BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
Size of hives needed,... 37 Kind of Wood, width of Board, &c. 46 An Experiment,..... 37 Shape of little consequence,.. 46 Bees do not increase if full after the Directions for making hives,... 47 first year in same hive,.... 38 Size of cap and boxes,... 43 Gillmore's system doubted,... 38 Miner's Hive,..... 48 Utility of moth-proof hives debutd, 39 Directions for making holen,... 40 Instincts of the bee always the A Suggestion,..... 50 same,.... 40 Glass boxes preferred,.... 51 Profit the object,. 41 Glass boxes--how made,... 51 Common hive recommended,.. 42 Guide-combs necessary,... 52 Size Important,.... 42 Wood Boxes,..... 53 Small hives most histle to accidentals, 42 Cover for Hives,.... 54 Apt to deceive,.... 43 Jars and Tumblers--how prepared, 54 Unprofitable if too large,. 43 Perfect Observatory Hive descri- Correct size between two extremes, 43..... 55 Size for warm latitudes,... 44 One like Common Hive preferred,. 56 Larger hives more safe for long What may be seen,... 56 Winters or backward Spring,. 44 Directions for making Glass Hive,. 57 2000 inches safe for this section,. 45 Plate for Hive,.... 61
## Appendix A PTER III.
BREEDING.
Imperfectly Undertsood,. 62 A test for the presence of a Good stocks seldom without brood, 68 Queen,..... 73 How small stocks commence,. 64 When Drones are reared,... 74 Different with larger ones,.. 65 When Queens,.... 74 How Pollen is stored in the breeding Liability of being destroyed,... 76 Second Drones destroyed when honey is (...... 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (...... 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (....... 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (....... 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (....... 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (....... 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (....... 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (........ 77 ) Second Drones destroyed when honey is (CONTENTS. 5
Large yield from Basswood,.. 96 An extra quantity of Pollen not
Garden Flowers unimportant,. 97 always detrimental,.. 107 Honey-dev,... 97 What combs are generally free
Singular Secretion,... 98 from Bee-bread,... 106 Seeretions of the Aphis,... 98
Manner of packing stores,.. 108 Advantages of Buckwheat,.. 101 Philosophy in filling a cell with
Amount of honey collected from
honey,.... 109 it,.... 101 Long cells sometimes turned up-
Do Bees injure the crop?... 102 ward,.... 110 Are not Bees an advantage to vege-
Is a dry or wet season best for
tation?... 103 honey?.... 111 A test for the presence of Queen
How many Stocks should be kept,. 112 doubted,... 106 Three principal sources of honey,. 112
CHAPTER V.
WAX.
Is Pollen converted into Wax?. 115 Are crooked Combs a disadvantage? 120 How is it obtained?.. 115 Uncertainty in weight of Bees,. 122 Haber's account of a commence-
Some wax wasted,... 134 ment of comb,... 117 Water necessary in Comb-mak-
Best time to witness comb-making, 118
ing,...... 124 Manner of working Wax,.. 119 Remarks,...... 120
What used for,.. 128 Huber's Opinion,.... 129 Is it an elaborate or natural sub-
Further Proof,.... 129 stance?.... 129 Remarks,...... 132
CHAPTER V.I.
THE APIARY.
Its location,..... 132 Space between Hives,... 136 Decide Early,..... 133 Small Matters,.... 136 Bees mark their location on leaving
Economy,.... 137 the hive,.... 134 Cheap arrangement of stands,. 138 Changing stand attended with
Canal Bottom-board discarded,. 139 loss,.... 134 Some advantage in being near the
Can be taken some distance,.. 135 earth,.... 139 Panger of setting Stocks too close, 135 Utility of Bee-House doubted,. 141CONTENTS.
G HAPTER VIII.
ROBERIES,
Not properly understood,.. 142 Robbing usually commences on a Improper Remedies,... 143 warm day,... 145 Difficulty in deciding,... 144 Remedies,..... 149 Weak families in most danger,. 144 Common Opinion,..... 149 Their Battles,.... 145 A case in point,.... 149 Bad policy to raise the Hives,. 146 Further Directions,.... 150 Indications of Robbers,.... 146 Common cause of commencing,. 151 A Duty,..... 147 Spring the worst time,... 152 A Test,....... 147 No necessity to have Bees plun- dered in the fall,... 153
CHAPTER IX.
