Introduction
Holy Scriptures—Vedas—Egyptian Monuments—The Koran—Etymological Considerations—Literature of Subject—Aristotle—Philiscus—Pliny—Vergil—Columella—Other Classical Authors—Shakespeare—Modern Writers.
CHAPTER II.
NATURAL HISTORY.
Orders of Insects—Stages of Development—Egg, Larva, Pupa, Imago or Perfect Insect—Three Classes of Bees: Queen, Drones, Workers.
CHAPTER III.
THE QUEEN-BEE.
Early Errors as to Sex—The “Mother Bee”—Distinguishing Characteristics—Functions—Attentions paid her—Effects of Loss; how Repaired by Bees—Enmity to Rivals—Length of Life—Egg-laying.
CHAPTER IV.
THE DRONES.
Distinguishing Characteristics—Time of Hatching—Numbers—Purposes served by them—Destruction by Workers or other means—Unusual Survival.
CHAPTER V.
THE WORKERS.
Distinguishing Characteristics—Supposed Differences of Function among them—Sir John Lubbock’s Experiments—Fertile Workers—Length of Life—“Black Bees”
—Duties of Workers.
CHAPTER VI.
Honey.
Origin—How Collected and Stored—Constitution—Poisonous Honey—Best varieties of Honey—Distances traversed by Bees in search of Honey—Uses
CHAPTER VII.
Mead.
Nature—Method of Manufacture—Metheglin and Mead—Estimation in former times—Queen Elizabeth’s Recipe—Scandinavian liking for Mead.
CHAPTER VIII.
Wax.
Origin—Production—Chemical Constitution—Comb-Building—Detailed Description—Amount of Wax in Hives—Commercial Value—Properties.
CHAPTER IX.
POLLEN, OR BEE-BREAD.
Origin—Collection—Conveyance—Deposition—Quantity Stored—Uses—Artificial Substitutes.
CHAPTER X.
PROPOLIS.
Derivation of Word—Sources—Nature—Purposes—Quantity Collected—Adaptation of Materials to Wants of Bees.
CHAPTER XI.
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BEE.
Nervous System—The Head—Eyes—Compound and Simple—Uses and Powers—Sir John Lubbock’s Experiments—The Antennæ—Structure and Uses—Mouth—Detailed Description.
CHAPTER XII.
HEARING, TASTE, AND SMELLING.
Hearing—Sir John Lubbock’s Experiments—Sounds uttered by Queen—Effects produced by them—Smell-Organs—Purposes—Liking for, and Antipathy to, certain Effluvia—Discovery by Bees of Nectar and Honey
CHAPTER XIII.
THE THORAX.
Detailed Description—Legs—Wings—How used in Flight—Hooking together—Employed for Ventilating.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ABDOMEN.
Respiratory Organs—Circulation of Nutritive Fluid—Digestion and Nutrition—Secretion of Wax—Reproductive Organs—Detailed description of Sting—Effects of Poison—Queen’s Sting.
CHAPTER XV.
THE DISEASES OF BEES.
Dysentery: How Produced—Indications—Treatment. Foul-Brood: two kinds—Nature—Propagation. Mr. Cheshire’s Discoveries and Treatment—Fatal Effects of Disease—Detection—Vertigo—Analogy of Human and Bee Diseases.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE ENEMIES OF BEES.
Birds—Mice—Moths—Braula cœca—Hornets and Wasps—Spiders—Toads—“Robber Bees”
—Prevention of robbing.
CHAPTER XVII.
Hives.
Natural Abodes of Wild Bees—Taking Honey from Roof of House—Straw Skeps—Cottager’s Hive—Supering—Nutt’s Collateral Hive—Village Hive—Woodbury Hive—Abbott’s Hives—Sectional Supering—Stewarton Hive—Carr-Stewarton Hive—Observatory Hives—Bee-houses.
CHAPTER XVIII.
NATURAL SWARMING.
General Facts connected with Swarming—Reconnoitring—Settling—Hiving—Curious Incidents—Transferring Swarms to Bar-Frame Hives—Division of Swarms—Placing Swarm in Permanent Position-Number of Bees in Swarming—“Casts” and Later Swarms—Prevention of Swarming—Feeding of Swarms.
CHAPTER XIX.
ARTIFICIAL SWARMING.
Advantages—Driving: Close and Open—Transfer to Bar-Frame Hive—Conditions of Successful Driving—Various Methods of Artificial Swarming with Bar-Frame Hives.
CHAPTER XX.
QUEEN REARING.
Protection of Queen-cells—Nucleus Hives—Various Methods of Queen Rearing—American Plan—Introduction of Stranger Queens—Difficulties.
CHAPTER XXI.
Feeding.
Troughs—Dangers of this Method—Bottle Feeders—Cheshire’s Feeding Stage—Neighbour’s Can Feeder—The “Round Feeder”—Autumn Feeding—Spring Feeding—Uses of Precautions—Summer Feeding of Swarms—Flour-cake—Barley-sugar or Sugar-cake—Mr. Hunter’s Recipe.
CHAPTER XXII.
WINTERING BEES.
False and True Hybernation—Temperature of Hive in Winter—Necessity for Quiet during Winter—Structure and Winter-packing of Bar-Frame Hives—Prevention of Draught and Condensation of Vapour—Supply of Water.
CHAPTER XXIII.
BEE-STINGS.
Gentleness necessary in Manipulation—Causes of Irritation of Bees—Examination of Stocks—Treatment of Stings—Remedies—Effects of Stings—Inoculation—Bee Dress—Smoke and its Uses.
CHAPTER XXIV.
PASSIONS AND EMOTIONS OF BEES.
Affection for Queen and Brood—Recognition of Friends and Strangers—Fear—Anger—Covetousness—Benevolence—Remorse—Hope—Instinctive or Sense-action.
CHAPTER XXV.
INTELLECT AND INSTINCT IN BEES.
Intellect in Man and Animals as Related to Immortality—Memory—Judgment—Instances of Attention—Prevision—Provision—Instinct—Manifestations—Bearing on Evolution.
CHAPTER XXVI.
BEES IN RELATION TO FLOWERS.
Connection of Plant-life and Insect-life—Reproduction of Flowers—Intervention of Insects—Hermaphrodite Flowers—Cross-fertilisation—Cucumbers, Melons, &c.—Poplars—Firs—Epilobium or Willow Herb—Cincerarias—Darwin’s Experiments—Nasturtium—Foxglove—Figwort—Salvia—Heath—Strawberry, Raspberry, and Blackberry—Apple and Pear—Altruism of Bees.
CHAPTER XXVII.
SUPERSTITIONS CONNECTED WITH BEES.
Superstitions likely to gather around Bees—Unlucky to Buy Bees—Ill Omen for a Swarm to Settle on a Dry Stick—“Have the Bees been told?”—Turning Hives on the Death of the Owner—Probable Origin of these Errors.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE PROFITS OF BEE-KEEPING.
Methods of Honey-taking—Straw Caps—Bell-Glasses—Sections—Frames—Extractors—Run Honey—Average Returns of Hives.