Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-11-08
TAKING BEES TO BLOSSOMS.
The Annual Going from village to Where
the Wild Heather Blooms.


As soon as the first yellow tint begins to
show on the oats the village beeman of the
BOrderland, says the Scots Observer
thinks it time his skeps were away to the
moorland, for then the flower harvest is
almost over, and the heather is coming in
to bloom. He has been making prepar-
ations for months in anticipation of an
event of importance to his pocket and as
sociated in his mind with mystery and ro-
nance. A few bee-keeperS are so FORUM
ately placed that they can convey the skeps
10y train, and 1t was once common to en-
ploy donkeys. The long cart borrowed
from neighboring farmer is Enow most
generally used. 1t is brought down after
dark, when the bees, after the completion
of their day S work, have retired for the
night, and the owner has foiled their egress
with piece of perforated tin. Where a
number of villagers have each hive or
two they combine to ep plOy several carts,
and the scene before departure is very ami
mated
When all is ready the procession moves
off along the dark road, rendered darker by
the elms on either side, but the villagers
let it be as late as possible for the sake of
coolness, and also that day may break be-
fore they come to the path perilous among
the hills. At dawn the summer angler, as
he is casting his first fly on the hill stream
and wondering as he does whether rain or
sunshine is portended by the nightcap on
the hill and the ribbons of mist waving
above the pine tree. will catch view of
the carts slowly rumbling along a wheel
track midway between the woody slope
and the water. Men and horses all look
tired and draggeled but, this journey il.
well nigh at an end. A few miles more
and the welcome salutation of the shy dogs
III the glen which see strangers so seldom
will announce the end of their labors In
very brief space of time the hives are
placed on their stands within a disused
sheep fold, and the bees are let out.
After one sweep round, in which they
seem to take their bearings, the industrious
| and busness-hke insect settles down to
work, and within an incredible short space
of time they may be seen returning with
their burdens. 1t is usual to pay the shep-
herd a small sum-half a crown or so-to
keep an eye on the skeps, and have count
ed from 600 TO 1000 under one man s charge
| The field of heather. extending over many
thousands of acres, is visited by the con-
voy, and old hands will tell at once by the
very hue of it if there is honey; if the
HiSut Ids betH ut"g HOWeNeT, ana Ine
morning balmy, ones boots are whitened
with pollen while walking through it. On
such day the stream of bees from the fold
to the heath is so large and continuous
as almost to darken the air: and so intent
on their work are they that. like mol in a
hurry, they will hustle against any obstacle.
with this difference, however, that he who
happens to be the obstacle is sure to be
| stung.
Yet it requires all their industry. for the
harvest is very brief one When the
| autumnal winds are driving before them
| the first showers of withered leaves. when
the harvest wages have been paid and the
klrn dance held, when the children are be-
ginning to look for blackberry and hazel
nut, the bee-keepers will come back for
their hives, Gloolnily they will travel
home in mist and rain if the season has
been cold and the skeps are empty; but
far other will they fare if the season has
been good and twenty pound tops are ,om-
mon. while there are top .warms thar will
turn the scale at forty