BEE CULTURE. 



13 



hives — that he could mention a great many where 

 ihey arc managed according to nature, that number 

 from fifty to two hundred stocks." 



Convei-sing with an experienced apiarian, of a 

 neijrhboriiig county, respecting the habits of the bee 

 moth, he stated as his opinion, that wherever oppor- 

 tunity was afforded, the moth miller svould certainly 

 cuter — that they deposit their eggs in every crack 

 and crevice they can find in and about the hive; and 

 if facilities are not afforded by which, when hatched, 

 the worm could be kept from crawling up to the 

 comb. One might as well throw away his hive at once. 



Having on one occasion elevated tlie front edge 

 about half an inch above the bottom board, he was 

 very much surprised, in the early part of the spring, 

 to find the back part, between the bottom and the 

 upright sides of the hive, full of the larva; of the 

 bee moth; and after that, daily or at least as often as 

 three times a week, he carefully examined his hive 

 and removed all the larvae as they were deposited. 



His reward in the fall was an abundance of honey, 

 and a hive in which he could discover no signs of the 

 moth. 



We give below an engraving of the hive and 

 stand described by Mr. E. Stabler, in a communica- 

 tion to the first annual Exhibition of the Maryland 

 State Society, to whom was awarded the first pi"e- 

 mium for the best lot of honey. The cut we copy 

 from the American Farmer 



BEE HOUSE AND HIVE. 



" The engraving represents the end of the house, 

 which is twelve feet long, affording ample room for 

 eight hives. The house is a slight frame, resting on 



the siUs, six feet long; one al each end ol the house, 

 six inches square, laid upon stones or bricks, six (or 

 more) inches from the ground. 



"(A) The Sills. — Into each of these are morticed 

 (B B) two posts, four inches square and three feet 

 tour inches long, placed two feet apart, and standing 

 upright. On the end of these is placed a plate (D), 

 four inches square, ami four feet four inches long. 

 Upon this is framed the roof (C), as may best suit 

 the builder. [Mine is simply rested in notches cut in 

 the ends of the plates, so that four men can at any 

 time lift it off or on if necessary.] 



"The hive is fourteen inches square at the top, 

 and ten inches square at the bottom, and three feet 

 two inches long. The box on the top is twelve inches 

 square in the clear. A glass window, covered with 

 a sliding board. There are holes, one and a half 

 inches in diameter, in the top of the hive, over which 

 the box is placed. The bottom of the hive is fas- 

 tened to the back part theieof, by a hinge. Upon 

 the plates and near the middle are placed two pieces 

 of scantling, three inches square and one foot apart, 

 both let on cornerwise (so as to present the corners 

 towards each other). The hive is suspended be- 

 tween these runners, lea\'ing the bottom of it some 

 two feet from the ground. 



" It will be perceived that the conical form of the 

 hive, enables us to slip it down between the runners, 

 which hold it steadily in its proper position, and as 

 tlie liees fill it with honey, its form operates as a 

 wedge, eflectually preventing the breaking off and 

 falhng of the honey-comb. The bottom of the hive 

 is sufiorcd to hang down, from early in the spring till 

 late in the fall, permitting the wrens, sparrows, blue 

 birds, i-c , to search for the moth or miller, and also 

 affording the bees a fair opportunity of dislodging 

 from the hive any insect that may enter it, 



" When the weather becomes cold, the bottom is 

 raised by means of a cord, and made stationary at 

 any height desired. 



" The hives are placed in the house empty, having 

 first been cleaned, and rubbed with a mixture of salt 

 and sugar (a tea-spoonful of each, moistened with 

 water). 



" When a swarm of bees is to be hived, make a 

 little scaffolding of boards under the hive; on this 

 spread a clean cloth. Having cut off the bush or 

 limb, on which the bees have settled, shake them off 

 the bush, on to the cloth, and they will soon take 

 possession of their new home. 



" At any time, (a few weeks having elapsed after 

 the box is filled,) the box may be removed at night, 

 and placed bottom upwards in the cellar, or some 

 open outrhouse, and early the next morning every 

 bee will leave it and return to the hive. Then take 

 out the honey and replace the box the next evening. 



" If it be thought best not to disturb the young 

 swarm during the summer, the bees, when the wea- 

 ther becomes cool in the fall of the year, will all 

 retire to the central part of the main hive, and the 

 box of honey may be removed without disturbing 

 them in the.least. 



" The box containing the honey, herewith exhibit- 

 ed, was removed in this manner about ten days ago, 

 and was filled by a swarm hived last spring, leaving 

 the bees a large supply for ths winter." 



