Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-03

bee culture is generally supposed to belong
entirely to rural communities. hence ii will
be matter of surprise to many to learn that
the following facts IL regard to honey max
ing and honey makers were CLEANED by per
sonal observation of IA tiourishing colony of
bees located less than ten rods from Spring
field City Hall.
Mr. K. 4. Dearden of II Court street, as d
means of instruction and amusement during
his leisure hours, has taken 10 raising bees
and now has ten thrifty hives. II the busy
little insects manifest at all times such won
derful instinct, which well-nigh rivals human
intelligence, a. they displayed on the various
occasions when these notes were made, the
gentleman must have most fascinating oc-
eupatlou III observing their habits Mr. Dear
den has constructed an observation hive
which consists OF a single frame with glass
sides, through which one can readily see the
operations of the active multitude within
and 10y watching the condition of this hive
he can readily judge how all other hives sim
llArly situated are progressing without exam
lining them, for what applies TO one hive IN u
colony Will apply TO the others, provided the
swarms are strong. The different kinds of
bees could be distinguished, the drones being
larger ana more clumsy than the workers.
The swarm occupying the observation hive
had no queen, but there was Il queen
cell which was about ready TO furnish young
ruler This cell was much larger than any
of the others, was shaped much like pea
nut, and IN ii had been placed a common egg
which had been fed on royal jelly for the
purpose OF producing queen, which process
is the usual one taken by "A swarm finding
themselves queenless. Around this and the
other cells the bees were thickly clustered in
order 10 Impart heat enough 10 the eggs to
hatch them Having watched the observB-
ton hive for a time, an examination was
made of the closed hives. These were made
by d. ID. White of ChlcOpee, ana We're an i'm
provement on the LAugstroth hive. Mr.
Dearden holds that frame hive is superior
TO the old-fashioned box hive. and of all kinds
the white is the most satisfactory In order
10 render the bees submissive the hive was
smoked by means OF "a bellows smoker in
which were burned some cotton rags As
soon rs the insect smells smoke il the hive
he begins TO I'LL himself with honey, on the
same principle that man would follow when
he discovers his house on IRE and seeks to
save rs much of his property as he can. Be
ing loaded down with the stored sweets. he
has no disposition 10 sting US long rs the
movements of the operator are deliberate,
but US soon as any violent motions are made
in the vicinity Of the hive, he attacks the in
truder with the greatest fury. Several frames
were taken and examined, each weighing
about twelve pounds all OF which honey had
been made within three weeks as there are
usually SIX honey and four brood frames IN
every hive, the amount Of honey can readily
be determined Mr. Dearden is az present
seeking 10 increase his stock rather than 10
produce honey. and a. soon as hive be-
comes crowded he removes two frames of
brood and three Of honey 70 a new hive, tax