Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-12-05
THE SCOTCH sEE-kEEPER.
His Annual Tramp From the Village -
Where the Heather Blooms.

His Annual Tramp From the village -
Where the Heather Blooms.
As soon as the first yellow tint begins
TO show on the oats the village bee-man
OF the borderland thinks it time his
skeps were away to the moorland. for
then the flower harvest is almost over,
and then the heather is coming into
bloom. He has been making prepare
tions for months in anticipation OF an
event of Importance to his pocket and
associated in his mind with mystery and
romance. A few bee-keepers are SO for
tunately placed that they can convey
the skeps by train. and it was once COM
mon to employ donkeys. The long cart
borrowed from a neighboring farmer is
now generally used. 1t is brought down
after dark, when the bees, after the
completion of their days work, have re-
tired for the night, and the owner has
foiled their egress with piece OF per-
forated tin. Where number of villages
have each hive or two they com bine to
employ several carts, and the scene be-
fore departure is very animated.
When all is ready the procession moves
of along the dark road, rendered darker
BY the elms on either side, but the viii
layers let it be as late as possible for
the sake of GOODNESS, and also that day
may break before 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 so whether rain or sunshine is
portended by the night-cap on the hill
and the ribbons of mist waving above
the pine tree, will catch view OF the
carts slowly rumbling along wheel
track midway between the woody slope
and the water. Men and horses all look
tired and draggled, but their journey is
well-nigh at an end. A few miles more
and the welcome salutation of the shy
dogs in the glen which see strangers so
seldom will announce the end OF their
labors. In a 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 around, in which they
seem to take their bearings, the indus
trious and business-like insects settle
down to work, and within an incredibly
short space Of time they may be seen
returning with burdens. 1t is usual to
pay the shepherd a small sum-half
crown or soto keep an eye on the
skeps, and / have counted from 600 to
1000 under one mans charge. The field
Of heather, extending over many thou
sand acres, is visited by the convoy, and
old hands will tell at once by the very
hue Of it if there is any honey; il the
night has been dewy, however, and the
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 con-
tinuous as almost to darken the air; and
so intent on their work are they that
like men in hurry, they will hustle
against any obstacle, with this differ
once, 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 shower of withered leaves;
when the harvest wages have been paid
and the kim dance held; when the chill
dren are beginning to look for black
berry and hazel nut the beekeepers will
come back for their hives. Gloomily
they will travel home in mist and rain
If the season has been cold and the
skeps are empty; but far other will the
fare if the season has been good, and
twenty-pound tops are common, while
there are top swarms that will turn the
scale at forty.-Scot's Observer.