The Honey-Bee: Its Natural History, Physiology and ManagementBevan, Edward
History
The Honey-Bee: Its Natural History, Physiology and Management
Bevan, Edward
Bee culture; Bees
Should symptoms of discontent be observed after hiving, the queen will
probably be discovered on the ground, or somewhere apart; surrounded by a
small cluster of attendants, whom nothing but violence can separate from
her. If she be taken up either singly or with the cluster, and placed
near the entrance of the hive containing the swarm, all will be harmony.
_Sometimes a swarm divides into two portions_, which settle apart from
each other and have each a distinct leader. The conduct of the apiarian
must be governed by the size of the two divisions, and the season at
which they emerge; unless both be large and the swarming early, they had
better be hived in separate boxes, and joined together, in the manner
recommended in Chap. XIX.
+Columella+ was the first who proposed union by killing the supernumerary
queen.
The branch on which the swarm settled is sometimes rubbed with wormwood,
or smoked with disagreeable fumes, to drive away all remaining loiterers.
In every operation, it is desirable to avoid crushing a single bee, as,
in case of discovery, the rest are excited to anger. See chapter on the
_Senses of Bees_.
Immediately on the bees taking to the hive, it should be placed upon a
table, on a proper floor board, and be covered with boughs or a cloth;
and the hive should be near the parent stock, to catch stragglers,
on their return home. At night it should be removed to its permanent
station.
CHAPTER XVII.
ON REMOVING BEES FROM COMMON STRAW-HIVES TO STORIFYING HIVES OR BOXES.
Many plans have been suggested for transferring bees from hives to boxes;
but excepting in the case of a recent swarm, I would not recommend any,
but an experienced apiarian, to attempt an immediate transfer.
In the case of a recent swarm, the method of effecting the object is
simple and easy; for if, when the bees have retired for the night, the
hive be placed upon a middle board, with a divider underneath it, and
the whole be inverted upon a small tub or a peck measure, and an empty
box be raised upon the divider, this latter being withdrawn, and every
opening besides what is necessary for admitting air being well secured,
the bees will all probably have ascended into the box by morning, when
with the assistance of the dividers they may be placed in the bee-house
or any where else that the proprietor chooses, just as if they had been
originally hived in the box. If the ascent have not taken place in the
morning, it may be effected by drumming smartly with two sticks, upon
the sides of the hive: in this way, the ascent may be known by the loud
humming noise by which it will be accompanied.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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