injure the brood comb actually occupied. 
 
 The next thing to be attended to is the weighto£ca,ch. hive, in which 
 shoi;ld there chance to be any deficiency, let a proper supply of food 
 be given to the bees. This ought to have been effectually guarded 
 against some months before ; but if such attention Avas not paid to 
 it, about half a pound of diluted honey or beer and sugar, (see Chap- 
 ter XI.,) per week should be supphed to them, until honey is known 
 to abound- 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 31 
 
 Besides the danger arising from a possible failure of food, there are 
 other evils no less formidable to be apprehended, and various contin- 
 gencies to be met as they arise. Should any of the hives, for instance, 
 appear sluggish towards the middle or close of March, or even Q3,rlier ; 
 if the bees stay much at home, however apparently numerous ; and 
 httle or no pollen is carried into the liive, (and two out of every three 
 bees ought to return from the fields well laden with this substance.) 
 mischief is certainly brewing within. This last, of aU signs, is the 
 most fatal It is now all over with the hive's prosperity, and the sooner 
 it is broken up the better. Either the queen is dead, or she has be- 
 come worn out with age. In either case, the bees, having reconciled 
 themselves to their fate, Uve riotously on their stores while hfe lasts, 
 or their store of honey remains. The best way to treat the hive under 
 these circumstances, is to fumigate it with burnt puff ball, {Racodi- 
 v,m cellare,)* and to unite the bees to the nearest neighboring hive. 
 As this is often a matter of trouble and difficulty, I would recommend 
 the following plan to be adopted in conducting the process : — When 
 the bees are all at home, blow into the hive, by the entrance of a suffi- 
 cient quantity of smoke, till all is still within it. A few raps upon the 
 hive will shake down a great many bees, which the smoke itself, per- 
 haps, has failed to chsengage from between the combs. Now Uft up the 
 hive, and sweep the fumigated bees from the stand into an empty hive 
 or other receptacle, together with as many bees as can be swept off 
 the combs of the hive itself before they come to life again. This done, 
 while one person sprinkles the fumigated bees with sugar water, let 
 another remove the old hive, and set it over a hole prepared before- 
 hand, and filled witla a few sulphur matches ; afterwards, the combs 
 may be cut out at leisure, without any annoyance from the not seldom 
 speedy recovery of the haff-fumigated bees. Before joining the fumi- 
 gated bees to another stock, the population of both the hives should be 
 sprinkled with a little sugared ale or eau siicri. To effect the junction, 
 proceed as follows : — After well sprinkling the fumigated bees, set them, 
 (in the common bell hive,) bottom upwards in a pail ; then take the 
 full hive, also sprinkled with the preparation, and set it over the 
 other ; tie a cloth round the points of union of the two hives, and let 
 
 • Seo Mr. Taylor's book. 
 
32 THE COTTAGE AND FARM" BEE KEEPER. 
 
 them remain in this condition till the following morning early. Now 
 remove the cloth, and set the full hive on its old stand, when the bees 
 will be found to have harmoniously coalesced. The hives must not 
 in anywise be meddled with during the time afforded them for ami- 
 cably settUng their differences. What honey is found in the fumiga- 
 ted hive becomes the spoil of the bee master ; being probably consid- 
 erable, he must console himself therewith for his loss. 
 
 Let us suppose, however, that both his stocks survive the winter 
 and spring, and on the approach of May, are in strong and vigorous 
 health, and promise early swarms. Towards the end of April, his 
 improved hive with the flat roof, (the other, be it remembered, is still 
 the old hive originally purchased, and has no hole ; one however might be 
 cut out of its top,) must be furnished with a large cap or bee glass, more 
 particularly if there is any intention of returning the prime swarm, 
 with a view to get rid of the old queen ; for, in this case, the interval 
 which must elapse betVeen the return and the re-issue of the swarm 
 will be often so considerable, as to afford plenty of time for fiUing a 
 fine glass, owing to the large and rapid increase of the population. In 
 very good seasons, two glasses may be taken off. 
 
 And now swarming time, that most interesting of all seasons to the 
 lover of bees, has, we will suppose, again come round, and his heart 
 is elate with hope, while anticipating less disappointment than under 
 the old system. The bee master is now frequently about his liives, 
 supplying water, shading from the sun, and watching the progi'ess of 
 his bees. The early appearance of drones is hailed by him as an es- 
 pecial augury of prosperity ; and they may be seen in some forward 
 seasons so early as the middle of April. The carrying in of large 
 quantities of pollen, also, is noted with infinite satisfaction. 
 
 Let us now take the case of the old stock, which swarmed the year 
 before ; this being smaller than the swarm which issued from it, and 
 certainly containing a queen of the previous year, is the first to swarm, 
 and that on or before the 25th of May. As soon as settled, the bees 
 should be swept into the larger-sized hive, similar to the one used the 
 year before, if it be intended to preserve it as a stock hive to another 
 spring ; and the new swarm put in the place of the parent stock, re- 
 moving this to a stand close by. The same treatment, also, will be 
 adopted with the first swarm that issues from the other stock, 
 should it have a youthful queen as the other, and be reserved for win- 
 
33 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 ter stock likewise. If, however, the queen was not destroyed the year 
 before, but suffered to accompany the prime swarm on its first issue, 
 by all means let tliis be done now, and the swarm be returned to its 
 parent hive tiU the emancipation of the oldest princess. This will not 
 take place for at least a week later, therefore, give additional space for 
 working at the top of the hive ; it wiU not delay the swarm's issue a 
 single moment. 
 
 If, however, it be deemed suitable to increase the apiary by slower 
 degrees, and one additional stock only be reserved for winter-keeping, 
 the swarm from the second stock need not have its queen destroyed. 
 Let it, in tliis case, be put into one of the smaller-sized hives, (see Chap- 
 ter IV,) and located on the old stand, as in the instance not long ago 
 specified. It wUl thus derive a great accession of strength, owing to 
 the constant resorting to it of many bees from the old liive, who, on 
 returning from the fields, will, in considerable numbers, bend their 
 flight to their -old homestead.* 
 
 Tliis swarm must have additional room furnished to it within a week 
 of its establishment, by placing a super of exactly the same dimen- 
 sions over the hive itself; it may, indeed, often be requisite to give 
 this before, as when the season is very favorable or the swarm unusu- 
 ally large. If these hives are carefully fastened together, well paint- 
 ed, surmounted with a milk pan, and carefully shaded from the sun, 
 they will require no more care till the spoliation season comes round. 
 One or more glasses may be taken off" in the course of the summer 
 from the old stocks and the first swarm ; but the apiarian wiU look 
 chiefly for his spolia opi'ina, [arms taken by one commander from an- 
 other,] to the second prime swarm, if he does not intend to keep it 
 over the coming winter. 
 
 Let us suppose the autumn arrived. His bees, perhaps, have all 
 thrived well. There stands the original stock purchased the year be- 
 fore ; also the swarm which proceeded from it the same season ; and 
 the two swarms obtained from these hives in the current year. Should 
 
 * I need not repeat here the instructions already given in the early part of this chapter 
 for the management of the parent stock after this issue of the prime swarm ; suffice it to 
 say, that no casts ought, on any account, to be suffered to stand as independent stocks ; 
 rather let them be returned to tlieir parent hives on the same day of their issue, after a care- 
 ful excision of all the royal cells which present them=elves (o view. 
 
34 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 the bee keeper intend to break up liis oldest hive, (which he might 
 do advantageously,) hoth his prime swarms ought in this case be pre- 
 served, and to this end they should have been put both of them into the 
 largest hives. But if one of them was put into the smaller hive, with 
 the super added to it, with a view to plunder in the autumn, in this 
 case the old liive may be kept, (unless two hives are considered a full 
 complement for the apiary,) after cutting out of it one or two of the 
 oldest and dirtiest-looking combs. In either case the bees should be 
 preserved, and be given to the neighboring stocks. The plan to be pur- 
 sued is this — and first where the old hive is to be broken up : 
 
 Towards dusk on a calm warm evening, proceed to the apiary, ac- 
 companied by a well-armed assistant, taking with him the following 
 articles : — a good-sized table cloth, a bucket or pail, a low stool, a good 
 length of strong twine, an empty hive of the same diameter as the 
 hive to be operated on, some sulphured feathers and matches, a spade 
 and a couple of stout sticks about a foot long. These are the imple- 
 ments wliich I have found useful in conducting the process of driving. 
 
 Business is opened by planting the bucket firmly on the ground 
 within a yard or two of the doomed hive, which ought some hours 
 previously to have been broken up from its board, and elevated an 
 inch above it by some sticks thrust underneath it, with a view to force 
 the bees up among the combs by means of the current of air which is 
 thereby admitted across the floor board. The cloth must noAv be held 
 by the assistant unfolded, in such a manner that, when thrown over 
 the hive, its centre shall rest on the top of the hive, while the string 
 lies untwisted close by the bucket ready for use. Everything being 
 in readiness thus far, the apiator gently, but quickly, lifts the full hive 
 off its stand, and arranges it bottom upwards in the bucket. The 
 empty hive with equal celerity and care is then lifted over the re- 
 versed stock, and adjusted as accurately as possible to the up-turned 
 base of it, so that the two hives exactly coincide.* On a signal from the 
 chief operator, the assistant quickly throws the cloth over the top of 
 the hive, upon which one of them seizes the string and proceeds to 
 
 * If not equal in diameter, the empty hive maybe rather larger, but on no accounl 
 smaller, than that of the full hive ; otherwise, ten to one the bees will refuse to ascend, 
 preferring, together with their queen, to adhere obstinately to the intervening ledge. A 
 liive with a few combs will tempt them up readily. 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM BEE KEEPER. 35 
 
 pass it several times round the hives, just at, above, and heloiu the 
 points of junction, taking care to tie it in a bow. A particular atten- 
 tion to tliese minutke will save the managers a great deal of trouble, 
 while it will ensure complete success. This being done — and if done 
 nicely, not a bee will have escaped to annoy the operators — let one per- 
 son hold the hives steadily, so that they may not slip apart, while the 
 other seated on the stool provided for the purpose, commences a smart, 
 quick, and regular, but not too violent, drumming against the sides of 
 the reversed and full hive, (and this alone,) with the sticks above men- 
 tioned. An alternate series of drummings, with intervals of cessation 
 of a couple of minutes at a time, will soon disturb the population with- 
 in, and compel the bees to ascend into the empty hive after their 
 queen, who is generally among the first to move. The ascent, which 
 is always accompsyiied with a loud buzzing sound, is frequently ef- 
 fected, (as in the case especially of a strong and full stock with a vig- 
 orous queen,) within five minutes of the first commencement of the 
 drumming ; sometimes, however, it is delayed for many minutes. The 
 operator will soon learn the fittest time for removing the upper hive 
 after a Uttle practice ; the novice I would advise to wait some ten or fif- 
 teen minutes after the first great humming is over. He may continue 
 tapping at intervals against the bottom hive, but very gently, or the 
 bees which had already gone up, might descend, as I have more than 
 once known the queen to do. "VVlien the bees are perfectly quiet, the 
 cloth must be unfastened and gently removed Avithout shaking it, else 
 the bees, which may happen to be imprisoned in it, will be flying 
 about in all directions to the dismaj- of those present. Now let the 
 top hive be quietly taken off and placed on some stool or table with- 
 out jarring it, tiU what few bees may be left in the old hive have been 
 fumigated with brimstone after the old fashion. A very httle sulphur 
 ■\nU suffice in this case, as the fumes will quickly pervade the hive 
 now thinned of its population. After removing the old hive in-doors — 
 where the combs maybe cut out immediately — attention is turned once 
 more to the expatriated bees. If the nearest hive to their old stand, 
 (to which they had best be joined — as but few, if any, will loose them- 
 selves in seeking their old habitation,) have a flat top, let its coverings 
 and bungs be removed, and a piece of perforated zinc be spread over 
 the hole or holes ; the temporary hive may then be set over it, and 
 every cranny effectually closed, (by which the bees might escape,) with 
 
36 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 a little clay, when the smell of the two swarms will so amalgamate, 
 that, on withdrawing the plate six or more hours later, they will be 
 found to have peaceably united, after a contest for sovereignty be- 
 tween the two queens. At the end of a week — or earher if it can be 
 ascertained that the bees have all descended, (up to which time the 
 clay stopping must on no account be removed from the upper hive,) 
 the top hive may be taken away altogether. Should any bees be still 
 found in it, let them be knocked out in front of the hive to which they 
 have been joined, and they will speedily fly into it. If, on falling down, 
 they seem to congregate in amass, and do not return to their new home, 
 their queen, it will be conjectured, probably with truth, is still among 
 them ; let her be sought for and kiUed, upon which the bees wiU soon 
 disperse and fly away. 
 
 Where the nearest hive has no flat top, (or rather, a hole at its top,) 
 let one three inches square be neatly cut out of it with a sharp knife, 
 and a cap of perforated zinc be fitted over it. After sufiering the 
 temporary hive, (carefully clayed up,) to remain in this way for a suf- 
 ficient time — say till the following evening — it may be gently Ufted 
 up, while the zinc cap is removed from the top hole of the lower hive ; 
 let the hive then be replaced as before tiU the end of the week, and 
 treated according to the directions above given. 
 
 This plan of effecting unions of bees is, perhaps, the simplest and 
 most effectual of any. We are indebted to Mr. Walond, late rector 
 of Weston-under-Penyard, Ross, a diligent apiarian, for the important 
 discovery, (which I have frequently verified,) that if a piece of perfo- 
 rated wood or metal be introduced between two hives set one above 
 another, the smell of the two famihes will commingle in such a man- 
 ner, that the bees wUl shortly unite in harmony and become one fam- 
 ily, thus showing that these insects recognize friend from foe by smell 
 alone. 
 
 It will sometimes happen, (though very rarely,) that no drumming 
 wUl induce the bees to ascend into the empty hive set over them. 
 When this is the case, either there is but little comb in the reversed 
 hive, or the bees are few in number, or their queen is weak or dead. 
 In the latter instance, (and, indeed, in e\'t!ry instance where the bees 
 to be preserved will not ascend,) recourse must be had to fumigation. 
 Where stocks are thin in population, or only half full of comb, driving 
 will rarely succeed, and then only after much trouble. ■ Under such 
 
THE COTTAGE A^ND FARM BEE KEEPER. 37 
 
 circumstances, the only way to dislodge them is by the use of some 
 narcotic. As soon as this has been effectually employed, and the bees 
 are collected in a glass or bowl, let them be spiinkled with honey or 
 sugar water ; this done, reverse them on a perforated zinc plate, and 
 set them over the hive to which they are to be joined. The plate may 
 be withdrawn in a few minutes and the junction effected. Perhaps it 
 is useful to blow a few whifis of the same narcotic used in fumigating 
 these bees in at the entrance of the hive to which they are to be joined, 
 as in the instance already explained. I cannot say I am an advocate 
 for fumigation where it can be avoided, for I have always found it a 
 dirty, tedious, and troublesome jirocess ; but many as strongly advo- 
 cate it — and there are times when bees can be saved in no other 
 way. 
 
 If the old hive is not to be plundered, but reserved for stock to an- 
 other year — should it be more than four years old — ^it will be advisa- 
 ble to cut away part of the comb, wliich is now getting black and old. 
 To eft'ect this, let the bees be driven out according to the method just 
 explained. When driven, and taken off the old hive, proceed to cut 
 out the two middle, or blackest-looking combs, about three quarters 
 of the way up ; that is, until the cells are reached which contain honey, 
 for tills ought by no means to be removed. Should the weight of the 
 hive be gi'eat, the lower part of more than two combs may safely be 
 cut away, j^rovided that no brood is sacrificed in so doing. If the 
 combs appear stiU full of brood, the process of comb excision must be 
 deferred until the young bees are all hatched out ; indeed, the process 
 of comb excision, on this account, should be generally delayed tiU the 
 end of August or the beginning of September, when the lo;^"er cells 
 will be found empty, for the most part, of both honey and brood. 
 After cutting out as much comb as is thought advisable, the bees may 
 be re-driven into their old domicile, where they will soon put things 
 to rights, and, perhaps, make some fresh comb before winter — but if 
 not, the vacuum wiU do no harm I have known bees to construct comb 
 under these circumstances after the 2-lth of September, when they had 
 been so treated. I need only observe, that a hive renewed in thia 
 manner by a periodical excision of comb may last in good health and 
 full prosperity for as many years as the straw itself will last. 
 
 The method of deaUng with a spoliation swarm is as follows : — The 
 top or super hive should be taken off not later than the first week in 
 
38 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEErER, 
 
 August. The plan to be j^ursued in its removal is in all respects sim- 
 ilar to that ah-eady explained at full, where the first glass or cap had 
 to be taken off the former year. Nor should the plunder of the main 
 stock itself be delayed much beyond this time, except where the sur- 
 rounding country affords much autumn pasturage for bees, in which 
 case, also, the super, (if not full,) may be kept on a fortnight or so, 
 longer. "Where the queen is still vigorous, a good deal of brood may 
 yet be found in the lower liive, on driving the bees out of it, at the 
 period of deprivation. If so, after uniting the bees, as before directed, 
 to the nearest stock, and cutting out each comb carefully, I would 
 recommend the part containing the brood to be separated, and to be 
 placed over the stock to which the bees have already been added. In 
 order to effect this, let the bungs be removed from the to]:) of the hive, 
 and set a plate of zinc over the holes ; next adjust the brood combs in 
 an empty flat-topped hive turned bottom upwards, (from which the 
 bungs have previously been removed,) in such a manner, that the bees, 
 on being admitted to the comba through the coinciding holes of the 
 two hives, shall be able to get at every cell — in order to which, the 
 combs must be so arranged as not to he flat against each other. Now 
 coyer this over with an empty bell hive pushed down over it, and 
 Avithdraw the zinc plate ; the bees will shortly ascend, warm up, and 
 hatch out -the brood with their accustomed care, after Avhich, at the 
 end of three weeks, the top hives may be removed, and everytliing 
 set in order as before. 
 
 For autumnal management, in general, in respect to weighing and 
 feeding up of stocks, I refer the reader to what was said earlier in the 
 chapter, imder the head of the first year's treatment of the apiary. 
 It remains for me to add a few words on the selection of breeding 
 stocks to stand the winter. ^ly plan is — and it is a plan I would ear- 
 nestly press upon the bee keeper's notice — to keep the same stock on 
 from year to year, so long as the hives themselves are sound and un- 
 injured ; and, if properly painted every year, having also a Avoodeu 
 hoop at bottom, they will last lull fifteen years and upwards. My rea- 
 sons for recommending tliis unusual plan are as follows : — First, that 
 these stocks have always young queens, and a more youthful and vigor- 
 ous population, if they have s\yarmed once, and only once, in the pre- 
 ceding summer ; and secondly, that the bee keeper's honey harvests, 
 being gathered from virgin hives, and fresh combs, will be so much 
 
THE COTTACiE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 89 
 
 more abundant and valuable owing to the superior purity of the honey 
 so obtained. Is it objected to this system of management, that the 
 old hires, by reason of the age and foulness of their combs, will be- 
 come less and less proUfic and healthy every year ? I answer, (and 
 the reader will be prepared for my answer from what has been already 
 written,) that every autumn, not later than the end of September, one 
 fourth or one fifth of the combs in each hive, (that is, the lower part 
 only to the depth of six or seven inches; for the upper part is 
 rarely used for breeding purposes, and therefore lasts a longer time,) 
 must be cut away, so that all the combs in every breeding hive shall 
 be reneived once in every four or five years. By this means, a stock 
 will maintain itself in perpetual youth ard vigor, so long as straw and 
 . binding will hold together. Mr. Taylor, following De GeUeu's practice, 
 advises excision of comb in spring, (February or March,) ; to this I en- 
 tirely object, chiefly because of the weakness of bees at this season, 
 and the extreme hazard attending any such operation at this critical 
 period. It is true, the bees are confined to one part of the hive, and 
 nothing is more easy than to cut away almost any qiiantity of empty 
 comb — empty, that is, of brood. But these, perhaps, are, (as is gene- 
 rally the case,) the main honey depository of the hive, and possibly the 
 freshest combs, which it is least desirable to remove, and which may 
 have been renovated the year before ; while the combs among which 
 the bees are congregated are full of eggs or brood, and cannot be med- 
 dled with on any account. It is, however, good practice to turn up 
 the hives in February, and cut away any mouldy or moth-eaten comb 
 that may be seen. 
 
 To sum up, I think every one Avill acknovdedge at this point, that 
 the system of bee management advocated in this chapter is superior to 
 most others at present in vogue, on the ground of simphcity and profit.* 
 Its pecuharity consists chiefly in four points, vv'hich I conceive have 
 not hitherto been combined in any system. 1st, the perpetual 
 maintenance of a youthful and vigorous race of queen bees ; 2ndly, 
 the entire suppression of all after swarming ; Srdly, the yearly plunder 
 of the prime swarms, instead of keeping them as winter stock ; 4thly, 
 the preservation of the same stocks, for swarming purposes almost ex- 
 clusively, from year to year. It does seem passing strange, that in 
 
 * Soe .Appjndi.';, Note D. 
 
40 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 the management of our bees on the cottage plan, we should year by 
 year have systematically destroyed our young queens, and preferred 
 with more politeness than self-interest — with more politeness than is 
 generally to be found in us lords of the creation towards our dumb 
 fellow creatures — to give up to the bees the free enjoyment of their 
 more delicate stores, while remaining content ourselves with the more 
 worthless and less wholesome kind. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HIVES OF STRAW, SUITABLE TO AMATEUR BEE MANAGEMENT. 
 
 I HAD 01-iginally introduced the subject of this chapter among the ob- 
 servations on cottagers' liives, with which the reader has ah-eady been 
 made acquainted ; but it has since occurred to me that it would be 
 better treated of in a separate chapter, as an introduction to my sug- 
 gestions to the amateur. The fact is, however suited Mr. Payne's 
 hive may be to the pockets and capacities of the humbler class of bee 
 keepers, owing to its very slight deviation from the hive in common 
 use, it undoubtedly yields the palm of excellence by a great deal to 
 the Huish or Grecian hive, as modified by Mr. Golding, (which I con- 
 sider the ne plus ultra of bee domicile,) and even to several other kinds 
 of hives less perfect than Mr. Golding' s. Should any person, there- 
 fore, consider this hive, (and it need not be constructed at any very 
 great expense,) better adapted than the former to improved bee cul- 
 ture among the poor, and feel desirous of introducing it into common 
 use, let him by all means recommend it in preference. 
 
 Before I come to treat of Mr. Golding's hive, I must say a few 
 words in favor of a hive of Mr. Taylor, which he recommends 
 in the fourth edition of his work, and of which he has given a sketch. 
 Its peculiar advantage is, that, simultaneously 
 with the removal of the top, every comb can be 
 lifted out of the hive, as well as any partial depriva- 
 tion of honey made. The hive is open at both 
 ends alike, and it has a moveable crown board of 
 doubled wood, each piece being not less than 
 three fourths of an inch in thickness. There is a 
 four-inch hole in it, (or as Mr. Taylor suggests,) if 
 preferred, two or three smaller ones. It will be 
 observed, on referring to the sketch, that the lesser and under part of 
 the crown board is cut away, so as to fall within the diameter of the 
 
42 THE COTTAGE AND FAKM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 hive ; the upper part being made an inch or more larger in diameter 
 so as to rest on the topmost band of the hive. My own hive of this 
 principle is, I think, somewhat an improvement on the above. The 
 crown board — which, Uke Mr. Taylor's, is constructed of two pieces of 
 well-seasoned wood, planed smooth and glued together, (the grain of 
 the wood in one piece crossing the grain of the other, to prevent warp- 
 ing,) and having a four-inch hole in its centre — is not made to fit into 
 the hive's inner diameter, but the two pieces of which it is composed 
 being made of exactly the same diameter, they together rest on the upper 
 edge of the hive. This double board also 
 projects over the sides of the hive an inch 
 or more. There are two ways of fastening 
 it to the hive ; either by passing three or 
 more long tliin screws, (well greased to fa- 
 cilitate their removal,) through the board 
 into a stout hoop of two or three inches in 
 breadth, (which must be made to surround 
 the upper part of the hive,) provided this 
 hoop be thick enough; or by the use of hinges, 
 or rectangular pieces of iron, of which one 
 leaf is screwed to the under side of the 
 
 crown board, and the other to the outer side of the hoop. Two or three 
 of these will serve to keep the top firmly in its place, assisted by the 
 milk-pan cover, and their cost is a mere trifle. Besides the hoop of 
 wood just mentioned, (which I prefer to Mr. Taylor's external band of 
 straw,) there should be a second hoop, half the breadth of the other, 
 worked into the lower edge or base of the hive. The method of ar- 
 ranging the tojj here proposed, gives many of the advantages, at the 
 same time that it avoids the extra expense, of Mr. Golding's bar hive. 
 When it is desired to get at the interior, all that is requisite, after 
 driving out the bees, (temporarily or finally,) is to pass a long knife or 
 spatula, under the crown board all around, thus severing the combs 
 completely from it ; after which, the screws at the side being with- 
 drawn, it will come off' at once. The peculiar sliape of the hive, sup- 
 posing it is intended as a substitute for Mr. Golding's hive ; that is, 
 wider at one end than at the other — renders something of this sort neces- 
 sary, as the combs cannot otherwise be got out entire, neither can any 
 partial deprivation of the honey take place, which will often be desira- 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM REE KEErEK. 43 
 
 ble after a good seaso^* It is evident, also, that by this contrivance, 
 no more comb need be removed from the hive than is absokitely 
 wanted, whereas, if it were attempted, according to the old plan, to 
 partially deprive a stock, in order to get at the honey, the whole of 
 a comb must needs be cut away, and much of it wasted. Now, ou 
 the contrary, it need not be even severed from the sides ; but, after cut- 
 ting out a sufficiency of ceiled honey comb, say two or three inches 
 deep, the lower part may be left with advantage a clear gain to the 
 bees another year, who will quickly fiU up the vacant space. 
 
 It is certain, however, after all, that no hives can equal, much less 
 surpass, Mr. Golding's modification of the Huish or Grecian hive, \yhich 
 gives to the apiarian the most perfect command at all times over every 
 movement of his bees. I would strongly advise the amateur, there- 
 fore, to use this in preference to every other bee domicile, if he have 
 a just confidence in his skill and courage. Hives of this sort, should, 
 however, be constructed of two separate sizes, as those already de- 
 scribed by me in chapter IV, with one eud of the hive an inch wider 
 in diameter than the other. The bars, of 
 which there may be about eight or nine, 
 are affixed to, and rest upon, the upper- 
 most band of straw, at the hroader end of 
 the hive ; these should be distant about half 
 an inch apart, each being three eighths of 
 an inch in thickness, and oire inch and one 
 eighth broad. They are kept in their places ]\j;p Golding s Hive. 
 I'ly small pegs of wood, or iron brads, one 
 
 inch and a half long, which penetrate the straw at each end of the 
 bars. A. baud or hoop of wood, as in the former case, encircles the 
 upper part, firmly attached to the hive, but, (unlike the former,) pro- 
 jecting three eighths of an inch upwards, so as, in fact, to ))e on a level 
 
 * I think, as a general rule, not more than from 20 lbs. to 23 lbs. of Aoney should be allowed 
 fur the winter provision of a stock of bees. More than this they are never likely to require ; 
 and what surplus they have, if in any quantity during the month previous to the swarm- 
 ing season, is merely an incumbrance, occupying room that ought to be taken up with 
 young grubs; on which account its presence may be considered a positive evil. Suppos- 
 ing, therefore, a hive intended for winter stock should attain to the weight of .TO lbs. con- 
 tents, of which 40 lbs. is reckoned to be pure honey, as much as IG lbs. may be safely re- 
 moved, but not ]noTe, as some few pounds are sure to be wasted in the process of depriva- 
 tion, or subsequently by the bees secreting wax ; for they will make an attempt to replace 
 the combs irrunediately. 
 
44 TUii COTTAGK AND FARM BER KEEPKR. 
 
 with the bars, in order that the oro^^oi board, ■v'mch may be of wood or 
 straw, with a large hole in it, may rest flat upon all. This, as in the 
 former instance, will be screwed to the hoop, whether by the use of 
 hinges, or long and well-greased screws let perpendicularly through it 
 into the hoop. The crown board also must be of doubled wood. A 
 little nicety is required in the careful adjustment of the several parts 
 of this hive, but this will be readily attended to by an intelligent 
 workman. 
 
