BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
In performing the work of fumigation, many failures have occurred, from setting about the operation too hastily, or from the non-observance of a few rules that can be easily remembered, and as easily put in practice. In the first place, great care must be taken that the smoke of the fungus or other material used for the purpose is not admitted into the hive at too high a temperature. If this is the case, the heat of the smoke will in the first place scorch and kill the bees who will rush to the entrance of the hive on the first intrusion of the fumigating tube, and will also melt the wax of the combs, and do considerable mischief. The tube, therefore, should be a very long one, and small in diameter. There is no hurry about the operation, work the bellows quite deliberately, and the danger of burning the poor bees, or spoiling the combs will be avoided. There is hardly a more pititable sight than to find on turning up the hive a number of bees lying on the board, with scorched and shrivelled wings--a loss of no small importance, as you will want every bee to set to work immediately, to repair the devastations committed in the hive. Another mistake not unfrequently occurs in following Mr. Cotton's directions too literally. It is not sufficient to have the fumigating box merely made of tin, as will most certainly be done if that order is sent to a tinman, for the heat of the ignited puffball will speedily melt the solder, and the whole apparatus will fall to pieces. A case of this kind occurred very recently. The box and tube were made according to order, the clay prepared for stopping the entrance of the hive round the tube, the fungus was duly lighted, placed in the box, the bellows fitted, and then vigorously worked. Suddenly while the operators were complacently puffing away at the bellows, and congratulating themselves on securing both honey and bees by this method, the box fell in pieces, the tube, consequently, was drawn out of the hive door, and out rushed the bees in a tumultuous state of indignation, thereby putting their would-be captors to an ignoninious flight. So lest you meet with a similar misfortune, give particular orders to have the whole affair made fire-proof, and then you may proceed without the least danger. Of course this must all be done some hours after dark, or the bees, who are already out, will soon signify their dislike of finding intruders when they return to the hive. It is also necessary to be very quick in cutting out the combs, as the bees do not remain long in their state of torpor or intoxication, and are quite ready on their revival, to employ their stings. Always examine the combs that are removed, to see if any bees are left in them, as not unfrequently, when they begin to find that they cannot overpower the vapour, they dive to the bottom of an empty cell, and sometimes are so protected by this precaution, that they revive rather sooner than their less fortunate companions. The wax of the combs thus obtained is much whiter than if sulphur is used, and, of course, will fetch a higher price in the market,besides being free from a slight tinge of sulphur flavour, which hangs about them for a longer time.
For fumigating, the circular bellows, set in motion by a winch, are much superior to the double bellows, as a constant steam of smoke is introduced into the live, instead of a series of puffs. Mr. Pettigrew recommends (probably because they can be more certainly obtained when wanted), cotton rags, tightly rolled up in the form of a candle, and applied in the same way as the fungus. If so, it will be found advisable to steep the rags in a solution of nitre, as otherwise they are very apt to go out before a sufficiency of smoke has issued from them. The solution, however, must be weak also, or it may do mischief instead of good, for ignited nitre is apt to send forth sparks, especially if it is urged on by a drught of air. It may be possible that ether or chloroform may answer better than either fungus or rags, but the experiments do not yet appear to have been sufficiently numerous to enable one to speak with confidence. At all events, although chloroform and ether may not supersede fungus and nitre in stupifying bees, the smoke of puffball threatens to supersede chloroform and ether in their anaesthetic power as applied to human beings. We are bound to observe that fumigation may not be altogether so harmless as is supposed, and therefore should not be used without necessity.
When, after carefully applying the fumigating apparatus, as has been described above, the stillness that reigns in the hive indicates that the bees are in a state of insensibility, the hive may then be turned up for any necessary operations. If honey is wanted, choose the side combs, so as not to interfere with the brood in the centre, and be moderate. Replace the violated live carefully, and the bees will soon recover from their state of partial intoxication, and set to work to repair the ravages that have been made in their stores. Nor does fumigation injure the working power of the bees. Unlike the effects of alcoholic compounds, which when taken in an over dose, entirely prostrate the sufferer for some time, the smoke of the fungus causes a very transient intoxication, which in a few minutes passes away, and the bees appear rather refreshed than otherwise, after their involuntary debauch.
- hive, it will be simply necessary to leave the decoy-hive in its place, and after covering the honey combs with a cloth to prevent them from being scented, to carry the bees with their ten porary abode towards their usual place of entrance, when by spreading a cloth on the ground, or on a table, all the bees may be dislodged and made to fall upon it, by a smart stroke with the hands upon the top of the hive, and if one side of the cloth be raised to the resting board, the bees will gradually ascend, and re-occupy their original station."
