,transcriber ,note ,text emphasis denoted by ,italics and ,bold4 ,,opinions ,,of ,,the ,,press4 ,from ,the ,journal of ,horticulture1 ,february #bh1 #ahfe4 ,mr4 ,neighbour says in his preface3 ,we are so frequently applied to for advice oil matters connected with bees and bee-hives1 that it seemed likely to prove a great advantage to our correspondents and ourselves if we could point to a 'handy book' of our own which should contain full and detailed replies sufficient to meet all ordinary inquiries4 ,keeping this object steadily in view1 the writer describes the various hive's and apiarian apparatus manufactured by his firm1 pointing out the various advantages claimed for them1 and giving ample directions for their use4 ,when we add that the author expresses his acknowledgments to ,mr4 ,woodbury1 ,mr4 ,taylor1 the illustrious ,huber and ,mr4 ,langstroth1 it may readily be imagined that the information derived from such sources must in the main be correct1 and that ,mr4 ,neighbour1 in addition to the strictly business portion of his work1 has been enabled to impart to his readers a very considerable amount of sound instruction on most points of ,apiarian management4 ,from ,the ,journal of ,horticulture1 ,may #bi1 #ahff4 ,mr4 ,neighbour's book1 the first edition of which was noticed by us in ,february #ahfe1 now makes its appearance in a new guise1 being reduced from demy #hvo4 to crown #hvo41 whilst the number of its pages is increased from #acd to #bgd1 with but a slight increase in price4 ,in addition to a description of the various hives and apiarian apparatus sold by the well-known firm of which the author is a member1 it contains a considerable amount of generally accurate information compiled from the best authorities2 ,mr4 ,woodbury's contributions to our pages being in particular heavily drawn upon4 ,a new feature in this edition is a couple of steel plates illustrative of the anatomy of the bee1 engraved by ,mr4 ,e4 ,w4 ,robinson with his customary ability2 embracing also coloured delineations of the three sexes of the ,ligurian or ,italian variety of honey-bee4 4 4 4 ,mr4 ,neighbour possesses a very great advantage over a mere compiler1 in that he himself is a practical bee-keeper1 and divers anecdotes of his experiences are related by him in a light and amusing manner4 ,for this reason also the information conveyed in his pages is1 as we have already stated1 very generally correct4 ,athenum1 ,august #ai1 #ahfe4 ,emanating from a house so well known and so extensively patronized by the cultivators of bees1 it will readily be concluded that the object of the present work is primarily commercial4 ,the author1 a member of the firm1 in giving the reason for the publication of his book1 speaks in the name of the company4 ,we are1 he says1 so frequently applied to for advice on matters connected with bees and bee-hives1 that it seemed likely to prove a great advantage1 alike to our correspondents and ourselves1 if we could point to a 'handy-book' of our own1 which should contain full and detailed replies sufficient to meet all reasonable inquiries4 ,this is candid and open1 and stands in favourable contrast to the ordinary puffing books which aim to conceal under the aspect often of a scientific treatise the boasting advertisement of their own wares4 ,it is but justice to the respectable house from which the present little treatise issues to say that it fulfils its public object1 presenting one of the most useful practical treatises on this most interesting pursuit which we have met with4 ,it does not profess to enter deeply into the physiological marvels of the habits of bees2 it is1 in fact1 meagre in the scientific phase of the subject4 ,the various theories concerning the propagation of bees are nowhere discussed1#a and the hypothesis of ,siebold is not even alluded to4#a ,but for those persons who desire to know how to procure good honey with certainty1 and how to watch in safety the working of these little untaught but unerring mathematicians1 the work of ,mr4 ,neighbour will be found very useful4 ,it also informs us where the best hives of every kind and form are to be obtained--of course1 of ,messrs4 ,neighbour ,sons4 ,footnote #a3 ,will be found in third edition4 ,the ,reader1 #bf ,august1 #ahfe4 ,the ,apiary2 or1 ,bees1 ,beehives1 and ,bee ,culture4 ,by ,alfred ,neighbour4 7,kent ,co47 ,this valuable manual is1 what it professes to be1 a familiar account of the habits of bees1 and the most improved methods of management1 with full directions adapted for the cottager1 farmer1 or scientific apiarian4 ,the writer is a regular enthusiast1 but an enthusiast whose practical knowledge of the subject is made all the more available to the reader from the very enthusiasm which1 as in ,virgil1 leaves not the most minute instruction untold4 ,nobody can write about bees without quoting poetry1 and ,mr4 ,neighbour does this largely1 yet most aptly4 ,,the ,,apiary4 ,illustration3 ,,geo4 ,,neighbour ,,sons' ,,bee ,,farm1 ,,west ,,end1 ,,hampstead4--,see page #ccj4 ,,the ,,apiary2 ,,or1 ,,bees1 ,,beehives4 ,,and ,,bee ,,culture4 ,,being ,a ,,familiar ,,account ,,of ,,the ,,habits ,,of ,,bees ,,and ,,the ,,most ,,improved ,,methods ,,of ,,management4 ,,by ,,alfred ,,neighbour4 ,,third ,,edition4 ,,greatly ,,enlarged1 ,,revised1 ,,and ,,remodelled4 ,beaucoup de gens aiment les abeilles2 je n'ai vu personne qui les aima mdiocrement3 on se passionne pour elles4--,gelieu4 ,,london2 ,,kent ,,and ,,co41 ,,paternoster ,,row2 ,,geo4 ,,neighbour ,,and ,,sons1 #adi1 ,,regent ,,street1 and #abg1 ,,high ,,holborn1 ,,and ,,all ,,booksellers4 #ahgh4 ,hazell1 ,watson1 and ,viney1 ,printers1 ,london and ,aylesbury4 ,illustration ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,third ,,edition4 ,,the present issue of our handbook may be fairly said' to be really a new work4 ,not that the greater portion of it has been consecutively rewritten1 nor yet that the larger half of the former matter has wholly disappeared2 but the additions of entirely new sections and half-sections1 the transpositions with a view to facilitating reference1 the erasures of what is either out of date or only repetition--in short1 the thorough overhauling of the text from beginning to end--are such as to render the form in which it is now presented a new book rather than an ordinary fresh edition4 ,first as to our own department1 the practical appliances4 ,the descriptions of several hives and apparatus that have gone out of use have been removed to make room for the much larger number of new and improved inventions4 ,of the eighteen hives now described1 no less than a half are new introductions1 and the same is the case in greater or less degree with the supers1 the covers1 and the bee contrivances of every kind4 ,the chapter on ,manipulation has been equally enlarged1 having throughout been collated with the chapters on that branch in ,mr4 ,langstroth's ,honey ,bee4 ,for very many valuable additions1 both large and small1 we are therefore indebted to that source1 and we have also some obligations to acknowledge to ,mr4 ,cheshire's ,practical ,bee-keeping4 ,it is in reference chiefly to this department that so many transpositions have been made from the arrangement of the matter in former editions4 ,finding that by giving extensive practical directions under nearly every individual hive we were losing much greatly needed space by repetition1 and at the same time giving less complete instructions to each1 we have endeavoured when possible to comprise all this in articles of a general character1 and to retain under special hives or appliances such only as was strictly peculiar to themselves4 ,the system of references now carried out1 together with the numbering of sections and displaying the numbers in the head-lines of every page1 will we trust remove even that small apparent inconvenience which is the accompaniment of a large and substantial gain4 ,but perhaps more than all has the earlier part of our work been enlarged and emended--that which treats on the insect itself1 its natural history1 its reproductive economy1 its habits1 and its structure4 ,for this course of improvement we are largely indebted to the very masterly and exhaustive treatise of ,baron von ,berlepsch1 ,die ,biene und ihre ,zucht in beweglichen ,waben 7,the ,bee and its ,culture in ,movable ,combs72 after this to ,dr4 ,dzierzon's latest work1 ,rationelle ,bienenzucht2 to ,schmid and ,kleine's ,leitfaden2 to ,samuelson and ,hicks's ,honey ,bee2 to ,mr4 ,john ,hunter's very comprehensive and readable ,manual of ,bee-keeping2 and to the ,british and ,american ,bee ,journals1 the former for letters from correspondents1 and the latter also for the very able articles by which that remarkably well-conducted periodical is distinguished4 ,to ,mr4 ,frederick ,smith1 of the ,entomological ,department at the ,british ,museum1 we have also to acknowledge our indebtedness for courteous personal communications rendered more than once4 ,reference should also be made to aid in the translations from the ,german ,treatises before mentioned1 as well as to some other literary assistance which we hope has added to the interest of this work4 #adi1 ,regent ,street1 ,london1 ,august #ahgg4 ,illustration ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,first ,,edition4 ,,our apology for preparing a bee-book is a very simple one4 ,we are so frequently applied to for advice on matters connected with bees and beehives1 that it seemed likely to prove a great advantage1 alike to our correspondents and ourselves1 if we could point to a handy book of our own which should contain full and detailed replies sufficient to meet all ordinary enquiries4 ,most of the apiarian manuals possess some special excellence or other1 and we have no wish to disparage any of them2 yet in all we have found a want of explanations relating to several of the more recent improvements4 ,it has more especially been our aim to give explicit and detailed directions on most subjects connected with the hiving and removing of bees1 and also to show how1 by judicious application of the depriving system1 the productive powers of the bees may be enormously increased4 ,we need say little here as to the interest that attaches to the apiary as a source of perennial pleasure for the amateur naturalist4 ,many of the hives and methods of management are described with a direct reference to this class of bee-keepers1 so that1 besides plain and simple directions suitable for cottagers with their ordinary hives1 this work will be found to include instructions useful for the scientific apiarian1 or at least valuable for those who desire to gain a much wider acquaintance with the secrets of bee-keeping than is now usually possessed4 ,we would lay stress on the term acquaintance1 for there is nothing in the management of the various bar-and-frame hives which is at all difficult when frequent practice has rendered the bee-keeper familiar with them4 ,such explicit directions are herein given as to how the right operations may be performed at the right times1 that a novice may at once commence to use the modern hives4 ,the word new-fangled has done good service for the indolent and prejudiced1 but we trust that our readers will be of a very different class4 ,let them give a fair trial to the modern appliances for the humane and depriving system of bee-keeping1 and they will find offered to them an entirely new field of interest and observation4 ,at present our continental neighbours far surpass us as bee-masters2 but we trust that the following season1 if the summer be fine1 will prove a turning point in the course of ,english bee-keeping4 ,there is little doubt that a greater number of intelligent and influential persons in this country will become bee-keepers than has ever been the case before4 ,our task would have lost half its interest did we not hope that it would result in something beyond the encouragement of a refined and interesting amusement for the leisurely classes4 ,the social importance of bee-keeping1 as a source of pecuniary profit for small farmers and agricultural labourers1 has never been appreciated as it deserves4 ,yet these persons will not1 of themselves1 lay aside the bungling and wasteful plan of destroying the bees1 or learn without being taught the only proper method1 that of deprivation4 ,their educated neighbours1 when once interested in the pursuit1 will be the persons to introduce the more profitable system of humane bee-keeping4 ,the clergy especially1 as permanent residents in the country1 may have great influence in this respect4 ,there is not a rural or suburban parish in the kingdom in which bee-keeping might not be largely extended1 and the well-being of all but the very poorest inhabitants would be greatly promoted4 ,not only would the general practice of bee-keeping add largely to the national resources1 but that addition would chiefly fall to the share of those classes to whom it would be of most value4 ,moreover1 in the course of thus adding to their income1 the uneducated classes would become interested in an elevating and instructive pursuit4 ,it is curious to observe that honey1 whether regarded as a manufactured article or as an agricultural product1 is obtained under economical conditions of exceptional advantage4 ,if regarded as a manufactured article1 we notice that there is no outlay required for labour1 nor any expense for raw material4 ,the industrious labourers are eager to utilise all their strength2 they never combine except for the benefit of their master1 they never strike for wages1 and they provide their own subsistence4 ,all that the master-manufacturer of honey has to do financially is1 to make a little outlay for fixed capital in the needful plant of hives and utensils2 no floating capital is needed4 ,then1 on the other hand1 if we regard honey as an agricultural product1 it presents as such a still more striking contrast to the economists' theory of what are the requisites of production4 ,not only is there no outlay needed for wages1 and none for raw material1 but there is nothing to be paid for use of a natural agent4 ,every square yard of land in the ,united ,kingdom may come to be cultivated1 as in ,china1 but no proprietor will ever be able to claim rent for those waste products of the flowers and leaves which none but the winged workers of the hive can ever utilise4 ,the recent domestication in ,england of the ,ligurian or ,italian ,alp bee adds a new and additional source of interest to bee-culture4 ,we have therefore gone pretty fully into this part of the subject2 and believe that what is here published with regard to their introduction embodies the most recent and reliable information respecting them that is possessed by ,english apiarians4#b ,footnote #b3 ,some of our apiarian friends may be inclined to be discouraged from cultivating the ,ligurian bees in consequence of the liability of their becoming hybridised when located in proximity to the black bees4 ,we can dispel these fears by stating that we have not unfrequently found that hybrid queens possess the surprising fecundity of the genuine ,italian ones1 whilst the ,english stocks in course of time become strengthened by the infusion of foreign blood4 ,we are under many obligations for the advice and assistance that we have on many occasions received from ,mr4 ,t4 ,w4 ,woodbury1 of ,exeter1 whose apiarian skill is unrivalled in this country4 ,our acknowledgments are also due to ,mr4 ,henry ,taylor1 author of an excellent ,bee-keeper's ,manual1 for his help and counsel during the earlier years of our apiarian experience4 ,both these gentlemen have frequently communicated to us their contrivances and suggestions1 without thought of fee or reward for them4 ,in common with most recent writers on bee-culture1 we are necessarily largely indebted to the standard works of ,huber and succeeding apiarians4 ,from the more recent volume of the ,rev4 ,l4 ,l4 ,langstroth we have also obtained useful information4 ,but having ourselves1 of later years1 had considerable experience in the manipulation and practical management of bees1 we are enabled to confirm or qualify the statements of others1 as well as to summarise information gleaned from various sources4 ,let it be understood that we have no patented devices to push2 we are free to choose out of the many apiarian contrivances that have been offered of late years1 and we feel perfectly at liberty to praise or blame as our experience warrants us in doing4 ,it does not follow that we necessarily disparage hives which are not described herein2 we have sought as much as possible to indicate the principles on which good hives must be constructed1 whatever their outward size or shape4 ,all through the work1 we have endeavoured to adopt the golden rule of submission to ,nature by reference to which all the fancied difficulties of bee-keeping may be easily overcome4 ,in none of the attempts of men to hold sway over natural objects is the truth of ,bacon's leading doctrine more beautifully illustrated than in the power that the apiarian exercises in the little world of bees4 ,some persons may consider we have used too many poetical quotations in a book dealing wholly with matters of fact4 ,we trust1 however1 that the examination of the extracts will at once remove that feeling of objection4 ,we venture to hope that the following pages contain many valuable hints and interesting statements which may tend to excite increased and renewed attention to the most useful and industrious of all insects4 ,although bees have neither reason nor religion for their guide1 yet from them man may learn many a lesson of virtue and industry1 and may even draw from them thoughts suggestive of trust and faith in ,god4 ,we beg leave to conclude our preface1 and introduce the subject1 by the following extract from ,shakespeare1 who1 without doubt1 kept bees in that garden at ,stratford wherein he used to meditate3-- ,so work the honey-bees2 ,creatures that1 by a rule in ,nature1 teach ,the art of order to a peopled kingdom4 ,they have a king and officers of sorts2 ,where some1 like magistrates1 correct at home2 ,others1 like merchants1 venture trade abroad2 ,others1 like soldiers1 armed in their stings1 ,make boot upon the summer's velvet buds2 ,which pillage they1 with merry march1 bring home ,to the tent royal of their emperor3 ,who1 busied in his majesty1 surveys ,the singing masons building roofs of gold2 ,the civil citizens kneading up the honey2 ,the poor mechanic porters crowding in ,their heavy burdens at his narrow gate2 ,the sad-eyed justice1 with his surly hum1 ,delivering o'er to executors pale ,the lazy1 yawning drone4 ,shakespeare's ,henry ,v41 ,act i4 ,scene #b4 ,illustration ,,contents ,,introduction4 ,,page ,literature of ,bee-keeping #a ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,bee as an ,insect4 ,,sec4 ,i4 ,classification #g ,,ii4 ,the ,queen #h ,,iii4 ,the ,drone #ai ,,iv4 ,the ,worker #bg ,v4 ,the ,italian or ,ligurian ,bee #cd ,,vi4 ,other ,foreign ,varieties #de ,,vii4 ,faculties and ,functions #ed ,,viii4 ,eggs and ,transformations #ei ,,ix4 ,reproductive ,economy #fb ,x4 ,relation of ,sex to ,cells #fg ,,xi4 ,the ,rationale of ,swarming #gb ,,xii4 ,increase of ,bees #hb ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,anatomy and ,physiology4 ,i4 ,preliminary ,remarks #hf ,,ii4 ,the ,head and ,organs of ,sensation #hh ,,iii4 ,the ,thorax and ,organs of ,motion #ig ,,iv4 ,the ,abdomen and ,secretive ,organs #ajb ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,modern ,beehives4 ,i4 ,common ,cottager's ,hive #ajh ,,ii4 ,neighbours' ,crystal ,palace ,skep #aji ,,iii4 ,the ,cottager's ,hive #aaj ,,iv4 ,an ,improved ,cottager's ,hive #aab ,v4 ,neighbours' ,improved ,cottager's ,hive #aac ,,vi4 ,the ,ladies' ,observatory ,hive #abj ,,vii4 ,nutt's ,collateral ,hive #abc ,,viii4 ,huber's ,hive #abg ,,ix4 ,the ,woodbury ,frame ,hive #acd ,x4 ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive #aci ,,xi4 ,neighbours' ,cottager's ,frame ,hive #adb ,,xii4 ,the ,philadelphia ,frame ,hive #adc ,,xiii4 ,cheshire's ,frame ,hive #ade ,,xiv4 ,abbott's ,new ,frame ,hive #adf ,,xv4 ,the ,stewarton ,hive #adf ,,xvi4 ,the ,lanarkshire ,hive #aee ,,xvii4 ,neighbours' ,unicomb ,observatory ,hive--,outdoor #aeg ,,xviii4 ,neighbours' ,unicomb ,observatory ,hive--,indoor #afb ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,fittings and ,apparatus4 ,i4 ,bee-,houses #aff ,,ii4 ,zinc ,covers #aga ,,iii4 ,wood ,covers #agb ,,iv4 ,quilts #ahj ,v4 ,bell ,glasses #ahj ,,vi4 ,bar ,supers #ahc ,,vii4 ,ekes and ,nadirs #ahf ,,viii4 ,impressed ,wax ,sheets #ahg ,,ix4 ,comb ,foundations #aij ,x4 ,cheshire's ,guide-,maker #aia ,,xi4 ,bar-,frame ,holder #aib ,,xii4 ,cheshire's ,transferring ,board #aib ,,xiii4 ,honey ,cutters #aic ,,xiv4 ,the ,honey ,extractor #aic ,,xv4 ,cheshire's ,nucleus ,hive #aig ,,xvi4 ,queen-,cages #aih ,,xvii4 ,queen and ,drone ,preventer #bjj ,,xviii4 ,bee-,traps #bja ,,xix4 ,drone-,traps #bja ,,xx4 ,bee-,feeders #bjb ,,xxi4 ,fumigators #bjf ,,xxii4 ,bee-,dress or ,protector #bjh ,,chapter ,v4 ,bee ,manipulation4 ,i4 ,hiving ,swarms #bab ,,ii4 ,transferring ,swarms #bah ,,iii4 ,transferring ,old ,stocks #bbb ,,iv4 ,driving #bbf ,v4 ,uniting ,colonies #bbi ,,vi4 ,artificial ,swarming #bcc ,,vii4 ,queen-,rearing #bdc ,,viii4 ,introducing ,new ,queens #bdg ,,ix4 ,italianising #bea ,x4 ,general ,hints on ,frame ,hives #bed ,,xi4 ,removing ,bees #bei ,,xii4 ,supplying ,natural ,comb #bfa ,,xiii4 ,applying ,supers #bfd ,,xiv4 ,removing ,supers #bff ,,xv4 ,removing ,frames #bfh ,,xvi4 ,extracting ,honey #bgd ,,xvii4 ,melting ,combs down #bge ,,xviii4 ,weighing ,hives #bgf ,,xix4 ,feeding #bgi ,,xx4 ,winter ,precautions #bhc ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,miscellaneous ,information4 ,i4 ,stings3 their ,prevention and ,cure #bhf ,,ii4 ,position of ,hives #bib ,,iii4 ,pasturage for ,bees #bic ,,iv4 ,honey #bif ,v4 ,pollen1 or ,bee-,bread #bih ,,vi4 ,propolis1 or ,bees' ,cement #cjj ,,vii4 ,secretion of ,wax #cjb ,,viii4 ,robbing #cje ,,ix4 ,diseases of ,bees #cjf ,x4 ,bee ,enemies #cae ,,xi4 ,bee-keeping in ,london #cbb ,,xii4 ,general ,remarks #ccb ,,appendix4 ,international ,exhibition of #ahfb #cdg ,cases of ,acclimatising ,bees #cdi ,philadelphia ,exhibition #cej ,caledonian ,apiarian ,society #cea ,illustration ,,description ,,of ,,plates4 ,,plate ,i4 7,page #cd74 #a4 ,queen bee4 #a;a4 ,antenna of ditto4 #a;b4 ,hind leg of ditto4 #a;c4 ,front view of head of ditto4 #a;d4 ,mandible of ditto4 #b4 ,worker1 or imperfect female4 #b;a4 ,antenna of ditto4 #b;b4 ,hind leg of ditto1 inner side showing the pollen-brushes4 #b;b99 ,ditto1 outer side showing the pollen-basket4 #b;c99 ,side view of head4 #b;c4 ,back view of ditto1 showing the junction of the gullet with the thorax1 and position of the tongue and its appendages4 #b;d4 ,mandible4 #c4 ,male1 or drone4 #c;a4 ,antenna of ditto4 #c;b4 ,hind leg of ditto4 #c;c4 ,front view of head of ditto4 #c;d4 ,mandible of ditto4 ,a4 ,enlarged view of the wing4 ,b4 ,hind edge of fore wing1 showing the thickened margin1 and fore edge of hind wing1 showing the hooks1 which hold on to the thickened margin of the fore wing1 and keep them together during flight4 ,,plate ,,ii4 7,page #hf74 #a4 ,body of a bee divested of antenn1 legs1 and wings1 showing the anatomy of the thorax and natural position of the stomach4 #e994 ,the eyes4 a4 ,the stemmata4 bbb4 ,the muscles that move the wings4 c4 ,the external covering of the thorax4 ee4 ,the bases of the wings4 d4 ,the honey-bag1 or first stomach4 f4 ,the ventricle1 or true stomach1 distended with food4 g4 ,the rectum4 h4 ,the biliary vessels4 i4 ,portion of the membranous tissue lining the inner surface of the segments1 and enclosing the stomach and intestines4 #b4 ,the stomach emptied of its contents1 to show the muscular contraction of the ventricle4 d4 ,the honey-bag4 f4 ,the ventricle4 g4 ,the rectum4 h4 ,the biliary vessels4 #c4 ,the ligula1 or tongue1 and its appendages4 l4 ,the base of the ligula4 m4 ,the paragloss4 n4 ,the maxill4 o4 ,the labial palpi4 p4 ,the tongue4 #d4 ,the sting and its muscles4 s4 ,curved base of the outer sheath enclosing the sting4 r4 ,muscles that move the sting4 q4 ,the attachment of the muscles to the outer covering of the abdomen4 t4 ,poison-bag4 u4 ,glands connected with the poison-bag4 ,v4 ,honey-plates covering the muscles r1 and to which the sheaths of the sting are attached at s4 9999 ,base of sting connecting with the poison-bag t4 99 ,tip of the same #d99 ,magnified view of point of sting1 showing the serrations on each side4 #e4 ,three hexagonal prisms of a bee's eye 7,swammerdam74 #f4 ,abdominal plates of the bee1 detached to show the wax cells4 #g4 ,eggs of bee1 natural size1 and magnified 7from ,raumur74 #h4 ,helminthomorphous or apodal larva of a bee 7,raumur74 ,illustration ,,illustrations4 ,frontispiece4--,coloured view of ,geo4 ,neighbour and ,sons' ,apiary4 ,plate ,i4--,italian ,alp ,queen1 ,drone and ,worker ,bees1 with ,anatomical ,drawings ,facing page #cd ,plate ,,ii4--,dissected ,bee1 with ,illustrations of various ,members ,facing page #hf ,common ,cottager's ,hive #ajh ,neighbours' ,crystal ,palace ,skep #aji ,the ,cottager's ,hive #aaj ,improved ,cottager's ,hive #aab ,improved ,cottage ,hive 7,no4 #e7 #aac ,improved ,cottage ,hive 7,no4 #f71 no windows #aai ,the ,ladies' ,observatory ,hive #abj ,nutt's ,collateral ,hive #abc ,woodbury's ,bar-frame ,hive 7wood7 #ace ,woodbury's ,single ,bar ,frame as taken from hive #ace ,woodbury's ,bar-frame ,hive 7straw7 #acf ,woodbury's ,bar-frame ,hive 7glass7 #ach ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive 7wood7 #aci ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive 7straw71 with ,frame ,super #adb ,neighbours' ,cottager's ,frame ,hive 7wood7 #adc ,neighbours' ,philadelphia ,frame ,hive #add ,stewarton or ,ayrshire ,hive #adg ,neighbours' ,outdoor ,unicomb ,hive #aeh ,neighbours' ,indoor ,unicomb ,hive #afb ,bee ,house for two ,hives--,front view #aff ,bee ,house for two ,hives--,back view #afg ,bee ,house for twelve ,hives--,front view #afi ,bee ,house for twelve ,hives--,back view #agj ,ornamented ,zinc ,cover #aga ,zinc ,cover for ,cottager's ,hive #agb ,wooden ,cover for ,frame ,hive #agd ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive1 with ,cover1 ,stand1 and ,pair of ,divisional ,supers--,back view #age ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive1 ditto--,closed front view #agf ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive and ,frame ,super 7glass71 with large ,cover and on ,stand--,front view #agh ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive--,front view1 closed #agh ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,hive 7,no4 #ha74 ,wood with ,straw ,crown1 and ,large ,window in close-fitting ,cover and ,stand #agi ,bell and ,flat-shaped ,glasses 7#e varieties7 #aha ,payne's ,glasses #ahb ,flap-topped ,glass1 with ,cover for ,table #ahb ,woodbury ,glass-sided ,bar ,super #ahc ,bar-frame ,super--,glass ,sides and ,top1 with ,shutters #ahd ,neighbours' ,new ,divisional ,super #ahd ,neighbours' ,new ,sectional ,super #ahe ,neighbours' ,new ,bar-frame ,holder #aib ,honey ,cutters #aic ,honey ,extractor #aid ,neighbours' ,queen and ,drone ,preventer #bjj ,neighbours' ,bottle ,feeder #bjc ,neighbours' ,new ,can ,feeders #bjd ,neighbours' ,round ,feeders #bje ,new ,wood ,feeder #bjf ,fumigators 7#b illustrations7 #bjg ,bee ,dress or ,protector #bji ,bee ,veil #baj ,contrivance for protecting ,queen ,cell #bdd ,guide ,comb ,glasses #bfc ,weighing ,hives #bgg ,bees at ,exhibition of #ahfb #cdh ,exterior of an ,apiary #ceb ,interior of an ,apiary #cec ,illustration ,,introduction4 ,,literature ,,of ,,bee-,,keeping4 ,,just a few words at starting on the history of the bee in ancient and modern literature4 ,our work is not a critical survey1 and still less an exhaustive treatise2 but even that popular outline which it is our aim to produce seems defective without some mention of the great bee-students of the past4 ,we find the first definitive description of the insect in ,aristotle's ,history of ,animals1 written about the middle of the fourth century before ,christ1 and combining much sound scientific information on our subject with other statements which better information has had to reject4 ,a little before him lived ,aristomachus1 of ,cilicia1 who wrote works on agriculture and domestic economy which are lost to us except in a few quotations1 but of whom we are told that he devoted some fifty-eight years to a continual observance of the habits of bees4 ,one ,philiscus1 of ,thasos1 is mentioned as another of their votaries1 who betook himself to a forest life in order uninterruptedly to pursue their study4 ,then just after the ,christian era came ,pliny the ,elder1 from whom we learn these few particulars of the two just named1 and whose celebrated ,natural ,history1 which is the work rather of a student than of a master1 honours the bee with an elaborate and interesting description4 ,shortly after him ,columella1 in his work ,on ,rustic ,matters1 gave copious instructions on bee-keeping1 which1 though reproducing some older errors1 are greatly in advance of any that had appeared1 and place him1 for the accuracy that they display1 at the head of the apiarians of antiquity4 ,theophrastus1 ,celsus1 and ,varro must also be ranked among the ancient writers whose attention was drawn to this industrious insect4 ,but perhaps the most renowned of classic works upon the subject is the fourth book of the ,georgics of ,virgil1 in which we are presented with a minute treatise upon bees and their culture1 with all the sense as well as nonsense that then passed current thereupon1 together with that most beautiful passage in the poet's writings1 the story of the visit of ,orpheus to the shades1 which is appended by one of those incidental connecting-links of which ancient poets were wont to avail themselves4 ,in more modern times the principal writers have been ,swammerdam4 ,the ,dutch naturalist2 ,maraldi1 an ,italian mathematician2 ,schirach1 a ,saxon clergyman2 ,raumur1 well known for his thermometer2 ,bonnet1 a ,swiss entomologist and jurist2 the famous ,dr4 ,john ,hunter2 and above all ,francis ,huber1 of ,geneva4 ,the last of these1 though totally blind1 contrived1 principally by the aid of his very intelligent and painstaking assistant1 ,burnens to accumulate a long series of minute observations which have brought about an entire revolution in the science4 ,in connection with ,huber must be mentioned ,mlle4 ,jurine1 who1 by her delicate microscopic examinations1 rendered him the most important services1 and gave more than one valuable discovery to the world4 ,at the same period lived ,dr4 ,john ,evans1 who may be fitly styled the poet-laureate of the bee4 ,his poem1 ,the ,bees1 from which we shall make numerous quotations1 is written with great taste1 and combines1 with rare felicity1 scientific accuracy of detail with a poetic spirit which never flags4#c ,a little later than these1 though in part their contemporary1 came ,dr4 ,bevan1 whose name is still cited as among the highest authorities on the subject1 and whose work1 ,the ,honey ,bee1 was regarded as its great text-book in our language1 till superseded1 with the progress of discoveries1 by one under the same title from the pen of the ,rev4 ,l4 ,l4 ,langstroth4 ,this last gentleman1 who is a ,presbyterian minister in ,ohio1 stands undoubtedly at the present day as the foremost apiarian of the ,english-speaking race4 ,but we are forced to admit that the ,germans bear the palm above us1 for all the great advances in our knowledge of the bee which have been made for a generation have come from them4 ,to ,dr4 ,dzierzon1#d therefore1 a ,roman ,catholic priest of ,carlsmarkt in ,silesia1 to whose acute investigations the great mass of these are to be ascribed1 must be conceded a rank scarcely second to that of ,huber2 while ,baron von ,berlepsch1 of ,coburg1 who is ever ready to follow up and improve upon the researches of the great1 master1 has beyond question earned for himself a position inferior to that of the master alone4 ,of famous ,scotch writers we should allude to ,bonner1 of ,glasgow1 who lived in the latter part of the last century1 and the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,dunbar1 who dates at the beginning of this4 ,footnote #c3 ,dr4 ,evans's poem consisted of four parts1 of which only three were ever published4 ,we possess an author's presentation copy in which is a written memorandum that the manuscript of the remainder had been prepared for the press1 and was still in the keeping of the family4 ,we have written numerous letters with a view to tracking it out for publication2 but very recently we have learnt that the only survivor of nine children is unable at present to discover the whereabouts of the document4 ,dr4 ,evans was some time a physician at ,shrewsbury1 but removed into and died in ,wales4 ,footnote #d3 ,pronounced ,dzeert-sohn4 ,some of the above names1 it may not be amiss to add1 are not always spelt correctly by bee-writers4 ,in particular1 nearly all of them1 copying each other1 omit the accent in ,raumur 7,ray-oh-mewr71 which we find ,french biographers unanimous in inserting4 ,we have also seen ,miraldi in a recent popular work1 while one author had a fancy to write ,hber1 which is evidently a pure mistake4 ,of the mass of other names that press in upon us it will be impossible in such narrow limits to supply any details4 ,the literature of the subject is truly enormous1 and all that we can do is to furnish a list in rough chronological order of the more noteworthy of those who have in some way rendered service to our acquaintance with the bee4 ,besides the great naturalists ,linnus and ,cuvier we therefore select the following3-- ,sixteenth century4--,hill1 ,nikol ,jacob4 ,de ,proprietatibus ,apum 7anon47 published about #aeaj4 ,seventeenth century4--,butler1 ,purchas1 ,goedart1 ,swammerdam1 ,sir ,c4 ,wren1 ,hartlib1 ,gedde4 ,rusden1 ,ray 7with ,willughby and ,dr4 ,m4 ,lister71 ,dr4 ,martin ,john 7of ,germany74 ,eighteenth century4--,maraldi1 ,mme4 ,merian1 ,dr4 ,warder1 ,dr4 ,derham1 ,raumur1 ,thorley1 ,lyonnet1 ,vanire 7poet1 of ,holland71 ,dobbs1 ,rev4 ,stephen ,white1 ,schirach1 ,janscha1 ,bonner1 ,debraw1 ,thos4 and ,danl4 ,wildman1 ,gilb4 ,white1 ,mme4 ,vicat1 ,psl1 ,abb ,della ,rocca1 ,hubbard1 ,keys1 ,bonnet1 ,riem1 ,dr4 ,jno4 ,hunter4 ,nineteenth ,century4--,franois ,huber 7with his son ,pierre1 and ,burnens71 ,latreille1 ,mlle4 ,jurine1 ,spitzner1 ,t4 ,a4 ,knight1 ,rev4 ,dr4 ,dunbar1 ,huish1 ,dr4 ,evans 7poet71 ,feburier1 ,kirby and ,spence1 ,humphrey1 ,baron von ,ehrenfels1 ,newport1 ,dr4 ,bevan1 ,gundelach1 ,lord ,brougham1 ,pastor ,oettl1 ,capt4 von ,baldenstein1 ,nutt1 ,payne1 ,taylor1 ,golding1 ,maj4 ,munn1 ,woodbury1 ,quinby 7of ,america71 ,wagner 7ditto74 ,of contemporary writers in our own language1 we may1 in addition to ,langstroth1 refer to ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,cotton1 ,samuelson 7with ,dr4 ,hicks71 ,hunter1 ,cheshire1 and ,pettigrew2 while to the ,german names already given may be added those of ,professors ,leuckart and ,von ,siebold1 ,drs4 ,dnhoff and ,kchenmeister1 ,pastors ,kleine and ,schnfeld1 ,vogel1 ,dathe1 ,rothe1 ,count von ,stosch1 and ,schmid1 the editor of the ,bienenzeitung4 ,it is worth noting how large is the number of apiarians of different lands to whom the title of reverend is prefixed4 ,but while conceding to ,germany an unquestioned first position in the theoretical department1 we do not admit the accuracy of ,von ,berlepsch's assertion that in all other countries bee-keeping is almost throughout a mere plaything and amusement4 ,if the ,baron would honour our island with a visit1 we could show him1 from one end of it to the other1 a goodly number of very different cases2 and though we have much to learn1 and have not long gone systematically to work to learn it1 there are not wanting clear and increasing signs that the right course is entered1 upon1 and must in time secure corresponding results4 ,in the year #ahgd was established the ,british ,bee-keepers' ,association1 with one of the first entomologists of the day1 ,sir ,john ,lubbock1 at its head2 and under its auspices there have since been held annual shows at the ,crystal and ,alexandra ,palaces1 at which bees themselves1 their dwellings and paraphernalia1 and their products1 have been submitted to the awards of judges as well as to the popular inspection4 ,several periodicals are either wholly or in part devoted to apiculture1 and altogether appearances are healthy and hopeful4 ,while therefore we still do look for amusement from our bees1 we claim to experience a more solid satisfaction as well4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,bee ,,as ,,an ,,insect4 ,i4 ,,classification4 ,,there is a self-complacency in commencing a subject scientifically1 so let us devote our first half-page to defining the place of the bee in the animal kingdom4 ,the common ,english honey bee1 sometimes called the black bee1 is known by the name of ,apis mellifica2 while the new favourite1 the ,italian or ,ligurian bee1 has obtained the specific name of ligustica1 though naturalists are now satisfied that the two are only varieties of a single species4 ,the genus ,apis belongs to the order ,hymenoptera1 or membrane-winged insects1 which some entomologists have subdivided into families and sections3 of these1 one family will comprise the honey bees1 humble bees1 etc42 another the wasps1 of which the hornet is one2 and others respectively the ants1 the gall insects1 the saw-flies1 and certain parasites and other winged creatures of little familiarity4 ,the entire order belongs to the class ,insecta1 and that to the grand division ,articulata1 or conjointed animals4 ,in ,england alone there are #bej native species of bee4 ,turning now to the particular insect with which we intend to interest ourselves1 we observe that every hive or bee colony comprises in summer three distinct classes of bees1 each class having functions peculiar to itself1 and essential to the maintenance and well-being of the community4 ,as each bee knows its own proper duties1 they all work harmoniously and zealously together for the common weal4 ,certain apparent exceptions to the good-fellowship of the bees will be hereafter noticed1 but these arise out of essential conditions in the social economy of the bee community4 ,that honey bees should live in society1 as they do in hives1 is absolutely needful4 ,a bee in an isolated condition is a very helpless delicate little creature1 soon susceptible of cold1 and paralysed thereby unless able to join her companions before night comes on4 ,by congregating in large numbers bees maintain warmth1 whatever the external temperature may be4 ,the three classes of bees are--the queen bee1 or perfect female2 the working bees1 or undeveloped females2 and the drones1 or male bees4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,queen1 appropriately styled1 by ,german bee-keepers1 the mother bee1 is the only perfectly developed female among the whole population of each separate colony4 ,thus her majesty indisputably sways her sceptre by a divine right1 because she lives and reigns in the hearts of loving children and subjects4 ,the queen may very readily be distinguished from the rest of the bees by the greater length of her body and the comparative shortness of her wings2 her legs are longer1 and are not furnished with either brushes or baskets as those of the working bee1 for1 being constantly fed by the latter1 she does not need these implements2 the upper surface of her body is of a brighter black than the other bees'1 whilst her colour underneath is a yellowish brown2#e her wings1 which do not extend more than half the length of her body1 are sinewy and strong2 her long abdomen tapers nearly to a point2 her head is rounder1 her tongue more slender1 and much shorter1 than that of the working bee1 and her sting is curved4 ,her movements in the hive are measured and majestic1 though when out of her proper sphere1 as at swarming time1 she is distinguished1 on the contrary1 by the rapidity of her steps4 ,she has a peculiar scent1 which is so attractive to workers1 that ,mr4 ,mahan1 of ,philadelphia1 states he has several times had them alight upon his fingers1 a mile away from his apiary1 after he had been handling the royal mother4 ,footnote #e3 ,yellow ,italian queens form an exception in point of colour4 ,see ,plate ,i4 ,fig4 ,i4 ,it is the chief function of the queen to lay the eggs from which all future bees originate1 the multiplication of the species being the purpose of her existence2 and she follows it up with an assiduity similar to that with which the workers construct combs or collect honey4 ,a queen will lay in the breeding season from #a1jjj to #c1jjj eggs a day4 ,both ,langstroth and ,von ,berlepsch have seen queens lay at the rate of six per minute1 or more2 and the latter observer1 on supplying his queen with some new empty comb1 found at the end of twenty-four hours that she had laid #c1jba eggs1 which at her observed speed she would accomplish in eight hours1 and thus have sixteen for rest4 ,she kept up to nearly this rate for twenty days1 in which she filled #eg1jjj cells2 and1 what is still more surprising1 she went on in like style for five years1 during which1 at the lowest reckoning1 she laid4 #a1cjj1jjj eggs1 or #cjj1jjj per year4 ,but with ordinary queens1 says the ,baron1 #a1bjj a day is excellently good work1 and this rate from ,february to ,september1 with allowance for slacker periods1 will produce more than #aej1jjj bees in a year4 ,most queens1 says ,dzierzon1 in spacious hives and at a favourable season1 lay #fj1jjj in a month1 444 and a specially fertile queen1 in the four years which she on an average lives1 lays over a million eggs4 ,this is indeed a vast number2 but when there is taken into consideration the multitudes required for swarms1 the constant lessening of their strength by death in various ways1 and the many casualties attending them in their distant travels in search of the luscious store1 it does not seem that the case is overstated4 ,to keep up these heavy productive duties the queen requires to eat in corresponding proportions1 and these she varies1 or the bees vary them for her1 in the same ratio with the laying itself4 ,she sucks honey from the cells direct1 or has it supplied to her by the workers2 and1 as an important additional fact1 the latter regularly nourish her with pollen already partially digested in their own stomachs4 ,in a glass unicomb hive--which we shall hereafter describe--all the movements of the queen bee may be traced4 ,she may be seen thrusting her head into a cell to discover whether it is occupied with an egg or honey1 and1 if empty1 she turns round in a dignified manner and inserts her long body--so long that she is able to deposit the egg at the bottom of the cell2 she then passes on to another1 and so continues industriously multiplying her laborious subjects4 ,it not unfrequently happens when the queen is prolific1 and if it is an early season1 that many eggs are wasted for want of unoccupied cells2 for in that case the queen leaves them exposed at the bottom of the hive1 where they are greedily devoured by the bees4 ,the queen bee1 unlike the great majority of her subjects1 is a stayer at home4 ,on the second or third day of her princess life she usually sets out on the all-important concern of her marriage1 and when once this is satisfactorily accomplished she never afterwards leaves the hive1 except to lead off an emigrating swarm4 ,evans1 with proper loyalty1 has duly furnished a glowing epithalamium for the queen bee1 thus3-- ,but now1 when noontide ,sirius glares on high1 ,with him young love ascends the glowing sky1 ,from vein to vein swift shoots prolific fire1 ,and thrills each insect fibril with desire4 ,thence1 ,nature1 to fulfil thy prime decree1 ,wheels round in wanton rings the courtier bee2 ,now shyly distant1 now with bolder air1 ,he woos and wins the all-complying fair2 ,through fields of ether1 veiled in vapoury gloom1 ,they seek with amorous haste the nuptial room1 ,as erst the immortal pair on ,ida's height ,wreathed round their noon of joy ambrosial night4 ,the loyalty and attachment of bees to their queen is one of their most remarkable characteristics2 they constantly supply her with food1 and fawn upon and caress her1 softly touching her with their antenn--a favour which she occasionally returns4 ,when she moves about the hive all the bees through whom she successively passes pay her the same homage2 she experiences no inconvenience from overcrowding1 for though the part of the hive to which she is journeying may be the most populous1 way is immediately made1 the common bees tumbling over each other to get out of her path1 so great is their anxiety not to interfere with the royal progress4 ,a number of them often form a circle round her1 none venturing to turn their backs upon her1 but all anxious to show that respect and attention due to her rank and station4 ,the majestic deportment of the queen bee1 and the homage paid to her1 are1 with a little poetic licence1 thus described by ,evans3-- ,but mark1 of regal port and awful mien1 ,where moves with measured pace the insect queen6 ,twelve chosen guards1 with slow and solemn gait1 ,bend at her nod1 and round her person wait4 ,not eastern despots1 of their splendour vain1 ,can boast1 in all their pomp1 a brighter train ,of fear-bound satraps2 not in bonds of love ,can loyal ,britons more obedient move4 ,some modification has to be made1 however1 in the old ideas on this head1 though1 so long as it is understood that the reverence of the bees for their queen is an official and not a personal reverence1 it may be allowed1 except as to the existence of a regular guard1 to be for the most part true enough4 ,but the government is a limited and not an absolute monarchy1 for the workers often impose their own will upon the sovereign4 ,this homage1 moreover1 is paid only to matron queens1 as ,dr4 ,dunbar noted whilst experimenting on the combative qualities of the queen bee4 ,so long1 says he1 as the queen which survived the rencontre with her rival remained a virgin1 not the slightest degree of respect or attention was paid her2 not a single bee gave her food2 she was obliged1 as often as she required it1 to help herself2 and1 in crossing the honey cells for that purpose1 she had to scramble1 often with difficulty1 over the crowd1 not an individual of which got out of her way1 or seemed to care whether she fed or starved4 ,but no sooner did she become a mother than the scene was changed1 and all treated her with due attention4 ,the sting of the queen bee is utilised in depositing her eggs1 and she does not use it for hostile purposes except in combat with her sister queens4 ,mr4 ,langstroth remarks that this forbearance apparently arises from the knowledge that the use of the sting might prove fatal to herself1 and thus seriously jeopardise the whole hive4 ,he adds that she will carry it to the extent of allowing herself to be torn limb from limb without an attempt at stinging1 though if closely held in the hand she will sometimes use her jaws1 which1 being more powerful than those of other bees1 may occasion some discomfort4 ,but she admits of no rival to her throne2 almost her first act1 on coming forth from the cell1 is an attempt to tear open and destroy the cells containing the pup of princesses likely to become competitors4 ,should it so happen that another queen of similar age does exist in the hive at the same time1 then1 if one be not promptly destroyed by the workers1 as is now considered to be the rule1 the two are usually brought into contact with each other1 in order to fight it out1 and decide by a struggle1 mortal to one of them1 which is to be the ruler2 the stronger of course is victorious1 and remains supreme1 while her rival either falls dead or is left to die4#f ,either of these1 it must be admitted1 is a wiser method of settling the affair than it would be to range the whole hive under two distinct banners1 and so create a civil war1 in which the members of the rival bands would kill and destroy each other for matters they individually had little or no concern about4 ,the bees care not which queen it is1 so long as they are certain of having one to rule over them and perpetuate the community2 indeed1 they have been known in some cases to form rings round the respective combatants1 and even to force them to the conflict if unaware of each other's presence4 ,but ,dr4 ,bevan tells us that there do exist queens which will not fight4 ,the workers do not always decide3 the matter in such case2 it is1 indeed1 nothing uncommon1 says ,vogel1 for two fruitful queens to be allowed to live together2 and we have had instances of the same kind ourselves1 without being able to give a reason other than that the exceptions prove the rule4 ,an ,italian queen1 it is said1 is usually assisted in her third year by a younger mother born in her own hive4 ,footnote #f3 ,dr4 ,bevan mentions examples both of instant fatality and of survival for twenty-four hours4 ,the sting of the queen is evidently less powerful than that of workers1 as her poison-bag is smaller2 and we learn from ,von ,gindly that he once succeeded in inducing a queen to sting him1 when the effect was like little more than the prick of a needle4 ,kleine also1 after persevering attempts1 was once stung by a queen1 and so was ,hoffnann of ,vienna--the queen in this last case losing thereby the faculty of laying4 ,these royal duels1 though no longer regarded as the invariable routine1 have been abundantly testified to by undoubted witnesses1 and some of these have deduced a singular law as governing the combatants4 ,neither queen1 it is said1 will sting her rival unless she has her at an advantage1 and can thrust her body beneath the other's1 and inflict the fatal thrust without fear either of receiving another simultaneously1 or of being unable to withdraw her own sting4 ,if on the contrary each has grappled the other in readiness for mutual slaughter1 they will at once separate and commence the battle anew4 ,after perusing the description given above of the attachment of bees to their queen1 it may be easy to imagine the consternation a hive is thrown into when deprived of her presence4 ,the bees first make a diligent search for their monarch in the hive1 and then afterwards rush forth in immense numbers to seek her4 ,if the search is unavailing they will return to the hive and commence what ,langstroth calls a succession of wailings in the minor key1 which no experienced bee-master can mistake4 ,when such a commotion is observed in an apiary the competent apiarian will repair the loss by giving a queen4 ,the bees have generally their own remedy for such a calamity1 in their power of raising a new queen from amongst their larv2 but if neither this nor the former means is available1 the whole colony gradually dwindles and in time dies off4 ,the following is the method by which working bees provide a successor to the throne when deprived of their queen by accident1 or in anticipation of the first swarm1 which is always led by the old queen3-- ,they select1 when not more than three days old1 an egg previously intended for a worker bee--but a larva will serve1 so it be not grown to its full size--and then they enlarge the cell so selected by destroying the surrounding partitions2 they thus form a royal cradle1 in shape very much like an acorn-cup inverted4 ,the chosen embryo is then fed liberally with a peculiar description of nurture1 called by naturalists royal jelly--a pungent food composed of honey and digested pollen1 and prepared by the worker bees exclusively for those of the larv that are destined to become candidates for the honour of royalty4 ,the effect of this is both to perfect and to hasten the development of the future insect1 so that instead of a worker being produced at the end of twenty-one days1 a queen emerges in the reduced term of sixteen4 ,but should the deprivation happen at a time when1 either from the season or from abnormal circumstances1 there is no worker brood in the hive1 the bees will then often exhibit a series of curious and even ludicrous struggles1 which ,von ,berlepsch has aptly compared to the clutchings at straws made by a drowning man4 ,themselves individually are no sufferers2 but bees look beyond themselves1 and posterity they must have4 ,their sole preoccupation1 therefore1 is to raise drones and a queen4 ,some of them often develop a capacity to lay drone eggs 7as explained under ix471 and most of these they will carefully cherish for their natural purpose1 but others they will surround with royal cells and feed with royal jelly1 so that the poor things on hatching are soon dosed to death in a frantic effort to change their sex6 ,and if drone eggs are not to hand they will even try to hatch a queen out of a lump of pollen6 ,in more senses than one then we see that when bees have lost their queen they have lost their head4 ,as curiously dissimilar1 though not discordant1 instances of the effect of removing the queen from a hive1 we may mention that ,mr4 ,langstroth once tried the experiment for only two or three minutes1 when he had all in confusion immediately1 and found two days after that royal cells had been prepared2 while ,dr4 ,bevan once effected the removal so quietly that for eighteen hours all went on as usual1 and then on a sudden the fact became known1 and everything was changed into agitation and distraction4 ,should a queen so separated be detained from her subjects1 she resents the interference1 refuses food1 pines1 and dies4 ,the observations upon the queen bee needful to verify the above-mentioned facts can only be made in hives constructed for the purpose1 of which the ,unicomb ,observatory ,hive is the best4 ,in ordinary hives the queen is scarcely ever to be seen2 where there are several rows of comb she invariably keeps between them1 both for warmth and for greater security from danger4 ,the writer has frequently observed in stocks which have unfortunately died1 that the queen was one of the last to expire2 and she is always more difficult to gain possession of than other bees1 being by instinct taught that she is indispensable to the welfare of the colony4 ,the queen enjoys a far longer life than any of her subjects1 her age very often extending to four or even five years2 her fertility will1 however1 except in rare cases1 have left her long before that term1 or she will lay only drone eggs1 so that as a general rule a substitute is better found for her when she has entered her third year4 ,under the next section1 and those on ,reproductive ,economy and ,relation of ,sex to ,cells1 as well as in ,chapter ,,iv4 under ,queen ,cages1 will be found other information connected with the queen4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,drone4 ,the drones are the male bees2 they possess no sting1 are larger and more hairy than the workers1 and may be easily distinguished by their heavy motion1 thick-set form1 and louder humming4 ,they have a strong odour1 which becomes very noticeable if several of them are confined in a box4 ,evans thus describes the drones3-- ,but now1 when ,april smiles through many a tear1 ,and the bright ,bull receives the rolling year1 ,another tribe1 to different fates assigned1 ,in ampler cells their giant limbs confined1 ,burst through the yielding wax1 and wheel around ,on heavier wing1 and hum a deeper sound4 ,no sharpened sting they boast2 yet1 buzzing loud1 ,before the hive1 in threatening circles1 crowd ,the unwieldy drones4 ,their short proboscis sips ,no luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips2 ,from the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal1 ,nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal2 ,on others' toils1 in pampered leisure1 thrive ,the lazy fathers of the industrious hive4 ,yet oft1 we're told1 these seeming idlers share ,the pleasing duties of parental care1 ,with fond attention guard each genial cell1 ,and watch the embryo1 bursting from its shell4 ,but ,dr4 ,evans had been told what was not correct when he sought to dignify drones with the office of nursing fathers 7brood bees as the ,germans used to call them71 for that task is undertaken by the younger of the working bees4 ,nor are they even utilised in maintaining warmth1 for they are expelled just at a time when warmth is most required4 ,no occupation falls to the lot of the drones in gathering honey1 nor have they the means provided them by ,nature for assisting in the labours of the hive4 ,they are the progenitors of working bees1 and nothing more2 so far as is known1 that is the only purpose of their short existence4 ,in a well-populated hive the number of drones is computed at from one to two thousand4 ,naturalists1 says ,huber1 have been extremely embarrassed to account for the number of males in most hives1 which seem only a burden to the community1 since they appear to fulfil no function4 ,but we now begin to discern the object of ,nature in multiplying them to such an extent4 ,as fecundation cannot be accomplished within the hive1 and as the queen is obliged to traverse the expanse of the atmosphere1 it is requisite that the males should be numerous1 that she may have the chance of meeting some one of them in her flight4 ,were only two or three in each hive there would be little probability of their departure at the same instant with the queen1 or that they would meet her in their excursions2 and most of the females might thus remain sterile4 ,it is important for the safety of the queen bee that her stay in the air should be as brief as possible1 as her large size and slowness of flight render her an easy prey to birds4 ,it is not now thought that the queen always pairs with a drone of the same hive1 as ,huber seems to have supposed4 ,on the contrary1 it would appear that with bees1 as with so many other animals1 there is a provision against such interbreeding4 ,mr4 ,john ,hunter1 in his ,manual of ,bee-keeping1 speaks of this as amounting to a law1 and thus represents the fact as diametrically opposite to ,huber's conclusion4 ,but we believe the question to be complicated by another--whether the drones that inhabit a particular hive at any given time are regularly born of the same family with that hive1 or whether they are not very often to be viewed as strangers within the gates4 ,at all events1 it appears established that the queen and drones within a hive do watch each other's movements when the former is about taking her nuptial flight1 and that the union is sometimes consummated close at hand1 though certainly never attempted within the precincts of the hive itself4 ,this last circumstance1 which by all accounts is absolutely invariable1 would seem to be the extent of the provision1 and it is one that in ordinary circumstances would preclude the recurrence of in-and-in breeding4 ,a confirmation of these views is afforded from the interesting experience of ,captain von ,baldenstein with his one ,italian stock maintained by itself for seven years1 who found that all this time1 with one exception1 the young queens produced bastard workers1 clearly proving that all but that one were impregnated by the drones of other colonies4 ,the drone that happens to be the selected husband is by no means so favoured as at first sight might appear1 for it is a law of ,nature that the bridegroom does not survive the wedding-day4 ,his death1 however1 is doubtless generally instantaneous1 whereas in other case it would probably have been one of torture or starvation4 ,in #ahfg the ,german apiarian ,von ,klipstein was witness of an instance of the wedding ceremony1 when a young queen1 who was leading a swarm1 became detached from it and settled upon a currant bush1 where she was joined by a drone2 after a few seconds the two flew away together for three yards and then fell to the ground1 when the queen disengaged herself1 and the drone was found to be dead4 ,but we learn from the ,american ,bee ,journal1 of ,march #ahfa1 that two similar cases were observed in the ,united ,states some years earlier than this4 ,the latter of these two agreed with the above in showing the immediate death of the male bee1 the rule as to which is also confirmed by a fact noticed by ,mr4 ,langstroth1 that if a drone is taken between the fingers and squeezed1 as one would squeeze a wasp to cause protrusion of the sting1 it will give a crack and shrivel up dead as if struck by lightning4 ,the instance in point was also communicated to the ,bee ,journal through this gentleman1 it having been noticed1 on a ,july afternoon in #ahfj1 by his friend ,mr4 ,w4 ,w4 ,gary1 of ,coleraine1 ,massachusetts4 ,the queen was returning from a presumably unsuccessful flight1 when a drone met her at about three feet from the hive entrance2 a sharp snap was heard almost directly1 and the male fell to the ground perfectly dead4 ,the other case was witnessed by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,millette1 of ,whitemarsh1 ,pennsylvania1 and occurred in ,june #ahei1 during the process of hiving4 ,a young queen--there were four in the swarm--was observed on the wing1 and in a moment after was seized by a drone4 ,after flying about a rod they both came to the ground in close contact2 444 the drone was about departing 7having broken loose7 444 but after crawling about 444 in a very few minutes it expired--the circumstance being probably quite exceptional in this lapse of minutes1 and it is unfortunate that we have no information as to the immediate or subsequent effect upon the queen4 ,as a general rule the royal lady1 not meeting drones straightway upon her issue from the hive1 spends a little time in reconnoitring her home1 and then1 often not till her second day's exit1 sails away high into the air1 and sometimes to a considerable distance horizontally as well4 ,a ,renfrewshire ,bee-keeper states in the ,british ,bee ,journal1 of ,may #ahgg1 that an undoubted instance had come to his knowledge in which a common queen1 located five miles distant in a bee-line measured upon the ,ordnance map1 had become impregnated by one of his own ,italian drones--these being positively the only ,italians in the entire district4 ,on the queen's return--that is1 supposing her object to have been achieved--she will exhibit the male organ adhering to her extremity1 and sometimes she is unable to free herself of it1 nor can the bee-keeper give her any assistance without the risk of effects as fatal to herself as they were to her spouse4 ,the explanation of this series of phenomena lies in the structure of the organ itself4 ,it is simply the expanded prolongation of the seminal duct1 and is attached to the orifice like the sleeve of a coat to the shoulder1 but is wholly internal4 ,to be protruded it must therefore be turned literally inside out1 and to effect this a powerful inflation is required1 in which act the forces of the system are in some way fatally ruptured2 while1 as ,professor ,leuckart very rationally deduces--thus clearing up another mystery--it is only when the breathing vessels are filled by motion in the air that the drone is able to accomplish it at all4 ,then the singular scales and protuberances with which the organ is beset render it when once inserted very difficult of withdrawal1 even if its owner were not already dead4 ,mr4 ,langstroth remarks as to the design of this seemingly harsh provision that in default of it the queen would be compelled to remain with the drone much longer in the air1 thus incurring far greater danger of falling a prey to some passing bird4 ,after all it is undoubtedly one of those instances as to which it may be said of ,nature1 in ,tennyson's words3-- ,so careful of the type she seems1 ,so careless of the single life4 ,her majesty1 although thus left a widowed1 is by no means a sorrowful bride1 for in from two to three days she becomes the happy mother of a large family4 ,such at least is the normal rule1 but should the season be late in the autumn she may not commence laying till the following spring4 ,it cannot be said that she pays no respect to the memory of her departed lord1 for she never marries again4 ,once impregnated--as is the case with most insects--the queen bee continues productive during the remainder of her existence4 ,the swarming season being over--that is about the end of ,july1 when the gathering has materially slackened--a general massacre of the lazy fathers shortly follows4 ,dr4 ,bevan observes that now their work is completed1 they are regarded as useless consumers of the fruits of others' labour3 love is at once converted into hate1 and a general proscription takes place4 ,for it was love1 the drones having previously been petted and fed with prepared pollen in the same way as the queen herself4 ,von ,berlepsch describes the work of destruction as commencing with the casting forth of the drone brood just issuing from the cells1 after which the larv and nymphs are similarly treated4 ,then the drones themselves are chased from the honey stores1 and a watch is kept to prevent their access thereto4 ,on finding it hopeless they crouch away together in corners1 till1 when thoroughly exhausted by hunger1 the workers drive them out one by one1 and they die with cold and hunger3 very few of them are stung4 ,this work goes on night and day1 and occasionally they collect to die in such a heap before the flight-hole that there is a danger of their suffocating the hive4 ,disabled or useless workers are dealt with in an equally summary fashion2 but in the case of a super-annuated queen1 the best opinions are that she is allowed to take her own quietus4 ,supposing the drones come forth in ,april or ,may1 which is the usual period1 then1 as their destruction takes place somewhere about the commencement of ,august1 three or four months will be the ordinary extent of their existence2 but should it so happen that the development of the queen has been retarded1 or that the hive has by chance been deprived of her1 the massacre of the drones is deferred4 ,on the other hand1 in case of the cutting short of the gathering season by bad weather1 it occasionally happens at an earlier date--even so soon as ,may4 ,now and then a drone or two escape1 and prolong their lives through the winter4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,worker4 ,the working bees form by far the most numerous of the three classes contained in the hive4 ,they are the smallest of the bees2 in colour they are dark brown or nearly black 7except the ,italians and other foreign varieties71 and they are distinguished by their activity upon the wing4 ,as to