 As soon as constructed, every sort of straw hive should receive two 
 coatings of thick paint, and be laid aside till wanted. It need hardly 
 be stated, that all hives hkely to be wanted, should be got ready early 
 in the year, that the smell of paint may quite go oflf before use, as bees 
 are not unapt to leave newly-painted hives. Every winter should see 
 a fresh coat of paint given to all the hives in an apiary ; this will ma- 
 terially tend to their preservation for a good many years. As a 
 sequel to these instructions, let me add, that a sufficient stock of both 
 sizes must be kept constantly on hand, to be in readiness at any mo- 
 ment ; those of either size being made of e'xactly the same diameter, 
 particularly at their base, for faciUty in driving. There will, of course, 
 be required a greater number of the smaller size, two of which are 
 necessary to each summer, or spoliation colony. 
 
 These are the only hives that I at all recommend for an out-door 
 apiary. Of the use of boxes in such a situation, even by the amateur, 
 I cannot speak too deprecatingly, save only of the very ingenious 
 double-bar hives, of Mr. Taylor's invention ; their expense, however, 
 will ever prove a serious objection to their general adoption ; and I 
 am disposed to question even their perfect suitability to stand the vi- 
 cissitudes of our English climate, with comfort to the bees, and profit to 
 their owner. It is universally allowed that Mr. Nutt's hives have proved 
 a signal failure, wherever located in the open air; in proof whereof, it 
 is only necessary to point to the infinite modifications which the prin- 
 ciple of their construction has undergone to suit each person's experi- 
 ence, and to remedy its thousand inconveniences and defects. And I 
 think, if the truth were known, many a complaint has arisen, and w411 
 yet arise, against even Mr. Taylor's liives of wood. It stands to rea- 
 son, that wooden boxes, unprotected by a bee shed, are both too cold 
 in winter, and too hot in summer, for an exposed situation ; hence the 
 almost universal outcry against them throughout the length and breadth 
 of the land. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE AMATEUR SYSTEM OF BEE MANAGEMENT IN THE OPEN AIH. 
 
 In the fifth chapter of this volume, where I entered into a detail of the 
 cottage system which I approve and advocate, it will have been ob- 
 served that I have studiously ignored and carefully avoided to recom- 
 mend the non-swarming or dei}riving system, as it is practised by ma- 
 ny of our scientific apiarians. I have done so advisedly, from a per- 
 suasion that it is wholly unsuited to cottagers in general ; indeed, how 
 often does the ingenuity and skill requisite to its successful manage- 
 ment baffle the best endeavors even of the better instructed amateur 
 to master it ! Not only so, however, I cannot say that I am disposed 
 under any circumstances, to advocate the depriving system, in its in- 
 tegrity, as adapted to out-door apiaries. The situation must be very 
 snug indeed — the shelter from storm and wind most perfect — which 
 will effectually remove the anxious fears of the owner of a tripled or 
 quadrupled storified colony during the prevalence of a strong gale. 
 There must be a perpetual vigilance on his part, lest some untoward 
 and unforeseen accident should arise to mar his hojies by endangering 
 his aspiring structure. If even Mr. Taylor's bar hives are scarcely 
 proof against misfortune, how much less so are the not seldom ill-arran- 
 ged erections of straw which one generally sees I Certainly the novice 
 should have nothing to do with them, except he have a bee house in 
 which to place them. "Whether to the amateur or cottager, therefore, 
 who may prefer, from whatever cause, the establishment of a garden 
 apiary, my advice is the same — ^be content with a modification of the 
 depriving system, similar to that already described ; it will be found a 
 much safer and more easy method of bee-keeping ; nor am I certain 
 that such a method would be found a whit less productive and remu- 
 nerating than the much- vaunted non-swarming system. The glasses 
 
46 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER, 
 
 which may be filled by his populous stocks before swarming, and the 
 produce of liis yearling or spoliation swarms, will, I am persuaded, be 
 found as great, or nearly so, as if he had piled box on box or hive on 
 hive ;* Avhile he will be able to maintain his stocks in perpetual vigor, 
 wliich the advocate of the depriving system will hardly be able to do, 
 except at a disadvantage. 
 
 The plan, therefore, Avhich I am about to recommend in tliis chapter 
 to the especial notice of the amateur is not diverse in its main features 
 from that suggested to the cottager. It is the same in respect to the 
 size and shape of the several sorts of hives, differing only in the use 
 of bars and a moveable top ; it is the same in its apparatus of shelter 
 from the weather ; the same in the after treatment of casts and swarms ; 
 the same in the selection of winter stock ; in the system of comb re- 
 newal ; of changing and cleansing of boards ; of winter protection ; 
 of harvesting honey, &c., &c. In these general matters, no different 
 plan do I now propose ; both systems have similar features of simplic- 
 ity and economy of management thus far, while both promise equally 
 well in the matter of profit. 
 
 To the amateur, however, whose intelligence we may suppose to be 
 of a higher kind than that of the cottager, and whose facilities for car- 
 tying out interesting and delicate experiments are greater, owing to 
 command of time and opportunity, I would suggest the management 
 of his swarms according to the artificial system, by which, if I mistake 
 not, he will gain several very important advantages. I am aware that, 
 however I may have been patiently followed up to this point, my book 
 is now in danger of being condemned by the old-fashioned and stand- 
 still bee master, who, true to the character which Horace gives, is now, 
 as in ancient times, a laudator temporis adi, [a praiser of past times,] 
 whose prejudices are ever prone to carry him back to the days of his 
 great grandfather, instead of forward to the improving age of more 
 experienced posterity. Nevertheless, I persist in my recommendation, 
 being convinced of its practicabiUty and value. 
 
 * It will possibly, though very rarely, happen, that the use of a third hive may seem lu- 
 quisite, as when the season is remarkably good, or a swarm unusually large. So averse 
 am I, however, to resort to this, that I should rather advise the use of a suptr of the larger 
 sort, instead of the smaller size, (as recommended for spoliation swarms,) which would no 
 doubt fully meet every emergency. It should be set over the swarm shortly after the bees 
 have begun to work in earnest. 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM BP.R KEEPF.R. 4*7 
 
 That a. process so obviously advantageous as this, if it can only be 
 proved feasible in general, and successful as feasible, should yet have 
 been so httle uoticed, or its probable uses so Uttle tested, is a matter 
 of no small marvel to me, especially when we consider that most bee 
 writers have professed themselves acquainted with it, and we have not 
 been wanting in apiarians of scientific attainments, animated by a 
 spirit of curious inquiiy. De GreUeu tells us, that in liis time, the prac- 
 tice of artificial swarming on a most elaborate principle was common 
 enough in Germany at the close of the last century — thanks to the 
 industry of M. Shirach in propagating his views and system of bee 
 management^ — so that persons bred up to the business used to wander 
 about from village to village, in the season, managing the considerable 
 apiaries of the country people in tliis way. This proves the recogni- 
 tion of the value of the principle by the Germans, and I see no reason 
 why it should be unrecognised among ourselves. If the Germans 
 found their method of conducting the process answer, and were not 
 deterred from adopting it in spite of its complexity, why should it be 
 too difficult for us ? Moreover, the process has become so sLmphfied 
 of late years, that the veriest novic? can understand and manage it. 
 
 I beheve we are indebted to Bonner, the celebrated Scotch apiarian, 
 for having first introduced the subject .to public notice in England. 
 His work was reviewed by Keys, who makes some passing observa- 
 tions on his particular method, and acknowledges its ingenuity. Keys 
 himself, who was on the point of pubhshing the second edition of Iris 
 book just as Bonner's work issued from the press, has given us two 
 methods of forming artificial swarms, in such vague language, how- 
 ever, (as sufficiently betrays liis practical ignorance of what he -wrote 
 about,) that he has most justly pronounced against them, that " they 
 are inapphcable to general practice." Bonner's method was far more 
 " ingenious," as Keys allows, and, indeed, it may be considered the 
 origina:! of the method hereafter to be detailed. To this must yield 
 even the plan advocated and recommended by Dr. Bevan, a great au- 
 thority in most apiarian matters. Bonner's j^lan is the foundation of 
 the method wliich appears to have been practised with much success 
 by the late Dr. Scudamore, a physician of Canterbury, who wrote a 
 httle book on the subject of artificial swarms, not long ago, wliich has 
 seen two editions, and to which I acknowledge myself indebted for 
 the outUne of the plan recommended in these pages, and of much of 
 
48 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPEU. 
 
 its detail. His pamphlet, though small, is exceedingly to the point ; 
 and I think all scientific apiarians owe him a debt of gratitude for that 
 little work. The result of my experience during the summer of 1850, 
 when I assisted in forming for myself and others some seven or eight 
 such swarms, in accordance with its instructions, has convinced me 
 that the artificial management of an apiary, (if it may be so called.) is 
 perfectly easy, and may be had recourse to most successfully, although 
 not every instruction given in that book is to be absolutely relied on 
 or followed. A modification of it, ho\vever, will, in the hands of a spir- 
 ited bee master, be found very successful. I am not at all sanguine, 
 however — desirable and extremely interesting and profitable too as 
 the process may be — that it will become generally adopted, at least, 
 for a long time to come, if we take into consideration the considerable 
 acquaintance with the economy of the hive and the habits of bees, 
 which is necessary to success in this matter ; when also we know that 
 the great majority of bee keepers in this country are about as ignorant 
 of what passes on in the interior of a hive as of the occupation of the 
 man in the moon. In the case of ^ny emergency arising, (and it need 
 not be a very uncommon one,) most bee keepers are at fault. Hence, 
 old Bonner's observations were perfectly true, that, however '■ profit- 
 able the driving of bees to make artificial swarms may be, when prop- 
 erly performed by skillful bee masters, yet it always has been, and ever 
 will be, destructive to bees if performed by unskUlful persons." I 
 would wish it to be clearly understood, therefore, that I by no means 
 recommend the indiscriminate adoption of this practice by those who 
 are still in the infancy of their knowledge of the bee art. This chap- 
 ter must be considered as addressed esoterically to the initiated, or at 
 least to those who are passionate admirers of the honey bee; and these 
 are not usually such as are contented to remain on the threshold, as it 
 were, of their favorite recreative pursuit. 
 
 To proceed then — the best time for the formation of artificial swarms 
 will depend upon two things ; the state of the season, and the condition 
 of the stock to be operated upon. 
 
 When the spring is early and the weather propitious, a swarm may 
 be forced to issue, without danger to the prosperity of either swarm 
 or parent hive, as early as towards the close of AprU. Instances are 
 on record of the issue of natural swarms as early as tliis ; and nature 
 is no bad guide to follow in our imitation or conduct artificially of any 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 49 
 
 of her processes. But the season must be remarkably forward, indeed, 
 which witnesses such an occurrence in this country, or else some de- 
 fect will be found to exist in the hive whence the issue takes place ; 
 whether from tlie existence of the wax moth, the presence of very 
 old comb; or some similar cause. Neither when such does occur is it 
 often that the bee master can congratulate himself upon the cir- 
 cumstance, for it is not the earUest swarm wliieh is on that account 
 the best. Whatever the bees may do naturally, however, I should 
 recommend the forcing of swarms artificially to be delayed till after 
 the second week in May under any circumstances, because of the well- 
 known fickleness of the season at that period of the year, and the 
 chances of starvation and other evils endangering the very existence 
 of both issued swarm and parent stock from chilling rains or bluster- 
 ing weather. Indeed, it is better to wait till after the third week of 
 this month is over, (except in a remarkably fine and early season.) 
 even though the stock should appear otherwise ready for it. I have 
 observed that very early swarms, even in May, do not in general pros- 
 per so well as those that have proceeded later in the month. It would 
 seem as if, the first anxious start of the hive having been checked by 
 unseasonable weather, the bees' ardor had become cooled and their 
 spirits discouraged, so that on the return of really propitious weather 
 they have no heart to work with the same dihgence as other swarms 
 which have issued in the very midst of the busy season. Perhaps the 
 most suitable time of any, other things considered.) presents with the 
 first considerable collection of honey. As soon as the weather from 
 being cold or chilly has changed to a temperature of a close thundery 
 nature, when honey is sure to abound, (at which time every good stock 
 will about have reached its climax of vigor for the year, though this 
 does not usujdly take place tiU towards the end of May,) let the ope- 
 ration be performed if the bees have not themselves swarmed natu- 
 rally. I lay great stress upon waiting till this moment, if circumstan- 
 ces allow the bee master to wait so long, because no sooner does 
 honey abound, than the bees greatly shght the queen's convenience. 
 She is still, it may be, as desirous as ever to lay her eggs, (nay, per- 
 haps, more so — for I am not one of those who think the queen bee 
 relaxes her deposit of eggs after what is called her " great laying " is 
 over) ; but another instinct besides that of preservation of their spe- 
 cies occupies the bees' attention, namely, that of preparation for a day 
 
50 THE COTTAGE AND FARM EEE KEEPER, 
 
 of scarcity, so that in the all-absorbing search for, and storing of, honey, 
 the breeding space of the liive becomes rapidly contracted.* It is ev- 
 ident, therefore, that now, on the eve of honey-gathering, is the most 
 suitable moment for the forcing of artificial swarms. Every comb is 
 at this time fuU of brood, %v}iich iviU ensure the after prosperity of the 
 hive, wliile such an abounding population has been hatched already, 
 as to hold out the prospect of a rich autumn spoUation of the early 
 one. 
 
 The criterion of preparedness for experiment on the part of a stock 
 is various. First, tliere must be an abounding and vigorously-working 
 population, tlironging the entrance in warm weather — sometimes it 
 may be Ixanging in clusters from the alighting board ;t and secondly, 
 
 * See Appendix, Note E. 
 
 t The clustering of bees outside the hive — though it may sometimes occur immediately 
 on a change of weather, as from cold to heat — usually takes place gradually, and some days 
 after the occurrence of the change. It is a sign in general that swarming, whether artifi- 
 cial or natural, has been retarded too long, or, at least, that the former should be had re- 
 course to immediately. If the plan of forcing them be adopted, as recommended above, 
 great care must be taken in manipulating the parent hive, for the temperature of the stock, 
 under such circumstances — it being densely filled with a teeming population — is usually 
 very high, on which account there exists much danger of the combs giving way. If, there- 
 fore, a hive has been suffered, from neglect or other unavoidable cause, to proceed to this con- 
 dition, and the bees hang out in great numbers, perhaps Dr. Sevan's plan may be had recourse 
 to in preference to any other method. "Towards noon of a fine day, (says that celebrated 
 apiarian,) or almost at any time, let the stock hive be removed to a distance, and a spare hive 
 (such as a Golding"s bar hive) be put in its place, to one bar of which (taken out of a 
 similar bar hive, if there are any such in the apiary — a fresh bar being given to the stock 
 from which it was taken) is attached a comb containing worker bees' eggs, or very young 
 larva; of the same order, (l)ut there should be eggs in every case, I think ;) the out-liers, or 
 the bees that are abroad, or both, as the case may be, will then enter the new habitation, 
 cluster round the brood, construct one or more royal cells to inclose one or more of the eggs 
 to raise a young sovereign. If the season be favorable, they will thus ^orm a flourishing 
 stock, whilst the old removed family, with beneficially diminished numbers, will soon be 
 reconciled to their new situation, and attend to their usual avocations as if nothing had 
 happened." Or still better, perhaps, (because the removal of a whole comb from another 
 hive might check its tendency to swarm.) I advise the use of a beeglass, four inches in di- 
 ameter, into which a piece of worker comb is introduced, set over the hole at the top of the 
 new hive. The process of rearing a queen artificially before the eyes of the bee master, 
 will form an interesting feature in the apiarian memoranda of the year. Dr. Sevan con- 
 tinues : " The brood comb, which should not be less than two or three inches in diameter, 
 may be supplied from any hive that can spare it ; but if not taken from a loose-barred 
 hive of suitable dimensions, it may be separated from its original attachments ;"' that is, 
 cut out of any comb in any hive, and adjusted anyhow in the bee glass, or against thff 
 side of the hive which the new swarm is intended t(. occupy. The bees will soon glue it 
 
THE COTTAGE AN'D FA1?M BKE KEEPER. 51 
 
 the presence of drones is requisite in considerable force. As soon, in- 
 deed, as it is ascertained that these exist in any number in a hive, even 
 if still unhatched, the operation may be performed -without fear of ill 
 success, although, to insure the full prosperity of both swarm and pa- 
 rent stock, (especially the latter,) a good many of them ought first to 
 be seen coursing about in the open air, which they will be sure to do 
 in the middle of every warm day, some time between the hours of 10 
 A. M. and 4 p. m. 
 
 The desirableness of delay till these appear in sufficient numbers, is 
 based on the following considerations : — It is known that in general, 
 about the 20th day after the queen has begun her great laying of drone 
 eggs, the bees, if they deem it necessary, (either from foresight of her 
 majesty's approaching end, or of the probability of an excess of pop- 
 ulation over the hive accommodation,) commence the foundations of 
 royal cells, into each of which the queen, if her judgment coincides 
 with that of her subjects, deposits a female egg, with a certain interval 
 between each. The first royal egg, however, is seldom laid till many 
 di'ones are preparing to leave their ceUs, often not till some have actu- 
 ally appeared in the open air. The reasonableness, therefore, of wait- 
 ing tiU at least a week has elapsed after the first appearance of drones, 
 before compelling the issue of an artificial swarm, is at once evident, 
 as it is desirable that one or more royal eggs should at least be laid in 
 the hive before the queen mother leaves it, as well to spare the re- 
 maining bees the trouble of raising a sovereign artificially, (which is 
 further injurious to the prosperity of the hive, owing to the time that 
 must elapse before any brood can be perfected in it,) as to prevent the 
 liability of accident arising fi-om the possible absence of eggs or suit- 
 able brood wherewith to raise such a queen. 
 
 Let us then suppose that the amateur bee keeper has formed the 
 conclusion that one of his stocks is in a sufficiently forward state to be 
 operated upon — from the appearance of di'ones, the abundance of pop- 
 ulation, &c., and also that a favorable opportunity presents in the 
 
 firmly in its place •with wax and propolis. If this method of artificial STvarming he adop- 
 ted, the new stock so made, having a young queen, should by all means, if heavy enough, 
 be preserved to another year. In this case, the old hive, if it be a Grecian one, ehould imme- 
 diately be surmounted by a spare super or large bee glass, and be treated in the autumn as 
 a yearling swarm. Should it show symptoms of swarming, drive out the bees, cut every 
 royal cell away, and return the population. 
 
52 THE COTTAGE AND FARM DEE KEEPFR. 
 
 state of the weather, wliich ought absolutely to be perfectly calm — 
 the golden hour is arrived ; let him sally forth to his apiary. The 
 cloudier the day the better ; if the sun shines, however, let the opera- 
 tion be conducted in the shade of some friendly wall or overhanging 
 tree. 
 
 There ought generally to be two persons assisting in the operation, 
 both well armed with bee dress and gloves ; for this is sometimes a 
 business of no little peril, although in most cases I have found the 
 bees remarkably quiet. The instinct of loyalty, or the passion of fear, 
 seems at such times to neutralise all other passions and instincts. Ev- 
 ery article requisite for the operation of driving having also been pro- 
 vided, and lying by ready for use, let the business be opened, (say at 
 about 10 o'clock, a. m.,) by the chief operator seizing hold of the full 
 hive, which must be very carefully and gently adjusted bottom up- 
 wards in a paU, while the assistant replaces it instantly with an empty 
 hive, to amuse the bees, as they come back from the fields, and those 
 also which may chance to escape during the process which follows. 
 A second empty hive is now placed over the full one reversed, the 
 cloth thrown over both, and tied securely round ; after which, drum- 
 ming with sticks is resorted to until the bees have hummed themselves 
 up into their temporary attic ; in short, the same treatment is adopted 
 as in the process of autumnal driving already described. The greatest 
 care, however, must be taken throughout to avoid the slightest jar or 
 concussion of the full hive, both in moving it and drumming it after- 
 wards, so as in no way to endanger the breaking of the combs inside. 
 These being mostly heavy with brood, the heat of the hive, too, being 
 very great, (often above 100° F.,) any violent handUng would be sure 
 to dislodge some of them.* When it becomes evident, by the loud 
 humming within, that the bees have begun to climb, in which case 
 the queen is almost sure to be with them, let the upper hive be taken 
 off. Ten minutes, or even less, will generally suffice for the operatiou 
 at this time ; because it is desirable to leave a considerable quantity 
 of bees behind in the old hive to hatch out the remaining brood. 
 When taken off, the hive into which the bees have ascended, if it is 
 the intended permanent dwelling of the bees, must be placed on a 
 bottom board, and set as near as may be to the old stand, on a stool 
 
 * See Appendix, Note F. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 53 
 
 or table — not on the stand itself, to avoid crushing any of the throng- 
 ing bees about it. In a few minutes, if the queen be in it, all the out- 
 lying insects — those, I mean, which have returned from the fields, and 
 have hitherto been busied in searching for their home and their queen 
 — will have joyously entered it. Towards evening, it may be put on 
 the stand from which the old hive was taken. Should it be desired 
 to settle the bees in another hive than that in which they were driven, 
 (and I advise the use of the smaller double hive for autumn spoliation, 
 see Chapter lY.) all that is required, is to knock them out en masse 
 upon the ground in front of the hive, wliich ought before to have been 
 set, (likewise on the ground,) on its own board, one side of it also be- 
 ing sUghtly elevated on wedges. ^Vhen the major part of the swarm 
 have crept up into it, let it be gently removed to a position near to 
 the old stand, and treated as in the other case. 
 
 While one person is thus employed, let the other, immediately on 
 seeing the upper hive taken off, turn the old hive upon a bottom board, 
 and, should he perceive neither too many nor too few bees in it, carry 
 it to a distant and shady part of the garden, or to its intended stand, 
 where, however, it must be kept as cool as possible. Without loss of 
 time, in order to prevent the escape of too many bees, let him tie it 
 up with the hst bandage, previously thrusting a few pieces of slate 
 under the edge of the hive, to allow of the admission of air. In this 
 state, it must remain till the third morning, early, when the list band- 
 age may be unfastened. An immediate I'ush of bees vnU take place, 
 some of whom will find their way back to their old locality, now oc- 
 cupied by the new swarm ; nor is it to be considered a misfortune that 
 they should do so, as they wiU beneficially strengthen it. The most 
 part, however, will certainly return back again to the old hive on the 
 new stand, which will in a few days seem as populous as ever, owing 
 to the rapid development of brood. 
 
 Should it have been found, however, on removing the upper hive, 
 that only a, few have ascended into it, then must it be first ascertained 
 if the queen is among them. This will quickly appear by knocking 
 them out in firont of their intended dwelling; for, while they will 
 march readily up into it, if she is with them, they will, on the other 
 hand, missing her, soon be in a fever of anxiety and restlessness. In 
 the former case, set the new hive on the old stand at once, while the 
 old hive is removed, but to a greater distance, and treated as before, 
 
54 TIIR COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 only, instead of tying it up, the bees must be suflered to escape from 
 it until the new swarm is strengthened sufficiently, after which it may 
 be tied up till the third morning. Should it appear, however, that the 
 queen is not among them, take two of the combs from the old hive, 
 which seem fullest of eggs and young brood ; next arrange these in 
 the new hive, leaning one against another, or against the side, but in 
 such a manner that, on the introduction of the bees, these combs shall not 
 possibly fall down flat. The best way to do this, is to remove the top 
 from the hive, (which mast be set first on its board,) replacing it after 
 the combs have been well disposed inside. Now carry the hive, board 
 and all, to the old stand, and either slide it on the pedestal, to avoid 
 crushing any of the bees, which will be sure to throng it, or else put 
 it on a stool close by. In a few minutes, the agitated bees will scent 
 it out, and speedily take possession. The old hive, in this case, must 
 not be closed at all, in order to facilitate as much as possible the es- 
 caj^e of the bees, many of whom will fly off straight to the old place, 
 now occupied by the new swarm. These will proceed forthwith to 
 rear a queen artificially. It might be an advantage, perhaps, to tie 
 up the old hive, unfastening the bandage every now and then, for a 
 few miuutes at a time. In this case, many bees would escape, and 
 not being able to return, would naturally stay with the new swarm, 
 if not previously disposed to do so. 
 
 Or if this plan be thought too difficult and hazardous, the old hive 
 must be replaced upon its stand till another opportunity occurs. In 
 either case the emergency which will require this treatment is a rare 
 one, as in nineteen instances in twenty the bees Avill readily follow 
 their queen, who on her side will as readily ascend. 
 
 Again, should too many ascend on the first driving, (and, if possible, 
 two or three thousand bees should ])e left to feed the young brood, 
 and attend generally to the business of the hive,) let the old stock be 
 replaced on its wonted stand for a few minutes, until a sufficient num- 
 ber of bees shall have entered into it. It may then be tied up as it 
 stands on the board, and board and all be removed to the place inten- 
 ded for it ; the new swarm on a fresh board may then be substituted 
 for it in the manner already pointed out. This treatment will be found 
 most efficacious in dividing the population of th(> old stock in its due 
 proportions. 
 
 Let us suppose, however, that everything succeeded Avell accord- 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 55 
 
 ing to the method first detailed, Wliat, it may be asked, is the several 
 condition of tlie two hives? In the neiv hive on the old stand is, or 
 oiiglit to ho, a powerful swarm of more than ordinary size, which, being 
 formed in tlie prime of the year, will work with astonishing vigor, 
 and increase rapidly in weight. This is what I have before termed 
 the spoliation swarm, whose entire plunder will take place about the 
 first week in August, if put into a small hive, and not intended for 
 preservation. Shortly after its establishment, that is, some time in the 
 course of the next week, it must be surmounted by another hive or 
 super of about the same dimensions in ordinary seasons. In the old 
 stock is no queen at present; but, doubtless, royal nymphs, or larva?, 
 of various ages, one or other of which wiU succeed to the vacant sov- 
 ereignty of the hive in a few days , if the swarm were forced at the 
 proper time. When the bandage is unfastened on the third morning, 
 the bees by that time will long have ceased to forget their old queen, 
 their whole attention being now given to the wants of the rising 
 brood of royalty on wliich their hopes depend. If there chanced to 
 be no royal brood, (as it is always desirable there should be,) they 
 will already have set about rearing a queen artificially. Could the 
 interior of the liive be seen at this time, the rudiments of three or 
 more roj^al cells would be distinguished rising out of the centre of the 
 combs in different parts of the hive. I presume that in the present 
 day there are no sceptics to be found as to this sing-ular fact in the 
 liistory of the bee — their power, I mean, to transform a worker egg 
 or worm into a queen. Should any such be a reader of these pages, 
 I can give him distinct assurance, that no less than three several instan- 
 ces of the rearing of artificial queens came under my notice last sum- 
 mer, and there are many witnesses to the fact. 
 
 We will now foUow the after treatment of these stocks. The new 
 swarm, (if intended for autumn plunder,) must be shortly enlarged by 
 additional hive room, and treated in general exactly in the manner 
 already pointed out in a former chapter for the management of year- 
 ling or spoliation swarms.* 
 
 With respect to the old hive, out of which the old queen was driven, 
 together with the prime swarm, I difler from Dr. Scudamore as to the 
 best method in which it should be dealt with. His instructions on 
 
 • See Appendix, Note G. 
 
