Farmers who are in the habit of _rearing_ CATERPILLARS, for
_ornament_ and _use_, will doubtless be gratified to learn, that
the late favourable weather has produced a goodly show of their
favourite vermin. They are already basking in the sun, and expanding
by the nutricious aliment of foliage and fruit buds; and if not
prematurely molested, (which there is little reason to apprehend) we
may, in due time, taste from our kneading troughs the former repasts
of Egypt.
Judging from the produce of last year, it may be fairly calculated
that many of our farmers, (and some who _do not belong to the
Agricultural Society_) will, this year, raise double as many
bushels of _caterpillars_ as of _apples_. Those (and there are
some,) who prefer the appearance and flavour of the latter, will do
well to look to their trees immediately. A thimble full of these
reptiles, which can now be destroyed in an instant, would fill a
hat a month hence, and would require tenfold the labour to subdue
them. Every farmer's common sense will suggest the best method of
extirpation.--_Ibid._
_A method of taking the Honey without destroying the Bees._--The
common practice of killing the bees, in order to obtain the honey,
few can witness without some little compunction; and as there is
a very simple method of effecting the object without any injury
to this most interesting little animal, (which, on the score of
interest, as well as humanity, claims regard,) I beg leave to
communicate it through your paper, should you deem it worthy a place
in it.
In the evening, when the bees have retired, take the hive gently
from the stand; spread a table cloth on the ground; set the hive on
it, placing something under to raise it three or four inches; then
draw up the corners of the cloth, and fasten them tight around the
middle of the hive, leaving it so loose below, that the bees will
have sufficient room between it and the hive--then raise the lid of
the hive a little, and blow in the smoke from a segar; a few puffs
of which, as it is very disagreeable, will drive them down: continue
raising the lid gradually, blowing in the smoke all around, and in
a few minutes it will be found that they have all gone out of the
hive. You may then take off the lid, and cut away as much of the
honey as you may think proper. If the operation be performed the
beginning of July, you may take nearly all, as there will be time
enough to provide a sufficiency for their support during the winter.
As soon as you have taken the honey, put on the lid, loosen the
cloth, and spread it out, and in an hour or two the bees will have
returned into the hive. It may then be replaced on the stand, and on
the following day they will be found at work as usual.
This method is very simple, and preferable to that sometimes
practised, of driving the bees into another hive; as you get all
the honey, and moreover the new comb, which is still empty; and the
young bees, not yet out of the cells, are preserved. There is also
danger in driving, of their not liking their new habitation, and, in
that case, of their sallying out and making war on their neighbours.
The above method has frequently been practised by myself and others,
and we have always found it to do well.