BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
The issue of a cast may be confidently expected from a strong stock that has lost with the swarm a vigorous laying queen, for during the eight days following the issue of the swarm, two thousand or more bees will have been hatching daily, and therefore only bad weather would stop a cast. Though only one queen is found in a swarm, casts frequently contain several that have escaped during the excitement of swarming. In the evening only one queen will be left as the result of several battles.
Controlling Swarming.
To a bee-keeper swarming is a charming sight,though the issue of a swarm from a particular stock may cause annoyance. It is safe to say that, as a rule, swarming means the loss of much honey, for the bees are lazy for some days previous to the issue of a swarm. This is not their fault, for they only prepare for swarming when they are in want of room, and all this laziness comes at a time when the work of every bee is required in the storing of surplus.
Swarming may be controlled, but not entirely prevented. Seeing that want of room is invariably the cause of swarms issuing, space for the storing of surplus in advance of requirements must be given. Occasionally, in spite of supers, swarms issue; but why seems to be a decided puzzle to the novice. After supers are placed on the hives, and the bees have commenced work therein, it will, in the majority of cases, be continued unless there is, owing to drought, a seriously diminished income, or dull, cold, and wet weather has driven the bees from the supers to the brood chamber. In both cases, but more particularly the latter, the crowding of the bees in the brood chamber causes the formation of queen cells, and, though a change may take place in the weather favourable to the secretion of nectar, a swarm is almost sure to issue as soon as the queen cells are sealed over.
Cutting out all queen cells but one is a means of preventing swarming often advocated; but it is much better to give that attention to the brood nest which will tend to prevent the formation of queen cells.
As soon as the bees are driven from the supers to the brood chamber by a change of weather, more room in the shape of empty cells must be given by removing the outside combs and placing frames containing full sheets of foundation in the centre of the hive. The supers may be returned, as they will have the effect of keeping down the temperature, and will also be accessible to the bees immediately the gathering of surplus again takes place.
Nadiring, that is, placing the extra chamber below the brood chamber, will invariably prevent the preparations for swarming, but the brood combs will then be used as receptacles for the surplus honey to a greater extent than is advisable. During the honeyflow, providing there is a continuance of fine weather, storing will go on uninterruptedly, consequently additional supers after the first must be given. Each extra super should be placed between that or those already on and the brood chamber, so that the honey may be ripened in the new combs and then carried above to complete the upper super or supers.
## Chapter 5. _Races of Bees_.
As the development of bee-culture progressed, the most advanced or the most expert bee-masters looked around for a means of improving the native English black, or, as it is commonly called, the German brown bee. To this end stocks, swarms, and queens have for a great number of years been imported from various parts of the European continent and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. That in and in breeding causes the deterioration of stock is well known, and it is equally true that unless fresh blood be introduced from districts beyond bee-flight, so as to avoid the evils of conganineous inteerourse, an enfeebled race of bees is inevitable.
Imported bees may be divided into two kinds, the _yellow-banded_ (Ligurian, Cyprian, Syrian, and Holyland), and the _silver-banded_ (Caniolians).
The Ligurian.
The first foreign bees to attract the notice of English bee-keepers were the Ligurian (Apis Ligustica), orItalian Alp bees, which show the three upper bands of the abdomen a bright yellow. This peculiarity, though generally found to exist, is subject to variation, and occasionally Ligurians are inclined to be leather-coloured. This may be, and most probably is, due to crossing with bees that do not show the yellow bands.
The first Ligurians to reach these shores were two queens sent by Mr. Hermann, a Swiss bee-keeper, one to Mr. T. W. Woodbury, and the other to Mr. A. Neighbour, on August 3rd, 1859. From that time queens and swarms, particularly the former, have been imported annually.
