BEES, BEE-HIVESj AND BEE CULTUUB. 25 



a couple of days, cannot with safety be confined in an empty hive 

 much longer. 



Having now, we will suppose, procured your swarm, and having 

 placed it in a south or south-east aspect, you may with advantage, 

 if the weather be wet, give a little liquid food ; the feeding in this 

 hive is performed at the top of stock-box, where the glass is 

 worked. Our round Feeding Pan or the new Feeding-Bottle 

 may here be used. Any fancy as to the position may be indulged 

 in, but must be settled on by the time the bees are set at liberty, 

 because any alteration afterwards is detrimental to the working of 

 the hive. The bees on first issuing forth, carefully mark their new 

 abode and the surrounding objects, so that if a change be made, 

 they are completely thrown out in their observations, which confuses 

 them not a Httle, and occasions loss. Bees always return to the 

 same spot; it is the locality that they know, and if the hive is 

 moved a less distance than a mile, thousands return to the spot on 

 which the hive has been accustomed to stand. 



AUow your bees to collect honey and build their combs for ten 

 days or a fortnight. Much now depends on the weather; if fine, 

 by this time they will require additional room, which will be indi- 

 cated by the thermometer D rapidly rising; 100 degrees is the 

 swarming point, the hive must be kept below this by ventilation. 



Access must now be given to the flat bell-glass at the top, which 

 is done by withdrawing the top slide. In a few hours, sometimes 

 immediately, the work of comb-building begins in the glass — all the 

 sooner, if a piece of clean empty comb be placed therein. 



It is of service to keep the glass warm by means of a worsted or 

 baize bag, it prevents the temperature from falling at night when 

 much comb-building is carried on, providing the heat is not allowed to 

 escape. Probably, if all goes on well, in three weeks the glass will 

 be found to be filled with fine white honeycomb. When you find 

 that the comb is well sealed up, it is time to take it off, but if the 

 cells are unfilled and unsealed, let the little labourers complete their 

 work — a little experience will soon enable the bee-keeper to deter- 

 mine this point. 



The plan to be adopted for taking glasses of honeycomb is the 

 same as described for hive No. 1, page 21. 



