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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25d630f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #67816 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67816) diff --git a/old/67816-0.txt b/old/67816-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a655df4..0000000 --- a/old/67816-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3154 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Bee Preserver; or, Practical -Directions for the Management and Preservation of Hives, by Jonas De -Gelieu - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Bee Preserver; or, Practical Directions for the Management - and Preservation of Hives - -Author: Jonas De Gelieu - -Translator: Anonymous - -Release Date: April 11, 2022 [eBook #67816] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Tom Cosmas compiled from materials made available at The - Internet Archive and placed in the Public Domain. - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEE PRESERVER; OR, -PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF HIVES *** - - - - - - - -Transcriber Note - -Text emphasis denoted as _Italics_. - - - THE - - BEE PRESERVER. - - - - - THE - - BEE PRESERVER; - - OR - - PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT - AND PRESERVATION OF HIVES. - - - TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF - - JONAS DE GELIEU, - - LATE MINISTER OF LIGNIERES, AT PRESENT MINISTER OF THE CHURCHES OF - COLOMBIER AND AUVERNIER, IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF NEUCHATEL; MEMBER OF - THE SOCIETÉ ECONOMIQUE DE BERNE, &c., &c., &c. - - - PUBLISHED AT MULHAUSEN. - - - - JOHN ANDERSON JUN. EDINBURGH, - - 55, NORTH BRIDGE STREET; - - AND SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON. - - MDCCCXXIX. - - - P. NEILL, PRINTER. - - - - - TO - - THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND. - - -In respectfully dedicating this little Work to the Highland Society -of Scotland, the Translator hopes, that, under their efficient and -enlightened patronage, it may be made generally known in Scotland, -where the system which it explains is calculated to be as extensively -applicable, and as highly profitable, as it has proved in the native -mountains of its amiable and venerable Author. It seems, indeed, both -from the plain practical directions which it contains, and the valuable -discoveries which it communicates relative to the history and economy -of bees, to be singularly adapted to forward the views of the Society, -who have this year turned their attention to the encouragement of -Apiaries among the peasantry of our own country; and it is no small -advantage, that the rules laid down are applicable to hives of every -form. - -The Translator has no fear of its being objected, that plans which -are very suitable in Switzerland, may be less successful as applied -to Scotland. Switzerland and Scotland present so many points of -resemblance--in their mountains--in their valleys--and in their -climate--that which is beneficial in the one, can scarcely fail to be -so in the other. And as the Swiss honey is known to be not only very -abundant, but of a very superior flavour, especially in those districts -where De Gelieu's or some similar plan is adopted, the Translator is -desirous to see the simple and successful methods of that country -transferred to our own, that the Scottish peasantry may derive from -their practice the same advantages. To the Swiss peasantry, bees are -a great source of wealth; a stranger is attracted by the appearance -of substantial comfort, conveyed by well appointed apiaries, where -the hives are ranged in double and triple rows along the sunny side, -and under the shelter of the projecting roofs of the cottages; and in -Scotland there is little doubt that, if similar care were bestowed on -the cultivation of bees, they would be equally profitable. - - Edinburgh, } - _19th April, 1829_. } - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - Page - - CHAPTER I.--Situation of an apiary, 11 - II.--Proper time to transport a swarm to the - situation designed for it, 16 - III.--Situation of the hives ought never to - be changed, 18 - IV.--Most convenient shape of hives, 21 - V.--Hives of straw and wood, 23 - VI.--Thickness or solidity of hives, 24 - VII.--Size of the aperture or entrance of hives, 25 - VIII.--To ascertain the weight of hives, 27 - IX.--Quantity of honey necessary to maintain a hive, 20 - X.--The use of capes or hoods, 34 - XI.--How to expel the bees from the capes, 41 - XII.--Size of hives, 42 - XIII.--Manner of uniting new swarms, 44 - XIV.--Methods of uniting two or three swarms in autumn, 48 - XV.--Manner of uniting old hives in autumn, 53 - XVI.--Neighbouring hives should be united, 55 - XVII.--How to feed united swarms, 59 - XVIII.--Quantity of food requisite for united hives, 62 - XIX.--Benefits resulting from the union of weak hives, 67 - XX.--Time and manner of renewing old hives, 71 - XXI.--The signs by which to ascertain whether a hive - requires to be renewed, 76 - XXII.--Artificial swarms, and different methods of forming - them, 84 - XXIII.--Advantages of isolated hives, 94 - XXIV.--Enemies of bees, and means of overcoming them, 96 - XXV.--Diseases of the bees, 106 - XXVI.--Of the different varieties of bees, and their - language, 107 - XXVII.--Signs of recognition among the bees, 110 - XXVIII.--Preservation of hives in winter, and means of - protecting them from the cold, 112 - XXIX.--Manner of preserving hives, by taking them into the - house in winter, 117 - Conclusion, 121 - - - - - THE - - BEE PRESERVER - - - - - AUTHORS PREFACE. - - -Having attained old age, I think it a duty, before quitting the world, -to communicate to the public the observations I have made during -sixty-four years that I have been occupied with bees. From my earliest -years I have been very fond of these admirable insects. I began to -observe them under the direction of my father, Jacques de Gelieu, -pastor of the church of Bayards, and afterwards of that of Verrieres, -in the principality of Neuchatel. He instructed me in the principles -of this interesting study, and taught me to like and to admire it, by -making me read the memoirs of the immortal Reaumur, with whom he had -the honour to correspond. Being a nice observer, he had prepared, so -early as 1746, a work in two volumes, entitled "A New and Economical -Method for the Preservation and Increase of Bees, and how to procure -a more abundant supply of Honey and Wax." But when his work was ready -for the press, he lost in one day, by an unfortunate accident, the -whole of his hives except one, which he presented to me, and which I -subsequently managed under his direction. - -Thrown from that time into a succession of pressing occupations, he -lost sight of the printing of his work, which is now in my possession, -in his own handwriting. It contains the description of the storied -hive, of which he was the inventor, and which has since been so -variously modified. These hives have been made known only through his -correspondence with M. de Reaumur, and other literary men, as will -appear from the note at the end of this Preface. - -In the collection of observations which I now present to the public, I -limit myself to what is strictly practical, leaving to superior minds, -the Swammerdams, the Reaumurs, the Shirachs, the Hubers, to dive into -the theory with which they are so successfully engaged. - -Theory, however, leads to practice; and I have built on the foundation -which they have so skilfully laid down. I shall make known what my -long experience has taught me to consider the best form of hives. To -ascertain which merited the preference, I mixed all sizes and shapes -of them in my apiary, noting down their condition and product, thus -securing a result to which no doubt could attach; convinced that it -is easier to multiply hives in good seasons than to preserve them in -bad ones, since, in the first case, one has only to leave them in some -measure to themselves, while in the second there must be assiduous care -and attention bestowed on them. Vexed at hearing of the great losses -that have so generally taken place of late years, and of the sensible -and rapid diminution of these precious insects, I shall point out how I -succeeded in preserving mine in the worst seasons, especially in those -of 1812 and 1813; and I shall lay down the principles from which no one -should swerve, if he wishes to be constantly successful. - -Many people are fond of bees--indeed have a passion for them; but it -is not enough to be fond of them,--they must be skilfully taken care -of, according to certain rules, applicable in every case, but more -particularly in bad years. Mistaken care annoys them--niggardliness -ruins them. In laying down rules, I shall always take care to assign my -reasons for them. - -Among the discoveries which I had the happiness to make, there is one -of the greatest importance to the practical apiarian, of which I had -not even the slightest suspicion, and which astonished me so much that -I could not believe my eyes. It was only after trials a hundred times -repeated and diversified, that I could fully convince myself. The fact -is certain, the reason is to me unknown, and I leave to persons more -learned than myself to give the explanation. - -I have read most of the treatises that have been published on bees, -and have found errors in most of them. To avoid them myself, I shall -advance nothing that I have not verified by numerous experiments, which -every one may repeat. I shall make my narrative as short as possible. - -I have said that the storied hives invented by my late father, were -known only through his correspondence with M. de Reaumur, and other -literary men; the following is the proof: - -Extract from the _Corps d'Observation of the Society of Commerce and -Agriculture of Great Britain_, 1757-58. Printed at Rennes in 1761, page -162. - -"Monsieur de la _Bourdonaye, Procureur General-Syndic_, to whom the -custom of our peasants (of drowning the bees, or suffocating them with -sulphur, in order to deprive them of all the store they have laid up to -maintain them during the winter) has been long known, wrote to M. de -Reaumur, during the last assembly of the states, 1756, to ask for some -instructions on this subject. - -"This academician pointed out, in his answer, the methods which he had -expounded in the fifth volume _des Memoires pour servir à l'Histoire -Naturelle des Insectes_; but he recommends, more particularly, to use -the curiously shaped hives, invented by Gelieu, a gentleman of the -principality of Neuchatel. - -"Reaumur's letter, which, at first sight, seems to contain a sufficient -description of Gelieu's hive, does not clear up certain difficulties -that presented themselves in the detail, when we come to attempt their -construction from his directions; and therefore Nevel, member of the -Committee of Rennes, resolved to request a pattern hive from Reaumur -himself, which he accordingly obtained, and sent to the society. It -appears that hives of this kind would supply all that can be desired in -the management of bees; but they would cost more than one louis each--a -price infinitely beyond the reach of a labouring man, and which would -even be too great for the rich. It was necessary, therefore, to think -of profiting by the invention of Gelieu, in contriving hives so cheap -that every peasant might use them. - -"Monsieur de la Bourdonaye, who paid great attention to this subject, -kindly communicated to the Society both the letter of Reaumur, and the -plan which he himself had formed, of making hives at a small expence. -He began by using, on his own estate, those which he recommended as -an experiment to the Society. It was called an _experiment_, because, -in reality, notwithstanding the probability of success attending the -use of hives like those of which he sent the model, his modesty made -him afraid that experience might, in some shape, belie his hopes. The -Society was not long in ordering hives to be made after the model. They -have made trial of them in the different faubourgs of Rennes. The rainy -summer has prevented these trials being completed, but the commencement -has succeeded very well. - -"It is perhaps not altogether useless to give here an abridged -exposition of the accidents that might be prevented, in changing the -shape of ordinary hives, and of the means that might be employed for -that purpose. - -"It has been already said, that it is but too common to suffocate or -drown the bees, at the end of the season, for the sake of profiting -by the honey and wax. Those who manage them with more profit and -intelligence, watch the time when the hives are nearly full, to force -the bees up into an empty hive. This operation must be done in fine -weather, in order that the bees may have time to make a sufficient -provision for the winter. This practice, though the best of those in -use at present, causes considerable loss; the brood-comb is taken away -with the wax; so that the proprietor loses a swarm just coming out, as -well as the swarms that this one might have afterwards produced. It is -this loss particularly that Gelieu would prevent. - -"The hives at present on trial are, in shape, like a little round -tower, or hollow cylinder, composed of four equal pieces, placed one -above another." - -"It is a certain fact, that the cells destined for the reception of -eggs are always situated in the lower part of the hive, which is never -disturbed. According to Gelieu's plan, it is only the storey above the -hive that is taken, until after the brood-comb has furnished a swarm, -and the swarm has taken flight. - -"It seems, then, the interest of Rennes to patronize Gelieu's hives; -they guard against the inconveniences of the methods now in use; and -this has induced Bourdonaye to adopt the means of making them of straw, -in place of wood, like those of Gelieu. - -"Monsieur de la Bourdonaye's hives are a little higher priced than -those in common use; but they give nearly a quarter more room, and -are, of course, more profitable in regard to price; they are in the -proportion of five to eight. - -"We shall soon be able to determine, with certainty, the advantages -to be derived from this invention. Montluc has placed some joinings, -such as Bourdonaye has contrived, underneath his own hives, upon his -estate of Laille. Similar ones, at different places in the faubourgs of -Rennes, will furnish decided proofs of comparison. - -"The preservation, and also the increase of bees, is an object of such -interest to Brittany, that the peasants cannot be too much encouraged -to turn their attention to it. - -"The Society is well aware that it will be necessary to publish general -instructions on that head, and that the greatest merit of such a work -will be to give _only necessary_ instructions, and nothing more. It -must be made so simple and so cheap as to be within every one's reach, -and, above all, applicable only to practical use. Any thing more is -only fit for treatises wherein the authors are more occupied with -the interests of their own self love, than with those of the public. -But though much has been written on this subject, the Society is of -opinion that there are yet observations and experiments to be made -before publishing a document by which all the world might profit." - -On this long quotation, I shall merely take the liberty of remarking, -that the only inconvenience ascribed to the storied hives, invented -and made by my Father--the only objection made to them--is, that they -are too dear, "that they will cost more than a louis each; a price -infinitely beyond the reach of a labouring man." The price is high in -Brittany, where wood is very dear. On the other hand, the model which -my Father sent to Reaumur, was made with a great deal of nicety, as -a common one would not have been worth offering to that illustrious -academician who sent him in return a very handsome thermometer, -graduated by himself. My Father's hives, more simply wrought, were less -expensive. - - - - - THE - - BEE PRESERVER, - - &c. - - - - CHAPTER I. - - SITUATION OF AN APIARY. - - -The choice of a good situation is of the utmost consequence. An apiary -will not thrive in a bad situation, however well it may be cared for in -other respects. - -1. The hives must, above all things, be sheltered from the wind. It is -the first precept of Virgil[1]. For that purpose, the force of the wind -must be broken, either by houses or by lofty trees in the vicinity. -A wall, however high, or a simple hedge, is not sufficient, because -the bees that fly to the fields prefer stopping in places where the -air is tranquil, near bushes, or along hedges or dells, where they -find a much greater abundance of honey than in places exposed to gales -of wind. They fatigue themselves flying from flower to flower, and -still more returning to their dwelling, after having completed their -little ladenings: with a rapid flight they get over a great extent of -space, frequently against the wind; but, on approaching their hive, -they slacken their speed, and advance, wheeling round and round, to -recognize it. A mistake, at this time, might be fatal, and cost them -their lives; and if, at this moment, they encounter a strong current -of air, or a whirlwind, to repel them, they are again forced to wheel -round to reconnoitre their habitation. After a hard struggle, the -most vigorous arrive; the others fall, without power to rise again, -especially when the air is cold, or the sky clouded. The ground will -then be strewed with dying or dead bees, which never happens when the -hives are placed in sheltered situations. - -[Footnote 1: - - Principio sedes apibus statioque petenda, - Quo neque sit ventis aditus (nam pabula venti - Ferre domum prohibent). - - Virg. Georg. lib. iv. ] - -2_d_, The second condition of a good situation is its proximity to -a fountain; or, still better, to a little brook, where the bees may -drink[2]. Water is absolutely necessary, and enters as much as honey -into the composition of the pap with which they nourish the brood; and -the pollen or dust of flowers, which they bring home on their thighs, -is also a very essential ingredient in this pap. The vicinity of deep -waters is very hurtful to bees; and I have sometimes seen hundreds of -them drowned attempting to drink out of a cistern. - -[Footnote 2: - - "At liquidi fontes et stagna virentia musco - Adsint, et tenuis fugiens per gramina rivus." - - Georg. l. iv. ] - -If there is no small stream or fountain near them, they should be -supplied by troughs, filled with moss, and then water poured on it, -until they are as full as they can hold. The working bees come in -swarms to them in the spring, and quench their thirst without risk. - -3_d_, 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. For this reason, when people wish a swarm to settle, -after it has left the hive, they hasten to cover it; because the shade -induces them to rest, while a hot sun annoys them, and inclines them to -take flight again. When we wish to disperse a cluster of bees off the -front of a hive, we have only to expose it to the rays of the sun in -the heat of the day. The bees then retreat under the hive, on the side, -or behind it. They thrive well in thick forests, and delight in them; -because there they find a uniform temperature and a propitious shade. -How often, during the dog-days, have we not seen the honey running -down, and the combs melting, in those hives exposed to the heat of the -sun. In one hour, sometimes, a whole apiary will be destroyed. It is -also a mistake to suppose hives exposed to the sun produce the earliest -and 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. I have even lost some in such -situations, because they took flight sooner than we thought of watching -them. We need never fear to shade a hive since Virgil recommends -it[3]. If the roof does not project sufficiently to protect the hive -from the sun in the heat of the day, I would advise them to be shaded -with deals or pieces of matting. - -[Footnote 3: - - "Palmaque vestibulum aut ingens oleaster obumbret." - - Georg. iv. ] - -4_th_, The most favourable exposure is towards where the sun is from -ten o'clock till mid-day. They should never be turned to the east or -west, but, more especially to the north, where the cold and tempestuous -winds would greatly injure them. - -5_th_, Hives should not be placed high, on a first or second floor, -as I have sometimes seen them, unless they be completely sheltered; -because the wind is less powerful near the ground than in elevated -situations. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - PROPER TIME TO TRANSPORT A SWARM - TO THE SITUATION DESIGNED FOR IT. - - -Most people who have bees allow their swarms to remain till the evening -in the place where they have alighted, and do not move them to the -apiary till after sunset. This method has many inconveniences, which -have been already pointed out by a most judicious and experienced -author. As soon as a swarm has congregated in the new hive, and seems -to be at ease in it, the most industrious among the bees fly off to the -fields, but with a great many precautions. They descend the front of -the hive, and turn to every side, to examine it thoroughly; then take -flight, and make some circles in the air, in order to reconnoitre their -new abode: they do the same in returning. - -If the swarm has taken flight in the morning, the same bees make -several excursions during the day, and each time with less precaution, -as, becoming familiarized with their dwelling, they are less afraid of -mistaking it; and thus, next morning, supposing themselves in the same -place, they take wing without having observed where they have spent -the night, and surprised, at their return, not to find the hive in the -same place, they fly about all day in search of it, until they perish -with fatigue and despair. Thus, many hundreds of the most industrious -labourers are lost, and this may be entirely avoided, if the swarm -be removed as soon as the bees are perceived coming out, with the -precautions I have mentioned. This sign alone is sufficient. Sometimes -I do not even wait until all the bees clustered in front, or on the -sides of the hive, are re-united to their companions in the interior, -as they are never long in being so; and this plan has always fully -succeeded with me. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - SITUATION OF THE HIVES OUGHT - NEVER TO BE CHANGED. - - -I have seen people shift about their hives very inconsiderately, but -change of place invariably weakens them, as the bees will return to -their old residence, the environs of which are so familiar to them. A -hive should remain as fixed to the spot as the ancient oaks, in the -hollows of which they delight to establish themselves,--where they -have their young, their companions, their beloved queen, and all their -treasures. When the young bees take wing for the first time, they do it -with great precaution, turning round and round, and fluttering about -the entrance, to examine the hive well before taking flight. They -do the same in returning, so that they may be easily distinguished, -conducting themselves nearly after the same maimer as the workers of a -newly hived swarm. - -When they have made a few hundred excursions, they set off without -examining the locality, and, returning in full flight, will know their -own hive in the midst of a hundred others. But if you change its place -you perplex them, much the same as you would be if, during a short -absence, some one lifted your house and placed it a mile off. The -poor bees return loaded, and, seeking in vain for their habitation, -either fall down and perish with fatigue, or throw themselves into the -neighbouring hives, where they are speedily put to death. - -The following fact proves how much these precious insects are attached -to place, and how far they retain the recollection of it. - -During my residence at Lignieres, where I passed twenty-seven years, I -removed all my hives into the house towards the middle of November, to -guard them from the drifted snow, in which my apiary would sometimes be -buried, and I replaced them again some fine day in March. Having hives -of wood and straw, of different sizes and shapes, I arranged them with -more order and symmetry, and, with this view, I placed the first on -the opposite side of the apiary to where it formerly stood. Although -it had been shut up nearly four months, the bees returned to the same -place they had occupied the year before, which obliged me to return my -hive with all speed, and led me to conclude that they should not be -moved about, and that the bees will not be pliable to our fancies and -caprices. - -When hives are transported to a considerable distance, there is no fear -that the bees will return. But this inconvenience would be sure to take -place, and many of the working bees would perish, if they were removed -only a few hundred paces from the spot they have been accustomed -to. The hive may not perish, but it will be greatly weakened. In my -opinion, if the situation is to be changed at all, they should be -removed at least a mile and a half. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - MOST CONVENIENT SHAPE OF HIVES. - - -One of the chief objects of my researches has been, to ascertain what -shape of hive is the most profitable; and, with this view, I have -tried all the different kinds in my apiary, and I have invariably -remarked, that bees thrive better in low hives than in high ones; that, -in general, those which are broad and flat, or extended horizontally, -amass more honey, thrive better, and give out stronger and earlier -swarms, than those which are high, and of several stories, and for the -following reasons. - -A hive thrives only in proportion to the success or perfection of its -brood-comb. If the spring eggs come out well, the hive will stock, -give out swarms at the proper time, and collect a great deal of honey, -because the strength of its population will enable it to take advantage -of fine days; while a weak hive will only give out late swarms; and, -having few labourers, will gather very little honey. It is, therefore, -of great importance to assist the hive as much as possible, in the -spring especially, when it is of itself too weak to keep up the -necessary degree of heat for the hatching of the brood; and also, that -in our climate there are frequently storms of frost and snow at that -season, which are very prejudicial to it. If at that time the bees are -lodged in high and roomy hives, they will crowd together in vain to -procure the necessary degree of heat to vivify the brood-comb, which -is always deposited in the middle of the hive, and the heat ascending -is dissipated and lost in the empty space above. I have seen whole -combs full of eggs do no good, in consequence of the want of heat. This -never happens in the low, flat hives, where the heat is more easily -concentrated; here, as the young bees come to life, the heat augments, -and they assist in taking care of the others that are advancing, and -begin to spread out on all sides, and entirely to fill the hive: the -republic prospers, and increasing numbers are distinguished. - -It is, perhaps, for this reason that bees thrive well in conical or -sugar-loaf shaped hives, which are common in some countries: but they -have this disadvantage, that _capes_ cannot be so easily fitted to -them, which facilitate the collecting of the finest honey, and of which -I shall treat presently. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - HIVES OF STRAW AND WOOD. - - -It is commonly supposed that bees thrive best in straw hives, because -the straw absorbs the moisture, and the combs are less liable to mould. -For my part, I can perceive no difference. The bees are careful enough -to varnish over the interior of the straw hives with a coating of wax, -or rather _propolis_, to prevent the settlement of the moths; and, in -the old hives, this varnish is so thick that no moisture can penetrate -between the cords of the straw. Wooden hives will also absorb moisture, -to a certain extent; and experience has shewn me, that it is a matter -of indifference which are employed, except as to the price, according -as either material may be more or less abundant in different parts of -the country. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - THICKNESS OR SOLIDITY OF HIVES. - - -Whatever may be the form or material of which hives are made, -I strongly recommend not to be sparing of it, but to make them -substantial. I would recommend that the boards of the wooden ones be -an inch and a half thick; and that the straw-ropes of which the others -are composed, be well twisted, and more than an inch in diameter. -Such hives will be heavier and more unwieldy than thin hives, but -they afford a better protection from the sun in summer, and the frost -in winter. The heat of the sun is apt to melt the combs in summer: -in winter the cold sometimes candies, and renders them useless; and, -in the spring, the thin hives neither retain the heat necessary for -hatching the eggs, nor for preserving the honey in a liquid state. One -may easily be convinced of this, by laying some folds of linen on the -top of the hive, and then passing the hand between them, and there will -be a degree of warmth felt, which never happens where the hives are -thick enough. They may be a little more costly, but the expence is more -than compensated by the prosperity of the bees. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - SIZE OF THE APERTURE OR - ENTRANCE OF HIVES. - - -It is of great importance to widen or contract the entrance, according -to the season, or to the strength of the swarms; and for this purpose -it is only necessary to have a few little wedges, or bits of wood, -that may be taken out or put in at pleasure. Hives are weak in spring, -because the bees are engaged in the interior, keeping warm, and -taking care of the young, and the guard at the door is not strong -enough to prevent invaders. Contract the door, therefore, and four -bees will defend it better than thirty would do, if it were more -spacious, and enlarge it again by degrees, according to the increase -of the population. The working bees must have room enough to go out -and in without hindrance; when they begin to crowd together in groups -at the entrance, it is a sign of the interior being filled, and they -should then have free access, as they will be strong enough to resist -pillage. When the cluster becomes very large, which it will do as the -drones increase, enlarge the entrance as much as possible. It is even -advisable sometimes to open the hive a little at the top, in order -to moderate, by a current of air, the excessive heat that forces the -bees to the outside; and this is the only case in which there is any -advantage in lofty hives. After the destruction of the drones, the -population diminishes, and the bees no longer cluster outside, and then -is the time to begin, by degrees, to contract the entrance, in order to -prevent plunder. - -For this purpose, I use little wooden wedges first, because they cost -nothing, as any body may make them with a knife and a bit of stick; -and, secondly, because they help to protect them from the moths, which -make sad havoc when once they gain access to a hive. They deposit their -eggs in the interstices between the wedges and the hives, and they are -hatched by the heated vapour that is expelled by the constant vibration -of the wings of the bees. In the fine weather of April or May, I -inspect my hives twice or three times a-week, before the bees go out -in the morning, take out the wedges, and scrape and clean them with my -knife; and, in this way, I protect them from the moths. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - TO ASCERTAIN THE WEIGHT OF HIVES. - - -Many apiaries do not prosper, in consequence of the ignorance of those -who have the care of them. How many people follow blindly the way they -have been used to, without knowing wherefore; others go on by chance, -without rule or guide. At one time they ruin their hives, by depriving -them of too much of their honey; at another, they suffer whole colonies -to die of hunger, when they might save them by giving them food; -and, in autumn, they suffocate those that appear to be destitute of -provisions, because they know not how or in what manner to preserve -them. Few amateurs understand thoroughly the state and wants of their -hives, and generally estimate them by lifting them up to feel their -weight; and, as this may be the cause of numerous mistakes, some being -three or four times heavier than others, it is of the utmost importance -to know the exact weight of each hive, when empty, without either combs -or bees. For this purpose, I expressly recommend, that each hive be -weighed before putting a swarm into it, and the weight noted down in a -memorandum book, as well as on a ticket nailed on the hive, the use of -which we shall soon see. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - QUANTITY OF HONEY NECESSARY - TO MAINTAIN A HIVE. - - -The quantity varies according to the climate. In southern countries, -where there is scarcely any winter, the bees gather food till towards -the end of autumn, and the flowers offer them pasture again very early -in the spring. In these countries, therefore, they require a smaller -winter store than in colder climates. The directions I am about to -give, are only applicable to Switzerland, or to those countries which -nearly resemble it in point of temperature. Every hive ought to have -at least three pots of honey to nourish it during the winter; and, -as the pot of honey, Neuchatel measure, weighs rather more than five -pounds, of seventeen ounces to the pound, there should be fully fifteen -pounds of honey allowed to each hive. Whether the swarm be strong or -weak, large or small, is of no consequence, as the smallest swarm will -consume as much as a large one. If they have less than that allowance, -they may linger through the winter, but will be sure to die if the -spring happens to be a late one, and the weather cold and rainy. If a -hive is expected to swarm, it should be allowed a quarter more in the -autumn, that is, twenty pounds of honey: or it may be supplied after -another manner, which I shall point out. But let there be no higgling -with bees; better that they have too much than too little: more prudent -than man, they never waste or abuse their superfluity. - -In estimating the quantity of provisions that a hive contains, its -age should be considered; and it is to be taken into account, that -the black combs of old hives weigh ten times more than the white -combs of a young one. It becomes, therefore, a matter of importance -to know the weight of the empty hive, without which the quantity of -provision cannot be estimated, and to weigh it again at the end of -the honey season. When a swarm of the present year, at the end of -autumn, weighs fifteen or sixteen pounds more than its original weight, -I take nothing from it, and I give it nothing, being certain that -it can maintain itself, if not plundered. If it has twenty-five, or -even thirty pounds, neither do I touch it, as it will prosper so much -the better next year. As to old hives, they ought, at the beginning -of winter, to weigh twenty-five pounds above their original weight. -I willingly leave them thirty or thirty-six pounds. The remainder I -consider my own, and of course take it away. - -Some people will wonder at the quantity of provisions which I leave to -my hives; but it is the true means, I may say the true secret, by which -to insure swarms, for a starved one never produces. To this I have seen -only one exception. I lavished honey upon a hive in spring, when it was -crowded with bees, which were in want; this enabled it to give out a -late swarm, but it never prospered. What surplus I bestow upon them, -I consider as not lost, and that, sooner or later, it will return to -me. Besides, the consumption is prodigious during the great _hatching_ -in the months of March, April, and May. It requires an incredible -quantity to nourish the young in the state of _larvæ_ or worms. The -larvæ are involved in a kind of pap, which its nurses lavish upon it, -and which is chiefly composed of honey. If, at this time, there should -happen to be whole weeks of cold rainy weather, and high winds, which -is sometimes the case at that season, the poor bees, unable to get -to the fields, will suffer severely if they have not honey in store; -the hatching is interrupted till the return of fine weather; and the -population makes no progress: while, in well provisioned hives, it goes -on without intermission. Bees are very saving; but it is to our profit. -Let us not deal grudgingly with them. - -Nevertheless, it is not advantageous to leave them greatly too much -honey,--excessive super-abundance annoys them. In plentiful seasons, -I have seen middling sized straw-hives in which the combs were filled -with honey down to the very boards. This happens especially when the -bees have enriched themselves with plunder in the autumn; and there -are two inconveniences attending it; first, the bees have not room to -deposit their brood, which, by the time the swarms are ready to go -off, fills the hive almost entirely; secondly, the old honey candies, -and, in that state, it is of no use to the bees. When hives are to be -renewed by the cutting out of old combs, it is this kind that should, -above all, be taken away. It is always to be found in old hives; and if -it has been left several winters in the hive, it sours and contracts -a disagreeable taste. The best use that can then be made of it is to -dissolve it with more or less wine, and feed the bees with it on the -approach of the swarming season; above all, when the weather is cold -and rainy. Their activity is then increased by it. - -These succours will not be found superfluous even when the trees are -in flower. In fine weather they find honey in abundance on them; but, -should a few rainy days interrupt their labours, and throw them upon -their own resources, the progress of the hatching is stopped, and -injury is done to all. