THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Arc. 1, 1865. 
38 ITALIAN EXHIBITS AT 
" The plan followed daring the period of swarming offers nothing 
worthy of remark, beyond the observation that the hives should be well 
filled, so that when the swarms are small two should be placed in the 
same hive. These latter are always washed with honey and wine before 
making use of them. Even at this period it is essential to feed the bees 
artificially whenever the weather is unfavourable. 
" About the middle of July, the honey is taken from the hives in 
the same manner as that already described. The white combs are sepa- 
rated from the darker ones, as they furnish honey of superior quality. 
It is necessary to extract the virgin honey without the use of any 
pressure. The honeycombs are placed in boxes divided by a perforated 
tin plate, through which the fine honey drains, provided the room be 
kept sufficiently warm. That which remains is of inferior quality, and 
is pressed out mechanically. A third of the honey is always left in 
the hives for the sustenance of the inmates in case of inclement 
weather intervening. 
" The neighbourhood of Bormio being very elevated, all plants have 
ceased to flower at the beginning of August, so that it is necessary to 
take the bees down to the lower part of the valley, where they may feed 
on the buck-wheat planted there in the middle of July, this being a 
plant which continues flowering for a long time, though the honey 
which it produces is of an inferior kind, and rarely serves for anything 
beyond the use of the bees themselves during the winter months. 
" The hives are removed at night on spring carts, in order to prevent 
the honeycombs from falling or being in the least degree shaken. 
During the journey, the front covering of the hives is likewise removed, 
and substituted by throwing over them a light piece of linen to allow 
the bees to breathe freely, otherwise they would become overheated and 
suffocated, especially in the very full hives. 
"During the two last months of the year, the bees are placed in their 
winter quarters, that is to say, in a dark corner of an inhabited room, 
where the cold never descends to the freezing point. Each hive should 
contain 4^ lbs. of honey, which is otherwise added, taking it from one 
of the others which happens to be fuller. The combs should be close 
together, and the apartment be kept perfectly quiet and dry. 
" The hives are also left in the open air during winter, but in such 
cases at least 20 lbs. of honey must be placed in each one, instead of 
the quantity mentioned above. It is not safe to leave the smaller hives 
out of doors as the bees generally die. 
"The bees begin to come out in March, provided the weather is fine, 
but otherwise it is essential to keep them in by covering the hives, lest 
they should be injured in their excursions by the cold or be destroyed 
by a fall of snow-" 
Turin vermouth or bitters, furnishes a large trade. One house, that 
of Martini, Sola, and Co., carries on a considerable business in it both 
for Italy and abroad. In 1864, they exported 20,000 cases to South 
