The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-04-27
Che farmer.
Management Of Bees.


To be successful bee keeper the
persons keeping them should see their
bees often, aud know at all times their
actual condition. To do this satisfac.
torily we must have lae movable frame
hive in some form, and be able to open
it and take out the frames at pleasure.
But" says one, "the bees will sting.
| should not dare open hive full Of
bees" Yes, We know the bees will
sting If you are careless, aud in taking
tut the frames you hit them one against
another, thus Earring and smashing the
bees and honey. But it you will be
careful, aud use little smoke when
needed, there will be no trouble. When
y0u wish to open a hive step to the
back side Of it so as not to interfere
with the bees flying out and 10, remove
your cap, and with your knife or some
thing else, pry gently. If the weather
is warm the propolis will be soft, aud
the honey board win come off without
IottahH Pottieics nave w uauu sumo
smoke, and as soon as you raise the
honey board blow in some to keep them
quiet. Begin two or three frames from
the one you wish to take out, and with
your knife or fingers move them away
a little, then take the one you wish out,
After the first, you can take out any
you wish by setting one down on the
outside Of the hive, With the blacks
aud hybrids you will want smoke but
MS far as my experience goes, with the
pure Italians yon will need no smoke
| win describe smoker which works
with me like charm, and what suits
me | think viii suit any Que. Take a
piece Of sheet-iron aud make tube
eight inches long and two inches 10
diameter. This is easily done with
small riyets used BY tinmen, aud almost
any person can make it. Now, make q
plug for each end, tapering down to a
point. Bore quarter-inch hole 10 the
plugs, and cover the large ends of the
plugs with wire cloth, which should be
bent SO as to raise them 10 the centre !;
this keeps trash from filling the holes
in the plugs. Next--one end is nailed
fast, and the other is left movable, so
that it may be taken out when the pipe
or tube thus prepared is to be filed with
decayed wood which is to be kindled at
TIE open end Of course You yet want
handle, which is made by boring
two-inch hole in piece of one half inch
plank, and shaping it to suit you Then
slip the tube into it, aud it may be fas
tened BY inserting nail between the
wood and the tube. One plug should
be shaped convenient to be held 10 the
mouth when blowing smoke through
the tube When you wish to use the
smoker insert the plug made for the
mouihpiece, and then you can smoke
the bees sufficiently in a short time.
BY adding fuel occasionally you can
keep it burning any length of time,
keeping one end open when not 10 use.
Do not use tobacco for smoke, as il
supplies the bees and makes them irri-
table for several days after. Now a
word for the Italians. | fnd them very
peaceable when compared with the black
bees | can open hive Of Italians at
any time when they are raising brood
without smoke, and net have an offer
to sting me, unless by some mishap l
jar them so as to arouse them. BE.
sides this you can find the queen readi
~; the young bees do not drop from
the comb as the black ones do, and as
far as my experience goes, they will
make one-third more honey. l have
one stock of Italians that gave me one
good swarm and 125 pounds box honey
the first season. The Italians, to be
pure, should all have three yellow bands,
and some will occasionally show the
fourth.-National Bee Journal.