,,! ,,bee ,,hunt]            ,! ,,bee   
,,hunt]      ,by ,,george ,,h>old       
,,edgell      ,illu/ration      #aidi   
,,h>v>d ,,univ]sity ,,press             
,,cambridge1 ,,massa*usetts             
,copyright #aidi    ,,by ,,george       
,,h>old ,,edgell      ,pr9t$ at         
,,univ]sity ,,press1 ,,inc4             
,,cambridge1 ,,massa*usetts1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4
      ,,london3 ,,ge(frey ,,cumb]lege   
,,ox=d ,,univ]sity ,,press              
,illu/ration          ,,! ,,bee ,,hunt] 
,?is little treatise is 9 "p ! *ild (   
fru/ration1 9 "p  ! *ild ( irritation4  
,9 a mode/ way1 ! writ] has be5 an      
au?or4 ,! fir/ book he ev] wrote1 an    
opus ( sev]al *apt]s1  0 call$ 8,! ,bee 
,hunt]40 ,! writ] 0 !n eighte54         
,submitt$1  on ! advice ( ! late ,rob]t 
,w4 ,*amb]s1 to 8 publi%] 9 ,new  ,york1
 ! "y au?or 0 surpris$ to le>n t 8      
manuscript 0  reject$4 ,! publi%]       
tactfully po9t$ out t ev5 ! ,engli%     
translation ( ,maurice ,maet]l9ck's ,la 
,vie des ,abeilles _h lo/  money = its  

publi%]4    ,! manuscript 0 put away to 
ga!r du/4 ,i believe & tru/ n[  t x is  
lo/4 ,x 0 t]rible4    ,s mu* = !        
fru/ration4 ,n[ = ! irritation4 ,be+ an 
unsung  au?or on ! subject &1 m         
important1 a successful bee hunt]  (    
fifty ye>s' exp]i5ce1 ! writ] has read a
 c]ta9 numb] (  articles on bee hunt+4  
,"o appe>s e ye> or two4 ,/>t+ )  two   
essays by ,john ,burr\ghs1 "o fact is   
common to all4 ,!y are  writt5 by m5 :o 
nev] possibly c\ld h f\nd a bee tree1 at
 lea/  by pursu+ ! me?ods !y describe4  
,burr\ghs came ne>e/ !  tru?1 b ev5 he  
seems to h got 8 acc\nt f "s f>m] )  m  
imag9ation ?an exp]i5ce4 ,x is "t =     
someone :o has hunt$  bees & f\nd bee   
trees to write ! facts4 ,= bee hunt+ is 
rapidly  becom+ a lo/ art4    ,! writ]'s
 int]e/ 9 ! sport began at ! age ( t5 :5
 he  0 initiat$ by an old ,adirondack]  
:o _h sunk to driv+ 8  gr&fa!r's mules 9
 ,newport1 ,new ,hamp%ire4 ,george      
,smi?1 z ,i %all  call him1 0 a "*1 to !
 y\ng/] z fabul\s z ,paul ,bunyan4  ,he 

took 8 :iskey neat4 ,he smok$ & *ew$ at 
! same "t &  c\ld spit )\t remov+ ! pipe
 f 8 m\?4 ,8 pr(anity  c\ld take ! blu+ 
(f a gun b>rel4 ,)al1 he 0 "o ( !  k9de/
 & mo/ g5]\s ( m5 & a mighty bee hunt]  
be=e !  ,"l1 or ! devil if "o pref]s4   
,he introduc$ ! boy to ! simple         
equipm5t necess>y = ! art1 & ?\gh ?r\gh 
! ye>s ,i h  improv$ x slightly1 !      
fundam5tals ( ! few objects h rema9$  ! 
same4    ,! mo/ important item is ! bee 
box4 ,?is "o c make oneself if  "o is   
clev]1 or employ a cab9etmak] to d x f  
specifications  if1 l ! writ]1 "o is n4 
,! box %\ld be ( wood1 ab\t five  &     
"o-half in*es long1 ?ree in*es wide1 &  
?ree in*es deep4  ,! wood ( an          
old-fa%ion$ cig> box is an excell5t     
mat]ial b if  us$1 ! box %\ld be left   
outdoors "s "t to wea!r1 z bees  d n l !
 odor ( tobacco4 ,! box %\ld be divid$  
into two  comp>tm5ts1 ! front "o op5 ) a
 h+$ lid4 ,9 ! lid !re  %\ld be a small 
glass w9d[ :i* c be d>k5$ by a wood5    
slide4  ,betwe5 ! front & re> comp>tm5ts

 !re %\ld be an op5+ at  ! bottom       
two-?irds ( an in* wide :i* c be op5$ & 
clos$  by a wood5 slide manipulat$ f !  
outside4 ,! re> ( ! inside  comp>tm5t   
%\ld be ( glass1 cov]$ ) a wood5 slide  
:i* c  be rais$ on occasion to admit    
light to ! comp>tm5t4 ,! box %\ld  be   
nicely & tightly con/ruct$1 %ellack$    
aft] completion1 &  lightpro(4 ,rememb]1
 x w be out 9 all sorts ( wea!r & !     
old] x is1 & ! m wea!r$ x becomes1 !    
bett] ! bees  w l x4    ,illu/ration3 ,a
 ,,bee ,,box    ,provid$ ) ! box1 ! re/ 
is easy4 ,"o ne$s a c\ple (  pieces (   
empty honeycomb cut squ>e to drop easily
 into ! front  comp>tm5t4 ,! be/ is old1
 black comb f an old bee tree1 b any    
empty comb w d4 ,= nect> x is n necess>y
 to use real honey4  ,a syrup ( common  
:ite sug> "o-?ird1 & wat] two-?irds1    
boil$  = fifte5 m9utes & !n cool$1 seems
 to be z tempt+ to bees  z real honey4  
,if "o keeps x s long t x beg9s to      
f]m5t1 no  matt]4 ,bees' ta/e is n nice 
9 su* matt]s4 ,bees w *e]fully  "w !    

f]m5t$ juice ( a rott5 pe>4 ,z a        
ref9em5t1 x is well  to provide oneself 
) a t9y bottle ( ! oil ( anise4 ,if us$ 
sp>+ly1 ?is w attract bees1 & ! fa9t    
odor on a bee's feet  w attract o!rs4   
,:5 ,i say sp>+ly1 ,i mean m ?an ! ^w   
ord9>ily implies4 ,! cork ( ! anise     
bottle rubb$ on ! comb  & ! comb !n     
lick$ ) ! tongue w provide anise en\gh =
  "o's purpose4 ,m w make ! bees q      
drunk1 !y w refuse to  suck b buzz ar\nd
 look+ = ! anise & ev5tually retire to !
  fl[]s to sob] up1 & y w lose y\r l9e4 
,to fill ! comb1 a  common eye dropp] is
 v h&y ?\gh n absolutely necess>y4 ,x is
  h&y1 too1 to h a /& made ( an upright 
piece ( wood su* z a  f\r-foot section (
 a rake h&le ) a flat bo>d nail$ on top 
&  ! l[] end %>p5$ s x c easily be ?ru/ 
9 ! gr\nd1 b a  /& c always be improvis$
 us+ a "y spruce cut (f at ! top  or a  
few /ones pilf]$ f a /one wall4 ,x is   
also h&y to h  ano!r small box ) a lid1 
n a bee box1 9 :i* to c>ry small        
objects4 ,! p>aph]nalia is !re=e v      

simple1 & a good bee  hunt] c get along 
if necess>y ) less4 ,george ,smi? & ,i  
once  />t$ a l9e us+ an empty #cb       
calibre c>tridge box & a bit (  comb    
/ol5 dang]\sly f a ne/ ( pap] wasps4    
,f9ally x w\ld be  well to h a clo? bag 
or knapsack 9 :i* ! small] articles may 
be c>ri$1 leav+ ! h&s free4             
,illu/ration3 ,,fill+ ,,! ,,comb    ,a  
m$ic9e dropp] is conv5i5t :5 fill+ !    
piece ( comb )  sug> syrup    ,we are n[
 ready to />t b %\ld consid] ! season4  
,!re is  no po9t 9 go+ bee hunt+ if "o c
 f9d no bees4 ,bees beg9 to  "w z soon z
 spr+ gets w>m & cont9ue until sev]e    
fro/4 ,?is  c be prov$ by exam9+ any    
hive on any w>m day1 b :at !  bees are  
work+ on is ano!r "q4 ,!y are h>d to f9d
 except  dur+ "s def9ite honey fl[ su* z
 ! :ite clov] season or !  milkwe$ or ! 
gold5rod4 ,especially ! la/ two are     
fav\rable4 ,on  ! bee box ,i h us$ = a  
good _m ye>s1 ,i h scribbl$ !  dates ( !
 f9d+s ( fifty-six bee trees4 ,eighty p]
 c5t are 9  ,july or ,septemb]4 ,only   

occasionally does "o occur 9 ,june or   
,augu/  & practically nev] 9 ,octob]4   
,july & ,septemb] mean milkwe$ &        
gold5rod to ! bee hunt]4    ,let u      
assume t x is a w>m day 9 mid-,july & ! 
milkwe$  is 9 bloom4 ,we f9d a pat* &   
f9d x teem+ ) honey bees4  ,incid5tally 
! fir/ /ep %\ld be to le>n :at a honey  
bee looks  l4 ,he resembles a ref9$ &   
/reaml9$ horsefly & is totally  unlike !
 fuzzy bumble bee t s _m mi/ak5ly reg>d 
z honey  bees4 ,"o's fir/ task is to    
cat* a bee4 ,?is is done by br++ !  box 
up %>ply "u him ) ! lid op5 z he sits on
 ! edge (  a bloom & slapp+ ! lid home z
 he tumbles into ! box4 ,x is  n s h>d z
 x s\nds1 especially if ! bee is on a   
high bloom (  milkwe$ or gold5rod4 ,x is
 ess5tial t ! bee be caught4 ,dur+  !   
mid/ ( a good honey fl[ a bee w nev]    
volunt>ily ab&on  ! fl[]s & g to a comb1
 no matt] ) :at aromatic lure y  may h  
ano9t$ x4 ,=get = all "t ! acc\nts (    
writ]s  :o dr5* a h&k]*ief ) anise & ?r[
 x ov] a bu% ne> a  /& ) load$ comb4 ,no

