I02 BEE-FJRMING. 



as is too often the case in cottagers' skeps, too large, no 

 attempt being made by the owner to make it less, so as 

 to give the bees a better chance to defend their home 

 against the wily enemies, who were rapidly depopulating the 

 hive and eating up their hoarded winter's store of honey, 

 I anxiously watched the result from day to day, and in 

 the end I was much pleased by seeing the bees victorious. 

 I placed a small pebble in the mouth of the hive to con- 

 tract the entrance a little, and the following fact will show 

 the foresight of these marvellous msects. They went 

 out in crowds to a fir plantation, so I supposed, about half 

 a mile distant, and returned laden with propolis ; by 

 degrees, but quickly, considering the circumstances, the 

 mouth was built ud and narrcv/^d, so that only about 

 three bees could pass and repass at one time. Then the 

 bees were quite prepared to fight for their queen and 

 colony. Two or three sentinels were placed on the 

 alighting board, who appeared to give warning to tjiose 

 inside when an enemy was in sight, and if he attempted 

 to enter he was compelled to beat a hasty retreat. This 

 hive became a valuable stock the following season, and was 

 sold by the fortunate owner for a goodly sum. 



Other uses are found for this cement. Maraldi, on 

 one occasion, found a large black snail had worked its way 

 into the interior of one of his wooden hives. The bees 

 stung it so fiercely as to cause its death. The next ques- 

 tion was how to remove its large slimy body, which if left 

 inside the heated hive would soon putrefy and become 

 offensive j in this extremity, they, as if by agreement, 

 neglected the other work of the hive, and went forth in a 

 •strong body. Maraldi for a time was left in doubt as to 

 their intention ; however, they soon returned laden with 

 propolis, which they applied to the dead body, and thus 

 coated it over with an imper^'ious cement, rendering it 

 inoiFensive. 



