who carry it out still further, by never destroying, if it can be
avoided, the brood often found in quantity in a hive treated in the
way we have been advising; for it is obvious that the latest hatched
bees are those most likely to be of use in the spring. Where it is
practicable, therefore, those combs which contain brood should, with
as little loss of time as possible, to avoid chill, be arranged in
a natural position, in a well-covered super, and placed over a hive
requiring to be strengthened. The bees from below will ascend and
cluster upon them and, in due time, a valuable accession of numbers
will result. A deprived bar-hive offers many facilities in such cases,
without injuring the combs.
It may not be misplaced here to remark, that, in the language of
apiculturists, the hives of the year, _made up_, as it is termed,
for the winter, now assume the name of _stocks_. Hitherto they have
been denominated swarms or colonies. At this time a good selection of
stocks may be made by those about to establish an apiary, to be removed
at Christmas. In addition to the usual characteristics of vigour,
such families are to be preferred as exhibit a certain degree of
irascibility, for this is often most observable where there is most to
defend.
_Driving of Bees._--In the preceding section we have detailed the
modes in practice for uniting bees, and for obtaining possession of
their honey, by the aid of _fumigation_. Many proprietors, however,
prefer to arrive at the same object by resorting to what is termed
_Driving_; by which process the inmates of one hive are impelled to
abandon it, and enter some other. When skilfully performed, this
operation is often successful in attaining the end in view; but it is
seldom well to attempt it, except in a pretty full hive. Mr. Golding
has given, in a small compass, general directions as to the mode of
procedure in common cases of Driving, and we will, therefore, adopt
his words. "Towards dusk, when the family will be all at home, let the
hive be raised gently from its floor-board, and supported on wedges
about half an inch thick. When the bees shall have quietly ascended
from the floor up into the hive, it may be inverted steadily on a small
tub or pail. An empty hive, of the same diameter, being at hand, should
be quickly set over the one turned up to receive it. A lighted pipe
may be ready to give a puff or two if necessary, but the operation
can generally be effected without using it. Tie a cloth firmly round
the junction of the hives so that the bees cannot escape. Proceed to
drum upon the full hive (opposite the sides of the combs, so as not
to detach them), with the open hands or a couple of sticks; the bees
will be so alarmed that in a few minutes they will have ascended
into the hive set over them. A hive full of combs, and well peopled,
always drives better than a weak and partly-filled one. The operation
should never be attempted excepting in warm weather. If the object be
to furnish another hive with the bees, there is nothing to do but to
reverse the hive in which they are, and place the other upon it, again
tying the cloth round the junction. A few raps upon the peopled hive
will cause them to ascend, and early next morning they should be placed
upon their usual stand. Those who still adhere to the common cottage
hive may, by driving, deprive well-stored families of part of their
honey. Having previously weighed the hive, calculate how much may be
taken with safety, and cut away the external combs accordingly. The
bees may then be returned as directed." Some operators vary the above
proceeding, and perhaps diminish the danger, by placing, as the first
step, the empty hive at the bottom, and the full one gently upon this.
After making the junction complete between them, the two hives are
reversed carefully together, so that the unoccupied one comes to the
top, and the drumming then proceeds. This should be continued from five
to ten minutes, according as circumstances indicate its necessity.
There are diversified ways of uniting the bees after they have been
driven into an empty hive. Dr. Dunbar says, "turn up the stock-hive
which is to receive the addition to its population: with a bunch of
feathers, or a very small watering-pot, drench them with a solution of
ale and sugar, or water and sugar, made a little warm. Do the same to
the expelled bees: then placing these last over the stock, mouth to
mouth, a rap on the top of the hive will drive them down among the bees
and combs of the underneath hive. Place this last on its pedestal, and
the operation is completed. The strong flavour of the solution will
prevent the bees from distinguishing between friend and stranger."