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - THE USE OF CAPES OR HOODS. - - -Well made straw-hives ought to have a hole in the top, of about an inch -or an inch and a half in diameter, which may be closed with a cork -or stopper of wood. This stopper may be drawn out when it is found -advisable to put a cape or hood on it, so as to give the bees more room -to deposit their honey. These capes are little straw-hives capable -of containing five or six pounds of honey-comb, or more, according -to the size of the hive on which they are placed. They are made very -thin and light: the cords of straw of which they are formed are very -small, being not intended to keep in the heat, but merely to serve as a -temporary magazine for the honey. - -The use of these additions will be easily understood by those who know -that it takes as long a time to hatch a bee as to hatch a chicken, viz. -three weeks. - -I have already said and repeated, that, in the swarming season, the -strong and well provisioned hives are almost entirely filled with the -brood-comb, and that scarcely any of the cells will be found empty. At -that time also, honey becomes abundant; and, when fine days succeed -each other, the working bees amass an astonishing quantity; but where -is it to be stored? Moments are precious. Must they wait until the -young bees have left the brood-cells, a week or perhaps a fortnight -longer, by which time the early flowers will be cut down or withered, -never more to display their honied cups to these little reapers? What -is to be done in this dilemma? Must the young be sacrificed, and torn -from the cells, in order to make room for the riches that nature offers -on every hand? But this destruction of its posterity would ruin the -colony. Mark, then, the resource of the industrious bees. They search -in their neighbourhood for a place where they may deposit their honey -until the young shall have left the comb in which they were hatched, -and nourished, and undergone their metamorphoses; and, if they fail -in their object, they crowd together op the front or sides of their -habitation, forming prodigious clusters. It is not uncommon to see them -build combs on the outside; many did so in the year 1791, the finest -honey year I have seen since 1753. In the year 1791, I drew from one -of my straw-hives that did not swarm, seventy-two pounds of beautiful -honey-comb, merely by emptying the capes as they were filled. All -years, however, are not like that, nor any thing approaching to it. -There are middling seasons, when the bees find little more than merely -what is requisite for their own supply. There are also bad seasons, -when almost all the swarms perish, as well as numberless old hives, -when they do not receive assistance: such, among others, were the years -1812 and 1813. In the worst years there are days and even weeks of fine -weather, when the honey is abundant; but it is of short continuance. -The bees, however, at that time, will deposit their honey into the -capes; and, towards the end of summer, or beginning of autumn, when -little or no more is to be found, they remove it into the hive, filling -the cells which the brood occupied at the time it was collected. - -If, during the summer, we deprive them of this treasure, which is only -deposited in the capes for the time, we impoverish them, unless it is -returned to them in twice the quantity. This was one cause of the ruin -and depopulation of so many apiaries during these two fatal years, and -my principal motive for taking up my pen is, to prevent, if possible, -the recurrence of such disasters, by making known to the public my -observations and discoveries. - -If the bees have room enough in the interior to dispose of their honey, -it is needless to give them capes, for they will not build in them. -These capes are commonly placed on the top of the hive, but it is -matter of indifference whether they be on the right, on the left, or -even underneath, provided there be an accessible way of communication -between them. If we wish to attach them to the bottom of the hive, we -establish a communication between the hive and the cape, by making -a hole in the board on which the hive rests, so as to afford a free -passage to the workers. I have capes of all kinds, above, below, and on -the sides, which all succeed equally well. Those placed above have an -advantage not to be despised, which is, that they prevent the combs -from moulding during the winter, an evil to which hives are liable in -those countries where they are taken into the house, to protect them -from the frost and snow. - -All those that are well stocked, produce a moisture which, having no -vent, collects in drops on the sides, and at the base of the hive, -in which the bees are kept close prisoners until the return of fine -weather. Many perish during their long captivity, and, oftener than -once, I have found large icicles in strong hives. This never happens -to those that have capes on the top: the moisture ascending evaporates -through the opening, as by a chimney; and then one has the satisfaction -of finding the combs healthy and free of mould in the spring. Care, -however, must be had to cement it all round with clay or mortar, or -some composition suited to exclude the wind, and to prevent the bees, -sometimes very impatient, from getting out during the winter. - -With this precaution, very few will be found dead in the spring; and, -in well-stocked hives, the laying of eggs begins about the end of -January or beginning of February. - -Capes may be adapted to wooden hives, or to those of any other -material, as well as to those of straw. - -Many people place capes over all their swarms the very day, or the -day after, their emigration, and I approve of this plan for early and -strong swarms. - -Capes neither prevent nor retard the issuing of swarms. I have -frequently had hives that filled them, or were in the way of doing so, -when the emigration took place, but on their numbers being diminished, -stopped the work, and returned to it again as soon as they were -reinforced, provided they did not give out a second swarm. Hives that -have capes rarely give out second swarms, and this is no loss. - -The honey obtained by the capes is very pure, beautifully white, and -very superior to what is obtained by the cutting out of combs. - -It sometimes happens, that the queen will ascend into the cape to -deposit her eggs, when she has not room in the interior; therefore, -should any brood-comb happen to be in it when it is intended to be -removed, let it be replaced until such time as the young are completely -hatched. The brood-comb is easily distinguished: the cells that -contain it have their covers darker, more raised, and much thicker, -than those that contain honey, the covers of which are white, flat, and -very thin. - -There is no fixed rule for the time of removing the capes; it must -altogether depend on the abundance of the honey. In six years, there -are usually two bad, two good, and two middling seasons. - -In bad seasons there is nothing to take away; on the contrary, some -must be given, or, properly speaking, be _lent_ to them, for the -industrious bees always repay three, four, and five fold interest on -the advances that are made them. - -In good years, the capes may be emptied three or four times; and unless -this be done the bees will build their combs on the outside. - -In middling seasons, strong and well provisioned hives fill at least -one cape, which may be taken without remorse, if they have not swarmed. -I seldom or never take any from those that have swarmed, because -they are thereby very much weakened. Good sense must here direct the -proprietor. - -The only fixed rule which can be laid down is, never to take the capes -that are not quite filled, unless the hive happens to be very large, as -there is always abundance of honey when the labourers determine to go -to work in the capes. But beware of taking half-filled capes from small -or middling sized hives: restitution will repair but a small portion of -the evil this will do them. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - HOW TO EXPEL THE BEES - FROM THE CAPES. - - -It is in the heat of the day that the honey should be taken from the -capes. A number of bees will always be found (commissioned no doubt) to -guard the treasure. - -Various methods are resorted to, to expel them without smoking. Some -carry the cape to a distance from the apiary, turn it upside down, -rest it on the ground, and cover it with a napkin, leaving on one side -a space of about a finger-length uncovered, to allow an exit to the -bees, which, escaping by this opening, return to their habitation; -and, to hasten their departure, some one knocks, from time to time, on -the outside. - -Others take a cape of the same size, place it over the full one that -is turned upside down, bind them round with a napkin, to intercept all -passage to the bees, and force them to ascend into the empty cape by -tapping gently on the full one. They soon go up into the empty cape, -calling on each other, and flapping their wings; and, when they are -all housed, replace them again on the parent hive whence they were -withdrawn; and, if the season is favourable and the honey abundant, -they soon set to work again. - -I prefer this last method, which is the speediest and easiest. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - SIZE OF HIVES. - - -Most amateurs have all their hives of an equal size. Some will have -only very large ones; others very small ones; and others there -are who prefer those of middling dimensions, into which they lodge -indifferently, early and late, weak and strong, and even double swarms, -that have re-united on leaving the parent hive; this is not very -judicious. There should be a roomy lodging for first and for strong -swarms, and even more so for double ones; and there ought to be small -hives to receive feeble and tardy swarms, as well as for second and -third ones at least, if proprietors do not reinforce them, by uniting -them, according to my plan. Middling sized hives are convenient for -ordinary swarms, which are neither the first nor the last ones. - -When two or even three swarms come off at the same time and mingle -together, as sometimes happens in large apiaries, I take care not to -separate them, but give them a hive big enough to contain them all. - -One strong population supports itself better, and is incomparably -more profitable, than feeble colonies, that must be often in need of -assistance. But there is a measure in every thing, and there should be -no excess; should four or five swarms mingle, it is proper to separate -them and lodge them in two hives of suitable dimensions; when I have -not done so, I have always, except once, had cause to regret it. Before -swarming time, it is as well to prepare hives of various sizes, just as -one would have casks ready in a cellar before the vintage, to be ready -for use. Here experience is in harmony with reason. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - MANNER OF UNITING NEW SWARMS. - - -Feeble and tardy swarms can do no good excepting in very fine seasons. -In bad seasons they greatly weaken the hives that produce them, without -being able to shift for themselves. In ordinary years, they can only -be preserved by much care, and at the expence of a great deal of -honey; and most of them die, after all, without bringing any profit to -their master. I have saved some that have turned out well, but only -at the end of two or even three years; and I advise no one to try -the experiment unless they have a great deal of honey to spare. It is -better to unite them, and proceed after the following method:-- - -When two small swarms come off the same day, I gather them separately, -and leave them at the foot of the tree or hush on which they have -alighted. Towards evening I spread a table-cloth on the ground, on -which, by a smart and sudden movement, I shake all the bees out of one -of the hives, and immediately take the other and place it gently over -the bees that are heaped together on the cloth, and they instantly -ascend into it, flapping their wings, and join those which, not having -been disturbed, are quiet in their new abode. Early next morning I -remove this newly united hive to the place it is destined to occupy. -This doubled population works with double success, and in the most -perfect harmony; and generally becomes a powerful colony, from which -a great profit is derived. Two feeble swarms may be united after the -same manner, although one of them may have come off some days later -than the other, and the first may have constructed combs; taking care, -however, not to make the first one enter the second, but the second -the first, as the bees will ascend more readily to join those that have -already begun to make honey and to hatch brood; and next day they will -proceed together, with increased ardour, with the work which the first -had already begun, and which will now advance more rapidly from the -increase of the labourers. It is to be understood, that, after this -union, the hive should be placed early next morning in the same place -where the oldest of the swarms has already passed some days. - -I have recommended the uniting of swarms to be effected in the evening, -when the bees are quietly housed for the night. If it were to be during -the day, when the labourers are in full activity, they might fight and -kill one another, to the total destruction of one of the swarms, which -I have seen happen more than once. But in the evening they are grouped -together; those that have been displaced alight upon, and take hold -of, the others, and thus merely extend the cluster, now composed of -two distinct masses, the one covering the other: their peace is never -disturbed, and next day they work together in perfect harmony. Their -fighting is always after the fashion of a duel, and not of a battle. In -their wars, they do not range themselves in close battle lines, like -men, breaking through and overturning each other; they fight bee to -bee, excepting in cases of plunder or the killing of the drones, and -then the combatant who first engages in the attack is speedily assisted -by all those within reach uniting their forces to overthrow the -enemy. But when the whole of a new swarm, suddenly displaced, ascends -precipitately into a hive, peaceably occupied by another, the bees of -each colony cannot recognize each other, and having no field to fight -after their own fashion, they pass the night together, and, doubtless, -acquiring the same smell, live happily together. But such is not the -case when we wish to make a swarm enter an old hive, or to unite it -to one whose hive is already full of honey-combs. Then another way of -proceeding, and precautions of another kind, are necessary, concerning -which I shall now give directions. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - METHODS OF UNITING TWO OR - THREE SWARMS IN AUTUMN. - - -When the swarms have not been able to lay up a sufficient provision -during the fine weather, I weigh them at the end of the season, and, -knowing the weight of each empty hive, I can tell exactly the quantity -of honey they have in store. - -If they are three, four, five or six pounds too light, I preserve them, -and feed them in the manner I am about to detail. When the swarms -have only about one-third or one-half of the quantity of honey which -would suffice to feed them, I might keep them alive by giving them -as much more as they require. I have frequently done so; but I have -already remarked, that this plan costs too much honey, and gives too -much trouble; and therefore I generally join them into one. For this -purpose, I leave the heaviest swarm untouched, and, in the morning of -a fine day in September, or beginning of October, I commence by blowing -a few whiffs of tobacco-smoke with my pipe in at the door of the hive -of the lightest swarm, to disperse the sentinels; then, turning up -the hive, and placing it on its top on the ground, I give it a little -more smoke, to prevent the bees from becoming irritated, and to force -them to retire within the combs. I proceed to cut out all the combs -in succession, beginning with the smallest, sweeping the bees with a -feather off each piece back into the hive; and then I place the combs, -one after another, into a large dish beside me, keeping it, at the -same time, carefully covered over with a napkin or small table-cloth, -to prevent the bees returning to their combs, or the smell of the -honey attracting others that may be flying about. The last comb is the -most difficult to come at, being completely covered over with bees. I -detach it, however, in the same way as the others, but with greater -precaution, sweeping the bees off very gently with the feather until -there is not one left on it. This operation I perform without gloves or -any other protection, armed only with my pipe; and, for ten times that -I treat them after this fashion, I seldom receive one sting, even when -I act unassisted. - -The combs being all removed, the swarm remains as completely destitute -of food as it was on the day of its emigration, and I replace it on its -board in the same spot it occupied when full, and leave it till the -evening, by which time the bees will be clustered together like a new -swarm. During the whole of the day, which I shall suppose to be fine, -they occupy themselves with great earnestness cleaning their house, and -making such a noise in removing the little fragments of wax that have -fallen on the board, that any one who did not know it had been emptied, -would take it for the best and strongest of the hives. Before night, -when they are all quiet, I throw a few whiffs of smoke in at the door -of the hive which I mean my deprived swarm to enter, and which should -be its next neighbour, on the right hand or the left; then, turning it -up and resting it on the ground, I sprinkle it all over with honey, -especially between the combs where I perceive the greatest number of -bees: five or six table-spoonfuls generally suffice; at other times -three or four times as many are required. If too little were given, the -new comers might not be well received; there might be some fighting; -and, by giving too much, we run the risk of drowning them. One should -cease the sprinkling when the bees begin to climb up above the combs, -and shelter themselves on the sides of the hive: this done, I replace -the hive on its board, which should jut out about seven or eight -inches, raising the hive up in front with two little bits of stick, so -as to leave a division of an inch in front between it and the board, -to give free access to the bees. I also spread a table-cloth on the -ground before it, raising and fixing one end of it on the board, by -means of the two bits of sticks that are placed as a temporary support -to the hive. I then take the hive that was deprived of its combs in -the morning, and, with one shake, throw the bees out of it upon the -table-cloth, which they instantly begin to ascend; while, by the help -of a long wooden spoon, I guide them to the door of the one that is -placed for their reception. A few spoonfuls of the bees raised and laid -down at the door of the hive, will set the example,--they enter at -once, and the others follow quickly, flapping their wings and sipping -with delight the drops of honey that come in their way, or officiously -licking and cleaning those first inhabitants that have received the -sprinkling, and with whom they mingle and live henceforth on good -terms. One division of the new comers always clusters on the front of -the hive, which they enter during the night without disturbance, much -pleased to rejoin their companions. Next morning early it is necessary -to take away the table-cloth and the bits of stick that were placed to -raise up the hive and facilitate the entrance of the bees, and for some -days the door should be left as wide as possible. The hive should also -be moved a little to the right or left, that it may stand precisely in -the centre of the place they both occupied before the union. - -I have frequently united three swarms in the same manner, and with the -same success, taking care only to empty in the morning those on each -side, and to make the bees enter the middle one in the evening, after -it has been sprinkled with honey. In this case I do not remove the one -that unites the three swarms. The reason of this we shall soon see. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - - MANNER OF UNITING - OLD HIVES IN AUTUMN. - - -When old hives are weakened by giving out too many swarms, and have not -amassed a sufficient provision for the winter, many proprietors place -them one above another, simply making an opening in the board, to serve -as a communication between them, and closing the entrance to the upper -one, with a little clay, for the purpose of making the bees go out and -in through the lower one by the only opening that is left them. Several -authors advise it; I have done it also, but shall do so no more, having -found it attended by two serious inconveniences. - -The first is, that the two colonies do not always agree; indeed they -fight sometimes to extremity, and thus the one is destroyed and the -other is weakened. The reason is, that the bees of the upper hive, -descending one by one, or only few at a time, are examined at leisure -by those in the lower one, and, not having the same signal, are -mistaken for robbers, and killed without mercy. This occurred to me the -first time I attempted to unite them in this way; but it never happens -in the tumultuous union of two swarms, when the one has been sprinkled -and almost glued with honey, in consequence of which it is not in a fit -state to commence an attack on those that are hastily displaced. - -A second inconvenience is, that, even supposing there should be no -warfare, the habitation is much too large for those that are henceforth -intended to be but one family. Whether they unite in the upper or the -under hive, one of them must be left empty, into which thieves can -find easier access; and although they should not be plundered, they -would suffer from the cold of a severe winter. The population, indeed, -is doubled, but so is the size of the lodging, and in that case there -will be no swarms. Very large hives seldom swarm, it requires so much -more time to fill them. My method has not these disadvantages, for two -families living together in the same hive are warmer, and better able -to resist any hostile attack. - -It is to avoid these two inconveniences that, in autumn, I empty an old -hive which has not sufficient provision, and, in the evening of the -same day, I introduce the bees into one of its neighbours on the right -hand or on the left, proceeding in the same manner as with the swarms; -with this single difference, that the sprinkling of honey should be -more liberal to the old hive than to the swarm. - -If the hive of which I have doubled the population is well enough -furnished with provision for the winter, I give it nothing. And if -there is not enough, I give it before winter as much as it requires, in -the manner hereafter to be detailed. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - NEIGHBOURING HIVES - SHOULD BE UNITED. - - -I HAVE already said, in Chapter III. that bees which have not swarmed -voluntarily return to the place they have been accustomed to, even -after having been shut up for months: the same thing would happen if -you united swarms distant from each other. Next day, or the day after, -you would have the mortification to see the bees return by hundreds to -their old residence, flutter about for a length of time, and lose their -lives, either by falling down from fatigue, or throwing themselves -into the neighbouring hives, where they are put to death. Not having -left their new dwelling with the same precaution that a swarm uses to -reconnoitre the one it has chosen, or that has been given to it, and, -supposing themselves at home, in spite of the disorder of the night -before, they rush out on a rapid flight, and, returning from their -excursion, go back to the place of their ancient domicil; and thus the -purpose of fortifying your hives, and of preserving them, by uniting -them, is defeated. I have frequently tried to unite distant hives, and -always met with this result. - -There is only one remedy for this that I know of, but it is an -imperfect one, and gives a great deal of trouble. It is, to put in some -combs of wax into the hive that has been emptied, and replace it in -its old situation. The bees return to it in great numbers the following -day, and some days after; at length, after a great deal of bustle, -they settle towards evening on the combs, and, before night, when they -are quite tranquil, I take the combs one after another, and, with a -feather, sweep off the bees, so as to make them fall upon the board of -the one that contains their companions, and which they now enter with -evident marks of joy. This operation may require to be repeated for -seven or eight days, with this difference, that every succeeding day -fewer will return. Thus the evil may be repaired, though incompletely -and with infinite trouble. - -It is to avoid the perplexity which displacing them occasions to these -precious insects, and also the loss that results to myself, that I move -the united hive a little to one side, so that it may occupy the space -that was before between them. As displacing them only a few inches -does not confuse them, for the same reason, when I join three hives, -as I often do, I never displace the middle one, but remove those I -have emptied on the right hand and on the left, which is sufficient -to prevent mistakes, and the bees, finding no hive on either side, -enter the middle one without hesitation. It is a very essential point, -however, to join only neighbouring hives, as being less troublesome and -more successful. - -It would be a good plan to mingle in the apiary strong and weak hives -alternately, and to place small and late swarms near each other, in -order to unite two and two, or three and three, in autumn, if they have -not enough of provision laid up for their winter subsistence. - -When a deprived swarm happens not to be near another in the same state, -there is nothing to hinder it being united to any old well provisioned -hive that may be near it, as it will thrive all the better for such -an addition to its population. I have done so oftener than once, and -always with success. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - HOW TO FEED UNITED SWARMS. - - -There is always honey in hives that are emptied to be united. If there -are six pounds more or less, I lay aside the combs that are full, after -having separated those that are but half filled, and of which the cells -are not hermetically sealed by the little thin chip of transparent -white wax which invariably covers those cells that are full of honey. -Twelve or fourteen days after the union, when the cold forces the bees -to congregate themselves in their hives, I give the hive that contains -the double population a few puffs of tobacco-smoke; then, turning it -upside down, I cut away the empty combs, that are always below and on -the sides of the hive. While performing this operation, it is necessary -to give them an occasional whiff of smoke to keep them quiet. I only -take out the one-half of those that are half filled with honey, and -cease as soon as I find the comb quite full. When there is room enough -to contain the fragments of honey-comb that I mean to put in, I place -them as nicely as I can, without breaking or bruising them, filling -the empty space, without leaving any division but the little intervals -between the combs, to allow a free passage to the bees. This done, I -lay a board over it, and, with the aid of another person, we return it -gently to its former position, and, shaking it as little as possible, -replace it in its proper situation. - -This operation may be done in the morning or in the evening, but never -in the heat of the day. I prefer the evening, in order not to attract -thieves. - -The diligent bees soon discover the change that has taken place; and -finding bits of honey-comb heaped up in all directions, they set about -giving them solidity, soldering them together before the following -night, in such a manner, that all these fragments soon form one mass, -intersected only by little alleys of communication. Thus it remains -during the whole of the winter; and, in the month of March or April, -according to the temperature of the weather, I take out this irregular -mass, which I find entirely emptied; the bees having lived upon it, and -spared the provisions which they had stored in the middle of the hive. - -I have supposed that the hive whose population I have doubled has also -received the addition of six pounds of honey-comb, given in the way I -have just described. These constitute, as it were, the dowry of the -new comers, who are themselves at the whole expence, as it was they -who constructed and filled the combs of which I took possession. The -doubled hive having then sufficient food to subsist on till spring, -I trouble it no more, certain, from past experience, that I shall -then find it in good condition. Every one of these swarms would have -perished from want, had they lived separately; and, by joining, I give -them the means of subsistence, without costing myself any thing. If the -supposed six pounds do not suffice to support them, I lend them more; I -say _lend_, for the bees always return with interest whatever advances -are made to them. - -I proceed exactly after the same manner when I unite two old hives -that have not been able to lay up a sufficient provision, remembering -always, as already mentioned, that old dark-coloured combs, being -much heavier than white ones, contain also less honey, and that, -consequently, it requires a greater number of pounds to make up a pot -of this nectar. The difference is so great, that six pounds of white -comb will produce more than a pot of honey, whereas the same quantity -can scarcely be extracted from eight, or even ten, pounds of black comb. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - QUANTITY OF FOOD REQUISITE - FOR UNITED HIVES. - - -I have said, in Chapter IX. that each hive must have three pots, or -fifteen pounds of honey, to sustain it during the winter, and until -the bees can find food for themselves again in the spring. For this -reason, I have advised the empty hives to be weighed, before the swarm -is admitted into it, and again in the autumn, when the honey season -is over, in order that we may be assured that there is food enough to -maintain them during the winter. - -In doubling the population, I naturally expected that we must also -double the quantity of food, for I had always seen that two or -three families, living together, used more meat than each would -have done singly, however rigid their economy. The more mouths the -more meat, thought I; and, in consequence, I augmented greatly the -amount of provision the first time I doubled a hive; but, to my great -astonishment, when I weighed it again in the spring, I found that the -united swarm had not consumed more than each would have done singly. I -could not believe my eyes, but thought there must be some mistake, nor -could I be convinced, until I had repeated the experiment a hundred -times over, and had always the same result. - -I have made a point, in every instance, to mention the reasons of my -advice and proceedings; here, however, I humbly confess my inability -to do so, nor can I conceive how an army of thirty thousand troops -could be served with the same rations allowed for an army of only ten -thousand, supposing the soldiers of both to have an equal appetite, and -to have each wherewith to satisfy it. But the fact exists in regard to -the bees; any one may have it in his power to convince himself of it; -the cause is to me unknown, and must be left to wiser heads than mine -to explain. Does the increase of heat supply, to a certain extent, the -place of nourishment? Does the greater and more uniform heat, in a -well-stocked hive, make the food more nourishing? - -These are questions which I propose to naturalists, but which I cannot -answer. - -After this discovery, as important as it seems to be inexplicable, I -varied my experiments, not only to convince myself of the fact, but, -if possible, to arrive at more extended results. I joined three hives -in the autumn, by introducing into the middle one, the bees of two -neighbouring hives; and I found, on weighing it in the spring, that its -inhabitants had scarcely used one pound more than those of hives that -had not been united. I went farther: Having a large well-stocked and -amply provided hive, I added to it, in the autumn, without displacing -it, the swarms of four neighbouring hives, two on the right hand and -two on the left, that were so scarce of provisions that the quantity -of honey that would have been necessary to have kept them alive, would -have far exceeded their value, and that all the four would, to a -certainty? have perished. This enormous population produced a heat so -great, that, during the whole of a very severe winter, the bees kept -up a buzzing noise equal to that of a strong and active hive in the -evening of a fine day in spring. The steam expelled by the vibration of -their wings, collected in drops at the door, and formed icicles round -the entrance of the hive during severe frost. The hive was left out all -the winter, and would infallibly have perished had I shut it up; and -what was my astonishment, on weighing it in the spring, to find that, -notwithstanding that it contained five pounds, the total diminution -did not exceed three pounds more than took place in my ordinary hives. -It gave out excellent swarms, long before any of the others, and -recompensed me well for my pains. I have not repeated the experiment to -the same extent, but have limited myself to the union of two, or at -most three deprived hives, and have been very well paid. - -What, in these circumstances, becomes of the supernumerary queens, -since their hatred to one another is so great that there can be but -one in each colony? I give myself no trouble to answer the question, -more curious than useful; the aim of my experiments being only to give -practical rules. - -I have often been astonished that so important a discovery should not -have been made sooner by some of the superior minds that have taken -an interest in this branch of rural economy; and that, in the course -of their researches, not one of them should have thought of uniting -two or three weak swarms, before winter, to compare them with single -swarms, in order to ascertain how much honey was necessary, according -to both plans, till the end of the winter season. Doubtless they had -believed, as I formerly did, that the more numerous the family the -more provisions would they require, and that little would thus be -gained by uniting them. I should have regretted quitting the world -before publishing this discovery; and it had nearly perished with me; -for, continued and indispensable occupations, as well as a dangerous -illness, prevented me setting about giving it to the public, till now -that I am far advanced in life. - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - BENEFITS RESULTING FROM - THE UNION OF WEAK HIVES. - - -The advantages of uniting weak hives are very considerable. I need only -mention three. 1. The bees are saved; 2. They are saved without trouble -or expence; 3. All the hives are strong. - -The first of these advantages is the preservation of the bees. In -every country, swarms are destroyed that have not been able to gather -a sufficient store of provision. Those found to be too light are -unmercifully condemned to be suffocated; and what little honey they -have collected, is considered as pure gain, because the bees would -have perished from want, after having consumed the scanty fruits of -their own industry; and, by putting them to death a little sooner, -something at least may be made of them. Thus people reason, and thus -the murderous practice is so generally adopted. The same plan is -followed in regard to old hives that are exhausted by giving out too -many swarms; and in short, to all those that have not abundance of -provision laid up; and the very heavy ones, on the other hand, have -their bees slain to get possession of the honey. What a frightful -proscription is this! What blanks occur in the apiaries, especially in -bad years, such as 1812 and 1813! And how injurious to our own interest -is this indiscriminate destruction of weak and healthy, of rich and -poor! There is no mercy shewn but to them that have just enough to -keep them alive; and not even one of them would be spared, were they -not indispensably necessary to repeople the apiaries by new swarms. -According to my method, all these evils are prevented. All the hives -may be robbed of their treasures; but the lives of the bees are spared. - -A second and very considerable advantage is the saving of honey. I -have already said, that there must be at least three pots or fifteen -pounds of honey to maintain one hive, whether it be strong or weak. If -three swarms, then, have only that quantity among them, each has but -a third of the provision that it requires; and, to keep them alive, -you must sacrifice six pots of honey, that is, two-thirds of the whole -provision, or two pots for each. It is to avoid this great expence, -which would equal if not exceed the value of the swarms, that most -people have recourse to the prompt measure of suffocation. But, by -uniting the swarms, all the working bees may be saved, without any -expence, and without any waste of honey but the small quantity employed -to sprinkle the combs of the hive, into which you make them enter. The -honey-combs found in those which you empty, are sufficient to feed -the three united swarms, by giving it to them after the manner I have -directed at page 33. The wax is all your own. It costs only a little -care and a little trouble, which will be amply repaid by the benefit -insured. And will it be accounted a slight pleasure to witness the -prosperity of the bees we have saved? - -A third advantage, which appears to me one of great value, is, that -all the hives which we possess are strong hives (meaning by the term -strong, such hives as are well stocked with bees). Weak hives decline -and yield nothing; have frequent need of assistance; are exposed to -pillage; give out no swarms; and produce scarcely heat sufficient to -hatch a little brood in a corner of their dwelling, which never comes -to good. How often have I seen the brood come to an untimely end. In -vain the bees will crowd together, to procure the necessary degree of -heat, when there is much empty space in the hive. A number of weak -hives may do well enough to make a shew in the apiary, but will be no -profit to the proprietor. It costs a good deal to feed them, if one -would keep them alive; and there is very little to be gained by putting -them to death. Not so with the united hives; they were all vigorous; in -condition to defy the rigour of the seasons; to repel their enemies; -and to gather a great quantity of honey. The population augments -rapidly, and they give out early swarms; or if some of them do not -produce swarms, they furnish so much the more wax and honey, and will -collect more in one day than weak hives will do in a whole week; in -short, there is no comparison between them. