FARMERS' REGfSTER— COMMERCIAL REPORT. 



445 



them filled with honey; and I have invariably 

 found that before the bees commence the construc- 

 tion of combs, they place a great number of spots 

 of wax at regular distances from each other, which 

 serve as so many footstools, on the slippery glass, 

 each bee resting on one of these with its middle 

 pair of legs, while the fore-claws were hooked 

 with the'hind ones of the next above, thus forming 

 a ladder, by means of which the workers were 

 enabled to reach the top, and begin to make their 

 combs there. I was glad to find this circtmistance 

 recorded in Dr. Sevan's very agreeable work on 

 the honey bee, in which another very striking 

 illustration of the reasoning powers of bees is men- 

 tioned. Dr. Bevan says that a friend of his, on 

 inspecting his bee-boxes, perceived that a centre 

 comb burdened with honey, had separated from its 

 attachments, and was leaning against another comb, 

 so as to j)revent the passage of the bees between 

 them. This accident excited great activity in the 

 colony, but of what nature could not be ascertained 

 at the time. At the end of a week, the weather 

 being cold and the bees clustered together, it was 

 observed through the window of the box that they 

 had constructed two horizontal pillars between the 

 combs alluded to, and had removed so much of the 

 honey and wax from the top of each, as to allow the 

 passage of a bee : in about ten days more there was 

 an uninterrupted thorougiifare ; the detached comb 

 at its upper part had been secured by a strong- 

 barrier, and fastened to the window with the spare 

 wax. This being accomplished, the bees had re- 

 moved the horizontal pillars first constructed, as 

 being of no further use. Huber relates an anec- 

 dote something similar. 



The power which bees possess of ventilating 

 their hives and of producing such a temperature as 

 will prevent the wax from melting in hot weather, 

 is, I think, another proof that something more than 

 mere instinct influences their conduct, as, in their 

 natural state, bees are probably not in so confined 

 a space as they are in our common straw hives, or 

 exposed so much to the heat of the sun. In hot 

 weather, a number of bees (the number probably 

 being regulated by the state of the atmosphere) 

 may be observed busily employed at the bottom of 

 the hive, moving their wings with so much rapid- 

 ity, that the motion of them is almost impercepti- 

 ble. If, while this action is going forward, a 

 lighted candle should be held at an opening on the 

 top of the hive, it will immediately be blown out, 

 a fact which will enable you to form some idea of 

 the current of air produced by these insects from 

 the motion of their wings. I have, however, known 

 instances in extreme hot weather, when all the 

 labors of the bees to keep the iiive in a proper 

 temperature have failed, and a part of the wax has 

 melted. In this case it is dangerous to go near the 

 hive. The bees are in a state of extreme irrita- 

 tion, and though I fancy that mine know me and 

 receive me as a friend, and allow me sometimes to 

 take liberties with them with impunity, yet, at the 

 time referred to I have suffered from their stings 

 in endeavoring to shelter them more effectually 

 from the heat of the sun. 



For the Farmers' Register. 

 COMMERCIAL, RKPORT. 



November 25, 1833. 

 There have been few occurrences during the 

 present month that had any important bearing on 



commercial transactions generally. Such commo- 

 dities, either of domestic or foreign product, as 

 had previously borne high prices, have in most in- 

 stances, and as a natural consequence, declined in 

 value. This remark applies more particularly to 

 cotton, sugar and coffee, but not to tobacco, the 

 crop of which is believed to be small ; and as the 

 previous one Avas very deficient in quantity, it is 

 believed that the stocks of this article in foreign 

 markets will be very light in the course of next 

 year. The planters will no doubt be well remu- 

 nerated for their present crop and also for the suc- 

 ceeding one. An increase of cultivation will fol- 

 low of course, and as no increase of consumption 

 has been apparent for many years, the production 

 of one or two large crops will reduce the price from 

 its present rates (extremes $4 50 to ^12,) to its 

 former ones of .^2 to $S. In this range of prices, 

 the fancy tobacco, used by a few manufacturers, is 

 not included, 



Tlie confidence which prevailed in Europe and 

 in this country a few weeks ago, that cotton would 

 maintain a very high price, has given way to an 

 almost opposite impression. The injudicious ad- 

 vance is likely to be succeeded by a decline in 

 price, tending to the opposite extreme. Thus far, 

 the highest rate of the present crop in our Virginia 

 market has been 16 cents, and the lowest 13 cents. 

 The depression is caused principally by the belief 

 now entertained that the crop will prove too large 

 for the demand, the general estimate of it being 

 1,200,000 bales. The very low rates of foreign 

 exchange, the diminished facilities in the negocia- 

 tion of domestic bills, and the pressure for money 

 in our large commercial cities, have also an effect 

 on the prices of cotton and other articles. This 

 effect may be ascertained with more certainty by 

 adverting to the great decline in bank, road, canal 

 and othe'r stocks, in the New York Exchange, 

 many of which are now from 5 to 15 per cent, 

 lower than they were after making dividends in 

 July. Exchange on England, which for several 

 years past was at 8^ to 10 per cent, premium, is now 

 but 5^ to 6, being actually below the par value, 

 taking metallic medium as the standard. 



This derangement of money matters grows out 

 of differences existing between the government and 

 the bank. The latter cannot grant its usual 

 facility, because it is in the power of the former to 

 take advantage of any increased issues; and should 

 the bank then be compelled to reduce its discounts, 

 the consequences would be ruinous to its custom- 

 ers. While the United States Bank is thus kept 

 on its guard against runs for specie, the State banks 

 are necessarily obliged to use similar caution, and 

 thus the commercial affairs of the country are 

 straitened, which would otherwise be in the most 

 prosperous condition. 



The prices of grain and flour have scarcely 

 varied during the present season. There has been 

 a more limited demand than usual for foreign ex- 

 port ; and on the other hand, the surplus beyond 

 the quantity required for home consumption is 

 very moderate. Canal Flour is worth about ^5 

 75_City Mills $6 50— Wheat 112 to 120 cents. 



Our merchants are becoming larger ship own- 

 ers than formerly, and a number of fine vessels 

 are now owned in Petersburgand Richmond. This 

 and the increase of manufacturing establishments 

 are evidences of commercial capital and prosperity. 