 bee w\ld come ne> x4 ,dur+ a />vation  
p]iod :5 fl[]s are sc>ce1 especially    
aft] ! autumnal fro/s1  a bee w light on
 ! comb if he f9ds x4 ,n9ety-n9e times  
out (  a hundr$1 h[ev]1 ! bees w be     
some:]e else & no bee w  f9d ! comb4    
,!re h be5 exceptions z ,i %all %[1 b ! 
only  s5sible proc$ure is to hunt bees  
dur+ a honey fl[ :5 !y are  easy to f9d1
 & introduce !m into ! box by viol5ce4  
,illu/ration3 ,,cat*+ ,,! ,,bee    ,!   
bee w be scoop$ into ! out] comp>tm5t & 
! lid snapp$  %ut simultane\sly    ,hav+
 caught ! bee 9 ! out] comp>tm5t &      
v]ify+ ! fact  t he is !re by look+ 9 ! 
w9d[1 ! next /ep is to close  ! w9d[1   
d>k5 ! out] comp>tm5t1 op5 ! slide to   
admit him  to ! re> & op5 ! re> w9d[4   
,see+ ! light1 ! bee w  promptly g 9    
!re1 seek+ escape4 ,!n "o c close ! re> 
comp>tm5t & op5 ! front s z to cat*     
ano!r bee4 ,"o c  />t a l9e ) "o bee1 b 
! *ance ( success is great] if "o  has a
 doz51 & dur+ a good honey fl[1 if !    
tree is n too f>  away1 ^! c be caught 9

 t5 m9utes4    ,provid$ ) a doz5 bees "o
 is ready to />t ! l9e4 ,fill "o (  !   
pieces ( comb ) syrup4 ,?ru/ 9 ! /& if y
 h "o4  ,op5 ! w9d[ into ! out]         
comp>tm5t & ! door betwe5 &  admit ?ree 
or f\r bees to ! "p ) ! comb4 ,!y w come
 if  y op5 ! w9d[ 9 front & d>k5 ! re>4 
,!n put ! box  d[n g5tly1 d>k5 ! :ole   
box1 put y\r hat ov] x & leave x  /ill =
 ?ree or f\r m9utes4 ,mean:ile1 fill !  
o!r comb4  ,aft] ?ree or f\r m9utes1    
place ! box on ! /& & g5tly  op5 ! lid4 
,if conditions are "r1 ! bees w h f\nd !
  syrup & tak5 a load 9 ! d>kness4      
,sometimes "o or two w n  h f9i%$ load+ 
& w sit quietly until !y are /uff$ to   
capacity4 ,if !y are load$1 !y w fly    
comp>atively sl[ly z  !y take (f to     
return to ! hive4 ,:5 !y h left1 repeat 
!  :ole process & let out m bees until  
all h gone4 ,y are n[ 9  ! /age ( />t+  
to e/abli% ! l9e4    ,illu/ration3      
,,trapp+ ,,! ,,bee ,,9 ,,! ,,re>        
,,comp>tm5t    ,! slide on ! side ( !   
box is pull$ to op5 ! entrance to !  re>

 comp>tm5t1 ! re> w9d[ is op5$1 & ! bee 
foll[s !  light into ! re> comp>tm5t    
,:]e mo/ ( ! nature fak]s fall d[n      
conspicu\sly is 9  describ+ h[ to       
e/abli% a 8bee l9e0 giv+ ! exact        
direction  ( ! bee tree4 ,actually1 :5 a
 bee leaves = ! fir/ "t he is  bo?      
suspici\s & anxi\s to e/abli% ! position
 ( ! /&4 ,he  leaves 9 sl[ly exp&+      
spirals & figure eights4 ,! hunt] rolls 
r\nd on 8 back try+ to foll[ !          
convolutions ( ! bee flight  9 ! air4   
,usually x ends by ! bee fly+ betwe5 !  
eye & !  sun & ?us be+ lo/ to view4 ,if 
! hunt] c e/abli% :5 !  bee leaves = !  
fir/ "t1 :e!r ! tree is m nor? ?an  s\? 
or m ea/ ?an we/1 he is do+ well4 ,x is 
n until a bee  has come & gone eight or 
t5 times t he becomes famili> ) !  /&1  
loses 8 suspicions1 &1 on tak+ (f1 goes 
9 approximately  ! direction ( ! tree   
?us at la/ creat+ a 8bee l9e40          
,illu/ration3 ,,lett+ ,,out ,,! ,,bees  
,two bee boxes are on ! /& 9 ?is        
illu/ration4 ,! lid ( !  out] comp>tm5t 

( ! top box has j be5 op5$1 & ! bees are
  ab\t to em]ge    ,if conditions are   
"r1 ( y\r doz5 bees f\r or five w return
  = a second load4 ,aga9 if conditions  
are "r1 9 an h\r or two  ^! w           
communicate 9 "s my/]i\s way ) o!r      
work]s 9 !  hive t !re is free lun*     
obta9able & ! numb] ( bees on !  l9e w  
increase4 ,especially if ! tree is ne> &
 ! fl[]s  n too pr(use1 ?is w happ5     
quickly4 ,at be/ ,i h _h a hundr$  or m 
bees runn+ my l9e half an h\r aft] !    
fir/ bee left4  ,at times1 & ?is is a   
common occurr5ce1 no bee w come back at 
all4 ,sometimes ! orig9al bees w g back 
& =? b br+ no  companions4 ,(t5 ! bees w
 refuse to suck at all b w return  on   
release to ! fl[]s4 ,:5 t happ5s1 y _h  
be/ pack up &  g home & wait = m        
propiti\s conditions4    ,:y bees w load
 sometimes & n o!rs1 fifty ye>s (       
exp]i5ce  has left unreveal$4 ,9 g5]al1 
bees run bett] at ! beg9n+  & end ( a   
honey fl[ :5 ! fl[]s are n too pr(use & 
too  pl5tiful4 ,c]ta9ly if y are =tunate

 en\gh to cat* a bee aft]  heavy fro/s1 
yet on a w>m day1 y w probably e/abli% a
 ro>+  l9e 9 a %ort "t4 ,:y1 h[ev]1     
sometimes bees w load eag]ly  &         
sometimes ignore ! comb is a my/]y4 ,no 
*anges 9 ! ?ickness  ( ! syrup1 no      
sub/itution ( true honey = ! sug>1 no   
aromatic  oils l anise appli$ to ! comb 
w cause bees to suck if !y d  n *oose4  
,!y w (t5 suck eag]ly 9 ! mid/ ( !      
heavie/  gold5rod season & refuse to    
suck at o!r times :5 fl[]s are  sc>ce4  
,no?+ is m fru/rat+ ?an to cat* box aft]
 box (  bees & f9d !m unwill+ to load4  
,9 su* case !re is no?+  to d b wait a  
week & try aga94 ,! mo/ important       
quality = a  successful bee hunt] is    
pati5ce4    ,illu/ration3 ,,bees ,,on   
,,! ,,comb    ,! orig9al bees h spread !
 ^w to _! fell[-work]s ab\t  ! 8free    
lun*40 ,! box 9 ?is illu/ration is ! "o 
us$ =  /orage ( extra comb1 ! m$ic9e    
dropp]1 ! bottle ( anise1 etc4    ,let u
 assume1 h[ev]1 t conditions are        
fav\rable ?is ,july  morn+4 ,ab\t t5    

m9utes aft] ! release ( ! fir/ bee1 a   
bee  comes back4 ,?is is "o ( ! mo/     
excit+ mom5ts 9 ! hunt4 ,an  exp]i5c$   
hunt] recognizes ! s\nd ( a honey bee   
in/antly1 b  = ! la/ five m9utes he has 
jump$ at ! s\nd ( e doodle  bug t has   
fl[n by ! /&4 ,! behavi\r ( ! return+   
bee is  v diff]5t f t ( ! dep>t+ "o4 ,he
 da%es 9 circles  r\nd ! /&1 d>ts away  
aga9 across ! field until y ?9k he  w n 
return1 :izzes back to circle ! /& aga9 
& f9ally1 9  n>r[+ circles1 poises above
 ! comb l a helicopt]1 8 buzz  /ill     
%rill+4 ,"o waits ) bat$ brea?4 ,! buzz 
ceases4 ,! bee  has come to re/ & is    
load+4 ,! l9e is />t$4    ,soon o!rs    
arrive1 & ! fir/ com] dep>ts4 ,once m y 
try  & take 8 l9e b once m he fools y z 
he leaves 9 wid5+  circles4 ,h[ev]1 "o  
has got ! g5]al direction & c take a    
position to see bett]4 ,m in=mation     
comes z ea* bee leaves4 ,9  an h\r's "t 
! comb may h tw5ty bees on x at once & !
  arrivals & dep>tures are frequ5t4 ,n[ 
! bees h begun to be  accu/om$ to ! /& &

 frequ5tly jump (f & fly /raight s  t 9 
a good light ! eye c foll[ "o = fifty or
 a hundr$  y>ds4 ,?us y e/abli% y\r 8bee
 l9e40 ,x is nev] exact1 h[ev]4  ,no two
 bees h exactly ! same idea z to ! be/  
way home4 ,if1  = example1 !re is a l>ge
 tree 9 ! direction ( ! hive &  p]haps a
 hundr$ y>ds f ! /&1 "o bee may bypass x
 to !  "r1 ano!r to ! left1 & a ?ird may
 lift & g ov] x4 ,"o is  con/antly      
revis+ "o's decision z to ! true l9e4   
,illu/ration3 ,,wat*+ ,,! ,,bees ,,leave
 ,,! ,,comb    ,! g5]al direction ( !   
bees' flight has be5 e/abli%$1 & !      
hunt] has tak5 up a position a few feet 
f ! /& 7arr[7 f  :i* he c easily foll[ !
 pa? ( ! bees 9 ! air    ,by n[ we are  
ready to "t a bee & see h[ long he is   
gone4 ,?is  w give "o a fair e/imate ( !
 di/ance f ! /& to !  tree4 ,a bee takes
 betwe5 "o & two m9utes to load & z mu* 
"t  to unload4 ,he may also h to crawl  
"s di/ance 9 ! tree to  rea* ! place to 
deposit 8 load4 ,he flies at ab\t ! spe$
 ( a  human spr9t]1 say a qu>t] ( a mile

