” we should refuse an offer of two spoons for 
more unless they were very nice and very 
174 
stead of remaining to protect the weak and heal the sick 
saw fit to decamp, and after enjoying a healthful sailing 
excursion in the air they went to the hive in which the 
first swarm .had been put. Their stay there was not 
very tedious, for in a week or ten days and instead of| 
aspiring to the trunk ol a choice shade, at ten feet from 
the ground, their “ meek and lowly spirits,” led them 
to cluster on a raspberry hush but a few inches from the 
surface, from which they were taken and put in a con¬ 
dition satisfactory to themselves, as their quietude and 
thrift fully attest. 
Our last swarm came off in June, and notwithstand¬ 
ing the old adage that “a swarm in June is not worth 
a spoon," 
this, and 
heavy. True, the quantity of honey which they have 
gathered is not very great, but with our way of manag¬ 
ing such hives we think amply sufficient for their supply. 
We propose burying them, through the winter, a prac¬ 
tice which we have adopted in two successive years, and 
had we continued it the third, our old colony instead of; 
coming to an untimely end, would probably have been 
in existence now through its descendants. 
My method of burying bees is as follows. The ope-] 
ration is performed the last of November. The pit in 
which they are to be placed is dug considerably larger] 
than the hives, in every respect. On the bottom of the 
pit two sticks, say of scantling four inches square, are 
placed that a cavity may be left into which the water if] 
there is any may settle and run off without injury to the 
bees. On these blocks I lay my floor board, which should 
be sound and full an inch thick, if more no matter.— 
The top of the hive should be covered with a two inch 
plank, or if more convenient, a piece of wide thick slab 
with the rounding side up, so that if the frost comes 
out, and heavy rains fall, it may serve as a roof to carry 
the water from over the hive and turn it into the pit 
below. Straw is then placed as compactly as may be 
around the hive and the earth thrown on so as to form a 
cone above it, which again operates as a roof to turn 
the water as itfalls. With regard to the depth of bury¬ 
ing we can only say, that in our former experiments, 
we never sunk the top of the hive below the surface.— 
Whether it would be well to do so we cannot say. Some 
when burying their bees, drive down a stake near the 
hive as they say to admit the air, but we do not see why 
a stake drove down with the earth compactly placed 
around it, can form an air hole more than the earth it¬ 
self. And if it could, we do not see the necessity of it, 
for the object of burying bees, is to put them as much 
as may be in a state of dormancy through the winter, by 
which their stock of provisions is lengthened out, to se¬ 
cure them from sudden and often fatal changes from heat 
and cold and from storm and sunshine. 
In selecting a place for burying, it is important that a 
dry one should be chosen; and we prefer one that is cold 
to a warm one; and could we regulate the condition of the 
earth around them, we would freeze itthe night after their 
burial, and keep it frozen until time for their exhuma¬ 
tion in the spring. 
We in both instances of our former burying, took them 
up some of the last days of March, and all the dead we 
found from the four hives thus kept would not half fill 
a person’s hand, and on exposure to the sun and atmos¬ 
phere the living were as bright and lively as though they 
had known no winter, and they gave swarms earlier and 
more frequently than did the hives that were not buried 
the ensuing summer. 
We have thus far kept only the old fashioned square 
hives, but intend during the coming winter to have some 
manufactured after the Griffith and perhaps other plans. 
We shall do so, not that we have any particular objec¬ 
tion to the square hive, but in order to profit by improve¬ 
ments in the article; and to do this we wish to give each 
variety a trial. 
Our hives have uniformly been made of pine boards, 
and put together in the closest manner possible, after 
which we have spread a salve made of beeswax, tallow 
and rosin over the joints within and without. This wax 
gives the hive an odor very pleasant to the bee, in con¬ 
sequence of their wax being a part of its composition. 
It also closes the small apertures which are most always 
to be found in bee-hives against the invasion of the mil- 
ler, one of the most formidable enemies to bee culture: 
and where the hives stand out, as they often do, it pre¬ 
vents the storm from beating through openings, which 
if no preventives be employed, are always increasing in^ 
size. Any sweet wood is undoubtedly good for hives, 
but economy and durability should be consulted in their 
manufacture as well as every thing else. Hence the 
cheapest material that can be used, with the approba 
tion (we can do nothing without this) of those who are^ 
to inhabit them, should be. Basswood is cheap andij 
sweet, and we linow not why a basswood hive, kept) 
sheltered, would not last for ages. To secure its dura- 
biiity it may be planed on the outside and painted, anc 
we know not why the industrious bees would not enjoy a| 
neat white house, and are not as worthy of such a one; 
as many biped drones who inhabit them. We think the) 
practice of placing boxes on the hives for obtaining* 
honey a good one, especially when the swarm is thrifty-. 