Whether the object, improvement of the native bee, has, by the introduction of these bees, thereby been attained, is a point upon which opinions vary, many deciding in the affirmative, though some bee-keepers maintain that the only effect perceptible has been to increase the irritability of the native bees. This is a charge that in varying degree may be laid upon any race introduced, as the crossing of races may, and undoubtedly does, result in many instances in the singing capability of the bee being increased, though at the same time it has frequently been noted that the worst stingers have almost invariably been the best workers.
The testimony of many famous bee-keepers, among whom may be mentioned the late Rev. G. Raynor and Mr. T. W. Cowan, is decidedly in favour of this race, not only on account of the advantages resulting from crossing with the native bee, but chiefly on account of its ability to gather honey from flowers from which the native bee, owing to its having a shorter tongue than the Ligurian, cannot extract the coveted nectar.
Ligurians are very prolific and have had a great influence on the native bee wherever introduced. They are superior to the natives when stocks are being worked for extracted honey, but when storing in sections the capping is too close upon the honey, and consequently the comb has a dark and damp appearance.
Cyprians.
These handsome bees were first introduced into this country, and the continent of Europe generally, in 1880 by Mr. Frank Benton, who wrote of them as follows :--"They are smaller and more active than the Ligurians, and exceedingly prolific, and excellent honey-gatherers. A stock of Cyprians belonging to Mr. B. F. Carroll, Dresden, Texas, in 1885 is said to have gathered that season 1,000 lbs. of honey." Mr. Benton afterwards wrote, " Cyprians are the bees for the skilled specialist."
My experience of this raoe is sufficient to enable me to warn bee-keepers against introducing into their apiaries the most beautiful but at the same time the most irritable of all races of bees. At times, when bee-keepers have visited my apiary, I have exhibited pure Cyprians without veil or intimidant, but on other occasions it was apparently sufficient to show one's self in the garden to have a warm reception from the Cyprian or Cyprian hybrids. This, therefore, is a raee that bee-keepers will do well to let severely alone.
The _Holylands_ are found in the Holy Land--hence their name ; while the home of the _Syriaus_ is further north. Of these bees it may be said that they are somewhat like the Cyprians, and equally to be avoided.
At the time of their introduction to the Western parts of the continent, much was said in regard to their wonderful powers, and much was proved both for and against them. The late Mr. C. N. Abbott, soon after the introduction of these races, recorded a profit from a cross-bred colony of Syrians of \(\sharp 20\) in one season. Their bad qualities, however, showed up so abundantly that the Messrs. Abbott Brothers announced subsequently that they had swept their apiary clear of such truculent pests. It is very rarely that these races from the extreme east of the Mediterranean are now met with, or even heard of, bee-keepers of experience being satisfied with the native bee, the Ligurian, or the Carniolan.
These have been called the ladies' bees from the fact that compared with other bees they are much less disposed to sting during manipulations. Mr. E. Cori, of Bruz, Bohemia, first made known the desirable qualities of these bees to Europeans. Mr. F. Benton, who has perhaps had as much experience of this race as any bee-keeper in Europe, remarks that they may be considered a variety of our own black or German bee. Its home is in Carniola, a province in South Illyria, S.W. Austria. Mr. A. Neighbour was the pioneer in their introduction to this country ; but, though the queens are extremely prolific, and the bees good honeygathers, they exhibit a most undesirable quality in being prone to excessive swarming.
As desirable qualities may with care be propagated, the undesirable can, of course, in time be eliminated. In filling and sealing sections the Carniolans have no rivals. Judicious crossing with these bees cannot but be productive of good results, though stocks showing the least inclination to swarm, and possessing other desirable qualities, should always be selected for breeding.
## Chapter 5. _Subdung and Handling Bees_.
Bees have a means of defence which they bring into instantaneous use when provoked, and it is therefore wise that a bee-keeper should become acquainted with the peculiarities of bees, their likes and dislikes, and thus be able to manage them with ease while reducing stinging to a minimum. There are frequently individual stocks that show a great propensity for stinging at all times when they are approached ; but if such be the case the remedy is clear. The queen must be removed and another introduced, bred in a colony the bees of which are amiable while showing other desirable characteristics. In country districts many an old bee-keeper is looked upon by his neighbours as a great wonder, inasmuch as he goes uncovered amongst his bees and hives swarms without being stung.
