ESSEX SOCIETY. 2t 



der-like smoke ; the smoke of the puff-ball does the bees no 

 harm, as they recover in twenty minutes. Care should be 

 taken that the sun does not shine on the hive, either in sum- 

 mer or winter. I have said nothing about the bee moth, hav- 

 ing tried several experiments, and none to my satisfaction. I 

 am led to believe that strong and healthy stocks of bees will 

 take the best care of these intruders. The income from my 

 five stocks of bees this season, is $40 80. 

 Ipswich, Sept. 24, 1850. 



John F. KimhalVs Statement. 



In June, 1847, 1 found a swarm of bees in the woods, which 

 was hived in a small, old-fashioned box hive, and carried home 

 a distance of about two miles. They went quietly to work in 

 their new residence, and during the season nearly filled the 

 hive. The next season, (1848,) a swarm came out early in 

 June, and settled on a board placed on stools, about one rod in 

 front of the hive ,• these were immediately hived again and 

 went quietly to work. In 1849 three swarms came out, (two 

 from the old hive,) all of which settled on the board, placed as 

 above, and were hived without difficulty. This year I have 

 had but four swarms come out, all of which came from the 

 two oldest hives. I have now six well filled hives in prime 

 order, besides which, I have had three second swarms, (one 

 hive swarming twice the same season,) that were of compara- 

 tively little value. In swarming time, I find, if a board is placed 

 on chairs or stools, as above stated, one or two rods in front of 

 the hives, the swarms that come out will usually (though not 

 always) settle upon it, and may then be easily hived. My 

 hives are of uniform size, about seventeen inches high and 

 thirteen inches each way at the top, growing a little larger at 

 the bottom. Holes about two inches square are made in the 

 top, and boxes similar to the one before you placed over them. 

 These boxes, when filled, are removed by running slides under 

 them, and others placed in their stead, thus avoiding the inhu- 

 man practice of "murdering the bees with fire and brimstone." 



My hives stand upon benches, with no covering except 

 boards placed above them to shelter them from the sun. Thus 