 a m9ute4 ,if he is gone eight  m9utes1 
! tree is n too f> away4 ,if he is gone 
twelve m9utes1  ! hunt] has a long job  
ahead4 ,if he is gone f\r m9utes1 ! tree
  is v close4 ,! longe/ ,i rememb] hav+ 
a bee abs5t & /ill  be+ able to run a   
l9e & f9d ! tree 0 fifte5 m9utes4 ,!    
%orte/ 0 two & "o-half m9utes1 & !n !   
tree 0 actually  9 sight ( ! /&1 ?\gh ,i
 did n "k x at ! "t4 ,tw5ty  m9utes is  
hopeless4 ,no bee w br+ o!rs back at t  
di/ance1  & x is bett] to ab&on ! /&1   
move a mile or m 9 !  direction ! bee   
has tak51 cat* m bees1 & repeat ! :ole  
process ne>] ! tree4    ,9 ord] to "t a 
bee x is necess>y to be able to id5tify 
an  individual4 ,george ,smi? us$ to d  
?is by extract+ "s se$ or  poll5 f ! bud
 ( a small mossy plant & spr9kl+ a      
little  ( ! gre5 du/ on ! back ( a bee4 
,at be/ x 0 an unc]ta9  process z ! du/ 
0 liable to be bl[n (f be=e ! bee's     
return1 & ev5 if n1 0 h>d to see4 ,i h  
evolv$ a simpl] &  bett] sy/em4 ,to our 
equipm5t z already describ$1 let u add a

  small bottle ( wat]1 a t9y camel's    
hair bru%1 & a piece ( blue  c>p5t]'s   
*alk4 ,) ! blade ( a p5knife1 scrape "s 
du/ f  ! *alk onto ! back ( a smoo? /one
 or ! blade ( a h& axe  if y c>ry "o4   
,incid5tally a small sc\t's axe is a h&y
 ?+  to h = cle>+ bru%1 mak+ /&s1 m>k+ !
 bee tree :5  y h f\nd x1 & blaz+ a     
trail f x if x is deep 9 !  woods & %\ld
 be h>d to f9d aga94 ,on ! *alk du/1 ) !
  bru%1 drop a few drops ( wat] & /ir   
till ! wat] is col\r$  blue4 ,!n ) ! wet
 bru% dab ! re> ( a load+ bee4 ,?is mu/ 
be done deftly & g5tly4 ,bees d n l to  
be pa9t$4 ,a good  hunt] c guess :i* bee
 is apt to be unreasonably phlegmatic &1
  especially if "o is load+ f a half    
empty cell1 ) ! %\ld]s  buri$ & 8 tail  
rais$1 he c be pa9t$ )\t di/urb+ him4   
,once daub$1 ! new decoration does n    
annoy him 9 ! lea/ & is  n notic$ by 8  
fell[s4 ,:5 wet1 ! spot %[s only        
slightly1 b  by ! "t ! bee returns1 !   
*alk du/ w be dry & w /&  out l a beacon
 s vivid t x c be spott$ ev5 be=e ! bee 

alights4 ,we n[ h an id5tifiable bee & c
 "t him4    ,let u suppose he takes sev5
 or eight m9utes a trip to ! tree &     
back4 ,"o %\ld "t him two or ?ree times 
to be accurate & n be  di/urb$ if ! "t  
v>ies a little4 ,we n[ h a bee l9e & "s 
idea ( ! di/ance ( ! tree4    ,n[ x is  
"t to move4 ,"o might ask :y1 kn[+ !    
direction &  ! approximate di/ance1 "o  
does n imm$iately hunt = ! tree4  ,!    
answ] is t !re are t5 ?\s& trees 9 !    
woods & only  "o ! bee tree4 ,"o c nev] 
be sure ( ! exact l9e or1 ) any         
exactitude1 ! di/ance4 ,sometimes :5 "o 
has n>r[$ ! problem  to an area ( a     
hundr$ y>ds squ>e1 x is h>d to f9d !    
tree4 ,s  once m ! bee box is plac$ on !
 /&1 a load$ comb dropp$  into ! front  
comp>tm5t & ! lid left op54 ,! sp>e comb
 %\ld  be hidd5 c>efully4 ,great ire on 
! "p ( ! bees4 ,!y aga9  become         
suspici\s & d n want to ent] ! box4 ,z m
 arrive1  ! air is fill$ ) a disgu/$    
humm+4 ,9 "t ! temptation is  too great 
& "o aft] ano!r a bee drops d[n to !    

comb4 ,:5 t5  or a doz5 h done s1 snap  
d[n ! lid ( ! box & drive !m  into ! re>
 comp>tm5t z be=e4 ,!y are reluctant to 
g1 b a  puff ( cig>ette smoke bl[n ?r\gh
 a crack 9 ! lid w s5d  !m scurry+ to ! 
re> 9 se>* ( pur] air4 ,close ! slide1  
reop5 ! box1 place x on ! /& & cat*     
ano!r lot4 ,cat* all  y c4 ,!n pull up !
 /&1 ga!r up y\r p>aph]nalia & move     
?ree or f\r hundr$ y>ds d[n ! l9e4 ,!n  
set up ! /& &  release ! bees 9 bat*es (
 eight or t54    ,?is is ano!r critical 
mom5t4 ,w ! bees /& mov+8 ,if y  h      
mi/ak5 ! l9e & mov$ (f x too f> to !    
left or "r1  ! bees may n come back1 & y
 w h to return to ! fir/  /& & />t ov]  
aga94 ,! same is true if ! sw>m is weak 
or  ! fl[]s too tempt+4 ,! "t seems     
int]m9able4 ,i h a !ory1  :i* ,i _c     
prove1 t on ! fir/ move ! bees return to
 !  fir/ /& be=e inve/igat+ !           
possibilities ( ! second4  ,conditions  
are "r on ?is day1 h[ev]1 & aft] a "t we
 he> !  welcome hum ( ! fir/ return+    
bee1 quickly foll[$ by a second  & a    

?ird4 ,! bees w /& mov+4 ,success seems 
assur$4    ,!oretically x is4 ,all "o   
has to d is to cont9ue to move ! bees   
until ! tree is rea*$ or pass$1 9 :i*   
case ! l9e rev]ses  & proves t ! tree is
 betwe5 ! la/ & ! next to ! la/  /&s4   
,if x 7 z simple z t1 bee hunt+ w\ld n  
be ! art  & ! fun t x is4 ,9 ! fir/     
place1 9 ord] to ree/abli% a  l9e1 ! /& 
%\ld be set up 9 a cle>+4 ,we h n[ rea*$
 !  woods & possibly no cle>+s are      
available4 ,releas$ 9 ! woods1  a bee   
circles up into ! trees & disappe>s4    
,sometimes x is h>d  to tell :e!r he    
goes =w>d or back4 ,! moves h to be     
%ort]4  ,(t5 if "o moves beyond ! tree1 
! bees w n come back1 &  y h lo/ y\r    
l9e4 ,above all1 ! l9+ mu/ be /raight4  
,if y  meet a swamp1 y mu/ g ?r\gh x4   
,if y meet a cliff1 y mu/  g up x4 ,if y
 meet a pond1 y mu/ g r\nd x & set up at
 j  ! "r po9t on ! opposite side4 ,all  
?is takes "t4 ,y mu/ be  prep>$ to sp5d 
two or ?ree days be=e f9d+ ! tree4      
,mean:ile1  z ! tree draws ne>1 ! bees  

tumble out 9 great] numb]s until        
lit]ally !re are hundr$s buzz+ ab\t &   
go+ back & =?1  & "o has to refill !    
comb frequ5tly4    ,?is br+s up ano!r   
po9t3 ! dang] ( be+ /ung4 ,! newcom]  is
 apt to be t]rifi$ z ! bees buzz r\nd 8 
head :ile ! hunt]  is t5d+ ! /&4 ,!     
answ] ,i c give categorically4 ,!re is  
absolutely no dang] :atev] ( be+ /ung   
:ile runn+ a l9e4 ,!  bees are entirely 
fri5dly4 ,!y w fight among !mselves if  
two  sw>ms are involv$4 ,!y w fight a   
hornet if he has accid5tally  f\nd !    
comb4 ,! hunt] :o is supply+ !m ) free  
syrup !y  w\ld n ?9k ( mole/+4 ,! only  
possibility ( gett+ /ung  is "s c>eless 
accid5t4 ,i 0 once /ung :5 a fri5dly bee
 _h  light$ on my khaki %irt &1 n notic+
 him1 ,i put my arm d[n  & squeez$ him  
aga9/ my side4 ,naturally1 he let drive 
at my ribs4  ,! fault 0 m9e1 n 84 ,"o c 
ev5 imprison a bee 9 "o's  cupp$ h&s &  
he w crawl r\nd & try to f9d 8 way out1 
b  if y d n squeeze him1 he w n ?9k (   
/++ y4 ,i once  0 l9+ a sw>m 9 ! middle 

( ! gold5rod honey fl[ :5 a  t]rific    
hail/orm came up & level$ all ! fl[]s4  
,! next day  ! bees 7 desp]ate4 ,_! bee 
pa/ure 0 gone & !y 7 mad  = syrup4 ,i   
soon _h :at seem$ to be half ! hive     
ar\nd me4 ,!y  came n 9 hundr$s1 b 9    
?\s&s4 ,ev5 to an old hunt] x 0  a      
little t]rify+1 b absolutely h>mless4   
,"o _h to ex]cise  caution4 ,feel+ a    
curi\s tickl+ on ! left side ( my brea/1
 ,i  discov]$ t "s two doz5 bees _h f\nd
 ! anise bottle 9 my  %irt pocket & _h  
gone 9 to inve/igate4 ,x 0 q a job to   
get  ! anise bottle out & p]suade ! bees
 to come too1 b ,i did x  )\t accid5t4  
,! only dang] to ! amateur is t he lose 
8  head & try to slap a bee t he ?9ks is
 dang]\sly ne> 8 face4  ,if he does1 he 
may be /ung4 ,he ought to be4 ,x is wor?
 repeat+  because to ! newcom] x seems  
incr$ible4 ,!re is absolutely no  dang] 
( be+ /ung :ile runn+ a bee l9e4    ,z  
we draw ne>] ! tree1 ! moves are %ort] &
 made m  quickly4 ,n[ !re is no worry   
ab\t los+ ! l9e4 ,inde$1 ! bees  n      

trapp$ w (t5 foll[ ! hunt] on a %ort    
move &1 z !  imprison$ bees are releas$1
 o!rs1 arriv+ f beh9d1 w drop  on !     
comb4 ,n[ ! hunt] is conv9c$ t ! tree   
mu/ be 9  sight4 ,usually x isn't4 ,z   
soon z x is e/abli%$ t ! l9e  /ill goes 
ahead1 ! hunt] w g d[n ! l9e1 c>efully  
exam9+  e likely tree4 ,?is gives him   
ex]cise1 puts 9 ! "t1 &  enables him to 
f9d a good place = ! next /& if x is    
necess>y  to e/abli% "o4 ,usually x is4 
,at la/1 h[ev]1 "o ( two ?+s  happ5s4   
,ei!r ! hunt] f9ds ! tree or1 aft] a    
move1 ! bees  w be a long "t com+ back1 
or1 if x is a long move1 ?\gh x  %\ld n 
be1 !y may n come back at all4 ,:5 bees 
h be5  runn+ well & sudd5ly are sl[ to  
return1 x is suspici\s &  auspici\s4 ,:5
 ! l9e is at la/ ree/abli%$1 ! behavi\r 
(  ! bees is odd4 ,!y w circle (f 9 all 
directions 9 ! mo/  exasp]at+ fa%ion4   
,at la/ "o or two w fly reasonably      
/raight1  & x dawns on ! hunt] t ! l9e  
has rev]s$ itself & !  bees are go+     
back4 ,! tree is betwe5 ?is & ! la/ /&4 