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - - TIME AND MANNER OF - RENEWING OLD HIVES. - - -It is a common prejudice, that hives cannot be profitably preserved -beyond three, four, or six years at most, and that, beyond that -term, they become weak, give out no more swarms, and finish by being -pillaged, or becoming the prey of moths, which, if suffered to -establish themselves, soon make horrible devastation among them. A -great many experiments, however, have fully convinced me that such -is not the case, and that the duration of the hives may be greatly -prolonged by renewing them. - -I have several from twelve to twenty years old, that are as -prosperous, and swarm as well, as the young ones. I have even one of -June 1789, consequently now in its twenty-fifth year, and it gave off -an excellent swarm on the 4th of June 1811, the same in 1813, then aged -twenty-four years, and again another this year 1814. Besides these -numerous swarms, I have taken from it 142 pounds of honey-comb, either -by pruning, or by means of capes. I have never united it with other -bees, because its neighbours had always enough to subsist on, and I -have renewed it only once. - -The decay of old hives proceeds from three causes. The first is the -candying of the old honey, of which the bees have sometimes an ample -store, but which, from inability to eat it, becomes in that state very -troublesome, in place of being of use to them. When forced by hunger to -have recourse to it, they draw it out of the cells, and throw it down -on the board that serves as a floor to their habitation, in order to -profit by any of the sweet drops that happen to be in a liquid state. -In nibbling and scraping to empty the cells, it happens that many -of them become so daubed, that, being unable to get away from it, -they fall down, and soon perish, if the weather is cold. Thus the old -honey is lost as much to the proprietors as to the labourers that have -gathered it. Supposing, again, that they do not touch it, the place -it occupies is lost either for the purpose of depositing new honey or -brood, and hence the weak state the hives fall into, if not renewed. - -A second cause of their decay is owing to the great quantity of the -pollen or dust of flowers that the bees gather and carry home on their -legs, especially in the spring and autumn, when large portions of the -combs will be found filled with it on both sides. It is an essential -ingredient in the pap with which they nourish the young brood, but good -for nothing else. Different authors have named it _bee-bread_; but -the bees never eat it: indeed it is a well attested fact, that they -will die of hunger on the combs that are filled with it. As it is very -heavy, it sometimes cheats those people who estimate the provision of a -hive by its weight. This is one of the reasons why I have recommended, -in Chap. IX. to allow eight or ten pounds more to old hives than to new -swarms. - -The bee-bread being generally, when present, deposited in the centre -of the combs, where the brood thrives best, of course the place which -it takes up is so much lost. It is liable to mould in winter, and the -working bees have a great deal of trouble in tearing it from the cells, -and putting it out of their way. It spoils the honey, takes away its -whiteness, and gives it an unpleasant taste; it destroys the wax even -more, and forms that brown scum under the cakes, when great care is -not taken to separate it. Nevertheless, bees lay up useless hoards of -it, which they go on augmenting every year: and this is the only point -on which they can be accused of a want of that prudence and foresight -so admirable in every other respect. By renovating the hives, one -frees them of this superfluous substance, and the space it occupied is -directly replaced by beautiful white combs, and the whole hive becomes -as good as new. - -A third cause of the weakness of an old hive is the blackness of the -combs in the centre and front of the hive. These old combs are mostly -pierced with holes large enough to hold two or three fingers, or even -a whole hand. They are not openings which the bees have cut out for -themselves, to pass from one comb to another; but are the result of -some violent measure to which they have had recourse, for the purpose -of defending themselves from the moths, one of which, establishing -itself in a comb, will soon destroy the whole hive, if they do not -speedily rid themselves of it. The young moth is not so easily got the -better of, being cased in a sort of strong silk, by means of which it -forms galleries, and slides from side to side of the hive; and the -bees are unable either to get within reach of the enemy, or to rend -this silken covering that defends it; but, perceiving their danger, -they join together in forming a plan of attack for their deliverance, -by gnawing the comb in which the moth is established, as far as the -galleries extend; throw down the piece, and finish by reducing it to -crumbs, and never rest until they kill the foe. They require to be in -great force for this operation. Weak hives need not attempt it; indeed -they generally finish by becoming the prey of the moths. - -It is singular that bees, which know so well how to build combs, should -not be able to repair them. I have found as many as six of these holes -in one comb. Are they left standing thus, like so many monuments of -victories gained over a formidable enemy,--the most formidable and the -most difficult to conquer? All useless combs should be taken away, as -they tend to weaken the hive, and they will soon be replaced by entire -and healthy ones. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - THE SIGNS BY WHICH TO ASCERTAIN - WHETHER A HIVE REQUIRES TO BE RENEWED. - - -As long as a hive produces honey and swarms, it is needless to touch -it; but, when it ceases to be productive,--when, during several months, -the bees form clusters, without swarming, I then think it necessary to -renew, or, properly speaking, to prune it; the directions for which -will be best understood by my simply relating how I managed my two -first experiments. - -The first time I performed this operation was on a pretty large-sized -straw-hive, which, for ten years, was very productive. One year alone, -it yielded me seventy-two pounds of very fine honey-comb in the capes, -mentioned in Chapter X. The eleventh and twelfth years it made me no -return, though it was heavy and very populous. About the beginning of -the thirteenth year, I gave it a little tobacco-smoke, with my pipe, -and proceeded to prune the combs away with my knife, until I came to -brood. There remained only four in front, in which the bees always -begin to lay their eggs in the spring. They were very black, and -contained little honey, but I saved them, that the population might -not be destroyed. The honey that I took out was hard and candied, -but I melted it with a little wine; and, filling some bits of empty -combs with it, gave them a part of it two or three times a-week, being -careful to place them in the hive in the evening, and take them out -again in the morning, for fear of attracting thieves. - -I thus fed the bees with their own store; the combs were always empty -in the morning. By the month of April, they began to build in the -space I had left. By the middle of May, they had completely filled it -with beautiful white combs, like those of a new swarm; and the same -year, on the 9th of June, it gave me, contrary to my expectation, an -excellent swarm. Next year, by the end of March, I took away the four -black combs that I had left, and in which was no brood. The brood was -by this time deposited in the middle combs; thus my hive was completely -renewed. - -Encouraged by this success, I performed the same operation next spring, -on a common sized hive, which, during eleven years, had annually -yielded me honey or swarms: one year I took from it forty pounds -of beautiful honey-comb; but, for two years, it had been languid -and unproductive. On the 4th of March, I pruned away all the combs, -excepting two in front, containing brood; and I nourished the bees, by -giving them a little of the liquid honey every evening, upon a bit of -comb, until they could get out to gather food for themselves. - -In the month of May, all the combs that I had cut out were replaced -with the most beautiful new ones. This hive, which was weaker than the -other, gave out no swarm the same year, but it filled a cape with some -pounds of honey-comb, which I took possession of. - -The following year, on the 4th of March, I cut away the two black combs -that were left in front, and thus this hive was also entirely renewed; -after which it produced me four swarms, and nearly forty pounds of -honey-combs in the capes: this I consider a clear profit, there not -being the smallest doubt that the hive would have perished, had it not -been renewed. - -These two examples may suffice to shew the advantage to be derived from -the renewing of old hives. What would mine have yielded had I resorted -to the common method of suffocating the bees? A little indifferent -honey; for that of candied combs is very inferior to that of new ones. -As to the wax, I should have had no more, since I took away all that -the hives contained, and the exchange gave me good strong colonies, -which are more valuable than the best swarms. - -The advantage of my plan will be better understood, if we shall -suppose two neighbouring apiaries, equally good, and in all respects -equally well taken care of. Suppose one of them shall be managed in -the ordinary way, and that, every year, the owners shall suffocate the -heaviest swarms for the sake of the honey, and that they also destroy -the old hives that have too little provision for the winter. Let the -other apiary be managed according to the principles I have detailed, -that not one bee shall be put to death, and that, in the autumn, the -swarms that are too light, as well as the old hives that are scarce of -food, shall be united, and that the latter shall be renewed when they -cease to prosper. - -At the end of fifteen years, compare these two apiaries, and see -which has the strongest hives, the greatest number, and in the best -condition. It would be surprising indeed, if they preserved their -original equality. - -Will these operations be objected to, on account of the difficulties -attending the performance of them? Will it be said that every one has -not the courage to run the risk of being stung, or the dexterity to set -about handling the bees? - -In all countries there are people to be found who are accustomed to -gather swarms, and to put joinings on hives. Let them be employed, and -directed in every part of the work that the proprietors do not like -to perform themselves. This practice is common in Lusatia, a country -celebrated in the history of bees, by the very useful discoveries of -M. Shirach, and where they make annually, according to his principles, -a great quantity of artificial swarms. The country people, of whom the -greater number understand nothing of these complex operations, which -take more time, and are much more difficult than the union of swarms, -or the renewing of hives, employ people who are bred to the business, -and who, in the proper season, go from village to village, making -swarms, and are paid for their trouble. - -From the result of my experiments, it is evident that the duration -of hives is indefinite; and here a multitude of questions present -themselves. How long does a queen live? Would she live twenty years and -more? Is the term of her existence prolonged beyond that of the working -bees? I cannot answer; but I have reason to think that bees live only -one year, and that those which have lived over the winter, and have -assisted at the work during the spring and summer, and which do not -perish by accident, die of age in the month of August. By that time, -they seem to become paralytic; and, unable to fly, they fall down in -the neighbourhood of the hives, and creep about until they expire from -fatigue and exhaustion. - -One then sees many of them, with their wings fringed, which is a sign -of decrepitude, similar to the wrinkles of an old person; while the -young-bees may be discerned by their grey ashy colour, which becomes -darker, approaching to black, as they get older. I do not believe that -the queen (on whose existence depends that of the colony), lives ten, -fifteen, or twenty times longer than the working bees. But they have -the means of filling her place when she comes to die. M. Shirach has -completely demonstrated, by very varied and multiplied experiments, -that they require only for that purpose a common bee-worm that has been -hatched within two or three days, and that this worm becomes a queen, -and a fruitful queen, in less than a fortnight, by means of a thicker, -more roomy, and differently formed cell, which they construct expressly -for her, and by a different sort of pap with which she is nourished. I -have repeated the experiment oftener than once. - -Forty days after I had put a bit of brood-comb into a wired box, after -the manner of M. Shirach, I saw young bees come out; and the young -queen I had made be hatched, was the mother of my artificial swarm. It -is therefore probable that a hive, from twenty to twenty-five years -old, has not always the same queen, but that the queen has, from time -to time, been replaced. Moreover, every time that a swarm comes off, it -is the old queen that emigrates with it. - -The sudden decline of a hive that has lost its queen, and which never -long survives the loss, when it has not young brood to create another, -proves that bees live but one year, as the depopulation would be less -rapid if the lives of the individuals extended beyond that term. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - ARTIFICIAL SWARMS AND DIFFERENT - METHODS OF FORMING THEM. - - -One often sees well-stocked hives that do not swarm, and which, during -the whole of the summer, form large clusters, until the cold of the -autumnal evenings forces the idlers to re-enter their hives; and it -were vain to disturb them, to smoke them, or torment them, in the hope -of forcing them to swarm. Some people have thought they might attain -their object by dividing them in two; but they did not succeed. There -are, however, two ways of obtaining artificial swarms; and the one -which the celebrated Shirach practised successfully in Alsatia, and -which was followed with the same results in the north of Germany, -requires a long course of difficult and complex operations. I shall, -however, proceed to give my readers some idea of it. - -In spring, a little box is prepared, about six inches square, with an -opening in the top, about three inches square, and another the same -size in front. Each of these openings is covered with a wire-grating, -close enough to prevent any bee getting through. This box rests on -a stand provided with twelve wooden pins, four or five inches long, -placed perpendicularly, in two rows, at the distance of three inches -from each other. These pins should be so far separate as that five -pieces of honey-comb, each about as big as a person's hand, may be -placed between them. - -Between the farthest of the pins, on the right and left hand, are put -three bits of empty combs, the same height as the pins: a piece of very -fine honey-comb, not candied, occupies the fourth place; and the fifth, -which is the centre, remains empty. It is to be understood that the -pins supporting the combs on both sides, keep them in a perpendicular -situation, and prevent them touching each other, and that the spaces -left between the combs is much about the same as those in the hive to -allow free passage to the bees. Neither the honey-comb nor the empty -combs ought to touch the board, in case of the moths taking possession -of them; they are rather made to rest on two little bits of wood, -raised a little above the board, and crossed by the pins. - -Above the combs and the pins, a large piece of comb is placed -horizontally, and covering the whole, to keep in the heat while the -hatching goes on. - -After all these preliminaries, a fine day is chosen, about the end of -April or beginning of May, according to the climate, and according as -the season is more or less advanced; and, in the heat of the day, a -little before noon, a strong hive, while in full activity, is lifted -up, its top rested on the ground, and the bees driven off the combs -with a little tobacco smoke, in order that the proper pieces may be -seen and chosen. - -A piece of comb, about the size of a hand, is then cut out, containing -all the three kinds of brood, that is, eggs, nymphs, but principally -the little maggots, just two or three days out of the shell. The hive -is then replaced on its stand, and the little bit of comb that was -taken out of it is put into the box, to occupy the empty space that was -left in the centre, between the pins, and about a thousand or fifteen -hundred bees, taken from a cluster in some other manner, are then -introduced, and the box closed, to prevent them getting out. - -Their extreme agitation, approaching to despair, produces a heat so -great that they would be suffocated, but for the wire-gratings above -and in front. Towards night, when they become tranquil, nothing more -is heard but a soft murmuring, and they begin to construct one of -the great cells, that has its opening underneath, and in which they -nurse and rear queens. Before the cell is completed, they carry into -it a little maggot, out of the egg within two days; which being then -suitably nourished, becomes a perfect queen in less than a fortnight. - -For three days the box should be kept shut, and the light carefully -excluded, for it would only serve to increase the agitation of the -prisoners; and the upper wire-grating, being of no farther use, may -be plastered over with a little clay. The fourth day the box may be -carried to the apiary, and the bees set at liberty, by opening a part -of the wire-grating in front. - -Having now got a new establishment, with the certainty of soon having a -queen, they think no more of returning to the hives whence they were -taken, but come and go, cleaning their little dwelling, and working -like a weak swarm. - -While they are thus occupied, a little cage should be prepared, in -which to shut up the queen when her metamorphoses shall be completed. - -This cage is of a semicircular form, and in size resembling the half of -a large orange; it is made of wood, scooped out, and has a wire-grating -on the front of it, so fine that no bee can get out or in: a hole is -made in the lower part of it, large enough to permit a bee to pass -through, and a wooden pin, from six to eight inches long, of the size -of the hole, is prepared to shut it up with. - -These preparations being completed, the box is opened fourteen or -fifteen days after the bees have been put in, but it must be one of -these fine spring days when the bees are busy at work: should the -weather be cold or wet, the opening of the box must be delayed. The -combs are then all taken out, and the queen will be easily discovered. -She is much longer in the body, and altogether larger, than the other -bees, as may be observed from the following figures, where Fig. 1. -represents the Queen; Fig. 2. the Drone; and Fig. 3. the Working Bee -[4]. - -[Footnote 4: To those not much acquainted with bees, the following -particulars may be useful.] - -[Illustration: Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3] - - Fig. 1. The _Queen Bee_: the head is of a triangular shape; her - wings very short, not extending beyond the one-half of her body, - which is longer, and more pointed, than that of the working bees. - Her legs and corselet are copper coloured; thorax grey, and - abdomen brown. There is only one queen to a hive; while there are - from 10,000 to 15,000 workers, and perhaps 1000 or 1200 drones. - - Fig. 2. The _Drone_, or Male Bee; the head is round, its large body - is almost entirely covered by its wings. It has no sting. The - drones appear only at the season of swarming, and are all put to - death by the workers in the autumn. - - Fig. 3. The _Working Bee_. Head somewhat triangular; the smallest - and most numerous of the hive, which every one knows as the - _honey-bee_, and which fabricates the combs, makes the honey, and - feeds the young. - -The queen must be seized by the wings and introduced, head -foremost, through the hole into the cage, along with a dozen bees to -bear her company, and then the hole through which they have passed is -stopped up with the wooden pin. This being completed, an empty hive -must be prepared, similar, in every respect, to the one out of which -artificially the swarm is to be taken. A hole, parallel to that in the -cage, is pierced in the bench on which it is to stand, and the end -of the wooden pin fixed into it, so that the cage may be suspended, -perpendicularly, about two-thirds the height of the hive. Between -eleven and twelve of the same day, while the bees are mostly on the -wing, a strong person takes one of the old hives, that is not likely to -swarm, lifts it steadily, and rests it for a few seconds on a table, at -hand for the purpose, while its place is instantly filled by the one -containing the young queen and her cage. Any bees that may be grouped -about the board are lifted up with a wooden spoon, and laid down at the -door of the new hive; these ascend immediately; and all the working -bees, returning in crowds from the fields, enter without hesitation; -when, finding neither combs, nor honey, nor any provision whatever, -they go out and return several times, and fly round and round it; while -the inhabitants of the old hive, having no suspicion of their place -being changed, leave it without precaution, return to the situation of -their ancient dwelling, and increase the swarm that is forming. - -Wearied at length of their researches, and finding in this new -establishment a great number of their companions, with an imprisoned -queen, they unite themselves together at the top of the hive, begin, -even the same evening, to build combs; and thus is obtained an -excellent artificial swarm. Next day, and some days after, many bees -continue to join them from the old hive, which delays not to repeople -itself from the brood-comb with which it is filled, as it is not more -weakened than if it had swarmed naturally. The second day after this -operation the new hive must be lifted up, the cage taken out, and the -queen set at liberty, which is easily done, by drawing out two or three -of the wires that form the grating. It would not be possible to make -her descend by the hole through which she entered, and, by delaying -too long to take her out, she would be completely surrounded by combs, -that must be broken before she could be released. The precaution of -keeping the queen in prison for two days is indispensable; for without -this precaution she would be put to death as a stranger, or she might -escape from the hive during the first tumult, which would cause the -total failure of the swarm. But after being shut up in it for a little -time, she is looked upon as the hope of the new colony, and sure of a -favourable reception. - -To succeed in this operation, there must be, at least, six inches -between each hive: should they touch each other, many of the working -bees would infallibly lose their lives, by throwing themselves into -some of the neighbouring ones. - -Such is the result of these tedious and difficult operations to obtain -artificial swarms by the method of M. Shirach, at this time generally -pursued in Germany. There is another, easier and less tedious, said to -be in usage in the Archipelago, in Ancient Greece, and several other -countries, which I have followed with great success. - -Choose a hive of wood or straw, exactly the same in form and size of -the one from which you mean to take the swarm. On a fine day in May, -or, in mountainous countries, which are later, about the beginning of -June, throw a few whiffs of tobacco-smoke into a well-stocked hive, -turn it up, and, with a little more smoke, disperse the bees that are -upon the combs; then cut out a bit of comb, about the size of the -palm of a hand, taking care that there be the three kinds of brood, -viz. eggs, maggots, and nymphs, already enclosed in the cells that -serve them for cradles, but especially those maggots that have been -hatched within two days; after returning this hive to its place, then -proceed to fix the bit of comb with some wooden pins, in the top of -the newly prepared one, and support it underneath with a thin chip of -wood. Between eleven and twelve in the forenoon, lift a very populous -hive (not the one out of which the brood-comb was taken), off its own -board to another that must be ready to receive it, and put the empty -one in the place it occupied. All the bees, returning from the fields, -enter the one that has been substituted, seem at first to be greatly -agitated, but, by degrees, gather round the brood-comb, and begin -before night to construct a royal cell, to which they transport a -maggot of two days old, and where it undergoes its metamorphosis, and -comes out a queen. By this method, I have procured excellent swarms -from hives that would not have swarmed naturally; and, the following -spring, renewed the old hives, after the manner indicated in Chapter -XXI, thus preserving my hives in good condition. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - ADVANTAGES OF ISOLATED HIVES. - - -A swarm, taking flight, rushes out of the hive, and seems bent -on fixing itself in some distant quarter, as if it feared the -neighbourhood of other swarms--as if it felt that its most formidable -enemies were those of its own kind. - -Swarms will unite, however, when they take flight at the same time, -because the bees of one hive cannot be distinguished from those of -another when on the wing, and crossing each other in every direction; -and as soon as one group begins to knot upon a branch, the bees of -the other crowd round, supposing them to be their companions. Their -instinct, however, rather leads them to isolate themselves, as they do -in great forests; but their proprietors resist this instinct, assemble -a great many hives together in the same apiary, to shelter them from -the weather, as well as to protect them from thieves, and to watch over -them at the time of their emigration. - -Such are, doubtless, great advantages, but not sufficient to -counterbalance those that would result from keeping them separate. The -mixing and uniting together of several swarms, that often take place -in large apiaries, and which is not always an advantage, would thereby -be prevented. There would be greater facility in forming artificial -swarms, and one hive would not be disturbed in operating on another. -The great expence of bee-houses would thus be spared; these are much -more costly than stands for isolated hives, for which there is nothing -more necessary than a board, supported by a pile of wood, sunk into -the ground, with a thatch of straw, which any one can spread over the -tops of the hives, to protect them from the rain and the heat of the -sun. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - - ENEMIES OF BEES, AND - MEANS OF OVERCOMING THEM. - - -All amateurs that have written on the subject of bees, have spoken of -their enemies, but few have given any directions in what way they may -be overcome. I should neither attain my aim, nor realise the title of -my work, if I did not notice them. - -Nothing is more prejudicial to bees than ignorant attention. Their most -formidable enemies are, perhaps, their possessors, who busy themselves -to torment them, and weaken and kill them by too much care. In winter -they hurt them, by shutting them up for fear of the snow, without -considering that many more perish in their unwholesome prison; and that -the great humidity, having no outlet, moulds the combs, and sometimes -even rots them. Who shuts up the wild bees in the forests of Lithuania, -where they thrive so well? Their own instinct suffices; there they have -no master to thwart them. - -In spring, the giving them a little honey, that would suffice to save -them, is not always attended to, neither is the guarding them from -moths, which at that time make the greatest havoc, nor is the narrowing -of the entrances to prevent them being robbed. In summer I have seen -persons leave only very small entrances to very populous hives, even -when the bees were forming clusters, and so increase the ardour and -activity of the workers. But this embarrassment only pained them, and -retarded the gathering and laying up of their store. - -Some let swarms escape from mere carelessness. People suffocate them -in autumn, that they may possess themselves of their provisions; and -others take out the best of the honey and often too much of it, and so -expose them to die of hunger; and they even sometimes annoy them by -leaving too great a quantity of candied honey-comb, which is of no use -to them, and the extraction of it from the cells costs many valuable -lives, as I have already observed. - -I therefore place, in the foremost rank of their enemies, those of -their _possessors_, who, by their own ignorance and inexperience, -hinder them from prospering and multiplying. - -Ants are their least dangerous enemies; true, the bees cannot sting -them to death, because they are small and well defended with armour, -but they seize hold of them with their teeth, and carry them to a -distance. Had they not this means of getting rid of them, their -colonies could not exist in the vast forests full of ants' nests, and -where they thrive so well, in spite of the horrible massacres that -annually take place. I have never seen a hive destroyed by ants; they -attack only weak swarms, that have been either pillaged before, or -happen to be established in a lodging too large for them to defend. - -I recommend, however, to plaster up all chinks through which these -little insects could gain an entrance. - -Moths are little known, and never injurious, in the high valleys, nor -on the mountains, but they attack and destroy a vast number of hives in -the plains or in the vineyards, where they are a great scourge. As soon -as a moth has penetrated a weak hive, it establishes itself in a comb, -envelopes itself in a silken web, multiplies rapidly, consuming the -wax, and spreading its destructive galleries from side to side, until, -arriving at a certain point, the evil has no remedy. - -I shall not repeat what I have said in the twentieth chapter, of the -admirable ingenuity with which well-stocked hives defend themselves, -by gnawing and reducing to crumbs every part of the wax that harbours -a moth. Nor the means I have pointed out in Chapter VII. to diminish -the number of their enemies in the spring, by frequently examining the -little bits of wood used for contracting the entrance, or whenever -the heated air of the hive is likely to attract butterflies, for the -purpose of depositing their eggs. I shall only add, that when any -trace of a moth is observed about a hive, it should immediately be -cleaned away, and every little fragment of wax be swept off the board. -If, in defiance of these precautions, it should seem that the moths -have invaded some of the combs, the only means of saving the colony -is, to imitate the surgeon, who cuts off a deceased limb to save the -other,--every bit of infected comb must be cut out, leaving only those -occupied by the bees. And the bees must then be liberally fed, by -giving them every evening as much honey as will maintain them until the -fields shall yield them a sufficient quantity. Thus I have preserved -hives whose circumstances seemed to be desperate. - -Spiders annoy the bees much. The bees get entangled in their webs, and -are not able to extricate themselves. Here cleanliness is the best -protection; therefore care should be had to sweep the webs away from -the hive and its avenues as fast as they appear. - -Birds eat a prodigious quantity of bees, especially in spring, when the -trees are in blossom. Whatever people may say to the contrary, I have -reason to think that the swallows, which are perpetually cruising about -in the air, like so many corsairs, destroy a great number, to regale -themselves, and to feed their young: this was the opinion of Virgil[5]. - -[Footnote 5: - - "Absint ... meropesque, aliæque volucres, - Et manibus Progne pectus signata cruentis. - Omnia nam late vastant, ipsasque volantes - Ore ferunt, dulcem nidis immitibus escam." - - Georg. iv.] - -Moths destroy whole colonies: birds do not entirely destroy, but they -diminish the population; the queens, especially, become an easy prey to -them, their flight being heavy, from the great length of their bodies -and shortness of their wings; and the queen, being the very soul of -the hive, when she dies the whole will infallibly perish, if there is -not some of the proper brood ready to fill her place; and, even in the -latter case, the population is retarded in the fine weather, and the -hive becomes languid. As this happened to me several times, I imputed -it to the loss of my queens. - -The poultry, too, that roam about near the water where the bees go to -quench their thirst, gobble up a great many of them, making a constant -war on them, as deadly as that carried on by the birds. I have even -seen a tame magpie place herself between two hives, peck right and -left, and snap up hundreds of bees to her breakfast. She was caught in -the act, condemned to death, and executed in the same instant. - -Mice, especially the red mouse, or _Sorex araneus_, sometimes penetrate -a hive in the winter time, either from the entrance being left too -wide, or by gnawing a hole for themselves in the straw. They eat the -honey, and even the bees, when clustered together on the side of the -hive, in which position they are unable to defend themselves, and -scarcely even see the enemy. I have frequently seen a mouse's nest -inside of a hive in spring, seemingly unperceived by the inhabitants. - -Wasps are also reckoned among the numerous enemies of bees. I have, -however, seldom seen a hive destroyed by wasps: although they -are larger, stronger, and armed with a formidable sting, and an -impenetrable cuirass, they seldom dare enter a well stocked hive. -Once attacked, they soon fall beneath the united efforts of these -brave citizens, who sacrifice themselves to defend the place of their -nativity. Wasps only appear in great numbers when the fruit is -ripening, and then they range unceasingly round the hives, and enter -the weak ones, or those of which the too spacious lodging hears no -proportion to the number of its inhabitants. There are three ways of -providing against the attacks of wasps. The first, is to unite weak -hives by doubling or tripling the population, thereby enabling them to -defend themselves. The second, is to contract the entrances as soon as -the swarming time is over, after the massacre of the drones: and the -third is, to destroy their nests. - -The bees are continually fighting between themselves, and robbing each -other; avarice, not necessity, leads them to do so, it being almost -always the strongest and best provisioned hives that pillage the weak -ones. When once a bee has been able to introduce herself into a hive, -and carry away a load of honey without being arrested, she will return -a hundred times the same day; and, making it known to her companions, -they will then come in hordes, nor cease their pillage until there -is nothing left to take. In one day the whole of the honey will be -carried off, and with a determination which one can scarcely have an -idea of without seeing it. This kind of pillage is most frequent in -the spring and autumn, and it is easier to prevent than to stop it; -and, for this purpose, the entrance of the hives ought to be straitened -in proportion to the population. Four soldiers, as I have already -said, will more easily guard a narrow pass than thirty or forty would -defend a great one. Whenever the bees cluster themselves in front of -the hive, it is a proof that the whole of the interior is filled, and -there is then no fear of pillage, excepting in a very rare case, when -they happen not to observe the thieves, and of which I shall speak -presently. In proportion as the cluster increases, the entrance should -be widened, even opened entirely, and contracted again in the autumn -after the destruction of the drones. When these precautions are not -sufficient, and the pillage has commenced, it is not easy to stop it. -It may succeed, however, in spring or autumn, by entirely closing the -entrance of the besieged hive for one or two days, and putting a large -cape upon it, or an empty hive, plastering it all round to prevent -the bees getting out. This affords them a volume of air sufficient -to prevent them from being suffocated, and they go up and down at -pleasure through the hole in the top of the hive from which the stopper -must have been previously withdrawn; every evening the entrance must be -opened to give them air, and carefully shut up again in the morning. I -have always found the two days seclusion sufficient to put a stop to -the pillage. But this means is not practicable during the hot weather, -for then the bees would infallibly be suffocated, if they were to be -shut up but one hour. In this case, I have saved several by covering -them with a wet table-cloth, and extending it over the front of the -hive. The thieves, who were arriving in hundreds, threw themselves -into the neighbouring hives, where they were arrested and killed; for -all theft, even suspicion of theft, is invariably punished with death -in these republics. Some of the thieves that happen to escape, regain -their own dwellings, and warn their companions to beware of returning, -and next day there will be no more thieving. I have never been obliged -to spread the wet table-cloth a second time. True, many of the bees of -the hive I was defending were sacrificed, returning from the fields, -and being unable to gain admittance, they perished in some way or -other: it was a small sacrifice, to avert a greater evil, but my hive -was saved, and that was my object. It is a cure that does not always -succeed, however, and is quite useless when the besieged hive is a weak -one, or if much of the honey has been carried away. - -I shall not speak of toads, lizards, and all kinds of reptiles, that -are ranked among the enemies of the bees, for I have never seen that -they did them much harm. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - - DISEASES OF THE BEES. - - -Bees have no real disease. Dysentery, about which so much noise has -been made, and for which so many remedies are prescribed, never attacks -the bees of a well-stocked hive, that is left open at all seasons, but -only those that are too long and too closely confined. They are always -in good health as long as they are at liberty, when they are warm -enough, and have plenty of food. All their pretended diseases are the -result of hunger, cold, or the infection produced by a too close and -long confinement during the winter. - -Some intelligent people have erroneously thought that the honey -gathered from the flowers of the lime-tree caused dysentery, but -experience convinced me to the contrary; for my hives were never in -better condition than when the lime-tree flowers supplied them with -honey in abundance. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - - OF THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES - OF BEES, AND THEIR LANGUAGE. - - -Almost all authors speak of four different kinds or varieties of the -honey-bee. I frankly acknowledge that I know but of one; and that all -the bees I have seen are equally profitable when properly taken care -of. It is true my travels have not been very extended. - -As to their language: a slight buzzing or confused noise and a -sharp sound, are signals by which they proclaim their danger, or -seek assistance from each other. They appear to have the power of -communicating their desires, their fears, their situation, and their -circumstances. Their language, or whatever name is given to it, -suffices to procure a concert of wills and actions, absolutely to -attain a certain end; and of which I shall give a few examples. - -When a hive has lost its queen, a general agitation takes place, that -cannot escape the notice of the most ordinary observer. They seek about -for her on all sides, and, if she cannot be found, they set to work to -supply her place. For this purpose, a great cell must be constructed, -to serve her for a cradle: a single working bee cannot manufacture -it. There must absolutely be a concerted plan,--to choose the place -to do the work--to transport the newly hatched maggot--to nurse it -suitably--and properly to close the cell when it is to undergo the -metamorphosis. - -There must also be the same re-union of wills and efforts, when it -relates to the getting rid of a moth that has established itself in -a comb; they must ascertain its presence, feel the evil it may do, -examine with care the extent of its galleries, and agree in the plan of -attack and mode of operations; and how can they form and execute this -plan, without the perfect concurrence of a great number of labourers? -Such agreement is impossible without some sort of language. - -Is the hive to be cleaned? A general assessment is commanded, and the -people instantly obey. A throng of labourers remove the dead, carry out -the little bits of wax that are on the board, which would otherwise -serve to feed the moths. Each of these crumbs costs them a journey; and -that toil is spared them when care is taken to scrape and sweep the -board from time to time. - -Another scheme of agreement that indicates a language, is where a -bee finds honey, whether in a room, where it may have been deposited -without shutting the windows, or in a stranger hive, where it has -gained entrance. It communicates it to its companions, who rush out by -hundreds or by thousands to obtain a share of the booty. How could they -give this advertisement, without a species of language understood by -every one of them. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - - SIGNS OF RECOGNITION - AMONG THE BEES. - - -The bees of a hive have the means of recognition, and of distinguishing -their companions from every stranger bee; without which they could -not defend their honey. In vain would the Creator have armed each of -them with a formidable sting, had they not been also given to know -the enemies which that sting was to pierce. Strangers would have gone -in and out without risk of detection or punishment, mingled with the -workers, and deprived them of treasures industriously collected. But -the All-wise Author of Nature, who has given them the means of defence, -has also endowed them with the instinct to distinguish enemies from -friends, even among their own species. Let a bee fall by accident, or -be driven by the wind, into a hive not its own, it is seized as one -suspected of evil intention, and put to death that moment. - -What is their signal of recognition? What is the organ and the -instrument? Is it the antennæ,--those little flexible horns in front of -their heads? or is it by the smell they recognize each other? - -A great inconvenience attending crowded apiaries is, that two or more -hives may have the same signal; but happily, in this case, which is -a rare one, they have the power of changing the signal; in proof of -which, the following circumstance happened with mine, in one of the -most abundant honey seasons. - -In the month of May I had lodged my first swarm, which was a very -strong one, in a large straw hive. The weather being very mild, they -set to work immediately, and very soon filled more than half of the -hive. In a few days, I observed it was invaded by a swarm belonging to -one of my neighbours; that they went in and came out, without being -detected; and that they were carrying out as much honey as my bees were -bringing in. - -I shut up one-half of their door; and, for nearly a whole week, -whenever I was at leisure, I stationed myself near my swarm, and killed -every day hundreds of the thieves, which were easily distinguished by -their shape,--slender enough when they went in, but puffed up as they -came out, with as much nectar as they could contain. This, however, did -not stop them, and they continued coming and going, in greater numbers, -till night, and beginning again early in the morning. - -I had plenty of sport, but my labour was in vain, and I began to -despair of saving my swarm, when, one afternoon, I perceived it to be -agitated and troubled, as if it had lost its queen. The bees buzzed -about before the hive, and on the board, smelling and touching each -other, as if they would have spoken. It was to change their signal, and -which in fact they did change, during the night; and all the strangers -that came next day were arrested, and put to death. Some escaped the -vigilance of the guards that defended the entrance, and doubtless -warned the others of the danger they had escaped, and that they could -no more plunder with impunity: they returned no more, and my hive -prospered wonderfully. I have, in the course of my life, seen only -other two similar instances that had the same result. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - - PRESERVATION OF HIVES IN WINTER, AND - MEANS OF PROTECTING THEM FROM THE COLD. - - -The most important point that remains to be treated, is the -preservation of hives in winter. This severe season, which lasts at -Neufchatel four months, from the commencement of November to the end -of February, and which is even longer in the mountains, causes the -death of more bees than all the enemies of all the other seasons put -together; and mostly, too, from our own want of attention. It is -by practice only that true principles can be laid down: and these -principles must be variously modified, to adapt their application -to the differences of temperature and locality. One can learn with -certainty only by the light of experience. I shall proceed to tell -what it has taught me; and here I enter on the most difficult and the -most essential part of my task. - -We must suppose that the necessary care has been taken to ascertain -that each hive has the quantity of provision necessary for its -subsistence until the return of the fine season, and it is better -that they should have too much than too little; for bees are great -economists, and never waste their superfluity. - -I lay down as a general rule, and without any exception, that bees -ought never to be fed during the winter. Food given them during that -season causes disease, breeds infection, particularly if they are kept -confined; and if they are at liberty, and forced out by the unwholesome -smell of the hive, they are likely to perish from the cold. Besides, it -always appeared to me that they consume more when food is given them by -little and little, than when they have it in store. I have pointed out, -in Chapter VIII. the certain rule by which the quantity of provision -may be estimated; and, in Chapter XVII. I have detailed the method -of supplying them in autumn. Thus they will be saved from hunger, if -my advice be followed. Let us now see how they may be defended from -cold, and the fatal effects of a long imprisonment. Some winters are -so long and so rigid, that our valuable insects suffer greatly from -the intensity of the cold; and the least evil it does them, is to -crystallise their honey, which is then no longer of any use to them. -The warmth keeps it in a fluid state; but this warmth, concentrated -in the middle, or on one side of the hive, does not prevent it being -candied in the other parts of it. More candied honey will generally be -found on one side than the other. This may be prevented by narrowing -the entrance, and closing up every crevice by which the external air -can penetrate. Our industrious and provident little labourers set -the example. Their instinct leads them, during the summer, carefully -to close up every crack or joining of their habitation, with a sort -of gummy matter called _propolis_, which cannot be penetrated either -by the mice, the moths, or the ants. I have seen an excellent swarm -perish, in consequence of a slight bend in the board, which left an -interstice on each side, through which a cold north wind sifted, and -froze more than three-fourths of the bees; and no after care was able -to save those that were left. - -Two years after, another hive, belonging to the same person, carefully -plastered round, but being made of too slight material, too thin, and -having no covering, lost at least two-thirds of its population from -cold. It was saved, however, by great care, and in time recovered. It -is to avoid similar disasters that hives are commonly taken into the -house; but this exposes them to the evil arising from infection. - -A thick strong-made hive is a more certain protection from the cold -than one that is thin and light. It keeps in the warmth, like suitable -winter clothing; while the other resembles an unseasonable summer -garment: and, for this reason, I have recommended, in Chapter VI. -not to spare the _material_. Notwithstanding the excessive cold of -Lithuania, and the north of Russia, the swarms succeed in finding for -themselves a comfortable abode in the hollows of the thick oak-trees, -through which the cold does not penetrate. But, in addition to -the warmth arising from the thickness of the hive, I always cover -mine, during severe weather, with a piece of old blanket, or some -such thing, to check the first impression of the cold; and as few -country people have a thermometer, by which to estimate the degree of -temperature, they should hasten to thatch, or cover them, in some way, -whenever they perceive the hoar frost on the glass of their windows, -which will be the case when the common thermometer of Fahrenheit -descends three or four degrees below the freezing point. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - - MANNER OF PRESERVING HIVES BY - TAKING THEM INTO THE HOUSE IN WINTER. - - -It is generally supposed that, in the high valleys, and in the -mountains, bees can only be preserved by taking the hives into -the house in winter, where they must remain, until the snow has -disappeared, before they can be set at liberty. I had this fatal -prejudice for many years; but it was dispelled by the success attending -the union of the five swarms of which I have given a detailed account -in Chapter XVIII., at which time a ray of light broke in upon me that -has since continued to guide me. - -The following winter I left out the one-half of my hives, and moved -the other half into a cold room, according to my usual custom, where -all the pains I bestowed upon them did not altogether keep them alive, -nor preserve them from damp and infection. In vain I swept and cleaned -the boards, or placed them on dry hay to absorb the moisture; in -vain I gave them capes or joinings. With all my care, there was not -one of them free of diseases and infection. The winter was long and -severe; and they could not be returned to the air before the last week -in March, by which time they were feeble and languid, and far less -prosperous than those that had passed the winter out of doors. From -that time, I have never taken one into the house. But, as hives that -have been weakened by giving out too many swarms, especially swarms -of the same year, that have not nearly filled the interior of their -habitation with combs, are less subject to become overheated, and to -mould, than those that are quite filled, and of which the population -is very strong, the inhabitants of the mountains might have the latter -in the open air all winter, and only move the others into the house. -They will find, as I have done, that strong well filled hives are far -best out of doors, provided they take the necessary precautions to -prevent them from freezing. - -I have somewhere or other read an account of a very ingenious method -of preserving hives in winter, but have not made trial of it, in -consequence of not having a place fitting for it. According to this -plan, one must have an empty room, very cold and dry, in which, from -end to end, two long poles are suspended parallel to each other, and -a foot of distance between them. As soon as the severe cold begins, -and the thermometer is at the freezing point, the hives are all moved -into this room, and set up upon the poles, without any board beneath -them, and separate about half a foot from each other. Each hive must be -numbered, and the numbers noted down, as well as the board and place -that each occupied in the apiary, in order that they may be replaced -in exactly the same situation on the return of spring. This done, the -room is darkened, as the smallest ray of light will induce the bees -to quit their hives; and, in this manner, they may be preserved in a -healthy state, and without diminution of their numbers, during the -winter; and, from being left entirely open below, any dead bees, or -bits of wax, fall on the floor, and they escape the danger of infection. - -On the return of the fine season, and early in the morning of a calm -day, the room is opened, and each hive returned to its own place on the -apiary. - -I have reason to think that hives, wintered in this way, will consume -a quarter, a third, or perhaps one-half less provision than others, -if left on the apiary, or shut up entirely from the air; but we must -attend less to the rigid economy of the honey, than to the preservation -of the valuable insects that collect it for us. - -I possess only the theory of a practice of which I should have gloried -in being the inventor, as it appears to me infallible, and advantageous -in all its relations, but more especially to the inhabitants of the -mountains. There two or three people might hire a room among them for -the purpose; and, should the air become impure from so many hives -being closed up together, it could be purified by opening the door -during the night, and closing it well up again in the morning. - - - - - CONCLUSION. - - -I have now given the result of sixty-four years experience. This little -memoir has extended beneath my pen far beyond my original intention; -but it was of consequence in describing the new methods I had adopted, -to give my reasons for every thing I recommended; and, for this -purpose, to enter very minutely into the details. I have not written -with elegance, but have expressed myself plainly; and, in giving -the account of my experiments, it seemed to me that, to be clearly -understood, I ought to relate naturally how I set about them, as the -different circumstances occurred, and that every reader could more -easily follow me, in seeing me _act_, as it were, than if I merely laid -down general rules. Those I have given, have the rare advantage of -being applicable to every kind of hive, of wood or straw, whether large -or small, and of whatever form or shape. I have not recommended any one -kind in particular, not even those that bear my name, as I consider -them all equally profitable when skilfully taken care of. Every one -may make use of such as he likes best, or such as he can most easily -procure. I wish not to lead the apiarian into any expence, but to point -out to him clearly those principles and rules that he should not lose -sight of, if he wishes to preserve his bees and to profit by them. - -If this little work is favourably received by the public, and if my -life is spared, I may be induced to give it a sequel, in which will -be found new ideas concerning the drones, and their destination, with -several experiments to discover if it is of any use to assist the bees -in killing them; calculations of the yearly and average profit of a -single hive, by which I would encourage the cultivators to work a rich -mine whence great profit maybe drawn; and also directions for purifying -the honey, as well as for melting the wax, none of which could have a -place in this little book, the sole object, as expressed in the title, -being the _preservation of the bees_. - -_Diminution of the Weight of my Hives during the Winter--from the 20th -September 1813 to the 31st March 1814._ - - STRAW. - -No. 1. diminished 10 pounds. - 2. 10½ - 3. 12½ - 4. 12 - 8. 11 - 10. 9 - 11. 8½ - 13. doubled in October, 11 - 15. 10½ - 16. doubled, 10½ - 17. doubled, 14 - 20. 10 - 21. 14 - 22. doubled, 8½ - 23. 10½ - 24. 9 - 25. 15 - 26. 12½ - 27. 10½ - 30. 13 - 32. 9½ - 38. 8 - A. 9½ - B. 10 - C. 12½ - D. 10½ - - WOOD. - -No. 1. diminished 11½ pounds. - 4. doubled, 9½ - 6. 11 - 7. 8½ - 8. 19 - 9. 10 - 11. 15½ - 13. 15 - 21. 10 - 23. doubled, 11½ - -To know exactly if the consumption of united hives was greater than -that of those hives whose population had not been augmented, I weighed -thirty-six hives on the 31st of March 1814, that had been previously -weighed on the 20th September 1813; but I omitted those from which -I had taken honey, as well as those I fed, as I did not weigh them. -It may be observed, by the foregoing table, that the most economical -expenditure amounts to eight pounds of honey, and that the greatest -consumption is nineteen. I can attribute this enormous difference to -nothing but pillage. It is very likely that the straw-hive, No. 38., -must have enriched itself with booty in October or in March, while the -wooden hive No. 8. had been plundered. Of these thirty-six hives, six -had been doubled in October, by the introduction of a strong swarm into -each of them, and we see that their expenditure has not been greater -than that of those colonies that were left single. In the course of -six months and eleven days, one diminished only eight pounds and a -half; one, nine and a half; one, ten and a half; one eleven; one, -eleven and a half; and the least economical, fourteen pounds. This -comparison demonstrates, that hives, doubled by the re-union of the -bees of another hive, consume no more in winter than less populous -hives, left in their natural state. The fact is clearly proved, though -I am ignorant of the cause. I ought to observe, that all these doubled -hives, with the exception of one old one, twenty-two years of age, -prospered perfectly the year following, and gave me more honey and more -swarms than all the others. - - - - - NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR. - - -Some friends, for whom I entertain a very high respect, have remarked, -on reading the proof sheets of this translation, that Gelieu appears -to be very successful in preserving the bees, but that he does not -prove so clearly that any great increase of honey is thereby to be -obtained. To the practical apiarian this objection will never present -itself; but, for the satisfaction of those who are not acquainted -with bees, I regret not being in possession of Gelieu's calculation -of the average profits of single and doubled hives: and I regret more -especially, that, during the few years my attention has been directed -to the management of bees, I have been contented with remarking the -thriving condition of the apiary, without giving myself the trouble -to calculate the exact amount of its produce. Those, however, who are -accustomed to observe and to take care of bees, will know that the -whole value of the hives depends on the swarms being large and early, -and will therefore see at once the advantages to be gained by attending -to Gelieu's directions. The results of my own experience are, in other -respects, as follows. - -I have tried hives of various kinds: those of the common shape, made -of straw; the still prettier sort, made of sea-shore bent (_Arundo -arenaria_); the square-storied hive of wood; also the Huish hives; -and, consequently, have had an opportunity of assuring myself that the -success of the apiary depends neither on the form nor the material, but -entirely on the treatment the bees meet with, and that hives may be -made, with equal success, of whatever is most easily obtained in the -district they are to be used in, always provided they are kept clean -and are well managed. In some of the high valleys of the Alps, where -straw is not to be had, and where every blade of grass is carefully -economized for the use of the cattle, the hives are merely rough blocks -of timber, sawn across the stems of the pine tree, and rudely scooped -out to receive the swarms: these answer the purpose just as well as -other hives; and the only or the chief difference, is the greater or -less facilities which each affords for the extraction of the combs; an -operation of easy performance in the Huish hives, when its inventor's -directions are adhered to. But, in Switzerland, the same process is -accomplished without difficulty in hives of any shape or material, by -means of a knife, which is so simple in its construction, and so easily -used, that it deserves to be made generally known. I therefore subjoin -a figure, with a description and a note of the dimensions, from which -it may be made by any country black-smith. - -[Illustration] - -This figure represents the shape of the knife; it is formed merely of -a slip of iron, about two feet long by an eighth of an inch thick. The -two horizontal lines _a a_ shew the size and appearance of the handle, -which is twenty inches long by half an inch broad. The turned-down -blade (_b_), of two inches in length, is spear-pointed, sharp on the -edges, and bent perpendicularly from the handle. The other blade (_c_) -is two inches long by one and a half broad, and sharpened all round, as -marked by the double black line. - -The broad blade (_c_) cuts and separates the wax from the sides of the -hive, and the spear-point (_b_), which is also sharp on each side, -admits, from its direction and narrowness, of being introduced between -the combs, to loosen them from the top of the hive; and, for the same -reason, it also answers the purpose of pruning the combs. - -The honey-comb which is thus extracted, or which is obtained from the -capes, is greatly superior to that which is suffered to remain in -the hives till the autumn. The wax is thin and transparent, and the -honey, being newly drawn from the nectaries, is particularly rich and -delicious, as it has not had time to lose the fragrant and delicate -flavour of the young flowers. - -Huish, it may be observed, gives very clear directions for extracting -the combs from the hives that bear his name; he also recommends the -uniting of swarms; but I could never obtain his instructions on this -latter point. Doubting nothing of its practicability, however, I made -the experiment, but having no guiding principle to direct me, it was -like going to sea without a compass; and, in consequence, my hopes were -soon wrecked, and I had the misery of seeing the whole of the swarm -that I had saved from suffocation, speedily put to death by the bees of -the hive that I had so rashly forced it to enter. The result, however, -was widely different when I made the trial again last autumn, guided by -the directions contained in this little volume, for I accomplished the -union of my swarms without difficulty--even without previously having -seen it done, and without having received a single sting; and I had -thus the pleasure of witnessing my hopes crowned with complete success. - -For this operation, it is not necessary either to have the courage of a -warrior, or the intelligence and coolness of a philosopher like M. de -Gelieu. An ordinary degree of judgment to understand his directions, -and confidence enough implicitly to follow them, will enable any one to -perform it, provided he sets about it cautiously, and takes care not -to hurt the bees, or to handle them roughly. - -I managed It, with the assistance of two persons, without gloves, -or any shield or shadow of defence, except a little tobacco-smoke, -involving us, as it were, within the influence of a charmed atmosphere, -that seemed to stupify the bees, and render their sting powerless, -while it inspired us with confidence to proceed. I recommend it being -done at first by three persons, one to manage the hive and extract -the combs, another to sweep the bees back gently with a feather or -goose-wing, and a third to manage the fumigating bellows; or, if the -fumigating-bellows are not at hand, to blow occasional whiffs of smoke -from a tobacco-pipe. - -When my first cluster of bees was shaken out of the pillaged hive -upon the table-cloth, I had the happiness of seeing them instantly -begin their ascent (not on the wing) but in a regular march. It was a -spectacle of intense interest. They entered the full hive as orderly -and as peaceably as any body of regular troops ever took possession of -a citadel; and next day the original possessors and the new settlers, -were seen, in perfect harmony, working together for the general good. - -But whether they thought proper to kill a queen for themselves or not, -was a fact that I had no means to ascertain. - -Thus encouraged by my first experiment, I proceeded to extend it. My -whole apiary consisted of eight Huish hives, isolated on single pillars -of wood, at the distance of three feet from each other. We emptied -three more of the hives, and joined a swarm to each of the remaining -three, making four doubled stock hives. The gardener who has the care -of them, had five hives of his own, three of which were deprived of -their honey in the same way, and the swarms joined to the remaining -two, which he had kept as stock hives; and I am now enabled to state -exactly the quantity of honey that each has consumed from September -1828, to the end of March 1829. - - No. 1. diminished 12 lb. - 2. " 9 - 3. " 12 - 4. " 11 - - _The Gardener's Hives._ - - No. 1. A large common hive 17 lb. - 2. A Huish hive 13 - -It ought, however, to be mentioned, that my four hives got a pound and -a half of honey among them, in February; but those belonging to the -gardener got no feeding. The entrances of all of them were left open -during the winter, and there were not altogether above two dozen dead -bees found on the boards, when they were lifted to be weighed. - -The gardener's hive. No. 2., received two swarms in addition to its -own; and this allied army took possession just as peaceably as the -others, and actually consumed less honey during the winter than No. 1., -which was only doubled. In effecting the union, the citizens had been -plentifully regaled with a sprinkling of liquid honey, previous to the -introduction of the strangers; and there were as many luscious drops of -the banquet left, as gave the new comers no disrelish to their quarters. - -For some years past, I have suffered no sticks to be put across the -inside of any of my hives, as they render the extraction of the combs -impracticable. - - * * * * * - -It may be right to add, in conclusion, that I have, in one or two -places, slightly altered the text where the meaning seemed obscure, -and where mistakes might otherwise have occurred. I ought, perhaps, to -have translated these passages quite literally, and to have corrected -them in separate notes; but ignorance of book-making must be my excuse. - - - FINIS. - - -P. NEILL, PRINTER. - - - * * * * * - - - -Transcriber Note - -Minor typos were corrected. - - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEE PRESERVER; OR, -PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF HIVES *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Bee Preserver; or, Practical Directions for the Management and Preservation of Hives</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Jonas De Gelieu</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: Anonymous</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 11, 2022 [eBook #67816]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Tom Cosmas compiled from materials made available at The Internet Archive and placed in the Public Domain.</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEE PRESERVER; OR, PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF HIVES ***</div> - - - - -<div class="figcenter" id="cover" style="width: 314px;"> - <img src="images/cover.png" width="314" height="554" alt="Bee Preserver; Or Practical Directions For the Management and Preservation of Hives, by Jonas De Gelieu" /> -</div> - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="pmt4 tdc nobreak">THE</p> - -<p class="vbig pmb4">BEE PRESERVER.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i"></span></p> - -<h1 class="pmt2 nobreak"><span class="smaller">THE</span><br /> - -BEE PRESERVER;</h1> -</div> - -<p class="tdc">OR</p> - -<p class="caption3nb">PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT -AND PRESERVATION OF HIVES.</p> - - -<p class="tdc">TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF</p> - -<h2>JONAS DE GELIEU,</h2> - -<p class="tdc">LATE MINISTER OF LIGNIERES, AT PRESENT MINISTER OF THE CHURCHES OF<br /> -COLOMBIER AND AUVERNIER, IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF NEUCHATEL;<br /> -MEMBER OF THE SOCIETÉ ECONOMIQUE DE BERNE,<br /> -&c., &c., &c.</p> - - -<p class="tdc pmb4">PUBLISHED AT MULHAUSEN.</p> - - - -<p class="caption3nb">JOHN ANDERSON JUN. EDINBURGH,</p> - -<p class="pmb4 tdc">55, NORTH BRIDGE STREET;<br /> - -AND SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON.<br /> - -MDCCCXXIX.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</span></p> - - -<p class="pmt4 pmb4 tdc"><span class="bdt">P. NEILL, PRINTER.</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="smaller">TO</span><br /> - -THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND.</h2> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> respectfully dedicating this little Work to the -<span class="smcap">Highland Society of Scotland</span>, the Translator hopes, -that, under their efficient and enlightened patronage, it may -be made generally known in Scotland, where the system -which it explains is calculated to be as extensively applicable, -and as highly profitable, as it has proved in the native mountains -of its amiable and venerable Author. It seems, indeed, -both from the plain practical directions which it contains, -and the valuable discoveries which it communicates relative -to the history and economy of bees, to be singularly -adapted to forward the views of the Society, who have this -year turned their attention to the encouragement of Apiaries -among the peasantry of our own country; and it is no small -advantage, that the rules laid down are applicable to hives -of every form.</p> - -<p>The Translator has no fear of its being objected, that -plans which are very suitable in Switzerland, may be less -successful as applied to Scotland. Switzerland and Scotland -present so many points of resemblance—in their mountains—in -their valleys—and in their climate—that which is beneficial -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span> -in the one, can scarcely fail to be so in the other. -And as the Swiss honey is known to be not only very abundant, -but of a very superior flavour, especially in those districts -where <span class="smcap">De Gelieu's</span> or some similar plan is adopted, -the Translator is desirous to see the simple and successful -methods of that country transferred to our own, that the -Scottish peasantry may derive from their practice the same -advantages. To the Swiss peasantry, bees are a great -source of wealth; a stranger is attracted by the appearance -of substantial comfort, conveyed by well appointed apiaries, -where the hives are ranged in double and triple rows along -the sunny side, and under the shelter of the projecting roofs -of the cottages; and in Scotland there is little doubt that, if -similar care were bestowed on the cultivation of bees, they -would be equally profitable.</p> - -<table style="margin-left: 2em;" summary="data"> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>,<br /> - <i>19th April, 1829</i>.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span style="font-size: 2em;">}</span></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<table class="tblcont" summary="TOC"> -<tr> - <td colspan="2"></td> - <td class="tdr smaller">Page</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">CHAPTER I.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Situation of an apiary,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">11</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">II.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Proper time to transport a swarm to the - situation designed for it,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">16</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">III.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Situation of the hives ought never to - be changed,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">18</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">IV.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Most convenient shape of hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">21</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">V.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Hives of straw and wood,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">23</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">VI.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Thickness or solidity of hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">24</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">VII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Size of the aperture or entrance of hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">25</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">To ascertain the weight of hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">27</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">IX.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Quantity of honey necessary to maintain a hive,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">20</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">X.—</td> - <td class="tdl">The use of capes or hoods,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">34</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XI.—</td> - <td class="tdl">How to expel the bees from the capes,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">41</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Size of hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">42</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XIII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Manner of uniting new swarms,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">44</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XIV.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Methods of uniting two or three swarms in autumn,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">48</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XV.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Manner of uniting old hives in autumn,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">53</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XVI.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Neighbouring hives should be united,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">55</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XVII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">How to feed united swarms,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">59</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XVIII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Quantity of food requisite for united hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">62</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XIX.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Benefits resulting from the union of weak hives, - <span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">67</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XX.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Time and manner of renewing old hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">71</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XXI.—</td> - <td class="tdl">The signs by which to ascertain whether a hive - requires to be renewed,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">76</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XXII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Artificial swarms, and different methods of forming - them,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">84</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XXIII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Advantages of isolated hives,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">94</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XXIV.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Enemies of bees, and means of overcoming them,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">96</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XXV.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Diseases of the bees,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">106</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XXVI.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Of the different varieties of bees, and their - language,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">107</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">XXVII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Signs of recognition among the bees,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">110</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XXVIII.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Preservation of hives in winter, and means of - protecting them from the cold,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">112</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr vtop">XXIX.—</td> - <td class="tdl">Manner of preserving hives, by taking them into the - house in winter,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">117</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdl">Conclusion,</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CONCLUSION">121</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">- 1 -</span></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="nobreak vbig"><span class="smaller">THE</span><br /> - -BEE PRESERVER</p> -</div> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="AUTHORS_PREFACE">AUTHORS PREFACE.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Having</span> attained old age, I think it a duty, -before quitting the world, to communicate to -the public the observations I have made during -sixty-four years that I have been occupied with -bees. From my earliest years I have been very -fond of these admirable insects. I began to observe -them under the direction of my father, -<span class="smcap">Jacques de Gelieu</span>, pastor of the church of -Bayards, and afterwards of that of Verrieres, in -the principality of Neuchatel. He instructed me -in the principles of this interesting study, and -taught me to like and to admire it, by making -me read the memoirs of the immortal <span class="smcap">Reaumur</span>, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">- 2 -</span> -with whom he had the honour to correspond. -Being a nice observer, he had prepared, so early -as 1746, a work in two volumes, entitled "A -New and Economical Method for the Preservation -and Increase of Bees, and how to procure a -more abundant supply of Honey and Wax." But -when his work was ready for the press, he lost -in one day, by an unfortunate accident, the whole -of his hives except one, which he presented to -me, and which I subsequently managed under -his direction.</p> - -<p>Thrown from that time into a succession of -pressing occupations, he lost sight of the printing -of his work, which is now in my possession, -in his own handwriting. It contains the description -of the storied hive, of which he was the inventor, -and which has since been so variously -modified. These hives have been made known -only through his correspondence with M. <span class="smcap">de -Reaumur</span>, and other literary men, as will appear -from the note at the end of this Preface.</p> - -<p>In the collection of observations which I now -present to the public, I limit myself to what is -strictly practical, leaving to superior minds, the -<span class="smcap">Swammerdams</span>, the <span class="smcap">Reaumurs</span>, the <span class="smcap">Shirachs</span>,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">- 3 -</span> -the <span class="smcap">Hubers</span>, to dive into the theory with which -they are so successfully engaged.