FEEDING BEES,
Should be a last resort,... 154 Whole Families may desert the Care needed,.... 151 Hive,..... 158 Apparent contradiction when feed-. Objections to general feeding,. 159ing causes starvation,. 155 Arrangement for feeding,.. 159 How long it will do to wait before feeding,... 156 What may be fed,.... 162 Directions for feeding,.... 157 Is candided honey injurious?.. 162
C HAPTER X.
DESTRUCTION OF WORMS.
Some in the best Stocks,.. 164 Objection Answered,... 169 How Found,.... 165 Insufficiency of inclined Bottom- A tool for their destruction,. 165 board,.... 169 Mistaken Conclusions,... 167 A Moth can go where Bees Objections to suspended Bottom-...... 170 board,..... 167 - Trap to catch Worms,.... 170 Advantage of the Hive close to the board,...... 168
C HAPTER X I.
PUTING ON AND TAKING OFF BOXES.
Advantage of the Patent Vender,. 172 Time taken to fill a box,... 178 Time of putting on-Rule,... 172 When to take off boxes part full,. 178 Making holes after the Hive is full,...... 174 Manner of disposing of the Bees in Advantage of proper arrangement,. 174 Directions for boring holes in full.... 176 Not disposed to string,... 180 To be taken off when filled,... 177 Rale,..... 181CONTENTS.
## Chapter 3 Security Honey From The Motr.
Two things to be prevented,.. 181 Method of killing worms in boxes,. 188
Apt to be deceived about the Worms, 182 Freezing destroys them,.. 180
Their progress described,... 182 Objection to using Boxes before the
A Solution offered,... 183 Hive is full,... 181
## 4 Warning.
Time to expect them,... 187 Protection from the Sun necces-
All Bee-Keepers should understand....... 188 Clustering Bushes,... 201
Means of understanding it,.. 188 How swarms are generally man-
Inverting a stock rather formidable
at first,.... 189 Nothing but Bees needed in a Hive, 206
Requisites before preparation of..... 189 So wearms choose a location before
State of Queen-cell when used,. 190 swarming?.... 207
State when swarms issue,.. 190 Means of arresting a swarm,.. 208
Clustering outside not always to be.... 205
depended upon,... 191 How far will they go in search of
Examinations--the result,... 191 a home?.... 209
Remarks,..... 192 Two or more swarms liable to
Conflicting Theories,.... 192.... 211
Both Old and Young leave with..... 192 Can often be prevented,... 212
Cause of the Queen's inability to fly... 193..... 194 Evidence of the Old Queen'sleaving, 193
Ar. Weeks's Theory not satisfaction,..... 191.... 195.... 196..... 197..... 198..
CONTENTS. 9
CHAPTERXVII.
DIREASED BROOD.
Not generally understood, -. 296 Not easily detected a 'first, -. 274 My own experience, -. -. 267 Symptoms to be observed, -. 274 Description of Disease, -. -. 267 Sealding the honey to destroy the The cause uncertain, -.. 268 poison for feeding, -.. 275 Remedial Experiments,... 268 When to examine stocks that have Public inquiry and answers,.. 268 swarmed,... 275 Answers not satisfactory, -. 270 Care in selecting stock-lives for A cause suggested,. -. 270 winter,.... 276 Reasons for the opinion,... 272 Acousations not always right,. 570 Cause of its spreading,... 273
CHAPTERXVIII.
- IRBITABILITY OF BEES.
Their means of defence,.. 277 Smoker described,.... 280 Time of greatest Irritability,.. 278 Effect of Tobacco Smoke,.. 281 Proper Conduct,.... 278 Sting described,.... 282 How to proceed when attacked,. 279 Does its loss prove fatal?.. 283 A person's breath offensive, and Means of protection,... 284 other causes,... 279 Remedies for stings,... 285 Their manner of attack,... 279
CHAPTERXIX.
ENEMIES OF BEES.
Are they all guilty?... 286 Other symptoms of Worms,.. 298 Rats and Mice,.... 287 When they grow larger than usual, 299 Are all the Birds guilty?.. 288 Time of Growth,.... 290 King-bird--one word in his favor,. 288 Time of Transformation,... 300 Cat-bird acquitted,.... 289 Freezing destroys Worms, Cocoon, Tond got clear,..... 290 and Moth,.... 300 Waps and Hornets not favored,. 290 How they pass the Winter,.. 301 Ants--a word in their favor,... 291 Stocks more liable to be destroyed Spider condemned,.... 292 last of Summer,.... 301 Wax-Moth unrivalled for mischlief, 293 When Bees are safe,... 302 Indications of their presence,.. 296 Means to destroy them,.. 302 Management,.... 296 Making them drunk and their execution.
