242 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUK.E AND COTTAGE GARDEXETt. 



[ Miroh 21, 18C5. 



necessaiy to check the too rapid increase of destructive 

 animals; and it is to be hoped that the inducement ofl'ered 

 by the Society may be the means of calling forth an in- 

 vention fulfillang the conditions laid down ; we will also 

 take this opportunity of saying that this Society is most 

 praiseworthy in all its proceedings, and every way worthy 

 of support. 



EEES IN LANAEXSHERE. 



PoLLEN-cARRTiNG Commenced here on the 24th Februai-y, 

 although I saw young bees (Ligurians), as early as January 

 26th; and Februaiy 9th being rather a mild day most of 

 the hives got well aired, and a great many young bees were 

 seen, so that, what with early breeding- and fertility, it 

 augurs well for their future prosperity. 



The hint respecting strange bees killing the queens of 

 other hives will still be fresh in the minds of some of your 

 apiarian readers. The stock of which the queen was killed 

 has remained queenless the whole winter, and the bees 

 have been wonderfully preserved, being the most crowded 

 hive in my apiai-y. I was unwilling to lose it, and there- 

 fore obtained two weak hives from a friend who was unable 

 to bring them through the winter. One of these queens, 

 which I gave them on the 10th of February, was well 

 received, and this stock since threatened the destruction 

 of several hives by robbing ; and although the Ligurians 

 could protect themselves well enough, still it prevented 

 then- going abroad in search of doUen, and not a single hive 

 escaped. 



1 may here mention that it is not all profit to have hives 

 over-strong, unless all in the apiary are about equal, as the 

 warfare, when once begun, seldom ends till some have fallen 

 victims. I generaUj' deem it best to remove the strong 

 stocks ; but in this case I lessened its strength by taking 

 part of the bees and iiniting them to one of the queens 

 above refeiTcd to, whose bees were all dead. Having jjre- 

 sented the queen to them, she was immediately imprisoned, 

 and would not have been allowed to survive had I not 

 interfered. I then caged her and put her in the hive, but 

 the bees deserted her, and, it being too cold to leave her 

 alone, I freed her, and tried her with them again, but still 

 the same spirit reigned. I again captured hev, and having 

 kept her in my hand for a short time, again presented her, 

 when in an instant a strange Ligurian darted furiously at 

 her, and nearly stung her. I thrust it off, but only for a 

 second attack, when it seized her by one of the legs. I 

 then killed it; but, so tenacious had been its hold, that, 

 after fifteen minutes, the queen was still dragging the 

 Ligurian about. This clearly demonstrates that strange 

 bees attack the qiieens of other hives. 



All this time Iliad not been able to effect a union. There 

 was no time to lose, as the bees were fast leaving; nor 

 would they receive her till I applied a drop or two of essence 

 of peppermint, diluted with a little syrup. I fii'st smeared 

 the queen and then the bees, and in an instant the union 

 was as complete as it was interesting. I have now made 

 two hives from one, with plenty of bees for both, and restored 

 peace in my apiary, having them now all in their spring 

 dress, which is a covering of soft dry grass round each 

 hive, to promote breeding; woollen cloths I detest as 

 harbouring moths. — A Lanarkshire Bbe- keeper. 



TAKING HONEY IN CENTRAL AMEEICA. 



Beadino of taking honey in Assam in your Number of 

 the 7th inet., reminds me of taking honey in British 

 Honduras. There, however, precautions are not needed, the 

 honey bee having no sting, and being, so far as I recollect, 

 the only insect in that unpleasant country without a weapon 

 of offence and a strong inclination to use it. The Indians 

 (Afltecs) are sometimca employed in the mahogany-cutting 

 works, and their fondness for honey makes them take every 

 nest they can. All the nests I saw were in hollow trees. 

 The Indians having found them (and to find them requires 

 pretty sharp eyes), cut down the tree, and having sounded it 

 with their axes, would cut it open where they found the nest 

 to be. The honey was very clean and good, the combs were 



not hexagonal, but shapeless, like the cells in an ant's neat. 

 The wax, in comparatively large quantities, was taken by the 

 Indians to make candles of. The bees were small black ones 

 and stingless. We met with others, by no means stingloas, 

 but got no honey from them. 



