CHAPTER XX.. Proper Periods of Deprivation.

PROPER PERIODS OF DEPRIVATION.

It should be an invariable rule with the apiarian, never to remove an upper hive or box, till an under one be quite full; and even then, it should be ascertained that the contents of the inferior one, (if taken at Michaelmas,) be not less than 18 pounds. If it do not contain so much, a sufficient quantity should be returned in the box that has been removed, otherwise recourse must be had to feeding. +Mr. Isaac+ says that he has carried a colony that had no honey at Michaelmas, safely through the winter and spring, with only eight pounds of honey. Huber succeeded with less; but it appears that his observations were made upon weak stocks that were not altogether destitute.

A variety of experiments were made by +Mr. John Hunter+ and +Mr. Keys+, to ascertain the quantity consumed during the respective months of winter and spring, and they all led to one conclusion, namely, that it amounted upon an average to eight pounds, taking the season through, from the beginning of October to the end of May, when the spring proves ungenial. During the first six months the consumption was not more than five pounds upon an average, and the colder the weather the smaller was the consumption. Vide 2nd page of Chap. XXIV.

As a general rule,--no honey should be taken from a colony the first year of its being planted, though there may be an extraordinary season now and then, which may justify a departure from this rule; but neither in such an uncommon year, nor even in the second year, should the whole of the combs in any box be taken, (unless it be clearly ascertained that the centre combs contain no brood,) but only the external ones, which should be examined carefully one by one, and the brood-combs, if any, be returned in the box to the stock. The apiarian, as +Huber+ observes, if he wish to obtain a considerable quantity of honey, should endeavour to secure his object rather by the number of his colonies, than by plundering a few of a great proportion of their treasures. A moderate participation is the most infallible means of preserving the stock.

Should "Summer signs auspicious ride. And tubes unfailing pour the balmy tide, A full rich harvest, Bee-herds, may ye claim From the blithe tenants of your crystal'd frame. But long ere Virgo weaves the robe of sleet, Or binds the hoar-frost sandals round her feet. Close seal'd and sacred, leave your toil-worn hosts. The last kind dole their waning season boasts, Lest coop'd within their walls, the truants prey On hoards reserv'd to cheer stern Winter's day."

+Evans.+

+Mr. Hubbard+ says that he has found colonized bees frequently fail, in consequence of their having been robbed of too much honey; it prevents early breeding. +Wildman+ particularly recommends cautious deprivation after July, to avoid the attention which might be required in feeding, if the autumn should be unfavourable.

So much for the first and second years.--On the third, if the summer of that year as well as the summer preceding have been favourable for honey-gathering, the superior box will probably contain no brood, and may then be taken all at once.

The proceedings of the fourth and fifth years may fall under the practice of the second, but will probably allow of an earlier deprivation; some side combs may perhaps be taken away in July, and in October either the nadir or the centre box be removed entirely, and those above (if more than one) be brought down, and remain so till April; when the nadir may be introduced again.

No hive or box should have its breeding combs left more than five years; and in general, after the first year, the lower boxes will be found to be principally occupied for this purpose.

By this practice for four years out of every five, whatever combs are removed will be new ones, which, on account of the purity both of the wax and the honey, are greatly preferable to old ones.

+Virgil+, probably copying his predecessor +Aristotle+, describes two harvests of honey every year, namely, in the spring and in the autumn.

"The golden harvest twice each year o'erflows, Thou, twice each year, the plenteous cells unclose, Soon as fair Pleïas, bright'ning into day. Scorns with indignant foot the wat'ry way, Or, when descending down th' aërial steep, She pours her pale ray on the wintry deep."

+Sotheby's Georgics.+

"+Varro+ mentions three harvests; namely, at the rising of the Pleiads, about the twenty-second of April; the latter end of summer, and when the same stars set about the end of October: +Columella+ recommends them to take place about the twenty-fifth of April and the twenty-ninth of June; +Pliny+ in May and July; and +Palladius+ in June only."--+Evans.+

Should such an accident occur as the destruction of a queen, by the introduction of a divider (and she might be so unfortunately situated as to fall a sacrifice to it), the stock will appear very much distressed and very restless all day, particularly if there be no Royal Embryo or no very young larva; for in either of these cases they will soon become reconciled. But if neither of them be present, and the bees be left to themselves, they will lose their wonted activity, gradually dwindle in number and pine away: or they will transfer their allegiance to another sovereign; and in that case, convey all the treasured sweets of their own hive, to that of the family they join. The only remedy for such a misfortune is to unite the bees to another stock, in the manner already directed, or to procure a supernumerary queen from another family. The latter, however, is an operation which few will have courage to attempt.