Payne advocates the middle of a fine day as the best time for driving;
removing the hive to be operated upon to a shady place, and then
inverting over it an empty hive, as already described. A little smoke
might sometimes be needful. Having ascertained that the bees have gone
into the upper hive, Payne continues, "take the latter immediately to
the place where the driven hive was taken from, and place it upon the
same floor-board. Carry the driven hive fifty or sixty yards away; the
few bees that remain in it, as well as those that are out at work, will
return to the other hive, at the accustomed spot. All is now finished
until an hour after sunset (excepting emptying the driven hive of its
store), when two sticks may be laid upon the ground, about nine inches
apart, opposite the stock-hive to which the driven bees are to be
joined; then with a smart stroke dash out the bees between the sticks;
and instantly, but gently, place the stock-hive over them upon the
sticks: leave them for the night, protecting them from the weather, and
an hour before sunrise restore the stock-hive to its original position.
Here will be an increased population, enabled to stand through the
winter much better, and to send out an earlier swarm, than if the union
had not been effected."
The autumnal driving of bees is a common practice when the proprietors
reside within a few miles of the moors and heaths, to which the hives
are conveyed in time to luxuriate in a second harvest of blossom,
now available from the heather. In such districts, it is not unusual
to appropriate the whole contents of the driven hive; the bees being
compelled to begin the world again in a new house and locality, like
a recent swarm. Or, two or three small families may be driven into
one. In a good season, a few weeks suffice to enable them to fill
their second dwelling with combs, brood, and honey of the very finest
quality. On their return home from the moors, some of the hives are
again driven, and deprived of a portion of their stores; or united
in many instances two or three together, to form strong families as
stocks; for the value of population is too well understood to allow of
any unnecessary destruction of life.
WINTER MANAGEMENT.
The management of bees in the winter season is probably that which is
less understood than any other department of the apiary, and various
have been the modes urged for ensuring safety through its various
dangers. It seems, however, to be pretty generally admitted that it is
better to allow the hives to remain in their usual position throughout
the year; and our care therefore should be directed to ward off the
casualties now to be guarded against. Ignorant attention, nevertheless,
is sometimes worse even than neglect; and having once made the needful
winter arrangements, there ought to be as little subsequent disturbance
as possible. The great points to be observed are, adequate exterior
covering and complete protection from the effects of wind, wet, and
sudden changes of weather; a sufficiency of food to last till the
spring; and preservation from damp in the hive, with its attendant
evils. As regards the store of honey, we have already said that this
is a matter to be clearly ascertained and supplied in autumn. When,
therefore, as the cold weather sets in, and the bees have collected
and clustered together, there must be no more attempts at feeding.
The mouth of the hive should gradually be contracted, as the winter
advances, though never entirely closed. After every fall of snow, let
it be cleared away from the hives, and about the stand or house, to
prevent the chance of reflection, which always injuriously arouses the
bees, and for the better security from moist exhalation on thawing.
[Illustration]
_Winter position._--It is extremely desirable in winter to keep off
the influence of the sun from the front of the hives. Some persons
recommend moving them from their summer position to a north aspect,
or turning them round on their stands. But this shifting of quarters
involves the necessity of shutting up the bees close prisoners till
the spring; for all that casually left the hive would fly back to the
original familiar spot, never more to revisit home. I entirely agree
with those who assert that bees are never healthy where confinement
has been long continued. "Who shuts up the wild bees in the forests of
Lithuania, where they thrive so well?" asks Gelieu. Surely in this,
as in other parts of our practice, we cannot do better than follow
the guidance of nature. On a fine day, with the thermometer at or
not much below 50° (and these are not of unfrequent occurrence in
winter), the bees avail themselves of it, sallying forth in evident
delight, with certain advantage to health and cleanliness; for they
void nothing in the hive, unless compelled by long necessity. This is
the point at which disease commences: indeed the retention of their
fæces sometimes occasions death. Their impatience of confinement is
excessive, and increases as the season advances, so that they will
leave the hive at a lower temperature after Christmas than before.
