AUGUST.
I have already sufficiently insisted upon the necessity of uniting second and third swarms, so that, amongst my readers, not even one second or third swarm can be found by itself. It should be impressed upon the mind of every apiarian, "that the larger the colony at the outset, the better the Bees will work, and the more prosperous it will become." A stock weak at the outset never does well. The method of returning, as given at [page 53], is very simple, and may be accomplished in a few minutes, even by the most inexperienced person.
Returning Swarms.—Returning first or second swarms to their parent hive, is not only attended with much trouble, and, generally, with a failure of the object desired, but also with much loss of time to the Bees, and that at a season of the year when every hour is of importance to them. A swarm left a Nutt's hive on the 3rd of June; the queen was captured, and the swarm returned. Within a few days of the time before mentioned it came out again, and was treated in a similar manner; and so it continued to go on until nearly the end of the month, when the swarm, instead of being returned to the parent hive, as had been done so many times before, was hived into an improved cottage hive, where it did very well; but during the whole time that swarming was going on, which occupied three weeks, and these the best three weeks of the year, working was entirely suspended (which is always the case), and not a pound of honey was stored; whereas, had the swarm been put in the cottage hive in the first instance, from 15 to 20 lbs. of honey would, in all probability, have been collected by it in that time. An apiarian, in Norfolk, some years since, had a stock of Bees in a favourite hive, which, very much against his wishes, and notwithstanding every means having been taken to prevent it, sent out a swarm. He captured the queen, and returned the swarm; after a few days the swarm came forth again, and was treated in the same manner, and it went on to swarm for either seven or nine times, and was returned as many times, except the last, when it was put into a new hive. Thirteen queens were captured and destroyed during this process, very nearly a month was spent in swarming and being returned, and, consequently, no work was done during that time; the result of which was that the best part of the season having been lost neither swarm nor stock was of any value. I would, therefore, say, Let all be done that can be done to prevent swarming, by giving room and ventilation, which has very rarely failed; but if, after every means has been used to prevent swarming, a swarm should come off, never attempt returning it, but hive it by itself in the usual manner.
Early Swarms.—Now, as early swarms appear to be so very desirable, it may be asked, What are the most likely means of insuring them? And, in reply to this question, I would say, Leave the stocks rich in store in the autumn, the contents of each hive weighing, at least, from 20 to 25 lbs., and let the population also of each hive be very numerous; if it be not so, add the Bees from weak hives into it.
Autumnal Unions.—Where second and third swarms have been hived by themselves, they will generally be found too poor to live through the winter, even with feeding; and, where this has been done, they may be put two or three together in the manner directed at [page 60].
Taking Honey.—Those persons who have been so fortunate as to get their glasses filled with honey will now be preparing to take them off; but I would recommend every one to do it with great caution; and not only first to weigh the matter well in their own minds, but also to weigh their hives, and if it can be satisfactorily proved that they will contain 20 lbs. of honey each when the glasses are removed, all well; but if not, let the glass or box remain upon the stock hive until the bees have emptied it of its honey; as soon as this is ascertained, let it be removed.
Some persons having found much difficulty in expelling the Bees from a glass or box, after having removed it from the stock hive, and others who have complained of the time occupied in effecting this object, may adopt the following very ingenious and useful apparatus, invented by Mr. Antram, a clergyman of Devonshire, and which has been kindly handed to me, with his permission to make it public. It is a contrivance for emptying a hive of its occupants; it may also be applied to a bell-glass, or box, either at top or attached to a board on which the removed glass is placed. He calls it his
Bee-trap; and it is, he says, "An invention for taking the honey from every description of double hive, which is not only simple, but very efficacious, and entertaining to watch. I should premise that every extra box or hive must be furnished with a second aperture never to be opened except when the honey is to be taken. Provide a block of wood 1 inch longer and half an inch deeper than the aperture, and 3 or 4 inches wide; cut the front to an angle of 45° or less; then cut out of the under part a groove the exact size of the aperture, thus leaving a thickness of half an inch of wood at the sides and top. Get a piece of talc, or very thin horn (glass is too heavy), cement or gum it to a piece of ribbon, which latter fasten to what remains of the sloping front above; divide the talc into portions about a quarter of an inch wide. A tin bottom should be affixed to the whole, to which the talc must reach, and on which it must rest.
"When you wish to empty a hive place this before the opening before mentioned, and cut off the communication between the hives; the Bees, seeing the light, will one by one push up the small pieces of talc and escape; the talc falls back in its place; thus there is no re-entering, and your hive becomes rapidly emptied. There is here no previous removing of the hive or box, no danger of a sting, and no fear of robbers; even if the queen be there, she, finding herself deserted by her subjects, will soon depart, and re-enter the stock hive by the accustomed entrance. It acts upon the same principle as the old wire rat-trap. Two loops of tin, with holes through, are added, to fasten or suspend it, when there is no alighting-board. It may be placed on the top of a box, but must then have a hole in the bottom, and a slip of tin by way of a back; the tin bottom may project a little beyond the lower edge of the talc in front, and, indeed, it is better so."
This useful contrivance I feel assured will be adopted by many persons; for it will entirely prevent the tediousness of watching a glass of honey until the Bees have left it, which without this protection is at all times necessary, and more especially so when taken late in the season, and robbers are on every side. I have more than once seen a good glass of honey emptied of every drop by them when carelessly left by its owner for a few hours; now, with this trap attached, it may be left even for days with perfect safety.