The ease with which bees are handled at such times is due to the fact that they are bent upon the object of clustering, preparatory to moving off with their queen to a new home. If living takes place as soon as the bees have clustered, or hang in a pear-shaped mass from the branch of a tree, or elsewhere, it is seldomthat a bee will sting, particularly if they are not roughly handled or crushed. When bees leave the hive as a swarm, they have a two or three days' supply of food on which to exist, and also to use in the formation of wax with which to build combs in their new home.
As it is known that bees are most easily managed at swarming time, and during the honey-flow, it follows that we must endeavour to put them into a similar quiet and apparently contented condition whenever the examination of a colony is deemed necessary. The first step to this end is frightening the bees. This no doubt sounds odd, but it is none the less true ; and we find that when bees are frightened they rush to the honey cells and commence gorging themselves with honey. It is when the bees are thus engaged that the examination of the combs may take place. An occasional puff of smoke along the tops of the frames will quiet any bees that show signs of attacking the manipulator. In all operations carried on in the apiary, confidence is essential to success. Without it, jerky movements and clumsy manipulations must occur to irritate the bees.
## 11.1.
The commonest method adopted to frighten the bees is by introducing into the hive smoke, produced by burning brown paper, fustian, touchwood, or anything that will smoulder. The bee-keeper who indulges in the fragrant weed has at all times a powerful intimidant. Those who cannot, or do not, use a pipe, must invest in a smoker, the price of which ranges from 2s. 6d. to 10s. 6d.
The Bingham pattern smoker, as shown in use above, is convenient and very generally used. It consists of a barrel, open at the top to receive fuel, and has a small hole near the bottom, into which a draught is blown by the bellows to which this barrel is attached. A piece of coarse brown paper loosely rolled, and occasionally doubled back in the rolling, will furnish a capital fuel. The lighted end of the paper or other fuel must be put first into the barrel, otherwise the draught will put out the fire, as has often occurred when the lighted end has been put in last. To keep the smoker alight stand it in a vertical position with the funnel acting as a chimney, and when no longer required in a horizontal position.
The " Hill " smoker lately invented is thus described : "The fire-box is three inches in diameter, and when full of good hard chips or bark affords as much fire and smoke as any one can desire. The bottom of the fire-box is solid, not perforated like a grate. The vent is through holes in the side, consequently the bottom holds the ashes, which aid in keeping the smoker alight for a long time when not in use. Its greatest convenience is the ease and readiness with which one can build a fire in it, on account of the ample vent at the bottom.
Light a match, stand it up inside the fire-box, drop in a few shavings, making them coarse as the fire increases, and finally top with hardwood. Work the bellows and you have a fire before you can read these directions."
In some apiaries it has been found possible to discard smoke altogether since Mr. Webster introduced a means, always at hand, of producing an effective intimidant. The barrel of a smoker (Fig. 6) is made the receptacle for a sponge that has been saturated in a carbonic solution, the recipe for which has not been divulged ; but a bottle of the preparation can be purchased for a few pence and lasts some months.
Figure 6:
The earbolic spray, as first used and advised by Mr. Howard, is produced by a special atomiser (Fig. 7) which throws a very fine spray of dilute carbonic acid. By a special arrangement it is continuous in action, and the spray subdues the bees instantly. The solution is prepared by mixing one part of Calvert's No. 5 carbonic acid with twenty parts of water.
_Carbolic cloth._ The use of earbolic acid as an intimidant was introduced by the late Rev. G. Raynor, who, for a number of years, used in his apiary only carbolic acid and the earbolic solution during manipulations. He was one of the gentlest of bee-masters, and in this respect his example might be more generally copied. His invariable practice, when opening a hive, was to dip a feather into the acid and smear the tops of the frames as he removed the quilts. The bees at once retreated and manipulations were proceeded with.
