414 STATEMENTS OF M. BOMARE. 



th e system of transportation is very considerable. From the 

 month of July, when the bees have swarmed, and have made 

 an excellent harvest from the sainfoin, the whole of the honey 

 and wax is taken from them, and the bees are put into an 

 empty hive. The hives are then transported into a country 

 where an abundance of flowers and mellifluous herbs are to 

 be found. If the weather be fine, and the flowers luxuriant, 

 the hives, which have been transported in July, are well 

 filled by the latter end of August. They are then changed 

 a second time, and particular care is taken of the brood 

 combs. As soon as the bees have been thus changed a 

 second time, they are removed into a country in which 

 buck-wheat abounds ; and supposing the season to be 

 avourable, the hives are so well filled that a third of their 

 combs may be extracted." 



Thus concludes M. Bomare : "By the aid of human in- 

 dustry, the most surprising collection of honey is obtained ; 

 but it must be confessed, that every year is not equally 

 favourable, and that sometimes the hives can be changed 

 only once. On the other hand, some bees are more in- 

 dustrious than others. I have seen a very active hive, in the 

 space of twenty -four hours, increase six pounds in honey and 

 wax*. 



"In the Gatinois, sixty or seventy pounds of honey, and 

 nearly two pounds and a half of wax, are extracted from 

 a good hivef . The great art in this country, and which a 

 good economist ought never to lose sight of, is to have the 

 hives always well peopled with bees. In the countries which 



* This is bordering strongly upon an Huberian miracle. A hive is reckoned 

 in this country to be of a prime character -which increases six pounds in a 

 month ; but an addition of six pounds in twenty-four hours is an incredi- 

 bility. 



t In the memoirs of the Royal Society of Arts, it is stated that Mr. Knight, 

 of Great Bardrield, Essex, obtained forty-five pounds of honey, and fourteen 

 and a half of wax, from one hive. There must be some error in this calcula- 

 tion. The quantity of wax is out of all proportion to that of honey, nor is it 

 credible that such a quantity of wax could be produced from a single hive. 



