Bees and bee-keeping: a plain, practical work; resulting from years of experience and close observation in extensive apiaries, both in Pennsylvania and California. With directions how to make bee-keeping a desirable and lucrative business, and shipping bees to California

Front matter

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THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE DATE INDICATED BELOW AND IS SUB- JECT TO AN OVERDUE FINE AS PgfTED AT THE CIRCuiATIol

^iAY

Preface

The author of this treatise, having been taught from youth to work with Bees, ever admiring their great sagacity, industry and perseverance, and desiring to turn their industry to account as a matter of profit, directed all his efforts to acquire a correct knowledge of their habits, wants and requirements necessary to continued prosperity and profit.

He observed, years ago, that when the seasons were favorable for producing abundance of honey, bees invariably flourished and increased rapidly, yielding large returns in the shape of surplus honey, bidding defiance to worms and all other enemies, being evidently prosperous and happy; but when scarcity prevailed, the very reverse of this condition of things was true; adversity took the place of prosperity — some would starve, others would fall a prey to their enemies. The succession of honey-producing flowers has been materially influenced by the clearing up and bringing under cultivation of our lands, essentially changing the condition of things, affecting the prosperity of bees at certain seasons of the year, in about the same ratio that it has cattle or other stock which was permitted to run in the woods, as it was called (when their pasture grounds were fenced in, then supplies

IV PREFACE.

were cut ofiQ; with this difference, that for all other stock provision has been made to suit the change of circumstances, but tor bees no care has been manifested, hence they have been steadily decreasing in numbers in the older settled parts of our country, until the fact becomes apparent, that without a change of policy in this direction they will eventually become extinct; or at least prevent bee-keeping from assuming any importance, because of its uncertainty.

This state of facts led me to inquire, what could be done to render bee-keeping as reliable and certain in its results as other rural pursuits. Having examined all the works on bee culture that I could procure (some of which were verj- valuable), all failed to point out a practical plan to feed bees, or supply them with a uniform succession of flowers, or pasturage, suflBcient to keep them as prosperous as when wild flowers abounded. We are told, it is true, to feed them a little in the field to keep them from starving through the winter or early spring; but they rather discountenance feeding for any other purpose or providing pasturage with a view to keep them constantly advancing from spring to fall. Being well assured that it would pay better to keep bees employed from early spring until fall, than to let them remain idle for want of something to do, I adopted the plan of either feeding, as directed in the chapter on feeding, or cultivated such crops as would furnish them with abundant supplies. This plan I have practiced for some time past both in Pennsylvania and California, to which latter State, in connection with J. S. Harbison, of Sacramento, I made two large and successful shipments of bees.

PREFACE. V

The results of my practice, and the success that has invariably crowned my eft'orts in the management of bees, has been favorably and extensively noticed by the press, and has induced persons from various parts of the United States to write letters of inquiry respecting my mode of managing bees, leading to such satisfactory results; these letters have accumulated to such an extent, that it is impossible to answer each personally and satisfactorily; hence I concluded to give to the public a synopsis of my experience, with such hints and suggestions as may possibly benefit some bee-keepers and advance the general interest.

It is with pleasure that I acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Quinby, for extracts from his valuable work entitled "The Mysteries of Bee-Keeping Explained," and also for other valuable matter kindly furnished by him. Although we may diflfer upon some minor points in practice, there is but little difference as regards the general and leading features of bee-keeping.

I am also indebted to Bevan's work on bees for valuable extracts.

I would here tender my thanks to the Rev. J. Lewis Shuck, of Sacramento, California, for an article on bees and bee-keeping in China.

In presenting this work to the public, I disclaim any pretensions to literary attainments; ray only object has been to impart to others a knowledge of my experience.

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CHAPTER I. HISTORY AND PHYSIOLOaY OF THE HONEY BEE

Description of the queen, - - 12 Does the queen govern the colony, - 13 No sovereignty exercised by the queen

over the colony, - - - 15

The economy of the colony directed by

workers, - - - - - 19 The only necessity for the queen in to

provide eggs, - - - - 23 No *ggs are deposited by the queen in

queen cells, - - - - 26

Do worker bees accord royal honors to queens, . . . .

