BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
" The imported swarm should now be shaken out on a " sheet and sprinkled with syrup, to prevent the Bees " taking wing. With a saucer scoop up, without hurting " any of them, as many Bees as you can, and carry " them to the mouth of one of the old stocks from which " you have driven a swarm; continue to do this until " you have about equally apportioned the Bees. These " Bees, having no previous home in your apiary, will " adhere to the different hives in which they are placed, " and thus, without any further trouble, your parent " stocks and forced swarms will alike prosper. If the " Bee-keeper cannot conveniently obtain a swarm from a " distance, he may use for this purpose the first natural " swarm which comes off in his own apiary, and by " delaying to make artificial colonies until natural " swarms begin to issue, every such swarm may be " used for forming at least four artificial ones."Dr. Donhoff gives a method to secure a colony which, when divided in the way above mentioned, will not forsake their new habitations :--
" On a fine evening, when the next day promises to " be bright, drive out a swarm and set it in the place " of the parent stock ; next day, when it is warm, pour " some honey amongst the Bees, and in a few hours " they will swarm."
A forced swarm may also be made to take kindly to their new quarters in the following way :
Secure the Queen, and when the Bees show that they miss her, confine them to their hive (properly ventilated), until their agitation has reached its height. Then release them ; and, as they begin to take wing, present to them their Queen, when they will cluster round her, and may be treated like a natural swarm.
I will now endeavour to describe the means by which advanced Apiarians form artificial swarms in frame hives. In the first place, if it be simply required to force a swarm for the purpose of supplying some one else with the Bees, a sufficient number may be obtained by shaking or brushing the combs into a skep, or on a sheet in front of it, taking care that the Queen be not injured and that she accompanies her subjects. Once in the skep, the Bees may be prevented from flying by watering them with syrup, and may then be securely tied up ; but if the swarm be required for a frame, we may proceed as follows :
Having a hive with frames of the same gauge as the one that is to supply the swarm, bring it to the side of the other, administer a puff or two of smoke, uncover, and when the crown board is removed, sprinkle the Bees with syrup. Now search for the comb on which the Quenc is; having found it, transfer with any more frames of brood that can be spared to the new hive, and having placed in their places the remaining frames, furnished with clean empty Worker combs, if possible, stand this hive in the situation of the full one, the returning Bees will people it and form a swarm. Another stand must be found for the old hive, a good many of whose Bees will desert it and tend to strengthen the new colony, headed by their old Quenc, but enough will remain to carry on the business of the hive. If any sealed Queen cells are known to be, or can be found in any other hive, one may be given with advantage to each stock deprived of its Quenc; time, which is all important at this season, is thus saved. By making one artificial swarm a week or ten days before the others, there may in the swarmed stock generally be found sufficient Quenc cells to supply many hives; and in case a young Quenc should emerge, they may be preserved from destruction by covering them with a cup Queen cage, or one of Mr. Carr's pattern. Of course it is preferable to supply the swarmed stock with a fertile Queen, if possible, as it must always be remembered that this saves one or two weeks of breeding time in the height of the season; and as a young fertile Quenc will lay 2,000 or 3,000 \(\,\)eggs per dicm, the gain may be easily calculated. In forcing swarms, be satisfied with one from each stock, or even two out of three; prevent the issue, if necessary, of any more, and if the Bees have surplus energies, let them use them to gather honey, for it is a well-known axiom that if many swarms are made there will be little honey; the reason is obvious, the labour of the Beesis expanded in nursing the young and providing them with sustenanee, and this with a population constantly being reduced.
