§ XI.] BEE-KEEPING IN LONDON. 33 1 



be secured from the thievish propensities of the bees, and 

 access to which, if possible to gain, demoralises them so 

 much that they make war and attempt to pillage each 

 other's hives, as elsewhere referred to. 



The shallow pans in front (earthen milk pans) have 

 water in them, and are so placed that the bees may have 

 access to moisture, which is so essential for them in spring 

 for comb-building and breeding. Straight straws are 

 floated on the water so as to admit of the bees imbibing 

 without the liability of their being drowned. 



On this ground we largely cultivate Italian bees, and 

 unite imported queens to colonies of English bees, to be 

 ready to supply swarms and stocks therefrom as pure and 

 genuine as possible. 



The district is not so good for bees as if it were farther 

 in the country and more removed from London smoke ; 

 nevertheless we have had fine supers worked here, and 

 find it a great convenience to have a bee-farm at so 

 moderate a distance from' town to carry on this department 

 of our trade. 



Some time ago we exhibited in our window a super 

 of fine honey from the apiary of Mr. Shirley Hibberd, 

 the proprietor and editor of the Gardener's Weekly Maga- 

 zine. It consisted of a box containing twenty pounds nett 

 weight of honey, and was produced at Stoke Newington, 

 only three and a quarter miles from the General Post 

 Office. 



The Times " Bee-Master,'' whose letters from Tun- 



