1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



211 



For Hie New England Farmer. 

 BEES— PURCHASUSTG STOCKS. 



Those who intend purchasing stocks this spring, 

 should be ready to attend to it as soon as possible 

 after the first days warm enough for them to fly. 

 It is a better time to select than before or after- 

 wards. If the first day they fly is really warm, 

 they often issue in great numbers ; apparently get 

 confused, and enter the wrong hives ; yet at this 

 season seldom quarrel. Some stocks, by this 

 means, get more than belongs to them, while oth- 

 ei's lack a corresponding number. Occasionally 

 one Avill lose its queen during winter, and the 

 bees will generally desert, joining some other 

 stock on the first pleasant day. It is best to let 

 these things get regulated. On the other hand, if 

 put off too long, until the bees have been out sev- 

 eral times and marked their locality, it is an inju- 

 ry to move them, especially short distances. The 

 idea that a bee knows its own home by instinct, 

 or is attracted to it, as the steel to the magnet, 

 and can readily find it, however much it may be 

 moved about the yard, after its locality is once 

 properly identified, is erroneous ; yet, if the remo- 

 val is beyond their knowledge of country, the in- 

 jury will be much less. Consequently this must 

 be the best time to purchase. 



I have seen bees enough purchased by those too 

 eager to try their luck, to be pretty well satisfied 

 that aZ/ buyers are not good judges of the article — 

 they seem to misunderstand the requisites of a 

 good stock of bees, supposing that more depends 

 on luck than any thing else ; that if they get a 

 stock either good or bad, and set it up, and if it 

 does not prosper, "why bees will do nothing for 

 them." When this has been the case, I would ad- 

 vise another effort, and suggest that they use a 

 little care in making a selection of the first stocks 

 and try the efficacy of a little proper management. 



In making a selection at this season, do not be 

 anxious to get stocks that are very heavy. Some 

 few pounds of honey are sufficient to take them 

 through the spring. If too much honey is pres- 

 ent, there will be but little room to rear brood ; it 

 also indicates that the colony is small, and have 

 consumed but little through the winter. The 

 qmount of honey can generally be determined 

 pretty nearly by lifting ; the number of bees, by 

 actual inspection — not after they have been 

 aroused, and all in commotion by an accidental 

 jar, but by raising the hive so carefully that they 

 know nothing about it, until the light is admitted 

 directly between the combs till the cluster of bees 

 is all seen. It may on some occasions be neces- 

 sary to turn the hive over bottom up. The bees 

 of a strong colony will extend through eight or 

 ten combs ; if less than four or five, it would 

 hardly be suitable for a beginner at any price. 

 While examining the size of the colony, it would 

 be well to see if there are any mouldy combs, and 

 if any clusters of dead bees are in any part of the 

 hive. A small amount of either will not be a se- 

 rious detriment, if all else is right, as it is readily 

 removed. Also, if the hive should be an old one, 

 there can be no better time to see if the brood in 

 the comb is free from disease. These examinations 

 are important, and if they cannot be made without 

 disturbing the bees, they may be quieted suf- 

 ficiently for a partial inspection with tobacco 

 smoke. If a pipe or cigar is used, it will do well 



enough ; if not, a very good substitute is made by 

 covering cotton cloth eight or ten inches square, 

 with common smoking tobacco one-fom-th inch 

 thick, and rolling it up loosely, and fastening with 

 needle and thi-ead, igniting and blowing the smoke 

 among the bees, until they allow an inspection. 



Young stocks, and swarms of last season, when 

 they are to be had, are preferable for several rea- 

 sons, but those two or three years old are not to 

 be rejected, and if healthy, wUl be just as good 

 for a year or two. 



The size is also important. For sections north of 

 40 degrees, 2000 cubic inches inside is a good stan- 

 dard ; yet those two or three hundred inches larg-er 

 or smaller, ought not to be refused on that ac- 

 count, as swai'ms can be put into hives the prop- 

 er size. Very large hives are often cut off to the 

 proper size, but as a beginner would not be likely 

 to undertake it, it is unnecessary to describe the 

 process. 



To prepare them for ti^ansportation, spread 

 down a sheet, and set the hive on it, then bring 

 up the corners, and tie over the top, or invert the 

 hive, and put over the bottom a piece of mnsHn 

 eighteen inches square, fastened at the corners 

 with carpet tacks. A wagon with elliptic springs 

 is best for conveying them. In all cases the com- 

 mon box hive should be bottom up to avoid break- 

 ing combs. A\Tien moved late in the season^ they 

 should be set several feet apart. Indeed, they 

 should not be closer together than tvvo or three 

 feet, at any time. A bee-house is objectionable 

 on that account — hives are apt to be crowded. If 

 any alterations are to be made about the yard, the 

 sooner it is done the better. M. QuiNBY. 



St. JoJmsville, N. Y., 1860. 



For ike New Sngland Fanner. 

 HOW TO MAXE PAEMCSTG PROFITABLE, 



Mr. Editor : — There has been a great deal 

 said lately in the Farmer and elsewhere, aboat 

 the unprofitableness of farming. Perhaps you are 

 of opinion that enough has been ahready written 

 upon the subject ; but I shoxild like to say a few 

 words, leaving you to decide whether my speech 

 shall be a public, or a private one. 



What is the reason that we find in farming so 

 poor a remuneration for our labor ? Is it not, 

 mainly, that we sell off so great a proportion of 

 our crops ? It would seem in many cases that 

 farmers believe it the best way to sell all their 

 hay that is fit for the market, and all their oats 

 and corn that can possibly be spared. But, in the 

 long run, is this the most profitable course to pur- 

 sue ? Should not something be kept back and 

 returned to th5 soil ? I was gratified by the stand 

 taken in our Farmers' Club, at a late meeting, by 

 a practical and shrewd, as well as intelligent mem- 

 ber. He said, if he could, by feeding to his stock 

 any particular crop, whether hay, mangold wurtz- 

 els, carrots, turnips, or gi'ain, obtain a return in 

 milk or meat to the amount of eighty per cent, of 

 the cash value of such crop, he would consider it 

 more economical to so feed it on his farm, than to 

 carry it off to mai'ket. This is, it seems to me, 

 sound and safe doctrine. For by thus allowing 

 one-fifth of the produce of the farm as a fund for 

 its fertilization, the fertility of the soil is not only 

 sustained, but increased ; and consequently, fu- 



