388 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 26, 1863. 



includes foreign as well as English writers, and comprises the 

 names, not only of the authors of distinct treatises, but also of 

 those who have made the slightest allusion to bees or bee- 

 keeping. 



The plan I propose to adopt differs essentially from either of 

 these. I intend to give the titles of the works in full, with the 

 date of every edition, the size, number of pages, &c, and to 

 append a ehort account of the character of the work. 



I hope to include every separate treatise, however small, and 

 also the more important articles from the proceedings of learned 

 societies. Articles in magazines and newspapers will not be 

 noticed, as it would be impossible to compile a complete list of 

 these fugitive papers. The list will be arranged chronologically, 

 the time being taken from the publication of the first edition. 



I conceive that I possess peculiar qualifications for the task I 

 have undertaken. I have a great interest in the subject, and am 

 in possession, I believe, of the most extensive collection of 

 apiarian works. 



I cannot hope, however, to make my list complete without 

 the assistance of the numerous collectors of bee-books. Many 

 works may have escaped my notice ; and should I omit any, I 

 hope some of the readers of The Joubnai op Hoeticuxtube 

 will help to render it complete. As it is proposed to publish 

 the list subsequently in a separate form, any suggestions that 

 may increase its value will be very gratefully received. 



The first distinct English treatise on bees of which I can gain 

 any intelligence is that of Hyll or Hill, published 1568.* The 

 Rev. W. C. Cotton, however, gives a title as follows : — 



" Bee, a numerous genus of insects, which have attracted an 

 uncommon share of attention in all countries, and in every age, 

 on account of their Industry, Art, and Utility. 1539." It 

 appears obvious that there must be some mistake — the language 

 of the title is not that of the period ; nor can I find any such 

 book in the British Museum or other library. Can any readers 

 of the Journal give information on this work ? In the meantime, 

 regarding Hill's as the first English treatise on the subject, I 

 give the titles in full. 



1568. HILL. " A pleasaunt Instruction of the parfit orderinge 

 of Bees with the marueilous nature propertie and gouernement of 

 theim and the myraculous uses, bothe of their honny and waxe 

 (seruing diuersly) as well inwarde as outward causes ; gathered 

 out of the best writers. To which is annexed a profitable treatise 

 intituled certain husbandly coniectures of dearth and plentie for 

 euer, and other matters also meet for husbandmen to knowe and 

 which is now Englished by Thomas Hill, Londyner. 1568." 



This edition has a portrait of the author at the back of the 

 title, and at the end " Imprinted at London in Fletestrete neare 

 to S. Dunstones Churehe by Thomas Marshe. 1568." This 

 edition is in 12mo. black letter ; and, like the other editions, is 

 appended to his " Arte of Gardening," but is paged separately 

 and has a distinct title. The first edition of Hill's Gardening 

 is in 12mo. London, 1563. It is entitled " A most briefe and 

 pleasant treatyBe teachynge how to dress sow and set a garden." 

 This edition does not contain the treatise on bees. 



The subsequent editions of Hill's treatise vary so much in the 

 title and size that it is desirable to print that of 1574. 



1574. Hyll. "A profitable instruction of the perfite ordering 

 of Bees, with the marueilous nature, propertie, and gouernemente 

 of them and the necessarie vses both of their Honie and waxe 

 seruing diuersly, as well inward as outward causes : gathered 

 out of the best writers. To which is annexed a proper Treatise 

 intituled : Certain husbandly coniectures of dearth and plentie 

 for euer, and other matters also meete for Husbandmen to knowe, 

 etc. By Thomas Hyll. Londoner. Imprinted at London, by 

 Henrie Bynneman. Anno 1574." Small quarto, fol. 88. Black 

 letter. 



This edition has on its last page " Imprinted at London by 



Henrie Bynneman, dwelling in Knightryder streate at the signe of 



the Mermayde, anno 1574," and printer's monogram of mermaid. 



1579. This edition, quarto, fol. 92, was also printed by 



Bynneman. 



1586. The edition, of this date has the same title, with imprint 

 as follows: — "Imprinted at London by Robert Walde-eraue. 

 1586." S 



1593. Same title. " Imprinted at London by Edward Aide. 

 1593." 



•The earliest printed work on the subject is, I believe, an extreme]? 

 rare continental work in monkish Latin. Llate about 15l0, with a running 

 title, Bom universalis de proprietatibus apum." Of this curious book 

 l cope to give some account at a future time. 



1608. Same title, except " By Thomas Hill, Londoner. Im- 

 printed at London by H. B. i608." 



