1886 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULT HUE. 



998 



Another quite eventful day was when five 

 swarms came out in about an hour— two of them 

 so near tog-etlicr that they united. The only thing 

 that interrupted the enjoyment of that day was 

 the mother's sick headache. I think you have al- 

 ready guessed that she was quite an important 

 factor. 



I can not pass this season by without relating- 

 one more incident. A certain hive, one of their 

 best, had been watched very carefully for several 

 days, as the bees had lain out of it, not only covei'- 

 ing the front of the hive, but also the cap that cov- 

 ered the second story. 



One day after dinner, while their teams were eat- 

 ing, Arthur, l)eing left in charge, his father 

 thought to call on a neighbor to see if they could 

 get any seasoned lumber, as their own supply had 

 become exhausted, and still no news from the hives 

 they had ordered. The father had seemingly been 

 gone but a short time, when the above-mentioned 

 swarm came out. Arthur, with other members of 

 the house, stood watching them, as they usually 

 did, to see where they clustered; but, without any 

 halt or warning whatever, they rose above the sur- 

 rounding trees, and passed immediately over the 

 house. The shade-trees in front somewhat retard- 

 ed their pi-ogress, and caused the greater part of 

 them to descend in order to pass under the branches. 

 Here every possible elfort was made to detain 

 them, but to no avail. They had become so much 

 enraged by this time that Arthur's mother was 

 forced to retreat, while he nobly pursued them. 

 She could not leave him thus to his fate, as it were, 

 but soon followed on. Arthur neai-ly kept pace 

 with them until they came to a thicket, which on 

 ordinary occasions was thought impassable; but in 

 his eagerness to follow them he said he did not 

 even give it a thought. Soon they were in an old 

 pasture, among scattered tinaber. Arthur here 

 thought he had lost track of them, and paused for 

 the first time. Glancing around (or, rather, above) 

 ho saw them tlj'ing about the top of a very tall 

 tree, and soon concluded they were entering it, as 

 only a few remained in sight. His mother, not 

 venturing to take a bee-line, as her boy had done, 

 went round and accidentally came across his father 

 on his way home, so all three were soon on the 

 spot. The tree, not being a valuable one, they i-e- 

 ceived permission to cut it; and on measuring it 

 they learned their bees had entered seventy-five 

 feet from the ground. 



Arthur and his father were obliged to spend near- 

 ly the whole afternoon in securing them; but at 

 nightfall they had the pleasure of returning them 

 to the apiarj-. This was their tirst experience with 

 absconding swarms, and it was quite an experience 

 too. Their new hives came in time to receive three 

 small swarms. The day Arthur's father went after 

 them to an adjoining town, Arthur look his first 

 lesson in hiving a swarm. It was quite ditfercnt 

 from having father there, to take theresponsil)ility. 

 Just imagine, boys, all of you who may chance to 

 read this, the scene on the barn floor, the after- 

 noon these hives were brought home, for as yet 

 they had no shop. All the male members of the 

 household were there to lend a helping hand, the 

 little boys from their play setting up sections', 

 Arthur and his next j'ounger brother from the 

 field nailing fi-aracs together, and the father at the 

 helm doing the more difllcult part, such as nailing 

 the hives toge.tb/'r, putting metal corners on 



frames, etc. Even grandpa sat on the crate that 

 contained the hives, watching the workmen, and it 

 really seemed like a little factory. 



Reader, I will pass on, before my story wearies 

 you, and close the most happy and prosperous year 

 they had yet enjoyed. Hefore opening another 

 year's history I will merely s:iy, that the road 

 through life is as changeable as are our seasons. 

 The long cold winter was again over. Arthur 

 would inquire, as an occasional warm day passi.-d, 

 if any one had seen their bees tlying; and, still later 

 in the season, as these pleasant days grew more 

 frequent, his anxiety increased in not seeing them 

 out, neither answering to his accustomed tap on 

 the hives. At last, resolved to know their destiny, 

 the hives were opened. Imagine Arthur's sur- 

 prise and grief when not a living bee could le 

 found: This was the first and only property lie 

 ever possessed. They all had plenty of stores, and 

 no disease seemed to have been among them, so the 

 conclusion was that it must have been the long 

 cold winter. Really, Arthur's father sustained the 

 greater loss of the two, as he had been at consider- 

 able expense, feeling that he could not be at any 

 more, under jiresent circumstances. He kindly 

 offered the hives to Arthur. Buoyant with hope, 

 and the encouragement he had received from 

 Gle.\nings, he soon sent an order for a queen and 

 half a pound of bees. When the postal came, stat- 

 ing that they had arrived at the express oflice, 

 Arthur was a mile from home in an opposite direc- 

 tion, at work with his father. His brother, being- 

 eager to carry the news, he was soon notified, and, 

 receiving permission, he started on foot to get 

 his coveted treasure. What a happy boy he was, 

 as he started from the office, with bee-cage in hand, 

 and was accosted by one and another, as, " Those 

 are your bees, are they?" signifying that they 

 had attracted much attention. As he neared homo 

 his steps grew slow, and the miles seemed to 

 lengthen ; nor was it to be wondered at, as he had 

 done nearly a day's work, and then walked about 

 ten miles. The satisfaction of seeing his little 

 swarm of bright Italians placed on frames in one 

 of their new hives that had been left desolate a few 

 months before, was sufficient recompense for all 

 he had endured. 



By watching them carefully through the summer, 

 Arthur had as nice a colony in the fall as one could 

 wish. ]}ut, dear reader you may rest assured that 

 many precautions were taken to keei> them 

 through the winter. The ABC book was carefully 

 studied, and many of the precejits in Gleanincs 

 were practiced. 



Midwinter had now arrived, and what was Ar- 

 thur's surprise when he read that the North-Ameri- 

 can Bee-Keepers' Convention met at the metroi)o- 

 lis of his own State! What an eager expression 

 was Oil his countenance, as the subject was refer- 

 red to indirectlyl One and another would ask if 

 Arthur and his father thought of attending. Of 

 course, they would be very an.xious to; but, taking 

 all things into considei-ation, whether it would 

 be advisable or not was the question. Arthur's 

 mother felt, that perhaps a golden opportunity 

 might be lost, as, among the names of the an- 

 nounced speakers, wore those in whom they had 

 placed the utmost confidence— known only to them, 

 however, by their writings. Then there was the in- 

 ducement in the reduction of railroad fare and 

 hotel-bills. All combined seemed to influence them 



