Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-03-29
COMMUNICATIONS.
MEssRs EDIToRs:

! MEssRs EDIToRs:
AS there is now some interest excited in the pub
lie mind in regard to forming Agricultural Socie-
ties, and looking into and trying to remove the
| causes of embarrassments which have been opera
ting almost since the settlement of this part of
the Territory; to disappoint the expectations and
weigh down and discourage the industrious of all
classes in society; have thought few remarks l
can make, ght not be wholly uninteresting
Although men have come to their right minds,
and instead of looking for their fortunes in thousand
visionary schemes for speculation have gone to
work in earnest to cultivate the rich soil, and in
other ways to develope the vast resources of this
interesting country, yet from various
there is still abundant cause for the cry of hard times
Prices of produce too low, money scarce, or
if any kind of paper begins to be plenty, it is only
the sure precursor of fresh calamity about to fall
upon the community by the failure of Banks.
1t is also we'll understood that the affairs of the
country not be in a very fourishing condition,
while the balance of trade is so much against this
Territory.
And now believe that, whoever shall by diffus-
ing intelligence, and by his example, assist the
public in bringing the balance of trade into our ia
vor, will discharge the duty of good citizen in the
best possible manner.
This effect is to be produced in two ways: first,
by producing to the utmost of our power, all the
necessares of life at home and from our own re-
sources: then by furnishing the greatest amount
and variety of valuable articles for expectation.
And whilst we rejoice to see the public aroused,
and being corrected on many of these important
Subjects believe everv intelligent and observing
can by publishing the result of his observations
contribute something to the prosperity of the coun-
try.
But there is cause of encoura cement: first, the
Gear of Temperance - is rolling on nobly drying
up the sources of vast amount of idleness, pau
persm and crime which has to be supported by the
labor of the industrious and sober,-then an earn
est wish among all farmers to procure 1ocks of
sheep, improved stock of various kinds, cultivate
the mulberry, and to favor the objects generally
contemplated in the establishment of Agricultural
Societies.
There is, however, one branch of productive in
dustry in particular, which has not received that
attention It's Importance merits; and for the sue
cessul prosecution of which, country is more
eminenty adapted-that is, the saving and man.
agement of bees, to which object will now confine
my remarks
Our forests abound in bees, and thousands of
swarms annually destroyed by the Indians and
by their successors the whites with the same saw
age mprovidenc- and stupidity; even in the spring
when they have but little honey they are dashed
to the ground and left to perish, when with little
trouble they might be let down, saved and made a
source of comfort and profit in every family who
have time to tend them well, or might be sold at
handsome price to those wishing to keep them; and
every person who save a swarm ought to do so,
even for the public good for as soon as the home
market supplied lit would form an important item in
our exports to New York Purchasers can be
found here in Burlington, who will pay 12B cents
pound for any quantity of honey properly made
in tight boxes, as it should be- if delivered before
October. But the successful management of bees
requires care, attention, and close observation of
their wants and habits.
Bees should never be destroyed the same or
greater value in honey can be obtained by rightly
managing bees without killing or depriving them
of winter supply, than is usually taken from them
in the usual wasteul and barbarous manner of
keeping or taking them up. 1t requires consider
BILE attention, care and nice observation during the
of their labors, but it requires no costly pa
tent hives or houses, but simply SMALL neat,
planned and well made pine hives, say from IL to
IA inches square and high, just fit to hold win
ers stock of honey for the bees, then after filling
that they will fill light boxes with pure white honey.
of importance that they should be properly
H. l. r
fortably close and hot in the hive, they will lose
much of the best of the season for making honey,
for which purpose two holes of about inch should
be bored into the side of the hive, the bot
tom and an other near the top, and if the heat is
extreme, the hive may be blocked up little dis
lance from the bottom board, and then in damp,
cold weather, they should be secured from its eff
fects, it would generally be we'll to give them an
easterly front that the may shine on them so
intensely. If we'll attended to they will soon fill
the hive, and then will make large amount in
boxes set upon the top of the hive. 1t is common
to make boxes of clapboards to hold dozen lbs,
or they may be made larger to the whole
hive. A false top is usually set over the small
boxes.
There is one fact Of great importance not gener-
ally known, the want of attention to which, gener-
ally causes failure TO obtain any honey in the
boxes that is, the holes to admit the bees into
the boxes through the top of the hive, must be bored
near the outer edge of the cover so that the bees
coming up the holes, will creep directly up the in
side of the box for if the holes are under any CEN
trail part of the box or so that they cannot reach
the side of the box from the hole they will not
work nor leave holes, but 60 back.
Great numbers of gentleman in the eastern cities
have procured bees from the adjacent countries and
keep them both for profit and amusement, spending
much of their leisure time in their operations stu
] dying,heir economy and experimenting on their