,x is  only a matt] n[ ( look+ c>efully 
en\gh to discov] ! tree4    ,ev5 !n "o  
_c consid] ! battle won4 ,a bee tree c  
be  extraord9>ily h>d to f9d4 ,!        
likelie/ trees are maples1 bee*es1  &   
hemlocks1 b ! hunt] mu/ look ev]y:]e4   
,smi? us$ to h  a !ory t if ! bees rose 
high z !y left ! /&1 ! hole  0 high 9 ! 
air4 ,if !y pit*$ l[1 ! hole 0 l[4 ,he  
also  pret5d$ to guess ! k9d ( tree t ! 
bees 7 9 by ! col\r  ( ! bees4          
,light-col\r$ bees 7 likely to be 9 a   
maple4 ,v  d>k ones might be 9 a dead   
p9e4 ,!re is some?+ 9 all ?is b  n mu*4 
,"o "t we 7 runn+ a l9e ( light-col\r$  
bees t  pit*$ high1 & ,i told ,smi? we  
_h bett] look high up 9 maples4  ,8     
reply 03    8,y look high 9 ! maples &  
l[ 9 ! c$>s & up & d[n all  trunks &    
bran*es1 h>d wood & s(t1 big en\gh to   
hold a hive &  y c be sure ( j "o ?+4   
,:5 y d f9d !m1 !y'll be  :]e y don't   
expect !m40    ,a s\nd aphorism & wor?  
foll[+4 ,x 0 ?is same ,smi? "o "t  :5 we
 7 fi%+ = tr\t & n f9d+ !m 9 "o or two  

fav\r$ holes1 tri$ else:]e 9 less likely
 places & f\nd !m1  :o said3    8,if y  
want to cat* fi%1 y've got to fi% :]e ! 
fi% is1 &  if !y a9't !re1 y fi% :]e !y 
a9't & !re !y'll be40    ,( c\rse1 !    
greate/ ?rill ( ! hunt comes :5 "o f9ds 
!  tree4 ,sometimes x is abrupt1 if !   
hole is 9 an un%ad$ limb or  bole 9 pla9
 view4 ,m (t5 x is 9 a position :]e "o  
has to  manoeuvre to see x1 & ! fir/    
w>n+ comes :5 "o sees !  fla% ( w+s 9 ! 
air &1 9 an agony ( hope & d\bt1 moves  
ab\t until ! hole c be se5 & ! pres5ce (
 ! sw>m truly  v]ifi$4 ,ev5 :5 ! tree is
 p9n$ betwe5 two /&s1 x may take  a long
 "t4 ,i rememb] "o tree t we _h s p9n$4 
,i _h ) me  my son1 :o is a good bee    
hunt]1 a companion ( 81 & a c\ple (     
rank amateurs4 ,! five ( u tramp$ ! area
 betwe5 ! two /&s  = an h\r be=e ,i f\nd
 ! hive4 ,x 0 9 a smalli% swamp maple  t
 divid$ into two boles f\r feet above ! 
gr\nd4 ,nei!r hole  0 big en\gh to hold 
bees1 s we _h pass$ x unsuspect+4 ,9 !  
crot* :]e ! boles divid$ 0 a hole & into

 ?is ! bees 7  dropp+1 mak+ _! home 9 ! 
%ort trunk ne> ! gr\nd4 ,aft]  we _h    
f\nd x we not$ t we _h actually trampl$ 
a pa? ?r\gh  ! f]ns )9 fifte5 feet ( !  
tree4    ,illu/ration3 ,,! ,,bee ,,tree 
,! bees h ent]$ ! hole indicat$ by !    
arr[ 9 an o!rwise  s\nd maple tree4     
,bees r>ely *oose a dead tree 9 :i* to  
make _!  hive    ,! commone/ & mo/      
fooli% "q ,i am ask$ is h[ long x  takes
 to f9d a bee tree4 ,accord+ to my      
exp]i5ce x is some:]e  betwe5 =ty-?ree  
m9utes & two ye>s4 ,i h already m5tion$ 
!  accid5t ( sett+ up a /& )9 sight ( ! 
tree & f9d+ x  9 less ?an an h\r4 ,ano!r
 "t x 0 n an accid5t b a well  calculat$
 guess4 ,9 late ,septemb] ,i 0 gunn+ 9 !
 ,blue ,m\nta9  ,=e/ area 9 ,new        
,hamp%ire4 ,! day 0 unseasonably w>m4 ,i
 f\nd  no game1 b obs]v$ a great _m bees
 work+ ! few gold5rod t  7 left & "s    
late a/]s4 ,i well knew ! t]ra94 ,a     
little to  ! s\?we/ 0 a small old sug>  
bu% ) l>ge maples4 ,to !  nor?we/ b /ill
 ne> 0 ano!r some:at l>g]4 ,beyond & 9  

all  directions _h be5 p9e =e/ t _h     
rec5tly be5 lumb]$4 ,!re  w\ld be almo/ 
no *ance = bees to set up 9 t area &    
!re=e  !y mu/ be 9 "o ( ! two sug>      
groves4 ,i w5t home1 got my bee  box &  
/>t$ a l9e ne> ! small sug> bu%4 ,! l9e 
came quickly  & ,i nev] mov$4 ,foll[+ ! 
l9e f ! box1 ,i f\nd ! bees 9  ! ?ird   
tree ,i exam9$4 ,x took less ?an ?ree   
qu>t]s ( an h\r4    ,n[ = ! o!r end ( ! 
scale4 ,ye>s ago :5 ,i 0 /ill a  boy1   
,smi? & ,i />t$ a l9e t ran up ! /eep   
slope ( !  s\!rn-saddleback ( ,croydon  
,m\nta94 ,! timb] 0 ?ick1 !  slope at   
times ladd]-l1 & ! hunt+ difficult4 ,we 
made  sev]al moves & !n hunt$ = ! tree4 
,we c\ld n f9d x &  ev5tually gave x up4
 ,! foll[+ summ] we /ruck ! same l9e &  
hunt$ x aga94 ,evid5tly ! bees _h w9t]$ 
well1 b /ill we  c\ld n f9d ! tree4 ,!  
next summ] we got ! same l9e4 ,by t  "t 
our d&] 0 up & we decid$ to f9d t tree4 
,we ran a l9e  z well z possible4 ,!n we
 began to exam9e ! timb] horizontally   
back & =? across ! l9e1 blaz+ our pa?s  

to make sure t !  :ole area 0 cov]$4    
,aft] a "t1 ,i he>d a yell & consid]able
  pr(anity accompany+ x4 ,x 0 bel[ me1 &
 ,i scrambl$ d[n !  /eep slope4 ,!      
pr(anity seem$ to come f a clump ( "y   
spruce  out ( :i* project$ ! old bole ( 
a fall5 maple4 ,smi? _h  /epp$ on !     
bole1 slipp$1 & %ot ?r\gh ! "y spruces  
end+  ) 8 legs on ei!r side ( ! /ump ( !
 fall5 tree4 ,! bees  7 9 t4 ,"o c\ld h 
pass$ )9 t5 feet & n kn[n t  !re 0 any?+
 !re t c\ld h>b\r a colony ( bees4 ,we  
_h  our tree1 b x _h tak5 a little ov]  
two ye>s to f9d x4    ,a ^w ab\t cross  
l9+4 ,! lit]>y exp]ts seem always to f9d
  _! qu>ry by cross l9+4 ,!y cat* a bee1
 release x1 & take  its l9e4 ,!n !y move
 a qu>t] ( a mile1 cat* ano!r & take    
its l9e4 ,by triangulation1 :]e ! two   
l9es meet1 !re w be !  tree4 ,pas plus  
difficile que a6 ,un=tunately1 z we h   
se51 "o  _c get ev5 remotely an accurate
 l9e ! fir/ "t a bee leaves4  ,moreov]1 
if "o c\ld1 !re w\ld be a good *ance t  
bee numb]  two came f ano!r colony4 ,"o 

w\ld get a l9e nor? & ano!r  nor?we/1 & 
:]e !y met1 !re w\ld be ! tree4         
,nev]!less1  cross l9+ %\ld n be rul$   
out4 ,sometimes "o w get a l9e too  weak
 to be wor? foll[+4 ,try+ 9 ano!r place 
"o may get ano!r  weak l9e t seems to   
cross at a di/ance ! fir/4 ,if "o goes  
to  ab\t :]e ! two seem to meet1 !re is 
a good *ance t "o w  be ne> a bee tree4 
,let me illu/rate ) an amus+ example4   
,?ree ye>s ago ,i 0 bee  hunt+ on !     
hills n f> f my home 9 ,new ,hamp%ire4  
,i got  a weak l9e ne>ly ea/ & directly 
t[>d ! little village (  ,croydon ,flat4
 ,i decid$ t ,i mu/ h got onto a tame   
sw>m1 ?\gh  ,i c\ld ?9k ( no "o 9       
,croydon ,flat :o kept bees4 ,h[ev]1 x  
0 obvi\sly "t to try ano!r area & ,i    
drove to ! ,flat &  took a road nor?we/ 
= a mile & a half1 caught bees1 & set up
  a /&4 ,i got a weak l9e s\!a/1 aga9   
directly t[>d ,croydon  ,flat4 ,i hunt$ 
up a fri5d :o liv$ !re1 "o ,orr9        
,pillsbury1 &  he assur$ me t nobody 9 !
 ,flat kept bees4 ,! village is t9y1  ! 