66 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 this point are not very clear ; at least, he gives us to suppose, that at 
 the end of fourteen or sixteen days, the hive will be ready for forcing 
 the second swarm, all the brood, with the exception, perhaps, of a few 
 drones, having been hatched out. Now, if the old queen was laying 
 up to the very eve of her departure from the hive, there will still be 
 left unhatched all the brood from the eggs that were laid during the 
 five or seven days last previous to her expulsion, whether drone or 
 worker*; that is, from 1,000 to 5,000 bees, according to the size of the 
 hive and the state of the season — a number in either case too consid- 
 erable to be lost. Moreover, if the young queen had to be reared 
 artificially^ she would probably not have issued from her cell by tliis 
 time ; and at least twenty days ought, I think, to be allowed for her 
 to gain the necessary strength before her expulsion in turn. On the 
 other hand, if, (as is much to be desired) the young queen were ready 
 to leave her cell shortly after the removal of the old mother, there is 
 every probability of a still greater breadth of comb being occupied with 
 eggs laid by her, which the bee master will be equally loath to destroy. 
 For these reasons, and for others far more weighty, (see what I have 
 said on tliis point in Chapter V,) I do not advise the forcing or suffer- 
 ing the issue of any second sivarni at all. Instead thereof, I would 
 recommend that the old hive, having a young queen, be kept as it is 
 for winter stock. In this case, it will be treated in a precisely similar 
 manner to that described for the management of his old hives by the 
 cottager, (see Chapter V). Should a cast issue naturally, for instance, 
 (which is not very hkely,) it should be returned at once, after exci- 
 sion of all the royal cells that can be got at. Dr. Scudamore gives an 
 additional reason for his recommendation of artificial cast-forcing, 
 namely, that the plunder of the old hive at this time would put the bee 
 master in possession of an early harvest at the best season of the year. 
 But the quantity of honey gained will be but a poor compensation for 
 the expenditure of honey by the Ijpes in the construction of fresh 
 comb in a new hive, which might otherwise be stored away in large 
 abundance against the approach of winter in the old one, thus forming 
 a good and useful stock for another year, while the honey itself, being 
 stored in old comb, would be but of little comparative value to the 
 
 * And there are always more worker than drone eggs. It is a fallacy to suppose that the 
 queen lays drone eggs exclusively, (or even principally,) at any period of the year. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 5Y 
 
 bee master. If the consumption of honey in the elaboration of wax 
 is anything so considerable as I make it out to be,* it certainly is a 
 most suicidal policy to break up a hive whose comb is still good for 
 breeding purposes, for the sake of five or six, or even ten pounds of 
 inferior honey I I advise, therefore, that, after the early swarm has 
 been forced out, which may be encouraged to its greatest possible 
 strength by sufiering nine tenths of the bees to leave the old hive with 
 it, this latter be suffered to stand over to another year as a winter 
 stock. A prime swarm so formed ought to yield an autumn spoil, in 
 an average good year, of from 30 to 60 lbs. of virgin honey; and 
 if its weight, on issuing from the hive, exceeded six pounds, which it 
 not seldom will do, it may often greatly exceed the largest of these 
 figures, while the old stock may be expected to weigh from 25 to 
 30 lbs. net contents^ the Michaelmas, [September 29th] following, at 
 which time a comb or two, (that is, the lower part of those combs,) 
 may be cut away with advantage, to facilitate the renovation of the 
 hive. As to the renewal of comb, it might be effected in a different 
 and, perhajis, still better way. Suppose at the end of three Aveeks, 
 after the first swarm's issue, (or earUer, as the case may be,) the bees 
 are driven out for a few minutes, part of the combs, (which will now 
 for the most part, if not altogether, be empty of brood,) may be re- 
 moved at once thus early in the season ; this would probably have the 
 effect of stimulating the bees in it to renewed activity, so that there 
 would be no gapt among the combs through the winter, as might be 
 the case otherwise, while probably the weight of honey would not be 
 much less than in the former instance. I have observed that the 
 existence of unfilled space in their hive not a little warms up the bee's 
 energy, whether it be in spring, summer, or autumn. 
 
 To return to the apiary, it is evident that in a good season the bee 
 master may not only obtain a famous harvest from the autumn plun- 
 der of his spoliation swarms, (especially if they were formed at the 
 right time, and were strong in population) ; but he may also get from 
 them several small hives or glasses full of the purest honeycomb in 
 adcUtion. Even the old stocks will sometimes, though less rarely. 
 
 * See Appendix, Note H. 
 t And yel I am disposed to believe that a vacuum of air in the hive has a tendency to 
 keep bees in good health through the winter ; and it certainly promotes early activity. 
 
S'S THE COTTAGE AXD FARM CEE KEEPEn. 
 
 afford a handsome glass to grace his breakfast table, besides laying up 
 for themselves an abundant winter store. Here then will be seen the 
 advantage of the hole at the top of my Golding's hive, over which 
 some additional store rbom can be placed, (with or without the use of 
 an adapter,) by which means the removal of the crown piece of wood 
 or straw is rendered unnecessary. The room supplied must, however, 
 be determined by circumstances of locahty, season, and strength of 
 population. As to the time when such room additional should be 
 given, I refer the reader for instruction to Chapter V, of this book. 
 In the same chapter, also, will be found full directions for the manage- 
 ment of his hives in autumn and winter. In no material respect will 
 the proceedings of the cottager and amateur be different in these par- 
 ticulars. 
 
 Where the system of management advocated in these pages is pur- 
 sued, and the prime swarms of the season, when plundered, are reuni- 
 ted to the stocks from which they severally issued, the value of the 
 advice given in Chapter II, with respect to the arrangement of hives, 
 will be very apparent at the season of the autumnal harvest. I repeat 
 here, therefore, that both stock and swarm should stand as near to- 
 gether as possible — say about one foot and a half distant from each 
 other, but distant from all other stocks at least three and a half or four 
 feet. But for an arrangement of this kind, the apiary would be in an 
 uproar every autumn from the invasion of their neighbors' hives, by 
 the inmates of the plundered swarms ; whereas they will now readily 
 and peaceably unite with their parent stocks, for which they will not 
 have far to search. It were an improvement, perhaps, instead of hav- 
 ing a separate stand for each stock, to use what Mi*. Taylor calls a 
 hive range, (see Bee Keeper's Manual, page 32, 4th edition,) from two 
 and a half to three feet long, to accommodate each couplet of hives. 
 Thus, after effecting the union, (the two hives, parent and swarm, hav- 
 ing stood side by side on tliis range all the summer,) the old hive might 
 be slid a little to the right or left, so as to occupy the middle of the 
 range half way between the position previously occupied by the liives. 
 It would, in this case, be requisite to move the stock back in winter 
 to the extremity of the range, so that the swarm of the following 
 spring might stand at the proper distance from it. 
 
 Should much brood be found on examining the prime swarms when 
 they come to be taken up, by all means let it be carefully preserved, 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FAK.M 15EE KEEPER. 59 
 
 for it must be borue in miud, that it is this very h-ood, (and not so 
 mucli the bees actually driven from it, especially if the driving take 
 place early in the autumn,) thai will live out the winter, and assist most 
 in advancing the prosperity of the hive to which it is added the followi/iig 
 spring. To preserve it, therefore, let the following instructions be 
 closely attended to, which are somewhat different to those recommen- 
 ded to the cottager. When most of the bees have been driven from 
 the hive, and united to the parent stock, let the top be removed, and 
 each bar of the hive lifted out, having previously passed a Icnife under 
 it, so as to sever the comb helow from its attachments to it. All the bars 
 " being hfted out, proceed to cut out of the hive as much of every comb 
 as contains honey, taking care not to cut quite down to the part which 
 contains the brood ; indeed, it is well to cut out no more comb than 
 is actually honeyful. This being done, (and the quicker the better, 
 that the brood comb may not grow cold,) let the hive be set over the 
 stock to Avhich the bees out of it have ah-eady been joined. They 
 will quickly cluster over the remaining comb, carry below what little 
 honey they may find Tn it, and hatch out the brood. In this way, the 
 winter stock will be most beneficially strengthened with large promise 
 for the future. Three weeks later, (or in less time if the brood were 
 not very young,) the upper hive may be removed, and the stock below 
 set in order for the winter season. If not more than three or four 
 inches deep of honeycomb have been cut away from the upper part 
 of the hive beneath the bars, the now empty combs, (if still fresh and 
 good ; that is, not more than two or three years old,) may be pre- 
 served Avith advantage ; they will prove a most valuable boon to a 
 prime swarm of the following spring, and will most materially, not 
 merely assist its own profitable advancement, but also increase the next 
 years honey harvest of the bee oivner. The hive must, of course, be 
 carefully stowed away, and covered up in a dry place, to keep it fresh 
 and sweet, and safe from the invasion of the prying and destructive 
 wax moth. Should more than four inches deep of comb have been 
 cut away, what remains had better, perhaps, be removed altogether 
 and melted down, because the bees, to whom it might chance to be 
 given the next year, would very Ukely not elevate their new works 
 sufficiently, (for in this case they work upwards.^ to touch tbe bars, 
 and there secure them, before the weight of the new structure, (honey 
 laden,) causes it to incUne out of the perpendicular, and, perhaps, to 
 
00 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 fall altogether ; all danger of this would, however, be avoided, if some 
 portion of comb were left attached to the bars, or subsequently appUed 
 to them ; for in this case the bees would build downwards as weU as 
 upwards, and so meet the rising works half way. It cannot be too 
 carefully borne in mind, in aU hive manipulations, that wax is a most 
 expensive article in the economy of bee architecture, though its value 
 is but trifling in the market ; every saving of it, therefore, is impor- 
 tant. The most useful combs, undoubtedly, are the centre ones ; and 
 these will generally be found more empty than the others, at, least, in 
 the middle part. 
 
 In conclusion, I cannot do better than introduce an extract from 
 Dr. Scudamore's work, by way of showing how many and great are 
 the advantages to be derived from a systematic adoption of the artifi- 
 cial system, though I doubt not many of my readers will have discov- 
 ered not a few akeady : 
 
 " There is no certainty," he -writes, " oT the time when this, (the ex- 
 pected rising of natural swarms,) will take place, bj'^ reason of 
 several causes, some of wliich may prevent it aKiogether ; and the in- 
 conveniences to which the proprietors are liable, who do not form ar- 
 tificial swarms, are consequently many. Mrst, they are obhged to 
 watch the departure of swarms very assiduously for six weeks, and 
 sometimes much longer ; whatever attention may be made by persons 
 entrusted with this care, many swarms fly away, which it is impossi- 
 ble to arrest. It has been calculated by a great bee keeper, that a 
 fourth part of the best swarms are usually lost in this manner. Sec- 
 ondly, he who has a small number of hives, is obliged to watch them 
 with the same assiduity as if he had more ; and he who has a greater 
 number is often much embarrassed, because it is no unusual thing to 
 see several swarms go ofi" at the same instant ; some escape on one side, 
 and some on another, or unite themselves together. Thh-dly, a cold 
 and rainy time, which may happen at the moment Avhen swarms are 
 disposed to come forth, often prevents the bees from swarming. And 
 further, swarms may issue at times when one wishes to be otherwise 
 engaged; and, on the other hand, although the proprietor may be 
 present, his swarms may choose to settle in places where it is difficult 
 to hive them. Now, it is easy to imagine, and stiU worse to experience 
 some of these difficulties . . . were it always so, (that swarms issued 
 regularly, and settled suitably, and in good time,) all would be well. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 61 
 
 and it -would be unnecessary to interfere, or in anywise to anticipate, 
 the gratifying spectacle of a natural swarm. But the vicissitudes of 
 our cJimate are so frequent, ever varjnng and ever changing still ; so 
 sudden, and sometimes so extraordinary ; smiling now, and now 
 frowning again, aye, as coquettish and uncertain as the youthful maid- 
 en ; that the bee master, in trusting to the processes of nature, more 
 frequently finds his best wishes annihilated, and the golden hours of 
 spring dwindled and frittered away, ere his swarms have come forth ; 
 and a few weeks of summer remaining, barely suffice for the gathering 
 of honey, ere the cold nights of autumn, and the approaches of winter, 
 close in the scene." 
 
CHAPTER VIII, 
 
 OF BOXES, ETC., SUITABLE FOR AN IN-DOOR APIARY. 
 
 There can be no doubt whatever, that hives of wood are preferable to 
 hives of straw, for many reasons, where so situated as to be sheltered 
 from the eflfects of both heat and cold ; hence their universal adoption 
 by the best and most successful amateur apiarians. 
 
 " The best wood for them," says Dr. Bevan, " is red cedar, the fra- 
 grance of wliich is regarded by some as agreeable to the bees ; but the 
 chief grounds of preference are its lightness and sponginess, (whence 
 it is a bad conductor of heat,) and its effect in keeping moths out of 
 the boxes. Whatever kind of wood be made use of, it should be well 
 seasoned ; yellow deal answers the purpose very well." In making 
 the boxes, Mr. Taylor judiciously advises that they be "well put to- 
 gether, observing that the grain of the wood always runs in the hori- 
 zontal direction, when its tendency to expansion or contraction is ren- 
 dered of no importance." The size which he recommends, I think, how- 
 ever, too small for the stoch or hreedhtg hive. Instead of " eleven inches 
 square," I would recommend twelve or thirteen, and from eight to 
 nine inches high, inside measure ; the thickness of the wood through- 
 out being " not less than an inch, or, if exposed, a httle thicker." 
 
 In my own apiary, I prefer the collateral system, or, I should rather 
 say, I adopt a combination of both the collateral and storifying 
 methods ; for while I use two boxes collaterally, it is my practice to 
 place several large glasses at a time each over its hole on the top of 
 the stock box ; as I have always found that bees work more readily 
 over their breeding hive than at its side ; at the same time, to afford 
 them abundance of room, without giving them the labor of ascending 
 to a second or third story, I use one side box to each colony. 
 
 It will be found in general, that two such boxes afford ample accom- 
 modation foi- the largest population that can be reared on the dopriv- 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 63 
 
 ing system, if, together with their use. room additional be supplied as fast 
 as the bees require it, by giving them three or four bee glasses, from six 
 to eight inches in diameter, (or several smaller ones.) at a time. To 
 furnish space for the glasses, which must communicate every one with 
 the stocJc box, each by its pecuhar hole, (for the bees are usually very 
 much indisposed to work over a side bos, though I have known them 
 do so.) it vnll be found advantageous to use an adapter of thin ma- 
 hogany or cedar — woods that are least given to warp — (if deal is used, 
 it should be framed.) from fourteen to sixteen inches in diameter. 
 There must be pierced in it, four holes, each two inches in diameter, 
 exactly corresponding with four holes, (more or less.) on the top of 
 the box over which it is placed. Two or tluree long screws will keep 
 it firmly in its position, only let them be well greased, to facilitate their 
 removal. This adapter, (which, by the way, must not project over the 
 side bbx.) is only for temporary use in summer, in the working months ; 
 after July, therefore, if done with, it may be removed. By this means, 
 room for the storing of between 25 to 35 lbs. or more of honey 
 may be supphed at the top, not to speak of the side box, which may 
 hold at least 60 lbs. more ; and the season must be good indeed, and 
 the bees amazingly numerous, to requii-e more hive room than this. 
 
 Each of my boxes, which are made of exactly the same dimensions, so 
 as to be shifted, if need be, from one colony to anothei", (this is, how- 
 ever, of more importance in the case of straw hives than of boxes,) 
 has three windows — and I see no reason why it should not have four 
 — made as large as possible consistently with a due regard to the 
 strength of the box. A door, fixed on hinges, closes neatly over the 
 glass in each window, and it efiectually excludes the light, as the glass 
 is fitted in a rabbet with putty. The rabbet should be as shallow as 
 possible, that the inside of the hive may be perfectly plain, for the fa- 
 cihty of cutting out the combs. 
 
 Dr. Bevan recommends the appUcation of bars to each box ; these 
 will not, however, be of any great advantage in the working of the 
 hives according to my plan, while they cannot fail to increase the ex- 
 pense of then- construction very considerably. Still, if it be thought 
 desirable, (and they will often be found useful.) they may be added. 
 They are generally made to run parallel with the sides of the box ; 
 those, however, who hke, as I do, to see as much as possible of the 
 economy of the hive at as many points as possible, I would advise to 
 
64 
 
 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 make them run diagonally from corner to corner. Not only is this a 
 great advantage to the bees, chiefly in winter and the early spring, 
 ■R'hen the heat can be more readily concentrated in one of the corners 
 of the hive, but, by this arrangement, the breeding of the queen may 
 be seen going on in every part of the hive at once, as a considerable 
 portion of every comb will come into view at these Avindows. Not 
 using bars, I invariably make a piece of comb adhere to the roof of 
 the boxes having this direction. 
 
 As to the arrangement of the bars, I cannot do better than transcribe 
 Dr. Sevan's directions for fixing them, as well as adjusting the top board 
 on them : " The sides of the boxes should be an inch thick, and have the 
 upper edges of the fronts and backs rabbeted out half their thickness, and 
 half an inch deep, to receive a set of loose bars upon their tops, which 
 should be half an inch thick, and one inch and an eighth wide." The 
 number of the bars will be regulated by the size of the box'. " 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 particularly attended to, and also their distances 
 from each other, as any deviation in this respect would throw the 
 combs wrong, particularly if that deviation gave an excess of room. 
 It would be better, therefore, for 
 them to be somewhat within the 
 rule, than to exceed it by ever so 
 httle, for whenever the bees 
 evince a disposition to depart 
 from the prescribed dimensions, 
 its tendency is generally to make 
 the combs aproximate." " Each 
 box, (on my plan,) must have one 
 
 close cover, which should be an inch thick, and well clamped at each 
 end to prevent warping, as a considerable quantity of steam arises 
 from the bees at certain seasons. The top, being intended to take off 
 and 'on, should be secured by means of four screws, each placed about 
 an inch and a half from the respective corners." Of course, where 
 the bars are dispensed with as unnecessary, no rabbeting will be want- 
 ed, but the top must be screwed down at once, thus effecting a con- 
 siderable saving of expense. 
 
 In one cornr/'of eachof my boxes. I always place a small thermom- 
 
THE COTTAGE A^"D FARM BEE KEEPER. 65 
 
 eter, so fixed, with its face to the glass, that I can see enough of it 
 for my purpose, while it encroaches as httle as possible on the surface 
 of the glass itself In adjusting it, care must be taken that no space 
 occurs between the thermometer and the glass for the bees to pass ; 
 otherwise, they would quickly render it useless, by smearing it over 
 with propolis. Its use is very great, chiefly in summer, as an index 
 when to give additional room, which should always be supplied, and 
 ventilation aflforded, if possible, when the internal heat raises the 
 quicksilver to 90° F. It has other advantages, also, which will quick- 
 ly manifest themselves to the scientific apiarian.- To enable the ther- 
 mometer, in such a position, to tell at all correctly, the bees must be 
 compelled to work in a direction towards it, (not transversely across,) 
 otherwise there may be a difference of 10*^ or 15° at times between 
 the temperature of that corner and the centre of the hive. A bit of 
 worker comb, by way of a guide, affixed to two or more of the bars^ 
 (or to the roof itself, if there be no bars,) wiU, as I said before, suffice 
 to give all the combs the proper direction. 
 
 As to the matter of bottom hoards, I suggest to the curious and sci- 
 entific apiarian the following arrangement of them, by which he will 
 at once perceive how great the command of his bees which it will 
 give to him. I fear the directions for their construction will appear 
 to involve a somewhat comphcated business — and some nicety in fit- 
 ting the parts together is certainly requked — but a clever superinten- 
 dent and an adroit workman will soon prepare them satisfactorily.* 
 
 Each colony of two boxes then should have its own pair of bottom 
 boards, Avliich will afford facilities for weighing the hives at any time, 
 summer or winter, as well as for inspecting the condition of the inte- 
 rior during the breeding season, at any hour of the night or day. 
 These boards, (of which there is one to each box,) should be made of 
 two pieces of- "well-seasoned wood, each piece being five eighths of an 
 inch thick, glued and nailed together, the grain of the wood in one 
 piece running at right angles to the grain of the other, as a precaution 
 against warping. To strengthen them still further, they might be 
 clamped together with bands of iron at the corners, or framed, if pre- 
 
 * It will be evident that a slight modification •will simplify the process greatly; as, for 
 instance, throwing the two boards into one, and making it a fixture., as well as by the 
 omission of all the slides and their grooves. 
 D 
 
66 
 
 THE (wiTTACJE AND FARM P.EE KEEPER. 
 
 ferred. Every sucli board, when the two pieces are put together, will 
 be one inch and a quarter in thickness. Before putting together the 
 several parts of each board, a tunnel must previously be made in their 
 midst, from / (the external opening, as seen in the accompanying dia- 
 gram,) to a, where 
 
 it communicates 
 with the interior 
 of the box, which 
 is supposed to rest 
 on the dotted lines 
 Ti h. This tunnel, 
 which had better 
 be grooved chiefly 
 out of the bottom 
 piece, at least at^ 
 and which slopes upwards a little towards a, must be four inches wide, 
 three inches and a half long, (that is from / to a.) and not less than 
 three eighths of an inch in depth. Each of these boards should be 
 three inches wider than the boxes on the wall side and on the sides 
 betiueen the boxes ; on the other sides, they need not project more than 
 half an inch beyond them. The excess of space on the two sides af- 
 fords room for the insertion of the hand between the boxes them- 
 selves, and between the stock box and the wall, (on the entrance 
 side.) to regulate a set of zinc slides — perforated or otherwise — w^hich 
 close the communications between box and box, and box and exter- 
 nal air, as at g and e. There are two slides which command the en- 
 trance way, one fixed to the board itself, the other in the wall, over 
 against the mouth of the tunnel at /; and two slides, in a similar 
 manner, at e, one at the edge of each board, which slip into a groove, 
 and prevent the bees from passing frorri one box to the other. It is 
 evident that the grooves in which the shdes enter must be in every case 
 made at the very edge of the boards; otherwise, in withdrawing a box 
 for any purpose, some bees, that might be passing at the time, would 
 be intercepted betw-een the shdes, to the annoj^ance of the apiator. 
 To prevent this, it will be found useful to cut out a thin piece of wood 
 at the edge of the board, and to fit over it, in each case, a thin piece 
 of stout and inflexible metal — zinc, copper, or iron — having a hole in 
 it, corresponding exactly to the size of the passages. In this Avay, the 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 6*7 
 
 slides will fit close together, the pieces of metal alone interposing be- 
 tween them. A piece of wood, (having a suitable hole in it,) nailed 
 against the wall to which the shde is adapted will meet the difficulty 
 on that side. 
 
 There must also be constructed a tunnel as at d d, for the bees to 
 pass from one box to the other. It wiU be sufficient to cut it out of 
 the upper piece only of the double board ; and it should be rather 
 deeper and wider than the entrance way. A plate of iron or thin ma- 
 hogany should also be fitted over it in each board, as at e e, thus form- 
 ing a covered way beneath it 
 
 The holes, h b, are cut quite through the double board in each box, 
 and serve the purpose of veniilators, which will be found of very great 
 use at certain seasons. They are closed by a pair of zinc shdes, c c, 
 the one perforated, the other plain, which passes in a groove, either 
 between the doubled boards or beneath them. There must ahcai/s be 
 one of these ventilators to each board. 
 
 Three or four small screws, with rings attached, must be affixed to 
 the upper side of each board, into which the strings will be passed, 
 which are necessary to facUitate the removal of the boxes for weigh- 
 ing, inspection, &c. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OF THE BEE HOUSE AND WINDOW APIARY. 
 
 Bee hiv-es ranged in order in a well-sheltered garden, form so pleasing 
 an object to every true lover of rural pursuits, that it cannot be won- 
 dered at how tenaciously most apiarians adhere to the management of 
 their bees in this way. I am the last person to quarrel with this pre- 
 dilection, in which, I myself fully share. While, however, it must be 
 confessed, that to bee hives located in the open air, in point of pictur- 
 esque appearance and rural interest, the palm of superiority is to be 
 accorded ; it cannot be denied, that for scientific purposes, general fa- 
 cihty of management and profit, out-door apiaries must yield to such 
 as are conducted in-doors. The advantages of protection from the 
 weather, of security against accident, of opportunities for minute and 
 leisurely observation, cannot be too highly estimated. I think, there- 
 fore, I am fully justified in reserving to this place, as a sort of climax 
 to my subject, the details and treatment of house apiaries. 
 
 The use of some sort of cover for bee hives has been common 
 among all bee keepers of every country. Our old apiarians who aimed 
 at any improvement upon the prevaihng system, generally made use 
 of a sort of shed or box, capable of holding from one to six or more 
 colonies of bees ; and such are still to be seen in some places. Speak- 
 ing of boxes of this kind, Mr. Taylor very justly observes, " the com- 
 mon bee houses, as usually constructed, opened in front and closed 
 against approach behind, retaining the sun's heat as in an oven, are 
 very objectionable. These are frequently unsightly, the receptacles of 
 dirt and insects, and in most instances, inconvenient to operate in." 
 As these boxes, moreover, very imperfectly answer, at best, the end 
 in view, I shall content myself with this passing allusion to them, 
 leaving it to the ingenuity of the apiator, or to the instructions of the 
 
THE COTTAGK AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 69 
 
 older bee authors to guide him in his choice, and direct him in the 
 making of such sheds. 
 
 There can be no doubt that a substantial bee house, large enough to 
 shelter the bee master as well as his bees, -where the outlay of a few 
 pounds can be afforded at the outset, is the best of all places for loca- 
 ting hives, (be they of wood or straw,) and conducting the requisite 
 operations in bee management. Dr. Bevan, in his "Honey Bee," has 
 described his own apiary, which appears to have been a very simple, 
 useful, and inexpensive structure. It answered the double purpose 
 of bee house and potato shed — the potatoes below, the bees above. 
 His house, which was " seven feet square in the clear, afforded room 
 for seven colonies — three in front, and two at each end." Being an 
 advocate of the storifying system, which he has worked with very 
 great success, his colonies, or "piles of boxes, were placed Avithin the 
 building, at somewhat less than two feet apart, so as to make the ex- 
 ternal entrances to each pile respectively about a yard asimder. Pre- 
 ferring, as I do, a combination of the storifying and collateral system, 
 to the exclusive adoption of either, (as explained in the last chapter,) 
 the same size of bee house, with a slight additional elevation of roof, 
 might be made to accommodate nearly double the number of colonies, 
 there being two tiers of boxes one above the other. In this case, the 
 distance between each colony of two boxes would be about one foot, 
 ample space being thus allowed for handling the boxes, and inspecting 
 the interior by the side windows. Dr. Sevan's house was " built of 
 timber, lathed and plastered, both within and Avithout;" and was "not 
 only thatched thick on the top, but down the end and sides." On that 
 side, however, on which the bees entered, the thatch, of course, ter- 
 minated at some distance above the entrances. 
 
 A very picturesque bee house, (similar to one which I saw two 
 years ago, erected by a farmer, and which worked very successfully,) 
 might be constructed of a pentagonal or hexagonal shape, two or three 
 of its sides, as the case may be, being occupied Avith a double row of 
 bee boxes. The tiers of boxes, whatever be the size of the house 
 should be elevated severally at the height of three, and five and a half, 
 or six feet ; and there ought to be a space between each tier of one 
 and a half or two feet. In this case, the roof, which should be iveU 
 thatched, must not be lower than nine feet, to afford ample room for 
 working the bee glasses ox supers over the higher tier of boxes. Such 
 
70 THE COTTAGE AND FAP.M T!"K KEEPER. 
 
 a house would be best made of brick, with stout posts of wood at the 
 angles, up to the first row of boxes, from that upwards of wood, lath- 
 ed and plastered both Avithin and without. The other three sides of 
 the house would be taken up, the centre one with the door, the others 
 each with a window, in which, were it thought proper, an observatory 
 or leaf hive might be fixed. These windows and their shutters should 
 be so contrived, that the house may be darkened at pleasure, room 
 being made for the admission of hght by one aperture in either of the 
 windows, through which the bees may escape, (as they naturally fly 
 towards the light,) whenever a colony is to be deprived of a glass or 
 box. The roof, also, of the building should project two feet or more 
 on all sides but the north, to keep off as much summer sun as possible 
 from striking on the bee house front or sides. 
 
 Instead of the shelves or whole board upon which the boxes in such 
 houses usually rest, I prefer a kind of frame with cross bars, supported 
 by brackets, as seen in the accompanying diagram. The cross bars 
 
 should be so arranged that the edges of each hive board shall rest up- 
 on a bar, to which it may be fastened by hooks and eyes, or else by 
 the insertion of some long screws through the board into the bar, to 
 keep it always firmly in its place ; otherwise, there should be some 
 similar contrivance for attaching these boards so securely to the wall, 
 that the entrance holes in both board and wall shall always exactly co- 
 incide, without the possibility of the bees escaping between them into 
 the bee house. Of course, these fastenings must be easily movable 
 at pleasure ; that is, whenever any operation is to be performed with 
 the boxes. The chief advantage of this open frame is the facility it 
 affords for ventilation ; otherwise, a hole must be cut in the shelf, if 
 made of a whole board, to correspond with the hole for ventilation in 
 the board of the hive itself; or these boards must each be elevated on 
 bars of wood nailed down upon the shelf 
 
 A bee house of this description will have many advantages ; here 
 the boxes and the bees will be kept cool in summer, be the sun's rays 
 ever so burning, as well as snug and warm in winter ; here there is 
 all safety against the attack of robbers, the intrusion of vermin, the 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 71 
 
 plague of damp ; while no gusts, nor hurricanes of wind need trouble 
 the apiarian, who, besides, has every opportunity for the most careful 
 and undisturbed observation. I have seen several such bee houses ; 
 among them is one belonging to the Lady of the Manor, in my own 
 neighborhood, from which, owing to her immediate superintendence, 
 and the able assistance of an intelligent gardener, she has harvested 
 very large stores* of the purest nectar. A bee house of this kind, if 
 
 a separate structure, should stand in a garden of its own, low, if possi- 
 ble, yet dry, and surrounded every way by a rampart of trees. 
 