In removing frames from a hive, note should be taken of the order in which they are found, and they should be replaced in the same order or they will not fit, and in some places the Bees will find no passage by which they can feed the brood.
advantages acquired by having on hand fertile Queens. Quinby says: "The introduction of a mature fertile " Queen to a colony two weeks sooner than when they " swarm naturally is an advantage sufficient to pay " for extra trouble. The time gained in breeding is " equivalent to a swarm." According to Monticelli, the Greeks and Turks of the Ionian Islands knew how to make artificial swarms, and the art of producing Queens at will has been practised by the inhabitants of a little Sicilian Island called Favignana, from very remote antiquity, and he even brings arguments to prove that it was no secret to the Greeks and Romans ; but it is not noticed by Aristotle and Pliny. After a stock has swarmed, which takes place usually in the height of the busy time, much time is lost by the parent stock raising a new Queen, and when raised she has to get fertilized, which may not happen for two weeks or more; all this time breeding is suspended, and as mortality is very great in the summer the former strong stock probably dwindles ; and if the young Queen on her excursion meets with any mishap, the stock will die, as it then has no eggs or young brood with which to rear another Queen. If the Beemaster be able to supply it with a fertile Queen, immediately on the issue of the swarm--no time is lost--breeding is kept up, and in a few days, if desired, the hive may be induced to swarm again, or the Bees may be set to work, provided honey be abundant, to fill a super. By never leaving a hive without a fertile Queen, I may safely say its increase is doubled.
On the Continent of Europe, and in America, there are many establishments devoted to breeding small swarms for exportation, and Queens alone, a large business being done. By these means the Ligurian, or Italian Bee has become naturalized in both continents as well as in Australia, and my object now is to describe how the practical Apairian can rear any number of Queens he pleases. For this purpose small hives, called _Nucleus Hives_, are used; they may be of any desired size, but it is necessary to work from frame hives of some description. The "Cheshire " Prize Nucleus Hive, which is intended for use with Woodbury hives, is a very excellent pattern; it is 3\(
rac{\pi}{4}\) inches wide inside, 9 inches deep, and 7\(
rac{\pi}{2}\) inches from front to rear. It has double sides--inner \(
rac{1}{2}\) inch wood, outer \(
rac{\pi}{4}\) inch, with strips between, so as to inclose an air-space all round; the back and front have a \(
rac{\pi}{4}\) inch rabbet at the top, similar to a Woodbury hive, for the frames to rest upon. The object of having an air-space all round is, that the necessary heat may be retained, which is very important; and to assist in this it is desirable to varnish or paint the hives white. Mr. Cheshire employs the following ingenious contrivance to facilitate stocking his nuclei. Instead of following the ordinary pattern of Woodbury frames, a little deviation is made, forming what is called "Twin Nucleus Frames." I take the following description and drawings from the columns of _The Country_ :--
"A strip of wood, Fig. 41, 3-8th of an inch thick, "and 7-8th of an inch wide, is cut into 16\(
rac{1}{4}\) inches* " long, and pencil lines, \(b\) and \(h\), are drawn across " it at 5-8ths of an inch from the extremities ; the " line \(e\) occupies the centre, exactly 8thsths inches from " each end, and \(c\), \(d\), \(e\), \(f\) and \(g\) are placed at 5-8ths " of an inch from each other ; \(k\), \(l\), \(m\) and \(n\) are now " added with a gauge-marker, if one is at hand, and \(e\) " being cut through with a fine saw, the parts shaded " are removed ; the tongue left thus on one half fits " into the hollow made in the other, so that the two " being shut together, the length of the bar is reduced " to 15 inches, and fits the ordinary Wootbury. To the " respective halves with brads or small French nails " the uprights of the frames, each 8 inches in " length, are fixed, having their outer faces upon the " lines \(b\), \(d\), \(f\), and \(h\) ; the bottom bars complete the " whole, which takes the form of Fig. 42. If the
## Appendix A manual of bee-keeping.
to a nucleus have with the cell facing inwards, and another frame of brood placed alongside it. It may happen that some of the small frames have on their combs several Queen cells ; if left there, all but one will be sacrificed, but they may be utilized by cutting them out, and inserting them in other frames not fortunate enough to have Queen cells of their own. If the parent hive has not been furnished with twin nucleus frames, the combs alone may be divided and fitted into the small frames in the manner which will be found described under the head of " Transferring." It will then be seen that each full-sized Woodbury comb will completely furnish a nucleus hive, wanting only the Bees. It is, undoubtedly, an advantage that each comb in the nucleus should contain plenty of brood, because, as they hatch out, fewer Bees will be required to carry on the work of the miniature colony ; and if it be found that the Bees dwindle too fast, and the brood has hatched out, change one of the empty combs for a fuller one, or place any quantity of young Bees, who have not flown, on the floor board in front of the nucleus, they will run in and fraternize at once.