</p> - -<p>Theory, however, leads to practice; and I have -built on the foundation which they have so skilfully -laid down. I shall make known what my -long experience has taught me to consider the -best form of hives. To ascertain which merited -the preference, I mixed all sizes and shapes of -them in my apiary, noting down their condition -and product, thus securing a result to which no -doubt could attach; convinced that it is easier to -multiply hives in good seasons than to preserve -them in bad ones, since, in the first case, one has -only to leave them in some measure to themselves, -while in the second there must be assiduous care -and attention bestowed on them. Vexed at hearing -of the great losses that have so generally taken -place of late years, and of the sensible and rapid -diminution of these precious insects, I shall point -out how I succeeded in preserving mine in the -worst seasons, especially in those of 1812 and -1813; and I shall lay down the principles from -which no one should swerve, if he wishes to be -constantly successful.</p> - -<p>Many people are fond of bees—indeed have a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">- 4 -</span> -passion for them; but it is not enough to be fond -of them,—they must be skilfully taken care of, according -to certain rules, applicable in every case, -but more particularly in bad years. Mistaken -care annoys them—niggardliness ruins them. In -laying down rules, I shall always take care to assign -my reasons for them.</p> - -<p>Among the discoveries which I had the happiness -to make, there is one of the greatest importance -to the practical apiarian, of which I had -not even the slightest suspicion, and which astonished -me so much that I could not believe my -eyes. It was only after trials a hundred times -repeated and diversified, that I could fully convince -myself. The fact is certain, the reason is -to me unknown, and I leave to persons more -learned than myself to give the explanation.</p> - -<p>I have read most of the treatises that have been -published on bees, and have found errors in most -of them. To avoid them myself, I shall advance -nothing that I have not verified by numerous experiments, -which every one may repeat. I shall -make my narrative as short as possible.</p> - -<p>I have said that the storied hives invented by -my late father, were known only through his -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">- 5 -</span> -correspondence with M. <span class="smcap">de Reaumur</span>, and other -literary men; the following is the proof:</p> - -<p>Extract from the <i>Corps d'Observation of the Society -of Commerce and Agriculture of Great Britain</i>, -1757-58. Printed at Rennes in 1761, page -162.</p> - -<p>"Monsieur de la <i>Bourdonaye, Procureur General-Syndic</i>, -to whom the custom of our peasants -(of drowning the bees, or suffocating them with -sulphur, in order to deprive them of all the store -they have laid up to maintain them during the -winter) has been long known, wrote to M. <span class="smcap">de -Reaumur</span>, during the last assembly of the states, -1756, to ask for some instructions on this subject.</p> - -<p>"This academician pointed out, in his answer, -the methods which he had expounded in the fifth -volume <i>des Memoires pour servir à l'Histoire Naturelle -des Insectes</i>; but he recommends, more particularly, -to use the curiously shaped hives, invented -by <span class="smcap">Gelieu</span>, a gentleman of the principality -of Neuchatel.</p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">Reaumur's</span> letter, which, at first sight, -seems to contain a sufficient description of <span class="smcap">Gelieu's</span> -hive, does not clear up certain difficulties -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">- 6 -</span> -that presented themselves in the detail, when we -come to attempt their construction from his directions; -and therefore <span class="smcap">Nevel</span>, member of the -Committee of Rennes, resolved to request a pattern -hive from <span class="smcap">Reaumur</span> himself, which he accordingly -obtained, and sent to the society. It -appears that hives of this kind would supply all -that can be desired in the management of bees; -but they would cost more than one louis each—a -price infinitely beyond the reach of a labouring -man, and which would even be too great for the -rich. It was necessary, therefore, to think of -profiting by the invention of <span class="smcap">Gelieu</span>, in contriving -hives so cheap that every peasant might use -them.</p> - -<p>"Monsieur <span class="smcap">de la Bourdonaye</span>, who paid -great attention to this subject, kindly communicated -to the Society both the letter of <span class="smcap">Reaumur</span>, -and the plan which he himself had formed, -of making hives at a small expence. He -began by using, on his own estate, those which -he recommended as an experiment to the Society. -It was called an <i>experiment</i>, because, in reality, -notwithstanding the probability of success attending -the use of hives like those of which he sent -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">- 7 -</span> -the model, his modesty made him afraid that -experience might, in some shape, belie his hopes. -The Society was not long in ordering hives to be -made after the model. They have made trial of -them in the different faubourgs of Rennes. The -rainy summer has prevented these trials being -completed, but the commencement has succeeded -very well.</p> - -<p>"It is perhaps not altogether useless to give -here an abridged exposition of the accidents that -might be prevented, in changing the shape of -ordinary hives, and of the means that might be -employed for that purpose.</p> - -<p>"It has been already said, that it is but too -common to suffocate or drown the bees, at the -end of the season, for the sake of profiting by the -honey and wax. Those who manage them with -more profit and intelligence, watch the time when -the hives are nearly full, to force the bees up into -an empty hive. This operation must be done -in fine weather, in order that the bees may have -time to make a sufficient provision for the winter. -This practice, though the best of those in -use at present, causes considerable loss; the -brood-comb is taken away with the wax; so -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">- 8 -</span> -that the proprietor loses a swarm just coming -out, as well as the swarms that this one might -have afterwards produced. It is this loss particularly -that <span class="smcap">Gelieu</span> would prevent.</p> - -<p>"The hives at present on trial are, in shape, -like a little round tower, or hollow cylinder, composed -of four equal pieces, placed one above another."</p> - -<p>"It is a certain fact, that the cells destined for -the reception of eggs are always situated in the -lower part of the hive, which is never disturbed. -According to <span class="smcap">Gelieu's</span> plan, it is only the storey -above the hive that is taken, until after the brood-comb -has furnished a swarm, and the swarm has -taken flight.</p> - -<p>"It seems, then, the interest of Rennes to patronize -<span class="smcap">Gelieu's</span> hives; they guard against the -inconveniences of the methods now in use; and -this has induced <span class="smcap">Bourdonaye</span> to adopt the means -of making them of straw, in place of wood, like -those of <span class="smcap">Gelieu</span>.</p> - -<p>"Monsieur <span class="smcap">de la Bourdonaye's</span> hives are a -little higher priced than those in common use; -but they give nearly a quarter more room, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">- 9 -</span> -are, of course, more profitable in regard to price; -they are in the proportion of five to eight.</p> - -<p>"We shall soon be able to determine, with -certainty, the advantages to be derived from this -invention. <span class="smcap">Montluc</span> has placed some joinings, -such as <span class="smcap">Bourdonaye</span> has contrived, underneath -his own hives, upon his estate of Laille. Similar -ones, at different places in the faubourgs of -Rennes, will furnish decided proofs of comparison.</p> - -<p>"The preservation, and also the increase of -bees, is an object of such interest to Brittany, -that the peasants cannot be too much encouraged -to turn their attention to it.</p> - -<p>"The Society is well aware that it will be -necessary to publish general instructions on that -head, and that the greatest merit of such a work -will be to give <i>only necessary</i> instructions, and -nothing more. It must be made so simple and -so cheap as to be within every one's reach, and, -above all, applicable only to practical use. Any -thing more is only fit for treatises wherein the -authors are more occupied with the interests of -their own self love, than with those of the public. -But though much has been written on this subject, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">- 10 -</span> -the Society is of opinion that there are yet -observations and experiments to be made before -publishing a document by which all the world -might profit."</p> - -<p>On this long quotation, I shall merely take -the liberty of remarking, that the only inconvenience -ascribed to the storied hives, invented -and made by my Father—the only objection -made to them—is, that they are too dear, "that -they will cost more than a louis each; a price -infinitely beyond the reach of a labouring man." -The price is high in Brittany, where wood is -very dear. On the other hand, the model which -my Father sent to <span class="smcap">Reaumur</span>, was made with a -great deal of nicety, as a common one would not -have been worth offering to that illustrious academician -who sent him in return a very handsome -thermometer, graduated by himself. My Father's -hives, more simply wrought, were less expensive.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">- 11 -</span></p> - -<p class="nobreak tdc">THE</p> - -<p class="vbig">BEE PRESERVER,</p> - -<p class="tdc">&c.</p> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. - -<span class="smaller">SITUATION OF AN APIARY.</span> -</h2> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> choice of a good situation is of the utmost -consequence. An apiary will not thrive in a bad -situation, however well it may be cared for in -other respects.</p> - -<p>1. The hives must, above all things, be sheltered -from the wind. It is the first precept of -Virgil<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>. For that purpose, the force of the -wind must be broken, either by houses or by -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">- 12 -</span> -lofty trees in the vicinity. A wall, however high, -or a simple hedge, is not sufficient, because the -bees that fly to the fields prefer stopping in places -where the air is tranquil, near bushes, or along -hedges or dells, where they find a much greater -abundance of honey than in places exposed to -gales of wind. They fatigue themselves flying -from flower to flower, and still more returning -to their dwelling, after having completed their -little ladenings: with a rapid flight they get over -a great extent of space, frequently against the -wind; but, on approaching their hive, they -slacken their speed, and advance, wheeling round -and round, to recognize it. A mistake, at this -time, might be fatal, and cost them their lives; -and if, at this moment, they encounter a strong -current of air, or a whirlwind, to repel them, -they are again forced to wheel round to reconnoitre -their habitation. After a hard struggle, -the most vigorous arrive; the others fall, without -power to rise again, especially when the air is -cold, or the sky clouded. The ground will then -be strewed with dying or dead bees, which never -happens when the hives are placed in sheltered -situations.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a></p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Principio sedes apibus statioque petenda,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Quo neque sit ventis aditus (nam pabula venti</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ferre domum prohibent).</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Virg.</span> Georg. lib. iv.</p> - - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">- 13 -</span></p> - -<p>2<i>d</i>, The second condition of a good situation -is its proximity to a fountain; or, still better, to -a little brook, where the bees may drink<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>. Water -is absolutely necessary, and enters as much -as honey into the composition of the pap with -which they nourish the brood; and the pollen -or dust of flowers, which they bring home on -their thighs, is also a very essential ingredient -in this pap. The vicinity of deep waters is very -hurtful to bees; and I have sometimes seen hundreds -of them drowned attempting to drink out -of a cistern.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a></p> - - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">"At liquidi fontes et stagna virentia musco</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Adsint, et tenuis fugiens per gramina rivus."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="tdr">Georg. l. iv.</p> -</div> - -<p>If there is no small stream or fountain near -them, they should be supplied by troughs, filled -with moss, and then water poured on it, until -they are as full as they can hold. The working -bees come in swarms to them in the spring, and -quench their thirst without risk.</p> - -<p>3<i>d</i>, 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, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">- 14 -</span> -which then animates and sustains them. For -this reason, when people wish a swarm to settle, -after it has left the hive, they hasten to cover it; -because the shade induces them to rest, while a -hot sun annoys them, and inclines them to take -flight again. When we wish to disperse a cluster -of bees off the front of a hive, we have only -to expose it to the rays of the sun in the heat of -the day. The bees then retreat under the hive, -on the side, or behind it. They thrive well in -thick forests, and delight in them; because there -they find a uniform temperature and a propitious -shade. How often, during the dog-days, have -we not seen the honey running down, and the -combs melting, in those hives exposed to the heat -of the sun. In one hour, sometimes, a whole -apiary will be destroyed. It is also a mistake -to suppose hives exposed to the sun produce the -earliest and 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. -I have even lost some in such situations, because -they took flight sooner than we thought of watching -them. We need never fear to shade a hive -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">- 15 -</span> -since Virgil recommends it<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a>. If the roof does -not project sufficiently to protect the hive from -the sun in the heat of the day, I would advise -them to be shaded with deals or pieces of matting.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a></p> - - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">"Palmaque vestibulum aut ingens oleaster obumbret."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="tdr">Georg. iv.</p> -</div> - -<p>4<i>th</i>, The most favourable exposure is towards -where the sun is from ten o'clock till mid-day. -They should never be turned to the east or west, -but, more especially to the north, where the cold -and tempestuous winds would greatly injure -them.</p> - -<p>5<i>th</i>, Hives should not be placed high, on a first -or second floor, as I have sometimes seen them, -unless they be completely sheltered; because the -wind is less powerful near the ground than in -elevated situations.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">- 16 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">PROPER TIME TO TRANSPORT A SWARM TO THE -SITUATION DESIGNED FOR IT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Most</span> people who have bees allow their swarms -to remain till the evening in the place where -they have alighted, and do not move them to the -apiary till after sunset. This method has many -inconveniences, which have been already pointed -out by a most judicious and experienced author. -As soon as a swarm has congregated in the new -hive, and seems to be at ease in it, the most industrious -among the bees fly off to the fields, but -with a great many precautions. They descend -the front of the hive, and turn to every side, to -examine it thoroughly; then take flight, and -make some circles in the air, in order to reconnoitre -their new abode: they do the same in returning.</p> - -<p>If the swarm has taken flight in the morning, -the same bees make several excursions during -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">- 17 -</span> -the day, and each time with less precaution, as, -becoming familiarized with their dwelling, they -are less afraid of mistaking it; and thus, next -morning, supposing themselves in the same place, -they take wing without having observed where -they have spent the night, and surprised, at their -return, not to find the hive in the same place, they -fly about all day in search of it, until they perish -with fatigue and despair. Thus, many hundreds -of the most industrious labourers are lost, and -this may be entirely avoided, if the swarm be removed -as soon as the bees are perceived coming -out, with the precautions I have mentioned. This -sign alone is sufficient. Sometimes I do not -even wait until all the bees clustered in front, -or on the sides of the hive, are re-united to their -companions in the interior, as they are never -long in being so; and this plan has always fully -succeeded with me.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">- 18 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">SITUATION OF THE HIVES OUGHT NEVER TO BE CHANGED.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">I have</span> seen people shift about their hives very -inconsiderately, but change of place invariably -weakens them, as the bees will return to their -old residence, the environs of which are so familiar -to them. A hive should remain as fixed to -the spot as the ancient oaks, in the hollows of -which they delight to establish themselves,—where -they have their young, their companions, -their beloved queen, and all their treasures. -When the young bees take wing for the first time, -they do it with great precaution, turning round -and round, and fluttering about the entrance, to -examine the hive well before taking flight. They -do the same in returning, so that they may be -easily distinguished, conducting themselves nearly -after the same maimer as the workers of a -newly hived swarm.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">- 19 -</span></p> - -<p>When they have made a few hundred excursions, -they set off without examining the locality, -and, returning in full flight, will know their own -hive in the midst of a hundred others. But if -you change its place you perplex them, much -the same as you would be if, during a short absence, -some one lifted your house and placed it -a mile off. The poor bees return loaded, and, -seeking in vain for their habitation, either fall -down and perish with fatigue, or throw themselves -into the neighbouring hives, where they -are speedily put to death.</p> - -<p>The following fact proves how much these -precious insects are attached to place, and how -far they retain the recollection of it.</p> - -<p>During my residence at Lignieres, where I -passed twenty-seven years, I removed all my -hives into the house towards the middle of November, -to guard them from the drifted snow, -in which my apiary would sometimes be buried, -and I replaced them again some fine day in March. -Having hives of wood and straw, of different -sizes and shapes, I arranged them with more order -and symmetry, and, with this view, I placed -the first on the opposite side of the apiary to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">- 20 -</span> -where it formerly stood. Although it had been -shut up nearly four months, the bees returned -to the same place they had occupied the year -before, which obliged me to return my hive with -all speed, and led me to conclude that they -should not be moved about, and that the bees -will not be pliable to our fancies and caprices.</p> - -<p>When hives are transported to a considerable -distance, there is no fear that the bees will return. -But this inconvenience would be sure to -take place, and many of the working bees would -perish, if they were removed only a few hundred -paces from the spot they have been accustomed -to. The hive may not perish, but it will be -greatly weakened. In my opinion, if the situation -is to be changed at all, they should be removed -at least a mile and a half.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">- 21 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">MOST CONVENIENT SHAPE OF HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">One</span> of the chief objects of my researches has -been, to ascertain what shape of hive is the most -profitable; and, with this view, I have tried -all the different kinds in my apiary, and I have -invariably remarked, that bees thrive better in -low hives than in high ones; that, in general, -those which are broad and flat, or extended horizontally, -amass more honey, thrive better, and -give out stronger and earlier swarms, than those -which are high, and of several stories, and for -the following reasons.</p> - -<p>A hive thrives only in proportion to the success -or perfection of its brood-comb. If the spring -eggs come out well, the hive will stock, give out -swarms at the proper time, and collect a great -deal of honey, because the strength of its population -will enable it to take advantage of fine -days; while a weak hive will only give out late -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">- 22 -</span> -swarms; and, having few labourers, will gather -very little honey. It is, therefore, of great importance -to assist the hive as much as possible, -in the spring especially, when it is of itself too -weak to keep up the necessary degree of heat -for the hatching of the brood; and also, that -in our climate there are frequently storms of -frost and snow at that season, which are very -prejudicial to it. If at that time the bees are -lodged in high and roomy hives, they will crowd -together in vain to procure the necessary degree -of heat to vivify the brood-comb, which is always -deposited in the middle of the hive, and the heat -ascending is dissipated and lost in the empty -space above. I have seen whole combs full of -eggs do no good, in consequence of the want of -heat. This never happens in the low, flat hives, -where the heat is more easily concentrated; here, -as the young bees come to life, the heat augments, -and they assist in taking care of the -others that are advancing, and begin to spread -out on all sides, and entirely to fill the hive: the -republic prospers, and increasing numbers are -distinguished.</p> - -<p>It is, perhaps, for this reason that bees thrive -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">- 23 -</span> -well in conical or sugar-loaf shaped hives, which -are common in some countries: but they have -this disadvantage, that <i>capes</i> cannot be so easily -fitted to them, which facilitate the collecting of -the finest honey, and of which I shall treat presently.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">HIVES OF STRAW AND WOOD.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It is commonly supposed that bees thrive best -in straw hives, because the straw absorbs the -moisture, and the combs are less liable to mould. -For my part, I can perceive no difference. The -bees are careful enough to varnish over the interior -of the straw hives with a coating of wax, or -rather <i>propolis</i>, to prevent the settlement of the -moths; and, in the old hives, this varnish is so -thick that no moisture can penetrate between the -cords of the straw. Wooden hives will also absorb -moisture, to a certain extent; and experience -has shewn me, that it is a matter of indifference -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">- 24 -</span> -which are employed, except as to the price, according -as either material may be more or less -abundant in different parts of the country.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">THICKNESS OR SOLIDITY OF HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Whatever</span> may be the form or material of -which hives are made, I strongly recommend not -to be sparing of it, but to make them substantial. -I would recommend that the boards of -the wooden ones be an inch and a half thick; -and that the straw-ropes of which the others -are composed, be well twisted, and more than -an inch in diameter. Such hives will be heavier -and more unwieldy than thin hives, but -they afford a better protection from the sun in -summer, and the frost in winter. The heat -of the sun is apt to melt the combs in summer: -in winter the cold sometimes candies, and -renders them useless; and, in the spring, the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">- 25 -</span> -thin hives neither retain the heat necessary for -hatching the eggs, nor for preserving the honey in -a liquid state. One may easily be convinced of -this, by laying some folds of linen on the top of -the hive, and then passing the hand between -them, and there will be a degree of warmth felt, -which never happens where the hives are thick -enough. They may be a little more costly, but -the expence is more than compensated by the -prosperity of the bees.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">SIZE OF THE APERTURE OR ENTRANCE OF HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is of great importance to widen or contract -the entrance, according to the season, or to the -strength of the swarms; and for this purpose it -is only necessary to have a few little wedges, or -bits of wood, that may be taken out or put in at -pleasure. Hives are weak in spring, because the -bees are engaged in the interior, keeping warm, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">- 26 -</span> -and taking care of the young, and the guard at -the door is not strong enough to prevent invaders. -Contract the door, therefore, and four bees will -defend it better than thirty would do, if it were -more spacious, and enlarge it again by degrees, -according to the increase of the population. The -working bees must have room enough to go out -and in without hindrance; when they begin to -crowd together in groups at the entrance, it is -a sign of the interior being filled, and they -should then have free access, as they will be -strong enough to resist pillage. When the -cluster becomes very large, which it will do as -the drones increase, enlarge the entrance as much -as possible. It is even advisable sometimes to open -the hive a little at the top, in order to moderate, -by a current of air, the excessive heat that forces -the bees to the outside; and this is the only case -in which there is any advantage in lofty hives. -After the destruction of the drones, the population -diminishes, and the bees no longer cluster -outside, and then is the time to begin, by degrees, -to contract the entrance, in order to prevent -plunder.</p> - -<p>For this purpose, I use little wooden wedges -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">- 27 -</span> -first, because they cost nothing, as any body may -make them with a knife and a bit of stick; and, -secondly, because they help to protect them from -the moths, which make sad havoc when once -they gain access to a hive. They deposit their -eggs in the interstices between the wedges and -the hives, and they are hatched by the heated -vapour that is expelled by the constant vibration -of the wings of the bees. In the fine weather of -April or May, I inspect my hives twice or three -times a-week, before the bees go out in the -morning, take out the wedges, and scrape and -clean them with my knife; and, in this way, I -protect them from the moths.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">TO ASCERTAIN THE WEIGHT OF HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Many</span> apiaries do not prosper, in consequence -of the ignorance of those who have the care of -them. How many people follow blindly the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">- 28 -</span> -way they have been used to, without knowing -wherefore; others go on by chance, without rule -or guide. At one time they ruin their hives, by -depriving them of too much of their honey; at -another, they suffer whole colonies to die of hunger, -when they might save them by giving them -food; and, in autumn, they suffocate those that -appear to be destitute of provisions, because they -know not how or in what manner to preserve -them. Few amateurs understand thoroughly the -state and wants of their hives, and generally estimate -them by lifting them up to feel their -weight; and, as this may be the cause of numerous -mistakes, some being three or four times -heavier than others, it is of the utmost importance -to know the exact weight of each hive, -when empty, without either combs or bees. For -this purpose, I expressly recommend, that each -hive be weighed before putting a swarm into it, -and the weight noted down in a memorandum -book, as well as on a ticket nailed on the hive, -the use of which we shall soon see.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">- 29 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">QUANTITY OF HONEY NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A HIVE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> quantity varies according to the climate. -In southern countries, where there is scarcely -any winter, the bees gather food till towards the -end of autumn, and the flowers offer them pasture -again very early in the spring. In these -countries, therefore, they require a smaller winter -store than in colder climates. The directions -I am about to give, are only applicable to -Switzerland, or to those countries which nearly -resemble it in point of temperature. Every hive -ought to have at least three pots of honey to -nourish it during the winter; and, as the pot of -honey, Neuchatel measure, weighs rather more -than five pounds, of seventeen ounces to the -pound, there should be fully fifteen pounds of -honey allowed to each hive. Whether the swarm -be strong or weak, large or small, is of no consequence, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">- 30 -</span> -as the smallest swarm will consume as -much as a large one. If they have less than that -allowance, they may linger through the winter, -but will be sure to die if the spring happens to -be a late one, and the weather cold and rainy. -If a hive is expected to swarm, it should be allowed -a quarter more in the autumn, that is, -twenty pounds of honey: or it may be supplied -after another manner, which I shall point out. -But let there be no higgling with bees; better -that they have too much than too little: more -prudent than man, they never waste or abuse -their superfluity.</p> - -<p>In estimating the quantity of provisions that a -hive contains, its age should be considered; and -it is to be taken into account, that the black -combs of old hives weigh ten times more than -the white combs of a young one. It becomes, -therefore, a matter of importance to know the -weight of the empty hive, without which the -quantity of provision cannot be estimated, and -to weigh it again at the end of the honey season. -When a swarm of the present year, at the -end of autumn, weighs fifteen or sixteen pounds -more than its original weight, I take nothing -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">- 31 -</span> -from it, and I give it nothing, being certain that -it can maintain itself, if not plundered. If it -has twenty-five, or even thirty pounds, neither -do I touch it, as it will prosper so much the better -next year. As to old hives, they ought, at -the beginning of winter, to weigh twenty-five -pounds above their original weight. I willingly -leave them thirty or thirty-six pounds. The remainder -I consider my own, and of course take -it away.</p> - -<p>Some people will wonder at the quantity of -provisions which I leave to my hives; but it is -the true means, I may say the true secret, by -which to insure swarms, for a starved one never -produces. To this I have seen only one exception. -I lavished honey upon a hive in spring, -when it was crowded with bees, which were in -want; this enabled it to give out a late swarm, -but it never prospered. What surplus I bestow -upon them, I consider as not lost, and that, -sooner or later, it will return to me. Besides, -the consumption is prodigious during the great -<i>hatching</i> in the months of March, April, and -May. It requires an incredible quantity to nourish -the young in the state of <i>larvæ</i> or worms. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">- 32 -</span> -The larvæ are involved in a kind of pap, which -its nurses lavish upon it, and which is chiefly -composed of honey. If, at this time, there should -happen to be whole weeks of cold rainy weather, -and high winds, which is sometimes the case at -that season, the poor bees, unable to get to the -fields, will suffer severely if they have not honey -in store; the hatching is interrupted till the return -of fine weather; and the population makes -no progress: while, in well provisioned hives, it -goes on without intermission. Bees are very saving; -but it is to our profit. Let us not deal -grudgingly with them.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, it is not advantageous to leave -them greatly too much honey,—excessive super-abundance -annoys them. In plentiful seasons, I -have seen middling sized straw-hives in which -the combs were filled with honey down to the -very boards. This happens especially when the -bees have enriched themselves with plunder in -the autumn; and there are two inconveniences -attending it; first, the bees have not room to deposit -their brood, which, by the time the swarms -are ready to go off, fills the hive almost entirely; -secondly, the old honey candies, and, in that -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">- 33 -</span> -state, it is of no use to the bees. When hives are -to be renewed by the cutting out of old combs, -it is this kind that should, above all, be taken -away. It is always to be found in old hives; -and if it has been left several winters in the -hive, it sours and contracts a disagreeable taste. -The best use that can then be made of it is to -dissolve it with more or less wine, and feed the -bees with it on the approach of the swarming -season; above all, when the weather is cold and -rainy. Their activity is then increased by it.</p> - -<p>These succours will not be found superfluous -even when the trees are in flower. In fine weather -they find honey in abundance on them; but, -should a few rainy days interrupt their labours, -and throw them upon their own resources, the -progress of the hatching is stopped, and injury is -done to all.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">- 34 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">THE USE OF CAPES OR HOODS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Well</span> made straw-hives ought to have a hole -in the top, of about an inch or an inch and a -half in diameter, which may be closed with a -cork or stopper of wood. This stopper may be -drawn out when it is found advisable to put a -cape or hood on it, so as to give the bees more -room to deposit their honey. These capes are -little straw-hives capable of containing five or -six pounds of honey-comb, or more, according -to the size of the hive on which they are placed. -They are made very thin and light: the cords of -straw of which they are formed are very small, -being not intended to keep in the heat, but merely -to serve as a temporary magazine for the honey.</p> - -<p>The use of these additions will be easily understood -by those who know that it takes as long -a time to hatch a bee as to hatch a chicken, viz. -three weeks.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">- 35 -</span></p> - -<p>I have already said and repeated, that, in the -swarming season, the strong and well provisioned -hives are almost entirely filled with the -brood-comb, and that scarcely any of the cells -will be found empty. At that time also, honey -becomes abundant; and, when fine days succeed -each other, the working bees amass an astonishing -quantity; but where is it to be stored? Moments -are precious. Must they wait until the -young bees have left the brood-cells, a week or -perhaps a fortnight longer, by which time the -early flowers will be cut down or withered, never -more to display their honied cups to these -little reapers? What is to be done in this dilemma? -Must the young be sacrificed, and torn -from the cells, in order to make room for the -riches that nature offers on every hand? But -this destruction of its posterity would ruin the -colony. Mark, then, the resource of the industrious -bees. They search in their neighbourhood -for a place where they may deposit their honey -until the young shall have left the comb in which -they were hatched, and nourished, and undergone -their metamorphoses; and, if they fail in -their object, they crowd together op the front or -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">- 36 -</span> -sides of their habitation, forming prodigious -clusters. It is not uncommon to see them build -combs on the outside; many did so in the year -1791, the finest honey year I have seen since -1753. In the year 1791, I drew from one of -my straw-hives that did not swarm, seventy-two -pounds of beautiful honey-comb, merely by emptying -the capes as they were filled. All years, -however, are not like that, nor any thing approaching -to it. There are middling seasons, -when the bees find little more than merely what -is requisite for their own supply. There are also -bad seasons, when almost all the swarms -perish, as well as numberless old hives, when -they do not receive assistance: such, among -others, were the years 1812 and 1813. In the -worst years there are days and even weeks of -fine weather, when the honey is abundant; but -it is of short continuance. The bees, however, -at that time, will deposit their honey into the -capes; and, towards the end of summer, or beginning -of autumn, when little or no more is to -be found, they remove it into the hive, filling -the cells which the brood occupied at the time -it was collected.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">- 37 -</span></p> - -<p>If, during the summer, we deprive them of -this treasure, which is only deposited in the -capes for the time, we impoverish them, unless -it is returned to them in twice the quantity. -This was one cause of the ruin and depopulation -of so many apiaries during these two fatal -years, and my principal motive for taking up -my pen is, to prevent, if possible, the recurrence -of such disasters, by making known to the public -my observations and discoveries.