The sun., 1908-10-04
BEE HUNTING rNNEW ENGLAND.
Veterans at IAnlnE-PVaeess Of searrhiHH
for Wild Swarms and Necessary Equip

Tor via bwaTsna anu NeeeBsafy Equip
mont.
ABtheyst correspondence Springfield Rspub-
hcdH.
In nearly every rural community In Now
England there are few who dearly love
TO search for the lalrs Of the honey gath
erers. They are usually quiet unassnming
men, with heart to heart knowledge el
nature surprising that Of some who write
books on the subject. The two vetera
bee hunters Of Amherst are William A,
Dickinson aSd Henry T.. johnson. Mr.. Dick
inson, now In his eightieth yecf. haR hunted
bees nearly every year since he was 10
years old. sometimes finding dozen or
more swnrms In one season. lie knows
almost every hollow tree within radius
OF ten miles OF Amherst that might be the
home OF honey bees. Mr.. johnson, q pros
porous South Amherst farmer now In his sew
e; ty-ninth year learned bee hunting from
his uncle. Earl Johnson. who hunted them
until he died OF old age In his niC etleth year
Mr.. johnson cannot say how many swerms
he has ever found, but they number up
into the hundreds. There are now scores
OF swarms OF wild bees In the trees about
Amherst. Many people in town now have
apia rfes, and In spite Of every preoaution
come swarms are bound to escape every
year. n1Ohl Ol tHtbo tdho up
hollow trees In the woods. There would
certainly be many more bee hunters II only
people could once get taste OF this most
delightful pastime II Is almost en- idea
recreation for any man or woman VINO is
able to walk few miles over the hills.
The equipment necessary IL as simple
as could we'll be imagined An ordinary
cigar box with sliding partition. piece
Of honeycomb and a little sugar ana water
are air that is required II is well to begin
operatio early In the morning WITHIN d
mile or two of mountain side, where
there are likely 70 be some hollow trees. 1t
In an easy matter to clap few bees into one
end OF the box and take them to the nearest
cleared space. Then put your homegrown
In the open end OF the box and pour on
a few drops OF the sugar and water Inc
comb serves simply as something for the
bees to stand on to prevent their legs and
wings from being besmeared 80 that they
cannot ny, Open the slide n little and per-
nit one bee to enter the apartment where
the sugar and water Is. She will buzz
around for while as briskly as ever. but
by putting your hat over the glass 40 as
10 darken the box she Is quite sure TO settle
down end begin feeding.
L When she does put the box on stake a
few feet high for the purpose and slip
OF the cover and stand back few PAGES.
In a few moments the bee will slowly rise.
make a few spiral flights TO get It's bear
inRs. then start or bee line" for its hive.
II It goes toward civilization is usually
safe to assume that it is a domestic bee
and IL is best TO try another. When one
starts toward the mountain II IL equally
sure to be a wild bee. II the swarm is not
more than two miies away 1t will return
In the course, OF ten or fifteen minutes.
and after making few trips others VIII
usually come with II.
A soon as there Ia a well established
line running 1t IL usually well to cross
line them This Is done by shutting up
a few In the box aud taking them quarter
OF a mile or SO aside to another cleared
spot and there setting up again. In
little while there will be another line at
work, and where the two lines intersec'
of course the swarm may be found.
But to find the particular bee. however. Is
the most difflcuit part OF the whole thing,
for there is not much Use OF trying to FOLLOW
a line through the woods, and the opening
where the little creatures enter their homes
his frequently only a little hole high up
among the branches But success is pretty
sure to reward perseverance. The matter
Of securing the honey is not such a hazard
GUS undertaking az most people imagine.
although Il often involves considerable
hard work TO cut the tree. When the
improvised hive crashes to the ground the
bees at once an themselves 30 full OF their
treasure that they caunot. or at least rarely
do sting one.