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A P I API ( 33« ) " fo happy in having recovered this foie fupport of their With this view I kept two hives (hut up in a dark cold “ ftate, that they will long remain quiet in their fituation. •• out-houfe, from the middle of September to the middle “ Nay, the fcent of her body is fo attractive of them, “ of April, without ever letting them fee light: Upon “ that the flighted touch of her, along any place or fub- “ their being fet out in the warmer air, they recovered im“ ftance, will attach the bees to it, and induce them to “ mediately, and (hewed an appearance of more ftrength “ purfue any path Ihe takes. the hives did which had been kept out in the u“ My attachment to the queen, and my tender regard “ thanway. This appearance of ftrength continued du“ for her precious life, makes me moft ardently wifti that ““ fual ring the fummer, and they multiplied fafter than I had “ I might here clofe the detail of this operation, which, “ ever obferved them do before. They were rather “ I am afraid, when attempted by unfkilful hands, will “ later in fwarming this year than in former fummers; “ coft many of their lives; but my love of truth forces the fame was the cafe with many hives in this “ me to declare, that, by practice, I am arrived at fo ““ but neighbourhood: and even though this ftiould always “ much dexterity in the management of her, that I can, “ happen, yet I think other advantages will do more “ without hurt to her, tie a thread of filk round her “ than overbalance I go into the country ear“ body, and thus confine her to any part in which flie “te ly in the fpring, it.toCould after the bees myfelf, I “ might not naturally wifli to remain ; or I fometimes would bring them into look the open weeks fooner, ufe the lefs dangerous way of clipping her wings on “ carefully attend to the changesairoffome the weather, and “ one fide. “ fhut up the doors of the hive on a bad day: this “ I (hall conclude this account in the manner of C. “ degree of care cart fcarcely be expected from but fervants “ Furius Crefinus, who being cited before the Curule “ and gardeners, who have many other things to attend “ Edils and an aflembly of the people, to anfwer to a “ to. “ charge of forcery, founded on his reaping much larger “ I intend to have four hives put up this feafon, in the “ crops from his fmall fpot of ground, than his neigh- “ coldeft dark place I can find ; and as an ice-hqufe is the “ hours did from their extenfive fields, produced his fteadieft and greateft cold we have, one or two of my “ ftrong implements of hufbandry, his well-fed oxen, “ friends who have ice-houfes, have promifed to put a “ and a/hale young woman, his daughter; and, point- “ hive upon the ice. By all accounts, the cold in Sibe“ ihg to them, faid, Thefe, Romans, are my inftru- “ ria does not kill the bees there; and in Ruflia, where “ ments of witchcraft; but I cannot fliew you my toil, “ the winters are extremely fevere, bees produce much
- ‘ my fweats, and anxious cares. So may I fay, Thefe, “ honey : fo I think there is not any danger to be
“ Britons, are my inftruments of witchcraft ; but I “ feared from any degree of cold we can expofe the “ cannot ihew you my hours of attention to this fubjedt, “ bees to. “ my apxiety and care for thefe ufeful infe&s; nor can “ If fuccefs continues to attend this experiment of “ I communicate to you my experience, acquired during “ keeping the bees afleep all the winter and fpring, with“ a courfe of years.” out confirming their honey, a great point will be gainWe Ihafl conclude this hiftory of the Honey-bee ““ ed
- efpecially as Mr Wildman has taught us to take
with the following experiments for pre renting a wafte of “ the honey without killing the bees: for, by whatj i honey, and pneferving the lives of bees during the win- “ have obferved. in this country, our bees are loft chiefly ter, communicated by a gentleman near the banks of the “ by bqing tempted to go out in a clear fun in the fpring, Tweed. “ I have tried feveral experiments for prefer- “ though perhaps a frofty wind blows, and chills them, ving the lives of bees during the winter; and tho’ “ fo as to prevent their being able to return to the hive; in general with little fuccefs, yet I think I have reafon “ or an early warmth induces the queen to lay eggs, and to continue, and advife others to follow, what I prac- “ a number of young bees are bred, which confume the tifed lall winter. The method is very Ample, and not “ little provifion left, before the fields can afford any expenfive, for it is no Other than keeping the bees in a “ fupply.” cold and dark place. rj/* Plate XXIII. “ My reafon for trying'this experiment, was my ha- FigureExplanation i. Is the queen bee. 2. Is the drone. 3. Is ving obferved, that a certain degree of cold brought the working bee. 4. Reprefents the bees hanging to upon the bees a flupor; and that the fame degree of other by the feet, which is the method of taking cold continued, kept .them in the fame ftate, till they each their repofe. y. The probofeik or which is one were brought into a warmer fituation, which imme- of the principal organs of the bees,trunk, wherewith they, diately reftored their life and vigour *. gather the honey and take their nouriihment. 6. One of the hind-legs of a working-bee, loaded with wax.
- This obfervation is confirmed by what Mr White 7. A comby in which the working bees are-bred.fays, 7/W bees ’which ftand on the north-Jide ofa build- The cells are the fmalleft of any. Two of them
ing, vshofe height intercepts the fun's beams all the win- have the young bees indofed. A royal cell is fufpend-ter, will wojle lefs of their proviftons, alniojl by half, ed on one fide. 8. A cOmb in which the drones are than others which Jland in the fun; for, feldom coming bred, being larger than the former; the young drones forth, they eat little, and yet in the fpring are as for- being included in feveral of them ; with two royal cells ward to work and fwarm as thofe which had twice a-t fufpended on the fide. 9. A.fimilar comb, in which much honey in the autumn before. See the Revd. Mr the roykl cell is fixed in the middle of the comb; and White’s method of preferving bees. Third edition. feveral common cells are facrificed to ferve as a bafis and
