Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-07-13
THE BEE CULTURE.
BY HENRY EDDY NJ. d.

BY HENRY EDDY NJ. d.
Any individual, however limited
his resources, who has command Of a
little leisure, may share in the luxury
and profits which result from the la
Dor of tie Honey Bee and the A.
mount Of time required in the varions
operations Of Bee culture is much
less than is generally supposed. -
There are ten months of the year
during which Bees may be said TO
take care of themselves that is the
attention which they need is very
trifling. The aggregate degree Of
attention which dozen swarms of
Bees require during the year is less
than dozen house plants, or a single
canary bird would necessarily de-
mand. The time is at hand when
professional men and young persons,
and even females aud aged persons
who are much at home, will be our
most successful Bee keepers; to say
nothing of the mechanic, who being
much at home is peculiarly well situa-
ted for giving attention 10 this enter
prise. When the subject shall be
properly understood, especially when
the lesson shall be eifectually learned
which some have learned, tina, the
Honey Bee can be domesilcated or
rendered manageable, as truly and
almost as safely as any other creature
which is made for the service of man,
or as safely as the COW or the horse,
Bee culture will be greatly increased.
Then it will be regarded in its true
light as affording ample remuneration
TO those who enlist IN il. The prof
fits resulting from ludicious and
proper system of Bee culture may be
snfely estimated at from 100 TO 500
per cent. per annum. In this state
ment give merely the results OF my
own experience in Bee keeping for a
period of twelve years. There is no
living creature which is subject TO the
control Of man, which pays so large
a profit upon the capital invested and
the time employed, as the Honey Bee
when proper system Of Bee culture
is adopted.
The essntial features Of successful
Bee culture are the following -
J. Bees should be placed in good
hive, one which will bear exposure to
the weather. 2. The keeper should
be able at any time 10 inspect their
condition. 3. They should be al
lowed TO swarm. a. They should be
protected from the cncroachments of
the Bee moth. 3. The hive should
be sufficiently ventilated, especially
in winter. 6. No Bees should ever
be destroyed. Z. The keeper should |
be able to avail himself of all the la
Dor which they can perform. s. Tie
should ascertain, and note, their
weight Of stock in autumn and spring |
9. Bees which occupy good hive,
(and they shonld be put into no o,her)
should rarely be disloged. These
are by no means all the important
features Of n good system of Bee cul-
ture. But these | regard as indus
pensable others are comparatively
Of minor importance, or incidental,
Without each of these, any system
which may be adopted, must present
gIarIng defects, and must prove I'M
profitable, 10 proportion as such de-
fecis are found 10 exist.
Bee culture has claims upon the
intelligent and scientific. Profess
ional men should study the instincts
and wonderful economy Of the Honey
Bee, that they may DO able to throw
light upon their operations, and thus
aid their less intelligent neighbors.
1t has dsin.s upon The sturdy zoe
man as kind oil pasiime, by means
of which he can reap ample profits
with very little expenditure Of time
and capital. |, has claims upon the
young as means of extending their
knowledge of natural history, and
cultivating within them the love OF
natural objects. 1t has claims upon
the dged, who. as they retire from
the active and busy scenes of life,
need just such objects Of contempla-
lion 10 occupy their minds. 1t has
claims also upon the attention Of fe-
males. Mrs. B--,o of New Jersey,
by her careful observations and eco
nomlcal management, and valuable
writings relative 10 the operations oil
the Honey Bee, secured TO herself a
livelihood, an education TO her chil
dren, and gained much celebrity as
scientific writer. Females are among
our very best apiarians.
When TIE principle Of domes,ica-
ton, which is found TO exist in the
Honey Bee, is properly understood,
they will be kept on a much larger
scale than al present.
Onions.-lt is perhaps unknown
TO many that the onion is one of the