their numbers in a colony1 an ordinary first swarm from a straw hive1 says ,von ,berlepsch1 contains from twelve to twenty thousand1 but ,i have had large wood hives in which1 at a moderate computation1 there were living at the end of ,june about a hundred thousand bees3 from thirty to fifty thousand1 however1 will better represent the strength of an average stock in an ,english hive4 ,the worker1 though formerly spoken of under the term neuter1 is of the same sex as the queen1 but is only partially developed1 and thus1 with some exceptions 7see ix471 it is incapable of laying eggs4 ,but any egg which would ordinarily produce a worker bee may1 by the cell being enlarged and the royal jelly supplied to the larva1 be hatched into a mature and perfect queen4 ,this most curious fact may be verified in any apiary by most interesting experiments1 which are capable of being turned to important use4 ,the lives of the worker bees vary very greatly1 and are much more prolonged during the repose of winter than in the wear and tear of the gathering season4 ,von ,berlepsch describes three careful sets of experiments which he carried out for the purpose of attaining more exact knowledge on this point4 ,in one of these he introduced an ,italian queen into an ordinary stock at the beginning of ,october when all the old brood was hatched2 he then found as a result that the last of the common bees had disappeared at the end of ,may1 so that some of them for a certainty lived eight months1 and possibly more1 though it seems most probable that the last to die were also the latest born4 ,in another case1 the queen having died at the commencement of winter1 he strictly isolated the hive1 and1 the season being exceptionally mild1 he found that some of the bees continued alive for ten and a half months4 ,his remaining experiment bore upon the summer term of existence1 and it resulted in exhibiting six weeks as the average1 and three months as the outside possible period of lifetime4 ,dzierzon points out the difference produced by the character of a bee's employment4 ,to have to fly a long distance to its pasturage will soon wear it out1 and so will knocking its wings against sharp leaves1 as is the case with the bluebottle1 the thick corn amid which this plant grows rendering the effect very much worse4 ,but if1 he adds1 they pass the summer in entire repose1 as a hive without a queen may do1 then1 if well fed1 their lives may be prolonged for a year or even more4 ,the population of a hive is very small during the winter in comparison with the vast numbers gathering produce in the summer--produce which they themselves live to enjoy but for a short period4 ,so that not only1 as of old1 may lessons of industry be learned from bees1 but they also teach self-denial to mankind1 since they labour for the community rather than for themselves4 ,dr4 ,bevan1 in describing the age of bees1 thus adapts the well-known lines of ,homer in allusion to the fleeting generations of men3-- ,like leaves on trees the race of bees is found1 ,now green in youth1 now withering on the ground2 ,another race the spring or fall supplies1 ,they droop successive1 and successive rise4 ,with regard to the functions of worker bees1 ,huber supposed that there were two distinct classes1 one acting as gatherers of store and the other as nurses of brood4 ,this however has been demonstrated to be a mistake1 for the distinction is not one of class1 but simply of age1 the younger workers1 for the first two or three weeks of their existence1#g assuming the whole of the inner or home occupations--viz41 those of feeding the larv1 the queen1 and the drones1 and of making wax1 building comb1 and closing the cells1 as well as keeping the hive in a state of cleanliness--and these duties they retain until themselves sufficiently vigorous to range the fields in quest of supplies4 ,after this term of apprenticeship they enter upon the labours of adult bees1 and collect honey1 pollen1 and propolis--particulars as to which functions1 and that of wax secretion1 will be found in the third and fourth sections of our next chapter1 and in the sections devoted to these four items in ,chapter ,,vi4 ,water and salt are also brought in to aid in the sustenance of the young brood4 ,the older bees perform the duties of the younger when there are none or insufficient of the latter in the hive2 but they will hang about perfectly idle if kept at home by weather when there is a full staff of their younger sisters4 ,these last1 on the contrary1 cannot possibly supply the places of the older until at the very least they have attained their eleventh or twelfth day4 ,footnote #g3 ,german observations cited by ,von ,berlepsch give from ten to nineteen days4 ,the ,baron gives provisionally the sixteenth day as the rule4 ,the first sporting before the hive is given at from the fourth to the tenth day4 ,another of the varied duties performed by the younger worker bees is that of ventilating the hive by fanning with their wings4 ,on a warm day a number of them may be seen located outside on the alighting-board working these appendages at the utmost velocity so as to drive a current of pure air within2 while inside1 but not exactly opposite to their comrades1 are another troop1 who by the same process are engaged in driving the foul air out4 ,other detachments are in the hottest weather posted in different parts of the interior1 and the whole relieve each other in pickets4 ,huber ascertained that the inside air of a hive is thus preserved nearly as pure as that without4 ,in older works on the subject we are told of the sentinels of bees1 but this idea is now abandoned as a fiction4 ,it arose naturally enough out of the above office of fanners1 as well as from the fact that if a rap be given upon the alighting-board a bee will immediately appear without4 ,so too if danger appears1 and if any bees are outside either as fanners or for their own relief from the heat1 these will promptly perform the duties of sentinels4 ,but as to any of them being posted specially for that purpose1 it is sufficient to say that at the season when enemies are most to be feared there are no guards at the gates to be found4 ,it has been much queried whether bees ever go to sleep during the working season1 as it is known that at night1 when not gathering abroad1 they are engaged in ceaseless activity at home4 ,huber1 however1 observed frequent instances of bees placing their heads' in empty cells and remaining perfectly motionless in that position for from fifteen to twenty-five minutes1 in his opinion evidently asleep4 ,von ,berlepsch has repeatedly observed similar occurrences both with workers and queens--not with drones1 but then1 says he1 what is the whole life of these but sleep8--and he considers that there can exist upon the point no doubt whatever4 ,the more active the bees are1 he remarks1 the more will they sleep1 like every creature4 ,the following passage from ,dzierzon describes in a popular way the round of the bees' concerns as they vary with the seasons3 ,in spring1 when all ,nature has awakened to a new life1 the activity of the hive is especially directed to the increasing of the stock1 the laying of eggs2 at first1 indeed1 none but worker eggs are laid1 and at the outset only a few hundred cells in a day1 but afterwards thousands1 as every hive seeks in the first place to make its own continuance secure4 ,when gradually the number of bees has through the daily augmentation become perceptibly increased1 when the pastures have more fully unfolded themselves1 and the warmth in the hive has reached a higher degree1 then1 in the confidence of strength and of a sort of maturity1 and having regard to the remoter object of increase through connubial relations1 drone brood is also laid4 ,finally1 although not in every case1 in greater or less number queen cells are prepared4 ,as soon as one or other of these is sealed over1 the old queen feels no longer safe in the hive1 and leaves it on a fine day at noon with the so-called 'fore-swarm4'444 ,in most years and most districts the bee store has passed its climax and entered upon its decline after the swarming period4 ,the activity of the bees now takes another direction4 ,in order to leave over as much honey as possible for the provisionless season that stands before them1 a system of saving is now pursued4 ,to compensate for the unavoidable loss of population from the journeys abroad1 a certain quantity of worker brood is still continually set on1 but to a limited extent1 while the breeding of drones is not only given up1 but the already deposited drone brood is usually thrown out1 and the drones themselves1 as no longer of any use1 are expelled from the hive4 ,comb-building too1 which the bees so eagerly carried on in the spring1 now rests entirely1 as it would consume honey1 and at the first autumn gathering the bees in fact fill all cells to hand with honey1 though previously these may for the most part have served for brood-rearing4 ,their activity is now bent to securing their future position by accumulating the largest possible store of honey1 and preserving themselves against draughts and cold by stopping up the holes in their dwelling with propolis1 and narrowing the too wide flight-holes2 and these cares generally occupy them so long as the temperature is of such a degree that they can still make their flights1 which is up to about #ac degrees ,raumur say #fj ,fahr44444 ,when there is nothing more to gather1 the bees1 in order to save strength as well as honey1 fly out no longer1 even on the finest days1 but preserve themselves in complete repose1 and only undertake1 after several days1 an occasional sport before the hive on some warm noonday1 so as to cleanse themselves once more before the winter4 ,dr4 ,evans addresses and describes the worker bee in two passages of such real beauty that we cannot refrain from giving them a place here3-- ,ye light-winged labourers6 hail the auspicious sign1 ,when the twin stars in rival splendour shine6 ,cheered by their beams1 your quickening numbers swell1 ,and pant your nations in the crowded cell4 ,blithe ,maia calls1 and bids her jocund train ,breathe the warm gale1 or softly falling rain2 ,inhaled at every pore1 the dewy flood ,spreads the young leaf1 and wakes the sleeping bud4 99 99 99 99 99 ,yes1 light-winged labourers6 still unwearied range ,from flower to flower1 your only love of change6 ,still be your envied lot1 communion rare1 ,to wreathe contentment round the brow of care6 ,no nice distinctions1 or of rich or great1 ,shade the clear sunshine of your peaceful state2 ,nor ,avarice there unfolds her dragon wing1 ,nor racked ,ambition feels the scorpion sting2 ,your tempered wants an easy wealth dispense1 ,the public store your only affluence3 ,for all alike the busy fervour glows4 ,alike ye labour1 and alike repose2#h ,free as the air1 yet in strict order joined1 ,unnumbered bodies with a single mind4 ,one royal head1 with ever-watchful eye1 ,reins and directs your restless industry4 ,builds on your love her firm-cemented throne1 ,and with her people's safety seals her own4 ,footnote #h3 ,omnibus una quies operum1 labor omnibus unus4 ,virgil1 ,g4 iv4 #ahd4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,i4 ,e4 ,w4 ,robinson1 ,delt4 et ,scp4 #ahfe4 ,v4 ,,the ,,italian ,,or ,,ligurian ,,bee4 ,a new1 or rather a re-discovered1 variety of bee has recently been brought into practical use amongst apiarians in ,germany and ,america1 as well as in this country4 ,it has been called the ,yellow ,italian ,alp ,bee1 and was also named the ,ligurian ,bee by the ,marquis de ,spinola1 who found it in ,piedmont in #ahje2 and he considered it to be the principal species known to the ,greeks4 ,there can exist no doubt1 says ,kleine1 in his handbook1 ,the ,italian ,bee and its ,culture1 that both kinds were known side by side from the earliest times4 ,even mythology relates that ,jupiter1 out of gratitude for their having fed him with honey when a new-born god1 afterwards made the bee 'brass-coloured' or 'golden-coloured4' ,aristotle also noticed the coloured as different from the black bee1 and ,virgil adduces the same distinction4 ,the latter speaks of the best kind of bee as being of a golden colour with ruddy scales4 ,it is stated that it is found also in ,spain4 ,leading apiarians are all but unanimous in pronouncing these bees justly entitled to the high character given them4 ,the special advantages claimed for them are--greater fecundity of the queens1 more industry and productiveness1 less irascibility1 and a more handsome appearance2 for1 being of a golden colour1 they are prettier than our black bees4 7,see coloured engraving1 ,plate ,i4 ,figs4 #a1 #b1 #c47 ,the ,italian varies but little from the common bee in its physical characteristics4 ,the difference in appearance consists in the first three rings of the abdomen being of an orange colour instead of a deep brown1 except the posterior edge and under portion of the third1 which are black3 some individuals1 however1 have less colour about them than others--the younger bees far the most4 ,these orange-coloured parts are transparent when closely examined with the sun shining on them4 ,the drones are more darkly ringed than the workers1 and are light-yellow beneath1 which is an infallible mark of distinction from the ,english drones1 which are nearly white in that part2 many are also a fourth part smaller than the ,english4 ,the queens vary greatly3 ,the finest and rarest1 says ,von ,berlepsch1 are bright yellow varying into a bluish4 ,others rather resemble the workers1 exhibiting only yellow rings2 and a few are very difficult or impossible to distinguish from our own4 ,from this we see that the ,italian is not a constant race1 like1 e4g41 our own or the ,egyptian4 ,it is now over thirty years since attention was recalled to this variety by ,captain von ,baldenstein1 who1 when stationed in ,italy during a part of the ,napoleonic wars1 had observed that the bees about ,lake ,como were of a different colour from ordinary ones4 ,in later years1 after his retirement from military life1 he became a student of natural history1 and1 remembering these bees1 he procured a colony of them in #ahdc4 ,this he preserved1 through constant disappointments1 for seven years1 and in #ahdh he communicated to the ,bienenzeitung the deductions of his experience4 ,from this ,dr4 ,dzierzon was induced to pursue the experiment1 and from him the variety became introduced in ,germany4 ,the introduction of this new variety of bee into ,england was through our agency4 ,m4 ,hermann1 a bee-cultivator at ,tamins-by-,chur1 ,canton ,grison1 ,switzerland1 wrote to us on the #eth of ,july1 #ahei1 offering to supply us with ,italian queen bees4 ,the date should be specially noted1 because this was the commencement of a new era in bee-keeping in this country4 ,we were always in friendly intercourse with the late ,mr4 ,h4 ,taylor1 author of ,the ,bee-keeper's ,manual1 and then correspondent on ,bee ,culture to the ,cottage ,gardener 7since called the ,journal of ,horticulture72 and1 being in the practice of frequently discussing apiarian subjects with him1 we told him of the offer made us of a new kind of bee4 ,he said he knew nothing about it himself1 but asked permission to publish the intelligence in the journal he was connected with1 and we assented1 entirely for public interest and to gratify him4 ,the letter1 or an extract from it1 appeared accordingly in the current number of the journal referred to4 ,prior to this the ,italian1 or1 as many have called it1 the ,ligurian bee1 was ,,unknown ,,in ,,this ,,country1 except to a few naturalists4 ,the same letter attracted the attention of that intelligent apiarian1 the late ,t4 ,w4 ,woodbury1 ,esq41 so well known as the ,devonshire ,bee-keeper4 ,on the #aith of ,july1 that is1 a fortnight after ,m4 ,hermann's offer1 we received a consignment of ,italian bees--the first imported into ,england4 ,with these ,mr4 ,woodbury also received one queen bee and a few workers1 which he introduced into a hive of ,english bees from which the queen had been removed4 ,his efforts were very successful1 and the spring of #ahfj found him in possession of four ,ligurianised stocks4 ,his subsequent experience with this new variety he fully described in a communication to the ,bath and ,west of ,england ,agricultural ,journal4 ,subsequently ,m4 ,hermann sent us a copy of his pamphlet entitled ,the ,italian ,alp ,bee2 or1 the ,gold-,mine of ,husbandry1 with the request that we should have it translated from the ,german1 and that copies of it should be printed in the ,english language4 ,it was speedily published by us accordingly1 and1 although singular as a literary production1 it may be useful for the advanced apiarian4 ,certainly the bees are partially of an orange or golden colour1 and if one could believe the golden anticipations indulged in by ,m4 ,hermann respecting them1 these would be sufficient to identify the ,italian bee as the species described by ,hood in ,miss ,kilmansegg--those which dwelt in ,a golden hive1 on a golden bank1 ,where golden bees1 by alchemical prank1 ,gather gold instead of honey4 ,in the pamphlet referred to1 ,m4 ,hermann gives the following description of what he insists on designating as ,apis helvetica3 ,the ,yellow ,italian ,alp bee is a mountain insect2 it is found between two mountain chains to the right and left of ,lombardy and the ,rhetian ,alps1 and comprises the whole territory of ,ticino1 ,val ,tellina1 and the southern ,grisons4#i ,it thrives up to the height of #d1ejj feet above the level of the sea1 and appears to prefer the northern clime to the warmer1 for in the south of ,italy it is not found4 ,the ,alps are their native country1 therefore they are called ,yellow ,alp or tame house bees1 in contradistinction to the black ,european bees1 which we might call common forest bees1 and which1 on the slightest touch1 fly like lightning into your face48 ,footnote #i3 ,otherwise ,tessin1 ,veltlin 7,french ,valteline71 and the southern ,graubnden4 ,von ,berlepsch names the localities they inhabit as ,genoa1 ,venetia1 ,lombardy1 and the southern valleys of the ,grisons bordering upon ,italy4 ,as all good and noble things in the world are more scarce than common ones1 so there are more common black bees than of the noble yellow race1 which latter inhabit only a very small piece of country1 while the black ones are at home everywhere in ,europe1 and even in ,america4 ,our own experience with the ,italian bee enables us to corroborate the statements which have been made in its favour4 ,we find the queens more prolific than those of the common kind1 and the quantity of honey produced is greater4 ,these two facts stand as cause and effect3 the bees being multiplied more quickly1 the store of honey is accumulated more rapidly1 and the ,italian bees consume1 if anything1 less food than the common kind4 ,when of pure ,italian blood these bees are1 by some apiarians1 thought to be hardier than our own4 ,that they forage for stores with greater eagerness1 and have little hesitation in paying visits to other hives1 we can testify from our own observation4 ,the following anecdote will illustrate their intrusive propensities2 ,another bee-keeper1 who lived in the same neighbourhood1 was once inspecting our hives1 when1 on observing the yellow bees1 he exclaimed1 ,now ,i have found out where those strange-looking bees come from2 for1 said he1 these yellow-jackets are incessant visitors to my hives4 ,i thought they were a species of wasp that had come to rob1 and until now ,i have been unable to account for their appearance at the entrance of my hive1 so that ,i have killed them by hundreds4 ,this was not at all pleasing intelligence for us1 and we trust that our neighbour has been more lenient to the yellow-jackets since his visit1 for such summary capital punishment was wholly unmerited1 because when a bee is peaceably received 7see page #afi7 it becomes naturalised1 and works side by side with the others in its fresh abode4 ,we are inclined to believe that more visiting takes place amongst bees of different hives than bee-keepers have been accustomed to suppose2 but where the ,italian and black bees are kept near each other1 the foreigners being conspicuous by their lighter colour1 there is less difficulty in identifying them when at the entrance of other hives4 ,von ,berlepsch1 we find1 remarks that there exists during the gathering season a species of communism of dwellings between the bees of neighbouring hives4 ,the ,italian bees are more active than common bees when on the wing4 ,they are also observed to work longer hours than other bees both early and late1 as well as in seasons when the latter will not stir abroad4 ,thus altogether they are much more productive4 ,in many seasons we have had more honey from an ,italian stock than from any one of our colonies of black bees4 ,from this hive we have taken a glass super containing forty pounds nett of honey1 besides having drawn from it an artificial swarm2 and after all it remained the strongest hive in our apiary4 ,in a private letter received from ,mr4 ,langstroth he informed us that in the season of #ahfe he bred over #cjj ,italian queens2 these he disseminated to various' bee-masters on the ,american continent1 and the united opinion of apiarians in that country was increasingly in favour of the decided advantage of the cultivation of the ,italian bee4 ,at the present date it is literally all the rage with bee-keepers there4 ,with ourselves there is a quieter but not less genuine welcome accorded to it4 ,in the ,british ,bee ,journal for ,may #ahgg1 the distinguished apiarian ,a ,renfrewshire ,bee-keeper writes3 ,after careful study and comparison of both ,i found the ,italian superior for beauty1 prolificness1 power1 and activity1 and 7to my view the greatest value of all7 for fresh blood4 ,to the testimonies already cited we will now add that of the late ,mr4 ,woodbury4 ,the following is extracted from the paper contributed by him to the ,bath and ,west of ,england ,agricultural ,journal3 ,from my strongest ,ligurian stock ,i took eight artificial swarms in the spring1 besides depriving it of numerous brood-combs4 ,finding1 in ,june1 that the bees were collecting honey so fast that the queen could not find an empty cell in which to lay an egg1 ,i was reluctantly compelled to put on a super4 ,when this had been filled with thirty-eight pounds of the finest honeycomb1#aj ,i removed it1 and as the stock hive 7a very large one7 could not contain the multitude of bees which issued from it1 ,i formed them into another very large artificial swarm4 ,the foregoing facts speak for themselves2 but as information on this point has been very generally asked1 ,i have no hesitation in saying that ,i believe the ,ligurian honey bee infinitely superior in every respect to the only species that we have hitherto been acquainted with4 ,footnote #aj3 ,this super was exhibited at our stand in the ,international ,exhibition of #ahfb4 ,the chorus of praise is not however universal4 ,most noticeable is the broad divergence of views between the two greatest apiarians of ,germany--,dr4 ,dzierzon and ,baron von ,berlepsch4 ,the former pronounces this bee less given to stinging1 less sensitive of cold1 more prolific1 earlier in brood-raising and swarming1 forwarder also in comb-building1 more industrious and honey-yielding1 more courageous in defence of its stores1 and prompter in expelling the drones4 ,the ,baron examines these and other assertions one by one1 and declares emphatically that1 after a long course of experience1 he has not found them true in a single particular4 ,he calls the bee the ,italian humbug1 and sums up as follows3 ,while it may perhaps be distinguished from our own by a somewhat slighter disposition to sting1 but1 on the other hand1 it begins building drone comb and raising numbers of drones in the first year1 and its queens grow unfertile so early1 and that mostly at so inopportune a time1 it stands manifestly inferior to our own in a relation of economic utility1 and has therefore for us no practical value at all4#aa ,footnote #aa3 ,in our previous editions ,von ,berlepsch's views were cited as strongly favourable to the ,italian bee4 ,the change is his own1 and he now makes full recantation of his error4 ,though we are unshaken in our adhesion to the ,italian bee by these opposite views1 it is impossible to treat them as beneath consideration4 ,they are not a mere prejudice1 for the ,baron was at first as much prepossessed in the strangers' favour as any one4 ,but it would be still less possible to set aside on their account the united testimony of ,dzierzon1 ,langstroth1 and a host of others who are above delusion on such a point4 ,how then can we account for this one notable divergence8 ,in the first place1 much of ,von ,berlepsch's data are negative only1 and negative evidence can never set aside positive2 thus when he tells us that he has not observed earlier activity or greater courage or less sensitiveness1 while others of unquestioned judgment have observed these points1 we cannot hesitate to decide in the favour of the latter4 ,as to less disposition to sting1 the positive evidence should be on the ,baron's side when he says that they do sting2 but in this case1 as we have seen1 he partly concedes the point4 ,as to productiveness and fecundity1 there may be some undetected peculiarity about this bee to which something in the ,seebach apiary or neighbourhood is not so congenial as in other parts4 ,at all events4 ,dr4 ,dzierzon is unmoved from his faith1 for we find him in the present year giving as the result of twenty-five years experience that this bee is as gentle1 diligent1 and prolific as it is beautiful2 that it bears our ,german climate well1 and that its preservation in purity is with some care quite possible4 ,still some persons are sure to be disappointed with a foreign bee1 just as some will be with a foreign country4 ,some have had their expectations raised too highly1 and expect wonderful results to follow without effort2 others1 on the contrary1 are so wrapt up in the new treasure that they cherish it with vastly greater pains than their other bees1 and thus attribute to the bee itself what is partly to be credited to their own superior care4 ,in particular1 with regard to the greater fecundity of the queens1 we think some allowance ought to be made for the circumstance that in order to meet the demand for ,italian queens they are being continuously bred1 so that when united to ,english stocks they are always young and in the prime as to fertility2 whilst the common black queens are allowed to exist in the hives their appointed time1 as there is nothing to call for encouraging their special propagation4 ,in making comparisons we think this fact has been a little overlooked2 but though too much may have been thus credited to the ,italians1 we think there is a clear balance on this point in their favour1 and they retain altogether our most decided preference4 ,,vi4 ,,other ,,foreign ,,varieties4 #a4 ,carniolan ,bees4--,in appearance this variety is very much like our ,english bee4 ,the difference is that the rings on the abdomen are whiter2 otherwise 7except by a close observer7 one would not be known from the other4 ,eight years ago the ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,cotton 7brother of ,lord ,justice ,cotton and author of ,my ,bee ,book7 had a stock of these bees from ,austria1 where they are largely cultivated1 and he left them under our charge4 ,we placed them in our own apiary at ,hampstead1 where they did very well1 working a capital super in the first year1 as well as parting with a fine swarm4 ,the second year ,mr4 ,cotton had the swarm sent to his own apiary1 near ,chester1 because he wanted the original queen1 which of course this had with it4 ,this swarm had rather a remarkable adventure1 and was nearly lost1 as related at page #gh4 ,the ,carniolans have been praised as possessing similar good qualities with the ,italians1 and though ,von ,berlepsch laughs at them and calls them a new grand swindle1 yet1 as he declares them to be closely allied1 if not altogether identical1 with the following variety1 for which he has only good reports1 his denunciations of these seem reasonably open to qualification4 #b4 ,lower ,austrian ,bees4--,baron von ,berlepsch mentions these as a variety which he found1 to his surprise1 in the neighbourhood of ,vienna1 but which must have been the same that ,von ,ehrenfels had cultivated and described4 ,they scarcely differ from the ,carniolan1 but about one in fifty is rather strongly marked with red upon the first ring of the back4 ,the ,baron speaks of their habitat as the ,el ,dorado of the ,bee1 and he declares them wholly free from the vices of the next sort1 and thinks they raise fewer drones than ordinary bees4 ,he recommends1 as likely to be a profitable breed1 a cross of these with our own variety4 #c4 ,heath ,bees4--,this is a race of a very different character1 deriving its name from the district known as ,luneburg ,heath1 and found also about ,oldenburg1 ,schleswig1 and ,holstein4 ,in form and appearance ,heath bees are wholly identical with our own1 but they seem like bees in a lower state of civilisation1 perpetually swarming without occasion and with unmanageable impulse1 and producing principally drones and drone comb even with a queen of the first year4 ,undoubtedly1 says ,von ,berlepsch1 this is by far the worst kind of bee existing in ,germany4 #d4 ,greek or ,cecropian ,bees4--,in some particulars these are like a cross between the ,italian and common bees4 ,the queen is dark bronze on the abdomen as far as the second scale1 but the common colour above4 ,most of the workers have a ring and a half of bronze or a reddish rust-colour2 some have two entire rings of this hue4 ,they are stated to be more industrious and productive than common bees1 and the drones to be smaller4 ,this and the two previous varieties we thus briefly notice on the basis of the remarks of ,von ,berlepsch4 ,we are not aware that either of them has been introduced into this country1 nor do they appear to have attained much success in ,germany4 ,thus humorously does our author dismiss this last3 ,since #ahfd1 when ,deumer sounded his trumpet with distended cheeks1 we have heard not so much as a last dying speech from the ,cecropian bee1 and she seems already in ,germany to have gone the way of all flesh4 ,may the earth lie lightly on her6 #e and #f4 ,cyprian and ,smyrnan ,bees4--,a ,country ,doctor writes in the ,british ,bee ,journal that he had prepared a translation from the ,bienenzeitung of an article by ,herr ,corri1 in which he speaks most highly of the good qualities of the ,cyprian bees1 and considers them in advance of any other bee that he has cultivated4 ,in this opinion he is borne out by ,count ,rudolph ,kolowrat of ,tabor4 ,it so frequently happens1 proceeds the correspondent1 that the last pet receives the highest honours1 and we are so apt to believe that that must have special value which has cost considerable pains to obtain1 that a certain amount of caution is advisable in receiving these enthusiastic statements4 ,herr ,corri's opinion1 however1 is deserving of the highest respect2 for both he and the ,count have been most perseveringly engaged for many years past in importing various races of bees from their native lands1 and making comparative observations as to their merits1 and this without being biased by the expectation of commercial gain4 ,the bees got from ,smyrna 7#ahfd7 seem to stand next in their estimation4 ,both the originally imported stocks1 and those subsequently raised from them1 presented1 however1 a certain number of black bees1 and after the most painstaking attempts to breed them pure the results remained the same4 ,the conclusion come to was that they were of a mixed race4 ,our own experience tallies very much with this opinion4 ,we imported from ,germany stocks of both the ,cyprian and ,smyrnan bees1 and exhibited them at the bee shows of the ,british ,bee ,association4 ,previous to doing so we submitted specimens to ,mr4 ,f4 ,smith of the ,british ,museum1 and he reported favourably of them--that although resembling the ,italian 7,apis ligustica71 the ,cyprian were clearly of a different species1 but more nearly approaching the ,egyptian 7,a4 fasciata73 they certainly possessed the irascible qualities so distinctive of the ,egyptians1 and used their stilettoes unmercifully on some of the gentlemen connected with the show4 ,we have not been sufficiently enamoured of them to pursue their cultivation further4 ,the resemblance is so close to those bees already domiciled here that we see no special advantage to be gained by doing so4 #g4 ,asiatic ,bees4--,this bee 7,apis dorsata7 is a distinct species2 it is larger than our own1 and exists in a wild state in the woods of ,india4 ,mr4 ,woodbury made considerable exertions to have a colony brought to ,england1 but without success4 ,the stings of these bees1 are more formidable than those of the varieties possessed here1 and except as a matter of curiosity we can see nothing to recommend their introduction4 #h4 ,egyptian ,bees4--,these bees1 though called ,apis fasciata1 are considered by many as a variety of the same species as ordinary bees4 ,they are rather smaller and slenderer than our own and the ,italian1 though closely resembling the latter in appearance4 ,they have white hairs all about them1 and the first two and a half rings of the abdomen are of a reddish yellow4 ,the drones are also well marked with similar rings1 and the queen is even more beautiful than the ,italian4 ,baron von ,berlepsch recommends crossing the handsomest ,italian queens with ,egyptian drones1 with a view solely to the sthetic purpose of raising the most beautiful breed of bees to be obtained4 ,the ,german apiarian ,herr ,vogel has given special attention to this variety1 and has discovered in it some interesting peculiarities4 ,it never gathers propolis1 but uses wax in its place2 and it seems almost proof against the cold4 ,but the most singular fact that has come to his knowledge is that there exist regularly in an ,egyptian colony some twelve or so small drone-laying queens1 which would be called fertile workers but that they have a distinctive appearance1 consisting in the waxen yellow of their breasts--a feature which is possessed also by the drones of their progeny4 ,this is assuredly one of the most curious discoveries that have ever been made in relation even to this most curious of insects4 ,the late ,mr4 ,woodbury imported some of these bees1 but found them exceedingly vicious1 and really to possess no superiority over our ,english bees4 ,some years since ,mr4 ,waterhouse ,hawkins1 the naturalist1 bought a stock of ,mr4 ,woodbury1 and brought them with him in order to place in the ,horticultural ,gardens at ,south ,kensington4 ,being unacquainted with the placing of bees1 he asked our aid in doing so4 ,from the experience of them thereby acquired our own idea would be that no one could ever desire such bees2 they came out with a rush1 and stung everybody within reach1 right and left1 who was not provided with a veil4#ab ,this is the kind of bee found in ,palestine1 and therefore the one which ,samson found in the carcase of the lion4 ,footnote #ab3 ,vogel says1 that this bee never stings unless incensed1 but then quite maliciously2 also that it is only more irritated by tobacco smoke1 but is effectually subdued by that from willow touchwood4 ,in connection with this species1 the ,rev4 ,h4 ,b4 ,tristram1 in his valuable book1 ,the ,land of ,israel1 has an interesting account of the bees in that country4 ,in ,palestine bee-keeping is an important item of industry1 and every house has a pile of beehives in its yard4 ,their bee1 he says1 is amazingly abundant1 both in hives1 in rocks1 and in old hollow trees4 ,it is smaller than our ordinary bees1 with brighter yellow bands on the thorax and abdomen1 which is rather wasp like in shape1 and with very long antenn4 ,in its habits1 and especially in the immense population of neuters in each community1 and in the drones cast forth in autumn1 it resembles the other species4 ,its sting also is quite as sharp4 ,the hives are very simple1 consisting of large tubes of sun-dried mud1 like gas-pipes1 about four feet long1 and closed with mud at each end1 leaving only an aperture in the centre large enough for two or three bees to pass at a time4 ,the insects appear to frequent both doors equally4 ,the tubes are laid in rows horizontally1 and piled in a pyramid4 ,i counted one of these colonies1 consisting of seventy-eight tubes1 each a distinct hive4 ,coolness being the great object1 the whole is thickly plastered over with mud and covered with boughs1 white a branch is stuck in the ground at each end to assist the bees in alighting4 ,at first we took these singular structures for ovens or hen-houses4 ,the barbarous practice of destroying the swarms for their honey is unknown4 ,when the hives are full the clay is removed from the ends of the pipes1 and the honey extracted with an iron hook2 those pieces of comb which contain young bees being carefully replaced1 and the hives then closed up again4 ,everywhere during our journey we found honey was always to be purchased2 and it is used by the natives for many culinary purposes1 and especially for the preparation of sweet cakes4 ,it has the delicate aromatic flavour of the thyme-scented honey of ,hybla or ,hymettus4 ,but1 however extensive are the bee colonies of the villages1 the number of wild bees of the same species is far greater4 ,the innumerable fissures and clefts of the limestone rocks1 which everywhere flank the valleys1 afford in their recesses secure shelter for any number of swarms2 and many of the ,bedouin1 particularly in the wilderness of ,juda1 obtain their subsistence by bee-hunting1 bringing into ,jerusalem jars of that wild honey on which ,john the ,baptist fed in the wilderness1 and which ,jonathan had long before unwittingly tasted1 when the comb had dropped on the ground from the hollow tree in which it was suspended4 ,the visitor to the ,wady ,kurn1 when he sees the busy multitudes of bees about its cliffs1 cannot but recall to mind the promise1 ',with honey out of the stony rock would ,i have satisfied thee4' ,there is no epithet of the ,land of ,promise more true to the letter1 even to the present day1 than this1 that it was 'a land flowing with milk and honey4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,the question as to the worth or worthlessness of the above respective varieties is not yet so decided a matter as it is with the ,italians4 ,those interested in the sale of a particular race will praise it up1 while those who have had a single disappointment with it will run it down--and that is nearly the sum of the experience to be gathered from current literature4 ,thus we find ,dathe announcing1 ,i have discontinued the rearing of ,cyprian1 ,egyptian1 and ,carniolan bees4 ,that is intelligible2 but in the same paper we read1 ,between the ,german and ,heath bees there is no particular difference--which so staggers us after ,von ,berlepsch's vituperations of the latter that we do not know how much confidence we ought to place in the rest of the sentence1 which is given as the summing up of a discussion in that famous bee country1 ,silesia3 ,the ,egyptian bee ranks after the ,german and ,italian2 the ,carniolan1 at the expense of honey1 produces many bees2 the ,cyprians are diligent1 but quite inclined to sting4 ,the ,herzegovinian bee is praised4 ,bees obtained by judicious crossing have the preference over the pure races4 ,numbers of other varieties may be expected to crop up from time to time1 as for instance the one last named4 ,della ,rocca in the last century spoke of a dawn-coloured bee that was brought from ,holland and ,belgium1 and which is probably one of the races included with the ,italian4 ,dr4 ,gerstcker thus classifies the varieties3 ,the ,north ,european 7now spread all over the world71 the ,italian with black breasts1 the ,italian with yellow breasts1 the ,egyptian1 the ,african1 and the ,madagascar4 ,three ,south ,asiatic bees he regards as specifically distinct--,apis dorsata1 indica1 and florea4 ,mr4 ,f4 ,smith adds zonata and nigrocincta1 and inclines to make a species of fasciata 7the ,egyptians74 ,,vii4 ,,faculties ,,and ,,functions4 ,it would be trenching too much upon our limits if we were to venture into the inviting field to which this heading might introduce us4 ,still the extreme interest of the subject renders it perhaps desirable that some succinct allusion should be made to it1 even if it be for little more than to remark that the information we have to give is scattered through other sections and chapters4 ,especially as some might be disposed to skip the unattractive portion on ,anatomy and ,physiology1 it may be well to state here that in the second section of that chapter will be found a brief account of the sight and other senses of bees1 and of the uses of their antenn1 by which they seem to feel1 hear1 smell1 and communicate4 ,a remark upon their power of distinguishing colours1 and its practical value1 will be found in connection with our description of bee-houses for twelve hives 7,chap4 ,,iv4 i474 ,on the senses of taste and smell we have some further observations in the sections of ,chapter ,,vi4 upon ,stings1 ,robbing1 and ,bee-keeping in ,london4 ,for the functions and habits of bees we must also refer to the passages already instanced1 as well as to the sections above on the ,the ,queen1 etc41 that on ,the ,rationale of ,swarming 7page #gb71 and to those in ,chapter ,,vi4 on the four substances which bees collect or secrete1 as well as 7though in a less degree7 to those headed ,pasturage and ,general ,remarks4 ,those who will favour our book with a consecutive reading will1 we trust1 find at the conclusion that all the more important and interesting facts of this class are in one or other of these places tolerably though briefly described4 ,the service that bees perform to flowers is a subject that has attracted much attention of late years4 ,as every one knows1 or should know1 a flower has its stamens and pistils1 which are respectively its male and female organs1 and the pollen contained in the anthers1 or little knobs on the summits of the stamens1 must be conveyed to the pistils1 or no seed will be produced4 ,when the anthers burst2 the pollen might happen to fall partly on the pistils1 or it might not2 but the visits of bees 7though they do not roll about in the flower1 in the manner that some have stated7 are found by experience to be efficacious in conveying this dust to the right spot4 ,owners of fruit trees have noticed1 in a season generally unfavourable to the orchard1 that if during only one fine forenoon the bees had spread freely amongst the blossoms of a particular tree1 that tree would prove more fruitful than its fellows4 ,on this account the orchard is a good place for the apiary1 for it seems that the more abundant the honey the better will be the crop of fruit4 ,the whole subject is scientifically treated in ,mr4 ,darwin's remarkable book1 ,the ,fertilisation of ,orchids1 but we must add to the foregoing how much more urgent are the services of bees in the case of what are termed moncious and dicious plants1 the former of which have the stamens and pistils in different flowers1 and the latter have these flowers upon different roots4 ,a familiar example of the former is found in the nut tree1 whose long catkins1 hanging like caterpillars in the early spring1 are assemblages of male flowers2 while the females1 from which the nuts develop1 may be detected by their crimson pistil-tips 7stigmas71 and grow in stalkless clusters of two or three in the openings of remote scaly buds4 ,but for the visits or bees1 our autumn nutting rambles would thus have but little prospect of success4 ,in the second case1 often very considerable distances intervene between the two flowers2 for instance1 with the common dog mercury 7,mercurialis perennis71 a botanist may find plantation after plantation containing male flowers by thousands1 but not a single female2 and at length in some far-off spot he may succeed in finding the females1 equally by themselves1 yet in full seed4 ,in these cases there is nothing but the visits of pollen-gathering insects which can convey the fertilising dust to the flower for which it is designed4 ,and according to ,mr4 ,darwin all plants are practically dicious1 for he states that the pollen1 to have a fertilising effect1 must be brought to the pistils of one flower from the stamens of one on another root4 ,whether this be considered established or not1 there remains the fact of the existence of dicious plants as explaining the admirable design of the provision that a bee in the course of one flight shall gather pollen solely from one species4 ,as far as honey-gathering is concerned the bee is not governed by this rule2 but for this other important function it becomes absolutely essential that the right pollen1 and that only1 should be conveyed to the right flower4 ,the careful observer may note how the dust on the bodies of bees varies from yellow to red and brown according to the kind of flowers from which it has been gathered1 and the socks1 as the ,germans call them1 on the two hind legs will be found always of the same colour4 ,to no scientific man are we probably more indebted for observations and deductions upon this branch than to ,sir ,john ,lubbock4 ,whilst this edition was in course of preparation it was the writer's privilege to listen to a lecture upon ,relations of ,plants and ,insects delivered by this able investigator before the ,society of ,arts2 and the lecture has since been published as a paper in the ,fortnightly ,review of ,april #ahgg4 ,in the course of his remarks ,sir ,john cited many interesting particulars of the ways in which flowers are protected from the incursions of ants1 whose visits would be harmful1 both from their rifling the stores from the bees1 by whom alone they are likely to be fertilised1 and from the liability of the latter to desert any species in which their tender probosces were in danger of being seized by ants--it being the nature of an ant to grapple any pointed thing directed towards her4 ,kerner was referred to as having observed some of the modes by which such results are obviated4 ,in some cases there are chevaux de frise around the flower1 in the form of hairs pointing downwards1 or other barriers which the ant cannot penetrate or surmount3 notably in the corn bluebottle1 which is smooth all over except just beneath the flower1 and in the thicket heads of some thistles4 ,in others there are glutinous parts which the ant cannot traverse1 as was noticed in the ,polygonum amphibium1 which1 when it grows on land1 has sticky glands at the extremities of certain hairs1 while when in the water1 where it is safe already1 it is perfectly smooth4 ,again1 there are pendulous flowers1 like the snowdrop1 which are so slippery on the surface that an ant would immediately slide off1 as was humorously illustrated by a sketch prepared with several others by the lecturer's daughter4 ,facts were also stated showing how the pollen is sometimes preserved by the closing of certain flowers at times when winged insects were not on the move1 and the exclusion thereby of such as would not aid in the work of fructification4 ,it is not too much to say1 as ,sir ,john elsewhere expresses himself 7,british ,wild ,flowers in ,relation to ,insects 71 that if on the one hand flowers are in many cases necessary to insects1 insects on the other hand are still more necessary to the very existence of flowers2 that if insects have been in many cases modified and adapted with a view to obtain honey and pollen from flowers1 flowers in their turn owe their scent and colour1 their honey1 and even their distinctive forms1 to the action of insects4 ,and plains sad ,chloris how these spoilers steal ,from her ripe crests the vivifying meal1 ,pare the thin films that shield her anthered reign1 ,and all her nectared cells insatiate drain8 ,no6 kind intruders2 all reserved for you ,she pours through honeyed horn her luscious dew1 ,while1 grateful for the rich repast1 ye shed ,fresh showers prolific round her genial bed4 ,evans4 ,,viii4 ,,eggs ,,and ,,transformations4 ,it is necessary that some explanation should be given1 as to the existence of the bee before it emerges from the cell4 ,the eggs 7,plate ,,ii4 ,fig4 #g7 of all the three kinds of bees1 when first deposited1 are of an oval shape1 slightly curved1 and of a bluish-white colour4 ,they are glutinous on the surface when laid1 which causes them to adhere to the bases of the cells where the queen deposits them4 ,in three or four days the egg changes to a small white worm1 and in this stage is known by the names of larva or grub 7,plate ,,ii4 ,fig4 #h71 in which state it remains four to six days more--a drone six and a half2 its dimensions enlarge during this period till it appears as a ring at the base of the cell4 ,while in this stage it is fed by the nurse bees with a mixture of farina and honey1 a transparent white fluid in which the larva floats1 and the supply of which is so exactly apportioned that not a drop remains on its ceasing to be required4 ,the next transformation is to the nymph or pupa form4 ,the nurse bees now seal up the cells with a preparation similar to wax1 leaving them with coverings which1 by their greater convexity and darker colour1 distinguish them readily from honey cells4 ,the pupa then spins round itself a film or cocoon1 just as a silkworm does in its chrysalis state3 workers and drones occupy thirty-six hours with this process2 princesses1 which spin only half-cocoons1 finish them in twenty-four4 ,the microscope shows that this cradle-curtain is perforated with very minute holes1 through which the baby bee is duly supplied with air4 ,no farther attention on the part of the bees is now requisite1 except a proper degree of heat1 which they take care to keep up--a position for the breeding cells being selected in the centre of the hive1 where the temperature is likely to be most congenial4 ,the cells destined for the rearing of drones are larger than those from which workers will proceed1 the former standing nineteen to the square inch against twenty-seven of the latter3 the former are also one-third as deep again as the latter1 and are made slightly more convex when sealed over4 ,but between the eggs themselves there is externally no difference whatever4 ,in from nineteen to twenty-one days after the egg is first laid 7unless cold weather should have retarded it7 the bee quits the pupa state1 and1 nibbling its way through the waxen covering that has enclosed it1 comes forth a winged insect4 ,the eggs of drones require twenty-four or twenty-five days1 and those of queens sixteen or seventeen1 to arrive at maturity4 ,in the unicomb observatory hives the young bees may distinctly be seen as they literally fight their way into the world1 for the other bees do not take the slightest notice1 nor afford them any assistance4 ,we have frequently been amused in watching the eager little new comer1 now obtruding its head1 and anon compelled to withdraw into the cell to escape being trampled on by the apparently unfeeling throng1 until at last it has succeeded in making its exit4 ,the little grey creature1 after brushing and shaking itself1 enters upon its duties in the hive1 and after a while issues forth to the more laborious occupation of gathering honey in the fields--thus early illustrating that character for industry which has been proverbial at least since the days of ,aristotle1 and which has in our day been rendered familiar even to infant minds through the nursery rhymes of ,dr4 ,watts4 ,,ix4 ,,reproductive ,,economy4 ,the fertilisation of the queen and the determination of the sexes of her progeny are two subjects of so much interest that we must make room for some exposition of the discoveries of the past thirty years in relation thereto4 ,what has been already stated on the former of these under the section on ,the ,drone consists of facts which were mainly established by ,huber2 but within the present generation the great ,german apiarians have returned to the question1 and ,dzierzon has set forth some most marvellous deductions1 which ,baron von ,berlepsch has followed up with amplification and further proof4 ,it was found that the queen while in a virgin condition was often capable of depositing eggs1 and that these eggs1 unlike those of poultry laid under somewhat similar conditions1 would hatch equally with others1 but they all produced drones4 ,from this arose the question4 ,whence come the drones after the queen has been fertilised8 ,a fact known from the days of ,huber and ,riem was by some supposed to settle the difficulty4 ,in many hives there exist what are called fertile workers--bees having the female organs sufficiently developed to deposit eggs1 but not sufficiently so to receive fecundation2 and as it was found that the eggs of these fulfilled the conditions required1 and invariably produced drone bees1 the theory was erected that these fertile workers were the regular producers of that sex4 ,but this plausible solution of the problem did not stand examination4 ,every fertile queen does habitually lay eggs in drone cells1 and from those eggs drones are uniformly developed4 ,dissection and microscopic analysis had therefore to be resorted to1 and the course of investigation commenced by ,swammerdam and pursued by ,mlle4 ,jurine was now pushed to a much further extent4 ,proceeding from the two ovaries of the queen there are two canals1 called oviducts1 which presently unite1 and immediately beyond their point of juncture is a small globular receptacle which is called the spermatheca4 ,with fertile queens it was found that this appendage is permanently occupied by a fluid identical with that in the reproductive organs of the drones1 and that as such it abounds in spermatozoa2 while with a virgin queen the fluid is totally destitute of these1 and is wholly different in appearance1 being thin and transparent4 ,from this discovery the conclusion followed that each egg1 as it passes down the oviduct and over the mouth of the spermatheca1 may either receive fecundation or not1 according as the queen's own will or some other circumstance shall determine4 ,dzierzon accordingly propounded as the apparent1 though still only hypothetical1 solution of the enigma1 what is known as the doctrine of parthenogenesis or virgin breeding--the law that life is imparted by the mother independently1 and that every egg as originally developed in her ovaries is of the male sex1 but that whenever fertilised with the male fluid it becomes transformed into a female6 ,to convert this hypothesis into a demonstration1 ,von ,berlepsch invited to his apiary in succession the two great comparative anatomists ,professors ,leuckart and ,von ,siebold1 and furnished each with a number of both drone and worker eggs for microscopic examination4 ,leuckart examined the surfaces of the eggs2 ,von ,siebold1 who followed him1 tried the interiors1 and the latter by this means was triumphantly successful1 for1 after the most careful preparation of his subjects1 he detected in thirty out of forty worker eggs from one to four spermatozoa apiece1 while in his twenty-four drone eggs he found not a single one4 ,the exceptions were insufficient to invalidate the results1 for the ten worker eggs in which no signs of impregnation were found were only the failures of observation to be naturally expected in so delicate a scrutiny4 ,thus the fact was established that eggs which produce male bees are descended from the female only--in other words1 that drones have no fathers6 ,most strikingly has this law been corroborated by a discovery which we owe to the introduction of the ,italian bee--a discovery1 too1 which any bee-keeper can make for himself4 ,if an ,italian queen is crossed with an ,english drone1 or vice versa1 the workers only of her progeny will be mongrels--the drones will invariably retain the pure blood of the queen1 thus proving to demonstration that they owe their origin to her alone4 ,should a mongrel drone be then observed1 it will be a sure sign that a fertile worker is in the hive3 the queen will not be its mother4 ,dr4 ,dnhoff1 we are told1 confirmed the same law by a converse method1 having in #ahee obtained a worker bee from a drone egg which he had artificially impregnated with the male fluid4 ,the queen1 as we have observed1 is capable before fertilisation of becoming the mother of drones1 but it is believed by some that if she has once commenced drone-laying it is impossible for her to become subsequently fertilised4 ,mr4 ,langstroth1 however1 mentions an instance to the contrary1 where a queen of his1 after persistently laying drone eggs for a week or two1 became after that the happy mother of a thriving colony of workers4 ,von ,berlepsch alludes to this case 7with others like it71 but is unconvinced1 being suspicious that here again it was a fertile worker and not the queen who laid the drone eggs4 ,but looking to the fact that many permanently unfertile queens lay drone eggs1 while others lay no eggs at all1 does it not seem reasonable that a similar difference may subsist previous to fecundation8 ,thus1 while the ,baron is on firm ground as to the general rule1 we incline to a belief that as to the exception the ,american observer is quite correct4 ,dzierzon thus writes3 ,in general1 so long as the young queen continues her wedding flights--which in the warm summer she does at the very most for four weeks1 but in the cool spring or autumn1 when life and development are slower in the hive1 she still pursues for even five or six weeks--she is capable of becoming properly fertile4 ,but some queens continue to fly long after it is hopeless1 cases being recorded in which they have gone on for ten or twelve weeks4 ,the same observer speaks of having had several young queens which were either lame in their wings or born in a continued cold season1 so that they were prevented from leaving the hive1 and thus developed into confirmed drone-breeders4 ,the queen leaves the hive every fine day till her purpose is accomplished1 and this led ,bevan and others to surmise that she met successively with several drones till one ,of them lost his life in consequence2 but we do not find in later authorities any confirmation nor even mention of this conjecture1 and it may be set down as entirely improbable4 ,in the case observed by ,von ,klipstein1 and referred to above 7page #bb71 as the queen met with her death shortly after1 he sent her to ,leuckart1 who found that from this obviously first impregnation her organs were so completely filled as to imply no need for a second4 ,leuckart has elsewhere stated that a queen's spermatheca is capable of containing twenty-five millions of spermatozoa1 so that there need be no wonder at the fact of a single fecundation being sufficient to answer for her entire term of existence4 ,the fertile workers1 which by their course of adding to the drone stock may prove a terrible nuisance in a hive1 were ascertained by ,huber to be always hatched in close proximity to the queen cells1 whence he conjectured that they obtained by accident a portion of the royal jelly designed for the rearing of princesses4 ,von ,berlepsch and ,langstroth prefer the theory that such jelly was purposely given them1 and the conversion of their own cells into royal ones commenced1 but that the intention was afterwards abandoned1 as it is known that bees often1 start more of such cells than they ultimately proceed with4 ,they are of only exceptional occurrence in hives in a normal condition1 but in a queenless stock they very often appear1 sometimes even in considerable numbers1 having been probably fostered with the jelly1 but at too late a period to convert them into queens4 ,they usually deposit their eggs correctly in drone cells1 though drone-breeding queens lay in those of workers and even in royal cells--thus evincing a presence of the will though an absence of the power4 ,to get rid of a fertile worker it has been recommended by ,mr4 ,rorl to drive the bees 7,chap4 ,v4 iv47 to an empty hive1 and place this in a near spot2 all will return to their old home except the one to be got rid of1 she having probably never flown before1 and therefore not knowing her way4 ,x4 ,,relation ,,of ,,sex ,,to ,,cells4 ,there remains the very interesting question of the connection between sex and cells1 which1 if it be not paradoxical to say so1 is as a general rule invariable2 that is to say1 when both the queen and the hive are in a normal condition1 the eggs laid in each class of cells produce respectively workers and drones without failure or exception4 ,but in abnormal circumstances1 as with a drone-breeding queen1 the law does not hold1 and drones of a diminished size are hatched from worker cells1 though the bees1 on discovering the state of things1 do their best by subsequent elongation to adapt the cradles to their unexpected occupants4 ,such is the explanation of the existence of small drones2 but workers hatched in drone cells do not appear to be in any way peculiar4 ,in regard then to the main fact we are confronted with the question1 ,has the queen a knowledge1 at the moment of laying1 of the gender of each particular egg8 ,rather1 it would seem1 she has the power of making it what gender she pleases by compressing her spermatheca or not at the instant of its passing down her oviduct4 ,we must however refer to an ingenious theory to the contrary1 quoted by ,langstroth as started by his friend the late ,mr4 ,wagner of ,philadelphia1 and which has been approved by many in this country and ,germany also4 ,it is to the effect that not the queen's own will1 but the narrow limits of the worker cells1 administer the above compression1 while the more spacious drone cells allow her body to be inserted without such effect4 ,von ,berlepsch however1 it is safe to say1 has absolutely demolished this mechanical explanation2 and as some recent writers have quoted the ,wagner theory with approval1 it may be best to give the ,german observer's principal objections in his own words3-- ,this explanation is thoroughly untenable2 for--7a7 perfectly new worker cells are fully as wide as very old drone cells in which breeding has taken place many times1 and yet1 as found by experience1 female bees come from the former and males from the latter1 7b7 ,many queens are of a strikingly slender form1 some of them occasionally so small that they can scarcely be distinguished from workers1 and yet they have no proclivity to drone-laying--which must however have been the case if the narrow cell effected the fertilisation of the egg by pressure4444 7c7 ,a queen lays even in cells that are scarcely begun1 with which1 therefore1 the proportion of the diameter to the thickness of her body can exercise no influence at all1 and yet drones come forth from the drone cells and workers from the worker cells4 7d7 ,if there are no drone cells at her command1 and the stock is in want of drones1 the queen lays male eggs in worker cells1 and drones hatch from them4444 7i7 ,a fertile queen1 if introduced with her colony into a hive containing nothing but drone comb1 would naturally on such hypothesis furnish the drone cells with eggs as she would worker cells1 and make no difficulty about it4 ,but she does make a very great difficulty--for a long time she lays no eggs in the cells at all1 but lets them drop1 or tries to escape abroad with her entire colony4 ,but at last she does lay in the drone cells1 and what ensues8 ,ordinary worker bees come forth4 ,instances follow of experiments decisively proving this4 ,it is only fair1 however1 to add that ,mr4 ,wagner's theory does not necessarily degrade the monarch of the hive into a mere egg-laying machine1 as ,von ,berlepsch regards it in some of his arguments1 for she might still exhibit intelligence in deciding which cells to lay in1 even if the determination of the sex of the egg rested finally with the cell which she had chosen4 ,the queen then exercises a personal control over each egg as she deposits it1 but1 unless interfered with by irregular circumstances1 she adapts her will to the cells and chooses the cells according to the requirements of the hive4 ,but when both drones and workers are in requisition she lays her eggs in each class of cells just as she comes to them1 as to which fact the ,baron gives abundant evidence1 having in one instance observed a queen make no fewer than five changes in a day from worker to drone cells or vice versa without any intermission4 ,inconsistent as it may appear1 she also herself deposits in royal cells the eggs which are to hatch into her rivals--that is1 when these cells have been prepared with a view to swarming2--for the preponderance of argument goes against the belief that eggs are ever removed into these by the workers4#ac ,in addition to determining the sex she is further capable of regulating to a large extent the total number of eggs she lays1 and thus of modifying the growth of the population with the character of the season and the condition of the colony2 thus a queen that has been transferred from a weak to a strong hive has been know to vary in two or three days from no eggs at all to two thousand a day4 ,she lays during some ten months of the year1 suspending the process in ,november and ,december4 ,for her first season she lays almost exclusively worker eggs4 ,footnote #ac3 ,the eggs when once deposited adhere to the cells and could not be removed without ruining them2 but occasionally when fresh laid they stick to the body of the queen1 or even of a worker4 ,queenless stocks sometimes in their temporary insanity start new queen cells without thinking where the eggs are to come from2 but these will remain empty unless some fertile worker' tries her skill4 ,we are told of the occasional occurrence of hermaphrodite bees1 half workers and half drones1 and the explanation of their existence is given by ,von ,berlepsch as an incomplete penetration of the shell of the egg1 in the act of fertilising1 by the spermatozoa4 ,yet another order of individuals has been supposed to exist by some1 and they have termed them black bees1#ad also drone mothers2 they are not1 however1 the veritable fertile workers named above1 but owe their distinction solely to misconception4 ,they are blacker than the rest1 and often with fewer and shorter hairs3 but the above author1 after ascertaining from ,leuckart that there was no anatomical difference1 proved by experiments that their colour was