, 1861-05-10
Terms of Subscription:
Agricultural.

How TO TAME BEEs-"TEN DOLLARS
WORTH OF INFORMATION GRArIs.-Many
persons while watching an exhibitor Of
bees iu a movable frame hive, at the Fairs,
taking out and returning the frames Of
combs covered with bees, and, as they hang
in clusters from the frames, removing them
by handfuls, with no more apparent fear
than though they were so many flies, have
regarded the process as a sort Of witchery;
they have thought that none but the ope-
rator, and possibly few others, could have
such perfect and fearless control over their
bees. Instead Of this being actually the
case, it is the reverse; for no person that l
have vet seen, who has followed the direc-
tions for Tanning Bees that l purpose to
rive. has been unable, after little prac-
tice, to have full and absolute control over
them. l understand that speculator in
Canada has made the proposition to in
struct bee-keepers in the art of tanning
bees for the exceedingly low price Of $40
each |" But the readers of the AgricWl-
tarist can save their $40 and learn the
whole art by observing the following direc-
tions which the writer has practiced for
years.
The whole art Of tanning bees is en-
bodied in the following: 1st-A honey
bee 6lled with honey or liquid sweets"
will not sting fits own accord. 2nd-Bees
when frightened will generally GIL them
selves with honey; aud, if given liquid
sweets" will invariably accept Of them
Bees may be frightened thus lst BY
con6ning them to the hive, and rapping the
sides Of it lightly with small stick, or the
palms Of the hands. At first the bees will
try to get ON, but finding that impossible,
they will rush to their stores and fll them
selves with honey. I'd. BY blowing upon
them the smoke Of punk (rotten wood, to-
bacco, or cotton rags.
What Is termed liquid sweets" is
water well sweetened with honey or sugar.
Sugar is preferable, as bees from neighbor-
ing hives, or those in close proximity, are
NOT SO readily attracted by it. ~.
For many years used mainly the smoke
Of tobacco and cotton rags, but this season,
in all my operations, have used nothing
bnt the smoke of punk. This is not so
pupgent as that of tobacco.
10 order to make the foregoing direc-
tions little clear, will now set forth the
modEs operaRdi Of tanning the most irritable
colony Of bees, in the Langstrolh hive );
which will answer, somewhat modified, for
all colonies in all kinds Of hives
Set the punk on FIRE, and blow little
smoke into the entrance Of the hive. This
win cause the bees at and near the entrance,
to retreat and go among the combs. Now
take of the top cover, and blow enough
smoke into the holes or stats Of the surplus
honey receptacle cover, to cause oil the
bees to go below the tops Of the frames
when this cover may also be removed.
Blow sufficient smoke upon the bees toI
keep them below among the combs. Un-
less the colony be very populous, the bees
viii now nearly all be found hastily filing
their sacs with honey, and will generally be
ready to operate upon 10 from five to ff-
teen minutes Should the operator desire
to commence taking out the combs as soon
as possible, he may sprinkle the bees with
the sweetened water. Those not filling
their sacs from the cells Of honey, will com
mence at once to gorge themselves with
this preparation. l seldom have occasion
except at the Fairs-to use the liquid
sweets.b Iwould advise beginners to use
a bee-hat until they have some experience
which may then, at times, be discarded.
Reader, just operate upon q colony in
the way described, and you will probably
be surprised to find that you can more
easily aud readily subject the most irritable
colony Of bees TO your control, than can
Rarey an ordinary animal of the equine
Race Cor, AherieaB a AgricaLtErist.
AeRIeuLruRAL WORKS IN COMMON SCHOOLS.
This Governor Of Massachusetts,, in his
recent message, recommends to the Legis-
lature the making provisions for furnishing
elementary works on Agriculture for the
use Of Common Schools. He says:
In regard to Agricultural Literature,
the State Board Of Agriculture have in
preparation q Manual Of Agriculture for
use in schools, aud it is hoped that addi-
tional elementary instruction in matters
connected with the daily experience Of our
country youth, may increase public interest
10 this great source Of our material pros
perity. The progress made 10 the revision
Of Mr. Harris Treaties concerning Insects
injurious to vegetation, has been very salts
factory, and that valuable work will be
issued during the coming year 10 a manner
which will be creditable to the Common
wealth. An edition Of $500 copies was
ordered by statute in 1859, but only partial
provision was made for the distribution Of
them. About 1000 copies will remain at
the disposal Of the present, or Of some sub
sequent Legislature, and respectfully sug-
gest that proper number shall be placed,
for distribution, with Professor Agassz
who has gratuitously rendered essential
service in the revision Of the work"