Mode of rearing queens.

Impregnation of queens, - Ijingstroth's theory,

The worker bee, . . .

Description of the working bee,

The drone, . . . .

Drone-laying queens.

Fertile workers, . . .

Roaring brood, Mode of commencing, - Mode of laying eggs described.

Description of the eggs.

SPRING.

CHAPTER VI. No danger of bees roturnini

a milo or moro, - Kind of stands, Another method, Still another plan.

Proper height, - Distance between hives, Bee houses,

THE APIARY, if removed A simple shed preferred, • • 105

Another method of corerlng, • - 100 Procuring bees to commence an apiary ,106 Kind of stocks to buy, - - - 107 Proper size and kind of hives, - 108 Transporting boes short distances, - 109 Best time for transporting bees, • 110

- 100 101

- 102 102

- 103 104

CHAPTER XI. To rear queens to supply artificial

swarms, 14S

Making artificial swarms, - - 149 Another method, - . . . 153

122 126 127 128

138 140 141

8tlll another plan of dividing and

making nrtiflclal swarms, - - 155 How to strengthen artificial swarms, 158 Plan to prevent bees leaving new colonies and returning to the old one,160

CONTENTS.

IX

Chapter XII. Pkeding

How to feed boes, ... - 162 Effects of feeding, versiis non-feeding, 176 The importanoo of feeding bees con- A case where bees were not fed, • 177

sidered, 164 How to manage bees in common box

Kind of feed used, .... iiig hives, 181

bevau on feeding, - - - - 171

Chapter XIII. Natural Swarming

Time to exi>ect first swarms, - - 186 IIow to prevent swarms from leaving

Ciiuse of swarming, - - - 190 tlioir hives, .... 201

Condition of things necessary for swar- What bees compose the new swarm, 202

ming 190 Cultivate fruit trees in or near tlie

Requisites before preparation of queen apiary, 204

cells, 191 Swarms clustering, ... - 205

State of queen cells when used, - 192 Do swarms send spies to seek a now

The state when swarms issue, - 193 home, ...--- 206

OtluT symptoms immediately preced- Places generally selected by swarms, 207

ing the issuing of a swarm, - 194 To prevent more than one swarm

The vuxlus operandi of swarming, - 195 starting at one time, • - 209

Alighting and hiving swarms, - 19S After-swarms, 212

Chapter XX. Shipping Bees To California

Shipping bees to California, - - 246 Other shipments, .... 262

No bees in California prior to its con- How our first shipment was prepared, 254

quest by the Americans, - - 249 Second shipment — how prepared, - 266

The first sto^k of boos in California, 252 Peculiarities of bees in California, 269

AUTUMN.

Chapter XXI. Robbing

Robbing, 261 How to detect robbing, - - • 268

Cause of robbing, - - - - 262 Remedy, 26S

How to prevent robbing, • - - 262

Chapter XXII. Uniting Swarms

Uniting weak swarms in the fall, • 2C5 To unite swarms in box hives, - • 266

WINTER.

Chapter XXIII. Wintering Bees

Protection, 268 Mr. Quinby's opinion of the value of

The invention of winter mats, - 273 these winter mats, ... 273

Another method of making winter Patent applied for, - . .273

mats, 275 How bees winter if left to themselves, 279

Mode of applying them, - - -275 Bcstshapedhivefor wintering bees in, 281

Wintering bees in dark rooms, • 282

Chapter XXV. Honey Bee In China, 284

WHEKK RIGHT3 MAY BE OBTAINED, 288

BEES AND BEE-KEEPING.

Chapter I. History And Physiology Of The Honey Bee

The Bee is considered by naturalists as belonging to what are called perfect societies of insects, and in entomological arrangements is placed in the order of Hjmenoptera, genus Apis. Every association or colony of bees comprises three descriptions of individuals, and each description is distinguished by an appearance and cast of character peculiar to itself — (Bevan.)