Young Bees may be always told by their lighter colour, having a greyish look about them. When breeding Queens, it is not safe to leave a number of sealed cells together more than nine days after the first cell was formed, as, should an older larva than usual have been selected by the Bees for a Queen, it may hatch sooner than expected, when the remaining royal larva will be sacrificed. When the young Queen hatches, let her remain with the nucleus until she becomes fertile, when she may be made use of either to replace another Queen, or to build up a new stock.
The nucleus should be stocked with young Bees, if possible, as they are not likely to go back again to the hive of their birth, and will live longer. A goodly number should be given in order that the two combs may be well covered; to accomplish the stocking, search for combs having plenty of young Bees on them, then shake them in front of the nucleus hive, taking care to spread a paper or cloth from the entrance to the ground in such a manner as to prevent the Bees taking shelter _underneath_ the hive; this may be accomplished by slightly raising the hive from its floor board, and putting the edge of the cloth beneath it. The Bees will then run in, and probably remain; but if next day it be found many have deserted, repeat the process until a sufficient population is procured.
Dathe, a German Bee-master describes the following patterns of nucleus hives, and methods of Queen rearing as practised in Hanover :--
" For Queen-rearing, small colonies only are required, "and, consequently, also only smaller hives. It is, however, "necessary that these should have moveable frames, as "the combs have very often to be examined. There are "various sizes of hives which may be thus described :"First. Queen hives with frames of the usual size ; " these are called'Half-hives,' and have the same depth " (front to rear) and height of the parent hives, so that " all the frames are interchangeable ; but the width of " these hives are only half that of the latter, hence their " name. These are sometimes divided by a central " partition into two equal parts, which is carried out" "wardly beyond the entrance hole, thus forming a " kind of twin hive. These half-hives can be placed " singly or in stacks of six, one on the other ; they serve "more particularly for hatching Queen cells and main-" tenance of Drones when they are not in existence in " other hives.
"Second. Queen hives with smaller frames, called " " Octave Hives.' These are boxes with very small " frames, only about 1-6th or 1-8th part of the usual " size ; they are 4\({}_{
rac{1}{2}}\) inches deep (front to rear), and " only wide enough for three frames, and they are " constructed of three different heights, 7, 5\({}_{
rac{1}{2}}\), and 4\({}_{
rac{1}{2}}\) " inches. They can be placed singly, and by twos, or " fours, in any direction, and can also be put two or " four together into one larger box for shelter.
"Third. Queen hives only used for hatching ripe " Queen cells, called'Sedez Boxes.' These are very " small, 3in. deep, 2in. wide, and 2in. high, and closed on " all sides with small glass windows, which are covered " with dark paper. No frame is contained in them as " the box itself is in reality a small frame. They are " used to put a piece of comb into, of the width and " height of the boxes, ready for the insertion of a ripe " Queen cell, for the mere purpose of hatching ; a few " dozen Bees are placed in each, and they are stored in " any spare place in a hive ; or, if the hive be populous,"' in a super, where the Bees can congregate about them. " As the contained Bees are imprisoned, having no hole "for egress or ingress, air apertures must be cut; and "it is necessary that a corner be taken off the piece of "comb, to enable the Bees to travel from one side to "the other."
