APPENDIX. 107 



their " four-story hives ;" while others are constantly chang- 

 ing the " brood-comb," or transferring their bees into the 

 moth-traps built in what are improperly styled hives. 



It has been-often found absolutely necessary to prevent 

 the issuing of second swarms, but no efficient method has 

 been known until the introduction of our hives, nor has any 

 way been discovered, whereby the weaker swarms might be 

 protected from the incursions of their more powerful neigh- 

 bors. It was also necessary to confine the bees in the hive 

 during the coldest weather, to prevent their being chilled to 

 death by falling upon the snow. The miller also claimed 

 the apiary as its playground, and, from the swiftness of its 

 movements, possessed a great advantage over the bee. The 

 drones, too, have always enjoyed their season, hovering 

 about the hives, not unlike the loafers around our country 

 hoteld, subsisting upon the stores of the rest, until they are 

 destroyed to rid the industrious " workers" of their preseno. 



Our present inventions will, it is believed, eflPectually 

 remove all these difficulties. It is proper that we first 

 demonstrate the method by which we prevent excessive 

 swarming. It is known that after the issuing of the first 

 swarm, several queens are hatched, and that all the subse- 

 quent swarms are driven out by reason of the natural 

 enmity which exists between them. If the first be detained 

 until the rest are hatched, a battle "ensues, in which all the 

 queens save one are slain. By a 3evice pertaining to our 

 invention, (if it be desirable to prevent any ftirther swarm- 

 ing,) the queens are confined ip the hive untjl this strife for 

 the ascendency has taken place, the workers being allowed, 

 meantime, to pass and repass e\,t pleasure, the surviving sov- 

 reign h^'S no disposition to leave, and the lyhple swarm 

 qjiietly remains. By the same method the passage may be 

 go gauged as tp prevent the escape of all bees wheri'laden 



