66 



ON BEES. 



Gentlemen — Permit me to offer an extra-official report con- 

 cerning one of the industrial departments, taken under the foster- 

 ing wing of your Institution. 



While on the grounds to-day, I was accosted by several Bee- 

 fanciers, who supposed your humble servant to be still in office, 

 and some of whom supposed there was yet a premium on Honey 

 and Hives. 



Mr. Cyrus Bullard, of Medway, holding the copyright for Nor- 

 folk county, of an invention of Sylvester Davis, of Claremont, N. H., 

 presented a model Hive, for inspection and a premium. Premium 

 there is none, and Committee none. As a volunteer, I exam- 

 ined its structure, heard the narrative of its claims, and promised 

 to state the representations to the proper authorities. It is called 

 the Platform Beehive ; has arrangements for swarming, and divid- 

 ing swarms, and transferring swarms ; has arrangements for feed- 

 ing the bees, ventilating the bees, and recreating the bees ; is 

 furnished with a manufactory, kitchen and parlor ; has a trap to 

 catch the bee-moth ; and, over and above all, and all other hives 

 with which I am acquainted, has provision for locking up the 

 bees, when the Coolidge's Favorites, and Gages, and Bartletts 

 are ripening for the harvest — thereby acknowledging that bees 

 are thieves ; a concession to which all men are not converted. 



The objection thereto, in my extra-official judgment, is, that an 

 arrangement combining so many desiderata, will require great 

 watchfulness. It requires vigilance at all seasons of the year, 

 which can be given only by a few particularly fixed in their habits. 



The Hive, as such, certainly possesses great merits, and we 

 commend it to all who design to keep bees. Of three or four pa- 

 tent rights I have the honor to own, this offers the best advantages 

 for feeding and restraining these little humming birds. 



I learn there will be several competitors at future exhibitions, if 

 inducing premiums can be offered. 



S. B. BABCOCK, Ex-Committee 

 on Bees and Honey. 

 Dedham, September 26, 1855. 



