ISO 
THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
The advantages of this method are that in- 
stead of a separate hive or nucleus for each 
queen cell, we have our populous colony divided 
under one roof, economizing the necessary 
warmth. The bees all have the same exit and 
entrance, and when queen-rearing hatching is 
over, the colony can at once be restored to a 
single stock by removing the division boards 
without any of the risk attendant on ordinary 
uniting. We see that some beekeepers prefer 
using unsealed or cup cells for queen-rearing 
in this manner. A qucenless colony is kept for 
two or three days making cups for queen cells, 
all of these with eggs are cut out and placed in 
the divided hives to finish and rear, and no 
oolony need be kept queenless for more than two 
days to obtain a considerable number of quern 
re jib. 
Chloroform for Bees.— We have spoken of 
this subject in former numbers, and have read 
notices of the use of chloroform for quieting 
bees in recent foreign journals. We have never 
tried it ourselves, except once many years ago, 
when we thought we had killed all the bees in 
the stock, but they revived after about an hour’s 
intoxication. A writer in ihe British Bee 
Journal, oi September 12, states — “ My expe- 
rience (page 398). 
Ode Swarming Time. — Our first swarm came 
out on September 27th.. altogether we have had 
12 go out, and all hived except one which 
escaped. Some swarms which came out on 
October 8th., and were easily hived swarmed 
out from their hives twice the same day. although 
each time placed in a fresh hive. The same 
swarms came out the next day and all three 
united, then separated ; one swarm rising as if 
to depart settled on the ground and was housed 
again, as were also the other two. Next day the 
one that clustered on the ground swarmed out 
and went right away. This case was decidedly 
one of unusual excitement among the bees, 
induced, we believe, by the peculiar sultry and 
thundery weaiher prevailing at the time. 
Modified Beblefsch Hive, — A beekeeper who 
has had more success with deep-framed hives 
like the Berlepsch last year, than with the 
Langstroth. constructed some with frames nearly 
the same dimensions as of that kind, only with 
the frames to lift out as in the Langstroth in- 
instead of drawing out at the back as in the true 
Berlepsch. The frames also are made to carry 
the ordinary sized sections — that is, they are 8J 
inches wide by 12J deep inside. He informs 
us that all his stocks in such hives gave him a 
larger surplus last autumn, wintered better, and 
are earlier and stronger this spring than any of 
his stocks in Langstroth hives, and that he is 
now arranging to adopt that form of hive 
altogether. 
We have two or thr> e of these hives made by 
the Beekeepers’ Supply Company, now occupied 
by this season's swarms, and hope to have as 
favorable an account to give as our informant at 
the en of the honey harvest. 
(Original Contributions. 
HOW I TOOK MY FIRST SWARM. 
One of the pleasures I had looked forward to 
in removing from the metropolis to a country 
town, and especially such a place for blossoms 
and white clover as Daylesford, was that I 
should be able to have a few swarms of bees. 
The botanical gardens, which are our great 
pride in these parts, and which are a perfect 
picture in spring, summer, and autumn, are but 
half a minute, or at any rate not more than a 
minute from our own orchard as a bee would 
take the journey. So I thought there would be 
a grand honey field for the busy workers ; bgt 
an experienced beekeeper here tells me that 
the immense quantity of white clover, which 
grows everywhere within the Borough of Dayles- 
ford, produces no honey, and therefore has no 
attractions for the bee. He attributes this fact 
(for fact it appears to be, 1, myself, since my 
conversation with him, having observed that the 
bees hardly ever touch the white clover) to our 
elevation above the sea level, viz., 2000 feet or 
more. 
I should think, however, that it is a question 
worth considering, as to whether white clover 
growing from 2000 to 2200 feet above the level 
of the sea is honeyless, and if so, why ? 
Well I had a very nice colony hived in a 
brandy case, given me by a farmer living a few 
miles away the season before last. It was 
brought in the autumn, and I could tell by the 
weight that there were plenty of stores inside 
for the cold season of the year, so that I was 
only concerned as the winter name on about 
keeping them warm and dry. This I did by 
getting a case large enough to tip the hive into, 
and as there was a space of about six iuches at 
each end, I stuffed it with straw, consequently 
they did very well. 
When the spring came and the warm weather 
was upon us, I made every preparation. I 
had purchased some hives from Mr. Chambers’ 
factory, one already put together fur a model, 
and three others in the flat, and being a little 
bit of a carpenter I had no difficulty in putting 
them up. 
I also built a honey house at the further end 
of the garden, so that I could place hives, &e., 
under cover, and as I expected more than one 
swarm il prepared a square, with a broad path 
on each side, upon which I could arrange the 
hives, w'hile in the centre I planted thirty golden 
raspberry canes, which grew and flourished very 
well, and afforded lots of nectar to the bees, as 
well as fruit for ourstlves. 
I had an old straw hat tha I did not generally 
' use, and the good wife sowed a green veil round 
| the brim, and with an old pair of diiving gloves, 
I considered myself fairly equipped for every 
emergency. I need hardly say I had also 
furnished myself with a Bingham smoker. It 
had no guard to it, and I was speedily reminded 
of that fact, for as the books tell you that there 
is some art in keeping the smoker going when it 
