APPENDIX. 349 



CASES OF ACCLIMATISING BEES. 



Among others who took a deep interest in the exhibition just 

 described was Mr. Edward Wilson, President of the Acclimatisa- 

 tion Society of Victoria. This gentleman requested us to pack four 

 stocks of the Italian bees for conveyance to Melbourne. With the 

 assistance of Mr. Woodbury — whose aid was, indeed, essential — 

 these stocks were sent off on the 25th of September, 1862, by the 

 steamship " Alhambra," so as to arrive at the colony during the 

 Austral summer. The hives were Woodbury frame-hives, having 

 ample space and ventilation, as well as the means of supplying 

 water to their inmates during the voyage ; there was also a sufficient 

 store of honey to last until the following March. The bees arrived 

 at Melbourne, where they were released after an imprisonment of 

 seventy-nine days, and have since rapidly multiplied, the climate 

 and pasturage of Australia greatly favouring the increase of this 

 superior variety of the bee. 



Mr. Wilson was so well pleased with the careful manner in v/hich 

 these stocks were fitted out for their voyage across the seas, that he 

 subsequently instructed us to prepare him three more hives, which 

 were sent out in a sailing vessel. Owing to the mismanagement of 

 the water supply during the voyage, only one stock survived in this 

 instance. Mr. Wilson informs us that one of these hiVes contained 

 1361b. of honey on the 25tli of December, 1864 (Midsummer in 

 Australia). 



Upwards of twenty years ago we sent a Nutt's hive stocked with 

 bees to New Zealand. We then adopted the plan of fixing the 

 hive in a meat safe, so that the bees could fly about a little, and 

 also cleanse the hive of their dead, they being always very attentive 

 to sanitary arrangements. • 



Several more recent exportations of Italian bees have been made 

 by us. We have sent two stocks to Madras, which arrived safely, 

 and we hear are doing well, also a stock to South Africa under the 



