420 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



them from time to time, so long as the season permits the bees to gather wax 

 ami honey. 



In performing the operations here described, it will be necessary to defend 

 the hands and face from the stings of the bees. The best way of doing this, 

 is to cover the whole of the head, neck, &c. (over a hat) with coarse cloth, or 

 canvass, which may be brought as low as the waistcoat, and fastened to it: 

 through this cloth we may see the operations of the bees, without fearing their 

 stings. The hands may be protected by means of gloves, of which the best 

 are those made of wool. 



When we mean to bring a new swarm into a hive, that prepared as above, 

 and formed of two, three, or four boxes, according to the size of the swarm, 

 must be brought near the place where the swarm is. The upper box, with 

 the cover fastened on (but so tliat it may easily be removed,) must be taken 

 from the others. The cross bars, before described, should be smeared with 

 honey, diluted with a little water; the small door must be shut; and the box 

 must be turned upside down, and brought under the swarm, which is then to 

 be introduced, in the same way, and with similar precaution, as into a com- 

 mon hive. When the whole swarrn is in the box, it is to be carried to the 

 other boxes (previously placed in the destined situation! and, turning it very 

 carefully, is to be' put upon them. The buttons are then to be turned, the 

 interstices closed with the cement already described, and all the little doors 

 closed, except the lowest, through which the bees are to pass. Nothing is 

 more disagreeable to a fresh swarm than a hot sun, for which reason, that the 

 bees may not wish to leave their new habitation, it will be right to shade the 

 hive for some days. 



A hive made in the manner here pointed out, appears to me to be such as 

 would be most useful to husbandmen in general, who wish to cultivate bees; 

 but a hive may be made upon the same principles, which will shew the work 

 of the bees, through its whole progress, and thereby enable any one to study 

 the natural history of these wonderful insects. 



A hive of this kind is composed of three or four boxes, with a cover, like the 

 hive already described; it may also be of the same form and size. But in 

 every box, on that side which is opposite the little door, there must be fixed a 

 pane of glass, with a sliding shutter over it, so that by drawing back these 

 sliders, the inside of the hive will be exposed to view. To see the bees at 

 work, however, it is necessary that the comb should be disposed in a regular 

 manner, and perpendicular to the pane of glass. This may be obtained, by 

 placing in the boxes, instead of the two cross-sticks already described, on p. 

 418, five parallel sticks or bars, as represented in the following figure. 



The bees will attach their combs to these bars, and 

 the intermediate space will afford sufficient light for 

 seeing them work. If more light is desired, it may be 

 obtained by opening the little doors opposite the glass; 

 which doors may be made considerably higher than 

 is above directed, and may have a slider over them, 

 by which their aperture may be diminished at plea- 

 sure. 



The sliders which cover the panes of glass, ought 

 never to be opened, except for the purpose of observ- 

 ing the bees; because a strong light lessens their dis- 

 position to work. If it should be perceived that the coldness of the glass is 

 prejudicial to the bees in winter, it may then be covered with a cotton cloth; 

 or it may be entirely taken away, and a piece of paste-board put in its place; 

 for at that time, the operations of the bees are suspended. 



Instead of making a little door to each box, to be left open when the box is 

 lowermost, for the passage of the bees, perhaps it might be better (because 

 more simple) to cut a groove in the board or table on which the hive is placed. 

 This groove should be about two inches wide, and about three-fourths of an 

 inch high at the outer edge, and should be gradually diminished, both in width 

 and height, towards the part where it meets the hive, as is represented at b } in 

 the following figure. 



