OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 211 



port, and it is obferved that, by changing the hive, they 

 work with increafed vigour. In taking off the firfl 

 glafs or hive, the combs, which are connected with the 

 flat hive in which they were put after fwarming, mufl 

 be cut through with a long knife; any honey that falls 

 is fpeedily gathered by the bees. Some perfons ufe a 

 flider for this purpofe, but it is liable to be out of or- 

 der. Wooden hives are the beft covering for the 

 whole. Upwards of ninety pounds of honey were 

 taken laft autumn out of one of thefe wooden hives, 

 into which the bees had penetrated by fome aperture 

 in their ufual abode; the honey of the firft quality. 

 The gentleman above mentioned keeps his bees in a 

 houfe for the purpofe, the afpeft, I think, fouth-eaft; 

 he finds mice very troublefome, both eating the combs, 

 and killing the bees. In the glafs hives a hole at top 

 is neceflary, to admit a flick to fupport the combs. The 

 above method has been followed for many years, and 

 is as fimple, when underftood, as poffible; its humanity 

 is apparent, for, inftead of robbers and murderers, it 

 renders us protectors and ftiarers.* 



* The beft cure for the fting of a bee is ink, applied im- 

 rnediately. 



EC CHAPTER 