All these editions of Hill are in the library of the British 

 Museum. Hyll's treatise contains little practical instruction, 

 and is confessedly a compilation from " the bookes and volumes 

 of many and diuers antient writers." Butler, in the preface to 

 his " Feminine Monarchic," speaks of Georgius Pictorius, a 

 learned Physician, as having taken most paines in perusing the 

 ancient authors, and adds : " Whom one T. H. of London 

 translating word for word into English, as well as he could, 

 concealing the authors name, adventured to publish in his 

 owne name." 



Hill's work is divided into forty chapters, the titles of which 

 give a very good idea of the nature of the information they 

 contain. Thus "Chap. 3. How bees do naturally engender." 

 "They lay eggs," says our writer, "setting on them as hens do 

 on their eggs, and when they have sit on them for the space of 

 45 daies they do hatch their yong ones which yong at the first 

 do come forth much like to white wormes except the king who 

 onely as he is hatched hath wings." Chap. 8. " The marueilous 

 gouernment of the king of Bees and of the obedience which the 

 vse to him." 



In the chapter on the best kinds of hives, he describes English 

 hives as being of straw, and says that the hive ought to be 

 li or 2 feet high, and in breadth above 2i feet or somewhat 

 larger ; and in chapter 3 he describes observatory-hives formed of 

 thin and clear borne belonging to a certain Consul at Rome, in 

 which Guilielmus de Conchis observed the different kinds of 

 bees. 



The method of obtaining the honey from the hives was 

 by making a smoke by burning linen rags or straw in a pot, 

 setting this within the hive, and subsequently turning the hive 

 up and cutting out the surplus combs. 



In Milton's chronological list the next work is " 1572, 

 Anonymus." I know of no work corresponding to this date, 

 nor did I see any at the Bale of Mr. Milton's books. 



May I be allowed to ask that any of my readers who have 

 other apiarian works before 1600 will kindly oblige me with 

 the titles in full ? — W. B. Tegetmeeeb, Musioell Silt, London, N. 

 [Thomas Hill, Hyll or Hylle, was a mere booksellers' hack, 

 writing upon any subject required, and being no authority upon 

 any. Works of his are extant on arithmetic, astronomy, bees, 

 dreams, divinity, gardening, and physiognomy. He was probably 

 a native of the metropolis, for on all his title-pages he is entitled 

 "Londoner." One work, "The Gardeners' Labyrinth," he 

 published under the name of "Didymus Mountain," which are 

 only mongrel synonymes of his real name " Thomas Hill." He 

 was dead when an edition of that work was published in 1586. 

 —Eds. J, of H] 



OTJE LETTEE BOX. 



Roppt Fowls (C. J. £.).— As a rnle no fowl can be depended upon that is 

 bought out of a coop in London, as seven-eighths are either diseased or will 

 be in a day or two. The condition in which they are seen explains this — 

 in a confined cage or basket, not always the cleanest in the world, 

 injudiciously fed, and deprived of almost; everything that is neeessary for 

 health, instead of fresh air and cleanliness, they ar.e packed closely with 

 all sorts of disease, and the coups are never untenanted. Kill all the worst 

 cases. Have every house thoroughly cleansed and lime-whited. Feed your 

 fowls freely on bread steeped in strong ale, and as soon as you have any 

 grass carried, let them have the run of the fields. Above all, let the hens 

 and chickens be put there. 



Hen Pigeon not Laying [J. Robinson). — Your hen sitting on a nest but 

 not laying, is most probably barren. The only treatment likely to be of 

 service to her is to give her an egg or a pair ot eggs tc hatch and rear the 

 youi.g. Afterwards, possibly, she may lay. Barren hens are by no means 

 uncommon. 



Canaries Dying (IF. S. S.). — The only reason we can assign for your 

 birds dying in your mixed aviary is that the stronger birds will not allow 

 the weaker to feed. "We would recommend you to place more feeding- 

 boxes in the aviary. The oiled boards do not affect the birds. 



Ill-flavoured Butter {M. IF. M.).— The plant you enclose is Ranun- 

 culus acris, about the most blistering of the genus, and usually avoided by 

 cattle, li your cow has only a small pasture, and this weed abounds, it is 

 possible she may eat it, and that it may cause the butter " all through, the 

 year to have a bitter and often a semi-rancid taste." You may eradicate 

 the weed by having it pulled up by the roots as often as it appears, which 

 can be easily done after rain. On no account let it seed. Those who puil 

 it up should wear gloves, or their hands will be blistered and inflamed by 

 itsjuice. 



Dark Ligurian Drones {J. X.).— The drone accompanying your letter 

 is^so dark as not to be distinguishable from the common species, and yet It 

 may be true Ligurian for all that. Some of the purest queens breed* very 

 dark drones, and, what is very singular, these sometimes become the lathers 

 of i more than ordinarily handsome Ligurian progeny. 



