HONEY VINEGAR.
A most excellent Vinegar may also be had from honey:—Put half a pound of honey to a quart of water, boiling hot; mix well, and expose to the greatest heat of the sun without closing the vessel containing it, but sufficiently so to keep out insects. In about six weeks this liquor becomes acid and changes to strong vinegar, and of excellent quality. The broken combs, after being drained, may be put in as much water as will float them, and well washed. The linens also and sieves which have been used for draining honey, may be rinsed in the same water, and with this make the vinegar; first boil and scum it before mixing it with the honey.
REMEDIES FOR THE STING OF A BEE.
1. Persons who are much amongst Bees must now and then expect to meet with a sting, although to myself it very rarely happens; never, indeed, but when accidentally having laid my hand upon one, or when having pressed one beneath the sleeve of my coat. "The sooner the sting is extracted," says Dr. Bevan, "the less venom is ejected, and, consequently, less inflammation induced." After extracting the sting, I apply the least possible quantity of liquor potassæ, either with a fine camel's-hair pencil, a sharp pen, or even with the point of a needle. The venom of the Bee being an acid, this very powerful alkali neutralises it; the pain is instantly removed, and neither swelling nor inflammation follows. Care must be taken not to use too large a quantity or a scar will be the consequence, which will last for some days. Remember, the quicker the application the more effectual the cure.
2. The only positive and immediate cure for a Bee-sting that I have ever heard of, and that may be depended on in all cases, is tobacco. This remedy was recommended to me as an infallible cure; yet I had but little faith in it: still I tried it, and, as I supposed, properly, and found little or no benefit from its use. I reported its failure to cure in my own case to my informant, and he stated that I had not applied it thoroughly as I ought to have done; that he was certain that it would be an effectual cure, never having known it to fail in a single instance when correctly applied. The next time I got stung I applied the tobacco as directed, and found it to cure like a charm. The manner of applying it is as follows:—Take ordinary fine-cut smoking or chewing tobacco, and lay a pinch of it in the hollow of your hand, and moisten it and work it over until the juice appears quite dark-coloured; then apply it to the part stung, rubbing in the juice, with the tobacco between your thumb and fingers, as with a sponge. As fast as the tobacco becomes dry, add a little moisture and continue to rub, and press out the juice upon the inflamed spot, during five or ten minutes, and if applied soon after being stung it will cure in 'every case. Before I tried it, I was frequently laid up with swollen eyes and limbs for days. Now it is amusing to get stung.—(Miner's American Bee-keeper's Manual.)
BEE DRESS.
In the season for going amongst Bees careful apiarians are desirous of having all things ready for use before they are immediately required, and as being well-armed against the stings of their Bees gives confidence and coolness to the inexperienced operator, both of which are so essentially necessary to the successful accomplishment of his object, I will give the plan of a very simple and convenient Bee-dress, which has been kindly handed to me by a friend. It is formed of green leno, and so made as to enclose the head, neck, and shoulders; indeed, it is like a bag, with sleeves to tie at the wrists. The sleeves are made of green glazed cambric. It forms altogether a perfect panoply, and the most timid person with its aid may perform the most difficult operation with the greatest coolness, and without the possibility of being stung.
PURCHASING STOCKS.
March and April are the best two months for purchasing stocks, and May for swarms. It is better to obtain them from such a distance only as they can be conveyed by hand; conveyance by any other means is always attended with danger to the Bees. Swarms require less care in carrying from place to place than stocks. In purchasing stocks the weight alone must not be relied on; a swarm of the preceding year should be selected, and one that contains not less than 12 lbs. of honey. The combs must be looked at, and if they are not of a yellow or straw colour, and if at all approaching to blackness, it is not a swarm of the last year, and must be rejected. The next best time to purchase is May or June, at the time of swarming; but of this hereafter.