"Bees work for man; and yet they never bruise

Their master's flower, but leave it, having done,

As fair as ever, and as fit for use"

Apiarians generally agree in the opinion that very little can be done

in the way of providing any special forage for bees. Yet bee-fanciers

are always interested in observing which the flowers are that the bees

prefer; and there are certain well established conclusions as to the

kind of district and season which are the likeliest to produce a good

honey harvest. There is an old saying that a country which produces

the finest wool also yields the best honey; and a pastoral district is

decidedly better than one under tillage. The principle of the matter

is, that the bees are best suited with a long dry season--an early

spring, a hot summer, and a late autumn. As not one of these blessings

can be commanded by the apiarian, his art must be applied to provide

some mitigation of the injury suffered by the bees when the season is

short or wet. For early spring, the crocus, the blue hepatica, and the

violet, all afford good supplies of honey, and if cultivated near the

apiary, will be of great service when the wild flowers are backward.

All varieties of the willow and poplar furnish early supplies of honey,

as well as of the propolis of which we have spoken; the blossoms of

the gooseberry and currant are very useful for the bees in May. Wet,

when it enters flowers of any kind, prevents the proboscis of the bee

from reaching the secret source of honey. On this account, it is well

to know, as does the bee, that the drooping blossoms of the raspberry

escape the effect of the showers, and honey is gathered from them when

other flowers are drenched within as well as without. For a similar

reason, the borage (_borago officinalis_) is valuable for bees; and,

also, because that plant continues to flower until the frosts set in.

The honey both from raspberry blossoms and borage is very superior. Mr.

Langstroth says that "the precipitous and rocky lands of New England,

which abound with the wild red raspberry, might be made almost as

valuable as some of the vine-clad terraces of the mountain districts

of Europe." The "golden rod," and also asters, afford superior honey

for autumn gathering. Dzierzon strongly recommends buck-wheat being

sown in the winter stubbles on behalf of the bees, and he tries hard

to persuade farmers that it is to their interest to cultivate it. It

should be named that all the ordinary fruit blossoms, especially those

of the apple, supply abundant store for bees.

It is, however, to wild or field flowers that the bee-master must

chiefly look for the raw material on which his myriad artisans shall

exert their skill. The white clover of the pasture--the wild thyme

on the hill--the heather on the moors--the furze and the broom on

the sandy waste--offer exhaustless stores for a greater number of

bees than can ever be located near them. There are also two or three

peculiar sources of honey which one would not have suspected, as, for

instance the blossoms of the onion plant, of turnips, and in still

greater degree, the flower of the mustard plant. In those districts

of England where mustard seed is cultivated so extensively, it would

be well worth while for the farmers to keep large colonies of bees.

Another, but a very uncertain source of honey, is the "honey-dew,"

which in some seasons appears in large quantities on the leaves of the

oak, the lime, and some other trees.

It is important to mention that bees in the principal breeding season

require a plentiful supply of water. Owing either to their carelessness

or eagerness, they are frequently drowned when drinking from any large

quantity of water; the bee-keeper should, therefore, place near the

hives shallow vessels of water containing pebbles, on which the bees

may alight to take frequent but temperate draughts.

THE LIGURIAN OR ITALIAN ALP-BEE.

A new, or rather a re-discovered, variety of bee has recently been

brought into practical use amongst apiarians in Germany and America, as

well as in this country. The ordinary bee is the _Apis Mellifica_ of

naturalists; the new kind is the _Apis Ligustica_. It was also named

"The Ligurian Bee" by the Marquis de Spinola, who found it in Piedmont

in 1805; and he considered it to be the principal species known to

the Greeks, who speak of the "best kind" of bee as being of a red

colour. Leading apiarians agree in pronouncing these bees to be justly

entitled to the high character given to them. Their special advantages

are--greater fecundity of the queens, less irascibility, and a more

handsome appearance, for being of a golden colour, they are prettier

than our black bees.

Our own experience with the Italian Alp-bee enables us to corroborate

the statements which have been made in favour of this new variety. We

find the queens more prolific than those of the common kind, and the

quantity of honey produced is greater. These two facts stand as cause

and effect; the bees being multiplied more quickly, the store of honey

is accumulated more rapidly, and the Italian bees consume, if anything,

less food than the common kind. When of pure Italian blood, these bees

are by some apiarians thought to be hardier than our own. That they

forage for stores with greater eagerness, and have little hesitation in

paying visits to other hives, we can testify from our own observation.

The following anecdote will illustrate their intrusive propensities.

Another bee-keeper living in the neighbourhood of our apiary, when

inspecting our hives, observed the yellow bees; he exclaimed, "Now I

have found out where those strange-looking bees come from; for," said

he, "these yellow-jackets are incessant visitors to my hives. I thought

they were a species of wasps that had come to rob, and until now I have

been unable to account for their appearance at the entrance of my hive,

so that I have killed them by hundreds." This was not at all pleasing

intelligence for us, and we trust that our neighbour has been more

lenient to "the yellow-jackets" since his visit. We are inclined to

believe that more visiting takes place amongst bees of different hives

than bee-keepers have been accustomed to suppose; where the Italian and

black bees are kept near each other, the foreigners being conspicuous

by their lighter colour, there is less difficulty in identifying them

when at the entrances of other hives.

This season (1864) we have had more honey from a Ligurian stock than

from any one of our colonies of black bees. From this Ligurian hive

we have taken a glass super containing 40 lbs. nett of honey, besides

having drawn from it an artificial swarm; and, after all, it remains

the strongest hive in our apiary.

The Baron Von Berlepsch and Pastor Dzierzon, who are probably the two

most intelligent and skilful bee-keepers of Germany, award to the

Italian a very decided preference over the common bees. The Baron says

that he has found:--1. That the Italian bees are less sensitive to

cold than the common kind. 2. That their queens are more prolific. 3.

That the colonies swarm earlier and more frequently. 4. That they are

less apt to sting. 5. They are more industrious. 6. That they are more

disposed to rob than common bees, and more courageous and active in

self defence. They strive, whenever opportunity offers, to force their

way into colonies of common bees; but when strange bees attack their

hives, they fight with great fierceness, and with incredible adroitness.

It is said, that the Italian bee can extract honey from some flowers

which the common bee is unable to penetrate. For instance, the blossom

tubes of the red clover being too deep for the proboscis of the common

bee, that flower is useless to them, although so plentiful; but, says

Mr. Langstroth, the American apiarian, the Italian bee visits the red

clover assiduously, and draws large quantities of honey from it.[7]

[Footnote 7: This opinion is not held by the closest observer of

Italian bees in England.]

The introduction of this new variety of bee into England was through

our agency. M. Hermann, a bee cultivator at Tamins-by-Chur, Canton

Grison, Switzerland, wrote to us on the 5th July, 1859, offering to

supply us with Italian Alp queen bees. This letter, or an extract from

it, appeared in the current number of the _Journal of Horticulture_,

(then called the _Cottage Gardener_,) a periodical that regularly

opens its columns to apiarian subjects. Prior to this the _Italian

Alp_, or as it has been named the "Ligurian" bee, was unknown in

this country, except to a few naturalists. The letter referred to

attracted the attention of that intelligent apiarian T. W. Woodbury,

Esq., now so well known as the "Devonshire Bee-keeper." On the 19th

of July, that is a fortnight after Mr. Hermann's offer, we received a

consignment of Italian Alp bees, being the first imported into England,

with these, Mr. Woodbury also received one queen-bee and a few workers,

which he introduced into a hive of English bees from which the queen

had been taken. His efforts were very successful, and "the spring

of 1860 found him in possession of four Ligurianized stocks." His

subsequent experience with the Italian Alp bee he has fully described

in a communication to _The Bath and West of England Agricultural

Journal_.

Subsequently Mr. Hermann sent us a copy of his pamphlet entitled "The

Italian Alp Bee; or, the _Gold Mine of Husbandry_," with the request

that we should have it translated from the German, and that copies of

it should be printed in the English language. The pamphlet was speedily

published by us, and although singular as a literary production, it may

be useful for the advanced apiarian.

Certainly the bees are partially of an orange or golden colour, and if

one could believe the golden anticipations indulged in by Mr. Hermann

respecting them, it would be sufficient to identify the Italian Alp bee

as the species described by Hood in Miss Kilmansegg;--those which dwelt

in

"A golden hive, on a golden bank,

Where golden bees, by alchemical prank,

Gather gold instead of honey."

Poor Hermann himself did not profit by the discovery of the mine. His

enthusiasm for the culture of the Alpine bee instead of wafting him

to El Dorado appears to have driven him to the prosaic retreat of a

debtor's prison. By the latest accounts we learn that--his ardent

spirit chafing against his incarceration,--he had made an attempt to

escape, and in doing so, fell from the prison walls and broke both

legs. We understand that he has since died.

In the pamphlet referred to, Mr. Hermann gives the following

description of what he insists on designating as _Apis Helvetica_:--

"The yellow Italian Alp-bee is a mountain insect; it is found between

two mountain chains to the right and left of Lombardy and the Rhetian

Alps, and comprises the whole territory of Tessins, Veltlin, and

South-Graubunden. It thrives up to the height of 4,500 feet above the

level of the sea, and appears to prefer the northern clime to the

warmer, for in the south of Italy it is not found. The Alps are their

native country, therefore they are called _Yellow Alp-bee_, or tame

house bees, in contra distinction to the black European bees, whom we

might call common forest bees, and who, on the slightest touch, fly

like lightning into your face.(?)

"As all good and noble things in the world are more scarce than common

ones, so there are more common black bees than of the noble yellow

race, which latter inhabit only a very small piece of country, while

the black ones are at home everywhere in Europe, and even in America."

Notwithstanding the death of M. Hermann, we shall in future be able to

supply all bee-keepers, who may wish to possess stocks of the genuine

yellow Alpine bees.

The Italian varies but little from the common bees in its physical

characteristics. The difference in appearance consists in the first

rings of the abdomen, except the posterior edge, and the base of the

third--being of an orange colour instead of a deep brown. These orange

coloured parts are transparent when closely examined with the sun

shining on them. The Italian bees are more active than common bees when

on the wing.

