164 Miscellanies. 
ether, and an acid compound of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. The 
fluids were drawn from the ether,—which, by subsequent washing in 
cold water, was rendered perfectly pure,—neutralized by hydrate of 
lime and subjected to distillation, a portion of an alcoholic solution of 
ether was condensed in the receiver, and the remaining liquor, by 
evaporation, afforded a small quantity of a salt in prismatic crystals. 
When the bleaching powder contains more than one quarter of its 
weight of chlorine, it is proper to diminish the relative proportion, by 
adding sufficient water and in condensing the ether, which is rapidly 
formed, ample refrigerating baths should be used., 
5. Bees.—A notice by E. Burgess, assistant in the Amherst 
Academy.—Our bees were put into the ground, near the first days 
of November. A hole was dug on a dry spot of ground, large 
enough to take in one half or two thirds of the hive. Straw was 
then put around it as tight and close as possible; it was then 
covered with dirt, to prevent either the water or frost from pen- 
etrating to it. The hive was taken out during the first days of 
April, and the. very moment the hive was reached, the bees seem- 
ed to be as lively and active as if they had been exposed to the 
warmth of a sunny day, although it seemed impossible, that the ex- 
ternal heat could have penetrated as deep as they were buried, so 
as materially to alter the temperature. They went immediately to 
work with seemingly more animation, than those which had remain- 
ed above the ground during the winter. ‘The precise quantity of 
honey consumed is not known; but it could not have been more than 
half of the quantity consumed by swarms wintered the usual way. 
Mr. P. anear neighbor put two swarms into the ground—but 
one of them lived. ‘This hive contained only four pounds of honey 
—which is not more than one sixth or one fifth of the quantity re- 
quired to winter a swarm the usual way. ‘The swarm which died, 
was put into a potatoe hole—the potatoes became moist—from 
hence the bees became so and died. From this we infer that they 
should. be buried so as to be kept perfectly dry, but whether it is 
absolutely necessary that they should be placed beyond the reach 
of frost, we have yet to learn from experiment. Mr. P. of New 
York buried the last winter six or seven swarms, and nearly all 
came out well—although being taken out quite early, one or two of 
them died before they were able to obtain any support from the 
field. None of them had nearly enough honey to have wintered in 
