iSz Curious Particulars refpe&mg Bees. 



very fine frrittttij which I hived ; and kept a good look-out 

 for a caft, but was in this difappointcd. On going to hook 

 at the hive about five o'clock one afternoon I found in front 

 of it, on the grafs, a queen bh, anfwering the defcription of 

 all authors; but with this difference, though alive there was 

 not any bee near her. I brought her into the houfe to exa- 

 mine her thoroughly) and to fee if (he had met with any ac- 

 cident, but could not perceive anv defect.. I then put her 

 on a twig, and, placing her at the door of the hive, the bees 

 within loon led her into it. The time being elapfed when 

 I had reaf'on to expert a caft, and anxious to increafe my 

 (lock, I purchafed from a neighbour, on Thurfday the 8th 

 of July, a caft, for which I paid five millings and fixpence; 

 and on his bringing it home, I defired him to remove my old 

 hive to a new place, the better to fee if any dirt or moth was 

 under it, in order to clean it, and then to place the new caft 

 on the fpot the old had occupied. This he performed. 



The next day all was quiet \ but the day after I perceived 

 an uncommonly bufy communication betwixt the two hives; 

 and on the Sunday 1 found the old hive totally deferted, and 

 that the bees had all joined the new caft without any fighting 

 whatever, leaving me a hive completely full, out of which I 

 immediately took twenty pounds of fine liquid honey, and of 

 which, Mr. Editor, you may partake any time you travel 

 this wav while it lalls. Thus 1 have faved my bees ; which, 

 I doubt not, were allured for want of room, their hive 

 beinir quite full, and the new one being put in its place. 

 • As chance has produced many great events, it may be 

 worth the while of any apiator to try, by the purchafe of a 

 caft at the time of the year I have done, whether it will not 

 equallv fucceed *. I mention the time, becaufe I have doubts 

 whether a later feafon will permit the bees to (lock them- 

 felves with food Sufficient for the following winter ; and it 

 muft be obferved that this year, 1802, has proved a moft un- 

 commonly line year for bees, from the numerous honey dews 



have had. I remain, Sir, 

 U'nrmlev, Herts, • Your obliged reader, . 



lulv 10, ik)2. Charlotte Cooper* 



r Does not the ilTue of the experiment, related in this pnper fugged alfo 

 Another ? New empty hives have fometimes been placed btllde full old 

 4uVes, in the hope that the new fwarm might i-lke up its abode there •, but 

 we believe it has feldom anfwered the wilh of the bec-msifter. If, how- 

 ever, as in ihc cafe before us, the old hivt v. :u piyt in a neu place, and 



p an empty hive put on its old (He, is there no probability that the bets 

 would take poifeffibn of the new hive ; perhaps merely from want of room, 

 but polhbly from an idea rhat the contents of the old hive would ftiil re- 

 in itore for them?— Edit. 



xxxir. Ex* 