int]vale small1 !re is good h>d wood    
timb] ne> & no reason  :y a wild sw>m   
%\ld n h locat$ ne> ! village4 ,i caught
  bees & set up 9 ! vegetable g>d5 back 
( ,orr9's h\se4 ,i soon  _h a good l9e  
nor!a/1 b x w5t ov] ! h\se1 & s9ce "s   
en]getic bees flew ov] ! h\se1 o!rs     
pref]r$ to cle> only  ! ell & /ill o!rs 
w5t r\nd1 we _h no accurate l9e4 ,i mov$
  across ! village /reet to a field on !
 o!r side4 ,! bees 7  a long "t com+    
back & :5 !y did1 !y e/abli%$ a l9e     
nor?we/4 ,"h 0 a cross l9e ) a v5geance4
 ,we inve/igat$1  ?9k+ ! bees 7 9 "o ( !
 elms ( ! village /reet4 ,i  soon f\nd  
!m p\r+ 9 & out ( a *imney on ! h\se (  
"o ,cy  ,cumm+s4 ,cy _h two *imneys & he
 only us$ "o4 ,! bees _h set  up 9 !    
o!r4 ,t 0 "o wild sw>m ,i f\nd t did me 
no good4  ,cy oblig+ly let u into !     
h\se1 b :5 ,i sugge/$ op5+ !  disc 9 !  
second floor design$ = ! admission ( a  
/ove pipe1 he  mut9i$4 ,t 0 n           
unreasonable z ,i c\ld n h got my head 9
  to see1 & ! bees c\ld h got out into !

 b$room4 ,cy di/ru/s  bees4 ,i believe  
subsequ5tly he built a fire 9 ! *imney &
 br\ght  d[n a mass ( spoil$ honey1 dead
 bees1 & melt$ wax4 ,a great wa/e4      
,?is br+s up ano!r po9t4 ,! writ] has   
be5 =tunate 9 t !  bulk ( 8 hunt+ has   
be5 )9 ! pres]ve ( ! ,blue ,m\nta9  ,=e/
 ,association 9 ,sullivan ,c\nty1 ,new  
,hamp%ire4 ,!re1 if "o  />ts a l9e (    
bees1 "o c be sure x is a wild sw>m4    
,!re are  no f>ms ) dome/ic bees 9 !    
area4 ,mo/ hunt]s1 h[ev]1 h  to hunt 9  
c\ntry di/ricts :]e !re are f>ms1 !     
own]s (  :i* may well keep bees4 ,x w be
 wise1 !re=e1 be=e go+  hunt+1 to       
asc]ta9 ! localities :]e tame bees are  
kept4 ,no?+  is m fru/rat+ ?an to />t a 
l9e1 get x go+ well1 run x  sev]al      
moves1 & end 9 a f>m]'s backy>d ) !     
revelation t  a h>d day's "w has done no
 m ?an adult]ate 8 honey ) a  half a p9t
 ( sug> syrup4 ,?is happ5$ to me once1 b
 x has n  happ5$ aga94 ,new ,hamp%ire is
 l>gely wood$1 & if a l9e heads  = a    
deep woods on a m\nta9 slope1 "o c be   

reasonably sure t  "o is trail+ a wild  
sw>m4 ,d n1 h[ev]1 let t prev5t y  f l9+
 a wild sw>m ne> a locality :]e !re are 
tame bees4  ,_m wild sw>ms are simply   
once remov$ f ! dome/ic v>iety4  ,ev5 a 
good api>i/ (t5 loses a colony :5 8 bees
 sw>m at an  inconv5i5t "t1 & ! new     
colony may set up qu>t]s n f>  f ! old4 
,= ye>s ,i refra9$ f />t+ a l9e f my own
  lawn because ( ! pres5ce a mile & a   
qu>t] away ( a numb]  ( colonies belong+
 to a g5tleman kn[n z ,*ick5 ,smi?4     
,*ick5  ,smi?'s bees us$ my fl[]s       
regul>ly4 ,!n "o day ,i decid$ to />t  a
 l9e anyway j = int]e/ & f\nd a wild    
sw>m 9 my own sug>  bu%4    ,"o "q (t5  
ask$ is h[ mu* honey "o gets f a bee    
tree4  ,! am\nt v>ies enorm\sly4 ,my    
record is n9ety-sev5 p\nds (  un/ra9$   
honey f "o tree4 ,x 0 n a l>ge tree1 b x
 _h  a l>ge holl[4 ,x involv$ a t]rific 
fight ) ! bees1 z "o  w\ld expect1 & bo?
 my companion & ,i 7 r well /ung1 b  we 
fill$ a wa% boil] ) honey & !n _h to g  
home = m  conta9]s4 ,on ! o!r h&1 "o may

 take up a tree & get only a  p\nd or   
two4 ,i rememb] tak+ up an old rock     
maple4 ,its bran*es 7  s wide t :5 we   
cut x d[n1 x m]ely lean$ on its elb[s & 
we _h to cut x ?ree times be=e we c\ld  
get to ! entrance to  ! hive4 ,! wood 0 
s heavy & ! gra9 s gn>l$ t a /eel  w$ge 
held aga9/ ! wood & /ruck ) a sl$ge1    
w\ld b\nce (f4  ,to get into ! holl[ 0  
ab\t z easy z crack+ a safe1 & x  took  
?ree ( u ov] ?ree h\rs4 ,our rew>d 0 "o 
piece ( fill$  comb small] ?an ! palm ( 
my h&4 ,x is all a gamble & "p (  !     
fasc9ation ( ! hunt4 ,z an av]age1 ,i   
%\ld say "o ought to  expect to get     
eighte5 to tw5ty p\nds ( /ra9$ honey f a
 tree4    ,z to ! numb] ( moves1 t v>ies
 f no move at all1 z we h  se51 to a    
doz5 or ev5 m4 ,! longe/ l9e ,i rememb] 
,i />t$  ye>s ago 9 ! cle>+ at ! base ( 
,croydon ,m\nta94 ,! l9e  took me up !  
/eepe/ slope to ! ridge j nor? ( !      
summit4  ,!nce x c>ri$ ov] ! ridge & d[n
 ! opposite side4 ,:5 x  came "t to take
 up ! tree1 x 0 easi] to come 9 f ! nor?

  ?an f ! s\? along ! l9e ,i _h foll[$4 
,x took me ?ree  days1 & ,i made fifte5 
moves4 ,:5 bees are runn+ well1 "o c    
leave !m 9 ! late aft]noon & pick !m up 
aga9 next day4 ,on  leav+ !m1 "o fills e
 available piece ( comb1 weights ! box  
) a /one s x w n be bl[n (f 9 case ( a  
sudd5 w9d1 &  puts "o piece ( comb 9 !  
out] comp>tm5t ) ! lid propp$  up only  
half an in* s t 9 case ( ra9 at lea/ "o 
comb w  reta9 undilut$ syrup4 ,9 spite (
 all ?is1 :5 "o returns next  day1      
usually e piece ( comb is empty & ! bees
 gone4 ,x is h>d  n to be disc\rag$1 b  
!re is no ne$ to be4 ,fill ! comb &     
wait4 ,9 five1 t51 or tw5ty m9utes a bee
 w come = "o m look  to see if a trifle 
( sweet may /ill be glean$4 ,he w load1 
dep>t1  & 9 half an h\r y w h a ro>+ l9e
 once m4    ,bee hunt+ br+s "s odd      
exp]i5ces4 ,z boys1 my bro!r & ,i 7  bee
 hunt+ ) ,smi? & f\nd ! bees 9 ! base ( 
a rock maple  on ! edge ( ! woods1 9 a  
fissure n five feet f ! gr\nd4  ,x 0    
late ,septemb] & we decid$ to take up ! 

tree =?)4 ,x  0 n necess>y to fell !    
tree1 b m]ely to cut into ! holl[  to   
get ! honey4 ,we _h1 h[ev]1 no nets or  
gloves1 s we built a  smudge to drive   
back & /upefy ! bees :ile we 7 gett+ !  
honey4 ,we made a good haul & drove back
 to camp ?ree miles away t  ev5+ & _h   
ourselves a ,g>gantuan meal ( brook     
tr\t1 flapjacks1  & new honey4 ,aft]    
supp] we w5t out to li/5 to ! bugl+ (  !
 elk ) :i* ! pres]ve 0 /ock$ &1 look+   
across !  valley1 we saw a bright light4
 ,our smudge _h set fire to ! tree4  ,we
 drove back & f\nd ! holl[ int]ior a    
furnace4 ,!re 0 no  wat] available1 & ! 
fire _h burn$ high up 9 ! holl[4 ,we  _h
 no means to ext+ui% x1 nor did we d>e  
leave x = fe> !  tree w\ld fall & ! fire
 spread4 ,! elk 7 bugl+ m]rily1 &  9 ^? 
days an old bull 9 ! rutt+ season 0 q   
capable (  attack+ a man4 ,we f9ally    
climb$ onto a l>ge bran* ( ! ne>e/      
maple & sp5t a re/less night tell+      
/ories & wait+ = !  fire to burn itself 
out4 ,=tunately1 by morn+ x _h4         

,sometimes ! attempt to f9d a tree is   
unusually baffl+4 ,"o "t  my son & ,i   
l9$ & cross l9$ a sw>m until we n>r[$ ! 
se>* to two or ?ree trees4 ,! likelie/ 0
 a bee*1 b ?\gh we  occasionally got a  
glitt] ( w+s 9 ! air1 we c\ld n be sure 
t we _h ! tree4 ,x 0 n until we _h gone 
home & return$  ) a p[]ful pair ( field 
glasses t we 7 able to di/+ui%  ! bees 9
 ! foliage =ty-five feet 9 ! air & ne>  
en\gh !  hole to make u c]ta9 t we _h   
our bee tree4 ,! actual hole  itself we 
did n see until we fell$ ! tree & took  
up ! sw>m4  ,ano!r "t ,i _h run ! l9e to
 ! top ( a m\nta9 & !n !  l9e rev]s$    
itself4 ,betwe5 ! two la/ /&s !re 0 no?+
  b bull spruce n big en\gh to hold a   
colony1 & moreov] ,i _h  nev] he>d (    
bees 9 a spruce4 ,tree by tree ,i exam9$
 ! t]ra94 ,i  f9ally f\nd ! bees dropp+ 
d[n into ! roots ( a spruce :]e  !re 0 a
 holl[ p>tly 9 ! wood & p>tly 9 ! gr\nd 
:]e  ! colony _h settl$4 ,x 0 a mis]able
 little sw>m1 & ,i nev]  bo!r$ to take x
 up4 ,! next summ] x 0 gone1 z ,i _h    