THE QUEEN.

The queen, as she is now generally called (the mother bee would be a much more appropriate name to designate the functions which properly belong to her in the economy of the hive), is without doubt the most important personage in the association, or colony ; not from any useful labor which she performs in building combs, storing honey, or anything of this kind, nor yet for enacting laws and dictating

D. K HILL LIBRARY North Carolina State College

12 BEES AND HKK-KEEPING.

to the rest of the colony what they shall and what they shall not do, with that pomp and dignity supposed to he the prerogative of earthly potentates generally; hut for the Immhlc position and for the simple purpose of laying eggs from which the young are reared, and thus becomes the means of extending and perpetuating her species.

In discussing this part of my subject, my experience will necessarily lead me to difter, on some points, from writere whose ipse dixit is generally received as orthodox.

DESCRIPTION OF THE QUEEN.

The queen, or mother bee, is easily distinguished from all other bees in the colony, by a more measured, sedate movement; the greater length of her body, which tapers gradually to a point; the proportionate shortness of her THE QDEF..V. wings, which reach but little beyond her middle, ending about the third ring of her abdomen, but are very strong and sinewy; her head is rounder, her trunk or thorax more slender and but little more than half the length of that of the common worker bee; her legs, though longer, have neither brushes nor baskets for collecting pollen ; she differs in color from all other bees in the colony, as much as in shape — the upper part of her body is of a much brighter black, the under surface and the legs are of a dark orange or copper color, the hind legs being rather darker than the rest.

DOES THE QtJEEN GOVERN THE COLONY ?

My experience upon this point is, that she does not, or if she does exercise any controlling power, it is to a very limited extent indeed ; but on the contrary, I firmly believe her to be a creature of the colony, or worker bees, and subject to their power and control, from the time the egg is deposited from which she is reared, up to the perfect queen, and from that time to the day of her death. It is generally conceded that the worker bees possess the power to rear a queen from any egg deposited in a worker cell, and it is generally supposed that the change is caused by the quantity and quality of food given them whilst in the larva state, producing a fully developed insect instead of one but partially developed, as in the case of the common workers, and in this opinion I fully concur. Now if food can be varied to produce such striking results as this, may it not produce very important results in another direction ? (as I will have occasion to refer to hereafter.) Thus we find the common bees can rear a queen at pleasure, when they have eggs. Kow suppose the old queen is removed from a colony when in possession of eggs, what is the result ? Do they scatter o% hither and thither, having lost their governor or sovereign ; or do they become lazy, indolent or reckless, not caring now to protect their stores, as would most unquestionably be the case were they dependent upon the queen to direct them in their duty, allotting to each their task ? Nay, every observing apiarian can testify to the reverse of all this. 2

14 BEES AND BEE-KEEPINa.

When the quecu is removed they very soon miss her, and immediately make a diligent search for her in and about the hive, apparently manifesting a great anxiety for her safety. If she is not found in a short time, they settle down and go to work quietly, as if nothing unusual had happened. To replace their lost queen now seems to be their greatest concern. It would be very difficult for the most skillful and careful observer to detect any thing difterent in their movements from those in possession of a queen ; the only difference, perhaps, is, that if any comb is built it is pretty certain to be drone cells. Honey and pollen will be gathered and stored, and every thing carried on with the same order and precision that it could be if a queen was present. Now if the queen rules a colony and directs its movements, laying out all the plans, &c. as most writers would have us believe, where is the directing or governing power vested, in the absence of a queen ? Are the various manipulations of the hive carried on at random? I think not. Every bee, when it is born into the world, is most unquestionably endowed by nature with that instinct which prompts it to enter upon the discharge of its appropriate duties, and also with the knowledge and mechanical skill necessary to perform those duties; no apprenticeship under skilled architects is necessary to enable the young bee to build the most beautiful comb, complete in all its relations, which has been a problem to the most profound philosophers and geometricians for centuries (the mode of testing the truth of this position will be given in another place) ; hence I think facts will justify me in believing,

First. That no sovereignty is exercised by the queen over the other bees in the colony.

