The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-06-25
1as,n, 8aroen : BonseboIb
From the Union Times.
BEE-EEIVE;S AND Ei{FING
BEES.

llSh writer on this SunJect. recon-
merds a hive measuring 1920 SOL
i'll inches in the clear" and OF on.
ly 9 inches high. Qnimby and
Langestroth, both high American
authorities, concur in the opinion
that they should not exceed 10 or
II inches in height, but differ
from the English author in having
them Of much larger dimensions
in other respects. l have taken
the medium Of 1900 in the clear,
from my own experience. A hive
cf the form indicated possesses
many advantages over the tall,
slim and unsightly ones in COM
mon use, not the least of which is
the saving the bees much unneccs-
sary labor and time, and IS more
over much better adapted for the
use Of boxer. There should be
quite a number of auger holes
bored through the top to afford
the bees ready access TO the boxes.
Having the hive ready, the next
thing is to have it we'll filled with
bees. One strong swarm is pre-
terable to several weak ones, for
it can defend itself against the
moth in almost any kind Of hives,
and will yield more surplus honey,
whilst the weaker ones can barely
make enough for their own susie
nance and often fall Il prey to
their enemy. 1t is rot q difficult
matter to unite several swarms in
to one, for the purpose Of acqulr-
ing the requisite strength. When
I have hived one that I think is
too small to do we'll by itself l
add to it, on the earliest opportu-
nifty, one or two more. Should
they come off the same, there is
very little trouble in affecting the
union. Carry the hive containing
the first one to tho place where
the other has settled and shake
down some Of the bees on the spot
where the others are to fall. In
this way they become mingled,
and will 60 together into the hive.
Or, if it be inconvenient to car
~ the hive about, get the swarm
intoa box and take it to the stand
and shake out the bees before the
hive and they will 90 in without
trouble, generally, but should they
show fight good sprinkling of
water or . little tobacco smoke
will soon quiet them. Should
several days have elapsed howev-
er, it becomes'a little more difficult,
still it may done. Get the swarm
to be added into a box, take it to
the stand, move the hive a short
distance from it, shake down some
of the bees out of it on cloth,
then pour the bees from the box
among them, having previously
given both q good tobacco smoke.
As soon as the most Of the bees
have entered the hive move it
gradually gently back to its place,
drawing mp the cloth to the en-
trance. Should they require it,
give them the smoke freely.
There always ensues, in these
cases, some degree Of excitement,
caused by deposition Of the extra
queens-for only one is allowed to
remain. Upon raising the hive
there will be found oae or more
(according to the number Of add:
tional swarms) knots Or balls of
bees closely compacted, and in the
midst Of each queen, whom they
have thus imprisoned seemingly
with purpose Of smothcring her.
They appear. to hold her royal
dignity in too great respect to use
their stings for the purpose of dis
patching her. have more than
once rescued queens so imprison-
ed; but nothing will enduce a
swarm to receive more than one.
Great care should be taken in
bringing down a warn from the
y ace where it has settled, so as to
avoid irritating them. The COM
mon method Of striking the branch
or tree on which they are found,
with an axe or something Of the
kind, is very Objectionable. The
violent jarring produced by the
conclusions, not only causes irrita'
tion, but not nnfreqacntly kills or
cripples the queen. |: is much
b6tter, when practicable, to shake
them off rs gently as possible, on
q cloth, or to brush them down
with q broom made Of twigs well
covered with leaves. AS before
leaving the parent hive they al
way fill their stomachs and sacks
with good supply Of honey, as
provision for the interval between
that and the establishing o new
settlement, they are generally in
4 good humour, as most other
animals in like condition usually
are, and will not be viciously dis
posed unless provoked by rough
usage. There are, it is true not
unfrequently, some troublesome
fellows among them-ill-manner-
Cd and cross-grained, from dys-
pepsia or some other infrmity.
From these, unless they can be
quietly dispatched, it is no bad
plan to take refuge in tho midst