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
This Fumigator is a tin box, somewhat like a pepper box upon a foot.
It is a simple adaptation of the fumigating apparatus described by Mr.
Nutt, and is used in the following manner. Have a straw hive or other
vessel ready, that will match in circumference the hive intended to be
fumigated. If the empty hive have a conical top, it will not remain
crown downwards without a rest; in this case, it will be convenient to
invert it on a pail. Having ascertained that the hive to be operated
upon and the empty one in its reversed position nearly match in size,
take half a packet of the prepared fungus, fire it well, and place it
in the box or fumigator; placing this in the centre of the empty hive,
then bring the occupied hive directly over, so as to receive the fumes
of smoke. To keep all close, put a wet cloth round the place where
the two hives meet. In a minute or two the bees may be heard dropping
heavily into the lower empty hive, where they lie stupefied. After a
little while, the old hive may be tapped upon to make the bees fall
more quickly. On removing the upper hive, the bees from it will be
found lying quiet at the bottom of the lower one. Place a sheet on the
ground, and spread the bees on it, then with a feather sort them over,
in order to pick out the queen-bee. As soon as the queen is found,
then pour the rest of the lethargic swarm from off the sheet back into
the inverted hive again. The stupefied bees must now be sprinkled
freely with a syrup made of honey and water, or sugar and ale boiled
together. Some apiarians recommend a few drops of peppermint to be
mixed with the syrup, in order to drown the peculiar odour which is
special to each hive of bees,--this is more necessary when two hives
of bees are fumigated and whilst under the influence of smoke are well
mixed together. The hive containing the bees with which it is intended
to unite the stupefied bees, must now be placed on the top of that
containing the latter, just as the hive was from which they have come.
A wet cloth must be fastened round the two hives, so as to prevent
any of the bees from escaping. The hives in this position must be
placed where they are not likely to be knocked down or meddled with.
The fresh bees in the upper hive, attracted by the scent of the bees
besmeared with honey, go down and commence to lick off the sweets from
the sprinkled sleepy ones. The latter gradually revive, when all get
mingled together, and ascend in company to the upper hive, where they
live as if they had not been separate families.
The two hives should be left undisturbed for twenty-four hours, then
the upper hive may be removed and placed immediately on the spot from
whence it was brought. The reason the queen is recommended to be taken
is to prevent any fighting.
The queen should be kept alive and fed as long as she will live, in
case any harm should befall the sovereign of the other community.
THE FUMIGATOR. No. 12.
[Illustration]
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