 A last kind of apiary, inferior to none other in any of the advanta- 
 ges which I have enumerated, is what may be called the Jiouse-window 
 apiary. It is in this way that I have chiefly managed my own bees 
 of late years. Living on the outskirts of a country town, with no 
 
 ♦ I have heard her boast of a harvest of three owt. of honey in one year, (this was ia 
 
 1847,) from seven colonies ! 
 
72 THE C0TTA6E AND FARM BEE KEEI'KR. 
 
 suitable place externally in which to locate my bees, necessity has led 
 me to maiie use of some spare -windows in my cottage which are well 
 adapted to this purpose. Any Avindow facing any quarter of the 
 heavens, and at any height, will answer the purpose almost equally well, 
 provided only the situation be well sheltered from high poinds, or'the 
 destructive influence of sudden gusts, or strong currents of air. My 
 own apiary labors under great, disadvantages in many of these res- 
 pects ; not only so, it stands within 100 yards of a broad and rapid 
 river, with an aspect, wholly unprotected, looking to the southwest, 
 whence the winds blow strongest and most frequently of any. In 
 spite of these drawbacks, there is not to be found a more thriving, or 
 profitable apiary in all the country round. I am obUged to be often 
 on the look out, however, and have frequently to confine my bees en- 
 tirely for days together, in rough and stormy weather. If the shdes 
 be shut down in the early morning, before the bees stir, taking care at 
 the same time to open the ventilators by day, and the slides themselves 
 by night, the bee master may keep them shut up in most weathers, 
 (without much annoying his bees,) for forty-eight hours together. My 
 plan is, in doubtful weather, to confine them till the day declares itself; if 
 the wind be not too high, I wait a sunshiny moment, and set them 
 free. Of course, this treatment is pursued Avith most advantage in 
 the early spring; as the population increases, it becomes more difl&cult 
 and hazardous, neither is the precaution so necessary. 
 
 In favor of placing bees in such a locahty, it may be observed that 
 these insects are naturally fond of, indeed, they seem to give a prefer- 
 ence to high situations, above all other habitats. In their wild state, 
 they will fix upon some tall and gigantic tree for their dwelling, and, 
 even after domestication, Avill not seldom prefer the roof of some house, 
 to any other locality. Several instances are on record of bees having 
 collected immense stores of honey in such places, doubtless owing to 
 the shelter afforded from the extremes of cold and heat, (and the boxes 
 must be well protected from the sun,) and the generally good ventila- 
 tion and dry atmosphere of places of this kind. 
 
 This sort of apiary has the additional recommendation of economy — 
 indeed, from the very trifling outlay required, it may be considered 
 the cheapest of all methods of locating bee hives, whilst there is every 
 faciUty for the most leisurely and uninterrupted observation in all 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 73 
 
 weathers. Nothing is more requisite than to fix a frame, (similar to 
 that ah-eady described,) or a board, against a window that has no in- 
 ner ledge, or in one that has, 
 
 upon which, the liive boards tiii ' | i i ' ] — • -^_ 
 
 may rest. A hole must also be 
 cut in the lower frame of the 
 window sash, (to which an 
 alighting board is affixed on the 
 outside,) corresponding in size 
 with the mouth of the bee pass- 
 age tunnelled out of the bot- 
 tom board, which is thrust up 
 as close as possible against it, so 
 that the holes may exactly co- 
 incide. Where the window is 
 sufficiently large, as in the above 
 sketch, two colonies may be 
 placed side by side, one on the 
 collateral, the other on the sto- 
 rifying system. In this case the 
 hive entrances must be as far distant as possible the one from the other, 
 that the bees may in no wise be tempted to quarrel. If only the low- 
 er part of the window be occupied by bees, the upper sash may be 
 left free to ventilate the room ; but if there are other windoAvs suita- 
 ble for this purpose, and it be thought desirable to place another colo- 
 ny, or set of colonies, in the same window, nothing is easier than to adapt 
 a frame or shelf higher up, with a block of wood nailed or screwed 
 firmly to its upper side, answering the purpose of alighting-board and 
 external entrance way. A httle putty will make all right and tight, 
 against rain and wind. It is hoped the accompanying diagrams 
 will sufficiently explain the manner in which this block will be ar- 
 ranged. For instance, a is the block itself, with alighting board attached, 
 as seen from the outside ; h the same block, as it appears from with- 
 in, to the back of which the zinc slide is attached, which commands 
 the block passage. The square figm-e d represents a pane of glass, of 
 which the part below the dotted hue, e e, has been punched out, it 
 having been previously cut with a diamond. Through the narrow 
 opening thus made, the block a or &, which rests on the lower edge of 
 
74 
 
 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 the window is passed, it having previoiisly been securely attached to 
 the upper side of the shelf or frame, fixed in the window, upon which 
 the boxes rest.* Of course, the bottom board runs closely up to the 
 block, and is secured in the same manner as the boards of the lower 
 
 tier of colonies. It is well, where the aspect of the window faces the 
 sun, to hang up in it a piece of thick drugget, which, more than any- 
 thing else, will tend to keep the boxes cool. The same will also ex- 
 clude the frost in winter. 
 
 * The dotted lines c c show the place where the block rests on the ■window frame. The 
 thicker and back part of the block is that which is screwed down to the shelf or frame. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 MANAGEMENT OF THE BEE HOUSE OR WINDOW APIART. 
 
 Although the apiarian, who manages Ms bees according to the method 
 unfolded in this chapter, will generally be able to do without any cot- 
 tage hives in the open air, it will be found desirable to have one or 
 more such kept for swarming purposes ; among other reasons, to sup- 
 ply any failure which may chance to occur in his box colonies, whether 
 by the death of a queen or other accident. Under the old, (if it may 
 not be called the present,) system, accidents of this sort were common 
 enough ; for the depriving system, as practised by the generaUty of 
 amateur bee keepers, is not by any means so universally successful as 
 its advocates would have us beheve it to be ; for two or three years, 
 indeed, after the estabhshment of a bee house, or any individual colo- 
 ny in it, matters may go on well enough ; but if all swarming be pre- 
 vented, it becomes a mere chance whether it shall succeed or fail af- 
 terwards. If the queen dies at the right time ; that is, in May, June, 
 or July, and her decay be somewhat sudden, the colony flourishes, be- 
 cause a new queen, raised artificially, or otherwise, takes her place, 
 and four years more may be added to its successful existence. But if 
 the old queen fails gradually in any of those months, (in which case 
 she would probably leave no eggs behind her, from which to rear a queen 
 artificially,) or anyhow in the other nine months in the year, the bees 
 dwindle away, and the colony fails. This is one among other 
 causes of disappointment which many persons have experienced, who 
 have gone to great expense in establishing apiaries, and managed them 
 on the depriving system. They failed through want of foresight ; they 
 Bhould have provided a remedy against the natural defect in this sys- 
 tem, by changing the royal dynasty at least triennially, substituting a 
 young and vigorous queen for an old and faihng one. If this were 
 judiciously and scientifically managed, together with a periodical ex- 
 
76 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEETKU. 
 
 cision of comb, I see no reason why an apiary should not maintain a 
 perpetual youth, and any one colony flourish to an indefinite period. 
 One way of supplying a constant succession of young princesses from 
 external sources, Avill be fully detailed in this chapter ; but that the 
 apiarian may securely depend on Ms own resources for this purpose, it wiU 
 be advisable for him to keep a few cottage hives, in proportion to the 
 size of his bee house, and the number of his colonies, although he will 
 generally be able to procure his young queens elsewhere and other- 
 wise. Such hives, kept for this purpose, may be mapaged according 
 to the instructions so fully given in the earher part of this volume. 
 They had better be purchased at the outset ; and the bee house stock- 
 ed with swarms procured from them in due time, rather than with a 
 swarm or swarms obtained at the usual season. No doubt, with due 
 precautions as to the selection of such swarms, the apiary wiU be as 
 well stocked in this as in any other way ; but there is this objection 
 to it, that any considerable profit will be delayed an additional year. 
 
 First year. — Let us suppose, then, that a couple of strong stocks are 
 transferred to the garden in which the apiary is situated, whether in 
 spring or the previous autumn, from which two prime swarms issue 
 naturally in the course of the ensuing summer. That the apiary may 
 start well, I woukl advise the return of both swarms, as ah-eady ex- 
 plained, after destroying the old queens. In this way, more powerfiil 
 swarms, and youthful queens to boot, wiU be located in the bee house. 
 
 Where the swarm is forced artificially, luith a view to the queen's de- 
 struction, it must by all means be deferred until she has laid royal eggs ; 
 and, indeed, until it is ascertained that royal hrood exists in the hive, 
 in a more or less advanced stage of forwardness ; otherwise, the delay 
 Avould be very great before the second issue of the swarm. 
 
 To ascertain this, it Avill be proper to drive the bees out of the hive, 
 when, if it clearly appear that roj^al brood does exist, the swarm may 
 immediately be dashed out of the temporary hive, and the queen sought 
 for and destroyed. The bees will immediately return home, and prepare 
 for their second issue. One great advantage belonging to this artifi- 
 cial method of destroying the queen, is, that the final issue of the 
 swarm will be so much earlier and more certain than if the natural first 
 rising of the swarm was waited for previous to destroying her ; not 
 only so, the bees will be less likely to fly away and be lost. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 77 
 
 When the swarm re-issue3,* which will probably take place some 
 time in the fortnight succeeding the old queen's removal ; that is, if 
 the queen was destroyed according to the plan proposed above — ^let it 
 be hived first in a common beU hive, and afterwards transferred to 
 the box designed for its final reception,' after which, it may be removed 
 the same evening to the bee house. 
 
 I need hardly repeat that it will not alwayst be necessary to destroy 
 the old queen, however advisable, especially where her age does not 
 exceed one whole year at the time of the issue of the prime swarm. 
 In this case, after the swarm has been transferred to its box, it wiU 
 be moved off, as in the former instance, to its intended locaUty. 
 
 Now. in both these cases, second swarms, or casts, must be looked for. 
 Where the prime swarm was headed by a young princess, the cast 
 win issue probably in two or three days. Let it be retm-ned to the 
 parent stock, after cutting out from it the surviving royal cells. In 
 this way, both hives should be treated, so as to encourage their strong 
 establishment for another year. In the autumn, if necessary, a suffi- 
 cient quantity of comb may be cut away, supposing either of the 
 stocks exceeded three or four years in age. FuU directions as to every 
 method of managing these stocks having already been given elsewhere, 
 I shall not foUow up their history in this place. 
 
 To turn our attention, therefore, to the two swarms now located in 
 the bee house — when first estabUshed in their new quarters, for some 
 days at least, they ought not to be meddled with in any way, except 
 in the event of cold or wet weather succeeding, in which case, one of 
 the holes at the top may be uncorked, and a feeder slipped over it, 
 covered with a pane of glass, and something to exclude the light. The 
 feeder may contain from 1^ to 3 lbs. Uquid honey or sugared 
 ale. Of course, there is no objection to inspecting the interior of the 
 box by the windows suppUed for that purpose, though even this in 
 moderation, at first, lest the bees, who are a fastidious people, should 
 take a dislike to their new home, and decamp with the first opportu- 
 nity. Bad weather will often succeed the hiving a swarm. In this 
 
 ♦ Observe, I would by no means advise the compulsion of the rwarm on its final re-is- 
 sue, eicept in a case of extreme necessity, chiefly because it would become greatly weak- 
 ened by the return of a great part of its numbers to the old stand and hive. 
 
 t See Appendix, Note I. 
 
Y8 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 case, where bees are left to themselves, there occurs often a very hurt- 
 ful period of inactivity in the progress of the new w^orks for want of 
 material wherewith to construct comb. If, however, a constant 
 supply of some rich food be given them, (by wliich I mean food 
 in which the saccharine element prevails, which Huber tells us is more 
 productive of wax than even honey,) they will construct comb in rea- 
 diness to receive the often sudden and sometimes immense collec- 
 tion of honey which flows in from every quarter on the return of pro- 
 pitious weather. Bees would seem to know when an abundant har- 
 vest is at hand ; hence, they wiU often, especially in the height of the 
 season, construct comb as if in preparation for it. Thus I have knoiivn 
 comb-building continue most actively in a warmly-kept hive during 
 several days of bad weather, when scarcely a drop of honey was being 
 added to their stores. They will be also seen at such times to carry the 
 honey, which they may chance in the hurry of the moment to have 
 deposited in the lower cells, into the higher parts of the hive, thus 
 clearing the way for the easy deposit of future stores. This I have 
 known them do in a side box, in which the queen had not once laid 
 an egg ; therefore, the transfer of the honey could not have occurred 
 in deference to her breeding wants. 
 
 If the season be good, and the swarms strong, which they will gen- 
 erally be when the queen is destroyed, additional room wiU shortly be 
 required. This should be furnished some time in the course of the 
 third or fourth week ; and first, by opening to them a glass or two on 
 the top of the hive. Should the season be very good, they will also 
 want the side box, but this more rarely, owing to the large dimensions 
 of the stock hive. Still, it will often be found advantageous in very 
 hot weather, to give the bees all the room possible, even though they 
 may not absolutely require it for storing purposes. When the ther- 
 mometer indicates a temperature of 90° F., for two days together, and 
 the bees at morn or eve hang in clusters outside the hive, no time 
 should be lost in opening to them all available space. With so large a 
 population as will be almost sure to be attached to the new swarms, 
 their large box will be filled in almost the same, or perhaps less time, 
 than a swarm of the usual size would take to fill a box of the ordi- 
 nary dimensions; so, that if 20 lbs. of honey may be yielded by 
 the one over and above their own winter store, not less than 30 lbs., 
 under similar circumstances, will be collected by the others. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. "79 
 
 In supplying the bees with additional room, the bee master must be 
 guided by circumstances. Wlien his complement of stock hives is 
 complete, his object ■will be the harvesting of honey. In this case, he 
 ■will proceed as above, first opening a bee glass, and afterwards the 
 side box. But should he desire a rapid increase of his apiary, and be 
 content to forego any present acquisition of honey ■with this end in 
 vie'w, he may ■withhold all additional room above the s^warm, and com- 
 pel them to ■work solely in the side box, which must be made to 
 tale the place of the stock box, the latter being shifted to the right or 
 left as the case may be. Thus, fn passing to the open air,* the bees 
 ■wUl have to enter an empty box, in ■which, if necessity urges them, 
 they ■will speedily begin to build. It ■wiU in general be occupied much 
 sooner than if it "were in its original position, remote from the entrance, 
 and "work a good deal more comb than they other-wise -would do. "WTiere 
 plenty of additional room is afforded in after years, in the shape of bee 
 glasses, or supei-s over the "pavilion," or main box; and a hive be 
 treated in this manner, there "wiU generally be found in tliis temporary 
 atrium, plenty of comb, -well stored with pollen, (which will heljo to 
 relieve the stock hive of much of this often too abundantly-stored sub- 
 stance,) or only a third full, or even less of honey; for bees always pre- 
 fer to store honey over their main domicile, whither they ■wiU, as I 
 just said now, transfer the honey temporarily stored in the side box, 
 whenever the weather chances to be unfavorable to their moving out 
 of doors, and adding to their treasures. 
 
 The reason of the above proceeding and treatment of a hive is this, 
 that on the arrival of autumn ; that is, the close of the honey season, 
 out of the side box, an artificial stock may be formed, in a manner 
 presently to be explained, to whom the stored poUen wUl prove a most 
 acceptable boon. Every colony, or swarm in the bee house, may be 
 treated in a similar manner, and as many artificial stocks formed as 
 there are colonies in it ; so that, in fact, where all things go well, not only 
 may the apiary increase itself by accessions from ■without, in the shape 
 of swarms proceeding from the cottage hives, but it wUl double itself 
 within also. The method in which this is effected shall be explained 
 anon. I may add here, that in very good seasons, should the works 
 
 * The entrance to the hive, be it observed, must never be changed, otherwise, the sacri- 
 fice of many valuable lives -would be the consequence. 
 
80 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 in the new box appear to advance with much rapidity, as soon as it 
 appears half full of comb, (but not before.) a glass may be opened to 
 the bees over the main box, in which they will store a good deal of 
 honey for the bee master's own use. 
 
 The method of removing such a glass when full, being somewhat 
 different to the plan pursued under the cottage system, I proceed to 
 explain. It must first be broken up from its hold-fasts of propolis, 
 which glue it firmly to the top of the hive. The instrument employ- 
 ed for tliis purpose, be it knife or spatula, may also be passed right 
 under the glass, so as to sever the comb from its attachments within. 
 This being done, tlirust beneath the glass, two plates of zinc, sufficient- 
 ly large, upon one of which, the glass will be removed, while the other 
 remains to cover the hole. Before doing this, however, it will sometimes 
 be found of use to lift the glass about the eighth of an inch fr'om the 
 crown board of the hive, by means of small wedges, or bits of wood 
 or paper, to allow the bees to lick up what honey oozes out of the 
 cells, that may chance to have been fractured in process of breaking 
 the glass away from its attaclmients. Five minutes will generally suf- 
 fice for this purpose before removing the glass, which must not be de- 
 layed too long, or the bees, having sucked up the spilt honey, will pro- 
 ceed to rifle all the cells in the glass, to the dismay of the bee master. 
 When removed, the place of the glass may be occupied with another, 
 or else the hole filled up with a bung or cork During the whole of 
 this process, not a bee need have escaped to annoy the operator. I 
 have elsewhere stated, that I deeni it advisable to give no second 
 glass after the first week in July ; the first reason there alleged holds 
 good in this case with the greater force, as it is desirable that there 
 should be at least five or six pounds of honey stored in the box des- 
 tined for the new colony. 
 
 Pass we now to the early autumn treatment of the bee house 
 colonies (for I think enough has been said elsewhgro to guide the 
 apiarian in the summer management of his bees, and the autumn 
 is no idle time to the scientific amateur). If these colonies have 
 done Avell, besides the glasses which may have been taken off, there 
 will probably be found a considerable quantity of comb in one or 
 both of the side boxes of his two swarms, not, however, containing 
 honey enough to tempt him to plunder, or, if tempted, to repay him 
 for the plunder. Bearing in mind, therefore, what I have before 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 81 
 
 suggested as to the costliness of -wax, it "svill be liis best policy 
 either to preserve this comb to another year, (when it will be highly 
 prized by the bees, to whom it may be given, whether old stock or 
 prime swarm,) or to make use of it at once by turning into it an expa- 
 triated doubled colony of bees, procured from elsewhere expressly for 
 the purpose, in other words, to make an artificial stock out of it. To 
 this intent, the first thing to be done is to make a bargain with some 
 one or more cottage bee keepers in the neighborhood, who are least 
 fooUshly superstitious about their bees, wliile they adhere religiously 
 to the " good old plan" of the brimstone pit, as the best finale to the 
 labors of the year. In most places the bi'ibe of a sixpence or a shil- 
 ling will induce them very readily to give up their bees to the experi- 
 mental apiarian. He should choose, if choice is afforded him, the 
 strongest, fullest, and most populous stocks, which will generally be 
 the swarms of the previous year, that have swarmed once in the course 
 of the present season, for these stocks, having a young queen, Avill be 
 in full vigor and promise. Next, those which are as distant as possi- 
 ble from his own apiary, (say two or three miles off,) should be bar- 
 gained for in preference to those that are nearer at hand, as the bees 
 wili be so much less likely to wander off to their old haunts and perish. 
 It is also desirable that the hives intended for plunder should stand side 
 by side ; nor must there be less than two such in the same garden. 
 
 These prehminary steps having been taken — and they should be 
 done in good time — a fine day must be chosen, (as early in August as 
 possible,) for the taking away of the side box or boxes from one or 
 both of his colonies, according to circumstances. The removal of a 
 box intervening between the stock hive and the open air, is an easy 
 matter in apiaries managed according to my plan, though it may appear 
 an affair of some difficulty. I begin by thrusting in the zinc slides 
 between the boxes, by which means I speedily ascertain in which of the 
 boxes the queen happens to be. Should it be apparent that she has 
 taken up her c^uarters in the box nearest to the entrance, after wait- 
 ing some twenty minutes, I proceed to withdraw the zinc ventilating 
 slide under the hive board of the side box, having previously opened 
 one of the windows in the room or bee house — all other Ughts being 
 darkened so as to afford only one place of uninterrupted egress to the 
 bees. If this be performed in the warmest part of a fine day, but few 
 bees in general will be found in it, and most of these will have eagerly 
 
82 THE COTTAGE AND FAKM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 escaped in the course of an hour, and rejoined their companions in the 
 other box. The ventilators should then be closed, and the box trans- 
 ferred to the place destined for the reception of the new colony, for, in 
 this case, the old stock will receive the expected exiles from their own 
 home. Should it appear, however, that the queen remains in her 
 original palace, all the shdes must be shut down, and the boxes shift- 
 ed ; that is, made to change places, after which, much the same pro- 
 cess will follow as in the former case, save only that the nevj box 
 becomes the reserved dwelhng place of the new colonists, and to this 
 end is removed to its prepared position. It matters not if a few bees 
 are left among the combs, for they will either harmonise with their 
 successors, or return to their old locahty on taking their first excursion 
 in the open air. The new box should be narrowly examined, pre- 
 viously to its estabhshment, as to the state of the comb which has 
 been constructed in it. If, on inspection, there shows itself a too great 
 abundance of drone comb, the whole of it had best be cut away, (at 
 least as far as the ceiled cells,) as this would, in all probabihty, very 
 materially injure the after prosperity of the hive. Whichever box be- 
 comes the habitat of the new comers, should be carefully weighed 
 both before and after the bees are put into it. 
 
 And now for the method of peopling either of these hives — adestote 
 animis, lectores, et vos plaudite ! On the evening of the same day, 
 (should the weather be of a settled fine character, it were better it 
 should take place the day iefore,) let the bee master — duly armed with 
 every necessary defence, and accompanied by an assistant bearing 
 every requisite implement, including a similar box to that which the 
 bees are to occupy — proceed to the apiary in which the doomed hives 
 are situated. If they stand side by side, it were well to commence 
 operations an hour before dusk, (for daylight, where possible, is of 
 great advantage,) only let both principal and assistant be well de- 
 fended against every possible attack. The process then to be adopted 
 is as follows : — First let one hive, (the strongest of at least two,) be 
 driven into a temporary bell or cottage hive. As soon as effected — 
 after fumigating the old hive with sulphur to destroy what bees re- 
 main, and removing it in-doors — turn up the second hive, (and here I 
 must interpose — have nothing to do with casts only half full of comb ; 
 they give more trouble than they are worth,) and set over it the same 
 hive -used in the former case, into which the population of the first hive 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 83 
 
 has already crept, and drive as before . The two families, (and, indeed, 
 any number of bees so driven,) will unite in the most harmonious 
 manner, without the least attempt at fighting — save only that the 
 jealousy of royalty will demand a victim., and one of the rival queens 
 will be executed before morning. Of all the methods of uniting bees 
 hitherto practised, this, which is a discovery of my own,* is undoubt- 
 edly one of the simplest and most effectual. It may seem hazardous ; 
 but I can testify from experience to its value, having tried it more 
 than a dozen times during the last two years with the same unfaihng 
 success. But to proceed — the now united swarm in the temporary 
 hive had better be located for the night on a stool exactly half way 
 between the position occupied by the two families before their expa- 
 triation. If, however, the old hives did not stand side by side, let it 
 occupy the place of the strongest stock-. 
 
 Having collected as many bees together as possible out of two, three, 
 or more hives, and thus ordered them, patience must be had till the 
 following day, when, at any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., (but the 
 laier the better within this space,) the operator may revisit the scene 
 of his last night's proceedings, and condlude the business. All that 
 now remains to be done, is rudely to shake the bees out of the tempo- 
 rary hive upon the ground, in some open but shady place, in front of 
 the box provided for their reception, whose edge must be elevated 
 half an inch or so from the ground. It is evident that the box which 
 the bees are finally to occupy may be used for this purpose, but only 
 if there be no great quantity of bees, brood, or honey in it. If it 
 chanced to be heavy, there would be some danger of the combs break- 
 ing down; on this account, I advise the use of a temporary box, 
 which, when the bees have crept into it, may be i^laced on a board, 
 and set on the stand which the swarm occupied the night before. To- 
 wards evening, when the bees are all in, it may be carried off to the 
 place destined for it, and set over the box which the insects are finally 
 to occupy. They Avill all quickly descend, (the holes intervening hav- 
 ing been previously opened.) and accustom themselves to their change 
 of home. The upper box, when empty, may be removed. 
 
 Such is the method which I recommend to be pursued in every case 
 where it is desired to form artificial stocks. If the process above ex- 
 
 ' See Appendix, Note E. 
 
84 THE COTTAGE AND FAKM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 plained be properly managed from beginning to end — above all, if the 
 bees saved have proceeded from strong and vigorous stocks, (at least 
 one of the families in each united stock should answer this description,) 
 there is every probability — I may say certainty — that, with a judicious 
 and liberal supply of food up to the desired weight, (and every such 
 stock ought to weigh neither more nor less than 20 lbs. of contents at 
 Michaelmas,) it will become one of the strongest and most remunera- 
 ting stocks in the whole apiary the following summer. Artificial 
 stocks obtained in this manner have a double advantage, being both 
 economical and i:)rofitable ; for they will cost very- Uttle to the bee 
 master, while his apiary may increase itself as rapidly, when worked 
 on the non-swarming system, as if his bees were allowed to swarm ad 
 libitum. It will be at once perceived, that an apiary managed on this 
 plan, may be conducted in a bee house, without any assistance at all 
 from garden hives, worked on the cottage system; I mean, that the 
 apiarian may be altogether independent of swarming, which is a mat- 
 ter of great importance to dwellers in towns, who may hitherto have 
 thought themselves debarred from the pleasures of bee-keeping, from 
 their lack of a garden, and the consequent necessity of purchasing 
 swarms. It will be seen, moreover, when I come to the next year's 
 management of the apiary, that the increase of stocks may be man- 
 aged another way, without the ti-oublesome necessity even of procur- 
 ing bees from elsewhere at all ; so that one stock, well managed, may 
 become the parent of a numerous apiary, luithoui even requiring the 
 apiarian to move out of the room of his house tuhich he may have de- 
 voted to keeping bees. 
 
 There is yet another plan of forming artificial stocks, which I have 
 tried with much success. I introduce a notice of it here, for the ben- 
 efit chiefly of those bee keepers who are curious in such matters, and 
 have the requisite leisure for conducting the somewhat tedious, though 
 very interesting, process. It is this : After collecting together the popu- 
 lation of two or more doomed hives, let them be placed in a perfectly 
 empty box. If fed plentifully — and they should never lack an abun- 
 dant supply of palatable food in their feeding trough for at least a 
 month ; that is, until the contents of the box reach 20 Dds. in weight — 
 they will construct a great deal of comb, and store away food enough to 
 keep them alive through the winter, without requiring much, if any, 
 additional supply in the spring. This method of rearing bees is, how- 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 85 
 
 ever, an expensive one, as they Avill often consume from fifteen to sev- 
 enteen shillings' worth of honey or prepared food, before their hive 
 attains the requisite weight. If, however, the thing be weU managed, 
 a colony of this kind becomes exceedingly profitable. I reared one in 
 this way through the winter of 1849, which yielded me 34 lbs. of the 
 finest honey in the indifferent bee year that followed ; and it is now, 
 (February, 1851,) in the very best health, keeping up a much higher 
 average temperature than any of my other stocks. If this plan be 
 adopted, the stock should be formed as early as possible in August, 
 when th6 queen, if a good breeder, will be tempted to lay considera- 
 bly before the close of the year. The method, however, before detail- 
 ed, is to be greatly preferred, for the comb being for the most part 
 already constructed, not more than from six to ten pounds of food need, 
 in general, be supphed, at the cost of a very trifle, and tliis wUl put it 
 on as safe a footing as any other stocks. 
 