During the summers of 1859 and 1860 we had over from the Continent a

great number of Ligurian queens; these were sent to all parts of the

kingdom. We regret to say that but few were successfully united to

English stocks. It requires a considerable amount of apiarian skill to

accomplish the union, so that we find by experience it is best to send

out complete Ligurian stocks. This is particularly desirable now that

the packing of whole hives is so easily accomplished by us with the aid

of bars and frames. We have sent a great number of stocks to all parts

by rail.

Mr. Woodbury, owing to his knowledge and skill in bee-keeping, was

eminently successful in propagating the Ligurian bees first imported

into this country; and we would recommend all who may be interested in

the subject, to peruse the interesting articles written by him in the

_Journal of Horticulture_. He has shown great patience and energy by

his labours in the rearing of queens and the multiplication of stocks,

for which he merits all praise. On the other hand, Mr. Woodbury has

to thank the Ligurian bees for the development of his own skill, for

although prior to this he was a valued correspondent to the before

named Journal, his commencement of scientific bee-keeping must be dated

from the time of their introduction.

We now add to the other testimonies already cited, that of Mr. Woodbury

as to the superior qualities of the Ligurian bees. The following is

extracted from a paper contributed by him to the _Bath and West of

England Agricultural Journal_:--"From my strongest Ligurian stock I

took eight artificial swarms in the spring, besides depriving it of

numerous brood-combs. Finding in June that the bees were collecting

honey so fast that the queen could not find an empty cell in which to

lay an egg, I was reluctantly compelled to put on a super. When this

had been filled with. 88 lbs. of the finest honey-comb,[8] I removed

it, and as the stock-hive (a very large one) could not contain the

multitude of bees which issued from it, I formed them into another very

large artificial swarm. The foregoing facts speak for themselves; but

as information on this point has been very generally asked, I have no

hesitation in saying that I believe the Ligurian honey-bee infinitely

superior in every respect to the only species that we have hitherto

been acquainted with."

[Footnote 8: This super was exhibited at our stand in the International

Exhibition of 1862.]

After such decided testimony as this, corroborated, as it is, by many

other observers, there seems every reason to expect that the Ligurian

bee will gradually supersede the common kind throughout the United

Kingdom.

LIVING BEES AT THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1862, SENDING BEES TO

AUSTRALIA, &c.

[Illustration]

The engraving represents our stand in the Agricultural Department of

the International Exhibition of 1862. The space granted us in the

World's great Fair was somewhat limited; but we were able to exhibit

a tolerably complete stock of apiarian apparatus and all the more

important bee-hives. Amongst these was a Unicomb Hive stocked with

the Yellow Alpine or "Ligurian" bee. This was an object of great

attention, and daily hundreds of visitors flocked round our stand in

order to watch the movements of the Italian queen with her gay and busy

subjects. The entrance way for the bees being in the "Open Court," to

which all visitors had access, it was necessary to place the hive in an

elevated position, so as for it to be beyond the reach of incautious

passers by, and to obviate any chance of annoyance to the vast crowds

of people continually around.

Among others who took a deep interest in our exhibition, was Mr. Edward

Wilson, President of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. This

gentleman requested us to pack four stocks of the Ligurian bees for

conveyance to Melbourne. With the assistance of Mr. Woodbury--whose

aid was, indeed, essential--these stocks were sent off on the 25th of

September, 1862, by the steam ship Alhambra, so as to arrive at the

colony during the Austral summer. The hives were Woodbury-frame hives,

having ample space and ventilation, as well as the means of supplying

water to their inmates during the voyage; there was, also, a sufficient

store of honey to last until the following March. The bees arrived at

Melbourne, where they were released after an imprisonment of seventy

nine days, and have since rapidly multiplied, the climate and pasturage

of Australia greatly favouring the increase of this superior variety of

the bee.

Mr. Wilson was so well pleased with the careful manner in which these

stocks were fitted out for their voyage across the seas, that he

subsequently instructed us to prepare him three more hives, which were

sent out in a sailing vessel. Owing to the mismanagement of the water

supply during the voyage, only one stock survived in this instance.

Upwards of twenty years ago, we sent a Nutt's Hive stocked with bees

to New Zealand. We then adopted the plan of fixing the hive in a meat

safe, so that the bees could fly about a little, and also cleanse

the hive of their dead, for bees are very attentive to sanitary

arrangements; they always remove the dead ones from their midst, and do

not void excrement within the hive.

When bees are shut up in their hives too long, they are apt to be

attacked by a disease called by apiarians--dysentery. Sometimes when

confined by the unfavourableness of the weather in winter or the

lateness of spring, this disease produces serious mischief amongst the

bees. Various remedies have been recommended; but we believe the best

is to see that there is wholesome food within the hive, and plenty of

it, and when fine weather returns, the health of the bees will return

with it. Dampness of the hives, and too late feeding in the autumn, are

also frequent causes of this disease.

BEE-KEEPING IN LONDON.

There are many persons now in this noisy city pent, who frequently

remember the days of childhood when, among pastures of clover or amidst

flowery heath and woodlands, they listened to the cheerful hum of bees.

Partly from a desire to revive those old associations, and also from a

natural liking for the tendance of living creatures, such persons would

be glad to keep bees if they thought it possible to do so in London

or its suburbs with any chance of success. We do not wonder that many

should doubt even the possibility of bees feeding themselves amidst

such an "endless meal of brick;" but we can easily prove that bees,

if not placed too near to smoky chimneys, are able to produce honey,

both for themselves and for their masters. To make this plain, we will

mention some special instances of metropolitan bee-keeping.

About ninety years ago, a Mr. Wildman kept a bee-house and honey

warehouse near to Middle Row, Holborn. He was not only a tradesman, but

was also the apiarian of his day. He kept hives of thriving bees on

the roof of his house in Holborn, and many of the nobility and gentry

used to mount thither in order to inspect the apiary. At that period,

St. Pancras was a "village two miles north-west of London," and what

is now the Regent's Park was open country. It was then much easier for

London bees to find their favourite forage, but Mr. Wildman believed

that his hives were filled with stores from a considerable distance.

Whilst enjoying his country rambles on Hampstead Heath, he had a

shrewd suspicion that many of the bees he there observed gathering

honey were Labourers from his own apiary. In order to identify his

own flock amongst the rest, he hit upon a homely but very effective

expedient. Having borrowed Mrs. Wildman's "dredging box," he stationed

himself near the entrance of his hives, and gently dusted his bees with

flour as they issued forth. He then betook himself to Hampstead, where

he found his previous surmise confirmed, for there were numbers of his

bees in their livery of white.

Wildman became noted for the remarkable control he obtained over his

bees, many instances of which he exhibited before the public. Many

of his operations with them were regarded as feats of legerdemain

by the uninitiated, as when he appeared before the king George III.

with a swarm of bees hanging in festoons from his chin, or suspended

in a cluster at arm's length. The Journal of Horticulture recently,

in alluding to Wildman, gives the following particulars as to his

performances:--

Near the "Three Hats," Islington, was a place of popular

entertainment called "Dobney's Tea Gardens," kept by Mrs. Ann

Dobney. These gardens occupied the ground between White Lion Street

and Winchester Place, and were established as far back as 1728. In

1771 the house was taken for a short time as a boarding school;

but it was soon changed to its original purpose as a place of

amusement, for in 1772 Daniel Wildman exhibited bees here. This is

a copy of the advertisement:--

"June 20, 1772. Exhibition of bees on horseback! at the Jubilee

Gardens, Islington, (late Dobney's), this and every evening until

further notice (wet evenings excepted.)

"The celebrated Daniel Wildman will exhibit several new and

amazing experiments, never attempted by any man in this or any

other kingdom before. The rider standing upright, one foot on

the saddle and one on the neck, with a mask of bees on his head

and face. He also rides standing upright on the saddle with the

bridle in his mouth, and by firing a pistol, makes one part of

the bees march over the table, and the other swarm in the air and

return to their hive again, with other performances too tedious to

insert. The doors open at six; to begin at a quarter before seven.

Admittance:--Box and gallery, 2s.; the other seats. 1s."

The secret of Wildman's skilful manipulation is well understood now; it

consisted in a careful holding and disposal of the queen, together with

confidence in the generally inoffensive disposition of bees. Dr. Evans,

whom we have often quoted for his correct information in apiarian

matters, thus speaks of his feats:--

"Such was the spell which, round a Wildman's arm.

Twined in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm;

Bright o'er his breast the glittering legions led.

Or with a living garland bound his head.

His dextrous hand, with firm yet hurtless hold,

Could seize the chief, known by her scales of gold,

Prune, 'mid the wondering train, her filmy wing.

Or o'er her folds the silken fetter fling."

To recur to our subject. After the days of Wildman, our own

establishment in Holborn became widely known for bee hives and

honey. Although we never attempted to start a London apiary at all

approaching in extent that of our predecessor, we have occasionally

kept bees on the house top both in Holborn and Regent Street. At both

those situations, we have noticed that the bees bring "pollen" as

well as honey into their hives. Last summer there was brought under

our notice an illustration of the acuteness of the scent of bees, and

of their diligent search for food, proving too that if sweets can be

obtained even from unusual sources, the bees will find them out. A poor

woman who, at the corner of an adjacent street vends "brandy balls,"

"toffee," "rock," and other saccharine compounds--all well known to and

appreciated by most juveniles,--used to receive frequent visits from

our bees. Their visits to the old dame's domain were at first rather

interesting, and if the few pioneers who had the sagacity to find such

a store had kept the secret only to themselves, their company would

not have been objected to. Such selfish policy does not, however,

accord with the social instinct of bees, and these soon informed their

companions of the good fortune provided for them in an archipelago

of sugar islands. Day by day the swarms of these uninvited visitors

increased, until all legitimate customers were beaten off; and the old

dame had to see, not only her hope of gain destroyed, but her stock of

"goodies" sensibly diminishing by the thefts of these brigands of the

air. She could not, or dare not attempt to, drive the intruders away,

so made diligent enquiry as to where the robbers were harboured. Having

traced them to our establishment in Regent Street, she came to implore

of us to move the bees if possible, or she would have to move her

stall, and so lose her "connection" in the "toffee" and "rock" trade.

