THE MODE OF STOCKING AN OBSERVATORY-HIVE.
This operation may be performed in various ways, and almost at any time during the summer months, by an experienced apiarian. I will content myself with describing how it may be done most easily, if not most scientifically, by any person possessed of courage enough to operate at all among Bees. It is as follows:
When your Bees swarm from a cottage-hive, take it (the swarm) into a common hive in the usual way 7 place it in a cool, shaded situation, and let it remain there until the evening; and even then attempt no further operation, unless the Bees be all settled and quite still. When they are all within their hive, peaceable, and retired, as it were, for the night, you may suddenly strike them from their hive upon a clean, white sheet, spread over a table prepared and ready for the purpose, and within the space occupied, or rather—enclosed, by four bricks placed edgewise. Upon these bricks place your glass-hive as expeditiously as possible with its entrance just over the Bees. Then envelope your hive with a cloth so as to darken its interior, and, lastly, throw the corners of the sheet over the whole. This done, the Bees will presently ascend into the wings of the hive. When they are all safely lodged in it, you may carefully remove the sheet and the other coverings; and, having securely made up the entrance into the winter-pavilion, then place the stocked hive upon its pedestal, and the Bees will be ready to commence their labour the next day.
At the latter end of August invert the parent-hive from which the swarm issued, and place it in the octagon-box (g.) below the summer-pavilion. Take out the plug that is between the two hives, that is—open the passage into the winter-hive, and you will have accomplished the union of the two families: they will join or unite, and thenceforward continue to labour as one family. By this movement you give to your Bees a winter-residence, secure from all enemies, which are numerous at this season. And so well-stocked will the winter-hive be, that an early swarm from it, for the observatory-hive, the following season may reasonably be expected.
The honey may be taken from the e. e. glasses, placed upon the arms of the summer-pavilion so easily, by turning round the loose boards under the glasses, that further explanation is unnecessary. The machine itself will point out to the perfect stranger the proper method of doing it.