The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-21 00:00:00

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BEE-KEEPING IN DORSETSHIRE.
LETTER V.

[The author rewrote the right of republication.]
Si—Since the publication of these notices on the
management and preservation of bees I have received
letters from intelligent correspondents who understand
the iubject, since they claim the same results from
similar treatment. I claim nothing more than a simple
plan adapted to this oounty, especially as regards the
time of securing what honey may be requiredfroin them ;
and I have shown that no fear need be apprehended of
their wanting food, from Doraetshire having large
districts of heath, as well as cultivated land, which
other oonnties in England have not, nor is the air
poisoned by the smoke and gas of manufactorie.. We are
therefore in a county highly favoured for their
prosperity, but the fact that our rural population
destroy their bees remains as before. I shall conclude
these notes with a few general remarks, and some
otnissions and corrections.

A 4,A-respondent objects very much to my measure-
ment for • hive; it is perhaps rather large, but I should
not feel inclined to go to a different proportion. I
propose, therefore a measurement of 10 inches in
depth to 15 or le inches in width on his suggestion.
The erect proportion of hives are, or should be,
regulated in measurement by the locality. I am
positively certain that in Dorset the full measurement
may be used, and it must invariably be a great deal
lower in height, and wider in breadth, than the common
hive; and I should advise our bee-keepers to refuse to
purchase any hive that is not this meaeurement. I
have common hive, in my possession, varying from Li
to 14 inches in the clear, and from 10 to 11 inches high,
making the capacity equal or nearly so in height
and breadth. This is not at all suitable to the proper
formation of combs, as I have before explained.
Another omission in my notes is the natural history
of the bee. Every bee-keeper should be acquainted
with the subject, and it is easy of attainment from the
frequent publication of works in natural history on
this subject. I have not entered on this question, nor
wish to do so; it is, however, essential to every bee-
keeper to have some knowledge of it. On the
subject of feeding I should wish to say
more, but it is a proceeding requiring the greatest
judgment, especially in being an observer of tempera-
ture. Feeding is mostly required either in autumn,
when bees have not sufficient to sustain them through
the winter, or in spring, when from certain causes they
have made great inroads into their store, perhaps from
being too warm. Feeding should be at all times plenti-
ful, at the same time for only a few days. At the
seasons they moat require food the days are short and
cold; they are stimulated, believing the supply natural,
and they will some out for a day or two after feeding in
cold weather, and fall on the ground. The safest time
for feeling is autumn, though autumn will not suit
all cases. In spring, hives will equally require attention,
and greater caution is requisite—all depends on your
own tact and observation of the weather. You may,
for instance, select a day apparently fine, yet too cold
for them ; the symptom of failure will be dead, or
apparently dead bees all round tles hives. You may
oftentimes overfeed them, in which case, instead of '
taking honey, you will merely take your own mends*.
ture. lt is, after all, not the natural food of the bee,
though she will store it in the hive and live upon it.
Yet you cannot very well supply her with pure honey,
because it invariably 'glees rise to fighting. I never
supplied pare honey but found quarrelling had ensued,
and dozens of dead bees will be found round the
entrance on such occasions. It is always necessary
after feeding in spring to collect your apparently dead
bees, and bring them into a warm room—they will soon
revive under a tumbler—give them a feed of pure
honey, and release them near the hives. Early in spring,
on the first days, they go in search of pollen • you will
find them actually loaded, and apparently dead about
your hives. Treat them as above, but do not keep them
in the house longer than is necessary for their revimiL
No bee will live any length of time from the hive. You
cannot, for instance, keep them all night from their
homer. At this season also bees require water in dry
weather. Sauoers half filled with moss and water, very
slightly sweetened with honey or sugar, may be placed
at a short distance from them.
Another valued correspondent has doubts that hives
may not be removed from one place to another, and in.
stances the accounts of boats moving daily on the Loire
In France, and on the Danube in Germany, the bees daily
returning to their homes. On this point! have doubts is
