The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-08-04
Bees.

dairies are kept
Old bee-keepers need not read this ar
ticle: they know how 10 conduct all The
Operations ofthe apiary- We have few
readers who are new in the business. who
Will be glad of every item of information
We hope vour hives need watching no
longer this season for swarms, because the
homely old distich remains As true now as
when first spoken Two centuries ago:
l"A swarm in Nav is worth load Of hay;
A swarm in June is worth = silver spoon,
/ A swarm that comes in July Is net worth fy-''
There are n few exceptions to these
rules. If We had 10 givea load Of hay for
a swarm of bees in Max. 1865. we should
ask that ii might be drawn by very old
horse upon a very small cart, and We have
seen swarms come ont in July which We're
worth more than all the buzzing tor1nents
that ever infested Fly Market.
But If is not Necessary 10 watch Your
hives NOW for swarn>. 1t j. for bee-moils;
they are the great pests of all amateur bee
keepers. For several months OF summer
and autumn, unless your swarms are con-
stantly watched. they are liahle 10 be de-
stroyed by the filthy fat maggots produced
from the little insignificant whiiy-hrown
miller which You may see every evening
living about the hives. Among the MANY
remedies recommended We Will name a
few.
, One man has little i'm doors 0 the open
ings of the hive which the bees can and
the millers cannot enter, because ii mas
not strength enough 10 move the swinging
Tin Another one sets plates OF Sweetened
water with little tapers burning in the
centre. around the hives at evening. and
thus attracts the millerS 10 their deStrue-
ton by burning or drowning. The lower
edge OF the hive should be made sharp. 50
aS not 10 afford much room for the millerS
10 deposit their eggS- Ii Is also a good
plan 10 raise the hives about one-fourtil
OF an inch from the bottom hoard br plae-
ing little Stones or mails under ;he corners.
\ moth trap Is made 10y cutting crea>es
upon one sile OF a siingle or strip OF pine
board which l. placel witt the creases
down under hive thus raised, 80 THAI the
millers have free access to run in and de-
post their eggs in these creasaS. AMI the
WORMS are readily destroyed hy raising the
hive a little at evening and taking out the
wooden strips and killing the worms.
which Will be found in little cocoonS fill
ING The ereases of the traps. If such traps
are not used the WORMS viii be faunl la
every crack or crevice about the hive, and
musi he destroyed every week, or the loss
of the swarm i pretty sure.
If YOU desire 10 handle YOUR bees when
they are cross. which Is the case at some
seasons more than al Others, and generally
rather TO strangers than those familiar 10
them. you may generally coax them 10 be
quiet by feeding them with some sweet
substance, for instance, molasSes OF honey
diluted with water. Sprinkle this upon
the bees or the boards, and YOU Will find
their eagernesS 10 eat viii overcome their
belligerent disposition
Another important matter 10 look after
al this season of the year i TO see that
your bees are provided with surplus boxes
as fast As they are disposed 10 ill ;ilem--
Ii YOU have any pieces OF clean empty
comb. 10 not commit the egregious folly
OF melting them up for the sake ofthe little
wax they may contain, but save and fas
en- them into your honey boxes. This
YOU NAV DO by dipping one edge in melted
beeswax, and these combs not only guide
the bees but actually attract them TO work
sooner than they otherwise would. for see
ing the empty comb. their Industrious hab-
it, prompt them TO fill them with honey.
Tribune
fyou happen to be an honest and dill