stocks; but now and then a family may be seen sluggish in its work,
though, perhaps, not deficient in numbers. The cause may generally be
traced to an unfruitful Queen, to be got rid of as soon as the season
is a little more advanced, and a successor can be reared in the way
described under the head _Queen Bee_. Or, it might happen if the Queen
dies before the bees have the means of establishing another, when
an abandonment of the hive often ensues, though honey may still be
plentiful in store. Prudence will at this time point out the expediency
of surveying the state of the apiary as to repairs, painting, &c., to
be done before the bees have fully entered into a state of activity.
_Spring-feeding._--It is well now to examine the remaining stock of
food, for much will shortly be required for the increasing numbers. If
needed, some must be given, though in less quantity than in autumn; and
it ought to be placed within the hive, either at the top or bottom; but
the time is arrived when every precaution should be used to prevent
the effects of chill to the brood, by the creation of cold currents.
It usually suffices to supply food about three times a week, but the
feeding trough must be closely covered, to keep up the temperature,
or the bees will not at first enter into it. When this is the case,
some proprietors do not hesitate to invert a hive, and pour a cup of
honey amongst the combs: the bees will soon lick one another clean. Or,
in lieu of a trough, I have used a tin vessel, holding nearly half a
pint, open at each end, made somewhat taper downwards, the lower end
fitting into a hole on the top of the hive, of about two inches. This
part is somewhat loosely tied over with linen cloth, through which the
bees suck the food. It may be made cylindrical, if preferred, with
a flanch to rest upon. At this season it is well to give the food
slightly warmed. Many persons recommend feeding even the strong hives,
for it is certain the bees are stimulated by the increased temperature
to which it gives rise; and there can be no doubt of the importance
of bringing the stocks forward as early as possible. But no feeding,
unless from absolute necessity, should be resorted to till a certain
degree of animation is visible in the dwelling, otherwise the bees
are prematurely put in motion, and numbers perish, unable to reach
home. Nor is it of less importance to observe that feeding is not
discontinued too soon; for even after warm days there will be a return
of ungenial weather, and a stock might perish where a very little
additional food would have saved it. But some limit should be put to
the quantity as the weather becomes fine and warm; for I have known
evil arise where the cells have been filled by the bees with sugared
mixtures, at the time when the Queen requires them to deposit eggs. We
have already alluded to the advantages of a supply of water withinside,
in the very early year, before the bees can go abroad.
Where honey is abundant, it is of course preferable; and it is no worse
for being slightly made liquid with water. In other cases various kinds
of substitutes have been resorted to. I have used good sound ale,
sweetened with sugar and honey, and boiled for a minute or two: the
usual proportion is a pint to a pound of refined sugar, adding a fourth
part of pure honey, which imparts a flavour the most agreeable to the
bees. A tablespoonful of rum still further improves the compound. Mr.
Golding recommends a very similar mixture; to which, however, he adds a
teaspoonful of salt and a glass of wine. Payne prescribes lump sugar,
in the proportion of three pounds to a pint of water, boiled for two or
three minutes, and mixed with a pound of honey.
The kind of food we have been describing is that which is most commonly
used for bees at this season. I have, however, turned my attention,
occasionally, to the saving of trouble that arises where food can
be given them in a concrete form, to supersede some of the evils
attending the common methods of administering liquids at this season.
In one of my feeding troughs I have sometimes put some large lumps of
refined sugar, dipped previously in water till pretty well saturated,
which the bees will appropriate. Of the various concrete saccharine
preparations, however, I have found none entirely combining the
needful requisites except that in which the crystallizing properties
of the sugar had been altogether destroyed. It is well known that this
change can be effected by certain methods of boiling. I believe I am
correct in stating that the heat required to convert crystallizable
into uncrystallizable sugar is from 320° to 360° of Fahrenheit. If,
therefore, to two pounds of loaf sugar half a pint of water is added in
a saucepan, it must be boiled up to a temperature not exceeding 360°
of heat. This may be pretty well known when the syrup becomes brittle;
ascertainable by suddenly cooling a little on a cold substance, or
plate, when it begins to assume a pale yellow colour. The longer it
is exposed to heat, up to this point, the more perfect is the change
produced; but about twenty minutes' boiling is usually sufficient. If,
instead of water alone, a fifth to a fourth part of vinegar is mixed
with it, the process is expedited; and when thus made, the bees appear
to give it a preference. The whole must be poured out gradually upon
a cold dish, or a slab of stone, marble, or slate, previously rubbed
with a very little fine oil, or other unctuous matter, to prevent
adhesion. In a few minutes it is sufficiently stiffened to allow of
being cut, with a pair of scissors, into such conveniently-formed
pieces as are best adapted for insertion into the hive at its mouth.
