The Book of Bee-keeping: A Practical and Complete Manual on the Proper Management of bees , livre ebook

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76 pages

English

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“The Book of Bee-keeping” is a classic guide to keeping bees for profit and pleasure. It includes complete instructions for setting up and managing a successful apiary, as well as tips and observations from a life-long keeper on how to avoid problems and make a profit. Highly recommended for modern readers interested in keeping bees. Contents Include: “Introduction", "Advantages of Bee-keeping", "The Honey Bee", "Products of Bees", "Combs", "Modern Bee-keeping", "Appliances", "Food", "Swarming", "Manipulating", "Honey", "Diseases of Bees", "Enemies of Bees", etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on bee-keeping.

Sujets

Maison

Agronomie

Agronomy for Sustainable Development

Agriculture

Engineering

Technology

Beekeeping

Sciences et techniques

Informations

Publié par	Read Books Ltd.
Date de parution	31 janvier 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781447481782
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0500€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

THE
BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING.
A Practical and Complete Manual on the Proper Management of Bees.
Specially Written for Amateurs, Beginners, Cottagers, and Others who are not Experts .

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.

By W. B. WEBSTER,
First-class Expert, B.B.K.A.; Specialist on Bee-Keeping to The Bazaar, and Senior Expert on Bees and Bee Appliances .

SECOND EDITION.
BEE-APPLIANCES, BEE-HIVES, AND BEE-KEEPER S WOOD
CUT AND PLANED TO SIZES REQUIRED.
Illustrated Catalogue Free. All Bee Keepers are invited to write for a copy.
E. J. BURTT, Stroud Road, Gloucester.
A. W. HARRISON,
Bee Appliance Manufacturer, POTTERS BAR, MIDDLESEX.

One of the O LDEST E STABLISHMENTS , and the E MPORIUM for B EEKEEPERS R EQUISITES . O BDERS P ROMPTLY E XECUTED . C HEAPNESS AND Q UALITY C OMBINED .

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES FREE.
BOOKS ON POULTRY.
Egg and Poultry Raising at Home. -A Practical Work, showing bow Eggs and Poultry may be produced for Home Consumption with little expenditure of time or money. By W. M. E LKINGTON . Illustrated. In paper 1/-, by post 1/2.
Popular Poultry-Keeping. -A Practical and Complete Guide to Breeding and Keeping Poultry for Eggs or for the Table. By F. A. M ACKENZIE . Second Edition, with Additional Matter and Illustrations. In paper, price 1/-, by post 1/2.
Profitable Poultry-Farming. -Describing in Detail the Methode that Give the Best Results, and pointing out the Mistakes to be Avoided. By J. H. S UTCLIFFE . Illustrated. In paper, price 1/-, by post 1/2.
Inoubatore and their Management, By J. H. S UTCLIFFE . New Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Illustrated. In paper, price 1/-, by post 1/2.
How to Keep Laying Hene and to Rear Chickens in Large or Small Numbers, In Absolute Confinement, with perfect Success. By M AJOR G. F. M ORANT . In paper, price 6 d ., by post 7 d .
CONTENTS.

I.- I NTRODUCTION II.- A DVANTAGES OF B EE-KEEPING III.- T HE H ONEY B EE IV.- P RODUCTS OF B EES V.- C OMBS VI.- M ODERN B EE-KEEPING VII.- A PPLIANCES VIII.- F OOD IX.- S WARMING X.- M ANIPULATING XI.- H ONEY XII.- D ISEASES OF B EES XIII.- E NEMIES OF B EES I NDEX
GARDEN BOOKS.

( Price 1s. each, by post 1s. 2d .)

Roses for Amateurs.
Popular Bulb Culture.
Carnation Culture.
Begonia Culture.
Home Gardening.
Chrysanthemum Culture.
Tomato Culture.
Vegetable Culture.
Cucumber Culture.

LONDON:
L. UPCOTT GILL, BAZAAR BUILDINGS, DRURY LANE, W.C.
THE
B OOK OF B EE-KEEPING .

