Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, first edition - Volume I, A-B.pdf/387

 API ( 335 ) API «• the wax andlioney into a room, into which admit but “ on the cloth. Put their own hive over them imme«* little light, that it may appear at firft to the bees as if “ diately, raifed a little on one fide, that the bees may « it was late in the evening. Gently invert the hive, “ the more eafily enter; and when all are entered, place placing it between the frames of a chair, or other “ it on the ftand as before. If the hive in which the “ fteady fupport, and cover it with an empty hive, keejj- “ bees are, be turned bottom uppermofl, and their own “ ing that fide of the empty hive raifed a little which iS “ hive be placed over it, the bees will immediately afcend “ next the window, to give the bees fufficient light to “ ioto it, efpecially if the lower hive is ftruck on the “ get up into it. While you hold the empty hive, ftea- fides to alarm them. dily Supported on the edge of the full hive, between “ The chief objedt of the bees during the fpring and << your fide and your left arm, keep linking with the “ beginning of fummer, is the propagation of their kind. “ other hand all round the full hive from top to bottom, “ Honey during that time is not colledted in fuch quanti“ in the manner of beating a drum, fo that the bees “ ties as it is afterwards: and on this account it is “ may be frightened by the continued noife from all ,c“ fcarcely worth while to rob a hive before the latter “ quarters; and they v/ill in conference mount out of end of June; nor is it fafe to do it after the middle “ the full hive into the empty one. Repeat the ftrokes “ July, left rainy weather prevent their reftoring the rather quick than ftrong round the hive, till all the “ combs they have loft, and laying in a flock of honey “ bees are got out of it, which in general will be in a- “ fuffkient for the winter, udefs there is a chance of bout five minutes. It is to be obferved, that the fuller “ carrying them to a rich pafture.” “ the hive is of bees, the fooner they will have left it. Mr Wildman, by his dexterity in the management of “ As foon as a number.of them have got into the empty bees, has lately furprifed the whole kingdom. He can “ hive, it fhould be raifed a little from the full one, order a fwarm to light where he pleafes, almoft inftantathat the be:s may not continue to run from the one to neoufly; he can order them to fettle on his head, then the other, but rather keep afcending upon one another. remove them to his hand ; command them to depart and “ So foon as all rhe bees are out of the full hive, the fettle on a window, table, &£•. at pleafure. We fhall M“ hive in which the bees are muft be placed on the (land fubjoin his method of performing thefe feats, in his own from which the other hive was taken, in order to Words: “ Spedlators (fays he) wonder much at my at“ receive the abfcnt bees as they return from the fields. “ taching bees to different parts of my body, and wifh “ If this is done early in the feafon, the operator “ much to be poffeffed of the fecret means by which I “4 Ihould examine the royal cells, that any of them that “ do it. I have unwarily promifed to reveal it; and am ‘ have young in them may be faved, as well as the combs “ therefore under a neceflity of performing that promife : “ which have young bees in them, which fhovdd on no ‘‘ but while I declare, that their fear and the queen are •* account be touched, though, by fparing them, a good “ the chief agents in thefe operations, I muft warn my •' deal- of honey Ihould be left behind. Then take out M readers that there is an art neceffary to perform it, »* the other combs with a long, broad, and pliable knife, “ namely practice, which I cannot convey to them, and “ fuch as the apothecaries make ufe of. The combs “ which they cannot fpeedily attain; yet till this art is “ fhould be cut from the fides and crown, as clean “ attained, the deftrudtion of many hives of bees muft ^ ry remains of wax ; and then the fides of the hive “ Long experience has taught me, that as fopn as I “ fhould be fcraped with a tabk-fpoon, to clear away “ turn up a hive,, and give it fomu taps on the fides and what was left by the knife. During the whole of this “ bottom, the queen immediately appears, to feupw the " operation, the hive fhould be placed inclined to the “ caufe of this alarm; but foon retires again amongjher fide from which the combs are taken, that the honey “ people. Being accuftomed to fee her Jp often, I readily “ which is fpilt may not daub the remaining combs. If “ perceive her at.firft glance; and long pradtice has en“ fome combs were unavoidably taken away, in which “ abled me to feizeher inftantly, with a tendernefs that “ there are young bees, the parts of the combs in which “ does not in the leaft endanger her perfon. This is tf they are fhould be returned into the hive, and fecured “ the utmoft importance; for the leaft injury done to her •* by flicks, in the befl manner poffible. Place the hive “ brings immediate deflrudlion to the hive, if you have r then for fome time upright, that any remaining ho- “ not a fpare queen to put in her place, as I have too “ entrance fhould be preferred, becaufe there they are me, flip her into my other hand, and, return“ befl ftored with honey, and have the fewefl young bees ““w toingfling the her, hive are to itsall place, till theconfubees “ in then*. miffing on wing,holdandherinthere, the utmoft “ Having thus finifbed taking the wax and honey,. “ fion. When the bees are thus diflreffed, I place the “ the next bufineft is to return the bees to their old “ queen where-ever I would have the bees to fettle. The “ hive; and for this purpofe place a table, covered “ moment a few of them difeover. her,, they give notice “ with a clean cloth, near the ftand, and giving the to thofe near them, and th'ofe to the reft; the khow“ hive in which the bees are a fudden fhake, at the fame of which foon becomes fo general, that in a few “ time flriking it pretty forcibly, the bees will be fhaken ““ ledge minutes they all colkd themfelves round her;, and are “• &•
 * as poffible, to fave the further labour of the bees, “ be the confequence; as every one will find on their
 * who muft lick up the honey fpilt, and remove eve- “ firft attempt ;o perform it.
 * ney'may drain out. If the combs are built in a di- “ often experienced in my firft attempts. When pof** redHon oppofite to the entrance, or at right angles “ feffed of her, I can, without injury to her,, or exci** with it, the combs which are the furtheft from the ting that degree of refentment that may tempt her