expect$  9 ! case ( a fooli% sw>m t _h  
select$ s unsuitable an  habitation4    
,does "o ev] f9d a bee tree by accid5t8 
,yes1 b v1 v r>ely4  ,i once 0 eat+ my  
lun*eon beside a m\nta9 brook & notic$ a
  honey bee load+ wat] at a wet spot4   
,he flew (f & soon came back4  ,i got   
out my wat* & tim$ him4 ,he 0 gone two  
m9utes4 ,i rose &  w5t 9 ! direction ( 8
 dep>ture & f\nd ! tree fifty y>ds      
away4 ,?is 0 )\t b5efit ( bee box or    
syrup1 b did involve  l9+ ( a sort4 ,on 
! o!r h&1 ,i once f\nd a tree on top ( a
  m\nta9 &1 *oos+ a diff]5t way d[n1    
f\nd ano!r bee tree  two hundr$ y>ds f !
 fir/4 ,my guess is t ! old] colony  _h 
sw>m$1 & ! new commune _h decid$ to set 
up 9 ! ne>e/  suitable place to ! old4  
,ano!r tree ,i f\nd accid5tally due to  
an  amus+ mi/ake4 ,my companion _h _h "s
 exp]i5ce 9 bee hunt+1  & :5 ,i />t$ out
 to cat* "s bees ,i ask$ h] to fill !   
comb  = me s z to be ready :5 ,i return$
 ) ! bees4 ,%e did s1  h[ev] fill+ !    
comb f ! anise bottle in/ead ( ! syrup  

bottle4 ,!re 0 no?+ = x b to g all ! way
 home = fre%  comb & />t ov] aga94 ,on !
 way back we discov]$ a l>ge colony  (  
bees 9 a huge p9e :i* we _h pass$       
unnotic$ z we _h gone out  ! fir/ "t4   
,^! are ! only trees ,i rememb] hav+    
discov]$  by accid5t1 & ,i h look$      
long+ly into ?\s&s ( likely  trees4 ,to 
f9d bees "o mu/ hunt !m & n rely on     
*ance4    ,sometimes bees1 = su*        
sagaci\s insects1 %[ rem>kably little   
s5se 9 ! abode !y select4 ,i once f\nd a
 colony 9 a small dead  popl> 7or popple
 ,i %\ld pref] to call x7 s weak & rott$
 t  ,i c\ld h pu%$ x ov] ) my weight4   
,^? bees ,i decid$ to  save = pets4 ,my 
wife1 ! f>m]1 & ,i drove t night to a   
place  a few hundr$ y>ds f ! tree4 ,!   
hole 0 ab\t five feet up4  ,! family 0  
all at home ( c\rse1 & ,i plugg$ ! hole 
) moss  to keep !m !re4 ,!n we atta*$ a 
rope to ! tree z f> up z  we c\ld rea* &
 saw$ x (f at ! base1 l[]+ x g5tly to ! 
gr\nd4 ,!n we cut (f ! top above ! holl[
 :i* %elt]$ !  bees4 ,! f>m] & ,i easily

 c>ri$ x to ! buckbo>d & br\ght  x home 
9 triumph4 ,i _h already prep>$ a place 
= x 9 a tub sunk  9 ! gr\nd & cem5t     
ready to puddle ar\nd x4 ,soon our bee  
tree  0 /&+ erect 9 ! c[ pa/ure ne> !   
h\se ) a saucepan  ov] ! top to keep ra9
 f seep+ into ! holl[4 ,i unplugg$ !    
hole & w5t to b$4 ,next morn+ ,i w5t out
 to see h[ my gue/s did4  ,!y 7 six     
miles f :]e !y _h gone to b$ ! night    
be=e  & 7 q untr\bl$ by x4 ,!y _h       
already organiz$ p]fectly4  ,!          
temp]ature ( ! hive app>5tly _h ris51 & 
a r+ ( fann]s  0 ar\nd ! hole fann+ air 
into ! int]ior ) _! w+s  :]e x 0 caught 
up by o!r fann]s & driv5 ?r\gh ! hive4  
,! v5tilation sy/em 0 humm+4 ,! bees _h 
already discov]$ !  small brook a few   
y>ds away1 & a bucket brigade 0 busily  
fet*+  wat]4 ,! bulk ( ! work]s _h      
discov]$ my neighbor's buck:eat  pat* & 
7 busily ga!r+ nect>4 ,i kept !m =      
sev]al ye>s  & got mu* fun f wat*+ !m1  
nor did !y ev] %[ !  slighte/ res5tm5t  
t[>d me = %ift+ _! home4 ,ev5tually !y  

di$ 9 an unusually sev]e w9t]4          
,apropos ( />t+ a l9e )\t cat*+ a bee1 x
 c be done b  only by ! r>e/ accid5t4 ,i
 did x once4 ,i _h gone out to hunt     
aft] ! autumnal fro/s1 hop+ to f9d a    
late fl[] or two on :i*  ,i c\ld cat* a 
bee4 ,i w5t to a %elt]$ cle>+ &1 leav+  
my  sp>e box op5 ) ! empty comb expos$  
on a b\ld]1 ,i w&]$  r\nd ! cle>+ se>*+ 
= a bee4 ,f9d+ none aft] fifte5 or      
tw5ty m9utes1 ,i return$ to ga!r up my  
kit & f\nd a bee buzz+  r\nd ! empty    
comb4 ,he _h f\nd x by accid5t1 hav+    
fl[n ne>  en\gh to get a sc5t ( ! comb &
 anise4 ,i succe$$ 9 fill+ !  dropp] )  
syrup & squirt+ x onto ! comb )\t       
fright5+  ! bee4 ,he f\nd ! syrup       
promptly1 load$1 & left4 ,i !n fill$  ! 
comb prop]ly4 ,i _h h>dly f9i%$ :5 ! bee
 return$ )  ?ree fri5ds4 ,9 fifte5      
m9utes ,i _h a ro>+ l9e1 & 9 ?ree  moves
 & ab\t two h\rs ,i f\nd ! tree4 ,?is 0 
a good example (  h[ well bees w run on 
a w>m fall day aft] ! fl[]s h gone  by4 
,x is also ! only example ,i rememb] (  

my be+ =tunate en\gh  to />t a l9e 9 ?is
 way4    ,! mo/ anci5t bee tree ,i ev]  
f\nd 0 approximately tw5ty-f\r  hundr$  
ye>s old4 ,my wife & ,i 7 exam9+ ! ru9s 
( "o ( !  ,greek temples at ,sel9unte1 !
 anci5t ,sel9us 9 s\!rn ,sicily4  ,( "o 
( ! temples1 all b two ( ! columns _h   
be5 ov]?r[n  by an e>?quake4 ,"o ( ^?   
/&+ _h be5 t]ribly worn by !  hot       
sirocco w9d t bl[s p]iodically f !      
,african coa/4 ,9  ord] to pres]ve x1 ! 
top _h be5 capp$ ) cem5t1 b !re  0 a    
l>ge holl[ und]nea?4 ,z ,i ne>$ x1 "s   
telepa?ic cell  9 my bra9 began to      
signal 8bees40 ,)\t ?9k+ :at ,i did1 ,i 
/epp$ to ! column & ran my eye up x z ,i
 w\ld h done _h ,i  be5 look+ = a bee   
tree4 ,at ! top ! memb]s ( a busy sw>m  
7 p\r+ 9 & out f ! holl[ "u ! cem5t4 ,t 
0 a  bee tree ,i c\ld n take up4 ,i _h a
 simil> exp]i5ce sev]al ye>s  lat] 9 !  
ru9$ abbey ( ,san ,galgano s\? ( ,si5a 9
 ,tuscany4  ,! abbey 0 built by ,fr5*   
,ci/]cians 9 ! e>ly ?irte5?  c5tury1 & !
 walls & apse are /ill /&+ ?\gh ! ro(   

has long s9ce disappe>$4 ,! ru9 is f5c$ 
(f & lock$1 b a  neighbor+ peasant br+s 
! key & admits "o = a few soldi4  ,i 0  
exam9+ ! ali5 ar*itecture ) a           
pr(essional int]e/  :5 once m ! bell    
rang 9 my bra9 & some?+ said 8bees40 ,i 
ran my eye up "o ( ! columns & soon saw 
s _m bees com+ &  go+ f an ap]ture 9 !  
tri=ium t ! orig9al colony mu/  h       
increas$ enorm\sly 9 almo/ unconf9$     
space4 ,i turn$ to !  peasant & said3   
8,ci sono api 9 que/'edificio40    ,he  
answ]$3    8,si ,signore1 ma ,lei  il   
primo *e l'ha mai oss]vato40    ,i also 
f\nd a lively sw>m 9 ! tri=ium ( ! ru9$ 
abbey (  ,jumiges 9 ,norm&y :i* ant$at$ 
,san ,galgano by a hundr$ ye>s4 ,s  x is
 possible to comb9e ! discov]+ ( wild   
bees ) ! /udy  ( ! hi/ory ( art4        
,p]haps ! tree ,i rememb] mo/ vividly is
 ! fir/ "o ev]  discov]$ unaid$4 ,:5 ,i 
hunt$ ) ,smi?1 he 0 inv>iably !  "o :o  
fir/ saw ! bees4 ,s9ce 8 dea? ye>s ago1 
,i h hunt$  ) _m p & only twice has my  
companion se5 ! bees be=e  ,i did4 ,!re 

is some?+ telepa?ic 9 ! way an old hunt]
 s5ses  ! ne>ness ( bees1 ?\gh ev5 he is
 (t5 fool$4 ,9 ord] to  f9d a tree      
entirely on my own ,i _h to escape f    
,smi?'s tutelage4  ,! great day came :5 
,i 0 ab\t fifte54 ,i caught bees 9 front
  ( my fa!r's h\se 9 ,newport1 ,n4 ,h41 
& soon got a good l9e  runn+ /raight up 
! side ( ,coit ,m\nta94 ,!re 0 a long   
upl&  pa/ure & beyond t ! woods4 ,f\r   
moves took me to ! =e/  edge & tim+ &   
numb]s bo? told me ! tree 0 ne>4 ,i w5t 
up  ! l9e to look = ! bees or = a cle>+ 
& soon f\nd !  sw>m 9 a good-siz$ rock  
maple4 ,i h receiv$ a numb] ( great     
?rills 9 a long life1 su* z !           
notification t ,i _h qualifi$  = my     
doctorate1 ! reception 9 ,new ,york     
h>b\r 9 late ,decemb]  #aiah aft] ! fir/
 ,_w ,w>1 ! citation f ! ,presid5t on   
receiv+ an honor>y degree f ,h>v>d1 b1  
believe me1 ^!  ?rills are all 9 class  
,b z comp>$ to ! "o ,i got :5 ,i fir/   
f\nd a bee tree unaid$4    ,! f9d+ _h an
 amus+ sequel4 ,! hole 0 ab\t eight feet

