THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



49 



greatest of philosophers — Lord Bacon — must 

 know that there are two especial sources to which 

 he refers men for real increase of knowledge, 

 namely, to observation and experiment ; which 

 he insists are but questionings of nature in re- 

 spect of specific matters. To cultivate the 

 faculty of observation must then be the first 

 duty of those who would excel in any scientific 

 pursuit. To such an one it may be said that 

 the habit of correct observation is that mode of 

 learning, which above all others, he should most 

 diligently cultivate; remembering that observa- 

 tion does not consist in the mere habitual sight of 

 objects — in a kind of vague looking on, so to 

 speak — but in the power of comparing the 

 known with the unknown ; of contrasting the 

 similar and dissimilar ; in justly appreciating 

 the connection between cause and effect ; and 

 in estimating, at their correct value, established 

 facts. 



As regards the construction of the cells of the 

 honey comb, it is quite evident the Professor's 

 knowledge has uot been derived from correct 

 personal observation ; and we must conclude 

 that he has looked at the subject through a dis- 

 torted medium. It is to be exceedingly regret- 

 ted that a man of such calibre, and of such 

 world-wide reputation as a naturalist and au- 

 thor, should be so easily thrown off his balance. 

 We have no disposition to disparage the merits 

 of the work, or of the justly celebrated author 

 from whose pen its contents, in part, emanated; 

 but must confess ourself surprised that any one 

 should so confound known facts and the scien- 

 tific principles which are deduced therefrom — to 

 see such ignorance and its consequences per- 

 vade a book, where we ought reasonably to 

 look for the most intelligent representation. 



Though Ave rightly hold him responsible for 

 the appearance of this hypothesis, inasmuch as 

 he is announced as one of the authors of the 

 work from which the extract was taken, yet it is 

 quite possible the idea first originated with Mrs. 

 Agassiz, and arose from a laudable desire to see 

 the lordly drones abandon their lazy habits, and 

 engage in some useful occupation — for it natur- 

 ally follows that when drone comb was to be 

 built, they would have it to build. But I opine 

 some of our bee-keeping friends would enter a 

 protest, when some of their choice queens were 

 thus degraded. If taken at a time when a colo- 

 ny is preparing to throw off a prime swarm, 

 and whose queen is engaged to the utmost in 

 depositing eggs that brood may be raised, they 

 would dislike to believe that, when a number 

 of queen cells were to be built, she would cease 

 laying and engage for days at a time in build- 

 ing them. Perhaps, however, when both kinds 

 of labor are required, two or more queens are 

 furnished the colony — one to lay the eggs, and 

 the others to build queen cells. As we have 

 been left in the dark on this point, we would 

 suggest that it might be well for bee-keepers to 

 be on the lookout, and when they again find 

 more than one queen domiciled in a hive, to 

 carefully note what is the seeming occupation 

 of each. It now becomes doubly clear why a 

 colony should never be left queenless — if other- 

 wise, how could they ever hope to raise queen 

 e?lls ? 



There are a number of other points deserving 

 of attention, but the length of this communica- 

 tion forbids that we should name them here. 

 Before closing, however, we would, in view of 

 Professor Agassiz's hypothesis, caution pur- 

 chasers against selecting colonies whose combs 

 have many irregular cells — such as are often 

 seen where worker merges into drone comb — 

 for such cells, we can readily suppose, might 

 indicate that the colony contained bees of an 

 irregular shape; for it is claimed that each 

 bee "deposits his wax around him, his own form 

 and size being the mould for the cells." Such 

 irregular shaped bees would be unsightly, if 

 nothing worse ; and might seriously iuterfere 

 with the due performance of a "function, as in- 

 evitable in its action as digestion 01 respira- 

 tion." 



Jones' Grove, Wis. 



Queen Elizabeth's Mead. 



Take of Sweetbriar leaves and thyme each 

 one bushel, rosemary leaves half a bushel, and 

 bay leaves one peck. Seethe these ingredients 

 in a kettle of water containing probably no- 

 less than one hundred and twenty gallons, boilt 

 ing for half an hour. Pour the whole into a 

 vat or sufficiently large wooden vessel, and 

 when cooled to a proper temperature (about 

 75° P.) strain it. Add to every six gallons of 

 strained liquor one gallon of fine honey, and 

 work the mixture together for half an hour. 

 Repeat the stirring occasionally for two days, 

 then boil the liquor again, skim it till it becomes 

 clear, and return it to the vat to cool. When 

 reduced to a proper temperature (about 80° P.) 

 pour it into a cask from which fresh ale or beer 

 has just been emptied, work it for three days, 

 and then tun it. 



When fit to be stopped down, tie up a bag of 

 beaten cloves and mace (about half an ounce of 

 each) and suspend it in the liquor from the 

 bunghole. When it has stood half a year it 

 will be fit for use. 



To Make Mead. 



Take three gallons of water of blood warmth, 

 three half-pints of molasses, two-thirds of a 

 table spoonftd of ginger, one-third of a table 

 spoonful of allspice, and mix well together with 

 a gill of yeast; let it stand over night, and bot- 

 tle next morning. It will be in a good condi- 

 tion to drink in twenty-four hours, and is a 

 palatable, wholesome beverage. 



A piece of the bark of an oak tree that has 

 been struck by lightning, is selected by some 

 bee-keepers and nailed or fastened to a tree near 

 the apiary, to attract and arrest issuing swarms, 

 and induce them to cluster where they can 

 easily be secured and hived. — Overbeck. 



In Western Pennsylvania, it is a popular be- 

 lief that bees will invariably sting red-haired 

 persons as soon as they approach the hive. 



