Transcriber Note
Text emphasis denoted as _Italics_ and =Small-caps=.
THE
BEE KEEPER'S GUIDE,
CONTAINING
CONCISE PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS
FOR
THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES,
UPON THE
DEPRIVING SYSTEM.
------
BY J. H. PAYNE,
=Author of "the Cottager's Guide."=
------
FOURTH EDITION.
------
LONDON:
=T. C. NEWBY, 65, MORTIMER St., CAVENDISH Sq.=
------
1842.
[Illustration: Figures 1-7.
Fig. Description
1 Improved Cottage Hive
2 Improved Cottage Hive with small hive affixed
3 Hive showing the opening on top
4 Small Hive with glass opening
5 Adapter for small Hive or Box
6 Knife for cutting out the comb
7 Box to be used instead of small Hive
]
[Illustration: Figures 8-10]
PREFACE
TO THE FIRST EDITION.
Having written the "Cottager's Guide for the Management of his
Bees, upon the Depriving System," which has been printed under the
direction of the Suffolk and Norfolk Apiarian Society, for gratuitous
distribution amongst the Cottagers, I am induced, at the particular
request of several Apiarian friends, to enlarge the above little work,
and to give in addition a description of Nutt's newly invented Hive,
and other practical remarks in Bee-knowledge, resulting from nearly
forty years close observation.
Should this little work be the means of inducing any person to
promote the culture of Bees amongst the Cottagers in his immediate
neighbourhood, upon the Depriving System, I shall be amply repaid for
the trouble it may have occasioned me; and the hope that such will
be the result, must be my apology for adding to the number of books
(perhaps already too numerous) upon this subject.
Reaumur in a letter to M. de la Bourdonaye, in 1757, says, "The
preservation and also the increase of Bees is an object of such
interest to Britanny, that the peasantry cannot be too much encouraged
to turn their attention to it." Surely this is equally applicable
to our own country at the present time, when the condition of the
labouring poor calls so loudly for relief.
I have little hesitation in saying, that Cottagers who are able to keep
from four to six Hives of Bees, may make from four to eight pounds,
yearly profit, after paying all expenses upon them. I paid last year
to one Cottager seven pounds, fifteen shillings, and to another five
pounds and one shilling for Bees and Honey.
The following anecdote has so much the appearance of truth in it, and
is so well suited to my present purpose, that I cannot refrain from
giving it.
A good old French Bishop in paying his annual visit to his Clergy,
was very much afflicted by the representations they made of their
extreme poverty, which, indeed, the appearance of their houses and
families corroborated. Whilst he was deploring the state of things
which had reduced them to this sad condition, he arrived at the house
of a Curate, who, living amongst a poorer set of parishioners than
any he had yet visited, would, he feared, be in still more woful
plight than the others; contrary however to his expectations, he found
appearances very much improved, every thing about the house wore the
aspect of comfort and plenty. The good Bishop was amazed. "How is this,
my friend?" said he, "you are the first man that I have met with a
cheerful face and a plentiful board. Have you any income independent of
your Curé?"
"Yes, Sir," said the Clergyman, "I have; my family would starve on the
pittance I receive from the poor people that I instruct, come with
me into the garden and I will show you the _Stock_ that yields me an
excellent interest."
On going to the garden he showed the Bishop a large range of Bee-hives.
"There is the Bank," he continued, "from which I draw my annual
dividend.--It never stops payment."
Ever after that memorable visit, when any of his Clergy complained to
the Bishop of poverty, he would say to them, "_Keep Bees! Keep Bees!_"
In the words of an Apiarian friend, I solicit information from every
one who may have it in his power to transmit it to me, and on the other
hand, I profess my perfect readiness to impart whatever knowledge I
may possess in the management of an Apiary, to any person who will
favour me with the application; my aim is general utility, and the
establishment of a national advantage.
PREFACE
TO THE SECOND EDITION.