Now the young Queen being safely hatched in the nucleus hive, the miniature colony may be left to itself to follow the ordinary course of Nature; and on an early fine day her majesty will leave the hive, and exercing in the air, will probably meet with multinomial success, and return properly impregnated to the hive she started from. If her return be seen, the success of her expedition may be known by her appearance, as she has attached to her the organs of the Drone; but if she should return unobserved, we must wait for results which, if all has gone well, will be the deposit of eggs in the Worker cells. Either of these facts being ascertained, the Queen is ready for disposal, where most desired. Drones seldom leave their hives except in fine weather; this accounts for the non-impregnation of Queens during unfavourable weather; at other times failure is uncommon.
In a pamphlet on the subject by M. Hermann, we have the following particulars of this insect:--
"The Yellow Italian Alp Bee is a mountain insect ; " it is found between two mountain chains to the right " and left of Lombardy and the Rhatian Alps, com-
" prising the whole territory of Tessins, Vetlin, and
" South-Graubunden. It thrives up to the height of
" 4,500 feet above the level of the sea, and appears to
" prefer the northern cime to the warmer, for in the
" south of Italy it is not found. The farther one goes
" from the Alps, the less handsome they are found
" --as for example in Nice, until they are entirely lost
" in lower Italy in the black species. " We must, there-
" fore, look for the original in Switzerland, and we can
" call them with as much right _Apis Helvetica_, as the
" Genoese call them _Apis Eligustica_. Some learned
" men have called them Ligurian Bees, but that name
" has neither historical nor geographical claim, and
" not one Bee-cultivator of the whole district of the
" Italian Alp Bee knows what kind of insects Ligurian
" Bees are. The Alps are their native country ; there-
" fore they are called Yellow Alp Bee.
" The Italian Yellow Bee differs from the common
" Black Bee ; it has three light chrome yellow-coloured
" abdominal bands, each 1-16th of an inch wide. The
" Queen is lighter in colour, but otherwise not different
" in appearance to Black Queens."
The Ligurian Queens are more prolific, their progeny swarm earlier and more frequently, and also work much harder, being abroad both earlier and later. It has been often said that they work on flowers inaccessible to the common Bee, as their tongues are longer ; but, from careful microscopical measurement of a large number, I can contradict this ; the size of both Bees and tongues vary, like in the common Bees, but after measuring and averaging many, I found the length practically the same.
Ligurian Bees are now largely cultivated in Britain, and are generally preferred to the common Black Bee ; and many Bee-keepers, taking advantage of the fact that the Ligurians and Blacks are both one species (although which is the variety and which the species is unknown to us), and having well proved the theory of Parthenogenesis, have successfully replaced their Black Queens with Ligurians, and so eventually succeeded in Ligurianizing their whole apiary. This may be accomplished in various ways ; the best and simplest is to depose the whole of the reigning sovereigns, and elevate to their vacant thrones fertile Ligurians, which are now imported in considerable numbers at irregular intervals, and are generally bespoken on their arrival ; for in the little boxes they arrive in they will not thrive long, and the casualties of the journey are sometimes serious. Supposing these have to be purchased, the expense will depend on the month in which the operation is to be performed. If the Bee-keeper determines to commence his season with the new Queens, they will cost in May or June from 12s to 15s. each, but if he be content to wait till September, about half the money will suffice.
This is a considerable reduction from their value when first introduced, about fifteen years ago, which was something like two guineas. At the price now obtainable, they will amply repay their speculative purchaser, for there is no question the Ligurian variety is a far better worker and breeder than our old friends.
They may be seen sallying forth to work long before the true Britons, and still labour after their neighbours have sought their well-earned rest. The Queens are more prolific, probably because of the above; for whilst food comes into the hive, breeding will go on, and if supplies are stopped, so is egg-laying. The introduction of a Ligurian stock is a general source of benefit to the other Bces of the neighbourhood, for the natural law of " fresh blood " giving vigour holds good with Bees as with larger animals, and very quickly will be found the progeny of many young Queens will show signs of love-making by the strangers.