</p> - -<p>If the bees have room enough in the interior -to dispose of their honey, it is needless to give -them capes, for they will not build in them. -These capes are commonly placed on the top of -the hive, but it is matter of indifference whether -they be on the right, on the left, or even underneath, -provided there be an accessible way of -communication between them. If we wish to -attach them to the bottom of the hive, we establish -a communication between the hive and the -cape, by making a hole in the board on which -the hive rests, so as to afford a free passage to -the workers. I have capes of all kinds, above, -below, and on the sides, which all succeed equally -well. Those placed above have an advantage -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">- 38 -</span> -not to be despised, which is, that they prevent -the combs from moulding during the winter, an -evil to which hives are liable in those countries -where they are taken into the house, to protect -them from the frost and snow.</p> - -<p>All those that are well stocked, produce a -moisture which, having no vent, collects in drops -on the sides, and at the base of the hive, in which -the bees are kept close prisoners until the return -of fine weather. Many perish during their -long captivity, and, oftener than once, I have -found large icicles in strong hives. This never -happens to those that have capes on the top: the -moisture ascending evaporates through the opening, -as by a chimney; and then one has the satisfaction -of finding the combs healthy and free -of mould in the spring. Care, however, must -be had to cement it all round with clay or mortar, -or some composition suited to exclude the -wind, and to prevent the bees, sometimes very -impatient, from getting out during the winter.</p> - -<p>With this precaution, very few will be found -dead in the spring; and, in well-stocked hives, -the laying of eggs begins about the end of January -or beginning of February.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">- 39 -</span></p> - -<p>Capes may be adapted to wooden hives, or to -those of any other material, as well as to those -of straw.</p> - -<p>Many people place capes over all their swarms -the very day, or the day after, their emigration, -and I approve of this plan for early and strong -swarms.</p> - -<p>Capes neither prevent nor retard the issuing -of swarms. I have frequently had hives that filled -them, or were in the way of doing so, when -the emigration took place, but on their numbers -being diminished, stopped the work, and returned -to it again as soon as they were reinforced, -provided they did not give out a second swarm. -Hives that have capes rarely give out second -swarms, and this is no loss.</p> - -<p>The honey obtained by the capes is very pure, -beautifully white, and very superior to what is -obtained by the cutting out of combs.</p> - -<p>It sometimes happens, that the queen will ascend -into the cape to deposit her eggs, when she -has not room in the interior; therefore, should -any brood-comb happen to be in it when it is intended -to be removed, let it be replaced until -such time as the young are completely hatched. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">- 40 -</span> -The brood-comb is easily distinguished: the cells -that contain it have their covers darker, more -raised, and much thicker, than those that contain -honey, the covers of which are white, flat, -and very thin.</p> - -<p>There is no fixed rule for the time of removing -the capes; it must altogether depend on the -abundance of the honey. In six years, there are -usually two bad, two good, and two middling -seasons.</p> - -<p>In bad seasons there is nothing to take away; -on the contrary, some must be given, or, properly -speaking, be <i>lent</i> to them, for the industrious -bees always repay three, four, and five fold -interest on the advances that are made them.</p> - -<p>In good years, the capes may be emptied three -or four times; and unless this be done the bees -will build their combs on the outside.</p> - -<p>In middling seasons, strong and well provisioned -hives fill at least one cape, which may be -taken without remorse, if they have not swarmed. -I seldom or never take any from those that have -swarmed, because they are thereby very much -weakened. Good sense must here direct the proprietor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">- 41 -</span></p> - -<p>The only fixed rule which can be laid down -is, never to take the capes that are not quite filled, -unless the hive happens to be very large, as -there is always abundance of honey when the -labourers determine to go to work in the capes. -But beware of taking half-filled capes from small -or middling sized hives: restitution will repair -but a small portion of the evil this will do them.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">HOW TO EXPEL THE BEES FROM THE CAPES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is in the heat of the day that the honey -should be taken from the capes. A number of -bees will always be found (commissioned no -doubt) to guard the treasure.</p> - -<p>Various methods are resorted to, to expel them -without smoking. Some carry the cape to a distance -from the apiary, turn it upside down, rest -it on the ground, and cover it with a napkin, -leaving on one side a space of about a finger-length -uncovered, to allow an exit to the bees, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">- 42 -</span> -which, escaping by this opening, return to their -habitation; and, to hasten their departure, some -one knocks, from time to time, on the outside.</p> - -<p>Others take a cape of the same size, place it -over the full one that is turned upside down, -bind them round with a napkin, to intercept all -passage to the bees, and force them to ascend into -the empty cape by tapping gently on the full -one. They soon go up into the empty cape, calling -on each other, and flapping their wings; and, -when they are all housed, replace them again on -the parent hive whence they were withdrawn; -and, if the season is favourable and the honey -abundant, they soon set to work again.</p> - -<p>I prefer this last method, which is the speediest -and easiest.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">SIZE OF HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Most</span> amateurs have all their hives of an equal -size. Some will have only very large ones; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">- 43 -</span> -others very small ones; and others there are who -prefer those of middling dimensions, into which -they lodge indifferently, early and late, weak -and strong, and even double swarms, that have -re-united on leaving the parent hive; this is not -very judicious. There should be a roomy lodging -for first and for strong swarms, and even -more so for double ones; and there ought to be -small hives to receive feeble and tardy swarms, -as well as for second and third ones at least, if -proprietors do not reinforce them, by uniting -them, according to my plan. Middling sized -hives are convenient for ordinary swarms, which -are neither the first nor the last ones.</p> - -<p>When two or even three swarms come off at -the same time and mingle together, as sometimes -happens in large apiaries, I take care not to separate -them, but give them a hive big enough to -contain them all.</p> - -<p>One strong population supports itself better, -and is incomparably more profitable, than feeble -colonies, that must be often in need of assistance. -But there is a measure in every thing, and there -should be no excess; should four or five swarms -mingle, it is proper to separate them and lodge -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">- 44 -</span> -them in two hives of suitable dimensions; when -I have not done so, I have always, except once, -had cause to regret it. Before swarming time, -it is as well to prepare hives of various sizes, -just as one would have casks ready in a cellar -before the vintage, to be ready for use. Here -experience is in harmony with reason.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">MANNER OF UNITING NEW SWARMS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Feeble</span> and tardy swarms can do no good excepting -in very fine seasons. In bad seasons they -greatly weaken the hives that produce them, -without being able to shift for themselves. In -ordinary years, they can only be preserved by -much care, and at the expence of a great deal of -honey; and most of them die, after all, without -bringing any profit to their master. I have -saved some that have turned out well, but only -at the end of two or even three years; and I advise -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">- 45 -</span> -no one to try the experiment unless they -have a great deal of honey to spare. It is better -to unite them, and proceed after the following -method:—</p> - -<p>When two small swarms come off the same -day, I gather them separately, and leave them at -the foot of the tree or hush on which they have -alighted. Towards evening I spread a table-cloth -on the ground, on which, by a smart and -sudden movement, I shake all the bees out of -one of the hives, and immediately take the other -and place it gently over the bees that are heaped -together on the cloth, and they instantly ascend -into it, flapping their wings, and join those -which, not having been disturbed, are quiet in -their new abode. Early next morning I remove -this newly united hive to the place it is destined -to occupy. This doubled population works with -double success, and in the most perfect harmony; -and generally becomes a powerful colony, -from which a great profit is derived. Two feeble -swarms may be united after the same manner, -although one of them may have come off -some days later than the other, and the first may -have constructed combs; taking care, however, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">- 46 -</span> -not to make the first one enter the second, but -the second the first, as the bees will ascend more -readily to join those that have already begun to -make honey and to hatch brood; and next day -they will proceed together, with increased ardour, -with the work which the first had already -begun, and which will now advance more rapidly -from the increase of the labourers. It is -to be understood, that, after this union, the hive -should be placed early next morning in the same -place where the oldest of the swarms has already -passed some days.</p> - -<p>I have recommended the uniting of swarms to -be effected in the evening, when the bees are -quietly housed for the night. If it were to be -during the day, when the labourers are in full -activity, they might fight and kill one another, -to the total destruction of one of the swarms, -which I have seen happen more than once. But -in the evening they are grouped together; those -that have been displaced alight upon, and take -hold of, the others, and thus merely extend the -cluster, now composed of two distinct masses, -the one covering the other: their peace is never -disturbed, and next day they work together in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">- 47 -</span> -perfect harmony. Their fighting is always after -the fashion of a duel, and not of a battle. In -their wars, they do not range themselves in close -battle lines, like men, breaking through and -overturning each other; they fight bee to bee, -excepting in cases of plunder or the killing of -the drones, and then the combatant who first engages -in the attack is speedily assisted by all -those within reach uniting their forces to overthrow -the enemy. But when the whole of a new -swarm, suddenly displaced, ascends precipitately -into a hive, peaceably occupied by another, the -bees of each colony cannot recognize each other, -and having no field to fight after their own fashion, -they pass the night together, and, doubtless, -acquiring the same smell, live happily together. -But such is not the case when we -wish to make a swarm enter an old hive, or to -unite it to one whose hive is already full of honey-combs. -Then another way of proceeding, and -precautions of another kind, are necessary, concerning -which I shall now give directions.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">- 48 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">METHODS OF UNITING TWO OR THREE SWARMS IN AUTUMN.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the swarms have not been able to lay -up a sufficient provision during the fine weather, -I weigh them at the end of the season, and, -knowing the weight of each empty hive, I can -tell exactly the quantity of honey they have in -store.</p> - -<p>If they are three, four, five or six pounds too -light, I preserve them, and feed them in the manner -I am about to detail. When the swarms -have only about one-third or one-half of the -quantity of honey which would suffice to feed -them, I might keep them alive by giving them -as much more as they require. I have frequently -done so; but I have already remarked, that -this plan costs too much honey, and gives too -much trouble; and therefore I generally join -them into one. For this purpose, I leave the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">- 49 -</span> -heaviest swarm untouched, and, in the morning -of a fine day in September, or beginning -of October, I commence by blowing a few -whiffs of tobacco-smoke with my pipe in at the -door of the hive of the lightest swarm, to disperse -the sentinels; then, turning up the hive, -and placing it on its top on the ground, I give -it a little more smoke, to prevent the bees from -becoming irritated, and to force them to retire -within the combs. I proceed to cut out all the -combs in succession, beginning with the smallest, -sweeping the bees with a feather off each -piece back into the hive; and then I place the -combs, one after another, into a large dish beside -me, keeping it, at the same time, carefully covered -over with a napkin or small table-cloth, to -prevent the bees returning to their combs, or the -smell of the honey attracting others that may be -flying about. The last comb is the most difficult -to come at, being completely covered over with -bees. I detach it, however, in the same way as -the others, but with greater precaution, sweeping -the bees off very gently with the feather until -there is not one left on it. This operation I -perform without gloves or any other protection, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">- 50 -</span> -armed only with my pipe; and, for ten times -that I treat them after this fashion, I seldom receive -one sting, even when I act unassisted.</p> - -<p>The combs being all removed, the swarm remains -as completely destitute of food as it was -on the day of its emigration, and I replace it on -its board in the same spot it occupied when full, -and leave it till the evening, by which time the -bees will be clustered together like a new swarm. -During the whole of the day, which I shall suppose -to be fine, they occupy themselves with -great earnestness cleaning their house, and making -such a noise in removing the little fragments -of wax that have fallen on the board, that -any one who did not know it had been emptied, -would take it for the best and strongest of the -hives. Before night, when they are all quiet, I -throw a few whiffs of smoke in at the door of -the hive which I mean my deprived swarm to -enter, and which should be its next neighbour, -on the right hand or the left; then, turning it up -and resting it on the ground, I sprinkle it all -over with honey, especially between the combs -where I perceive the greatest number of bees: -five or six table-spoonfuls generally suffice; at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">- 51 -</span> -other times three or four times as many are -required. If too little were given, the new -comers might not be well received; there might -be some fighting; and, by giving too much, we -run the risk of drowning them. One should -cease the sprinkling when the bees begin to climb -up above the combs, and shelter themselves on -the sides of the hive: this done, I replace the -hive on its board, which should jut out about -seven or eight inches, raising the hive up in front -with two little bits of stick, so as to leave a division -of an inch in front between it and the -board, to give free access to the bees. I also -spread a table-cloth on the ground before it, -raising and fixing one end of it on the board, by -means of the two bits of sticks that are placed as -a temporary support to the hive. I then take the -hive that was deprived of its combs in the morning, -and, with one shake, throw the bees out of -it upon the table-cloth, which they instantly begin -to ascend; while, by the help of a long wooden -spoon, I guide them to the door of the one -that is placed for their reception. A few spoonfuls -of the bees raised and laid down at the door -of the hive, will set the example,—they enter at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">- 52 -</span> -once, and the others follow quickly, flapping -their wings and sipping with delight the drops -of honey that come in their way, or officiously -licking and cleaning those first inhabitants that -have received the sprinkling, and with whom -they mingle and live henceforth on good terms. -One division of the new comers always clusters -on the front of the hive, which they enter during -the night without disturbance, much pleased -to rejoin their companions. Next morning early -it is necessary to take away the table-cloth -and the bits of stick that were placed to raise up -the hive and facilitate the entrance of the bees, -and for some days the door should be left as -wide as possible. The hive should also be moved -a little to the right or left, that it may stand precisely -in the centre of the place they both occupied -before the union.</p> - -<p>I have frequently united three swarms in the -same manner, and with the same success, taking -care only to empty in the morning those on each -side, and to make the bees enter the middle one -in the evening, after it has been sprinkled with -honey. In this case I do not remove the one -that unites the three swarms. The reason of this -we shall soon see.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">- 53 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">MANNER OF UNITING OLD HIVES IN AUTUMN.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>When old hives are weakened by giving out -too many swarms, and have not amassed a sufficient -provision for the winter, many proprietors -place them one above another, simply making -an opening in the board, to serve as a communication -between them, and closing the entrance -to the upper one, with a little clay, for the purpose -of making the bees go out and in through -the lower one by the only opening that is left -them. Several authors advise it; I have done it -also, but shall do so no more, having found it -attended by two serious inconveniences.</p> - -<p>The first is, that the two colonies do not always -agree; indeed they fight sometimes to extremity, -and thus the one is destroyed and the -other is weakened. The reason is, that the bees -of the upper hive, descending one by one, or only -few at a time, are examined at leisure by those -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">- 54 -</span> -in the lower one, and, not having the same signal, -are mistaken for robbers, and killed without -mercy. This occurred to me the first time -I attempted to unite them in this way; but it -never happens in the tumultuous union of two -swarms, when the one has been sprinkled and -almost glued with honey, in consequence of -which it is not in a fit state to commence an attack -on those that are hastily displaced.</p> - -<p>A second inconvenience is, that, even supposing -there should be no warfare, the habitation is -much too large for those that are henceforth intended -to be but one family. Whether they -unite in the upper or the under hive, one of them -must be left empty, into which thieves can find -easier access; and although they should not be -plundered, they would suffer from the cold of -a severe winter. The population, indeed, is -doubled, but so is the size of the lodging, and in -that case there will be no swarms. Very large -hives seldom swarm, it requires so much more -time to fill them. My method has not these disadvantages, -for two families living together in -the same hive are warmer, and better able to resist -any hostile attack.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">- 55 -</span></p> - -<p>It is to avoid these two inconveniences that, -in autumn, I empty an old hive which has not -sufficient provision, and, in the evening of the -same day, I introduce the bees into one of its -neighbours on the right hand or on the left, proceeding -in the same manner as with the swarms; -with this single difference, that the sprinkling of -honey should be more liberal to the old hive than -to the swarm.</p> - -<p>If the hive of which I have doubled the population -is well enough furnished with provision -for the winter, I give it nothing. And if there -is not enough, I give it before winter as much -as it requires, in the manner hereafter to be detailed.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">NEIGHBOURING HIVES SHOULD BE UNITED.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>I HAVE already said, in <a href="#CHAPTER_III">Chapter III.</a> that bees -which have not swarmed voluntarily return to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">- 56 -</span> -the place they have been accustomed to, even -after having been shut up for months: the same -thing would happen if you united swarms distant -from each other. Next day, or the day after, -you would have the mortification to see the -bees return by hundreds to their old residence, -flutter about for a length of time, and lose their -lives, either by falling down from fatigue, or -throwing themselves into the neighbouring hives, -where they are put to death. Not having left -their new dwelling with the same precaution -that a swarm uses to reconnoitre the one it has -chosen, or that has been given to it, and, supposing -themselves at home, in spite of the disorder -of the night before, they rush out on a rapid -flight, and, returning from their excursion, go -back to the place of their ancient domicil; and -thus the purpose of fortifying your hives, and of -preserving them, by uniting them, is defeated. -I have frequently tried to unite distant hives, -and always met with this result.</p> - -<p>There is only one remedy for this that I know -of, but it is an imperfect one, and gives a great -deal of trouble. It is, to put in some combs of -wax into the hive that has been emptied, and replace -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">- 57 -</span> -it in its old situation. The bees return to it -in great numbers the following day, and some days -after; at length, after a great deal of bustle, they -settle towards evening on the combs, and, before -night, when they are quite tranquil, I take the -combs one after another, and, with a feather, -sweep off the bees, so as to make them fall upon -the board of the one that contains their companions, -and which they now enter with evident -marks of joy. This operation may require to be -repeated for seven or eight days, with this difference, -that every succeeding day fewer will return. -Thus the evil may be repaired, though -incompletely and with infinite trouble.</p> - -<p>It is to avoid the perplexity which displacing -them occasions to these precious insects, and also -the loss that results to myself, that I move the -united hive a little to one side, so that it may -occupy the space that was before between them. -As displacing them only a few inches does not -confuse them, for the same reason, when I join -three hives, as I often do, I never displace the -middle one, but remove those I have emptied -on the right hand and on the left, which is sufficient -to prevent mistakes, and the bees, finding -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">- 58 -</span> -no hive on either side, enter the middle one without -hesitation. It is a very essential point, however, -to join only neighbouring hives, as being -less troublesome and more successful.</p> - -<p>It would be a good plan to mingle in the -apiary strong and weak hives alternately, and to -place small and late swarms near each other, in -order to unite two and two, or three and three, -in autumn, if they have not enough of provision -laid up for their winter subsistence.</p> - -<p>When a deprived swarm happens not to be -near another in the same state, there is nothing -to hinder it being united to any old well provisioned -hive that may be near it, as it will thrive -all the better for such an addition to its population. -I have done so oftener than once, and always -with success.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">- 59 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">HOW TO FEED UNITED SWARMS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">There</span> is always honey in hives that are emptied -to be united. If there are six pounds more -or less, I lay aside the combs that are full, after -having separated those that are but half -filled, and of which the cells are not hermetically -sealed by the little thin chip of transparent -white wax which invariably covers those cells -that are full of honey. Twelve or fourteen days -after the union, when the cold forces the bees to -congregate themselves in their hives, I give the -hive that contains the double population a few -puffs of tobacco-smoke; then, turning it upside -down, I cut away the empty combs, that are always -below and on the sides of the hive. While -performing this operation, it is necessary to give -them an occasional whiff of smoke to keep them -quiet. I only take out the one-half of those that -are half filled with honey, and cease as soon as -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">- 60 -</span> -I find the comb quite full. When there is room -enough to contain the fragments of honey-comb -that I mean to put in, I place them as nicely as -I can, without breaking or bruising them, filling -the empty space, without leaving any division -but the little intervals between the combs, to allow -a free passage to the bees. This done, I lay a -board over it, and, with the aid of another person, -we return it gently to its former position, -and, shaking it as little as possible, replace it in -its proper situation.</p> - -<p>This operation may be done in the morning -or in the evening, but never in the heat of the -day. I prefer the evening, in order not to attract -thieves.</p> - -<p>The diligent bees soon discover the change -that has taken place; and finding bits of honey-comb -heaped up in all directions, they set about -giving them solidity, soldering them together -before the following night, in such a manner, -that all these fragments soon form one mass, intersected -only by little alleys of communication. -Thus it remains during the whole of the winter; -and, in the month of March or April, according -to the temperature of the weather, I take out -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">- 61 -</span> -this irregular mass, which I find entirely emptied; -the bees having lived upon it, and spared -the provisions which they had stored in the middle -of the hive.</p> - -<p>I have supposed that the hive whose population -I have doubled has also received the addition -of six pounds of honey-comb, given in the -way I have just described. These constitute, as it -were, the dowry of the new comers, who are -themselves at the whole expence, as it was they -who constructed and filled the combs of which -I took possession. The doubled hive having -then sufficient food to subsist on till spring, I -trouble it no more, certain, from past experience, -that I shall then find it in good condition. Every -one of these swarms would have perished from -want, had they lived separately; and, by joining, -I give them the means of subsistence, without -costing myself any thing. If the supposed six -pounds do not suffice to support them, I lend -them more; I say <i>lend</i>, for the bees always return -with interest whatever advances are made -to them.</p> - -<p>I proceed exactly after the same manner when -I unite two old hives that have not been able to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">- 62 -</span> -lay up a sufficient provision, remembering always, -as already mentioned, that old dark-coloured -combs, being much heavier than white -ones, contain also less honey, and that, consequently, -it requires a greater number of pounds -to make up a pot of this nectar. The difference -is so great, that six pounds of white comb will -produce more than a pot of honey, whereas the -same quantity can scarcely be extracted from -eight, or even ten, pounds of black comb.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">QUANTITY OF FOOD REQUISITE FOR UNITED HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">I have</span> said, in <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Chapter IX.</a> that each hive must -have three pots, or fifteen pounds of honey, to -sustain it during the winter, and until the bees -can find food for themselves again in the spring. -For this reason, I have advised the empty hives -to be weighed, before the swarm is admitted into -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">- 63 -</span> -it, and again in the autumn, when the honey -season is over, in order that we may be assured -that there is food enough to maintain them during -the winter.</p> - -<p>In doubling the population, I naturally expected -that we must also double the quantity of -food, for I had always seen that two or three families, -living together, used more meat than each -would have done singly, however rigid their economy. -The more mouths the more meat, thought -I; and, in consequence, I augmented greatly the -amount of provision the first time I doubled a -hive; but, to my great astonishment, when I -weighed it again in the spring, I found that the -united swarm had not consumed more than each -would have done singly. I could not believe my -eyes, but thought there must be some mistake, -nor could I be convinced, until I had repeated -the experiment a hundred times over, and had -always the same result.</p> - -<p>I have made a point, in every instance, to mention -the reasons of my advice and proceedings; -here, however, I humbly confess my inability to -do so, nor can I conceive how an army of thirty -thousand troops could be served with the same -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">- 64 -</span> -rations allowed for an army of only ten thousand, -supposing the soldiers of both to have an -equal appetite, and to have each wherewith to satisfy -it. But the fact exists in regard to the bees; -any one may have it in his power to convince -himself of it; the cause is to me unknown, and -must be left to wiser heads than mine to explain. -Does the increase of heat supply, to a certain extent, -the place of nourishment? Does the greater -and more uniform heat, in a well-stocked hive, -make the food more nourishing?</p> - -<p>These are questions which I propose to naturalists, -but which I cannot answer.</p> - -<p>After this discovery, as important as it seems -to be inexplicable, I varied my experiments, not -only to convince myself of the fact, but, if possible, -to arrive at more extended results. I joined -three hives in the autumn, by introducing into -the middle one, the bees of two neighbouring -hives; and I found, on weighing it in the spring, -that its inhabitants had scarcely used one pound -more than those of hives that had not been united. -I went farther: Having a large well-stocked -and amply provided hive, I added to it, in the -autumn, without displacing it, the swarms of four -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">- 65 -</span> -neighbouring hives, two on the right hand and -two on the left, that were so scarce of provisions -that the quantity of honey that would have been -necessary to have kept them alive, would have -far exceeded their value, and that all the four -would, to a certainty? have perished. This enormous -population produced a heat so great, that, -during the whole of a very severe winter, the -bees kept up a buzzing noise equal to that of a -strong and active hive in the evening of a fine -day in spring. The steam expelled by the vibration -of their wings, collected in drops at the -door, and formed icicles round the entrance of -the hive during severe frost. The hive was -left out all the winter, and would infallibly have -perished had I shut it up; and what was my astonishment, -on weighing it in the spring, to -find that, notwithstanding that it contained five -pounds, the total diminution did not exceed three -pounds more than took place in my ordinary -hives. It gave out excellent swarms, long before -any of the others, and recompensed me well -for my pains. I have not repeated the experiment -to the same extent, but have limited myself -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">- 66 -</span> -to the union of two, or at most three deprived -hives, and have been very well paid.</p> - -<p>What, in these circumstances, becomes of the -supernumerary queens, since their hatred to one -another is so great that there can be but one in -each colony? I give myself no trouble to answer -the question, more curious than useful; the -aim of my experiments being only to give practical -rules.</p> - -<p>I have often been astonished that so important -a discovery should not have been made sooner by -some of the superior minds that have taken an -interest in this branch of rural economy; and -that, in the course of their researches, not one of -them should have thought of uniting two or three -weak swarms, before winter, to compare them -with single swarms, in order to ascertain how -much honey was necessary, according to both -plans, till the end of the winter season. Doubtless -they had believed, as I formerly did, that -the more numerous the family the more provisions -would they require, and that little would -thus be gained by uniting them. I should have -regretted quitting the world before publishing -this discovery; and it had nearly perished with -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">- 67 -</span> -me; for, continued and indispensable occupations, -as well as a dangerous illness, prevented -me setting about giving it to the public, till now -that I am far advanced in life.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">BENEFITS RESULTING FROM THE UNION OF WEAK HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> advantages of uniting weak hives are -very considerable. I need only mention three. -1. The bees are saved; 2. They are saved without -trouble or expence; 3. All the hives are -strong.</p> - -<p>The first of these advantages is the preservation -of the bees. In every country, swarms are -destroyed that have not been able to gather a -sufficient store of provision. Those found to be -too light are unmercifully condemned to be suffocated; -and what little honey they have collected, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">- 68 -</span> -is considered as pure gain, because the bees -would have perished from want, after having -consumed the scanty fruits of their own industry; -and, by putting them to death a little sooner, -something at least may be made of them. -Thus people reason, and thus the murderous -practice is so generally adopted. The same plan -is followed in regard to old hives that are exhausted -by giving out too many swarms; and in -short, to all those that have not abundance of -provision laid up; and the very heavy ones, on -the other hand, have their bees slain to get possession -of the honey. What a frightful proscription -is this! What blanks occur in the apiaries, -especially in bad years, such as 1812 and 1813! -And how injurious to our own interest is this indiscriminate -destruction of weak and healthy, of -rich and poor! There is no mercy shewn but -to them that have just enough to keep them alive; -and not even one of them would be spared, were -they not indispensably necessary to repeople the -apiaries by new swarms. According to my method, -all these evils are prevented. All the hives -may be robbed of their treasures; but the lives of -the bees are spared.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">- 69 -</span></p> - -<p>A second and very considerable advantage is -the saving of honey. I have already said, that -there must be at least three pots or fifteen pounds -of honey to maintain one hive, whether it be -strong or weak. If three swarms, then, have -only that quantity among them, each has but a -third of the provision that it requires; and, to -keep them alive, you must sacrifice six pots of -honey, that is, two-thirds of the whole provision, -or two pots for each. It is to avoid this great -expence, which would equal if not exceed the -value of the swarms, that most people have recourse -to the prompt measure of suffocation. -But, by uniting the swarms, all the working -bees may be saved, without any expence, and -without any waste of honey but the small quantity -employed to sprinkle the combs of the hive, -into which you make them enter. The honey-combs -found in those which you empty, are sufficient -to feed the three united swarms, by giving -it to them after the manner I have directed -at page 33. The wax is all your own. It costs -only a little care and a little trouble, which will -be amply repaid by the benefit insured. And -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">- 70 -</span> -will it be accounted a slight pleasure to witness -the prosperity of the bees we have saved?</p> - -<p>A third advantage, which appears to me one of -great value, is, that all the hives which we possess -are strong hives (meaning by the term strong, -such hives as are well stocked with bees). Weak -hives decline and yield nothing; have frequent -need of assistance; are exposed to pillage; give -out no swarms; and produce scarcely heat sufficient -to hatch a little brood in a corner of their -dwelling, which never comes to good. How often -have I seen the brood come to an untimely -end. In vain the bees will crowd together, to -procure the necessary degree of heat, when there -is much empty space in the hive. A number of -weak hives may do well enough to make a shew -in the apiary, but will be no profit to the proprietor. -It costs a good deal to feed them, if one -would keep them alive; and there is very little -to be gained by putting them to death. Not so -with the united hives; they were all vigorous; in -condition to defy the rigour of the seasons; to -repel their enemies; and to gather a great quantity -of honey. The population augments rapidly, -and they give out early swarms; or if some -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">- 71 -</span> -of them do not produce swarms, they furnish -so much the more wax and honey, and will collect -more in one day than weak hives will do in -a whole week; in short, there is no comparison -between them.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">TIME AND MANNER OF RENEWING OLD HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is a common prejudice, that hives cannot -be profitably preserved beyond three, four, or -six years at most, and that, beyond that term, -they become weak, give out no more swarms, -and finish by being pillaged, or becoming the -prey of moths, which, if suffered to establish -themselves, soon make horrible devastation among -them. A great many experiments, however, -have fully convinced me that such is not -the case, and that the duration of the hives may -be greatly prolonged by renewing them.