The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-04-13
Hints on Bee Keeping.--No. 3.


Now is the time to be on the watch for worms.
These torments to the bee and bee-keeper, are
sometimes hatched in the hive through the wip-
ter, and at this season Of the year, the bees
gnaw them out, and they drop to the bottom board
of the hive. If left to themselves, they soon
crawl into some crevice where they web, and when
they emerge from it in the form of dusky brown
milers, are capable of laying 10000 eggs each.
Every egg, under favorable circumstances, be-
comes worm, which in its turn becomes = mill
Ter. As four generations Of them pass on to the
stage every season, is it any wonder that SO
many swarms Of bees are ruined by the worms!
The little reptile feeds upon the wax alone, and
if unmolested, weaves its web in the comb, in
which many bees are caught and perish. With
pencil you can easily calculate how many
worms you destroy (prospectively) each cool
spring morning, as you crush one under the hive.
visit each hive every morning, turn it back,
peep under, and destroy oil find. Sometimes
find several under each hive. Like the weeds
in the corn field, ,oorms ,ciu alxays be found more
or less about bees-and like the weeds, do little
harm if killed st once, before they increase in
size and strength. sa- aa'l fs 'a'.
are TIE FEAR OF srNGs.
For the ENCOURAGEMENT Of the timid, let me
say, that when commenced the care of bees,
knew nothing whatever by experience. had
read Mr.. Quimby's work, and became so much
interested in the subject, that determined to
study for myself, the habits of this wonderful
little worker. expected to be stung, and was
stung to my hearts content. I was not one Of
those fortunate individusls OF whom often hear
but never see, who "can do anything with bees
and not be stung." Still, say, with proper
precaution, all can avoid trouble on this score.
Tile bee can be tanned 1t nsuer stings except in
selfdefense or in defense of its stores, and when
it's honey sack is full, seems to be unable to use
its sting. BY feeding the bees literally by way
of sprinklipg sweetsned water upon them, you
can coax them into good behavior at any time,
they are 30 eager to gather up the sweet. that
they pay no attention to your motions.
The quicker way, and the one l generally
use, 10 to burn little tobacco for their benefit.
The fumes of this weed intoxicate them, and rem
der them for the time, helpless. Inever could
perceive any i'll effects from the use of it. I
have fumigater and a smoker, such as Quimby
describes, but seldom use either Of them. A
small bundle of cotton rags with a few leaves Of
"eut and dry" sprinkled among them, rolled up
tight aud smoking At one end, held near the en-
trance OF the hive for . few moments, answers
every. purpose. The bees become drunk and
s,upid--raise the hive and let little more smoke
| blow under it, and you can do what YOU please
without fear Of stings. Asa general rule, one
who gees quietly among the hives with gentle
| motion, 10 in no danger, and early in the morn
ings you can raise the hives gently, look under
them, sweep of the bottom board, and make
any examination you please without any fears
or precautions i used to 60 among my. bees
with fear and trembling, butt few attempts made
mo brave, and now walk among them many
| times day-impect their operations and attend
to their wants with no more fear than feel
when 70 to the hsn.hows forsggs
r9l II " CHANCE You ARE srUSe, f2ah
little saleratus or soda, moistened and applied
in the form Of paste, TO the place a soon as the
sting is extracted, will q ones relieve the smart
and prevent tho swelling This, with cold W.
ter freely spilled, have Always speedily cured
me. Othsrrenediss, such q honey. yellow clay
hartsborn, etc., are recommended, but ssleratu'
J ID slways at hand and is easctusl. If you arc
f.a. .E ar