 Towards the close of August, (see reasons for mentioning so early 
 a date in Chapter XI.,) every hive in the apiary should be put on a 
 proper footing to stand the winter, by supplying to those colonies, 
 which may be found deficient in weight, as much food as will bring 
 them up to at least 20 lbs. of contents — the garden hives should weigh 
 a pound or two more, to make allowance for the increasing weight of 
 the old comb.* For winter management, aU that is requisite, besides 
 an occasional cleansing of the boards, is to keep off the effects of a win- 
 ter Bun in cold weather. The felt or drugget bUnd in the window ap- 
 iary will ans^Ver the purpose of a sun guard well enough, where the 
 window faces the south. Besides this, in both bee house and window 
 apiary I take care to confine the bees close prisoners when the suu 
 shines in cold weather, as I also do during the prevalence of a high 
 
 * As to these cottage hives, I have supposed before that it was intended they should qual- 
 ify themselves to stand as winter stocks ; and to this end, casting, in both cases, should 
 have been carefully prevented. If not more than four years old, and sufficiently strong in 
 weight and population, it will be advisable by all means to keep them to another season ; 
 should either of them, however, appear to be weak, or should it exceed four years in age, it 
 were best, perhaps, to break it up as soon as August is drawing to a close. To this end, 
 the bees may be first fumigated, or driven into an empty hive, and joined to their compan- 
 ions in the neighboring stock ; after which, cut out all the combs with care, and remove 
 from them all that is still occupied with brood. Whatever honey is found in the hive, 
 being of an inferior quality, will do admirably to mix with the food supplied to the artifi- 
 cial stocks. 
 
86 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPFK. 
 
 wind in mild weather, by pushing in the; shdes between the box and 
 the wall in everj; colony, which keeps them in total darkness, be the 
 glitter of snow or the sun's glare ever so bright. In the meanwhile, 
 it is prudent always to open the ventilators below, to afford them the 
 necessary air. In calm mild weather, however, the bees should have 
 free access to the open air, as exercise in winter, where it may safely 
 be enjoyed, is of great advantage to them. On the breaking up of 
 a frost, and after a general thaw, afltbrd as much air as possible ; also 
 a current of air through the hive occasionally in mild di-y weather, 
 will be found very beneficial, especially in wooden boxes, which are 
 more Uable to accumulations of damp, arising from condensed vapor, 
 than the old bell-shaped cottage hive. 
 
 The process of board-cleansing, which I have before described in the 
 instance of straw hives, may be thus conducted : Let an evening be 
 chosen when the wind is blowing in a direction towards the apiary ; 
 then remove the blank ventilator so as to cause a rush of air over the 
 floor board, which will compel the bees to ascend up among the 
 combs. This effected, slide the hive gently but quickly on to the 
 board of its side box, which must previously have been removed. 
 After scraping and washing the board thoroughly — at the same time 
 drying it by the fire — the hive may be pushed back again to its old 
 place without a single bee having escaped to annoy the operator. 
 
 Second Year. — I come now to the second year's treatment of the 
 house apiary, in obedience to the plan and rule which I laid down to 
 myself at the beginning. As to the early treatment of the hives, much 
 the same attention will have to be bestowed on them towards the ap- 
 proach of spring as was recommended to be given to hives managed 
 on the cottage system, including the judicious excision of mouldy 
 combs. These, however, are not likely to be found so early in the 
 history of a new apiary. Most writers on bees advise the partial feed- 
 ing of even strong hives in the early spring. To tliis opinion I myself 
 incline, having tried it with advantage. It must be done with much 
 judgment, however, or it becomes of positive injury to the bees. In 
 the case of stocks established in the natural way, there is nothing so 
 good to feed with as warm diluted honey. Instead of this, for a stock 
 artificially formed, the food suppUed should be somewhat inferior in 
 quality to that stoi-ed in the hive, as it is important that whatever pre- 
 pared food was given them in autumn should be all cleared away be- 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 87 
 
 fore the honey season comes ; and if a better food were given them 
 they might perhaps neglect it. Whatever food be given, it must be 
 given only on mild calm days, when the temperature of the weather 
 is about 50° F. and upwards. To stimulate a hive, (for this food is 
 given with this intent,) during the prevalence of high winds or cold 
 showery weather, is to endanger its existence by inducing an injurious 
 activity among the bees, who venture forth under its influence to al- 
 most certain death. In propitious weather, however, a tablespoonful 
 of food each day may be given vdth much advantage ; but care must 
 be taken in feeding to avoid creating a current of air through the hive, 
 which would neutralise the beneficial influence of the feeding stimulus 
 by reducing the temperature which the other tended to raise. Co- 
 pious spring feeding, except where a hive is starving, is altogether to 
 be avoided. It tempts many bees to neglect their duty to the young 
 brood ; besides that, in storing it away, they necessarily encroach on 
 the queen's breeding space, and so positively assist in weakening the 
 colony. 
 
 As the month of April speeds away, the strength of all the hives 
 that have well survived the winter and the perils of the early spring 
 increases daily, so that more room will shortly be required. Before this 
 is given, however, let the bottom boards throughout the apiary receive 
 a final cleansing for the season. The in-door colonies on or about the 
 first of May must next be supplied with glasses, duly furnished with 
 guide comb. These, let me repeat here, must be carefully protected 
 firom the influence of cold by thick woollen coverings of some sort ; 
 the warmer they are kept in general the better, though when the wea- 
 ther is very sultry they may be left quite uncovered. Bees wiU some- 
 times commence working in a glass as early as April, often in the mid- 
 dle of May. At this time it should be kept always covered, for the 
 population wiU not yet be so numerous as to be unable to regulate 
 the temperature for themselves. Be it also remembered, that comb- 
 making is by all means to be encouraged, so that when honey abounds 
 there may be ready-constructed room in which to store it. Never 
 mind if the bees, on the return of ungenial weather, carry all the 
 honey as yet stored down into the liive, when seasonable weather re- 
 appears they will soon fiU the cells up again. 
 
 As the year advances and the population increases, much attention 
 must be paid to the seasonable supply of additioital hive room, some 
 
88 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 days, and even weeks, before it becomes absolutely necessary. Expe- 
 rience has convinced me that the existence of vacant space in a hive 
 has a tendency to stimulate the bees' industry ; however, let it be so 
 given as not to reduce too low the temperature of the hive. Now 
 also is the time for the bee master to provide for the autumnal increase 
 of his apiary, should he desire it, according to the plan before suggest- 
 ed, of which, indeed, we suppose him to have made trial the year be- 
 fore. Whatever success he may have obtained then, now certainly 
 he may, (unless the season should prove extremely bad,) have four 
 boxes in the autumn, out of which to make as many artificial stocks, 
 if he can get bees enough to tenant them. A further advantage there 
 wUl accrue from this treatment of his stocks, namely, that by shifting 
 his boxes, in the way pointed out a few pages back, and compelling 
 the bees to pass from their hive into the open air through an empty 
 box, much anxiety will be spared him as to the possible swarming 
 away of his bees ; for if the boxes be shifted in good time, say at the 
 end of April, they vsdll be sure not to swarm if space to work in be 
 afterwards supplied to them as fast as they want it, and the boxes are 
 well sheltered from the sun. The earlier too the boxes are shifted, the 
 greater heat will be engendered in the stock, which being moved so 
 far away from the entrance, ■will be less sensitive of the changes of the 
 weather ; thus wiU the maturation of the brood be advanced the spee- 
 dier. Plenty of spare room over the pavilion must be opened to 
 them, as it is wanted ; for in proportion as they have room given 
 them to store above their proper domicile, the less honey will be de- 
 posited in the ante-chamber, out of which the new colony is to be 
 made. Should the bees increase so greatly in numbers as to compel 
 them to hang outside, from the alighting board, when all the available 
 space has been given them, a glass or box, even though not quite full, 
 must be taken away, and its place suppHed by an empty one. The 
 partially-fiUed glass or box may be replaced later in the season, if, on 
 removing other glasses or boxes, honey seems to be collected still in 
 any quantity. His own judgment must guide the bee master in his 
 decision, as to whether he shall appropriate the contents at once or 
 reserve it as I have just suggested ; only be it borne in mind, that 
 empty comb is of httle value in itself, but a great boon to the bees, 
 and a prize to their master himself in the end, if returned to him full 
 of honey. Empty comb, however, is always useful to tempt them up 
 
THE COTTAGE A>T) FARM BSE KEErER. 89 
 
 into a glass or super, in the way of guide or decoy comb, especially if 
 there chance to be a little honey in it ; some ought certainly to be re- 
 served and laid by for this purpose every year. 
 
 Let me now fulfil! the promise which I made to reveal to the bee 
 master a method of increasing his stock hives loithout the necessity of 
 his moving from the bee house, so as to make him entirely independent 
 of the process of swarming, or driving bees, as a means of stocking 
 his apiary. 
 
 To form a stock of bees according to this method, it is simply requi- 
 site to catch the queen bee of a strong colony, some time between the 
 end of the third week in May, and the middle of the month of July ; 
 that is, before the slaughter of the drones has commenced in that partic- 
 ular hive, and while there is still much brood in it. To secure the per- 
 son of majesty, with this end in view, may seem difficult in the case 
 of common box colony. In reality, it is far easier than to secure the 
 queen of a leaf or observatory hive, for she may be caught without 
 the escape of a single bee — ^with the utmost coolness on the part of the 
 operator — and even without laying a finger on the royal person. To 
 succeed in this enterprise, however, the bees must have worked some 
 comb in one or more bee glasses, (the more the better,) the colony 
 must be strong in population, eggs must be found in the stock hive, 
 and the queen must be still vigorous. These necessary points occur- 
 ring together, nothing is wanting to success but the watchfulness of 
 the operator. As June advances, and the bees' ardor in the collection 
 of honey is at its height, scarcely a day wiU pass in which the queen 
 of a vigorous stock "will not appear several times in one or all of the 
 glasses over the stock hive. She is anxious to lay, but it is with diffi- 
 culty, (owing to the demand for store room,) that she can find suita- 
 ble cells, wherein to deposit her eggs. Indeed, it is only when by 
 mere good luck, she happens to anticipate her subjects in finding a cell 
 just vacated by a young-escaped bee, that she can lay with comfort; 
 in this strait, she perambulates every part of the hive in search of 
 breeding space, and in the course of her journeyings, among other 
 places, she visits the bee glasses. Now, if at any one of these mo- 
 ments, (and they occur pretty frequently,) the bee master happens to 
 be on the watch, the golden moment is arrived. Without loss of time, 
 let him thrust a couple of zinc plates between the glass in which the 
 
 E 
 
90 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 queen has appeared, and the hive itself, and then remove the glass 
 away on its plate, putting it aside tiU it is wanted.* 
 
 The next thing to be done is to thrust in all the slides ; after which, 
 remove the stock box to the place in the apiary destined for the re- 
 ception of the new colony, leaving the other box behind,! which, if it 
 have some comb and honey in it, is in so much the better circumstan- 
 ces. Now, (if it have not been done before,) set the glass containing 
 the queen over one of the holes over this side box, and one of the 
 new colonies is formed. 
 
 A strict watch must now be kept upon the old box, whose occu- 
 pants, (as at the time of the division of the colony,) are still imprison- 
 ed. Should the quicksilver rise to lOOo F., or near it,t part of the 
 population must be suffered to escape — the box being kept as cool as 
 possible in the meanwhile — until the heat descends to below 90". 
 If the temperature of the box should not rise beyond this, (or as soon 
 as it has become reduced to this,) let the bees be kept close prisoners 
 for forty-eight hours, by which time — if there ivas any suitahle hrood 
 in the hive — they will have commenced the formation of royal cells 
 preparatory to the raising of an artificial queen. They may then, 
 very early in the morning, or better towards evening, be released with 
 safety ; some may and probably will return to the old hive, but the 
 greater body of them will remain true to their new home and expected 
 sovereign, having altogether forgotten their old attachments. Of course, 
 the earlier in the season this operation can be done, the better, chiefly, 
 because that then, no fears need reasonably be entertained as to 
 whether there exists in the hive suitable brood for rearing an artificial 
 queen or not. In one of my boxes, the fact may generally be ascer- 
 tained by looking in at the windows, of which the more — and the lar- 
 ger they are — the better. But, indeed, it may be taken for granted, 
 that a sufficiency of eggs or larvje of a proper age, will be always 
 found in a good stock, worked on the depriving system, during the 
 
 * Air must be given to the imprisoned bees, or they might die of suffocation, especially if 
 very numerous in the glass. 
 
 t I suppose it to have previously intervened between the " pavilion" where the queen 
 •was, and the open air. 
 
 t A thermometer is almost indispensable in the box for the perfect success of this 
 operation. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 91 
 
 months of May, June, July, and August. The operation should not 
 be attempted, however, later than July, for a variety of reasons, which 
 it is unnecessary to specify. 
 
 To tvu-n back to the straw hives in the open air. Bearing in mind 
 that their queens are now only barely a year old, it will be unnecessary 
 to destroy them this season. Therefore, soon after the middle of May, 
 (but see Chapter VII.,) force artificial swarms fi-om them. These, in- 
 stead of being removed to the bee house, for I doubt whether most of 
 the bees, when forced to swarm, would not return to the old hive the 
 following day — perhaps queen and all would decamp together — these, 
 I say, had better be put into large straw hives, and made to take the 
 place of the old ones, for permanent stocks. Nine tenths of the pop- 
 ulation may be driven out of the old hives, so as to strengthen to the 
 utmost the concUtion of the swarms, in order that they may well fill 
 their hives before winter. This they will probably do so eff'ectually as 
 to weigh from 50 to 70 lbs. of contents, glasses and all included, 
 which may be taken from them. To anticipate the time, I would ob- 
 serve here, that if the weight of either of these hives much exceed 25 
 lbs. of contents at Michaelmas, it were well to break up the top, and 
 scoop out from the upper cells of the combs, on one side, as many 
 pounds of honey as would reduce it to that weight or a Uttle less ; the 
 reason of this spoUation I have elsewhere stated. 
 
 The best way to treat the old hive under these circumstances, (that 
 is, after forcing the artificial swarms out of them,) is to make one good 
 stock of them. To effect this, set one of them bottom upwards in a 
 pail, which must be used the next three weeks as a stand for the hive. 
 Before turning the hive up in it, the pail should be fii-mly fixed to the 
 spot by running three or four stout stakes into the ground close to it 
 all round, so that no sudden gust of wind nor accidental blow may 
 knock it over. Having adjusted one of the hives, the largest and fresh- 
 est, in it, as explained just now, let the other be brought and fitted 
 nicely over the other, so that the two hives shall form but one family. 
 They must be well fitted together, first by thrusting long and sharp 
 skewers of wood through the straw of one into the straw of the other, 
 and plastering up the spaces between the hives tln-ough which the 
 bees might creep in and out, taking care to leave only one hole for 
 the use of the united families. This done, a neat hackle may be placed 
 over the crown of the topmost hive. By the end of three weeks, 
 
92 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 this colony will be very numerous in population, every bee having 
 been hatched out of the cells vphich were left full of eggs or brood on 
 the issue of the swarm from each. In this case, it is not so necessary 
 that royal brood should have been left by the old queen ; in fact, it 
 were perhaps better that the bees should rear a queen artificially, be- 
 cause, at the expiration of the three weeks, she wiU probably not have 
 laid a single egg yet in the hive. When this time is fully come, take 
 oflf the wpper hive, which wiU be principally occupied by the bees, and 
 set it on a stool provided for it, close to where it stood before ; that is, as 
 close as possible to the pail. Now remove the reverse cZ hive, whose combs 
 and cells will generally be found quite empty of brood, and deserted 
 by the bees, and cut out of it half the combs, on the side where they 
 appear oldest and blackest. When I say half the combs, I do not 
 mean entire combs, but so much of them as appears to have been prin- 
 cipally used for breeding purposes, for the upper part, although dark 
 in color, pei^iaps, is sure to be good yet ; in fact, it very rarely becomes 
 black and old as the lower cells do. Having duly prepared it in this 
 manner, take the former hive and drive all the bees out of it into the 
 one just prepared for their reception. They may be placed finally on 
 the stool, and suffered to right themselves as best they may. As this 
 will be done very early in June, there is every chance of these bees col- 
 lecting a good deal of honey before winter, and replacing the re- 
 moved comb with beautiful fresh cells, so that they will form a good 
 stock for another year. Either this hive may be suffered to remain 
 where it is, as a third garden stock, or it may be transferred to the 
 bee house about Christmas, there to remain till the following spring, 
 when the whole population may be forced from it at the usual time, 
 as a swarm, and located in a box in its place ; it may then be set over 
 some other stock for the full period of three weeks, until every grub 
 in it has been hatched out, after which let it be destroyed. 
 
 On the arrival of the month of August, the bee master will turn 
 his attention to the stocks to be formed artificially. Hitherto, his ap- 
 iary has only increased by the addition of one garden stock since the 
 preceding autumn, unless he have adopted the plan detailed a few 
 pages back ; but it may now be enlarged from seven to eleven colo- 
 nies, by giving to each of the ante-chamber boxes in the bee house a 
 new population, each under a distinct government. The method of 
 conducting this interesting series of operations has been already so 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 93 
 
 amply explained, that it is needless for me to say anything more here 
 on the subject. 
 
 Before I wind up this chapter to a conclusion, it remains for me to 
 give a few directions concerning the best method of renewing period- 
 ically the once-estabUshed stocks in the apiary. I speak here of two 
 kinds of renovation — renovation of comb^ and renewal or exchange of 
 qvsen when she begins to wane in vigor. 
 
 Renovation of comb should take place not less often than once in 
 every four or five years. When it becomes desirable to effect this, all 
 that is requisite to be done, is to set the old box into the spring over, 
 instead of at the side of, the ante-chamber, when additional room is 
 given to the hive. As the comb is worked below, the queen will de- 
 scend, for instinct leads her to descend as low as possible towards the 
 entrance of the hive ; not only so, she will prefer the new and clean, 
 to the old and worn-out comb for laying her eggs. There is one ob- 
 jection to this plan, namely, that the bees will then store their honey 
 in the upper hive among the old combs. To avoid this, which would 
 materially lessen the profit derivable from this stock during that par- 
 ticular season, as soon as the bees have worked some comb below, 
 thrust a divider between the boxes, (taking care to admit air to the 
 upper box, by elevating it to the eighth of an inch or so, on thin pieces 
 of wood,) and wait the issue. If the bees after a time get very 
 restless above, it may be inferred that the queen is below, in which 
 case, suffer the bees to escape by elevating the box suflficiently on one 
 side ; if they refuse to leave the hive, it is a sign they have not dis- 
 covered the loss of their queen, who, therefore, doubtless is among 
 them. In this case, the box must be restored, and the divider with- 
 drawn. This should be repeated twice or thrice, (or as often as desir- 
 able,) every week until successful. Having removed the upper box 
 at last, cut out aU the lower part of every comb, leaving two inches 
 of each adhering to the roof if apparently still good. The box should 
 then be removed to some dry place tiU wanted for an artificial stock, 
 or else, if not wanted for this purpose, it had better be cleaned out al- 
 together, and be well scraped and scrubbed. If removed befcJre June, 
 it is evident that the now young stock may, and probably will, give 
 some surplus honey in a glass or side box. 
 
 There is yet another way of treating a stock of this kind. It is to 
 manage it in the spring as if with the intention of forming an artificial 
 stock; then to drive the- bees, in August, out of the old box into ^n 
 
94 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 empty one, and to set this over the side box, which is supposed to be 
 partially filled with honey and comb. If thus treated every alternate 
 year, the stock box of every colony should have only Ticdf of its comb 
 cut away at a time. It will thus be preserved in perpetuity, and may 
 either have its former occupants returned, or receive a new queen and 
 fresh population. In either case, whatever brood may be found in the 
 box to be renewed, may, and ought, (if in any quantity,) to be saved. 
 How this may be done has already been sufficiently pointed out in 
 Chapters V. and VII. 
 
 To renovate a hive by substituting a young for an old and worn-out 
 queen — whether she be three or four years old — the plan to be pur- 
 sued is still more simple, and no less efficacious, than that just advised 
 for comb renewal. 
 
 I may premise that one very serious objection to the depriving or 
 non-swarming system, where it is folloAved in its integrity, (and to the 
 existence of objections to it I have alluded before,) is to be found in 
 tliis : That, owing to the absence of a demand for royal brood tol ead 
 off colonies, the queen sometimes lays no royal egg* at all in the 
 hive ; or if she does lay in royal cells, the bees destroy the grubs be- 
 fore they come to maturity. Now, should this happen for three or 
 four years consecutively, it stands to reason that the colony must 
 perish — I mean where the decay of the queen is gradual, when even 
 the laying of worker eggs is discontinued some time previous to her 
 death, out of Avhich a sovereign might be raised artificially to supply 
 her place. To this, among other causes, must be attributed the very 
 frequent casualties which occur in box colonies that are not suffered 
 to swarm. I should almost be disposed to lay it down as an excep- 
 tion to the rule, Avhere they thrive for more than four consecutive 
 years together. Every scientific manager of an apiary ought, there- 
 fore, by careful observation, to make himself acquainted, as accurately 
 as possible, with the age and pedigree of every queen bee under his 
 charge, so as to be able, by a judicious removal of the old queens, and 
 the substitution of young and vigorous ones in their place, to preserve 
 his colonies perpetually in thorough working order. 
 
 Now one way to do this is as folloAVS : — Let him procure from his 
 
 * I use thfi term " royal egg" in a popular sense ; not that I believn the flgg from which 
 a queen is reared to be at all difFerent from those eggs out of -which the common bens 
 proceed. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 95 
 
 cottage neighbors the population of their strong casts that are doomed 
 to the brimstone pit. These may then be driven out of their several 
 hives, and set over the colonies to, be renewed, (one strong cast to 
 each colony,) from which the original inhabitants, together with then: 
 queen, have been previously withdraAvn. These last, on being driven, 
 should have their queens destroyed, which will have the effect of com- 
 peUing them to return home ; here they ought to find their old dwell- 
 ing, (after being deprived of part of its comb, if need require,) sur- 
 mounted by the cast procured for the purpose. The bees above, 
 however, should not be suffered to have access to the hive below till 
 after some time has elapsed. A piece of perforated zinc interposed 
 between the two hives for a few hours, will prove effectual in recon- 
 ciling the natives and the new comers together. This I recommend 
 more by way precautiojn, than from any idea of the danger of a fight, 
 even on the immediate union of the two families. I have known the 
 bees of two hives, located side by side on the same stand, fraternise* 
 very curiously at swarming time, when the queen of one of the hives 
 chanced to have been lost. 
 
 Should it be found a matter of difficulty to procure such casts from 
 cottagers, (and they ought to be instructed to keep no casts at all,) the 
 bee master must manage to procure a supply of young queens at 
 home. For this reason, if for no other, it will be advisable to keep 
 several hives. of straw in the open air, whose old queens may be de- 
 stroyed every year, according to the plan detailed in Chapter V. 
 Thus even the spoliation swarms^ managed according to my cottager 
 plan, may always be made to contain youthful queens, by merely re- 
 turning the swarms or their first issue, after previously kiUing the 
 queens. 
 
 By a close attention to the directions contained in this chapter, 
 (many of which, however, are in the main suggestive, rather than 
 given as the result of experience,) there can be no doubt whatever of 
 success; an apiary may have a prolonged existence of perpetual 
 youth, and of the most flourishing vigor, while the intelligent bee mas- 
 ter vrill not only reap a large reward for his pains, in the overflowing 
 spoils of every season, but have the purest enjoyment in his scientific 
 management of these interesting insects. 
 
 » Sne Appendix, note K. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 OF FEEDING BEES. 
 
 Enough has been written by other authors on the importance of feed- 
 ing bees, to render it unnecessary for me to detain the reader with 
 any observations of my own in recommendation of it. Suffice it to 
 say, that no person deserves to succeed as an apiarian, who, in these 
 days, neglects, from whatever cause, to establish his stocks in sufficient 
 wealth in autumn, or to supply them in spring with enough food to 
 remove all danger of their perishing from starvation. 
 
 I have some few remarks to make, however, respecting the manner 
 and time of feeding, the food to be used, and the vessels in which it 
 shoiild be given. 
 
 In the first place, where it can be done, I have no doubt that fe)p- 
 feeding is greatly to be preferred to every other method. To those 
 who have holes at the top of their hives, the process of feeding be- 
 comes very Simple indeed, especially in the case of box hives in a bee 
 house or window apiary. Here the apiator may feed his bees at any 
 time, whereas in the open air, the food can be supphed only at night, 
 owing to the perpetual annoyance from stranger bees or wasps, who, 
 being quick of scent, in the autumn, especially at a season when Httle 
 honey is to be found in the woods or fields, will crowd around the 
 hives that are being fed, with surprising pertinacity. 
 
 Mr. Nutt's plan, (namely, feeding in drawers beneath the bottom 
 boards,) hoAvever well it may answer in warm weather; that is, when the 
 external temperature averages from 50° to 60° F., is wholly inefiec- 
 tual under other circumstances. The bees will descend unwillingly, 
 and at imminent danger of their Uves. The same objection holds against 
 the use of scoops of elder wood, or jjlates thrust underneath the hive 
 itself iipon the board. But if the hole at the top of the hive, by which 
 the bees have access to the feeder, be in the centre — or where the bees 
 chiefly congregate — they will at all times eat more than others, and 
 
THE COTTAGE AXD FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 97 
 
 will continue to take food more or less actively, when the tempera- 
 ture is as low as 40°.* This fact is of gi'eat importance to be attend- 
 ed to, as the external temperature in general averages much lower 
 than 50° in the autumn quarter of the year, while it seldom rises for 
 more than a few days together to the higher figure, and then only for 
 a few hours during the day. Where top- 
 feeding is judiciously managed, bees may con- 
 tinue to be fed to a late period in the year, 
 and, of course, proportionably early in the 
 spring. I must, however, here caution the 
 reader again to be very careful at this season, 
 to open the top hole as seldom as possible, and 
 then only in the warmest weather, except in ■ 
 cases of urgent necessity, (or where a current 
 of air is carefully prevented,) as any escape of 
 heat at this critical time is extremely injurious, 
 when the development of brood should by all 
 means be encouraged ; and be it remembered, 
 an internal heat of 70o has been considered 
 necessary by the highest authorities to the 
 hatching of eggs and the perfection of brood. 
 I make use of two sorts of feeders, both of 
 them constructed of zinc,t which, for many 
 
 reasons, is greatly to be preferred to wood, except perhaps the very 
 hardest kinds. The one pan is adapted to use, (for copious feeding,) 
 in tvarm weather^ when the bees wiU empty it sometimes twice a-day 
 (according to the quaUty of the food) ; its shape and dimensions are 
 as follows : — It is a circular trdligh or pan, from six to seven inches 
 
 * Nay, at tke moment I write, February 27th, -vrith the external temperature at 3'2o, the 
 bees are very greedily at ■work in one of my bee-glass feeders, (covered by a thick woollen 
 Eock doubled,) -while not one has yet ventured forth, and there is not even a sign of activity 
 in any other part of the hive. The internal temperature of this hive, however, is undoubt- 
 edly much higher in the centre, than it would otherwise have been. 
 
 t The objection to zinc, on the ground that in very cold weather it endangers the lives 
 of the few bees who chance to be tempted up into it, is, I think, unworthy of attention. 
 The insects are generally careful enough not to venture their lives in this manner ; and if 
 they should, the bee master has but to close the communication with the hive, at once to 
 remedy the evil. 
 
98 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEK KEEPER. 
 
 in diameter, and two inches in depth.* In the centre of its bottom is 
 cut a hole two or three inches in diameter, into which is soldered a 
 tube, or cyUnder, of the same metal, ascending one and a half inch into 
 the pan, to whose inner side is accurately fitted a cylinder of leather, 
 wood, or pasteboard, to faciUtate the bees' ascent into the feeder ; this 
 they will themselves securely fasten in its place by means of propolis. 
 The under side of the pan should be perfectly flat and level, so as to 
 slip easily on and off the hole, whenever it may be desirable to close 
 the communication between it and the hive. For tliis purpose, it will 
 be convenient also to have a small cap fitting nicely over the tube of 
 ascent. There must also be fitted against the side of the pan, exter- 
 nally, a funnel-Uke piece of zinc, in shape somewhat resembhng a 
 jug spout, by which the .liquid food suppUed may be poured from time 
 to time. Of course, thei-e must be some small holes punched in the 
 side of the feeder against which it is soldered, to allow the liquid to 
 run through. A pane of glass fits over the whole, through which the 
 proceedings of the industrious insects may be watched at leisure. This 
 pane ought to fit exactly on the edge of the feeder, to allow of as Uttle 
 escape of air as possible. Lastly, there must be constructed a float of 
 some hard wood,t having a hole in the centre to admit the ascending 
 tube, so accurately made, that wliile it rises and falls easily with the 
 liquid beneath it, it is not so small in diameter as to allow of any 
 bees being drowned between it and the walls of the feeder. The 
 thickness of the float may be about a quarter of an inch. To prevent 
 it sticking to the bottom, three or four brads must be passed through 
 it, here and there ; these will elevate it about a quarter of an inch 
 above the bottom. It is of little consequence if the bees can get 
 under it ; indeed they may be encouraged to do so, as they will often 
 save the apiator the trouble of cleansing the feeder; while a little 
 care in replenishing it, will avoid all danger of drowning any that 
 may have crept beneath it. To facihtate their speedy escape, the 
 
 * The greater the diameter, the less may be its depth, which is perhaps an advantage, as 
 saving the bees some trouble of ascent. 
 
 t I lay great stress upon the careful avoiding of deal in any shape as a vehicle for sup- 
 plying food to bees, as I have found it has a tendency to turn it sour, especially if beer is 
 an ingredient in its composition, but even where honey has been given to the bees with a 
 deal float, I have found it generate an acid — not o'nly so, it seems to give a peculiar flavor to 
 the liquid, which renders it after a time unpalatable to the bees. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 99 
 
 holes which are made in this float may be three eighths of an uich 
 broad, and extending within half an inch of the sides either way. I 
 have found it useful to apply two or three broad gutta-percha or 
 India-rubber bauds to the outside of the ascending tube, which is a 
 great assistance to the bees in finding their way back again into the 
 hive. 
 