After the proper season of swarming time is passed, the] 
box may be placed on the hive and prevent future swarms! 
from coming out; and in this way the increase of bees' 
may be saved in the old hive, where there will be honey ] 
enough for them, and new swarms come off earlier the 
next season, while as much honey maybe obtained from 
the box as the late swarm would collect, without the 
sacrifice of their lives. The honey thus obtained is of 
the purest quality. The aperture in the top of the hive 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
through which they pass to the box should be closedgCocoons are first selected, and when the butterflies come 
when the box is removed, and remain so until it is re-gout, theirs# and the last are rejected. Let the people 
placed the next summer. pof the United States make numerous and careful experi- 
Bee pasture. The man who turns his herds or .hislfments. We beardless boys of Virginia at least do not 
flocks upon their own resources for a subsistence, canlmean to open wide our mouths and swallow nostrums 
expect but little profit from them, unless they becomelas an unfledged bird does its food. L. Y. A. 
highway robbers, (and then the partaker is worse than!' 
the thief) and enter his neighbor’s fields and spoil hisf 
crops. Though we have no idea that a community ofl 
bees can be restrained by fences, pokes or fetters, yet 
we do think that their rambling propensities may be 
checked. The facilities of their labor increase their en 
terprise, and the endearments of their home made still 
more dear by—we should have said cultivating flowers 
for their benefit, but this would sound weak to the ears 
of some strong minds, so to such we say allowing them 
to grow. 
But the ladies admire flowers—so do gentlemen, there¬ 
fore we have no hesitancy in recommending their cul¬ 
ture, especially when so many objects of utility demand 
it, as in the present case. The mignionette is a beauti¬ 
ful little flower, and when once sown will keep itself in, 
if the ground is kept clean. It continues blossoming 
very late, its fragrance perfumes the atmosphere agreea¬ 
bly, to a great distance, and bees are as fond of it as 
we are of honey. The raspberry and bramble flowers^ 
are favorites with them, and we never heard a person 
say that they did not like their fruit, so they should be 
set plentifully in the garden and cultivated, that they 
may, at home, produce an abundance of flowers for the 
bees and fruit for man. The strawberry too, that we 
unitedly love so well, should always be found growing 
for our mutual benefit in our common gardens. The 
poppy, though somewhat calculated to lull the drowsy 
faculty of man to repose, possesses not the least lethar¬ 
gic quality to them, but in the reverse arouses their fa-] 
culties. Catnip notin mints or juleps, but in blossom, 
To keep Sweet Potatoes. 
[From the Farmers' Register.] 
Some time last fall, as well as I now recollect, one of 
jyour Virginia correspondents asked for information upon 
the subject of keeping sweet potatoes through the win¬ 
ter ; and perhaps the writer was desirous to obtain Vir¬ 
ginia practice; but if our Georgia plan should not be 
altogether applicable to your region, (I know of no rea¬ 
son why it should not be,) your correspondent may de¬ 
rive some useful hints therefrom ; and though I give our 
plan too late for any practical use the present season, it 
will, if at all, be of service the coming one. There are 
various modes adopted in Georgia for saving potatoes, 
but as the one I practise, in common with many others, 
has always been so successful, I shall describe that only. 
As soon as the frost slightly affects the potatoe vines in 
the fall, (about the middle of October here,) I begin to 
make preparations for digging; and by the time the 
vines become thoroughly killed, I am prepared for the 
'iarvest. I select an elevated piece of ground, and throw¬ 
ing up circular mounds or hills, twelve or fifteen inches 
above the common surface, the diameter of which should 
be about ten feet, to contain sixty bushels of potatoes. 
The situation and the elevation of the hills are objects 
of importance, to prevent the possibility of the potatoes 
getting wet. In order to make the potatoes lie on the 
hill the better, the edges should be some somewhat ele¬ 
vated by drawing the earth from the centre, giving it 
slightly the appearance of a bowl. Common pine heart 
they much admire. We too have tested the efficacy ofjfboards are now placed on the earth, radiating from the 
its healing qualities through strong portions of its tea 
Fours truly, W. B. 
Mount Osceola, Oct. 4, 1839. 
[From the ( Va.) Fanners' Register.] 
Carelessness in Saving Silk-Worms’ Eggs. 
Stafford, Aug. 5th, 1839. 
To the Editor of the Farmers’ Register.—I am highly 
gratified that you have given the agricultural community 
a caution about silk-worm eggs. At least two-thirds of] 
the failures in rearing silk-worms in this country may 
with propriety be attributed to bad eggs. Many persons 
raise silk-worms for the sole purpose of speculating on 
the eggs, and are probably not aware of the necessity 
of careful management to procure good eggs. Prevail-] 
ing thoughtlessness on this subject, which I know exists 
extensively, if not checked, will throw serious obsta¬ 
cles in the way of this important culture, which I firmly 
believe is destined to repopulate the poor land districts 
in Virginia and Maryland. I will add a caution which 
may be of service to the inexperinced. If the cocoons 
intended for seed are thrown into a heap, and permitted 
to remain for several hours, when the weather is warm, 
the eggs produced will generally be worthless. I know 
this to be the fact from dear-bought experience. 