But in thus advocating the principle of liberty, I am not insensible
to the evil it may bring with it, if not guarded against. The most
disastrous consequences follow the flight of bees on a frosty day,
when the gleams and deceitful warmth of a winter sun reach their
domicile, particularly with snow on the ground, the glare of which
allures them out to destruction, for they soon fall down to rise no
more. The remedy for this is the screening of the hive in some way from
its effects; and it should be done as soon as winter actually sets
in. At the same time it is important that no obstruction to the free
passage of air is presented, or dysentery among the bees would be the
certain consequence. Where the hives stand singly, I have always seen
the advantage of fixing before each a wooden screen, nailed to a post,
sunk in the ground, and large enough to throw the whole front into
shade. This does not interfere with the coming forth of the bees at a
proper temperature; and it supersedes any necessity for shutting them
up when snow is on the ground. The screen should be fixed a foot or
two in advance, and so as to intercept the sun's rays, which will be
chiefly in winter towards the west side. Other plans have been tried
for effecting the same object, such as blocks placed at the mouth of
the hive; but these answer no good end, as the rays of light penetrate
underneath and around them. In a bee-house, entirely enclosed at the
front, the hives and their boards may sometimes at this season be
advantageously shifted a little sideways of the exterior entrance way;
with hollowed blocks (see page 96), shaped in accordance, to intercept
the light, but not the air.
A screen of the kind we have described has the further tendency to
promote the security of the bees, where other enemies than wind,
frost, snow, or sun might sometimes endanger them. One of these, at
this time, is the blue Titmouse, to which we have before alluded. Old
Purchas says, "She will eat ten or twelve bees at a time, and by-and-by
be ready for more. When she cometh to the hive and findeth none, she
knocketh with her bill at the door, and as soon as the bees come out to
inquire the cause, she catcheth first one and then another, until her
belly be full." At page 117 we have described a mode of dealing with
these marauders.
_Damp in Hives._--Perhaps there is nothing more prejudicial than the
moisture often engendered in exposed hives at this time, particularly
after frost, and in certain states of the atmosphere. It accumulates
on the top and sides, moulding and rendering offensive the combs, and
producing disease amongst the bees. For this reason, hives with flat
roofs have sometimes been objected to; and perhaps justly, where no
provision is made for ventilation. Gelieu obviated the evil by placing
caps or small hives (cemented down) over the stocks; the moisture
ascending, evaporated through the opening, "as by a chimney," I have
tried different experiments, and have found nothing better than the
practice of condensing the vapour of the hive as much as possible, and
conveying it away. At the beginning of winter, over the hole on the
top, a piece of perforated zinc or wood is placed. Upon this let one of
the common feeding troughs, already described, be put, from which the
glass cover, and, if you please, the perforated bottom, are previously
removed; the hole in the pan being placed over the one below. This
may be covered with a bell-glass, standing within the pan. As the
exhalation rises from the bees below, it is condensed on the glass,
and received, often in considerable quantity, in the pan. The hole
at the top of the glass may be stopped, opening it occasionally on a
fine day, to allow the escape of vitiated air. The change of air in a
hive, in mild, dry weather, is always conducive to health, till the
early spring breeding begins, when caution against chill to the bees is
needed. In the absence of a bell-glass, the glass cover to the trough
may be kept in its place as a substitute. We have already recommended
the giving to all hives or boxes a slight inclination forwards, as
being useful in conveying away the moisture.
[Illustration]
Where there is no feeding pan, a bell-glass may be put within a
circular leaden or zinc trough, having the centre open, and placed over
the hole below.
_Temperature._--With good protection from cutting winds, from wet
without, and from damp within, the effects of cold alone, unless of
extreme severity, need not be apprehended, for the bees of a strong
stock will generate sufficient warmth; and a dry season is often better
sustained than a mild, moist one. It is of importance to guard against
_sudden changes_ of temperature, often occurring in winter; and
experienced bee-keepers have recommended covering each hive with a mat,
or something of the kind, as a regulator.