caused simply by smearing with honey1 or else was the effect of stifling or of fright1 and that the loss of hairs was owing to nothing more than having crept repeatedly through confined entrance-holes6 ,similarly ,dzierzon3 ,the black colour is one purely accidental1 produced through heating1 rubbing against sides1 biting1 smearing1 licking1 and the like4 ,as a rule1 the glossy black bees are robbers which have been pursuing their trade for some considerable time4 ,footnote #ad3 ,this term is also sometimes applied to ,english bees generally in distinction from the ,italians4 ,,xi4 ,,the ,,rationale ,,of ,,swarming4 ,under this heading we purpose to describe such matters as belong chiefly to the natural history of the bee1 thus reserving for its proper position at the beginning of our fifth chapter all which strictly belongs to the subject of ,manipulation1 and which it is to the convenience of the inexperienced bee-keeper to find brief and ready to his hand at any moment of emergency4 ,a leisurely digesting of the interesting facts stated in the present section will1 however1 greatly assist him in the intelligent following of his pursuit4 ,in ,may1 when the preceding part of the spring has been fine1 the queen bee is very active in the deposition of eggs1 and the increase in a strong healthy hive is so prodigious that emigration is necessary1 or work would soon cease4 ,the bees1 on arriving at a conviction of this fact1 commence preparations by the building of royal cells1 thus putting matters straight for the after government and progress of the hive4 ,the queen1 nolens volens1 falls in with the general resolution1 and makes off with the swarm on the first pleasant day after one of these cells has been sealed over1 that is to say1 some six or seven days before her first rival is likely to emerge4 ,if delayed by the weather till within two days of the hatching of this1 the bees usually destroy all the princesses1 and either start fresh cells or give up swarming altogether for the season4 ,it is now a well-established fact that the old queen goes forth with the first swarm1 and thus the sovereignty of the old hive devolves upon a young queen4 ,dzierzon1 however1 once met with a case in which the old queen refused to stir1 and three strong swarms were led forth by young princesses in the course of five days4 ,by the bye1 it should be added that swarms are never led forth except by young queens1 in the sense of having these at their head2 fruitful mothers usually follow in the midst4 ,as soon as the swarm builds combs in its new abode1 the emigrant queen begins laying eggs in the cells1 and thereby speedily multiplies the labourers of the new colony4 ,although there is now amongst apiarians no doubt that the old queen quits her home1 there is no rule as to the composition of the swarm3 old and young alike depart4 ,some show unmistakable signs of age by their ragged wings1 others their extreme youth by their lighter colour4 ,we do not1 however1 use the term young in reference to those youngest inhabitants of the hive whose engagements are solely within doors1 for these cannot go till their proper time for flying has arrived4 ,von ,berlepsch says that all the adult bees which are at home at the time of starting go with the swarm2 and sometimes this results in none but the brood bees being left--or only one-fourth of the population4 ,in preparation for flight1 bees commence filling their honey-bags1 taking sufficient1 it is said1 for three days' sustenance4 ,this store is needful1 not only for food1 but to enable them to commence the secretion of wax and the building of combs in their new domicile4 ,on the day of emigration the weather must be fine1 warm1 and clear1 with but little wind stirring2 for the old queen1 like a prudent matron1 will not venture out unless the day is in every way favourable4 ,whilst her majesty hesitates1 either for the reasons we have mentioned or because the internal arrangements are not sufficiently matured1 the bees will often fly about or hang in clusters at the entrance of the hive for two or three days and nights together1 all labour meanwhile being apparently suspended4 ,when this cluster is formed in the morning hours1 and grows constantly larger in spite of the sun1 it may be taken as the sign of a very speedy start4 ,the busy flitting of other bees around this cluster1 or their sporting in numbers before the hive1 are also reliable signs1 and some have included the appearance of drones at ten in the morning4 ,at the last1 when the time is quite fixed1 the bees in the cluster suddenly return to the hive to fill themselves with honey for the flight4 ,the agitation of the little folk is well described by ,evans3-- ,see where1 with hurried step1 the impassioned throng ,pace o'er the hive1 and seem1 with plaintive song1 ,to invite their loitering queen2 now range the floor1 ,and hang in clustered columns from the door2 ,or now in restless rings around they fly1 ,nor spoil they sip1 nor load the hollowed thigh2 ,e'en the dull drone his wonted ease gives o'er1 ,flaps the unwieldy wing1 and longs to soar4 ,but when all is ready1 a scene of the most violent agitation takes place2 the bees rush out in vast numbers1 forming quite a dark cloud as they traverse the air4 ,the time selected for the departure of the emigrants is generally between #aj a4m4 and #c p4m42 most swarms come off within an hour of noon4 ,in very sultry weather they have been known to be as early as #g a4m41 and on the other hand as late as #e p4m41 though this last probably only occurs when a young queen leads the detachment4 ,as a rule1 says ,von ,berlepsch1 first swarms start in the morning and after-swarms in the afternoon4 ,it is a very general remark that bees choose a ,sunday for swarming1 and probably this is because then greater stillness reigns around4 ,it will not be difficult to imagine that the careful bee-keeper is anxious to keep a strict watch1 lest he should lose such a treasure when once it takes wing4 ,the exciting scene at a bee-swarming has been well described by the apiarian laureate3-- ,mounts the glad chief6 and1 to the cheated eye1 ,ten thousand shuttles dart along the sky1 ,as swift through ether rise the rushing swarms1 ,gay dancing to the beam their sun-bright forms1 ,and each thin form1 still lingering on the sight1 ,trails1 as it shoots1 a line of silver light4 99 99 99 99 99 ,high poised on buoyant wing1 the thoughtful queen ,in gaze attentive views the varied scene1 ,and soon her far-stretched ken discerns below ,the light laburnum lift her polished brow1 ,wave her green leafy ringlets o'er the glade1 ,and seem to beckon to her friendly shade4 ,swift as the falcon's sweep1 the monarch bends ,her flight abrupt3 the following host descends2 ,round the fine twig1 like clustered grapes1 they close ,in thickening wreaths1 and court a short repose4 ,as it often happens with after-swarms that more than one young queen is hatched before the start is made1 the presence of these may cause irregular and puzzling behaviour in the bees4 ,langstroth mentions a case in which no less than eight queens must have started thus together1 and ,von ,berlepsch once met with the same number2 while ,spitzner found a swarm with so many as twenty-one1 but this happened fourteen days after the return to the hive of the first swarm1 which had lost its queen4 ,as mentioned in the section on ,the ,queen1 it is not altogether a rare occurrence1 though certainly the exception1 for more than one monarch to settle down together4 ,in one ,american case no fewer than five colonies once took up their quarters in a single large box1 and remained there through a season united yet divided4 ,if1 on the contrary1 the queen is not in the swarm at all1 the bees sometimes return at once to the hive1 and sometimes they first institute a search for her majesty4 ,in the famous but cruel experiment of ,dr4 ,warder a whole swarm was starved to death by alternate deprivations and restorations of their queen repeated at intervals during five days4 ,of course in his day this devotion was attributed to personal regard4 ,exceptional cases of another kind are also not uncommon1 in which a colony has made no preparation for swarming 7by the formation of royal cells71 but on the sudden arrival of warm weather it is enticed--,dzierzon says by the heat itself4 ,von ,berlepsch by the contagious example of neighbouring hives--to carry out in a hurry that which ought to have received some ten days' preliminary care4 ,an internal revolution is made1 says the ,baron1 and they rush forth for the swarm4 ,the queen1 as becomes the pseudo-sovereign of a democratic monarchy1 hastens to prove to her people their most obedient servant1 and there the swarm is1 hanging on the first convenient tree4 ,on the following morning it will in such case be found that worker cells have been transformed into royal ones4 ,an instance illustrating the way in which bees sometimes make provision beforehand of a place to fly to when about to swarm came under our own notice a few years since4 ,a lady who lived about a quarter of a mile from our apiary sent to us to say that a swarm had gone in at a hole over her stable1 and to ask us to come and hive them4 ,on our going to do so her gardener told us that he had seen three days previous two or three bees as if reconnoitring2 next day several came1 and about eleven o'clock on the third day the whole swarm went in and took up their position between the rafters under the flooring4 ,the difficulty was now to get at them4 ,a carpenter was sent for1 the boards were taken up1 a hive was set over1 with a brood comb placed in it to attract them1 and by dint of smoke and brushing with a feather1 the queen and her retinue were coaxed to ascend into the hive4 ,some of the bees had already gone out to forage1 and there were many flying about that had not settled2 so to secure these and make it easy for them1 we brought the hive out1 and erected a sort of platform on a pair of steps close to the hole1 which we stopped4 ,by nighttime all the out-flying bees had joined the swarm and were easily removed4 ,we ought to mention that we recognised this swarm from the appearance of the bees as those from the ,carniolan hive left under our care by the ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,cotton 7page #de71 and as the queen with the swarm was the original1 we had to ask that we might be allowed to take the bees back if we provided a swarm of the ordinary ,english bees1 which offer was accepted4 ,mr4 ,cotton eventually took this colony to his residence at ,frodsham near ,chester1 and we kept the stock1 which of course had a new queen4 ,the bees did not long retain their distinctive features4 ,a swarm of bees1 in a natural state1 contains from #aj1jjj to #bj1jjj insects4 ,on an average1 says ,dzierzon1 we may call #bj1jjj a strong swarm1 #ab1jjj to #ae1jjj a moderate one1 and #f1jjj to #h1jjj a weak one4 ,von ,berlepsch by a very careful experiment estimated that there were #e1fjj unloaded bees in a pound1 so that when loaded for swarming there would certainly not be more than #d1jjj4 ,a good swarm will therefore weigh from three to five pounds4 ,we have known swarms not heavier than two pounds and a half that were in very excellent condition in ,august as regards store for the winter2 though the ,baron's experiments showed with remarkable conformity that for a new swarm six pounds was proportionally more profitable than any other weight1 larger or smaller4 ,for a fully furnished hive1 he states1 there seems really no limit but that of space--the more bees the better4 ,hitherto our remarks have had reference to first or prime swarms2 these are the best1 and when a swarm is purchased1 such should be bargained for4 ,but there are also second swarms1 known amongst cottage bee-keepers as casts1 one of which is often found to issue from the hive nine or ten days after the first has departed2 in very rare cases such has been known as early as the third or as late as the seventeenth day4 ,it is not always that a second swarm issues1 as so much depends on the strength of the stock1 the weather1 and other causes2 but should the bees determine to throw out another1 the first hatched queen in the stock hive is prevented by her subjects from destroying the other royal princesses1 as she would do if left to her own will4 ,she in consequence becomes highly indignant2 and1 when thwarted in her purpose1 utters1 in quick succession1 shrill angry sounds1 much resembling ,peep1 peep1#ae commonly called piping1 but which more courtly apiarians have styled the vox regalis4 ,the princesses answer her in a somewhat different note--these being1 it must be understood1 by this time perfectly developed queens1 but afraid to quit their cells1 where accordingly the brood bees feed them4 ,footnote #ae3 ,so all ,english writers4 ,bees in ,germany evidently speak a different language1 for there the reigning queen cries1 ,th1 th1 while her imprisoned rival answers1 ,quah1 quah4 ,this royal wailing continues during the evening1 and is sometimes so loud as to be distinctly audible many yards from the hive4 ,when this is the case1 a swarm may usually be expected either on the next day or at latest within three days1 unless the weather causes a longer postponement4 ,this sound1 when persevered in1 is a sure sign of the issuing of an after-swarm1 but it is in such case almost the only sign1 and it must be noted that even when the bees do not intend to swarm it may sometimes be heard a day or two after a second swarm has left4 ,if not heard it may be concluded that swarming is at an end4 ,the second swarm is not quite so chary of weather as the first2 it was the old lady who exercised so much caution1 disliking to leave home except in the best of summer weather4 ,in some instances1 owing to favourable breeding sea sons and prolific queens1 a third swarm issues from the hive 7usually after intervals of two or three days71 which is termed a colt2 and in remarkable instances even a fourth 7after another day's interval71 which in rustic phrase is designated a filly4 ,mr4 ,langstroth says that he once had a fifth1 and all five in the course of a fortnight4 ,a swarm from a swarm is called a maiden swarm1 and1 according to bee theory1 will again have the old queen for its leader3 if such does occur it will probably be at about a month after the hiving4 ,the original colony1 of one or more years' duration1 is known as a stock4 ,when swarming is over for the season any princesses remaining in cells are torn out and destroyed as before stated1 or else left to the tender mercies of the reigning sovereign4 ,but now and then one of them slips past her assailants1 and then1 says ,von ,berlepsch1 there ensues a regular hunt1 which ,i have several times observed through the hive window4 ,the queen1 well knowing the fate that is in store for her1 rushes away1 and the bees pursue2 when seized by the feet or the wings she cries out pitiably1 and one queen so moved my compassion that ,i liberated her1 put her in a queen cage1 supplied her with workers and comb on a following day1 and1 as she became successfully fertilised1 brought her through the winter4 ,,xii4 ,,increase ,,of ,,bees4 ,in the section upon ,the ,queen we have given 7page #aj7 some particulars as to the rate of breeding with bees4 ,the needful expansion for this rapid development is found in the above process of swarming1 by which they provide themselves with fresh space1 and plant new colonies4 ,but the object of the bee-master is to train and educate his bees1 and in so doing he avoids much of the risk and trouble which is incurred by allowing the busy folk to follow their own devices4 ,the various methods for this end adopted by apiarians all come under the term of the depriving system1 and they form part of the great object of humane and economical bee-keeping1 which is to save the bees alive instead of slaughtering them as under the old clumsy rgime4 ,a very natural question is often asked3 ,how is it that1 upon the depriving system1 where our object is to prevent swarming1 the increase of numbers is not so great as upon the old plan8 ,it will be seen that the laying of eggs is performed by the queen only1 and that there is but one queen to each hive2 so that where swarming is prevented there remains only one hive or stock1 as the superfluous princesses are not allowed to come to maturity4 ,if all those princesses were to become monarchs1 or mother bees1 and to emigrate with a proportionate number of workers1 increase would be going on more rapidly2 but the old stock would be so impoverished thereby as possibly to yield no surplus honey1 whilst the swarms might come off too late for them to collect sufficient store whereon to grow populous enough to withstand the winter4 ,with bees1 as with men1 union is strength2 and it is often better to induce them to remain as one family1 rather than to part numbers at a late period of the honey-gathering season1 without a prospect of supporting themselves1 and so perish from cold and hunger during the ordeal of the winter season4 ,this is one of the great secrets of successful bee-keeping4 ,mr4 ,langstroth's recommendation is that none but the most experienced apiarians should attempt at the furthest to do more than treble their stocks in one year4 ,even doubling them1 he says1 is often too rapid an increase for obtaining spare honey4 ,our plan of giving additional storage-room will1 generally speaking1 prevent swarming4 ,this stay-at-home policy1 we contend1 is an advantage2 for instead of the loss of time consequent upon a swarm hanging out preparatory to flight1 all the bees are engaged in collecting honey1 and that at a time when the weather is most favourable and the food most abundant4 ,upon the old system the swarm leaves the hive simply because the dwelling has not been enlarged at the time when the bees are increasing4 ,upon the antiquated and inhuman plan where so great a destruction takes place by the brimstone match1 breeding must1 of course1 be allowed to go on to its full extent to make up for such sacrifices4 ,our chief object under the new system is to obtain honey free from all extraneous matter4 ,no one can depend upon gathering pure honey from combs where storing and breeding are performed in the same compartment4 ,for fuller explanations on this point we refer to the various descriptions of our improved hives in a subsequent chapter of this work4 ,we often receive from ,scotland magnificent boxes of honey2 and though the fine quality is no doubt to be in part attributed to good pasturage1 it is largely owing to keeping the stocks strong1 and thus having hives well stored and well populated early in the season4 ,a weakly hive will take some weeks1 if not months1 to grow populous2 and as soon as the strength of the hive has recovered1 the honey season will have advanced1 if not ended1 whilst the strong stocks have been able to take full advantage of the supplies1 having an abundance of labourers to collect the honey and store it in supers for their master4 ,there can now be scarcely two opinions as to the uselessness of the rustic plan of immolating the poor bees after they have striven through the summer so to improve each shining hour4 ,the ancients in ,greece and ,italy took the surplus honey and spared the bees1 and now for every intelligent bee-keeper there are ample appliances wherewith to attain the same results4 ,mr4 ,langstroth quotes from the ,german the following epitaph1 which1 he says1 might be properly placed over every pit of brimstoned bees3-- ,here ,rests1 ,,cut ,,off ,,from ,,useful ,,labour1 ,a ,,colony ,,of ,,industrious ,,bees1 ,,basely ,,murdered ,,by ,,its ,,ungrateful ,,and ,,ignorant ,,owner4 ,and ,thomson1 the poet of ,the ,seasons1 has recorded an eloquent poetic protest against the barbarous practice1 for which1 however1 in his day there was no alternative3-- ,ah6 see1 where1 robbed and murdered1 in that pit ,lies the still-heaving hive6 at evening snatched1 ,beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night1 ,and fixed o'er sulphur2 while1 not dreaming ill1 ,the happy people1 in their waxen cells1 ,sat tending public cares1 and planning schemes ,of temperance1 for winter poor2 rejoiced ,to mark1 full flowing round1 their copious stores4 ,sudden1 the dark1 oppressive steam ascends2 ,and1 used to milder scents1 the tender race ,by thousands tumble from their honeyed domes1 ,convolved and agonising in the dust4 ,it will be our pleasing task1 in subsequent chapters2 to show a more excellent way4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,anatomy ,,and ,,physiology4 ,i4 ,,preliminary ,,remarks4 ,,although the principal object in compiling the present work has been to induct our readers into the way of keeping bees according to the most recent and approved methods1 it requires little apology for thus apparently deviating from such prescribed course by devoting a small portion of our space to a description of the anatomy of the wonderful little creatures whose labours all our contrivances are intended to assist1 especially since a knowledge of their habits is not only interesting to the bee-keeper1 but enables him to conduct his apiary in accordance therewith4 ,in a treatise of this kind1 intended to be of a popular character1 we shall endeavour to place these details before our readers in a concise and simple manner1 avoiding as much as may be technical terms1 and referring those who wish to go more deeply into this branch of the subject to the works of ,kirby and ,spence1 ,samuelson1 etc4 ,in the course of our descriptions we shall frequently refer to the steel engravings1 ,plates ,i4 and ,,ii41 drawn by ,mr4 ,e4 ,w4 ,robinson1 artist to the ,entomological ,society of ,london1 who has most carefully dissected bees we sent him for the purpose1 subjected these dissections to the microscope1 and skilfully produced the accompanying illustrations1 which will so much assist the purpose we have in view4 ,these delineations are so clear that a little explanation will suffice to impart a full understanding of the various parts of the bee4 ,because the bee is so small an insect we are not to neglect investigating its organisation4 ,the bee is little among such as fly1 but her fruit is the chief of sweet things4 ,the enlightened ,boyle1 when contemplating the wonders of ,nature1 declared that his astonishment had been more excited by the mite than by the elephant2 and that his admiration dwelt not so much on the docks as on the watches of creation4#af ,footnote #af3 ,dr4 ,bevan4 ,the ,figures i1 #b1 and #c1 in ,plate ,l1 respectively represent the exterior forms of the queen1 the worker1 and the drone4 ,they are thus coloured for the purpose of illustrating the ,yellow ,italian ,alp1 or ,ligurian bee1 now deservedly held in such high estimation by bee-keepers1 and of whose good qualities we have already remarked4 ,all the bees constituting a stock may not be of quite so bright a colour as those represented3 the old bees differ in appearance from the younger ones--darkened bodies and ragged wings1 not grey hairs and wrinkled faces1 are the signs of old age--so that with bees 7especially ,italians71 as with the gentler sex of the human race1 there is appointed a period both of youth and beauty4 ,the anatomical structure of our ,english bee is the same in kind as that of the ,italian2#ag a description of the one will therefore serve for the other4 ,the most apparent difference consists in the colour4 ,the ,english bee is of a blackish brown2 both varieties have their bodies wholly covered with close-set hairs4 ,these hairs deserve particular attention1 because1 although so small1 each hair is feather-shaped1 consisting of a stem and branches somewhat analogous to the feathers of birds4 ,this form is extremely serviceable to the insect1 when revelling in the corolla of flowers1 to collect the farina1 and1 besides being thus useful1 is peculiarly adapted for retaining animal heat4#ah ,footnote #ag3 ,naturalists consider the ,italian bee a ,very superior race1 and that the various organs are stronger and of greater capacity2 it is however not easy to define the precise anatomical superiority4 ,footnote #ah3 ,naturalist's ,library4 ,the insect is divided into three parts--the head1 the thorax or chest1 and the abdomen4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,,ii4 ,e4 ,w4 ,robinson1 ,delt4 et ,scp4 #ahfe4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,head ,,and ,,organs ,,of ,,sensation4 ,the head of the queen 7,plate ,i4 ,fig4 #a c71 as also that of the drone 7,fig4 #c c71 is rounder than that of the worker bee4 ,this last 7,fig4 #b c7 is of a triangular shape1 and much flattened1 as in ,fig4 #b c991 which shows the side view4 ,in common with other creatures1 the head contains the inlet for nutrition1 and is the seat of the principal organs of sensation4 ,in the figures before alluded to may be seen the double visual apparatus with which bees are provided4 ,the oval lobes on each side of the head represent the two eyes1 the secondary organs of vision being the three small eyes on the top of the head1 called stemmata4 ,we shall first describe the two larger eyes1 which1 as seems to be the case with all insects1 are immovable1 and have neither irides nor pupils1 nor yet eyelids to cover them1 but are protected from the dust or pollen of flowers by a number of small hairs1 as well as by a horny tunicle1 which defends and secures them from injury4 ,the multitude of hexagonal lenses1 called ocelli1 which make up the eye of a bee1 give it1 when viewed through a microscope1 the appearance of honeycomb2 or we might compare it to a multiplying-glass with hexahedral facets1 each facet representing the surface of one ocellus4 ,but when we look also to the inner structure1 it resembles rather some thousands of telescopes all converging towards one point4 ,it has been computed that in each eye there are #c1ejj of these collateral lenses4 ,fig4 #e in ,plate ,,ii4 represents three of these prisms or lenses magnified4 ,each of them is wonderfully intricate in structure1 comprising1 first two plano-convex lenses of different densities1 fitted together on the flat sides on the principle of an achromatic object-glass2 next an empty space surrounded with dark pigment1 which is convex within like the neck of a vase1 so as to narrow the passage for the rays to about one-half the diameter1 or one-fourth the superficial space2 and lastly a longer conical lens1 convex at each end and communicating with the optic nerve4 ,the simple eyes1 or stemmata1 on the contrary1 are as strictly simple as their name implies1 consisting of one nearly globular lens apiece4 ,the construction of the eye for seeing objects best at a moderate distance will account for the fact that bees mount high up into the air after collecting their store of food1 and then1 having determined the point1 no matter how far off1 they fly homewards with the directness of a cannon-ball1 and alight at the door of their own habitation1 though the country around may be crowded with hives2 but on reaching the entrance their vision appears defective1 for they then feel their way with the antenn as if totally blind1 and should the hive have been moved a little they will rise again into the air to obtain a more distant view1 suited to the lengthened focus of their sight4 ,when a stock or swarm is brought from a distance the bees do not take their departure at once1 but reconnoitre awhile1 visiting surrounding objects so as to well know the spot again in order to return thereto4 ,the distinct purposes of the two different kinds of eyes may not perhaps be yet determined with certainty1 but ,pastor ,schnfeld 7whom ,von ,berlepsch employs to write those sections of his own work that relate to the senses of bees1 as being beyond doubt the best-informed of apiarians on these subjects7 gives a decided opinion that the stemmata serve only for the most distant objects1 while the compound eyes1 which are much more highly refractive1 become available when closer at hand4 ,thus these eyes1 which we compared to telescopes1 are credited with the least of telescopic power1 and serve for nearer observation after all4 ,how much nearer1 however1 we are not yet in a position to say1 and nothing need be withdrawn of what is stated above as to the far-sightedness of bees4 ,the compound eyes are assumed to be also serviceable in the twilight1 and thus to afford some vision in the interior of a hive4 ,it is worth mentioning1 as a rare compliment from a ,german to an ,english apiarian1 that ,schnfeld declares the best anatomical description of the eyes of our insect to be given by ,samuelson in his work1 ,the ,honey ,bee4#ai ,footnote #ai3 ,the compliment belongs doubtless to ,dr4 ,hicks1 to whom the anatomical portion of that work is presumably due4 ,the mouth of the bee is a most complex structure1 marvellously adapted for its duties1 and consists of the labrum1 or upper lip1 with the mandibles1 or upper gills1 and of the labium1 or lower lip1 which is made up of the ligula or tongue1 also called the proboscis1 the labial palpi1 and the paragloss1 together with the maxill1 or lower gills--we adopt this word gills from the ,german for want of a better4 ,the jaws open vertically1 but the mandibles1 maxill1 and palpi work horizontally1 and serve as pincers or scissors4 ,the mandibles are the two side pieces which constitute the working portion of the upper jaw4 ,fig4 #a d in ,plate ,i4 shows the mandible of the queen1 which1 like that of the drone 7,fig4 #c d71 is provided with two teeth1 whilst the mandible of the worker 7,fig4 #b d7 is without teeth4 ,this last having to manipulate the wax with smoothness1 the teeth would doubtless be objectionable4 ,these mandibles are strong1 horny1 and sharp-pointed1 to assist in breaking down food1 and in other respects constitute serviceable tools for seizing their enemies1 ejecting the drones1 etc4 ,the tongue 7,plate ,,ii4 ,fig4 #c71 or proboscis1 is a long slender projection1 flattish in form1 and about the thickness of a bristle4 ,it has about forty cartilaginous rings1 each of which is fringed with minute hairs1 having also a small tuft of hair at its extremity1 where it is somewhat serrated4 ,in movement it is like the trunk of an elephant1 and is susceptible of extension and contraction1 bending and twisting in all directions2 and by rolling about1 it sweeps or laps up1 by means of the fringes around it1 everything to which it is applied4 ,thus1 when a bee alights upon a flower1 it pierces the petals and stamens1 where the nectar is secreted1 and deposits its collection on the tongue1 from whence it passes into the gullet 7,plate ,i4 ,fig4 #b c7 at its base4 ,at times1 in building combs1 the tongue is used as a trowel1 with which the minute scales of wax are deposited in their appropriate places1 and the desired finish is given to the cells4 ,this organ has been denied by some to be a hollow tube1 but this is not the view generally held1 and it certainly does not act wholly by handing up the food1 for there is a furrow or gutter running along the whole length of its under side4 ,thus1 when a bee is imbibing honey the rings of the abdomen have a vibratory motion similar to pumping1 showing to the casual observer that suction is rapidly going on4 ,dr4 ,bevan tells us that the true tongue is an extremely minute object at the base of the maxill2 but this appears to have been a mistake of his own4 ,the labial palpi 7,plate ,,ii4 ,fig4 #c o7 rise from the base of each side of this lapping instrument1 and are also ciliated exteriorly4 ,they appear to serve as feelers to the mouth4 ,between these and the tongue are the two small sheaths or membranes called the paragloss2 and outside of the same are the working portions of the lower jaw1 or the maxill 7,fig4 #c n71 which are also provided with hairs and with two feelers midway known as maxillary palpi4 ,when the jaws close on the tongue they form a sheath or defence thereto4 ,with the mandibles of the upper jaw opening right and left1 and the maxill of the lower1 which serve to hold the object laboured upon1 the insect prepares its work for the sweeping-up apparatus of the lower parts4 ,thus1 when combs become mouldy1 or in any way unfit receptacles for brood or honey1 these tools provided by ,nature serve the place of hands1 and the bees are able to chop up in small pieces1 and remove from their dwelling1 whatever lumber of this kind may be offensive to them4 ,they are applied also for opening the anthers of flowers4 ,the whole of this apparatus1 while perfect in action in an expanded state1 can be folded or coiled together when not in use1 so as to form one strong and well-protected instrument4 ,the antenn 7,plate ,i4 ,figs4 #a a1 #b a1 #c a7 are most important instruments1 and are planted between or below the eyes and a little below the stemmata1 one on each side2 they consist of a number of tubular joints1 each having a separate motion1 and1 being thus jointed throughout their whole length1 they are capable of every variety of flexure1 and their extremities are exquisitely sensitive4 ,with the antenn these insects recognise their queen1 and appear to communicate to each other their joys and sorrows4 ,for instance1 if a colony be deprived of its queen1 bees may be seen rushing about the hive1 and1 with a nervous twinge1 crossing their antenn or violently striking them together1 and conveying the intelligence of their forlorn state4 ,the sense of touch is here most acute4 ,huber performed an interesting experiment which definitely proved that it was by means of these organs that they communicated with each other4 ,dividing a hive by a grating which kept the two portions too widely apart for the antenn to meet1 he soon had the queenless half in a state of commotion and upset2 but when he allowed these feelers the means of access1 though nothing else could be passed through1 he saw them by hundreds making their enquiries1 and receiving answers1 which resulted in the whole remaining tranquil4 ,the same observer tried the experiment of depriving two queens of their antenn and introducing both to the same hive1 when the bees did not appear to know their own from the stranger2 but the moment he added a third1 still in possession of these organs1 they fell upon her with murderous intent4 ,huber further points out that a moonlight night is the best time for observing the use of the antenn as feelers4 ,the bees1 if it is warm1 circumambulate their doors1 to all appearance as vigilant sentinels1 with these appendages stretched right before them2 and woe to the moth that comes within reach--the instant it is felt its death follows4 ,the sense of hearing has been denied bees by some1 but against all evidence2 others contend that the seat of this power is also situate in their antenn4 ,the sounds which bees emit1 particularly at swarming time1 are conclusive that they possess this faculty2 the only reasons for arriving at an opposite conclusion seem to be1 that they are indifferent to most sounds1 even the loudest1 not emitted by themselves--but even to this there is the notable exception of the fright they evince at drumming on their hives--and that no precise organ of hearing can be found4 ,naturalists are now more united in the opinion that the seat of hearing is here located4 ,the antenn are said to have also another office1 viz41 that they act as a barometer1 by which bees know the stale of the weather and are premonished of storms2 the darkening of the sky seems1 however1 to be frequently the cause of their trooping homeward1 though they care not for the loudest thunder1 so long as the sun continues to shine4 ,in the dark recesses of the hive the feelers are exceedingly serviceable1 and may truly be denominated eyes to the blind4 ,bees possess acutely the sense of smell1 and1 attracted by the fragrance of flowers1 they may be seen winging their way a considerable distance in an undeviating course1 even sometimes in the face of weather which one might have thought they would not have braved4 ,the precise seat of this sense1 however1 is another doubtful point4 ,dr4 ,dnhoff ascribes this also to the antenn1 stating that if these are cut off the bees lose the faculty1 but regain it after a time4 ,schnfeld takes this as proving the case the other way2 but are we not familiar with analogies in which on the loss of some organ its function has been developed elsewhere--especially when as here the rudiments of the lost part must have remained8 ,schnfeld's own surmise is that the faculty resides in the surfaces of the inner respiratory organs2 ,dr4 ,hicks 7the assistant author of ,samuelson's ,honey ,bee7 places it in a number of vesicles at the roots of the wings2 others again attribute it to two depressions in the lower portion of the face4 ,but ,dnhoff's reference to the antenn has experiment1 to our view1 in its favour1 though of course not decisively so4 ,but whether this is correct or not1 this pair of horns play an important part with the useful faculties which they combine4 ,with their extraordinary devotion to sweets1 bees can hardly but be possessed of a strong sense of taste1 though in consequence of their being detected occasionally lapping the impure liquids from stable or other ftid drains1 ,huber considered it the least perfect of their senses4 ,but it is now ascertained that bees1 like most animals1 are fond of salt1 and they therefore resort to dunghills and stagnant marshes1 from which they are doubtless able to extract saline draughts4 ,it cannot be denied1 however1 that1 according to our ideas1 their taste is otherwise at fault2 thus it sometimes happens that1 where onions and leeks abound and are allowed to run to seed1 bees are so anxious to complete their winter stores1 that1 from feeding on these plants1 a disagreeable flavour is communicated to the honey 7see ,chap4 ,,vi4 iii474 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,thorax ,,and ,,organs ,,of ,,motion4 ,the thorax or chest approaches in figure to a sphere1 and is united to the head by a thread-like ligament4 ,this is the centre of the organs of motion4 ,here are attached both the muscles that move the legs and wings1 and the legs and wings themselves4 ,in ,fig4 #a of ,plate ,,ii41 b1 b1 b show the muscles that move the wings2 e1 e1 the bases of the wings4 ,these appendages consist of two pairs of unequal size1 which are arranged to hook together4 ,in ,plate ,i4 ,fig4 ,a will be seen the margins of the two wings4 ,in ,fig4 ,b are the eighteen or twenty hooks placed on the anterior margin of the hinder wing1 whilst the posterior margin of the fore wing is beautifully folded over to receive them1 so that1 when employed in fanning for ventilation1 the two wings on each side act as one1 and present an unbroken surface to the air4 ,the wings of workers are larger than those of the queen1 but those of drones are much larger still4 ,the bee has six legs1 three on each side4 ,each leg is composed of several joints1 having articulations like a man's arm1 for the thigh1 the leg1 and the foot4 ,the foremost pair of these are the shortest2 the middle pair are somewhat longer1 and with them the bee unloads the little pellets from the baskets on her thighs2 the hindmost are the longest of all4 ,on the outside of the middle joint of these last there is1 in each leg1 a small cavity1 in the form of a marrow-spoon1 called the pollen basket4 ,the pollen is conveyed from the front to the second pair of legs1 and from these to the receptacles in the hind ones4 ,fig4 #b b in ,plate ,i4 shows the inner side of the hind leg and pollen brush2 #b b991 the outer side and pollen basket4 ,on entering a flower a bee often covers itself with pollen1 and hence the need for the brash apparatus on reaching home4 ,the legs are covered with hairs1 more particularly the edges of the cavity mentioned1 in which the kneaded pollen requires to be maintained securely4 ,in this they convey those coloured loads which are so constantly seen carried into a hive4 ,this basket1 or pollen groove1 in the thigh is peculiar to the worker2 neither queen nor drone has anything of the kind4 ,another provision of the bee's limbs consists in a pair of hook's attached to each foot1 with their points opposite to each other1 by means of which the bees suspend themselves from the roof or sides of hives1 and cling to each other as they do at swarming time or prior to and during the formation of new comb1 thus forming a living curtain4 ,in these circumstances each bee1 with its two fore claws1 takes hold of the two hinder legs of the one next above4 ,this mode of suspension seems agreeable to them1 although the uppermost in the festoon appear to be dragged by the weight below4 ,wildman supposed that bees had a power of distending themselves with air to acquire buoyancy1 and thus lessen the burden of those at the top4 ,they find no difficulty in extricating themselves from the mass2 the most central of the group can make its way without endangering the stability of the grape-like cluster4 ,bees are able to walk freely in an inverted position1 either on glass or other slippery substances4 ,the peculiar mechanism of their feet1 which enables them to do so1 consists in their having in the middle of each hook a thin membranous little cup or sucker that is alternately exhausted and filled with air4 ,flies have the same beautiful apparatus--hence a fly commonly selects the ceiling for a resting-place4 ,these little air-cups1 or exhausted receivers1 may be seen by applying a strong magnifying-glass to a window that has a bee traversing the reverse side4 ,the edges of these little suckers are serrated1 so as to close against any kind of surface to which their legs may be applied4 ,this apparatus may be also serviceable for gathering the pollen before transmitting it to the baskets on the hind legs4 ,besides these appendages and apparatus of the thorax1 that region is traversed by the sophagus or gullet 7the opening to which will be found in ,plate ,i4 ,fig4 #b c71 on its way to the digestive and other organs1 situate in the third part of the insect--viz41 the abdomen4 ,the covering of the thorax1 with the external covering of the gullet1 may be seen in the drawing of the magnified dissected body of the bee 7,plate ,,ii4 ,fig4 #a74 ,the breathing apparatus of bees is a very remarkable feature3 they have no lungs1 but1 instead1 air-vessels1 or tubes and bladders ramifying through every part of the frame4 ,the external openings of these1 which are called spiracles1 are found in the sides of their bodies behind the wings4 ,two pairs of them are located in the thorax1 and one pair on each side of the scales of the abdomen4 ,they would be difficult to show in a drawing1 as the multitude of hairs which protect them are in the way of getting at a very distinct delineation4 ,the writer has traced their oval form by the aid of ,messrs4 ,r4 and ,j4 ,beck's ,binocular ,microscope1 and exceedingly interesting objects they appeared4 ,from the circumstance of bees breathing through these orifices in their bodies1 it will not be difficult to understand how sadly the little creatures must be inconvenienced when by accident they fall on loose mould1 and thus have their breathing pores choked with dust2 it also shows how needful it is to prevent bees being besmeared with honey 7by using bad appliances for feeding71 which is still more injurious to them4 ,the air-vessels are all that they possess of a circulating system1 as bees have neither lungs1 heart1 liver1 nor blood4 ,it appears1 however1 that a white fluid matter1 called chyle1 which in degree answers the purpose of blood1 is produced in the intestines1 nourishes the body1 receives the oxygen from the air-vessels1 and generates that animal warmth so necessary for the insect's well-being--warmth which1 as a matter of course1 say ,schmid and ,kleine in their ,leading ,threads1 settles that it is incorrect to call the insect a cold-blooded animal4 ,bees have the power of counteracting superabundant heat by perspiration4 ,not unfrequently1 on a hot summer's morning1 a good deal of moisture may be noticed at the entrance of a crowded hive1 which the inmates have been enabled to throw off4 ,this is a healthy sign1 because a sign of great numerical strength4 ,the humming sound always to be heard in a beehive is produced by breathing4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,abdomen ,,and ,,secretive ,,organs4 ,the abdomen1 attached to the posterior part of the thorax by a slender ligament1 has1 for an outer covering2 six folds or scales of unequal breadth1 overlapping each other1 and contains the honey-bag1 or first stomach1 the ventricle1 or true stomach 7,plate ,,ii4 ,figs4 #a and #b f71 with other intestines1 to be hereafter referred to4 ,the honey-bag 7,figs4 #a and #b d7 is an enlargement of the gullet1 and1 although called the first stomach1 no digestion takes place here4 ,in shape it is like a taper oil-flask2 when full it is about the size of a small pea1 and so transparent that the colour of the honey may be seen through it4 ,this sac1 as it is sometimes called1 is susceptible of contraction1 and so organised as to enable the bee to disgorge a part of its contents at will1 to fill the honey-cells of the hive4 ,it has been much controverted whether any or what change takes place in the nectar of flowers whilst in the bee's stomach 7,chap4 ,,vi4 iii474 ,a short passage leads to the ventricle or true stomach 7,figs4 #a and #b f71 which is somewhat larger4 ,this receives the food from the honey-bag1 for the nourishment of the bee and the secretion of wax4 ,the stomach1 like the honey-bag1 has a considerable number of muscles1 which are brought into play to help the digestive and other organs4 ,the biliary vessels 7,figs4 #a and #b h1 h7 receive the chyle from the digested food in the stomach1 which from thence is conveyed to all parts of the body for its support4 ,a bee1 says ,dzierzon1 with the honey which she can take into her stomach1 is able to subsist abundantly under some circumstances for longer than a week1 while under others she will die of hunger within twenty-four hours4 ,if we regard life as a process of combustion1 then with the bee it resembles at one time the spark just glimmering in the ashes1 at another the bright up-bursting flame that in a few minutes consumes the fuel1 which to the barely glimmering fire would have ensured nutrition for a much longer time4 ,wax is the animal fat of the bees1 and to produce it requires a considerable consumption of honey to supply the drain upon the system4 ,to be capable of passing through the pores of the abdomen1 the wax must no doubt be a liquid oily matter1 which1 on making its appearance outside the abdominal rings1 thickens1 and exudes from under the four medial ones1 in flakes like fish-scales1 one on each side2 so that there are eight of these secreting cavities1 which are peculiar to the worker1 not being found either in the queen or drone4 ,the shape of these cavities is that of an irregular pentagon1 and the plates of wax1 being moulded in them1 exhibit accordingly the same form 7see ,plate ,,ii4 ,fig4 #f w74 ,no direct channel of communication between the stomach and these receptacles1 or wax-pockets1 has as yet been discovered2 but ,huber conjectures that the secreting vessels are contained in the membrane which lines them1 and which is covered with a reticulation of hexagonal meshes1 analogous to the inner coat of the second stomach of ruminant quadrupeds4 ,the last important organ of the abdomen is the sting4 ,this small but effective weapon is situate close to the stomach1 and is found in the queen and worker1 but is absent in the drone4 ,our engraving 7,plate ,,ii4 ,fig4 #d7 exhibits the sting of the worker bee with its muscles and attachments3 r shows the muscles that move the sting1 and q the curved base of the outer sheath by which it is enclosed4 ,much beautiful mechanism is observed on a microscopic examination of this weapon1 so wonderfully powerful in comparison with its bulk4 ,the sting is composed of three separate portions1 each of which is double--the dart1 and the inner and outer sheaths4 ,very confusing accounts are given of this organ in different works1 owing probably to the term sheath being applied by some to the outer and by others to the inner covering4 ,the outer one consists of two fleshy curved claspers 7q in the figure71 inside of which is the linear sheath1 which forms an essential portion of the sting1 and consists of two horny scales closely adherent to the darts4 ,these last are composed of stiff filaments1 which at the outer end are each barbed with from five to ten teeth on one side2 and they slide within the inner sheath1 and that within the outer1 on the principle of the tubes of a telescope4 ,as represented in our engraving1 the inner sheath clasps the darts to a level with the tips of the outer one4 ,the darts are first protruded in the act of stinging1 and1 by aid of the powerful muscles on each side at s1 are buried in the flesh to the depth of one-twelfth of an inch2 the inner sheath then follows1 and at the same time1 by a muscular contraction1 the poison is forced along the groove in which the darts work1 causing the well-known painful effects which arise from the sting of a bee4 ,these darts are of slightly unequal length1 so that the teeth on each side are not opposite to each other4 ,from this arrangement it is easier for them to penetrate the flesh1 and alternately deepen the wound1 while the teeth successively hold each firm as it makes its way1 until the poison has been ejected4 ,if the sufferer could only command himself so as to remain perfectly passive1 the bee might be able to draw in these darts which protrude beyond the sheath1 and would then have a chance of withdrawing the sting2 the little insect would consequently inflict less pain1 and might perhaps escape paying the penalty of her life4 ,it generally happens1 however1 that the excitement of both parties is so great1 that the poor bee leaves behind the whole apparatus1 and even part of her intestines1 so that her death is the result1 and the wound is more severe4 ,the sting is about the sixth part of an inch long1 and is largest at the base4 ,here are situated the glands or ducts 7,fig4 #d u74 ,by these the poison is secreted and passed into the poison-bag 7,fig4 #d t71 which acts as a reservoir for retaining it till required4 ,on the subject of the sting ,paley remarks3 ,the action of the sting affords a beautiful example of the union of chemistry and mechanism3 of chemistry1 in respect to the venom1 which in so small a quantity can produce such powerful effects2 of mechanism1 as the sting is not a simple but a compound instrument4 ,the machinery would have been comparatively useless had it not been for the chemical process1 by which1 in the insect's body1 honey is converted into poison2 and1 on the other hand1 the poison would have been ineffectual without an instrument to wound and a syringe to inject the fluid4 ,as before stated the drone has no sting1 but1 in place thereof1 the organs of reproduction1 on which1 as on the corresponding organs of the queen1 sufficient has been remarked above 7pages #bd and #fc74 ,and now1 in concluding this section1 we would remark the wonderful contrivance and finish which all the works of the ,great ,master ,artificer unfold4 ,in the works of man we see1 perhaps1 a piece of mechanism of unquestioned beauty and excellence1 yet there is a bolt here or a screw there that might have been dispensed with1 and does not possess any definite use4 ,but in the works of ,nature everything has a place2 we may not at once comprehend the exact purpose of some intricate parts1 but that only implies that we have not made a thorough investigation4 ,the most minute hair serves its required end4 ,some reflections of ,dr4 ,evans1 though chiefly referring to the cells of bees1 may not inappropriately finish this chapter3-- ,on books deep poring1 ye pale sons of toil1 ,who waste in studious trance the midnight oil1 ,say1 can ye emulate1 with all your rules1 ,drawn or from ,grecian or from ,gothic schools4 ,this artless frame8 ,instinct her simple guide1 ,a heaven-taught insect baffles all your pride4 ,or ye on theory's wild wave that roam1 ,and skim from science but its froth and foam1 ,who wield 'gainst ,truth the sharp yet shivery lance1 ,devoted bending to your idol1 ,chance2 ,oh6 say1 could ,chance her lawless atoms bind1 ,and weave the tissued woof of sense and mind1 ,or her blind impulse in yon mansions trace ,the firmest fabric with the amplest space8 ,no6 while ye boast to bow at ,reason's shrine1 ,that ,reason bids you hail the ,power ,divine4 ,not huge ,behemoth1 not the whale's vast form1 ,that spouts a torrent and that breathes a storm1 ,transcends in organs apt the puny fly1 ,her fine-strung feelers1 and her glanceful eye ,set with ten thousand lenses4 ,not the pile ,by fabled giant raised in ,erin's isle1 ,not ,staffa's crystalled shore1 where now1 ,fingal1 ,roar the hoarse surges through thy columned hall1 ,nor all yon marshalled orbs that ride so high1 ,proclaim more loud a present ,deity1 ,than the nice symmetry of these small cells1 ,where on each angle genuine ,science dwells1 ,and joys to mark through wide creation's reign ,how close the lessening links of her continued chain4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,modern ,,beehives4 ,i4 ,,common ,,cottager',s ,,hive4 ,illustration ,,we will commence our list of hives with this1 the very simplest form of adaptation to the depriving system4 ,the upper hive is intended for a super and the lower one is the stock for the bees' settled habitation4 ,the directions for applying this1 as well as for stocking the hive and taking the honey1 will however be obtained under the head ,neighbours' ,improved ,cottage ,hive 7page #aaf71 and in the sections referred to there on ,hiving ,swarms1 ,applying ,supers1 etc4 ,the hive is well suited for those who are desirous of leading their poorer neighbours into the humane system of bee-keeping4 ,see the remark at the end of the next section respecting the hole for giving admittance to the super4 ,,ii4 ,,neighbours' ,,crystal ,,palace ,,skep4 ,illustration ,this hive 7so styled from its obtaining a prize at the ,crystal ,palace ,show in #ahge7 differs from the foregoing in being larger1 and in having a thicker floor-board1 a hooped fitting at the base1 a window in the super1 and a movable cap as a finish to either super or stock hive1 according as the former is in use or not4 ,the outside dimensions of the lower hive are seventeen inches diameter by nine in depth1 and of the super thirteen inches by five4 ,when there is a hole in the centre on top of the stock hive1 as is the case here1 there is a possibility of the queen ascending and depositing eggs in the super4 ,to check such a mishap1 a queen and drone preventer can be applied1 which is a contrivance so arranged as to admit the passage of nothing larger than a worker 7,chap4 ,,iv4 xvii474 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,cottager',s ,,hive4 ,illustration ,this is our more complete form of a cottager's hive1 composed entirely of straw4 ,a very prevalent opinion exists that bees do better in hives of that material than of any other4 ,another opinion prevails1 that the old-fashioned straw hive is the least expensive1 the most simple1 and the most productive4 ,although we cannot go so far as this1 we are willing to admit that a simplified adaptation of the humane system to the old common straw hive is the most suitable to put into the hands of that large class of bee-keepers--cottagers4 ,by these the more fanciful hives will be instantly condemned2 besides1 the expense puts them quite beyond the reach of the poorer class4 ,the object aimed at in planning this structure has been to furnish a depriving hive that should be at once easy of management1 inexpensive1 and convenient4 ,the stock hive1 in which the bees are first deposited1 is round1 and has a flat top with a hole in the centre4 ,the size of this lower hive is nine inches deep outside1 and fifteen inches across the bottom2 it is finished with a wooden hoop1 which adds very much to its firmness and durability4 ,the floor-board is one inch and a quarter thick1 with a way sunk therein for the entrance4 ,a small round mat of straw closes the hole in the top2 this mat may be fixed by wooden pegs4 ,we have now described what is termed the stock hive1 which is1 in fact1 an old-fashioned straw hive1 adapted1 modernised1 and improved to the more humane1 viz41 the depriving system4 ,the weight of the stock hive1 with its floor-board1 is about seven pounds4 ,the super is five inches deep outside and twelve or so in diameter1 and1 when filled1 contains about twelve pounds of honey and comb4 ,its purpose is exactly identical with that of the three bell glasses described on page #aag3 the lower hive is for the breeding compartment and for the storage of honey for the bees' own consumption1 while the upper is to receive the surplus of their treasure which the owner intends to appropriate pure for himself4 ,a glass window1 which is placed at the side of the super1 is useful for inspecting the progress made in filling it4 ,an adapting-board to facilitate removal is added underneath it by some4 ,a common straw hive1 sufficiently deep to cover1 drops over the super1 keeping the window dark1 and fitting close on to the stock hive4 ,this cover hive may be made fast by driving in two skewers1 one on each side1 to keep the whole firm4 ,unless placed in a bee-house or under a shed1 the outside should be painted2 or a piece of oilcloth1 or water-proof covering of any kind1 shaped so as to shoot off the rain1 will save the trouble of paint1 and answer the purpose 7see ,chap4 ,,iv4 iii474 ,the mode of stocking this hive1 and of taking the honey1 will be clearly gathered from the directions under v4 below1 and from the general instructions in the sections therein referred to4 ,after two or three weeks the straw mat may be removed to give the bees access to the super4 ,,iv4 ,,an ,,improved ,,cottager',s ,,hive4 ,illustration ,this hive is very superior to the one described just above1 as it possesses a ,taylor's glass in lieu of a straw super1 and an adapting-board and a window in the lower portion4 ,its principle is also exactly the same as that of the succeeding1 which is simply a more elaborate development of this hive4 ,our illustration places the window over the entrance1 being so drawn in order to exhibit back and front at one view1 whereas in reality it is on the opposite side at the back1 so as to allow of an inspection free from the liability of annoyance from the bees4 ,for directions see the next section4 ,illustration ,v4 ,,neighbours' ,,improved ,,cottage ,,hive4 ,our improved cottage hive 7shown page #aac71 is neatly made of straw bound with cane1 and therefore very durable4#bj ,the lower hive is covered with a wooden top1 having in it three holes1 through which the bees convey their honey into three middle-sized bell glasses with ventilators1 which1 when filled1 hold about six pounds each4 ,there is a hoop at the bottom1 another round the top of the lower hive2 to this the wooden crown-board is fastened4 ,these hoops are a great improvement1 and are less liable to harbour insects than if straw alone were used4 ,the floor-board1 as its name implies1 is a wooden board one inch and a quarter thick1 with a projection of three or four inches under the entrance to form an alighting-place4 ,this entrance is cut out of1 or sunk in1 the board4 ,there are three windows in the lower hive1 each closed with a shutter2 these are very useful and interesting for inspecting the progress made4 ,across the centre window is a thermometer1 enclosed at the sides by slips of glass4 ,the window shutters1 being of oak colour1 add very much to the appearance4 ,the upper hive1 which is merely a cover for the glasses1 is made like the lower2 a hoop is worked into the straw1 and is sufficiently large to allow the cover to drop over the crown-board1 keeping the whole close1 and preventing wet from drifting in4 ,a zinc ventilator1 ornamentally painted1 forms the apex2 this is useful in letting the confined hot air pass away in warm weather4 ,the ventilator is opened by raising it4 ,the lower or stock hive is fifteen inches in diameter and nine and a half in depth outside2 its weight1 when empty1 is seven pounds and a half4 ,the cover1 or top hive1 is twelve inches deep and fifteen inches in diameter2 the ornamental zinc top being four inches deep4 ,the whole is about twenty-four inches high4 ,the weight of a hive packed1 including glasses1 is about eighteen pounds4 ,footnote #bj3 ,this is the hive referred to by the ,bee-,master of the ,times 7,dr4 ,gumming7 when he says3 ,the second kind of hive ,i alluded to is made of straw1 and may be purchased at ,neighbours'1 in ,holborn4444 ,it is so well made that it will last very long4 ,i have had one in constant use during ten years1 and it is still as good as when it was bought4 ,these hives have a tasteful appearance in the garden1 but they require some further protection from the weather in the form of a cover or of a bee-house--contrivances that have yet to be described4 ,in extreme cold weather a little additional protection1 by having matting folded round them1 will be advisable4 ,one of the advantages of this and the preceding hives over the ordinary cottage hive is that they afford ready opportunity for the humane management of bees4 ,the bell glasses also give the owner the power of taking honeycomb of pure quality1 free from the extraneous matter known as bee-bread1 instead of combs that are darkened by having brood hatched in them4 ,by this system we have combs newly made and used only for depositing the honey first put into them3 hence the name virgin honey4 ,these glasses have a very pretty appearance1 and1 when nicely filled1 are very convenient for home use or for making presents4 ,the lower hive is the receptacle for the bees2 when a swarm is placed in this hive they immediately proceed to fill it with combs for the storage of honey for their own use1 and for cells to breed in4 ,this hive remains undisturbed4 ,the best mode of tenanting a hive of this description is by placing an early and strong swarm in it1 which may be generally procured of a neighbouring bee-keeper2 if from a distance1 considerable care is necessary to admit plenty of air 7,chap4 ,v4 xi474 ,for the purpose of ventilation1 remove the slides and substitute perforated zinc1 wrapping the hive up in a coarse cloth of open texture 7dispensing with the floor-board during transit when the distance is great and the temperature warm74 ,it is necessary only to send the lower or stock hive to the party furnishing the swarm1 taking the precaution to fix the slides at top with tacks1 as the hive has to be inverted to receive the bees4 ,some older bee-keepers prefer to give it a little dressing with syrup1 beer1 or herbs2 there can be no objection to the first1 but other scents may not be pleasant to the insects and are far better avoided1 as also are the sticks so often inserted1 they being almost certain to cause crooked combs4 ,the bees1 if swarming1 are shaken into the hive1 as described in ,chap4 ,v4 i42 if transferred from another hive1 the directions will be found in a following section of the same chapter4 ,towards evening close the entrance1 and remove them to the exact position they are intended permanently to occupy4 ,success depends on this1 and also on their careful removal on the evening of hiving4 ,the following morning they will labour in their new location1 marking well their habitation before they take flight1 and not failing to return to it loaded with luscious store4 ,the general directions must be observed in applying the supers 7,chap4 ,v4 xiii474 ,when the time arrives the thermometer will rise rapidly to #ajj degrees or upwards4 ,to prevent swarming the zinc slides on the wooden top must now be withdrawn1 and the bell glasses put on1 covered and protected by the upper hive2 a day or two after which all signs of swarming will at once disappear1 the bees now having increased storage-room1 which they will readily fill with comb4 ,the ventilator should always remain open during the day1 to allow the hot air to pass away from the interior1 thereby contributing to the whiteness and beauty of the work2 the bees enjoy the refreshment of coolness thereby afforded1 and they work the faster for it4 ,at evening all ventilation should be stopped1 and the glasses wrapped round with some warm material4 ,we now supply flannel-lined baize bags to each glass sent out with the hive4 ,the directions for taking honey are much the same as usual 7,chap4 ,v4 xiv474 ,a slide seven inches and a half square is furnished with the hive1 and is useful to remove the glass upon4 ,the holes in the wooden top of this hive are of a peaked shape1 to act as a preventive against slaughtering any bees whilst pushing the slide in for the purpose of removing the glass when full4 ,the tacks before alluded to should be removed from the slides when the hive is fixed in its place4 ,the entrance slide is very serviceable during the winter months to lessen the passage-way1 thereby preventing the admission of too much cold air2 it is also occasionally useful on a summer evening to lessen the entrance when moths are troublesome1 for if there be only a small opening the bees can guard it and easily repulse intruders4 ,during the time of gathering they require the whole width to remain open4 ,the pedestal1 shown on the right in the next figure1 as originally sent out1 has a hole through each of its feet1 and must be firmly fixed in the ground by means of the four iron pegs supplied with it for the purpose2 to prevent rotting1 it is well also to place a brick under each foot4 ,the hive must then be made fast to the stand as a precaution against high winds4 ,the latter is about twenty-two inches in height4 ,the simplicity and easy management of this hive have rendered it an especial favourite1 combining as it does real utility with many conveniences to satisfy the curious4 ,not a few bee-keepers desire to unite the two qualifications1 and no hives combine these advantages in a greater degree than the one we are now describing4 ,illustration ,a cheaper form of this hive is here represented1 of precisely the same size and construction1 with the exception that it has no windows or thermometer4 ,the apiarian with this hive will therefore have to trust more to his own judgment as regards the likelihood of swarming1 and must watch the appearance the bees present at the entrance4 ,when it is time to put on supers in order to prevent swarming1 premonition will be given by the unusual numbers crowding about the entrance1 as well as by the heat of the