To those who do not object to the trouble of preparing this kind of
bee-food themselves, the cost may be estimated at that of the sugar,
as there does not appear to arise any loss in weight. It will be seen
that this preparation differs but little from the common confection,
familiarly known as barley-sugar. The bees, as lambent insects, have
no difficulty, from the deliquescent properties of this concrete, in
appropriating it speedily; and in the use of a large quantity I have
always found it to be unaccompanied by the usual degree of disturbance,
observable when honey is administered. It may be given at any time
of the day; and an impoverished family might frequently be saved by
inserting a few sticks of barley-sugar within a hive, when any other
mode of feeding was impracticable. In fact it would appear that no
other artificial food is so acceptable to the bees; and much of it
doubtless returns to the proprietor, intermixed with natural honey. By
the process we have described, common sugar has now been converted into
a substance much resembling in its properties the saccharine matter
of certain fruits, as grapes, &c., known as uncrystallizable sugar;
probably nearly identical with the honey collected by the bees from
the nectaries of flowering plants. After exposure to the action of
a moist atmosphere, the concrete soon assumes a dissolved form; and
so, thenceforth, remains, as I have proved by keeping it, in any way
unaltered, for several years; in short, it becomes a substance very
much resembling honey.[Z]
[Z] I am not amongst the number of those who (to my apprehension) go
out of their way to maintain that this vegetable secretion undergoes
some kind of chemical change by passing into the stomach of the bees
(in reality a mere receiving bag), from whence it is often regurgitated
into the cells of the combs in a few minutes, or even seconds, of time.
Honey doubtless derives both its colour and flavour immediately from
the plants supplying it; the bees not possessing the power of altering
either. It even sometimes contains an original poisonous matter. Its
subsequent thickened consistency naturally results from the effect of a
lowered temperature; acting in a greater or less degree, according to
circumstances, season, &c. That the bees have not the ability to change
chemically the contents received into their honey-bags, is shown by
an examination of the saccharine mixtures given to them as artificial
food; in which I never could detect any alteration after being stored
in the combs.
_Enemies and robbers._--The enemies of bees, already pointed out at
p. 116, should now have the attention of the proprietor; and more
especially robber-bees, for these are sometimes troublesome at this
season, particularly where the hives are placed not sufficiently apart.
On this subject we would refer to what has been said at p. 131. Let a
vigilant look-out be given for Queen-wasps, now becoming common, and
destroy them in any way possible; remembering that each of these is the
parent of a future family. When the wasps are seen to alight, the use
of a garden syringe and water is often effectual in disabling them from
flying, when they are easily killed.
_Super-hives._--As the season continues to open, young bees will
become numerous, timidly peeping out of the hive, and distinguishable
by the lightness of their colour. With genial weather, wealth also
rapidly accumulates; and the strong odour of the hive, and increased
activity of its inmates, attest the growing prosperity of the family.
Attention now is requisite to these symptoms of a rising temperature,
and, consequently, to the crowding of the hive. If the glass windows
become sensibly warm, attended with clustering at the mouth, increased
building room should at once be given, as detailed at pp. 23 and
119, or under the head of _Nadiring stocks_; for a fertile Queen
will require a large proportion of the stock-hive for the purpose of
depositing eggs. Should a few cold nights ensue, the supers must be
kept covered; and more especially glasses, which the bees will desert
unless a warm temperature is fully preserved in them.
I much doubt the probability of preventing the swarming of bees,
where the extra storing room is delayed till royal cells have become
tenanted, or, perhaps, only formed. Mischief has also frequently arisen
where the bees have all at once had a large additional space given
them of too cold a temperature; and often rendered more unacceptable
by undue or ill-timed ventilation, as in using Nutt's hives was often
the case. The same cause has sometimes operated to prevent progress
of any kind; and in a collateral hive, thus managed, I witnessed the
fact that, during five or six successive seasons, there was no more
breeding or storing than barely sufficed to keep the unhappy family in
existence, the proprietor deriving no benefit whatever.
_Temperature and weather._--With the advance of the season, and a
more abundant efflorescence, the buzz of the hive becomes louder and
more general, and particularly when the family are all assembled at
night. And now the exertions of the bees are called into action for
the purpose of promoting ventilation, and expelling the vitiated air.
This they accomplish by means of a rapid and continuous fanning,
or vibration of their wings, giving rise collectively to the sound
usually termed _humming_; and which is readily distinguishable from the
sharp, angry note emitted by a bee under the excitement of irritation.
