River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-12-27
From the New York Observer.
A Bee Hunt in Crow-NeSt.

"A pee nunt !! you exclalm, w nat is
that?n
That is just the question that arose in
my mind one beautiful September morn
ing, when Bonnie, wood cutter and hun
ter, appeared at my door, in Cornwall-on-
the-liudson, duly equipped with axe,
pals, and luncheon, and invited me to
Join him on a bee hunt in Crow-Nest. So
if you will follow us we will learn what
be meant, and see one Of the old.fashioned
rustic pleasures with which these noun
tsineers gain relaxation from toll.
We started for Crow-Nest, skirting the
base of old Storm King, as the morning
fog Just began to rise from the noble river
at our feet. By nine o'clock we were in,
what Bennnie pronounced, suitable
place to strike a line.n And now, while
we await the forthcoming Of the bees, they
never work before the dew has entirely
left the dowers), we will find out some of
the preliminary ideas of this still mysteIi-
GUS subject.
So Bonnie says: 81 suppose you know
that every summvr the bees, kept in the
hives Of the surrounding villages,
SWARM That is when their number in
creases so much that one hive will not
hold them comfortably they divide, and
part, selecting a new queen, go off in
search OF new home and, although
they are carefully watched by their keep
ers, many swarms make their escape
these go to the woods,where they select a
hollow tree, and having cleared it out,
they move in, and begin filling it with
their winters food. Then the next sum-
mer this swarm sends out another: and
so Ia few years, many trees are filled by
these busy workers, and yield rich prizes
to the fortunate discoverer."
Presently Ben's practised ear caught
the ham of "houey bee,' and soon one
was discovered busily at work or the top
ola "GOlden Rod" A cup was produced
and in the bOttem small piece of honey
comb was placed and then bringing the
cup beneath the unsuspecting bee, by a
dexterous jerk he is imprisoned in it by
cover cut from a single. Then pole is
planted in the earth about four feet ia
height, and the cup placed on it. The
cover was now removed cautiously, and on
looking in, saw that the bee, not at all
disturbed by his uncerenonious handling,
was hard at work on the honey,-his pro-
boscis deep down in a cell of the sweet
liquid. ObeyIng orders, sat down at the
foot of pole, and we kept our eyes fas-
tened on the cup, which appeared clearly
against The sky. Soon the bee rose slow
from it, wheeled around a moment to get
its bearings, and then started eff in per-
fectly straight line, and we >could see
him for hundred feet over the Tree tops.
Then pulling out our watches we noted
the time, and in ten minutes, back came
the bee, bringing another with him. The
two at once settled in the cup, and soon
filling themselves with the honey, again
we saw them fly off in the same bee line
as the first bee went, and we could see
them long distance, against the blue
sky.
They are not over mile away, for
they are only gone ten minutes, and, they
need three minutes TO unloao,p said Ben.
And so, when the two bees came back ac-
cOmpanied with two others, we shut them
in the cup, aud started along in the direc-
ton Ct the line they had shown us. look
ing at Ill the hollow and dead trees on the
way. After walking half a mile we STOP
ped, and released the bees we had carried,
who by this time having finished eating,
were loudly demonstrating against their
confinement. They circled around for
moment, and then darted off in the same
direction as before. ave haven't passed
their tree" said Bonnie, "or they would
have turned about and flown back" and
so we pushed out again, and soon saw
them pouring in and out of hole near the
top of large, hollow hemlock.
And now came the exciting effort to get
the honey without being stung ave
cut the tree down. and the moment it
struck the ground, Ben rushed up, and
with handful of leaves, stopped thor
only means of exit, not minding two or
three stlngs on his hard hands. The en-
ragged bees in vain tried to get out, and
their humming resembed the roar Of the
wind through the distant tree tops. A
hole was now cut, and piece of lighted
birthstone inserted, and soon the roar grew
fainter and in few moments ceased, and
on cutting into the trunk of the tree, we
found the bees all sufocated, and thirty
pounds Of transparent honey.comb filed
with clear, rich honey.
So our hunt ended but not soon did |
cease to wonder ut the strange instinct
which God had given TO the little crea.
lures, that enabled them to find their way
through the air, to and from our cup.
What seems more strange is that they com.
munlcated one to another the discovery
Of the honey we gave them, and persuad.
ed their companions to accompany them
10 itY