Care in turning over Hives,.. 297
CHAPTERX.
MIELTING DOWN OF COMB.
The Cause,... 304 First Indications,...... 304
## Chapter 4 Fall Management.
First Care,.... 307 An Experiment,.... 312 Strong Stocks disposed to plunder, 307 Senson for operating,... 313 Bees Changeable,... 308 The Fumigator,.... 314 Requisites for good Stocks,... 308 Directions for uniting two families, 315 Great disadvantage of killing the.... 317 Becs,.... 309 Condition of Stocks in 1851,.. 318 election of country may make a difference in what poor stocks... 309 Swarms partly filled pay better than.... 310 to cut out the honey,.. 320 Caution,.... 311 Arvantages in transferring,.. 320 Principal Difficulty.... 311 Another method of uniting two... 311 families,.... 321 Advantages of making one good..... 321 Notes from two poor ones,..... 322 Two families together will not consume as much at if separate,.. 312 Stock Hives,.... 324
## 5 Hapter 1.
Whitering Bets.
Different methods have been adopted.
Bees when in the house should be... 325 kept perfectly dark,.. 339 The idea of Bees not freezing has.. 339 led to errors in practice,.. 326.. 340 Appearance of Bees in cold wea.... 341 The... 326 Too much Honey may sometimes be.... 327... 342 How a small family may all freeze,...... 343 Frost and Ice sometimes smother...... 328.... 344 Time for setting out Bees,... 343 Frost and Ice in a Hive accounted..... 329 Once,..... 345 The effect of Ice or Frost on Bees...... 346... 347 From may cause starvation,.... 330 Other Difficulties,..... 330.. 332... 333.. 334 Event
Before the reader decides that an apology is necessary for the introduction of another work on bees into the presence of those already before the public, it is hoped that he will have the patience to examine the contents of this.
The writer of the following pages commenced bekeeeping in 1828, without any knowledge of the business to assist him, save a few directions about living, smoking them with sulphur, &c. Nearly all the information to be had was so mingled with erroneous whims and notions, that it required a long experience to separate essential and consistent points. It was _impossible_ to procure a work that gave the information necessary for practice. From that time to the present, no sufficient guide for the inexperienced has appeared. European works, republished here, are of but little value. Weeks, Townley, Miner, and others, writers of this country, within a few years, have given us treatises, valuable to some extent, but have entirely neglected several chapters, very important and essential to the beginner. Keeping bees _has_ been, and is
tending to diminish the size of families, and the application of remedies. Whether success has attended my efforts or not, the reader can judge, after a perusal of the work.
It is time that the word "_luck_," as applied to bekeeping, was discarded. The prevailing opinion, that bees will prosper for one person more than another, under the same circumstances, is fallacious. As well might it be applied to the mechanic and farmer. The careless, ignorant farmer, might occasionally succeed in raising a crop with a poor fence; but would be liable, at any time, to lose it by trespassing cattle. He might have suitable soil in the beginning, but without knowledge, for the proper application of manures, it might fail to produce; unless a _chance_ application _happened_ to be right.
But with the _intelligent_ farmer the case is different: fences in order, manures judiciously applied, and with propitious seasons, he makes a sure thing of it. Call him "_lucky_" if you please; it is his knowledge, and care, that render him so. So with bee-keeping, the careful man is the "lucky" one. There can be no effect without a preceding cause. If you lose a stock of bees, there is a cause or causes producing it, just as certain as the failure of a crop with the unthrity farmer, can be traced to a poor fence, or unfruitful soil. You may rest assured, that a rail is off your fence of management somewhere, or the proper applications have not been made. In relation to bees, these things may not be quite so apparent, yet nevertheless true. Why is there so much more uncertainty in apiarian science than other farming operations? It must be attributed to the fact, that among the thousands who are engaged in, and have studied agriculture, perhaps not more than one has given his energies to the nature and habits of bees. If knowledge is elicited in the same ratio, we ought to have a thousand times more light on one subject than the other, and still there are some things, even in agriculture, that may yet be learned.
