The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-12-16
The Honey Bee.

FALLSTON, Nd Dec 9th, 1881.
Mr.. EDITOR: The foundation upon which
shall build this lctterif such expression is al
lowable to correspondents-is your notice in the
last number OF we 1hg'S, OF Messrs. Heaps ana
bee into their neighborhoods. Your account OF
the Italian bee Is very correct, SO far as II goes
with the exception Of the 800 lbs OF honey that
one hive will make in a season. think that is
rather the little gatherer of the sweet
juices One hundred and fifty lbs is not at all i'm
Now would like to say few words, or rather
give more general account of this particular
species of the honey bee, for the reason that its
Introduction is claiming great deal of attention
for various reasons. The first reason, and GER
tanly of Importance, is the fact that they are
u longer liver than our common black bee; for
while the average life of working bee in a colo
ny of our common species is about three months,
that of the Italian will average n half longer.
a second reason is, that the lta ian is more cool
and quiet than our common stock, and hence are
easier and more safely hiyed and handled after
wards. They can be removed from one hive to
another, at least if the Langstroth hive is used,
and not be in the least disturbed or seemingly in
commoded. This peculiar trait is not owing to
their cowardee at all, for they are a valiant set
of fellows. When robber of any kind makes an
attack upon them, they sting him to death
instantly, and cast him from their home.
Another reason is their docty. Ii there is
such thing as instinct in the of insects it Is
certainly fully developed in the Italian bee. They
soon become acquainted with the person who at
tends to them and it is an easy and safe matter to
remove section of bees, together with their
honey, from the hive ut any hour in the day, by
their attendant or keeper.
they are more profitable than any other species;
first, because, as you say, they can gather the
honey from the petals of red clover and species
of flowers that our common kinds can not REACH
and secondly, because the italian queens are more
prolific than any other. They are said to lay five
or SIX eggs u minute, or from to 1900 day. So
much about 1.-The little busy bee as the poet
styles him and next, something about his home
where he is to live and lay up his rich, sweet
Stores-thc hive.
Of the many different kinds that we meet with
in our travels, there are none to compare with the
one known among bee men as the Langstroth. |
have been privileged to inspect IL thoroughly, by
my FRIEND MIR. Joseph Lee, of fallston, who had
them on exhibition at our late agricultural fair,
and received first premium, as did his better
half also for her nice display Of beautiful honey
that was made III them. The history of this hive
is as follows: The late Richard Colvin, of Balti-
more, was presented by King Otto, OF Greece,
many years ago, with peculiar bee hive, with n
colony of Italian bees i'll it. 1t is at present in
possession oil Mr.. Charles II. Lake, of Baltimore,
who purposes taking it TO the National Bee Con-
ventiOn, at Lexington, Nv. in the S,,.iiIS. This
hive is four stories, That is four tiers of frames,
one above the other. One side wall OF the hive
swings open like a door, and these comb frame 9
slide in suspended on pendants and rabbetS. The
hive proper is of double wa!ls-a hive within a
hive, with a vacant or dead air space between the
inner walls and outside walls. This dead air fea-
ture brings in and utilities principle that is of
vital Importance TO the colony occupying the hive,
from the fact that it protects them from the eX-
cesSive heat of summer and from the piercing
cold of winter. From this hive the Rev. Mr..
Langstroth got his idea for the hive now bearing
his name, and which is being manufactured for
sale by MIR. Lee. Its peculiar fitness for the COM
fort and protection of the bee, and at the same
time its perfect adaptability for the storing of
honey by the little workmen, and the case and
safety by which it can be taken from the hive
without destroying single life in the whole col
ony is easily seen on first inspection by any one
Mr.. Lee is also propagating colonies of the Ita-
ians for the purpose of honey for the market.
OBSERVER MOI.