Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-11-22

and call them out, aud handle them as he
pleases, and restore them to the hive with
perfect safety, aud the bees will be all the
time perfectly good-natured, and not an indi-
vidual among them will offer to sting him,
and yet very few persons dare make the &c
tempt, and still fewer knows how to do itwith
safety. When bees are alarmed, they believe
with the miser, that their treasure is the OBJ.
ject of the invader as it is the only treasure
Of any object to them, they act on the belief,
that it is of equal value to others. If tho
alarm is repeated, each one drops all other
employments, whether he is constructing
celor filing it with honey, or in whatever
work he may be employed, and sets himself
at once to secure as much honey as his honey
bag will contain. Each one secures a shareof
the pure limpid nectar. Each sucks nahis
drop Of honey, that at least so much may be
secured from plumber. 1t is surprising with
what rapidity bee will gil himself with hon.
ey, when alarmed. He draws it in. in a con-
tinued stream till he can hold no more, and
then quietly awaits the result of the alarm.
Having secured as much of his treasure as he
can, the instinct Of his nature is satisfied.
lie has done all he can. And now comes the
secret by the knowledge of which the opera
tor can handle and manage them as he chooses
When bee is full of honey he never stings,
unless piuched or otherwise injured. The
operator has only to induce them to gil their
bags with honey, and they at once become
harmless. This is a uniform law of their M
ture, as certain apd reliable as any other law
of nature. The knowledge of this law and a
little experiences in managing the alarm in
such way as to induce each bee to seize his
portion of the common treasure, is the only
magic possessed by the bee charmers, which
enables them to astonish by their boldness the
unmitigated lockers on. The drones have no
stings, of course they may be handled with
impunity. They may be distinguished by
their larger size. The different keys upon
which bees pitch their note indicate their con-
dition. When they are full of honey their
note is on lower key, and has quite uni
form hum drum tone. When thoy are empty
their note is sharp and angry. When swarm
have filled themselves it may happen that one
or more may be found, that have not secured
any portion of the treasure. Perhaps they
have just returned to the hive, and have had
/ no opportunity to I'll themselves. These viii
/ fly about in great agitation uttering SHARP
piercing note IF you are not careful yor
may get stung by them. Their angry note Ii
: readily distinguished from the note of the res
r Of the swarm, and the operator puts himsel
. at once on his guard. A few days since,
5 had the pleasure of seeing Mr.. Langstroth
r on the grounds of Mr.. Brown, Editor of thu
. New England Farmer. take large old hive
full OF bees and remove it from its stand, ant
turn it bottom upwards, and call out the swarm
: into an empty box-take them up by handfuls
and handle them with the same freedom, as h
would so many peas. He broke open sever
al bees and showed the full honey bag. HI
struck down one that was uttering spitefu
note and threatened to sting him, and shewe'
that his bag was empty. Not having secures
any portion of the common stock, he wa
obeying the next instinct of his nature, ant
endeavoring with his own unaided weapon, t
drive off the invader. Mr.. L. has construct
ed a very ingenious hive, in which the opera
tons of the bees, and the progress of thei
, work, may be readily watched from day t.
. day. In this hive, the comb is constructs
\ in plates ABBOTT an inch thick, entirely distnc
i from each other. Any one of these plate
\ may be taken out, the bees shaken or brushe
q from the comb. The comb is then detache
from the frame that contains.it. The fran
is replaced, and the bees Immediately sc
q themselves to work to construct another com
= in place Of that which has been taken away
!. The whole arrangement is very complete, an
!. shows thorough knowledge of the natur
!. and habits of bees, knowledge which hs
q cost him years Of close and careful observ,
! ton. We commend this hive to those VIII
o raise honey, and who would always have
y within their reach, and especially to thos
!. who like to study the habits and economy
q the curious and busy ee."-Country Jou
: = nal.