It is certain that less food is consumed at a low than a high
temperature, and that the bees are often healthy in proportion. I have
known the thermometer down to 32° in a box, with no bad effect to the
bees when _clustered together_; but they would become torpid if exposed
_singly_ to this, or to a much less degree of cold, especially towards
the close of winter; and could then only be recovered by artificial
warmth.[W] The action of very severe frost, moreover, has an injurious
effect upon the honey, which becomes candied at the extremities of the
combs, and sometimes throughout. It is thenceforth useless as food for
the bees.[X]
[W] It is frequently the case in winter that a number of bees may
be found, apparently dead, about a hive, particularly after sudden
disturbance. The greater part of these are merely paralysed on coming
out into a lower temperature, and may be recovered by taking them to
the fire. But this should be done with caution; for, if placed too
near, the bees are not so likely permanently to recover, as when the
restoration is gradual. The best way is to put the bees into a large
basin, spreading over it a piece of muslin to confine them till they
are restored to the hive.
[X] In two stocks which I had an opportunity of examining, at the end
of February, 1838, after a very severe winter, I found cells filled
with honey in a granulated state, and perfectly white. This was
untouched by the bees, though distressed for food. Notwithstanding the
unusual severity of the season, there was brood in various stages of
progression.
A thermometer is not always a criterion of the state of the hive at
this season, as I have often found; for the temperature varies as the
bees recede from it, and they frequently shift their quarters, moving
in a mass to preserve the warmth. When congregated immediately about
the thermometer, I have known it rise as much as 30° on a frosty day;
and an increase of temperature always follows any commotion, from
whatever cause, or partial activity in the dwelling, resulting in an
increased consumption of food.
_Dysentery._--Care should be taken to clear away any dead bees at the
mouth of the hive, for these give great offence, besides endangering
the safety of the family, by preventing the passage of air. Whilst the
bees are in activity, they carefully remove every dead body from the
hive; but in winter this service should be occasionally performed for
them. In particular it should be attended to if signs of dysentery
appear, which may be known by the dark-coloured evacuations, offensive
smell in the hive, and frequent deaths. This malady often attacks the
strongest hives, too much closed at the mouth, particularly at the
latter part of winter or in early spring, the most critical time for
bees; and no doubt it is attributable to unnaturally retained fæces
in a damp impure atmosphere, with deficient covering and ventilation.
It has been thought that the want of water predisposes the bees to
dysentery. As soon as the disease is apparent, no time should be lost
in lifting the hive from its board, expelling the vitiated air, and
scraping and washing away all impurity; repeating the same process,
if requisite, on some fine subsequent day. But the board should be
dried before the hive is replaced on it; or a fresh one may be at
once substituted for it, with less loss of time and annoyance to the
bees. I have restored a stock to perfect health by thoroughly cleaning
and ventilating it, after a third of the inhabitants had fallen a
sacrifice. All remedies, as they are called, by feeding with various
prescriptions, do more harm than good. "Bees," says Gelieu, "have no
real disease: dysentery, about which so much noise has been made, and
for which so many remedies have been prescribed, never attacks the
bees of a well-stocked hive that is left open at all seasons, but only
those that are too long and too closely confined. They are always in
good health as long as they are at liberty; when they are warm enough
and have plenty of food. All their pretended diseases are the result
of cold, hunger, or the infection produced by a too close and long
confinement during the winter."
SPRING MANAGEMENT.
Those who commence an apiary by the purchase of established
stock-hives, and who did not secure such in the autumn, can, with
the opening of February, and for the five or six weeks ensuing,
make a selection of those that have the characteristics of health
and strength, which may generally be ascertained on a fine day, by
observing the quantity of farina carried into a hive. "The best time,"
says Payne, "to establish an apiary is from the middle of February to
the middle of March. The stocks will have passed through the winter,
and the removal is safe and easy. There are few commodities in which
a person can be so easily deceived as in a hive of bees. I would,
therefore, recommend the young apiarian to take the opinion of some
experienced person before he makes his purchase. If the hive is not of
the preceding year, its weight is no criterion of its value; for an
old stock contains a large quantity of pollen." An examination of the
combs, as to discoloration, will often be a useful criterion of age.