“ When silk-worms are to be raised, the eggs to be 
procured from the cocoons, must be thought of before 
anything else. Now-a-days when the cocoons are col¬ 
lected, it is the custom to keep them altogether upon 
the frames. Some persons not having time to reel all 
their silk, butterflies are seen to go out and lay eggs al-j 
most immediately. The accumulation of cocoons pro¬ 
duce a kind of fermentation, and the heat causes the 
butterflies to hatch before the proper period. This pre-; 
mature development has never any good results, for the®* 
butterflies are sick; and from thence it comes that the 
centre to the circumference of the hill; and on these a 
layer one foot thick, of dry pine leaves. The hill be¬ 
ing now ready to receive the potatoes, I select dry, mild 
weather, and commence digging in the morning, and 
stop time enough in the afternoon to haul up all dug 
during the day; for if left out at night, the frost, if any, 
would injure them. If possible, the hills should be 
filled and completed the same day, but if not, the pota¬ 
toes should be well covered with straw to protect them 
at night, and uncovered next morning. When the pile 
becomes two or three feet high, place a pole horizontally 
across, of sufficient length to pass entirely through the 
sill. A better ventilator would be an oblong box four or 
five inches square, with several auger holes in it. The 
potatoes may now be put on till the pile is about five feet 
high, and left in a conical form. Next, procure dry 
pine leaves and lay them all over the potatoes, at least 
six inches thick. Pine heart boards like those used at 
the bottom of the potatoes, are now placed over the 
straw, and a covering of earth six or eight inches thick, 
is put over the whole and patted smooth with a spade. 
A small aperture should be left at the top of the hill, to 
assist in ventilation ; or to be neater, a short oblong 
box may be inserted down to the potatoes, and the earth 
drawn nicely up to it. If a pole is used as the horizon¬ 
tal ventilator, the earth should be removed from below 
it, where it projects from the hill. All the apertures 
should be left open, for a few days after the operation 
is finished, and then only closed during severe weather, 
with a handful of pine leaves. Shelters should be 
erected over the hills to exclude the rain entirely. I 
consider it important to perform the whole business in 
dry weather. P. C. H. 
Soiling Cattle. 
____ Soiling is the feeding of cattle either in the barn or 
silk-worms produced from their eggs, are affected by yard, through the summer, with new mown grass or 
diseases from the moment of their hatching. 
“The cocoons for reproduction ought to be separated,! 
and put in a well aired chamber, and spread upon very 
clean mats, a layer of the thickness of a single cocoon 
only.” (Chinese Treatise, published by P. Force, p .j 
150.) 
I have about 40,000 silk-worms of seven varieties.- 
They are remarkably healthly, and a large portion of] 
them spinning in handsome style. Respectfully yours,i 
LAYTON Y. ATKINS. ' 
P. S. There is no advantage to be derived from a] 
forced and premature development of the silk-worm in' 
any of its stages. The nearer the time of spinning to the! 
natural period of its life, as stated by Dandolo, the bet-; 
ter. The precocious and the tardy are always feeble,! 
and eggs should never be saved from them. I havel 
made nine rearings of the “ two-crop” white, and of the] 
cocoons formed between the 25th and 30th days it has] 
required from 700 to 800 to weigh a pound, and so ofj 
the last which spin; but of cocoons formed from the: 
30th to the 35th day, 350 to 400 to make a pound. De-j 
pend upon it modern writers on silk-culture are promul-1 
gating a pernicious error on this point; and before the 
learned silk-worm doctors publish any more infallible' 
prescriptions, I advise them to put on their spectacles’ 
and bring their remedies to bear on four or five cases. ’ 
If a forced and premature development is so impor-! 
tant, what reason or sense would there be in the follow-] 
ing passage from the Chinese Treatise: 
“The moths which come out the first day are called 
grass moths. The last of all are called mogno, (that is! 
to say, the last butterflies.) Neither of these ought to\ 
be kept.” 
Mark the care of this people about procuring eggs.j 
roots. 
The following are some of the advantages of soiling 
cattle over depasturing them : 
“1. A spot of ground which, when pastured upon, 
will yield sufficient food for only two head, will abun¬ 
dantly maintain five head of cattle in one stable, if the 
vegetables be mowed in proper time, and given to the 
cattle in proper order. 
“2. The stall feeding yields at least three times the 
quantity of manure from the same number of cattle; for 
the best and most efficacious manure is produced in the 
stable, and carried to the fields at the most proper peri¬ 
od of its fermentation; whereas, when spread upon 
meadows or ploughed fields, as it is too common, and 
exhausted by the air and sun, its power is entirely 
wasted. 
“3. The cattle used to stall feeding will yield a much 
greater quantity of milk, and increase faster in weight, 
when fattening, than when they go to the field. 
4. They are less subject to accident—do not suffer 
so much heat, flies and insects—on the contrary, if every 
thing be properly managed, they will remain in a state 
of constant health and vigor .”—Von Thaer. 
To Destroy Weevils in Granaries. 
[From the London Farmers' Magazime.] 
Sir —Seeing in your paper an inquiry respecting the 
Jdestruction of weevils, I send a copy of a paragraph 
{which has been cut out of some publication. It is as 
lfollows:—- 
“Accident has discovered to a French farmer a very 
I simple mode of destroying weevils in corn warehouses; 
happening to lay in the corner of a granary in which 
{there was a quantity of corn, some sheep skins with the 