I.-INTRODUCTION.
1. Spread of Bee-keeping. -Apiculture, or, as it is most frequently called, Bee-keeping, has made such rapid strides during the last few years, that it is scarcely credible that even so short a time ago as the commencement of this decade it was quite an exceptional thing to see a bar-frame hive in a cottager s garden. Now, owing to the exertions of a few in promoting this most useful employment, and greatly to the spread of information contained in periodicals-a few entirely devoted to bee-culture, many others giving a share of their columns to its advancement-it has spread itself over not only the British Isles, but many countries far distant, even to the Antipodes.
2. Advantages. -It is an employment that, when once commenced in real earnest, few get tired of; enthusiasts in bee-culture are the rule, not the exception. Why is this? It offers inducements that no other description of stock-keeping presents. These advantages and inducements we will endeavour to set forth in the following pages.
3. Object of this Book. -Many works have been written on the subject; a great number of these have become obsolete, as the researches of bee-masters have slowly and surely unravelled the mysteries surrounding the bee-hive, or have discovered new and more favourable methods of treating their little dependents. Some, although recognised as standard works, are quite beyond the reach of the artisan or cottager class, on account of their expense. It is, therefore, desirable that a perfectly comprehensible manual on apiculture should be brought before the public-one treating upon this subject in its most modern aspect, but, at the same time, being quite free from any technicalities that would confound its readers, and so defeat the objects of the work; whilst the price would ensure its sale among those who, without a help of this description, would stumble about as one in the dark having no friendly light to guide them. We will thus, while inditing the pages of this book, endeavour to be guided by these precepts, trusting that, by so doing, we shall be fully understood, and thus be of practical utility in the furthering of this industry among those whose necessity compels them to augment their slender incomes through its most certain means, as well as those who look upon bee-keeping as a pastime only, of the most healthful description.
4. Persons Suited to Bee-keeping. -Many commence bee-keeping with the idea that it is simply to obtain a hive, stock it with bees, and then allow them to look after their own and their keeper s interests. This idea has, no doubt, arisen from the fact that before the modern system was introduced, it was the only method of bee-keeping; but such a system is of no use with modern appliances; better by far to keep the old straw skeps. A modern bee-keeper who wishes to obtain the greatest results, both intellectually and financially, is one who will neglect no opportunity of attending, at the time being, to the wants of his charges; procrastination must form no part of his character. It may be that just at the moment when his attendance is required, by procrastinating, that golden moment is passed, which, in such a fleeting season as ours, is never regained. Fear of his labourers must be banished from his mind; nothing is gained by being afraid of them-there is no necessity for such. If a bee means stinging, you cannot get away from it, as it moves much faster than you possibly can. One might almost try to dodge the lightning as to get away from a bee that has actually made up its mind to introduce its weapon into your skin. A careful, persevering man is bound to succeed. An observant mind is a great desideratum; it is by noting the behaviour of the bees that a knowledge of their requirements is mostly gained. Note the movements of a queenless stock in comparison to one having a queen. Their movements outside the hive are a certain indication of their condition within. Open a hive, and if the bees are going to oppose you, an observant eye will foresee their intentions at a glance. How many times we have been asked the question, When does the honey flow set in? An observant bee-keeper will know at once. A certain amount of business tact will be required in finding a market for the produce, and here the careful bee-keeper will gain the ascendency; his honey will be neatly packed and graded as to quality. The careless will have theirs with propolis on the sections, honey leaking from the bottles, and a look of messiness pervading the whole-a bad market being the result.
5. Persons Unsuited to Bee-keeping. -Those who have an idea that bees require no attention; that care little for their requirements, be it food in winter, or ventilation and shade in summer-their only thought being the amount of honey they can get without any trouble to the keepers. The I ll-do-it-to-morrow bee-keeper cannot be successful. There are just a few who are physiologically debarred from being bee-keepers, but these are seldom met with. One who, when stung, feels the effects in a highly dangerous form; for such a one it is extremely injudicious to keep, or, rather, to handle, bees. There are many-and I wish to emphasise this-who start bee-keeping, and expect others to look after their stocks. The number of these is legion. To these, we advise either a little more energy, or get rid of the bees.
II.-ADVANTAGES OF BEE-KEEPING.
6. An Intellectual Pursuit. -No one can watch a hive of bees, be it an ordinary skep, a bar-frame, or an observatory hive, without gaining intellectually. Watch the bee as it brings home its load of pollen, carefully packed on its posterior legs, just at the very time it is wanted for the hungry larv within. Step into the garden, and see it gathering these loads; not first on this species of flower and then on that, but choosing all those belonging to one family-passing from a dandelion, right over that box tree, choking with pollen, to another dandelion adjacent; dusting itself all over, and then, poising in the air, removing the pollen grains from its body, and packing it tightly in its pollen baskets on each of its hind legs while thus on the wing, and then returning to the flower for another supply. Look into the observatory hive, and gaze on the workers, hanging in clusters while secreting the wax, and then, with busy feet and jaws, building their snow-white comb with the minute scales of wax obtained from underneath their bodies. Note the energy of those sentinel bees at the entrance to the hive, in a moment detecting a stranger with evident hostile intent-driving it away, or, perhaps, capturing and killing it; the industry with which they go and return with their stores, collecting only such a description as is wanted at that particular time, never for a moment at fault as to which to take. What an example to the onlooker! How dense must be his mind to fail to gain something intellectual from these examples!
7. An Aid to Health. -Fresh air, plenty of sunlight, healthy occupation for the mind, a moderate amount of exercise, are all conducive to our well-being. All these bee-keeping offers. The weakly are sufficiently strong to manage a few hives of bees; they require no great physical strength, but, to attend to them, we must be in the fresh air and sunlight One feels invigorated after a few hours work in the apiary. A plant cannot thrive without sunlight; no man can obtain thoroughly good health without it. Fresh air resuscitates our energies