The selected stocks should be removed to their new quarters by hand, at
dusk, to be no more disturbed.
_Cleaning or changing Floor-boards._--All who have been accustomed to
the care of bees must have perceived the saving of labour to them, in
the early spring, in the cleaning of their floor-boards, by scraping
away all filth, removing dead bees, refuse wax, &c., and thoroughly
drying them. In many cases the best and quickest plan is to change the
board, and particularly when it shows signs of decay, which always
leads to mischief.
_Comb-pruning._--In conjunction with an examination of the
floor-boards, opportunity can be taken of observing the state of the
hives, as respects their combs. Where these are seen to be old, mouldy,
mildewed, or infected by moths, they should be cut away; as also when
they have become filled with a mass of stale pollen and useless honey;
at the same time taking care not to disturb any brood there may be.
Hives sometimes contain too large a proportion of drone-combs, which
can now be removed with advantage. Some persons use a little smoke, but
at this season it must be resorted to sparingly, as the bees are weak.
They will speedily fill up the vacancies thus made, and a stock in
this way partially renewed may be continued in health several years,
provided the hive itself is in good state. Nevertheless, it may be well
to recur to an opinion we have already expressed, that it is often more
to the interest of the proprietor to allow a stock to swarm rather than
to persevere for several succeeding seasons in preventing it, in a hive
constantly becoming worse for occupation.
_General directions._--As soon as vegetation begins to appear, with
genial weather, all obstructions to the free access to the hives must
be removed; and by degrees extended space given at the mouth. The
critical time for the bees is now approaching; for in February brood
often rapidly increases, requiring greater attention to a uniform
warmth. The tops of the hives, therefore, should be closed in, to
prevent currents of cold air, often at this time fatal both to the
eggs and larvæ, as may be seen by the ejectment of dead grubs. Even
much later on in the season the recurrence of cold days will leave
certain proofs of mischief; and at such times the mouths of the hives
ought again to be contracted and screened; carefully retaining till all
danger is past the outer coverings to the hives.
The bees will now, in fine weather, go forth in search of pollen, which
they bring into the hive in large or apparently in useless quantity,
so as sometimes to render it necessary afterwards to remove it, at a
great expense of labour. "This," says Gelieu, "is the only point on
which they can be accused of a want of that prudence and foresight,
so admirable in every other respect." A supply of pollen, together
with water, are the first requirements of the spring, both essential
to the brood, and the eagerness of the bees to seek them is a certain
indication of health and strength in the hive.[Y] At page 102, a list
is given of early flowering plants, which it is desirable to have in
the immediate vicinity of the hives. At present the bees are weak, and
incapable of a long flight: the weather, too, is often unfavorable for
it.
[Y] It is worthy of attention that a distinguished German apiculturist
has recently introduced a substitute for pollen in the early year,
when the bees have no means of procuring it. Observing that his bees
frequented a neighbouring mill, he found them engaged in conveying from
thence a quantity of rye meal. Deriving a hint from this discovery, he
placed a trough of the meal in front of his apiary, which was eagerly
carried to the hives, the bees preferring it to old pollen; and this
continued till the opening blossoms supplied the natural article. Some
hives consumed as much as two pounds. Subsequent experimentalists, at
home, have used the flour of wheat, or other grain, with success. The
knowledge that the collection of pollen and the need of water by the
bees are simultaneous, led these observers a step further, by giving a
supply of both these essentials at the same time. As this assistance
has been afforded as early as January, it would seem necessary, in our
climate, to place both articles in some accessible part within the
hive. In the absence of any better provision, wet sponge or moss has
been found to answer; or old combs will suffice as receptacles either
of water or flour. Stocks thus treated are said to be greatly forwarded
both in breeding and swarming.