On Bees. 109. 
In the former instances, we had accidentally replaced 
the emptied box on the top of the hive, contrary to the 
directions of the Encyclopedia, which require it placed 
at the bottom, and the remaining boxestaken successive- 
ly from the top. In this instance, following the instructions 
of the Encyclopedia, we ordered the hive to be gently 
raised from the bench, intending to place the emptied 
box beneath it. This was accordingly done, but to our 
surprize, the whole contents were left on the bench, and 
the bees flew away in every direction. We cleared the 
bench, and re-instated the empty hive in its former con- 
dition, replacing the empty box on the top, with but 
faint hopes, however, that the bees would return to it 
after being thus disturbed and pillaged. But, contrary 
to our fears, they soon began to collect on the bench, 
and had the next morning by sun rise, all ascended into 
the hive, where they were busily at work. A few days 
after, this hive was stolen, but the thief finding no honey 
in it threw it down. In this state we found it the next 
morning, and the poor bees in a cluster on the grass 
close by it. We brought it home and replaced it on 
the bench, we then spread a white cloth on the ground 
by the bees, with a piece of honey on it, the bees soon 
crawled on the cloth, which we took up by its four cor- 
ners, carried home, and spread on the bench where the 
hive stood, into which they returned and resumed their 
labours. 
During the present year we have invariably pursued 
the same course, always replacing the empty box on the 
top of the hive, with the like success. 
The directions, given in the Encyclopedia, must 
have arisen for the want of an accurate obs vation of 