to the exact plan as to their daily transport in that
fashion ; I believe it imporsible, especially if they
were English bees. It is however likely that if they
were so treated, and transported two or three miles
during the night, they could not return to the place
they left; but if anyone wieheelo ascertain bow remov-
ing affects them, let them move a hive ten yards from
its accustomed place, and it will not be long if be has
any power of observation to find out his mistake.
Beta therefore should never be purchased at vales
to be tarried short distances; the purchaser may be
pleased with his bargain, butitis almost worthless', unless
carried three or four miles. I might touch upon many
points of interest to the bee-keeper, but I think enough
for the ordinary direction of anyone inclined to attend
to them has been written. One thing is certain, they
Will not prosper unless you adopt some system adapted
to their nature, nor care for them ; they are not a wild
insect, for they cannot shift for themselves in this
country. Swarms that take flight for long distances are
irretrievably lost. Berg will gratefully repay your
care, and give you abundance from their labour in
return, but be not greedy to take too much from them;
above all study to preserve life In every possible way.
One word as to closing up hives, or confining the bees
by stopping the entrance, on no amount never attempt
it. Bees cannot live without air in t,,e hives. I have
frequently been advised to do so, but could never find
the smallest necessity for it. In the winter months
you may contract the entrance by placing small pieces
of wood so as to cat off part of their usual entrance,
and you may remove these pieces on any open weather
returning, they will on such occasions be benetitted by the
admission of air. The closingof hives and placing them
in spare rooms, the covering them with leaves, and
many other absurd receipts, can only terminate in their
misery or discomfiture.
My correspondent last alluded to has sent me a
receipt for mead. I should say it would be an improve-
ment on the mead we usually make in this county,
which I have generally found insipid.
I shall close my notes with that receipt which I think
good. Four pounds of honey to each gallon of water;
boil three-quarters of an hour, fill up to the level it
has lost by boiling; in every four gallons add one
pound of hops, boil slightly again, and cask after work-
ing; wait six mouths before bottling. A little brandy
or sound sherry may be added at that time.
I remain, Sir, /sc.,
WELD TAYLOR.
ERRATA—For measurement of hives read 10 inches
by 15i to 16 inches.
Letter Ist, tenth line from the end, read "prevent'
log" instead of "ensuring disappointment."
FALL -OP A PAYER-MILL. —An alarming accident
,lbappened on Tuesday afternoon at Greenock. The in-
terior of a large three-storey building, connected with
'Erown, Stewart, and C.o.'s paper-mills, fell in. The
'hork.people mostly escaped without injury, but one
young woman was killed.
LAMS' HAIL—The Paris correspondent of the Post,
In reply to an appeal from • lady—" Now, do give us
kW/ polities and more about toilette. What have you
.1341 w in hairdressing and boots?" writes :—"I have con-
'salted • great hairdresser of the sublime school, who
says that this winter he has commenced work at 1 p.m.,
so that the lady must remain some ten hours in full
toilette, with her hair pinned, bound, stretched,
flowered, jewelled—painfully uncomfortable. It is only
as a great favor that these famed hair artists can be
'bad at all; ladies during the season are obliged to
Implore them to attend. Well, he declares that you
may wear your hair in any fantastic fashion; some
ladies at court have adopted the cleasical Grecian style;
the hair dragged off the face, and a bunch of clustering
ringlets at the back of the head. Others have gone in
for a aeries of small curls all over the forehead, and
little impertinent twisting locks round about the cam—
bial curls, just beginning life—while the mass of hair
is gathered up on the tope( the head, and there studded
with flowers, or butterflies, or even gaudy insects."
DEMOCRACY IN All6BloA.—The democracy of America
not be confounded with the democracy of the Old
orld. It is not formed of the scum of turbulent cities,
neither is it merely a section of an exhausted middle-
class, which speculate in stocks and calls that progress.
It is A territorial democracy, if I may use that
epithet, without offending the right hon. gentleman
opposite. Aristotle, who has taught us most of the wise
things we know, never said a wiser one than this—that
the cultivators of the mil are the least inclined to sedi-
tion and to violent courses. Now, being a territorial
dentecesey, their chamfer has been from! mei ie
deemed in • manner '
erd connected, said I-
sense of --- "

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