102 THE APIARY J OU, 



sanitary arrangements ; they always remove the dead ones from 

 their midst, and do not void excrement within the hive. 



When bees are shut up in their hives too long, they are apt to 

 be attacked by a disease called by apiarians — dysentery. Sometimes 

 when confined by the unfavourableness of the weather in winter 

 or the lateness of spring, this disease produces serious mischief 

 amongst the bees. Various remedies have been recommended j 

 but we believe the best is to see that there is wholesome food 

 within the hive, and plenty of it, and when fine weather returns, 

 the health of the bees will return with it. Dampness of the hives, 

 and too late feeding in the autumn, are also frequent causes of 

 this disease. 



BEE-KEEPING IN LONDON. 



There are many persons now in this noisy city pent, who frequently 

 remember the days of childhood when, among pastures of clover or 

 amidst flowery heath and woodlands, they listened to the cheerful hum 

 of bees. Partly from a desire to revive those old associations, and 

 also from a natural liking for the tendance of living creatures, such 

 persons would be glad to keep bees if they thought it possible to do so in 

 London or its suburbs with any chance of success. We do not wonder 

 that many should doubt even the possibility of bees feeding them- 

 selves amidst such an " endless meal of brick ; " but we can easily 

 prove that bees, if not placed too near to smoky chimneys, are able 

 to produce honey, both for themselves and for their masters. To 

 make this plain, we will mention some special instances of metro- 

 politan bee-keeping. 



About ninety years ago, a Mr. Wildman kept a bee-house and 

 honey warehouse near to Middle Eow, Holborn. He was not only 

 a tradesman, but was also the apiarian of his day. He kept hives 

 of thriving bees on the roof of his house in Holborn, and many of 

 the nobihty and gentry used to mount thither in order to inspect 

 the apiary. At that period, St. Pancras was a "village two miles 

 north-west of London," and what is now the Eegent's Park was 

 open country. It was then much easier for London bees to find 

 their favourite forage, but Mr. Wildman behoved that his hives 

 were filled with stores from a considerable distance. Whilst 

 enjoying his country rambles on Hampstead Heath, he had a 



