July 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
TREATMENT OF BEES IN POLAND. 47 
plants cease to yield pollen, and although the bees gather much honey 
from heath, they do not procure what is necessary to vault up their 
cells. 
Of the trees which materially assist the keeping of bees, especially 
for the forest bee-keepers in private estates in the Government of Plock, 
Lublin, Augustovo, and Lithuania, the following are worth mentioning : 
— Tilia, Syringa vulgaris, Acer, Finns larix, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus 
cerasus, Pyrus sylvatica, and Rubus idacus. 
It must be observed that the famous honey from Koono is indebted 
for its flavour chiefly to the lime, which abounds in the forests of 
Lithuania, and in the south of the Government of Lublin, parts of the 
country inhabited by Ruthenians, whose cemeteries, according to their 
religious rites, must be surrounded by that kind of tree. This sort of 
honey derives its rame from those trees " Lipiec." 
In Poland, properly speaking, there is but one sort of bee (Apis do- 
mestica). From this kind, however, may be distinguished the so-called 
black-bee, reared in the forests. In the course of the last ten years 
Italian bees were introduced into Poland, which kind, as is well known, 
do not use their stings, and which are much larger than the common 
bee. Experience has, however, shown that this kind of bee soon begins 
to degenerate. 
In the peasants' hives the bees are left for the winter in the open 
air, and one- third of the swarms in consequence perish. In progressive 
bee-keeping, sheltering-houses are constructed for winter. 
In Podo'lia and some parts of Volhynia, the bee-gardens in forests or 
places remote from villages, consist occasionally of a thousand hives iii 
one place, which are managed by men exclusively destined for them, 
and whose practical knowledge on the treatment of bees is passed from 
father to son. In the Ukraine, where the system of bottomless hives 
is used, the treatment of bees is in a state of most primitive manage- 
ment. 
The honey-gathering depends chiefly on the locality, and begins 
about the middle of Spring, and particularly when the willows begin to 
blossom, which, is about the beginning of May. The common bee- 
hives are then cleaned, and the improved hives taken out of their win- 
ter places and arranged for the summer. The first swarm takes place 
about the middle of June, and lasts a whole month. 
In the improved bee-hives of Dzierzon, Lubieniecki, and Dolinowski, 
no natural swarming is allowed ; but an artificial one is arranged, which 
chiefly depends on forming artificial queen-bees and joining swarms, the 
details of this method are described in their works. 
The 'cutting out of honey-combs is performed twice a year, in July 
and September, the first giving the more abundant yield, the second 
consists merely of taking away the quantity deemed superfluous for 
their winter use. In October the hives are taken in for the winter, and 
every attention is given to preserving them front frost. One hive of 
