178 



agrico'ltural essays. 



stupified, let the fuU hives be knocked gently oh the side^?, aft^ 

 the bees will fall into the empty ones in a torpid state ; it is ex- 

 pedient, then, if practicable, to find the qiieen bee of one of 

 the swarms, and kill it. The two swarms are then to be put 

 together, mixing- them well, and dropping them among the 

 combs of the hives they are to inhabit. The door of the hive 

 IS then to be covered with a cloth, so that they cannot get out 

 The second night after their union, remove the cloth in the 

 dusk of the evening, and the bees will sally forth ; but a? the 

 night approaches they will return. Keep them confined three 

 or four days longer, letting them out in the evening as before, 

 and then the cloth may be removed. 



To preserve bees from the worm, or butterfly, which some- 

 times proves destructive to them, one remedy proposed, is to 

 raise the hives up about the first of May, and strew some fine 

 salt under the edges, which will drive the worms away. This 

 has been tried with success. 



It has been said, also, that the ravages of this insect may be 

 prevented by simply raising the hive l;wo inches with blocks, 

 one under each corner ; this v/ill give the bees an opportunity 

 to clear the hive of this pest, and other filth, and also keep the 



When the sun shines warm upon the south side of the bee- 

 house, in the months of February and March, the bees are 

 eometimes induced to venture abroad, to void their excrements 

 and get water : and as soon as they come in contact with the 

 cold air, they fall upon the snow and are lost. Hives almost 

 full of honey are sometimes deserted in this manner. To 

 avoid this loss, the door on the front of the hive should be kept 

 shut during the warm days in those months. 



It is said that during the working months bees should be often 

 salted with fine salt, as it will conduce to the health of the in- 

 sect, and also improve the flavor of the honey. 



Honey has medicinal qualities, is a great luxury, and a pro- 

 fitable article of consumption. It is therefore strange indeed, 

 that so many neglect the economy of keeping bees, when it is 

 considered they support themselves by their own industry. 

 With only a very trifling exptlise. 



