Livestock* Bees-~ Proper Hives for Profit of. 76*3 



The &amp;lt;f removing of (locks fhould take place in the evening, or very early in the 

 morning. The hive fhould be raifedby three or four wedges, fomc hours before,, 

 provided the floor is not moveable: or otherwife many bees will remain on the 

 floor at the time, and be very troublefome. A cloth muft be laid on the ground 

 behind the hive to be removed ; nimbly lift the hive thereon, and gathering the 

 four comers tight tie them fad on the top: immediately draw a ftring clofe 

 round the body of the hive to prevent any bees crawling between.*&quot; They muft 

 be conveyed in a gentle manner. 



In regard to hives ftraw is the beft material, * c as protecting the bees the mod 

 perfectly in the extremes of cold and heat, and being alfo generally eafieft to be 

 procured. Where it is not fo, ru flics, wicker -work plaftered over, or ledges, 

 may be fubftituted in its ftead. For this ufe, unthralhed ftraw fhould always be 

 employed, of all kinds, of which that of rye is to be preferred, as thralhing fhivers 

 and makes it rough and fhaggy, which the bees with much labour are obliged to 

 gnaw off. f- They are made of different forms or fhapes, but thofe in common uie 

 anfwer very well; they fhould be neatly hooded over with an upper coating of ftraw. + 



The chief attention neceffary in the management of bees is at the period of 

 their fwarming, when great care mould be taken to fecurethem. 



In eftimating the profit of this fort of ftock, it has been fuggefted that &quot; one 

 confideration mould not be overlooked, viz. that almoft the whole produce, arifing 

 from the fale of both honey and wax is in a great meafure clear profit; as bees and 

 bee-hives are equally free from rents and taxes ; and the culture of them does not in 

 the leaft injure or impede any other improvement in any refpect. Nor do they re 

 quire a conftant attendance, as mod other articles of improvement do; for a proper 

 perfon might eafily overfee, with a little afliftance in fwarming-time, at leaft five 

 hundred bee-hives. And as Nature has amply fupplied them with food, and with 

 powers to provide it forthemfelves, they put their owners to little or no expenfe for 

 that article ; which cannot be faid of any other of our fervants whatever .&quot; 



It is a circumftance that deferves notice, that by attention in the bee-mafter in the 

 felection of food, almoft any flavour or colour may be given to the honey, from the 

 bright amber to a pale yellow. Mr. Paterfon, of Caftle-Huntley, in Scotland, found 

 the flavour very delicate from minionette; it is the fame from rofemary. Bean- 

 honey is pale, and heath-honey brown, with much difference in flavour. |j In Nor-, 



* Keys on Bees. t Ibid. J Pitt s Agricultural Report of Stafford (hi re, 



^ Bonner on Bees. |] Perth Agricultural Report. 



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