16 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEVf. 



for the sick room, with special application 

 as the case may require. A general princi- 

 ple of treatment may be stated here of vast 

 and vital importance which applies in all 

 diseases, but which is usually ignored in pop- 

 ular practice. It is this ; Balance the cir- 

 culation. In all acute diseases — in all fev- 

 ers, inflamations and congestions — the cir- 

 culation is unbalanced — there is too much 

 blood in some parts of the system and too 

 little in others. The tirst thing to do in 

 such cases is to restore the balance as far as 

 possible — not by barbarously drawing the 

 blood out of the system altogether, but by 

 drawing it from one part to another by 

 warm applications, as a rule, where it is de- 

 ficient and cool where it is excessive. Dis- 

 ease is simply an effort of the system to 

 purify itself — to cast out poisons and ob- 

 structions, and repair damages. This re- 

 medial action is sometimes too concentrated 

 and violent, as in high fevers, inflammations 

 and congestions, and should be distributed 

 by balancing the circulation. If your doctor 

 is not doing this and attending to the hy- 

 gienic conditions noted above, but is sim- 

 ply giving you poisons to " cure " you, dis- 

 charge him, and take your chances with Hy- 

 fjiea, as you will be better without him. 

 Seventh and last, do what good you can to 

 your fellows, and keep a clear conscience 

 that you may enjoy life and sleep abundant- 

 ly. 

 Selby Ont. Jan. 10 V1'M\. 



Apis Dorsata and Other Large Bees. 



.1. E. GISANK. 



I 



notice occasion- 

 al references in 

 ^ m bee- journals to 



'S W Apis Dorsata: 



•• -zMt tSl^^R whether it is like- 



ly to prove of val- 

 ue or otherwise, 

 and a few thoughts 

 in reference to it 

 may not be ont of 

 place at this time. 

 As is well known, 

 Apis Dorsata is a 

 native bee of Southern Asia and adjacent 

 islands, is much larger than our domesticated 

 bees and builds its combs upon the under- 

 side of the branches of tall trees. Apis 



Testacea seems to be a variety or closely 

 allied species to Apis Dorsata whose home 

 is among the islands of Malaysia or the 

 Indian archipelago and in most respects 

 quite like Apis Dorsata. Both varieties are 

 described as somewhat ferocious aud their 

 stings very severe ; Although I believe Mr. 

 Benton was able to subdue them readily. 



The outlook is, not to say the least, very 

 hopeful, but when we remember their su- 

 perior size and active habits, their ability to 

 gather honey and build comb, I for one have 

 a lingering desire to possess them. 



Because this bee has not been domesti- 

 cated does not prove it incapable of domes- 

 tication. 



The yellow bees of Italy, known to Virgil 

 and Aristotle, have but recently been dissem- 

 inated over the earth. Because Apis Dorsata 

 is a native of the tropics does not prove its 

 unfitness for the more temperate regions of 

 the Earth. While it is true that most ani- 

 mals, birds, and plants are not adapted to a 

 wide range of climate there are many no- 

 table exceptions. Naturalists are not agreed 

 as to wlietherour domestic fowls came from 

 one or more original species, but all unite 

 in the opinion that all the various breeds 

 came originally from southern Asia. The 

 silkworm is also traced to the same locality. 



We are told that our humble or (Bumble) 

 Vjees are found as far south as the equator, 

 and one of our arctic explorers found one in 

 northern Greenland quite at home. 



More than this, our common hive bees are 

 found not only in temperate regions of the 

 earth but within the tropics as well. I am 

 not sure that anyone can tell us where Apis 

 mellifica was first domesticated. The earli- 

 est records of its being cared for by man are 

 from Egypt, so far as I know, which would 

 indicate that its early home was either 

 western Asia or northern Africa. 



The habit of Apis Dorsata of building its 

 combs upon the under side of the branches 

 of trees would seem to be a serious objec- 

 tion, but we sometimes find our hive bees 

 doing something quite like it. During the 

 past season I had a colony leave the hive and 

 go underneath and build its combs and 

 start its honey on the underside of the 

 bottom board. 



Still, we can not help thinking that this 

 habit of comb building would make Apis 

 Dorsata, for the present, unprofitable and 

 their honey of little value except for the 

 extractor. 