It may interest some of your readers to hoar that in the 

 centre of the large hanging ant's nests the Indians found a 

 mass of white grubs which they said were as good as honey 

 to eat, but I confess I had not courage to attempt them. 

 Once I believe I did eat some at an Indian festival, thinking 

 they were sweetened rice, but my companion found out what 

 they were, and I could not persuade myself to try then: 

 taste again. 



If I had known anything about orchids I might have 

 written plenty about them, as Guatemala abounds in them, 

 but, unfortunately, I was as ignorant of them then as I am 

 now. Should I ever find myself there again I will try and be 

 more useful to the readers of The Journal op Hoeticul- 

 TDKE. — V. G. C. 



DEIA^NG BEES TO A^'OID THE WAX MOTH. 



Since last writing to you I have lifted the hive referred to 

 off its floorboard. In the feeding vessel I found several 

 maggots and also a live moth of a grey colour and full of 

 life, but it was thrown into tlie fire ; the former I have sent 

 for your opinion. 



Having a nucleus bos, half filled with honey and combs. I 

 pm'pose driving them into it at once before the queen com- 

 mences laying, and so rid them of the jjilague. — T. S- 



[By driving the bees into a nucleus box at this season 

 you will destroy more brood than you fancy, and very pro- 

 bably do the stock irreparable injury. Better have patience 

 until fine mild weather set in. and then transfer both beos 

 and combs to a frame-hive as directed in page 443 of our 

 third volume, when the extirpation of the moths will become 

 easy. Tlie maggots accompanying your letter are larvffi oi 

 the wax-moth.] 



STEWAETON HH^ES. 



If your correspondent Mr. Raynor would apply to Mr. 

 Baton, joiner, &o., Stewarton, Ayrshire, he could obtain an 

 abundant supply of boxes. 



The boxes need not be confined to 4, inches, but can be 

 made to order of any depth. I have seen boxes used 6 to 

 8 inches deep, principally lor " body boxes " and sometimes 

 for honey boxes on strong hives. Bees can easily be hived m 

 four-inch boxes by putting two together. With a nice roomy 

 bee-honse and Stewarton hives, the most nervous and 

 unskilful may manage successfully without getting stung 

 or killing a bee. 



The Stewarton bee-keepers in favourable seasons take 

 two crops of honey, ono off the clover, and the second off 

 the heather, to which they transport the bees several miles. 

 Tlie first crop is considered the best. A four-inch box, when 

 lull, weighs about 20 lbs., and sells at (rom 2s. to 2a. 6d. per 

 pound. — P. M. 



OUK LETTEE BOX. 



Stoiuno Eoos (An Amalnir\— There U a difference of opinion, but we 

 always stick the small end ol" each egg downwards io a ahallow box of 

 sand. 



PioEONB IH CoNFiNKMKNT. — Can T Bucecssfiilly brocd .and ro.ir flrat-clasB 

 htaUhy fancy Piffeons in u luviie Hpiiro room witboul allowing them tofly 

 out In llie air ? Of course a window cm be licpl open and covered with wire. 

 — K. T. II. 



[You can keep Ibeni well in that room. Most of our besl fancy Pigeons 

 arc bred In ruumn. Mr. Katon, of 37, Ked Lion Street, Clerkenwoll, London, 

 K.C, has publlBhed a diagram which will assist you to Ht up the room.— 

 U. P B.] 



Book oh Poultet (S. TV. O).— It is in preparation, with colonrod 

 plates, and will appear early in tbe summer. Wo can give no further lufor- 

 malion at present. 



Cait.b (./.AV.;n«cr).—ChickenBso affected should havunpiecc of campb''' 

 daily, nivi" tliom as a pill about the size of a po.i. Put aNo a iilecc of e*™- 

 plior In their water. Give ibeni also daily a little bread toukod in ale 



BiiviNo Bkks (All. 6').— Wecannot(!iveyoulhclnrornialioaj'Owr''9<il''<'' 

 AdvcrliHu stating bow many stocks you need. 



Gi.AziNo AN AuUAUiuM (O. 6'.).— We alwuys uso whltc Io«d. 



