On the Management of Bees. 34 1 



or second week in August : at this period, therefore, and for the 

 ensuing month, much attention is required, to protect for them 

 what they have acquired, as well from Uie depredations of wasps, 

 the most destructive plunderers of their stores, as from the spo- 

 hation of each other. When .in old hive has the unconsumed 

 honey of former years in any quantit}-, in addition to what the 

 present year has given, and the number of bees is small, it is as- 

 tonishing to observe how soon the weakness is discovered, and 

 that hive is marked out as a prev to its neighbours. 



The constant buzz that is round it, caused by btes flitt'iig round 

 the door, and on their attempting to light being attacked bv those 

 on the stool, who are guarding their magaz-ine, is an infallible 

 sign and direction that that hive is marked for plunder. On 

 these occasions 1 have closed up the door to a very small entrance, 

 and I have covered the front with a cloth: it has given only a 

 temporary suspen-^ion to complete pillage ; for nothing will save 

 it, or deter its assailants from their object. The hive is attacked 

 by numbers, overpowered, and all their honey taken and carried 

 away. Finding, therefore, the absolute impossibility of saving 

 from the pillage of its neighbours a hive rich in honey, but poor 

 in bees, and unequal to its defence when its weakness is disco- 

 vered ; I uniforndy take it, considering that it mav be useful, and 

 save other hives which I might be disposed to take, from a mere 

 trial of their weight, but in which the number of bees was con- 

 ciderablv larger. 



I am now arrived at the last period of my tract, but not the 

 least important, the judgement to be pronounced on such as ar^ 

 to he ke))t for stock hives; either relying on their acquired stock 

 of honey, or such as are to be brought through the winter bv 

 means of feeding, and what is necessary for bringing them through 

 that season : on this much depends : but whatever hives are se- 

 lected for that purpose, they should be closely plastered with lime 

 to the stool : this contril)utes to their warmth, to the exclusion 

 of vermin and insects; and if any water falls on the board, it docs 

 not reach the hive, which would otherwise become rotten and 

 damp at the bottom: but when plastered round and up to the 

 door, tliere is no entrance but through the two nicks in the slider. 

 The front of the bee-house should be covered with board or oil- 

 cloth, the hives pushed i)ack, whereby they become darkened, 

 and the bees less dispdsed to go abroad in winter. If the num- 

 ber of hives is so great that any given number may be selected, 

 that selection depends on the weight of the hive, and the heaviest 

 •hould be kept for stock, taking care, however, not u> bo decided 

 by it only, but to endeavour to ascertain whether they are also 

 itrong in numbers : this can be known from having observed ihem 



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