Humanity to Honey-Bees / or, Practical Directions for the Management of Honey-Bees Upon an Improved and Humane Plan, by Which the Lives of Bees May Be Preserved, and Abundance of Honey of a Superior Quality May Be Obtained

by Thomas Nutt

June Hour Ther. 10 6 60 — 12 74 — 3 72 11 6 60 — 12 70 — 3 76 — 4 78 — 9 70 12 6 64 — 12 74 — 2 82 13 6 60 — 10 82 — 12 90 14 6 64 — 12 84 — 2 88 — 4 86 15 7 66 — 10 70 — 3 88 — 6 80 17 12 70 — 3 88 — 9 68 18 6 66 — 12 70 — 2 76 19 6 60 — 12 70 — 5 66 20 8 60 — 12 70 — 3 76 21 7 60 — 12 70 — 3 72 22 9 70 — 12 70 — 3 65

Mem.—A collateral-box,weighing 60 lbs. and another,weighing 52 lbs. taken. June Hour Ther. 23 6 70 — 12 75 — 3 82 — 6 76 24 7 66 — 8 82 — 3 90 25 6 70 — 10 90 — 12 94 26 7 86 — 11 94 — 5 91 — 9 86 27 7 84 — 9 90 — 1 96 28 6 88 — 12 94 — 11 90 29 6 86 — 12 94 — 2 96 — 7 91 30 5 90 — 12 96 — 4 84

July Hour Ther. 1 6 94 — 12 96 — 4 94 — 7 94 2 6 94 — 12 96 — 6 94 — 10 94 3 6 94 — 12 96 — 6 94 — 10 90 4 6 92 — 12 94 — 6 90 5 6 90 — 12 92 — 6 90 7 6 90 — 12 92 — 6 92 — 10 92 8 7 92 — 12 92 — 6 90 — 11 90 9 6 88 — 12 92 — 3 82 — 10 80 10 6 78 — 12 80 — 6 82 11 6 80 — 12 84 — 6 86 — 10 90 12 6 86 — 12 80 — 6 76 — 10 74		If the pasturage for Bees begin to fail in your neighbourhood at this time, it is advisable, if it be practicable, to remove your colonies to a better and a more profitable situation. You will be richly rewarded for this attention to the prosperity of your apiary. July Hour Ther. 13 6 74 — 12 76 — 6 76 14 6 76 — 12 78 — 6 76 15 6 74 — 12 76 — 6 78 16 6 78 — 12 86 — 6 86 — 10 80 17 6 78 — 10 78 — 12 80 18 6 76 — 12 80 — 6 78 — 10 76 19 6 76 — 12 80 — 6 74 — 10 74 20 6 68 — 12 70 — 6 70 — 10 70 21 6 66 — 12 68 — 4 64
July	Hour	Ther.
1	6	94
—	12	96
—	4	94
—	7	94
2	6	94
—	12	96
—	6	94
—	10	94
3	6	94
—	12	96
—	6	94
—	10	90
4	6	92
—	12	94
—	6	90
5	6	90
—	12	92
—	6	90
7	6	90
—	12	92
—	6	92
—	10	92
8	7	92
—	12	92
—	6	90
—	11	90
9	6	88
—	12	92
—	3	82
—	10	80
10	6	78
—	12	80
—	6	82
11	6	80
—	12	84
—	6	86
—	10	90
12	6	86
—	12	80
—	6	76
—	10	74
July	Hour	Ther.
13	6	74
—	12	76
—	6	76
14	6	76
—	12	78
—	6	76
15	6	74
—	12	76
—	6	78
16	6	78
—	12	86
—	6	86
—	10	80
17	6	78
—	10	78
—	12	80
18	6	76
—	12	80
—	6	78
—	10	76
19	6	76
—	12	80
—	6	74
—	10	74
20	6	68
—	12	70
—	6	70
—	10	70
21	6	66
—	12	68
—	4	64

Summary of memorandums of the several deprivations or takings of honey from one set of boxes this season:

May	27. Glass and box	54		lbs.
June	9. Box	56		..
——	10. Glass	14	½	..
——	12. Box	60		..
——	13. Ditto	52		..
Collateral-box		60		..
		296	½	tlbs.

Did I deem it necessary, I could, from the letters of a variety of highly respectable correspondents, show that the mode of managing Bees in the way, and upon the principles, now explained, has been adopted, and has succeeded even beyond the most sanguine expectations of many of my worthy friends and patrons; but I will content myself at present with giving the two following letters, which I have just received from a gentleman in this neighbourhood, whose very name, to all who have any knowledge of or acquaintance with him, will be a sufficient guarantee that his statements are facts. Besides, his letters are a condensed, and I must say—clever epitome of my practical directions for the management of Bees in my boxes, and may be useful on that account; and moreover, I have, as will be seen presently, his unsolicited authority to make them public, and therefore run no risk of being called to order for so doing.

"Gedney-Hill, 13th July, 1832.

"Dear Sir,
"You will, I am persuaded, excuse me for troubling you with the information that I yesterday took off a fine glass of honey from one of my Bee-colonies. I went to work secundum artem, that is, in one word, scientifically, or in four words, according to your directions; and I have the satisfaction, nay more,—I have the pleasure to add that I succeeded—I had almost said completely, but I must qualify that expression by saying, that I succeeded all but completely; for one luckless Bee had the misfortune to be caught between the edges of the dividing-tin and the glass, and to be crushed to death in consequence. Excepting that accident, I believe that not one Bee was injured, nor lost. They left the glass, as soon as I gave them the opportunity of leaving it, in the most peaceable manner; in a subdued and plaintive tone they hummed round me,—settled upon me,—crept over me in all directions,—but not one of them stung me; in short, they returned to their home without manifesting the slightest symptoms of resentment, and in less than half an hour from the commencement of the operation, there was not a single Bee left in the glass. In my eye it is a very handsome glass of honey; it weighs exactly 13 lbs, and it has not one brood-cell in it. I intend to close it up,—to label it,—and to keep it, at least until I get another as handsome. It is a rich curiosity to exhibit to one's friends, especially to those who have never seen such a thing.

"On the other side, I send you a fortnight's register of the heights and variations of a thermometer, placed in the colony from which I have taken the glass, and also, of one placed in the shade, and apart from all Bees; from which register you will know, in a moment, whether I have managed my Bees properly. I am willing to flatter myself that I have, and that you will say I have been very attentive indeed.