BEES, BEE-HIVESj AND BEE CULTURE. 125 



the bees. The savage knows where to find the nest of the wild bee, and how 

 to get at his honey; but all the improvement upon the covetousness of the 

 savage made by the long after ages of the world to modern times, was to find 

 means of luring the pattern of industry to a convenient atelier where he might 

 be more easily, first murdered and then robbed. Their habits early attracted 

 the attention of some of the best observers of ancient as well as modem times ; 

 Cicero and Pliny tell of the philosopher Hylisous quitting human society and 

 retiring to the desert to contemplate their peaceful industry. The ancient 

 poet in his Sic vos non vobis plaintively sings over bee and beast, living, or 

 rather dying, not for themselves, but the lord of creation, yet was it left to 

 modern times — very modern times— to join the sentiment of humanity to the 

 rapacity of the bai'barian. Mr. Neighbour has a very complete collection of 

 specimens of the ingenious and successful contrivances in the construction of 

 hives for the double object of preserving the honey and the life of the bee ; and 

 also, subsidiarily of promoting its comfort during its busy and useful life. 

 We ai'C not allowed to forget here, that we have residing in our city one of the 

 first apiarians in the kingdom — Mr. Thomas WooDBtrRY, of Mount Radford. 

 If the bee philosophy be his hobby, we may recollect that all great discoveries 

 and improvements owe their existence to men who have bad the power and the 

 will to concentrate their faculties upon a single object. One proof of his 

 genius in this his favourite department of action, is seen among this collection 

 of Mr. Neighbotju's in the " Woodbuby Unicomb Hive." It might be when 

 closed up, for ought that appears, a neat case of books ; but on opening two 

 doors of the Venetian blind pattern, back and front, we see between the glass 

 walls, the insect city exposed to view with all the population in action. There 

 it may be seen 



How skilfully she builds her cell ; 



How neat she spreads her wax ; 

 And labours hard to store it well 



With the sweet food she makes. 



Some of the hives are constructed chiefly for the purpose of promoting a 

 philosophic observation of the bee's habits and methods of procedure in his 

 wonderful work. " Neighbour's Unicomb Observatory Hive " is a great 

 novelty, being constructed with glass sides, the hidden mysteries of the hive 

 being exposed to the full light of day. " Hubeb's Book or Leaf Hive " is 

 constructed to facilitate the object of the scientific apiarian. But the class of 

 hives which will most interest those desirous of promoting bee-keeping among 

 the many will be those for the cottage. There can be no doubt that many a 

 poor cottager in the country, if he could be made to see the advantage it 

 would be to him, and were taught the most economical and successful way of 

 managing this species of " live stock," would add thereby something con- 

 siderable to his small earnings in the course of a summer. Members of Cottage 

 Garden Societies have turned their attention to it very generally ; but to get 

 the thing well afloat, requires in every district the devotion of some earnest 

 enthusiast who will take up the apostolic rule of action " This one thing I do." 

 There is the No. 5, " Improved Cottage Hive," in which three bell glasses are 

 employed, enabling you to take a glass of the purest honey from the hive in 

 the most vigorous period of the season. Then there are other hives of simpler 