For removing supers a solution prepared according to the following recipe was placed in a basin. A cloth saturated with the solution, and then wrung tightly, was placed upon the frames as the quilts were removed. In a few minutes most of the bees would have gone below, leaving the super ready for removal. If, on being removed, any bees are found among the combs, they will quickly leave, provided that the super is placed on end, and the cloth is so hung that the breeze can blow through and carry the fumes among the frames. _Iceipe_ :-- 112 oz. glycerine, 112 oz. Calvert's No. 5 carbonic acid, 1 quart of warm water. The glycerine and acid must first be mixed and then the water added. The above quantities of glycerine and acid placed in a three-gill (ordinary wine or spirit) bottle, will, with water added to fill the bottle, make a most effective solution. The glycerine may be omitted, but in that case the bottle must be well shaken, or a solution will not be formed.
Bee-Veil.
The novice in bee-culture will in all probability commence active operations in fear and trembling, and may feel inclined to protect himself with veil and gloves. Though gloves of various materials are some times recommended, and often used, the practice of covering the hands is strongly deprecated, for as soon as clumsy handling and the consequent jarring of the combs in replacing them in the hive, irritate the bees, stinging commences. The odour then arising from the poison ejected by the sting has a most exasperating effect on the colony, and scores or even hundreds of stings may be sheathed in the gloves or other parts of the clothing not capable of being withdrawn by the bees, thus causing a needless loss of bee life. The timid bee-keeper may, however, rub his hands with Grimshaw's apifuge, which, according to the testimony of many who have tried it, has a wonderful effect on irritated bees, in that they decline to sting the part over which this charm has been rubbed.
While there is a strong objection to the use of gloves, there can be none to the use of a bee-veil made of light material, to protect the face. Some bee-keepers neglect even this precaution, the time and manner of their manipulations rendering such protection unnecessary. As a rule a veil should be worn. In fact, the work, whatever it may be, to be performed with an open hive, will generally proceed in a more satisfactory manner from the consciousness that the face is protected. Cumbersome dresses should be avoided ; a veil of white mosquito net with black silk net front being all that is necessary. Such a veil with an elastic band running through a slot at the top, fits easily round the hat, while the lower part is tucked under the coat, the projecting rim of the hat keeping the veil at a convenient distance from the face, as in Fig. 8.
## Handling Bees.
Frequenters at agricultural and other shows, where the bee-tent is erected, in which to exhibit and give an explanation of the best methods of bee-management, will know how simple a matter it is literally to handle the driven bees and scoop them up with the hands, like so many currants. It is seldom, however, that the actual handling of bees will be needful, while the moving of frames of one hive or another may be of frequent occurrence. In approaching a hive, attention must first be directed to those bees on guard at the entrance, which a slight puff of smoke will drive into the hive, and also have the effect of preparing the colony for manipulation. The roof and lift must next be removed, the latter in order that the frames may be moved with greater ease. The operator should stand on one side of the hive, with the entrance at his left hand, or at the back, if the frames run parallel with the front of the hive.
When the quilts are rolled back a puff of smoke should be driven across the tops of the frames, but it is not advisable to expose all the frames unless a thorough examination is to be made. When the quilts are removed there will be, as a matter of course, a draught through the brood nest. This may be prevented by turning the "Ivo " entrance block, so as to close the entrance, or otherwise block it up. The bees returning from the fields will crowd at the place of ingress, but, as the hive should be open for a very short time, they may remain there until the quilts are replaced, and the entrance is again opened.
The judicious use of smoke or other intimidant, for manipulations at a well-chosen time, and the quick but gentle handling of combs will usually ensure the operator escaping without a sting. The proper time for opening a hive, is when the bees are returning home from the fields with a merry contented hum ; and never, if it can be avoided, in cold, stormy weather, or immediately after a storm.