</p> - -<p>I have several from twelve to twenty years -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">- 72 -</span> -old, that are as prosperous, and swarm as well, -as the young ones. I have even one of June -1789, consequently now in its twenty-fifth year, -and it gave off an excellent swarm on the 4th of -June 1811, the same in 1813, then aged twenty-four -years, and again another this year 1814. -Besides these numerous swarms, I have taken -from it 142 pounds of honey-comb, either by -pruning, or by means of capes. I have never -united it with other bees, because its neighbours -had always enough to subsist on, and I have renewed -it only once.</p> - -<p>The decay of old hives proceeds from three -causes. The first is the candying of the old honey, -of which the bees have sometimes an ample -store, but which, from inability to eat it, becomes -in that state very troublesome, in place of being -of use to them. When forced by hunger to have -recourse to it, they draw it out of the cells, and -throw it down on the board that serves as a floor -to their habitation, in order to profit by any of -the sweet drops that happen to be in a liquid -state. In nibbling and scraping to empty the -cells, it happens that many of them become so -daubed, that, being unable to get away from it, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">- 73 -</span> -they fall down, and soon perish, if the weather -is cold. Thus the old honey is lost as much to -the proprietors as to the labourers that have gathered -it. Supposing, again, that they do not -touch it, the place it occupies is lost either for -the purpose of depositing new honey or brood, -and hence the weak state the hives fall into, if -not renewed.</p> - -<p>A second cause of their decay is owing to the -great quantity of the pollen or dust of flowers -that the bees gather and carry home on their -legs, especially in the spring and autumn, when -large portions of the combs will be found filled -with it on both sides. It is an essential ingredient -in the pap with which they nourish the -young brood, but good for nothing else. Different -authors have named it <i>bee-bread</i>; but the -bees never eat it: indeed it is a well attested fact, -that they will die of hunger on the combs that -are filled with it. As it is very heavy, it sometimes -cheats those people who estimate the provision -of a hive by its weight. This is one of -the reasons why I have recommended, in Chap. IX. -to allow eight or ten pounds more to old -hives than to new swarms.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">- 74 -</span></p> - -<p>The bee-bread being generally, when present, -deposited in the centre of the combs, where the -brood thrives best, of course the place which it -takes up is so much lost. It is liable to mould -in winter, and the working bees have a great -deal of trouble in tearing it from the cells, and -putting it out of their way. It spoils the honey, -takes away its whiteness, and gives it an unpleasant -taste; it destroys the wax even more, and -forms that brown scum under the cakes, when -great care is not taken to separate it. Nevertheless, -bees lay up useless hoards of it, which they -go on augmenting every year: and this is the -only point on which they can be accused of a -want of that prudence and foresight so admirable -in every other respect. By renovating the hives, -one frees them of this superfluous substance, and -the space it occupied is directly replaced by beautiful -white combs, and the whole hive becomes -as good as new.</p> - -<p>A third cause of the weakness of an old hive -is the blackness of the combs in the centre and -front of the hive. These old combs are mostly -pierced with holes large enough to hold two or -three fingers, or even a whole hand. They are -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">- 75 -</span> -not openings which the bees have cut out for -themselves, to pass from one comb to another; -but are the result of some violent measure to -which they have had recourse, for the purpose -of defending themselves from the moths, one of -which, establishing itself in a comb, will soon -destroy the whole hive, if they do not speedily -rid themselves of it. The young moth is not so -easily got the better of, being cased in a sort of -strong silk, by means of which it forms galleries, -and slides from side to side of the hive; and the -bees are unable either to get within reach of the -enemy, or to rend this silken covering that defends -it; but, perceiving their danger, they join -together in forming a plan of attack for their deliverance, -by gnawing the comb in which the -moth is established, as far as the galleries extend; -throw down the piece, and finish by reducing -it to crumbs, and never rest until they -kill the foe. They require to be in great force -for this operation. Weak hives need not attempt -it; indeed they generally finish by becoming the -prey of the moths.</p> - -<p>It is singular that bees, which know so well -how to build combs, should not be able to repair -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">- 76 -</span> -them. I have found as many as six of these -holes in one comb. Are they left standing thus, -like so many monuments of victories gained over -a formidable enemy,—the most formidable and -the most difficult to conquer? All useless combs -should be taken away, as they tend to weaken -the hive, and they will soon be replaced by entire -and healthy ones.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">THE SIGNS BY WHICH TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER A -HIVE REQUIRES TO BE RENEWED.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">As</span> long as a hive produces honey and swarms, -it is needless to touch it; but, when it ceases to be -productive,—when, during several months, the -bees form clusters, without swarming, I then -think it necessary to renew, or, properly speaking, -to prune it; the directions for which will be -best understood by my simply relating how I -managed my two first experiments.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">- 77 -</span></p> - -<p>The first time I performed this operation was -on a pretty large-sized straw-hive, which, for ten -years, was very productive. One year alone, it -yielded me seventy-two pounds of very fine honey-comb -in the capes, mentioned in <a href="#CHAPTER_X">Chapter X.</a> -The eleventh and twelfth years it made -me no return, though it was heavy and very -populous. About the beginning of the thirteenth -year, I gave it a little tobacco-smoke, with my -pipe, and proceeded to prune the combs away -with my knife, until I came to brood. There -remained only four in front, in which the bees -always begin to lay their eggs in the spring. -They were very black, and contained little honey, -but I saved them, that the population might not -be destroyed. The honey that I took out was -hard and candied, but I melted it with a little -wine; and, filling some bits of empty combs -with it, gave them a part of it two or three times -a-week, being careful to place them in the hive -in the evening, and take them out again in the -morning, for fear of attracting thieves.</p> - -<p>I thus fed the bees with their own store; the -combs were always empty in the morning. By -the month of April, they began to build in the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">- 78 -</span> -space I had left. By the middle of May, they had -completely filled it with beautiful white combs, -like those of a new swarm; and the same year, -on the 9th of June, it gave me, contrary to my -expectation, an excellent swarm. Next year, by -the end of March, I took away the four black -combs that I had left, and in which was no brood. -The brood was by this time deposited in the -middle combs; thus my hive was completely renewed.</p> - -<p>Encouraged by this success, I performed the -same operation next spring, on a common sized -hive, which, during eleven years, had annually -yielded me honey or swarms: one year I took -from it forty pounds of beautiful honey-comb; -but, for two years, it had been languid and unproductive. -On the 4th of March, I pruned away -all the combs, excepting two in front, containing -brood; and I nourished the bees, by giving them -a little of the liquid honey every evening, upon a -bit of comb, until they could get out to gather -food for themselves.</p> - -<p>In the month of May, all the combs that I had -cut out were replaced with the most beautiful -new ones. This hive, which was weaker than -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">- 79 -</span> -the other, gave out no swarm the same year, but -it filled a cape with some pounds of honey-comb, -which I took possession of.</p> - -<p>The following year, on the 4th of March, I cut -away the two black combs that were left in front, -and thus this hive was also entirely renewed; -after which it produced me four swarms, and -nearly forty pounds of honey-combs in the capes: -this I consider a clear profit, there not being the -smallest doubt that the hive would have perished, -had it not been renewed.</p> - -<p>These two examples may suffice to shew the -advantage to be derived from the renewing of old -hives. What would mine have yielded had I resorted -to the common method of suffocating the -bees? A little indifferent honey; for that of -candied combs is very inferior to that of new -ones. As to the wax, I should have had no -more, since I took away all that the hives contained, -and the exchange gave me good strong -colonies, which are more valuable than the best -swarms.</p> - -<p>The advantage of my plan will be better understood, -if we shall suppose two neighbouring -apiaries, equally good, and in all respects equally -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">- 80 -</span> -well taken care of. Suppose one of them shall -be managed in the ordinary way, and that, every -year, the owners shall suffocate the heaviest -swarms for the sake of the honey, and that they -also destroy the old hives that have too little provision -for the winter. Let the other apiary be -managed according to the principles I have detailed, -that not one bee shall be put to death, -and that, in the autumn, the swarms that are -too light, as well as the old hives that are scarce -of food, shall be united, and that the latter shall -be renewed when they cease to prosper.</p> - -<p>At the end of fifteen years, compare these two -apiaries, and see which has the strongest hives, -the greatest number, and in the best condition. -It would be surprising indeed, if they preserved -their original equality.</p> - -<p>Will these operations be objected to, on account -of the difficulties attending the performance -of them? Will it be said that every one has not -the courage to run the risk of being stung, or -the dexterity to set about handling the bees?</p> - -<p>In all countries there are people to be found -who are accustomed to gather swarms, and to -put joinings on hives. Let them be employed, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">- 81 -</span> -and directed in every part of the work that the -proprietors do not like to perform themselves. -This practice is common in Lusatia, a country -celebrated in the history of bees, by the very -useful discoveries of M. <span class="smcap">Shirach</span>, and where they -make annually, according to his principles, a -great quantity of artificial swarms. The country -people, of whom the greater number understand -nothing of these complex operations, which take -more time, and are much more difficult than the -union of swarms, or the renewing of hives, employ -people who are bred to the business, and -who, in the proper season, go from village to -village, making swarms, and are paid for their -trouble.</p> - -<p>From the result of my experiments, it is evident -that the duration of hives is indefinite; and -here a multitude of questions present themselves. -How long does a queen live? Would she live -twenty years and more? Is the term of her existence -prolonged beyond that of the working -bees? I cannot answer; but I have reason to -think that bees live only one year, and that those -which have lived over the winter, and have assisted -at the work during the spring and summer, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">- 82 -</span> -and which do not perish by accident, die of -age in the month of August. By that time, they -seem to become paralytic; and, unable to fly, they -fall down in the neighbourhood of the hives, and -creep about until they expire from fatigue and -exhaustion.</p> - -<p>One then sees many of them, with their wings -fringed, which is a sign of decrepitude, similar -to the wrinkles of an old person; while the young-bees -may be discerned by their grey ashy colour, -which becomes darker, approaching to black, -as they get older. I do not believe that the -queen (on whose existence depends that of the -colony), lives ten, fifteen, or twenty times longer -than the working bees. But they have the means -of filling her place when she comes to die. M. -<span class="smcap">Shirach</span> has completely demonstrated, by very -varied and multiplied experiments, that they require -only for that purpose a common bee-worm -that has been hatched within two or three days, -and that this worm becomes a queen, and a fruitful -queen, in less than a fortnight, by means of -a thicker, more roomy, and differently formed -cell, which they construct expressly for her, and -by a different sort of pap with which she is -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">- 83 -</span> -nourished. I have repeated the experiment oftener -than once.</p> - -<p>Forty days after I had put a bit of brood-comb -into a wired box, after the manner of M. <span class="smcap">Shirach</span>, -I saw young bees come out; and the young queen -I had made be hatched, was the mother of my -artificial swarm. It is therefore probable that a -hive, from twenty to twenty-five years old, has -not always the same queen, but that the queen -has, from time to time, been replaced. Moreover, -every time that a swarm comes off, it is -the old queen that emigrates with it.</p> - -<p>The sudden decline of a hive that has lost its -queen, and which never long survives the loss, -when it has not young brood to create another, -proves that bees live but one year, as the depopulation -would be less rapid if the lives of the -individuals extended beyond that term.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">- 84 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">ARTIFICIAL SWARMS AND DIFFERENT METHODS OF FORMING THEM.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>One often sees well-stocked hives that do not -swarm, and which, during the whole of the summer, -form large clusters, until the cold of the -autumnal evenings forces the idlers to re-enter -their hives; and it were vain to disturb them, to -smoke them, or torment them, in the hope of -forcing them to swarm. Some people have -thought they might attain their object by dividing -them in two; but they did not succeed. -There are, however, two ways of obtaining artificial -swarms; and the one which the celebrated -Shirach practised successfully in Alsatia, and -which was followed with the same results in the -north of Germany, requires a long course of difficult -and complex operations. I shall, however, -proceed to give my readers some idea of it.</p> - -<p>In spring, a little box is prepared, about six -inches square, with an opening in the top, about -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">- 85 -</span> -three inches square, and another the same size in -front. Each of these openings is covered with a -wire-grating, close enough to prevent any bee getting -through. This box rests on a stand provided -with twelve wooden pins, four or five inches -long, placed perpendicularly, in two rows, at the -distance of three inches from each other. These -pins should be so far separate as that five pieces -of honey-comb, each about as big as a person's -hand, may be placed between them.</p> - -<p>Between the farthest of the pins, on the right -and left hand, are put three bits of empty combs, -the same height as the pins: a piece of very fine -honey-comb, not candied, occupies the fourth -place; and the fifth, which is the centre, remains -empty. It is to be understood that the pins -supporting the combs on both sides, keep them -in a perpendicular situation, and prevent them -touching each other, and that the spaces left between -the combs is much about the same as -those in the hive to allow free passage to the -bees. Neither the honey-comb nor the empty -combs ought to touch the board, in case of the -moths taking possession of them; they are rather -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">- 86 -</span> -made to rest on two little bits of wood, raised a -little above the board, and crossed by the pins.</p> - -<p>Above the combs and the pins, a large piece -of comb is placed horizontally, and covering the -whole, to keep in the heat while the hatching -goes on.</p> - -<p>After all these preliminaries, a fine day is -chosen, about the end of April or beginning of -May, according to the climate, and according as -the season is more or less advanced; and, in the -heat of the day, a little before noon, a strong -hive, while in full activity, is lifted up, its top -rested on the ground, and the bees driven off the -combs with a little tobacco smoke, in order that -the proper pieces may be seen and chosen.</p> - -<p>A piece of comb, about the size of a hand, is -then cut out, containing all the three kinds of -brood, that is, eggs, nymphs, but principally the -little maggots, just two or three days out of the -shell. The hive is then replaced on its stand, -and the little bit of comb that was taken out of -it is put into the box, to occupy the empty space -that was left in the centre, between the pins, -and about a thousand or fifteen hundred bees, -taken from a cluster in some other manner, are -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">- 87 -</span> -then introduced, and the box closed, to prevent -them getting out.</p> - -<p>Their extreme agitation, approaching to despair, -produces a heat so great that they would -be suffocated, but for the wire-gratings above and -in front. Towards night, when they become -tranquil, nothing more is heard but a soft murmuring, -and they begin to construct one of the -great cells, that has its opening underneath, and -in which they nurse and rear queens. Before -the cell is completed, they carry into it a little -maggot, out of the egg within two days; which -being then suitably nourished, becomes a perfect -queen in less than a fortnight.</p> - -<p>For three days the box should be kept shut, -and the light carefully excluded, for it would -only serve to increase the agitation of the prisoners; -and the upper wire-grating, being of no -farther use, may be plastered over with a little -clay. The fourth day the box may be carried -to the apiary, and the bees set at liberty, by -opening a part of the wire-grating in front.</p> - -<p>Having now got a new establishment, with the -certainty of soon having a queen, they think no -more of returning to the hives whence they were -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">- 88 -</span> -taken, but come and go, cleaning their little -dwelling, and working like a weak swarm.</p> - -<p>While they are thus occupied, a little cage -should be prepared, in which to shut up the -queen when her metamorphoses shall be completed.</p> - -<p>This cage is of a semicircular form, and in -size resembling the half of a large orange; it is -made of wood, scooped out, and has a wire-grating -on the front of it, so fine that no bee can -get out or in: a hole is made in the lower part -of it, large enough to permit a bee to pass through, -and a wooden pin, from six to eight inches long, -of the size of the hole, is prepared to shut it up -with.</p> - -<p>These preparations being completed, the box -is opened fourteen or fifteen days after the bees -have been put in, but it must be one of these -fine spring days when the bees are busy at work: -should the weather be cold or wet, the opening -of the box must be delayed. The combs are then -all taken out, and the queen will be easily discovered. -She is much longer in the body, and -altogether larger, than the other bees, as may -be observed from the following figures, where -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">- 89 -</span> -<a href="#fig_1-2-3">Fig. 1.</a> represents the Queen; <a href="#fig_1-2-3">Fig. 2.</a> the Drone; -and <a href="#fig_1-2-3">Fig. 3.</a> the Working Bee <a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> To those not much acquainted with bees, the following -particulars may be useful.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="figcenter" id="fig_1-2-3" style="width: 377px;"> - <img src="images/fig_1-2-3.png" width="377" height="174" alt="Fig. 1 Queen; Fig. 2 Drone; Fig. 3 Worker" /> -</div> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><a href="#fig_1-2-3">Fig. 1.</a> The <i>Queen Bee</i>: the head is of a triangular shape; -her wings very short, not extending beyond the one-half -of her body, which is longer, and more pointed, -than that of the working bees. Her legs and corselet -are copper coloured; thorax grey, and abdomen brown. -There is only one queen to a hive; while there are from -10,000 to 15,000 workers, and perhaps 1000 or 1200 -drones.</p> - -<p><a href="#fig_1-2-3">Fig. 2.</a> The <i>Drone</i>, or Male Bee; the head is round, its -large body is almost entirely covered by its wings. It -has no sting. The drones appear only at the season of -swarming, and are all put to death by the workers in -the autumn.</p> - -<p><a href="#fig_1-2-3">Fig. 3.</a> The <i>Working Bee</i>. Head somewhat triangular; the -smallest and most numerous of the hive, which every -one knows as the <i>honey-bee</i>, and which fabricates the -combs, makes the honey, and feeds the young.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">- 90 -</span></p> - -<p class="p0">The queen must be seized by the wings and introduced, -head foremost, through the hole into -the cage, along with a dozen bees to bear her -company, and then the hole through which they -have passed is stopped up with the wooden pin. -This being completed, an empty hive must be -prepared, similar, in every respect, to the one -out of which artificially the swarm is to be taken. -A hole, parallel to that in the cage, is -pierced in the bench on which it is to stand, and -the end of the wooden pin fixed into it, so that -the cage may be suspended, perpendicularly, -about two-thirds the height of the hive. Between -eleven and twelve of the same day, while -the bees are mostly on the wing, a strong person -takes one of the old hives, that is not likely to -swarm, lifts it steadily, and rests it for a few seconds -on a table, at hand for the purpose, while -its place is instantly filled by the one containing -the young queen and her cage. Any bees that -may be grouped about the board are lifted up -with a wooden spoon, and laid down at the -door of the new hive; these ascend immediately; -and all the working bees, returning in crowds -from the fields, enter without hesitation; when, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">- 91 -</span> -finding neither combs, nor honey, nor any provision -whatever, they go out and return several -times, and fly round and round it; while the inhabitants -of the old hive, having no suspicion of -their place being changed, leave it without precaution, -return to the situation of their ancient -dwelling, and increase the swarm that is forming.</p> - -<p>Wearied at length of their researches, and -finding in this new establishment a great number -of their companions, with an imprisoned -queen, they unite themselves together at the top -of the hive, begin, even the same evening, to -build combs; and thus is obtained an excellent -artificial swarm. Next day, and some days after, -many bees continue to join them from the -old hive, which delays not to repeople itself from -the brood-comb with which it is filled, as it is -not more weakened than if it had swarmed naturally. -The second day after this operation -the new hive must be lifted up, the cage taken -out, and the queen set at liberty, which is easily -done, by drawing out two or three of the wires -that form the grating. It would not be possible -to make her descend by the hole through which -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">- 92 -</span> -she entered, and, by delaying too long to take -her out, she would be completely surrounded by -combs, that must be broken before she could be -released. The precaution of keeping the queen -in prison for two days is indispensable; for without -this precaution she would be put to death as -a stranger, or she might escape from the hive -during the first tumult, which would cause the -total failure of the swarm. But after being shut -up in it for a little time, she is looked upon as -the hope of the new colony, and sure of a favourable -reception.</p> - -<p>To succeed in this operation, there must be, -at least, six inches between each hive: should -they touch each other, many of the working bees -would infallibly lose their lives, by throwing -themselves into some of the neighbouring ones.</p> - -<p>Such is the result of these tedious and difficult -operations to obtain artificial swarms by the -method of M. <span class="smcap">Shirach</span>, at this time generally -pursued in Germany. There is another, easier -and less tedious, said to be in usage in the Archipelago, -in Ancient Greece, and several other -countries, which I have followed with great success.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">- 93 -</span></p> - -<p>Choose a hive of wood or straw, exactly the -same in form and size of the one from which you -mean to take the swarm. On a fine day in May, -or, in mountainous countries, which are later, -about the beginning of June, throw a few whiffs -of tobacco-smoke into a well-stocked hive, turn -it up, and, with a little more smoke, disperse the -bees that are upon the combs; then cut out a -bit of comb, about the size of the palm of a -hand, taking care that there be the three kinds -of brood, viz. eggs, maggots, and nymphs, already -enclosed in the cells that serve them for -cradles, but especially those maggots that have -been hatched within two days; after returning -this hive to its place, then proceed to fix the bit -of comb with some wooden pins, in the top of -the newly prepared one, and support it underneath -with a thin chip of wood. Between eleven -and twelve in the forenoon, lift a very populous -hive (not the one out of which the brood-comb -was taken), off its own board to another -that must be ready to receive it, and put the -empty one in the place it occupied. All the -bees, returning from the fields, enter the one -that has been substituted, seem at first to be -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">- 94 -</span> -greatly agitated, but, by degrees, gather round -the brood-comb, and begin before night to construct -a royal cell, to which they transport a -maggot of two days old, and where it undergoes -its metamorphosis, and comes out a queen. By -this method, I have procured excellent swarms -from hives that would not have swarmed naturally; -and, the following spring, renewed the -old hives, after the manner indicated in Chapter XXI, -thus preserving my hives in good condition.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">ADVANTAGES OF ISOLATED HIVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">A swarm</span>, taking flight, rushes out of the hive, -and seems bent on fixing itself in some distant -quarter, as if it feared the neighbourhood of -other swarms—as if it felt that its most formidable -enemies were those of its own kind.</p> - -<p>Swarms will unite, however, when they take -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">- 95 -</span> -flight at the same time, because the bees of one -hive cannot be distinguished from those of another -when on the wing, and crossing each other -in every direction; and as soon as one group begins -to knot upon a branch, the bees of the other -crowd round, supposing them to be their companions. -Their instinct, however, rather leads -them to isolate themselves, as they do in great -forests; but their proprietors resist this instinct, -assemble a great many hives together in the same -apiary, to shelter them from the weather, as well -as to protect them from thieves, and to watch -over them at the time of their emigration.</p> - -<p>Such are, doubtless, great advantages, but not -sufficient to counterbalance those that would result -from keeping them separate. The mixing -and uniting together of several swarms, that often -take place in large apiaries, and which is -not always an advantage, would thereby be prevented. -There would be greater facility in -forming artificial swarms, and one hive would -not be disturbed in operating on another. The -great expence of bee-houses would thus be spared; -these are much more costly than stands for isolated -hives, for which there is nothing more -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">- 96 -</span> -necessary than a board, supported by a pile of -wood, sunk into the ground, with a thatch of -straw, which any one can spread over the tops -of the hives, to protect them from the rain and -the heat of the sun.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">ENEMIES OF BEES, AND MEANS OF OVERCOMING THEM.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">All</span> amateurs that have written on the subject -of bees, have spoken of their enemies, but -few have given any directions in what way they -may be overcome. I should neither attain my -aim, nor realise the title of my work, if I did -not notice them.</p> - -<p>Nothing is more prejudicial to bees than ignorant -attention. Their most formidable enemies -are, perhaps, their possessors, who busy -themselves to torment them, and weaken and -kill them by too much care. In winter they hurt -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">- 97 -</span> -them, by shutting them up for fear of the snow, -without considering that many more perish in -their unwholesome prison; and that the great -humidity, having no outlet, moulds the combs, -and sometimes even rots them. Who shuts up -the wild bees in the forests of Lithuania, where -they thrive so well? Their own instinct suffices; -there they have no master to thwart them.</p> - -<p>In spring, the giving them a little honey, that -would suffice to save them, is not always attended -to, neither is the guarding them from moths, -which at that time make the greatest havoc, nor -is the narrowing of the entrances to prevent -them being robbed. In summer I have seen -persons leave only very small entrances to very -populous hives, even when the bees were forming -clusters, and so increase the ardour and activity -of the workers. But this embarrassment -only pained them, and retarded the gathering -and laying up of their store.</p> - -<p>Some let swarms escape from mere carelessness. -People suffocate them in autumn, that -they may possess themselves of their provisions; -and others take out the best of the honey and -often too much of it, and so expose them to die -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">- 98 -</span> -of hunger; and they even sometimes annoy them -by leaving too great a quantity of candied honey-comb, -which is of no use to them, and the -extraction of it from the cells costs many valuable -lives, as I have already observed.</p> - -<p>I therefore place, in the foremost rank of their -enemies, those of their <i>possessors</i>, who, by their -own ignorance and inexperience, hinder them -from prospering and multiplying.</p> - -<p>Ants are their least dangerous enemies; true, -the bees cannot sting them to death, because -they are small and well defended with armour, -but they seize hold of them with their teeth, -and carry them to a distance. Had they not -this means of getting rid of them, their colonies -could not exist in the vast forests full of ants' -nests, and where they thrive so well, in spite of -the horrible massacres that annually take place. -I have never seen a hive destroyed by ants; they -attack only weak swarms, that have been either -pillaged before, or happen to be established in a -lodging too large for them to defend.</p> - -<p>I recommend, however, to plaster up all -chinks through which these little insects could -gain an entrance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">- 99 -</span></p> - -<p>Moths are little known, and never injurious, -in the high valleys, nor on the mountains, but -they attack and destroy a vast number of hives -in the plains or in the vineyards, where they are -a great scourge. As soon as a moth has penetrated -a weak hive, it establishes itself in a comb, -envelopes itself in a silken web, multiplies rapidly, -consuming the wax, and spreading its destructive -galleries from side to side, until, arriving -at a certain point, the evil has no remedy.</p> - -<p>I shall not repeat what I have said in the -twentieth chapter, of the admirable ingenuity -with which well-stocked hives defend themselves, -by gnawing and reducing to crumbs every part -of the wax that harbours a moth. Nor the means -I have pointed out in <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Chapter VII.</a> to diminish -the number of their enemies in the spring, by -frequently examining the little bits of wood used -for contracting the entrance, or whenever the -heated air of the hive is likely to attract butterflies, -for the purpose of depositing their eggs. -I shall only add, that when any trace of a moth -is observed about a hive, it should immediately -be cleaned away, and every little fragment of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">- 100 -</span> -wax be swept off the board. If, in defiance of -these precautions, it should seem that the moths -have invaded some of the combs, the only means -of saving the colony is, to imitate the surgeon, -who cuts off a deceased limb to save the other,—every -bit of infected comb must be cut out, -leaving only those occupied by the bees. And -the bees must then be liberally fed, by giving -them every evening as much honey as will maintain -them until the fields shall yield them a sufficient -quantity. Thus I have preserved hives -whose circumstances seemed to be desperate.</p> - -<p>Spiders annoy the bees much. The bees get -entangled in their webs, and are not able to extricate -themselves. Here cleanliness is the best -protection; therefore care should be had to sweep -the webs away from the hive and its avenues -as fast as they appear.</p> - -<p>Birds eat a prodigious quantity of bees, especially -in spring, when the trees are in blossom. -Whatever people may say to the contrary, I have -reason to think that the swallows, which are perpetually -cruising about in the air, like so many -corsairs, destroy a great number, to regale themselves, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">- 101 -</span> -and to feed their young: this was the -opinion of <span class="smcap">Virgil</span><a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a>.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a></p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">"Absint ... meropesque, aliæque volucres,</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Et manibus Progne pectus signata cruentis.</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Omnia nam late vastant, ipsasque volantes</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Ore ferunt, dulcem nidis immitibus escam."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="tdr">Georg. iv.</p> - -</div> - -<p>Moths destroy whole colonies: birds do not -entirely destroy, but they diminish the population; -the queens, especially, become an easy -prey to them, their flight being heavy, from the -great length of their bodies and shortness of -their wings; and the queen, being the very soul -of the hive, when she dies the whole will infallibly -perish, if there is not some of the proper -brood ready to fill her place; and, even in the -latter case, the population is retarded in the fine -weather, and the hive becomes languid. As -this happened to me several times, I imputed it -to the loss of my queens.</p> - -<p>The poultry, too, that roam about near the -water where the bees go to quench their thirst, -gobble up a great many of them, making a constant -war on them, as deadly as that carried on by -the birds. I have even seen a tame magpie place -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">- 102 -</span> -herself between two hives, peck right and left, -and snap up hundreds of bees to her breakfast. -She was caught in the act, condemned to death, -and executed in the same instant.</p> - -<p>Mice, especially the red mouse, or <i>Sorex araneus</i>, -sometimes penetrate a hive in the winter -time, either from the entrance being left too -wide, or by gnawing a hole for themselves in -the straw. They eat the honey, and even the -bees, when clustered together on the side of the -hive, in which position they are unable to defend -themselves, and scarcely even see the enemy. -I have frequently seen a mouse's nest inside of -a hive in spring, seemingly unperceived by the -inhabitants.</p> - -<p>Wasps are also reckoned among the numerous -enemies of bees. I have, however, seldom -seen a hive destroyed by wasps: although they -are larger, stronger, and armed with a formidable -sting, and an impenetrable cuirass, they seldom -dare enter a well stocked hive. Once attacked, -they soon fall beneath the united efforts -of these brave citizens, who sacrifice themselves -to defend the place of their nativity. Wasps -only appear in great numbers when the fruit is -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">- 103 -</span> -ripening, and then they range unceasingly round -the hives, and enter the weak ones, or those of -which the too spacious lodging hears no proportion -to the number of its inhabitants. There are -three ways of providing against the attacks of -wasps. The first, is to unite weak hives by -doubling or tripling the population, thereby enabling -them to defend themselves. The second, -is to contract the entrances as soon as the swarming -time is over, after the massacre of the drones: -and the third is, to destroy their nests.