The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-07-13
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

HOW TO SWARM AND 1--WE DEbS'-l
have kept bees for thirty-one years;
have had good luck with them and a
great deal Of pleasure with them. You
have, no doubt, often heard bee men
speak of bees hanging out, or in other
words, coming out on the outside Of the
hive and play there for several days.
have had them commence making combs
under the hive; for fear that should
lose swarm 1 have spent great many
weeks in watching them. Two years
ago, thought, as 1 was watching them,
L could hear them whispering and say
ing, ado give us home" So l went
and got an empty hive and washed it
out with salt and water and molasses,
and set it close by the other hive where
the bees were hanging out, took big
pan and house brush, wet the pan and
brush with the sweetened water, then
brushed the bees very carefully into the
pan and turned it up against the empty
hive and let it remain there while took
the old hive away about ten or fifteen
feet. Then 1 returned and shook the
pan very gently and the bees all went
in and went to work like busy bees, l
assure you. / made five swarms in the
same way, and never had bees work
better. Last season 1 had but two
swarms they came out at the same time
and settled on O tree close by, and
hived them in the old-fashioned way. /
use the square hive, thirteen inches
square and fourteen inches high, with a
pane of glass on the back side, the whole
bigness of the hive covered with slide.
For cap made box eight by ten,
| I, Lrr ho Ok
side, with a slide so can look in and
see when the cap is full. I have two
inch hole directly in front, under the
cap, through which the bees 60 into the
cap. Had made the above discovery
of swarming bees thirty years ago I
could have saved hundreds of dollars.
For my caps on the same hives have
tin frames seven by nine, filed in with
glass, except the lower part, which sets
on the main hive, on the two-inch hole.
When 1 take off the cap have tin
cover to fasten on with little wire hing
es. I put the eight by ten wooden caps
over the glass caps and putty them down
so the millers cannot get in. My hive
sets on wire cloth raised one inch, with
a drawer under each hive for the millers
to work in. I have taken out fifteen
millers in one morning.
USEFUL HERBs.-There should be
good collection of useful herbs in every
garden, or in some other place adjoin-
ing the homestead. Some persons find
the apiary to be an excellent place for
growing herbs as many of them pro-
duce all abundance of flowers early in
the spring, and all furnish very desira-
BILE food for the bees. A small bed of
each kind will supply the requirements
of a large family. The following are
some Of the most desirable herbs, etc. :
Balm--a hardy perennial plant, the
leaves of which have lemon. like odor
and an agreeable aromatic taste. They
are used for favoring dishes A solution
of them is beneficial in diseases of the
lungs. Basil-the leaves when bruised
have the odor and flavor Of cloves, and
are used for seasoning. Caraway-a
hardy perennial plant, valuable for its
seeds, which are used in confectionery
and also in distillation. Coriander-a
hardy annual cultivated for its seeds,
which are used by confectioners, drug
gists and distillers. The young leaves
are used in soups and salads Lavender
Ia hardy, shrubby plant, Of which there
are several varieties. 1t is sometimes
used for seasoning, but it is more es-
teemed for making the distilled water
which bears its name. Common mario
rama sh1ubby perennial plant, which
may be raised from seeds, but is gener-
ally propagated by dividing the roots
either in the spring or autumn. The
young shoots, cut at the time OF flower
ing and dried in the shade, are used for
seasoning. The plant is highly aromat-
ic. Sweet marioram is raised from seeds
sown annually in the spring or early in
autumn. This plant is highly aromatic,
and is much used both in the green and
dry state for havoring soups, etc. Rose
mary is a half hardy, shrubby plant,
which requires a light, dry soil and shell
tered situation.
CULTIVATION OF CoRN.-Success in
corn growing depends very materially
upon early cultivation. If this crop is
neglected in its early growth it will not
recover from the effects during its entire
season of development. With a good
start fair crop at least may be expect
ed, even if no attention is given it after
the first of July. The cultivator should
be started as soon as the rows may be
distinctly seen, and the stirring of the
ground should be repeated often enough
to entirely prevent the growth of weeds.
Every farmer knows that weeds may be
very easily kept in subsection if attend
ed to when they first make start, and
that if allowed to get firm root-hold
days of labor will be required to work
the same effect that is the result of early
attention. The killing of weeds is not
the only benefit derived from stirring
the soil in'theSorn field, and even if the
ground Is entirely free from the pest the
plough should not be allowed to lie idle
So much nourishment is drawn from the
atmosphere that poor soil will yield g
fair return if the land is kept loose. Es-
pecially is this SO in dry season. Il
the horse and cultivator are kept going
during drought of several weeks in the
growing season the corn will not appear
to be checked in its advance. Loose sol
absorbs the dews and dampness from
the atmosphere, while a crusted surface
, will take in but little, and that little
: will not reach the roots of the growing
? crop. We have seen corn in early sum,
/ mer suffering for the want of moisture
+ to such an extent that the leaves of the