Wishing not to hinder the poor woman in gaining her livelihood, we

decided on removing our bees into the country.

It is difficult to assign an exact limit to the distance that bees

will go in search of honey yielding blossoms. It has been proved by

various experiments that they will fly say five or six miles, if the

supplies are scanty within a shorter radius; but bees well understand

that first of all economies,--the saving of time, and if they can find

forage near at hand, they prefer it. Hence, other things being equal,

the quantity of honey stored will be in proportion to the contiguity of

good pasturage. In this way it is that the systematic removal of hives,

as practiced in many districts, has such a notable effect on the honey

harvest.

During several years we kept bees in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's

Park, and have there frequently taken full and handsome glasses of

honey. The position of our apiary was on the site now occupied by the

"New Monkey House." The Society promise to erect a new building for an

apiary in the course of the ensuing summer. The visitors to the Gardens

found considerable interest in watching the bees in our glass hives,

and are now much disappointed at the absence of so entertaining an

exhibition.

A gentleman residing in St. James's Place, has for some considerable

time past kept bees in his garden there. He uses our improved cottage

hives, and his bee-keeping is decidedly successful as he generally

takes some fine glasses of honey each season, besides leaving

sufficient as winter store for the bees. For a London situation, St.

James's Place is a very favourable one; the gardens behind the houses

pleasantly face the Green Park, so that the bees have an uninterrupted

flight to start with. They are also within easy range of the richly

flowered gardens of Buckingham Palace and those of the nobility and

gentry who reside around the Parks. To those gardens the bees of St.

James's Place resort, without waiting for any license or certificate

from the royal and noble owners of the honey yielding preserves. Being

within a short distance of our establishment, when this gentleman's

bees swarm he generally sends to us for assistance in hiving them.

The neighbourhood of St. John's Wood, and indeed almost all the suburbs

of London, are favourable for the production of honey. We mention St.

John's Wood because, from the fact of having kept bees there ourselves,

we are able to prove by our experience that they do well in that

locality. We have several customers on nearly all sides of the town,

who have each had this year a considerable surplus of honey in their

"supers," after leaving sufficient for the bees themselves in the lower

or stock hives.

We exhibited in our window last autumn a super of fine honey from the

apiary of Shirley Hibberd, Esq., the proprietor and editor of the

_Gardiner's Weekly Magazine_. It is a box containing 20 lbs. nett

weight of honey, and was produced at Stoke Newington, only 3¼ miles

from the General Post Office.

The _Times_ "Bee-Master," whose letters from Tunbridge Wells have

awakened so much interest in this pleasing pursuit, also commissioned

us to exhibit a "super," produced under his own management in that

locality. A friend of ours at Exeter had upwards of 400 lbs. of honey,

of excellent quality, though one of his apiaries is quite within the

city.

The last has been an excellent honey yielding season; our own bees, at

Dorking, in Surrey, have produced us large quantities, and the accounts

from nearly all parts of the country coincide in stating that the bees

have in the year, 1864, enjoyed unusual opportunities for accumulation.

In not a few localities, the season of 1863 was even more abundant.

WASPS AND MOTHS.

Bees have few enemies more formidable than wasps. The most effectual

method of checking their invasion of hives, is to have as narrow an

entrance as the bees can do with. If a stock be not very weak in

numbers, the bees will be well able to guard a small aperture, and can

repel the attacks of those insidious and merciless robbers. On this

account, the entrance to our No. 5 hive as described at page 31, may be

used.

The bee-keeper is interested in preventing the increase of wasps; it

is, therefore, a good practice for him to set a price on queen wasps in

the spring, the death of one of them at that time being equivalent to

the destruction of a whole nest.

Should nests be found in the neighbourhood of an apiary, their

annihilation must be accomplished either by blowing them up with

gunpowder, an operation well understood by most country lads; or any

other effectual method. The late Mr. Payne recommended that a small

quantity of gas tar should be put into the mouth of a wasp's nest, and

if then covered with earth, the total destruction of the wasps will

be accomplished without further trouble. But to use blazing straw for

the purpose is always dangerous in country districts. We have lately

heard of a very ingenious and successful mode of entrapping and killing

wasps. Place some sugar or strongly sweetened compound on the ground in

a garden, and place over it a square hand glass, wedged up an inch or

so all round. On this glass, which should have an opening at the apex,

lodge another, but a sound one. The wasps, attracted by the sweets,

will soon crowd under the lower glass, and when they have well feasted,

will ascend into the upper one; there, between the two, they soon

become scorched and perish by the heat of the sun shining on the outer

glass.

The season of 1864 was most productive for the increase of these prime

pests of the apiary, and many hives have severely suffered by their

depredations. When once wasps in any number have gained an entrance

into a hive, the bees can seldom eject them, and the invaders generally

remain until they have freely regaled themselves from the luscious

store. They not only consume the honey, but cause a good deal of worry

to the legitimate inhabitants of the hive, as well as killing the

foremost defenders of it. Wasps being of so much superior strength, it

requires, at least, three bees to master one of them.

Having suffered loss in our own apiary from the attacks of wasps,

we feel it desirable to give a detailed account of our own troubles

from that cause. One of our Ligurian stocks was besieged and worried

by wasps to such an extent, that the bees deserted it on the 5th

of September, (1864). Fortunately, the bees chose a time for their

departure just as we visited the apiary. An unusual turmoil was heard

in the hive, such as is experienced at the time of swarming, and on

immediately examining the entrance, we observed that the bees were

quitting in tumultuous haste. The usual methods that induce bees to

settle were tried--amongst others, that of throwing sand up into

the air, so as it should fall down amongst the bees on the wing;

but they were dispersed in disorder, and their flight extended over

three adjacent gardens. We only discovered the clustered bees by

diligent search, as the sequel will show. Permission being asked of

our next door neighbour, we searched his garden to see if our bees

had alighted there; but found that they had passed over. Making a

similar application to the owner of the garden adjoining, we entered,

having a straw hive in hand, but no bees were there. After looking

diligently all round, and climbing the wall, thereby gaining a view

of the third garden, we perceived in it unmistakable signs of an

unwonted commotion. The occupiers of the house were intently looking

at a particular part of the garden, and there was a dustpan and a key,

with which the master had been "tanging the bees" to induce them to

settle. We quickly made for the proper entrance to the garden, and

soon discovered our little wanderers clustered to a large flower vase.

Our neighbours, however, were sadly disappointed of their prize, for

the gardener had hastily been dispatched into the town to purchase

a hive for the welcome colonists. In depriving our neighbours of so

unexpected and cheaply acquired a treasure, we could sympathise with

their regret, having been much disheartened half-an-hour before at

our own loss; but, of course, we could do no other than claim our own

bees. We gladly agreed to defray the expense of the straw hive that had

been purchased for the sake of our truant swarm. After brushing the

bees into the hive, and leaving it propped up with a stick, in order

that the stray ones might join, we returned home for an hour or so,

to give them time to settle. Judge of our vexation when on returning

to fetch the hive home, we found that the refractory creatures had

again taken flight, and that all the work was to do over again. The

wasps were not to blame for this second flight of the Ligurians; we

judged that the swarm had been disturbed by visits from a colony of

bees that we discovered were living the life of outlaws under the roof

of an adjoining house. Although much disheartened and perplexed, we

at once renewed our search, and, upon enquiry, found that the missing

bees had taken a southerly course across the turnpike road, and it was

therefore necessary to ask permission to search the gardens of the

houses opposite. From one of these we observed, on looking through the

hedge, that the inhabitants of the next house were on the _qui vive_.

On enquiring whether they had seen a colony of bees, the wary old dame

replied that she "had no bees but her own," and added that "they were

very much excited." Having asked permission to go through the hedge

to look at her bees, we soon discovered our Ligurians on the top of

the old lady's bee-house. There was no difficulty in identifying our

own bees; their yellow rings were as good as a private mark. Quickly

hiving the swarm, we took them home, and replaced them in the hive

they had quitted. It was almost destitute of honey; but by liberal

feeding, and lessening the entrance so that only one bee at a time

could find ingress or egress, we succeeded in inducing them to rest in

their old home. Thus nearly half a day's exertion was needed to save a

fine colony, which would otherwise have been utterly lost by the power

of the relentless wasps.

Much watchfulness is needed to prevent the loss of swarms, and the

foregoing incident may serve to suggest the necessity of having hives

so located as to be constantly within view, either from the dining

room, or of those whose duties oblige them to be near the apiary. If

we had not happened to be at hand at the moment this colony started,

it would have been irretrievably lost to us. Many swarms and colonies

are lost simply because the departure takes place without any one

witnessing it. Let us hope that runaway bees may always fall into

the hands of those who are as capable of taking care of them as our

neighbours appeared to be on the occasion we have described.

Another formidable enemy of bees are the moths. These insects are

creatures of the night, as the bees of the day, and they make their way

into the hives under cover of darkness, in spite of the bee-sentinels.

They deposit their eggs in any crevices in or near the hive that they

can find. There the warmth of the hive or of the sheltered situation,

causes the eggs speedily to hatch, and then the maggots soon work their

way to the comb and larvæ food, which they greedily devour, thereby

often bringing about the gradual but certain destruction of the whole

community of bees. The best way of keeping moths outside the hives

is to lessen the entrance, as before alluded to. Also, in the early

spring, the hives should be lifted from their floorboards, which must

then be made thoroughly clean, and all crevices and corners about the

hive and stand should be scraped, so as to get rid of all eggs of moths

and other insects before the warm weather hatches them or enables them

to do mischief. The bee-moth is not so troublesome in England as it

is in America and some parts of Germany; but still its encroachments

should be carefully guarded against in this country, for if not, it may

easily increase to a very serious extent.

DRAINING HONEY FROM THE COMBS.

Those of our readers who prefer eating "run honey" to honey in the

comb, may be glad of some instruction as to the best way of separating

the two. For this purpose, it is better to let the honey run without

squeezing, in order to preserve both its transparency and flavour.

