POOR WEAK STOCKS WILL DISAPPOINT YOU.

161

signal deliverance! and what mutual congratulations were heard! I never call to mind the wonderful escape without a secret and very sensible pleasure. I hope never to see such another sight; tho' I triumph in this most noble stand, and glorious victory.

This bold and gallant behaviour, together with the memorable escape, immediately formed her into a perfect heroine, inspired and fortified her with great courage, consimilar to these bold, daring, and undaunted animals. And ever after she would resolutely undertake the most hazardous services about them, while she remained, for some years, in my family.

She is now living at little Rissington, in Gloucestershire, to attest the truth of this relation.* As are several others, who were eye and ear-witnesses of the whole affair.

"I now their numerous progeny relate,
And all the wonders of the female state;
Full fifteen thousand Bees one hive supply

April 30, 1737, I had a swarm, which swarmed again June the 22d, the same year.

Keep your Hives as full of Bees as you can, for poor weak stocks will but disappoint you. And thus will you have little or no occasion for feeding. So much for the growing numbers both of Bees and stocks.

CHAP. IX.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE RIGHT MANAGEMENT, AND BEST IMPROVEMENT OF BEES IN COLONIES.

Mr. Jeddie first contrived this method, for which he had a patent from King Charles. Many more, and much greater,

* Anne Herbert.

ABCDE The front view of a Bee-house for five colonies, each to be painted

of different colours.

NNNNN The doors or entrance into each colony.

12345 The ledges where the Bees light when they return from the field, and when they come out to view the weather.

THIRTY SHILLINGS GOT FROM EACH COLONY. 163

are the advantages arising from Bees kept in colonies, than can be gained in the common way of Hives. For instance :

The certain preservation of so many thousands of these noble and useful creatures; which surely should not be esteemed the least. Thus you every year reap the delicious fruits of their indefatigable and faithful labours, and yet have all their lives secured.

Once I took a box, with every cell in it full of honey, and most of all sealed up; wherein I found only two common Bees, and one drone.

Another advantage is their strength (which consists in their numbers) and by consequence their greater safety. By this means they are better able to defend themselves against their enemies, the robbers, and preserve both their lives and fortunes.

Yet I have known, tho' not often, colonies in good state, as well as Hives, invaded, but not vanquished. A little assistance has put them out of danger.

A third advantage arising to the owners in this method, is their wealth and riches, by means of their united labours. This necessarily turns to the greatest profit of the proprietor.

I have in some summers taken two boxes from one colony filled with honey, and yet sufficient store left in the other two boxes for their maintenance, each box weighing forty pounds; and allowing ten pounds for each box, with the wax, &c., there must be sixty pounds of honey for the Bee-master; which at 6d. per pound, is 17. 10s. But it really is of more worth, be-` cause of the goodness and superior excellence of the honey, the far greater part thereof being pure virgin-honey, and perfectly neat and fine.

Besides all this, the liberty and pleasure of viewing them and inspecting them at all seasons, summer and winter, even in the busiest times of gathering, with the greatest safety.

Neither do they require, as the Hives, a constant attendance in swarming times.

This method, so compassionate, and yet so useful, con

164

DR. WARDER'S MEAD VERY GOOD.

tributing both to profit and pleasure, must appear greatly preferable to the other, and far more eligible.

It might be added, they are also effectually secured from wet and cold, mice, and other injuries.

I had not been many years conversant with Bees, before common report informed me that Dr. Warder, who kept Bees in Hives and colonies, made no less of them than 50%. per annum; which was a very great inducement to pay the Doctor a visit the first opportunity, in hopes of gaining a farther insight into them, which might turn to my advantage.

Not long after, being in London, I rode to Croydon to consult the Doctor; and learn, if possible, his way of management, which was so very profitable.

I went directly to the Rev. Mr. Davis, the Doctor's son-inlaw, where I was courteously received, and treated with a great deal of civility. Having told him my design, he very readily accompanied me to the Doctor's house, when to my great disappointment, I found he was not at home; nevertheless I had a full view of his apiary.

The front of his colonies made an appearance not at all agreeable, being painted with lions, and other creatures, which I looked upon as foreign to their improvement. And when I came to examine his Hives, but especially his boxes, I found them so contrary to common report, as proved a much greater disappointment.

To the best of my remembrance, I saw not above two boxes in any one of his colonies; the rest were single, and not in very promising circumstances.

But I ought to tell my reader this view was in September, after the colonies and Hives were reduced both in numbers and riches; so that I saw them at a disadvantage.

Neither did the position of many of his Hives please me. In short, by the best judgment I could form upon the whole, all the annual profits of his apiary could not amount to ten pounds.

I afterwards drank some of his mead, of several years old, which was very good. At night I returned to the city, as

FIT SIZE TO MAKE BOXES.

165

wise as I left it, greatly disappointed in my expectations. And found how I had been imposed upon by common report.

SECT. I.

THE FORM OF THE BOXES, WITH DIRECTIONS HOW TO MAKE
THEM.

Deal, being spungy, is most proper, and sucks up the breath of the Bees sooner than what is more solid; yellow dram-deal is the best, thoroughly seasoned.

An octagon, being nearest to a sphere, is the best form; since as the Bees in winter lie in a round body in or near the center of the Hive, a due heat is conveyed to all the out parts, and the honey kept from candying, which in a square would not be so effectually prevented, and is many times prejudicial to the Bees, and sometimes proves their ruin. Thus much for the materials.

The dimensions of my boxes, and which I would, on so long a trial, recommend to others, are in depth ten inches the inside, the top-board a full inch; and the breadth within twelve or fourteen inches.

Any gentleman, who chuses boxes of a larger extent, may order the depth a full foot, and the breadth within sixteen inches, not forgetting to make the house proportionable.

I have tried boxes containing a bushel and more, but found them not to answer the design like those of a lesser size. The larger are not so easily managed; they are much longer in filling, so that it is later e'er you come to reap the fruits of their labours; the first year you must not expect it, perhaps not the second either, nor will the honey be so good and fine.

The best and purest honey is what is gathered the first five or six weeks, which is worth one shilling a pound. And in boxes of less dimensions, (planted as hereafter directed) pro