®l)c Jarmcr's iUoxitljli} bisitor. 



103 



bidRruMe datiiuse to tiii-iii|is, i-iulislies, &.C., rnn\- 

 inoiily culled llie maggot— (Arithumijia Brassicff, 

 of ('r]loim)lo;;i.st.s.) 



'I'lu; piirciit lly doposites egjjs neav tlifl ct-owii 

 of lilt; |il.iiit.s— ilio laiviF, as soon as liiitclicd, 

 iiimI((! lliiMf w.iy iiitotlie root, which they perfii- 

 i-atc! ill cviM-y (ItrcclioM, liviii;; there lill liill ;;i()vvii 

 and icady lo |)a>s into their other stages. Whido 

 fti-liU of liiriiips and radishes are soineliiiics 

 reiider<Ml worthless hy then). 



Kollar says — '■ the" only way of iliiniiiishin!; 

 this destriiciive fly is lo |inll up, and carry auay 

 helinies, the plants allai-l<ed hy llie larva', which 

 limy lie easily discovered hy their dull lead color, 

 and the wiiheriiig ol" their Icuves ill the suil- 

 shiiie." 



From tlif Kriuirt nf llie Coniniissiuner of ?atents. 

 On Beesr <V:c. 



BY DR. K. G. KELLEY. 



No dcp;\rtn;cnt of agriculture seems so much neg- 

 lected at the present lime as this : whilst the same 

 amount of cipitul invested in any other hranch yields 

 less. iNolvvilhstandiag the large importalions ol' honey 

 and \v;i.v, at only twenty and fifteen per seal, duties- 

 respectively, die domestic supply commands a high 

 price, ready sale, and fair profits. It appears that more 

 than fi'28,00(l lbs. of wax alone are annually produced 

 in ihis country. Were there oven no protection on the 

 former, the foreign Wticle could then be obtained at a 

 rate that would enable the bee-Ueeper to feed it out in 

 his apiary after the foraging season was over, and real- 

 ize a great advance for the honey in the coiid). Suc- 

 cess in the mniuigement of bees depends cliieHy on a 

 linowledge of their habits and instmcts, thereby ena- 

 hling the keeper to control them almost at will; and, 

 also, on strict attention to their requirements, render- 

 ing ihem healthy, contented, and industrious. Four 

 leading points essential to profit are yet but imperfectly 

 practised or understood; \iz: to obtain pure honey, 

 uniformly free from brood comb; to produce artificial 

 swarms; to prevent robbing; and lastly to prevent rav- 

 ages of the bee-moth. iMost, if not all the pure honey, 

 is at present obtained hy placing small boxes or draw- 

 ers in the upper part of the hive, in which the bees 

 will vvorli when no room is allowed them elsewhere; 

 but even in these, though equally unnatural to her, the 

 queen will sometimes lay her eggs. It is ihea- instinct 

 to work not only downwards but beneath, and in con- 

 tinuation of old stock. They will, however, build rea- 

 dily m side bo.xes, hut here the queen is almost sure to 

 interfere. To obviate this, I have inserted small bars 

 across the entrance to the lateral drawers, with inter- 

 spaces to admit the working bees, while they arrest the 

 queen and drones. This idea was suggested by an ex- 

 periment made by Huber for a very dilferent purpose. 

 The least possible space through which the largest 

 workers could pass, liulen with honey and pollen, was 

 ascertained by experiments at the entrance to the hives. 

 The aperture allowed is a fraction less than three-six- 

 teenths of an inch, being less than the diameter of the 

 small cells — for which I shall claim no patent I 



Artificial swarming, particularly in such seasons as 

 the p,ist, when the bees very generally refused to swarm, 

 has many advantages to commend it. I believe only 

 one swarm came out in this town before the first of .Au- 

 gust, afler which they are worthless. While my neigh- 

 bors were in d.dly expectation of swarms in the usual 

 svav, with their drawers closed till too late to obtain 

 much honey, I had three stock-hives arranged over emp- 

 ty hives, and the bees busily at work. On the 12lh of 

 June a young hrood was discovered in one of the low- 

 er hives then two-thirds filled wilh bees and comb; the 

 old hive vvas at once removed lo anollier stand, still 

 placed over a second hive or box, and there shut up 

 twenty-four hours. .\ cover was secured upon the 

 other, and the bees confined thirty-six hours. New 

 comb was rapidly formed in the second under box, and 

 the old one w.is again removed in like manner. On 

 the -Ith of July the old swarm was driven into a third 

 box, leaving all lbs. of honey. .\ drought soon check- 

 ed the usu.il supply of moisture, so that the second and 

 the transferred swarms required feeding for their win- 

 ter store. I divided a second stock the 25th of July; 

 being in doubt if the lower hive contained any hrood 

 comb, I imniedi itely expelled the bees from the stock 

 hive into an empty one, using tepid water in order not 

 to injure the young bees, which it contained in abun- 

 dance. This brood comb being in a large, old-fash- 

 ioned hive, was cut down to 12 inches square (the size 

 of ihe new ones) and arranged in two of these. One 

 was set over the transferred swarm, which inimediate- 

 iy ascended, and, having a queen, took quiet possession. 

