The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-06-21
For IRE Republican.
The Honey Bee.

| have noticed that in the course OF each wear,
a large amount OF honey is brought into the
Lansing market by persons residing in this ylcIn-
ity. Ii sells from eigh, to fifteen cents per H.,
according TO quality
Some is brought in the boxes, or leaps" in
which il was made, is very fragrant, beautiful in
appearance and delicious TO the taste. This i
early gathered, or clover honey, and always COM
mands the highest market price, not only on ac-
count of the neat appearance of the boxes, and
the beautiful comb, and the clear honey with
which the bees have but recently filed it, but
because the peculiar perfume, and taste of the
honey are so much superior 10 the late, or Buck
wheat honey.
Late honey, notwithstanding il NAV be offered
in as neat boxes viii not generally command so
high a price as the carly because its color is
darker, and it sometimes has a slightly bitter
taste, particularly when made from Buckwheat
Sometimes, and not untrequentlv, honey Is
brought 10 market with mixture of bee-hrcad,
hrood-comh dead bees, &c, and looks, as Miss
ophelia would say, rather shiitlesS.' Honey
offered in this shape Is not very attractive 10
buyers of course il does not command the high
est price.
If man sells one hundred pounds of honey
it makes some little difference 10 him whether
he receives for il eight dollars, or fifteen dollars.
In the course of my pereCrinations some.
times visit such apiaries as see in my way, ex-
anime the hives and the bees, and make some
inquiries with regard TO the practice Of the api-
artist in the management of his bees OF course
come in contact with all sorts of hives, al
sorts of practice and all sorts OF theories, some
very good, and some very bad. One of the
worst is the practice of destroying the swarm in
order To remove the honey from the old hive.
This is an old practice and is continued 10y many
experienced apiarsts 10 this dav.
very few DAYS since was conyerSing with
person who had several colonies of bees in
charge and who insisted that the only way Ia
transfer bees from an old to new hive, was "a
hive the new swarm in new hive, and, in the
autumn. destroy the old colony and take away
the honey.
BY this process, a swarm of bees worth five
dollars is destroyed, and the contents of the
hive, say fifty pounds of honey, bee bread, and
brood comb is sold at eight cents per pound.
| Thus destroying FIVE dollars aud realizing four
dollars There is noHecessitv for any loss what
ever, for bees can be transferred from an old into
into new hive, and the brood comb. and as
much of the money as is desirable placed in the
new hive without the loss of a bee.
| Bee ke.piag is one thing, bee cri'5rc j. ano-
ther. Some people keep bees for profit, Others
for fancy, vet ali who keep bees expect to get
rcturns-for their time, trouble, and expense
| in the shape Of honey, and perhaps an incrcas,
OF their stock.
Some persons keep one or two hives OF bees
for several years, but have natural increase OF
we'd, and no effort is made To secure the extra
supply of honey the bees would prepare for the
owner if he would make suitable arrangements
| for the reception of it.
| Other, who study the habits of bees 90 among
| them feed them when necessary, take care that
no worms, mice, or other enemy interfcrCs with
them, and are gentle with them can handle the
bees without fear Of being stunc; can secure a
| large quantity OF surplus honey, and nearly
double the stock of bees every year. This re-
QuireS time, attention, and practice, but the api-
! arian gets wei! paid for his kind attention, for
the bees appear to watch for his coming, rccoc-
nizc him, receive him kindly, and reward him
with the fruits of their labor