Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/258

228] wait with patience, until he has acquired twenty stocks, and in the month of April to separate ten of the strongest hives for swarming; the other ten must be raised on large empty hives, the tops of which should be previously taken off, and the joinings of the two hives secured with a little clay; which plan prevents the bees from swarming. He also recommends the prime swarms from the other stocks, to be put into three-peck hives at least; for, when they appear very early, they will probably swarm again in a few weeks, which should always be prevented, and all the after-swarms be united, two or three into one; for the great advantage arises from a large quantity of bees being kept together; and, by that mode, ten stocks will generally yield fifteen good ones.

The manner of treating bees in Portugal, is as follows: A spot of ground is chosen for the hives, exposed towards the south or south-east, well sheltered from the northern blasts, and surrounded with shrubs and flowers; of the latter, rosemary is preferred. The richer the neighbouring grounds are, the better; for bees are said to range for food to the distance of a league from their home. Lanes are cut through the shrubby thickets, of five or six feet wide. The fences between the lanes are about the same dimensions, and formed at intervals into small recesses, like bowers or niches, to receive the hives.

The Portuguese hives, in general, are of a cylindrical form, and about twenty-seven inches high by fourteen in diameter. They are constructed of the rind of the cork-tree, and covered with an inverted pan of earthen ware, the edge of which projects over the hive like a cornice. The whole is fastened with pegs made of hard and durable wood, and the joints cemented with peat. In the front of the cylinder, at the height of about eight inches, there is a small aperture, where the bees enter. The inside is divided into three equal compartments, winch are separated by cross sticks, on which the bees form their combs, or cells.

When they swarm, which is usually in May or June, the hives are placed to receive them, where they settle. If, on attempting to collect them, they fly away, a sheet is placed at night on the ground, contiguous to the swarm; and when they alight, the hive is put over them, with the entrance closed; then the whole is covered with the sheet, in which they are carried home. The honey-combs are taken out in June, during the heat of the day, but not if a high wind prevail, or at the commencement of a new or full moon. A person holds a chaffing dish, with a coal fire, covered with moist peat, to increase the smoke; which being introduced among the bees, from the top of the cylinder, they either escape, or remain intoxicated at the bottom; then the hive is taken to pieces, by drawing out the pins. The combs, except two cells around the hive, are cut out, without destroying the bees, and die incision is covered with pulverized clay. It is not advisable to remove them, until they be full of honey.

In this country, at former periods, many artificial methods have been invented and practised, with a view of stimulating the industrious bee to still greater exertions; and thus to increase the production of