weather1 making it evident that more room is required for the increasing population4 ,at ,michaelmas the directions as to weighing must be attended to 7see ,chap4 ,v4 xviii474 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,ladies' ,,observatory ,,hive4 ,illustration ,the following illustration shows the construction of this hive4 ,the stock hive is of stout glass1 and cylindrical1 with a flat top and a hole in the centre2 it is thirteen inches in inside diameter and eight inches and a half deep4 ,a support1 composed of even wooden bars fixed on a pedestal from the floor-board1 is very useful for the bees to cling to and secure their combs1 instead of resting wholly against the glass4 ,the floor-board is of mahogany1 the border being ,french-polished4 ,a middle-sized bell glass1 for deprivation1 is placed over the hole2 this hole may be closed by a zinc slide4 ,a cover of straw1 eighteen inches deep and fifteen inches wide1 with a zinc ventilating top similar to that affixed to the cottage hive1 completes the arrangements4 ,the weight of the stock hive and board is about sixteen pounds4 ,in the figure the cover is shown lifted to display the interior4 ,in a thoroughly warm room it may be kept entirely off4 ,this hive is well adapted for those persons who are desirous of having the opportunity of making a closer examination of the workmanship of these industrious and interesting insects1 as the whole of the interior may be exposed to view2 it is particularly suitable for a window or an indoor apiary1 and will also be found a valuable addition to the greenhouse4 ,under these circumstances the entrance-way should be covered with a flat piece of glass1 and an aperture cut in the sash corresponding with the entrance to the hive2 through the glazed passage the bees may then find egress and ingress without being able to gain access to the apartment4 ,an alighting-board1 four inches wide1 must be fixed outside on a level with the entrance4 ,we had a hive of this kind in operation at the ,great ,exhibitions of #ahea and #ahfb1 fixed after the manner above described4 ,it answered admirably1 and excited much interest and curiosity1 though placed there under many disadvantages4 ,when a hive of this kind is to be stocked1 proceed in the main as with ordinary transfers 7,chap4 ,v4 ii471 but place the floor-board and support of the hive in the middle of the sheet or swarming-board1 and precipitate the bees as much as possible on to the support2 cover them with the glass1 propping it up with bricks or other rests sufficiently high to prevent the bees being squeezed4 ,they will collect under the bars and on the pedestal1 and in about one hour's time the whole will have settled quietly1 and all the stragglers on the board will have collected together1 the swarm hanging pear-shaped from the bar support2 the bricks can now be removed1 and the glass put in its right place on the floor-board4 ,the straw cover can now be set down over all1 and the hive can be removed to the place it is destined permanently to occupy4 ,the light should not be admitted for some days after hiving2 if undisturbed1 the bees will speedily build comb1 working from the wooden bars1 which are placed there for their assistance and support4 ,in ten days or a fortnight1 if the weather continue fine and warm1 they will prepare to swarm again2 the opening at the top must now be unstopped1 and the bell glass put on1 guide-comb having been previously fixed4 ,the directions given as to these matters for the preceding hive apply equally to this one4 ,it is advisable in winter to furnish the glass stock hive with more protection from cold than is afforded by the straw cover alone2 some thick baize1 or wrapper of wadding1 for which there is space between the glass hive and the cover1 will prevent so much moisture condensing on the sides of the glass4 ,as remarked under ,winter ,precautions 7,chap4 ,v4 xx471 it is only by the very greatest care that bees can be brought through that season in a glass hive4 ,the hole at top is used for supplying food1 should the apiarian fear the stock of honey is in danger of running short2 either feeder may be used for the purpose 7,chap4 ,,iv4 ,,xx474 ,,vii4 ,,nutt',s ,,collateral ,,hive4 ,the late ,mr4 ,nutt1 author of ,humanity to ,honey ,bees1 may be regarded as a pioneer of modern apiarians2 and though his hive is now comparatively little used it is still worthy of description from the part it has played in the history of bee-keeping4 ,illustration ,it consists of three boxes placed side by side 7,c1 ,a1 ,c71 with an octagonal box 7,b7 on the top1 which covers a bell glass4 ,each of the three boxes is nine inches high1 the same wide1 and eleven inches from back to front4 ,thin wooden partitions1 in which six or seven openings corresponding with each other are made1 divide these compartments1 so that free access from one box to the other is afforded to the bees2 this communication is stopped1 when necessary1 by a zinc slide passing down between4 ,the octagonal cover b is about ten inches in diameter and twenty high1 including the sloping octagonal roof1 surmounted with an acorn as a finish4 ,there are two large windows in each of the end boxes and one in the centre box4 ,across the latter is a thermometer1 scaled and marked1 so as to be an easy guide to the bee-master1 showing him1 by the rise in temperature1 the increased accommodation required2 this thermometer is a fixture1 the indicating part being protected by two pieces of glass1 to prevent the bees from coming between it and the window1 and thereby obstructing the view4 ,d ,d are ventilators4 ,in the centre of each of the end boxes is a double zinc tube1 reaching down a little below the middle3 the outer tube is a casing of plain zinc1 with holes1 about a quarter of an inch wide1 dispersed over it2 the inside one is of perforated zinc1 with openings so small as to prevent the escape of the bees2 a flange or rim keeps the tubes suspended through a hole made to receive it4 ,the object in having double tubing is to allow the inner one to be drawn up1 and the perforations to be opened by pricking out the wax1 or rather the propolis1 with which bees close all openings in their hives4 ,these tubes admit of a thermometer1 enclosed in a cylindrical glass1 being occasionally inserted during the gathering season2 it requires to be left in the tube for about a quarter of an hour1 and on its withdrawal1 if found indicating ninety degrees or more1 ventilation must be adopted to lower the temperature4 ,the grand object1 as ,mr4 ,nutt expresses it1 is to keep the end boxes and the bell glass cooler than the pavilion or middle box1 so as to induce the queen to propagate her species there and there only1 and not in the depriving part of the hive2 by this means the side and upper combs are in no way discoloured by brood4 ,the queen requires a considerable degree of warmth2 the middle box does not require more ventilation than the additional openings afford4 ,the bees enjoy coolness in the side boxes1 and thereby the whiteness and purity of the luscious store are increased4 ,the ornamental zinc top ,d must be left raised1 and is easily kept in that position by putting the perforated part a little on one side4 ,the boxes before described are placed on a raised double floor-board1 extending the whole length--viz41 about thirty-six inches4 ,the floor-board projects a few inches in front4 ,in the centre is the entrance 7as our illustration only shows the back of the hive we must imagine it on the other side72 it is made by cutting a sunken way1 of about half an inch deep and three inches wide1 in the floor-board1 communicating only with the middle box2 it is through this entrance alone that the bees find their way into the hive1 access to the end boxes and the super being obtained from the inside4 ,an alighting-board is fitted close under the entrance1 for the bees to settle upon when returning laden with honey4 ,this alighting-board is removable for the convenience of packing4 ,the centre1 or stock box1 ,a1 called by ,mr4 ,nutt the ,pavilion of ,nature1 is the receptacle for the swarm1 ,e ,e are two block fronts1 which open with a hinge4 ,a semicircular hole1 three inches long and two wide in the middle1 is cut in the upper floor-board immediately under the window of each box2 these apertures are closed by separate perforated zinc slides4 ,the blocks1 when opened1 afford a ready means of reducing the temperature of the side boxes1 and they are also useful for allowing the bees to throw out any refuse4 ,illustration ,the centre ,f is a drawer1 in which is a feeding-trough1 so constructed that the bees can descend through the openings just mentioned on to a false bottom of perforated zinc4 ,liquid food is easily poured in by pulling out the drawer a little way2 the bees readily come down on to the perforated zinc1 and take the food by inserting their probosces through the perforations1 with no danger of being drowned4 ,care must be exercised that the food is not given in such quantity as to come above the holes2 by this means each hive has a supply of food accessible only to the inmates1 with no possibility1 when closely shut in1 of attracting robber bees from other hives4 ,the exterior of these hives is well painted with two coats of lead colour1 covered with two coats of green1 and varnished3 ,notwithstanding this preservation it is absolutely essential to place such a hive under a shed or cover of some sort1 as the action of the sun and rain is likely to decay the wood1 whilst the extreme summer heat might cause the combs to fall from their foundations4 ,neat and tasteful sheds may be erected1 consisting either of zinc or thatched roofs supported by iron or wooden rods1 and they will form a pretty addition to the flower-garden4 ,it will be well to make the covering a foot or two longer1 so as to allow of a cottage hive on each side1 as the appearance of the whole is much improved by such an arrangement4 ,the super will be almost sure to be filled first1 having been first opened to the bees4 ,this will be removed according to the general instructions4 ,the removal of the end boxes is a somewhat similar process1 but they should on no account be taken away at the same time as the glass1 or1 indeed1 at a time when any other hive is being--robbed we were going to say1 for it is robbery to the bees3 they intended the honey for their winter food1 and are much enraged at being deprived of it4 ,first shut down the dividing tin2 the bees in the end box are now prisoners separated from the hive2 keep them so half an hour1 and then take away the box bodily to another part of the garden1 or into a dark outhouse4 ,,viii4 ,,huber',s ,,hive4 ,to ,francis ,huber--not improperly styled the prince of apiarians--we are indebted for more extensive and accurate observations on the habits of the bee than have been contributed by all other observers since the time of ,aristotle4 ,we have here introduced a description of ,huber's leaf hive 7and should be glad to exhibit one7 for the sake of its historic interest in connection with apiarian science4 ,though entirely gone out of use it was invaluable for ,huber himself1 and it suggested to other apiarians the adoption of the present plan of vertical bars and frames4 ,in connection with this last point of interest it seems fitting to introduce here some very brief account of the development of the movable-frame hive4 ,from time immemorial there have existed bar hives--indeed1 they have been traced to the ribbed carcase of ,samson's lion4 ,but in most cases the bars were not movable ones--they were simply designed to aid the purpose of keeping an upper story in some degree clear of the queen's inter-meddling4 ,and even when they were capable of removal they added but a slight step in advance1 and the credit of the inventions of ,golding in ,england and ,dzierzon in ,germany is due not to the bars themselves but to their mode of affixing1 and especially to the guide-comb attached beneath4 ,at about the same date with these there appeared a ,russian hive known as the ,propokovitsch1 which consisted in an arrangement of several stories of frames inserted endways and resting on cross pieces below them4 ,thus one invention supplied bars without frames1 while the other offered frames without bars4 ,but the right idea had now been caught1 and it is not surprising that several apiarians1 independently and simultaneously1 were engaged at this period in working it out4 ,briefly summarised the sequel is as follows4 ,in #ahda our own countryman ,major ,munn obtained a patent in ,france for his movable bar-and-frame hive1 of which he published a description in ,england in #ahdd2ba in ,america in #ahea ,mr4 ,langstroth completed the invention of his movable bar-frames2 and in ,germany in #ahec ,baron von ,berlepsch by a distinct inventive process added the frames to ,dzierzon's bars4 ,thus ,england appears after all to possess the honour of the contrivance1 although we certainly proved the last to make of it any general or extensive use4 ,major ,munn's original hive opened at the back1 and when in #ahea he reappeared in print with a hive opening at the top1 he had altered the frames 7and hive too7 from oblong to triangular4 ,probably one reason of the invention's failure was the expensiveness of the ,major's fittings1 which are such as to make the hive appear in his engravings more like some astronomical instrument than a box for bees and honey4 ,be this as it may1 there was practically no such thing as a frame hive in use in ,england till #ahfj1 when ,mr4 ,tegetmeier was the means of reintroducing it--whether from ,germany or ,america we are not quite sure4 ,the ,german hives1 however1 open at the end1 while ,mr4 ,langstroth's are like our own2 so that1 whoever was the inventor of bar-frame hives1 the hive of ,english apiarians comes nearer to this gentleman's than to that of any one else4 ,mr4 ,woodbury it was who afterwards brought out the frame hive which met with the first general acceptance in this country4 ,footnote #ba3 ,a ,description of the ,bar-and-,frame ,hive invented by ,w4 ,a4 ,munn1 ,esq43 ,london1 ,van ,voorst1 #ahdd2 #bnd ed4 #ahea4 ,in his edition of ,bevan's ,honey ,bee1 brought out in #ahgj1 the ,major tells us that he had been for some years engaged in connection with this distinguished author 7and we presume ,mr4 ,golding7 in1 the preparation of the above hive4 ,having made allusion to the construction of the ,german hives it may be acceptable to some if we append a few additional particulars4 ,according to ,von ,berlepsch1 the depth should be about sixteen inches1 the length twenty-eight1 and the breadth only nine1 so that the receptacle is high and narrow1 and reaches a long way back4 ,the frames1 which fit crossways1 are consequently much like our own turned up on end1 or perhaps more frequently two frames are used1 one as a story above the other4 ,with the most approved hive 7the ,lagerbeute7 instead of supers the further end of the long box is partitioned off and goes by the name of the honey-room4 ,then1 as the only practical opening is at this end1 not only must this room be cleared away equally with our supers before the brood frames can be got at1 but none of these can be reached without taking out all the others that are in front of them4 ,when supers are used the frames can be extracted without interfering with these1 so that some advantage might then result from such arrangement2 but generally speaking this operation of removal is a rare necessity while the supers are on4 ,in some cases extraction at the top may be the more convenient1 and in others at the end2 and we have therefore in our ,philadelphia hive 7 xii47 endeavoured to unite the two advantages by supplying an opening both at the side and the top4 ,to return1 however1 to the subject of our present section4 ,during the early period of ,huber's investigations he prosecuted them by means of single-comb hives1 which allow of each side of the comb being examined4 ,he found1 however1 that there was one important defect4 ,the bees could not in these hives cluster together1 which is their natural method of withstanding the effects of a reduced temperature4 ,huber hit upon the ingenious expedient of combining a number of single-comb frames1 so as to form one complete hive1 which could be opened1 in order to expose any particular comb1 without disturbing the rest4 ,from the manner of the opening and closing of this hive it has generally been called the ,leaf or ,book ,hive4 ,the division separating each comb is joined both back and front with butt hinges1 fastened with a movable pin1 on withdrawing which1 at both sides1 each comb and the bees on it may be inspected as easily as if in a single-comb hive4 ,huber's leaf hive is thus in appearance as if several ordinary ,history of ,england chess-boards were set up on end together2 but each single portion is distinct1 instead of there being any coupling of twos4 ,the floor-board on which the hive stands is larger than the hive when closed1 so as to allow of its being opened freely at any particular volume4 ,an entrance-way for the bees is hollowed out of the floor-board as in other hives4 ,there is a glass window in each end of the hive1 which is provided with a shutter4 ,there is1 however1 one serious objection to ,huber's hive1 which1 though not noticed by him or his careful assistant1 has prevented its general use--that is1 the difficulty there is in closing it without crushing some of the bees--a catastrophe which1 by exasperating their comrades1 is certain to interfere with any experiments4 ,there is no such risk in the bar-and-frame hive1 whilst in it every facility possessed by ,huber's is retained4 ,the character of ,huber and the circumstances under which he pursued his observations are so remarkable that we need scarcely apologise for stating a few particulars respecting him here4 ,he was born at ,geneva1 in ,july #agej1 his family being in honourable station and noted for talent4 ,just as he attained to manhood he lost his sight1 and remained blind to the end of his days4 ,this apparently insuperable obstacle in the way of scientific observation was overcome by the remarkable fidelity with which ,burnens1 his assistant1 watched the bees and reported their movements to ,huber4 ,madame ,huber also1 who1 betrothed to him before his calamity1 had remained constant in her affection1 assisted in the investigations with great assiduity during their long and happy wedded life4 ,huber1 fortunately for science1 was in a position to devote both means and leisure to these observations2 and ,burnens1 though only a peasant1 was a superior man1 and rose by his worth to become chief magistrate of his native village4 ,in later years ,huber's son ,pierre rendered important aid4 ,we quote the following from ,memoirs of ,huber by ,professor de ,candolle3-- ,we have seen the blind shine as poets1 and distinguish themselves as philosophers1 musicians1 and calculators2 but it was reserved for ,huber to give a lustre to his class in the sciences of observation1 and on objects so minute that the most clear-sighted observer can scarcely perceive them4 ,the reading of the works of ,raumur and ,bonnet1 and the conversation of the latter1 directed his curiosity to the history of bees4 ,his habitual residence in the country inspired him with the desire1 first of verifying some facts1 then of filling some blanks in their history2 but this kind of observation required not only the use of such an instrument as the optician must furnish1 but an intelligent assistant1 who alone could adjust it to its use4 ,he had then a servant named ,francis ,burnens1 remarkable for his sagacity and for the devotion he bore his master4 ,huber practised him in the art of observation1 directed him to his researches by questions adroitly combined1 and1 aided by the recollections of his youth and by the testimonies of his wife and friends1 he rectified the assertions of his assistant1 and became enabled to form in his own mind a true and perfect image of the manifest facts4 ',i am much more certain1' said he1 smiling1 to a scientific friend1 'of what ,i state than you are1 for you publish what your own eyes only have seen1 while ,i take the mean among many witnesses4' ,this is doubtless very plausible reasoning1 but very few persons will by it be rendered distrustful of their own eyesight4 ,the results of ,huber's observations were published in #agib1 in the form of letters to ,bonnet1 under the title of ,nouvelles ,observations sur les ,abeilles4 ,this work made a strong impression upon many naturalists1 not only because of the novelty of the facts stated and the excellent inductive reasoning employed1 but also on account of the rigorous accuracy of the observations recorded1 when it was considered with what an extraordinary difficulty the author had to struggle4 ,huber retained the clear faculties of his observant mind until his death1 which took place on the #bbnd of ,december1 #ahca4 ,most of the facts relating to the impregnation of the queen1 the formation of cells1 and the whole economy of the bee community1 as discovered and described by ,huber1 have received full confirmation from the investigations of succeeding naturalists4 ,,ix4 ,,the ,,woodbury ,,frame ,,hive4 ,illustration ,i4 ,wood4--,the late ,mr4 ,woodbury's ,bar-and-,frame ,hive1 as originally made1 consists of a wooden box1 fourteen inches and a half square inside1 and nine inches deep4 ,the actual habitable space inside is lessened by the room occupied by the frames1 of which there are ten2 these rest on a rabbet a little below the surface1 leaving a space of three-eighths of an inch between the upper side of the bars and the crown-board4 ,this allows a free passage on the top for the bees1 entirely obviating the necessity of making excavations in the crown-board1 as has hitherto been recommended4 ,the frames are nearly an inch wide1 and rest in notches1 with spaces of half an inch between them2 they extend to within three-eighths of an inch of the floor-board1 so as to hang without touching any part1 leaving about the same distance from the sides4 ,it will be seen that there is thus a free passage for the bees on every side1 so that they are kept from coming in contact with the sides of the hive4 ,our illustration shows the hive open1 and exposes to view the top of the ten bars and frames1 as they range front and back4 ,a window is also shown2 this is placed in the figure over the entrance1 but the proper position would be just opposite4 ,the drawing is made so as to show back and front at once4 ,illustration ,as before mentioned1 the stock hive has ten frames--each thirteen inches long by seven and a quarter high 7inside measurement71 with a five-eighths of an inch projecting piece at each upper end1 which rests in the notches at back and front4 ,we have placed this hive first in our list of modern frame hives in accordance with the part it has played in rendering them popular in this country as explained in the preceding section4 ,illustration #b4 ,straw4--,subsequently to the introduction of the above wood hive ,mr4 ,woodbury recommended that the stock hive should be made of straw1 of exactly the same dimensions2 this material being warmer in winter1 cooler in summer1 more equable in temperature at all times1 slightly ventilating1 and allowing of absorption4 ,bees1 during1 cold weather1 cluster together to generate the requisite degree of heat2 the temperature of the interior of the hive being thus so much higher than the external atmosphere1 a good deal of moisture condenses at the top and on the sides of the hive4 ,the straw1 as before stated1 prevents this dampness hanging about within1 and tends to keep the inmates more healthy4 ,the square straw hives1 and a machine for making them1 exhibited in the ,austrian department of the ,international ,exhibition of #ahfb1 suggested the idea of employing that material for ,english frame hives4 ,we have had a machine made resembling the one exhibited1 and suited to the size in use by us1 by which our hive-maker is able to manufacture neat square hives in straw4 ,these have a wood frame at top1 an inch deep1 with the requisite notches to allow the ten comb-frames to hang4 ,a similar frame forms the base1 the straw being worked between4 ,an inch projection is left on all sides of the floor-board beyond the exterior of the hive1 from which it is slightly chamfered down4 ,an entrance1 four inches wide1 is cut out of the substance of the board1 beginning at the edge1 and continuing on the same level until inside the hive1 where it slopes upwards4 ,this entrance is about three-eighths of an inch high where the hive crosses it4 ,these straw hives have been generally made without windows1 as ,mr4 ,woodbury and other scientific apiarians have so preferred them4 ,they have considered glass windows unsuitable for winter1 because then moisture condenses on the glass4 ,there is no doubt that the having a peephole or two in a hive adds very agreeably to its value for amateur bee-keepers1 and1 to meet the wishes of such1 we have had straw hives constructed with windows4 ,it is not every one who would like to lift out the frames as often as is necessary for an inspection of the state of the colony1 nor perhaps is it advisable to be often thus meddling4 ,the windows have also a very neat appearance4 ,we have hives with one1 and some with two and three windows2 of course a little extra expense is incurred where these are made1 but that is not objected to by those who approve of the additional convenience4 ,the crown-board 7if a straw top can be called by that name7 has1 like the hive1 a frame of wood all round1 and a square piece of wood in the centre1 with a two-inch hole2 this hole is for the purpose of administering food1 in a mode to be explained hereafter4 ,a circular block of wood1 four inches in diameter1 closes the opening4 ,illustration #c4 ,glass4--,some bee-keepers like to be able to make a full and daily inspection of the hive2 we have therefore prepared a few hives1 constructed of wooden frames enclosed on all sides and on the top with window-glass4 ,the dimensions are precisely the same as those before mentioned1 and allow the same number of bars and frames 7ten74 ,the crown has a round hole cut in the glass to admit of feeding4 ,the four sides are constructed of double glass1 to preserve the bees from variations of temperature4 ,we cannot1 however1 recommend this hive for a winter residence for the bees2 we should prefer lifting the combs out and placing them in a straw hive of similar construction1 to pass through the ordeal of the winter season 7,chap4 ,v4 xx474 ,such a hive is an object of much interest1 as in it the whole commonwealth of bees is exposed to view2 and it need not be obscured from daylight1 provided it be protected from sun and rain4 ,all the external woodwork can be stained1 varnished1 or made of polished mahogany2 so that the appearance of the glass frame hive is extremely neat1 and much approved of4 ,x4 ,,neighbours' ,,new ,,frame ,,hive4 ,illustration ,i4 ,wood4--,since the former editions of this work were published1 several alterations and improvements have been made4 ,we find1 in the first place1 that a deeper hive than the ,woodbury is desirable for the better concentration of heat1 and also to admit of more honey being stored above the brood1 so that the food shall be easier of access to the bees in winter4 ,our new frame hive measures accordingly twenty-one inches from front to back1 sixteen inches in width1 and twelve in height1 thus allowing the sides to be constructed of the original breadth of the planks1 viz41 eleven inches 7the other inch being made up by the thickness of the floor-board74 ,the frames1 of which there are nine1 are ten inches deep and thirteen wide2 they rest on strips of zinc1 which prevent the bees from propolising them down so firmly1 and1 as the outsides of the hive are so enlarged as to leave galleries from side to side beyond the ends of the bars1 there is easy access allowed to the fingers in removing4 ,another noteworthy improvement is the addition of a dummy frame1 which is merely a thin piece of board of the same size as a frame1 and whose use is either to contract the dimensions of the hive according to the population1 or to make room1 by its removal for the extraction of the first comb4 ,the frames are held firm and kept at their correct distances apart by means of small staples1 and a slit is formed lengthways for the insertion of impressed wax sheets or guide-strips cut from these4 ,the crown-board rests on the thin edge of zinc1 in order that it may be replaced more quickly1 with less danger of crushing a bee than on a broader surface4 ,there is a feeding-hole in the centre of the board1 which in some hives is closed by a zinc slide running in an opening cut out of the wood1 and in others is covered by a wooden block4 ,in the more highly finished hives two long openings are cut for admitting bees to the super4 ,two slides for each opening are supplied--one pair being of plain zinc for closing them entirely1 the other with slits cut of three-sixteenths of an inch in width for the purpose of queen-preventers 7see ,chap4 ,,iv4 xvii474 ,the supers are similar1 but not so deep1 and have eight frames instead of nine2 they are1 however1 frames1 and not mere bars as ordinarily4 ,the sides and top are of glass1 with baize-lined shutters4 ,a hive intermediate between this and the ,philadelphia 7 xii471 and which may be called ,the ,cottager's ,improved ,frame ,hive1 is shown inside the opened cover on page #agi4 ,it has a straw crown-board and a larger window1 and is designed to admit a zinc adapter with queen-preventing perforations2 in other respects it is identical with the above hive4 #b4 ,straw4--,the figure overleaf exhibits ,neighbours' ,new ,straw ,frame ,hive1 with super attached4 ,it is of exactly the same size and construction as the foregoing4 ,there is a straw crown-board with feeding-hole in the centre1 and two slits of zinc with queen-preventing openings as above4 ,the supers of the straw hive are made of its own material1 but have three windows instead of one4 ,the advantages of straw for hives are described under the ,woodbury straw hive1 above4 ,illustration #c4 ,glass4--,a representation of this same hive in glass1 with its super1 is given inside the opened cover figured on page #agg4 ,nothing need be added here1 as the construction is the same with that of the wood hive4 ,see the description of the ,woodbury glass hive in the previous section for general remarks upon hives of that material4 ,,xi4 ,,neighbours' ,,cottager',s ,,frame ,,hive4 ,illustration ,this is a simpler and less expensive hive than the one just described1 being without windows or a dummy1 and with wooden crown and floor boards4 ,in other respects it is the same1 and is thus suitable for persons with small means1 or who may wish to purchase in large numbers4 ,almost any kind of super may be adjusted to this hive1 but those specially adapted are the frame super and our divisional and sectional supers1 for all of which see the article on ,supers 7,chap4 ,,iv4 vi474 ,to admit of their addition the crown-board must be removed1 and a zinc adapter with queen-preventing openings substituted4 ,,xii4 ,,the ,,philadelphia ,,frame ,,hive4 ,our frame hives hitherto described have facilities for extracting the movable combs at the roof of the hive2 with the present one the frames are drawn out at the sides as well as above4 ,this is manifestly a great convenience1 as it obviates the necessity of removing the supers when an examination of the combs is required to be made in the midst of the working season4 ,the hive1 cover1 and stand are all in one1 and the side-flap falls down1 as it does in the cover shown on page #age1 and the loose glazed side1 by removal1 serves as a dummy1 allowing each comb to be withdrawn without risk of scraping the next4 ,the cover1 it will be seen1 opens at one side1 as does the stock hive4 ,the floor-board draws out on the plan adopted by ,mr4 ,cheshire4 ,illustration ,there is a straw crown-board with a feeding-hole1 which in summer is replaced by a queen-preventing zinc adapter perforated all over with circular holes too narrow to admit the queen or drones4 ,the whole space over the frames is then covered with our small sectional supers 7,chap4 ,,iv4 vi471 which1 by means of the numerous perforations1 are completely seasoned to the bees' taste with the same scent as the hive itself4 ,the hive with its cover is complete without any further protection from the weather1 and it carries its own stand4 ,it was very highly commended at the ,alexandra ,palace ,bee ,show4 ,,xiii4 ,,cheshire',s ,,frame ,,hive4 ,in its general principles and inner structure this hive differs very little from the one last described1 with which in outward appearance it is still more closely identical2 but the walls of the stock hive1 when made of wood 7for they can also be had in straw1 if the apiarian so prefers7 are constructed double1 with an airspace between1 with a view to modifying the variations of temperature4 ,the upper part of the outer woodwork is a cover to the supers1 and opens on a hinge at one side4 ,within are two of ,lee's bar supers1 placed one upon the other1 the upper of which is to be first supplied1 and the other added from beneath when the first is partly filled4 ,the stock hive usually contains eleven of the regular-sized ,woodbury frames1 besides the dummy4 ,admission is given to the super by means of slits in the sides of two of the five planks constituting the crown-board1 and when the super is away these two can be shifted to the ends1 when the slits will come outside the hive4 ,the entrance-hole is ten inches in length1 but is provided with shutters for narrowing or closing it4 ,the alighting-board in front of the entrance is grooved in order to let off wet or moisture4 ,the entire floor-board draws out to allow of cleaning4 ,,xiv4 ,,abbott',s ,,new ,,frame ,,hive4 ,mr4 ,abbott's new hive is distinguished for the large size of its frames1 which are sixteen inches long by ten deep4 ,there are eight of them1 besides two dummies4 ,the honey-board is in three portions1 with a round hole in the centre for feeding1 and two slits for giving admission to the supers1 which are ,lee's4 ,this divided crown-board rests close upon the bars of the frames1 and a quilt should be placed over it in winter4 ,the stock hive is of straw1 and carries its own cover and stand4 ,its dimensions are two feet wide and three high4 ,mr4 ,abbott has previously constructed some cheaper hives1 but cheapness was made too exclusively their object to allow of their becoming sufficiently serviceable to be recommended4 ,,xv4 ,,the ,,stewarton ,,hive4 ,illustration ,the ,stewarton hive 7also called the ,ayrshire hive7 is so often spoken of1 and in such favourable terms1 by bee-keepers1 that we deem it necessary to give it a place here1 and to supply some explanation of its construction and management4 ,we consider this especially needful1 as some of the principles of its management are so imperfectly understood that many mistakes are made1 and also because1 for the convenience of bee-keepers1 we keep a supply of these hives on hand4 ,the name is derived from their having been first brought out at ,stewarton1 in ,scotland2 and they are still made so well1 and at so moderate a price1 in that country1 that ,london workmen are unable to compete in their manufacture4 ,our supply is therefore from that source2 so that1 with a little addition for carriage1 the price approximates that of the makers themselves1 affording a convenience to many of our apiarian friends in being able to obtain these hives in ,london4 ,our illustration shows the four boxes set up when the hive is complete4 ,we will suppose that the beginner has just received the four octagonal boxes detached1 with the bundles of grooved slides4 ,about one-half of these are short pieces1 or pegs1 termed sectional slides1 but similarly cut to the longer ones2 these are to fill up the openings where the full slides are not put in1 or are required to be withdrawn1 as hereafter explained4 ,he will find himself in possession of four boxes so neatly dovetailed on the bevel1 that1 if he be of a mechanical turn1 he will not only be surprised at the way in which they are put together1 but also at the price for which they are offered4 ,three of the boxes1 ,a1 ,b1 ,c1 technically called body boxes1 are precisely similar1 each being fourteen inches in diameter and five inches and a half deep inside4 ,nine bars range along the top of each box4 ,these are not movable1 but are designed to induce the regular building of the combs4 ,between these and beyond the outer ones are ten narrow slides1 the slides and bars being grooved to fit into each other1 so that the top is completely covered as if with a crown-board4 ,in the figure the slides are shown as partly withdrawn4 ,the fourth box1 ,d1 is the depriving box or super2 it is only four inches deep1 but the same in diameter as the others4 ,this being the honey-box1 it is furnished with seven wide fixed bars instead of nine1 because1 as stated at page #ahc1 bees construct deeper receptacles to contain the honey than for breeding in3 thus1 should the queen go up into this compartment1 she may find the cells are too much elongated to enable her to reach the base when her body is inserted for the purpose of depositing an egg4 ,the honey is thus kept pure1 and the thick comb has a more massive1 richer appearance1 and that which not unfrequently mars the quality of a super--viz41 cells that either contain brood or have been bred in--is prevented4 ,each box is furnished with two small windows1 back and front1 closed by sliding shutters1 by which opportunity is afforded for inspecting the progress made1 and also for ascertaining when the cells are filled and the box may be taken away4 ,each of the boxes ,a1 ,b1 ,c1 is furnished with an entrance-way four inches wide and half an inch high1 a wooden slide either wholly or partially closing it as required4 ,when at work the bees need only one entrance open1 and that at the lowest box4 ,the long slides before mentioned are pushed into their respective receptacles from the back of the hive to close the openings between the bars2 those of them that are shorter will be seen to belong to the sides of the octagon1 and their ends are cut angular to suit the form of the box4 ,a little examination will suffice to show the right allotment of the slides1 the appropriation of which may be said somewhat to resemble the putting together of a child's puzzle4 ,the box ,b must be left open at the interstices that correspond with the box ,a1 placed above1 the little openings being closed by the insertion of the ten sections of slides1 thus leaving free communication inside with the upper box ,a1 and admitting of no outlet for the bees except at the entrance4 ,when the four boxes are placed above each other1 the structure measures twenty-two inches high4 ,the ,scotch carpenters send no floor-board1 and no covering or roof for the top to shoot off the rain2 they evidently expect that the purchaser is provided with a shed or bee-house of some kind1 and also with a floor-board4 ,should the apiarian1 however1 not have these necessaries1 we can supply the deficiency4 ,the sides of the boxes are furnished with wooden buttons1 which1 when turned round1 keep each box exactly in its place one above the other2 there are also projecting irons or screw heads for tying the two boxes ,a and ,b together preparatory to hiving the swarm1 also for weighing2 or if the boxes stand out exposed1 all may be thus secured1 to prevent their being blown over by high winds4 ,in putting the hive into use1 take the two boxes ,a and ,b1 made one by the junction before mentioned1 with complete access from one to the other inside by the free communication afforded4 ,shake the swarm in just as with a common cottage hive4 ,if the weather be favourable these two boxes will be nearly filled in ten days4 ,to get the full advantage of the ,stewarton hive the first year1 put two swarms into two body boxes1 ,a and ,b4 ,allow the bees to remain there till they have nearly filled the body boxes with comb1 which 7with this increased number of workers1 and in favourable weather7 should be from five to ten days4 ,two swarms are seldom procurable the same day so as then to be joined together1 and even if they were there is a doubt whether greater progress may not be attained by hiving one swarm a week or so earlier than the other1 so as to build comb and raise brood ready for the reception of the new comers4 ,the second swarm should be hived in the third body box1 ,c1 and placed close to the boxes ,a1 ,b1 and at dusk these last are placed on the top of the box ,c4 ,the entrance being open in the lowest box1 that of the central box1 ,b1 should now be closed with the slide4 ,the top slides of box ,c must be withdrawn and the interstices pegged with the sectional slides4 ,in the course of the night the second swarm will ascend and join the other1 thus becoming one family4 ,in the morning one of the queens will probably be found thrown out in front4 ,the box ,c is then to be removed1 and the entrance slide of box ,b withdrawn4 ,should all the bees not have ascended1 the removal may be deferred until later in the day when many of them are dispersed gathering honey4 ,the object of removing the box ,c is to restrict the room so that the work of comb-building may be carried on more rapidly1 and the bees be sooner ready to work in the super box ,d1 placed above4 ,they may be allured into this by fixing small pieces of worker guide-comb1 of pure white colour1 on the centre of each side bar4 ,if1 however1 a box of honey with neatly made1 straight1 and quite regular comb be desired1 a piece of this guide-comb must be fixed to the centre of each bar of the seven4 ,if guide-comb be unobtainable1 strips of the impressed wax sheets or artificial comb 7hereafter described7 will be found excellent substitutes4#bb ,footnote #bb3 ,the body boxes may be prepared in a similar manner4 ,having satisfied yourself1 by peeping in at the windows1 and from symptoms at the entrance1 that the original boxes are well filled1 place your prepared honey-box on the top1 draw a slide at each side of the middle box to afford communication1 and insert the little pegs4 ,it is not well to withdraw the slides in the middle1 because the queen is then far more likely to ascend4 ,bees may more readily be induced to work in the supers if the junctures are covered with gummed paper to preserve warmth4 ,when you notice that the bees have fairly commenced work in the honey-box1 and are likely to keep to it1 a second and afterwards other supers may still be added1 the new one being always placed uppermost2 in all cases the remaining box ,c must be added below the stock1 which will afford additional room and prevent swarming1 exchanging the entrance to the newly-furnished box and sliding in pieces of wood to close the aperture of that above4 ,supers and nadirs may in fact be added--in fine seasons and with first-rate management--till there are eight or ten boxes in the pile4 ,should the bees begin making comb in the bottom box1 draw two more slides for freer access into the super1 as there will then be little risk of the queen ascending1 having so much range for egg-laying in the three lower boxes4 ,in very fine weather a good swarm or stock will fill a honey-box in the space of two weeks2 but a much longer time is usually occupied4 ,the process of taking the honey differs very little from that ordinarily followed in removing supers 7,chap4 ,v4 xiv474 ,the super box is disconnected with a spatula and twine2 then drawing out one or two top slides1 the bees are smoked or blown with bellows to cause them to make their exit4 ,before winter sets in1 the box ,c1 if in use1 may be removed1 and the comb it contains 7if well filled7 be used for consumption2 if the comb be empty1 let it remain carefully guarded from moth and other insects1 as it will be invaluable next season4 ,empty comb may be thus preserved by tying or pasting a piece of stout newspaper closely round the bottom1 and keeping the box in a dry place4 ,feeding1 when required1 may be liberally pursued by withdrawing two slides and supplying a bottle or other feeder4 ,the chief value of the ,stewarton supers consists in the boxes being shallow1 so that the combs are more likely to be well filled down to the base2 the bees will also commence work more readily in such than in loftier compartments4 ,this is a great advantage with supers1 particularly when required to be sent to a distance1 as there is less likelihood of the combs breaking down4 ,for the same reason1 when the weather is hot and the rays of the sun fall on the hive1 the combs might part from their foundations if there were no intermediate bars1 which is now the case in the stock hive1 composed as it is of two boxes4 ,if these two boxes were in one1 the depth of each comb would be twelve inches2 and1 when filled with brood and honey1 would probably weigh ten pounds4 ,this is a great weight to be supported in hot summer weather1 when the wax is softened by the heat4 ,another distinguishing feature that the ,stewarton hive possesses is the use of the box ,c1 which1 by giving increased room as the season advances1 prevents what is often an annoyance to the apiarian1 viz41 a late swarm--too late to be of any value1 and impoverishing the stock by a division of its numbers1 thereby perhaps impeding the completion of the super4 ,a further advantage of the box ,c is that it induces the bees 7who frequently hang in clusters about the entrance7 to carry on their work instead of remaining in enforced idleness4 ,an accomplished apiarian who writes much in the ,horticultural and ,bee ,journals under the title of ,a ,renfrewshire ,bee-keeper1 and whose descriptions and management of the ,stewarton hive render him an authority on this mode of bee-keeping as well as on the subject generally1 says the only fault he has to find with the ,stewarton hive is the fixity of the bars4 ,with a modified hive used by him they are held in position with half-inch brass screws2 thus all are movable1 instead of being fastened with nails as in the original ,stewarton4 ,in each of the three body boxes are four bar-frames from end to end of the parallel sides2 the two combs on either side of these are attached to movable bars1 but these have no frames1 as there would be a difficulty in making them to suit the angle4 ,if it is requisite to withdraw the bars1 they may be easily disconnected from the sides by passing down a knife4 ,these boxes are one inch deeper than those of the ordinary ,stewarton4 ,we must say we do not consider that there is quite the same facility for extracting combs as with other movable comb hives described in these pages1 but this may be an element of success--it possesses the opportunity without the facility4 ,many indiscreet bee-keepers are tempted to disturb their bees a great deal too much4 ,the writer had the pleasure of paying this gentleman a visit when in ,scotland last autumn1 and saw his apiary1 also some remnants of the store of wonderful supers he took from his hives last summer--specimens indeed of good bee-keeping1 and of the golden maxim worthy of all imitation1 ,keep your stocks strong4 ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,lanarkshire ,,hive4 ,in outward form this hive is much like the first bar-frame hive introduced to ,english apiarians by ,mr4 ,tegetmeier1 who about eighteen years ago was secretary to a now defunct apiarian society the head-quarters of which were just outside ,london at ,muswell ,hill4 ,this gentleman adapted the ,stewarton slides to a square bar-frame hive1 so that no crown-board was needed1 just as is here provided by the ingenious ,lanarkshire bee-keeper4 ,one of ,mr4 ,tegetmeier's hives may be seen at the ,bethnal ,green ,museum of ,science and ,art4 ,from some cause it did not come into very general use4 ,the stock hive we are now describing measures sixteen inches and three-quarters from front to rear1 and seventeen and a quarter from side to side1 within2 the height is nine inches and a half1 and it contains eleven frames and one division board or dummy4 ,each of the frames is fitted with a false bar1 which is intended to be under the bar proper3 by taking a frame and pressing this bar out1 an arrangement will be found for enclosing and holding tightly fixed the impressed sheets of wax for guides4 ,the ends of the frames rest in the front and back of the hive2 the top edges of the latter being deeply grooved along their centres to reduce the bearing surfaces1 so that there may be less danger of crushing a bee when the frames are placed in position4 ,these are now kept apart1 and the spaces between are closed by wooden slides as in the octagon ,stewarton hive2 thus the advantages claimed by ,scotch apiarians are here to be found in a square bar-frame hive4 ,the sides and lower ends of the frames have projections which touch and keep each other steady1 so that the combs are not so liable to be pressed together4 ,the super is four inches deep and equal in diameter to the stock hive1 and is furnished1 like it1 with false bars1 which have slits for inserting those infallible guides1 the impressed waxen sheets4 ,these are surmounted with another row of movable bars with the ,stewarton slides between as before explained4 ,the back of the hive has a circular revolving disc of wood of half thickness let into it1 in which are three three-quarter inch holes covered with perforated zinc1 so that ventilation may be given or not4 ,the alighting-board is made to slide in and out in grooves beneath the floor-board1 which arrangement is convenient for transit of the hive to the moors or anywhere else4 ,the entrance is opened or closed by means of sliding shutters1 one on each side4 ,outside covering from the weather is needed1 and this we are also in a position to provide4 ,this is beyond doubt an ingenious useful hive1 and how so much labour can be bestowed and yet the hive cost so little is a marvel4 ,,xvii4 ,,neighbours' ,,unicomb ,,observatory ,,hive--,,outdoor4 ,the unicomb hive here represented has many advantages over similar hives as previously constructed4 ,the illustration shows the interior divided into six compartments2 these are six ,woodbury frames4 ,the inner sash opens1 to admit of hanging up the frames on the notches prepared for them4 ,the width of the hive between the glasses of the sashes is just sufficient to admit of one thickness of comb1 with space on each side for the bees to pass and repass between the glass and the comb4 ,any one possessing a ,woodbury box or straw frame hive can readily commence a unicomb1 and as readily put the combs and bees back into the square hive again4 ,illustration ,the outside shutters on each side are composed of ,venetian blinds1 admitting daylight1 but obscuring the rays of the sun4 ,there are two iron wheels1 the one fixed to the bottom of the hive1 the other to a stout board running along its entire length2 on these two wheels the whole structure turns4 ,in the centre of the floor-board there is an opening1 with a passage-way running underneath1 so that the bees' entrance is in no way affected by the position of the hive1 which revolves to suit the convenience of visitors inspecting it4 ,should the queen1 with her attendants1 not be visible on one side1 the other side of the comb can be brought into full view1 and examined with the same facility as a picture1 or as articles are inspected in a shop window4 ,thus the sovereign mother1 the drones with their aimless movements1 and the crowd of ever-busy workers1 either building their combs or storing honey1 may be always seen1 as presenting a veritable tableau vivant4 ,another improvement that we have made upon ,mr4 ,woodbury's pattern is that of adapting to admit the frames and this has necessitated an increase in size4 ,the outside dimensions are nearly three feet square and seven inches deep from back to front4 ,provision is made at top for feeding1 and for working two small flat-top glasses for deprivation1 which are protected by the weather-board4 ,an alighting-board is placed at the centre1 close under the entrance4 ,the hive can1 however1 be placed indoors1 when it must be adjusted to the window-sash like the indoor unicomb in the next section4 ,in the summer of #ahfc we had ample proof of the success of this hive during its exhibition at the annual show of the ,bath and ,west of ,england ,agricultural ,society at ,exeter4 ,we selected six combs1 and packed them in one of the square box ,woodbury frame hives1 and1 on arrival at ,exeter1 placed them in the unicomb4 ,that being fixed against the boarded side of a shed1 we found the covered way a great convenience1 and it answered remarkably well2 the bees did not seem to be inconvenienced by having to travel through so long a passage4 ,a glass covering admitted a full view of the little labourers as they crowded in1 and the sight of them very much enhanced the interest of visitors examining the hive4 ,since the time before mentioned we have exhibited bees at the meetings of the ,bath and ,west of ,england ,agricultural ,society at ,bristol1 and of the ,royal ,agricultural ,society at ,newcastle in #ahfd4 ,on both occasions further proof was given that this hive admirably answers the purpose intended1 and it afforded pleasure to many thousands of visitors4 ,we also exhibited one of these hives in our collection at the ,philadelphia ,exhibition of #ahgf1 and in their certificate of award the jurors direct special attention to the unicomb hive with ,venetian blinds as allowing the admission of light to the bees whilst the sun's direct rays are excluded4 ,the unicomb hive may be stocked in two ways4 ,the bee-keeper may either select the comb upon which the queen is found1 and put it into the hive1 and so form an artificial swarm as directed under that heading 7,chap4 ,v4 vi471 or he may take six brood combs1 and by that means stock the unicomb at once4 ,the former plan is1 perhaps1 the more advisable1 because new comb has to be built within the five frames2 for in this case five empty frames must be put in4 ,it is a better plan still if artificial combs are placed in each frame1 so as to afford an interesting opportunity of watching the formation of the cells therein4 ,the' combs are sure to be dark in colour when taken from a stock hive1 and new combs1 being whiter1 have a better appearance in the hive4 ,the comb upon which the queen was introduced may be taken away after the artificial swarm has made combs within some of the other five frames2 when the queen is on one of the new combs1 opportunity may easily be taken for opening the hive and removing the old dark comb1 which1 with the unhatched brood1 may be deposited in any square hive that needs strengthening4 ,if the possessor of a square ,woodbury frame hive wishes to start a strong unicomb colony1 and does not object to appropriating the stock1 he must take out of the ,woodbury hive any six combs on the frames1 and put the unicomb in its place so as to receive all the returning bees that happen to be abroad2 the remaining combs can be inserted in any other frame hives in which there may be room4 ,we have had this hive in operation1 stocked in such manner1 and found it to answer remarkably well4 ,on a lawn1 placed on a suitable ornamental stand1 it formed a pleasing and instructive object4 ,in unicomb hives there is considerable difficulty in keeping the bees alive through the winter1 but where the combs are removable1 this can be avoided by the transfer recommended in ,chap4 ,v4 xx4 ,in some degree to moderate the variations of temperature we have used treble glass with a space between each square2 greater warmth is thus obtained1 and the view is not intercepted4 ,opportunity should be taken for cleaning the unicomb hive when empty4 ,,xviii4 ,,neighbours' ,,unicomb ,,observatory ,,hive--,,indoor4 ,illustration ,this hive is well adapted for those persons who are desirous of having the opportunity of closely examining the workmanship of the industrious and interesting inmates4 ,it is particularly intended for a window recess or an indoor apiary1 and will also be found an interesting addition to the greenhouse4 ,bees cease to appear disturbed when exposure to the light is continuous1 and this discovery enables the bee-keeper to obtain a full inspection4 ,the hive should be screened from the direct rays of the sun1 which would worry the inmates1 and be otherwise prejudicial4 ,an aperture should be cut in the sash corresponding with the entrance to the hive1 through which the bees may find egress and ingress1 without being able to gain access to the apartment1 as described under the ,ladies' ,observatory ,hive 7page #abj74 ,as the hive is now made to revolve on a wheel like the preceding1 this passage must extend eighteen inches within the room to enable the revolution to be made clear of the window4 ,the passage may be glazed over4 ,the process of stocking is identical with that in the last section4 ,although this hive is constructed of double glass1 to keep up a more uniform degree of warmth1 still1 from the cold nature of that material1 and the close contact into which the bees are brought with it1 it is advisable to place flannel against it on the outside4 ,such precaution is found essential if the bees remain in this hive during winter1 and very much adds to their comfort on cold nights at most periods of the year4 ,in the daytime1 in summer months1 the hive being of double glass1 the whole may be fully exposed to view1 and if the temperature of the apartment in which it stands be kept up to #fj degrees1 this extra care will not be needed4 ,at the annual ,international ,exhibition of #ahgc1 at ,south ,kensington1 we had two of these hives in full operation1 an opening being made so that the bees had full access to the pasturage of the ,horticultural and other gardens of the neighbourhood4 ,among the many visitors whose delight it was to watch the hidden working of the hives thus laid bare for inspection was ,his ,grace the ,duke of ,sutherland1 and he commissioned us to place one of these unicomb hives at the window of an anteroom adjoining his library at ,stafford ,house1 ,st4 ,james's1 which we accordingly did1 the bees having an open flight over his own garden and ,st4 ,james's ,park1 as the entrance faced that way4 ,for a time this was an unfailing source of interest and gratification to ,his ,grace and his visitors2 but unfortunately a reverse came over the spirit of our dream4 ,the hive was without the ,venetian blinds1 thus depending on the window-blind being carefully drawn down when the sun was shining4 ,an oversight prevented this being attended to one day as usual3 it was on the occasion of the visit of the ,shah of ,persia to ,stafford ,house1 when the servants were so much occupied that the secluded room which the bees were in was wholly neglected4 ,the1 consequence was that the rays of the burning ,june sun so distressed the bees that they hung out in clusters1 the queen among them1 at the outside entrance2 the combs were at the same time melted1 and fell from their foundations1 and the brood was all ruined by heat '2 in fact1 the whole hive became a wreck4 ,we managed after some trouble to save the bees1 but ,his ,grace was so disheartened by the catastrophe that1 for fear of its repetition1 though much to our disappointment1 he declined re-stocking the hive4 ,at the ,paris ,exposition ,universelle of #ahee we also exhibited a hive of this description in full working order4 ,the bees left ,london on the #eth of ,july of that year1 and were placed in the ,exposition on the following morning4 ,an entrance was made for them through the side of the building1 as before explained4 ,our bees had no national antipathies1 and they immediately sallied forth to their fresh fields and pastures new in the ,champs ,elyses1 the gardens of the ,tuileries1 the ,luxembourg1 etc41 whence they soon returned laden with luscious store from ,french flowers4 ,the ,jurors of the ,exposition awarded us a prize medal for beehives4 ,a prize was also adjudged to us for the hive here described at the ,crystal ,palace ,show in #ahgd2 while a variation that we have made--consisting of four half-unicombs fixed cross-way like the sails of a windmill--obtained a like award at the ,alexandra ,palace ,bee ,show in #ahgf4 ,the unicomb observatory hive is one which might have been suggested by the lines of ,evans3-- ,by this blest art our ravished eyes behold ',the singing masons build their roofs of gold1' ,and mingling multitudes perplex the view1 ,yet all in order apt their tasks pursue4 ,still happier they whose favoured ken hath seen ,pace slow and silent round1 the state's fair queen4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,fittings ,,and ,,apparatus4 ,i4 ,,bee-,,houses4 ,illustration ,,where is no contrivance for protecting hives from the weather so complete as a bee-house2 one which also admits of an easy inspection of the hives ranged therein is especially convenient for lady bee-keepers4 ,we here present a front view of one designed for only two hives4 ,the folding doors behind the bee-house have only to be opened1 and the hives are at once exposed to full view2 then1 by raising the upper hive or cover1 the glasses may be deliberately inspected without molestation from the bees1 and the progress made by the busy multitude may be watched from day to day4 ,under the roof on each side are openings to act as ventilators1 to allow the heated air to escape4 ,with the sun shining on the house1 and no escape of this kind1 the temperature would become that of an oven4 ,illustration ,here our illustration shows the back view of the bee-house1 the interior being furnished with two of our improved cottage hives4 ,two suspended weights balance the top hives which cover the glasses2 the cord for each runs on pulleys1 so that the covers can be easily raised and as easily shut down again when the inspection is finished4 ,we may here remark that it is not well to keep the glasses long exposed to full light and view4 ,the front of the bee-house being closely boarded1 a passage-way is contrived for the bees1 by which they have egress and ingress to the hives without being able to gain access to the house4 ,the hives must be kept close to the front boarding of the house1 to prevent the opening of any crevices which the bees might mistake for the entrance to their hives1 and so find their way into the house4 ,the front view of this bee-house shows the ordinary contrivance for giving admission2 the sliding zinc entrances may also be advantageously fixed1 as shown in the woodcut of the bee-house to contain twelve hives4 ,the bee-houses we furnish have a lock and key4 ,care must be taken to keep the bee-houses free from spiders and other insects4 ,in some districts ants are numerous and troublesome4 ,the plan we recommend for excluding them is to put some pitch round the four supports of the bee-house1 or1 better still1 strips of loose flannel or other woollen material that is absorbent1 which have previously been soaked in lamp oil4 ,we use sperm oil1 as being the slowest-drying oil we know of ,a piece of string will keep the flannel close to the wood1 and then neither ant nor other insect will pass up2 so that by this simple means the hives may1 so to speak1 be insulated and placed beyond their reach4 ,as the oil dries up it can easily be renewed4 ,we have found this an effectual remedy against these insidious enemies of bees4 ,illustration ,where economy of room is a consideration we fit up bee-houses with a double row of hives1 one above the other4 ,our illustrations show respectively the front and back of a house of this kind for twelve hives1 having an ornamental zinc gutter to prevent the wet from dripping on to the alighting-board4 ,when a number of hives are thus together we colour the alighting-boards differently1 so as to provide the bees with a distinctive mark by which each may know its own home1 and not wander into its neighbour's house4 ,bees readily enough receive a honey-laden labourer into a hive2 but if the wanderer be poor and empty it will be promptly repulsed1 and may have to forfeit its life for the mistake4 ,queens returning from their wedding trip are liable to mistake their hive if there is not a noticeable difference between the entrances4 ,a queen entering a hive already possessed of a fruitful sovereign would be certain to be killed1 and the loss to her own hive is a serious one4 ,hives are often made queenless from this cause1 and thereby reduced to utter ruin1 the bee-master perhaps attributing his failure to something altogether different4 ,illustration ,in lieu of houses an economical stand can be provided by driving two rows of posts into the ground1 one row about twelve inches behind the other1 and nailing upon them rails two inches wide and thick4 ,the hives may stand upon these1 with eighteen inches between them for space for performing operations4 ,but there is less fear of jarring the other hives when the stands are separate4 ,,ii4 ,,zinc ,,covers4 ,illustration ,the annexed illustration shows the ornamental zinc cover1 and renders but little description necessary4 ,it represents one of our improved cottage hives upon a stand4 ,three clumps of wood must be driven into the ground1 and the three iron rods supporting the covering made fast to them with screws2 there are screw holes in the feet of the iron rods for the purpose4 ,when thus secured but little fear need be entertained of its being blown over by high winds4 ,in the roof two pulleys are fixed1 so that1 by attaching a cord1 the upper hive covering the bell-glass supers may be raised with facility for the purpose of observing the progress made by the bees4 ,directions as to the mode of fixing the pedestal will be found above 7page #aah74 ,the ornamental zinc cover will form a pleasing object in the flower-garden when placed in a suitable position on the grass plot4 ,it is painted green2 the iron rods are of such a length as to support the roof at a convenient height from the ground4 ,illustration ,our next figure is that of a simple and inexpensive covering for any cottage straw hive when exposed in the garden4 ,it fits close on to the upper hive1 coming sufficiently low to protect it from sun and rain1 without obscuring the whole hive4 ,these covers are painted green--a colour that is generally preferred4 ,,iii4 ,,wood ,,covers4 ,a loose outer case completely enveloping the hive is found very useful4 ,such covers are made in various forms1 some to drop over the hive in detached portions1 some in a single piece1 and others hinged2 some1 as we saw in the last