Take a sharp knife, and slice the combs on both sides, keeping the

knife parallel with the partition wall, so that every cell may be laid

open. Place these broken combs in a sieve, or on a piece of muslin

stretched across and tied round the opening of a pan or large mouthed

jar. Allow the honey to flow out of the combs spontaneously, and

reserve the squeezing process for a separate jar, so that the honey of

the first drained jar may be perfectly pure, both in appearance and

flavour. That which has pressure put on it will be waxy in flavour and

thick. Some persons recommend that the opened combs be placed in the

sun, as the heat will cause the honey to run more freely. The great

disadvantage of this is, the temptation the honey will offer to bees,

who will be eager to gain a share. Honey whilst in the combs keeps

remarkably well when left in the supers; if cut out, the combs should

be folded in writing paper and sealed up, so as effectually to prevent

free entrance of air; they should then be placed in a warm dry closet.

Honey, like most vegetable products, should be fresh every year. It

may easily be kept from one season to another; but when kept beyond

that time, unless very carefully stored in a warm temperature, it will

crystallize in the comb, and it is liable to ferment when in jars

separated from the comb.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Every bee-keeper should be a book-keeper; that is, so far as to have a

permanent record of the events of the apiary and the fortunes of his

bees. A book similar to a tradesman's journal would be very suitable

for the purpose. In it he should note down the date of the first swarm

of the season especially, and those of the other swarms also; and in

autumn, the quantity of honey taken from each hive should be entered,

with remarks on the probable size of the various stocks. These

particulars will not only be interesting for the bee-keeper to turn to

in winter, but will be of practical service in enabling him to know the

exact age and probable strength of each stock. The bee-book may also be

contrived to show the total amount of honey that the bees have produced

for their owner, and the net money profit of the apiary. A simple and

clear account Like this--provided, by the bye, that it does show a

satisfactory balance--will be very useful for inducing cottagers and

farm labourers to start bee-keeping. Nothing like ocular demonstration

for this class. The "humane" apiarian will reason with them in vain

until he shows them a monster "skep" of honey, and mentions the price

that it will fetch in the market. When convinced that the depriving

system will pay, the cottager will gladly adopt it.

A writer in the _Quarterly Review_ gives the following good

advice:--"Don't bore the cottager with long lectures; don't heap upon

him many little books; but give him a hive of the best construction,

show him the management, and then _buy his honey;_ _buy_ all he brings,

even though you should have to give the surplus to some gardenless

widow. But only buy such as comes from an improved hive--and you cannot

easily be deceived in this,--one which preserves the bees and betters

the honey. Then, _when you pay him_, you may read to him, if you will,

the wise rules of old Butler," _exempli gratia_:--

"If thou wilt have the favour of thy bees that they sting thee not,

thou must not be unchaste or uncleanly; thou must not come among

them with a stinking breath, caused either through eating of leeks,

onions, or garlic, or by any other means, the noisomeness whereof

is corrected by a cup of beer; thou must not be given to surfeiting

or drunkenness; thou must not come puffing or blowing unto them,

neither hastily stir among them, nor violently defend thyself when

they seem to threaten thee; but, softly moving by, thy hand before

thy face, gently put them by; and, lastly, thou must be no stranger

to them. In a word, (or rather, in five words,) be chaste, sweet,

sober, quiet, familiar; so they will love thee and know thee from

all others."

Allusion having been made to the profit that may be gained by the

judicious management of bees, we will illustrate that point by relating

an anecdote of a certain French _curé_.[9] It is one which may be

suggestive to some of the rural clergy in this country, who might

almost as easily keep an apiary as they do a garden or an orchard.

[Footnote 9: This story, in a disguised form, or--as the writer would

say--an improved form, was quoted in the Cornhill Magazine some time

ago. In transforming the bee-keeping cure into an English clergyman the

effect was cleverly]

A good French bishop, in paying his annual visit to his clergy, was

very much afflicted by the representations they made to him of their

extreme poverty, which indeed the appearance of their houses and

families corroborated. Deploring the sad state of things which had

reduced them to such a condition, he arrived at the house of a curate

who, living amongst a poorer set of parishioners than any he had yet

visited, would, he feared, be in a still more woful plight than the

rest. Contrary, however, to his expectations, he found the appearance

of this remote parsonage to be superior to those he had already

visited. Everything about the house wore the aspect of comfort and

plenty. The good bishop was amazed. "How is this, my friend," said he,

"you are the first pastor I have met with having a cheerful face and a

plentiful board! Have you any income independent of your cure?" "Yes,

Sire," said the pastor, "I have: my family would starve on the pittance

I receive from the poor people that I instruct. If you will walk into

the garden, I will show you the stock that yields me such excellent

interest." On going into the garden, he showed the bishop a long range

of bee-hives. "There," said he, "is the bank from which I draw an

annual dividend, and it is one that never stops payment." His harvest

of honey enabled him almost to dispense with the use of sugar, leaving

him a considerable quantity of it for disposal in the market; of the

coarser portions he made a tolerable substitute for wine, and the sale

of his wax nearly paid his shoemaker's bill. Ever afterwards, when any

of the clergy complained to the bishop of poverty, he would say to

them "Keep bees! keep bees!" In this succinct advice, extending it to

laity as well as clergy in rural districts, we heartily join, believing

that in this country a ten times greater number of hives might be

successfully kept than are now established. In a very practical sense,

the oft repeated lines of Gray are strictly true:--

"Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,

And waste its fragrance on the desert air."

enhanced, especially as to the dismay of the decorous English

prelate in hearing that his poor brother in the Church had turned

"manufacturer;" but then the _vraisemblance_ of the story, as we have

it, was destroyed. An apiary in the garden of every village clergyman

would afford the means of economising this unclaimed bounty of

Providence.

Bees may be very inexpensively and profitably kept in the Cottager's

hive (see page 34), which will be found a very productive one. It is

true that it has not the appliances of windows and bell glasses; for

the cottager is not supposed so much to care for his hives as a source

of amusement; his object in bee-keeping is simply the profit it may

bring. For those of our readers who wish to have united the facility

of observing the bees with that of the plentiful production of honey,

we would especially recommend the "Improved Cottage" hive, described

at page 28. If inclined to go to a little further expense, the hives

numbered 1, 2, 3, and 7, all afford constant opportunity for inspection

of the bees, and allow of their working freely in the most natural

manner.

There are few hobbies which cost so little outlay as the keeping of

bees. Once the "plant" of hives is purchased, there is little, if any,

additional expense, and always a probability of a fair return. If

honey be obtainable, the bees will find it; they work for nothing, and

provide themselves with sustenance, requiring only a very little labour

from their keepers, and that labour is of a pleasing and instructive

kind.

To the advanced and skilful apiarian we would especially commend the

use of the Bar-and-frame hives. With these, as we have attempted to

show, the bee-keeper has a full command over his hives and bees.

Many mistakes, it is true, have been made by uninitiated bee-keepers

in using the more elaborate hives. Being struck with the remarkable

facilities afforded by these superior hives for the extraction of

any one comb, and, perhaps, fascinated with their easy sway over so

highly organized a community, these new-fangled bee-keepers have

acquired a habit of perpetually and incautiously meddling with the

bees. The inevitable results in such cases are distress to the bees,

impoverishment of the stocks, and loss and vexation to the over zealous

apiarian. All these things may be avoided, if it be remembered that

there are first steps in bee-keeping, as well as in croquet, chemistry,

or cricket. In bee-keeping, as in floriculture it is a great point to

know when to "let well alone." There is no florist, however anxious

for a prize, who would be continually pulling up his plants to see

how their roots were growing. Doubtless, the full control which the

bars and frames afford over the inmost recesses of the hives, is a

great temptation to the bee-keeper; but, if he yields too readily to

it, he will imperil his chance of profit, and deprive himself of that

continuous source of interest, which a judicious apiarian always enjoys.

Many persons who are well informed on most subjects, are

extraordinarily ignorant of the natural history of bees, and the

economy of the bee-hive. Perhaps we might venture to suggest that,

more pains should be taken at schools or by parents to inform young

persons on this, in connection with kindred subjects. As an amusing

illustration of the ignorance referred to, we transcribe an order we

received a short time since from a seminary in the north of England.

The young gentleman thus writes:--"Master ---- presents his compliments

to Messrs. Neighbour, and begs they will send him a swarm of bees; he

encloses _six postage stamps_, and hopes they will send him a _good_

swarm." This embryo naturalist was evidently of a mercantile turn,

and had a mind to buy in the cheapest market, for in a postscript he

adds:--"Please let it be fourpence, if you can!" We need scarcely say

that in reply we endeavoured to enlighten our juvenile correspondent as

to what constituted a swarm of bees, and returned the stamps, with our

thanks.

The culture of bees would be greatly promoted, if a knowledge of it

were considered necessary as one of the regular qualifications of a

gardener. So little time is needed to gain the skill requisite for

the tendance of an apiary, that it seems only reasonable to expect

it of a well taught gardener, and he should feel a pleasure in the

circumstance of its forming a part of his duties. In Germany, where a

country gentleman's table is kept constantly supplied with fresh honey,

the gardeners are expected to understand the management of hives; and

in Bavaria, modern bee culture is taught in the colleges to all the

horticultural students. Travellers in Switzerland will call to mind the

almost invariable practice of placing new honey on the breakfast tables

at hotels in that country.

Some writers on bee-culture attach much importance to the particular

position in which an apiary stands, and the aspect towards which it

faces. A southern, or rather a south-eastern aspect is the one which we

have already recommended. Our reason for this preference is, that we

deem it very important for the bees to have the first of the morning

sun. Bees are early risers, and should have every inducement given

them for the maintenance of so excellent a practice. A few years

since, many strong opinions were expressed in favour of a northern

aspect for hives. The chief reason given for those opinions, though

very plausible, appears to us to be a very partial and inadequate one.

It was said that, when the hives face the south, the bees may, like

the incautious swallow in the fable, be tempted to fly abroad in the

transient winter sunshine, and then perish in the freezing atmosphere

when a passing cloud intervenes. But it is a very easy matter, if

considered needful, to screen the entrance by fixing up matting so

as to intercept the rays of the sun. At our own apiary we make no

alteration in winter, under the belief that the bees will take care of

themselves, and they seldom venture out when the weather is unsuitable.

