1846. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



159 



Bees. 



A method of taking the Honey trithout destroy- 

 ing the Bees. — The common practice of killing 

 the Bees, in order to obtain the iioney, few can 

 witness without some little compunction ; and 

 there is a very simjjle method of effecting the 

 object without any injury to this most interesting 

 little animal, (which on the score of interest, as 

 well as humanity, claims regard.) I beg leave 

 to communicate it through your paper, should 

 you deem it worthy a place in it. 



In the evening, when the Bees have retired, 

 take the hive gently from the stand ; spread a 

 table cloth on the ground; set the hive on it, 

 placing something under to raise it 3 or 4 inches ; 

 then draw up the corners of the cloth, and fasten 

 them tight around the middle of the hive, leaving 

 it so loose below that the Bees will have sufficient 

 room between it and the hive — then raise the lid 

 of the hive a little, and blow in the smoke from 

 a segar ; a few puffs of which, as it is very disa- 

 greeable will drive them down; continue rising 

 the lid gradually, blowing all around, and in a few 

 minutes it will be found that they have gone out 

 of the hive. You may then take off the lid and 

 cut away as much honey as you may think prop- 

 er. If the operation be performed the begin- 

 ing of .Tuly, you may take nearly all, as there 

 will be time enough to provide a sufficiency for 

 their support during the winter. As soon as you 

 have taken the honey, put on the lid, loosen the 

 cloth, and spread it out, and in an hour or two 

 the bees will have returned to the hive. It may 

 then be replaced on the stand, and on the follow- 

 ing day they will be found at work as usual. 



This metliod is very simple and preferable to 

 that sometimes practiced of driving the bees into 

 another hive as you get all the honey, and more- 

 over the new comb which is still empty, and the 

 young bees, not yet out of their cells, are pre- 

 served. There is also danger in driving, of their 

 not liking their new habitation, and, in that case, 

 of their sallying out and making war upon their 

 neighbors. 



The above method has frequently been prac- 

 tised by myself and others, and we have always 

 found it to do well. A. Mellis. 



Washington. 



Locusts in the West. — The "Ohio Culti- 

 vator," of June 15th, says that in all the eastern 

 counties of Ohio great injury has been done to 

 fruit trees, particularly young orchards, by these 

 insects. We hope they will keep at a respectful 

 distance from our region ; vv'e have insects enough 

 here now. 



Guano Poisonous. — The Dublin Farmer's 

 Gazette mentions the case of a man who lost his 

 life by holding a corner of a guano-bag in his 

 mouth, by which a portion of the dust was drawn 

 into his throat. 



The Check or Bearing Rein. 



I AM anxious, in this place, to add my anathema 

 against that inhuman instrument of torture, the 

 bearing-rein. It is no less detrimental to the 

 utility of the animal than it is i-eplete with agony 

 to him. It must have been invented by a savage, 

 and can only be employed by the insensate. — 

 Whence the benefit of unbcaring a draught-horse 

 when going up hill ? Because the head can then 

 be thrown into its natural position, and materially 

 assist by its weight in drawing the load. If it is 

 beneficial to loose the head at that time, it must 

 also be so on other occasions. Look at the elon- 

 gated mouths of the unfortunate animals thus so 

 wantonly abused — torn by the bit in their una- 

 vailing efforts to over-come this truly barbarous 

 instrument! What produces that dreadful dis- 

 ease, poll-evil, but the action of this cruel strap ; 

 constraining the head during the violent exer- 

 tions of the animal, producing inflammation and 

 ulceration of the point upon which it articulates 

 with the spine ? Poll-evil, so generally supposed 

 to originate from blows inflicted on the part, is 

 attributable alone to the gagging-rein. I never 

 saw a horse used entirely for the saddle attacked 

 with this affection. In order to obtain momen- 

 tary nelief from the torment inflicted by the bear- 

 ing-rein on the poll and mouth, the poor creature 

 is compelled incessantly to toss up his head. By 

 thus strapping down the head you say, practical- 

 ly, " I expect you to draw a certain weight, but 

 I will take away part of your power of doing so." 

 Some have urged that the bearing-rain contrib- 

 utes to the safety of the animal, who, without it, 

 would be more liable to come down. However 

 applicable such an argument may be to those em- 

 ployed in quick draught — though even with them 

 the utility of this instrument is not only exceed- 

 ingly doubtful, but fast giving way to a more ra- 

 tional method of treatment — it assuredly does not 

 apply to cart-horses, for little fear is ever enter- 

 tained of their falling; and broken knees, so 

 common among the faster breeds, are rare amongst 

 them. — The Horse in Health and Disease. 



Valuable Invention. — A Mr. Richards, an 

 ingenious mechanic of Donaldsonville, has in- 

 vented a mechanical contrivance by means of 

 which all accidents caused by the running away 

 of horses in harness may be avoided. It is, says 

 the Louisianian, of the simplest construction im- 

 aginable — the manner of checking the horses 

 consists of pulling a string inside the carriage, 

 which casts loose the traces, and harness, leaving 

 the carriage perfectly clear of the horses. The 

 invention can be applied to every species of ve- 

 hicle, and costs only from twenty-five to thirty 

 dollars. 



"iNauiRER." is informed thtt the Sowing Ma- 

 chine figured and advertised in tliis number of 

 the Farmer, is the only one, to our knowledge, 

 now manufactured in this section of the country. 



