1 8 Advanced Bee Culture 



and unload quicker, Id fl\- faster, and in a more direct line. Sometimes 

 pieces of old comb are burned, the odor from the "smudge" attracting 

 bees from a long distance. If, b}' careful search, a bee is found indus- 

 triously at work upon some weed, the cover to the box is taken off, the 

 slide drawn nearh- out, and the open or lower side of the cover held 

 near the bee. A handkerchief is then held upon the opposite side of 

 the bee ; and as the cover and the handkerchief are brought quickly 

 together, the bee is caught in the former. Seeing the light, the bee 

 at once buzzes up against the glass top of the cover, when the slide is 

 shoved in, thus making the bee a prisoner. The cover is \v\\\ replaced 

 upon the box, the box set upon a stump or upon a stake stuck in the 

 ground, the slide drawn nearly out, and the handkerchief spread over 

 the glass top. The bee now sees only one opening, the small one in 

 the side of the cover near its lower edge, and in attempting to escape 

 by the lower opening, the bee comes in contact with the comb of honev 

 in the lower part of the box. 



To find the honey is to begin at once "loading up." Occasionalh' 

 removing the handkerchief shows when the bee has found the hone^' ; 

 and as soon as it is seen filling its sac, the hunter carefully removes 

 the cover and places his eye near the ground. This position is assumed 

 to secure the sky as a background in watching the bee take its home- 

 ward flight. Under such conditions a bee can be kept in sight for a long 

 distance. A minute or two suffices for the bee to fill its honey-sac, 

 when it slowly rises in gradually widening circles. Each time around 

 it sways more and more to one side — toward the spot where it lives ; 

 finally, having taken its "bearings," it strikes a "bee-line" for home. In 

 a short time it returns with perhaps three or four companions in its 

 wake — eager to learn whence came that fine load of honey. The result 

 is, that a strDug "line" of bees is finally at work between their home 

 and the hunter's box. He now puts the cover on the box, shutting in 

 the bees, and moves along on the "line" toward their home. After 

 going some distance the bees are released, when thev at once leave for 

 home, only to return and re-establish the "line," when the hunter again 

 closes the box and moves forward. When the bees turn and fly back 

 on the line, it shows that the tree has been passed and must be near at 

 hand. At this point in the game it may be advisable to resort to what 

 is known as "cross-lining;" that is, the box is moved ofl^ several rods 

 to one side, and another, or "cross-line," established. The tree must 

 certainly be near the point where these two lines intersect. The trunks 

 and branches of all large trees in the vicinitv are now carefullv exam- 

 ined, particular attention being paid to any knot-holes or openings. Get- 

 ting the tree between the sun and the observer greatly aids in discovering 



