Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-03-21

I Ahlud1 W ' Y NNf0af ~
ton, TO the Committee on bees, OF the Society's
Fair last fall. The Report contains a full
statement, not only of Mr.. W's. methods OF
management as an npiarian, but Of the arhy and
the tcherefore. The publication of this report
will, we doubt not, be of service to those en-
gagged in this most interesting branch of rural
economy.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. w took the
premium of $500.
Mn. Chairman. II gives me pleasure to
mingle with the members OF the Windham
County Agricultural Society, at their first an
nual meeting. May the doings ofthis Fair, be
TO each of us, interesting and profitable
Called upon, and duly authorized as you are
with this honorable board, to decide who is en-
titled to the premium, to be awarded TO the per-
son who the season past, has taken the most
good honey, and who shall exhibit the best
skill in the management of bees, you will per-
nit me in turn, 10 call your attention a few
moments TO the same subject.
As early as the first of April, | locate my
hives, containing bees, where ! wish them to
remain during the time for gathering honey. |
choose when convenient, TO place them at least
ten feet apart. The space, or aperture, for
egress and ingress, | rather would be quite
contracted, until blossoms afford them an am
pie supply of food. During this time as often
as once in three or four days, / graduate each
bottom board sufficient TO brush out the dead
bees, or any remaining filth, carefully raising il
again by means Of the button in the rear Of the
hive. The latter part OF May, or first of June,
! drop the bottom board, enough TO give the
bees a chance 10 90 forth from all sides of the
hive. About the same time, | place within a
NAL distance of my bees, a few shrubs, or
saplings, six or seven feet long, with small
bushy tops, set in the ground in such a manner
as 10 prevent their being thrown down by
strong winds, (~perhaps spruce or hemlock is
as good as any other) but not so fast in the
ground as TO prevent their being taken up at
pleasure, without The least jar or jolt: this done
! am prepared the better to receive young
swarms as they sally forth. Should a swarm
alight on one Of these saplings las they will
five lines out of six ! spread a cloth, say a
cotton sheet on the ground, near the bush
containing the bees, laying small stones or
blocks upon the four corners, of sufficient helt
10 prevent the wind from raising IL; | then
place the rear Of the hive on, and near one end
or side Of the sheet, with the bottom board I'M
hooked, placing a small stone or block on the
bottom board under each front corner Of the
hive, so as TO raise il two or three inches !;
making the hive fast by placing a.plank or pole,
the one end on the hive, the other end on the
ground. Soon as they are all or nearly all on
TIC uuSU, L IdlSG the sumo ReUllV out OIL Inc
ground, bending il down near the entrance in
the hive ! begin with a gentle shake, then soon
as possible | disengage the bees from the bush,
laying il some little distance from the hive
Should they not readily enter their new habita-
ton, but rather incline TO collect on the outside
of the hive, | wing them down upon The sheet,
occasionally throwing a little water on them.
This | do until they enter. This done, | hook
up the bottom board, and remove them inn
~ a1,ot a. tka -fo,l x.L.-o - - -
remain through the season. The third day
from hiving, ! turn the drawer, or drawers, that
they may commence their labors therein. |
mo2sn my hives should contain is pounds of
uniting small swarms togeurer;; or pagsngn qfIb
queen from them and so return them back TO
the parent hive, which on the whole, | think is
the better way.
have this season, for the first time, made
the experiment of transferring from a full hive
to an empty one. My first trial was on the pa
rent stock of my bees, which | bought in 1883,
having been 10 the same hive - years. In
this attempt ] was perfectly successful. think
in many instances, transfers Of this kind will
be found beneficial il rightly managed, and
done IN the right season Of the year. The first
OF October, | raise the bottom board so that
the bees can only egress from M aperture not
more Than one half or three fourths of an inch.
This is the best month in the year in which 10
feed light swarms, if they have not honey
enough TO last them through the winter. The
hrst OF November, ] remove them into my bee
house, made perfectly dark, where they re-
main 10 enjoy the ''good Of their labor'' un-
disturbed BY winds, or storms, safe from every
thing which would mar, or disturb their
peace. During these five months, | lreouent-
y call upon them, by a gentle tap on each
door TO which, it in a healthy condition, they
WIN united breath, will instantly respond
n nd nAsuT CsaAL E.l ----lH a - ~ ~. /