CONTENTS 



221 



to a hive from humidity. Bees to be prohibited to 

 leave the hive in time of snow. One of the causes of 

 mortality. -Famine the chief cause. Ducarne's me- 

 thod of immuring Bees. Precautions to be used in weigh- 

 ing hives. Danger of famine may be averted. Hives 

 to be weighed a second time in January. Food to be 

 regularly administered, 196 



CHAP. XVIII. 



ON THE LIFE OF THE BEE, AND PERIOD OF DURATION OF A 



HIVE. General estimate of the life of the Bee. Opin- 

 ion of Reaumur. Experiment by which the life of the 

 Queen has been ascertained. Its duration beyojad four 

 years. The longevity of a hive difficult to be determin- 

 ed. The causes thereof. Duration of hives in the 

 Archipelago. The age of a hive may be determined 

 by the combs. Hives may be preserved by paint, 197 



CHAP. XIX. 



ON THE DEPRIVATION OF THE HlVES,*AND WHETHER IT IS 

 BETTER TO SUFFOCATE THEM, OR TO DEPRIVE THEM OF A 



PART OF THEIR HONEY AND WAX. Question consider- 

 .ed. Process of the deprivation of a hive. Instructions 

 to be observed. Seasons of the year in which it is to 

 be performed. Various opinions thereon. Depriva- 

 tions easy in the author's hives. Calculation of the 

 comparative profit of hives suffocated, and deprived. 

 Transversing of hives not beneficial. Deprivation by 

 the storying system. The bell-shaped hive improper 

 for deprivation. Disadvantages of the story ing system. 

 The system of suffocation examined. Examination of 

 the opinion of La Grenee. His erroneous calcula- 

 tion, . 198 



CHAP. XX. 



ON THE MANNER OF FEEDING BEES. Seasons for feeding. 

 Food to be given at intervals. Too much food not to 

 be given to a weak hive. Danger thereof.- Feeding 

 of Bees not to be deferred until they are in actual 

 want. ---Materials proper for food. Honey alone inju- 

 rious. Recipes for food. ---Manner of supplying the 

 hives. Salt to be mixed with the food. Quantity of- 



