The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-10-14 00:00:00

BEE FARMING IN um.

On this subject, the importance of which, to the
cottagers and persons in humble life especially, hem been
too long overlooked or treated with indifference, the
author of that very. interesting little work, the "Handy
Book of Bees," again writes to The Time: thus
The letter on this subject for 1070 which you kindly inserted
In your columns was extensively copied by the provincial
Press of this country, and actually appeared in the Australian
newspapers. I believe it did more to awaken attention to
the subject of bee culture than the Handy Reek of Brea and
all other treatises besides have done. My little cottage for
weeks was flooded with letters of inquiry from elergymen,
chaplains, officers in the Army and Navy, farmers, station•
masters, ladles interested in the welfare of cottagers,
and working men. One letter from a poor labourer
In Suffolk, who has been toiling all his life long for
10s. a week, pleased me more tnau all the rest, for
he seemed greatly pleased with the idea of increasing his
income by bee keeping, and thus saving both himself and
wife from the painful anticipation of shortly becoming de-
pendent on and a burden to thotparish. Who would lit take
pleasure in lending help to put such as he in possession of
the power and privilege of Mina independent." I had
hoped that the balance-aheet this year would he a good one,
said be a great stimulus in turtling the attention of working
men in country towns and rural districts to the art of bee
keeping, for I still hold that a few hives of bees. properly
managed, would ha to them a boon of greater value
than a row of cottages d la Peabody. Who can ac-
curately estimate the value of the bee-pasture of Grett,t.
Britain and Ireland I I would much like to liVe a far
trial between agriculture and apiculture—say, between
the farmer and his labourer. And if any farmer,
amateur or practical, will pit live of his best acres, cultured
to the highest degree, against ten hives of bees, I will accept
the challenge, and put down the hives on any spot that can
be found between Manchester and Kuutaford. No trial
could be such store interesting than this, or likely to lead
to happier results. Of course, the trial would last three
years ti cover a rotation of crops by the fanner and give
the bees a chance of getting a favourable year for gathering
honey.
The present year has been one of the most nnfavourahie
In lancashire and Cheshire for honey that we have had for
eight or ten years. Lost winter and spring were revere
and protracted. 1.1,en in May gentlemen had to wear their
overcoats. July, usually the best for honey, was very tut-
favourable, rainiog almost every day. In these northern
parts the human body yielded but little sweat, and flowers
but little honey. I am ns,t aware that a dog of any kind
was ever seen panting in Lancashire this year. The last
few days hi August were the most favourable for honey
gathering. About 2.00111. of honey would be collected daily
theta by Ic bees, turning the scale in my favour. It will he
remembered by some that the prelits lost autunm were ;is,
leaving a possession 01 45 hives as stock. The income Ms
year from the sales of honey and honeycomb, swarms and
hives of bees, with increase of stock is 1:72. F.xpenses are
unusually heavy. New hives and boards, kit; rest, £5 55. ;
carriage, £5 150.: feeding, 03 55. ; felt for covers, t.l :
sundries and gratuities, £s—altogether, £Oll ss. leaving a
profit of £42 155.
Thn roe heir swarms only became fugitive, and were lost
for want of (hoe to hive thesu. Eight or ten young queens
were lost on their marriage tonrs am* never returned to their
hives. Though it Is not my I,uosuss to touch on the history
of bees here. I may he permitted to say that queen bees be-
come nuu-riageuble silica they are a few days old, and in-
variably leave their hives to find mates. If they remain too
lonic in the &Ms, the in,s at home become very micaLy a:nl
excited ; and if the queens do not return consternation and
collapse occur in their communities. Unfortunately, most
of the hives that thus lost their tocens were at a distance,
so that the loss was not discovered till it was too late to dad
queens for the hives that lost theirs.
Rushohne, Manehester. A. PETTIGREW.

P.S.—Parties seoking information will excuse me for let-
ting them know that I have no time to answer letters of
inquiry. The Hand's Book of Bern was written for the benefit
of the ignorant, awl as the copyright of this work was sold
three years before 1 found time to write it, the read, as iii
see that I have no interest or profit from the sale of the book
thus recommended.