Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-17
NOW TO RAISE BEES.
That is, To Raise Them So High They win
Not Sting.

Not Sting.
More than once my neighbors had
been annoyed by my bees attacking
them as they were passing along the
road a short distance off and more than
twice had been appealed to to abate
the nuisance, relates Wilder Grahame in
the Bee Culture. The matter was becom.
ing serious, especially as | could see no
better location for my hives. Which
ever way | turned them, road or
neighbours yard was right in range; and
besides, after the bees left tue hive they
would 90 in whichever direction they
preferred, any way. l found, however,
that where they issued from the Oppo-
site side of the hive from their pasture
field they usually rose somewhat higher
before they reached the road. Still,
this was only partial remedy, and i
determined to observe further.
was not long in discovering that
few, if any, of my bees went to their
highway attacks "with malice afore-
thought" Instead, they wore making
the traditional Though not the tradi.
tionally straighD Decline for their forage
ground, when, just us they would At
tempt to cross the road, along would
come soma useless thing bigger than
themselves and block the passage. /
have noticed that it doesn't matter par
ticuiarly whether person runs against
club or the club falls against the per-
son if the velocity is the same. That is
probably the way bee looks at it, and
bees don't like to be insulted. They sit
down hard on that at once and sting.
There are two safe ways for railroads
to meet road crossings-to wait or be
waited for at the crossing, or 10 switch
oil ON some other line, and not cross at
all. saw no way to made the bees
wait, 50 decided to switch them off.
AS first step built trGllis Just inside
the garden fence, and covered it, as soon
as possible, with some rapid growing
vines. The trcllis was, perhaps, eight
tcet high, and consisted of few posts
TO which common fence boards were
nailed. This part of the work was done
as early in the spring as possible, and
the seeds sown as soon as the condition
Of the soil and climate warranted. just
back Of this | commenced work ON n
more permanent sort of trellts, and set
out row of glapevines. [. was late
for them, but most of them are thriving.
though | don't expect them to take n
very active part in my plan for some
years. But the vines along the outer
trellis grew rapidly, and soon covered
the framework with mass of follnre
and bloom.
This contrivance, | have no doubt
interiered with the bees to some event
at first, and possibly submitted to A few
severe stings; but il made no complaint.
as tue nelghbors lad, and graduallv
these animated bullets learned to rise
somewhat before they shot, and cleared
the trellis. 1t was about the most
peculiar method l ever heard of for
raising bees, but the results were most
gratliylng. After they are once M In
tlle ar they seldom drop much till thew
approach their stopping placc-certainl
hot IN the short interval between the
trellis and the road.
IL is pleasure to drive pact vour
beehive now" said one old fellow last
summer. 1T is interesting to look IN
ana see that steady stream of bees going
ZIP ZIP, ana no danger from them.
USED 10 think they went out of their
way TO sung, but they don't now"
ferhaps they did then, but, as thew
nave been turned from that course. I
ieel that have solved problem Thar
id0fmerly gave me no little vexation
mat is what those vines do. Nav
about the grape vines starting inside
Inc quick growing vines | mentioned
are sort OF makeshift that have m he
renewed each year. The grape vines
alter they obtain their growth, Viii makt,
y permanent e-break, and nrotorr INV
piagne'stricken neighbors from further
injury. 1851