The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1878]: being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of managementNeighbor, Alfred
Science
The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1878]: being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management
In handling the frames it should be borne in mind that they are to be
held perpendicularly. To gain a view of both sides of the comb when
searching for the queen, or for any purpose requiring full inspection,
the reverse side may, with a little dexterity in twirling the frame
round, be brought to face the operator, without letting the comb break
away by its own weight and so fall out of the frame, which it may do
if allowed to deviate from its upright or downright position. If the
beginner could see an experienced person perform the operation he would
quickly understand how combs may thus be handled without any risk of a
smash.
The bee-keeper should be on his guard not to tempt the avarice of
bees by exposing honey, either in the comb or liquid, and also to be
very tardy of opening frame hives in the spring or autumn. If needful
to do so, soon after sunrise is the safest, because there will be few
bees about, and the hive should be taken, if convenient, to a quiet
corner of the garden, many yards away from the other hives, and what is
requisite done speedily, so as not to expose the honey to the scent of
a host of robbers, who will most unceremoniously pillage and cause a
terrible commotion.
When replacing frames in the hive, care must be taken not to crush
a bee, and on no account must the frame be let down with a jerk, or
the insects will become exceedingly fierce; it should be so slowly
deposited in its place that a bee on feeling the slightest pressure may
be able to escape unhurt. The crown-board should be replaced by first
resting its front edge along the back, and then sliding it forward, so
that any bee upon it is pushed away instead of being crushed. Should
the hive have its super on, the same directions may be followed. The
super with its honey-board may be bodily taken away, and so placed and
confined for a time that robber bees cannot find an entrance, and also
be far enough from the apiarian to be out of danger of being broken or
overturned by him.
It will be sometimes found, in cases in which the bees have not
had sufficient storage-room, that they have carried their building
operations outside and above the frames, or across from comb to comb.
Such cells must be severed and the materials melted down for wax. There
are also cases in which fine white combs of honey can be taken from the
end frames of the stock hive; but probably not more than one comb could
be removed in a season without impoverishing the bees.
§ XVI. EXTRACTING HONEY.
Those of our readers who prefer eating "run honey" to honey in the comb
may be glad of some instruction as to the best method of separating
the two. Beyond all question they will find this in the use of the
honey-extractor (page 193), but in default of such, and for extracting
honey from combs made in supers, the following should be the course
pursued:--
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