FARMERS' REGISTER— IMPROVED BEE HIVE— MOLES, &c. 



749 



on Viroinia, and at one a'lance seclier real situa- 

 tion, his patriotism would excite liim to action. 

 What immense tracts are (Iiere, wliicii were once 

 rich, but are now poor! The wild deer are en- 

 croaching on Eastern Virf^inia. Thousands of her 

 population are going- off to (ill up the west. Mid- 

 dle Virginia is much exhausted. Unless some- 

 thing efficient is done, our glory as a state has 

 departed, never to return. 



The great obstacle which Virginia now encoun- 

 ters, and ever has encountered, in the ])rosecution 

 of her puldic works, is the had slate of Iier agri- 

 culture. It is hard to give life and energy to an 

 exhausted patient. Virginia now, only can boast 

 of the scanty means of restoration. If she does 

 not husband these means, she must sink. " Live 

 or die," is the question ; and the enterprise and 

 active diligence of our neighbors, while they are 

 serving themselves, are taking from Virginia. 



We cannot expect much to be effected at 

 once, by the Legislature ; but if attention is exci- 

 ted, by discussing the subject, much may be done 

 in time. 



If there is any subject on which patriotism may 

 dwell, it is this. 



Let us all think of Virginia, as an " estate in 

 common," left us by our fathers, and forgetting sec- 

 tional interests, and laying aside prejudices, let us 

 set seriously to work, to restore our estate. Let us 

 be in haste about it; for New York and other 

 stales, are weighing down the balance. 



Agricultural .societies, properly organized and 

 conducted, must have the most powerful effects on 

 our agriculture. I have by me, a letter, from the ex- 

 cellent Judge Buel, of Albany, in which he says, 

 that these societies, have elTected more for New 

 York, than any other set causes. They first interest 

 the people, and this interest communicates itself to 

 the Legislature ; thus acting and reacting- on one 

 another. Will every reader of the Farmers' Re- 

 gister, exert his influence, to establish agricultural 

 societies, where they can be estaldished. Let them 

 be so conducted, as to call out interest. Let cor- 

 responding committees be appointed, who, through 

 the Farmers' Register, will report progress, and 

 communicate with other societies. If the people 

 can once be aroused, all will go well. 



It has occurred to me, that much might be 

 effected, by the pulilication of agricultural tracts, 

 treating on the various departments of agriculture. 

 By printing a large nuujber, they might be sold 

 very cheap. This is only a hint, which may go 

 for what it is worth. 



I do sincerely hope, dear sir, that your corres- 

 pondent, " J. M. G." will continue his remarks 

 on this subject. He has the advantage of expe- 

 rience and judgment, and can impart confidence. 

 In my contracted sphere, I will continue to labor 

 in the good cause, being well convinced, that to 

 promote good agriculture in Virginia, will be to 

 restore her to her pristine weight in this Union ; 

 and that to neglect this subject, would be to " give 

 up the ship." 



The Legislature of Virginia, certainly will not 

 continue to neglect this subject, when convinced, 

 that legislatures have done, and are doing much 

 for agriculture in other states; and when they 

 see, that our wretched state of agriculture de- 

 mands powerful and immediate exertion. Our 

 Virginia pride should call us into action, and our 

 common interests should lead us to concert^ in ac- 



tion. Will the next Legislature do any thing for 

 agriculture, or vvill they commence the next four 

 years war.'' Let us see. t. b. bi'r. 



For the Farmers' Ucgiitcr. 

 AN IMPROVED EKE HIVE. 



The box or hive, to be made of inch plank, say, 

 about two feet tlsree inches by twelve inches wide; 

 the upper part of the box to he partitioned off, al- 

 lowing just space sufficient to admit a drawer of 

 aliout fen by twelve inches deep, 'j'his draAver is 

 to slide upon the horizontal partition, and to be 

 made to fit the inside of the box exactly. In the 

 bottom of the drawer, a hole is to be made, say 

 about one and a half inch in diameter, and a cor- 

 responding one in the partition, so as to allow the 

 bees to pass up from the lower part of the hive, 

 into the drawer. In the outer side of the drawer, 

 a pane of glass is to l;e fixed, in order to ascertain 

 when the drawer is filled Vv'ith lioney. Over the 

 glass, a sliding sliutter is to be placed, to exclude 

 the light: or the upper end of the plank, forming 

 the back side of the box, or hive, may be sawed off, 

 and fastened with a hinge and button, so as to an- 

 swer in place of the sliding shutter. When the 

 honey is wanted for use, remove the shutter from 

 l.efore the glass, and having ascertained that the 

 drawer is filled, introduce a little smoke into the 

 top of the drawer by means of a tobacco pipe; and 

 when the bees have been driven into the lower 

 part of the hive, separate the drawer and jiartition, 

 with a case knife, remove the drawer, and having 

 emjjfied it, return it to its place again, and the 

 bees will commence working in it immediately. 

 By tins method the honey will be always pure, 

 without bee-bread, or dead bees, and not a single 

 bee need he destroyed; and moreover, it has been 

 tested by many years trial, and found to answer 

 the intention completely. z. 



p. s. — The drawer should have a top screwed 

 on, so as to be more readily opened when the honey 

 is to be taken out ; and any space between the 

 drawer and the sides, or top of the hive, should he 

 filled with some kind of cement, so as to prevent 

 insects from making a lodgment within the hive. 



[The foregoing description will be sufficienly plain 

 to the reader, witliout plates. Tlie plan apj^ears to be 

 excellent.] 



HOW TO DESTROY MOLES. 



From the Southern Planter. 



Br. Barilett—ln the last Planter it is stated that 

 the castor bean will destroy moles. I have tried 

 the red Palma Christi (which some say is the 

 same,) with success, merely by jdacing a few of 

 the kernels in their paths or plouuhed places; also 

 calomel, by making holes in grains of corn, and 

 inserting it in the holes and placing the corn in the 

 ground for them. The calomel will not kill them 

 till there comes a rain, when they will be found on 

 the top of the ground. wji. ii. raiford. 



W EIGHT OF LIVE AND DEAD CATTLE. 



From the New York Farmer. 

 The proportion of live to dead weight, indepen- 

 dent of otYdl is as eight to five. This rule is found 

 to be so correct, that it would be fi^.r more satisfac- 

 tory if cattle were sold by their live weight. 



