"Hive-roofs and Outer Cases are made of half-inch wood 11 inches wide. The former is separate, and is cross-bradded together at the angles with a two-and-a-quarter-inch turned acorn in the centre; its frame fits loosely over the cover and rests on angle-pieces at the corners. A half-inch opening is left under the eaves all round for ventilation. The hive-cover is dovetailed together and glued, with a brad driven through each of the tenons; it rests on the exterior projection of the floor-board, and is retained in its place by a plinth 2 inches wide, which fits loosely outside the latter. It must not be forgotten that all wooden roofs and outside cases require to be kept well painted, whilst no paint should ever be applied to the hive itself.
"When a super is put on a second outer case becomes necessary, and this fits loosely on the first, when the hive appears as it is represented in the annexed engraving."
METHOD OF SECURING COMBS IN FRAMES.
When transferring combs into frames we temporarily secure them in position by the aid of slips of wood a sixteenth of an inch thick by half an inch wide, tacked on each side, and one or more zinc slips as delineated in the engraving.
All these artificial supports should be removed as soon as possible. The combs will generally be found firmly fixed in less than forty-eight hours.
Fig. 22.
SWARMING.
It frequently happens when Bees are managed upon the depriving system, that for want of timely room and ventilation being given, a swarm comes off from the stock hive, leaving the bell-glass, or small hive which has been placed upon it, in an unfinished state. Now, whenever this happens, let the swarm be hived into "The Improved Cottage Hive," and the bell-glass or small hive, with the adapter, immediately removed from the stock hive, and placed upon the newly-hived swarm; and as soon as the Bees are a little settled (say in fifteen minutes), remove the new-hived swarm to the place in which it is intended to remain, care being taken to fasten down the straw cover upon the parent hive; for no further profit can be expected from it beyond a second, and, perhaps, a third swarm, which are almost sure to follow. In this method of immediately removing a swarm to the apiary, Gelieu agrees with me, and for which he gives the following reasons:—"Most people who have Bees allow their swarms to remain till the evening in the place where they have alighted, and do not move them to the apiary till after sunset. This method has many inconveniences. As soon as a swarm has congregated in the new hive, and seems to be at ease in it, the most industrious among the Bees fly off to the fields, but with a great many precautions; they descend the front of the hive, and turn to every side to examine it thoroughly, then take flight, and make some circles in the air in order to reconnoitre their new abode; they do the same in returning. If the swarm has taken flight in the morning, the same Bees make several excursions during the day, and each time with less precaution, as, becoming familiarised with their dwelling, they are less afraid of mistaking it; and thus, next morning, supposing themselves in the same place, they take wing without having observed where they have spent the night, and surprised at their return not to find the hive in the same place, they fly about all day in search of it, until they perish with fatigue and despair. Thus many hundreds of the most industrious labourers are lost; and this may be entirely avoided if the swarms be removed as soon as the Bees are perceived coming out: this sign is alone sufficient." Experience has long since proved that the custom of beating warming-pans, and the like, at the time a swarm leaves the hive is perfectly useless. Much trouble may be spared the Bees if the loose straws be removed from its interior; and the best method of effecting this is first to singe them with a wax taper and afterwards to remove them with a hard brush.
It is now an ascertained fact that the old queen accompanies the first swarm; the period which usually transpires between the first and second swarms is from nine to thirteen days; between the second and third the time is much shorter. If second swarms come by the middle of June, and stocks are required, it will be well to preserve them, for after-swarms have always young queens, which is a great advantage. Should second swarms not come till July, let them be returned to the parent hive, or put two of them together.