7tf&amp;lt;3 Live Stock*-* Bees Pur chafing Stocks, 



flocks, in Herefordshire, which though abounding in orchards, is not more pro- 

 duel ive in honey than other counties. In contraft to this, the borders of Cam- 

 bridgcfh ir-c and Hertford (hire, and part of Hampfliire, abounding with large 

 rwa i hs, commons and woods,are much more productive than any other pa.rtsof the 

 kingdom. Farmers there have been known to keep from a hundred to a hun 

 dred and fifty docks of bees.* But vipers buglofs, and borage, are the two 

 plants to be mod depended upon for providing rich hives.-j 



In rcfpecl to (lands, the bed arrangement is probably that of feparate ones for 

 each hive, made by driving four ftrong flakes into the ground, at equal diftances 

 as thus, : : correfponding to the dimenfions of the hive floors to reft on: they 

 fhould be fix teen inches above the earth, and the tops upon a level with each 

 ether; the didance three or four feet from each other, and not too many together t 



In purchafing (lock-bees the&quot; bed time isjuft before the ta^ing-up feafon, 

 which is generally about the latter end of Auguft; for then bee-keepers referve 

 as many of the bed (locks as they judge expedient for their next fummer s fupply, 

 and therefore, after that period, are not difpofed to part with any unlefs at an ad 

 vanced price; whereas, by purchafing forne time before, a choice may be made 

 of the bed, and at the accudomed rate. They mould be felec&quot;led by a fkilful per- 

 fon, in a cool evening, or rather morning very early. By tapping about the hive 

 a pretty near gtiefs may be formed whether or not it is full of bees, as alfo if full 

 of combs. &quot;But for greater certainty, turn thofe that feem heavy upon the edge 

 of the hive, and obfcrve if the interdices between the combs are crowded with 

 bees, and the combs worked down to the floor. If white, or if a light yellow, it 

 denotes their being of the prefent year s produce, and fit for the purpofe ; but if 

 they are of a very deep yellow or brown they are of the lad feafon, and not fa 

 proper ; while thofe that are dingy or blackifli are old, and wholly unfit to furnifli 

 a profperous apiary. But though a hive may have the hedges of the combs of a 

 light yellow, they may be old docks, whofe combs the preceding year not having 

 been completed, have in the prefent had new borders added to them of virgin wax, 

 fo as to look like young docks. Look carefully between the combs, as far as 

 the bees will admit ; and if the interior parts appear favourable form a judgment 

 accordingly. The hive mould be poifcd in the hand ; and if it be about half 

 bufliel fize, and weigh twenty-five pounds or upwards, it is another ted of its be 

 ing a good dock.&quot;J 



X 



* Keys on the Management of Bees, t Ibid, J Ibid. 