With hives exposed in the open garden, it is a good practice to wind

hay-bands round them in frosty weather, as such a protection enables

the bees to resist the cold.

When a thaw occurs, everything, both in and out of doors, has a great

deal of dampness about it. The combs of a hive are not exempt from

this, so that it is advisable to have slight upward ventilation in

winter. Holes the size of a pin's head allow of the escape of a good

deal of bad air, which is generated by the exhalations of the bees, as

well as by the dampness before referred to. These holes being small,

do not create sufficient draft through the hives to be pernicious; if

closed up by propolis, are readily reopened with a pin. With wooden

hives in winter, a bell glass is often found to be useful; it should be

placed over the hole in the crown-board, with a zinc trough to receive

the condensed moisture.

In summer bees do much towards ventilating their own stock-hives. The

observant apiarian will not fail to remark how, on a warm day, several

of the little creatures will stand at the entrance with their abdomens

slightly raised, and their twinkling wings in rapid motion, producing a

current of air inwards; while another set are engaged in like manner,

driving the bad air out, so that a supply of pure oxygen is conveyed to

the crowded inmates. In this fanning operation their wings vibrate with

such rapidity, that their shape is as indistinct as are the spokes of a

wheel when revolving in rapid centrifugal motion.

This important office entails great physical exertion on the part of

the bees, and they relieve each other in detachments.

Some bee-keepers find an adapting board convenient for placing

underneath straw supers, as it facilitates their removal. These

boards are made of mahogany half an inch thick, with a hole in the

centre corresponding with that in the stock hive. We do not consider

it necessary to fix cross sticks in the straw stock hives, as is

frequently done; but if the apiarian prefers to have his hives so

furnished, there is no serious objection to it. These observations

refer to our Cottager's hive (page 34).

There is another little matter of detail that should be named here;

that is, the necessity of the bee-keeper always having a common hive in

readiness near the bees, so as to be able to secure any swarm which may

unexpectedly start.

Here our pleasant task must close. We trust that all information has

been given that is needful to enable the practical bee-keeper to begin

business, and the scientific apiarian to commence his observations. By

way of illustrating the two characters combined, we will conclude by

quoting another simple idyl by the German bee-keeper, Herr Braun, whose

winter musings we have already presented to the reader.

[_From "The Journal of Horticulture."_]

ON THE FIRST FLIGHT OF BEES IN SPRING.

_By_ Adalbert Braun, _Translated by_ "A Devonshire

Bee-keeper."

Hark! what is so gaily humming

In the little garden there?

Hark! what is so briskly whizzing

Through the still and silent air?

Friend, it is our bees--the darlings--

Now enliven'd by the Spring;

Yes, the winter is departed.

And once more they're on the wing.

Happy he, who winter's perils

All his stocks brings safely through;

Thank Him, of all good the Giver--

Faithful Watchman He, and true.

Of my own are none departed.

All as yet unhurt remain;

Though no longer rich in honey.

Yet is Spring returned again!

Come, and let us view them nearer--

Enter by the garden gate;--

So--stand still, and watch their doings--

Light your pipe, and patient wait.

See how busily they traverse

To their pasturage and back,

That they may by toil unwearied

Save the commonwealth from wrack.

Look, O look! what loads of pollen,

Bring they in with heedful care.

Nurslings, fear not; for your cravings

Here's sufficient and to spare.

How they dart and how they hurtle

Through the genial balmy air!

To the mountains--to the meadows--

'Tis the scent attracts them there!

There they dexterously rifle

Nectar from each flow'r in bloom;

Toil they for our honey harvest,

For us fill the honey-room.

Yes, our bees, our precious darlings.

We salute you all to-day;

For your life is our enjoyment--

Winter's sleep has pass'd away.

Grant prosperity, Heaven!

To the new-born honey-year--

Give thy favour--give thy blessing--

To these objects of our care.

Now let each attentive guardian

In devoted service strive

For the proud, the Matron-monarch--

Sov'reign of the honey-hive.

So that we may learn by watching

Who that in the noon-tide glance,

Or in midnight's darkest moments.

Summons her to Hymen's dance.[10]

Ev'ry bee-hive calls for patience,

Whilst great Haller's lessons teach

Without patience Nature's secrets

None successfully can reach.

T. W. Woodbury, _Mount Radford, Exeter_.

[Footnote 10: This point cannot now be considered doubtful, but it must

be remembered that Herr Braun's verses were written eighteen years

ago.]

In conclusion, we would remind all bee-keepers who earnestly desire

success, and who hope to draw pecuniary profit from their pursuit,

of the golden rule in bee-keeping:--"Keep your stocks strong." In

exercising the assiduous attention and persevering effort, which

that maxim enjoins, they will not only be regarded as _bee-keepers_,

but, as Mr. Langstroth says, will acquire a right to the title of

_bee-masters_.

APPENDIX.

[Illustration]

TESTIMONIALS OF THE PRESS.

[Illustration]

GREAT EXHIBITION 1851.

The "Working Apiary" in the Great Exhibition of 1851, will long live

in remembrance of the many thousand visitors who witnessed with much

interest the matchless industry of its busy occupants.

We extract the following from many notices that appeared in the public

journals relative thereto.

In noticing the hives exhibited in the Crystal Palace, I would say,

first and foremost in my opinion stands Mr. Taylor's Eight-bar

Hive, and Messrs. Neighbour and Son's Improved Cottage Hive,

both exhibited by Messrs. Neighbour.--_J. H. Payne, see

Cottage Gardener, Nos. 169, 170._

_From the "Illustrated London News."_

Messrs. Neighbour's Apiary consists of a large glass

case, with parts of the sides covered with perforated zinc, for

the sake of ventilation. This apiary contains three hives; first

Neighbour's Ventilating Box-Hive, containing from 15,000 to

20,000 bees, which were hived on the 30th of April of the present

year, the day before that of the opening of the Great Exhibition;

Neighbour's Observatory Glass Hive, containing about the same

number as the box-hive; and a two storied square box-hive, with sloping

roof. From this latter, however, the bees decamped within a week after

they had been hived, owing to some disturbance, or perhaps, to the

dislike taken by the bees to their new habitation. The Ventilating

Box-Hive is, in shape, square, having windows and shutters. The

entrance is at the back, enabling the bees to go to Kensington Gardens,

or other resorts, when they please. Above the wooden box is placed

a bell glass, into which the bees ascend to work through circular

opening in, the top of the square box. In the top of the bell-glass is

an aperture through which is inserted a tubular trunk of perforated

zinc, to take off the moisture from within. The Observatory Hive is of

glass, with a superior crystal compartment, an opening being formed

between the two; the bees are at present forming a comb in this upper

glass, which affords a very interesting sight, as generally speaking,

the bees are in such a cluster when at work that one can scarcely view

their mathematically formed cells. A straw cover is suspended over the

upper compartment by a rope over a pulley, which cover is raised up by

the attendant at pleasure. The larger or bottom compartment rests on a

wooden floor, which has a circular groove sinking therein to receive

the bell glass. A landing-place projecting, as usual, with sunken way,

to enable the bees to pass in and out of their habitation, completes

this contrivance.

In addition to Mr. Neighbour's Crystal Apiary, he also

exhibits a Cottager's Straw Hive, Taylor's Amateur Bee-Hive, a Glass

Hive, Nutt's Patent Collateral Hive, the Ladies' Observatory

Hive, Neighbour's Improved Cottage Hive, and Payne's

Cottage Hive.

The Cottager's Hive is simply that of the form we find in use in most

parts of the country, where the industrious cottagers or their wives,

by a little attention to their interesting little labourers, are

enabled to add something to their usually scanty earnings. This kind of

hive is usually made of straw, resting on a circular wooden board, with

part of the board or floor projecting in front as a lauding place for

the bees, which enter under the edge of the straw by means of a sinking

in the floor.

Taylor's Amateur's Bee-Hive consists of three small square

boxes, one above another, with a roof over the top story; the

ventilation being effected by perforations under the eaves; each side

of every story has a window and shutter. The landing place is in front

of the bottom story, and the entrance to the hive is a long slit about

¾ inch high.

The Glass Hive or Ladies' Observatory Hive, is similar to that in

which the bees are at work in Mr. Neighbour's Apiary already

mentioned, but on account of the number of bees at work therein, and

the extent of comb already effected, the interior perches cannot be

seen. These wooden perches are arranged in parallel lines, leaving a

space next the glass all round, the whole being framed together with a

bar at right angles, and resting on an upright support in the middle.

The Improved Cottage Hive of the same exhibitor consists of a straw

circular lower compartment, having windows and outside shutters. A

thermometer is placed just inside one of the windows. The floor is of

wood, with a landing place and sunken way, as already mentioned in

some of the other hives. In the top, which is also of wood, are three

circular perforations, each of about two inches in diameter; above

which are placed as many bell-glasses. There is a small hole in the

top of each of the glasses, through which a perforated tubular trunk

is inserted, for the sake of taking off the moisture from the interior

of the hive. Within the glass is a feeding-trough of zinc, circular

in shape, with a floating perforated floor, on which the bees alight,

and in the winter season regale themselves with the honey which is

found in the various perforations, as it floats up to the level of the

honey, contained in the small filling-trough, through which the honey,

or beer and sugar, is poured. The glasses are covered with a straw cap,

removable at pleasure.

Messrs. Neighbour's contributions are completed with, tin

perforated fumigators, by the use of which the bees are stupefied

for a while, when required to be moved from one hive to another; and

specimens of honey and honey-comb of the season 1850.

_From the "Express."_

Bees and Bee-Hives.--In the North-East Gallery directly under

the Transept are arranged by Messrs. Neighbour, of Holborn,

several descriptions of bee-hives, which it will be interesting to many

of our readers to examine, as this branch of rural economy is claiming

much general and deserved attention throughout the country. The novelty

of these hives consists in the facilities that are afforded in taking

therefrom at any time of the gathering season the purest honey without

destroying or even injuring the bees, thus humanely superseding the

barbarous and hateful system of murdering these interesting insects, to

obtain the produce of their industry.