 My autumn or winter feeder is exactly the same as the one just 
 described in all respects, save only that the ascending tube does not 
 exceed half an inch in height, or even less, by which means the bees 
 can get in and out of the feeder with the least possible trouble 
 and danger to themselves. Of course the depth of the feeder may be 
 proportioned to the height of the tube of ascent, taking care to allow 
 half an inch at hast between the glass and the tube. 
 
 If a feeder of this sort be well placed over a hole communicating 
 with the most frequented part of the hive, the heat which rises from 
 the interior wiU make its temperature very agreeable to the bees, 
 even in cool weather ; in this case, however, it ought to be well cov- 
 ered up with flannel, to aUow of as Uttle escape of heat as possible. 
 For spring feeding, especially, it would be extremely advantageous to 
 place a bee glass, (straight or perpendicular at the sides,) in the feed- 
 er, fitting so closely against its sides that the floats shall rise and fall 
 within it easily. In this way, (supposing the glass had a warm cap 
 over it,) even spring feeding would lose all its dangerous concomi- 
 tants, as there would be httle or no escape of bent from the hive 
 below. 
 
 In the large feeder, about a pound and a half or two pounds of food 
 may be given at a time, without danger of its pouring down the cen- 
 tre shaft into the hive ; while the smaller will aiford them as much as 
 they are Ukely ever to want in any single day, in cooler weather. I 
 can confidently recommend these feeders to general notice, both on 
 the ground of economy and usefulness. Their cost is trifling, and 
 their management perfectly safe and easy. 
 
 While I give directions for the make of a winter feeder, I wish it to 
 be understood that I by no means recommend winter feeding, except 
 in cases of extreme necessity. Indeed, I beUeve most bee writers name 
 too late a period for supplying the deficiency of a hive's weight, when 
 they mention October as the most suitable feeding time. I would say, 
 feed in August or September, or soon after the final deprivation has 
 
100 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 taken place for the year ; that is, as soon as the bees have ceased to 
 increase their stores, or the queen's autumn laying of eggs has evident- 
 ly relaxed ; and for this reason — while the weather is warm, and the 
 bees therefore are more actively disposed, the process of feeding will 
 be the sooner over, because of the more eager consumption of food on 
 the bees' part ; besides it will avoid the danger of weakening the stock, 
 which so often takes place in cooler weather, later in the season, 
 owing to the bees being induced to quit the hive, in vain search for food 
 — and they will leave their hive under such circumstances, how often 
 never to return ! Not only so, the earlier artificial food is supplied, of 
 course, the more honey will survive the winter consumption for the 
 spring use of the young bees, and the earher and larger will be the 
 bee master's spoil another year. 
 
 The best food undoubtedly is honey; but they will thrive, (I believe 
 my experience will warrant me in saying,) equally well on various 
 kinds of artificial food, in which, however, honey ought to form no in- 
 considerable ingredient. As a rule, I should say, feed with honey 
 slightly diluted in spring, and with prepared food in autumn. I can 
 recommend the following compound as being both economical, and 
 certainly very agreeable to the bees — witness my having reared one 
 stock upon nothing else through the winter of 1849, and two stocks, 
 (at least till the middle of March — the time of going to press,) through 
 the winter of 1850. The recipe for making it as foUows : — To a quart 
 of wholesome table beer, (neither too fresh nor too old,) add three 
 pounds of Barbados sugar, or, (better still,) coarse loaf sugar, a glass of 
 sherry,* one and a half or two pounds of cheap honey, and a teaspoon- 
 ful of salt; the whole having been mixed together, and boiled for five 
 minutes, will make about half a gallon of food, with the addition of a 
 little water, which the bees wiU devour with ready gusto. The sher- 
 ry, I doubt not, acts as a beneficial stimulus to the bees ; and it 'cer- 
 tainly much improves the flavor of the liquid, although it also some- 
 what materially increases the expense. 
 
 Mr. Payne and Mr. Taylor both urgently recommend barley sugar, 
 as useful food for bees. It is, however, troublesome to make, and is, 
 further, almost, if not quite, as expensive as honey itself. Moreover, 
 it requires the presence of a certain degree of heat or damp to assist 
 
 * This may be omitted if thought necessary. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 101 
 
 the bees in converting it into a liquid, not to speak, of the length of time 
 which is taken up in the process of consumption. I must also confess, 
 it appears to me somewhat a work of supererogation, to turn a fluid 
 into a sohd, for the purpose of feeding insects who must reconvert it 
 into a fluid before it can be of any possible use to them. It is well, 
 nevertheless, to know, in case of emergency, (as when the bee 
 master must be unavoidably absent.) that a side box filled with barley 
 sugar will save his impoverished hive from all danger of starvation. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 OF CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS, EITHER USEFUL OR NECESSARY TO 
 BEE MANAGEMENT. 
 
 Besides the different articles of use in the management of an apiary, 
 described in the early part of this volume, or in the course of the work, 
 there are one or two instruments which I should wish to recommend 
 to the reader's notice before I conclude. 
 
 Instead of the zinc shdes, which command the entrance way spoken 
 of in the last two chapters, of which some will have to be plain, and 
 others perforated with holes, a plate similar to that described by Mr. 
 Taylor, (see his "Bee Keeper's Manual," page 75, fourth edition,) will 
 be found very useful. To quote his words — it is " a square sheet of 
 well-flattened tin, zinc, or copper, of four equal sides, made to shp 
 
 down in the grooves Each side of the square gives an altered 
 
 mouth to the paviUon at pleasure, according as it is turned, being cut 
 with various-sized apertures ; and one entirely closed except the per- 
 forations for ventilation." Of these plates, (which will be attached to 
 the entrance Uochs,) one will suffice for each colony, besides the com- 
 plement of other slides in the hive hoards. 
 
 A hee dress, to which I have alluded before, is an indispensable arti- 
 cle of bee furniture, i' Security from attack," says Mr. Taylor, "is 
 essential to self-possession ;" " the first thing therefore that should be 
 procured by the amateur, is a bee dress ; a simple covering of hght 
 canvass, or strong gauze, (green is the best color for comfort,) of .the 
 kind called kno, with or without sleeves, but securing the whole head 
 effectually, will answer the purpose sufficiently well* 
 
 No apiary should be without a long spatula, and a set of hee knives, 
 
 * Mr. Taylor has given a sketch of a very advantageous form at page 176. 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 
 
 103 
 
 each of "wliich will greatly facilitate the processes of comb renewal, 
 extraction of brood cells, and excision of the cradles of royalty ; not 
 to speak of their use at the time of the 
 honey harvest. These may be of two 
 kinds if thought necessary; of which the 
 one is in shajie hke a cheese knife. The 
 other, (and the most useful,) is a piece of 
 metal, say a foot long exclusive of the handle, not thicker of necessity 
 than a goose quill, but having a kind of thin blade at the end, turned 
 at right angles to the staff, and sufficiently flat and sharp to cut through 
 the combs without bruising or hreakiitg them. It must be pushed in 
 between the combs, pressed firmly against the roof of the liive, and 
 twisted round ; this will bring the blade in contact with the combs on 
 one side or the other, according to the intention of the operator. 
 
 An instrument of very great importance to a large out-door apiary 
 I have had constructed for my own use, and I can confidently recom- 
 mend it to the practical apiarian. It is a tveighing machine, and it 
 consists of three poles of stout wood, equal in length, and seven feet 
 high, fastened by hinges to a triangular block of wood four or five 
 inches thick. The sides of the triangle may be severally six inches 
 
 wide. The poles must have spikes at the other end, to keep them 
 immovably fixed in the ground. This tripod, (if I may so call it,) is so 
 contrived — the legs closing together — that, when not wanted, it 
 can be easily stowed away ; at the same time that it is readily re- 
 moved from one hive to another. To the under side of the trian- 
 gular block is fastened a pulley wheel attached to a screw, which 
 
104 
 
 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER, 
 
 penetrates the centre of the block. Over this wheel a cord 
 passea, one end of -which is held by the hand, while to the other 
 end is fastened a spring balance, with a hook attached to it. 
 
 Three strings tied together at one 
 end, each with a hook at the other 
 end, to catch three eye screws fixed at 
 equal distances in the hive boards, 
 (which of course must be detached 
 from the pedestals,) are suspended to 
 the balance in such a manner that 
 the apiator, on pulUng the cord, will 
 at once haul up the hive in a straight 
 line. An insti'ument of this kind, it 
 is evident, must greatly facihtate the 
 process of weighing garden hives, 
 which may be repeated as often as 
 desirable, without the least trouble. 
 I have frequently used this machine 
 in summer time, when the bees were 
 in their highest state of activity, with- 
 out at all disturbing them ; they fly 
 in and out, and show no signs of an- 
 noyance whatever. As it requires 
 more exertion of force to haul up a heavy hive, I would recommend 
 the use of a set of pulleys suspended from the centre of the triangular 
 block ; these will materially facilitate the process of weighing. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 And now that I have dravfn the practical part of my work to a con-, 
 elusion, let me wind up my labors by wishing the candid reader as 
 much success in the scientific management of his bees as has attended 
 and I am persuaded will yet attend, the pains which I do not grudge 
 to bestow on the study of these admirable creatures. And while I 
 wish him success, I do more; for in this is included the pure pleasure 
 and the serene enjoyment which must be experienced in no small de- 
 •gi-ee while giving a close attention to the habits and history of perhaps 
 
THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 105 
 
 the most intelligent, the most provident, and the Avisest of all the 
 creatures, inferior to man, wherewith the good Providence of God has 
 peopled and adorned this lower world. If the wisest of men pointed 
 a proverb, by drawing the ant from her seclusion ; no less does the hee 
 merit attention as an example of industry, patience, sobriety, and loy- 
 alty. Let whosoever is awake to the voice of the Creator, speaking 
 tlu-ough the works of His hands, observe, reverence, and obey. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 (A— Page 9.) 
 
 On the subject of the preference of bees for cool places, De Gelieu, the celebrated Swiss 
 apiarian, writes as follows : — "It is commonly believed that an apiary is not well situated 
 unless it stands in the sun. This is an error ; bees like the shade when working, and like 
 the sun only when in the fields, which then animates and sustains them .... They 
 thrive well in thick forests, and delight in them, because tliere they find a uniform temper- 
 ature and a propitious shade .... It is a mistake to suppose that hives, exposed to the 
 sun produce the earliest and the strongest swarms ; I have oftener than once experienced 
 the reverse. My earliest swarms have generally come from the best-shaded hives, and 
 which only receive the sun late." This testimony, coming from an apiarian of so much 
 practical acquaintance with bee-keeping, gained during the experience of sixty years, is 
 most valuable. Strange that it should have been so little acted upon, seeing the estimation 
 in which Gelieu's work is justly held among us ; but it requires no little judgment to select 
 a favorable situation, in a northern aspect, for locating bee hives. The place chosen must 
 be snug and sheltered. The hives must be protected from high winds ; and especially from 
 sudden gusts, or continued currents of air. These will often destroy hundreds of boes 
 in a few minutes, especially during squally weather, in March and April. The bees are 
 now anxious to avail themselves of every gleam of sun light ; but if a sudden storm cornea 
 on, with wind, they soon get fatigued, and on returning home not a few fall powerless to the 
 ground, never to ri.se save where the sun shines upon and revives them. Hence, in windy 
 weather, my bees are kept close prisoners till May at least. 
 
 I may mention here, that when looking out last autumn, (1850,) for a suitable place where 
 to bestow two experimental or artificial stocks, belonging to an apiarian friend, we fixed 
 upon a hay-loft window, directly facing the north, which looked down upon m yard 
 well protected by tall trees on every side. One of these hives, composed of two families 
 united, regularly fed on artificial food, and this alone weighed upwards of 20 lbs. of con- 
 tents on the '2Sth of November — three months after its establishment. The other, consist- 
 ing of but one family of preserved bees, driven from a strong stock, which had swarmed in 
 the spring, weighed half this weight at the same time. Both these hives are now, (March 
 20th,) in the very best health. The second stock was observed to carry pollen as late as the 
 4th of December ; v/hioh I make no doubt the other also did. I am not aware, from my 
 own observation of these hives, and the information I have besides obtained respecting 
 them, that they have been less disposed to move than other bees located full in the sun, 
 save only in the latter end of winter, which is decidedly an advantage. Even on dark 
 days, (when the weather was mild,) they came forth with the same alacrity as other bees. 
 
108 APPENDIX. 
 
 (B— Page 19.) 
 
 I HAVE been curious to see -what the best authorities have advised on the subject of the pro- 
 per dimensions of bee hives. As the result of my investigation may not prove uninterest- 
 ing to many who have not the opportunity of referring to those writers, I do not scruple, 
 even at the hazard of prolixity, to entertain the reader with it. 
 
 In favor of large hives on the single-hiving or swarming system, I find an array of 
 weighty names, such as those of Butler,* Sir J. More,t T. Wildman,? Keys,|| De Gelieu,§ 
 and Bonner,ir among the bee masters of more ancient times ; nor are there wanting among 
 the moderns several, I may say 9nany, stout advocates for the use of large hives. . . . On the 
 other side are to be found no old-established names that I have become acquainted with. 
 The earliest advocate I know for small hives on the single system is Dr. Sevan, (a great 
 authority certainly inmost bee matters,) in whose train follow a host of supporters well 
 and favorably known to the m.odern apiarian world, including Mr. Gelding, Mr. Payne, 
 Mr. Taylor, and others ; all of whom, however, are, from acknowledged experience, better 
 versed in the details of storification or collateral than of single hiving. None of these recom- 
 mend a size larger than thirteen and a half inches in diameter by nine inches high. 
 
 From what has been written above, it will appear that most English apiarians of the 
 
 * " Hives are to be made of any size between five and seven gallons, that any swarm, of 
 what quantity or time soever, may be fitly hived. The middling size of three pecks is most 
 profitable.'' — Butler's Feminine Monarchie. Oxford, 1634, 
 
 t " Your hive must be of any size between five and seven gallons, that any swarm, of 
 what quantity or time soever, may be fitly hived." — Sir J. More's EnglanWs Interest. 
 Fourth ed., London, 1707. It appears that More copied from Butler, or both from some 
 third source. 
 
 t Wildman, as is well known, was an advocate of the double hiving, (I will not say, 
 storifying,) System, and recommends a small-sized hive ; yet I quote him here as authority 
 in favor of large hives, on the single hiving principle, because it is evident that there is 
 no real difierence whatever between one large hive and two smaller ones affording the same 
 room, where these are put together almost immediately, and the second nadired, that is, 
 put under the first. Where hives are fupered, (which alone is properly termed s^orfy^/jng'.) 
 the queen is confined to the lower hive (in nine cases in ten) ; but where they are nadired, 
 not only does she fill the upper hive with eggs, but, as comb is built below, she also occu- 
 pies and breeds in the lower box ; and the sole object I have in view in recommending the 
 use of large hives, is to encourage the queen's breeding for a longer time than usual. 
 
 II Although Keys is a decided advocate of storifying, (proper,) I find the following re- 
 mark in his Treatise (a new edition, London, 1814 :) — '' I think, in the single method, no 
 hive should be less than three pecks, or perhaps a bushel, but not more than twelve inches 
 in height." 
 
 § De Gelieu says nothing certain as to the size of hives, but, speaking of their shapei 
 he has some observations which lead me, I think justly, to include him in the above list. 
 " I have invariably remarked," he says, " that bees thrive better in low hives than in high 
 ones ; that, in general, those which are broad and fiat, or extended horizontally, amass 
 more honey, thrive better, and give out stronger and earlier swarms than those which are 
 \\\gh.3A\Aojf several stories." Among the reasons which he gives for this opinion, is the 
 following weighty one, of which i most cordially approve : — ''A hive thrives ONLY in pro- 
 portion to the success or perfection of its brood cojib," which, he argues, must be gene- 
 rally defective in other than " low. fiat hives, (of course, single hives and /org's ones,) in 
 which the heat is more easily concentrated." 
 
 IT " As to the size, a hive that will hold about two and a half pecks, Linlithgow measure, 
 win hold a pretty large swarm; but there is no certain rule to judge what hive will be 
 exactly filled by a swarm. Much depends upon the succeeding season. If the swarm be 
 early and large, it will require a large hive ; but, if otherwise, the hive should be pro- 
 portionably less." — A New Plan, &o. Edin., 1795. 
 
APPENDIX. 109 
 
 present day, inchidiug all ihe stmifycrs, (properly so called,^ favor the use of small hives. 
 On the Continent, however, large hives are still in vogue ; and if we want to see the pro- 
 fitable management of bees on a large scale, it is thither we must go — to the eastern coun- 
 tries of Europe more especially, where bee-keeping is as important a branch of rural econ- 
 omy as sheep-walking or grazing cattle is with us. 
 
 The attention of English apiarians has lately been drawn to the bee practice of these 
 countries, by the work of a Pole, which issued from the press not a year ago. Mr. Dobio- 
 gost describes the hive of his country as being three and a half to Jive feet in height, 
 about eight inches in diameter at top, increasing- downwards gradually to twenty .non^s or 
 more at bottom, all inside measure .' This is indeed a large hive, which our skeptics v ill 
 attribute to the invention of gentlemen of the long bow, from their utter ignorance of api- 
 arian lore. It is a fact, however, that such are the dimensions of the hives commonly in. 
 use in Poland ; and it is also a fact, that large as they are. they yet contrive to swarm with 
 as much regularity as the hives in use among us, while the parent stock remains vigorous 
 notwithstanding, for many years together. Mr. Dobiogost assures us that an apiary, con- 
 taining a hundred stocks of this size, will throw off about 150 swarms every spring, each of 
 such formidable power, that it resembles a small cloud, when hovering in the air. It seems 
 to us almost incredible, that hives of such dimensions should throw off any swarms at all. 
 In opposition to the general belief among us, the author seems to attribute this circumstance 
 to the fact, that, on the first establishment ofthe.se stocks, four times as many bees are put 
 into them as we are in the habit of hiving together. 
 
 Such are the plain facts alleged by Mr. Dobiogost in respect to Polish practice ; now let 
 us look into the reasons of them. I find that Dr. Sevan scouts the idea altogether, that 
 strength in one year begets strength in another, at least in any reasonable proportion ; and 
 he has brought forward the result of some very interesting experiments in proof, -wliich I 
 once thought conclusive. Indeed, I still think that he is quite right in tlie inference he 
 draws from them,* when speaking oi English hives, and our general mode of bee man- 
 agement, seeing that he has, I think, very satisfactorily proved that bee life does not extend 
 itself in general beyond six or seven months at the outside ; for, according to his showing, 
 every bee born before the middle of July perishes soon after, if not before, the middle of the 
 following January. I say, he is right, when speaking of our, that is, the small-hive sys- 
 tem of bee management, because, in such hives, be they single or storified, (observe, I do 
 not include nadiring,) the queen bee is seldom able to lay above a dozen eggs a-day, if so 
 many, in the height of the honey-gathering season, owing to the bees seizing every cell, as 
 soon as it becomes vacant by the exclusion of brood, as a receptacle for honey. This is the 
 history of the wide gap which most apiarians, from Huber downwards, have observed be- 
 tween the spring and autumn laying of the queen bee. It is not that she is unable or in- 
 disposed to lay, but that she has no room in ivhich to put her eggs. Dr. Sevan tells us 
 that there are two distinct layings of the queen ; one, which he calls the " great laying,''^ 
 taking place in the spring ; and a second, a lesser one. in the autumn ; that is, in the month 
 of August, sooner or later, according to circumstances. In other words, he gives us to un- 
 derstand that there is an interval between the spring and autumn layings of the queen, in 
 which but comparatively few eggs are laid. If by this he means that there is a considcra- 
 
 * Namely, That however strong the population of a hive may be in one year, that 
 strength will in no wise influence the prosperity of the same stock the following season ; 
 because how many soever the swarms that may have been introduced into one and the 
 same hive in any particular year, they '-will ail have paid the debt of nature before its 
 expiration." 
 
110 APPENDIX. 
 
 ble suspension in the development of brood in this tiiae, there cannot be a doubt about it, 
 ivhere the hive is circumscribed (whether sideways or downwards) ; but if he would have 
 us believe that the (jueen so relaxes in her laying of eggs, as almost to discontinue them 
 towards the latter part of June, and the most part of July, I think he is mistaken. The 
 queen, I believe, finds no sudden disinclination to perform the office of a mother; it is a 
 gradual process on her part; she continues to lay, during that period, with undiminishing 
 energy perhaps as the season advances, and certainly with greater good will and capability 
 than in August and September. The truth, however, is, that, lay as actively as she may, 
 she is unable to deposit her eggs in cells, owing to want of room. Every cell is, at this 
 season, required for storing honey ; therefore, if she does not swarm, (in which case she at 
 once effectively resumes iier office, and as fast and so long as comb is built downwards, 
 she fills every available cell with brood,*) she lays her eggs at random, and there is what is 
 called a cessation or a relaxation in her laying ; that is, a perceptible diminution in the 
 quantity of brood comb, and bees hatched, until honey begins to come in more sparingly, 
 ■when the cells again become empty, and the queen resumes her comfortable deposit of eggs 
 in them. This I believe to be the course with all small hives m general. It does not mend 
 the matter to supply room above ; for, where the bees begin their works from the roof of 
 the store room downwards, the queen very rarely ascends, as she is loth to quit her hold of 
 comb, and there is none to connect the new with the old works, so as to tempt her up, if 
 she were disposed to come. And again, where the bees work upwards, as they often do, 
 the comb is occupied with honey as fast as it is constructed, because it is an instinct of the 
 bees to store their food high up in the hive ; for which reason, as a saving of labor and ma- 
 terial, they usually build drone comb. Not only so ; the queen, equally obeying an instinct 
 of her own, prefers to remain as near the hive entrance ; that is, as low down, as possible, 
 whence she loses the opportunity, if opportunity there be, which may happen to be afforded her. 
 Often have I observed a queen bee, about the middle of June, when every comb was more 
 or less filled with honey or brood, after perambulating the hive, stand on the edge of a comb, 
 and lay egg after egg, which were devoured by bees as fast as they issued from her body 
 Now will anybody assert, that, if the queen had had plenty of empty comb in which to de- 
 posit these eggs, during the next six weeks, strength of population in one year, would not 
 teget a proportionate strength in another, especially after a mild winter, followed by an 
 early spring? Would there not have been many more bees hatched, which would survive 
 the perils and losses of autumn ; and increase, therefore, the winter temperature of the hive, 
 and so promote the earlier breeding in spring ? It stands to reason that there would. It is 
 for this reason, that an argument in favor of large hives will, I think, be found in the ac- 
 knowledged fact, "that dry seasons produce most honey, wet ones most swarms."' For 
 •what does this prove, but that the little honey collected in the fields has enabled the queen 
 to deposit more eggs in the cells, (and at such times she will breed largely even in a super.) 
 so that the population has increased so much the more rapidly, and with inconvenience to 
 the bees ? on which account they seize the first favorable moment to be off. 
 
 Now let us take the case of the deep Polish hive of Mr. Dobiogost. The bees of course 
 are huddled close together near the top, in the depth of winter ; there they first clear 
 the comb of whatever honey may be stored in it, and there the queen begins to lay. 
 The shape of the hive near the top is admirably suited to the diminished size of the 
 population, although, I shall presently show, they are, in proportion, much more numerous 
 
 * And she generally anticipates them here, occupying each cell with an egg as fast as it 
 is constructed, before the bees can put honey into it. 
 
APPENDIX. Ill 
 
 thit any of our stocks of bees at this season. The concentrated heat,* further husbanded 
 by the very solid materials of the hive, fostt-rs, even in the cold damp Polish spring, (when 
 the snow hills begin to thaw,) an early development of brood. As the population increases, 
 a greater quantity of honey is cleared away, and more cells emptied for the queen's con- 
 venience. Downwards and sideways, silently but steadily expands the population, until 
 the spring is fully advanced, at which time, the bees of Poland are in a ar more forw^ird 
 state than ours ; which are too often miserably reduced in numbers before they begin to 
 breed. From this time, their progress is rapid indeed ; what cares the queen of such a col- 
 ony when the honey season approaches ? The spoils of the year, riiied from a thousand 
 different flowers, are first stored high up in the hive, against the coming winter, while, as 
 the cells fill, the mother bee is only driven to a lower story ; for there is plenty of room ia 
 the four or five-foot-deep palace, botli for her own incommoded laying of eggs, and the un- 
 interrupted storing of lioney. The judicious excision of comb by the careful bee master 
 in the early spring is rather an advantage than a hindrance to her ; for the bees work 
 beautiful fresh combs, along the edge of which she is generally to be found, depositing her 
 eggs in the cells often before they have attained their completion, and certainly before the 
 bees have felt the want or inclination to anticipate her, by converting them into honey 
 stores. Thus June passes away, but brings her no anxiety, as does the unhappy English 
 queen bee ; it only leaves her half way down her spacious dwelling. July and August 
 com.e, and still there is no necessary intermission to her labors, unless, indeed, as is very 
 probable, the population of the hive has so greatly increased, that she thinks it more com- 
 fortable to migrate ; in which case, ofl' goes the swarm, (as early perhaps as mid-June,) 
 "so powerful that it resembles a little cloud in the air." In the meanwhile, a younger 
 and more vigorous queen succeeds to the vacant sovereignty, who, with more comfort than 
 her predecessor, at last, owing to the diminished heat and the less pressing demand for 
 honey room, resumes the task of breeding, and continues it until the autumnal cold gradu- 
 ally relaxes her maternal cares, and drives her up among the combs. 
 
 The English bee master will, I am aware, object with me to the Polish system of bee- 
 keeping, that it does not provide for any collection of a purer kind of honey. This objec- 
 tion is a most solid and weighty one, as, whatever the Pole may get in quantity of honey, 
 he certainly loses in quality ; as Gelieu observes, these hives "have this disadvantage, 
 that capes, (or super hives,) cannot so easily be fitted to them, which facilitate the col- 
 lecting the finest honey."' But all I contend for is this, that we should meet this system 
 half-way, by adopting large hives on the single method, where, especially according to my 
 plan, the hive is kept principally for breeding or swarming purposes, and not so much to 
 make a honey profit of it. And I am persuaded we should thus get in general much more 
 powerful swarms for our spoliation hives, and by consequence, a much larger harvest of 
 honey. 
 
 (C— Page 29.) 
 
 BONNEB, (to whom, as a practical, experimental, and soundly-reasoning apiarian, I am 
 disposed to pay very great deference,) has the following observations on the winter man- 
 agement of bees : — 
 
 "When the frost is severe, or when the snow is lying on the ground, it will be necessary 
 
 * Even Gelieu, notwithstanding his eulogium of flat, broad hives, seems to have been 
 fully alive to this important feature in the Polish bee domicile. Thus he says, " it is per- 
 haps for this reason that the bees thrive well in conical or sugar-loaf-shaped hives, which 
 are common in some countries."' 
 
112 Al'l'KSDlX. 
 
 to prevent the bees trom coining out of the hives by shutting up tlieir entry quite close wuh 
 pob tow, which will keep them warm, at the same time that they will run no risk of suf- 
 focation in very cold weather. In extreme cold weather, the bees may be taken inti? out- 
 houses, which will preserve them from cold. But, indeed, when the hives are properly cov- 
 ered, and the entries to them closely shut up, they will resist a very severe cold. 
 
 " Many ingenious gentlemen have tried different methods to preserve bees in winter. 
 Somie have shut them up in cold outhouses from September to April ; others only from the 
 first of November to March. A third class place grates before their entries to admit air, 
 but keep the bees close in their hives during the whole winter." 
 