Sometimes the heat of the hives impels the inhabitants to seek a cooler
temperature by clustering on the outside. At such times it is often
well to aid in moderating the warmth by slightly raising up the bottom
edge of the supers with a few strips of wood or lead. At p. 115, we
have given some general recommendations relative to the shading of
exposed hives, now to be attended to; as also on the subject of water.
In most localities, the best part of the honey season will now be
approaching; and much consequently depends on the state of the
weather. In particular, a prevalence of dry easterly winds, acting on
vegetation, causes the suspension of almost all operations; so that
the main honey-storing time is often limited to three or four weeks
in the season, or frequently even less, in our uncertain climate.
The secretion of honey is remarkably promoted by an electric state
of the atmosphere. Huber says truly of the bees: "I have remarked
that the collection by these creatures is never more abundant, nor
their operations in wax more active, than when the wind is from the
south, the air moist and warm, and a storm approaching." A certain
commencement of the latter is to be looked for when the bees are seen
rapidly hurrying home in crowds to the hive. Payne may be cited in this
connexion. "I am not aware," he observes, "that bees have ever been
placed in the list of those animals which are said to foretell the
changes of weather, as many of the feathered and insect tribes are;
but in my opinion they stand foremost of the weather-wise. A nice
observer, by looking at them in the early morning during the working
season, will very soon be able to form an opinion as to what the day
will be, and that almost to a certainty; for they will sometimes appear
sluggish and inactive, although the morning is very bright, and showing
every appearance for a fine day; but the sun soon becomes clouded,
and rain follows. And, again, the morning may be dull and cloudy, and
sometimes rain may be falling; still the bees will be observed going
out in considerable numbers; and as sure as this is seen the day
becomes bright and fair."
"Thou wert out betimes, thou busy, busy bee!
When abroad I took my early way:
Before the cow from her resting-place
Had risen up, and left her trace
On the meadow, with dew so gray,
I saw thee, thou busy, busy bee!
Thou wert alive, thou busy, busy bee!
When the crowd in their sleep were dead
Thou wert abroad in the freshest hour,
When the sweetest odour comes from the flower;
Man will not learn to leave his lifeless bed,
And be wise, and copy thee, thou busy, busy bee!
Thou wert working late, thou busy, busy bee!
After the fall of the cistus flower;
I heard thee last as I saw thee first,
When the primrose free blossom was ready to burst;
In the coolness of the evening hour,
I heard thee, thou busy, busy bee!"
Southey.
_Swarming._--The month of May, in fine seasons, usually brings with
it the period of the greatest interest to the proprietor, as regards
the swarming stocks of bees; on which subject we would refer to p. 21.
Drones now begin to make their appearance, darting out of the hive in
the middle of warm days, though occasionally in strong stocks they may
be seen in April; in which event early swarming may be looked for.
The usual limits during which swarming takes place vary in different
localities; but in general they are comprised in the months of May and
June; though in extraordinary circumstances a swarm may issue somewhat
earlier, or a little later than this. When it is expected, the hive
should be watched from ten in the morning till two or three o'clock,
after which time swarming rarely occurs. In particular, the bees ought
not to be left for five minutes if a hot sun intervene between showers;
for a greater predisposition to swarming then exists than in dry
weather; it seldom, however, takes place with an east or north wind.
It is not always easy to distinguish the appearances that precede a
first (or _prime_) swarm, and experienced apiculturists are sometimes
deceived. If, however, we had access to the interior of the hive,
the usual time would always be found (accidents as to weather not
interfering) to be that in which the larvæ of the royal cells were
about to be transformed into nymphs, and therein sealed up; viz.,
eight or nine days before the young Queens are matured; for it is to
be remembered that on the occasion of a first swarm it is always the
_old_ Queen that accompanies it. The issue of a swarm is frequently
to be expected when the bees have remained for some time previously
in a state of seeming inertness, followed by an unusual commotion
among the drones; and more especially if these make their appearance
in the morning, hanging out with a cluster of bees; conjointly with a
disinclination to foraging abroad, among the workers. If, in addition,
the honey previously stored in a super is observed to disappear
suddenly, swarming may be anticipated, as the bees load themselves
before leaving home. But mere clustering at the mouth of the hive
is not invariably the precursor of a swarm; and the bees frequently
continue to congregate in unmeaning idleness on the outside, even
though honey may be abundant. "In this case," says Dr. Bevan, "the
cluster may be swept into an empty hive towards dusk, and carried to a
short distance from the apiary, when they will gradually return, and
generally join the family." This, however, is often only a temporary
expedient; and the prolonged continuance of a period of inaction
frequently denotes the absence, from abortion, or other cause, of
a young Queen; the old one not choosing to leave the hive without
the prospect of a successor. Or it may be that the hive contains an
unfruitful Queen, and a weak population with insufficient warmth, when
little of store is collected, and often no drone eggs are produced,
these being always the preliminary of royal cells. A continuation of
unfavorable weather, moreover, notwithstanding the sealing up of the
Queen-cells, will often prevent any issue of a swarm; for the reigning
sovereign will avail herself of this compulsory detention in severally
destroying the young princesses as they are matured. An old Queen is
permitted by the bees to do this, but it is otherwise with a young
one, till a later stage. Neither as to swarming will the state of the
thermometer be an invariable guide. I have rarely seen it reach as high
as 95° within a stock-hive, but I have observed the issue of swarms at
a temperature four or five degrees below this; and in one instance it
occurred when the thermometer ranged but little above 80°.[AA]
[AA] Some naturalists, and amongst them Huber, have imagined a much
higher degree of heat at the time of swarming; but in this there must
be some error, for I have proved that the combs collapse and fall at a
temperature a little above 100°. I am almost ashamed to say that this
experiment cost me the destruction of a fine stock-hive.