Driving is made use of by the Persian villagers, whose hives are made in a cylindrical form, and built horizontally into the walls of their houses, the bees' entrance being outside the wall, and a moveable door inside, the end of the hive projecting more than a foot into the room. When the villager wishes for some honey, he drums smartly upon the end of the hive which projects into his room, which causes the bees to withdraw to the other. The circular lid is then quickly opened, as many combs as he wishes for cut out, and the lid closed again.
No one should be without spare hives or boxes ready to be used when required, even if they do not at the outset fit up a complete apparatus. Thus,
**1. A** spare box or hive will be ready to receive a swarm obtained in the ordinary manner, with all its picturesque but inconvenient accessories : as long watching to know the moment of swarming; long runnings, perhaps, to overtake the vagrant young colony, over hill and valley, brake and brier, and amid interminable ear-splitting tumult, which the bees have the bad taste, it is supposed, to like ; and the race often ending in seeing the whole cluster safely deposited in a neighbour's apiary, who swears it went from his hive. If you wish to avoid all that kind of thing, do your best to give the bees no motive for such wanderings, and every conceivable reason to stay where they are. Put a decoy-hive ready, with a delicious piece of comb in it (an old hive, with its own combs, will be still more attractive), and it is most likely the scouts sent out to explore will return with such a glowing account of the land of milk and honey they have discovered, that the swarm will be impatient to be off and take possession. This must, however, be done with great care, and the decoy-hive not placed in the air too soon, as its seductive stores will not only attract the bees who are intended to be its legitimate occupants, but also wasps, hornets, and robler-bees of all descriptions, so that the swarm will have to inaugurate their entrance by a battle.
Bees always _will_ settle themselves as soon as possible after swarming, and if they have not already determined upon a new habitation will fix themselves in the first place that they think will suit them. There are many instances known of bees having swarmed unexpectedly, and after escaping from their former owners, having made their habitation in a hollow tree in a wood, or in the roof of some deserted hovel. There have been several instances of bees choosing to make their nests in the roof or tower of a church, and an instance came very recently under the writer's notice. For several years the congregation had been considerably annoyed by the presence of bees during the service, but had made no particular endeavours to rid themselves of the plague. One summer, however, brought with it such an increase of bees that it was deemed necessary to institute an inquiry; for the winged intruders came in such numbers, and buzzed about so loudly, and frightened the juvenile portion of the congregation to such a degree, that the service could not proceed with any comfort. After some search a hole was discovered in the roof of the church, through which the bees were constantly passing. This was accordingly stopped up, and the workmen retired congratulating themselves on getting rid of their winged enemies so easily. They were, however, quite mistaken, for the bees descended in undiminished numbers. The roof was again examined, and found to be in such bad repair, that the colony of bees who had taken up their residence between the roof and the leads, had found numerous openings, which they had enlarged for their own purposes. How to eject this formidable band was now the subject of deep consultation. Sulphur-smoke would not answer, because it would soon pass out through the apertures in the roof, and besides, there was a very prevalent alarm lest BES.
the church should be set on fire. At last a veteran apia-rian was sent for from the next village. He immediately planted a ladder against the exterior wall, and examined the stones until he discovered the entrance to the bees' habitation. It was a mere fissure between two stones, where some of the mortar had fallen out, and the remainder been extracted by the bees for their own convenience. After surveying the prospect for some time, he declared that a stone must be taken out of the wall before the bees could be dislodged, and immediately began to loosen the stone which had already been partly deprived of its mortar. The bees, of course, were highly indignant at such an assault, but the man couldy proceeded with his work, not heeding their anger in the least. When the stone had been completely loosened, he laid by the crowbar, and deliberately pulled it out with his hands. Out rushed a perfect cloud of bees full in his face ; but he quietly laid the stone down, and contented himself with brushing them off his face until he had made further investigations. All the spectators took to flight at the first appearance of the enraged bees ; but their imperturbable enemy remained quietly at his post, and after descending the ladder pulled some eight or ten bees out of his hair, and remarked that they had not stung him so much as he expected. It turned out that the man was almost invulnerable to stings ; and although several dozen stings or so were in his face they did not leave the slightest mark, and certainly did not appear to inconvenience him in the very smallest degree. He afterwards in the same cool manner extracted the greater part of the combs, and the bees taking the hint speedily evacuated the premises. There was but little honey, but abundance of black, worn-out combs, and plenty of young bees in every stage of advancement. It is said that if any one is repeatedly stung by scorptions the pain diminishes each time, and that at last the system is entirely uninjured by it. An English naturalist was bold enough to try the experiment upon himself, and found that after he had been stung four or five times the pain was comparatively trifling. Perhaps the same may be the case with regard to the beatings, and the old man just mentioned possibly owed his immunity to his frequent experience, as Mithridates was said to have completely fortified himself against poisons, by gradually imbuing his system with them.
