The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-05-16 00:00:00

•Vonnoil
it : T.

BEE-KEEPING IN DORSETSHIRE.

To the Editors.
I wish to forewarn all who keep bees, or are interested
in securing their safety, that there are evident gins
this season of a regular wasp plague. lam unable to
guarantee from personal observation the statement of
num naturalists, that all wa,ps seen in April or May
are queen wasps, and consequently represent • colosy ;
at the same time I have absolute belief in the acoounta
so published, and moat on this occasion refer your
readers to works on the subject. Briefly, however, it
1 appears the queens are the only survivors of the cobs-
nies of last year, and the appearance at this time of
year Of the qpdens signifies that they are obtaining food
for the lime, the eggs of which were laid in February.
Now. this season I hive observed more queens than I
ever did before. I have always waged relentless warfare
against them, but this year exceeds any I have expo-
rier.eed in their numbers and strength. They have even
attacked my hives. Scarcely a day for the last month
has passed but I have destroyed four or five queens, bat
one day lately I secured a dozen.
Whether this unusual number is peculiar to this
neighbourhood or not, I cannot sq. If it is the same
allover the country it is a bad omen for the bees, and the
.eieners of bees must destroy as many as they can, be-
'cause if wasps become very numerous, the worst conse-
quences to the harvest of honey is pretty certain,
especially unless measures are taken to ensure to the
bees unmolested work. A little precaution will save
the owners of bees a great deal of mortification, and I
shall in a few words point out the remedies, because a
regular assault upon • hive by wasps is a most formid-
able business, and instances are known when the bees in
absolute despair have deserted the hive in a body, to
find peace ar.d quietness elsewhere.
Have ready some small slips of veneer, about three
inches long and two high, and taking the extent of the
entrance holeAlvide off three small openings, only ref.
fieient to allow te each opening room for one bee to zees
in and out. This ahonla be done carefully, because
wasps are generally • trifle larger than bees, especially
when they are full grown.
These aline of veneer may have at each end • Pea of
wood sharpened, and in this way thrust into the straw.
A little we clay will then hold it secure for • week or
two, till the wivps have disappeared. By this plan the
bees, constantly issuing out, prevent the entrance of
their enemies, and they are able to defend themselves at
, a :great advantage. If wasps club themselves on the
alighting board they will soon make an entrance; in
I that ease they must be crushed with • flat piece of stick
!or a lath. The second plan is to destroy the nests. If
within a moderate distance of any house or cottage, get
a kettle of boiling water, and about dusk pour the con-
tents into the hole. Mlle hole has a very alight descent
the operation will be perfectly successful. If at a die-
Woe, a pot of coal gas tar and a stiok or spoon to fill up
the entrance will answer; but they have • good deal of
.engineering genius, and will, if the earth is light, soon
make another entrance.
The use-of guepoeder for that purpose is only an ex-
cuse for boys to use it, and very seldom does more than
kill a dozen or two, the remainder strengthening some
other colony.—l remain, yours, &a,
WELD TAYLOR.
Wimbenie, May 13th, 1865.
[The late Earl of Traquair used to offer id. or lid.
per dozen for wasps brought to him during the aeasoa,
yielding to a considerable number of children generally
from Is. to 3s. each, and thus serving to keep down this
pest upon the Tweed.]

•Itever

I engineering genius, and
I make another entrance.