At noon, upon a clear fine day, pass either a very thin knife or fine wire between the hive and the glass intended to be taken. If this precaution be neglected, a piece of comb is frequently left projecting from the top of the one left, or the bottom of that taken, which will cause much trouble to the operator. Two adapting-boards (see [page 8]) placed between the hive and the glass will be found very convenient, for the knife or wire will then only have to be passed between them, and the danger of breaking the combs thus be obviated.
To Expel the Bees from the Glass.—The glass must be lifted very gently, kept in the same position, and placed upon three inverted flower-pots, or something of the kind, in a shaded place, about 30 or 40 yards from the hive, and the Bees will make their escape in about ten or fifteen minutes. Gentleness, as I have before said, is very necessary in this, as in all other operations with Bees; indeed, it is the only means of accomplishing the end desired: therefore, remove the glass very gently, and place it about 6 inches above the ground on bricks or flower-pots, as above. Shaking, beating, or burning paper under it, have all a contrary effect than that desired upon the Bees: they are alarmed by this, and will not leave the glass for hours, and, perhaps, days when these means are resorted to. The glass being thus placed, a loud humming noise is first heard, and the Bees are then seen to leave it, and in five or six minutes all, except a few stragglers that may be brushed out with a feather, will have left it: but should the queen be in the glass, which very rarely happens, quite a different appearance presents itself—no noise will be heard, nor a Bee scarcely seen to leave it; but the hive from which it has been taken will, in a very short time, appear in great confusion. Whenever this occurs the glass must be returned immediately, and taken off again the next day. When a glass or box of honey is taken, it must not be left till the Bees are all out of it, for it is very likely to be attacked by robbers, and a great part of it carried away in a short time. Robbers may be known by their endeavouring to enter the glass or box, while the Bees belonging to it, being separated from their queen, fly home immediately upon leaving it. I have frequently found it necessary, in order to prevent robbers from attacking the glass, to remove it from place to place every four or five minutes, or to take the glass into a darkened room, so that a small portion of light is admitted through a hole which communicates with the open air.
STUPIFYING BEES.
By Fumigation.—Much has been said and written upon the subject of fumigation, yet this is a process that I am not at all partial to; and, as far as my experience has gone, it is one which I have never yet had occasion to resort to in a single instance; for even in the most difficult operations I have always found a puff, and that a very little one, of tobacco-smoke to be all-sufficient. As I have said before, gentleness is the best protection; still, if by any little accident the Bees become irritated, a slight puff of tobacco-smoke quiets them at once. One reason for my not being partial to fumigation is, that I could never see the necessity for it; and another reason is, that all the Bees, which I have seen thus treated are sluggish and inactive for some days after the operation, besides many having been killed. Now, this in early spring, or in the midst of the honey-gathering season, is certainly of great consequence, especially when we are told that a prosperous colony of Bees will, in a single day of the latter season, collect from 4 to 6 lbs. of honey.
METHOD OF DRAINING HONEY FROM THE COMBS.
Place a sieve, either of hair or canvas, over an earthen jar, cut the combs containing the honey into small pieces, and put them into a sieve; let them be cut in an horizontal direction. It is better to slice them twice—that is, at the top and bottom, than in the middle. Crushing or pressing should be avoided for, as a portion of brood and Bee-bread generally remains in the comb, pressure would force it through the sieve, and the honey would thereby be much injured, both in colour as well a& flavour. It is very desirable to have two sieves; for in every hive there will be two kinds of honey—the one almost colourless and fine-flavoured, found at the sides of the hive; the other dark and not so good, stored in the centre. These should always be kept separate. The draining process may occupy, perhaps, two days; but the largest quantity, as well as the best quality, will be drained off in three or four hours. The honey should be put into jars immediately, and the jars filled and tied down with bladder; for exposure to the air, even for a few hours, very much deteriorates its flavour. I may here observe, that honey in the combs keeps remarkably well if folded in writing-paper, and sealed up so as to exclude the free entrance of the air, and is placed in a dry warm closet.
PREPARATION OF WAX.
Having drained all the honey from the combs, wash these in clean water; this liquid, by exposure to the sun and air, will make most excellent vinegar; put them in a clean boiler with some soft water; simmer over a clear fire until the combs are melted: pour a quart or so into a canvas bag, wide at the top and tapering downwards into a jelly bag; hold this over a tub of cold water; the boiling liquor will immediately pass away, leaving the liquefied wax and the dross in the bag; have ready a piece of smooth board, of such a length that one end may rest at the bottom of the tub and the other end at its top; upon this inclined plane lay your reeking bag, but not so as to touch the cold water; then, by compressing the bag with any convenient roller, the wax will ooze through and run down the board into the cold water, on the surface of which it will set in thin flakes; empty the dross out of the bag and replenish it with the boiling wax, and proceed as before until all has been pressed. When finished, collect the wax from the surface of the cold water, put it into a clean saucepan with very little water, melt it carefully over a slow fire, skim off the dross as it rises, then pour it into moulds, or shapes, and place them where they will cool slowly. The wax may be rendered still more pure by a second melting and moulding.
MEAD.
This treatise would not be complete without a receipt for Mead, the following is the best that I have seen, and is most excellent:—Pour five gallons of boiling water upon 20 lbs. of honey; boil, and remove the scum as it rises; when it ceases to rise, add 1 oz. of hops, and boil for ten minutes afterwards; put the liquor into a tub to cool. When reduced to 75° of Fahrenheit, add a slice of bread toasted and smeared over with a little yeast, let it stand in a warm room and be stirred occasionally; and when it carries a head tun it, filling the cask up from time to time. When the fermentation has nearly finished bung it down, leaving a peg-hole, which may soon be closed; bottle in about a year.