Useful To Take Honey From Bees

to take honey from bees.
(from the Southern Recorder, of Milledgeville, Georgia, November 5, 1850)

Instructions:

Correspondence of the Dollar Newspaper. — Phila.​

The common practice of killing the bees, in order to obtain the honey, few can witness without some little compunction; and as there is a very simple method of effecting the object without any injury to this most interesting little animal, which on the score of interest, as well as humanity, claims regard, I beg leave to communicate it through your paper, should you deem it worthy of a place in it.​

​

In the evening, when the bees have retired, take the hive gently from its stand, and having spread a table cloth on the ground, set the hive gently on it, placing something under to raise it three or four inches; then draw up the corners of the cloth and fasten it tight around the middle of the hive. Then raise the lid of the hive a little and blow in the smoke of a cigar, a few puffs of which will drive them down. Continue raising the lid gradually, blowing in the smoke all around, and in a few moments it will be found that they have all gone out of the hive. You may then take off the lid and cut away as much of the honey as you think proper. If the operation be performed in July, you may take nearly all, as there will be time enough to provide a sufficiency for their support during the winter. As soon as you have taken the honey, put on the lid, loosen the cloth and spread it out, and in an hour or two the bees will have returned into the hive. It may then be replaced on the stand, and on the following day they will be found at work as usual.​

​

This is the shortest, best most simple way of getting honey from a hive of bees that I have ever seen, tried, or heard of.​

​

Plough Boy.​

West Chester, Pa. July 1850.​

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

My paternal grandmother was a bee charmer! I have her original, (wooden with glass insert) queen bee box, it's over a 100-years-old now.