Second. That the entire economy of the colony is directed and executed by the worker bees, including, to a very considerable extent, the actions of the queen.

Third. The only necessity for the presence of the queen is to supply the colony with eggs.

Fourth. That the time of laying eggs, and the number required at au}^ given period, is controlled by the workers, and not by the queen.

Fifth. That no eggs are deposited in the queen cells by queens.

Sixth. That no homage or filial affection is rendered or manifested for the queen by the workers, other than fi'om the instinct of self-preservation.

NO SOVEREIGNTY EXERCISED BY THE QUEEN UPON THE COLONY.

No doubt I will be pronounced heterodox by many, and especially by cotemporary authors and their adherents, who have made the sovereignty of the queen and the homage and filial affection rendered her by her loving subjects, a theme over which they have become very eloquent, and even romantic. This course on the part of authors tends, in my opinion, to continue and perpetuate in a modified form that mystery which has for ages surrounded and obscured bees and bee-keeping, and no doubt in many cases prevents persons from engaging in apiarian pursuits (which are both pleasing and profitable), from a dread of being unable to understand and manage properly such a complicated kind of stock, and one so uncertain and so difficult to compfehend.

I apprehend that when the facts connected with this subject are fully known, and a true knowledge of the internal economy of the society of bees is simplified and presented truthfully, without being intermixed with the remains of superstition, it will then be demonstrated that bees can be understood and managed by the community at large upon the same general principles, and with similar assurances of success, as any. other domestic stock. Any thing which I may present will be for the purpose of simplifying and removing objections which have by many been considered insurmountable to bee-keeping, and not with any desire to provoke controvers}- upon the part of any wnth whom I may chance to dili'er.

In connection with my first proposition, that no sovereignty is exercised by the queen, I have already given my reasons for this conclusion to a considerable extent, but will give some experiments to show that each individual bee fully understands its own duty from instinct, without any instruction. Just as soon as they were able to commence the performance thereof, I took a number of frames, (being full of combs, brood, &c.) shook the bees down on a sheet in front of the hive ; all the old bees, or nearly so, would within a few minutes take wing and return to their hive. I should remark, however, that a hive was selected in ^vhich a large amount of brood had been emerging for a day or t^vo previous, and was still emerging. With a little patience and care, almost every bee that is old enough to fly can be removed or separated from those that are yet unable to fly; in this manner enough of these young bees can be obtained to make a small swarm, sufficient to keep two brood combs warm, if other combs are placed on each side, and the whole covered or closed around, giving the colony space just in proportion to its size. Combs were selected from which brood was rapidly emerging ; and an embryo queen was set in one of the combs, in a central position. This experiment was made in very warm weather; the entrance was contracted so that robbers were not likely to attack it. ISTow for the result. The first day, not a single bee could be seen to enter or depart; the second day, a bee might be seen coming out and apparently making very short excursions, and again returning; this only occurred at long intervals. On examining the interior, the numbers seemed to be very much increased by those that had emerged from the comb ; many bees could now be observed pretty well developed, apparently capable of going abroad to the fields and engaging in their daily avocations. On the third day a few more could be seen at the entrance. Fourth day, the number still increased ; one could be seen occasionally carrying pollen ; young queen emerged evening of this day ; colony quite lively. Fifth day, began to work quite regularly, evidently carrying both honey and pollen. 2*

18 lirE>? AND BEE-KREPTNa.

Sixth day, still increasing in strength. Seventh day, working quite briskly, considering the size of the colony. Eighth and ninth days, working as strong, apparently, in proportion to their numbers, as any stock in the apiary. On the evening of the ninth day (five days from the time the queen emerged from her cell), a few eggs were observed in one of the combs. Tenth day, the number of eggs was greatly increased; the queen was now fertile, and the experiment of making a colony of bees, composed entirely of young ones, without a single exception, was a perfect success, tlie bees continuing to thrive and do well.

