112 BEES. . 



should have an iron pan or some sounding body, and 

 with an iron bar beat on rt, which will cause them to 

 pitch. Then take one of the spare gums and rub it 

 inside with a mixture of sweet fennel, salt and water, 

 or a decoction of hickory leaves, with salt and water; 

 after which set your gum on a clean table, covered 

 with a cloth. The whole should be placed under the 

 limb on which the bees have pitched. Shake the 

 limb and they will settle, and run into the gum and 

 soon go to work. 



When your gum becomes old, you should kill the 

 bees, as they are good for nothing. Should your 

 bees fail, on account of the severe and protracted 

 winter, or of being robbed too close, they should be 

 fed with molasses and water. Never suffer any per- 

 son to disturb the gums by thumping against them ; 

 for when disturbed, they are very apt to commence 

 eating their honey. In England, they destroy the 

 bees in robbing them, but this is cruel, besides being 

 useless and a considerable loss. 



In a bee hive we behold a representation of a re- 

 public, containing from ten to twenty thousand inhab- 

 itants. In this republican city, industry is the order 

 of the day, and order and equality are every where 

 observed. Their houses, or cells in the comb, are 

 made of virgin wax, and these not only serve as the 

 homes of the young bees, but as receptacles for their 

 stores of honey. Between these combs there are 

 streets wide enough for two bees to march, and there 

 are also transverse passages or streets. 



