. The American farmer's instructor, or, practical agriculturist : comprehending the cultivation of plants, the husbandry of the domestic animals, and the economy of the farm; together with a variety of information which will be found important to the farmer. Agriculture. REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 421. Two advantagfes are derived from this construction. First, the little door in the box, and the contrivance for opening and sluittinjr it, will be unnecessarj'. Secondly, it is sometimes pro- per to diminish or enlarge the opening for the passage of the bees, according to circumstances, Avit
. The American farmer's instructor, or, practical agriculturist : comprehending the cultivation of plants, the husbandry of the domestic animals, and the economy of the farm; together with a variety of information which will be found important to the farmer. Agriculture. REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 421. Two advantagfes are derived from this construction. First, the little door in the box, and the contrivance for opening and sluittinjr it, will be unnecessarj'. Secondly, it is sometimes pro- per to diminish or enlarge the opening for the passage of the bees, according to circumstances, Avithout shutting it entirely, and this may be done with the great- est ease, by moving the hive nearer to, or farther from, the edge of the table; or this passage may be entirely closed, by mov- ing the front of the hive beyond the groove; but in that case some small holes must be made in tiie hive to let in air, which may be stopped up when that formed by the groove is open. A farther advantage attending this construction is, that as the groove will liave a slanting direction, the bees will thereby be enabled, with very little trouble, to remove l>om the hive any dead bees, excrement, &c. which maybe obnoxious to their nature. Whoever intends to erect an apiary, should purchase hives toM-ards the close of the year, when they are cheapest; and such only as are full of combs, and stocked with a sufficient number of bees. In order to ascertain the age of the hives, it should be remarked, that the combs of the last year are white, while those of the former year acquire a darkish yellow. Where the combs are black, the hive rejected as too old, and liable to the inroads of vermin. Bees never swarm till the hive is too much crowded by the young brood. They sometimes begin to swarm in May, or earlier, according to the warmth of the season. As soon as a swarm is settled, the bees should be immediately hived, to prevent their taking wing again. If they settle on a low bran
Size: 1517px × 1646px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectagriculture, bookyear