 After twenty-four hours they were allowed to roam 

 :iibroad, returning to their new home, ten feet oil from 

 their old stand. The other box, containing the old 

 comb, was placed over the bees at the old stand, and 

 n conmiunication opened. They reared a queen in due 

 time, as did also tlie two that had been separated from 

 the stock hive, the cells of which, were distinctly seen 

 in each. 



It is not uncommon for one swarm to rob another, 

 especially in an unproductive season. In this respect 

 I was ve.xed for w(m;Us, through careles^ess in exposing 

 honey in the cmiib to common access. IVIyriads ol my 

 own and neighboring bees destroyed each other in the 

 contcsl, till the honey w.is removed, when the hitler 

 made a vigorous atlack upon my hives. Narrowing 

 the entrance is the principal remedy given by wrilers; 

 but ill one instance this did not succeed. During the 

 second day the queen bee in the infested hive Wiis 

 croaking constantly as if held prisoner, and at night 

 hut little honey roiild be seen. The bees, also, were 

 greatly diminished by the combat, and perhaps by be- 

 ing entieed away, i'.arly the next inorniog the robbers 

 returned in gie.it numbers, meeting wilh but lillle op- 

 posilion. I'iuiliiig the queen yet alive, and anxious if 

 possible to save a favorite swarm, I closed the mouth 

 of the hive and drove wilh it a distance of three miles. 

 This was of course ell'ectual. At night I determined 

 lo try another experiment. I swept three and anc- 

 fourlh pounds of bees hanging out of another hive into 

 an entpU' bo\, and took them lo the rest'ued sv/arm. 

 These were united hy placing one above the other, aiui 

 fuinigaling both eOoctually wilh cigar smoke. No dis- 

 agreement was observed, nor was it probable that hut 

 lew, d'any, found iheir way back, even of the robbers. 

 In six weeks they were returned to iheir former stand, 

 having apparenlly collected more honey lliaii any one 

 at home. Thus it Nvill he seen the transferring .■ind 

 equalizing swarms may he as readily elVected as di\i- 

 ding. In each operation the precaution should be taken 

 to haye a free circulation of air. 



The great pest to the apiarian is the bee moth. No 

 device will entirely prevent its incursions without great 

 care. Loosely twisted yarn, thickly studded with its 

 wooly fibres, iias completely protected the crevice be- 

 tween the hive and its botloin. Hives are not safe ei- 

 ther on the ground or in the tops of buildings. I iuri.fr 

 tried them in the second story of a barn, the bottom 

 boards projecting ihrough, but around these the larviE 

 of llie moth, were frequently discovered. Another de- 

 cided objection to such an elevation is the great dilli- 

 culty the bees meet with in lighting upon the pedestals 

 when returning heavily laden and fatigued, particularl}' 

 in a high wind. When a swarm is unable to dislodge 

 the moths, both bees and honey have liilherto been a 

 total loss. By the use of the tunnelled bottom, the ex- 

 istence and progress of the larva: of the moths may be 

 known and watched by observing the size and quanlily 

 of their black oblong fa'ces, which falls down with bits 

 of comb, etc. By this means I first discovered that the 

 hive contaiuiug the old brood already described vvas 

 thus doomed. The bees were at length transferred to 

 an empty box and pl.-iced o\er a small swarm, with a 

 sheet-iron plate drilled full of holes between Ihein. At 

 nighl, after the atmosphere of the two was sulfieiently 

 commingled, the divider was removed, and the swarms 

 united. No quarrelling was observed among the work- 

 ers, and a few only hovered about the place of their 

 former stand the following day. The moths had bur- 

 rowed chieHv in the old comb. They evidently com- 

 menced their depredations where a bar entered the 

 hive to confine the comb, which in the hurry of the op- 

 eration was improperly adjusted, and the strong odor 

 of the old wax attracted the parent miller. Most of the 

 worms were drowned in the tub, and the honey was 

 saved for feeding other swarms. Ihe simplest out-door 

 arrangement is the best for bees, while it allbrils tlie 

 least harbor for moths. My stand is conslructed of 

 joists, planed and painted, 20 feet long, fastened a foot 

 apart upon three posts two feet high. Three inch pie- 

 ces of iron rods are set upright in this liame so that 

 four will support a hive. 'Ihe tops are fitted lo points 

 lo receive the bottom firmly. The hives are protected 

 from the heat of the sun by trees; and in winter may 

 be removed to an out-house. 



I am convinced, ii'om a very limited experience in 

 the management of bees, that this plan is better than 

 housing, unless ihe moth can be entirely excluded. 



The tunneled and canaled bottom, recommended by 

 Thomas .AlUeck in his work entitled " Bee-breeding in 

 the West," h one of the greatest improvements in the 

 apiary. His "subtended" or section hive, consisting 

 ol" boxes a foot square, inside measure, placed one 

 above another, I have also adopted, with the addition 

 of glass, and the frames made use of in the " Russian 

 hive." His bottom, with the entrance enlarged three 

 or four inches, \ also use under hives, with drawers. 