 up  ! bole1 too f> to rea* b ne> en\gh 
= ! bees to be v  consci\s ( an intrud]4
 ,i />t$ pr\dly to blaze my initials on 
! tree :5 ,i became consci\s ( a ro> & !
 air seem$ to gr[  d>k above me4 ,i     
turn$ & ran j 9 "t1 nor did ,i return to
  f9i% blaz+ ! tree4 ,lat]1 ,i relat$ ! 
ev5t to ,george ,smi? :o  cov]$ me )    
contumely4 ,t a man %\ld f9d a tree & !n
 be  driv5 (f by ! bees be=e he c\ld    
blaze x1 ,smi? reg>d$ z a  disgrace4 ,he
 assur$ me t he w\ld take up ! tree     
himself )\t  b5efit ( veil or gloves4 ,i
 knew bett] ?an to argue1 b on !        
appo9t$ "t :5 he1 my bro!r & ,i w5t to  
take up ! tree1 ,i  br\ght two veils &  
two pairs ( gauntlets4 ,:5 we got to !  
tree ,i  set ab\t collect+ dry /uff = a 
smudge1 a matt] :i* ,smi? said  0 q     
unnecess>y4 ,i 0 d[nhill f ! tree :5 he 
w5t to  "w4 ,i he>d ! axe fall p]haps a 
half a doz5 times1 & !n !re  0 a sir5-l 
wail ( pr(anity1 & ,smi? came *>g+ ?r\gh
 !  woods1 a /ream ( angry bees beh9d   
him l a comet's tail4 ,t 0  "o sw>m :i* 

defeat$ ! intrepid ,smi?4 ,he borr[$ my 
bro!r's  net & gloves1 my bro!r w5t (f &
 hid 9 ! woods1 & ) net  & glove        
protection & a smudge z well1 we cut    
into ! tree &  took up ! sw>m4 ,we got  
sixty p\nds ( honey4    ,9 ?is article  
,i h allud$ _m times to 8tak+ up0 a bee 
tree4  ,! phrase may be colloquial1 b x 
/icks4 ,smi? nev] cut a bee  tree4 ,he  
always 8took x up40 ,moreov]1 he always 
ref]r$ to a bee z  8he40 ,i am well aw>e
 t a work+ bee is a /]ile female1 b ,i  
_c br+ myself to call x 8%e40 ,!re is   
no?+ fem99e ab\t a  work+ bee b its     
anatomy4 8,%e0 is 8he0 to me4    ,a ^w  
or two 9 m detail ab\t ! tak+ up ( a bee
 tree may  n be amiss4 ,x br+s u face to
 face ) "o unpleasant fact3 !  cruelty (
 ! p]=mance4 ,= once a tree is tak5 up1 
! bees soon  die4 ,x is done 9 ! autumn1
 & ! cold soon kills ! bees4 ,!y  are   
depriv$ ( food & %elt] & h no "t to ga!r
 m ( !  "o or repair ! o!r4 ,!y h lab\r$
 h>d & are pitilessly  robb$ n only ( ! 
fruits ( _! lab\r1 b ( _! v lives4  ,!y 

h be5 fri5dly dur+ ! runn+1 & "o has    
acquir$ an  affection = !m4 ,h[ !n c a  
reasonably t5d]-he>t$ p]son  br+ himself
 to de/roy !m8    ,a reason ,i c give1  
?\gh ,i d n ma9ta9 t x is an excuse4    
,bees are p]haps ! mo/ ?or\ghly         
communi/ic creatures extant4 ,!         
individual c\nts = no?+4 ,! _s ( ! hive 
is all4 ,i am told  t ! life ( a work+  
bee dur+ a heavy honey fl[ is only six  
or  eight weeks4 ,! work]s "w !mselves  
until !y %ortly die2 !  hive is kept    
alive by ! /eady hat*+ ( l>vae :o 9 turn
 c>ry  on ! "w & die4 ,! que51 :o alone 
( ! colony lives sev]al  ye>s1 has "o   
nuptial flight & sp5ds ! re/ ( h] life  
crawl+  ov] ! comb & dropp+ an egg into 
ea* cell4 ,?\gh %e1 m ?an  any?+ else1  
is responsible = ! _s ( ! hive1 %e is m 
( a slave ?an h] work]s4 ,z autumnal    
cold desc5ds1 "w /ops1  & ! bees        
torpidly cl+ toge!r = w>m? & ma9ta9     
exi/5ce  by consum+ _! /ore ( honey4 ,9 
! spr+ "w & lay+ />t1  & ! worn work]s  
live j long en\gh to see ! process />t$ 

once m & en\gh l>vae hat*$ to replace !m
 & assure !  cont9u$ exi/5ce ( ! hive4  
,a bee w d ev]y?+ = ! hive2  no?+ = a   
fell[ bee4 ,a bee f a /range sw>m1      
alight+ on !  comb1 w be in/antly       
attack$4 ,on ! o!r h&1 if "o tries !    
exp]im5t ( kill+ a bee on ! comb1 p9n+  
him ) ! blade (  a knife1 he w set up a 
scream+ buzz t s\nds horribly angui%$   
ev5 to ! human e>--& 8 fell[ work]1     
load+ half an in*  away1 w pay          
absolutely no att5tion to him4 ,:5 a    
tree is tak5 up1  ! _s ( ! hive is kill$
 !n & !re4 ,! que5 is usually  cru%$ or 
lo/4 ,! liv+ ?+ t is ! hive is ext+ui%$1
 &  ! individual bees become m]e insects
 doom$ to w9t] de/ruction  z are s _m ( 
! common flies4 ,= ! individual1 ! hunt]
 has  m]ely ha/5$ dissolution by a      
little4 ,he has kill$ ! hive )  ! cra% (
 ! tree4 ,i /ate ?is n z an apology1 b z
 a fact1  an explanation ( :y "o's      
consci5ce does n tr\ble "o aft]  tak+ up
 a tree4 ,illogical x may be1 b x is    
true4    ,to return to ! process4 ,!    

days h l5g!n$1 & ,octob] has  come4     
,fro/ has kill$ ! fl[]s4 ,! bees h ga!r$
 ! maximum  ( honey & w h begun to      
consume ! /ore4 ,x is "t to take  up4 ,=
 equipm5t y w ne$ a c\ple ( axes1 a     
crosscut saw1 a  sl$ge1 & at lea/ ?ree  
/\t /eel w$ges4 ,pl5ty ( tw9e is        
ess5tial4 ,take z _m bee nets z         
necess>y4 ,^! c be made  extemporane\sly
 out ( black mosquito nett+1 b x is     
easi] &  saf] to get ! regul>           
pr(essional beekeep]'s veils4 ,= e      
p>ticipant !re %\ld be a /\t pair (     
l9esman's gauntlets4 ,we>  old clo!s1   
dung>ees or old rid+ tr\s]s4 ,y are sure
 to get  pretty well sme>$ ) honey be=e 
y are done4 ,select a cle> day  or an   
ov]ca/ "o1 b n "o ) a ?reat ( ra94 ,if  
any wat]  f9ds its way into ! honey1 x  
might z well be ?r[n away4 ,x w  surely 
f]m5t & spoil4 ,y w ne$ help1 "o or1    
bett] yet1 two  good woodsm54 ,9 ,new   
,hamp%ire !y are n h>d to f9d4 ,probably
  !y are work+ = y on y\r own place or =
 y\r neighb\r4 ,a few  m5 h a root$ fe> 

( bees & w be unavailable4 ,! av]age    
lumb]man1 if promis$ reasonable         
protection1 w come along & face  ! h>d  
"w = ! fun4 ,tak+ up a bee tree is an   
excit+ &  ?rill+ p]=mance4 ,la/ly1 br+  
pl5ty ( receptacles = !  honey4 ,!      
humiliation ( return+ ) five p\nds (    
comb 9 a wa%  boil] is no?+ z comp>$ to 
! exasp]ation ( fill+ a c\ple  ( buckets
 & f9d+ y h no way ( transport+ ! re/ ( 
!  honey t is left 9 ! tree4    ,?us    
equipp$ y sally =?1 hunt]1 woodsm51 &   
usually "o or  two camp foll[]s 9 ! way 
( gue/s or ! curi\s4 ,y\r tree  has be5 
m>k$ ) y\r initials & a trail blaz$ to x
 )  y\r h& axe s y h no difficulty 9    
f9d+ x4 ,if x is on  y\r prop]ty1 well &
 good4 ,if n1 y\r ,new ,hamp%ire f>m] is
  usually a reasonable be+ if y treat   
him prop]ly4 ,a bee tree is  n valuable4
 ,! m]e fact t x has a holl[ g5]ally    
proves  t x is n comm]cially valuable = 
any?+ b firewood1 &  aft] x is fell$1 if
 ! own] wants to "w x up into firewood1 
he  is at lib]ty to d s4 ,a prop]       

approa* & ! promise ( a j> or  two (    
honey w usually w9 y p]mission to take  
up ! tree1 &  ! own] w come along to    
wat* ! fun4 ,9 all my _m ye>s (         
exp]i5ce1 ,i h only once be5 refus$     
p]mission to take up a bee  tree )\t    
paym5t4    ,arriv+ at ! tree a c\ncil ( 
w> w foll[ z to h[ be/ to  fell x4 ,if y
 are wise1 y w all[ ?is decision to be  
made by  y\r woodsm54 ,if possible1 x   
%\ld be fell$ s t ! hole is  on "o side 
or on top4 ,if possible1 x %\ld n be    
fell$ across  b\ld]s1 z x is v desirable
 n to h ! hole split4 ,sometimes  a tree
 w be s lean+1 h[ev]1 t !re is no *oice 
9 !  matt]1 & "o mu/ d ! be/ "o c4 ,:ile
 ! woodsm5 are  *ipp+ ! trunk & beg9n+  
to saw1 ! hunt] %\ld ga!r moss1  !      
fronds ( f]ns1 or o!r /uff to plug !    
hole :5 ! tree is  br\ght d[n4 ,z ! saw 
bites deep] & ! sc>f wid5s1 ! top  ( !  
tree w beg9 to sway4 ,n[ is ! "t = !    
hunt] to don  8 veil & gloves4 ,be=e    
putt+ on ! veil1 x is well to turn up  !
 coll> ( "o's jacket4 ,x is n ev5 an act