Since the first appearance of this little Treatise I am most happy in
being able to state that Apiarian Science has in this neighbourhood and
in the adjoining Counties, made very considerable advances, that the
ridiculous notions, and foolish prejudices entertained respecting Bees,
are fast wearing away--that the _Cottagers_ are generally managing
them upon the depriving system, making them a real source of profit
and of comfort, and that a number of influential persons are making
themselves acquainted with the practical management of Bees, upon the
simplest and most profitable methods, for the sole purpose of setting
an example, and for qualifying themselves to give instructions in the
management of them to their poor neighbours. Nor is this spirit of well
directed benevolence confined to these Counties only, for at Oxford a
Society is just formed to promote an improved and more extensive system
of Bee management among the Cottagers by the diffusion of information
on the subject, and the _loan_ of hives _not the gift_, their cost to
be repaid from the produce, and also to promote a more extensive and
scientific knowledge concerning the Natural History and cultivation
of Bees among the higher classes; the society I find is flourishing,
a piece of ground has been taken and laid out as an experimental
Bee-garden, there is already a very considerable number of stocks of
Bees placed in it in common straw, and experimental hives. Subscribers
pay half a guinea a year, and non-Subscribers a shilling each visit
This is an example worthy of imitation.
I am just favoured with a letter from a Gentleman who has recently
visited the above establishment giving me a certain and simple method
of Autumnal union of weak stocks, which he there witnessed, but it
comes too late to be embodied in this treatise the whole of that
part being already in the press, still as I consider the union of
weak stocks important, and Gelieu's method which I have given too
troublesome for most persons, I will venture to give it in this place.
"The process" he says, "is merely _fumigating the Bees_ for which they
have invented a tube much more simple than Nutt's which they insert
into the mouth of the hive; under the hive is previously pushed either
an empty one reversed, or a shallow box with a wide rim, this receives
the stupified Bees; cut out the combs and remove all the remaining
Bern from them that none be lost. Now take a little sugared ale and
sprinkle it over them just as they are recovering, place upon them the
hive to which they are to be united, this hive requires no sprinkling
nor any fumigation, the Bees in the latter are soon attracted by we ale
and go down into the hollow containing the fumigated ones licking them
over, the whole are mixed and go up without the least disturbance, it
is unnecessary to take any trouble about the Queen," he adds "I was
assured that not a Bee would be lost" and he further says "upon my
return home I tested it with entire success on some of my neighbour's
Bees, it was the work of but a few minutes, and not the smallest
danger. I left the hive placed upon the other all night, and the next
morning every Bee had left the bottom one, more perfect quiet I never
saw. I think there were nearly two quarts of Bees fumigated."
Puff-ball is generally recommended being the safest, mild tobacco
answers very well, great caution, however, is required in its use,
or the Bees may be killed. Common fumigating bellows, or even a
tobacco-pipe may be used for this operation: After this discovery it
will be absurd not to unite weak stocks, or to destroy a single Bee on
taking up an old hive.
I have always considered the keeping of Bees and the advantages arising
from them to be the undoubted privilege of the Cottagers and theirs
alone, other persons may keep a few for amusement, or to endeavour to
learn something of their natural history, but all should in my opinion
be made subservient to the Cottagers' benefit.
The present season has been a most unpropitious one, especially in this
neighbourhood, perhaps the most so that I remember, but I am disposed
to think that this is not a favourable district for the collection of
honey. I have frequently compared the produce of my own apiary with
that of others at a distance, and this year especially, with that of a
friend upon the Essex bank of the Stour, which I assisted in forming
and have frequently visited, the quantity of honey obtained from this
is small, but it is five times as much as that of any one in this
neighbourhood consisting of the same number of stocks.
I cannot close this preface without acknowledging the very flattering
manner in which my little treatise has been mentioned in various
publications, and my thanks to the many correspondents it has obtained
for me. The addition which I have been enabled to make to it, will I
trust be acceptable and useful.
I still solicit information from any who will give it me, and am ready
to impart it to all those who will ask it.
_Bury Saint Edmund's,
Oct, 11th, 1838._
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Page
Situation of an Apiary and directions for placing the Hives
1