NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



187 



HAND CULTIVATOR. 



This is a very neat, light and durable implement, 

 made wholly of iron, excepting the handle. It is a 

 very convenient implement in garden culture or in 

 the field, among beets, carrots, onions, &c., where 

 there is not sufficient width to use a horse. 



The operator walks forward leisurely, with his 

 hands behind him, clenched to the cross handle, 

 and tears up the weeds and pulverizes the soil. As 

 this is done with expedition, it may be repeated 

 often, destroying the weeds thoroughly, by begin- 

 ning in season when they are tender; and the fre- 

 quent stirring of the soil will greatly promote the 

 growth of the crop. The price of this implement 

 is low. 



MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 



The season for swarming has arrived, and bees 

 require constant attention. A person well acquainted 

 with bees can generally judge from the condition 

 of his hives, and from the weather, when they will 

 swarm. Yet they should be watched, as sometimes 

 a swarm comes out unexpectedly, even in weather 

 and at a time of day which is unusual. 



Generally, bees swarm in the forenoon, when the 

 weather is warm and the sun bright; but we once 

 had a swarm come out at six o'clock in the after- 

 noon, when the weather was cool and cloudy. It 

 was the only case we ever knew of bees swarming 

 under circumstances so unfavorable. When they 

 swarm so late, they would probably remain all 

 night, if not hived. 



When bees swarm, they usually pitch on green 

 trees, if they are convenient. But they sometimes 

 light on dry trees, fences, buildings, walls, small 

 bushes, &c. We once had a swarm pitch on a 

 current bush, though a plenty of high trees were 

 around them. 



Some apiarians set their bees where there are 

 no trees near, and stick up poles, or dead spruces 

 or pines, in front of them, on which they often 

 pitch; and then the poles are taken up and laid 

 down to hive them. Ifoldmullen heads are tied 

 on to the poles, giving the appearance of a bunch 

 of bees, they will be more likely to light on them. 



The following method often succeeds weil. 

 Place a board about 20 feet long, with one end just 

 under the centre of the bee-house, and let it extend 

 in front. About 5 or 6 feet from the outer end of' 



the board, drive down a stake on each side, and tie 

 another stake across these about 2 1-2 feet high. 

 Lay the outer part of the board on the cross stake, 

 the other end resting on the ground. When the 

 bees swarm, if there are no trees or other inviting 

 objects near, they will generally pitch on the under 

 side of the board, which may be taken down, in- 

 verted, laid on the ground, and the hive set over 

 them. 



When bees pitch on the limbs of trees, the most 

 convenient way to hive them, generally, is to cut 

 off the limb, select a shady place among the grass 

 or weeds, and lay down the limb, or with a sudden 

 jerk, shake the bees on to the ground, and place 

 the hive over them. Then throw a sheet over the 

 hive, and sprinkle water plentifully over it. 



By laying the limb down carefully, the bees are 

 less disturbed, and of course less likely to sting. 

 But they will not go into the hive so readily as 

 when shaken off, as they often stick to the limb, 

 and need disturbing by spreading them with a wing 

 before they will go into the hive. We had a swarm 

 that would not leave the limb, so we lay down on 

 the ground close to them, and with a wing we 

 spread them, and examined for the queen. We soon 

 found her, and took her on the wing and put her in- 

 to the top of the hive. Then the bees all started, 

 and in a few minutes were with their sovereign. 



When bees pitch on the body of trees, or valua- 

 i)le branches, or other things difficult to move, they 

 may be brushed into a hive, or the hive may be 

 fastened over them, and then if they do not go up 

 soon, disturb them, as before named, and dash cold 

 water around them. The sooner bees are set on 

 the stand the better, after they have all gone into 

 the hive; yet it will answer to let them remain un- 

 til evening. 



Sometimes, though probably very seldom, bees 

 dislike their hive after they have gone into it, and 

 go back into the old hive or gooff. Some swarms 

 cannot be suited with any hive. We once had a 

 swarm that went into tlie hive, and soon returned 

 to the parent hive. They swarmed again, and went 

 into another hive ofTered them, and they appeared 

 contented during the day; but towards night they 

 went back again. They had made a piece of comb 

 six inches long, and filled it with honey. They 

 swarmed again and again, and new hives were of- 

 fered them, and sometimes they went into the 



