Taylor's Bee-Keeper^ s Manual. 295 



rape-seed in a permanent pasture is a piece of absurdity which 

 we do not recollect to have ever before heard of. It is clear 

 that broad-leaved spreading plants of this sort among young 

 grasses can only act as the most injurious weeds. But enough : 

 the pamphlet, altogether, is a disgrace to agricultural literature. 



Art. VI. A short and simple Letter to Cottagers, from a Conserva- 

 tive Bee-Keeper. Pamph. post 8vo, 24- pages. Printed by S. Col- 

 lingwood, Oxford; and sold to Cottagers, and for Distribution, at 

 2d. each. 



There are some plain practical directions in this tract, for 

 taking the honey without killing the bees, which may be useful. 

 For example, the bee-keepers on the Continent, and especially 

 in Germany, " make their straw hives with the top to take off, 

 and fasten it down with wooden pegs. In July, they pull out 

 the pegs, and, with a large knife, cut away the top of the hive 

 from the comljs which are fixed to it, like the top of a pumpkin : 

 they then cut out what honey the bees can spare, never caring 

 for those which are flying about their heads ; for they will not 

 touch them if they have a pipe in their mouth. When they 

 have helped themselves, they peg the top down again, and leave 

 the bees to make all straight, and gather honey enough for the 

 winter in August and September. Others put another large 

 hive on the top of a strong stock, in May, as is done in some 

 parts of England, which prevents their swarming. This hive 

 they take oft' when full. Others turn up their hive in July or 

 August, and cut out some of the combs. Others, who know 

 more about it, place square wooden boxes one on another, 

 putting empty boxes below, and taking away full ones from the 

 top. '* (p. 3.) " All these ways are clumsy," says the author ; and 

 he next gives directions for stupifying bees by the smoke of puff"- 

 ball, and, when they are in this state, uniting weak swarms, and 

 removing all the queen-bees but one. A doubled hive, he says, 

 will eat no more honey in the winter than a single one ; because, 

 when there are many bees in a hive, they can keep warm by 

 hanging close together, instead of eating. 



Art. VII. The Bee-Keepers Manual ; or, Practical Hints on the 

 Management and complete Preservation of the Honey Bee, and, in 

 particular, in collateral Hives. By Henry Taylor. 16mo, pp.78. 

 London. 



The numerous books which have been published on bees 

 may be divided into two classes : those which treat of their na- 

 tural historj', along with their artificial management; and those 

 which confine themselves to the latter object. Among the former 



V 4 