 ( sup]]ogation  to tie tightly "s tw9e 
ar\nd "o's wai/4 ,i once _h an ambiti\s 
bee crawl up "u my jacket1 d[n ?r\gh !  
b& ( my tr\s]s1 up  "u my %irt &        
und]%irt & /+ me 9 ! small ( ! back4  ,=
 protection ( ! legs1 no?+ is bett] ?an 
a light pair (  fi%]man's rubb] boots4  
,fail+ !m1 tie ! bottom ( y\r tr\s]s  or
 dung>ees tightly r\nd ! tops ( y\r     
%oes4 ,d n we> l[  %oes4 ,my companion  
did t ! "t we took up ! n9ety-sev5 p\nd 
tree4 ,x 0 9 a swamp &1 9 addition to ! 
discom=t ( wet feet1  he f\nd t a c\ple 
( doz5 bees1 /upefi$ by ! smudge1 fell  
into ! wat]1 reviv$1 & reliev$ _! feel+s
 by swimm+ across  to 8 ankles & /++ !m4
 ,! next day 8 legs look$ z ?\gh  he _h 
elephantiasis1 & nev] !reaft] c\ld ,i   
get him to help me  take up a bee tree4 
,he c\ld n seem to compreh5d t ! fault 0
  8 = we>+ l[ %oes4    ,! cut deep5s4 ,!
 tree sways wid]4 ,x beg9s to heave1 &  
"o  he>s ! fir/ pi/ol-l reports ( !     
crack+ trunk4 ,sl[ly  at fir/ !n ) rapid
 mom5tum ! tree falls ) a ?und]\s  ro>4 

,! axem5 h snat*$ ! saw f ! cut & jump$ 
back4  ,! hunt] ru%es 91 8 h&s full (   
moss1 f9ds ! ap]ture &  plugs x be=e !  
bees c escape4 ,at lea/ he tries to4    
,sometimes  he misses a subsidi>y       
ap]ture1 & "s bees escape to enliv5 !   
proce$+s4 ,sometimes ! bole splits at ! 
holl[ & no?+ c  be done ab\t t4 ,usually
 ! hole c be plugg$1 & "o c take  "o's  
"t prep>+ to op5 ! holl[4    ,! woodsm5 
n[ put on _! nets & gloves1 if inde$ !y 
h n  done s j be=e fell+ ! tree4 ,all   
debate z to :e!r !  holl[ ext5ds above  
or bel[ ! hole1 (t5 a matt] ( guesswork4
  ,!n ! saw comes into play aga94 ,!    
lumb]m5 cut deep sc>ves  above & bel[ ! 
area :]e ! honey is suppos$ to be4 ,:5  
rott5  wood 7& at times honey67 %[s on !
 blade1 "o c be sure !  holl[ is ent]$4 
,!n a w$ge is plac$ at ! base ( "o ( !  
sc>ves & driv5 home ) ! sl$ge4 ,ano!r1  
p>allel to x1 is  driv5 9 fur!r d[n1 & a
 ?ird p>allel at ! l[] sc>f4 ,z !  w$ges
 are driv5 home1 ! bole w split & a     
great section may be  lift$ (f l a lid1 

expos+ ! honey & ! bees4 ,( c\rse1 ,i   
am describ+ an ideal p]=mance4 ,(t5 !   
tree makes tr\ble1 has  to be saw$      
sev]al times1 & ! op5+ enl>g$ ) ! axe4  
,z  ! crack wid5s "u ! impact ( ! w$ges1
 ! bees p\r out1 &  ! fight is on4 ,!y w
 attack vici\sly1 & "o is aw>e ( !  p+ (
 bees da%+ !mselves aga9/ ! wire nett+ (
 ! veil4  ,if "o has tak5 prop]         
precautions1 "o is safe1 ?\gh1 to be    
hone/1  "o usually gets /ung once or    
twice 9 tak+ up ! tree4 ,humans  v>y 9  
susceptibility to bee /+s4 ,i am lucky 9
 t !y tr\ble  me little1 & usually !    
swell+s are slight4 ,on ! o!r h&1 my    
bro!r :5 once /ung 9 ! back ( ! h&1 f\nd
 8 arm next  morn+ ?rice its normal size
 to ! armpit4 ,^? s con/itut$ _h  bett] 
/op at home :5 a tree is tak5 up4       
,once ! fight is on x is well to get at 
! honey z soon z  possible4 ,once ! comb
 is well brok51 ! bees lose mo/ ( _!    
fight4 ,!y w da% ar\nd 9 a bewild]$ way1
 bun* up on a bu%1  gorge !mselves )    
spill$ honey1 & g5]ally give evid5ce t  

! _s ( ! hive is dead4 ,only a few      
d\ghty fight]s w  cont9ue ! battle4 ,!  
comb w be 9 lay]s1 up & d[n !  l5g? ( ! 
holl[1 sometimes 9 pieces two or two &  
"o-half  feet long1 ) spaces betwe5 to  
admit ! work]s4 ,9 describ+  ! equipm5t 
,i neglect$ to add a l>ge iron spoon & a
 c\ple (  table knives4 ,usually x is   
necess>y to cut ! comb to get x into    
conv5i5t sizes1 & a good deal ( honey w 
escape & run d[n  into ! holl[ :5ce x c 
be spoon$ out & add$ to ! spoil  9 !    
boil]4 ,if a c]ta9 am\nt ( *ips1 dead   
wood1 & ev5 dead  bees & l>vae are      
includ$1 d n be di/urb$4 ,x w all be    
/ra9$ anyway4 ,i h long s9ce giv5 up    
try+ to save wild honey  9 ! comb4 ,:5 !
 la/ available drop is g>n]$1 ga!r up   
y\r  equipm5t & retreat4 ,a hundr$ y>ds 
away & y are q safe &  c d(f ! nets &   
gloves t by ?is "t are unbe>ably hot &  
/icky4 ,!n y h y\r fir/ ta/e ( delici\s 
honey4    ,ei!r wild honey is m ta/y ?an
 ! dome/ic v>iety or "o's  ex]tions h   
made x seem s4 ,my gue/s h always agre$ 

t  my wild honey is m aromatic ?an any  
"o c buy4 ,i imag9e !  answ] is t /ra9$ 
wild honey is a bl5d1 :ile dome/ic honey
 is  g5]ally ( "o v>iety4 ,! ta/e (     
honey v>ies widely accord+  to ! fl[]s f
 :i* x is made4 ,clov] honey1 fooli%ly !
  mo/ priz$1 is ! mo/ insipid4 ,gold5   
rod honey is gold5 yell[  & spicy4      
,buck:eat honey is1 if any?+1 too pung5t
 & heavy z  molasses4 ,! honey (        
,prov5ce1 made f wild ?yme1 has a       
special  p9ey ta/e4 ,9 /ra9+ wild honey 
no attempt is made to sep>ate !         
v>ieties1 & ! result is a bl5d1 v>y+    
some:at accord+ to  tree or season1 b   
always m int]e/+ ?an ! dome/ic v>iety4  
,hav+ sampl$ y\r honey & f\nd x good1 y 
c n[ g home &  weigh y\r spoil4 ,unless1
 inde$1 y h m ?an "o tree to take  up4  
,i h tak5 up f\r 9 a day4    ,! re/ is  
an epilogue4 ,! /ra9+ ( ! honey is a    
matt] = !  di/aff side4 ,my wife makes  
l>ge bags ( *eeseclo?1 & ! comb is      
brok5 up & introduc$ into ^!4 ,!y are !n
 hung ov] pans 9 a  w>m kit*54 ,! honey 

drips sl[ly into ! pans4 ,"o fe>s t a   
lot w be wa/$1 b n s4 ,9 ?irty-six h\rs 
or m ! comb  w be dry beeswax1 & ! honey
 c be run (f f ! pans into  glass j>s4  
,:5 seal$1 ! honey w keep indef9itely4  
,aft] a  :ile x w sug> into a k9d (     
pa/e4 ,i l ?is bett] = eat+  ?an !      
liquid v>iety1 b if anyone disagrees1 x 
is necess>y only  to place ! j> 9 w>m   
wat] = a :ile1 & ! honey w return  to   
its liquid /ate4    ,s mu* = bee hunt+ &
 h[ x is done4 ,?is acc\nt has "o       
virtue1 p]haps only "o3 x is true4 ,x is
 bas$ on exp]i5ce1 &  !re is no?+ 9 x t 
,i h n done myself4 ,i h reli$ on  no?+ 
t ,i h be5 told2 !re is no he>say4 ,i h 
made no  attempt to discuss ! life ( !  
bee & ! fasc9at+ details (  its dome/ic 
economy4 ,= ! curi\s 9 ^! matt]s1 ,i    
recomm5d  ,maet]l9ck's ,life ( ! ,bees4 
,i imag9e :at he says is true1 b  ,i _c 
prove x by my own c]ta9 k4 ,x is c]ta9ly
 v  beautiful & p]haps x is m important 
= a poet to make a ?+  beautiful ?an to 
make x true4 ,^! matt]s are n ( my      

conc]n4  ,= a m factual b equally       
fasc9at+ acc\nt1 ,i recomm5d ,bees'     
,ways by ,george de ,clyv] ,curtis4     
,i h also tri$ v h>d to avoid purple    
passages4 ,x has n be5  easy4 ,bee hunt+
 is "o ( ! mo/ fasc9at+ ( sports1 & "o  
c\ld g on describ+ diff]5t illum9at+    
episodes = _m pages4  ,! sport comb9es  
almo/ ev]y?+ t is desirable4 ,x is play$
  out ( doors4 ,x requires ex]cise bo? (
 ! muscles & ! bra94  ,x is a sport (   
brawn & ( craft4 ,x c be play$ alone4   
,moreov]1  x c be play$ at any tempo4   
,"t 0 :5 ,i c\ld scramble up &  d[n     
,croydon ,m\nta9 l a squirrel & c\ld pu%
 ! pace4 ,t ,i  c no long] d1 b ,i c    
move m sl[ly1 consid] m c>efully1  draw 
on ! craft & k ( long exp]i5ce & f9d z  
_m  trees z :5 ,i 0 "y & impetu\s4 ,!   
sport is "o ( inf9ite  v>iety1 (        
susp5se1 disappo9tm5t1 p]sev]ance1 &    
triumph4 ,y g  out into ! fields4 ,be=e 
y is a wood$ m\nta9 ) t5 ?\s&  trees4   
,"o ( ^? trees is a bee tree4 ,) a v    
simple equipm5t  y set out to f9d x1    

pitt+ y\r skill & y\r k aga9/  ! wiles (
 probably ! mo/ intellig5t insect 9 !   
_w4 ,y  try4 ,y fail4 ,y try aga94 ,y   
succe$4 ,y\r o/5sible object is  honey4 
,x is ! lea/ ( y\r rew>ds4 ,! rew>d is  
:51 aft] h\rs  or days ( trial & error1 
y\r eye cat*es ! fla% ( w+s 9 !  tree & 
once m y are able to say *eckmate 9 "o (
 ! mo/  difficult1 complicat$1 &        
fasc9at+ games 9 ! _w4                  
,,transcrib]',s ,,notes3                
,italiciz$ text is surr\nd$ by          
und]scores3 italics4      ,obvi\s       
typographical errors h be5 correct$4    
,inconsi/5cies 9 hyph5ation h be5       
/&>diz$4