3. Adopting as a rule the non-disturbance in any serious way of your stock-hive, so that honey and brood sha there at least flourish together, when you think it is fi ll (a solid sound from the hive, and a great long-e ntinu d buzz from the bees in answer to a tap, is good evidence of that state) attach your side-box, open the communication, and make the bees enter and leave by the entrance to the side-box, which you will do by closing up the entrance to the other at night when the bees are all at home. A little piece of comb, fastened at the top of the side-box, may b at once a useful hint and a temptation to the bees. This box is to be kept solely for honey-combs by ventilation, which prevents the queen from laying eggs in it. When the heat in the side-box is 70\({}^{\circ}\), you should admit air through the top by means of a piece of tin pierced with holes. A drought through the hive, from the entrance to the roof, now takes place. This must not be done until you see the bees have fairly passed the Rubicon, and have done and ventured too much to be inclined to retreat to the stock-hive. When the box is full you can take it away, and replace it emptied, or by another, or by opening a communication to a similar side-box on the opposite side, as in Mr. Grant's hive. The bees in it will soon flock to the queen in the parent hive. This arrangement prevents swarming, or at least has a great tendency to prevent it; as the bees have more room given to them just when they want it. It also raises the stock itself to the highest state of prosperity, as only the surplus honey is taken away, and the brood is not interfered with.
4. But if you wish to have an increase of stock without the inconvenience of natural swarming, you may easily do so by treating the side-box exactly the same as the chief one, that is, by leaving it unventilated. Broad, as well as honey, will then be deposited in it, and you have only to watch for a favourable opportunity of securing two stocks. This should be a little before the natural period of swarming, of which the signs are, clustering on the outside, activity and common among the drones, inactivity of the workers, portentous silence in the hive in the day (duringwhich the prudent bees are supposed to be filling their pockets with provisions for their journey), and a singular humming noise at night, presumed to come from the young queen-bees announcing their advent. But these warnings apply less to the first than to the subsequent swarms. However, there is a pretty good rule for effective action. As soon as you find the side-box is nearly full, watch for an opportunity when the queen, with about two-thirds of the bees of the colony, is in the side-box, then cut off the communication with, and remove the parent hive three or four feet distance, and put an empty hive in its exact position. The returning bees will flock into the side-box as before, and that hive is done with. As to the parent-hive, the nurse-bees will take every care of the brood. in it; in fact, they will be just as though a swarm with the queen had left them; and will proceed with due equanimity to supply her place in the approved way. This is the mode practised with success by Mr. Grant, and may be varied according to circumstances. For instance, if the queen should _not_ have been left in the side-box with the greater portion of the bees, and has, therefore, been removed with the parent hive, the rest must be in effect the same, as regards the two hives; most of the bees then might leave the side-box and flock to the queen in the parent-hive; but if there be brood in the side-box, it appears that the nurse-bees will not desert it, and, therefore, there are still two communities, and both well provided with all they require for a new start in life.
5. There is also practised, it is said with great profit, a more summary way of proceeding to make an artificial swarm, which consists in fumigating the bees, in order to divide them into two bodies as before. The period chosen is from the beginning of May to the middle of July, and when there are as many bees on the board at the bottom as will fill a thirty-two (eight and a half inches by six) sized flower-pot. To ascertain this, blow a little smoke into them and turn up the hive. Before commencing operations, place the hive intended for the new colony on the stand, with a but of comb in its roof, and a stick across the middle to aid in the support of the combs. If you are short of hives, this one may be used instead of an additional empty hive in per forming the operations about to be described. But the bit of comb may be somewhat in the way. The bees having been stupified by the fumigation, the hive is turned up, its top rested on the ground, and an empty hive placed over it of exactly the same shape (at the edges at least), and a cloth tied round the circle of junction. Then tap or drum gently at the sides of the two hives for about ten minutes, in which time probably about two-thirds of the bees will have ascended into the upper hive. The queen, fortunately for the operation, is generally one of the first either to run away from or to confront the danger (we know not which it is) by ascending. If your hive have a glass window, as all should have, you can see when about the right proportion have ascended; if not, you must guess with the aid above given of the knowledge of the ordinary duration of time occupied. Now take off the top hive and reverse it also on the ground, while you make sure the queen is there, throwing, meanwhile, the cloth (that you have removed) over the exposed bottom of the parent hive. If the queen be there (and, as we have shown, p. 36, she is easily distinguishable) you have only to shake queen and bees into the prepared hive on the board, and restore the parent colony also to the ordinary resting-place, where the bees will soon rear a new queen for it. If the queen be not there, then repeat the process with the prepared hive, and so you will catch her at last. You can then return the first batch of bees that were removed either to the parent hive or to the prepared hive, by simply shaking them into the one which most needs them.
