BEESj BEE-UIVES, AND BEE CXJLTUllB. 121 



'From ilie " 'Express" 



Bees asd Bee-Hives. — In the North-Bast Gallery directly under the 

 Transept are arranged by Messrs. Nkiqhbotjb, of Holborn, several descrip- 

 tions of bee-hives, which it will be interestiing to many of our readers to 

 examine, as this branch of rural economy is claiming much general and 

 deserved attention throughout the country. The novelty of tljese hives con- 

 sists iu the facilities that are afforded iu taking therefrom at any time of the 

 gathering season the pvirest honey without destroying or even injuring the 

 bees, thus humanely superseding the barbarous and hateful system of murder- 

 ing these interesting insects, to obtain the produce of their industry. 



Immediately adjoining the group of untenanted bee-hives may be observed 

 living hives with the bees most industriously at work. These useful little 

 creatures have been highly honoured by the Executive Committee, for of all 

 the animal workers that contribute to the interest of the Exhibition they 

 alone are allowed therein to display their matchless ingenuity and skill. By 

 a simple contrivance the bees are allowed egress and ingress without in the 

 least degree molesting the visitors, thus enabling the admirers of the works 

 of nature to view the whole process of ^forming the cells and depositing the 

 honey therein. 



Within these few days Messrs. NEiGHBOua have added to the Apiary, a 

 bee-hive constructed entirely of glass, protected by a cover neatly made of 

 straw, but so contrived, that on application to the attendant can be removed 

 instantly, thus illustrating more particularly the curious workmanship of these 

 amusing insects. 



Her Majesty the Queen, and the Prince Consort, with the Royal Children, 

 were some time engaged in watching with deep interest the busy scene before 

 them, and putting many questions relating to the habits and economy of the 

 honey bee. 



INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION 1861. 



'Prom, the " Illustrated London. News," August 16, 1862. 



One of the most interesting and instructive objects in the Exhibition,* is a 

 transparent hive, in which the bees may be seen at fuU work. Among the 

 collection of bee-hives exhibited by Messrs. Neighbour aud Son, is one 

 of glass, stocked with a colony of Italian Alp bees. Here the queen bee 

 may he seen surrounded by her suhjects, which pay the most deferential 

 attention to their sovereign. Through an aperture out in the wall, the busy 

 throng of bees are continually passing and repassing. They go out at their 

 pleasure into the open court, fly over the annexe into the grounds of the 

 Horticultural Society and other adjacent gardens, and return laden with 

 sweets. 



'From the "Journal of Horticulture" October 21, 1862. 



Neighbour, G. & Sons, 149, Regent Street, and 137, Holborn, No._2157, 

 have a very handsome and complete stall, on ascending the steps of which we 

 found a flourishing stock of Ligurians, apparently not at all ashamed of the 



