1874 
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 
87 
learning they had been hived about nine 
o’clock, contented ourselves in thinking that 
if we had not the, we had got a swarm, and 
about sun set Novice had a sudden revival of 
the swarming fever caused by a report that a 
"big swarm of bees” were hanging on a plum 
tree, and bad been all the P. M., during a heavy 
thunderstorm, and that no one would hive 
them, there were so many, etc. No wonder he 
got bis metal baskets again and traveled for 
the point mentioned. Sure enough, there they 
were, looking wet and rather sorry ; a few 
twigs of the plum tree foliage were tied in the 
bottom of one of the baskets and he essayed to 
make them cluster inside, when inverted, but 
they were so chilled that when a bunch of 
them as large as a large apple fell into the 
bushes and grass underneath, he decided to 
hold the other basket under them. As they 
were clustered on the body and limbs of the 
tree, it was rather slow work, but he Anally 
got them all “bagged" except the bunch that 
fell down. They were taken home and hastily 
emptied before the hives, the swarm being so 
large 'twas thought best to divide it. A card 
containing eggs only, from the imported Queen 
was provided for the Queenless part, and they 
were coaxed into the hives ; but both divisions 
would persist in running out again “pell-mell" 
until a frame containing unsealed lames was 
given them, besides the comb containing the 
eggs. Shortly after daylight next morning 
Novice once more repaired to the plum tree 
and found about a pint of bees clustered on its 
trunk and the Queen among them “to be sure.” 
She was given to the largest half, and they 
have now given us one nice new comb, and a 
hive full of honey, and the Queenless part, af- 
ter having the comb of larva; taken away from 
them next day — ’twas only loaned — have built 
nine Queen cells, and given us half a hive full 
of honey; and we have to-day given them six 
combs of hatching brood into which we shall 
insert the cells, one in each, that none may be 
torn down. By the way the eight Queens we 
reared in our first lot are now all laying. Isn't 
that pretty well to get a laying Queen from ev- 
ery cell started ? 
By the way, another swarm of bees was hived 
in a box July 3rd, and we were consulted as to 
what was best to be done with them. As for- 
all dead and dying will intrude themselves at 
times. 
On yesterday morning we followed the line 
the greater part of them were taking to the 
basswoods, and we found the trees bending 
beneath their load of blossoms. These when 
held so the sun shone down into them showed 
a tiny glistening drop of pure honey in the lit- 
tle cup formed by the {totals of the flowers ; 
this drop is sufficient to be tasted readily and 
is so convenient of access that ’tis no wonder 
at till that bees get crazy for it, and that they 
gather astonishing quantities, for a load could 
be obtained from a very few blossoms and in a 
comparatively short time. After seeing how 
the honey is secreted, the great yields from the 
Linden forests of the West seem easier to un- 
derstand, but the yield is very uncertain here, 
or at least has been for the past few years. 
“Yes, just 45 colonies, and over 850 lbs. of hon- 
ey,” Novice was saying. 
“But,” says his interlocutor, “You have not 
made them all from the 10 very weak colonies 
which you said comprised your whole Apiary 
June 8th,? It is now .July' 32nd, and from 10 
to 45 in a little more than six weeks sounds 
like a pretty large result even had the 10 been 
strong. Have you purchased none at all ?” 
“IV ell, let us see: P. G. did purchase a colo- 
ny of Blacks about June 1st, to test one of her 
projects. As she couldn’t wait a minute to 
have it Italianized, she commenced operations 
at once by killing the Black Queen without 
considering the length of time ’twould take to 
replace.her; so the bees and biood were even- 
tually incorporated with the common stock. 
Then we purchased a natural swarm (Blacks) 
June 35th, for $2,511, a second one July 3rd, for 
$1.75, and a third — second swarm with unfer- 
tile Queen— July 7th, for $1.25. This is all 
except a fourth natural swarm found without 
an owner as we have mentioned, June 25th.” 
"But what became of your resolution to 
make your Apiary self sustaining and not to 
purchase?” 
"Well, in the first place P. G's orphaned col- 
ony were losing so much time for want of a 
Queen of which we had a superfluity, and the 
natural swarm waiting to be cared for in a 
cold unfeeling world — ” 
merly, “a swarm in July were not worth a fly,” 
we only offered $1.50 for them, but the women 
folks where they alighted considered them a 
lucky omen, and thought the amount but very 
poor compensation for “selling ones luck." 
'Ve explained to them that they were almost 
useless property to any one who had no empty 
\j 1,1 j! >s to give them, as we had, but finally paid 
81 o) and carried them half a mile in a large 
’ >x without any bottom. These have in three 
pays, given us half a hive full of honey, which 
is a strong argument in favor of keeping a sup- 
ply of empty combs and an extractor on hand; 
m how much could these bees have done had 
they been compelled to build the combs? 
Once more we have an Apiary with a poptl- 
• sufficient to make the air resound with 
gladness, and equal to the task of getting up a 
cspectable roar at tin close of the day, when 
, lc yield of honey has been encouraging. Al- 
lough we try not to borrow trouble for the 
1 ture, dim visions of “cider mills” and bees 
“Hold on Mr. N. ; isn’t, that pretty cool phi- 
lanthropy? How many lbs. of honey did this 
‘unprotected swarm,' put in the empty combs 
you gave it?” Full 75 lbs. worth 20c‘. per lb. 
did they not?” Novice assented. 
“Ami you divided the swarm at that, and 
set the other half rearing Queen cells if we are 
not mistaken? Acs, well P. G. says you made 
them construct, two lots in succession, amount- 
ing to 15 or 20 in all. Now these cells from 
imported stock were worth just then something 
like $10.00 and as they gave you honey too all 
the time, it seems that your ‘cold unfeeling 
world let about $30.00 slide through their lin- 
gers which you in your philanthropy didn't. 
But go on.” 
Strange to say, Novice for once in the world 
declines being voluble even on bees, and so we 
shall have to end our chapter until next month. 
P. S. — Our first eight Queen cells, gave us 8 
Queens and they are all laying. Our second, 
third, and fourth lots might have done as 
well, had we followed our own teachings. 
