350 



Butter Dairies. 



Vol. XII. 



Of the experiment I am now about to de- 

 tail, the sole object was to prove the exist- 

 ence of the power inherent in bees of rear- 

 ing' an artificial queen, when deprived, by 

 any accident, of their original mother. This, 

 indeed, had been proved before; but only in- 

 cidentally, and I was anxious to put the mat- 

 ter beyond all doubt in my own mind, at 

 least, by an experiment instituted exclusive- 

 ly for that object, to be conducted with mi- 

 nute and scrupulous accuracy. 



In June, my observatory hive was full of 

 bees, brood, and honey. The queen was 

 very fertile, and laying at the rate of about 

 100 eggs a day. I opened the hive and took 

 her out, as I could see every bee within, and 

 every cell in the comb. For about two hours, 

 the bees continued their labours as earnestly 

 and contentedly as if she were still with 

 them. At the end of that time, they became 

 aware of their loss, and all was instantly 

 agitation and tumult. The bees hurried 

 backwards and forwards over the comb, with 

 a loud noise ; they rushed in crowds to the 

 door and out of the hive, as if going to 

 swarm ; and, in short, they exhibited all the 

 symptoms of bereavement and despair. When 

 night came on, they all went into their hive, 

 and peace and tranquillity appeared to fol- 

 low. Next morning, I observed they had 

 laid the foundations of seven royal cells, 

 having demolished the three cells contigu- 

 ous to each of those containing Gggs, or 

 worms, which suited their purpose; and by 

 the next morning, there were visible rudi- 

 ments of five more royal cells, all in quar- 

 ters of the comb where before there were 

 nothing but eggs and common larvas, of one 

 or two days old. The bees paid all atten- 

 tion to these royal cells, as the operation ad- 

 vanced. On the seventh day, the first seven 

 cells were sealed, and on the following day 

 the other five. On the morning of the four- 

 teenth day from the removal of the old queen, 

 seven young queens emerged from their cells, 

 strong and active, and exactly resembling 

 those produced in the usual way; and on the 

 next morning, I had the other five come forth, 

 equally active and strong. I watched the 

 hive with all diligence, opened the door, and 

 took out the queens as fast as they emerged 

 from their cells, keeping them for the pur- 

 pose of making artificial swarms. Some of 

 them escaped my notice, after which I found 

 them lifeless on the ground in front of the 

 hive. Edward Townley, 



Jiav! York, May 1st, 1848. 



Nearly fifty birds were found to have 

 fallen victims to Crutchett's large lantern 

 on the dome of the capitol at Washington, 

 in one week. 



From the Michigan Farmer. 

 Butter Dairies. 



It has already become an object to obtain 

 some foreign market for our butter; and to 

 do so, it is not only necessary that it should 

 be superior in quality and flavor, but that it 

 will retain its superiority in any climate. 

 Hence it is of the utmost importance, that 

 the farmer should know by what means his 

 butter can be prepared so as to obtain a re- 

 munerating price. 



The best Irish butter will be found to have 

 retained its flavor, and to be as sweet and 

 palatable after having been to the Indies, as 

 when first put up, not from any peculiarity 

 of the soil or climate, or in the breed of 

 cows, but in the method of preparing* it for 

 market. 



By following Mr. Hall's directions as set 

 forth in the report of this and the last year, 

 pure butter will be obtained. To make it 

 keep in any climate, it will be necessary 

 merely to add a greater amount of pure salt, 

 say one ounce to the pound, and packing it 

 in well seasoned oak firkins, with a thin 

 stratum of brine between the upper head 

 and the butter. An article will thus be ob- 

 tained for export, that will be equal to the 

 very highest priced and far famed Irish but- 

 ter. The Irish butter dealer uses no timber 

 for his firkins that has not been seasoned at 

 least two years, and even then he takes the 

 precaution of having the staves baked in an 

 oven before they are set up. 



There is another important fact connected 

 with the subject of preserving butter, and 

 that is, the kind of salt used in the process 

 of manufacture. Mr. Hall says, "another 

 reason of bad butter is the use of impure 

 salt," and recommends, "pwre rock salt, per- 

 fectly pulverized ;" and he further says "Me 

 Salina salt, after repeated trials, I have en- 

 tirely thrown aside.'''' In this, his experience 

 but corroborates that of some of our best 

 western butter makers. There is now no 

 doubt but that one great cause for the bad 

 condition of our western butter, is owing to 

 the impurity of the salt which the farmers 

 are compelled to use, owing to the absurd 

 tariff" of tolls imposed upon dairy salt, going 

 west from tide water. The tolls now im- 

 posed, amount to a prohibition for all the 

 western and northwestern portions of this 

 State. The manufacture of salt in this 

 State is to this extent at least, maintained 

 at the expense of one of our most important 

 branches of agricultural wealth. The evil 

 is felt to be so great, that arrangements are 

 being made to bring foreign salt to Buffalo 

 from Montreal, which can be done at a price 

 that will soon compete with our own works. 