Immediately adjoining the group of untenanted bee-hives may be observed

living hives with the bees most industriously at work. These useful

little creatures have been highly honoured by the Executive Committee,

for of all the animal workers that contribute to the interest of the

Exhibition they alone are allowed therein to display their matchless

ingenuity and skill. By a simple contrivance the bees are allowed

egress and ingress without in the least degree molesting the visitors,

thus enabling the admirers of the works of nature to view the whole

process of forming the cells and depositing the honey therein.

Within these few days Messrs. Neighbour have added to the

Apiary, a bee-hive constructed entirely of glass, protected by a cover

neatly made of straw, but so contrived, that on application to the

attendant can be removed instantly, thus illustrating more particularly

the curious workmanship of these amusing insects.

Her Majesty the Queen, and the Prince Consort, with the Royal Children,

were some time engaged in watching with deep interest the busy scene

before them, and putting many questions relating to the habits and

economy of the honey bee.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION 1861.

_From the "Illustrated London News," August 16, 1862._

One of the most interesting and instructive objects in the Exhibition,

is a transparent hive, in which the bees may be seen at full work.

Among the collection of bee-hives exhibited by Messrs. Neighbour

and Son, is one of glass, stocked with a colony of Italian Alp

bees. Here the queen bee may be seen surrounded by her subjects,

which pay the most deferential attention to their sovereign. Through

an aperture cut in the wall, the busy throng of bees are continually

passing and repassing. They go out at their pleasure into the open

court, fly over the annexe into the grounds of the Horticultural

Society and other adjacent gardens, and return laden with sweets.

_From the "Journal of Horticulture" October 21, 1862._

Neighbour, G. & Sons, 149, Regent Street, and 127, Holborn,

No. 2157, have a very handsome and complete stall, on ascending the

steps of which we found a flourishing stock of Ligurians, apparently

not at all ashamed of the public position which they occupied, and

working vigorously in the full light of day. The queen, one of the

largest and finest-coloured we have met with, was perambulating the

combs and receiving the homage of her subjects, stopping frequently to

deposit an egg in every empty cell. The hive itself was a "Woodbury

Unicomb," handsomely got up in mahogany, invented as its name implies,

by our valued correspondent. "A Devonshire Bee-keeper,"

the construction of which will be most readily understood by an

inspection of the engraving at page 46. Its distinctive features are,

the adaptation of the moveable-bar system to unicomb-hives, by which

any colony in an apiary of "Woodbury-hives" can be placed in the

unicomb-hive in a few minutes, and the use of "outside Venetians,"

or "sun blinds." as they are called, instead of the usual impervious

shutters. By this contrivance light is never excluded, so that when the

hive is open for inspection, all its inmates continue their avocation

with their accustomed regularity, and a quiet and orderly scene is

presented to the spectator, instead of the hubbub and confusion

which ensues in ordinary unicomb-hives. On the left-hand side of the

unicomb hangs a beautifully executed drawing of a Ligurian queen

bee magnified, together with the queen worker and drone of _Apis

Ligustica_, of the natural size. Immediately under the drawing is

placed a square glass super containing nearly 40 lbs. of the finest

honey-comb. On the right of the unicomb-hive is another super of the

same description, containing nearly 30 lbs. of the purest honey.

These supers are, undoubtedly, by far the finest in the Exhibition,

and are the first worked in England by Ligurian bees, being from the

apiary of "A Devonshire Bee-keeper." In addition to these the

most striking objects, are shown Neighbour's Improved Single Box and

Cottage Hives, Taylor's Bar-Hives, Woodbury Frame and Bar-hives, the

new Bottle-feeder, and bee apparatus of every description. It will be

apparent from the foregoing, that Messrs. Neighbour's stall is well

worth inspection, although the various novelties it contains appear to

have met with but scant appreciation by the Jury, who merely awarded

to them that "honourable mention" so lavishly accorded to the far less

deserving objects.

_From the "Illustrated News of the World" September 6, 1862._

One of the most interesting and instructive objects is the honey bee

at full work in transparent hives. In the International Exhibition,

Class 9, Eastern Annexe, Messrs. Neighbour and Son, of Holborn

and Regent-street, exhibit, amongst a collection of the most approved

bee-hives and apparatus, a glass hive, stocked with a colony of Italian

Alp bees; the hive is so constructed as to admit of easily seeing the

queen, surrounded by the working bees. Contrary to the long established

notion that the bees work only in the dark this hive is completely

open to broad daylight. The bees do not manifest the least dislike to

the exposure, and they are not discomfited when light is occasionally

admitted for inspecting them. It is obvious that a knowledge of this

new feature must tend to a more general acquaintance with the habits

and hidden mysteries of the bee than has hitherto been the case. The

queen may be seen depositing the eggs in the cells; in this manner she

goes on multiplying the species, the working bees surrounding her, and

paying the most deferential attention, with their heads always towards

her. Not the least interesting part is to watch the entrance; facility

is afforded for doing so, the sunken way communicating with the hive

being covered with a flat piece of glass; the busy throng, pass and

repass through the aperture cut in the wall, so that the bees go out

at their pleasure into the open court, fly over the Annexe into the

Horticultural and other adjacent gardens, and return laden with crystal

sweets gathered from the flowers. The novelty of being able to inspect

living bees, and those of a new variety, as easily as goods in a shop

window, will well repay the trouble of finding Messrs. Neighbour's

stand. These gentlemen will no doubt cheerfully give any information

that may be required.

_From the "Gardener's Weekly Magazine" September 1, 1862. Conducted by

Shirley Hibberd, Esq., F.R.H.S._

Neighbour and Son, 149, Regent Street, London, (2157).--This

is the most important of the exhibitions in this department. The "Bees

at work" are in hives open to the inspection of visitors, the bees

passing out through tubes to the open air, and not being visible within

the building except through the glass of the hives. The collection of

hives of all kinds is complete and interesting, and we subjoin a figure

of the stand (see page 100) to show how bees as well as hives may be

exhibited conveniently. Amongst the various contrivances exhibited by

Messrs. Neighbour, Nutt's Collateral Hive has an important

place, and though very fancifully got up, and therefore very attractive

to amateur bee-keepers, we must make the same objection to it as we

have above to other forms of the same from different makers. The

Single-box Hive, the Taylor's Shallow Eight-bar Hive, are the best

bee-boxes in this collection, and every way admirable. Here are no

fancy ventilators which the bees will close up, nor provoking side

boxes which they will hesitate to enter, and from which it will be hard

to dislodge them in order to get them to winter in the "pavilion."

Whoever begins bee-keeping with either of these will have a fair chance

of success. The most popular of the hives is that called the "Improved

Cottage." Its popularity no doubt is due to the compromise between wood

and straw which it accomplishes. People cannot get rid of the idea that

a bee-hive _must_ be made of straw, though it is a material so ill

adapted for union of swarms, supering and other operations of advanced

bee culture. The "Cottager's Hive" is well adapted for "those apiarians

who are desirous of setting their poorer neighbours in the way of

keeping bees on the improved system." It consists of stock hive, small

super-hive, and straw cover, and is on the principle of Payne's, which

has been most successful among country people who have got so far as

to prefer keeping, to killing their bees. The "Woodbury Bar and Frame

Hive" is a novel construction, combining all the best features of the

best bar boxes, and adding some new ones of great value and importance.

We recommend every bee-keeper to become possessed of this admirable

contrivance, with which Mr. Woodbury has accomplished wonderful things

in the multiplication of the new race of Ligurian bees. In general form

and proportions it resembles Taylor's and Tegetmeier's boxes, but in

the arrangement of the bars it is unique. The stock box is furnished

with ten moveable bars and frames, after the German plan. Each bar has

a projection running along the under side; this ridge is chosen by the

bees for the foundation of combs, rendering guide combs unnecessary.

The supers have glass sides and eight bars, so that the operator need

never be in doubt when to add another box above or take away the

harvest.

The "Unicomb," or one-comb observatory-hive, is intended solely for

purposes of observation, and though furnished with doors, to keep

up a uniform degree of heat, Messrs. Neighbour have found in their

experience at the Regent's Park Gardens and elsewhere, that the bees

manifest no dislike to a continual exposure to light. As this elegant

contrivance can be placed in the window of a drawing-room, it is

adapted to the amusement and instruction of the family circle, as

well as to the more serious objects of the etomologist and scientific

apiarian. All that is necessary is to connect the outlet with the open

air by means of a length of tubing or wooden tunnel, and the bees pass

in and out without obtaining access to the room, and all the mysteries

of the hive are open to daily observation. There are numerous other

hives, bee-feeders, bee armour, &c., &c., which we have not space to

notice, but which we advise our apiarian friends to inspect, as the

collection of Messrs. Neighbour illustrates fully every department of

this interesting subject.

BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL SHOW AT EXETER, IN JUNE, 1863.

_From the "Journal of Horticulture," June 23, 1863._

A novel feature in the Exhibition of the Bath and West of England

Agricultural Society which took place at Exeter last week, was the

stall of Messrs. Neighbour & Sons, in which were exhibited

bees at work in glass hives, and apiarian appliances of every

description. There were two Ligurian stocks of bees at full work,

one in a full sized Woodbury Unicomb Hive, having been brought from

London for the occasion, and the other in a smaller hive of the

same description being from the neighbouring apiary of our valued

correspondent, "A Devonshire Bee-Keeper." Amongst the hives

exhibited, the Woodbury Frame Hive in straw appeared both novel

and good, whilst amongst the apparatus, artificial combs and the

stereotyped plates for making them, seemed to us the most worthy of

attention.

There was a remarkably curious specimen of artificial combs or

partition wall partially fabricated into complete comb by the bees,

which struck us as being well worth examination, showing, as it did,

the various stages by which this transformation is effected, and being

calculated to throw light on the problem as to the mode in which

bees construct their combs. It is almost unnecessary to state, that

this unique and instructive stall was crowded throughout the week,

and we hope its financial results were such as will lead Messrs.

Neighbour to continue their attendance at the Society's

meetings.

