r.IANAGE-VEiNT OF BEES. 



177 



for getting rid of the bee^, a method unnecessarily destructive 

 to their race. 



Another method of taking the honey without killing the bees, 

 is, when the hive is filled with honey, in the night season turn 

 it bottom upwards, and set an empty hive of the same size, with 

 its bottom exactly on the bottom of the other: let there be one 

 or two cross pieces within the empty hive, for the bees to light 

 on : then take a stick and strike gently on the sides of the full 

 hive, and the bees will leave it and ascend to the upper one. 

 When they have all got into this, take it off gently, and set it 

 where the full hive stood, and the bees will go to work again 

 as before. This is said to be the method usually practised in 

 France. 



The following management is said to be an improvement :— 

 Have a hole in the top of the hive, covered with a shutter, as 

 before described. When this is filled, which is to be known 

 by the bees lyin^j inactive about its mouth, open the hole above, 

 and set a smairhive on the top, into which they will kscend, 

 and fill it vvith the purest honey, without any mixture of the 

 bee-bread. When full, take it off as before directed, and place 

 another in its stead. The bees in the full hive will soon fly 

 off to the old one, and the swarm will re-commence their la- 

 bors in fillinsr the empty one again. When full, take it away 

 as before, aifd set the em.pty one iu its place. These upper 

 hives should hold about seventeen pounds of honey whenfilleaj 

 and such the svrarm will usually fill three times in a season. 

 The honey in the lower hive is to remain for their winter food. 



Either of the methods which have been here described, may 

 with proper attention prove successful. Those who wish to 

 derive profits from this useful insect, will soon learn from ob- 

 servation and experience, the m.ethod of managing them v.'hich 

 appears best. 



It is sometimes necessary to feed, bees when their stock is 

 exhausted ; and as honey is the most natural food for bees, it 

 is to be conveyed by small troughs into the hives, until they 

 are able to provide for themselves. It is said that bread soaked 

 in strong ale is also good to give them, and that they will con- 

 sume the whole of it. It may be advisable, sometimes, to join 

 two small swarms together. To effect this, the hives intended 

 to be joined, are to be placed with their bottoms over those of 

 two empty ones : a piece of dried mushroom, commonly called 

 puff-ball, IS set on fire, is placed under each full hive so thatk 

 the scioke will ascend into them, and when the baes become 