 He then observes, " that in general, long confinement is prejudicial to the health of the 
 
 bees I have seen the bees that have long been confined by cold, (perhaps 
 
 for ten weeks,) so diseased, that when good weather returned, and they came abroad, 
 very great numbers would have died within a day or two thereafter, and the hive in general 
 would have been greatly reduced. It is evident that their long confinement was the cause ; 
 but it is also certain, that even in those cold countries where the winter lasts eight months, 
 bees thrive and prosper well .... I have known bees do well, however, that had been 
 confined in their hives for five months, even in this country ; while others of them were 
 ready to perish by retaining their f^ces for so so long a period.'' 
 
 Touching the vexed question of the superiority of a mild over a severe winter, or the 
 contrary, he remarks : "It is said by many writers on this suliject, that a fine winter is 
 dangerous to the bees ; and that many more die in a mild than a cold one. They argue, 
 that as the appetite of the bees increases by their going often out, they consume their pro- 
 visions and die of famine ; whereas, when long confined in their hives, they hardly eat any. 
 I acknowledge that in a mild winter they do eat more food than in a cold one when they 
 cannot get out ; but this, as well as the fine air. conlribute's greatly to their health, besides 
 that they hatch earlier, and consequently increase in the number of bees in the hives 
 sooner. The fact is, that experience may convince any person that many more bees die in 
 severe winters than in mild ones. In winter 1776, which was very cold, a great many bee 
 hives perished; and also during last winter, (1791-9-3.) being an excessively severe one, 
 many hives were destroyed from that dause alone ; whereas in winter 1779, which was re- 
 markably mild, not one hive in twenty failed ; and the bees in general swarmed a month 
 earlier than usual." 
 
 (D— Page 89 ) 
 
 I KNOW not whether for cottagers, Wildman"s method of bee management, after all, be not 
 the simplest as well as the most profitable. He puts a swarm into a small-sized hive, (ten 
 inches broad by seven deep,)narfj>-hiving it as soon as the bees have fairly begun to work 
 comb in the super ; that is, '' often," as he says, " the following morning.^'* According 
 to his plan, the queen fills the upper hive first witli brood as fast as comb is constructed ; 
 and when every available cell is occupied by an egg, and the bees have continued their 
 works to the lower hive, (which will be towards the end of the first week or ten days,) the 
 queen also descends, and breeds permanently below. In the mean while, as fast as the 
 young bees above are hatched out, the vacated cells are filled with honey, so that by the 
 end of a month, (three weeks, Wildman says,) no brood will be found above whatever, but 
 an abundance of fine honey in comb but little les,? pure than virgin comb, because they 
 
 ■^ Of thLs, however, I am inclined to doubt the advantage ; at least four days should b" 
 suffered to elapse before giving the second hive. 
 
APPENDIX. 113 
 
 will only have had one set of young grubs hatched in them. I have frequently taken honey 
 from such comb, and can speak very favorably of its quality. As soon as the top hive is 
 full of honey, it may be removed, (often within a month of the swarm's establishment,) and 
 a third hive placed, not over, but under the remaining one. la some extraordinary sea- 
 sons, the upper of these may also be taken away, and a fourth placed under the third. In 
 either case, the two boxes or hives last given m.ust be suffered to stand together through 
 the winter, so that the queen may have both to breed in the following spring and summer. 
 It is evident in this way that the prime swarm would be a large one, (supposing the queen 
 to be in full vigor,) because the queen would have ample space to breed in ; nor would it 
 issue much, if at all, later than the swarms out of ordinary hives. As soon as the prime 
 swarm has issued, Wildman directs that another hive should be set under the others, and 
 all casting prevented. Should a cast issue, its queen must, (he says.) be searched for and 
 destroyed, when the bees will return home again. This plan, however, may often fail, 
 owing to the successive issue of casts with every young queen who proceeds from her cradle 
 but the last. I have heard of the reissue of casts twenty times in one season from the same 
 hive, during all which time the bees were in a constant state of agitation, and collected no 
 honey I The only effectual plan to be pursued, is this, which I have advised in this book, 
 — on the issue of the first cast to turn up the hive, and cut out every royal cradle that 
 can be seen. This done, the queen may be destroyed, (because there is already another 
 queen in the hive.) and the cast returned. 
 
 (E — Page 50.) 
 
 ToDCHixQ the fecundity of the queen bee, I am persuaded much error prevails among the 
 majority of bee keepers. Ruber's opinion was, that in the prime of the season, (in April 
 and May,) about 12,000 eggs are laid, which is at the rate of something like 200 a day. I 
 have, however, long thought Reaumur's statement far nearer the truth, which gives us 
 about 400 a <fa.y as the average. Dr. Bevan observes, that '" this variation, (in the accounts 
 of the two naturalists,) may have arisen from variety of climate, season, or other circum- 
 stances."' Climate and season, doubtless, do exercise a great influence on the prosperity 
 of bees ; but I cannot think the difference of these so great as to prevail in any European 
 country to affect the average of the queen's fecundity to so remarkable an extent. I think 
 we must look for a solution of the difficulty to the '■'•other circumstances"' at which Dr. 
 Bevan hints. Might there not have been some disparity Ln age and vigor between the 
 queens which severally came under the observation of these naturalists ? Or would not 
 the use of small or large hives, as I have suggested before, explain the difference ? May 
 not Keaumur have formed his opinion from the data furnished from observations made 
 with the help of his great pyramidal hive, while Huber's hive was of small size ? May not 
 Shirach, too, (who resided at no very great distance from the confines of old Poland,) have 
 made use of hives similar to the Podolian hive ? And he states his belief, that a single 
 queen will lay from 70,000 to 100,000 eggs in a season. 
 
 Since I penned my former note on the subject of large hives, my attention has been 
 drawn to the remarks of a Mr. Pettigrew, who wrote a series of articles about nine years 
 ago in the "Gardeners' Chronicle." His observations in general appear to me exceed- 
 ingly just. As they bear very much upon the subject of this note, as well as of the for- 
 mer, I may perhaps be pardoned for introducing in this place one or two exeracts fiom his 
 paper, of Jan. 6th, 1S44. 
 
 '' No person, (he says,) will ever pretend to say that a queen bee can cease to lay when 
 she likesjor that she has control over the number of her eggs." He then suggests an es- 
 
114 APPENDIX. 
 
 periment " to show that by keeping bees in small hives, you force them to destroy two- 
 thirds of the eggs which queens lay." Next adverting to Dr. Sevan's remarks, already re- 
 ferred to, as to the quantity of eggs, (12,000,) deposited in his hives " at the principal laying, 
 in April and May," he observes, "if the Doctor would be at the pains of putting a swarm, 
 or two swarms united, weighing 8 or 9 lbs., with a queen that has finished her principal 
 laying, into a hive containing twenty-four superficial feet of comb, he would find at the 
 end of seven days above liO,000 eggs set." At page 124, (of the Honey Bee,) he says, 
 " whatever advantage the putting of two swarms into a hive may give to a family during the 
 first year of its establishment, it can present none beyond that period ; for the swarms that 
 have been introduced will have paid the debt of nature before its expiration, and are 
 thereby reduced to a level with those that were not doubled. Dr. Bevan is wrong 
 here, (continues Mr. Pettigrew,) for a swarm that weighs 8 lbs., (that is, of course 
 if put into a sufficiently roomy hive,) hatches double the quantity of one that weighs 4 
 lbs., and consequently double the quantity of bees will live throughout the winter, set 
 double the quantity of eggs in the spring, and so forth." He finishes by recommending a 
 size of hive " for first or top swarms of from twenty to twenty-four inches wide, and from 
 twelve to fifteen inches deep." Such large hives, however, seem to lie under much the 
 same objection as that I have advanced against the use of the Podolian hive, namely, that 
 quality of honey if almost entirely sacrificed to quantity, which may do well enough 
 for the cottagers, but certainly will neither satisfy the amateur, nor, I think, the fastidious 
 purchaser. 
 
 In the same volume of the " Gardeners' Chronicle" which contains Mr. Pettigrew's papers, 
 I find the following communication by an anonymous correspondent, who brings forward 
 the testimony of an actual eye witness to the extent of the royal bee's fecundity. '' The 
 history of the bee, (says this individual,) has been written with so much truth by Huber, 
 that little is left for inquiry. I know of but one error, which is, I presume, by the transla- 
 tor. The extraordinary fecundity of a queen is stated to be 200 eggs a day. A queen, 
 which deposited no more eggs than that, would never produce a swarm, on account of the 
 daily loss of bees which go out to the fields. I have had queens which laid 1,000 eggs daily 
 for three months in succession. This summer, (1844,) in a glass hive containing one comb 
 four feet square, the queen deposited 600 eggs a day, or 16,000 in twenty days, 2,000 of 
 whoni were males." 
 
 (F— Page 52.) 
 
 I SHALL entertain the reader here with an extract from my note book, giving an account of 
 an accident which happened to me last summer, while making an artificial swarm, and its 
 remedy, which will show with what reason I give the caution in the text, as well as sug- 
 gest a method of extrication from a similar difficulty. 
 
 " 22nd May .... "Walked to to breakfast, which being ended, Mr. took 
 
 me to visit a farmer's wife in his parish who keeps bees. There we found two magnificent 
 stocks, each with a great mass of bees depending from its board, well supplied with drones, 
 and only waiting the queen's pleasure to be off. How great a temptation to our bee-driving 
 propensities was here ! What experimentalist could have resisted the impulse to force an 
 issue on the spot 1 Good people all, learn a lesson from the following story, and do not 
 meddle loith other peopWs bees.' Expertis credite. Having explained to the good wo- 
 man of the house, our own success in the matter of artificial swarming, and impressed her 
 with some notion of the advantage which would result from the process, or at least with 
 «om6 degree of faith in our assurances, we obtained permission to form au artificial swarm 
 
APPENDIX. 115 
 
 on the spot out of one or both of her hives. Each of us having his bee dress in his pocket, 
 nothing seemed easier ; having, therefore, duly armed ourselves, and provided every need- 
 ful instrument to the process of driving, our patroness the meanwhile watching the pro- 
 ceedings from a barn -window overlooking the apiary, I commenced the operation in the 
 usual manner, my friend assisting. In a few minutes, thinking by the hum in the upper 
 hive that all was right, it was taken off, with a considerable swarm that had ascended into 
 it, and put on the stand whence the old hive was taken, at the same time removing this to 
 another stand, and confining the bees, which remained in considerable numbers, with a 
 list bandage. "While we were congratulating ourselves on the success of our experiment, 
 and were meditating an attack on the second hive, it suddenly became apparent that some- 
 thing was wrong with our newly-made swarm. The bees appeared restless and uneasy, 
 and the air was fiUed with a vast multitude of them, having all the appearance of a na- 
 tural swarm that issued in the ordinary maimer. In short, it was evident that they had 
 missed their queen. To make sure of her absence from among them, a cloth was spread on 
 the ground, and the bees that remained in the new hive were struck out upon it, the hive 
 itself being at the san;e time placed near them at the edge of the cloth, resting on a stick. 
 Ko doubt whatever now remained as to the cause of the commotion ; for though many of 
 the bees crawled towards the hive, and even entered it in considerable numbers, they o-ept 
 out of it as fast again. In this dilemma, nothing presented itself to be done, save to unfasten 
 the bandage of the old hive and to restore it to its former place, that the outlaying bees 
 might find their way home again previous to a second attempt at driving. I am not aware 
 if such occurrence had been observed before, but at this juncture of afi'airs. it became evi- 
 dent that the wandering and distressed bees had begun to fraternise with their neighbors of 
 the other stock, which stood on the same shelf with themselves, at the distance of about a 
 yard. A great many were seen walking towards it with fanning wings, nor were they at 
 all ill-received, though I expected a mortal encounter ; it seemed as if a most amicable 
 disposition prevailed on the part of the uninjured stock towards its queenless neighbors. I 
 believe, however, they all returned afterwards to their own hive. But to rettxm to my 
 story. 
 
 "Our calamities were not yet to an end, for in bringing back the old hive to its former 
 position, a large comb full of brood, in every stage of advancement, disengaged itself from 
 its fastenings and fell to the ground ! Miserable now was the sight before us I As the re- 
 sult of our experience hitherto upon this poor woman's bees, we had to show an irritated bee 
 population, a hive disturbed ajid mutUated, a large quantity of brood lying damaged on 
 the ground, and not a few of the brave insects dead. How heartily did I repent having a 
 hand in such a business. 
 
 "After much pondering and planning, my friend declared his resolution rather to destroy 
 the hive altogether than to leave it in its present condition, a monument against the uni- 
 versal success of artificial swarming. At the worst, compensation could easily be made in 
 an ample manner. But how to proceed was the difiiculty. At fii-st nothing presented but 
 to attempt driving again, as the only chance of retrieving our damaged reputation. On 
 proceeding, however, to lift the hive again from its stand, to our utter amazement and hor- 
 ror, down fell a second brood comb, as full of young grubs and eggs as the former I De- 
 spair seized upon us both as we stood aghast at this fresh calamity. Doubtless the great 
 agitation of the bees and the heat of the weather (for it was very warm) was the cause of 
 this double misfortune. 
 
 " The explanation wsis easy enough, but how to remedy the evU. wais the question at this 
 juncture. A sudden and happy thought fortunately crossed my mind, namely, that by 
 the help of these two combs, (which were filled, as I said before, with eggs and brood of all 
 
116 APPENDIX. 
 
 ages,) we might still make a good artificial swarm on a different principle to that we had 
 intended, so as, in fact, to test the Shirachean system. I proceeded accordingly to prop one 
 comb against the other on the old stand, at an angle of about forty degrees, while my 
 friend placed the hive over them. Nosooiier was this effected, than all the bees, which had 
 hitherto been swarming about like demented creatures, began hurriedly to enter, with 
 buzzing wings and every token of joy, so that in an incredibly short space of time the bees 
 were as busily employed in pursuing their usual avocations as if nothing whatever had 
 happened. The removal and fastening up of the old hive closed the labors of this eventful 
 morning. After explaining the matter as best we could to the bees' mistress, we returned 
 home vexed indeed, yet on the whole rejoicing that there was still good hope of success 
 after all that had happened." 
 
 To the above I have to add the following extract : — " Dec. 12. Paid a visit to Mr. , 
 
 and called at the farm to inc[uire after the fate of our artificial swarm. It was reported 
 
 to have been found " very heavy" in the autumn, when its owner gathered in her honey 
 harvest of the year ... The old stock out of which this was formed sent out no after- 
 swarm ; it was, however, rich in honey, and the bees had filled up the void place among the 
 combs." 
 
 (G— Page 55.) 
 
 I SHALL here suggest to the experimentalist a somewhat different treatment of his spolia- 
 tion swarms to that pointed out in the text, of whose practical value, however, I cannot 
 speak from experience. 
 
 In most parts of England honey only abounds in the fields, and woods, and meadows, in 
 any surplus quantity, during the eight weeks following the 20th of May in average years. 
 It is evident, therefore, that the more exclusively the attention of the bees is directed during 
 this period to the object of collecting it, the larger becomes the profit of the bee master, and 
 in a ratio proportionate to the population of the hive. Now it has occurred to me, that if 
 we could altogether prevent breeding in a populous hive, the stores of honey garnered in a 
 favorable season would be immense, as the bees would thus naturally devote their whole time 
 and energies to this object, none being employed in nursing and tending the young ; and in 
 this way, that the grand secret would be disclosed of obtaining the fiiazh7iuni quantity of 
 honey at the least possible expense of bee labor. I conceive that this might be effected by 
 destroying the queen of a prime swarm, and compelling the bees to rear a succession of ar- 
 tificial queens, by supplying ther;^ from time to time with pieces of worker comb contain- 
 ing eggs or very young larvae. At the same time care should be taken to allow none of 
 these queens to arrive at maturity, or to remove them, (if young queens should be wanted 
 elsewhere,) the instant they emerge from the cell. 
 
 Should this method of treating a hive be thought worthy of a trial, I would recommend 
 a close attention to the following directions, as being the most likely to insure success. Let 
 the swarm issue naturally or artificially, and hive it temporarily in the usual manner. 
 Now procure a suitable piece of worker comb by cutting it out of the parent stock, or of 
 some other hive, taking care that there be not only very young larvs, but eggs also. Next 
 put a clean new hive upon its own bottom board, and arrange the fragment of oombj 
 (which should be about three inches square,) over one of the holes at the top of the hive, 
 under a small glass just large enough to hold it. This being done, substitute this hive for 
 the stock from which the swarm about to be experimented with proceeded, removing the 
 old hive to some distance. Now search'for the queen of the swarm by dashing them all out of 
 their temporary abode upon the ground, and destroy her when secured. The bees, on re- 
 
AITENDIX. 117 
 
 covering from their stupor and missing their queen, will, as is usual in such cases, fly away 
 one by one to the well-ltnown locality of their old dwelling. In an incredibly short time, 
 (though of course much agitated at first,) the swarm will have comfortably established itself 
 in its new dwelling, as soon as the piece of comb in the bee glass is detected, and their at- 
 tention turned to it, as the nursery of a new dynasty of queens. Somewhere between the 
 tenth and fourteenth day after, the glass must be removed and a fresh one substituted for 
 it, having another piece of suitable brood comb adjusted inside, and so on every fortnight, 
 until the honey harvest is concluded, when, on plundering the hive, not a cell will be 
 found defiled with the necessary pollutions of comb that has had brood in it. It is evident 
 that according to this plan any number of youthful queens may be reared to substitute for 
 old queens of other stocks, whose vigor is supposed to be on the decline. 
 
 To this most profitable plan of managing prime swarms, on the spoliation system, I can 
 only imagine one objection, namely, that the combsof the new hive, although free from 
 the defilement of brood cells, might yet be filled with useless hoards oi pollen, stored up by 
 the provident insects in anticipation of a day of need. How this would be I cannot tell ; 
 I only throw out these suggestions for the consideration of the curious apiarian. As to the 
 ultimate fate of the bees, they would, if left to themselves, gradually dwindle away by 
 natural death, so that not one probably would be found alive by Christmas. The most 
 humane method of dealing with them, therefore, would be to fumigate and drown them 
 afterwards, or destroy them over the brimstone pit. 
 
 Since writing the above, the admirable work of Bonner has come into my hands, who, I 
 find, liad an idea of the advantage which might accrue from the early removal of its queen 
 from a hive destined for autumn plunder. " If I intended to kill a hive of bees in autumn, 
 (he says,) I would prefer the taking away their queen from them about the end of July, 
 and leaving a great number of common bees in the hive, which, as they would have few 
 bees to nurse up, would collect a greater quantity of honey in that period than if tiiey had 
 a queen in the hive daily laying eggs for them, which would employ a good number of 
 the bees both to hatch and nurse up the young, and thereby the fewer would be employed 
 in collecting honey." 
 
 (H— Page 6*7.) 
 
 I AM not aware that any experiments have been instituted, or, at least, their results pub- 
 lished, which tend to explain the probable consumption of honey in the elaboration of wax. 
 This is a question of considerable importance in apiari5i,n economics, as it would teach us 
 the value of this latter substance, and lead to a discouragement of all unnecessary con- 
 struction of comb, in the event of its being found the costly article which I am disposed to 
 believe it is. 
 
 The pound of wax sells for, at least, double the money that a pound of average honey 
 will fetch in the market ; whence, it might, at first sight, seem desirable to encourage 
 comb making ; but this, a little reflection will show to be a mistake ; for, if wax be a 
 secretion from honey, as all apiarians are now agreed in believing it to be, it requires no 
 further proof to satisfy us that honey is, in reality, the costlier article of the two. If this 
 be granted, and I do not see how it can be denied, it remains to be proved that the differ- 
 ence is so great as to make it an important point in bee management to discourage the 
 unnecessary elaboration of wax. As a stimulus to future experiment, and a clue towards 
 arriving at some definite and certain knowledge upon the subject, I insert here the follow- 
 ing extract from my note book, the purport of which I have already communicated to Vwi 
 " Cottage Gardener," as follows : — 
 
1J.8 APPENDIX. 
 
 " Huber tells us that he has found coarse sugar yield a large quantity of wax, and of a 
 paler color than honey. If this be true, some experiments that I have made in the rearing 
 of artificial stocks this autumn, (1850,) have opened my eyes to the very great costliness of 
 wax in the economy of bee management. Having driven the population of four stocks, on 
 the 5th of August, and united them together, I located them in a spare bee box in my win- 
 dow apiary, and fed them with a preparation of sugar, honey, salt, and beer, for about 
 five weeks. Although they consumed about 50 lbs. of this mixture, (the same as that 
 described in Chapter XI. of this volume.) at the end of that lime the box was found to 
 weigh no more than sixteen pounds o{ contents^ that is, minus the box only. Of this j 
 reckon about 12 lbs. to be stored food, bees and 3i lbs. bee bread, and the remaining half 
 pound pure wax or comb. Thus, if there be deducted from tliese 46 lbs. of food the ac- 
 tually stored 12 lbs., there remain 34 lbs. to be accounted for. The actual consumption of 
 any considerable quantity of it as food can hardly be imagined, for my other hives were 
 maintaining themselves all this time almost entirely upon what they still collected in the 
 fields. For instance, one hive, whose population was the most numerous, diminished in 
 weight 3 lbs. in the interval between the 5th of August and the 29th of October ; a second, 
 3 lbs. 8 oz. between the 3rd of August and the 8th of November (when I buried it) ; a third, 
 (whose position I changed at the end of July.) 5 lbs. between the 8th of August and the 
 12th of October. Now I do not think that the increased activity of this experimental hive, 
 will anything like explain away the 34 lbs. by supposing so enormous a consumption as 
 food, even allowing that their appetite was proportionably excited ; thus, there remains 
 nothing for us but to conclude that hj far the greater part, sdLj at least 25 lbs., was con- 
 sumed in elaborating the half pound of ivax, employed constructing the comb.'''' 
 
 "We cannot of course form any certain conclusion from this fact, because we have yet 
 to ascertain whether pure honey or the prepared food, of which I made use, contains the 
 larger quantity of the waxen element. As this is a question of no little importance, 1 
 would gladly induce some experimental apiarian to join me in my endeavors to ascertain 
 the truth in this matter, which I propose to attempt in the course of the approaching sum- 
 mer or autumn. 
 
 (I— Page 83.) 
 
 It seems necessary that I should caution the reader against a too indiscriminate or system- 
 atic destruction of his queen bees, without a due regard to circuna^tances. I have stated 
 that, as a general rule, I believe the queen bee to be in her prime the second twelvemonth of 
 her existence ; and in stating this, I but repeat what other naturalists and bee authors 
 have stated before. Therefore, as a rule, it follows that, where it can be ione judiciously, 
 a succession of young queens, not exceeding two years old, should be kept up by a biennial 
 removal of the old ones. But it must be borne in mind, that all queens are not all equally 
 prolific or fruitful mothers : therefore, in the event of a queen's having proved herself an 
 e.xtraordinarily good breeder one year, it will be for the apiarian to consider whether he may 
 not become a loser by exchanging her for a younger queen. I myself should by all means 
 permit her to reign a third summer, and, it may be, even a fourth, should her vigor not 
 seem too considerably abated, but this very rarely. In judging of a queen's vigor, again, it 
 must be borne in mind, that the same mother who in a thinly-peopled hive would be a 
 bad breeder, would probably prove very fertile in a populous stock. And for similar rea- 
 sons, a queen born in a very strong stock would turn out more prolific than a princess 
 reared in a weak hive — whether artificially or naturally reared, it matters not. 
 
APPENDIX. 119 
 
 The bse misler cannot greatly err, therefore, who exchanges the queens of his strong 
 stocks triennially, though, no doubt, in the end, he would find it more profitable to change 
 them every two years. 
 
 (K— Page 95.) 
 
 ALTnoaon the account of my discovery of this plan of uniting bees has been communicated 
 at different times to the '• Cottage Gardener," I may be pardoned for re-introducing it 
 here, as it may be interesting to some who have not seen it in that periodical. The fol- 
 lowing is an extract from my communication to this paper : — " I hit upon the plan accident- 
 ally, as I was hesitating between the adoption of the fumigating or sugar and water 
 drowning process of uniting bees, one or the other of which is recommended by apiarians. 
 I was quite unused to either of these plams, and somewhat dreaded the experiment. The 
 scene of operation was the small nursery back garden of some excellent friends of mine, 
 who had kindly permitted me to make what use I pleased of the population of five cottage 
 hives, which they intended to plunder, and the time was SA P. M., on the 9th of August, 
 1849. After trying what I could do with one hive by fumigation, and having made a terri- 
 ble mess of the affair, I proceeded to try the sugar and water drowning process ; to effect 
 which, I proposed first to drive into separate empty hives the population of two strong 
 stocks ; and then, after sprinkling them with sugar and water, to mix the bees together. 
 The job, however, appeared so awkward and filthy, that my heart greatly revolted against 
 it ; however, there seemed no remedy, so to driving I went. A magnificent second-year 
 stock, as full of bees as it could hold, (the more bees the better for the success of the ex- 
 perijient.) was successfully driven in about fifteen minutes into an empty hive, which was 
 taken off and put gently aside until wanted again. The few remaining tees next were 
 fumigated with sulphur before being taken into the house. Another fine and populous 
 stock was then turned up as before, an early cast of the current year, but instead of placing 
 an empty hive over it as before, it suddenly crossed my mind to try what driving into the 
 other already temporarily-occupied hive would do— the empty hive, I mean, into which 
 the population of the first hive had already been driven. But would they not fight and 
 destroy each other ? If they did, thought I, I have yet two good stocks to fall back upon ; 
 so, in an instant, the tenanted combless hive was gently replaced over the now reversed 
 cast, and to driving we went in good earnest. ' Hark I what an awful buzzing 1' said my 
 companion ; and. indeed, I began to dread a general massacre as the hum increased ; pres- 
 ently, however, as our tapping ceased, the hum died away, and profound silence reigned 
 within. My success was complete, for, on taking off the upper hive, an enormous mass of 
 bees was disclosed to view, hanging motionless in thick clusters from the roof, united to- 
 gether in great apparent harmony and tranquillity. The few remaining bees in the old hive 
 were sulphured as before ; and our united hive was suffered to remain till morning resting 
 over an empty bucket, within two yards of their old locality, and covered with a sheet. 
 Great was the activity of our newly-formed stock, the next day, (but no signs of war 
 were visible,) till about 2i p. m., when I shook them all out upon a sheet on the ground 
 in front of the box which was destined for their reception, into which tbey all immediately 
 crept after their queen. As soon as they had nearly all left the cloth, the conquered queen 
 was discovered in front of the box. dead, but still surrounded by an escort of bees, who paid 
 her the last tribute of respect and loyalty. The box, containing the now united swarm, 
 was transferred the same evening to my own apiary, where it remains to this day." 
 
BY 
 
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 152 FULTON STEEET, NEW YOEK, 
 
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LECTUJIES 
 
 ON THE 
 
 GENERAL RELATIONS WHICH SCIENCE 
 
 BEARS TO 
 
 PEACTICAL A&RICULTIIRE, 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE THE 
 
 NEW-YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES F. W. JOHNSTON, F.R.SS. L.&E. 
 
 WITH NOTES AND ADDITIONS 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 C. M. SAXTON, AGRIULTURAL BOOKSELLER, 
 
THE 
 
 FA3IILY laTCHEN GAEDENER; 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 PLAIN AND ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS 
 
 OF ALL THE 
 
 DIFFERENT SPECIES AND VARIETIES 
 OF 
 
 CUSiSEffAB."^ V22GBTA3I.ES: 
 
 BY ROBERT BUIST, 
 
 AnXHOR OF THE AMICRICAS FLOWER-GARDEN DIRECTORY, ROSE MANUAL, ETC. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 C. M. SAXTON, 152 FULTON STREET, 
 
 aiSO, STRINGER 4 TOWNSEND, IT. T-ONQ 4 BROTHER, W. F. BUR- 
 GESS, DEWITT <k DAVENPORT, WILSON A CO., DEXTER * 
 BR07HER. BOSTON : REDDING A CO. PHILADELPHIA : 
 W. B. ZIKBER, LINDSAY ,k BI.AKISTON. 
 
AN 
 
 ESSAY ON MANURES, 
 
 SUBMITTED TO THE TRUSTEES OP 
 
 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 
 
 PBO:MOTIHG AGRICULTURE, 
 
 FCfi, THEIE PREMIUM. 
 
 BY SAMUEL L. DANA. 
 
 From the New York Observer: 
 
 Essay on Manures. By Samuel L. Dana 
 
 This Essay contains much useful information for the practical farmer, in a 
 small compass, in reference to the nature and management of manures imme- 
 diately under his control ; the knowledge and practice of which will amply com- 
 pensate for the expense of ascertaining its value. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 C. M. SAXTON, 152 FULTON STREET. 
 
