The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-17

The fact that bees require great quantities Oh
wat.r in the spring and forepart oil the summer
or during the production of lar az, seems 10 DE
quite overlooked by most aparlan- That such
is the fact. any on. by taking little pans III
the spring SEASON can ascertain; and there eS-
ists no o,bt in my mind, that q proximity to
water ha. mach to do with the prosperity OF
bees VIVA; the effect would be to have no wa
ter within the ordinary range Of their flight, Is
not known, but PROBABLY it would seriously al
feet their prosperity, If they were Obliged 10 ny
q ioog distance to procure it. From obserya
ton find that bees prefer to suck up water
from low mo 81 places. or from the mud on 'ne
shores Of streams. The r, a.on probably l..
that in such localities the water is warmer; and
thea gain it is easier OF access "a they evi-
deatly do not like TO descend the perpend cular
sides of any Object IL obtain that element, from
fear Of falling in.
Anything that prevents or retards the proper
development Of Larvae, acts as "a check upon
their prosperity. therefore the apiarian should
endeavhr tof,cil tate those operations that com
within the rang, of his ability. When swarm
by location. are cat of from near supply by
natural cals y. il should be furnished them in
SOM way. A shallow trough or pan Is a. good
Is any thing ii fixed ia such manner that
BEES will not lie apt To fall in, "a they Will be
uhfIN tt II dtt HDt IL db-t ~
especially in tae early spr.ng whea high winds
prevail. A good plan !, to place small stones
in the vessel contain ng the water, or perio
rat d wooden float.
There is one fact connected with the honey
bee that have never seen noticed by writer
upon bee culture; and that is. when following
their natural instincts in selecting a home IL.
the forest. they Invariably select tree with n
q few rods of water III some shape-a stream,
pond, swale or low ground where water stands
in the spring. | have found some forty-hve
wild swarms, and only one out Of the whole
number but what had selected home where
water could b. obtained. at least in the spring.
within six rods of the tree. Having often mo-
ticed that to be the case. / took considerable
pains to get information in regard to it, by in
,Quiring of those finding wild bees, and often
gone to see tor myself. and always with the
same result. with the exception OF the one soil
tary case above mentioned and that was but "A
meagre SWARM evidently under bad govern
ment, there being but few bees and very lit
tie honey. Ii may be argued that trees are
more apt To grow gnarled and hollow in wet
situations. and thc bees lind such by mere
chance. il would be very singular, indeed. if
that were the case. for many Of the above
swarms were found in hard wood growth. wher
hundreds OF hollow tree. equally a. suitable "a
those chosen. IN ght have been found, but IT,
mote from water: and it is curious that such
should always be passed by, and chance d
them near water. believe that bees general
" have home selected before parting from
the parent hive; and that situations in Close
proximity to water arr plrpo>ely chosen
which is conclusive evidence IN my mind, that
bees in homestead. d state should he furnish
ed. in some way, with fall supply of fresh wa
ter, during the season OF rearing brood, it the
natu al lac ities for that purpose are not AIDE
quate to their wants.-FSyor, .Jr, in Bee Jour.
nal.