chapter 7 xii41 xiii41 xiv471 constitute a part of the hive itself4 ,ample room must be allowed for opening these1 both at the side and behind1 remembering that from the latter position all operations must be conducted4 ,the cover and stand will require painting1 or else staining and varnishing1 which looks perhaps better2 the hive itself1 if not exposed to the weather1 will not need this4 ,when removing or replacing the covers1 care must be taken not to enrage the bees4 ,covers formed with opening shutters will obviate the necessity of frequent removal4 ,the accompanying figure shows a simple form of cover for dropping over a hive4 ,its width is twenty-six inches1 depth twenty-two1 and height in middle nineteen4 ,illustration ,cottagers often use straight stiff thatching straw1 sewed together2 this contrivance is termed a hackle1 and has a pretty appearance1 particularly if a number of hives are in a row4 ,care has however to be exercised that mice do not make the cover a resting-place4 ,mortar is often used for fastening round the hive at the bottom1 but this is a bad plan1 as it forms a harbour for insects2 the wooden hoop fits so close as to leave little necessity for anything of the kind4 ,the wooden cover just described is more especially constructed for our frame hive 7page #adb71 but it may be used for any hive that it will fit over4 ,illustration ,our next cut represents the ,woodbury cover1 which is formed in three portions 7the roof1 the super-cover1 and the stock-hive cover74 ,it has an upper and a lower door1 or rather shutter1 behind4 ,the whole can be placed on a pedestal as here shown4 ,as this cover requires to be lifted off in pieces1 and is liable to be blown over by the wind1 it is not so convenient as those figured below1 which open on hinges and are self-supporting4 ,we next give two representations of one of our more elaborate covers1 showing it respectively from behind as opened and in front as closed4 ,the former exhibits the cover with one of our new frame hives 7,chap4 ,,iii4 x47 within it1 and two divisional supers upon the hive1 the roof being formed sufficiently high to accommodate these4 ,the cover is thus made to open near its vertical centre1 and is held back by a chain4 ,the flap behind falls down on opening the top to allow of inspecting the stock hive without drawing it out of the cover4 ,in the front there is a portico for protection to the entrance1 and wood slides work in grooves to narrow the opening in winter or other bad weather4 ,the total height of the cover and stand is forty-five inches1 the width twenty-two1 and the depth twenty-six4 ,the outside of the whole is grained and varnished4 ,in the figure following it will be observed that the hinges are placed in the front2 while underneath these the portico1 slides1 and alighting-board are clearly shown1 as well as the sloping roof--in short1 the general appearance of the whole structure as it actually stands in the apiary4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,the next pair of views represent another very useful cover1 but it has the objection of being bulky and more costly4 ,the open figure exhibits1 within the cover1 our new glass frame hive and super 7page #adb74 ,the hinges are formed with movable pins to enable the cover to be totally removed from the stand4 ,an opening from the outside communicates with the super1 so that the bees can find exit without passing through the stock hive4 ,the flight-hole can be narrowed as in the previous instance4 ,illustration ,illustration ,the annexed cut shows a new cover of simple and inexpensive construction4 ,in it any of our frame hives can be placed4 ,the stock hive here exhibited is the one referred to on page #ada1 as ,the ,cottager's ,improved ,frame ,hive4 ,the advantage in having the stock hive independent of the cover and stand1 and on its own floor-board1 is that the hive is more easily stocked and more manageable in other respects than those that have hive1 stand1 and cover all in one1 as is the case with the ,philadelphia1 ,cheshire's1 and ,abbott's hives4 ,the drawing shows the outward construction so well that little further explanation is needful4 ,,iv4 ,,quilts4 ,some ,american apiarians recommend the use of a quilt in place of a crown board1 as admitting of ventilation to the hive and thus allowing the moisture to pass off4 ,quilts are made of some soft woollen material or a piece of carpet4 ,care must be exercised that the maggots of other insects do not find a home underneath1 or a hotbed will by that means be provided for bees' worst enemies4 ,v4 ,,bell ,,glasses4 ,in describing the stock hives of wood1 straw1 and glass1 allusion has frequently been made to the depriving hives technically called supers4 ,the simplest form of these consists of the straw caps1 represented at pages #ajh-aaj1 and next to these will come those to which the above heading applies4 ,of the stricter bell-form1 rounded at the top1 we have three sizes3-- ,illustration ,to contain #ajlb41 #aj inches high1 #g inches wide4 ,to contain #flb41 #g inches high1 #e inches wide4 ,to contain #clb41 #e inches high1 #d inches wide4 ,these bell glasses are used in the hives before described4 ,the largest is for ,nutt's hive2 the middle-sized is for our improved cottage hive2 the smallest glass is so very small that it is not often used1 and we do not recommend it4 ,bees will generally fill a middle-sized glass quite as soon as one so small as this4 ,illustration ,the next figures exhibit what are known as ,taylor's ,glasses4 ,they were introduced by ,mr4 ,taylor1 and are recommended as preferable to deep narrow glasses4 ,the drawings will show that they are straight at the sides1 flat at the top inside1 with a knob above to take hold by1 through which is a half-inch opening to admit a ventilating tube4 ,the larger1 to contain perhaps twenty pounds1 is six inches deep and thirteen inches wide2 the smaller1 five inches deep and nine and a half inches wide4 ,illustration ,the late ,mr4 ,j4 ,h4 ,payne1 of ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 author of the ,bee-keeper's ,guide1 introduced another glass1 called ,payne's ,glass accordingly4 ,it has a three-inch hole in the centre1 the purpose of which is to tempt bees to produce additional and larger stores of honey4 ,it is to be used as follows3 ,when a bell glass 7which must be smaller in diameter than ,payne's7 is half or quite filled1 raise it1 and place ,payne's glass over the hole of the stock hive1 with the filled glass on it1 over the three-inch hole4 ,the bees will bring their combs through1 and thus ,mr4 ,payne found that they would store more honey than if the bell glass were removed and another empty one put in its place4 ,illustration ,the ,flat-topped ,glass is a super to be placed on the hive in a similar way to the bell glasses already alluded to4 ,it has the advantages of being straight at the sides1 flat at top1 and without a knob2 so that when filled it may be brought on to the breakfast table1 inverted1 on a plate4 ,the glass lid shown in the figure forms a cover1 and fits over outside so as not to interfere with the combs within4 ,there is a ventilating tube as above4 ,dimensions1 six and three-quarter inches in diameter1 and five in height4 ,,vi4 ,,bar ,,supers4 ,illustration ,to these we have already made considerable allusion under the various hives to which they are applied4 ,they are often made of glass1 but many are of wood or even straw4 ,it is desirable that the combs in supers should be made thicker than those for breeding--the bees will in fact deepen their honey cells to almost any extent--and therefore the bars are placed somewhat1 further apart than in stock hives1 thus allowing of one or two bars less4 ,by gradually widening the spaces between the combs these can be brought up1 ,von ,berlepsch tells us1 to four inches in thickness4 ,with the shallower form of all the older supers the bars are without frames4 ,the cut exhibits the ,woodbury ,super1 which is of glass thirteen inches square and six deep1 with eight bars to the ten of the hive4 ,these can be either the ,woodbury ribbed bars1 or flat ones with guide-comb attached4 ,lee's supers are similar1 but they contain seven bars with four ,stewarton slides for giving admission from one to the other when more than one super is used4 ,the next figure shows our ,frame ,super1 already sufficiently described on page #ada4 ,it can be had as below1 in glass with wooden framework1 or in straw with three windows1 as shown with the hive on page #adb4 ,illustration ,illustration ,next in order we give our ,divisional ,super1 to which a prize was awarded at the ,crystal ,palace ,bee ,show in #ahge4 ,it is composed of seven divisions or frames1 which are kept together by lateral strips of wood4 ,each division is intended to have one comb worked in it1 rendering the contents of the super divisible without cutting the combs4 ,as shown in the figure on page #age1 this super is now made with whole-glass ends4 ,from the same figure it will be observed that these supers are adapted for placing one above the other1 passages being cut out of the top bar of the lower of the pair4 ,slits are cut for the insertion of strips of wax sheets4 ,both in this super and the next it is desirable to provide against the admission of cold through the numerous interstices by keeping a warm woollen covering on the top and pasting paper over the divisions1 which can easily be cut through when the super is filled4 ,illustration ,neighbours' ,sectional ,super is the last of our series4 ,the attention of apiarians has been so much turned of late years towards a cheap and compact receptacle for honeycombs intended for deprivation1 that we have introduced this last invention1 which is very much on the same plan as the preceding1 but the longitudinal divisions are again divided across1 forming boxes1 as shown in the figure4 ,each section is about two inches wide1 seven long1 and four and a half to five deep2 it will contain about two pounds of honey in the comb4 ,this is a convenient quantity for placing on the table or for purposes of presentation4 ,the fourteen sections occupy the same space as the seven divisions of the preceding4 ,any number can however be used according to the size of the hive3 the ,philadelphia hive1 for instance1 has space for eighteen4 ,again1 any single section can be removed when full1 and another substituted4 ,each section has a saw-cut in the crown for the insertion of wax strips4 ,the queen-preventing zinc adapter can also be used4 ,observe the caution given in the second paragraph of the description of the divisional super1 just above4 ,,vii4 ,,ekes ,,and ,,nadirs4 ,we allude to these for the sake of explaining the terms1 and as they are adjuncts sometimes recommended for temporary enlargement4 ,they are further contrivances for the prevention of swarming1 but they differ from supers in being added below instead of above the stock hive4 ,briefly1 an eke is a half-hive so added1 and a nadir an entire one4 ,an example of an eke is sometimes met with when a common skep is cut horizontally in half1 and the lower portion placed beneath an entire skep hive4 ,for an instance of a nadir we have only to refer to the ,stewarton hive4 ,ekes and nadirs give increased room to the bees1 but they of course do not answer the purpose of supers in providing honey free from the admixture of brood4 ,,viii4 ,,impressed ,,wax ,,sheets4 ,these artificial partition walls for combs are sheets of genuine wax1 about the substance of thin cardboard4 ,they receive rhomboidal impressions by being pressed between two metal plates1 carefully and mathematically prepared and cast so that the impressions are exactly the same size as the base of the cells of a honeycomb4 ,an inspection of a piece of comb will show that the division of the opposite cells is made by a thin partition-wall1 common to both4 ,the substance of this is said to be only the one hundred and eightieth part of an inch1 whilst the artificial ones we are recommending are between the thirtieth and fortieth part of an inch1 or more than four times the thickness of the handiwork of the bees themselves4 ,it would1 indeed1 be vain to attempt to furnish them with sheets of wax at all approaching their own delicate fabric1 and our sheets are quite as thin as they can be to bear the handling requisite for fixing them in the hives4 ,we find1 however1 that the thickness is no disadvantage2 the bees speedily excavate and pare the artificial sheet so as to suit their own notions of the substance required2 then1 with admirable economy1 they use the surplus thus obtained for the construction of the cells4 ,after a sheet has been partly worked at by the bees1 it is interesting to hold it up to the light and observe the beautiful transparency of that part of it1 contrasted with the opaqueness of the part not yet laboured upon4 ,this invention renders us independent of guide-comb1 which is not always obtainable4 ,it comes to us from ,germany1 where it has attained many years of success4 ,at the ,international ,exhibition of #ahfb we purchased the metal plates or castings1 so as to manufacture the impressed sheets with which we are now able to supply our customers2 and after the careful trials we have made we have great confidence in recommending them4 ,as will be seen below1 however1 we no longer advise insertion of entire sheets4 ,in the season of #ahfc we furnished a ,woodbury glass super with the wax sheets fixed to the bars in the way hereafter to be explained1 and it was truly astonishing to mark the rapidity with which these sheets of wax were converted into comb4 ,receptacles were quickly made ready for the storing of honey1 and the new combs soon became beautifully white2 for1 although the artificial wax has a yellow tinge1 yet1 after being worked at and made thinner1 it is as good in colour as ordinary combs4 ,if whole sheets are used--or1 in the case of supers1 half ones--perhaps the simplest plan for fastening them is to fix a strip of wood with brads to the under side of the top frame or bar2 place the wax sheet against this1 then wedge another strip close to it1 and thus hold the wax sheet firmly in the centre of the frame1 taking care also to make the second strip of wood fast with brads4 ,this has however the objection that it slightly diminishes the space4 ,the wax plates must not extend to the bottom of the frame2 a space of at least one inch should be left for expansion1 because the bees1 in working the plate1 stretch it down lower4 ,we also use a few pins firmly pressed into the frames1 and long enough to reach the edge of the plate2 for by fixing three or four pins on each side1 both at the sides and at the bottom1 the plate may be held in an exactly central position within the frame4 ,we are now disposed to make a great modification in the above directions1 and1 instead of using entire sheets of wax1 we cut strips from them of about an inch in width1 and place these in the bars as before1 when they form an edged projection of half or three-quarters of an inch4 ,we have found an objection to the entire sheets in the fact that they sometimes curl and break with the weight of the bees--so eagerly does a new swarm apply itself to work upon them--and thus become an obstruction instead of a help4 ,strips of cardboard or wood shaving1 dipped in hot wax or well besmeared therewith1 may be substituted for the wax strips themselves4 ,where no slit is made for the insertion of either1 the shaving running down the lower edge of the bar may be simply rubbed with hot wax1 and the same purpose will be served4 ,,ix4 ,,comb ,,foundations4 ,this is an ,american attempt to improve on our impressed wax sheets4 ,in the proffered assistance to the bees there is here some advance1 for not only are the lozenge-shaped plates at the base of each cell more clearly stamped and defined1 but the sides of the cells are slightly begun--so deep are the impressions that the foundations of the walls are actually laid4 ,being quite a new invention1 there has not been much time for fully testing it1 but we find from ,american bee-keepers that when used-in large sheets there is the same difficulty as with our impressed wax--the bees will twist them4 ,as specimens of work these comb foundations are certainly very commendable for appearance4 ,the white ones seem too white to be of pure wax1 and any substitute offered to bees has hitherto proved a failure4 ,mr4 ,baldridge1 a frequent correspondent of the ,american ,bee ,journal1 speaks of the yellow sheets as far preferable to the pure white1 but some that are made partly of paraffin he considers of little worth4 ,possibly the material of which they are manufactured may be made to suit the delicate senses of the bees4 ,until this is the case1 hindrance rather than help in comb-building will be the result of placing them in the frames and sectional or other supers4 ,the mode of fixing is the same as described for impressed wax sheets4 ,x4 ,,cheshire',s ,,guide-,,maker4 ,at the ,exhibition at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahge1 ,mr4 ,cheshire exhibited and obtained a prize for a wax guide-maker1 which is an ingenious contrivance4 ,it consists of a plaster of ,paris cast1 with impressions taken from the metal plates before referred to 7page #ahg74 ,this cast is two inches in width1 about the same in thickness1 and eleven or twelve inches long4 ,it rests in a shallow zinc or tin trough containing water to keep the plaster damp by capillary attraction4 ,the plaster cast may first be soaked in water2 then place against its side the top bar of the frame1 reversed so that the centre of the under side lies even with the edge of the embossed cast4 ,the wax 7which must be genuine7 is melted in an ordinary glue-pot2 then with a clean paintbrush it is applied to the top of the plaster cast and exposed part of the bar4 ,the wax immediately hardens on the damp cast and does not adhere1 whilst the under side of the bar carries an embossed guide of sufficient depth to be an unfailing means of direction to the swarm in the building of straight combs4 ,when a large number of frames have to be prepared1 this ingenious apparatus is a convenience2 but for the ordinary apiarian we should advise procuring a few of the impressed wax sheets1 cutting them in strips1 and fixing without the mess and trouble which ,mr4 ,cheshire's apparatus involves4 ,,xi4 ,,bar-,,frame ,,holder4 ,illustration ,it is often a great convenience to have a rest at hand to lodge frames of comb on4 ,the illustration shows one that we have contrived1 and which will accommodate twelve frames of almost any size4 ,the two broad rests on the top may be set closer or further apart by loosening the screws which keep them firm4 ,they are easily shifted and secured again by screwing up4 ,this stand is light in weight1 so that it can easily be carried about as required4 ,the frames of comb1 with bees on them just as they are1 are temporarily placed on the holder when an inspection of the interior of the hive is needful1 and the combs can be returned to the hive in the same order4 ,,xii4 ,,cheshire',s ,,transferring ,,board4 ,this is a contrivance which will be found specially serviceable in transferring old stocks from one hive to another 7,chap4 ,v4 iii474 ,it consists of an inclined rest for the combs1 composed of laths1 of wood arranged like the teeth of a comb1 so as to allow the honey to drain into the zinc receiving-frame underneath2 it also admits the ready introduction of the tape or whatever is used for tying and fixing the combs in the new frame4 ,the operator should place the board upon a table so that its front1 or the upper edges of the inclined laths1 face him as he stands4 ,,xiii4 ,,honey-,,cutters4 ,illustration ,honey-cutters are used for removing comb from boxes and glasses without damaging it4 ,the flat-bladed knife is for disconnecting the combs from the sides2 the hook-shaped one is to be applied to the top or horizontal part of the box or glass4 ,we have recently introduced a knife with both these blades1 one respectively at each end4 ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,honey-,,extractor4 ,the first notion of extracting honey from the combs by centrifugal motion was the result of an accident4 ,a son of ,major von ,hruschka1 a bee-keeper in ,germany1 tied a piece of honeycomb to a string1 and in play whirled it round the inside of a pail4 ,finding that the honey was ejected and the cells of the comb left dry1 the idea was suggested to ,herr von ,hruschka of constructing a machine for the purpose1 and this he soon afterwards did4 ,the first honey-extractor was a wooden vessel with something like a broomstick working on a pivot in the centre2 to this axle1 provision was made for attaching a framework to carry the combs1 and the centrifugal motion was obtained by winding coils of string round the upper part of the revolving shaft1 which was thus put in motion by pulling the string sharply in the way a boy's humming-top is made to spin round4 ,illustration ,this answered for a beginning2 but with the opportunity of employing machinery it was soon found that many improvements in the construction might be made4 ,for instance1 it was apparent that the extractor should be constructed of metal1 because the wood absorbs so much honey that it will soon become sour in warm weather1 however carefully attended to and cleansed4 ,the honey-extractor shown here consists of a metal reservoir with a treacle tap at its base to draw off the liquid honey4 ,in the middle of this reservoir is a cast-iron spindle1 with arms or projections to receive two metal wire cases1 one on each side2 in these cases the combs are placed1 whether in frames or not4 ,motion is given by turning the handle1 which with the aid of a cog-wheel causes the spindle to revolve at great speed4 ,the machine is mostly used for frames of combs taken from stock hives whilst the honey-gathering is at its height4 ,when the frame is removed from the hive whilst at full work1 the bees have to be shaken or brushed off with a feather1 and those cells that are sealed have to be uncapped by shaving the waxen lids off with knives1 of which there should be two1 one to be kept immersed in a vessel of hot water1 whilst the other is used until it becomes cold1 and so alternately until the required work is accomplished4 ,the knife being warm very much aids in slicing through the wax as near the top as possible1 and prevents tearing the tender comb4 ,this must be done carefully so as to disturb the form of the cells as little as possible1 and not to touch the brood cells1 from which honey cells are easily distinguished4 ,the frame is placed in one of the wire cases1 and a second may be treated in the same manner and dropped into the extractor4 ,a few turns of the handle eject the honey by centrifugal force1 and a little practice will inform the operator of the requisite degree of speed1 though some honey is more tenacious and takes a few more turns than other4 ,when on examination it is found that the honey is gone out of one side1 the cases will then have to be reversed1 and a few more turns will clear the cells on the other side4 ,the frames should now be returned to the hive for the bees to refill1 and two other frames of comb may take their places in the extractor1 and so on until all the combs in that hive suitable for extraction have been operated upon according to the wish and judgment of the manipulator4 ,prior to commencing this operation1 a little smoke should be blown into the hive and an examination made lest the queen should be too summarily shaken off the comb2 she must be quietly transferred to another if the one she may be on is required to be placed in the extractor4 ,during the gathering season it is astonishing how quickly these emptied cells will be refilled with honey1 and not unfrequently the queen finds in some of these unoccupied receptacles timely provision for her otherwise contracted accommodation for depositing eggs2 thus breeding goes forward at an astonishing rate4 ,much is written about the value of comb1 and by this contrivance the labour of the bees in building it is saved4 ,there is no doubt but that this instrument is of great service to the bee-keeper when judiciously applied1#bc and since the introduction of the movable combs it has formed an important adjunct thereto4 ,for no invention has the apiarian cause to be more deeply indebted than for the ,mel ,extractor of ,germany1 improved upon as it has been both in ,america and in this country4 ,even if there were less sale for extracted honey1 the extractor would be found at certain times of great value to every bee-keeper4 ,in the award at the ,philadelphia ,exhibition1 special notice of commendation is recorded of our honey-extractor4 ,footnote #bc3 ,this1 machine is not of much service for extracting honey from combs made in supers1 the cells of which are mostly too soft to bear operating upon4 ,,xv4 ,,cheshire',s ,,nucleus ,,hive4 ,the object of nucleus hives is explained below in the section on ,queen ,rearing 7,chap4 ,v4 vii471 and they render services in the process of artificial swarming1 in maintaining a supply of young mothers1 or in ,italianising an apiary4 ,mr4 ,cheshire's contrivance is as follows2 ,certain frames in a regular hive are made to consist of two half-frames1 each complete1 but joined together in the top bar by a tongue in the one portion which fits firmly into an opening in the other1 thus forming an ordinary frame except for the division down the middle4 ,when a royal cell has been formed upon one of these compound frames1 such frame is taken out of the hive1 and the twin portions are then placed side by side in the nucleus1 which measures only three and three-quarter inches wide inside1 nine inches deep1 and seven and a half from front to back4 ,its sides are constructed double in the same way as those of the ,cheshire frame hive 7page #ade74 ,in the nucleus hive it is necessary for the frames to be well covered up4 ,care must be taken that the queen was not upon either of the nucleus frames1 but the other bees may be retained upon it4 ,the older ones1 however1 will be sure to return to the stock hive1 and their place must be supplied by shaking young ones off other frames on to a board in front of the nucleus4 ,the royal cells may be obtained from any source1 and artificially transferred to the divided frames1 after which the frames must be placed in a stock hive for twenty-four hours for the bees to fix and repair the cells4 ,or1 if more convenient1 three or four such frames may be placed in the middle of a hive1 and all stocked with eggs2 the queen may be removed for a few hours1 at the end of which a larger or smaller number of royal cells will be found to have been formed1 and these in the middle frames1 which should be the ones desired4 ,the transferring process may still be needful1 unless only one or two queens are wished for4 ,the royal cells should be placed inside when the two parts of the frame are put together in the nucleus2 there must however be only one such cell on each of these1 as the first queen that is hatched will be certain to destroy the cells of the rest4 ,further mention of the subject of nucleus hives will be found under ,queen-,rearing4 ,they should be constructed with narrow entrances so as to lessen the facilities to robber bees4 ,,xvi4 ,,queen-,,cages4 ,these are small receptacles made of close wire or perforated zinc1 just large enough to contain the queen with a few of her acknowledged subjects1 and their use is on the occasion of her introduction to a new hive4 ,the new queen is by this means protected from the primal hostility of the bees1 but at the same time so much communication is permitted as suffices to familiarise them gradually with her presence4 ,it is one of the characteristics of the bee nature that1 however distressed they may be at the loss of their old queen1 and however eagerly at work to produce a successor1 they will not usually receive such at once from an artificial source4 ,they will1 however1 supply her with food even when longing to transfix her with their stings4 ,we have two kinds of cage for this purpose4 ,one of them is a wire dome to be placed over the queen1 when with a card carefully slipped underneath she can be kept secure until the hive is prepared to receive her favourably4 ,it is nearly the same as ,kleine's cage for protecting royal cells1 as described under ,queen-,rearing 7,chap4 ,v4 vii474 ,another cage1 devised and strongly recommended by ,a ,renfrewshire ,bee-keeper1 is flat in form and neatly made of wire net2 it is two inches deep1 one and a quarter wide1 and three-eighths of an inch thick2 the top is of the same material1 and projects one-eighth of an inch all round as a flange to prevent slipping too far between the combs4 ,the door consists of stronger wires reaching across the bottom of the cage2 these are fixed at one end1 and have two more wires fastened to them at the other1 which wires pass up at the corners and are brought out at the top1 where a push with the thumb will cause the bottom to project open4 ,into this cage we consider there is more difficulty in introducing the queen than into the other1 as she has to be taken hold of with the thumb and finger and passed within the narrow opening2 and though some of the cages are made with an entry-valve at the top1 the risk of injuring the queen remains1 in our opinion1 greater than with the domed cage4 ,the mode of procedure with each of these will be found described under ,introducing ,new ,queens 7,chap4 ,v4 viii474 ,,xvii4 ,,queen ,,and ,,drone ,,preventer4 ,illustration ,much disappointment is often felt1 when removing a super that appears well filled with honey1 at finding that brood1 and not honey1 is in many of the cells4 ,in such a case the super should be replaced on the hive until such time as the brood has hatched out4 ,the comb will be found to be discoloured1 but there is no help for that4 ,the fact of there being even a few cells so occupied is a great deterioration4 ,this little contrivance1 however1 excludes both the queen and the drones1 the wires or strips of zinc being fixed too close together to admit of their passage1 though wide enough for the worker bees4 ,it is adapted for any hole that it will cover1 but more especially for the openings in the tops of straw hives communicating with the supers4 ,some of our better-class hives are fitted with slides pierced in like manner1 or else with sheets of perforated zinc to ensure the same end4 ,the queen-preventer also serves a useful purpose in preventing pollen being carried into the supers1 as the edges of the wires or bars act as scrapers upon the legs of the bees4 ,,xviii4 ,,bee-,,traps4 ,the object of these is to clear supers of bees previous to taking the honey4 ,there are several of them in use1 but the principle of most is the same4 ,clutton's bee-trap resembles one of the common round-holed mouse-traps1 but the bees have to pass out instead of in4 ,over the little circular hole a pin is hung perpendicularly1 and permitted by wire staples to open far enough to allow the escape of the bee1 after which it falls back and denies readmission4 ,the super having been removed from the hive and inverted1 the trap may be fitted into one of the sides of a box1 which1 without its lid1 is then inverted upon the super1 every opening being closed which could admit a bee from outside4 ,the super is then darkened1 when the bees within will make for the light through the trap4 ,mr4 ,cheshire and ,mr4 ,aston have also invented traps4 ,mr4 ,aston's has talc falls in place of pins4 ,,xix4 ,,drone-,,traps4 ,if the increase of drones grows into an intolerable nuisance a trap may be applied for their partial extermination4 ,aston's drone-trap is an ingenious contrivance1 though we recommend its use only under limitations4 ,it consists of a box to affix to the hive entrance1 with an opening from the inside1 but no means of exit except through perforations which admit only the workers2 the bees are attracted into it by the light1 while their proper flight-hole is darkened by a ridge over which they can just make their way into the hive4 ,the drones are thus left in the box to perish4 ,the objections which we have to the trap are--first1 that the surmounting of the ridge must surely prove an impediment to the work of the bees2 secondly1 that the ridge obstructs ventilation2 and thirdly1 that should the queen stray into the trap1 she will1 unless promptly discovered1 soon share the same fate with the drones4 ,but if the trap be applied only for an hour or so at the part of the day when the drones are leaving the hive in the greatest numbers1 it may then perhaps sufficiently effect its purpose and be free from any serious drawback4 ,,xx4 ,,bee-,,feeders4 ,it has long been acknowledged that the best mode of feeding bees is through an opening at the top of the stock hive1 as bees can thus take the food without coming abroad4 ,another important feature is the cleanliness with which liberal feeding can be accomplished2 and few operations require more care than this does4 ,if liquid sweet is left hanging about the hive it tempts robber bees1 and when once the bees of an apiary have had a taste1 there is no knowing where their depredations will stop4 ,even if no hives be completely destroyed1 weakness from loss of numbers will be the portion of most1 if not of all1 the hives in the garden4 ,the morals of our favourites are here a good deal at fault1 for the stronger hives1 when their inordinate passion is thus stirred up by the carelessness or want of knowledge of the bee-keeper1 attack and prey upon the weaker ones4 ,to be forewarned is to be forearmed--and prevention is better than cure4 ,illustration ,the ,bottle ,feeder1 as shown in the annexed figure1 consists of a round or flat bottle placed in an inverted position over the feed-hole of the stock hive1 and resting in a circular block1 below which is a piece of perforated zinc4 ,the following directions will show how it is to be employed3 ,fill the bottle with liquid food2 apply the net1 affixed by an india-rubber band1 over the mouth2 place the block over the hole of the stock hive1 and invert the bottle1 the neck resting within the hole in the block3 the bees will put their tongues through the perforations1 and imbibe the food1 thus causing the bottle to act on the principle of a fountain4 ,the bottle being glass1 it is easy to see when the food is consumed4 ,the piece of perforated zinc is for the purpose of preventing the bees from clinging to the net1 or escaping from the hive when the bottle is taken away for the purpose of refilling4 ,specially prepared pieces of vulcanite plate1 pierced with holes in such manner as to give complete regulation to the supply of food1 are much recommended by some apiarians4 ,no net is then required1 but as the plate is to be a fixture on the crown-board1 the bottle should be inverted over a small shovel or some thin metal plate1 which may then be withdrawn1 leaving it standing upon the vulcanite4 ,occasional examination of the plate is however requisite1 as the bees will sometimes stop up the holes with their propolis4 ,we strongly recommend closely covering up this feeder with one of the middle-sized bell glasses1 should the regular hive cover not be sufficiently tight4 ,when bees are not kept in a bee-house this is particularly needful4 ,illustration ,the ,can ,feeder is our next form of an apparatus for this purpose4 ,much has been said about stimulating feeding--that is1 administering food in such a way that there shall always be liquid sweets within the reach of the bees1 and that they shall continuously be able to imbibe a little4 ,in order to meet this requirement we have constructed a new feeder1 which consists of a tin bottle or can1 six inches wide by six high1 with five small holes at the bottom1 and closed by a sliding valve and a screw top4 ,the can is filled from the top1 with the valve closed1 and when the screw top is made firm this valve is drawn back by moving the pin in front4 ,the can is placed over the feeding-hole at the top of the stock hive1 and the bees have access to it by small holes4 ,this can is on the principle of a fountain3 the screw top rendering it air-tight1 the liquid only escapes as drawn down by the probosces of the bees4 ,a glass side is let in to show when the feeder is empty4 ,it need not be removed for refilling4 ,the capacity of the vessel is over a quart4 ,its difference in form from the above renders it less liable to attack from robber bees4 ,illustration ,our ,round ,feeder is made of zinc or earthenware1 eight inches across and three deep4 ,the projection outside is a receptacle for pouring in the food4 ,the bees gain access to the feeder through a round hole1 which is placed either at the centre or nearer one side1 whichever may best suit the openings on the top of the stock hive2 it is in fact a tube which fits over the feed-hole in the crown-board1 thus allowing the bees to rise through it above the surface of the liquid4 ,a circular piece of glass1 cut so as to fit into a groove1 covers the feeder all over and prevents the bees escaping1 whilst it retains the warmth within the hive1 and affords opportunity for inspecting the bees when feeding4 ,the feeders were originally made only of zinc2 but some bee-keepers advised the use of earthenware1 and a few have been thus made to meet the wishes of those who give the preference to that material4 ,when the bees are fed from above in this manner1 the feeder is kept at a warm temperature by the heat of the hive4 ,in common hives cottagers feed the bees by pushing under the hive thin slips of wood scooped out1 into which the food is poured4 ,this plan of feeding can only be had recourse to at night1 and the pieces of wood must be removed in the morning4 ,by feeding at the top of the stock hive any interruption of the bees is avoided4 ,for further instructions on this head1 see the directions given for using the bottle feeder4 ,round feeders are of course entirely safe from robber attacks1 being protected by the regular hive cover4 ,illustration ,a variation upon this is ,the ,new ,round ,feeder1 which obtained a prize at the #ahge ,crystal ,palace ,bee ,show4 ,it is made of wood1 and holds more than two pounds of liquid food1 which must be poured into the outer trough4 ,the bees ascend through the centre as in the last case1 and passing over the innermost ridge1 which is rounded1 they reach the inner trough1 at which they imbibe the food without risk of drowning1 as the sides are too contracted4 ,a piece of window glass covers the top4 ,the feeder is nearly ten inches in diameter4 ,,xxi4 ,,fumigators4 ,illustration ,the ,box ,fumigator is a tin case1 somewhat like a pepper-box upon a foot4 ,it is a simple adaptation of the fumigating apparatus described by ,mr4 ,nutt1 and is used in the following manner3 ,have a straw hive or other vessel ready that will match in circumference the hive intended to be fumigated4 ,if the empty hive have a conical top it will not remain crown downwards without a rest2 in this case it will be convenient to invert it on a pail4 ,having ascertained that the hive to be operated upon and the empty one in its reversed position nearly match in size1 take half a packet of the prepared fungus1 fire it well1 and place it in the box or fumigator2 place this in the centre of the empty hive1 then bring the occupied hive directly over1 so as to receive the fumes of smoke4 ,to keep all close1 put a wet cloth round the junctures of the two hives4 ,after a minute or two the bees may be heard dropping heavily into the lower empty hive1 where they lie stupefied4 ,after a little while the old hive may be gently tapped upon to make them fall more quickly4 ,on removing the upper hive the bees from it will be found lying quiet at the bottom of the lower one1 when the intended operation--of uniting different colonies1 searching for the queen1 or whatever else it may be--must be promptly performed4 ,illustration ,the ,tube ,fumigator1 which will be found to possess many advantages over the above1 is useful for several purposes4 ,when a frame hive has to be disturbed it is requisite to raise the lid and blow a little smoke into the hive1 so as to check the angry passions of the bees4 ,if it be desirable to stupefy the bees1 ignited fungus must be placed in the box and the flattened end applied to the entrance of the hive2 the smoke is then blown in1 either with bellows or by applying the mouth of the operator1 taking care to close all openings through which it can escape4 ,the bees fall down stupefied1 generally in about ten minutes2 but the effect varies according to the populousness of the hive and the quantity of comb in it4 ,the projected operation must now be performed speedily1 as activity will soon be regained4 ,see preceding directions4 ,another and quite a different means of subjugation has recently been introduced in the form of carbolic acid4 ,the odour of this drug is so abominated by bees that the most refractory hive will be immediately subdued by sprinkling a few drops of it on the tops of the frames4 ,but a feeling of humanity should suffice to prevent the frequent resort to so harsh a measure4 ,we have in other places 7,chap4 ,v4 ii4 and ,,vi4 viii47 made allusion to the applications of the same fluid to the operation of transferring swarms and to the repelling of robber bees4 ,,xxii4 ,,bee ,,dress ,,or ,,protector4 ,illustration ,all operations connected with the removal or the hiving of bees should be conducted with calmness and circumspection4 ,bees1 although the busiest of creatures1 entertain a great dislike to fussiness in their masters1 and become irritable at once if the apiarian allows them to see that he is in a hurry4 ,hence there is great advantage in having the face and hands covered whilst at work amongst the bees2 for when the operator knows he cannot possibly be stung1 he can open his hives1 take out the combs1 gather in his swarms1 or take the honey1 with all the deliberation of a philosopher4 ,various kinds of bee dresses have been contrived2 one that we keep ready in stock is of a very simple construction4 ,it is made of strong black net1 which is manufactured for us specially for this purpose1 and in shape is like an inverted bag1 large enough to allow of a gentleman's wideawake or a lady's hat being worn underneath4 ,the projection of the hat or cap causes the dress to stand off from the face1 and the meshes of the net1 though much too small for a bee to penetrate1 are wide enough to allow of clear vision for the operator4 ,an elastic band secures the dress round the waist2 the sleeves also1 made of durable black calico1 are secured at the wrists by a similar method4 ,the hands of the bee-master may be effectually protected with a pair of india-rubber gloves1 which should be put on before the dress is fastened round the wrists4 ,this kind of glove is regularly used by photographers1 and allows of greater ease in manipulation than any other description4 ,some persons also tie strings round the ankles of their trousers1 or use elastic bands for the same purpose4 ,those who wear ,wellington boots will be able to tuck the trousers within them4 ,illustration ,the annexed figure represents a cheaper form of bee veil which we have more recently introduced4 ,it is provided with an elastic band which fits round the hat1 the lower portion being folded under the coat4 ,there is however no protection to the arms4 ,it is made of the same specially constructed material as the preceding--a strong black net1 with large meshes4 ,thus a very simple and inexpensive means of protection will enable even a novice in bee-keeping to make his observations and conduct his experiments under a sense of perfect security4 ,there are1 of course1 those who scorn all such artificial modes of protection1 and having inured themselves to stinging take it as a thing of course1 only to be restrained within some manner of limit by means of the persistent smoking of cigars or pipes 7non-smokers such as ,dzierzon use a sort of mouth-fumigator74 ,but it does not follow that none but these stoics are to be permitted to manipulate with bees1 otherwise the number of beginners would be likely to be but few4 ,and even he who is protected need not be careless as to the feelings of his bees2 his success and their comfort will be promoted by his handling them gently1 and as if he loved them4 ,familiarity between bees and their master breeds not contempt1 but affection4#bd ,see further under ,stings 7,chap4 ,,vi4 vi474 ,footnote #bd3 ,von ,berlepsch denies that bees come really to know their master so as to be able to distinguish him from any one else4 ,we retain the remark in our text as true to the extent that they do become used to his manipulations4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,v4 ,,bee ,,manipulation4 ,i4 ,,hiving ,,swarms4 ,,the spring is the best period at which to commence an apiary1 and swarming time is a good starting-point for the new bee-keeper4 ,the period known as the swarming season is during the months of ,may and ,june4 ,with a very forward stock1 and in exceedingly fine weather1 bees do occasionally swarm in ,april4 ,the earlier the swarm the greater is its value4 ,if bees swarm in ,july they seldom gather sufficient to sustain themselves through the winter1 though by careful feeding they may easily be kept alive if hived early in the month4 ,the cause of a swarm leaving the stock hive is that the population has grown too large for it4 ,swarming is a provision1 of ,nature for remedying the inconvenience of overcrowding1 and is the method whereby the bees seek for space in which to increase their stores4 ,by putting on super hives the required relief may1 in many cases1 be given to them2 but should the multiplication of stocks be desired1 the bee-keeper will defer increasing the space until the swarm has issued forth4 ,in many country districts it is a time-honoured custom for the good folks of the village to commence on such occasions a terrible noise of tanging and ringing with frying-pan and key4 ,this is done with the absurd notion that the bees are charmed with the clangorous din1 and may by it be induced to settle as near as possible to the source of such sweet sounds4 ,this is1 however1 quite a mistake3 there are other and better means for the purpose4 ,the practice of ringing was originally adopted for a different and far more sensible object--viz41 for the purpose of giving notice that a swarm had issued forth1 and that the owner was anxious to claim the right of following1 even though it should alight on a neighbour's premises4 ,it would be curious to trace how this ancient ceremony has thus got corrupted from the original design4 ,in case the bees do not speedily after swarming manifest signs of settling1 a few handfuls of sand or loose mould may be thrown up into the air so as to fall among the winged throng2 they mistake this for rain1 and then very quickly determine upon settling4 ,some persons squirt a little water from a garden engine with the same object4 ,there are1 indeed1 many ingenious devices used by apiarians for decoying the swarms4 ,mr4 ,langstroth mentions a plan of stringing dead bees together1 and tying a bunch of them on any shrub or low tree upon which it is desirable that they should alight2 another plan is to hang some black woven material near the hive1 so that the swarming bees may be led to suppose they see another colony1 to which they will hasten to attach themselves4 ,swarms have a great affinity for each other when they are adrift in the air2 but1 of course1 when the union has been effected1 one of the rival queens has to be disposed of4 ,a more ingenious device than any of the above is by means of a mirror to flash a reflection of the sun's rays amongst a swarm1 which bewilders the bees and checks their flight4 ,it is manifestly often desirable to use some of these endeavours to induce early settlement1 and to prevent1 if possible1 the bees from clustering in high trees or under the eaves of houses1 where it may be difficult to hive them4 ,should prompt measures not be taken to hive the bees as soon as the cluster is well formed1 there is danger that within one or two hours they may start on a second flight2 and this is what the apiarian has so much to dread4 ,if the bees set off a second time it is generally for a long flight1 often for miles1 so that in such a case it is usually impossible to follow them1 and consequently a valuable colony may be irretrievably lost4 ,too much care cannot be exercised to keep off the sun from a swarm when it has once settled4 ,if exposed to heat in this way1 bees are very likely to decamp4 ,we have frequently stretched matting or sheeting on poles so as to intercept the glare1 and thus render their temporary position cool and comfortable4 ,for the same reason the hive used to take them in should not have been standing in the sun4 ,two swarms sometimes depart at the same time1 and join together2 in such a case we recommend that they be treated as one1 by putting them into a hive as before described1 taking care to give abundant room and not to delay affording access to the super hive or glasses4 ,they will settle their own notions of sovereignty by one queen being destroyed4 ,there are means of separating two swarms1 but the operation is a formidable one1 and does not always repay even those most accustomed to such manipulation4 ,if after one swarm has started there are signs of another setting out which might mix with it1 means may be taken for securing the queen of the second1 or sheets may be thrown over the hive4 ,with regard to preparations for taking a swarm1 our advice to the bee-keeper must be the reverse of ,mrs4 ,glass's notable injunction as to the cooking of a hare4 ,some time before you expect to take a swarm1 be sure to have a suitable hive in which to take it1 and also every other requisite properly ready4 ,a bee veil or dress will preserve the most sensitive from the possibility of being stung4 ,this article is fully described on page #bji4 ,but bees when swarming are in an eminently peaceful frame of mind2 having dined sumptuously1 they require to be strongly provoked before they will sting4 ,yet there may be one or two foolish bees who1 having neglected to fill their honey-bags1 are inclined to vent their ill-humour on the apiarian2 or1 what is far more likely1 the bees of neighbouring hives may be incensed if they see him manifesting unusual excitement4 ,when all is ready the new hive 7a straw skep is the most convenient in the first instance1 but if that is not at hand a box or anything else will serve as a substitute7 is held or placed in an inverted position under the cluster of bees1 which the operator detaches from their perch with one or two quick shakes2 the floor-board is next placed on the hive1 which is then slowly turned up on to its base1 and it is well to leave it a short time in the same place1 in order to allow of stragglers joining their companions4 ,the operator should make sure that he has not left the queen behind on the branch1 as in that case the bees would return to her4 ,sometimes swarms alight on trunks of trees or on walls1 where it may be difficult to shake or brush them off4 ,the late ,mr4 ,woodbury mentioned an instance of this kind4 ,a swarm clustered among the large branches of a pear tree1 just at their point of union with the trunk4 ,in this case he merely supported a straw hive just over the swarm with the left hand1 whilst he struck the trunk of the tree with the open palm of the right4 ,the vibration thus produced sent the bees up into the hive with great rapidity1 and the entire swarm was speedily hived in the most satisfactory manner4 ,mr4 ,langstroth in a similar case fastened a leafy branch above the bees with a gimlet1 and then smoked them upwards till clustered upon it4 ,it should be borne in mind that they have always a readier tendency to ascend than to descend4 ,a feather dipped in carbolic acid will very promptly move them1 and as they can readily escape from its fumes there is no objection in this case to its use4 ,another case of settling in an awkward spot is mentioned above 7page #gh74 ,if the new swarm is intended for transportation to a distance1 it is as well for it to be left at the same spot until evening1 provided the sun is shaded from it2 but if the hive is meant to stand in or near the same garden1 it is better to remove it within half an hour to its permanent position1 because so eager are newly swarmed bees for pushing forward the work of furnishing their empty house that they sally forth at once in search of materials4 ,if the removal has been made after they have gone forth they will be unable to find their home in its altered position1 in which case they will circle about for hours till they fall and die from exhaustion4 ,but by prompt transference1 only the first despatch of scouts will be lost1 and these are a good loss1 as they might entice the whole colony to desert4 ,the bee-master should always seek to prevent his labourers from swarming more than once2 his policy is rather to encourage the industrious gathering of honey1 by keeping a sufficient supply of supers on the hives4 ,sometimes1 however1 he may err in putting on the supers too early or unduly late1 and the bees will then swarm a second time1 instead of making use of the storerooms thus provided4 ,in such a case the clever apiarian1 having spread the swarm on the ground1 will select the queen1 and cause the bees to go back to the hive from whence they came4 ,but this operation requires an amount of apiarian skill which1 though it may easily be attained1 is greater than is usually possessed4 ,for a description of the theory and phenomena of swarming1 with the signs by which its imminence may be gathered1 and a variety of information referring chiefly to the habits and life of the insect1 the reader is referred to an earlier article in this work 7,chap4 ,i4 xi474 ,,ii4 ,,transferring ,,swarms4 ,where the permanent hive is of the skep description the swarm may of course be hived into it at once4 ,but with many of the hives now in approved use a process of transference will be necessary4 ,to effect this1 place the straw hive1 into which we will suppose the bees have been shaken1 on the ground1 propped up on one side with a brick or a flower-pot1 or anything of the sort that may be handy1 in order that straggler bees may join the swarm4 ,the spot selected for this should be as shady a one as can be found1 near to the place where the swarm settled2 or it may be shaded from the rays of the sun by fixing matting on two poles1 so as to prevent the heat falling on the hive4 ,spread a sheet or cloth on the ground where an even surface can be obtained2 stake this sheet down at the four corners1 to prevent ruts and inequalities1 which are great hindrances to the bees going into the hive 7,mr4 ,cheshire's swarming-board1 which is simply a large square board to rest on the hive-stand1 has its advantages72 place the frame hive upon the sheet1 without its floor-board1 having its front raised on blocks or sticks rather more than an inch long--not more1 otherwise the bees will cluster1 and attach themselves to the lower part of the frames1 instead of going up between4 ,these preparations will perhaps occupy ten minutes1 by which time the swarm will have become settled and tolerably quiet4 ,then1 with a sharp rap1 precipitate the bees out of the straw hive on to the sheet immediately in front of the frame hive2 give the straw hive another knock1 so as to dislodge all the bees1 and then take it quite away1 otherwise they may1 if it be left near1 perversely choose to go into that1 instead of the one desired4 ,in an hour or so1 more or less1 the whole swarm will have clustered within the frames4 ,in some cases1 as when the swarm has to be brought from a distance and procured from a cottager about whose skill in carrying out these directions there may be misgivings1 it is best to give instructions that the swarm be brought home after sunset1 and then the foregoing directions for inducing the bees to tenant the frame hive may be better carried out4 ,for ourselves1 we much prefer the evening for the purpose4 ,not after dusk however--in fact no operation of the kind ought to be attempted when it is so dark that the bees1 if they should fly1 are unable to see where to fly to1 for in that case they will be sure to settle upon the operator4 ,a little water sprinkled over them from a watering-pot is likely to induce them to quit the ground and go up into the hive more quickly2 a little smoke1 or a touch with a twig or feather1 may answer the same purpose1 and if the feather be dipped in diluted carbolic acid it will more speedily do its work4 ,with a goose wing they may conveniently be swept up4 ,the operator should be protected with the bee dress and other precautions described on page #bji4 ,mr4 ,langstroth writes3 ,if they seem at all reluctant to enter the new hive1 gently scoop up a few of them with a large spoon and shake them close to its entrance4 ,as they go in with fanning wings1 they will raise a peculiar note1 which communicates to their companions the joyful news that they have found a home2 and in a short time the whole swarm will enter1 without injury to a single bee4 ,on catching the note the queen speedily follows1 and1 being longer in limb1 she outstrips the others in the race4 ,in the ,journal of ,horticulture1 ,mr4 ,woodbury says3 ,if combs be fixed in the frames1 the crown-board may be removed and the cluster knocked out of the straw hive on to the top of the exposed frames4 ,the bees will disappear between them with the utmost alacrity1 delighted to have met with a ready-furnished dwelling1 and the top1 or crown-board1 having been replaced1 the hive should at once be removed to the position it is intended to permanently occupy4 ,bees occasionally manifest a dislike to their new hive4 ,the operator will1 however1 in a very short time be able to ascertain their intentions4 ,if on putting his ear to the hive he catches sounds like gnawing or rubbing1 he may be sure that they have commenced work2 but if all is still1 or they go listlessly about1 and hang1 as ,langstroth puts1 it1 with a sort of dogged or supercilious air1 it may be gathered that they intend to be off at the first opportunity4 ,in such case1 either catch the queen and put her in a cage 7page #aih71 or keep the whole hive in darkness for three days1 supplying food1 water1 and ventilation the while4 ,if the weather be wet the next day or so after hiving1 it will be well to give a little assistance to the new colony in the shape of food1 for although1 when a swarm leaves a hive1 almost every bee composing it has filled itself with honey1 we have known not a few instances1 in case of very wet weather1 in which the whole swarm has been starved for the want of this small but most timely help4 ,a little should be given the first night even in fine weather4 ,of course1 the first work of the bees is to build themselves combs1 and these combs being produced by the secretion of wax from honey1 a great drain upon their resources immediately begins1 and any little outlay at this juncture is therefore abundantly compensated4 ,,iii4 ,,transferring ,,old ,,stocks4 ,we frequently find that the possessor of a stock of bees in a cottager's common straw hive is desirous of removing the whole stock1 with brood and comb1 into one of our improved hives1 in which the honey may be obtained without the destruction of the bees4 ,we mostly discourage such a transfer1 attended as it is with much labour1 and requiring a considerable amount of apiarian skill4 ,an old-fashioned hive may very readily be turned into a humane one1 simply by cutting out the middle of the top of the hive with a sharp-pointed knife2 a piece may thus easily be taken out1 so as to leave a round hole two or three inches in diameter1 taking care that the knife does not penetrate much below the straw1 lest it reach the comb or the bees4 ,there should be ready a round adapting-board1 with a corresponding hole1 which may be secured on the top by putting four long nails through the same number of holes in the board2 then a cap-hive or a glass may be placed on the top1 for the purpose of admitting the bees1 who will soon crowd therein to work4 ,this hive or glass will form a super or depriving-hive1 and can be worked as profitably as most of the improved hives4 ,for the sake of more sightly appearance1 an outside case1 either of zinc1 straw1 or wood1 may now be dropped over all1 and then1 if well painted1 the whole will form no disfigurement to any flower-garden4 ,this is1 beyond doubt1 the easiest way of overcoming the difficulty1 but as it may not satisfy all1 we will now proceed to describe how a complete transfer of colonies may be effected4 ,no hive offers such facilities for the placing of the combs in a perfectly upright position as does the frame hive4 ,as before remarked1 we should be slow to recommend any one to attempt the operation who is not already pretty well accustomed to the handling of bees and acquainted with their habits2 but by carefully carrying out the following directions an apt bee-keeper may successfully perform the feat4 ,the first thing is to get the bees away from the combs3 there are two ways of doing this--one is by fumigation 7see page #bjg71 the other by driving 7page #bbf74 ,whichever plan may be resorted to1 place the bees in the temporary hive on their old stand until you are quite ready to admit them into the frame hive4 ,have in readiness all the necessary appliances4 ,these consist of a large knife for cutting the hive1 a good-sized table on which to lay the brood combs1 a basin of water--for washing off honey which may besmear the hands--tape or string to fasten the combs in their frames1 a pair of honey-cutters 7page #aic7 for cutting out the combs1 jars to hold the honey that runs out1 and a feather for brushing off any bees that may remain4 ,it is necessary that the operator should have on his bee dress and india-rubber gloves4 ,if the old skep is not valued the operation will be facilitated by cutting it in half vertically between the two middle combs2 but the honey-cutters will accomplish the object without this destruction if it is not desired4 ,mr4 ,cheshire's transferring board 7page #aib7 comes in useful here4 ,if one is possessed the frames may be laid upon it1 and the combs1 which should be cut as large as possible1 must then be placed within these4 ,of course they will not exactly fit1 but they must be adjusted1 piece by piece1 till they bind each other together2 the few interstices the bees will soon fill up4 ,if in any of the frames there is not sufficient comb1 supply empty comb if it is to hand1 and in default of such1 fix an additional bottom bar inside the frame--a false bottom as it may be called--at whatever height the supply of comb requires4 ,drone comb1 however1 should be used very sparingly1 and this only for the outside frames1 in which it is not likely to be selected by the queen for breeding purposes1 but left for storage of honey4 ,both filled and partly filled frames must now be made secure by tying pieces of tape or pliable wire 7even string will answer7 round the whole from top bar to bottom or false bottom2 there should be two of these to a frame1 or perhaps three if the pieces of comb are small4 ,in two days or so the bees will have made all firm enough for the tape to be dispensed with1 which should accordingly be done1 as it is in the bees' way4 ,to effect this1 dismember first the cells from the tape by means of a sharp knife1 and then cut the tape and draw it out4 ,care should be taken that the combs occupy the same position in the frames as in the hive from which they were extracted1 for the cells are not exactly horizontal1 but inclined slightly upwards4 ,supply guide-comb or wax strips to any frames that are wholly unoccupied4 ,the frames now filled are placed in the hive1 when the bees may be let into it in the manner ,mr4 ,woodbury recommends for a swarm 7see page #bbj74 ,it may be as well to keep them confined a few hours1 giving them water at the top1 by means of a soaked sponge laid on perforated zinc1 until they make the combs secure2 the object of this being to exclude the bees from other hives1 who1 if feloniously inclined1 might come to rob4 ,for the same reason the operation of adjusting the combs should not be performed in the open air1 or the bees from surrounding hives will be sure to come in great numbers to obtain a share of the honey necessarily exposed4 ,it should be done inside a room with the temperature at about #gj degrees--not cold enough to chill the brood1 nor yet hot enough to soften the combs4 ,an expert apiarian could perform the operation in less than three-quarters of an hour1 and with little loss4 ,a week or so after a swarm has left the old stock is perhaps the very best time for such a removal4 ,in some instances a routing of this kind has a beneficial effect2 old stocks of hives that have previously appeared to be dwindling are often aroused to activity by their removal into a fresh domicile4 ,after the winter's doze this is especially the case1 say if done on a warm day early in ,april4 ,we have ourselves frequently shifted the stock from a well-occupied frame hive to a fresh one1 in which the bees find a clean floor-board and walls1 as well as freedom from insects that may have harboured in crevices during the winter4 ,,iv4 ,,driving4 ,driving is an operation by which bees are induced to vacate an1 old settled hive and to enter an empty one4 ,many apiarians prefer this mode of effecting an exchange of hives to the plan of fumigating the bees4 ,the greatest success attending such a transfer will be in the case of hives well filled with combs that are worked nearly to the floor-board2 and it may be remarked that bees are generally so far provident that they leave an open space in which to pass underneath their combs over all the floor of the hive4 ,when the old hive is inverted the bees crawl up the combs1 and thus more easily pass up into the new hive1 which the operator places over the old one with the intent that they should enter it4 ,the best time for performing this operation is about the middle of the day1 and when the weather is warm3 ,it is essential that the operator be protected with a bee dress and gloves1 as before described2 and previous to commencing his task he must provide all necessary implements4 ,these are--a couple of hives1 both of which should correspond in shape and size with the hive from which the bees are to be driven2 a cloth to tie round at the juncture when the new hive is placed on the old one2 some string to keep the cloth in its place2 an empty pail to