_From the "Western Times" Exeter, June 12, 1863._

For the Little Busy Bee.--Next to the poultry tents, and set

back against the yard fencing, is the exhibition of Mr. George

Neighbour & Sons, 127, High Holborn, and 149, Regent Street,

London, inventors and manufacturers of improved bee-hives for taking

honey without the destruction of the bees. The savage knows where

to find the nest of the wild bee, and how to get at his honey; but

all the improvement upon the covetousness of the savage made by the

long after ages of the world to modern times, was to find means of

luring the pattern of industry to a convenient atelier where he might

be more easily, first murdered and then robbed. Their habits early

attracted the attention of some of the best observers of ancient as

well as modern times; Cicero and Pliny tell of the philosopher Hyliscus

quitting human society and retiring to the desert to contemplate

their peaceful industry. The ancient poet in his _Sic vos non vobis_

plaintively sings over bee and beast, living, or rather dying, not

for themselves, but the lord of creation, yet was it left to modern

times--very modern times--to join the sentiment of humanity to the

rapacity of the barbarian. Mr. Neighbour has a very complete

collection of specimens of the ingenious and successful contrivances

in the construction of hives for the double object of preserving the

honey and the life of the bee; and also, subsidiarily of promoting its

comfort during its busy and useful life. We are not allowed to forget

here, that we have residing in our city one of the first apiarians in

the kingdom--Mr. Thomas Woodbury, of Mount Radford. If the bee

philosophy be his hobby, we may recollect that all great discoveries

and improvements owe their existence to men who have had the power and

the will to concentrate their faculties upon a single object. One proof

of his genius in this his favourite department of action, is seen among

this collection of Mr. Neighbour's in the "Woodbury Unicomb

Hive." It might be when closed up, for ought that appears, a neat case

of books; but on opening two doors of the Venetian blind pattern, back

and front, we see between the glass walls, the insect city exposed to

view with all the population in action. There it may be seen

How skilfully she builds her cell;

How neat she spreads her wax;

And labours hard to store it well

With the sweet food she makes.

Some of the hives are constructed chiefly for the purpose of promoting

a philosophic observation of the bee's habits and methods of procedure

in his wonderful work. "Neighbour's Unicomb Observatory

Hive" is a great novelty, being constructed with glass sides, the

hidden mysteries of the hive being exposed to the full light of day.

"Huber's Book or Leaf Hive" is constructed to facilitate the

object of the scientific apiarian. But the class of hives which will

most interest those desirous of promoting bee-keeping among the many

will be those for the cottage. There can be no doubt that many a poor

cottager in the country, if he could be made to see the advantage it

would be to him, and were taught the most economical and successful way

of managing this species of "live stock," would add thereby something

considerable to his small earnings in the course of a summer. Members

of Cottage Garden Societies have turned their attention to it very

generally; but to get the thing well afloat, requires in every district

the devotion of some earnest enthusiast who will take up the apostolic

rule of action "This one thing I do." There is the No. 5, "Improved

Cottage Hive," in which three bell glasses are employed, enabling

you to take a glass of the purest honey from the hive in the most

vigorous period of the season. Then there are other hives of simpler

construction and less expensive, but all illustrative of the sentiment

of humanity which seeks to preserve from wanton destruction those

useful and interesting auxiliaries to our luxury and comfort. This

comparatively unimportant stand, in point of size, cannot but attract

the attention of a large number of visitors, especially of the ladies

and the clergy, who are desirous of promoting the cultivation of the

bee among the poor. To heighten the interest for the curious, in one

of Mr. Woodbury's hives the bees are all alive and at it, and

for those who are disposed to go further into the subject, information

is available touching this fashionable, profitable, and domesticated

member of the Apiarian family, the Ligurian and Italian Alp-bee. Our

old dark-coated delver is threatened with supercession, just as the

black rat was driven off by the Norwegian invader, now in possession,

and as the old races of cattle are being metamorphosed into the sleek,

shapely, beef-bearing, small-boned animals of the present time.

_From the "Devon Weekly Times" June 8, 1863._

Bees.--Messrs. Neighbour & Sons, of London, are

exhibitors of two Woodbury Unicomb Hives, showing the royal

and common bees in full work. These hives are very ingeniously

constructed, and were invented by Mr. T. Woodbury, of Mount

Radford. Among other apiarian attractions, we may mention the improved

Cottage and Cottager's Hives, which are well worthy the notice of those

for whom they are designed, and the Ladies' Observatory Hive. The

Messrs. Neighbour also exhibit Ligurian bees.

_From "Woolmer's Exeter Gazette" June 12, 1863._

Improved Bee-Hives.--At a stand near the poultry tents, are

exhibited Neighbour's Improved Bee-hives for the taking of

honey without the destruction of bees. The hives are stocked with the

famous Ligurian bee. The Unicomb Observatory Hive is constructed with

glass sides, so that the whole of the movements of the Apiarian colony

are visible, including the proceedings of the queen and her court. This

and some of the other descriptions of hives manufactured by Messrs.

Neighbour are invented by T. W. Woodbury, Esq. They

are furnished with moveable bars, after the German fashion. Each bar

has a projection along the underside; this ridge being waxed, induces

the bees to build parallel combs--thus obviating the necessity for a

guide comb. This description of hive is best suited for the Ligurian or

Italian Alp-bee. Stocks of this species, now so much in repute, may be

obtained of Messrs. Neighbour 149, Regent Street, London.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW, NEWCASTLE, 1864.

_From the "Northern Daily Express" July 22,--(Published at Newcastle.)_

A Model Factory.--Stand 191--G. Neighbour & Sons.

Regent Street, and High Holborn, London. We have heard of model farms

and model lodging houses for the working classes, but it was reserved

for the Royal Agricultural Society's Meeting in 1864 to introduce

to our notice a model factory, where we may see representatives

of the working classes busily engaged in their daily avocations.

The stand which we have quoted above, may afford fruitful study to

such philanthropists as the Earl of Shaftesbury, who make it their

benevolent aim to elevate the masses, and the lesson here given from

actual life will not be lost upon working men themselves. There are

several striking features worthy of notice in the "model factory."

We can clearly perceive that it has been established on a principle

which is essential to the success of any great concern--namely: the

principle of a good understanding amongst the operatives themselves,

and between them and the head of the establishment. What strikes us

in this model factory is the unity of action which reigns throughout.

There is no jostling of rival interests, and no misunderstandings, or

cross purposes. The operatives in this establishment are so numerous

that we question if any one has as yet been able to count their number,

and yet all seem to be working in perfect harmony, their joint labour

continually leading to one beautiful and sublime result. Another

feature specially noticeable in the establishment, in question is the

principle of subordination. Singular to say, that while the operatives

are males[11] the foreman of this model factory is a female; but that

circumstance need not shock the sensibilities of our fair friends

any more than it ought to offend the prejudices of the sterner sex,

inasmuch as the mighty empire of Great Britain is ruled by the gentle

hand of a female; and moreover, in the one case as in the other, the

presiding genius, amids all her official cares and duties, takes care

to preserve the modesty of her sex. She never in the slightest degree

obtrudes herself needlessly on public observation, and probably on

that very account the respect shown to her by her subjects is the more

profound and devoted. There is, however, one particular in which we

would take leave to demur to the idea of this factory being in every

respect regarded as a "model." We have not been able to discover that

there is any particular period of the day in which the operatives are

allowed to take refreshments. We, in England, have been accustomed to

regard the dinner hour somewhat in the light of a sacred institution.

And if the council of the Royal Agricultural Society mean to set this

up as a model institution, we are of opinion that some explanation on

this point is desirable. Indeed we have not been able to discover that

the operatives in this establishment take any refreshment whatever.

If they do, it must be "on the sly," vulgarly speaking. There is one

peculiarity, however, which must tend to popularize this institution,

and which has served to make it one of the most attractive objects on

the show ground. It is the fashion in all the great factories which

abound on the banks of the Tyne and throughout the country generally

to act on the principle of exclusiveness to a very great extent, and

perhaps wisely so. As you approach the door you see an intimation in

legible characters, "No admission except on business." This may be

very proper, but it is rather tantalising. In the model factory which

we are now describing all the operations are open to inspection. Every

action is patent to the eye of the spectator. This has been effected

by a skilful contrivance, and it is this contrivance in fact, which

has entitled the inventor to obtain a place in the show ground for his

model factory, which he describes by the somewhat ambiguous term of "a

new implement." But our readers may wish to learn what is the staple

manufacture of this wonderful workshop. We reply--"honey." The factory

we speak of is nothing more nor less than a bee-hive; or, to quote from

the catalogue, "An Unicomb Observatory Bee-hive," with living Italian

Alpine bees at full work; it was invented by T. W. Woodbury,

of Exeter; and is improved and manufactured by the exhibitors. As

implied by its name this hive has one comb, so that both sides are

fully exposed to the light of day, thus allowing of an easy inspection

of the queen-bee, surrounded by her retinue.

[Footnote 11: The reporter was in error as to the sex of the workers.]

INDEX.

[Illustration]

PAGE.

A.

Adapting board 76, 115, 116

Age of bees 6

Anger of bees 76, 89

Apiary, best time to set up 11

" Exterior and interior of 58

Artificial Swarming 79

Right time for 80, 81

Directions for performing the operation of 80, 81

Artificial Swarms, how should be placed 83

Aspect 25, 114, 115

Australia, sending bees to 100, 101

B.

Baby bee, cradle of 9

" emerging from the cell 9

Bath and West of England Journal 97, 99

" " " Agricultural Shows 47, 48, 124, 125, 126

Bee dress 68, 74

" Necessity for 69, 77

Bees, reduced size of 79

" Human breath obnoxious to 89

" Artificial scent objectionable 89

Bee Hives (Modern).

