Perhaps, another obscure fact is the procedure of burying bees, practiced 
by some beekeepers during the 19c  Here are two of my favorite articles on 
the subject: 

“My "modus operandi'' is as follows:
a hole is dug considerably larger than
the hive or hives, in every respect.—
On the bottom of the hole two sticks
of three or four inches in diameter
are placed for each hive, and on these
the floor board, which should be a
sound one; is placed. Another board,
(two inch plank is preferable,) is put
on the hive and dry straw is as compactly
as is convenient placed around
it. This, in rainy weather, if the
ground is clear from frost, allows the
rain to pass fairly down, while the
space between the blocks furnish a
ready reservoir, from which it is absorbed
by the earth, without offering
any injurious effects to the bees. The
earth is placed in a conical form, to
turn the water from the hives, the top
of which about four inches below the
surface. With respect to the experiment
of 1833-4, I cannot say whether
the apertures of the hives were closed,
but in that of 1834-5, they were
not. This experiment succeeded,
but weather it is the best way of
proceeding I shall not advise.”
Yours, &c.
WILLIAM BACON.
Richmond, Mass. April, 1835.


“Burying Bees. — Mr. Joshua Goodrich
of Granger, by way of experiment, buried
a hive of bees last November, on the 
recommendation of Alexander Russell. He
took the bottom out of the hive with 4 or
5 pounds of honey, and placed the hive
on the top of a heap of potatoes, covering
them in the usual manner of burying potatoes.
He took them up in the Spring
as bright and lively as possible.” 
— Akron Democrat. 
1845, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Best Wishes,
Joe
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles

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