It is supposed, by many, that we already have all the knowledge that the subject of _bees_ affords. This is not surprising; a person that was never furnished with a full treatise, might arrive at such conclusions. Unless his own experience goes deeper, he can have no means of judging what is yet behind.
In conversation relative to this work, with a person of considerable scientific attainments, he remarked, "You do not want to give the natural history of bees at all; that is already sufficiently understood." And how is it understood; as Huber gives it, or in accordance with some of our own writers? If we take Huber as a guide, we find many points recently contradicted. If we compare authors of our day, we find them contradicting each other. One recommends a peculiarly constructed hive, as just the thing adapted to their nature and instincts. If a single point is in accordance with their nature, he labors to twist all the others to his purpose, although it may involve a fundamental principle impossible to reconcile. Some one else succeeds in another point, and proceeds to recommend something altogether different. False and contradictory assertions are made either through ignorance, or interest. Interest may blind the judgment, and spurious history may deceive.
It is folly to expect success in bee-keeping for any length of time, without a correct knowledge of their nature and instinets; and this we shall never obtain by the course hitherto pursued. As much of their labor is performed in the dark, and difficult to be observed, it has given rise to conjecture and false reasoning, leading to false conclusions.
When \(\mathcal{I}\) say a thing _is so_, or say it is _not so_, what evidence has the reader that it is proved or demonstrated? _My_ mere assertions are not expected to be taken in preference to another's; of such proof, we have more than enough. Most people have not the time, patience, or ability, to set down quietly with close observation, and investigate the subject thoroughly. Hence it has been found easier to receive error for truth, than to make the exertion necessary to confute it; the more so, because there is no guide to direct the investigation. I shall, therefore, pursue a different course; and for every _assertion_ endeavor to give a test, that the reader may apply and satisfy himself, and trust to no one. As for theories, I shall try to keep them separate from facts, and offers such evidence as I have, either for or against them. If the reader has further proof that presents the matter in another light, of course he will exercise the right to a difference of opinion.
I could give a set of rules for practice, and be very brief, but this would be unsatisfactory. When we are **1***told a thing _must be done_, most of us, like the "inquisitive Yankee," have a desire to know _why_ it is necessary ; and then like to know _how_ to do it. This gives us confidence that we are right. Hence, I shall endeavor to give the practical part, in as close connection with the natural history, that dictates it, as possible.
This work will contain several chapters entirely new to the public: the result of my own experience, that will be of the utmost value to all who desire to realize the greatest possible advantages from their bees.
The additions to chapters already partially discussed by others, will contain much original matter not to be found elsewhere. When many stocks are kept, the chapter on "Loss of Queens," alone, will, with attention, save to any one, not in the secret, enough in one season to be worth more in value than many times the cost of this work. The same might be said of those on diseased brood, artificial swarms, wintering bees, and many others.
If such a work could have been placed in my hands twenty years ago, I should have realized hundreds of dollars by the information. But instead of this, my course has been, first to suffer a loss, and then find out the remedy, or preventive; from which the reader may be exempt, as I can confidently recommend these directions.
Another new feature will be found in the duties of each season being kept by itself; commencing with the spring and ending with the winter management.
In my anxiety to be understood by all classes of readers, I am aware that I have made the elegant construction and arrangement of sentences of secondary importance; therefore justly liable to criticism. But to the reader, whose object is information on this subject, it can be of but little consequence.
_Coxaschie_, 1853. M. QUINBY.
Since the publication of the first editions of this treatise, the writer has left Coxaschie in Greene Co., for St. Johnsville, Montgomery Co., N. Y.
During the past season, the author and a few neighbors who manage according to his system, have furnished for market over 20,000 pounds of box-honey. This fact has been noticed, and copied extensively in the newspapers, as something remarkable, awakening much curiosity. As his address was given in connection, he has been beset with letters of inquiry as to what system of bee-culture was pursued, from those who are not aware of the existence of this work. It is impossible to answer in detail by letter; but in this volume every question, with many others, have been anticipated and fully discussed. Since the above date of the first edition, he has had the experience of several additional years, which.have suggested no important alteration or addition. So many have tested the practicability of his system with such uniform success, that he again offers it to the public with increased confidence.--_St. Johnsville_, _N. Y., January_, 1857.
M. QUINBY.
**O H A P T E R I.**
**A BRief history.**
**THREE Kinds of BEEs.**
Every prosperous swarm, or family of bees, must contain one queen, several thousand workers, and, part of the year, a few hundred drones.