It is common to imagine that a swarm consists exclusively of the young
bees of the season; but Nature is no such bungler, or what would
become of the parent stock? Accordingly, we find that bees of all
ages, and usually several hundreds of drones, go forth intermingled,
to form the new family. It is not always an easy matter to estimate
the strength of a swarm. The bulk is not entirely a criterion, as the
temperature of the weather causes the bees to cluster together more or
less closely. A pint will usually contain about 2000. Five thousand
bees are estimated to weigh nearly a pound; but this also varies, for
on swarming they are always provident enough to load themselves more or
less with honey before their departure. A good swarm, however, ought to
weigh about four pounds. Some have reached to six pounds, but this is
rare.
_Returning of swarms._--Cases sometimes occur in which it is thought
desirable to compel the return of a swarm to the stock-hive. On this
subject we will use the words of Payne. "The process," says he, "is
very simple, and I have always found it succeed. As soon as the swarm
is settled in the hive, turn it bottom upwards, and, if the Queen-bee
does not make her appearance in a few seconds, dash the bees out upon
a cloth, or a gravel walk, and with a wine-glass she may be easily
captured. Upon this the bees will return to their parent hive. The
queen may also very easily be taken during the departure of a swarm;
for she appears to leave the hive reluctantly, and may be seen running
backwards and forwards upon the alighting-board before she takes wing."
I have sometimes found it advantageous, instead of a cloth, to place
on the ground four or five sheets of large paper. On these the bees
have been spread, and the sheets carried in opposite directions, thus
enabling a better search to be made for the Queen; and especially in
the case of a second swarm, for then there are frequently three or
four. Where there is no Queen, the bees will soon be in confusion
and fly to their original home; but in the reverse case, she may be
discovered by their congregating in one particular part. Nor is there
any danger in thus proceeding; for the bees, being gorged with honey,
are not often disposed to attack, with the precaution of not breathing
upon them. Moreover, any such operation is best done in the shade, as
a hot sun makes the bees less tractable at all times. Occasionally it
might happen that, on the issuing of a swarm, the Queen, from inability
to fly, falls to the ground, when the bees will return to the hive,
which is often attended with advantage.
In judging of the desirableness of compelling the return of a first
swarm, we must be guided by circumstances. Should it be a large issue,
expediency would dictate the hiving it at once, as a new colony; for
the Queen may reasonably be supposed to be a vigorous one, and a
compulsory returning of the bees to the parent hive (the result of
destroying her) would occasion a loss of valuable time; a young Queen
not yet being in a state to commence laying eggs. On the other hand, a
poor swarm might denote an unfruitful Queen, to be got rid of in the
way we have just pointed out. The bees would re-issue under a young
sovereign, after the usual interval, with a large accession of numbers,
the produce of the brood matured in the mean time; and this might have
the further good effect of preventing an after-swarm, which is always
desirable.
It has already been said that on the occasion of a first swarm the
_old_ Queen invariably issues with it. It is also a fact that she
leaves no actual successor, but that an interregnum usually occurs of
eight or nine days; the royal larva being left short of maturity by
this period, unless bad weather has interposed to delay the issuing of
the swarm, in which event this interval may be much shortened; it is
also subject to extension under certain contingencies of weather. The
first princess that is subsequently liberated from her cell becomes the
future mistress of the hive, unless she leaves it with an after-issue;
for the law of primogeniture has been observed to be strictly followed.
It is therefore evident that no regal disagreement can occur except in
the cases of after-swarms, when a Queen returning to the stock-hive
might chance to find a rival, and would have to contest her way to the
supremacy.