^u CuUxtru. 



STATEMENT OF DAA^D S. COWLES. 



I procured a swarm of bees in 1837 and experimented for years 

 •with differently constructed hives, finally adopting Weeks Patent 

 Bee-hive after making some improvements upon it. Since Phelps 

 obtained his patent I have used his hive and prefer it to any in 

 use. It requires some experience to use this hive. It is built ia 

 six divisions, three large boxes and three small ones, the large 

 boxes hold thirty pounds the small ones eight. Only a few bees 

 are necessary to guard the hive from the bee miller and robber. 

 Moth traps are placed under the edges of the large boxes which 

 can be drawn at any time and the moth worms destroyed. The 

 honey made is purer for having a free circulation of air through 

 the hive. The boxes can be drawn when they are full. I take 

 off the samll boxes as often as the bees fill them to prevent their 

 Bwarming. If bees have sufScient room they seldom swarm. 

 The large boxes I take off in August or September. If there is a 

 large number of bees in the hive, it is best to leave two boxes for 

 their wintering. If in drawing the small boxes, I find I have 

 taken the queen bee I replace her in the hive, as unlike other 

 bees she will not know to which hive she belongs. By cutting 

 off the communication between the boxes and rapping lightly 

 upon the one I wish to draw, the bees will fill with honey in a 

 few moments, and I can do what I please with them unharmed. 

 Bees know their master, and to be made profitable must receiv* 



