1879-1880.] 4 2 7 



called supers above the hives, in which the bees are induced to deposit 

 honey uncontaminated by brood ; this gives the pure virgin honey, 

 which can be removed at pleasure by the beekeeper, who substi- 

 tutes empty supers. In this way the bees are encouraged to 

 deposit a surplus of honey, which surplus only is taken from them, 

 the honey deposited in the body of the hive being left for the 

 subsistence of the bees during winter. In this way honey abso- 

 lutely clean and pure can be obtained, in a greater quantity, and of a 

 better quality than under the old system, while the stocks are doubled 

 each year. He then exhibited various glass supers, and the new 

 sectional super, fitted up with Long's foundation comb — that is, 

 an artificial sheet of wax, impressed with indentations corresponding 

 to the size of the cells. This sheet of wax the bees adopt as their 

 own, thankfully, thus saving a considerable amount of time in the 

 honey season, which otherwise they would lose in making a comb. 

 He also illustrated and explained several interesting operations with 

 bees, and concluded by informing the Club, that a few bee-keepers 

 in the North of Ireland, had arranged to have a display of bee 

 manipulation at the next exhibition of the Horticultural Society at 

 Newtownards. These exhibitions would be similar to those which 

 excited so much interest at Kilburn last year, and given annually 

 at the Kensington Museum, and Crystal Palace, London. They 

 intend bringing over the manipulator and the exhibition tent of the 

 British Bee-keepers' Association, and they hope by this means to 

 interest our cottagers and others in humane bee-keeping, and if 

 possible to induce them to abandon the present system of u putting 

 bees down." He considered this was an object which a Naturalists' 

 Club should assist, and felt assured of their countenance and 

 support. 



On the 23rd March — the President (Mr. Wm. Gray, M.R.I.A.) 

 in the chair — three papers were read. 



In the first paper the President gave an account of " cup 



D 