We have instituted similar experiments with the same result. Can it be supposed, with any degree of plausibility, that those young bees were governed by a queen, or other royal dignitary, four days having elapsed without any queen being in the colony, except the one yet sealed up in the cell ; nor were there any old bees to instruct them in the aftairs of the colony. I forgot to mention that three queen cells were commenced before the queen emerged from her cell, but of course Avere then discontinued. In one or two cases, we have had thorn to rear and perfect queens in this manner.

But I find, upon examination, that I am not the first to suppose that the queen exercised no authority over the other bees. Bonner, an eminent Scotch writer of the last century, uses the following language :

"But as it is also now unanimously admitted that

IIISTOBY AND FHYSTOLOrJY. 19

she (the qiieeii ) lays every egg in tbe hive, she ought rather be called the mother bee, for indeed from the best observation that ever I could make, she possesses and exerts no sovereignty over the other bees ; she evidences the greatest anxiety for the good of the commonwealth with which she is connected, and indeed every member of it shows an equal regard for her welfare ; but I never could observe that she issues any positive orders to be punctually obeyed by the other bees. The truth seems to be, that she and the other bees are all equally acquainted with their duty l\y instinct, and have an equal pleasure in performing it, without waiting for orders from each other. That there is, nevertheless, the greatest order and regularity among them, is certain, for they lay their plans and execute them in the best possible manner, by the influence of the above powerful substitute for reason."

THE ECONOMY OF THE COLONY DIRECTED BY THE WORKERS.

It seems evident that in the creation and organization of societies or colonies of honey bees, as in other things, the sexes are, to a certain extent, dependent on each other for the propagation and perpetuation of their species; l)ut here we have the strange anomaly of the neuter gender, or rather of the undeveloped sex (of which the colony is mainly composed), feeding and nursing the young, and caring for them with as much parental devotion and solicitude as though they were actually their own ofl:spring, the queen simply depositing the eggs in their appropriate place. It seems they also have the knowledge and ability to rear the brood in such manner as would seem best for the welfare of the colony, either by rearing it all as undeveloped females (common workers), or fully developing a portion thereof and making queens.

I refer to eggs deposited in worker cells; those in drone cells are drones, and nothing else. When a swarm issues from a colony, the workers are the first to go forth ; a considerable portion of the swarm generally emerges before the queen takes wing. This rule is deviated from in many instances in after swarms, but I never knew an instance with first swarms. The workers are also the first to select a place to cluster ; and in many cases I have carefully observed to see if the queen was first, or even among the first, to alight ; but as a general thing a considerable portion of the swarm would cluster, when her ladyship might be seen alighting in their midst.

I have known swarms to cluster, and in some cases remain until put into the hive, and then return to the parent stock, when I knew the queen had not left at all, having seen her running round on the alighting board and return into the hive, apparently unable to fly, or unwilling to risk herself on the wing; the bees evidently having done their part, expected the queen to do hers. It is true, however, that in a very few cases I have known the queen to get down in the weeds or grass, being unable to arise and fly again; the w^orker bees after some time would discover her, and would then cluster upon and around her. But this is not their natural way of doing; it is the exception, and not the rule. Hence I conclude the worker bees lead oft' in swarming and in clustering, the queen following instead of leading. Her presence is absolutely necessary to the welfare of the swarm, simply for the purpose of supplying the means of replenishing the stock; of this they seem perfectly aware. They prefer returning to the parent stock to setting up without her.

"When a swarm is hived, the workers lay the foundation of the combs, and carry on the work until finished ; the queen depositing eggs in the cells as they are progressing, not waiting for their completion. They also collect the food necessary for the sustenance of the entire colony. But some one is ready to say, perhaps the queen directs all this. Just take her away, and see how quickly a change will take place. i!^ow let us see what the change will be. Suppose the queen has laid a few eggs in the first comb built, and we remove her from the hive entirely ; the bees will set to work to rear queens from those eggs, and the other business of the hive will go on as if nothing unusual had happened; honey and pollen will be gathered and stored ; whatever eggs or brood may be in the hive are properly cared for ; and all progress finely so long as they have the means of supplying themselves with a queen. Indeed it is next to impossible even for the experienced apiarian to detect anything wrong from outside appearances ; and yet there is no queen to direct them or instruct them in their duty ; every member of the

22 BEES AND BEE-KEEPTNQ.

colony, as has already been remarked, knows its duty, and discharges that duty with alacrity, not waiting for orders from the queen or from each other.

