654 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 



Aug. 



didn't mind the stings of the bees very much; but 

 when he came to a hive with a lot of drones in he 

 started off, saying, " Me no likee heap big bee; he 

 bite muchee." They had to take the drones in their 

 hands and &how him that they wouldn't sting, be- 

 fore they could get him back to liis own work. 

 Papa had some foundation on a bench, and we saw 

 the bees buzzing around it. We watched them. 

 They bit great pieces of it off, and carried it away. 

 Los Alamos, Cal., July 9, 1888. Lewis Hilton. 



RAY'S METHOD OF HIVING SWARMS. 



When a swarm is about settled on a pear-tree, 

 evergreen, or grapevine, we pick up our swarming- 

 box, throw back the duck top, slip it under the 

 swarm, and then give the limb a few small jerks. 

 We then have about all in our cage. Next we 

 throw back our duck top. We wait a little while till 

 the outside bees can hear, see, and scent their little 

 comrades in their wire cage. They will soon settle 

 ou the wires, and peep in, I suppose, to see mother. 

 Wo then pick up our swarm and pour it in front of 

 the hive prepared for them. Kay Muukay. 



A<ia, Ohio, July 23, 1888. 



Why, friend Ray, I don't know wlietlicr 

 you knew it oi' not ; at any rate, you employ 

 almost exactly the plan of hiving swarms 

 that we have recently adopted here at the 

 Home of the IIoney-Bees, which we like so 

 well. From our present knowledge we be- 

 lieve there is nothing better than a wire- 

 cloth cage large enough to confine two- 

 thirds or all of the swarm, with a mouth 

 wide enough to receive the bees shaken in, 

 and so constructed as to close and confine 

 the bees. The great trouble with most 

 swarming-devices which we have seen is, 

 that Ihey will not hold the bees after they 

 are captured. 



a SWABMING-BOX TO HOLD A FHAME. 



Pa was out harvesting one day a mile from the 

 house, when a swarm of Italian bees came out and 

 settled ou a small apple-tree. As they were on a 

 limb near the ground, ma and I thought we could 

 hive them, so we took a sheet and spread it near 

 the tree, then we took the hive and placed it on the 

 sheet, on sticks. Then ma held a poke exactly un- 

 der the swarm. I shiH)k the limb, and the bees all 

 fell off into the poke. Then ma took the bees and 

 emptied them near the hive, but they went back on 

 the limb. We took them off the second time, and 

 they went back, so that made them cross, and they 

 stung ma terribly, but I did not get one sting. We 

 rang the bell for pa. He came and got his swarm- 

 ing-box and held it near the swarm, and kept shak- 

 ing the limb until all the bees went into the box. 

 He then carried them to the stand. His swarming- 

 box is made just long enough to take a Simplicity 

 frame. It is wider at the top than it is at the bot- 

 tom. There is a pole in it to hold it u]). He can 

 hold it up as high as he wants to, or as low, or he 

 can take the pole out entirely. He puts a frame in 

 it before using, which has a comb in. Then he 

 takes out the frame and puts it in the hive with the 

 bees. Clara Streby. 



Paw Paw, W. Va., July 9, 1888. 



We are interested in your papa's swarm- 

 ing-device. Won't you ask him to send 

 us a photograph of it, that we may have it 

 engraved for Gleanings? You may then 

 tell us more about it. 



WATCHING THE BEES. 



I don't er-jist ixactly know about them pesky bees, 

 Ner if they're gone back to their hive, er lit out fer 



the trees. 

 I guess I'll er-jist set 'n' rest on this 'ere busted 



gum, 

 'N' if they go to start agin, mebbe I'll hinder some 

 A beatin' of this biler here, 'n' jinglin' these 'ere 



things. 





EAIiMER MCWHARTER'S SOLILOQUY. 



Of all the plagucy things that lives cr walks er flics 



er sings. 

 That's in the field, er in the wood, that has cr tail, 



er wings,— 

 There's nuthin' that I hate so bad, ez bees with 



their tarnal stings. 

 I like to sit 'n' rest, 'n' let my mind meander, cs it 



will. 

 Jest like them bees thet wander forth o'er wood 'n* 



vale 'n' hill. 

 But they come home all loaded down with honey 



jest ez full — 

 My mind returns ez empty ez the sack that's held 



the wool. 

 I like to think of the shinin shore, 'n' wonder where 



it is, 

 'N' all the friends that's gone before— of John 'n' 



Joe 'n' Sis; 

 ' N ' wonder if I'll ever reach that home of heavenly 



bliss. 



' N' play the golden harp 'n'-geewhitaker ! what's 

 this? 



Philip McWharteh, 



