The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-08-07
CULTrvATING BEES.
From the lIagerstown Mail.

Vii Nlsll W tuC DOI-
dering on the Lower Missouri, We had
an opportunity to make some observa-
tons in the culture and care of bees
which were novel to us and may be,
perhaps, novel to some of our readers.
We were driving out of Lcavenworth on
the Wyandotte road, and had just clear
cd the city limits, when beautiful
suburban residence, with grounds richly
and profusely ornamented with foliage,
came in view. The rich green lawn in
front Of the dwelling ran into 4 mixed
grove of ornamental and fruit trees,
blending most tremendously and max.
ing up 4 very pretty picture. Among
the ornamental trees, frs and spruccs,
with their biggest limbs near the
ground, were prominent, and under
these aud the fruit and other ornamcn-
tai trees, i'll most singular confusion.
were scores OF bee boxes, numbering APP
paren,ly more than hundred, and all
down in the grass and seemingly upon
the ground.
Not rccollccting ever TO have seen
hive of bees anywhere but ON S,itS and
generally under 4 roof. the spectacle
was 4 novel one. and after thinking the
matter over We concluded. on some
future occasion, to interview this singu-
lar bee village. which we did. few
days later, with not entirely pleasing
results, As We barely managed to get OFF
unstung.
Driving up to the gate and alighting,
We made our way across the green sward
to where the owner OF the bees. who
proved TO be Mr.. Tanner, was OBJ
served covered with 4 bee hat and en-
velopcd in light domino, intent upon
hiving swarm, and getting pretty near
the seat of operations, We very soon dis
covered that we were out OF our latitude,
and At once recollccting that the better
part OF valor is sometimes discretion.
obtained 4 safe lodgment in the house,
where we were joined by Mr.. Tanner,
who was glad TO get away from the
crossest swarm he had encountered this
season.
Mr.. Tanner, in satisfaction Of the OBJ
ject of our visit, said he placed his
boxes so near the ground and in the
grass, because from long experience he
found it was best that way for the
workers. There was an inch board
only between the box and the ground,
and the grass was pulled away but little
in front Of the entrance. IT, said he,
he could get the nice clean sand which
is so abundant in Maryland. he would
build a mound of three or four inches
and place his boxes upon it as it was
he was forced to Use wood, and he gave
his reasons. 4 working bee comes
home heavy ladcned with honey and
often at the end of his journey falls into
the grass by some mishap Or exhaustion
just As it reaches home. With the hive
upon high frame and in its loaded and
exhausted condition, the faithful worker
could rarely recover and consequently
persisted in the grass, whereas, il his
home was in the grass he found no diff
ficulty in crawling into it.
Mr.. Tanner said he found no more
ants or worms making their way into
the hive than il the latter stood on
platform, and said furthermore, that he
took no account Of such dcprcdators,
as good healthy swarm Of bees, prop
erly treated by its owner, and not too
much depleted of honey, would always
protect itself against such innovators.
Mr.. Tanner also said that he had
found all his hives which stood on the
north and northeast side of the trees.
were much earlier in swarming, much
stronger and generally better. He
avoided as much as possible southern
and western exposure as too warm for
the bees.
In the midst of his grounds Mr.. Tan
ner had convenient and well-arrangcd
honey-house, in which he occupied
himself preparing his hives and the Stats
inserted to be filled with honey, in each
Of which was what he called ''starter,"
made Of honey comb and fastened to
the Stat. Some OF these stats he made
himself, but he found it cheaper to buy
them from Wisconsin manufacturing
establishment, which turns them out in
great quantities, at very cheap rates.
We found Mr.. Tanner an enthusiast
in the culture of honey. twenty-five
years before he had taken up a quarter
section Of land, which was open prairie,
and chiefly with his own hands, through
intense love Of natural and mechanical
pursuits, he had made Of it a beautiful
and luxurious home