 These are made 2.^ feet long, ih wide and deep, in- 

 cluding seven drawers, two on each side and three at 

 top, with glass backs and hinge doors. 



Stated I'raver — There is no religion with- 

 out prayer. Have stated limes lor devotion. At 

 lenst begin and end every day with Guil. Take 

 time from sleep, rnilier Ihnn want proper lime 

 for prayer. Wntcli nfrainst roriiudily in yonr 

 devolion.s. It is heartfelt prayers thai are alone 

 acceptahle to God. IScsides your intei course 

 with God at stated seasons, ol'teu look up to liiiii, 

 and ever go with hiai in the naine of Jesue. Go 



into your closet, and down upon your knees for 

 prayer with as inncli reverence us if you bulield 

 till! great and blessed God. 



You recpiire to he often reminded of this. For 

 whether in childhood, in yoiitii or in iiiaiiliood, 

 we arc all loo apt to have a vvaiidering liearl in 

 prayer, and repeat an outward form wilh the lips, 

 Init vvilli a heart, alas, far from (lod. 



Oh! pr.>y agiMust licartlessncss, as one of the 

 most powerful teniptalioiis of your spiritual en- 

 emy. Could you ascend into heaven every 

 morning and evening to oiler your devotions to 

 the most lli,i.'li, and then return to earth again, 

 w liat a liii; of hidiness foil would lend! What 

 fervent prayer and thanksgiving would you ■iller 

 — consider that the eyes of the Lord are in every 

 place, heholdiiig the evil and the good, and that 

 "all things are naked and open before him with 

 whom we have to do." 



Artificial Leg! The Greatest Yet I— 

 Professor B. Frank Palmer, of Meredith, N. H., 

 exhibits, at llie Fair, an ariilleial Leg, which is 

 atlracling great alteiitioii. It is a most completo 

 piece of Vunkee mechanism, and does miicli 

 honor So the inventor. Professor Palmer liiiii- 

 self employs one of these legs, (having an artifi- 

 cial knee,) and walks so well that no one would 

 suppose it an artificial leg. Its o[ieratioii and 

 appearance are certainly, to our apprehension, 

 most admirable and wonderful. VVe believe it 

 to be entirely superior to all ariilleial limbs here- 

 tofore in use, as it involves new and important 

 principles which give it all the elasticity and 

 freedom of motion of a natural limb. There are 

 many rare and ingenious things exhibited at the 

 Fair; but nothing we tliink more curious and 

 useful than this. — J\talional Inletligeticer. 



Nitrate of Sooa. — Mr. H Bishop, of See- 

 kohk, inlbrins us that in the Spring he |)Ut about 

 forty pounds of nitrate of soda on half an aero 

 of light sandy soil. This is the third year he has 

 put it on with the like eflecl ; anil for six years 

 he has put no other manure on his laud. The 

 quantity of grass on this half acre is fonrlold 

 what it is on similar land adjoining, which had 

 no nitrate on it. It bears a burden at the rnie of 

 two tons to Ihe acre, while ihere is not more than 

 five liiindred per acre on the rest. Mr. Bishop is 

 miicli in favor of nilrate of soda for that kind of 

 soil. — Boston CuUivritor. 



Small Farjis. — It is a truth indisputable, that 

 wlien a farmer undertakes to cultivate more land 

 than he can do thoroughly, much of his labor is 

 lost, and he is subject to disappointment. No 

 person will deny that one acre well manured and 

 properly cullivated, will produce more than two 

 acres of unniannred land, poorly tilled. Tho 

 same will hold good wilh reference lo the great 

 est amount of land. A farm of one hundred 

 acres, well managed, will produce more than 

 most Ainerican lariiis of live hundred acres, and 

 much less labor will answer. The only system 

 that will save this country from ultimate starva- 

 tion, is to undertake no more iliaii can be vvell 

 done. If the tillers of the soil will, through false 

 philosophy and overweening coveiousness, waste 

 their substance by extending their borders to im- 

 agination's utmost stretch, and cannot be brought 

 to a pause in order to study their own as vvell as 

 their country's interest, grim visaged want will 

 ere lung leach them true wisdom ; but it may be 

 too late for their personal profit. Agriculture is 

 a holy and noble science, and should be appre- 

 c iate d. — JVnturalisl. 



Lnjuriods Insects. — We copy from Judge Dar- 

 lings address, last year, before the New Haven 

 Horticultural Society, the following valuable de- 

 scription of two insects, which are exceedingly 

 annoying to llic eiiliivators of the earth : 



"The Pea-hug, (Bruchus pisi) is well known 

 by sight to all cultivators of the soil. Soon after 

 tlie pea-pods are formed in spring, this insect 

 plants its eggs, through the side of the pod in 

 the young peas. From the eggs proceed whitish 

 grubs, which grow to a size large enough to be 

 seen, by the time the peas are ready for shelling. 

 The grub continues to feed upon the inside of 

 its habitation lill it has drilled a hole nearly 

 ihroiigli. What remains of the pea, afler the 

 insect has taken its share, is of very little value 

 to us. In the course of the fall and winter the 



