382 



NEW ENGLAND FArv:MER. 



Aug. 



A MORNIKTG- "WITH THE BJESSS. 



At six o'clock on Friday morning last we had a 

 call from Mr. R. S, ToRREY, of Bangor, Me., a 

 gentleman who has for many years given his un- 

 divided attention to the cultivation of bees, and 

 whose success with them, both as a matter of 

 pleasure and of profit, has been somewhat sur- 

 prising. We witnessed some of the results of 

 his skill at the State Fair in Maine last fall, which 

 -\vere quite as gratifying to us, as the liberal pro- 

 fits vrere to him. The subject was not new to us, 

 — having devoted time and observation to it for 

 several years, we felt competent to look the mat- 

 ter over, and judge whether Sir. Torrey's new hive 

 had points of merit not common to other hives, 

 and we soon arrived at the clear conclusion that 

 it had. Among these points are the following : 



1. The form and size of the hive are right, judg- 



ing from an experience of twelve years with 

 them. 



2. The condition of the bees can be seen at any 



time, in front, in rear, and at the top of the 

 hive. 



3. The most scientific and perfect method of ven- 



tilation. 

 The merit contained in this particular point 

 surpasses that of any other hive we have exam- 

 ined, — and it is of great importance to the bee- 

 keeper, because a large proportion of all swarms 

 that die in the winter, die for the want of -proper 

 ventilation. We have lost half a dozen swarms 

 in a single winter from this cause, and have a 

 friend who lost four times that number during 

 the same period. 



4. The peculiar arrangement of the^ platform upon 



which the hive stands. 



5. Arrangement for feeding. 



6. No frost or ice in the hive in the winter. 



The proper ventilation prevents the frost or ice, 

 and the mode of doing it is as simple and cheap 

 as it is ingenious. 



7. A trap which prevents the ravages of moths. 



8. No filth or dead bees can accumulate between 



the combs in winter. 



The above are the leading points of merit not 

 common, we believe, to other hives, but it has 

 others — perhaps all others — found in the best, — 

 such as that 



The surplus honey can be taken away without 

 disturbing the bees. 



Taking it away in boxes. 



Changing the combs. 



Fighting prevented. 



Transferring the bees. 



Swarming prevented, &c. 



While the , hive is exceedingly simple, every- 

 where, having no changes or subterraneous pas- 



sages to perplex, it is cheaply constructed, and 

 we have not a doubt will prove efRcient. It will 

 be efRcient, because its accommodations will cor- 

 respond with the natural wants of the bee, and 

 render the little worker those facilities which it 

 finds in its normal condition in the forest. It is 

 so simple that a child can understand its con- 

 struction and the mode of using it, with five min- 

 utes' explanation. 



We found Mr. Torrey a skilful and judicious 

 manipulator, removing honey and transferring 

 bees with accuracy and ease. So we passed the 

 entire morning, robbing the bees here and there 

 of a portion of their delicious hoard, carrying por- 

 tions to a weaker family, and giving to others the 

 means of working out some little device not to be 

 found in their records of industry ! 



When our grand Bee-Hunt comes off with Mr. 

 Torrey in the forests of Maine, the reader shall 

 be put in possession of its incidents. 



We shall be glad at some other time to state 

 the processes through which lie came to the con- 

 clusions to form such a hive as he presents to the 

 public. They are new and ingenious, and will be 

 interesting to all levers of the bee and honey. 



For the New England Farmer. 



CODTSTTY AND 1!OWl^ AGRICULTUEAL 

 SOCIETIES. 



Mr. Editor : — Wliich will best promote good 

 farming, county or town societies ? This is an 

 important question, deserving the careful consid- 

 eration of every farmer, and of all the friends of 

 good farming. So far as my knowledge extends, 

 it has never been publicly discussed in any of the 

 newspapers or j)eriodical.s of the day. It is true, 

 that town societies have occasionally been men- 

 tioned in terms of approbation by the gentleman- 

 ly editor of the Neto England Farmer, and per- 

 haps by others, but never in a way to point them 

 out as rivals, in usefulness and influence, to coun- 

 ty societies. They have usually been addressed 

 under the homely but modest name of "Farmers' 

 Clubs," but never as taking rank with county so- 

 cieties. The question, therefore, is comparative- 

 ly a new one; It has never been discussed, or, 

 if it has, it has never been decided. At least, its 

 true merits are not generally known. In order, 

 therefore, to come at this question so as to satis- 

 fy ourselves of its merits, Avithout exciting the 

 jealousy and. prejudice of county societies, with 

 their vested rights and State funds, it will be best, 

 perhaps, to institute a direct comparison between 

 the different sides of the question ; in other words, 

 to throw the question into the great scale of even- 

 handed justice, and see which side of the question 

 preponderates, and which kicks the beam. 



Of the countif societies I need not attempt a 

 particular description. Their character and ob- 

 jects are generally so Avell known, as to supercede 

 the necessity, and it is no part of my object to 

 borate or to underrate their usefulness. They all 

 exist by legislative enactment. Tliey are all un- 

 der the patronage of the State, and receive assis- 