 AUO, STRINGER & TOWNSEND, H. LONG & BROTHER, W. F. BUR- 
 GESS, DEWITT <fe DAVENPORT, WILSON A CO., DEXTER & 
 BROTHER. BOSTON : REDDING & CO. PHILADELPHIA : 
 W. B. ZIEBEE, LINDSAY <& BLAKI8TON. 
 
THE AMERICAN FARM BOOK: 
 
 OR, 
 
 Compend of American Agriculture, 
 
 Sontoining a concise and plainly written Exposition of Duties pertaining to tb« 
 Cultivation of the Eartli, the Management of the Farm, &c.. Sic., on prac- 
 tical scientific principles. 
 
 SY R. L. ALLEN. 
 
 ■"he cheapest and most valuable book for a farmer ever printed : being a com 
 plete Guide, both practical and scientific, for the 
 
 MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM. 
 
 Besides the varied practvcal knowledge which this book imparts, and whick is 
 indispensable to the proper management of every department of agriculture, it 
 fives the elements of other information highly necessary to a successful farmer, 
 is History, Geology, Chemistry, Botany, Anatomy, Physiology, and Mechanics. 
 These branches of knowledge are given as applicable to agricultural pursuits 
 end when properly understood will essentially aid and assist the farmer. In fact 
 a knowledge of these sciences is a sure key to wealth for any agriculturist. I 
 gives the mode of preparaiion, and the effects of all kinds of maruires ; the 
 irigin, texture, divisions, and description of every variety of soils ; the economy 
 «f sowing, reaping, and mowing, irrigation and draining ; cultivation of the 
 grasses, clovers, grains, and roots ; Southern and miscellaneous products, as cot- 
 fon. hemp, flax, the sugar cane, rice, tobacco, hops, madder, woad, Sec. ; the 
 rearing of fruit — apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, &c. ; farm buildings, 
 ledges. &.C. ; with the best methods of planting, cultivating, and preparation 
 for market. Illustrated by 100 engravings. 
 The reader can form some idea of the above work, from the fact that it treaty 
 ' 800 different subjects important to a farmer. It contains 3-54 pages, and i 
 lieautifuily bound in cloth, gilt, suitable for a library. Price only One Dollar. 
 Notices of the Press. 
 The author has been one of the most able, contributors to the agricultural pres 
 or the last ten years ; aside from this he is a practical farmer and stock-breeder 
 AuU consequently knows from his own experience what he is writing about. ■ 
 Commercial Advertiser. 
 This book is by a gentleman of known experience ; the work is exceedingly 
 (leap, and the farmer will find it a valuable book of reference. — N. Y. Express. 
 It is in fact a brief encyclopedia on the subjects treated, and the farmer will 
 Hud appropriate information on almost any subject coming within his reach. — 
 ±few York Observer. 
 
 Here is a book for the million, precisely what its titl6 indicates. Compassed 
 withm its pages, the reader will find the subject of soils, manures, crops, and 
 animals, treated in a style easily comprehended. — Spirit of the Times. 
 
 This work is what might be expected from one so well qualified for the imdei- 
 taking. — Boston Cultivator. 
 
 We are glad to meet a publication which can interest, as well as improve the 
 condition of the human race. We commend the work to every American farmer. 
 — Christian Intelligencer, 
 
 Why shall not every good farmer economize his muscles by storing his mind ? 
 We hope tliis book will find its way into many family and school-libraries. — Neu 
 York Tribune. 
 It ought to be found in every farmer's library. — Jerseyman. 
 It is really a great satisfaction to get hold of an American treatise on Agricul- 
 ture, that has a plain, practical, common sense character of its own. The author 
 of this work is aJready'known to the agricultural public as a thorough practical 
 farmer and stock-breeder. That he well knows what he is about on a farm, these 
 pages abundanty show. No mere book-maker could have written such a book ; 
 and we may add, also, that no mere piactical farmer could have written it. A 
 " good practical work" can only be written by a man who has both thought and 
 acted well. What distinguishes this volume, is its conciseness, its clearness, and 
 its perspicuous treatment of the subject in hand. We think, therefore, that Mr 
 Allen's volume, the basis of which is go»d practical farming, as practised by th 
 best cultivators in the United States, with an intelligent reference to those princi 
 pies of science which lie at the root of all successful practice, is likely to t)e of a» 
 much or more real service to us, than any worii on agriculture vet issued frcira 
 Ihe press, and we gladly commend it to the perusal of every one o/ our readm 
 cagagea in the cullivaion of land — A. J. Vowning'a Horticultwist 
 
EVERY FAitf^EB S t^K I i 
 
 Ten Tliousand Copies prissti'd iiB six 3Iont!ts ? 
 
 ILLUSTRATED TMITISE ON BOMESTiC ANLMILS, 
 
 Being a history and description of the Horse, Mule, Cattle, Slieep, S-»vliic, Poul- 
 try, and Farm Dogs ; with Directions for their Management, lireeding, Crossiiig, Bear 
 ing, Feeding, and preparation for a profitable market. Also, their Diseases aiio 
 
 Kemedles ; together with Full Directions for the Management of the Dairy, and the Com- 
 parative Economy and Advantages of Working Animals, the Horse, Mule, Oxen, &c., by R. li. 
 AXJjEN, Author of'' Compeiid of A^nencan MgriculluTc" S;C. 
 
 The above work contains more than 40 Engravings and Portraits of Improved Animala 
 Illustrative of the different breeds and various subjects treated in it. 
 
 The most minute as w ell as general principles for Breeding, Crossing, Rearing, Feeding, anj 
 Management of all Domestic Animals, are herein given, to produce the utmost marketable 
 value for the food and attention bestowed on them ; as well as to prevent disease, and save the 
 immense losses which annually occnr from this source. It can be sent by Mail, in C loth tjini* 
 Ing, for 75 Cents— Paper, 50 Cents. Published by C. M. SAXTOM, 152 Fulton st. N 
 
 ork. For sale by all the Booksellers throughout the country. 
 
 Agents wanted for every county in every state. Address, post paid, the Publisher. 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE PRESS, 
 
 The Compactness yet ^mpleteness wiU make it a favorite with agriculturists. — Chronicle, 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Its greatest worth is, as a complete farrier, showing the diseases of animals, their treatment, 
 and cure.— i^ar. 4" -Mef, 
 
 The portion which relates to the dairy alone, is worth the cost of the book. — Worcester 
 Transcript. 
 
 It is every way adapted to be serviceable in every household which has domestio animals. — 
 D. Adv., Newark. 
 
 We believe it a complete guide for the farmer and dairyman in the purchase, care, and use ol 
 Bntmals. — Jeffersonian. 
 
 Here is a work which should be in the hands of every farmer. — Highland Courier. 
 
 We can confidently recommend this work as a very instructive one to those engaged in farm 
 Ing, raising stock, or husbandry. — Northampton Courier. 
 
 The author is a practical farmer and stockbreeder, and is able to vouch for the correctness of 
 the remedies for diseases of Domestic Animals, as well as the bast mode of managing them. — 
 Huron, O. Reflector. 
 
 It cost.s but seventy-five cents, and cannot fail to be worth ten timet that amount to any far 
 mer. — Summit S. C. Beacmi. 
 
 It is the best of that character we have yet seen ; no farmer should be without it. — Democrat, 
 Car/isle, Pa. 
 
 This is just such a book as every owner of stock should be possessed of — Easton Md Star. 
 
 Here is a book which all — those who follow the plow, and those who direct it — can read to 
 profit. It is a Ubrary of knowledge, presenting the latest improvements and di.scoveries, on aU 
 the topics treated of; and illustrated by a great variety of cuts. The " Aliens," one of whom is 
 the author of the work before us, are quite famous in their especial role, so that what proceedf 
 from them may be confidently credited at all events. The present book is a most interesting and 
 instructive one, and must meet with a great sale. — Sciota Gazette. 
 
 This work, to the farmer and stock raiser, will be useful, instructive, and profitable, enabling 
 them to improve the breed of their stock, preserve them from sickness, and cure them when 
 infected with disease. — Herald, Morrisville. Ihi. 
 
 The time has gone by when farmers can expect to succeed without giving some attention to 
 Book Farming, and we trust they begin to see it for themselves. We should like to hear that 
 this work was in the hands of every farmer in the county. — Mercury, Potsdam, N. Y. 
 
 The title page of this work gives a good idea of its scope and intent. It is a comprehensiTe 
 summary of farm operations, and will prove very acceptable to the great mass of our farming 
 population. We are informed that 3,000 copies of this work have been sold since the first of 
 January. It is well printed and profusely illustrated — N. Y. Tribune. 
 
 It is furnished with numerous illustrating cuts, and will form a complete "rade mecnm" for 
 the agriculturist, convenient for reference, and to be relied on when consulted. — Soitimoie 
 American. 
 
 This is a practical book by a practical man, and will serve extensive practical ends. It if 
 a companion which every farmer will feci that he cannot well be without. — N. Y. Observer 
 
 We cheerfully recommend this work to I'armers. — Signal, Juliett, III. 
 
 We anticipate an exten.sive «»le for this work. — Ohio Cultivator. 
 
 This work ought to be in the hands of every planter. — N. O. Delta. 
 
 The author is a gentleman of fine attainments, and who ranks as one of the most acconi' 
 plished writers on agricultural subjects in the country. — Ala. Planter. _ 
 
 Many a valuable animal is lost, every year, for want of iha knowledge here conveyed. — Eagle- 
 Brattleboro, VI. 
 
 The author (Mr. Allen), is a practical man, and everything from his pen, on subjects con 
 Beeted with agriculture and cattle breediiuc. is valuable to those who prefer matter of fact t« 
 
 JT^ theory - Mam: Parmer 
 
THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL 
 
 BY T. B. MINER. 
 
 3J0 pp. l2rao. 35 Eagravings. Price $1. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY C. M. SAXTON, 152 FULTCN ST., N. "?. 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
 
 " The most complete work on the Bee and Bee-keeping we have yet seen."— 
 K: Y. Tribitne. 
 
 " Mr. Jliner has handled this subject in a masterly manner.-'— A'. Y. True Svti. 
 
 "He has written a work of the most fascinating interest."— A''. >'. Sunday Dim 
 patch. 
 
 " It will interest the general reader. It is indeed a charming rolume.— Cow 
 mercial ^idvertiser. 
 
 " This is a truly valuable work, and very interesting." — Morning Star. 
 
 " It is decidedly the best work we have ever seen."— i?o«/on Daily Mail. 
 
 " Mr. Miner has performed his task with signal ability."— iScJen/(/ic AmericaTu 
 
 " It does high credit to the observation and intelligence of the author." — Chris- 
 titm Intelligencer. 
 
 '• This is the most comprehensive and valuable work on the Honey-bee that 
 hos ever come under our notice." — Journal of Commerce. 
 
 " To appreciate the value of the honey-bee one must get this book and read it 
 attentively." — Xoah's Messt.nger. 
 
 '•' We like it for its independent tone, and the amount of practical informatjon 
 that it contains." — Literary World. 
 
 " "We have been greatly edified and entertained by this bgok. from which the 
 Nader will cc lect a great deal of excellent informa'tiou. — The Independent. 
 
 " This ie probablv the most complete manual of the kind ever published. It will 
 rich)/ repay the general reader, too, by the variety of interesting facts it co». 
 tains.' —.Boj/on Traceller. 
 
 " It is % most excellent and useful treatise, and happily supplies a vacnnm 
 that had long existed."— Boston Times. 
 
 "This volume has all the charm of a romance and admiraMy displays tho 
 habits of this insect." — O'gan. 
 
 " This volume is what it pretends to be. (more than can be said of many wo rki) 
 Ujd all who want a full and thorough history of the natuce and management ol 
 of the bee should have it in their possession." — Scientific American, 
 
 '• It is neatly printed, well illustrated and clearly written and contains a great 
 (Jeal of practical information." — Mirror. 
 
 *" This work probably contains better instructions in regard to bees than any 
 which have ever appeared.'' — Sun. 
 
 '• The practical directions are the result of evident experience, and being 
 plainly and oouoisely stated, are excellent. It is so much better than can b« 
 »btained elsowb^.re that we commend it to favor." — iV. Y. Bvangelitt. 
 
 '• It is an ("yrpllent book and th« best published o.: the subject." — BostoH OUvt 
 Birmnek. 
 
LECTURES 
 
 APPLICATIONS OF CHEMISTRY AND GEOLOGY 
 
 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 "The profit of the eartli is for all ; the king liimself is served by tlie field." — Eecleg. r. i 
 
 BY JAS. F. VV. JOHNSTON, M.A., F.R.SS. L. & E., 
 
 FELLOW OF THE OEOLOGICXL ANB CHEMICAL SOCIETIES, 
 
 Honorary Member of the Royal Agricultural Society, Foreign Member of the RoyaJ 
 Swedish Academy of Agriculture, &c. &c ; Chemist to the Agricultural 
 Chemistry Association of Scotland, and Reader in Chemistry 
 and Mineralogy in the Univeisity of Durham. 
 
 NEW EDITION, WITH AN APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAININO SUGGESTIONS FOR EXPEUIMENTS IN PRACTICAL AGEICULTtTlK 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 C. M. SAXTON, AGRICULTURAL BOOK PUBLISHER. 
 
 No. ]5'2 FULTON STREET. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE 
 
 ON TUE 
 
 CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE VINE 
 
 ON OPEN WALLS. 
 
 WITH A DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF AN 
 
 IMPROVED METHOD OF PLANTING AND MANAGING 
 
 THE 
 
 ROOTS OF GRAPE VINES, 
 
 BY CLEMENT HO A RE. 
 
 TO ■WHICH IS .4J}DED, 
 
 AN APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAININQ 
 
 REMAUKS ON THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE VINE IN 
 THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 C. M. SAXTON, 1512 FULTON STREET. 
 
AMERICAN ARCHITECT, 
 
 jomplele in 24 Nos., at 25 cents each, or $5 for 2-^ 
 Nos. $6, bound in 2 vols. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY C. M. SAXTON, NEW-YORK. 
 
 The object of this publication is to introduce ORIGINAL DESIGNS of Country 
 Seats adapted to tlie varied taste and circumstances of an American population : 
 from the elegant Villa to llie simple Cottage and plain Farm-IIousk ; from 
 Planters' Mansions to Village Domicils. In a word, every variety of Rural 
 Residences will be embraced, in order to meet the views of every person desiring 
 a Country House. In respect to style, cost, arrangement, finish, &c., utility 
 will never be sacrificed : economy in the outlay, with an appropriate style, wil 
 always be kept in view. The requisite details, specifications, plans, and direc 
 tionsi with a careful and reliable estimate of the cost, will accompany each design 
 These are essential features of a Practical Work, and no labor will be spared in 
 their preparation. 
 
 Of the diversity of human dwellings, whether marked by elegance, convenience, 
 or utility, or by the want of them, none can compare in national importance and 
 philosophical interest with the Farm-House — the Homestead of our species. 
 
 A triple value attaches to that class of men which feeds all others. AVith pri- 
 meval farmers, man's social faculties were first unfolded. With them society 
 began : and among whatever people its siiaft has become polished and its cap-.tal 
 enriched, it .still rests on llie cultivators of tlie soil. So, of their profession, agri- 
 culture IS the great parent of the arts, while its prepared products will forever 
 oe the most essential of all manufactures. Then it was in their dwellings that 
 Architecture itself had its birth ; it was they who first abandoned the tent with 
 astoral life, and began to devise and construct fixed and permanent abodes. 
 
 The estimates we give are based on New York prices ; including the best ma- 
 terials, workmanship, and finish. There is no doubt that m many parts of tJie 
 country, they may be materially diminished in every one of these respects— evee 
 to the extent of one-half. 
 
 The selection of designs by those about to build Country Residences is co» 
 .Tionl^ attended with embarrassment and always with expense When furnishea 
 ?y professional men, from general ideas communicated by proprietors, they are 
 seldom satisfactory. The American Architect, by furnishing a collection of designs 
 adapted to all tastes and means, will remove every difficulty in the choice, and 
 save money expended on Plans of no use. It will furnish twelve Elevations, 
 Plans, and Specifications in each year, at a price not exceeding one-seventh of 
 the usual charge for one. 
 
 Every handsome residence adds value to the grounds attached to it ; hence the 
 importance of having such, by those who invest capital in this species of property. 
 
 With regard to utility — the proper distribution of the apartments and then 
 adaptation to the purposes intended is the most important point to be attended 
 to, and they are governed by the Plans. 
 
 From among the great number of notices, we select the following :— 
 
 " The price is only 25 cents for each number, and it is surely next to impossible 
 but that such a periodical will obtain a wide circulation." — New York Tribune. 
 
 " This work promises to supply a want which has long existed, and to be ot 
 essential value." — Sahm Register. 
 
 " This work cannot fail to be useful and popular." — hciston Bee. 
 
 " This is a good and beautiful work, and well adapted to effect a much desired 
 reform in American Arcliitecture." — Boston Traveller. 
 
 Thi Cost of building from the Plans given, will be from $600 to $5,000, witj 
 comp ?te Specifications from a first-rate Mason and Carpenter, and the pncM 
 giren "an be depended upon. 
 
GUNN'S DOMESTIC MEDICINE, 
 
 OB POOR MANS FRIEND ; IN THE HOTJRS OF AFFLICTION PAUSi 
 
 AND SICKNESS, A SAFE AND RELIABLE GUIDE. 
 
 Raymond's copy, price three dollars. 
 
 This Book points out in plain language, free from doctors' terms the Diseases 
 of Men, Wjraen, and ClTlldren, and the latest and most improved means used in 
 their cure • ir.d is intended expressly for the benefit of families. It also contain! 
 descripticds oi the Medical Roots and Herbs of the United States, and how 
 they are to be used in the cure o*' diseases. It is arranged on a new and simplo 
 plan by which the practice of Medicine is reduced to principles of common 
 sense. 
 
 This invaluable book has passed through many editions ; it has now been re- 
 vised and improved in every respect, and enlarged to nearly double its former 
 gize ; and contains nine hundred octavo pages. 
 
 It does not propose to dispense with physicians in severe ca*es. But it does 
 propose to save thousands and tens of thousands annually, by putting the means 
 of cure into every man's hands, and of saving many valuable lives (which is ol 
 far more importance) by instructing individuals how to check disease in its begin- 
 nings, before it has acquired too much strength to resist and overcome. 
 
 Opinions of the Press, 
 
 " We seldom take up a book of this class with any favorable impressions ; 1< r 
 we fear quackery and pretension have been at work for the ' poor man ;' but in 
 this work all our prejudices were conquered. Professional men as well as others, 
 we see cheerfully recommend this book ; which has, in its ample pages, much o' 
 the necessary instruction to ward off or to cure disease " — New York Express. 
 
 " It is written in an easy, plain, and familiar style, and points out the diseases 
 of men, women, and children, and the latest and most approved means used in 
 their cure. The language and arrangement are so simplitied as to bring it within 
 the capacity of those who possess a very limited education. The object and de- 
 sign of the author seems to be to remove all that technical phraseology which is 
 used in medical works generally, and thus simplify the practice of that science 
 which the head of every family should be acquainted with. It is generally recom- 
 mended to our professional readers as a guide in cases where it is not deemed 
 necessary te have the services of regularly educated practitioners. Tliis book 
 should find a place in every family." — Boston Mail. 
 
 " This is a work of Family Medicine on the plan of Dr. Ewell. Il is the most 
 olain-written, untechnical book of the kind we have met with ; a decided improve 
 ment on both Buchan and Ewell. It is printed in a very superior style, revised 
 from the first edition, and containing a variety of useful information liot hitherto 
 laid before the vulgar eye. It treats of the passions. It has also a catalogue ol 
 medicines, with their properties and doses, and the diseases and maimer in which 
 they are treated ; comprising a svnoptical Materia Medica, exceedingly useful in 
 families, and m >/o particularly ti captains of vessels and planters, who cannot 
 conveniently procure medical advice. It is an excellent book." — New Orleant 
 True American. 
 
 •' If we judge of the merits of the book by the immense number of copies already 
 sold, and the very flattering testimony of medical men of the first standing, (and 
 among the number, several of the most distinguished members of the faculty in 
 our city,) it is a vauable compendium of the modern practice of physic, and must 
 prove a valuable assistant to families, particularly in sudden emergencies, and in 
 ftll sittiations where regular professional attendance cannot be commanded." — 
 Louisville Journal. 
 
 " The great advantage it possesses over all other books of the kind is, that the 
 author has avoided all Latin terms; tliis is what has brought Dr. Gumi's work, 
 mtc such extensive family use." — Neio Orleans Picayune. 
 
 " As a medical Vade ilecum. it has for years stood high ; and now, smce its re- 
 vision, (Raym ond's copy,) will take the lead of all similar works." — Mobile Uatlg 
 Advertiser. 
 
 " Its extensive sale has established .ts worth, and stamped it as a standard and 
 RSeful book." — Kentucky Gazette. 
 
 ay On the receipt of Three Dollars, Dr. Gunn's book will te sent, frtt oj 
 fostage, to any part of the United .States. 
 
 All letters must be addressed, (post-paiil,) to C. M. SAXTON, FpltonSt 
 New York. 
 
 '« Raymon<ri Coyy " is the '.'illy "omplete ^ditiwn and is so inaiked on tb*". back 
 
THE 
 
 AMERICAN BIRD FANCIER; 
 
 CONSIDERED WITH REFERENCE TO TliE 
 
 UREEDINGj REARING, FEEDING, MANAGEMENT, AND PECULIARlllEW 
 
 OF 
 
 CAGE AND HOUSE BIRDS. 
 
 Illustrated with Engravings 
 
 BY D. J. BROWNE, 
 
 ADTnOR or THE SVLVA AMERICANA, THE AMERICAN POULTRY YARD, BTC. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 C. M. SAXTON, 152 FULTON STREET. 
 
 ALSO, STRINGER & TOWNSEND, II, LONG & DROTIIEK, W. F. BURa^SS, 
 
 DKWITT & DAVENPORT, WILSON & CO., DEXTER i BROTHER, 
 
 rHILADELl'IIIA : ^Y. B. ZIEBER, LINDSAY i BLAKISTOIT. 
 
 boston: REDDING <fe CO. 
 
THE 
 
 AMERICAN POULTRY YARD; 
 
 COMPRISING THE 
 
 ORIGIN, HISTORY, AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT 
 BREEDS OF 
 
 Bamtsiic ^oultrg; 
 
 WITH 
 
 Complete Directions for their Breeding, Crossing, Rearing, 
 
 Fattening, and Preparation for Marliet ; 
 
 Including Specific Directions for Caponising Fowls, and for the 
 
 Treatment of the Principal Diseases to which they are subject. 
 DRAWN FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES AND PERSONAL OBSERVATION 
 IWustrated tj Numerous Engravings 
 
 By D. J. BROWNE. 
 
 With an Appendix, embracing the Comparative Merits of 
 Different Breed of Fowls. 
 
 By SAMUEL ALLEN. 
 
 Price $1, 171 cloth — 75 cts. with paper covers. 
 
 Pnblisbcd by C. M. SAXTOIV, 153 Fulton Street, N. Y 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
 Mr. Browne was bred and brought up a practical farmer. From his intimate kno-tr 
 ledge of the history and habits of our domestic animals, having devoted, probabl)', 
 more attention to the subject, as a whole, by reading and obsen'ation, than any other 
 individual in the countiy, the task of preparing this work was assigned to him.- 
 Salem Register. 
 
 The style of the engravings and the mechanical execution of the work aio excellent 
 — Maine Farmer. 
 
 An extensire work on poultry, embracing every information desired.— JV. H. Teie 
 graph. 
 We commend the book and the subject to the thoughts of farmers.— F«. JVatckman. 
 Every one who may pui-chase a copy, upon a perusal of the same, will be fully sati*- 
 9ed that their money was well spent.— Bristol Phanii. 
 
 It is one of the best treatises on the Domestic Fowl ever published.— JVerc-Kau. 
 Palladium. 
 
 The details into which this book entere, on all the subjects comiected with the pr» 
 fitable raising of fowls, are precisely of that minute and practical character which if 
 needed. — JV. Y. Evangelist. 
 
 We are glad to see that the evident demand for information on the subject m 
 rearing Domestic Fowls has called out so valuable a work as the one before us.— JV. Y, 
 Daily Tribune. 
 
 It contains matter to interest and instruct upon almost everything that concerns tha 
 poultry yard, and beai-s the impress in its pages that its editor was well qualified t» 
 fulfill the task he undertook. — American Farmer. 
 
 It is the most complete book of its class ever published, and quite indispensable U, 
 all who are interested in raising poultry.— CAar/e*«on, S. C., fVeekly Oaiette. 
 
 No farmer among us would remain a day longer without the work, did he bu-t kno 
 Its value. — Rahway Register. 
 
 It is unquestionably the cheapest and best work of the kind extant, and should ha 
 m place in every farmer's librar}\ — Qermantoicn, Ohio, Gazette. 
 
 The volume is enriched by an Appendix from the the pen of Mr. Samuel Allen, aa 
 experienced breeder of fowls, who haa taken mich pains to improve the stock in thia 
 country. — JV, Y. tVcckln Trihiine. 
 
THE AMEKICAN AGRICULTURIST; 
 
 A MONTHLY PERIODICAL 
 
 SestflncK to intprobe tte JFarinev, tijc ^planter, tj&e Stocfts-JSteeHet; 
 anU tl)e Jljorticulturfst. 
 
 A. B. ALLEN, Editor. 
 
 " Agriculture is the most healthy, the most useful, and the most noble employmeiU 
 
 of man." — WASHINGTON. 
 
 TERMS. 
 
 FOR SINGLE COPIES ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM. 
 
 THREE COPIES TWO DOLLARS. 
 
 EIGHT COPIES FIVE DOLLARS. 
 
 TWENTY COPIES TWELVE DOLLARS. 
 
 The American Agriculturist is now in the seventh year of ■' s publication 
 From its commencement it took a high stand ; and has ever since been considered 
 by the press and all unbiased judges, as the LEADING PERIODICAL of its class 
 in America. It has a large and rapidly increasing circulation throughout the 
 United States, tlie Canadas, and other British possessions, the West Indies, and 
 South America ; and we may fearlessly assert, that it has given more reliable in 
 formation on rural subjects, and been perused with greater general satisfaction, 
 than any paper of the kind yet published. 
 
 The American Agriculturist treats of every description of domestic animals 
 and poultry ; their characteristics, breeds, the best and the worst ; their advanta- 
 ges and disadvantages ; their mode of breeding, feeding, rearing, and treatment ; 
 their uses, profits, management, &,c. It also treats of all cultivated crops, inclu- 
 ding fruits, shrubbery, &c. ; the best seeds, mode of planting, cultivating, gather- 
 ing, and preparing for markets ; the general principles of vegetation and the laws 
 of vegetable life. It describes the principles of mechanics as applied to macliine- 
 ry used by farmers and planters ; the best machinery and implements for agri- 
 culture, their uses and the particular superiority of some over others, aiui their 
 adaptedness for particular purpo.ses, &c. 
 
 Address all subscriptions to C. M. SAXTON, 123PnLT0N St., New York. 
 
 It also gives the latest improvements in those implements which may have been 
 made, and suggests others ; tells where they are to be found, and the benefits that 
 will follow from their use. It also specifies new objects of cultivation, and how 
 they may be better prepared for a profitable market and more general use. These 
 are a part only of the objects of this paper ; yet they, with the other subjects 
 treated, are of universal interest and general application. Nineteen-twentieths of all 
 that is to be found in it is of the same use to one part as to any other part of 
 America. Yet we find people constantly objecting that it is not printed in their 
 particular section of country, and that it is not suited to their wants. Does it 
 make any difference where a boy acquires his education, provided it be a good 
 ►ne and he be correctly taught ? Where he studies his profession of divinity, 
 ttedicine, or even law? Cannot he take the principles he has acquired, and apply 
 them equally well in any part of America? Axe not the blessed sunlight ol 
 heaven, the ram, the dew, the heat, and the frost, though sometimes differing in 
 degree, of equal relative effect wherever they are felt, whether within the tropics 
 oi the polar circles, the eastern or western hemisphere ? 
 
 If the question were as to a choice between a good paper printed here or there, 
 It were another matter. But throughout extensive regions tliis is not tiie case, 
 and it is either a good paper or none 'v all ; and even if there were one for every 
 particular section of country, we ro-gat stiH urge a general circulas'on for oui 
 •wc ; for no one will embrace ali tba' is important to be knows. 
 
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