Neighbour's Cottager's:--

Description of 34

Putting on super 35, 36

Time for removal of 36

Depositing eggs in super 36

Neighbour's Improved Cottage (No. 5):--

Description of 28

Directions for 29

Weight 27

Neighbour's Improved Cottage (No. 6) 31

Neighbour's Ladies' Observatory or Crystal Hive:--

Description of 32

Feeding 33

Light not to be admitted at first 33

Mode of fixing 32, 33

" stocking 33

Protection from cold 33

Use of frame work 33

Weight 32

Neighbour's Unicomb Observatory:--

Construction and application 44

Mode of stocking 44

How kept warm 46

How exhibited at Paris 45

Prize Medal for 45

Neighbour's Single Box:--

Description of and directions for 24, 25

Nutt's Collateral:--

Description of 17, 18

Means of ventilation 21

Mode of stocking 19, 20

" taking surplus honey 21, 22

Feeding 19

Shed necessary 19

The late Thomas Nutt 23

Taylor's Improved Cottage:--

Description of 43

Taylor's Eight-bar Straw Hive:--

Description of 43

Taylor's Amateur Eight-bar 26, 29

" " Seven-bar 27

Woodbury Bar and Frame:--

Description of 36

Glass Bar and Frame 38

Straw Bar and Frame, description of 37

Special advantage of 37

Origin of 37

Directions for stocking 73, 74

Woodbury Unicomb:--

Construction of 46

Inspection of queen 47

How fixed 48

Answering 48, 49

Mode of stocking 48, 49

Bees removed before Winter 4

Huber's Book or Leaf, description of 50, 51

Bee Houses.

Advantage of 53, 54

Description of, to contain two hives 53

Furnished with lock and key 54

How hives are placed in 54

Plan for excluding insects 54

Description of, to contain twelve hives 55

Object of colouring alighting board 55

Bees mistaking entrance 55, 56

Loss of queens 56

Bee-house to contain nine hives, why not recommended 56

Bee-keeping, inexpensive and profitable 113

Bee-keeping in London 102

St. James's Place 105

Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park 105

St. John's Wood and suburbs of London 105

G. Neighbour and Sons' London Apiary 104

Seasons, 1863, 1864, favorable for 106

Bee-keeper should be a book-keeper 111

C.

Cells, contracted size of 79

Changing old stocks into new hives:--

Not to be attempted by the inexperienced 86

Adaptation of old hive to the depriving system 86

Directions for transferring stocks into frame hives 87

Classes for whom bee-keeping is suited 1

Combs, artificial 70

Value of 70

Mode of applying 71, 72

Must not be jarred 69

Taken from bar and frame hives 75, 79

Fixing in frames 75

Ensuring regularity of 27

Compound Bar and Frame 40

Cottagers, way to convince of the humane system 111

Cottagers' hive 34

Cover for bar and frame hive, description of 41, 42

Zinc 59, 60

Ornamental zinc 59

Straw hackle 35

Crown board 74, 76

D.

Dampness in hives in winter injurious 33, 115

Depriving System:--

Special advantages of 10, 35

Practiced in ancient Greece and Italy 10

Profit to be derived from 111, 112

Dividing hives, reason why they do not answer 82

Dressing hives inside with sweet not needful 35

Driving bees, directions for 84, 85

Drones, sex of 6

Purpose of 7

Reason for numbers in hive 7

General massacre of 7

All die before winter 8

E.

Eggs of bees:--

Description of 9

In supers 36

Entrance to hives 18, 31, 37

Epitaph on murdered bees 11

Evans, note on page, extract from 3, 4, 5, 12, 13

Evening thoughts in January, a poem 56, 57

F.

Feeding 19, 25, 31, 33, 63, 64

Feeder (Bottle) 63

(Nutt's) 66

(Round) 65

(Fountain) 65

Frame:--

Description of 39

Mr. "Woodbury's improvement 40

How kept perpendicular 39, 40

Taking out with combs 76

Direction for handling frames 77, 78

Placing frames in hives 78

French Bishop visiting a Cure (anecdote) 111, 112

Fructifying flowers, bees useful for 91

Fumigation, directions for 66, 67, 68

Fumigators 66, 67, 68

G.

General remarks 110 to 116

Glasses, bell 60, 61, 62

Great Exhibition of 1851, Testimonials of the press 119, 120, 121

Guide comb 27

" for glasses 61, 62

H.

Hives--see Bee-hives 106

Large number may be kept 112

Hive should be ready for swarm 15, 115

Honey cutters 66

Honey Dew 94

Honey, directions for draining from combs 110

Keeping honey in the comb at a warm temperature 110

Huber (Francis), extract from Memoirs of 51

I.

Improved cottage hive 31

Improved comb bar 39

Increase of bees 9

India-rubber gloves 74

Impregnation of queen 3

Insects that are injurious 83, 107

Insects, cleansing hives from 83

Interchange of combs for strengthening weak hives 79

Italian honey bee 93, 94, 95

Description of 96

Great honey collecting powers 96, 97

Opinions of German bee-masters 96

Introduction into England 97

Hermann's book on 97, 98

Physical characteristics of 98

Importation of queens in many instances unsuccessful 99

Transporting stocks to Australia 100, 101

At the International Exhibition 70, 100, 101,

121, 122, 123, 124

J.

Journal of Horticulture 99

K.

Keeping bell glasses warm 25

L.

Ligurian honey bee (see Italian bee)

Loyalty of bees 4

M.

Mortar, not necessary for closing crevices 35

Moths, how entrance is effected 109

How to destroy eggs of 109

N.

Neglect of bee-keeping 1

Neighbour's hives (see Bee-hives).

Number of eggs in the season 3

Nutt's hives (see Bee-hives)

P.

Pasturage for bees 93, 94

Honey yielding flowers 93, 94

Wild flowers best 94

Pollen, food for infant bees 91

How collected 91

Rye meal a substitute for farina from flowers 91

Propolis, or bees' cement 92

How obtained 92, 93

Application of 93

Anecdote illustrating use of 93

Putting on super hive or bell glasses 20, 25, 29, 36, 75

Q.

Queen:--

Description of 2

Movements of, laying eggs and marriage day 3

Honor to when fertile 4

Combats with her rivals 4, 5

Dismay of bees on loss of 5

Raised from worker embryo 5

Longevity of 6

Old one goes with first swarm 12

Leaves hive only in fine weather 12

In super hives 22, 36

Loss of 5, 56

View of 44, 47

Supplying queenless hives with 5, 83

R.

Roller, engraved pressing:--

Description of 69

Application of 69, 70

Royal Agricultural Society's Show 48, 126, 127, 128

S.

Spring, time to begin bee-keeping 11

Spring, First flight of bees in, a poem 116, 117

Sprinkling bees 77

Stand for hives, engraving 24, 28, 36, 42

Sticks in hives not necessary 115

Super for bar and frame hives 41

Bell glass (see Glasses)

Straw 35, 36

Straw hives:

Advantage of 34

Preference for 34, 37

Swarming:--

Usual time of year for 11

Cause of 11

Agitation before 12

Provisioning for 13

Usual time of day for 13

Poetical description of 13

Ringing on occasion of, needless 13

Desirable to prevent 16

Swarms:--

Devices for inducing settlement of 13

Consequences of a second flight 14

Means of preventing ditto 14

Two sometimes depart at same time and mingle 14

Necessity of having hives in readiness 14

Bee dress essential 15

Time for removing 15

Care to be exercised when confined 18, 24, 25, 29, 30

First swarms most valuable 16

Second, cause of 16

Premonitory symptoms 16

Royal wailing indicative of 16

Numerical composition of 16

Third, name of 16

Fourth, name of 16

Care required to prevent loss of 14, 109

T.

Taking honey, mode of 21, 22

Thomson's " Seasons," extract from, on murdered bees 11

V.

Ventilation 17, 18, 20, 21, 115

W.

Wasps, how to prevent the increase of 106, 107

Season 1864 productive of 107

Water essential 94

Mismanagement of, during voyage 101

Weighing hives, importance of 88

Salter's spring balance best 88

How to judge of quantity without 88

Windows, objections to 38

Wildman 102

Marvellous feats of 103

Secret of success 103

Worker bee:--

Description of 8

Sex of 8

Number in hive 8

Young ones, employment of 8

NEIGHBOUR'S

IMPROVED BEE-HIVES,

FOR

TAKING HONEY WITHOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BEES.

[Illustration]

DRAWINGS AND DETAILED LISTS FORWARDED ON RECEIPT OF TWO POSTAGE STAMPS.

1. Nutt's Collateral Bee-Hive 6 15 0

Stand for ditto, 16s.

2. Neighbour's Improved Single-box Hive 3 3 0

Stand for ditto, 10s. 6d.

3. Taylor's Shallow-box or Eight-bar Hive, complete with cover 3 10 0

Stand for ditto, 10s. 6d.

4. Taylor's Amateur Bar Hive 3 5 0

Stand for ditto, 10s. 6d.

5. Neighbour's Improved Cottage Hive 1 15 0

Stand for ditto, 10s. 6d.

6. An Improved Cottage Hive 1 8 0

7. The Ladies' Observatory or Crystal Hive. Price complete 2 5 0

8. The Cottager's Hive 0 10 6

9 & 10. Bee Feeders each 5/. and 0 4 0

11 & 12. Fumigators each 2/. and 0 2 6

13. Honey Cutters per pair 0 5 0

14. Taylor's Improved Cottage Hive 1 1 0

With Stand, £1. 10s.

15. Fountain Bee Feeder 0 6 0

18. Taylor's Eight-bar Straw Hive, complete 2 12 0

Stock Hive only, 15s.

19. Huber's Book or Leaf Hive 2 5 0

20. Taylor's Unicomb Observatory Hive 3 3 0

24. Taylor's Glasses 7/. 0 4 6

Payne's ditto 0 3 0

25. Bell Glass 0 4 0

26. " 0 2 0

27. " 0 1 0

28. " without knob and flat top to put on the table

inverted, price with lid 0 4 6

29. Zinc Cover each 7/6 and 0 10 6

30. Shallow Glasses (new shape) each 5/6 and 0 3 6

31. Bee Dress and Protector 5/., by post 0 6 0

37. Zinc Cover 0 16 6

38. Ornamental ditto 2 5 0

39. Bee House to contain Two Hives 3 10 0

40. " " Twelve Hives £15. and 19 10 0

Woodbury Unicomb Hive

42. " Bar and Frame Hive, complete with outside

cover and super 3 3 0

Stand for ditto, 10s. 6d.

44. Bottle Feeder 0 2 6

45. Woodbury Straw Bar and Frame Hive (Stock Hive) 1 1 0

46. Engraved Pressing Roller 0 7 6

47. Impressed Wax Sheets or Artificial Combs per dozen 0 6 0

* * * * *

Transcriber Note

Minor typos corrected. The words floor-board and floorboard were both

retained.