It will now be time to place _glasses_ or _small hives_ upon such
stocks as are not intended to swarm, and it will be well not to do it
until the bees begin to show evident signs of want of room; for then
they will ascend immediately into the glasses, and commence working;
but on the contrary, when they are put on too early--that is, before
the stock hives are full with Bees, they will not go into them, but
frequently swarm in preference; and besides, opening the hive to put on
the glass before it is full with. Bees causes a circulation of cold
air through its centre, which tends greatly to retard the hatching of
the brood.
Guide-combs.--A glass should never be put on without having a piece or
two of guide-comb placed at the top, which may easily be effected by
first warming the zinc tube, and then attaching the comb to it whilst
in that state.
Glasses.--For the method of placing glasses, small hives, &c., on the
Improved Cottage Hive see page 54, and for the treatment of swarms
generally, taking honey, expelling the Bees from glasses, &c., see page
56.
Bar Hives.--Persons who have possessed themselves of these excellent
hives are by this time anxiously looking for swarms to put into them,
or quite as anxiously watching the progress of those already at work in
them. The guide-combs being properly fixed will insure their working
regularly upon the bars of the stock box, but not quite so surely upon
those of the upper one; for, notwithstanding every precaution being
taken to prevent it, they will sometimes commence working their combs
from the top of the stock box, which forms the floor of the upper one.
This must be attentively watched for the first three or four days after
opening the communication between the boxes, and any comb observed in
this position must be immediately removed.
Artificial Swarms.--The present is a good time for obtaining artificial
swarms, and where any form of the "Bar Hives" is used, the process is
very simple, and may be thus effected:--From ten to twelve o'clock, on
a bright morning, remove the board from the top of the parent hive;
select a bar, the comb on which contains both eggs and brood, and if a
royal cell, all the better, but this is not important; place the bar
with comb in some convenient place, so that it is neither bruised nor
separated from the bar; then turn up the parent hive, after having
fastened down the top, and place the one intended for the new swarm
upon it, observing that the junction is perfect; then, by a continuous
gentle tapping upon the parent hive for a few minutes, a portion of the
Bees will have ascended into the hive. Remove the parent hive 60 or
100 yards, placing it upon a fresh floor-board, and place the new hive
exactly in the place of the old one, and upon the same floor-board;
and, as quickly as possible, introduce the bar of comb filled with
eggs and brood into its centre, replace the top, and endeavour to have
the exterior of the hive as little altered in appearance as may be; it
will then be found that the few Bees driven into the new hive, with
the number returning to it that were out at work, with some that may
come from the parent hive, will altogether make a fair-sized swarm.
The parent hive will, in all probability, give another swarm in about
fourteen days.
Swarming.--The time for swarms is now very nigh at hand, if we are to
have any; but in weak stocks it is not very desirable. However, if they
come, the best must be made of them. By all means let the new swarm be
placed where it is to remain as soon as it is settled in its new hive,
which rarely exceeds ten minutes. This will save the Bees much loss
of time, as well as numbers of them their lives. When there is dull
and cold weather in March and April, and even May, many stocks become
weak and feeble, and numbers entirely perish; therefore, swarming,
generally, must be later than usual; and those persons who are wishing
to prevent it altogether must not be satisfied by simply placing boxes
or glasses upon their stocks, but they must also see that the Bees
take possession of them, and the best method to secure this is not to
put the supers on until the Bees begin to be a little inconvenienced
for want of room; and then, by placing a bit or two of guide-comb, as
before directed, into the super, the Bees will enter it at once and
commence working.
Queenless Stocks.--It is not at all unusual at this season to see
the Bees of some hives, although possessing a good store of honey,
quite inactive, carrying in no pollen, and basking in the sun at the
mouth of the hive, but still giving smart resistance to a robber if
he ventures to make an entry. This arises from the old age or death
of the queen; and, if the Bees are numerous,, will go on in the same
manner nearly through the summer. But, if the numbers be few, robbers
will attack them, and little or no resistance will be offered; but
frequently the Bees themselves will assist in carrying off the store
to the pirates' home, where the queenless Bees will meet with a ready
welcome. The best method to adopt in such a case is to introduce a
piece of comb from a strong hive, which contains both brood and eggs,
and ultimately do very well. In Taylor's Bar Hive this process is very
easily effected, by merely taking a bar of comb from one hive and
introducing it into another, or a piece of comb, with eggs and brood,
may be fixed in a bell-glass, and placed upon the queenless hive.
Queen Wasps.--To destroy these "Bead's Syringe" is a very useful
instrument, for by discharging it at them when they alight, it is sure
to bring them to the ground, when the foot may easily be put upon them.
It is important to every apiarian and gardener, but more especially the
former, to destroy all they can at this season.
Early Breeding.--Many plans have been adopted to effect this very
desirable object, and none entirely without success, but variously,
according to the means used. The hives that have been simply bound with
haybands are certainly earlier than those that have not; but those that
have been covered with loose sacking, and then bound tightly round with
oil-cloth, so that when the coverings were taken off for a few minutes
the outside of the hive felt quite warm, are earlier still; whilst
those placed in a greenhouse are earlier than either; but the earliest
are those covered with fermenting stable-litter; yes, literally placed
in the centre of a hotbed, leaving only a passage for the ingress and
egress of the Bees.
Proper Time for Taking Honey.--It is probable that in favourable
situations, towards the close of the present month, some glasses,
small hives, or boxes of honey may be in a sufficiently forward state
to allow of their being taken off, which may be known by their being
filled with honey, and the combs all sealed up; or they may remain
till those placed beneath them are also sealed up. Upon very strong
and populous hives, in a good season, it is necessary to place even a
third; but this must be removed with great caution, and certainly not
before the end of August, or the beginning of September, and not then
unless the parent hive contains full 20 lbs. of honey.