receive the top of the old hive1 if one of the old conical shape1 but if the stock of bees is in a square box-hive with a flat top1 a firm stool will be the best2 and a tube fumigator with some fungus1 which will complete the material of war4 ,the bucket or stool must be placed securely on the ground1 about a yard from the place where the full hive stands2 then a few puffs of smoke1 blown in amongst the bees1 will cause them to retreat up amongst the combs4 ,the bee-master must now turn the hive#be upside down very gently1 letting it rest in the pail or on the stool2 he then quickly places the empty hive over the full one1 and ties the cloth round it1 to prevent any escape of the bees4 ,if the cloth be damped it will cling the closer to the hives4 ,the third hive1 which should resemble the old one even in colour1 is intended to be placed on the stand formerly occupied by the stock1 so as to retain the few returning bees which had been absent in the fields4 ,care must be taken that all crevices through which it is possible for the bees to escape from the united hives should be effectually closed4 ,when the two are fairly united1 the operator will proceed by rapping the full hive gently with the hands or a couple of sticks1 more particularly on that side where the combs are the most thickly placed--that is1 if the hive be not equally filled on all sides4 ,a stock is in the best condition for driving twenty-one days1 or thereabouts1 after a first swarm has issued2 the brood will then have hatched out1 the bees will quit more readily1 and there will be no loss of larv in the cells4 ,footnote #be3 ,care should be exercised in turning the hive over to keep the combs vertical by turning it in the direction in which they hang1 and not crossways1 or they are likely to break from their foundations4 ,it generally happens that in ten or fifteen minutes the bees regularly commence the ascent2 their exodus will be known by the distinct rushing sound which is always noticed when a colony of bees is on the move4 ,the first thing bees do when disturbed is to fill their honey-bags1 as they invariably do at swarming time2 consequently1 after the first rush into the new hive is over1 as in the case of a swarm1 the flitting bees are not much disposed to take wing4 ,when the noise made by the ascending bees has been heard1 and has in a great degree subsided1 the cloth may be removed1 and the old hive1 now deserted1 may be taken indoors2 and if a few bees yet remain they may be brushed off with a feather4 ,an experienced apiarian1 on first hearing the rushing noise before mentioned1 will not hesitate to tilt the top hive over a little on one side1 so that he may watch the bees during the ascent2 the queen maybe seen passing up1 and if the operator desires to take her away he can secure her by gently taking her between thumb and finger4 ,those who have become experienced in this operation find that it can safely be performed with the hives fixed open from the first4 ,this is called open driving1 and can be effected with increased facility by sticking two skewers through the ruin of the lower hive in such manner that they shall act as props to keep the upper in a fixed position4 ,mr4 ,hunter has1 however1 devised an improvement upon this1 consisting in a wire hinge to connect the two hives1 and wire rods to prop them open4 ,the operator thus has both his hands at liberty for other parts of the work4 ,if the taking of the honey be1 the object of the bee-master1 then driving is manifestly a better plan than resorting to the fumes of sulphur for the purpose2 for the bees from whom the store is taken can be joined to stocks that are weak in numbers1 with considerable advantage to the future prosperity of the apiary 7see next section74 ,v4 ,,uniting ,,colonies4 ,a weak colony may frequently with advantage be added to another1 or three may be made into two4 ,and not only may this be done with new swarms1 but in autumn1 when there is no brood in the combs1 it may be carried out also with stocks1 the combs that are extracted being taken care of for use when required4 ,after working hours is the best time for this operation4 ,it is not1 however1 altogether a simple one1 as strange bees will not intermix unless measures are taken to overcome their natural hostility to each other4 ,whatever be the number of hives in an apiary1 the bees of each know the smell of their own companions4 ,a single bee that enters the wrong hive will be stung to death1 unless possessed of a good booty wherewith to disarm animosity4 ,similarly on the admixture of entire colonies1 if one has some distinct ground of advantage over the other1 there must be a method hit upon to deprive it of this or else to purchase its goodwill1 for otherwise there will ensue a ferocious and disastrous slaughter4 ,if both are alike frightened all will go well1 and the same if both are upon the wing in search of a home2 but quite otherwise if one is self-possessed and active in its own abode1 while the others are frightened strangers and gorged1 and it may be still further demoralised by having lived under an unfertile queen1 or with none at all4 ,but if both are cowed alike by a good drumming on the hives1 they may be sprinkled so as to possess the same scent1 and then taken to a third position and shaken out on to a sheet together1 when they will enter the offered hive in harmony4 ,if each colony has a queen1 one of them may be searched for and removed4 ,a slight variation upon this method consists in driving the bees of the one hive 7see last section7 straightway into the other1 having first terrified the bees of the latter by drumming until by their changed note they may be concluded to be thoroughly subdued1 and as a consequence gorged with honey2 then1 before their equanimity is recovered1 the others must be joined to them4 ,a third plan is the one usually practised with the ,stewarton hive 7page #aea71 and which can be imitated with other hives1 by means of ekes or nadirs2 this is usually carried out in the evening1 when the quietude appears efficacious in settling all differences without the necessity of any other precautions4 ,a fourth is as follows3 ,at dusk1 dislodge the bees on to a cloth1 sprinkle them with sweet syrup scented with essence of peppermint 7as a means of bribing their new hosts to receive them71 and place the hive to which it is intended to join them over the mass2 they will gradually ascend into the hive placed for them1 and early next morning the hive1 with its slender stock thus augmented1 may be removed to its stand4 ,should the operator not have been successful in gaining possession of the queen1 he may leave it to the bees themselves to decide which queen they will have4 ,many persons feel more secure from stinging if they first stupefy the bees by fumigation4 ,these should proceed as follows3 ,having used the fumigator upon the bees in one hive1 as described under that article 7page #bjg71 place a sheet on the ground and spread the bees on it2 then1 with a feather1 sort them over1 in order to pick out the queen4 ,as soon as she is found1 pour the rest of the lethargic swarm from off the sheet back into the inverted hive again4 ,the stupefied bees must now be sprinkled freely with a syrup made of honey and water1 or sugar and ale boiled together4 ,some apiarians recommend a few drops of peppermint to be mixed with the syrup1 in order to drown the peculiar odour which is special to each hive of bees2 this is more necessary when both hives are fumigated1 and whilst under the influence of smoke are well mixed together upon the sheet or board4 ,such course can be adopted if preferred1 and no further instructions will be needed than what are here given2 but we will suppose as before that only one is thus operated upon4 ,the hive containing the non-stupefied bees must now be placed on the top of the inverted one1 just as the hive was from which the bees in the latter have come4 ,a wet cloth must be fastened round the two hives1 so as to prevent any of the bees from escaping4 ,the hives in this position must be placed where they are not likely to be knocked down or meddled with4 ,the fresh bees in the upper hive1 attracted by the scent of the bees besmeared with honey1 go down and commence licking off the sweets from the sleepy ones4 ,the latter gradually revive1 when all get mingled together and ascend in company to the upper hive1 where they live as if they had not been separate families4 ,the two hives should be left undisturbed for twenty-four hours1 when the upper hive may be removed and placed immediately on the spot from whence it was brought4 ,the removed queen should be kept alive and fed as long as she will live1 in case any harm should befall the sovereign of the other community4 ,if three hives are to be incorporated in two1 the only difference will be that the stupefied colony upon the sheet is divided into two empty skeps1 the one being covered securely over till the other is adjusted4 ,,vi4 ,,artificial ,,swarming4 ,every bee-keeper knows the anxiety he feels in watching and expecting a swarm to come forth1 fearful lest his favourites should1 like riches1 take wing and fly away--a mischance that it is desirable to prevent4 ,in our description of natural swarming this will be found fully treated of2 we propose here merely to point out how1 especially with movable frames1 this work of ,nature may be assisted4 ,we call it assisted1 because artificial swarming should1 as nearly as possible1 resemble natural swarming2 that is1 it should be performed at the same time of the year1 and when the populous state of the hive makes a division desirable4 ,this is easily known to be the case when bees hang out in clusters at the entrance1 wasting their time in enforced idleness instead of being abroad gathering honey4 ,it is also necessary that there should be drones about at the date chosen4 ,when such is the state of the hive1 the advantages of movable-frame hives are strikingly manifested4 ,with the others the bees will often persist in wasting their time as just stated when a swarm would put all to rights2 while they are often just as awkward the other way and will send out swarm after swarm which the strength of the hive cannot spare and which in themselves are unable to form colonies capable of self-support and of repelling robber bees4 ,the great expenditure of time and labour by the bee-keeper1 with the fear that after all the swarm may come off at a time when he is absent1 and thus be perhaps lost1 are additional objections to depending upon the natural process4 ,an apiarian may if he pleases give the bees their chance1 and then if they do not swarm readily he may resort to artificial means4 ,but if he wishes to dispense with the former altogether he will have to adopt measures of prevention against it1 as his forced colony must not be procured till the proper time of natural swarming4 ,some clip the wings of the queen1 which seems a clumsy proceeding at the best--though recommended by high authorities from ,virgil to ,langstroth--as the royal mother may still wander forth and thus fall to the ground and be lost4 ,others block the entrance of the hive with some obstruction which only workers can pass1 by which means the drones will also be kept at home4 ,if this be the method pursued care must be taken that the obstructions are removed both after sunset and before sunrise to permit of the dragging out of the bodies of such as have fallen among the hourly victims of the gathering season4 ,the best time for performing the operation is about ten o'clock in the morning of a fine summer's day4 ,the following directions should be carried out3 ,place ready a counter or bench that is firm and strong1 and which has space on it for the inhabited--or1 rather1 the over-inhabited--frame hive1 and the empty one1 which is about to be made the receptacle of a separate stock4 ,the operator1 attired in his bee dress1 and having the other appliances ready1 may now open the hive#bf 7as described at page #bgj71 and proceed to take out the frames1 carefully examining both sides of each comb to find the queen3#bg she is generally in the centre of the hive1 so that it is not always needful to take out every one of the frames4 ,as these are examined they may be put into the empty hive1 and when the object of the bee-master's search is found he must carefully remove the frame containing her majesty1 and may place it temporarily in the empty hive1 at one end by itself1 or he may make use of the bar-frame holder 7,chap4 ,,iv4 xi474 ,next he must proceed to put the frames back into the old hive1 closing up the vacancy caused by the removal of the comb with the queen on it1 and leave the empty frame at the end4 ,then he may place the frame containing the queen1 with the few bees that may be upon it1 in the centre of the empty hive2 and1 finally1 putting all the other empty frames in1 and replacing the lid1 he will place this hive in the exact position occupied by the old stock4 ,the bees that are on the' wing will go to the old spot1 and1 finding the queen there1 they will rally round her1 and if a time is chosen when a large number are abroad1 they will on their return very soon form a sufficient number to constitute a swarm2 comb-building will at once begin1 the frames will1 in a week or so1 be filled1 and a satisfactory stock will thus be established4 ,footnote #bf3 ,bees are apt to take the interference more quietly if the stock is moved a little distance from its accustomed ,stand2 in such case1 put an empty hive in its place1 to amuse returning bees4 ,these can be shaken out when the hive it is desired they should inhabit is restored4 ,if this is kept in a closed bee-house the entrance should be shut down until the hive is replaced1 when the clustered bees may be at once admitted4 ,footnote #bg3 ,italian queens are more easily detected1 being of a brighter colour1 and1 generally1 larger than ,english queens4 ,this operation we once performed--exactly as described above except that there was no frame-extracting--with one of our improved cottage hives4 ,whilst inspecting our bees we caught sight of the queen on the comb in one of the bell glasses4 ,this was a chance not to be missed1 and we immediately resolved to form an artificial swarm1 for the hive was very full of bees4 ,besides1 being obliged to be away from the apiary most of the week1 we were glad of the opportunity of so easily establishing a colony without the uncertainty and trouble of hiving a natural swarm4 ,in the first place we slid a tin under the bell glass1 and1 removing the stock hive from underneath1 we took it a few feet away2 then we placed an empty improved cottage hive where the old stock had stood1 and put the glass of comb containing the queen and a few bees over one of the holes in the crown of this new empty hive4 ,the bees that were left abroad belonging to the old stock returned as usual to their old entrance as they supposed2 soon a sufficient number formed a large cluster in the hive and began comb-building1 the queen remaining in the glass until the cells below were sufficiently numerous for her to deposit her eggs in them4 ,the experiment answered exceedingly well4 ,both hives prospered3 the old hive either had some princesses coming forward to supply the loss of the queen1 or the bees used the power that they possess of raising a queen from worker brood in the manner we have previously described 7page #af74 ,the foregoing account illustrates the successful formation of an artificial swarm2 but1 with a cottage hive1 gaining possession of the queen is on this method quite a matter of chance4 ,with a movable-frame hive she can at any suitable time be found4 ,precisely the same plan is to be adopted with the old stock in the frame hive as we have described in the case of the cottage1 that is1 to remove it some few paces off3 when the hives are in a bee-house a similar result may be obtained by placing the new swarm for a day or two so as to be reached by the same entrance as the old stock1 and the latter may be removed to one close by4 ,some apiarians recommend that a space be left between the two hives1 by arranging them on the right and left of the old entrance1 in order that too large a proportion of bees should not enter the new hive at the old position1 to the impoverishment of the other4 ,but we have found the mode adopted with the cottage hive answer so well that we see no reason for recommending any different plan4 ,it is the office of the bee-master to assist1 not in the least degree to oppose1 ,nature4 ,we know that when a natural swarm issues forth it has its queen1 and when located in a new abode it commences building worker combs1 leaving the building of the few requisite drone combs to a later period4 ,but if a division of the hive should be made1 by putting half the combs in one hive and half in another1 the hive that is either queenless or contains an embryo queen will busy itself with building only drone comb 7see page #ag72 thus a number of receptacles for useless bees are provided1 while all the time the colony is rapidly dying off from the wear-and-tear of the working season4 ,in the plan we have recommended for forming two separate families we nearly follow the natural course of things2 the comb that the queen is upon is the only one that is taken from the hive1 and this vacancy should be filled in by moving the frames together1 so as to leave the empty frame at the end4 ,the swarm under the government of the queen construct the combs1 and furnish their new abode1 as before stated1 with worker cells4 ,by adopting the plan above described1 the movable-frame hive will prove far superior to any of the dividing-hives1 which provide for equal division of the combs4 ,there are1 however1 quite a host of other modes of procedure more or less varied from the above1 and their number is doubtless capable of almost unlimited extension4 ,mr4 ,langstroth1 in the tenth chapter of his ,honey ,bee1 describes a considerable variety of them1 nearly all of which are accomplished wholly or in part by the process of driving4 ,the following he particularly recommends as approaching nearest of any to natural swarming4 ,two hives exactly alike are placed one above the other with their entrances different ways2 they have holes made through their floor-boards to allow of communication from the crown-board of whichever for the time occupies the lower position4 ,free passage being thus given from one to the other1 a number of the young bees will use the upper entrance4 ,after some ten days a swarm is driven from the lower and received into the upper1 upon which the positions of the hives are reversed1 the forced swarm being put below4 ,most of the mature bees will unite with the swarm from association with the lower entrance2 but the young ones which have habituated themselves to the upper one will now cling to the parent stock and form a sufficient strength to keep it properly going4 ,in the course of a few days the upper hive may be placed by the side of the lower1 and then1 by successive short steps1 removed to any other part of the apiary4 ,if it was found that either hive was too weak the positions should be again reversed4 ,when driving is the method resorted to1 it becomes absolutely essential1 in forcing a swarm1 that the queen should go with the new colony2 but on the other hand it is not in this case the object to drive all the bees from the parent stock1 but to leave1 say1 a quarter to preserve warmth for the brood and to raise a new queen4 ,if therefore the queen is not observed in the ascent of the bees after the drumming1 those in the swarm must be turned and shaken over in the skep in order to find her 7they will not attempt to fly1 but only crawl74 ,an inexperienced eye may still fail to detect her1 and in that case it will be best to set both hives upon stands for a short time--the new one on the old stand and the old on some other--when within half an hour the one which is fairly quiet may be judged to be possessed of the royal presence4 ,should this be the old hive it must be again drummed1 or the swarm may be returned to it and the operation renewed on a following day4 ,it is1 however1 only with skep hives that any difficulty of this kind need be apprehended--there is always the power of capturing and transferring the queen from movable frames4 ,when at last she is in the desired hive the swarm is secured1 and the after measures depend on the number of bees that have accompanied her4 ,if the stock retains one-half it may be moved to a new position and the swarm take its place upon the old stand4 ,whichever occupies this latter post will detach largely from the strength of the other1 so that the reduction undergone by the parent stock will not be more than it will probably be able to sustain4 ,as detailed in the above article on ,driving 7page #bbf71 there is a third hive made use of in this case1 which has received the bees that returned home during the operation1 and these are now added to whichever hive may most require them4 ,should too many have gone over with the swarm1 this latter may be taken away and set in a cool airy place1 while the old hive is carefully restored to its old stand1 when the bees which were distractedly flitting in and out of the third hive will at once rush into it1 and the impression made upon them by the occurrence will be such that they will now cling to it wherever it is placed4 ,it must be forthwith removed to its intended permanent position1 but if still short of bees this must be close at hand1 so that if the forced swarm is kept where it is for a day or two a good number may desert to the old stock2 its entrance should be closed until sunset as a precaution against robbers1 but not so as to stop ventilation4 ,the forced swarm1 if not in their permanent hive1 must now be treated as an ordinary transfer1 and their fixed abode be brought in the evening to the old stand4 ,some additional covering may be needed at first1 and in very cool weather the operation should not be attempted at all4 ,there is no fear of all the bees deserting in the arrangement just suggested1 and if inconvenient to complete the operation at once the swarm may be so left1 even if there appears no need on account of the old stock4 ,the process of driving is the only method of obtaining artificial swarms from cottage hives1 except in such rare cases of good fortune as the one mentioned on page #bcf2 but even with frame hives it is often practised for the sake of its rapidity4 ,but with an experienced operator the same result can be achieved by simply taking out the frames one by one and jerking off the bees on to the sheet in front of the new permanent hive2 that on which the queen is found will be inserted therein just as it is--queen1 brood1 and workers4 ,if the swarm is being collected in a skep the queen must be taken with the fingers and deposited therein1 while the bees from as many frames as are needful must be shaken in after her4 ,there is sometimes a doubt whether a hive is strong enough to yield a swarm1 though apparently overstocked4 ,in such cases there is an excellent plan1 devised by ,mr4 ,langstroth and strongly approved by ,mr4 ,cheshire1 for obtaining a single swarm out of two hives4 ,on a suitable morning1 when large numbers are upon the wing1 drum a strong stock till every bee has left it4 ,place the forced swarm on the old stand3 this of course consists of bees in an unfurnished hive1 while the old hive has lost all its bees1 but retains its brood4 ,remove this hive to the stand of another strong stock1 the hive of which goes to a third spot with the bees inside it at the time4 ,those of this last which were upon the wing will enter and remain with the first hive and raise a new queen2 while sufficient will be transferred with the second stock hive to protect its brood also4 ,thus the first stock gives no bees to the swarm1 but the whole of its brood2 the second gives the larger half of its bees4 ,if frame hives are the ones used1 the shaking process of the last paragraph may be substituted for drumming2 but as it may not be possible to shake off every bee without damaging the combs1 a goose wing should be employed to brush off the more tenacious of the occupants4 ,other modifications consist in either obtaining one swarm out of four or five hives1 or else one less than their own number out of the same4 ,for the former 7frame hives7 two combs may be taken from each and placed in a new hive1 which is then set upon the stand of some strong stock4 ,for the latter1 a swarm is forced1 after or before working hours1 from each of these hives1 while another swarm1 that has been procured from some bee-keeper a mile or two off1 and has been kept in a cool place1 is now shaken on to a sheet1 sprinkled to keep it from taking wing1 and softly scooped up with a saucer and divided equally or as required among the hives that have yielded the swarms4 ,the distance that these bees have come will prevent them from returning to their own home4 ,,vii4 ,,queen-,,rearing4 ,perhaps the greatest advantage the movable-frame hive possesses is1 that a full knowledge1 can be attained of its exact state as regards the queen1 the population1 and the quantity of food in stock4 ,during weather of a genial temperature the combs may on any fine day be inspected1 and thus1 a knowledge being gained of the deficiency existing in a hive1 the necessary means may be adopted for supplying the want4 ,sometimes such an examination will verify the fears of the bee-keeper1 when1 having observed that his bees have ceased to carry in pollen1 he has thereby received warning that the queen has been lost at some juncture when no successor to the throne could be provided4 ,such a hive has entered on a downward course and will dwindle away entirely1 unless a queen should be given to it1 or else some combs containing young brood not many days old 7see page #af74 ,by the latter method the bee-keeper will gain an opportunity of seeing the bees set about their wonderful process of raising a queen from the brood thus provided for them4 ,if neither means is practicable the colony must be united to some other hive4 ,illustration ,an ingenious little contrivance has been brought into use by continental bee-keepers1 especially by ,herr ,kleine1 a ,german pastor1 to prevent the destruction alluded to4 ,it consists of a small wire cage 7in fact1 a pipe cover71 as represented in the annexed illustration1 placed over a queen cell to protect it from the mother bee's animosity4 ,it also serves to prevent the young queen1 when hatched1 from escaping2 for she will have the same jealous feeling towards her sister princesses1 should there be more in the hive4 ,the bee-master may thus carefully remove and appropriate her4 ,particular attention will have to be exercised to affix the cage into the comb by pressure1 as far as the middle wall1 but at no point must it touch the royal cell itself4 ,as the cage will probably project so as to touch the adjoining comb1 a little incision and removal of a portion may be necessary to allow space for it4 ,this covering need not be put over the cell until the egg is a little more than a week old4 ,the animosity of the reigning queen does not generally manifest itself until the royal brood approaches maturity4 ,these cells are unmolested on the tenth day1 but on the eleventh day they may be found tenantless4 ,notwithstanding the apiarian's care and skill1 many disappointments are frequently experienced in endeavouring to establish fertile young queens at the head of colonies4 ,hives found to be queenless may be supplied either with matured queens or with queen cells4 ,if the latter are sufficiently numerous1 their introduction may easily be effected by exchanging a comb in each hive2 if they have to be cut out and placed loosely in the new hive1 a triangular piece of comb should then be removed with them1 to be used as a block in preventing any pressure coming on them4 ,a space must be cut out of the middle in the centre combs of the hive into which they are to be introduced4 ,they must not be so loose as to be in danger of falling out1 but if such seems likely a little melted wax should be applied with a feather4 ,special care must be exercised not to bruise the royal embryos1 as a very slight pressure is likely to be fatal4 ,it is important not to perform the operation till they are within three or four days of coming forth1 which may be known to be the case from the brown look of the tops of the cells1 the wax having been removed4 ,it is always easier to introduce royal brood into queenless hives than matured queens1 because bees are reluctant to receive stranger queens1 whilst they will tolerate one hatched in the hive1 who will speedily depart to seek a drone4 ,bee-masters mostly use small hives for queen-rearing1 as explained in the section on ,nucleus ,hives 7page #aig74 ,it is not however indispensable to use other than the ordinary hives1 and ,mr4 ,langstroth gives the following as the very best mode of procedure4 ,place an empty hive on the top of a well-filled one1 giving communication through crown and floor boards and turning their entrances opposite ways 7one of his plans1 by the bye1 for procuring an artificial swarm74 ,the young bees will many of them take to the upper hive--if not they must be enticed into it by food--and when there are sufficient of them1 a brood comb with adhering bees must be inserted and the connection closed4 ,after a few days this nucleus hive may be removed1 a few steps at a time1 and another1 if desired1 take its place and be raised in the same way4 ,queen-rearing operations must be confined to warm weather and when drones are abundant4 ,royal cells are often built so close together that it is difficult to remove one without injuring another4 ,as a remedy for this ,dr4 ,dzierzon has made the important discovery that any convenient worker cell may be made to produce a queen by the removal to it of some of the royal jelly from an unsealed cell2 by placing this on the inner margin of the cell selected1 the bees will adopt and rear the larva as desired4 ,,viii4 ,,introducing ,,new ,,queens4 ,this is an operation that is continually being practised for the purpose of ,italianising a colony1 though there are other occasions for its adoption1 as on the loss or the superannuation of the old queen4 ,we will in the first place describe the mode of procedure with a frame hive4 ,should the old queen be remaining in the hive1 she has first to be removed4 ,having discovered her1 by lifting out and examining the frames 7see page #bga71 place a wineglass over her whilst on the comb1 and1 with a card passed very carefully underneath1 she may1 with a few of her subjects1 be made a prisoner and easily removed4 ,she should be preserved in a small box till the success of the new introduction is ascertained4 ,then1 having enclosed the new queen1 with such of her retinue if any as are with her1 in the domed wire cage described at page #aii1 place this cage upon the comb in a spot where there is a little honey1 so that she may be independent of the bees for food1 and as near the brood as may be2 press it into the comb as far as the middle1 and close the hive and leave the bees undisturbed for three days--less will mostly suffice1 but it is best to be on the safe side4 ,the royal cells that are sure to have been commenced should now be cut away with a penknife1 and then the new queen may be carefully released4 ,if the hive is one that permits it1 her reception should be watched4 ,if the bees make way for her and caress her with their antenn1 all will be well1 and the comb may be gently restored to its position and the hive shut up4 ,but if they cluster in a ball around her1 her death is intended2 and if they cannot readily be induced to separate they should be taken out and dropped into lukewarm water 7which will hurt none of them71 and the queen re-encaged for another day or so--that is1 if she has not already met her doom1 which is all uncertain3 ,mr4 ,langstroth says he has had several queens stung to death before they had quitted his fingers6 ,we prefer effecting her release1 then shutting up the hive and leaving the bees quietly to themselves4 ,we may remark here with regard to these acts of surrounding a new queen1 that they evidently arise from a great number rushing upon her at once for the purpose of stinging her1 but that very frequently such purpose is frustrated by the immovable position in which the inner bees are held4 ,suffocation however will soon effect the same end if the ball be not dispersed4 ,there are cases1 on the contrary1 in which friendly bees surround a queen to protect her from others1 and sometimes the knot is made up of members of both parties1 perhaps without enclosing the queen at all4 ,the hissing note will at once distinguish a hostile onset from a protecting rally4 ,with the ,renfrewshire cage 7page #aii as above7 all the variation needed is to place the cage between instead of within the combs1 so as to permit of the queen's release at the bottom4 ,the inventor considers that this gives an advantage in introducing her majesty in the first place to those bees that have been engaged in feeding her2 but1 as already noticed1 it is not the feeding1 but the familiarising with her presence1 which is the great point1 and that is surely quite as well accomplished with the other cage as this4 ,there is also here no opportunity1 as in the other case1 of being certain whether she is well received or not1 so that we always put a good-sized board under the entrance1 and examine the next day whether she has been thrown out dead or not4 ,in effecting the exchange with cottage hives1 the bees must first be driven out into another hive 7as described at page #bbf71 and after the old queen is removed they must be sprinkled with a little water flavoured with a drop of extract of peppermint 7to be obtained of any chemist71 which overcomes the particular hive-scent1 and makes all smell alike2 then throw the new queen in among them and place the mass of them back in the hive4 ,if preferred1 an eke 7page #ahf7 may be placed on the stand1 the bees precipitated into it1 and the hive of combs placed above1 when the bees will ascend4 ,if this is done in the evening the queen will in most cases be well received4 ,as there is no opportunity of excising queen cells1 the process should be performed1 say1 in the middle of ,october1 when breeding has ceased4 ,stupefying the bees with fungus is a method devised by ,huber as applicable in any kind of hive1 and it has been highly approved of and declared to be infallible4 ,a strange queen is generally well received by young bees1 whether she be ,italian or ,english--for we have never found the slightest difference in reception1 though ,mr4 ,wagner 7,langstroth's ,honey ,bee1 page #cbe7 was of opinion that there is more opposition in the case of the foreigner4 ,the difficulty is to have a sufficient number of such young bees4 ,in the middle of a hot summer's day a stock may be divided and the part with the old queen left in its former position1 while the other part1 with as many brood combs as it is prudent to take1 may be removed a few yards off4 ,the old bees that have been brought with the latter will in three or four hours have most of them returned to their former abode1 and the new queen may then with safety be given to the remainder without caging1 taking care to introduce her to the young bees on the combs4 ,this task must only be attempted on a warm midsummer day and when the night temperature need not be feared for the young brood in its deserted condition4 ,stocks may be divided and artificial swarms formed in this way--from the end of ,may to the beginning of ,july--if the apiarian has queens in readiness4 ,,ix4 ,,italianising4 ,it requires a considerable amount of apiarian skill to accomplish the union of ,italian with common bees1 so that we find by experience it is best to send out complete stocks or swarms of the former4 ,this is particularly desirable now that the packing of whole hives is so easily accomplished by us with the aid of bars and frames4 ,we have sent a great number of stocks to all parts by rail4 ,still1 as the introduction of fertile ,italian queens is a frequent practice1 and we are ourselves large importers of the same1 it is only right to add some directions as to the course to be pursued where such union is resolved upon4 ,these queens come over during the summer months1 from ,may to ,october4 ,they are packed in wooden boxes about five inches square1 with a comb of sealed honey in a frame in the centre to feed the queen and the few workers that accompany her on the journey4 ,the old queen should first be removed from the hive1 but carefully preserved till it is ascertained whether all goes well with the stranger4 ,the box containing the latter must now be prised open1 and this should be done within doors1 lest the queen should fly and be lost4 ,on discovering her she must be placed in a queen-cage and gradually introduced to her new subjects in the manner explained under that article 7pages #aih and #bdg74 ,if this is successfully accomplished all is right so far2 but unless considerable pains be taken the off-coming swarms will certainly produce mongrel bees4 ,if none of the neighbouring residents are bee-keepers1 the risk may be considerably narrowed by destroying the drones and drone comb in the other hives and rearing ,italian queens to place at the head of each of these as speedily as possible4 ,every one of these queens1 even if impregnated from an undesired source1 will still produce drones as purely ,italian as herself 7see page #fd71 and thus in another year the chance of ,italian mates being found for the queens will be further increased3 indeed the peculiarity of ,italian queens in laying drone eggs in there first year will probably produce this result more speedily4 ,but should some hybrids be the result1 as in all probability will be the case1 even these are much to be preferred to the common black bee--some say 7see page #ec7 that they are even better than pure ,italians for honey-gathering1 but they are more irascible4 ,this course is undoubtedly in opposition to the design of ,nature to avoid interbreeding1 but we find even ,mr4 ,hunter recommending it1 though showing in another place that he perceives it to be a violation of his law4 ,by commencing with two ,italian queens there might be more chance given of escape from the evil--if it really is an evil when not several times repeated4 ,von ,berlepsch1 however1 informs us of the following method1 devised by ,dathe and others1 by which even this objection may be avoided3-- ,when the young queen has left the cell1 she is transferred after forty-eight hours1 or even earlier1 into a cellar or some other dark and cool place4 ,if the drones1 by one of which the impregnation is to be accomplished1 are not among the colony of the queen1 they also must of course be inserted4 ,we now wait for a sunny day free from wind1 when the thermometer in the shade is at least #ag above zero #gj ,fahr42 the bees in question1 towards five in the afternoon1 when drones have completely ceased from flight1 are fetched out of their prison1 and set up in any spot1 if possible where isolated and with the flight-hole exposed to the sun2 then1 by means of a small syringe or in any other way1 direct some liquid honey into the flight-hole4 ,in a minute or two the bees will sport in numbers in the front1 and it will not be long before the queen and drones also fly out4 ,at evening the colony is brought back into custody1 and the manuvre is repeated till the young queen has commenced laying1 or till her accomplished fructification is made sure by expansion of the abdomen1 or1 upon return from a flight1 by having the more or less torn-off drone penis upon her extremity4 ,some essential particulars are not here specified1 but we interpret the instructions to refer to a nucleus hive in which the queen is hatched with several workers1 but with no drones present except those specially introduced4 ,by choosing these1 also from their birth1 from the progeny of a different queen from the mother of the one in the nucleus1 all may apparently be made as straightforward as could be desired4 ,even ,von ,berlepsch1 who is no friend to the ,italians1 praises this method as a beautiful discovery3 it dates only from #ahfg4 ,x4 ,,general ,,hints ,,on ,,frame ,,hives4 ,it may not unnaturally be asked by some1 ,why all this trouble about frame hives8 ,no one1 however1 who has carefully read the previous sections of this chapter1 and especially those on ,artificial ,swarming and ,queen-,rearing1 can require any further answer to such question4 ,briefly1 frame hives stand immeasurably above others from the full command over the bees which they afford4 ,the facility of inspection for ascertaining the strength of the colony or the stock of its honey1 or for incidental purposes1 such as the detection of disease and the extirpation of enemies such as the bee-moth1 and again the facilities provided for giving ventilation or for contracting the dimensions to suit a small population1 are among the minor but still great advantages which the use of these hives secures4 ,in skilful hands these advantages may be used successfully2 though in the hands of the unpractised and unskilful the contrary may be the result4 ,it is a great desideratum that all the bars and frames in an apiary should be of precisely the same dimensions1 so as to fit every hive4 ,a hive that is weakly may often be advantageously strengthened by having put into it a comb of brood from a populous stock1 to which an empty frame from the weak one may be given2 no bees must be on the brood-comb--these should be shaken off or gently dislodged with a feather into the hive from which the comb is taken4 ,the frames of combs should then be1 one by one1 placed so as to fill in the vacancy1 leaving1 the empty frame nearest the side4 ,in the ,british ,bee ,journal of ,march #ahge1 ,mr4 ,cowan gives the following excellent description of his system of working frame hives4 ,he says3 ,the method is very simple1 but is one that requires much attention1 which is1 however1 well repaid by the extra quantity of honey obtained4 ,the hives ,i use are the ten-frame ,woodbury1 and thirteen-frame on the ,woodbury plan1 only longer4 ,in the autumn ,i transfer the bees into clean hives and leave them seven or eight frames1 and should they be short of food or of bees ,i add those ,i may take from the cottagers in the neighbourhood4 ,i feed with sugar and water of the strength of two pounds of sugar to a pint of water boiled a few minutes4 ,they are fed up to a weight of thirty pounds4 ,during winter they have ample ventilation--the hives being raised about one-eighth of an inch from the floor-board1 and the top board is also raised about the same height1 so that there is a constant current of air through the hive4 ,while ,i am on the subject of wintering ,i may mention that ,i have tried several plans4 ,with the above ,i have always been free from mouldy combs4 ,i have also tried wintering without crown-boards1 by merely placing an empty super on the top1 and ,i have done so successfully--in fact1 the hive which produced the largest quantity of honey last year was wintered in this way4 ,condensers ,i have tried1 but give the preference to crown-boards without them4 ,i am trying the quilts on some of my hives1 but must reserve my opinion about them until later on4 ,i generally supply my bees with plenty of food in the autumn1 so that they require no further attention until about the end of ,february1 when1 if the weather is fine1 the bees are all thoroughly roused into activity and induced to commence and continue breeding until the honey-gathering season commences1 by which time every frame in the hive is filled with brood1 and the hives are so strong that it is easy to make an artificial swarm and to ensure a good supply of honey besides4 ,if the weather is fine1 about the end of ,february 7or if cold1 then ,i defer a little longer7 the bees are transferred into clean hives2 and in this way ,i get to know the exact state of the community4 ,now suppose it is a ten-frame ,woodbury hive4 ,i do not return the whole of the eight frames which the bees had for wintering on1 but only from five to six of the centre ones1 and contract the size of the hive to the six frames4 ,i then unseal the honey-cells of two of the frames1 and allow the honey to run down inside the hive4 ,this thoroughly rouses the bees2 and the queen at once begins to lay4 ,the running honey is very soon collected and stored2 and in a few days ,i do the same with a couple more frames1 and so on until all the frames have been unsealed4 ,i find this a great advantage1 as much of the honey that has granulated1 and which the bees will not touch1 is removed by them out of the hive1 and gives them increased space4 ,i now commence very gentle feeding1 for which purpose ,i use the very fine strainers found in ,loysell's coffee-percolators1 and allow each hive from a quarter to half a pint of food a day1 of the strength of about three pounds of sugar to a quart of water4 ,when there is sealed brood in three or four of the frames ,i add two more--making eight--and serve them in the same manner as the rest2 then when there are six with sealed brood1 the colony will be sufficiently strong to have the remaining frames added4 ,the same plan is adopted with the thirteen-frame hive4 ,they must be constantly watched so as not to allow them to store too much food1 which would diminish the space for egg-laying2 and if such is found to be the case1 food should be withheld for a day or two1 or until they are getting short of it4 ,in this way ,i keep them going from day to day2 watch them carefully1 or it might happen that a hive full of bees--and at swarming point--might1 if not watched and supplied with requisite food for existence1 swarm or decamp4 ,so by the time there is an abundance of honey abroad the hives are completely filled with bees and contain brood in every frame hive2 and then it is that ,i put on my supers and discontinue stimulative feeding4 ,in the place of the crown-board ,i place a sheet of five-thirty-second perforated zinc1 and supers same size as hive and five inches deep4 ,the supers are provided with bars which are sawn down the centre1 enabling me to fix a strip of impressed wax sheet without any difficulty4 ,the bees generally take to these supers at once2 and in a day or two the crown-board of super is removed1 and ,i place a second super without top board between the first one and stock hive4 ,the supers are also provided with traps page #bja to enable bees to leave after they have deposited their load1 instead of passing through the stock hive4 ,now it sometimes happens that for some days the weather is fine and the bees begin storing a large quantity of honey in the supers 7as they have no room in the stock hive71 when suddenly the weather changes and cold sets in4 ,as soon as this happens ,i remove the supers and watch the bees1 and if they require small quantities of food ,i give it them1 and when the fine weather returns they go again into the supers when replaced on top4 ,in this way it sometimes takes only a week to fill a thirty-eight or forty pound super with some of the best honey that can be obtained in this part of the country ,horsham4 ,i discard old queens and generally select young and prolific egg-layers4 ,agreeing as we do very much with the hints ,mr4 ,cowan gives1 we commend them to the careful carrying out of intelligent and painstaking apiarians4 ,,xi4 ,,removing ,,bees4 ,a very great advantage that frame hives afford is the safety and convenience with which a stock of bees can be transported in them to any part of the kingdom or abroad3 by a few additional arrangements stocks have even been sent in them to distant countries4 ,in many districts hives are removed to moors and heaths in autumn1 for the purpose of gathering heather honey4 ,in this operation the frames are a great support to the combs1 very much lessening the risk of a break-down and consequent loss4 ,the proper course to pursue in this case is to remove the crown-board1 and nail across from side to side two strips of wood with smaller pieces fastened on them so as to secure each frame in position4 ,then nail a sheet of perforated zinc over the top2 or in default of that the crown-board may be screwed down1 when1 if the two strips are not over an eighth ,of an inch in thickness1 they will secure ventilation without allowing the bees to escape4 ,the combs must be scrupulously carried lengthways1 or they will break2 and if they are new and the weather is warm1 even with that precaution any but the most careful hand carriage is nearly certain to ruin them4 ,if not going far it is best for the hive to be borne between two2 but if this is impracticable the vehicle used must at any rate have springs4 ,it is most urgent in making such a transfer that the most ample ventilation should be allowed4 ,the bees are of course gorged at the time1 and in that condition they are most particularly in need of air2 while on the other hand the fact of their imprisonment1 together with the shaking attendant on carriage1 irritates them and causes them to make such a commotion1 that without stringent precautions they would very probably be stifled1 and of course the finer the colony the greater is the danger4 ,with an ordinary skep this supply of air cannot be ensured at the top1 so that it becomes necessary1 if the journey is to last longer than an hour or two1 to invert the hive4 ,this must be done with great caution and always in the direction in which the combs run4 ,a sheet of perforated zinc on a board1 or a piece of coarse canvas or cheese-cloth1 may then be nailed or otherwise fastened with string over the base1 thus taking the place of the floor-board1 and it is needless to say that this should be done in such a manner that not a single bee can escape4 ,if the journey is likely to be one of more than a few hours it will not do to employ any soft material1 as it would in that time be gnawed through2 but wire-cloth would answer as well as perforated zinc4 ,as a preliminary to any remove1 smoke should be blown in at the entrance repeatedly during half an hour1 after which it may be judged that all on the wing will have returned4 ,for carrying a swarm1 either a skep or box or anything will serve1 and it must be secured and carried mouth upwards in the same way4 ,,xii4 ,,supplying ,,natural ,,comb4 ,we have spoken above 7page #ahg7 of the great value of sheets or strips of wax for assisting the bees in the building of their combs4 ,but when1 through another hive having lost its bees at an early stage1 the combs themselves can be supplied them in good and clean condition1 the advantage is very much greater4 ,such combs may be fixed in frame hives exactly in the same plan as is adopted on transferring full honeycomb 7page #bbd74 ,generally speaking the bee-keeper may be satisfied if he can simply insert pure white guide-comb with which to start the bees4 ,every bar1 or if the comb is not plentiful1 every other bar1 should have a piece fixed to it in the following manner3 ,cut a piece of clean empty comb of the required size1 say two inches square1 not less2 heat a common flat iron1 with which slightly warm the bar2 then melt a little bees'-wax upon it2 draw the comb quickly over the heated iron1 hold it down on the centre of the bar1 giving a very slight movement backwards and forwards2 then leave the wax to grow cold1 and1 if cleverly managed1 the guide will be found firmly attached4 ,care must be taken that the pitch or inclination of the comb is the same as it is in the hives--upwards from the centre of each comb4 ,when a hive has been in use many years the combs become very black1 and every bee that is bred in a cell leaves a film behind4 ,it may be understood how in this way the cells become contracted1 and the bees that are bred in them correspondingly reduced in size4 ,after the lapse of1 say1 five years it may be necessary to begin removing the old combs4 ,this may be done by cutting away the combs1 or by substituting an empty frame for one with old black comb1 gradually moving the frames towards each other4 ,by taking two away in this manner in the spring or summer of every season1 the combs in course of five years may all be reconstructed1 and fresh clean ones be secured for breeding in1 instead of the old black ones that otherwise would remain as long as the stock could live in the hive4 ,guide-combs can also be used with glasses4 ,these may be filled1 with great regularity1 by adopting the following directions1 which1 we believe1 have never before appeared in print3-- ,procure a piece of clean1 new1 empty1 worker honeycomb1 which has not had honey in it 7because honey will prevent adhesion to the glass72 cut it into pieces of about three-quarters of an inch square4 ,gently warm the exterior of the glass 7this we find is best done by holding the glass horizontally for a short time over the flame of a candle72 then apply one of the pieces of empty comb inside at the part warmed1 taking care1 in fixing it1 that the pitch or inclination of the cells is upwards--in fact1 place the guide-comb in the same relative position that it occupied in the hive or glass from which it was taken4 ,there is some danger of making the glass too warm1 which will cause the wax to melt and run down the side1 leaving an unsightly appearance on the glass2 but a little experience will enable the operator to determine the degree of warmth sufficient to make the comb adhere without any of it being melted4 ,it is hardly necessary to state that only the very whitest combs ought to be used4 ,a short time should be allowed before changing the position of the glass1 so that it may cool sufficiently to hold the comb in its place4 ,six or eight pieces may thus be fixed1 so that1 when the glass is filled1 it will present a star shape1 all the combs radiating from the centre4 ,the annexed illustration shows the appearance of a glass as worked by the bees1 in which guide-combs were fixed in the manner described above4 ,the drawing was taken from a glass of our own1 filled after being thus furnished4 ,in the ,old ,museum at the ,royal ,gardens1 ,kew1 may be seen a ,taylor's glass1 presented by us1 some of the combs in which are elongated on the outside to the breadth of six inches4 ,illustration ,we believe that not only does a glass present a much handsomer appearance when thus worked--and will1 on that account1 most fully reward the trouble of fixing guide-comb--but that more honey is stored in the same space and in less time than if the glass be merely placed on the hive in a naked condition for the bees to follow their own course4 ,this mode of fixing guide-comb does not solely apply to the above-shaped glass1 but is equally useful for all kinds of glasses4 ,it is introduced in connection with this glass because1 from its having a flat top and no knob1 the regularity is more clearly apparent4 ,the working of bees in the bell glasses illustrates how tractable their disposition really is if only scope is allowed for the due exercise of their natural instinct4 ,they have no secrets in their economy1 and they do not shrink from our constant observation as they daily pursue their simple policy of continuous thrift and persevering accumulation4 ,yet it is only owing to the labours of successive inventors that we are now enabled to watch the very pulse of the machine of the bee commonwealth4 ,long from the eye of man and face of day1 ,involved in darkness all their customs lay1 ,until a sage well versed in ,nature's lore1 ,a genius formed all science to explore1 ,hives well contrived in crystal frames disposed1 ,and there the busy citizens disclosed4 ,murphy's ,vanire4 ,,xiii4 ,,applying ,,supers4 ,supposing the hive to be a stock 7page #ha71 the super should be applied at the early part of the season1 say1 if fine and warm1 at the latter end of ,april or beginning of ,may2 but if the weather is then unfavourable it is better to delay doing so until a more genial temperature4 ,if the colony is a swarm of the present year1 two or three weeks should be allowed to elapse from the time of tenanting a hive before putting on the super2 this delay is necessary to give the bees the opportunity of building combs in their new domicile1 and of getting a store of honey for themselves before working for their master4 ,the exact time#bh will1 however1 depend much upon the weather1 and the same applies to the subsequent time occupied by the bees in filling the super4 ,they will be the more incited to commence their work1 and having commenced to continue it1 if some warm covering is placed over the glass2 at night1 when much comb-building goes on1 it is important to wrap it in flannel or worsted1 or some warm material 7a baize bag is convenient for bell glasses74 ,a further inducement will be offered by the fixing of a piece of comb to the bars or ventilating tube1 as the case may be4 ,the cells on the outside or by the window are always the last to be filled1 so that when these are sealed over it is safe to conclude that the rest are also complete4 ,footnote #bh3 ,there is the nick of time before bees make their internal arrangements for swarming1 but the difficulty is to know precisely when this is4 ,when it is wished to use a super with a frame hive1 the crown-board or roof of the stock hive must be taken away1 the thin adapting or honey board1 or perforated zinc adapter1 taking its place--excepting of course where the crown-board is provided with openings for the purpose4 ,the two long slits at the sides are to give admission to the super4 ,the bees will begin sooner1 and work faster1 if the bars are each furnished with guide-comb 7as described in the previous section74 ,combs that have been left unfilled may be fixed to the bars1 but these must be white and clean1 as dark comb should not be used for super hives4 ,,xiv4 ,,removing ,,supers4 ,the operation of taking honey is best performed on a fine sunny day4 ,the combs may be extracted singly1 if wished1 for consumption1 substituting an empty bar or comb2 or1 should the bee-keeper desire to see a handsome super1 he must wait until the bees have filled and sealed up all the combs1 and then he may proceed to disconnect the super4 ,if a bell glass1 he will first pass a table-knife round it underneath the rim2 then with a piece of string or fine wire1 one end in each hand1 he will very slowly sever the remaining connection with the board1 so as to allow of the bees getting out of the way4 ,wait an hour or so for the commotion to subside and to give the bees time to repair broken cells and suck up spilt honey4 ,then raise the glass and blow in a little smoke1 after which the slide that closes the roof of the hive may be inserted1 and above it another piece of zinc that will cover the base of the super and hold the bees in it close prisoners4 ,after having confined them in the glass for a short time you must see whether they manifest symptoms of uneasiness1 because1 if they do not1 it may be concluded that the queen is among them4 ,in such a case1 replace the glass1 and recommence the operation on a future day4 ,it is not often that her majesty is in the depriving-hive or glass2 but1 this circumstance does sometimes happen1 and the removal at such a time must be avoided4 ,when the bees that are prisoners run about in great confusion and restlessness1 the operator may conclude that the queen is absent1 and that all is right4 ,the glass may be taken away a little distance off1 and placed in a flower-pot or other receptacle1 where it will be safe when inverted and the tin taken away2 the bees will then be glad to make their escape back to their hive4 ,a little tapping at the sides of the glass will render their tarriance uncomfortable1 and the glass may then be taken into a darkened room or outhouse1 with only a small aperture admitting light1 which must be open2 the bees1 like all insects1 make towards the light1 and so escape 7see description of ,bee-,traps1 ,chap4 ,,iv4 xviii474 ,the bee-master should brush them off with a feather from the comb as they can be reached2 but on no account should the glass or other super be left exposed and unwatched1 because the bees that have the opportunity will gorge themselves to their full1 and speedily bring a host of others from the adjacent hives1 who1 in a very little time1 would leave only the empty combs4 ,it is truly marvellous how soon they will carry all the store back again1 if allowed to do so4 ,unless the honey season is over1 an empty glass should be put on to the hive in place of the full one1 as it will attract the bees up1 thereby preventing the too close crowding of the hive1 and starting them to work more honeycomb4 ,if a bar or frame super1 the first process is with a spatula to loosen the adapting-board from the stock hive after which the string is passed between them as above1 putting in wedges on each side to follow the string4 ,the smoking and expulsion of the bees follow as before4 ,another super will take the place of the one removed1 or else the crown-board must be replaced4 ,some apiarians1 however1 are of opinion that deprivation is more easily accomplished by disconnecting the super over night4 ,in this case1 after smoking the bees1 wedge the super up all round about an inch from the board4 ,do this just before dusk1 and leave it so for the night4 ,the opening in the board remains unclosed1 to allow of the bees joining the stock hive below1 which they will naturally do for warmth4 ,the super should receive its usual cover1 and quite early in the morning1 before the bees are much about1 it will be ready for removal4 ,the few bees that remain within may be speedily induced to quit4 ,with a super that has an opening at the top it will be worth while to insert the nozzle of a pair of bellows1 when a few puffs will be very efficacious in driving the occupants out4 ,,xv4 ,,removing ,,frames4 ,it is well for a beginner to practise the directions for opening and shutting up hives1 by using an empty hive until he becomes familiar with the handling of the frames4 ,the first thing to do is to loosen the crown-board1 or lid1 with a knife1 drawing a piece of string underneath it1 to divide the wax or cement with which the bees make all secure4 ,all this should be done very slowly1 so as not to irritate the bees4 ,in hot weather the crown-board may be loosened by a lateral movement2 but sometimes1 for want of care1 this loosening of the lid disturbs the bees1 and1 as soon as it is removed1 a number of them1 enraged thereby1 rush out and attack the operator4 ,especial care should be taken not to prise the lid upwards1 by way of wrenching it off1 for the frames and combs are generally secured thereto1 and there is a liability of rending the combs with it2 this will greatly irritate the bees1 and be otherwise injurious4 ,when a hive of bees is really enraged there is little chance of pacifying them2 if the first tokens of anger cannot be appeased it is best to give in at once1 and not attempt to perform any operation1 but to shut the hive up and beat a retreat1 benefiting by the experience in order to do better a day or so afterwards4 ,there are various devices for intimidating or conciliating the bees1 and one of these1 already spoken of1 is smoke4 ,so next time the experimenter makes his attempt let him raise the lid an inch or so1 and blow a few puffs of smoke into the hive1 which will cause the bees to retreat4 ,previous to this he may give a puff or two at the entrance1 which will help to produce the quieting effect4 ,this is best done by using our tube fumigator1 with a little of the prepared fungus lighted4 ,pipes or cigars are not convenient to use for this purpose when the head is enveloped in the dress4 ,as soon as the lid is removed a few bees will fly out to learn the cause of such an interference4 ,conciliation should then be offered by having at hand a little sweetened water1 which may be sprinkled1 or rather let drop1 from a feather or a brush4#bi ,the sudden motion of the hand required in the act of sprinkling irritates the bees1 so that1 instead of making them our friends1 they may become our foes4 ,mr4 ,langstroth recommends that a fine watering-pot1 containing sweetened water1 be used for the purpose4 ,care must be taken not to drench the bees2 only just sufficient should be given to run down the sides of the combs1 as well as sprinkle the top4 ,as soon as the insects really understand that syrup is being given them1 they feast upon it1 instead of angrily attacking the operator4 ,thus pacified1 and with gentle treatment1 but little difficulty will be found in proceeding with the work required4 ,but the unskilled operator should on no account neglect to put on a bee dress and gloves1 as described above4 ,we would err on the side of caution1 although there is an old saying that a cat in gloves catches no mice2 and the apiarian will find that his fingers are not so free to work as he would like1 for gloves make them rather clumsy in drawing up the frames4 ,footnote #bi3 ,an objection to1 this is that robber bees are liable to be attracted from surrounding hives4 ,these must now be gently prised up from front to rear2 this may be done with a small screw-driver or other stout instrument with a wedged end to go into the notches4 ,they fit loosely so as to permit of a slight movement from back to front2 a lateral or sideway movement might kill the queen1 or1 if not so fatal as that1 might crush some of the bees and injure the brood combs1 which must be carefully avoided4 ,of course much depends upon the nature of the operation that has to be performed1 whether or no all the frames should be thus loosened4 ,if it be for making artificial swarms1 or for any purpose that requires an interview with her majesty1 the whole of them must be loosened1 because it may happen that all the combs have to be examined1 sometimes twice over1 before she can be discovered4 ,bees are very apt to build their combs in a slightly waving form1 and in extracting one it will be needful to make room both for the comb and bees upon it to pass without scraping the next comb1 and there will be a difficulty if the apiarian attempts to draw out one comb whilst the other frames are located in their appropriate places4 ,where a dummy frame is provided the operation becomes simple2 but if there is none1 let the operator gently proceed to lift1 say1 the third frame slightly nearer to the fourth frame 7allowing it to lodge on the little block that divides the notches71#cj and the second nearer the third1 so as to admit of sufficient space to lift out the end one4 ,very carefully and slowly he should lift the frame by taking hold1 with thumb