The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1865]: Being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management, with full directions, adapted for the cottager, farmer, or scientific apiarianNeighbor, Alfred
Science
The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1865]: Being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management, with full directions, adapted for the cottager, farmer, or scientific apiarian
The mode of stocking this hive is as follows:--procure a strong swarm
if practicable, and let it be first hived into a common straw hive in
the usual way. Take care to make the necessary preparations previous
to the operation of stocking; for this purpose first unscrew the top
and take out the bar intended for the foundation of the comb. A sort
of wooden trough, contrived to act as a funnel, is provided with this
hive. It is in separate pieces, so as to be packed conveniently, and
requires screwing together. The funnel must now be attached to the
hive, and care be taken that it is quite firmly fixed--the metal plates
are attached for this purpose. Having made these preparations at dusk,
dash the bees out on to a cloth or sheet spread on the ground, place
four pieces of wood so as to raise the hive a little from the cloth;
then invert the hive so as to have the funnel downwards, placing it
over the bees, and letting it rest on the four pieces of wood just
named. In a short time (say half an hour or an hour) the bees will
ascend into the hive; they will go up more quickly if occasionally
stirred with the feather of a goose quill.
When the bees have ascended into the hive, take off the funnel, replace
the bar, screw on the top board, take it to the place intended for it
permanently to occupy, and which has been prepared for it. It will be
as well to screen the hive from view for a few days until the bees
become settled in their new domicile. Although this hive is constructed
of double glass to keep up a more uniform degree of warmth, still from
the cold nature of glass and the close contact into which the bees
are brought with it, it is advisable to place flannel between the
outer shutters and the glass of the hive on both sides; this is found
essential in winter, and very much adds to the comfort of the bees if
placed so every cold night during most of the year. In the day time
in summer months with the hive being of double glass the whole may be
fully exposed to view. If the temperature of the apartment in which the
hive stands be kept at 60 degrees, this extra attention will not be
so needful. Bees cease to appear disturbed when the exposure to light
is continuous. As soon as the bees are settled, comb building will
immediately commence, and in about two weeks' time there will be one
comb spreading over the whole hive. The queen may be viewed depositing
her eggs, and all the usual operations of the rearing of brood,
storing of honey, and the building of combs, will be open to full
inspection, with perfect ease to the spectator. As an object of lively
and permanent interest for the breakfast parlour or conservatory, the
"Unicomb Observatory Hive" may be regarded as infinitely superior to an
Aquarium or Fernery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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