206 SUMMER. 



rise to tlie opinion of one old lady, who Icnew " drujn- 

 ming on a pan did good, for she had tried it.") Very 

 often a hive js to be constructed, or an old one unfit 

 to use any way, needs some sticks across, or some- 

 thing to take time. When the hive is obtained, it 

 must be washed with something nice to make the bees 

 like it ; a little honey must be daubed on the inside ; 

 sugar and water, molasses and water, salt and water, or 

 salt and water rubbed on with hickory leaves, " is the 

 best thing in the world;" several other things are just 

 as good, and some are better. Even whisky, that bane 

 of man, has been offered them as a bribe to stay, and 

 sometimes they are persuaded and go to work. Now 

 I cannot say positively that these things do harm, yet 



NOTHING BUT BEES NEEDED IN A HIVE. 



I am quite sure they do no good, as nothing but bees 

 is needed in a hive. Is it reasonable to suppose they 

 are fond of all the ''knick-knacks" given them? I 

 have never used any, and could not possibly have 

 ,,done better. I am careful to have the hive sweet and 

 clean, and not too smooth inside ; an old hive that has 

 been used before is scalded and scraped. 



But to the manner they get the bees in, after the 

 hive is ready. A table is set out, and a cloth spread 

 on it ; sticks are put on to raise the hive an inch or 

 more ; if they succeed in getting the swarm even on 

 the outside of the hive it is left ; if they go in, it is 

 ■well^ if they go off, why hope for " better luck 

 next time." The hive is left unsheltered in the hot 

 sun, and whep there is no wind, the heat is soon in- 



