Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-08-26
Honey Bees---The Apiarv.


bees has always appeared to me to be
defective. II is but one small remove
from the state of na'ure--lusi so much
on an Improvement asto induce the bees
To accept of il and serve in il in prefer
ence TO thcr old t.hliow trees, ard no
more. Numerous experiments have
proved that bees can be managed upon
systematic aud economical principles,
Just as well as cows and other domestic
animals can, aud That the per centage of
profit on the outlay and labor is far
greater An examination of the plan OF
an npiary, invented by Mr.. Gilmore of
the Sluic of Mainc, has afforded me
much pleasure, and led me to desire
10 call public attention to the improves
ment Of this valuable department Of rural
economy. Before proceeding, however,
To speak of the apiary, will say a few
words as 10 the habits Of the honey bee.
Many, nearly every body, supposcs that
the bee collects honey from the nectar
of the flowers, and simply carries It TO its
cell 10 the hive This is not correct
The nectar he collects from the flowers
is a portion OF his food or drink the
honey it deposits in his cell is a secre-
lion from its mellIhc, or honey secreting
glands (analdgous to the milk secreting
glands Of the COW and other animals. -
II they were the mere collectors and
lransporiers of honey from the flowers
to the honey comb, then we should have
the comb frequently filled with nIolasses,
whenever the bees have fed at monsses
hogshead The honey bag in the bee
performs the same functions as the cows
bag or udder--merely receives The honey
from secreling glands, and retains II I'll
a proper opportunity presents for lis be-.
ing deposited in lis appropriate slore
house--the honey comb. Another error
is that the bee collects pollen from the
flowers accidentally, while il is in search
OF honey. Quite the contrary is the
fact. The bee, whom in search of nectar
or honey, asst is improperly called, docs
DOT collect pollen. 1t goes IN search OF
pollen specially, and also specially for
nectar. When the pollen of the flower
is ripe, and fit for the uses of the bee,
there is mo nectar, when there is ecier
there is no pollen III ior use in the flower.
II Is generally supposed also, that the bee
collects the wax from which il constructs
lis comb, from some vegetable substance.
/ This Is also an error. The wax is a
secretion from its body, as the honey is;
and II makes lis appearance in small
scales OF fakes, under The rings OF the
belly, and is taken thence by other bees,
rendered plastic by mixture with the
saliva OF the bees mouth, and laid on
the walls OF the cell with the tongue.
very much in the way plasterer uses his
irowol.
I Now, by proper understanding of
these facts, the reader wall be able TO
Judge of the proprety of The improve
ments IN the apiary. They must under
stand that the bee will make honey, no
matter what food it may feed upon, if
the food he such as is appropriate for the
bee, and Il will not cat IT if othefwise.--
The favor of The honey is derived from
the aroma Of The flower or other food,
but The article will be honey, and not
molasses or sugar.
The apiary, therefore, should be con-
sirucied IN such way, and should be
managed on such principles us TO af-
ford The bees the best accommodation,
aud fullest supply of food, at the least
expense OF time and labor to the bees,
and the least cost 10 the prspsieior.---
Gilmore's plan seems 10 the writer To
afford all these advantages to a greater
extent than any other. lie constructs a
bee-house oil the slze that will accommo-
date as many hives as he intends TO keep.
The house Is made tight, with window
To afford light to the attendant. Inside
! frames are arranged 10 receive the hives.
/ The hives are made IA three divisions,
one above another, SO that when the
upper division is full Of honey, it can be
removed, and another pu, under the low
or one. The tops of the several divi-
sions are SD arranged that the bees can
pass through them 10 the division above.
When the bees have multiplied sufficient
ly TO require more room, fresh hive is
set by the sides OF the old one, and the
bees that on The old plan would have
"swarmee, " and propably have been lost,
gotowotk IN The apartment, wiIha queen
at their head.
This secures all The advantages of the
old single hive system, with queen TO
each family, and the community system,
which prevents swarmlng, and the loss
of bees II is a curious fact, that al
though the bees of all the hives live and
work in one large community, yet the
queens all remain in their several separ-
ate apartments, never leaving them like
troublesome neighbors. The whole
community form large republic COM
posed OF numerous separate states, IN
perfect confederacy.
But The great improvement Of CHI
See ifb ,,orf