The operation of exchanging the Queens may be performed in various ways dependent in a great measure on the form of hive in use; with frame hives ten or twelve minutes should afford ample time for the work, and the danger to the new sovereign is almost nil. With skeps or closed boxes more time is occupied, it being imperative that the Black Queen should be first captured; and, to effect this, it is generally necessary to drive-out the Bees until the Queen is discovered and safely removed. Sometimes she will elude the most educated and vigilant eye in spite of patience and assiduity; and it is never safe to introduce the new sovereign without being quite certain the old one is not in the hive. The mere fact of not finding her is not sufficient, and in the event of a battle royal it must not be forgotten the foreigner is tired, cowed, and enfeebled by her long journey and confinement, whilst her antagonist is in her accustomed vigour. Supposing the old Queen is surely removed, it would never do to introduce the new one to the tender mercies of the Workers without proper precautions being observed, for Bees are not noted for hospitality to strangers, so she must be inclosed in a wire cage placed in the hive, and kept so imprisoned for at least twenty-four hours, when the excitement of the Bces at the loss of their old Queen will have passed away and the new one will generally be gladly accepted. It is advisable to sprinkle the Bees and Queen liberally with scented syrup both on the introduction and release. When the above time has elapsed, open the cage gently and let her majesty walk out. Watch carefully the Workers. If they take no notice of her or merely walk over, licking and feeding her, all is well and she may be safely left; but if she be seized by the legs and wings, and the Bees assemble tumultuously about her, beware! In a few minutes the Bees gather into a ball with the Queen in the midst, when regicide is meant. Take up the knot of Bees and drop them into a cup of water, which will effectually separate the cluster and hurt none; or pull off the Bees until the Queen is released, and immediately cage her again for another day's imprisonment, when the same process must be repeated with probably a better result. If a cluster is again formed, try the effect of worrying them about with some tobacco smoke for a few minutes, when most likely they will give up in disgust.
A Bee-keeper would often use a frame hive, were it not for the fact that his Bees are at present domiciled in a skep, and he knows not how to remove them; and as this is one of the most important operations, requiring some exercise of skill and knowledge, I will endeavour to explain the method to be pursued.
A novice will find considerable difficulty in transferring the combs of a hive that are full of brood, as the young larva are extremely delicate and susceptible to cold, and, therefore, it is by far the easiest plan to allow the stock to swarm either naturally or artificially, and the brood to hatch out, which will all be accomplished to the last egg in twenty-one days after swarming, excepting, perhaps, a few drones; at this time (a day or two, more or less, will not matter) the combs will be empty and light and much easier to handle. Now let _all_ the Bees be driven from their old home into an empty skep, which place on the old spot; then carry the denuded hive into a room or other place inaccessible to the Bees. An old skep is seldom of much value, and in this case with a strong knife cut it right in half between the two centre
aeros as in engraving (Fig. 43). Should the combs not reach along the whole length of the top bar, it is as well to fasten on a strip of Worker comb as a guide for the Bees to continue, or they will probably build crooked.
Care should be taken to preserve as much Worker comb as possible, to pare the thick honey cells away until they are of the proper thickness, and to put the combs in the right way upwards, that is, as they were built. Very little Drone comb should be returned, and that placed towards the sides of the hive. All the parings of the combs, waste honey, &c., should be carefully collected into a feeding bottle, and given to the Bees on the top of the hive ; they will re-store the honey, so that little or no waste will occur, and it will assist them in eleminating wax wherewith to fix and make good the combs, which in the summer will generally be found done in forty-eight hours ; after which, the supports may be removed, being careful in replacing the frames not to damage the fragile new attachments.
Figure 43:
**Now to return to the fitting ; as fast as the frames are fitted, replace them in the hive, and when all are in place, about which no time should be lost, return the Bees as if they were a new swarm--see "Natural Swarming."**
**If there be not enough combs to fill all the frames, guide combs should be attached to those empty to insure straight building ; and in swarming time all spare combs should be utilized in this manner.**
**An apparatus which greatly facilitates this operation was exhibited by Mr. F. Cheshire at the Crystal Palace Show, which he calls a "Transferring-Board."**
**Fig. 44.**