and finger1 of the projecting shoulders that rest in the notch2 and he must not let it touch or scrape the next frame or the sides of the hive1 so as to crush1 or irritate any bees4 ,footnote #cj3 ,many hives are now made without notches1 so that it is necessary only to slide the frames4 ,after the end comb is thus removed it will be easy to extract the others1 as there will now be plenty of room for drawing them out4 ,if the bar-frame holder 7page #aib7 is not at hand an empty hive of the same size will serve2 and care should be taken that each comb occupies the same relative position that it did in the hive so that the same order may be afterwards retained when they are replaced4 ,in handling the frames it should be borne in mind that they are to be held perpendicularly4 ,to gain a view of both sides of the comb when searching for the queen1 or for any purpose requiring full inspection1 the reverse side may1 with a little dexterity in twirling the frame round1 be brought to face the operator1 without letting the comb break away by its own weight and so fall out of the frame1 which it may do if allowed to deviate from its upright or downright position4 ,if the beginner could see an experienced person perform the operation he would quickly understand how combs may thus be handled without any risk of a smash4 ,the bee-keeper should be on his guard not to tempt the avarice of bees by exposing honey1 either in the comb or liquid1 and also to be very tardy of opening frame hives in the spring or autumn4 ,if needful to do so1 soon after sunrise is the safest1 because there will be few bees about1 and the hive should be taken1 if convenient1 to a quiet corner of the garden1 many yards away from the other hives1 and what is requisite done speedily1 so as not to expose the honey to the scent of a host of robbers1 who will most unceremoniously pillage and cause a terrible commotion4 ,when replacing frames in the hive1 care must be taken not to crush a bee1 and on no account must the frame be let down with a jerk1 or the insects will become exceedingly fierce2 it should be so slowly deposited in its place that a bee on feeling the slightest pressure may be able to escape unhurt4 ,the crown-board should be replaced by first resting its front edge along the back1 and then sliding it forward1 so that any bee upon it is pushed away instead of being crushed4 ,should the hive have its super on1 the same directions may be followed4 ,the super with its honey-board may be bodily taken away1 and so placed and confined for a time that robber bees cannot find an entrance1 and also be far enough from the apiarian to be out of danger of being broken or overturned by him4 ,it will be sometimes found1 in cases in which the bees have not had sufficient storage-room1 that they have carried their building operations outside and above the frames1 or across from comb to comb4 ,such cells must be severed and the materials melted down for wax4 ,there are also cases in which fine white combs of honey can be taken from the end frames of the stock hive2 but probably not more than one comb could be removed in a season without impoverishing the bees4 ,,xvi4 ,,extracting ,,honey4 ,those of our readers who prefer eating run honey to honey in the comb may be glad of some instruction as to the best method of separating the two4 ,beyond all question they will find this in the use of the honey-extractor 7page #aic71 but in default of such1 and for extracting honey from combs made in supers1 the following should be the course pursued3-- ,take a sharp knife1 and slice the combs on both sides1 keeping the knife parallel with the partition wall1 so that every cell may be laid open4 ,place these broken combs in a sieve1 or on a piece of muslin stretched across and tied round the opening of a pan or large-mouthed jar4 ,allow the honey to flow out of the combs spontaneously1 and reserve the squeezing process for a separate jar1 so that the honey of the first-drained jar may be perfectly pure1 both in appearance and flavour4 ,that which has pressure put on it will be waxy in flavour and thick4 ,some persons recommend that the opened combs be placed in the sun1 as the heat will cause the honey to run more freely4 ,the great disadvantage of this is the temptation the honey offers to bees1 who will be eager to gain a share4 ,honey1 whilst in the combs1 keeps remarkably well when left in the supers2 if cut out1 the combs should be folded in writing paper1 and sealed up1 so as to effectually prevent the free entrance of air2 they should then be placed in a warm dry closet4 ,,xvii4 ,,melting ,,combs ,,down4 ,comb for which there is no use as such should be melted down into cake wax4 ,brood comb which has undergone its five years or so of service will probably not repay the trouble1 and should therefore be thrown away4 ,but if in good condition it should be put into a clean saucepan with plenty of soft water1 and gently boiled or simmered over a clear fire till it is melted1 when1 the wax will rise to the top4 ,it must then be run through a strainer 7never mind a little water going with it7 into a stoneware or earthen pan1 the sides of which have beep greased to prevent adhesion4 ,the refuse is then collected in a coarse bag and boiled again1 a flat iron or other heavy weight being placed upon it to hold it down1 and a plate or other false bottom beneath it to prevent its burning4 ,by working this about with a rod or ladle a quantity more of wax will be brought out from it1 and more still by applying to the bag a wet rolling-pin upon a board also wet2 the additional wax thus obtained may be added to the other1 and the whole boiled again with a very little clean water and over a slow fire4 ,skim off the dross as fast as it appears1 and then pour the whole again into the greased pan1 and1 after letting it cool slowly1 scrape off the settlings4 ,the above is in the main ,mr4 ,cheshire's method4 ,another is that of ,mr4 ,payne1 who would pour the original boil into a canvas bag of about a quart1 which should be laid on an inclined board in a tub1 with cold water in it below the reach of the bag2 then1 applying the roller1 the wax is all expressed at one process1 and may be collected on the water and boiled again as before4 ,the operation must be carried on where the bees will not be able to get admittance1 or the odour will bring them in great numbers4 ,virgin comb1 being free from cocoons or other rubbish1 will not require the squeezing process1 but may simply be melted into the pan1 gradually cooled1 and melted again4 ,if the cooling is artificially delayed the wax will be all the clearer4 ,if bleaching is desired1 melt it again and pour it out so as to form thin streams or plates1 and then lay these for a few days in the sun2 take care however that they are not melted4 ,,xviii4 ,,weighing ,,hives4 ,one of the most effectual modes of ascertaining the condition of a hive is by weighing it4 ,such knowledge is most important at the close of the gathering season1 in order that the bee-keeper may determine whether he ought to give his bees artificial food to enable them to live through the dreary winter4 ,a knowledge of the numerical strength of the colony is also useful in enabling the bee-keeper to decide which hives will be benefited by being joined together1 on the method explained in the article on ,uniting ,hives4 ,illustration ,a hive can very easily be weighed if a ,salter's spring balance be suspended near the apiary4 ,the hive1 having a strap or cord passed under and over it1 crossing at right angles on the top1 may be hooked on to the balance1 so that the weight will be indicated on the dial4 ,the annexed illustration represents a tripod stand1 with a weighing-machine of the above-named construction1 to which a hive with a super is attached4 ,such an arrangement will be found convenient for those bee-keepers who may not possess suitable sheds in their gardens where a hive could be thus suspended from a beam4 ,to prevent the hive being swayed to and fro by the wind1 three cords 7gear ropes7 might be attached therefrom to the three legs of the stand4 ,the height of such a stand need not exceed four feet4 ,this contrivance is both portable and simple1 and can be used from time to time2 or1 if the apiarian desires to have the hive constantly suspended1 a water-proof covering might easily be made to drop over1 and adapted so as to admit of being raised occasionally for ascertaining the weight shown on the dial4 ,much interest might be derived by watching the daily or hourly increasing store brought into a hive during the gathering season4 ,mr4 ,george ,fox1 of ,kingsbridge1 and ,mr4 ,s4 ,bevan ,fox1 of ,exeter1 have for some years each kept one stock attached to a ,salter's ,circular ,spring ,balance1 suspended from a beam under a shed1 and1 from experience1 found that from a hive so balanced a criterion may be formed of what other hives in the apiary are doing through the day4 ,some interesting observations have been made upon this point4 ,baron von ,berlepsch has had stocks which brought in twelve pounds of honey in a day2 ,kader in ,mentz had days when one stock brought twenty-one pounds2 ,pastor ,stein in ,mentz had days when one stock brought twenty-eight pounds4 ,the sap which a bee's honey-bag holds weighs but a grain1 so that the bees1 in this last case1 must have made in one day over #afj1jjj journeys4 ,many ingenious contrivances will1 no doubt1 suggest themselves for the observation of hives in this manner4 ,for instance1 instead of the cord being tied round the hive1 three or four strong irons1 with a screw at one end and a ring at the other 7known by ironmongers as eyes71 could be screwed into the floor-boards1 to which the attachments might be made fast4 ,it will scarcely be necessary to hint that great care is necessary that full provision should be made securely to support the increasing weight2 a fall would be most ruinous1 and terribly enrage the bees4 ,the weight of the hive should be marked on it when empty1 so that the exact amount of its contents may at any time be ascertained4 ,experienced apiarians are able to judge of the weight of a hive by lifting it a few inches from the stand2 or by looking in at the window of a stock hive a conclusive opinion may be formed as to the state of the colony4 ,if the combs within view be well filled and sealed1 it will be safe to consider that the hive contains sufficient stores to carry the bees through the winter4 ,,xix4 ,,feeding4 ,the bee-keeper1 after the honey harvest1 should ascertain the state of the stock hive1 because it sometimes happens that hives which were very strong and productive during summer have been left poorly off for the winter4 ,the bees1 no doubt under the impression that those nicely filled supers would prove to them an ample sustenance1 have given up the whole stock hive to the queen for breeding4 ,if this be not looked after and rectified the colony will starve off2 or possibly on some mild day in winter--even before all is exhausted--they will decamp as if for a swarm4 ,the apiarian must therefore ascertain the state of the stock hive at ,michaelmas by means of a weighing machine4 ,the weight1 exclusive of the hive1 ought to be from twenty to twenty-four pounds1 and if not so1 the bees must be fed till that weight is reached4 ,this is done by the feeders above described 7page #bjb71 from which they suck the syrup as if honey-gathering1 and then store it away1 a quart in a day or so4 ,the time of doing this should not be deferred later1 as it is important that the food should be placed in the cells and sealed up1 and they cannot secrete the wax for this purpose without a warm temperature2 if it remained unsealed it would be liable to turn sour and cause disease4 ,again1 at mid-winter and in very cold weather1 bees1 though they never become torpid like wasps1 are in a state of dormant inactivity from which it is better not to arouse them4 ,on the return of spring it will again be essential to attend to feeding the bees1 and this precaution must be exercised till ,may1 when they will be able to take care of themselves4 ,a little food in the spring1 even when the store is not all expended1 is of value as stimulating the queen to lay more abundantly1 for bees are provident and do not rear the young rapidly when supplies are short4 ,in this particular their intelligence is very striking2 they have needed no ,malthus to teach them that the means of subsistence must regulate the increase of population4 ,part of the wondrous whole by ,heaven designed1 ,blest with some portion of ethereal mind1#ca ,the prescient female rears her tender brood ,in strict proportion to the hoarded food4 ,evans4 ,footnote #ca3 ,his quidam signis1 atque hc exempla secuti1 ,esse apibus partem divin mentis1 et haustus thereos dixere4--,virgil1 ,g4 iv4 #bai4 ,judgment has1 however1 to be exercised to avoid over-feeding1 or else so many cells will be filled with honey that the queen can find none in which to deposit her eggs1 and thus the progress of the hive will be seriously interfered with4 ,it may also lead to the formation of drone cells--a thing to be avoided under any circumstances4 ,but if the hive is thoroughly impoverished a more rapid process of feeding becomes necessary1 and the honey should be poured between the combs4 ,the bees will lick each other clean after this4 ,a very good syrup can be made by boiling three pounds of loaf sugar with nearly two pints of water4 ,sugar-candy and barley-sugar have also been each highly recommended for winter and early spring feeding1 when small pieces can easily be pushed in at the top of the stock hive a little at a time4 ,they have the advantage of being unlikely to turn sour or to cause dysentery1 as liquid food does when the bees are confined by bad weather4 ,it is of the most urgent importance that the bees should have water supplied them as soon as laying recommences1 which should be early in ,january2 if the weather is such as to prevent their leaving the hive1 they must have it given them within4 ,for preparing the nourishment for the brood1 says ,dzierzon1 water is to the bees indispensable4 ,sooner could they dispense for a considerable time with pollen4 ,it is also needful to them for the preparation of wax1 and1 adds the same writer1 when the egg-laying commences1 some amount of wax is usually produced equally soon1 the bees requiring it for the covering of the brood cells4 ,for a double reason therefore water must be supplied them2 but in their eagerness to obtain it they are often drowned1 so that ,it is well to give it them in shallow vessels containing pebbles for them to alight on4 ,salt also1 says ,dr4 ,bevan1 is eagerly partaken of during the early part of the breeding season till the beginning of ,may1 after which they seem wholly indifferent to it4 ,such are the instructions for the regular process of feeding1 though even this1 with good management1 should not be needed unless in exceptional circumstances4 ,it has been remarked in the section on ,swarming that a supply of food is advisable at such occasions also1 but this is but an incidental trifle as compared with the other4 ,the task of bringing a hive safely through the winter will undoubtedly dismay some of the inexperienced1 and perhaps incline them to a preference for the fire-and-brimstone quieters4 ,but a little attention to directions at the first will soon make the process tolerably simple2 while as to the relative profits of the two methods1 it must be recollected that the honey left in the stock hive for winter sustenance is not much of it of a saleable quality1 and the value of it and of any extra syrup supplied will be far more than made up when in ,may a swarm comes off1 and two colonies are possessed where on the old system there would have been none at all4 ,,xx4 ,,winter ,,precautions4 ,the most important of these is the one discussed in the preceding section4 ,there are1 however1 several other points which it is of consequence for the apiarian to observe4 ,first of all the hive itself must be suitably protected against climate1 and if it be not of a description adapted to preserve warmth1 a transfer must be made to one that is4 ,matting or other fencework may be erected to keep off piercing winds1 and hay bands may be wound around the hives4 ,some hives constructed ,of glass are unsuited for winter occupation--even when kept within doors success is difficult and doubtful4 ,they must be well wrapped up and covered in1 and yet ventilation be allowed1 for unless the moisture can pass off it will condense upon the inside of the glass1 thus causing the combs to grow mouldy and directly interfering with the health of the bees4 ,the use of such hives as the unicomb is best restricted to four months in the year1 when bees are most active and interesting in their operations4 ,an artificial swarm should be put into such a hive in ,may or ,june1 and taken out again in ,september--never later1 for there are often cold nights in ,october1 when1 the bees and brood being in near contact with the glass1 and not being able to cluster as is their natural wont1 they suffer greatly from the variations of temperature4 ,the population of each hive must also be well looked to1 and if needful the uniting processes 7page #bbi7 must be carried out before the ,michaelmas feeding4 ,hives that are to be so united should be gradually brought near together1 if not so already4 ,the innermost combs1 having been the ones most employed for breeding1 will now be the ones least occupied with honey4 ,it is therefore advisable to transpose them with fuller ones1 in order to keep the bees clustered in the centre4 ,they must not1 however1 have drone comb thus given them4 ,in order to give them communication through the combs1 the apiarian should1 says ,langstroth1 late in the fall1 cut with a penknife a hole an inch in diameter in the centre of each comb1 about one-third from the top4 ,this is for the purpose of allowing the bees in cold weather to move in a body1 without going outside the frames1 from combs where they have consumed the food to others that have honey within reach4 ,ventilation is of great moment1 but if the hive allows of its being given at the top1 the entrance may then be narrowed so as only just to give free passage to the bees4 ,holes the size of a pin's head will allow the moisture to escape1 and these must be reopened as fast as they are propolised by the bees4 ,the occurrence of a thaw is the time when ventilation is needed in its highest degree4 ,it is a good plan to place a bell glass over the hole in the crown-board of a wooden hive1 with a zinc trough round it to receive the condensed moisture4 ,it is also requisite to clean the floor-board1 say in ,february2 but in this and other operations the bees should not be disturbed1 for if they leave the hive when they are unable to fly properly1 as is the case in very cold weather1 they are likely to be lost4 ,what further directions belong to this head will be found in the next chapter under ,diseases and ,enemies4' ,mr4 ,langstroth has this comprehensive sentence1 the italics in which are his own4 ,if the colonies are strong in numbers and stores1 have upward ventilation1 easy communication from comb to comb1 and water when needed1 and the hive entrances are sheltered from piercing winds1 they have all the conditions essential to wintering successfully in the open air4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,miscellaneous ,,information4 ,i4 ,,stings3 ,,their ,,prevention ,,and ,,cure4 ,,some of our readers may deem us neglectful in having1 as it were1 left them to struggle through their bee-keeping novitiate without informing them how to avoid the annoyance of stinging from their docile but well-armed flock4 ,of course1 having described the bee dress1 we have supposed that the apiarian was clad1 if not in complete steel1 at least in the head-gear and gloves1 which will render him invulnerable4 ,the best safeguard from the anger of bees--as1 indeed1 from the malice of men--is a quiet and peaceable spirit4 ,never strike at a single one4 ,the apiarian will learn to handle his bees not only as if he loved them--as the quaint angler says--but as if he fully believes that the bees love him4 ,this they will do whenever he approaches and treats them gently4 ,there are some cases of exception to this generally peaceable disposition of the bee2 perchance a few bees are dyspeptic1 and refuse to be pacified1 let their master seek to bribe them never so wisely4 ,then1 too1 sometimes the bee-master himself may be dyspeptic1 which the unerring olfactory sense of the bees speedily detects1 and their anger is immediately aroused4 ,some few persons1 owing to constitutional peculiarities in their breath or insensible perspiration1 are objects of constant animosity with bees1 who1 by driving them from the apiary1 are giving a physician's advice without charge for a fee4 ,some of the choicest perfumes used by ladies are offensive to bees2 and one may feel very certain that the fine puss gentleman1 who disgusted the brave ,hotspur with his pouncet-box and praise of 'parmaceti for an inward bruise1 would have been speedily driven from an apiary in ignominious flight4 ,for the same reason they will ferociously1 and perhaps fatally1 attack a sweaty horse1 while they appear to have an equal antipathy to dogs4 ,the hand should not be waved near them in sprinkling1 as has already been remarked2 nor should they so much as be pointed at when disposed to be out of temper4 ,above all1 says ,mr4 ,cotton1 never blow at them2 they will try to sting directly if you do4 ,the distinguished success of ,burnens in his examinations was attributed in part by ,huber to his power of repressing his respiration4 ,confidence is another important specific3 if a person covers his face with his hands the bees will attack and worry him at once and persistently2 while a bee that is inclined to sting will often prefer a person who is watching at a supposed safe distance1 judging such person afraid1 and probably also seeing him better4 ,again1 when once a bee has stung1 the scent of the poison has an infuriating effect upon others2 therefore1 says ,butler1 you had best be packing as fast as you can4 ,hfler1 who lived in the same century1 gives the advice1 ,never approach the bees with your hat off2 for a bee which may chance to have settled upon the head becomes easily entangled in the hair1 grows angry1 stings1 and moreover calls others to its aid by its hissing passionate note4 ,they have a dislike for woollen gloves1 also to some kinds of leather ones4 ,if used to attendants in light clothes it is said they will attack a visitor whose dress is dark4 ,electricity in the air appears also to ruffle them2 and when kept at home by rain1 or at night or early morning1 they will resent any interference4 ,in very hot weather1 too1 those inside the hive are sure to be in a bad humour4 ,von ,berlepsch states that to disturb the combs at such a time may perhaps1 by breaking them1 even cause a civil war in the hive1 as once happened to himself when exhibiting an ,italian queen and brood to some over-curious tyros1 and when1 out of some seventy or eighty thousand bees1 one-half were slain in the course of an hour4 ,lastly1 they are in a stinging mood when they are queenless and before they have got over the agitation2 also when in excitement during her majesty's nuptial excursion4 ,the best time to choose for operations is when1 with the hive in a normal condition and the weather agreeable1 the great mass of the older bees are out upon the wing4 ,it is these that there is the principal occasion to fear4 ,occasionally even a skilful aparian may inadvertently1 crush a single bee2 such a mischance is detected by the whole community with much more facility than by any crowner's quest1 and their prompt verdict decrees the summary punishment of the offender4 ,there would be much less fear of stings if it were always remembered that bees are never aggressive4 ,defence1 not defiance1 is their motto4 ,they scarcely ever attempt to sting when away from the hive1 and very seldom indeed at the time of swarming1 for then they are gorged with honey4 ,when molested by angry bees1 do not attempt to beat them off2 the safest and best retreat is a green bush4 ,thrust your head into this1 or1 if no such refuge is near1 in an emergency throw yourself on the ground1 and1 with face downwards1 the bees will soon leave you4 ,yet some people appear to think they must inevitably be stung if they1 meddle with bees1 and for their sakes it is needful to explain why it is that a sting is painful1 and how the wound inflicted by the bee may be cured4 ,the weapon1 as we see it with our naked eye--finer than a needle's point--is only the sheath1 which lengthens or contracts like the tubes of a telescope 7see page #ajd74 ,the dart1 as before said1 is barbed on each side1 so that the bee1 when very angry1 is scarcely ever able to withdraw it1 but-- ,deems life itself to vengeance well resigned1 ,dies on the wound1 and leaves the sting behind4 ,there are1 indeed1 some happy mortals whose blood such an even tenour keeps that a bee-sting is to them simply a puncture1 and nothing more4 ,but unfortunately1 as ,langstroth puts it1 they seem to take a mischievous pleasure in stinging those upon whom the poison produces the most virulent effect4 ,dr4 ,bevan has suggested that lovers should subject themselves to the ordeal of a bee-sting1 in order to prove1 we suppose1 that their temper is proof against the stings and arrows of any outrageous fortune that matrimony can bring4 ,it is the infinitesimally minute tincture of poison injected by the bee which causes inflammation4 ,the first thing to do is to remove the sting1 which1 even when detached from the bee1 will continue to penetrate still further into the wound4 ,next press the hollow point of a watch-key exactly over the place stung2 this will express a considerable portion of the virus4 ,then dip the hand into1 or bathe the part with1 cold or tepid water1 for the poison is volatile1 and will thereby be dissipated1 to a great extent4 ,on no account whatever should the part affected be rubbed2 to do that will diffuse the poison and increase the inflammation4 ,the specific remedy for a bee-sting is taught us by chemistry3 the venom is an acid1 which an alkali will immediately neutralise when brought into contact with it4 ,spirits of hartshorn will generally be found efficacious1 and should therefore always be kept in an apiary4 ,there are also several other remedies more or less effectual1 according to the special constitution of the patient4 ,a strong infusion of tobacco-water applied to the wound after the sting has been extracted is a specific for many persons2 others find relief from the application of a sliced onion1 while ,frau ,lieb1 of ,jassy1 declares nothing so efficacious as one's own saliva4 ,two preparations may be named as made especially for the purpose--the ,ledum ,palustre1 and ,dr4 ,pine's ,bee-keeper's ,lotion4 ,we have heard the remark from several who have kept bees for years1 that the poison from a sting has little or no effect on them2 after receiving many inflictions their flesh appears to become so little affected that the swelling and pain at one time experienced no longer trouble them4 ,herr ,kleine recommends bee-keepers to subject themselves intentionally to stinging1 in order that in two years their system may become insusceptible to the poison4 ,no doubt those who are1 so stoically inclined will duly appreciate and gratefully acknowledge the advice4 ,boiling water poured on to bees makes a bee tea which has been highly recommended in bad cases of strangury4 ,bee poison itself is a specific with homopathists1 but one bee-sting is not cured by a second1 as ,mr4 ,langstroth satisfactorily demonstrated at the cost of much personal pain4 ,,ii4 ,,position ,,of ,,hives4 ,some writers on bee-culture attach much importance to the particular position in which an apiary stands and the aspect towards which it faces4 ,a southern1 or rather a south-eastern aspect1 is the one which we recommend4 ,our reason for this preference is that we deem it very important for the bees to have the first of the morning sun4 ,bees are early risers1 and should have every inducement given them for the maintenance of so excellent a practice4 ,a few years since1 many strong opinions were expressed in favour of a northern aspect for hives4 ,the chief reason given for those opinions1 though very plausible1 appears to us to be a very partial and inadequate one4 ,it was said that1 when the hives face the south1 the bees may1 like the incautious swallow in the fable1 be tempted to fly abroad in the transient winter sunshine1 and then perish in the freezing atmosphere when a passing cloud intervenes4 ,but it is a very easy matter1 if considered needful1 to screen the entrance by fixing up matting so as to intercept the rays of the sun4 ,at our own apiary we make no alteration in winter1 under the belief that the bees will take care of themselves and that they seldom venture out when the weather is unsuitable4 ,columella gave a number of directions on this point1 the essence of which may be stated as follows4 ,if in a valley it will be easier for the loaded bees to return home than if on a hill2 it must not be exposed to noisome smells1 nor to the din of men or cattle2 it should be near a shallow running stream with pebbles for the bees to alight on1 but not near deep water with steep banks'2 and the trees near should be low1 and convenient for manipulation in swarming4 ,the vicinity of sugar warehouses1 or other places of temptation of the kind1 is certain to prove prejudicial if not fatal to an apiary4 ,the beeish instinctive love for sweets1 like all other good things1 has its bad side1 and here we see it developed into a propensity to acquire on the shortest and easiest though most suicidal method4 ,mr4 ,langstroth tells us that he once furnished a sweet-shop will gauze windows and doors1 when the bees alighted on the wire by thousands1 fairly squealing with vexation1 and in desperation they descended the chimney1 which had to be stopped in like manner4 ,,iii4 ,,pasturage ,,for ,,bees4 ,bees work for man2 and yet they never bruise ,their master's flower1 but leave it1 having done1 ,as fair as ever1 and as fit for use4 ,apiarians generally agree in the opinion that very little can be done in the way of providing any special forage for bees4 ,yet bee-fanciers are always interested in observing which are the flowers that the bees prefer2 and there are certain well-established conclusions as to the kind of districts and seasons which are the likeliest to produce a good honey harvest4 ,there is an old saying1 that a country which produces the finest wool also yields the best honey2 and a pastoral district is decidedly better than one under tillage4 ,the principle of the matter is1 that the bees are best suited with a long dry season--an early spring1 a hot summer1 and a late autumn4 ,as not one of these blessings can be commanded by the apiarian1 his art must be applied to providing some mitigation of the injury suffered by the bees when the season is short or wet4 ,for early springs the crocus1 the blue hepatica1 and the violet all afford good supplies of pollen and honey1 and1 if cultivated near the apiary1 will be of great service when the wild flowers are backward4 ,all varieties of the willow and poplar furnish early supplies of honey1 as well as of the propolis to be presently described2 the blossoms of the gooseberry and currant are very useful for the bees in ,may4 ,wet1 when it enters flowers of any kind1 prevents1 the tongue of the bee from reaching the secret source of honey4 ,on this account it is well to know1 as does the bee1 that the drooping blossoms of the raspberry escape the effect of the showers1 and honey is gathered from them when other flowers are drenched within as well as without4 ,for a similar reason borage 7,borago officinalis7 is valuable for bees1 and also because that plant continues to flower until the frosts set in4 ,the honey both from raspberry blossoms and borage is very superior4 ,mr4 ,langstroth says1 that the precipitous and rocky lands of ,new ,england1 which abound with the wild red raspberry1 might be made almost as valuable as some of the vine-clad terraces of the mountain districts of ,europe4 ,the golden rod and also asters afford superior honey for autumn gathering4 ,dzierzon strongly recommends buckwheat being sown in the winter stubbles on behalf of the bees1 and he tries hard to persuade farmers that it is to their interest to cultivate it4 ,it should be named that all the ordinary fruit blossoms1 especially that of the apple1 supply abundant store for bees4 ,it is1 however1 to wild or field flowers that the bee-master must chiefly look for the raw material on which his myriad artisans shall exert their skill4 ,the white clover of the pasture1#cb the wild thyme on the hill1 the heather on the moors1 the furze and the broom on the sandy waste1 offer exhaustless stores for a greater number of bees than can ever be located near them4 ,lime trees1 when in blossom1 and mignonette are also most valuable resources2 and there are two or three peculiar sources of honey which one would not have suspected1 as1 for instance1 the blossoms of the onion plant1 of turnips1 and1 in still greater degree1 the flower of the mustard plant4 ,footnote #cb3 ,it is a good practice to induce the owners of adjacent fields to sow clover seed4 ,in those districts of ,england where mustard seed is cultivated so extensively1 it would be well worth while for the farmers to keep large colonies of bees4 ,another1 but a very uncertain1 source of honey is the honey-dew1 which in some seasons appears in large quantities on the leaves of the oak1 the lime1 and some other trees 7see below74 ,,iv4 ,,honey4 ,all that need be said in this place is a few observations upon honey considered in itself4 ,practically1 but not absolutely1 it is destitute of nitrogen1 which is the flesh-forming principle in food4 ,it has been much contended whether or not it undergoes any transformation by being swallowed by the bee4 ,dzierzon and others have maintained that it does2 ,gundelach and ,dr4 ,dnhoff have taken the contrary view1 and ,von ,berlepsch has come round to the same1 which it will be seen is also held by ,schmid and ,kleine1 from whom we translate the following description of this article3-- ,honey may be of diverse origin3 it is either nectar or bud honey1 or leaf honey 7the so-called honey-dew71 or aphis honey another form of honey-dew1 or fruit honey4 ,the sources of honey unfortunately do not flow with the same strength everywhere and at all times4 ,for collecting the honey1 bees are provided with tongues and honey-stomachs4444 ,in the stomach the honey undergoes no transformation2 only by evaporation in the cells does it receive its subsequent distinctive character4 ,after sufficient evaporation the cells that contain it are sealed over with flat wax lids4 ,between different honeys there exists an essential difference in respect of aroma1 taste1 colour1 and composition4 ,whether there is such a thing as poisonous honey is a question upon which opinions are divided4 ,in trade honey is often adulterated with starch1 syrup1 sugar1 and more pernicious ingredients1 which can easily be detected by chemical and microscopical analysis4 ,the crystallisation of honey differs essentially from that of sugar or of a mixture of honey and sugar4 ,on this matter of adulteration we have been favoured with some remarks from a well-known apiarian who writes under the name of ,a ,lanarkshire ,bee-keeper4 ,he recommends the purchaser to take a common test-tube1 nearly fill it with water1 and add about one-twelfth as much of the honey2 when dissolved it will be turbid if the honey was pure1 but clear if sugar had been mixed with it4 ,those who wish to proceed further may add a few drops of concentrated nitric acid1 and then let the tube stand for a week1 at the end of which time the honey will be precipitated1 but the sugar remain in solution1 and then by filtration the quantities may be found4 ,honey1 like most vegetable products1 should be fresh every year4 ,it may easily be kept from one season to the next2 but after that1 unless carefully stored in a warm temperature1 it will crystallise in the comb1 or perhaps ferment if separated therefrom4 ,bees will often gather honey from the laurel1 ivy1 or other sources more agreeable to themselves than to us1 in which case there is little choice but to leave the benefit of it to its producers 7see page #ig74 ,again1 the fact related by ,xenophon in the retreat of the ,ten ,thousand1 that bees in ,asia ,minor extracted honey from plants which had not only a disagreeable but a poisonous tendency to man1 shows that it is quite possible1 where such noxious plants abound1 for the bees to extract the juices without any injury to themselves4 4 ,v4 ,,pollen1 ,,or ,,bee-,,bread4 ,bees1 when fully grown1 feed almost wholly on honey2 but the larv require for their development a more substantial kind of nourishment4 ,such solid fare is found by the bees in the pollen of flowers1 a farina which contains the nitrogenous element of which honey is nearly destitute4 ,the body of a worker bee is covered with hairs1 to which the pollen adheres when1 by contact with the bee1 it is rubbed from the anthers of flowers 7see page #hh74 ,dewy mornings or humid bowers suit the bees for the gathering of the pollen4 ,if the atmosphere be too dry for kneading it into pellets1 they roll themselves in the blossoms1 and on their return1 with assistance from others1 brush off the farina into the cells intended for it4 ,a portion of this bee-bread is taken at once by the nursing bees1 who are supposed to subject it to some change before offering it to the larv2 but the greater part of the pollen is stored away and reversed in the cells for future use4 ,in ,april and ,may the bees are frequently busy all the day in gathering pollen1 and often one community of bees will collect about twenty pounds weight of bee-bread in one season4 ,one of the objects of the apiarian is to assist the bees in providing for the nurslings of the hive4 ,dr4 ,dzierzon first suggested the plan of providing the bees with unbolted rye meal as a substitute for the farina of flowers4 ,he had observed that1 in early spring1 before the flowers were open1 his bees had entered a neighbouring cornmill1 from whence they returned laden with rye flour4 ,since his discovery1 some keepers1 in early spring1 have placed rye or wheat meal near the apiaries2 to this artificial store the bees repair by thousands1 and seek to rollick in the enjoyment of such plenty1 many of them returning to the hive as dusty as millers4 ,the object in thus supplying them is that the brood may be rapidly brought forward1 and early swarming induced4 ,in this way a few pounds of rye meal1 at one penny per pound1 may tend to the production of very many pounds of honey of twelve times the price4 ,in the ,british ,bee ,journal there is a recommendation to sprinkle pea flour amongst deal shavings in any open vessel1 and place this near the hives so that bees have access to it4 ,we can endorse this recommendation1 for we know that it is freely taken by the bees4 ,if the bee-keeper ascertains that for some interval no pollen has been conveyed into any particular hive he may regard it as a sure sign that no young bees are there hatching1 and consequently that the hive is without a queen4 ,mr4 ,mahan1 of ,philadelphia1 once met with a hive which no pollen had been seen to enter for twenty-eight days2 he put a queen into it1 took out his watch1 and observed in three and a half minutes a bee come in with pollen on its legs--many more speedily following6 ,some remarks on the services which bees render to flowers will be found in the section upon ,faculties and ,functions 7page #ee74 4 ,,vi4 ,,propolis1 ,,or ,,bees' ,,cement4 ,propolis is a ,greek word which originally signified the outskirts of a city1 but was adopted by ,latin writers on bees to denote the sticky substance with which these city-rearing insects protect their outskirts4 ,it is a resinous substance1 very tenacious and semi-transparent1 which is indispensable for the bees as a cement wherewith to fix their combs and fortify their hives against intruders4#cc ,the bees1 in working the propolis1 often soften it by blending it with a portion of wax2 but they have to extract it in its natural state directly from the bark and buds of certain trees4 ,the bark of the willow1 the leaf-buds of the poplar and alder1 and the unopened blossoms of the hollyhock are very usual sources of propolis4 ,in the case of a new swarm1 as bees must have this glue before they can begin to build their combs1 they will resort to most unlikely places to obtain it4 ,sometimes they will enter a paint-shop and attack the varnish1 and it is said they have been seen to obtain propolis from the pitch and rigging of a ship4 ,these circumstances afford intelligible hints to the apiarian1 who1 if his bees have not easy access to firs1 poplars1 or willows1 will provide some glutinous or resinous matter which may serve for a substitute4 ,the extraction of propolis costs the bees very considerable labour1 which they should be relieved of as much as possible in order to facilitate their great work of honey-gathering4 ,bees choose the warmer part of the day during which to gather propolis1 as then it does not so rapidly stiffen4 ,frequently when they arrive at the hive it has become so hard that the other bees are scarcely able to gnaw it from their thighs4 ,footnote #cc3 ,egyptian bees1 however1 substitute wax1 as stated on page #ej4 ,with propolis bees fasten down their hives1 stop up crevices1 to exclude moths and ants1 and sometimes use it to narrow their doorways against the invasion of wasps4 ,extraordinary anecdotes are told of the prompt and ingenious use they make of this substance4 ,raumur relates that1 a snail having been observed by the bees on the window of the hive1 they proceeded to glue the shell to the glass1 and there sealed down the intruder in hopeless durance4 ,in another case1 that of a slug1 the bees1 having slain it with their stings1 were quite unable to remove it from the hive4 ,with wonderful foresight they then proceeded to secure their community from the noxious effects likely to arise from the decay of the carcase2 and this they did by completely enveloping it with a coating of impervious varnish4 ,huish relates a similar occurrence in the case of a mouse caught in a hive by bees4 ,propolis yields benzoic acid1 and contains some aromatic properties4 ,,vii4 ,,secretion ,,of ,,wax4 ,we have already made some remarks upon wax in the ,chapter on ,anatomy and ,physiology4 ,the subject is one that even yet has not been thoroughly cleared up1 though the discoveries of ,hornbostel and ,huber have demonstrated that instead of being a vegetable product extracted from pollen it is a fatty secretion of the bees themselves4 ,but later observers have come to the conclusion that though not obtained direct from pollen1 that food is essential to their power of secreting it4 ,cases are certainly recorded in which combs have been built when the bees had for several days been deprived of the means of procuring this food1 but it has not been shown that bees which have never had access thereto have still the power of secreting wax2 ,langstroth on the contrary asserts that some pollen is always found in the stomach of wax-producers4 ,so ,dzierzon3 ,even if wax1 as a fat1 is like honey a substance destitute of nitrogen1 and even if feeding upon honey or sugar is alone sufficient to enable the bees to prepare it1 it does not therefore follow that pollen is not necessary for its continued production4 ,for1 as already remarked1 the bees can prepare food for their young for a considerable time without pollen1 yet no one would assert that this is unnecessary for the nourishment of the brood4 ,in the one case as the other the bees are sustained by a certain store taken into themselves1 but which by degrees becomes exhausted4 ,to yield one pound of wax they require to consume from thirteen to twenty pounds of honey2 so that it would seem as if honey was the food-forming principle of the wax1 and pollen the stimulant that imparted to their own organs the capacity for effecting the transformation4 ,the bees1 it need hardly be stated1 elaborate this secretion by clustering themselves in festoons and curtains1 in which they remain1 the fore legs of one clasping the hind ones of another1 perfectly still for some twenty-four hours1 at the end of which time the scales are found exuding around them1 as mentioned in our earlier reference4 ,the little plates of wax are withdrawn by the bee itself with its hind feet1 and carried to the mouth with its fore feet1 where the wax is made soft and ductile2 vigorous shakes of the body assist in detaching the plates1 and the floor-board is afterwards found covered with the pieces that have fallen4 ,one by one some of them then leave the cluster and deposit their burdens in rough masses1 which are subsequently wrought by others into the hexagonal form4 ,but it seems feasible that the lower bees pass their secretions up the living ladder to the uppermost ones to undergo this double process4 ,the rapidity with which comb-building progresses at such times would lead to the supposition that there is a division of labour of this kind among them1 just as our labourers convey building material to the artisans on the scaffold above4 ,this work of comb-building is carried forward in warm weather1 for a cold temperature interferes with the secretion of wax4 ,von ,berlepsch declares that he has known cases in which a hive has built three hundred square inches of comb in a single night6 ,the secretion of wax1 and the method of its adaptation by the bees1 are thus admirably described by ,evans3-- ,so1 filtered through yon flutterer's folded mail1 ,clings the cooled wax1 and hardens to a scale4 ,swift1 at her well-known call1 the ready train 7,for not a buzz boon ,nature breathes in vain7 ,spring to each falling flake1 and bear along ,their glossy burdens to the builder throng4 99 99 99 99 99 ,these in firm phalanx ply their twinkling feet1 ,stretch out the ductile mass1 and form the street1 ,with many a cross-way path and postern gate1 ,that shorten to their range the spreading state4 ,those with sharp sickle1 or with sharper tooth1 ,pare each excrescence1 and each angle smooth1 ,till now1 in finished pride1 two radiant rows ,of snow-white cells one mutual base disclose4 ,six shining panels gird each polished round1 ,the door's fine rim with waxen fillet bound1 ,while walls so thin1 with sister walls combined1 ,weak in themselves1 a sure dependence find4 ,,viii4 ,,robbing4 ,we have had many times to allude to the truly sad character which our little favourites bear in this particular4 ,directions as to the precautions necessitated thereby have been given pretty generally in connection with operations in which it is to be feared1 so that one or two general remarks are all that need be added here4 ,von ,berlepsch stoutly maintains that there are no professional robbers amongst the bees1 but that all are ready to lend a hand in a job of the kind when it is to be had4 ,this is probably true in great part1 but not to the extent that there exist no individual differences in the strength of the propensity1 and the remark quoted from ,dzierzon on black bees 7page #gb7 may be taken as expressive of the other side of the truth4 ,it is queenless stocks1 nucleus hives1 and weak colonies in general that have most need for protection against enemies of their own kind4 ,by keeping the entrances narrowed1 and feeding carefully without leaving a trace of food about1 the enticements to plunder may be kept down as much as possible4 ,it has been recently recommended in extreme cases to saturate a rag with carbolic acid diluted with water 7fully half72 this will effectually repel all except those who have no other home to which to betake themselves4 ,but it will be obnoxious to these latter as well1 so should not be lightly resorted to4 ,mr4 ,langstroth has a capital little bit about a highhanded piece of audacity that has been occasionally observed in our insect4 ,house-robbing1 it seems1 is not bad enough for them1 but they will even go the length of acting as highwaymen and garotters4 ,for thus runs the story of their waylaying and despoiling the humble bee3 ,seizing the honest fellow they give him to understand that they want his honey4 ,if they killed him they would never be able to extract his spoils from their deep recesses2 they therefore bite and tease him1 after their most approved fashion1 all the time singing in his ears1 ',your honey or your life1' until he empties his capacious receptacle1 when they release him and lick up his sweets4 ,,ix4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,bees4 ,dysentery is a disease produced either by long confinement1 by dampness1 or by feeding in the winter4 ,the first thing bees do when disturbed is to fill themselves with food1 so that in winter weather1 when they cannot get out to void their fces1 hives should not be meddled with1 otherwise the complaint may be brought on4 ,it is also engendered in many instances by the state of the weather in winter months1 and is indicated by the yellow colour of the excrement1 and by its being voided upon the floors and at the entrance of the hives1 which bees in a healthy state generally keep clean4 ,all that can be done for them when affected is to see that there is plenty of wholesome food in the hive1 and to well clean or to change the floor-board1 and so produce cleanliness4 ,the more formidable1 but happily less common1 malady of foul brood does not attack the bees themselves1 but affects the larv1 by causing them to putrefy in the cells1 thus destroying all hope of the rising generation4 ,bees are exceedingly fond of their young1 and are greatly dispirited when their hives are in this plight4 ,in common with most pestilential disorders1 no satisfactory cause is assigned for its first appearance4 ,some apiarians contend that foul brood is another name for chilled brood2 others1 that the queen1 by a freak of nature1 deposits some of her eggs the wrong way upwards1 and that these putrefy in the cells1 and contaminate the others4 ,whatever may be the origin1 one thing is very certain--it is catching3 there is1 however1 in the circumstance of the adult bees and of those about emerging from the cells not being injuriously affected thereby1 a great help to its eradication1 as will presently be shown4 ,there are two kinds of foul brood--one of which is dry and not contagious1 the brood merely drying up in the cells2 from which partial character it is probably within the power of the bees themselves to overcome4 ,in the other kind1 instead of drying up1 the brood remains dark and slimy in the cells1 and emits a most unpleasant odour1 perceptible at some distance from the hive4 ,in the year #ahdh ,pastor ,dzierzon lost a large number of stocks from this disease2 he however was enabled to banish it from his apiary1 and communicated to a ,german bee-journal very wholesome advice1 which ,mr4 ,langstroth quotes1 and from1 which we make an extract2 ,when the malady makes its appearance in only two or three of the colonies1 and is discovered early 7which may readily be done in hives having movable combs71 it can be arrested and cured without damage or diminution of profit4 ,to prevent the disease from spreading in a colony there is no more reliable and efficient process than to stop the production of brood2 for where no brood exists none can perish or putrefy4 ,the disease is thus deprived both of its aliment and its subjects4 ,the healthy brood will mature and emerge in due time1 and the putrid matter remaining in a few cells will dry up1 and be removed by the workers4 ,all this will certainly result from a well-timed removal of the queen from such colonies4 ,if such removal becomes necessary in the spring or early part of the summer1 a supernumerary queen is thereby obtained1 by means of which an artificial colony may be started1 which will certainly be healthy if the bees and brood used be taken from healthy colonies4 ,should the removal be made in the latter part of summer1 the useless production of brood will at once be stopped and an unnecessary consumption of honey prevented4 ,thus1 in either case1 we are gainers by the operation4 ,in cases where the disease assumes a more malignant character--in other words1 has got ahead1 through not being nipped in the bud--it will be well to take notice of another quotation from ,mr4 ,langstroth's book3 ,in the spring or summer1 when the weather is fine and pasturage abounds1 the following cure is recommended by a ,german apiarian3 ',drive out the bees into any clean hive1 and shut them up in a dark place without food for twenty-four hours2 prepare for them a clean hive1 properly fitted up with comb from healthy colonies2 transfer the bees into it1 and confine them two days longer1 feeding them with pure honey4' ,the late ,mr4 ,woodbury's apiary was severely attacked by this disease in the spring and summer of #ahfc4 ,the writer happened to be on a visit to him at this juncture1 and witnessed him withdrawing infected combs from hives that were literally masses of corruption1 the brood-cells of which1 on being opened with a pointed instrument1 revealed the dark brown slimy matter before alluded to1 and from which arose a most unpleasant smell4 ,mr4 ,woodbury communicated to the ,journal of ,horticulture1 of ,july #ba1 #ahfc1 an exact and graphic account of his misfortunes1 headed ,a ,dwindling ,apiary4 ,finding that the removal of the putrid matter must be simultaneously effected and the bees driven out and placed in hives that had undergone a complete purification1 he set about endeavouring to accomplish his object1 and was so far successful that he was able to furnish an article to the before-named journal of ,august #d1 same year1 under the more cheerful title of ,convalescent1 in which he says3 ,first1 let me endorse the opinions both of ,dzierzon and ,rothe1 that1 except under very especial circumstances1 it is unadvisable to attempt the cure of a foul-breeding stock3 better1 far better1 to consign its inhabitants to the brimstone pit2 the hive itself1 if a straw one1 to the flames2 the comb to the melting-pot2 and appropriate the honey to any purpose1 except that of feeding bees4 ,mr4 ,woodbury further says3 ,before starting1 it was requisite to ensure the transfer of the bees to unpolluted hives2 and here ,i found that ,dzierzon declares that every hive that has contained a foul-breeding colony should be exposed to the sun and air for two years before being re-stocked4 ,in my own case this was simply impossible1 and ,i therefore adopted the practice of another ,german writer on the subject1 viz41 to scrape out the hive very carefully1 wash it all over with a saturated solution of chloride of lime1 keeping it closely shut up for twenty-four hours1 and then1 after thoroughly washing it with clean water1 exposing it to the sun and air until the smell of the disinfectant had passed off4 ,this method has the advantage of enabling one to use a wooden hive again after a lapse of a couple of days1 and is1 ,i believe1 thoroughly effectual4 ,mr4 ,woodbury then captured the queen1 secured her in a cage1 and placed her in a clean empty hive2 all her bees were brushed from their combs into it as rapidly as possible1 in order to prevent their carrying much of the infected honey with them2 whilst the combs themselves were set draining out of the bees' reach1 and consigned as quickly as possible to the melting-pot4 ,after the lapse of three or four days1 the queen 7still imprisoned7 and bees were again transferred to another clean hive1 furnished with a few pure combs1 and in this they were suffered to remain1 their queen being released in a day or two1 as soon as they appeared contentedly settled4 ,mr4 ,woodbury gives another important hint1 that operations of this kind with tainted combs should be performed out of reach of robber bees from adjacent hives1 lest they should carry the infection to their respective houses4 ,by the before-mentioned process1 he succeeded in completely extirpating foul brood from his apiary in #ahfc1 and had no return of it afterwards4 ,english apiarian writers have made so little allusion to this disorder1 that some of our older bee-keepers contend that modern hives and foreign bees have something to do with bringing it about4 ,to show that the disease made its appearance in former days1 there is a chapter on this subject in ,bonner's ,bee-,keeper's ,companion1 published at ,berwick in #agih1 entitled ,an ,uncommon ,disaster which sometimes1 though rarely1 happens to ,bees4 ,bonner1 after recounting therein his observations of the dwindling state of his own apiary1 for which he could not account1 says3 ,he saw plainly that the young were all going backward in the cells1 and that he looked down between the combs1 but was unable to proceed for the stench that the rotten maggots produced4 ,mr4 ,langstroth writes that ,aristotle speaks of a disease which was accompanied with a disgusting smell1 so that there is reason to believe that foul brood was known two-thousand years ago4 ,our own observation leads us to the belief that foul brood is caused in many instances by feeding stocks with fermented honey or with syrup likely to ferment4 ,all liquid food should be boiled before it is given to the bees1 to destroy any impurity and to make it wholesome1 for in several cases we have found stocks to be infected that have thus been incautiously fed4 ,suspicion may be aroused of the existence of foul brood in any kind of hive1 firstly1 by the unproductiveness of the bees1 also by the diminishing number at the entrance2 and if very far advanced the odour will be very noticeable a few feet from the hive4 ,but in bar-frame hives an experienced eye will on examination readily detect the malady if present by the dark unwholesome appearance of the comb1 and by the caps covering the diseased brood being sunken rather than raised4 ,small perforations are noticeable in some1 and in others the grubs may be seen rotting in unsealed cells4 ,we know of no cure1 but some foreign apiarians of experience recommend injecting a solution of salycilic acid into every diseased cell2 others say that carbolic-acid will effect a cure2 we know that the latter is very distasteful to the bees and therefore should not be disposed1 to advise its use4 ,the best thing to do is to break the hive up at once4 ,the bees may be saved by being put in quarantine a short time1 and the hive cleansed as before mentioned2 but if the hive be a valuable straw one1 after cleansing and scraping1 the interior should be coated with shellac dissolved in spirits of wine4 ,if a frame hive it will be best to have new frames rather than to attempt to cleanse the old ones4 ,to allow a hive to die out is very dangerous1 because the bees from other hives will rob and carry the infected honey to their combs1 and thus every colony within bee-flight is liable to be polluted4 ,it may be well to give a hint about using old combs4 ,any that is very black should be rejected1 because the disease is sometimes present in old hives1 and also because each maggot leaves behind a silken film which lines the top1 sides1 and base of the cell1 also a slight deposit of excrement which the bees do not clear away2 thus the cells grow smaller and the bees reared in them are also diminished in size1 although the bees do add a little to the mouth of the cell4 ,on this account we would recommend all when purchasing stocks to see that they are not very old4 ,the combs of a hive may be said to be the furniture and storehouse of the bees1 which in long service wear out and to some extent become after a lapse of years unfit tenements for use4 ,to remedy this1 ,nature1 always true to her laws and careful to make provision for the perpetuation of the species1 may have ordered that swarming should be the means of establishing fresh colonies freed from the disadvantages and contamination of the old4 ,the late ,mr4 ,j4 ,h4 ,payne1 of ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 had a straw skep that had had bees in it without intermission for twenty years1 but it is not advisable to keep them so long1 although1 with a little judicious pruning1 much may be done to remedy the defects of old combs4 ,our own experience for keeping a stock does not extend beyond ten years4 ,when we take into consideration how sorely our farmers are perplexed by the cattle plague1 known as the rinderpest1 concerning which so many conflicting opinions exist 7and the same may be said of the recommendations for its cure71 can we wonder that our little favourites should occasionally be liable to disorders of this sort which puzzle even experienced bee-keepers8 ,in the hope of allaying unnecessary alarm1 we would just add that foul brood is not a very general complaint1 and1 so far as our observation extends1 has been most fatal in large experimental apiaries1 where extensive propagation has necessarily had to be pushed forward4 ,with the experience and advice already gained1 this disorder may now be said to be considerably deprived of its terrors4 ,we find several other complaints described at more or less length by ,von ,berlepsch1 but to which a very brief allusion will here suffice4 ,one he speaks of under the self-explaining title of thirst-need1 as to which he rightly remarks that it will be the bee-keeper's own fault or inexperience if his bees are ever allowed to suffer from it4 ,then there is mad sickness1 which consists in tumbling about as if intoxicated1 and which ,dzierzon says he meets with nearly every year1 and conjectures to arise from partaking of poisoned honey--he suspects the honey to be naturally poisonous1 since he observes this complaint almost regularly at the time when the mountain ash is in bloom4 ,the next is wing lameness1 which the ,baron' conjectures may be the real disorder just spoken of as madness4 ,lastly we have the thread fungus1 which is a growth found by ,leuckart and ,dnhoff in the stomach and intestines of several bees1 and which they pronounce contagious4 ,our author does also include among the sicknesses of bees such irregularities as rising against and murdering their queen2 but one would think that this was rather a political disorder1 or else a case for a commission of lunacy4 ,the apparent fungus growths seen occasionally on the heads and bodies of bees have been found to be nothing more than the effect of smearing with the gummy pollen of orchids1 or with other glutinous vegetable juices1 on which afterwards ordinary pollen has collected and thus caused the appearance of tufts or patches4 ,x4 ,,bee ,,enemies4 ,bees have few worse enemies than wasps in autumn4 ,the most effectual method of checking their invasion of hives is to have as narrow an entrance as the bees can do with4 ,if a stock is not very weak in numbers the bees will be well able to guard a small aperture1 and can repel the attacks of these insidious and merciless robbers4 ,on this account the entrance to our cottage hive1 as described at page #aad1 may be used4 ,the bee-keeper is interested in preventing the increase of wasps2 it is therefore a good practice for him to set a price on queen wasps in the spring1 the death of one of them at that time being equivalent to the destruction of a whole nest4 ,should nests be found in the neighbourhood of an apiary1 their annihilation must be accomplished either by blowing them up with gunpowder--an operation well understood by most country lads--or any other effectual method4 ,the late ,mr4 ,payne recommended that a small quantity of gas tar should be put into the mouth of a wasps' nest1 and if then covered with earth1 the total destruction of the wasps will be accomplished without further trouble4 ,but to use blazing straw for the purpose is always dangerous in country districts4 ,we have lately heard of a very ingenious and successful mode of entrapping and killing wasps4 ,place some sugar or strongly sweetened compound on the ground in a garden1 and place over it a square hand-glass1 wedged up an inch or so all round4 ,on this glass1 which should have an opening at the apex1 lodge another1 but a sound one4 ,the wasps1 attracted by the sweets1 will soon crowd under the lower glass1 and1 when they have well feasted1 will ascend into the upper1 one2 there1 between the two1 they soon become scorched and perish by the heat of the sun shining on the outer glass4 ,some seasons are very productive for the increase of these prime pests of the apiary1 and when this is the case many hives severely suffer by their depredations4 ,when once wasps in any number have gained an entrance into a hive1 the bees can seldom eject them1 and the invaders generally remain until they have freely regaled themselves from the luscious store4 ,they not only consume the honey1 but cause a good deal of worry to the legitimate inhabitants of the hive1 as well as killing the foremost defenders of it4 ,wasps being much superior in strength1 it requires at least three bees to master one of them4 ,having suffered loss in our own apiary from the attacks of wasps1 we feel it desirable to give a detailed account of our troubles from that cause4 ,an ,italian stock was besieged and worried by wasps to such an extent that in ,september the bees deserted it in a body4 ,fortunately it happened that they chose a time for their departure just as we visited the apiary4 ,an unusual turmoil was heard in the hive1 such as is experienced at the time of swarming1 and on immediately examining the entrance we observed that the bees were quitting in tumultuous haste4 ,the usual methods that induce bees to settle were tried--amongst others that of throwing sand up into the air1 so that it should fall down amongst the bees on the wing2 but they were dispersed in disorder1 and their flight extended over three adjacent gardens4 ,we only discovered the clustered bees by diligent search1 as the sequel will show4 ,permission being asked of our next-door neighbour1 we searched his garden to see if our bees had alighted there2 but found that they had passed over4 ,making a similar application to the owner of the garden adjoining1 we entered1 having a straw hive in hand1 but no bees were there4 ,after looking diligently all round1 and climbing the wall1 thereby gaining a view of the third garden1 we perceived in it unmistakable signs of an unwonted commotion4 ,the occupiers of the house were intently looking at a particular part of the garden1 and there was a dust-pan and