23 
_ down with the combs and destroyed. The larvze, how- 
ever few, which remain in the combs, deteriorate the ho- 
_ hey. And however few of the worms are metamorphosed 
Into nymphs, all go to the press together, and the honey, 
mixed with their ordure, loses much of its good quality. 
Some, instead of suffocating the bees with brimstone 
smoke, immerge the hives in water, which produces the 
same fatal effect. [he bees are all killed; the larvee share 
the same fate as in the’ preceding method; and the honey 
_ obtained is no better. | 
These two methods, practised by at least three-fourths 
of bee owners, are most prejudicial to their culture, and it 
is to be hoped the government will interdict the practice. 
When we drive a swarm from one hive to another, it is 
for the purpose of obtaining the products of their labours, 
without destroying the bees; but as the larva cannot fol- 
low the bees, it is unfortunately destroyed. <, 
The method which our country people use to drive bees, 
is, to reverse, or turn upside down, the full hive, and place 
an empty one over it; then, by gently striking the full hive | 
on the sides, compel the queen and all her family to ascend 
into the empty hive. Another way is, if they have panniers 
or boxes with openings on the top, as mentioned in the plan 
of M. Lombard, to, place an empty pannier on the top of 
the full one, as it stands, and with a match of wet linen 
rag, set on fire at the entrance of the full hive, oblige the 
bees below, to ascend into the empty box above. 
The castration of a hive, appears at first view, the most 
advantageous mode of taking a part of the product of the 
bees, and allowing them to subsist on the other. But on 
cutting away part of the combs, the honey flows of what 
remains, and englues or bedaubs some of the bees, and 
these englue others. If the queen should happen to be of 
this number, she perishes; and if she perish, without leay- 
ing a@ young queen, or eggs fecundated to produce new 
queens, the whole colony will very soon be destroyed. 
Besides, the castration cannot be so well performed, but 
that a number of cells will be removed which contain 
larvee or chrysalids, which occasions a loss to the future 
generation, in addition to the loss of bees by smearing 
with honey. 
All these modes are practised in Europe, and they all 
show the imperfection of the culture and management of 
bees. ‘There are even some amateurs who cannot be per- . 