</p> - -<p>The bees are continually fighting between -themselves, and robbing each other; avarice, not -necessity, leads them to do so, it being almost -always the strongest and best provisioned hives -that pillage the weak ones. When once a bee -has been able to introduce herself into a hive, -and carry away a load of honey without being -arrested, she will return a hundred times the -same day; and, making it known to her companions, -they will then come in hordes, nor cease -their pillage until there is nothing left to take. -In one day the whole of the honey will be carried -off, and with a determination which one can scarcely -have an idea of without seeing it. This kind of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">- 104 -</span> -pillage is most frequent in the spring and autumn, -and it is easier to prevent than to stop it; -and, for this purpose, the entrance of the hives -ought to be straitened in proportion to the population. -Four soldiers, as I have already said, -will more easily guard a narrow pass than thirty -or forty would defend a great one. Whenever -the bees cluster themselves in front of the hive, -it is a proof that the whole of the interior is filled, -and there is then no fear of pillage, excepting in -a very rare case, when they happen not to observe -the thieves, and of which I shall speak -presently. In proportion as the cluster increases, -the entrance should be widened, even opened -entirely, and contracted again in the autumn after -the destruction of the drones. When these -precautions are not sufficient, and the pillage has -commenced, it is not easy to stop it. It may -succeed, however, in spring or autumn, by entirely -closing the entrance of the besieged hive -for one or two days, and putting a large cape -upon it, or an empty hive, plastering it all round -to prevent the bees getting out. This affords them -a volume of air sufficient to prevent them from -being suffocated, and they go up and down at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">- 105 -</span> -pleasure through the hole in the top of the hive -from which the stopper must have been previously -withdrawn; every evening the entrance must -be opened to give them air, and carefully shut -up again in the morning. I have always found -the two days seclusion sufficient to put a stop to -the pillage. But this means is not practicable -during the hot weather, for then the bees would -infallibly be suffocated, if they were to be shut up -but one hour. In this case, I have saved several -by covering them with a wet table-cloth, and -extending it over the front of the hive. The -thieves, who were arriving in hundreds, threw -themselves into the neighbouring hives, where -they were arrested and killed; for all theft, even -suspicion of theft, is invariably punished with -death in these republics. Some of the thieves -that happen to escape, regain their own dwellings, -and warn their companions to beware of -returning, and next day there will be no more -thieving. I have never been obliged to spread -the wet table-cloth a second time. True, many -of the bees of the hive I was defending were sacrificed, -returning from the fields, and being unable -to gain admittance, they perished in some -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">- 106 -</span> -way or other: it was a small sacrifice, to avert -a greater evil, but my hive was saved, and that -was my object. It is a cure that does not always -succeed, however, and is quite useless -when the besieged hive is a weak one, or if much -of the honey has been carried away.</p> - -<p>I shall not speak of toads, lizards, and all kinds -of reptiles, that are ranked among the enemies -of the bees, for I have never seen that they did -them much harm.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">DISEASES OF THE BEES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Bees</span> have no real disease. Dysentery, about -which so much noise has been made, and for -which so many remedies are prescribed, never -attacks the bees of a well-stocked hive, that is -left open at all seasons, but only those that are -too long and too closely confined. They are always -in good health as long as they are at liberty,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">- 107 -</span> -when they are warm enough, and have plenty -of food. All their pretended diseases are the result -of hunger, cold, or the infection produced -by a too close and long confinement during the -winter.</p> - -<p>Some intelligent people have erroneously -thought that the honey gathered from the flowers -of the lime-tree caused dysentery, but experience -convinced me to the contrary; for my hives were -never in better condition than when the lime-tree -flowers supplied them with honey in abundance.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">OF THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF BEES, AND THEIR LANGUAGE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Almost</span> all authors speak of four different -kinds or varieties of the honey-bee. I frankly -acknowledge that I know but of one; and that -all the bees I have seen are equally profitable -when properly taken care of. It is true my travels -have not been very extended.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">- 108 -</span></p> - -<p>As to their language: a slight buzzing or confused -noise and a sharp sound, are signals by -which they proclaim their danger, or seek assistance -from each other. They appear to have the -power of communicating their desires, their fears, -their situation, and their circumstances. Their -language, or whatever name is given to it, suffices -to procure a concert of wills and actions, -absolutely to attain a certain end; and of which -I shall give a few examples.</p> - -<p>When a hive has lost its queen, a general agitation -takes place, that cannot escape the notice -of the most ordinary observer. They seek about -for her on all sides, and, if she cannot be found, -they set to work to supply her place. For this -purpose, a great cell must be constructed, to -serve her for a cradle: a single working bee cannot -manufacture it. There must absolutely be a -concerted plan,—to choose the place to do the -work—to transport the newly hatched maggot—to -nurse it suitably—and properly to close the -cell when it is to undergo the metamorphosis.</p> - -<p>There must also be the same re-union of wills -and efforts, when it relates to the getting rid of -a moth that has established itself in a comb; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">- 109 -</span> -they must ascertain its presence, feel the evil it -may do, examine with care the extent of its galleries, -and agree in the plan of attack and mode -of operations; and how can they form and execute -this plan, without the perfect concurrence -of a great number of labourers? Such agreement -is impossible without some sort of language.</p> - -<p>Is the hive to be cleaned? A general assessment -is commanded, and the people instantly -obey. A throng of labourers remove the dead, -carry out the little bits of wax that are on the -board, which would otherwise serve to feed the -moths. Each of these crumbs costs them a journey; -and that toil is spared them when care is -taken to scrape and sweep the board from time -to time.</p> - -<p>Another scheme of agreement that indicates -a language, is where a bee finds honey, whether -in a room, where it may have been deposited -without shutting the windows, or in a -stranger hive, where it has gained entrance. It -communicates it to its companions, who rush out -by hundreds or by thousands to obtain a share of -the booty. How could they give this advertisement, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">- 110 -</span> -without a species of language understood -by every one of them.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">SIGNS OF RECOGNITION AMONG THE BEES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> bees of a hive have the means of recognition, -and of distinguishing their companions -from every stranger bee; without which they -could not defend their honey. In vain would the -Creator have armed each of them with a formidable -sting, had they not been also given to know -the enemies which that sting was to pierce. -Strangers would have gone in and out without -risk of detection or punishment, mingled with -the workers, and deprived them of treasures industriously -collected. But the All-wise Author -of Nature, who has given them the means of defence, -has also endowed them with the instinct -to distinguish enemies from friends, even among -their own species. Let a bee fall by accident, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">- 111 -</span> -or be driven by the wind, into a hive not its own, -it is seized as one suspected of evil intention, and -put to death that moment.</p> - -<p>What is their signal of recognition? What is -the organ and the instrument? Is it the antennæ,—those -little flexible horns in front of their -heads? or is it by the smell they recognize each -other?</p> - -<p>A great inconvenience attending crowded -apiaries is, that two or more hives may have -the same signal; but happily, in this case, which -is a rare one, they have the power of changing -the signal; in proof of which, the following circumstance -happened with mine, in one of the -most abundant honey seasons.</p> - -<p>In the month of May I had lodged my first -swarm, which was a very strong one, in a large -straw hive. The weather being very mild, they -set to work immediately, and very soon filled -more than half of the hive. In a few days, I -observed it was invaded by a swarm belonging -to one of my neighbours; that they went in and -came out, without being detected; and that they -were carrying out as much honey as my bees -were bringing in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">- 112 -</span></p> - -<p>I shut up one-half of their door; and, for nearly -a whole week, whenever I was at leisure, I -stationed myself near my swarm, and killed every -day hundreds of the thieves, which were easily -distinguished by their shape,—slender enough -when they went in, but puffed up as they came -out, with as much nectar as they could contain. -This, however, did not stop them, and they continued -coming and going, in greater numbers, -till night, and beginning again early in the morning.</p> - -<p>I had plenty of sport, but my labour was in -vain, and I began to despair of saving my swarm, -when, one afternoon, I perceived it to be agitated -and troubled, as if it had lost its queen. -The bees buzzed about before the hive, and on -the board, smelling and touching each other, as -if they would have spoken. It was to change -their signal, and which in fact they did change, -during the night; and all the strangers that came -next day were arrested, and put to death. Some -escaped the vigilance of the guards that defended -the entrance, and doubtless warned the others of -the danger they had escaped, and that they could -no more plunder with impunity: they returned -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">- 113 -</span> -no more, and my hive prospered wonderfully. I -have, in the course of my life, seen only other -two similar instances that had the same result.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">PRESERVATION OF HIVES IN WINTER, AND MEANS -OF PROTECTING THEM FROM THE COLD.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> most important point that remains to be -treated, is the preservation of hives in winter. -This severe season, which lasts at Neufchatel four -months, from the commencement of November -to the end of February, and which is even longer -in the mountains, causes the death of more bees -than all the enemies of all the other seasons put -together; and mostly, too, from our own want of -attention. It is by practice only that true principles -can be laid down: and these principles -must be variously modified, to adapt their application -to the differences of temperature and locality. -One can learn with certainty only by the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">- 114 -</span> -light of experience. I shall proceed to tell what -it has taught me; and here I enter on the most -difficult and the most essential part of my task.</p> - -<p>We must suppose that the necessary care -has been taken to ascertain that each hive has -the quantity of provision necessary for its subsistence -until the return of the fine season, and -it is better that they should have too much than -too little; for bees are great economists, and -never waste their superfluity.</p> - -<p>I lay down as a general rule, and without any -exception, that bees ought never to be fed during -the winter. Food given them during that season -causes disease, breeds infection, particularly -if they are kept confined; and if they are at liberty, -and forced out by the unwholesome smell -of the hive, they are likely to perish from the -cold. Besides, it always appeared to me that -they consume more when food is given them by -little and little, than when they have it in store. -I have pointed out, in <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Chapter VIII.</a> the certain -rule by which the quantity of provision may be -estimated; and, in <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Chapter XVII.</a> I have detailed -the method of supplying them in autumn. Thus -they will be saved from hunger, if my advice be -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">- 115 -</span> -followed. Let us now see how they may be defended -from cold, and the fatal effects of a long -imprisonment. Some winters are so long and so -rigid, that our valuable insects suffer greatly -from the intensity of the cold; and the least evil -it does them, is to crystallise their honey, which -is then no longer of any use to them. The -warmth keeps it in a fluid state; but this warmth, -concentrated in the middle, or on one side of the -hive, does not prevent it being candied in the -other parts of it. More candied honey will generally -be found on one side than the other. -This may be prevented by narrowing the entrance, -and closing up every crevice by which -the external air can penetrate. Our industrious -and provident little labourers set the example. -Their instinct leads them, during the summer, -carefully to close up every crack or joining of -their habitation, with a sort of gummy matter -called <i>propolis</i>, which cannot be penetrated either -by the mice, the moths, or the ants. I have seen -an excellent swarm perish, in consequence of a -slight bend in the board, which left an interstice -on each side, through which a cold north -wind sifted, and froze more than three-fourths -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">- 116 -</span> -of the bees; and no after care was able to save -those that were left.</p> - -<p>Two years after, another hive, belonging to -the same person, carefully plastered round, but -being made of too slight material, too thin, and -having no covering, lost at least two-thirds of its -population from cold. It was saved, however, -by great care, and in time recovered. It is to -avoid similar disasters that hives are commonly -taken into the house; but this exposes them to -the evil arising from infection.</p> - -<p>A thick strong-made hive is a more certain -protection from the cold than one that is thin -and light. It keeps in the warmth, like suitable -winter clothing; while the other resembles an -unseasonable summer garment: and, for this reason, -I have recommended, in <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Chapter VI.</a> not to -spare the <i>material</i>. Notwithstanding the excessive -cold of Lithuania, and the north of Russia, -the swarms succeed in finding for themselves a -comfortable abode in the hollows of the thick -oak-trees, through which the cold does not penetrate. -But, in addition to the warmth arising -from the thickness of the hive, I always cover -mine, during severe weather, with a piece of old -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">- 117 -</span> -blanket, or some such thing, to check the first -impression of the cold; and as few country people -have a thermometer, by which to estimate -the degree of temperature, they should hasten to -thatch, or cover them, in some way, whenever -they perceive the hoar frost on the glass of their -windows, which will be the case when the common -thermometer of Fahrenheit descends three -or four degrees below the freezing point.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">MANNER OF PRESERVING HIVES BY TAKING THEM -INTO THE HOUSE IN WINTER.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is generally supposed that, in the high valleys, -and in the mountains, bees can only be preserved -by taking the hives into the house in -winter, where they must remain, until the snow -has disappeared, before they can be set at liberty. -I had this fatal prejudice for many years; but it -was dispelled by the success attending the union -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">- 118 -</span> -of the five swarms of which I have given a detailed -account in <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Chapter XVIII.</a>, at which time -a ray of light broke in upon me that has since -continued to guide me.</p> - -<p>The following winter I left out the one-half -of my hives, and moved the other half into a -cold room, according to my usual custom, where -all the pains I bestowed upon them did not altogether -keep them alive, nor preserve them from -damp and infection. In vain I swept and cleaned -the boards, or placed them on dry hay to absorb -the moisture; in vain I gave them capes or joinings. -With all my care, there was not one of -them free of diseases and infection. The winter -was long and severe; and they could not be returned -to the air before the last week in March, -by which time they were feeble and languid, and -far less prosperous than those that had passed -the winter out of doors. From that time, I have -never taken one into the house. But, as hives -that have been weakened by giving out too many -swarms, especially swarms of the same year, that -have not nearly filled the interior of their habitation -with combs, are less subject to become -overheated, and to mould, than those that are -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">- 119 -</span> -quite filled, and of which the population is very -strong, the inhabitants of the mountains might -have the latter in the open air all winter, and -only move the others into the house. They will -find, as I have done, that strong well filled hives -are far best out of doors, provided they take -the necessary precautions to prevent them from -freezing.</p> - -<p>I have somewhere or other read an account of -a very ingenious method of preserving hives in -winter, but have not made trial of it, in consequence -of not having a place fitting for it. According -to this plan, one must have an empty -room, very cold and dry, in which, from end to -end, two long poles are suspended parallel to -each other, and a foot of distance between them. -As soon as the severe cold begins, and the thermometer -is at the freezing point, the hives are -all moved into this room, and set up upon the -poles, without any board beneath them, and separate -about half a foot from each other. Each -hive must be numbered, and the numbers noted -down, as well as the board and place that each -occupied in the apiary, in order that they may -be replaced in exactly the same situation on the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">- 120 -</span> -return of spring. This done, the room is darkened, -as the smallest ray of light will induce the -bees to quit their hives; and, in this manner, -they may be preserved in a healthy state, and -without diminution of their numbers, during the -winter; and, from being left entirely open below, -any dead bees, or bits of wax, fall on the -floor, and they escape the danger of infection.</p> - -<p>On the return of the fine season, and early in -the morning of a calm day, the room is opened, -and each hive returned to its own place on the -apiary.</p> - -<p>I have reason to think that hives, wintered in -this way, will consume a quarter, a third, or perhaps -one-half less provision than others, if left -on the apiary, or shut up entirely from the air; -but we must attend less to the rigid economy of -the honey, than to the preservation of the valuable -insects that collect it for us.</p> - -<p>I possess only the theory of a practice of which -I should have gloried in being the inventor, as it -appears to me infallible, and advantageous in all -its relations, but more especially to the inhabitants -of the mountains. There two or three people -might hire a room among them for the purpose; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">- 121 -</span> -and, should the air become impure from -so many hives being closed up together, it could -be purified by opening the door during the night, -and closing it well up again in the morning.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 76px;"> - <img src="images/diamond.png" width="76" height="25" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONCLUSION">CONCLUSION.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">I have</span> now given the result of sixty-four years -experience. This little memoir has extended beneath -my pen far beyond my original intention; -but it was of consequence in describing the new -methods I had adopted, to give my reasons for -every thing I recommended; and, for this purpose, -to enter very minutely into the details. I -have not written with elegance, but have expressed -myself plainly; and, in giving the account -of my experiments, it seemed to me that, -to be clearly understood, I ought to relate naturally -how I set about them, as the different circumstances -occurred, and that every reader could -more easily follow me, in seeing me <i>act</i>, as it -were, than if I merely laid down general rules. -Those I have given, have the rare advantage of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">- 122 -</span> -being applicable to every kind of hive, of wood -or straw, whether large or small, and of whatever -form or shape. I have not recommended -any one kind in particular, not even those that -bear my name, as I consider them all equally -profitable when skilfully taken care of. Every -one may make use of such as he likes best, or -such as he can most easily procure. I wish not -to lead the apiarian into any expence, but to -point out to him clearly those principles and -rules that he should not lose sight of, if he wishes -to preserve his bees and to profit by them.</p> - -<p>If this little work is favourably received by -the public, and if my life is spared, I may be induced -to give it a sequel, in which will be found -new ideas concerning the drones, and their destination, -with several experiments to discover if -it is of any use to assist the bees in killing them; -calculations of the yearly and average profit of a -single hive, by which I would encourage the cultivators -to work a rich mine whence great profit -maybe drawn; and also directions for purifying -the honey, as well as for melting the wax, -none of which could have a place in this little -book, the sole object, as expressed in the title, -being the <i>preservation of the bees</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">- 123 -</span></p> - -<p><i>Diminution of the Weight of my Hives during the -Winter—from the 20th September 1813 to the -31st March 1814.</i></p> - - - -<p class="caption3nb">STRAW.</p> - -<table summary="data"> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">No. 1.</td> - <td class="tdr">diminished</td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdl">pounds.</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">2.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">3.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">12</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">4.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">12</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">8.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">11</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">10.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">9</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">11.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">8</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">13.</td> - <td class="tdl">doubled in October,</td> - <td class="tdr">11</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">15.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">16.</td> - <td class="tdl">doubled,</td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">17.</td> - <td class="tdl">doubled,</td> - <td class="tdr">14</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">20.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">21.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">14</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">22.</td> - <td class="tdl">doubled,</td> - <td class="tdr">8</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">23.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">24.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">9</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">25.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">15</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">26.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">12</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">27.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">30.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">13</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">32.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">9</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">38.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">8</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">A.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">9</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">B.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td></td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">C.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">12</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">D.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">- 124 -</span></p> - -<p class="caption3nb">WOOD.</p> - -<table summary="data"> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">No. 1.</td> - <td class="tdr">diminished</td> - <td class="tdr">11</td> - <td class="tdl">½ pounds.</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">4.</td> - <td class="tdl">doubled,</td> - <td class="tdr">9</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">6.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">11</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">7.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">8</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">8.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">19</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">9.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">11.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">15</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">13.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">15</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">21.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">23.</td> - <td class="tdl">doubled,</td> - <td class="tdr">11</td> - <td class="tdl">½</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p>To know exactly if the consumption of united -hives was greater than that of those hives whose -population had not been augmented, I weighed -thirty-six hives on the 31st of March 1814, that -had been previously weighed on the 20th September -1813; but I omitted those from which I -had taken honey, as well as those I fed, as I did -not weigh them. It may be observed, by the -foregoing table, that the most economical expenditure -amounts to eight pounds of honey, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">- 125 -</span> -that the greatest consumption is nineteen. I -can attribute this enormous difference to nothing -but pillage. It is very likely that the -straw-hive, No. 38., must have enriched itself -with booty in October or in March, while the -wooden hive No. 8. had been plundered. Of -these thirty-six hives, six had been doubled in -October, by the introduction of a strong swarm -into each of them, and we see that their expenditure -has not been greater than that of those -colonies that were left single. In the course of -six months and eleven days, one diminished only -eight pounds and a half; one, nine and a half; -one, ten and a half; one eleven; one, eleven -and a half; and the least economical, fourteen -pounds. This comparison demonstrates, that -hives, doubled by the re-union of the bees of -another hive, consume no more in winter than -less populous hives, left in their natural state. -The fact is clearly proved, though I am ignorant -of the cause. I ought to observe, that all these -doubled hives, with the exception of one old one, -twenty-two years of age, prospered perfectly the -year following, and gave me more honey and -more swarms than all the others.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">- 126 -</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="NOTE_BY_THE_TRANSLATOR">NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR.</h2> -</div> - - -<p>Some friends, for whom I entertain a very -high respect, have remarked, on reading the proof -sheets of this translation, that <span class="smcap">Gelieu</span> appears -to be very successful in preserving the bees, but -that he does not prove so clearly that any great -increase of honey is thereby to be obtained. To -the practical apiarian this objection will never -present itself; but, for the satisfaction of those -who are not acquainted with bees, I regret not -being in possession of <span class="smcap">Gelieu's</span> calculation of -the average profits of single and doubled hives: -and I regret more especially, that, during the -few years my attention has been directed to the -management of bees, I have been contented with -remarking the thriving condition of the apiary, -without giving myself the trouble to calculate the -exact amount of its produce. Those, however, -who are accustomed to observe and to take care of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">- 127 -</span> -bees, will know that the whole value of the hives -depends on the swarms being large and early, -and will therefore see at once the advantages -to be gained by attending to <span class="smcap">Gelieu's</span> directions. -The results of my own experience are, in other -respects, as follows.</p> - -<p>I have tried hives of various kinds: those of -the common shape, made of straw; the still -prettier sort, made of sea-shore bent (<i>Arundo -arenaria</i>); the square-storied hive of wood; -also the Huish hives; and, consequently, have -had an opportunity of assuring myself that the -success of the apiary depends neither on the -form nor the material, but entirely on the treatment -the bees meet with, and that hives may -be made, with equal success, of whatever is most -easily obtained in the district they are to be -used in, always provided they are kept clean -and are well managed. In some of the high valleys -of the Alps, where straw is not to be had, -and where every blade of grass is carefully economized -for the use of the cattle, the hives are -merely rough blocks of timber, sawn across the -stems of the pine tree, and rudely scooped out -to receive the swarms: these answer the purpose -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">- 128 -</span> -just as well as other hives; and the only -or the chief difference, is the greater or less facilities -which each affords for the extraction of the -combs; an operation of easy performance in the -Huish hives, when its inventor's directions are -adhered to. But, in Switzerland, the same process -is accomplished without difficulty in hives -of any shape or material, by means of a knife, -which is so simple in its construction, and so -easily used, that it deserves to be made generally -known. I therefore subjoin a figure, with a -description and a note of the dimensions, from -which it may be made by any country black-smith.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="fig_4" style="width: 353px;"> - <img src="images/fig_4.png" width="353" height="60" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>This figure represents the shape of the knife; -it is formed merely of a slip of iron, about -two feet long by an eighth of an inch thick. -The two horizontal lines <i>a a</i> shew the size and -appearance of the handle, which is twenty inches -long by half an inch broad. The turned-down -blade (<i>b</i>), of two inches in length, is spear-pointed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">- 129 -</span> -sharp on the edges, and bent perpendicularly -from the handle. The other blade (<i>c</i>) is -two inches long by one and a half broad, and -sharpened all round, as marked by the double -black line.</p> - -<p>The broad blade (<i>c</i>) cuts and separates the -wax from the sides of the hive, and the spear-point -(<i>b</i>), which is also sharp on each side, admits, -from its direction and narrowness, of being -introduced between the combs, to loosen them -from the top of the hive; and, for the same reason, -it also answers the purpose of pruning the -combs.</p> - -<p>The honey-comb which is thus extracted, or -which is obtained from the capes, is greatly -superior to that which is suffered to remain in -the hives till the autumn. The wax is thin and -transparent, and the honey, being newly drawn -from the nectaries, is particularly rich and delicious, -as it has not had time to lose the fragrant -and delicate flavour of the young flowers.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Huish</span>, it may be observed, gives very clear -directions for extracting the combs from the -hives that bear his name; he also recommends -the uniting of swarms; but I could never<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">- 130 -</span> -obtain his instructions on this latter point. -Doubting nothing of its practicability, however, -I made the experiment, but having no guiding -principle to direct me, it was like going to sea -without a compass; and, in consequence, my -hopes were soon wrecked, and I had the misery -of seeing the whole of the swarm that I had -saved from suffocation, speedily put to death -by the bees of the hive that I had so rashly -forced it to enter. The result, however, was -widely different when I made the trial again last -autumn, guided by the directions contained in -this little volume, for I accomplished the union -of my swarms without difficulty—even without -previously having seen it done, and without having -received a single sting; and I had thus the -pleasure of witnessing my hopes crowned with -complete success.</p> - -<p>For this operation, it is not necessary either to -have the courage of a warrior, or the intelligence -and coolness of a philosopher like M. <span class="smcap">de Gelieu</span>. -An ordinary degree of judgment to understand -his directions, and confidence enough implicitly -to follow them, will enable any one to perform -it, provided he sets about it cautiously, and takes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">- 131 -</span> -care not to hurt the bees, or to handle them -roughly.</p> - -<p>I managed It, with the assistance of two persons, -without gloves, or any shield or shadow of -defence, except a little tobacco-smoke, involving -us, as it were, within the influence of a charmed -atmosphere, that seemed to stupify the bees, and -render their sting powerless, while it inspired us -with confidence to proceed. I recommend it -being done at first by three persons, one to manage -the hive and extract the combs, another to -sweep the bees back gently with a feather or -goose-wing, and a third to manage the fumigating -bellows; or, if the fumigating-bellows are -not at hand, to blow occasional whiffs of smoke -from a tobacco-pipe.</p> - -<p>When my first cluster of bees was shaken out -of the pillaged hive upon the table-cloth, I had -the happiness of seeing them instantly begin -their ascent (not on the wing) but in a regular -march. It was a spectacle of intense interest. -They entered the full hive as orderly and as -peaceably as any body of regular troops ever -took possession of a citadel; and next day the -original possessors and the new settlers, were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">- 132 -</span> -seen, in perfect harmony, working together for -the general good.</p> - -<p>But whether they thought proper to kill a -queen for themselves or not, was a fact that I -had no means to ascertain.</p> - -<p>Thus encouraged by my first experiment, I -proceeded to extend it. My whole apiary consisted -of eight Huish hives, isolated on single -pillars of wood, at the distance of three feet from -each other. We emptied three more of the -hives, and joined a swarm to each of the remaining -three, making four doubled stock hives. -The gardener who has the care of them, had -five hives of his own, three of which were deprived -of their honey in the same way, and -the swarms joined to the remaining two, which -he had kept as stock hives; and I am now enabled -to state exactly the quantity of honey that -each has consumed from September 1828, to the -end of March 1829.</p> - -<table summary="data"> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">No. 1.</td> - <td class="tdr">diminished</td> - <td class="tdr">12</td> - <td class="tdl">lb.</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">2.</td> - <td class="tdc">"</td> - <td class="tdr">9</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">3.</td> - <td class="tdc">"</td> - <td class="tdr">12</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">4.</td> - <td class="tdc">"</td> - <td class="tdr">11</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p class="caption3nb"><i>The Gardener's Hives.</i></p> - -<table summary="data"> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">No. 1.</td> - <td class="tdl">A large common hive</td> - <td class="tdr">17</td> - <td class="tdl">lb.</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr">2.</td> - <td class="tdl">A Huish hive</td> - <td class="tdr">13</td> - <td></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">- 133 -</span></p> - -<p>It ought, however, to be mentioned, that my -four hives got a pound and a half of honey -among them, in February; but those belonging -to the gardener got no feeding. The entrances -of all of them were left open during the winter, -and there were not altogether above two dozen -dead bees found on the boards, when they were -lifted to be weighed.</p> - -<p>The gardener's hive. No. 2., received two -swarms in addition to its own; and this allied -army took possession just as peaceably as the -others, and actually consumed less honey during -the winter than No. 1., which was only doubled. -In effecting the union, the citizens had been plentifully -regaled with a sprinkling of liquid honey, -previous to the introduction of the strangers; -and there were as many luscious drops of the -banquet left, as gave the new comers no disrelish -to their quarters.</p> - -<p>For some years past, I have suffered no sticks -to be put across the inside of any of my hives, -as they render the extraction of the combs impracticable.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It may be right to add, in conclusion, that I -have, in one or two places, slightly altered the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">- 134 -</span> -text where the meaning seemed obscure, and -where mistakes might otherwise have occurred. -I ought, perhaps, to have translated these passages -quite literally, and to have corrected them -in separate notes; but ignorance of book-making -must be my excuse.</p> - - -<p class="caption3nb">FINIS.</p> - - -<p class="tdc">P. NEILL, PRINTER.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<hr class="tb" /> - - -<div class="transnote"> - -<p>Transcriber Note</p> - -<p>Minor typos were corrected.</p> - -</div> - - - - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEE PRESERVER; OR, PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF HIVES ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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