THE BEE. 161 



a new queen for it. If the queen be not there, then repeat the process 

 with the prepared hive, and so you will catch her at last. You can then 

 return the first batch of bees that were removed either to the parent 

 hive or to the prepared hive, by simply shaking them into the one which 

 most needs them. 



Old hives thus deprived of their queens, and made to rear new ones, 

 involve another important advantage. In twenty-one days the entire 

 brood will be reared, no fresh brood having been deposited (through the 

 absence of an old queen), and the young queen not having begun to lay, 

 which they do in about ten days after they leave the cell. Here, then, 

 where the hives are heavy, say forty or more pounds in weight, is an oppor- 

 tunity of removing the bees (by fumigation) into a new hive, and selling 

 the contents of the old one. The honey is thus earlier than usual in the 

 market, and fetches a higher price. Weak swarms should invariably be 

 joined either to strong ones, or to each other, and as soon as possible 

 after swarming. It is only a strong community that can so successfully 

 establish themselves before winter, as to be in no danger from its severity. 

 This junction may be performed by fumigation, and taking away one 

 of the queens. A stock without a queen may by the same means be 

 added to one that is more fortunate : and this applies even to the 

 restoration of a swarm to its own parent hive if there be ample room 

 in it. 



We have said nothing of the plan of annually destroying the bees, 

 for it is almost an insult to our readers to suppose they would approve 

 of so senseless and unprofitable as well as cruel a practice. It is quite 

 true that thus all the honey that is made in a season may be obtained 

 at once, just in the same way that all the golden eggs of the goose in 

 the fable were to be obtained at once. And if this wholesale deprivation 

 be desired, it is perfectly obtainable without destroying the bees, by 

 simply fumigating them, and removing them to another hive. And 

 if you don't choose to feed the bees during the winter, let somebody else 

 have them that will. It is possible, in a favorable late season, they may 

 not need any assistance. At all events, let it be the golden maxim 

 of bee management never to allow a single bee to be injured if you can 

 help it. 



We close our article upon bees with the quaint story of an old English 

 apiarian. — " In or about the year 171 V, one of my swarms settling among 

 the close-twisted branches of some codling-trees, and not to be got into 

 an hive without more help, my maid-servant, hired into the family the 

 Michaelmas before, being in the garden, very officiously ofl'ered her 

 assistance, so far as to hold the hive while I dislodged the bees, she being 

 little apprehensive of what followed. 



" Having never been acquainted with bees, and likewise afraid, she 

 put a linen cloth over her head and shoulders, concluding that would 

 be a sufficient guard, and secure her from their swords. A few of the 

 bees fell into the hive ; some upon the ground ; but the main body of 

 them upon the cloth which covered her upper garments. 



" No sooner had I taken the hive out of her hands, but in a terrible 

 fright and surprise, she cried out the bees were got under the covering, 

 crowding up towards her breast and face, which immediately put her 