When the yield of honey abroad is good, an increased amount of brood is reared ; but when it ia cut off suddenly by frost, or any other casualty, I have seen them drag the brood, both woi'ker and drones, in all stages, from tlie combs, at the same time killing and driving out the mature drones, as if a famine was just at hand. Is it the queen that directs this destruction of her offspring ? To test the matter to the satisfaction of any one, just remove the queen, when such a case occurs, from some strong stock, and the only perceptible difference will be, that the one having no queen will retain a portion of the drones, for the purpose, doubtless, of impregnating the young queen, should they be successful in rearing one from eggs in the combs when the queen is taken away.

The preparation for swarming is, I believe, made entirely by the workei's. The fact is stated by several authors, in which I concur, that a guard of worker bees are placed over the queen colls during their progress, to prevent tlie old (iueeu from destroying them, which she would most certainly do if left to the freedom of her own will, and effectually prevent any swarm from going forth in a state of nature, the result of which would be to bring the whole race to an end ere long.

Here we have positive evidence of the workers governing the queen, and oontrolline: her actiojis.

When a top swarm has gone forth, the old queen accompanying them, leaving embryo queens in the hive, the guard is continued to prevent the first one out from rushing to and destroying all her sister queens, thereby preventing the possibility of any after swarms going forth. In some instances the young queens are imprisoned in their cells for days, being fed through an opening at the end of the cell, b^' the workers, until circumstances change so as to make it proper to release them.

Experiments can easily be instituted by amateurs, or any one doubting the truth of this, to test it, by constructing observatory hives, with glass sides, exposing to view the combs and all the workings of the colony. Directions will be found on another page for constructing such hives.

Thus we find the worker bees capable of carrying on all the aftliirs of the hive, rearing a queen when destitute (providing they have eggs), controlling the queen, and preventing her from destroying the embryo queens ; and I will venture the opinion, that they (the workers) cause her to leave the old hive with the top swarm ; if left to herself, she would not emigrate from her old home. This is but an opinion, the truth of which time and observation will demonstrate.

THE ONLY NECESSITY FOR THE QUEEN IS TO PROVIDE EGGS FOR THE COLONY.

That the colony is entirely dependent on the queeu for a supply of eggs, few will doubt; but the idea has generally prevailed that this is not her only

24 BEES AND BEE-KEEHNG. •

duty. Curiosity lias prompted me to scrutinize thiii matter pretty closely, but I have failed to discovei that she perfonuvS any other otHce in the colony except the one just indicated. I never could observe that she had any care for her offspring, either feeding them or manifesting any parental anxiety whatever for their welfare ; in fact, the workers, as a general thing, supply her ladyship with her food, from time to time, as she requires it.

Mr. Quinby, in referring to the duties of the queen, says, " the queen is the mother of the entire family ; her duty appears to be only to deposit eggs in the cells. I am also led to believe that the time for the queen to lay eggs, and the requisite quantity, is in a measure indicated by the workers — the kind of food which they give her, or the quantity of it, as the case may be. This, I feel quite sure, promotes the rapid production and depositing of eggs in the one case, and in the reverse of that a diminution, even to the entire cessation thereof." I have already noticed that the workers have the facult}^ or power of rearing a queen from an egg laid in a worker cell, by giving them a liberal supply of food of a peculiar land, the effect of which seems to be the full development of the sex, which, if permitted to have remained in the w^orker cell, and been fed on the common or ordinary food, it had been a worker, or a partially developed female. Here we see the powerful effects of stimulating food, for such it doubtless is. Would it be unreasonable to suppose that food of a similar kind, given to the perfect queen, would