QUEEN. WORKELL
QUEEN DESGRIBED.
The queen is the mother of the entire family ; her duty appears to be only to deposit eggs in the cells. Her abdomen has its full size very abruptly where it joins the trunk or body, and then gradually tapers to a point. She is longer than either the drones or workers, but her size, in other respects, is a medium between the two. In shape she resembles the worker more than the drone ; and, like the worker, has a sting, but will not use it for anything below royalty.
She is nearly destitute of down, or hairs; a very little may be seen about her head and trunk. This gives her a dark, shining appearance, on the upper side--some are nearly black. Her legs are somewhat longer than those of a worker; the two posterior ones, and the under surface, are often of a bright copper color. In some of them a yellow stripe nearly encircles the abdomen at the joints, and meets on the back. Her wings are about the same as the workers, but as her abdomen is much longer, they only reach about two-thirds the length of it. For the first few days after leaving the cell, her size is much less than after she has assumed her maternal duties. She seldom, perhaps never, leaves the hive, except when leading a swarm, and when but a few days old, to meet the drones, in the air, for the purpose of foundation. The manner of the queen's impregnation is yet a disputed point, and probably never witnessed by any one. The majority of close observers, I believe, are of opinion that the drones are the males, and that sexual connection takes place in the air,* performing their amounts while on the wing, like the hunble-bee and some other insects. It appears that one impregnation is operative during her life, as old queens are not afterwards seen coming out for that purpose.
Footnote *: The objectors to this hypothesis will be generally found among those who are unable to give a more plausible elucidation. Those who oppose the fact that one bee is the mother of the whole family, will probably be in the same class.
description AND DUTY OF WORKERS.
As all labor devolves on the workers, they are pro vided with a sack, or bag, for honey. Basket-like cavities are on their legs, where they pack the pollen of flowers into little pellets, convenient to bring home. They are also provided with a sting, and a virulent poison, although they will not use it abroad when un-molested, but, if attacked, will generally defend themselves sufficient to escape. They range the fields for honey and pollen, secrete wax, construct combs, prepare food, nurse the young, bring water for the use of the community, obtain propolis to seal up all crevices about the hive, stand guard, and keep out intruders, robbers, &c., &c.
DESCRIPT OF DRONES.
When the family is large and honey abundant, a brood of drones is reared ; the number, probably, depends on the yield of honey, and size of the swarm, more than anything else. As honey becomes scarce, they are destroyed. Their bodies are large and rather clumsy, covered with short hairs or bristles. Their abdomen terminates very abruptly, without the symmetry of the queen or worker. Their buzzing, when on the wing, is louder, and altogether different from the others. They seem to be of the least value of any in the hive. Perhaps not more than one in a thousand is ever called upon to perform the duty for which they were designed. Yet they assist, on some occasions, to keep up the animal heat necessary in the old hive after a swarm has left.
MOST BROOD IN SPING.
**In spring and first of summer, when nearly all the combs are empty, and food abundant, they rear brood more extensively than at any other period, (towards fall more combs are filled with honey, giving less room for brood.) The hive soon becomes crowded with bees, and royal cells are constructed, in which the queen deposits her eggs. When some of these young queens are advanced sufficiently to be sealed over, the old one, and the greater part of her subjects, leave for a new location, (termed swarming.) They soon collect in a cluster, and, if put into an empty hive, commence anew their labors; constructing combs, rearing brood, and storing honey, to be abandoned on the succeeding year for another tenement. One in a hundred may do it the same season, if the hive is filled and crowded again in time to warrant it. Only large early swarms do this.
Industry belongs to their nature. When the flowers yield honey, and the weather is fine, they need no impulse from man to perform their part. When their tenement is supplied with all things necessary to reach another spring, or their store-house full, and no necessity or room for an addition, and we supply them with more space, they assiduously to fill it up. Rather than to waste time in idleness, during a bounceu yield of honey, they have been known to deposit their surplus in combs outside the hive, or under the stand. This natural industrious habit lies at the foundation of all the advantages in bee-keeping; consequently our hives must be constructed with this end in view;and at the same time not interfere with other points of their nature; but this subject will be discussed in the next chapter. Those peculiar traits in their nature, mentioned in this, will be more fully discussed in different parts of this work, as they appear to be called for, and where proof will be offered to sustain the positions here assumed, which as yet are nothing more than mere assertions.
HIVES to be thoroughly made.