Old hives thus deprived of their queens, and made to rear new ones, involve another important advantage. In twenty-one days the entire brood will be reared, no fresh brood having been deposited (through the absence of an old queen), and the young queen not having begun to lay, which they do in about ten days after they leave the cell. Here, then, where the lives are heavy, say forty or more pounds in weight, is an opportunity of removing the bees (by fumigation) into a new hive, and selling the contents of the old one. The honey is thus earlier than usual in the market, and fetches a higher price. Weak sw arms should invariably be joined either to strong ones, or to each other, and as soon
## Bes.
It is only a strong community that can so successfully establish themselves before winter, as to be in no danger from its severity. This junction may be performed by fumigation, and taking away one of the queens. A stock without a queen may by the same means be added to one that is more fortunate : and this applies even to the restoration of a swarm to its own parent hive if there be ample room in it.
We have said nothing of the plan of annually destroying the bees, for it is almost an insult to the readers of _Books for the Country_ to suppose they would approve of so senseless and unprofitable as well as cruel a practice. It is quite true that thus all the honey that is made in a season may be obtained at once, just in the same way that all the golden eggs of the goose in the fable were to be obtained at once. And if this wholesale deprivation be desired, it is perfectly obtainable without destroying the bees, by simply fumigating them, and removing them to another hive. And if you don't choose to feed the bees during the winter, let somebody else have them that will. It is possible, in a favourable late season, they may not need any assistance. At all events, let it be the golden maxim of 'bee-management never to allow a single bee to be injured if you can help it.
## Bee-dress.
And now, lastly, as to the chances of the bees injuring _you_. All apiarians agree that there is no danger worth consideration when the bee-habits and temper are duly understood and respected. Treat them as dangerous creatures, as, for instance, by keeping them too remote from intercourse with human society, and they will soon justify your caution. But then it is you who have created the fereceness they will exhibit. Bees don't like people to come in rude _perspirations_ betwirt the wind and their nobility ; and, as before pointed out, they have a particular objection to your breathing upon them. It is well, however, to feel safe, as well as know you ought to consider yourself so, not only for your own sake, but for the greater ease of all your operations. Therefore, wear a bee-dress at all such times, until, at least, experience says you may do without it. Such adress has been already described. Thus attired, the apiarian may perform in entire peace of mind the most delicate operations, and be freed from all danger of becoming the actor in some new scene as interesting and dramatic, but also as alarming and dangerous, as that described by Thorley, which we transcribe for the reader's edification, and with which we conclude.
"In or about the year 1717, one of my swarms settling among the close-twisted branches of some codling-trees, and not to be got into an hive without more help, my maid-servant, hired into the family the Michaelmas before, being in the garden, very officiously offered her assistance, so far as to hold the hive while I dislodged the bees, she being little apprehensive of what followed.
"Having never been acquainted with bees, and likewise afraid, she put a linen cloth over her head and shoulders, concluding that would be a sufficient guard, and secure her from their swords. A few of the bees fell into the hive ; some upon the ground ; but the main body of them upon the cloth which covered her upper garments.
"No sooner had I taken the hive out of her hands, but, in a terrible fight and surprise, she cried out the bees were got under the covering, crowding up towards her breast and face, which immediately put her into a trembling posture. When I perceived the veil was of no further service, she at last gave me leave to remove it. This done, a most affecting spectacle presented itself to the view of all the company, filling me with the deepest distress and concern, as I thought myself the unhappy instrument of drawing her into so great and imminent hazard of her life, which now so manifestly lay at stake.
"It is not in my power to tell the confusion and distress of mind I was in, from the awful apprehensions it raised ; and her dread and terror in such circumstances may reasonably be supposed to be much more. Every moment she was at the point of retiring with all the bees about her. Vain thought! to escape by flight. She might have left the place indeed, but could not the company, and the remedy would have been much worse than the disease. Had she enraged them, all resistance had been vain, and nothing less than her life would have atoned for the offence.
Bees. 113
And now to have had that life (in so much jeopardy) insured. what would I not have given!
"To prevent, therefore, a flight which must have been attended with so fatal a consequence, I spared not to urge un the arguments I could think of, and use the most affectionate entreaties, begging her, with all the earnestness in my power, to stand her ground, and keep her present posture; in order to which, I gave encouragement to hope, in a little space, for a full discharge from her disagreeable companions; on the other hand, assuring her she had no other chance for her life. I was, through necessity, constantly reasoning with her, or else beseeching and encouraging her.