194 



Maxims to be observed by the Bee-keeper. 



Vol. VIII. 



XV. Swarms do not thrive well in very 

 large hives; the larger the hive, the greater 

 the quantity of wax, and less the quantity 

 of honey. 



XVI. Several swarms united in one hive, 

 will furnish a greater supply of honey than 

 if allowed to remain separate. 



XVII. The first occupation of a swarm is 

 to construct the combs, and scarcely twenty 

 cells are made before tlie queen begins to 

 lay her eggs. All the combs are generally 

 placed in a direction perpendicular to tlie 

 entrance of the hive. The interval between 

 each comb is about three lines. 



XVIII. There are only three substances 

 in a hive. 1st. Honey, which is collected 

 from the flowers. 2nd. Wax, formed by an 

 elaboration of the farina of plants. 3rd. 

 Bee-bread, which is the crude farina of 

 plants not yet elaborated. 



XIX. The cells of the combs are of dif- 

 ferent dimensions. The cells in which the 

 common bees are bred, are a complete hexa- 

 gon, and the smallest in size. The cells in 

 which the drones are bred are larger, and 

 irregular in their shape. The cells in which 

 the queens are bred are placed perpendicu- 

 larly on the edges of the combs, having the 

 opening at the bottom, and about the size of 

 an acorn. 



XX. The bees never to be allowed to 

 leave the hive during the time that snow is 

 upon the ground. 



XXI. The cells which contain honey are 

 covered with a small pellicle, and are flat; 

 tlie cells which contain brood are convex. 



XXII. The severer the cold, the less is 

 the consumption of food ; if kept dry, there 

 is not any cold in this climate which can 

 affect the lives of the bees. 



XXI II. The hives which are completely 

 closed during the winter, become foul and 

 musty, which occasions the death of tlie 

 bees, independently of their being prevented 

 taking their periodical flight for the purpose 

 of venting their feces. 



XXIV. The mortality of bees proceeds 

 almost always from the want of provisions, 

 or the death of the queen. 



XXV. The aspect of an apiary should al- 

 ways be to the south-east. A hive with an 

 aspect towards the north, will not swarm 

 so soon by three weeks, as one which has 

 an aspect towards the south. 



XXVI. Water is indispensable to bees; 

 if not naturally in the immediate vicinity of 

 the hives, to be artificially supplied. 



XXVII. Raw sugar never to be given to 

 bees as food; and no food to be given to 

 bees which has not undergone the process 

 of boiling, with the exception of honey itself. 



XXVIII. Neither tobacco nor sulphur to 

 be used in the fumigation of bees; the 



moke of dried leaves or rags will answer 

 every purpose. 



XXIX. Every hive to stand upon its own 

 pedestal, two feet from the ground. Hives 



)laced on benches, are subject to pillage and 

 battles. 



XXX. A person may by law follow his 

 swarm into the garden of another person, 

 paying foV all damage that he may occasion, 

 provided he can prove that he has never lost 

 sight of the swarm from its depailure from 

 the hive. 



XXXI. The customary noise with pokers 

 and shovels, and frying-pans, and warming- 

 pans, is of no real benefit. The bees will 

 never settle until the queen sets them tlie 

 example. 



XXXII. Deprivation of hives to take place 

 in the spring, and not in the autumn. Glasses 

 to be placed on hives in the month of Feb- 

 ruary or March. Hives seldom swarm which 

 have glasses put over them. 



XXXIII. Hives to be protected from the 

 sun in summer, when the heat is very great. 

 In spring, however, the coverings to be taken 

 off the hives, that the sun may play fully 

 upon them. A hive without a covering, will 

 swarm a fortnight sooner than one with a 

 covering. 



XXXIV. Bees to be assisted in the killing 

 of the drones. As not a single drone is left 

 in the hive, they may be indiscriminately 

 killed as soon as the bees signify the proper 

 time. 



XXXV. Bees of a first swarm begin their 

 combs in the middle of the hive; the bees 

 of a second swarm begin their combs at the 

 side. A valuable hint to the purchasers of 

 swarms. 



XXXVI. Swarms always to be fed if rainy 

 weather ensue immediately after their being 

 hived. The food to be given late at night, 

 but never in the middle of the day. A swarm 

 not to be placed in the immediate vicinity of 

 the parent hive. 



XXXVII. In winter, the bees occupy the 

 top of the hive ; in sprmg and summer they 

 occupy the middle and the bottom. 



XXXVIII. The age of a hive determined 

 by the colour of the combs. The combs of 

 a young hive are yellow, progressing through 

 every shade to a positive black, which is an 

 indisputable sign of an old hive. 



XXXIX. The goodness of a hive deter- 

 mined by its weight; a hive of twenty-five 

 pounds may be considered excellent if in the 

 months of February or March ; if in Sep- 

 tember or October, it is then but of a second- 

 ary character. 



