Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-15

e One warm afternoon in June. 1870 Il
swarm of honey bees came whlrling through
the wood where was engaged st work.
Their proximity to the ground Indicated eRas
their destination was not distant, enc hur-
ried pursuit swuss tho ocnse4 uence. A short
run through the kdshes suficed to bring me
10 tbs tres shoy had selected for their future
habieat.cn- IL was a hemlOck, some two feet
in diameter, and about seventy in altitude.
The psint Of entrance was 10 plain sight, aud
in short time they had Sill disappeared,
through small b0le, into the body of the
tree. A sudden irspulss decided me to at
tempt transferring them 10 yard near the
dwellinE then my home. My host thought
tia wild, if not impracticabIe scheme, but the
women and the son Lent their voices in favor
of it, a. d the matter was decided ,ficmatively.
In the evening, provided with yoke of OK
en-, alcd, axe and lantern, we repaired to the
tree and soon had it down-its decent bein
rendered easy BY coming in contact with sun
dry small sapiings on the way. The bees gave
evidence OF discontinue, but their egress was
prevented by piusgiog up the avenue of en-
trance with come rags We had brought for that
purpose. About feet the bole of the tree
was found to be hollow by rapping it with
the head of tbe axe. 1t was severed foot or
more from the tcp of the cavity, and then
AGAIN below, leaving section about six feet
III length. This was transferred to the sled,
transported 10 the house, and placed security
On platform or bench about two feet from
the ground. Ii mas subsequently stayed by
braces and held firmly in lis position
On leaving for the night, the hole or ave-
nue. to the cavity Was unstopped and the
swarm left to repose. A bright and genial
Sabbath morning succeeded, including an ear
iy visit 70 the captured bees. They were up
and dressed for business, and came circlIng
about my head in scores-not o1ensively, but
In way which seemed to cay they had no
hard feelings IN consequence of the disturb
i.nce Of the previous night. They went to
work regularly and so continued till my de-
parture from the place tho ensuing autumn.
Two years { 60 l had occasion to pass the
old place, and called. None of my fol mer
acquaintance were there. Some were dead
mi rhe remaining ones had depar Ted to 9th
IT sections, but the ole hemlock beehive W,
still there. IL had been div, sted of its bark
was indurated by the exposure, bu,
bid fair 10 iast another generation. 1t hac
been perforated 10 several places and supplied
nth slides or drawers, and was still inhabit.
cd, being The central point of e,ghy-sir hire.
which formed a cemlcIrcle around It. Tnese
bees acre all derived from the original fam
above men toned. The then owner of the
place, Oh learning the share he'd IN startins
EIs aplary, courteousiy protered me t1c hos
pitaIity OF his hOuse,-bur time would only
permit d taste of his metheglln, W hich wa
by 10 means ili-timed or unweIcome A part
ing look at the patriarchal hive caused many
rehectIoDs on the changes which thirty-seveI
years bad wrought since the initial step II
iorIping this apiary was taken.-H. B., il
Rural NelD YORKER.