366 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



M. Avenarius says, that even when all possible precaution is 

 used, the queen may be either injured or killed, and then the 

 whole swarm will indubitably perish. 



M. Datzensko, remarks that the odor of hemp is insupportable 

 by bees — that a few hemp seeds put into a hive, every bee will 

 quit it, and although you disinfect and purify the hive, they will 

 never occupy it again. 



Experience has proved that the most suitable time to take the 

 honey comb from a hive, is full day, from 10 o'clock A. M. to 4 

 o'clock P. M., while the greater part of the bees are abroad — ^hot 

 in evenings or cloudy rainy weather. 



Mr. Langstrath, of Philadelphia, has observed that swarms of 

 bees are more easily gathered in mid-day than in the evening. 

 The ancient prejudice, that bees cannot prosper in a hive in wiiich 

 light is admitted, is condemned by the following fact : In the 

 Crystal palace, of New- York, we saw hives of glass exposed on all 

 sides to the light, except where the wax adhered to the glass. 

 And here was a great advantage, for we could see whether any 

 damage was occurring in the hives, and to remedy it in time. 



A CORN ENEMY. 



The insect Sitophilus Zea Maize (^Corn lover.) 

 At the exhibition in the Crystal palace, of New- York, in 1853, 

 were many specimens of Indian corn, from Cayenne, all the grains 

 of which were infested by insects, especially this Sitophilus and 

 the Jlraecerus Coffeae — this latter one flew among us as we ap- 

 proached the corn. During the five summer months these 

 destructive insects w^ere perfectly developed under the glass of 

 the Crystal palace, and finished by devouring the corn with which 

 they were imported. On the return of cool weather in December, 

 the Araecerus began to perish, while the Sitophilus kept on his 

 ravages. It is however remarkable, that they did not attack any 

 other corn than that which they came with from Cayenne ! The 

 ears of native corn of the United States, in the same place, were 

 not attacked by them, nor the rice, I carried some of these 

 Sitophili to St. Petersburg — so that it proved that with corn tliey 

 can be transported from one country to another. Great care ought 

 to be taken in examining the bags on their arrival. 