a key1 with which the master had been tanging the bees1 to induce them to settle4 ,we quickly made for the proper entrance to the garden1 and soon discovered our little wanderers clustered to a large flower-vase4 ,after brushing them into the hive1 and leaving it propped up with a stick1 in order that the stray ones might join1 we returned home for an hour or so1 to give them time to settle4 ,judge of our vexation when1 on returning to fetch the hive home1 we found that the refractory creatures had again taken flight1 and that all the work was to do over again4 ,the wasps were not to blame for this second flight of the ,italians2 we judged that the swarm had been disturbed by visits from a colony of bees that we discovered were living the life of outlaws under the roof of an adjoining house4 ,although much disheartened and perplexed1 we at once renewed our search1 and1 upon enquiry1 found that the missing bees had taken a southerly course across the turnpike road1 and it was therefore necessary to ask permission to search the gardens of the houses opposite4 ,from one of these we observed1 on looking through the hedge1 that the inhabitants of the next house were on the qui vive4 ,on enquiring whether they had seen a colony of bees1 the wary old dame replied that she had no bees but her own1 but added that they were very much excited4 ,having asked permission to go through the hedge to look at her bees1 we soon discovered our ,italians on the top of the old lady's bee-house4 ,there was no difficulty in identifying our own bees2 their yellow rings were as good as a private mark4 ,quickly hiving the swarm1 we took them home1 and replaced them in the hive they had quitted4 ,it was almost destitute of honey2 but by liberal feeding1 and lessening the entrance so that only one bee at a time could find ingress or egress1 we succeeded in inducing them to rest in their old home4 ,thus nearly half a day's exertion was needed to save a fine colony1 which would otherwise have been utterly lost by the power of the relentless wasps4 ,much watchfulness is needed to prevent the loss of swarms1 and the foregoing incident may serve to suggest the necessity of having hives so located as to be constantly within view1 either from the dining-room1 or of those whose duties oblige them to be near the apiary4 ,if we had not happened to be at hand at the moment this colony started1 it would have been irretrievably lost to us1 as is the case with many swarms and colonies simply because the departure takes place without any one to witness4 ,in the season of #ahfe wasps were as few as they were numerous the preceding year2 their paucity was attributable either to frosts in ,may or to heavy rains in ,june1 which destroyed them in their nests4 ,in general wasps are great depredators of wall-fruit1 but in the autumn before mentioned the bees occupied the wasps' foraging-ground4 ,perhaps never in the memory of bee-keepers did bees feast upon fruit in the same manner4 ,various reasons have been assigned for this unusual occurrence2 some thought that as there were so few wasps the bees were unmolested1 and enjoyed the saccharine matter in the fruit without let or hindrance--for bees are about as partial to the company of wasps as mice are to that of rats4 ,other bee-keepers remarked the sudden and early termination of the honey-gathering1 and conjectured that the bees1 being anxious to make up their winter store1 endeavoured to bring home nectar from the fruit because the weather was unusually fine4 ,there was one feature which is worth remarking3 as far as our observation extended1 the bees did not1 like the wasps1 break the skin of sound fruit1 but were satisfied with lapping the juice of the ripe fruit that had the skin already broken4 ,there are some birds that are given to preying around beehives1 and if their visits become too systematically troublesome1 it may be worth while to take active measures for making their presence scarce in order to prevent these devourers from taking up a position near the alighting-board and pouncing upon each bee as it makes its exit4 ,the toad is a less formidable enemy1 but if one of these creatures is found beneath a hive-stand it may fairly be concluded that he is on the watch for such bees as may drop to the ground under their loads4 ,mice1 again1 will make their abode in a hive for the winter1 and devour the stores when the bees are too inactive to interfere4 ,spiders1 ants1 and other insects will also have to be guarded against4 ,other formidable enemies of bees are moths4 ,these insects are creatures of the night1 as the wasps are of the day1 and they make their way into the hives under cover of darkness1 in spite of the bee sentinels4 ,they deposit their eggs in any crevices in or near the hive that they can find4 ,there the warmth of the hive1 or of the sheltered situation1 causes the eggs speedily to hatch1 and then the maggots soon work their way to the comb and larv food1 which they greedily devour1 thereby often bringing about the gradual but certain destruction of the whole community of bees4 ,the best method of keeping moths outside the hives is to lessen the entrance1 as before alluded to4 ,also1 in the early spring1 the hives should be lifted from their floor-boards1 which must then be made thoroughly clean2 and all crevices and corners about the hive and stand should be scraped1 so as to get rid of all eggs of moths and other insects before the warm weather hatches them or enables them to do mischief ,the bee-moth is not so troublesome in ,england as it is in ,america and some parts of ,germany2 but still its encroachments should be carefully guarded against in this country1 for if not it may easily increase to a very serious extent4 ,,xi4 ,,bee-,,keeping ,,in ,,london4 ,there are many persons1 now in this noisy city pent1 who frequently remember the days of childhood when1 among pastures of clover or amidst flowery heath and woodlands1 they listened to the cheerful hum of bees4 ,partly from a desire to revive these old associations1 and also from a natural liking for the tendance of living creatures1 such persons would be glad to keep bees if they thought it possible to do so in ,london or its suburbs with any chance of success4 ,we do not wonder that many should doubt even the possibility of bees feeding themselves amidst such an endless meal of brick2 but we can easily prove that bees1 if not placed too near to smoky chimneys1 are able to produce honey1 both for themselves and for their masters4 ,to make this plain we will mention some special instances of metropolitan bee-keeping4 ,about a century ago a ,mr4 ,wildman kept a bee-house and honey warehouse in ,holborn1 near to where ,middle ,row lately stood4 ,he was not only a tradesman1 but was also the apiarian of his day4 ,he kept hives of thriving bees on the roof of his house in ,holborn1 and many of the nobility and gentry used to mount thither in order to inspect the apiary4 ,at that period ,st4 ,pancras was a village two miles north-west of ,london1 and what is now the ,regent's ,park was open country4 ,it was then much easier for ,london bees to find their favourite forage1 but ,mr4 ,wildman believed that his hives were filled with stores from a considerable distance4 ,whilst enjoying his country rambles on ,hampstead ,heath1 he had a shrewd suspicion that many of the bees he there observed gathering honey were labourers from his own apiary4 ,in order to identify his own flock amongst the rest he hit upon a homely but very effective expedient4 ,having borrowed ,mrs4 ,wildman's dredging box1 he stationed himself near the entrance of his hives1 and gently dusted his bees with flour as they issued forth4 ,he then betook himself to ,hampstead1 where he found his previous surmise confirmed1 for there were numbers of his bees in their livery of white4 ,wildman became noted for the remarkable control he obtained over his bees1 many instances of which he exhibited before the public4 ,several of his operations with them were regarded as feats of legerdemain by the uninitiated1 as when he appeared before ,king ,george ,,iii41 with a swarm of bees hanging in festoons from his chin1 or suspended in a cluster at arms' length4 ,the ,journal of ,horticulture recently1 in alluding to ,wildman1 gives the following particulars as to his performances3-- ,near the ',three ,hats1' ,islington1 was a place of popular entertainment called ',dobney's ,tea ,gardens1' kept by ,mrs4 ,ann ,dobney4 ,these gardens occupied the ground between ,white ,lion ,street and ,winchester ,place1 and were established as far back as #agbh4 ,in #agga the house was taken for a short time as a boarding school2 but it was soon changed to its original purpose as a place of amusement1 for in #aggb ,daniel ,wildman exhibited bees here4 ,this is a copy of the advertisement3-- ',june #bj1 #aggb4 ,exhibition of bees on horseback6 at the ,jubilee ,gardens1 ,islington 7late ,dobney's71 this and every evening1 until further notice 7wet evenings excepted74 ',the celebrated ,daniel ,wildman will exhibit several new and amazing experiments1 never attempted by any man in this or any other kingdom before4 ,the rider standing upright1 one foot on the saddle and one on the neck1 with a mask of bees on his head and face4 ,he also rides standing upright on the saddle with the bridle in his mouth1 and1 by firing a pistol1 makes one part of the bees march over the table1 and the other swarm in the air and return to their hive again1 with other performances too tedious to insert4 ,the doors open at six2 to begin at a quarter before seven4 ,admittance--,box and gallery1 #bs42 the other seats4 #as4' ,the secret of ,wildman's skilful manipulation is well understood now2 it consisted in a careful holding and disposal of the queen1 together with confidence in the generally inoffensive disposition of bees4 ,dr4 ,evans1 whom we have often quoted for his correct information in apiarian matters1 thus speaks of his feats3-- ,such was the spell which round a ,wildman's arm ,twined in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm1 ,bright o'er his breast the glittering legions led1 ,or with a living garland bound his head4 ,his dextrous hand1 with firm1 yet hurtless hold1 ,could seize the chief1 known by her scales of gold1 ,amidst the wondering train prune her thin wing4 ,or o'er her folds the silken fetter fling4 ,to recur to our subject4 ,after the days of ,wildman our own establishment in ,holborn became widely known for beehives and honey4 ,although we never attempted to start a ,london apiary at all approaching in extent that of our predecessor1 we have occasionally kept bees on the house-top1 both in ,holborn and ,regent ,street4 ,at each of those situations we have noticed that the bees bring pollen as well as honey into their hives4 ,one summer there was brought under our notice an illustration of the acuteness of the scent of bees and of their diligent search for food1 proving1 too1 that if sweets can be obtained1 even from unusual sources1 the bees will find them out4 ,a poor woman1 who1 at the corner of an adjacent street1 vends brandy balls1 toffee1 rock1 and other saccharine compounds--all well known to most juveniles--used to receive frequent visits from our bees4 ,their visits to the old dame's domain were at first rather interesting1 and if the few pioneers who had the sagacity to find such a store had kept the secret only to themselves1 their company would not have been objected to4 ,such selfish policy does not1 however1 accord with the social instinct of bees1 and these soon informed their companions of the good fortune provided for them in an archipelago of sugar islands4 ,day by day the swarms of these uninvited visitors increased1 until all legitimate customers were beaten off2 and the old dame had to see1 not only her hope of gain destroyed1 but her stock of goodies sensibly diminishing by the thefts of these brigands of the air4 ,she could not1 or dared not attempt to1 drive the intruders away1 so made diligent enquiry as to where the robbers were harboured4 ,having traced them to our establishment in ,regent ,street1 she came to implore of us to move the bees if possible1 or she would have to move her stall1 and so lose her connection in the toffee and rock trade4 ,wishing not to hinder the poor woman in gaining her livelihood1 we decided on removing our bees into the country4 ,another special instance of bees being profitably kept in proximity to the busy thoroughfares of ,london is now before us4 ,two years ago we supplied a stock of ,english bees to a gentleman residing in the ,strand1 the back windows of whose house open on the ,thames ,embankment and the river4 ,thus the bees have a fine open flight1 as their hive is placed against the sash on a third floor 7an opening is cut to match the entrance1 so that the bees have a covered way to their hive72 from this they are seen taking their flight across the river ,thames1 to what may be thought the unattractive locality of ,lambeth4 ,however1 they seem to reach some green fields and pastures new1 probably in the gardens of the archbishop's palace1 for they return laden with pollen from flowers1 and during the two summers that the hive has been so located1 have yielded nice glasses of honeycomb as well as afforded a considerable amount of pleasure to the owner and his friends1 with every prospect of going on flourishing4 ,it is difficult to assign an exact limit to the distance that bees will go in search of honey-yielding blossoms4 ,it has been proved by various experiments that they will fly1 say1 five or six miles1 if the supplies are scanty within a shorter radius2 but bees well understand that first of all economies1 the saving of time1 and if they can find forage near at hand they prefer it4 ,hence1 other things being equal1 the quantity of honey stored will be in proportion to the contiguity of good pasturage4 ,in this way it is that the systematic removal of hives1 as practised in many districts1 has such a notable effect on the honey harvest4 ,a novel sight for ,londoners to witness occurred in ,june #ahfe4 ,a swarm1 having been ordered to be sent into the country the following morning1 was temporarily placed on the leads at the back of our house1 #adi1 ,regent ,street4 ,the sun shining hot on the hive1 or some other cause1 induced the inmates to decamp4 ,after a time a passer-by called in to inform us that some bees had arrested the progress of a cab4 ,we at once conjectured that they were our missing swarm1 the absence of which had previously puzzled us not a little2 so we sent our man with a straw hive to bring the truants back1 which he succeeded in doing1 followed to the door by a crowd1 who were amazed at the sight of the 'oney-bees1 as the ,cockney lads called them4 ,cabby had to be compensated for the loss of his fare1 for the affrighted passengers had left him in a hurry1 so that1 altogether1 no little commotion was caused--a crowd so soon collects in ,london streets4 ,during several years we kept bees in the ,zoological ,gardens1 ,regent's ,park1 and have there frequently taken full and handsome glasses of honey4 ,the position of our apiary was on the site now occupied by the new monkey house4 ,the visitors to the gardens found considerable interest in watching the bees in our glass hives1 and were afterwards much disappointed at the absence of so entertaining an exhibition4 ,the writer had the honour of showing and explaining the working of these hives to some of the juvenile members of our ,royal ,family who had come to the gardens on one of their accustomed early morning visits with their ,french governess4 ,their conversation was in ,french2 and on entering the bee-room1 ,regardez les abeilles6 ,voyez done la reine6 was soon on their lips4 ,the young princesses took special care that their brother ,arthur1 as they affectionately called him 7now known by the title of ,h4,r4,h4 the ,duke of ,connaught71 should observe the attention paid by the working bees to their queen1 as well as to other points of interest connected with the busy scene before them1 with which they all expressed themselves much delighted4 ,a collection of these hives were also exhibited by the ,acclimatisation ,society of ,great ,britain1 with living bees in them1 at the ,fish ,department of the ,royal ,horticultural ,gardens1 ,south ,kensington1 and prospered satisfactorily until removed1 the space being required for other objects4 ,a gentleman residing in ,st4 ,james's ,place has1 for some considerable time past1 kept bees in his garden there4 ,he uses our improved cottage hives1 and his bee-keeping is decidedly successful1 as he generally takes some fine glasses of honey each season1 besides leaving sufficient as winter store for the bees4 ,for a ,london situation1 ,st4 ,james's ,place is a very favourable one2 the gardens behind the houses pleasantly face the ,green ,park1 so that the bees have an uninterrupted flight to start with4 ,they are also within easy range of the richly flowered gardens of ,buckingham ,palace and those of the nobility and gentry who reside around the ,parks4 ,to those gardens the bees of ,st4 ,james's ,place resort1 without waiting for any licence or certificate from the royal and noble owners of the honey-yielding preserves4 ,being within a short distance of our establishment1 when this gentleman's bees swarm he generally sends to us for assistance in hiving them4 ,the neighbourhood of ,st4 ,john's ,wood1 and1 indeed1 almost all the suburbs of ,london1 are favourable for the production of honey4 ,we mention ,st4 ,john's ,wood because1 from the fact of having kept bees there ourselves1 we are able to prove by experience that they do well in that locality4 ,we know of several bee-keepers on nearly all sides of the town who have each had a considerable surplus of honey in their supers1 after leaving sufficient for the bees themselves in the lower or stock hives4 ,whilst referring to this part of the environs of the metropolis we take the opportunity of explaining that our own apiary 7a coloured view of which forms the frontispiece of this work7 is situated near ,hampstead4 ,the spot is not so easy of access as might be desired1 being somewhat remote from the road1 in a portion of a meadow between ,west ,end and ,kilburn4 ,on looking at the picture1 it will be seen that there are a large numbed of hives on separate stands1 mostly bar-frame hives1 at some little distance from each other1 in order to prevent confusion when manipulating4 ,at the back1 near the hedge we have some hives on rails1 which like the others are well protected from the weather1 every one having its own covering4 ,besides these there are three bee-houses1 which are so suitable for preserving from the weather hives with fixed combs1 and where there is less need for manipulation1 such as our straw cottage hives4 ,one house will contain six hives1 another three1 and a third two4 ,these houses are explained at page #aff4 ,at the back1 about the centre of the drawing1 is the operating house1 also forming a storehouse or magazine where apiarian appendages are kept1 together with feeding syrup and combs1 etc41 so essential for use1 and which yet must be secured from the thievish propensities of the bees1 and access to which1 if possible to gain1 demoralises them so much that they make war and attempt to pillage each other's hives1 as elsewhere referred to4 ,the shallow pans in front 7earthen milk pans7 have water in them1 and are so placed that the bees may have access to moisture1 which is so essential for them in spring for comb-building and breeding4 ,straight straws are floated on the water so as to admit of the bees imbibing without the liability of their being drowned4 ,on this ground we largely cultivate ,italian bees1 and unite imported queens to colonies of ,english bees1 to be ready to supply swarms and stocks therefrom as pure and genuine as possible4 ,the district is not so good for bees as if it were farther in the country and more removed from ,london smoke2 nevertheless we have had fine supers worked here1 and find it a great convenience to have a bee-farm at so moderate a distance from' town to carry on this department of our trade4 ,some time ago we exhibited in our window a super of fine honey from the apiary of ,mr4 ,shirley ,hibberd1 the proprietor and editor of the ,gardener's ,weekly ,magazine4 ,it consisted of a box containing twenty pounds nett weight of honey1 and was produced at ,stoke ,newington1 only three and a quarter miles from the ,general ,post ,office4 ,the ,times ,bee-,master1 whose letters from ,tunbridge ,wells awakened so much interest in this pleasing pursuit1 also commissioned us to exhibit a super produced under his own management in that locality4 ,mr4 ,s4 ,b4 ,fox1 at ,exeter1 had upwards of four hundred pounds of honey1 of excellent quality1 though one of his apiaries is quite within the city4 ,,xii4 ,,general ,,remarks4 ,book-,keeping4 ,every bee-keeper should be a book-keeper1 that is so far as to have a permanent record of the events of the apiary and the fortunes of his bees4 ,a book similar to a tradesman's journal would be very suitable for the purpose4 ,in it he should note down the date of the first swarm of the season especially1 and those of other swarms also2 and in autumn the quantity of honey taken from each hive should be entered1 with remarks on the probable size and weight of the various stocks4 ,these particulars will not only be interesting for the bee-keeper to turn to in winter1 but will be of practical service in enabling him to know the exact age and probable strength of each stock4 ,the bee-book may also be contrived to show the total amount of honey that the bees have produced for their owner1 and the nett profits of the apiary4 ,a simple and clear account like this--provided1 by the bye1 that it does show a satisfactory balance--will be very useful for inducing cottagers and farm-labourers to start bee-keeping4 ,nothing like ocular demonstration for this class4 ,the humane apiarian will reason with them in vain until he shows them a monster skep of honey and mentions the price that it will fetch in the market4 ,when convinced that the depriving system will pay1 the cottager will gladly adopt it4 ,advice for ,cottagers1 etc4 ,a writer in the ,quarterly ,review 7whose article has since been published by ,mr4 ,murray as a shilling handbook1 ,the ,honey ,bee7 gives the following good advice3 ,don't bore the cottager with long lectures2 don't heap upon him many little books2 but give him a hive of the best construction1 show him the management1 and then buy his honey2 buy all he brings1 even though you should have to give the surplus to some gardenless widow4 ,but only buy such as comes from an improved hive--and you cannot easily be deceived in this--one which preserves the bees and betters the honey4 ,then1 when you pay him1 you may read to him1 if you will1 the wise rules of old ,butler1 exempli gratia3-- ',if thou wilt have the favour of thy bees that they sting thee not1 thou must not be unchaste or uncleanly2 thou must not come among them with a stinking breath1 caused either through eating of leeks1 onions1 or garlic1 or by any other means1 the noisomeness whereof is corrected by a cup of beer2 thou must not be given to surfeiting or drunkenness2 thou must not come puffing or blowing unto them1 neither hastily stir among them1 nor violently defend thyself when they seem to threaten thee2 but1 softly moving by1 thy hand before thy face1 gently put them by2 and1 lastly1 thou must be no stranger to them4 ,in a word 7or rather in five words71 be chaste1 sweet1 sober1 quiet1 familiar2 so they will love thee and know thee from all others4' ,these wise rules of old ,butler are1 however1 in the main taken from ,columella4 ,allusion having been made to the profit that may be gained by the judicious management of bees1 we will illustrate that point by relating an anecdote of a certain ,french cur4#cd ,it is one which may be suggestive to some of the rural clergy in this country1 who might almost as easily keep an apiary as they do a garden or an orchard4 ,footnote #cd3 ,this story1 in a disguised form1 or1 as the writer would say1 an improved form1 was quoted in the ,cornhill ,magazine some time ago4 ,in transforming the bee-keeping cur into an ,english clergyman the effect was cleverly enhanced1 especially as to the dismay of the decorous ,english prelate in hearing that his poor brother in the ,church had turned manufacturer2 but then the vraisemblance of the story1 as we have it1 was destroyed4 ,a good ,french bishop1 in paying his annual visit to his clergy1 was very much afflicted by the representations they made to him of their extreme poverty1 which1 indeed1 the appearance of their houses and families corroborated4 ,deploring the sad state of things which had reduced them to such a condition1 he arrived at the house of a curate1 who1 living amongst a poorer set of parishioners than any he had yet visited1 would1 he feared1 be in a still more woful plight than the rest4 ,contrary1 however1 to his expectations1 he found the appearance of this remote parsonage to be superior to those he had already visited4 ,everything about the house wore the aspect of comfort and plenty4 ,the good bishop was amazed4 ,how is this1 my friend8 said he2 you are the first pastor ,i have met with having a cheerful face and a plentiful board6 ,have you any income independent of your cure8 ,yes1 sire1 said the pastor1 ,i have3 my family would starve on the pittance ,i receive from the poor people that ,i instruct4 ,if you will walk into the garden1 ,i will show you the stock that yields me such excellent interest4 ,on going into the garden he showed the bishop a long range of beehives4 ,there1 said he1 is the bank from which ,i draw an annual dividend1 and it is one that never stops payment4 ,his harvest of honey enabled him almost to dispense with the use of sugar1 leaving him a considerable quantity for disposal in the market2 of the coarser portions he made a tolerable substitute for wine1 and the sale of the wax nearly paid his shoemaker's bill4 ,ever afterwards1 when any of the clergy complained to the bishop of poverty1 he would say to them1 ,keep bees6 keep bees6 ,in this succinct advice--extending it to laity as well as clergy in rural districts--we heartily join1 believing that in this country a tenfold greater number of hives might be successfully kept than are now established4 ,in a very practical sense the oft-repeated lines of ,gray are strictly true3-- ,full many a flower is born to blush unseen1 ,and waste its sweetness on the desert air4 ,an apiary in the garden of every village clergyman would afford the means of economising this unclaimed bounty of ,providence4 ,an ,old ,anecdote4 ,an amusing instance of the fondness of bears for honey is related by a ,muscovite ambassador to ,rome1 in the ,feminine ,monarchie2 written out of ,experience by ,charles ,butler4 ,printed in the ,year #afji--;a quaint1 but sensible work3-- ,a neighbour of mine 7saith he71 in searching in the woods for honey1 slipped down into a great hollow tree1 and there sunk into a lake of honey up to the breast2 where--when he had stuck fast two days1 calling and crying out in vain for help1 because nobody in the meanwhile came nigh that solitary place--at length1 when he was out of all hope of life1 he was strangely delivered by the means of a great bear1 which1 coming thither about the same business that he did1 and smelling the honey1 stirred with his striving1 clambered up to the top of the tree1 and then began to lower himself down backwards into it4 ,the man bethinking himself1 and knowing that the worst was but death--which in that place he was sure of--beclipt the bear fast with both his hands about the loins1 and withal made an outcry as loud as he could4 ,the bear being thus suddenly affrighted1 what with the handling and what with the noise1 made up again with all speed possible4 ,the man held1 and the bear pulled1 until1 with main force1 he had drawn him out of the mire2 and then being let go1 away he trots1 more afeared than hurt1 leaving the smeared swain in joyful fear4 ,instructions for ,new ,bee-,keepers4 ,bees may be very inexpensively and profitably kept in the cottager's hive 7see page #aaj71 which will be found a very productive one4 ,it is true that it has not the appliances of windows and bell glasses2 for the cottager is not supposed so much to care for his hives as a source of amusement2 his object in bee-keeping is simply the profit it may bring4 ,for those of our readers who wish to have united the facility of observing the bees with that of the plentiful production of honey1 we would especially recommend the improved cottager's hive1 described at page #aab4 ,if inclined to go to a little further expense1 the hives described at pages #aac1 #abj1 #aci1 and #adc1 all afford constant opportunity for inspection of the bees1 and allow of their working freely in the most natural manner4 ,the ,stewarton hive 7page #adf7 is also a favourite with those who give the preference to honey stored in boxes1 although the opportunities for observation are not so great as with some others4 ,renfrewshire ,bee-,keeper's ,hints on ,supering and ,prevention of ,swarming4 ,the mention again of the ,stewarton hive affords us an opportunity of which we avail ourselves to put before our readers an extract from a private letter received whilst the foregoing pages are in type1 from that successful and accomplished apiarian already alluded to1 ,the ,renfrewshire ,bee-keeper1 which seems to us to contain a useful hint or two as regards putting on supers and the prevention of swarming1 which1 although practised with our friend's favourite hive1 can be advantageously adopted with other hives4 ,he says1 ,in working ,stewarton colonies1 ,i am seldom troubled with swarms1 the secret being1 in giving super space at the nick of time1 before swarming mania seizes them2 and when once they have taken to supers1 ,i keep an ample supply of space in advance of their wants4 ,however hot the weather may become1 they somehow retire upstairs to this vacant room1 and comb-building there affords them employment1 and they do not readily think of swarming4 ,for instance1 in the beginning of summer last year 7#ahgf71 the season was so bad that at first ,i gave them little room2 suddenly the weather became hot and favourable1 and one strong colony swarmed right off4 ,i excised the royal cells1 and returned the bees2 no use--off they came again in eight or ten days' time2 took the hive to pieces1 cut out all royal cells1 and in addition1 the thought having occurred to me that maturing drone brood was an accessory to swarming condition1 ,i excised every portion of that also4 ,with seven supers 7each four inches deep7 they rested content and kept to work most vigorously1 never attempting to swarm again4 ,from this extract the practical bee-keeper may learn much2 particularly as regards depriving the bees of the inclination to swarm by cutting away the drone brood4 ,perhaps we may here be allowed to advise the filling up of vacancies where excision of drone comb is made 7whether with brood or without71 by the insertion of clean worker comb1 in order to prevent the construction of the former4 ,bees ,working in ,supers4 ,there is a little matter here with regard to bees working in supers that should be noticed1 and that is that when the ascending hole is round and in the centre of the stock hives1 the bees sometimes start wrong and carry the comb upwards4 ,this has two objections3 the first is that the bees do not work so quickly as when they begin from the roof of the super1 and the other is that the queen gains an easy ascent and deposits eggs in cells where honey is wanted4 ,when this style of comb-building is observed1 it is best to take the super off1 cut the comb down1 and endeavour to make it adhere to the crown of the super by using a little melted wax 7page #bfa1 or if a glass1 as recommended at page #bfb71 so that the bees may continue the work1 as is their wont1 downwards4 ,there are few hobbies which cost so little outlay as the keeping of bees4 ,once the plant of hives is purchased1 there is little1 if any1 additional expense1 and always a probability of a fair return4 ,if honey be obtainable the bees will find it2 they work for nothing1 and provide themselves with sustenance1 requiring only a very little labour from their keepers1 and that labour of a pleasing and instructive kind4 ,to the advanced and skilful apiarian we would especially commend the use of the frame hives4 ,with these1 as we have attempted to show1 the bee-keeper has a full command over his hives and bees4 ,many mistakes1 it is true1 have been made by uninitiated bee-keepers in using the more elaborate hives4 ,being struck with the remarkable facilities afforded by these superior hives for the extraction of any one comb1 and1 perhaps1 fascinated with their easy sway over so highly organised a community1 these new-fangled bee-keepers have acquired a habit of perpetually and incautiously meddling with the bees4 ,the inevitable results in such cases are1 distress to the bees1 impoverishment of the stocks1 and loss and vexation to the over-zealous apiarian4 ,all these things may be avoided if it is remembered that there are first steps in bee-keeping1 as well as in chemistry1 croquet1 or cricket4 ,in bee-keeping1 as in floriculture1 it is a great point to know when to let well alone4 ,there is no florist1 however anxious for a prize1 who would be continually pulling up his plants to see how their roots were growing4 ,doubtless the full control which the bars and frames afford over the inmost recesses of the hives is a great temptation to the bee-keeper2 but if he yields too readily to it he will imperil his chance of profit and deprive himself of that continuous source of interest which a judicious apiarian always enjoys4 ,ignorance ,concerning ,bees4 ,many persons who are well-informed on most subjects are profoundly ignorant on all points of the natural history of bees2 and as with old so with young4 ,as an amusing illustration of this1 we may transcribe an order we received a few years back from a seminary in the north of ,england3 ,master presents his compliments to ,messrs4 ,neighbour1 and begs they will send him a swarm of bees2 he encloses six postage stamps1 and hopes they will send him a good swarm4 ,this embryo naturalist was evidently of a mercantile turn1 and had a mind to buy in the cheapest market1 for in a postscript he adds3 ,please let it be fourpence1 if you can6 ,we need scarcely say that1 in reply1 we endeavoured to enlighten our juvenile correspondent as to what constituted a swarm of bees1 and returned the stamps1 with our thanks4 ,superstition ,respecting ,bees4 ,much superstition has existed1 and1 in some quarters1 still exists1 among the poor respecting bees4 ,if a death occurs in the family of the bee-owner1 these superstitious folk consider it needful to make the bees aware of the bereavement by waking them2 that is1 by giving a few raps at the entrance1 and audibly announcing the circumstance4 ,if this be not done1 no luck1 say they1 will come of the bees the following season4 ,one summer1 even near the metropolis1 we heard a cottager bemoaning to his neighbour his bad luck with his bees1 when the other replied1 ,ah6 no wonder2 you never 'waked' your bees when your wife died2 what can you expect if you omit such needful duty8 ,in many parts of ,france1 as well as here1 it is a custom on such occasions to put the bees into mourning1 by placing black crape or some such material round the hives4 ,bees also receive intelligence when a marriage or a christening takes place3 in these cases the hives are draped with red cloth4 ,in fact it is considered an essential element of good luck to inform the bees of any remarkable circumstance that occurs in the family of the bee-keeper4 ,how would these good people manage with the newly imported foreign bees1 for they can hardly be expected to have learned our lingo8 ,this difficulty is1 however1 not likely to be experienced1 for the keeping of superior sorts implies an intelligence that would be above any such pitiable nonsense4 ,fancy a man in this nineteenth century haranguing his bees after the above-mentioned fashion6 ,mr4 ,langstroth says that some superstitious folk in ,america assert that the bees sometimes take the loss of their master so much to heart as to alight upon the coffin whenever it is exposed4 ,a clergyman told him that he attended a funeral where1 as soon as the coffin was brought from the house1 the bees gathered on it so much as to excite alarm4 ,some years after this occurrence1 being engaged in varnishing a table1 the bees alighted upon it in such numbers as to convince the clergyman that love of the varnish on the outside1 rather than any respect for the deceased within1 was the occasion of their conduct at the funeral4 ,mr4 ,langstroth adds3 ,how many superstitions1 believed even by intelligent persons1 might be as easily explained1 if it were possible to ascertain as fully all the facts connected with them6 ,only a short time since an ,english clergyman informed us of a severe contest going on in his garden between ,church and ,dissent1 for he had a hive of bees from a ,nonconformist in his parish1 and these dissenting bees persistently attacked his hives to such an extent that he really must get rid of them1 and thus liberate his episcopal apiary from such discordant disturbers of the peace4#ce ,another infatuation is1 that you should on no account part with your bees for silver money--only for gold4 ,this is so far sensible that it ensures a respectable price4 ,certain credulous bee-keepers cannot1 on any account1 be induced to part with their bees for money2 they will barter1 but not sell--to sell bees is1 in their view1 to lay themselves open to evil fortune4 ,if these apprehensions are correct1 our punishment will be a severe one1 for we have been great offenders in that way1 and seem likely to go on sinning4 ,footnote #ce3 ,the explanation may probably be that a strong hive was brought close to weak or queenless ones4 ,the culture of bees would be greatly promoted if a knowledge of it were considered necessary as one of the regular qualifications of a gardener4 ,so little time is needed to gain the skill requisite for the tendance of an apiary1 that it seems only reasonable to expect it of a well-taught gardener1 and he should feel a pleasure in the circumstance of its forming a part of his duties4 ,in ,germany1 where a country gentleman's table is kept constantly supplied with fresh honey1 the gardeners are expected to understand the management of hives2 and in ,bavaria modern bee-culture is taught in the colleges to all the horticultural students4 ,travellers in ,switzerland will call to mind the almost invariable practice of placing new honey on the breakfast tables at hotels in that country4 ,we are told that some of this new honey so highly approved of is only golden syrup with a portion of the colour extracted1 and possibly otherwise made up to be palatable2 also that there is a factory in ,switzerland doing a profitable business in this way4 ,if such be the case1 tourists are often taken in4 ,treacle will do no one any harm1 but it is not pleasant to be gulled except for the reason that ignorance is bliss4 ,caution ,respecting ,flight ,hole4 ,fine colonies are sometimes destroyed by the entrance-way becoming stopped by some impediment or other1 and care is requisite to keep a watch1 that so fatal a catastrophe does not happen1 because the bees 7unless where very simple ventilation is given71 excited by their imprisonment1 make matters worse1 by raising the temperature of their hive to such a pitch that the combs melt from their foundations1 and the bees themselves are suffocated1 presenting1 alas6 a most woful spectacle to witness4 ,we give this hint because of having ourselves suffered from a similar cause when workmen have been employed in the vicinity of hives2 these gentlemen1 thoughtless of the welfare of the bees1 but most careful of their own convenience1 have placed a piece of wood across1 or otherwise stopped the entrances1 to prevent the bees coming out4 ,in summer weather a very short time of confinement in a close hive suffices to complete the work of desolation2 but should the bee-keeper's attention be drawn to such a state of things1 he must immediately raise the hive from the floor-board and let the poor bees1 have all the air possible1 leaving them thus exposed for the purpose of affording them a chance of revival4 ,when bees are likely to incommode those whose duties temporarily oblige them to be near the entrances1 it is better to cover the hive over night with net in the form of an inverted bag tied at the base1 so that1 the bees may be able to get air within the net and not be too closely confined4 ,the objection to this is that you stop all labour1 which of course harasses the bees for the time1 but there will be no other bad results4 ,the foregoing remarks more particularly apply to the summer season4 ,in winter or in the spring1 when the weather is cool and the bees are not so numerous1 hives may be shut up even for a day or so without much ventilation1 and but little harm will arise therefrom4 ,hive for ,swarming ,needful4 ,there is another little matter of detail that should be named here2 that is1 the necessity of the bee-keeper always having a common hive in readiness near the bees1 so as to be able to secure any swarm which may unexpectedly start4 ,,conclusion4 ,here our pleasant task must close4 ,we trust that all information has been given that is needful to enable the practical bee-keeper to begin business and the scientific apiarian to extend his observations4 ,in conclusion1 we would remind all bee-keepers who earnestly desire success1 and who hope to draw pecuniary profit from their pursuit1 of the golden rule in bee-keeping--,keep your stocks strong4 ,in exercising the assiduous attention and persevering effort which that maxim enjoins1 they will not only be regarded as bee-keepers1 but1 as ,mr4 ,langstroth says1 will acquire a right to the title of bee-masters4 ,illustration ,,appendix4 ,,bees ,,at ,,the ,,exhibition ,,of #ahfb4 ,the annexed figure represents our stand in the ,agricultural ,department of the ,international ,exhibition of #ahfb4 ,the space granted us in the ,world's ,great ,fair was somewhat limited2 but we were able to exhibit a tolerably complete stock of apiarian apparatus1 and all the more important beehives4 ,amongst these was a unicomb hive stocked with ,italian bees4 ,this was an object of great attention1 and daily hundreds of visitors flocked round our stand in order to watch the movements of the ,italian queen with her gay and busy subjects4 ,the entrance-way for the bees being in the ,open ,court1 to which all visitors had access1 it was necessary to place the hive in an elevated position1 so that it should be beyond the reach of incautious passers-by1 and to obviate any chance of annoyance to the vast crowds of people continually around4 ,illustration3 ,,stand ,,at ,,the ,,exhibition ,,of #ahfb4 ,,cases ,,of ,,acclimatising ,,bees4 ,among others who took a deep interest in the exhibition just described was ,mr4 ,edward ,wilson1 ,president of the ,acclimatisation ,society of ,victoria4 ,this gentleman requested us to pack four stocks of the ,italian bees for conveyance to ,melbourne4 ,with the assistance of ,mr4 ,woodbury--whose aid was1 indeed1 essential--these stocks were sent off on the #beth of ,september1 #ahfb1 by the steamship ,alhambra1 so as to arrive at the colony during the ,austral summer4 ,the hives were ,woodbury frame-hives1 having ample space and ventilation1 as well as the means of supplying water to their inmates during the voyage2 there was also a sufficient store of honey to last until the following ,march4 ,the bees arrived at ,melbourne1 where they were released after an imprisonment of seventy-nine days1 and have since rapidly multiplied1 the climate and pasturage of ,australia greatly favouring the increase of this superior variety of the bee4 ,mr4 ,wilson was so well pleased with the careful manner in which these stocks were fitted out for their voyage across the seas1 that he subsequently instructed us to prepare him three more hives1 which were sent out in a sailing vessel4 ,owing to the mismanagement of the water supply during the voyage1 only one stock survived in this instance4 ,mr4 ,wilson informs us that one of these hives contained #acflb4 of honey on the #beth of ,december1 #ahfd 7,midsummer in ,australia74 ,upwards of twenty years ago we sent a ,nutt's hive stocked with bees to ,new ,zealand4 ,we then adopted the plan of fixing the hive in a meat safe1 so that the bees could fly about a little1 and also cleanse the hive of their dead1 they being always very attentive to sanitary arrangements4 ,several more recent exportations of ,italian bees have been made by us4 ,we have sent two stocks to ,madras1 which arrived safely1 and we hear are doing well1 also a stock to ,south ,africa under the care of the lady who ordered them1 and who was herself going out4 ,we had the satisfaction of receiving the following note3-- ,grahamstown1 ,nov4 #c1 #ahge4 ,mrs4 ,mullens is very pleased to inform ,messrs4 ,neighbour and ,sons that the stock of ,ligurian bees supplied to her on board the ',nyanza' at ,southampton on ,july #bcrd have arrived quite safely4 ,mrs4 ,mullens thinks they were exceedingly well packed2 they had a trying journey by bullock waggon two days after leaving the sea4 ,they were released from the hive on ,september #crd1 and appeared weak at first1 but began to work in less than an hour4 ,a large number of dead bees were found at the bottom of the hive on opening--most likely caused by the boat in which the bees were having water in it4 ,this report we consider very favourable4 ,there would naturally be a great mortality during such long confinement1 and for the reasons also which ,mrs4 ,mullens mentions4 ,,philadelphia ,,exhibition ,,of #ahgf4 ,dated ,dec4 #abth4 ,award of ,prize ,medal to ,g4 ,neighbour and ,sons1 ,for a large and varied collection of economical beehives so arranged that the honey can be taken without the destruction of the bees4 ,special attention is directed to the ,unicomb ,hives with ,venetian blinds to allow the bees to be exposed to light1 whilst the sun's rays are excluded4 ,also to a ,honey ,extractor by centrifugal force1 which removes the honey from the combs without injuring the latter1 which can be returned to the hives4 7,signed17 ,john ,coleman1 ,on behalf of the ,judges4 ,approved of group of ,judges4 #e names4 ,,caledonian ,,apiarian ,,society4 ,the head-quarters of this ,society are at ,glasgow2 and1 taking example from the ,british ,bee ,keepers' ,association1 shows are held and prizes given for beehives and their produce2 also living bees at work in glass hives are exhibited4 ,in addition to which1 manipulations connected with bee economy1 such as transferring1 handling bees in bar-frame and other hives1 are demonstrated to beholders4 ,the exhibition of this year 7#ahgg7 was held at ,edinburgh1 in connection with the annual gathering of the ,highland and ,agricultural ,society1 and which was very successful4 ,there was a separate charge for admission to the bee and honey department1 which was visited by great numbers of people4 ,in consequence of the poor honey harvest1 but a small quantity of honeycomb was sent for competition4 ,with other beehive makers1 we exhibited a large collection of our hives1 also living bees1 with all the appliances needed in bee-culture4 ,the first prize was awarded us for the best and largest display4 ,this prize consists of a handsome silver cup and #djs4 ,amongst our interesting collection were a dozen or so of ,italian ,alp queens in small boxes1 each within a separate box1 with a few worker bees4 ,these had been sent over expressly for this show1 and would therefore take no harm by being kept a few days1 until purchased by some of the enterprising ,scotch bee-keepers1 and substituted for ordinary queens in the manner explained in the body of this work4 ,one of the transparent single-comb hives brought from the neighbourhood of ,glasgow and exhibit ed by the indefatigable honorary secretary of the ,society1 ,mr4 ,bennett1 was thought to possess no queen1 as no brood was to be seen1 and there were so many drones present in the hive4 ,in order to supply what we considered the deficiency1 we appropriated one of the boxes containing a foreign queen1 and in the evening allowed her majesty quietly to pass into the hive through an opening on top1 taking the precaution to cover up the hive4 ,illustration3 ,exterior of ,apiary4 ,as originally erected in the ,zoological ,gardens1 ,regent's ,park4 ,illustration3 ,interior of ,apiary4 ,on making an inspection next morning we were surprised to find a very dark ,italian queen1 as we thought4 ,a few hours later we witnessed an interesting scene1 no less than a single combat between the real ,italian queen and the queen of the hive2 for although we had judged the hive to be queenless there was one in the hive all the time1 but she was a virgin4 ,at the moment of our observation the two queens were engaged in mortal conflict1 and we were able to summon our worthy secretary and a few apiarian friends to witness the battle4 ,after some few minutes 7each being curled round against the other7 the ,english or rather the ,scotch queen dropped dead to the bottom of the hive and was seen no more4 ,it would have been interesting to have gained possession of the dead queen for examination under the microscope1 but the construction of the hive and the position it was in did not allow of searching for her4 ,the ,italian mother1 who was for some time after greatly excited and evidently much discomposed1 reigned supreme1 the monarch of the hive2 and being already fertilised1 the worker bees paid her due attention1 but began worrying and tormenting the drones1 because they were now not wanted4 ,these assaults of the little active working bees on the burley drones very much interested the spectators4 ,the queen proceeded with her duties of egg-laying1 and the bees having exit through the hording1 the usual work of the hives was carried on fully exposed to view4 ,not the least gratifying feature was the sight of these little labourers travelling in and out under the glazed covered way4 ,more active manipulation1 such as driving bees from one hive to another1 gaining possession of the queen1 and exhibiting her in the hand1 was carried on in another portion of the shed1 and became a source of wonderment to spectators4 ,many of the local newspapers had paragraphs descriptive of this new exhibition in connection with a ,scotch agricultural show4 ,,index4 ,abbott1 ,c4 ,n41 ,frame-hives1 #adf ,abdomen of bees1 #ajb ,accident at ,stafford ,house1 #afd ,acclimatising ,bees 7,appendix71 #cdi ,advice by ,butler1 #ccc ,american ,bee ,journal1 #aij ,anatomy of bees1 ,plates ,i4 and ,,ii41 facing pages #cd and #hf ,anecdote from ,butler1 #ccf of ,french clergyman1 #ccd showing provision made for swarming1 #gh ,antenn of bees1 #id ,apiary1 ,geo4 ,neighbour ,sons1 7frontispiece7 description of1 #ccj ,applying supers1 #bfd ,artificial swarming1 #bcc ,asiatic bees1 #di ,austrian ditto 7,lower71 #df ,bar-frame holder1 #aib ,bar ,supers1 #ahc ,bath and ,west of ,england ,agricultural ,association1 #db ,bee as an insect1 #g dress1 #bjh feeders1 ,nutt's1 #abf bottle1 #bjc can1 #bjd1 round1 #bje2 wood1 #bjf houses1 #aff-agi traps1 #bja veil1 #baj ,beehives1 various1 #ajh to #afe ,bee-keeping in ,london1 #cbb ,zoological ,gardens1 #cbh ,horticultural ,gardens1 #cbi ,st4 ,john's ,wood1 #cbi ,hampstead1 #ccj ,bees1 do they go to sleep8 #ca increase of1 #hb head of1 #hh eye of1 #ij mouth1 #ia tongue1 #ib mandibles1 #ic sense of hearing1 #ie smell1 #if antenn4 #if thorax and organs of motion1 #ig breathing1 #ajj stomach1 #ajb honey bag1 #ajb produce of wax1 #ajc sting1 #ajd dislike to hive1 #bba enemies of1 #cae profitably kept1 #ccf ,bell glasses1 see glasses ,berlepsch1 ,baron von1 #d1 #f1 #aj1 #cf1 #db1 #di1 #ge1 #baa theory of drone-breeding1 #fi on swarming1 #gg breeding superfluous princesses1 #ha ,bevan1 ,dr41 #c1 #ah1 #ff ,black ,bees1 #ga ,book-keeping recommended1 #ccb ,box ,fumigator1 #bjf ,british ,bee-keepers' ,association1 #f1 #dh ,caledonian ,apiarian ,society 7,appendix71 #ced ,carbolic acid1 use of1 #bjh1 #bbj1 #cje ,carniolan bees1 #de1 #df1 #ec1 #gh ,change of frame-hives beneficial in spring1 #bbc ,cheshire's 7,f47 frame-hive1 #ade nucleus hive #aig transferring board1 #aib wax guide-maker1 #aia ,comb-building in supers1 #cch fixing in ditto1 #bfb foundations 7,american71 #aij ,combs1 placing in frame-hives1 #bbc ,common cottager's hive1 #ajh ,corri1 ,herr1 #dg1 #gh ,cottage hive1 improved1 #aad ,cottager's hive1 no improved ditto1 #aab improved frame-hive1 #adb ,cotton1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,c41 #e1 #de1 #gh ,covers1 zinc1 for hives1 #aga1 #agb wood1 #agb1 #agd1 #age1 #agg1 #agi ,cowan's 7,mr47 plan of working frame-hives1 #bee ,crystal ,palace skep1 #aji ,cyprian bees1 #dg ,darwin1 ,dr4 #ef1 #eg ,dathe1 #ec plan of fertilizing queens with ,italian drones1 #bec ,diseases of bees1 #cjf ,dnhoff1 ,dr4 #e1 #fe1 #if ,driving1 #bbf best condition for1 #bbh useful for taking honey1 #bbi ,drone bee1 #ai1 #fb has no father1 #fd eggs1 theory of production1 #fb1 #beb trap1 #bja comb1 to be used sparingly1 #bbd ,drone comb1 building of1 sometimes to be avoided1 #bch ,dummy frame1 #adj1 #adc ,dzierzon1 ,dr41 #d1 #aj1 #cf1 #db1 #dd description of the round of the bees' concerns1 #cb on swarming1 #gg not a smoker1 #baj ,egg-laying1 #aj1 #fg ,eggs and transformations1 #ei ,ekes1 description of1 #ahf ,epitaph on brimstoned bees1 #he ,evans' 7,dr47 poem on bees1 #c1 quotations from1 #ei1 #ge1 #gf1 #ajg1 #afe ,extracting honey from comb1 #bgd ,extractor1 honey1 #aic ,eyes of bees1 #hi ,faculties1 and functions1 #ed ,feeder1 ,nutt's1 #abf ,feeders1 7various71 #bjb ,feeding1 #bgi ,fertile workers1 #fb1 #fg ,fittings and apparatus 7outside71 #aff ,flat-topped glasses1 #ahb ,foul brood1 #cjg ,langstroth1 ,woodbury1 and ,dzierzon on1 #cjh1 #cab ,fox1 ,mr4 ,george1 #bgh ,mr4 ,s4 ,bevan1 #bgh1 #ccb ,frame-hive1 putting swarm into1 #bai facility for placing combs1 #bbc1 with cover and stand1 #age1 #agg1 #agi ,frames1 removing1 #bfh ,french exhibition1 #afe ,fumigators1 #bjf ,fumigating1 description of1 #bca ,general hints on frame-hives1 #bed remarks1 #ccb ,gerstcker1 #ed ,glass hives1 ladies' observatory1 #abj frame1 #ach with cover and super1 #agg1 #agh ,glasses for supers1 #ahj1 #aha1 #ahb ,guide comb1 #ahh1 #bfa-bfd maker 7,cheshire's71 description of1 #aia ,hawkins1 ,mr4 ,waterhouse1 #ej ,head of bee1 #hh ,hearing of bees1 #ie ,heath bees1 #df ,hints1 general1 on frame-hives1 #bed ,hives1 modern1 #ajh to #afe sometimes destroyed by entrance being stopped1 #cdc ,hiving swarms1 #bab ,honey bag of bees1 #ajb cutters1 #aic description of1 #bif extractor1 #aic test when adulterated1 #big ,houses for hives1 #aff ,hruschka1 ,von1 #aic ,huber1 #fb ,hunter's1 ,mr41 support for hive when driving1 #bbi ,impressed wax sheets1 #ahg ,improved cottage hive1 #aac cottager's hive1 #aab ditto1 no windows1 #aai ,increase of bees1 #hb ,insects necessary for existence of flowers1 #ei ,italian bee1 #cd1 #ce1 #da ,italianising hives1 #bea ,kerner1 #eh ,kleine1 ,herr1 #e1 #ce1 #bdd ,klipstein1 ,von1 anecdotes of queens1 #bb1 #ff ,knowledge of bee-keeping necessary for a gardener1 #cdc ,ladies' ,observatory ,hive1 #abj ,lanarkshire bee-keeper1 #big ,lanarkshire hive1 #aee ,langstroth1 ,rev4 ,l4 ,l41 #c1 #e1 #aj1 #dc4 #hc4 #he1 #abi1 #cdf ,langstroth1 ,rev4 ,l4 ,l41 on transferring swarms1 #bbj ,lee's supers1 #ade1 #adf ,legs of bees1 #ih ,leuckart1 ,professor1 #fd1 #ff ,ligurian bee1 #g1 #cd ,london apiaries1 #cbe ,lower ,austrian bees1 #df ,lubbock1 ,sir ,john1 #f1 #eg1 #ei ,mahan1 ,mr41 #i ,mandibles of bees1 #ia ,manipulation with bees1 #bab frame-hives1 #bfi ,mel-extractor1 #aif ,melting down combs1 #bge ,mouth of bees1 #ia ,munn1 ,major1 #abi ,nadirs1 description of1 #ahf ,neighbours' improved cottager's hive1 #aac ,neighbours' improved cottage-hive1 #aad ,neighbours' new frame-hive1 #aci ,new cover and stand for frame-hives1 #age1 #agf1 #agi ,new wood feeder1 #bjf ,nucleus hive1 #aig ,nutt's hive1 #abc ,orchard1 good place for an apiary1 #ef ,organs of sensation1 #hh motion1 #ig reproduction1 #fb ,parthenogenesis1 #fd ,pasturage for bees1 #bic ,payne's 7,i4 ,h47 glass1 #ahb ,perforated zinc adapter1 #ada1 #adc1 #add1 #bjj ,philadelphia ,exhibition1 #afj2 and ,appendix1 #cej ,philadelphia hive1 #adc ,pollen basket1 #ih preservation from incursions of ants1 #eh description of1 #bih substitute for1 #bii ,position of hives1 #bib ,propolis1 #cjj ,queen1 #h ,queen1 power of egg-laying1 #aj homage paid to fertile1 #ab no attention bestowed on virgins1 #ac two queens in a hive1 #ae sting of used for depositing eggs1 #ae some queens will not fight1 #ae consternation at loss of1 #af life of1 #ai fertilisation of1 #aa1 #bj1 #bb1 #bd in relation to sexes1 #fc at swarming time1 #gc and drone preventers1 #bjj rearing1 #ag1 #bg1 #gg1 #bdc cells1 #ag1 #bdd securing1 #bbh1 #bdj introducing stranger1 #bdg cages1 #aih1 #bdd ,quilts1 #ahj ,rationale of swarming1 #gb ,relation of sex to cells1 #fg plants to insects1 #ef1 #eg ,removing bees1 #bei supers1 #bff frames1 #bfh ,reproductive economy1 #fb ,renfrewshire bee-keeper1 #bd1 #da1 #aed queen cage1 #aii instructions on supering1 #ccg ,robbing1 #bbe1 #cje ,rorl's 7,mr47 way to get quit of fertile workers1 #fg ,round feeder1 #bje ,royal cells1 #ag1 #bdd transferring1 #aih duels1 #ae1 and ,appendix ,salt obtained by bees1 #cj1 #ig ,samuelson's work14 ,the ,honey ,bee1 #e1 #ia1 #if ,siebold1 ,von1 on ,parthenogenesis1 #fd ,skep1 ,crystal ,palace1 #aji 7old71 transferring combs from1 #bbc ,slow feeding1 #bjd ,smelling1 sense of1 largely possessed by bees1 #if ,smith1 ,mr4 ,j41 #dh ,smyrnan bees1 #dg ,society of ,arts1 #eg ,stands for hives1 #aah1 #agj ,stewarton hive1 #adf to #aee1 #ccg ,sting1 #ajd prevention and cure1 #bhf ,stocks 7old7 transferring1 #bbb ,stomach of bees1 #ajb ,straw frame-hive1 #acf1 #ada hives1 round1 #ajh to #abj ,stupefying bees1 #bjg ,supers1 #ahj1 #aha1 #ahb1 #ahc1 #ahd1 #ahe ,superstitions about bees1 #cda ,supplying natural comb1 #bfa ,swammerdam1 #fc ,swarm1 number of bees composing1 #gi second flight disastrous1 #bad often mix1 #bad taking1 #bad sending to a distance1 #bag conveyance of1 #bag transferring1 #bah returning1 #bah brought from a distance1 #bai should be fed1 #bba truant1 #gh1 #cag artificial1 #bcc ,swarming1 rationale of1 #gb provision made for1 #gd1 #gh signs of1 #hj a provision of ,nature1 #bab ,taylor1 the late ,mr4 ,h41 #cg ,taylor's glasses1 #aha ,thorax of bee1 #ig ,tongue of bee1 #ib ,transferring board1 #aib swarms1 #bah old stocks1 #bbb ,tristram1 ,rev4 ,h4 ,b41 extract from his book1 #ea ,tube fumigator1 #bjg ,unicomb observatory hive1 outdoor1 #aeg ,unicomb observatory hive1 directions for1 #afj ,unicomb observatory hive1 indoor1 #afb ,uniting weak colonies1 #bbi ,ventilation performed by bees1 #cj1 #bhe ,ventilators1 #abd ,vulcanite for feeding-stage1 #bjc ,wasps1 #cae ,warder1 ,dr41 experiment with swarm1 #gg ,water for bees1 #cj1 #cca ,wax1 how produced1 #ajc impressed sheets of1 #ahg secretion of1 #cjb ,weighing hives1 #bgf ,wildman's bees1 #cbb ,wings for bees1 #ig ,winter precautions1 #bhc ,wood cover1 #agb feeder1 #bjf ,woodbury1 ,t4 ,w41 #cg1 #db1 #di1 #ej frame-hive1 #acd mode of hiving swarm1 #baf mode of transferring swarm1 #bbj hive cover1 #agd ,xenophon's army poisoned with honey1 #bih ,zinc covers1 ornamental1 #aga plain1 #agb rests1 #adj adapters1 perforated1 #ada1 #adc1 #add1 #bjj ,hazell1 ,watson1 and ,viney1 ,printers1 ,london and ,aylesbury4 ,,price ,,list ,,of ,,neighbour ,,sons' ,,improved ,,bee-,,hives ,for taking ,honey without the ,destruction of the ,bees4 ,illustration ,,exhibitors ,,at ,,the ,great ,exhibition1 #ahea4 ,dublin ,exhibition1 #ahec4 ,exposition ,universelle1 #ahee4 ,international ,exhibition1 #ahfb4 ,dublin ,exhibition1 #ahff4 ,paris ,exposition ,universelle1 #ahfg4 ,annual ,international ,exhibition1 #ahgc4 ,british ,bee-,keepers' ,shows1 ,crystal ,palace1 #ahgd1 #ahge4 ,alexandra ,palace1 #ahgf4 ,international ,philadelphia ,exhibition1 #ahgf4 ,caledonian ,apiarian ,show at ,edinburgh1 #ahgg4 ,list of ,prices4 ,no4 s4 d4 #a4 ,nutt's ,collateral ,bee-,hive #e #e #j ,stand for ditto #j #af #j #b4 ,single ,box ,hive #c #c #c #c4 ,neighbours' ,new ,frame ,stock ,hive #a #e #j ,super #a #e #j ,cover for ditto #bgs4 and #b #j #j #d4 ,carr's ,bar and ,frame ,hive #j #ai #f ,super for ditto #j #ai #f #e4 ,neighbours' ,improved ,cottage ,hive #a #ae #j ,stand for ditto #j #aj #f #f4 ,ditto1 without ,windows #a #e #j #g4 ,ladies' ,observatory ,hive #b #e #j #h4 ,the ,cottager's ,hive #j #aj #f #i and #aj4 ,bee ,feeders each #es4 and #j #d #j #aa4 and #ab1 ,fumigators #bs4 #j #b #f #ac4 ,honey ,cutters per pair #j #e #j #ad4 ,improved ,cottager's ,hive #a #a #j #ae4 ,honey ,extractor for hand use #aes4 and #j #ag #f #af4 ,woodbury ,bar ,super #j #aj #f #ag4 ,neighbours' ,new ,supers1 ,wood and ,glass #a #a #j ,ditto ditto ,straw and ,wood #a #e #j #ah4 ,taylor's ,glass1 to contain about #h lb4 #j #c #f #ai4 ,payne's ,glass1 with hole in centre1 to afford additional space to supers partly filled #j #c #j #bj4 ,neighbours' ,revolving ,indoor ,unicomb ,hive #c #aj #j #ba4 ,new ,can ,feeder1 on the principle of a fountain1 adapted for slow1 stimulating feeding 7#c pints7 #j #e #j #bb4 ,new ,frame ,stand1 to be used when manipulating with movable combs #j #e #f #bc4 ,american ,sectional ,supers per set of #ad #j #c #f #bd4 ,taylor's ,super ,glass #be4 ,bell ,glass1 to contain about #i lb #j #d #j #bf4 ,ditto ditto #e lb #j #b #j #bg4 ,ditto ditto #c lb #j #a #j #bh4 ,new ,shape ,flat-top ,glass1 with lid to place on table inverted #j #c #f #cj4 ,shallow ,glasses1 #i in4 wide by #d in4-deep #j #c #j ,ditto #ac in4 #d in4 #j #e #f #ca4 ,bee ,dress1 with ,sleeves 7post free1 #c;d4 extra7 #j #f #j #cb4 ,india-rubber ,gloves 7by post1 #b;d4 extra7 per pair #j #f #j #cc4 ,common ,straw ,hives #j #b #f #cd4 ,small ,straw ,super ,hives #j #b #j #cf4 ,floor ,boards1 according to description1 #bs41 #bs4 #f;d4 #j #c #j #cg4 ,zinc ,cover for ,improved ,cottage ,hive #j #ae #f #ch4 ,ornamental ,zinc ,cover #b #b #j #ci4 ,bee ,house1 to contain two ,improved ,cottage' ,hives #d #d #j #db4 ,woodbury ,bar and ,frame ,hive #j #ah #j ,ditto ditto with ,window #a #a #j ,cover #a #a #j ,stand #j #aj #f #dd4 ,the ,bottle ,feeder #j #b #f #de4 ,woodbury ,straw ,bar and ,frame ,hive1 #ahs4 #f;d4 and #a #b #j #df4 ,outdoor ,unicomb ,hive1 to take ,woodbury ,frames #e #aj #j ,stand #j #aa #f #dg4 ,common ,cottage ,hive1 #es4 #f;d4 each4 ,six for #a #aj #j #di4 ,glass ,frame ,hive #a #aj #j #ea4 ,improved ,wax ,sheets per doz4 #j #f #j #eb4 ,lee's ,octagon ,straw ,hive #a #j #c ,super #j #aa #f ,cover and ,stand #a #ab #f #ec4 ,lee's ,octagon ,hive1 in ,mahoghany #j #ag #f #ed4 ,ditto ditto ,pine #j #f #j #ee4 ,ditto ditto ,glass ,sides #j #i #j #ef4 ,ditto ditto smaller1 in ,mahoghany #j #ab #f #eg4 ,ditto ditto ,wooden ,sides1 ,glass ,top #j #e #f #eh4 ,stewarton ,hive 7#c ,stock ,boxes1 #a ,honey ,box7 #a #a #j #ei4 ,new ,wood ,bee ,feeder #j #e #j #fj4 ,neighbours' ,cottage ,frame ,hive #j #g #f #fa4 ,neighbours' ,divisional ,super1 #cs4 #f;d4 per pair #j #f #f #fb4 ,cover for ,neighbours' ,frame ,hive #j #h #f #fc4 ,cottage ,frame ,hive1 ,woodbury ,frames #j #g #f #fd4 ,cheshire's ,frame ,hive1 complete--,stand1 ,super1 and ,cover1 the latter painted #a #ag #f #fe4 ,abbott's ditto ditto #a #ag #f #ff4 ,lanarkshire ,stock ,hive #j #af #f ,super #j #f #f ,roof #j #g #j #fg4 ,neighbours' ,new ,bee ,veil 7by post1 #b;d4 extra7 #j #b #f #fh4 ,flat-top ,glass with #c inch hole in centre 7similar to ,payne's71 for adding space to ,supers #j #c #f #fi4 ,same construction as above1 #f in4 wide1 #c in4 deep #j #b #j #gj4 ,lee's ,double ,super per pair #j #e #f #ga4 ,cheshire's ,nucleus ,hive1 for ,queen ,rearing #j #ab #f #gb4 ,cheshire's ,transferring ,board #j #aj #f #gc4 ,cheshire's ,prize ,smoker #j #b #j #gd4 ,cheshire's ,drone ,trap #j #d #f #ge4 ,syrup ,can and ,shovel #j #f #f #gf4 ,vulcanite ,feeding ,plates each #f;d4 and #j #j #i 7,less by the dozen7 #gg4 ,bligh ,bee ,quieter each #j #b #f #gh4 ,queen and ,drone ,preventers #as4 and #j #a #f #gi4 ,crystal ,palace ,skep #j #d #f ,floor ,board #j #c #j ,super #j #b #f #hj4 ,neighbours' ,straw ,frame ,hive1 with ,new-shaped ,cover and ,stand1 grained and varnished #c #aa #f #ha4 ,new ,cottage ,frame ,stock ,hive1 with ,window #j #ab #f #hb4 ,new ,cover and ,stand for the above 7painted7 #a #g #j #hc4 ,neighbours' ,cylindrical ,honey ,extractor #b #aj #j ,two ,wire ,cases #j #ab #j #hd4 ,bee ,house for ,one ,hive #b #aj #j #he4 ,renfrewshire ,stewarton ,movable ,comb ,hive1 consisting of #c ,stock ,boxes and #a ,honey ,box #a #h #j #hf4 ,bee ,traps1 for clearing ,bees from ,supers #j #b #f #hg4 ,philadelphia ,hive1 with ,super1 ,stand1 and ,cover #b #b #j #hh4 ,sectional ,supers the set #j #d #f #hi4 ,new ,cover for ,cottage ,frame ,hive 7carries its own ,stand7 #a #g #j #ij4 ,quinby ,smoker #j #f #f 99 99 99 99 99 ,,publications ,,on ,,bees4 ,the ,apiary2 or1 ,bees1 ,beehives1 and ,bee ,culture1 by ,alfred ,neighbour4 #j #e #j ,hive and ,honey ,bee1 by ,rev4 ,l4 ,l4 ,langstroth 7,american74 ,a ,new ,edition #j #i #f ,quinby's ,bee-,keeping 7,american7 #j #h #f ,italian ,alp ,bee1 by ,hermann #j #a #j 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,,prize ,,medals ,,awarded ,,at ,,the ,illustration ,,philadelphia ,,and ,,other ,,exhibitions4 ,,geo4 ,,neighbour ,,sons' ,,price ,,current ,,of ,genuine ,italian ,alp or ,ligurian ,bees4 ,an ,italian ,queen in a small ,box1 accompanied by a few ,worker ,bees1 with full directions for uniting to ,english ,stocks1 each from ,april and ,may1 #abs42 ,june1 #aas42 ,july1 #ajs42 ,august1 #is42 ,september1 #hs42 ,october1 #gs4 ,orders should be given in advance4 ,for parcels of ,six ,queens at one time1 #as4 each less4 ,a ,stock1 with genuine ,italian ,queen1 packed so as to travel by rail with comparatively no risk of damage1 including the ,straw ,frame ,hive with window1 #d2 or if in ,new ,cheap ,frame ,hive1 ,no4 #fj or #fc1 which has no window1 #c #es4 ,swarms and ,stocks of ,english ,bees can be obtained4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber ,note ,minor typos corrected4 ,hyphenation was standardized to the most frequently used version with the exception of beehive which was used by the author and bee-hive in quotations from other works4