330 



IMPROVED BEE HOUSE. 



" On my revisiting Van Dieman's Land, in August, 

 1832, I carried the original hive I had brought from 

 England to Sydney, and presented it to Alexander 

 Maclean, Esq. colonial secretary ; but, from some 

 cause which I cannot explain, they did not promise 

 to be so prodigiously prolific. 



" From the great success that the bee has met with, 

 it is probable that it will shortly become an export of 

 some value from the colony ; it is a singular fact, that 

 though most of the native flowers and shrubs abound 

 with saccharine juices, the bee scarcely sips or lights 

 upon them at all, preferring on all occasions the 

 flowers of plants raised from English seeds around 

 them." 



The following cut represents an [improved bee-house"] 

 constructed by Mr. Saul, of Lancaster, which we 

 readily give insertion to, as a subject of interest to bee- 

 fanciers, and as ornamental to a Jlower-border. Mr. 

 Saul's description of it is as follows: 



" Having very fre- 

 quently remarked, that, 

 when the entrance of a 

 bee -house is on the 

 windy side, the bees, 

 on bringing home their 

 load, are blown down, 

 (on which it is curious 

 to observe how- the 

 other bees will assist 

 them to rise,) I have 

 had mine so con- 

 structed that the en- 

 trance must always be on the side opposite to that 



