492 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apb. 1 



SYSTEM A AGRICULTUR.V.. 



A Review of a Bee-book Printed 220 

 Years Ago. 



BY R. B. HOUGH. 



I have befoi'e me a quaint old volume en- 

 titled "Systema Agriculturaj; the Mystery 

 of Husbandry Discovered," etc., by John 

 Worlidge, Gentleman, printed in London in 

 1687, and in it are several pages devoted to 

 bees and bee-keeping. Thinking the read- 

 ers of Gleanings may be interested in know- 

 ing what was being done in these lines 220 

 years ago I will make a few extracts from it 

 for your columns; and, as illustrative of the 

 antiquated diction, use of capital letters, etc., 

 I will quote them just as I find them, except- 

 ing as regards the obsolete forms of letters, 

 which your compositors would hardly be 

 prepared to duplicate. The author states 

 that "There is no Creature to be kept about 

 our Rural Seat, that affoi'ds unto us so much 

 variety of pleasure as the Bee;" and in 

 speaking of the nature of bees, "Idleness is 

 so detestible a Vice amongst them, that they 

 will not admit of it, nor tolerate it in any 

 (save their sovereign), but every one is con- 

 tinually busied either abroad in collecting 

 their Food, or at home in building Combs, 

 feeding their Young, or some other employ- 

 ment." They have "no single property in 

 anything they do or get; for whatever they 

 gather, all have a part; if any be injured the 

 other will revenge his wrongs, although to 

 the loss of their lives. Their labour is not 

 compulsive, every one acting his part volun- 

 tarily, and seemingly contend and endeavour 

 to outvie each other in their nimble and ex- 

 peditious Voyages, where they so mightily 

 lade themselves, that many times their de- 

 cayed Wings are not able to support them 

 home." " There can be nothing kept more 

 advantagious than an Apiary, according to 

 the Stock or sum you lay out. Many a 

 Countryman hath raised a sufficient Lively- 

 hood only from these laborious Creatures: 

 We need produce no Precedent for it; it is 

 so usual, Virgil also seems to hint as much, 

 where he saith: 



I saw an old Corycian, who enjoy'd 



Few Acres, not for Pastorage employ 'd; 



Nqr w-as it for Corn or Vineyard found; 



Yet were his Thorns with Silver-Lillies Crowned; 



Here you could Vervain and rich Poppy tind, 



That wealthiest Kings be equall'd in his mind: 



To him huge Swarms his Bees first pregnant brought, 



And full Combs with Rivers ol Honey fraught. 



After telling desirable features to be con- 

 sidei'ed in the location of an apiary the au- 

 thor advises to set small trees near by so 

 that the bees "may pitch at swarming time 

 near at home, and not be in danger of being 

 lost for want of a lighting-place." 



In speaking of hives the author tells us 

 that those most commonly used were made 

 of wicker-work or straw bound with bram- 

 ble, but adds that they "may be made of 

 Boards, either of an eight-square form joyn- 

 ed together, or bovind with Hoops like a 

 Milking-pail, Hat on the top," and "In these 

 Hives of Wood may be made several Glass- 



windows — not only for your observation of 

 their work which you may with much facili- 

 ty and delight perceive — but that the Bees 

 may have the more light; a principal help 

 and encouragement in their Labours." The 

 windows ought to be provided with shut- 

 ters, but "leave such always down during 

 the Summer that are fi'om the Sun-wards." 



He also mentions " Glassen-Hives " as in- 

 vented by one William Mew, and quotes the 

 inventor in the following: " The Invention 

 is a fancy that suits with the Nature of that 

 Creature: they are much taken with their 

 Grandeur, and double their Tasks with de- 

 light. I took (saith he) Fourteen Quarts 

 out of one of the Transparent Hives, double 

 their quantity of others; they quickly paid 

 me their Charges with their Profit," etc. 

 "They serve only to give me an ac- 

 count of the daily Income, and a Diary of 

 their Negotiations: whereby if I spend (saith 

 he) half an hour after Dinner or Supper, I 

 know what hath been done that day; can 

 show my friends the Queen's Cells, and 

 sometimes her Person, with her Retinue." 



The author then recounts several efforts in 

 trying to "intice and inforce Bees without 

 Swarming out of their own Habitations into 

 new Hives," but then as now the bees seem- 

 ed to have ideas of their own in such mat- 

 tei's and he was unsuccessful. 



After telling of the premonitory signs of 

 swarming he continues: "When the Swarm 

 is risen, it is the usual custom to play them 

 a tit of Mirth upon a Pan, Kettle, Bason, or 

 some such like Instrument, upon pretence to 

 gather them together, and make them settle; 

 which Custom seems to be very Ancient, as 

 Virgil witnesseth; 



Make a shrill Sound, 



And beat the Cymbals of the Goddess round. 



While he mentions this as the usual custom 

 he has little confidence in the efficacy of noise 

 in making the bees settle. 



"When your swarm hath made choice of 

 lighting-place, you shall quickly see them 

 knit together, in form of a Cone, Pine-apple, 

 or Cluster of Grapes. When they are fully 

 setled, and the Cone hath been awhile at the 

 biggest, then Hive them." 



"First make choice of a Hive proportion- 

 able in bigness to your Swarm, that the Bees 

 may go near to fill it that year; but rather 

 under-Hive a Swai-m than over-Hive them." 

 • "Then rub the Hive with sweet Herbs, as 

 Thyme, Savory, Marjoram, Balsam, Fennel, 

 Hysop, Mallows, or Bean-tops, etc., and with 

 a Branch of Hazel, Oak, Willow, or any 

 other of the aforesaid Herbs, but rather of 

 the same Tree whei'eon the Swarm lighted, 

 wipe the Hive clean, and dip such Sprig or 

 Branch into Meath, or fair Water mixed 

 with a little Honey, or with Milk and Salt, 

 or Salt only, and therewith besprinkle the 

 hive. 



"Then having first drank a Cup of Good 

 Beer, and washed your Hands and face there- 

 with, or being otherwise defended, if the 

 Bees hang upon a bough shake them into 

 the Hive, and set the same on a Mantle or 

 cloth on the ground, as is usual; or you may 



