For the winter of life without lament
That summer is gone, with its hours mis-spent,
And the harvest is past recall.
And not only do sticks across the hive cause much unnecessary trouble to the Bees in the construction of their combs, but render their extraction almost impossible; for in this System it becomes necessary, after a Hive has stood seven or eight years, to cut out part of its combs, which by that time will have become very black, very thick, and the cells, from the number of Bees hatched in them, (every one leaving a deposit) much contracted. The times best suited for this operation will be March and September; if performed in March, two leaves of comb may be taken, if in September, one only; it is a very simple process, and easily accomplished with the aid of a little tobacco smoke, and a knife ([fig. 6.]) which I will hereafter describe.
Gelieu says, in 1814, "I have several Stocks from twelve to twenty years old that are as prosperous as the young ones, and one stock twenty-five years old."
I cannot say so much as this, but I do not in the least doubt the truth of it; fifteen years is the longest time that I have kept a stock, and the reason of my losing it at the expiration of that period was from the decay of the Hive, it being badly made and not painted; its annual profit was never less than forty, and some years, fifty shillings.
I would recommend every person who keeps Bees, to have a few well-painted new hives always by him, that each hive be weighed, and its weight upon a ticket of lead fastened to it, the board also upon which the hive stands should be weighed.
Every swarm that is hived in May, or before the middle of June, in a moderate season will afford a glass of honey, of from six to twelve pounds, besides their winter's store; and in very good seasons, I have frequently taken twenty-five and sometimes thirty pounds, leaving the hive very rich. The most proper time for putting the glass or box upon the swarm will be from the eighteenth to the twenty-first day after their being hived, and should it be quickly filled and more room required, lift up the glass as directed at [page 23].
CHAPTER XIII.
Description of a knife for cutting out the combs. ([fig, 6,])