Whenever the hand is stung draw it gently away, at the same time giving the bees and the hand stung a puff of smoke. Then push out the sting with the finger-mail, or rub it out by passing the hand across the clothes, and give a little more smoke to destroy the scent of the poison. A bee-keeper must get used to a few stings, and in time the removal of the sting will be performed so that work is hardly interfered with. Any one who dreads the effect of a sting will do well to follow the advice given above for its removal, and then eject the poison from the wound by pressing the barrel of a small key over the place. If this be done before the poison has had time to spread, after effects and much swelling will thereby be avoided.
Gauttlets.
During manipulations bees are apt to get up the manipulator's sleeves, when a slight pressure of the elothes upon them will cause their presence to be felt. A pair of simple gauntlets (Fig. 9) fastened around the wrists, or the use of sleeve hooks will effectually prevent annoyance from this cause.
## Chapter 5. _Hvts_.
Cotdagger Hives.
The results obtained by systematic management are, as may be readily imagined, such as recompense the bee-keeper for expenditure of time and money, and prove the absurdity of the let-alone system that has been so much in vogue. More depends upon the style of hive adopted than is generally supposed, for, whereas a swarm weighing, say 4 lbs., if put into a straw shep, may give a surplus the first season of 20 or 30 lbs., and the second season 40 lbs. or more, if put into a bar-frame hive, and treated as yet to be explained, under equally favourable circumstances, it might be expected to give 40 or 50 lbs. the first season, and 50 to 100 or more the second year. Many cases might be quoted to prove that when bee-keeping is taken up with a view to profit, the style of hive to adopt requires very careful consideration.
To many outagers and labourers, whose ideal hive is the straw shep, advice on the more advanced systems of bee-culture will be, at any rate for a time,of little use, and therefore, in order that each class of bee-keeper may receive benefit by the perusal of this work, three styles of hives on the different systems of bee-culture will be described. All hives are kept on the fixed or movable-comb principles.
Fixed-comb Hives.
_The straw skep._ The original dome or conical-shaped skep is fast going out of fashion, as the manufacturers of straw hives find the demand now wholly for those of a more modern pattern, upon which supers may be used. In such receptacles the surplus honey may be stored in its purity, and remain free from any contamination. Fig. 10 shows the parts required to manage bees properly on the skep system.
The floor-board should be made of stout boards and clamped to prevent warping. If the alighting-board, which should project at least four inches and be slightly levelled, be fixed under the floor-board, the entrance may be cut in the latter, as shown. This is preferable to cutting away a part of the lower rim of the hive, in order to form the entrance. The hive (\(a\)) is termed the brood-chamber, because it is the hive in which brood-rearing is to be solely carried on. The queen does frequently enter the super and spoil the combs by depositing in them eggs, but that is generally due to bad management. The dimensions of the brood-chamber and supers here given will be found to produce a hive suitable for any ordinary district.
If this system of bee-keeping is adopted, one brood chamber and two supers must be provided for every colony of the dimensions given below, each having a hole in the middle of the crown about three inches in diameter. The brood-chamber is sixteen inches in diameter and ten inches deep, the supers (\(b\)) and (\(b\))
being fourteen inches in diameter and six inches in depth. All dimensions are outside measure. If all stock hives and supers are respectively of exactly the same size throughout the apiary, any super may be placed upon any stock hive, or above or below any other super. A coat or two of paint on the stock hive, particularly on the bottom ring of straw, will considerably lengthen the period of usefulness.
_Management._ The floor-board, placed upon.four bricks, should first be set perfectly level both ways, and then, to secure the combs being built from front to back, the floor-board must be raised slightly behind, as the direction of the combs depends upon the pitch of the floor-board, and not according to the preference of the bees.
Some bee-keepers who have found numerous cases of combs in skeps, running from side to side, state that the system of hanging frames in bar-frame hives parallel with the front is to be preferred, because bees choose that method of building their combs, and therefore the preference of the bees should guide the beekeeper in fixing the direction in which the frames should hang in a movable-comb hive.