The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-09-24
BEES AND BEE-HUNTING.
Pursuit Of the Busy Insects In
Various Countries.
Heralds of Civilization q" in the West
Noteworthy "Takes"-A Bear Comes
to tho Rescue of Hunter-A at4
Bishops Bank.

There are, it is said, no fewer than
twenty-seven genera, and one hundred
and sevcnty-seEen species of bees. ma
tivcs of Great Britain. But one only of
all these, the Apis millifca, or common
honey-bco, has been domcshcatcd. At
tempts have been made with others,
especially with the bonabuS, or humble
bee, but without any adequate success.
The frequent mention of honey in
tho Old Testament from the patriarchal
ages downward, and the description of
Palestine as "a land flowing with milk
and houey," MAXWELL have raised the
question whether the honey was OBJ
tanned from bees in a wild condition or
in state of domestication. The weight
of evidence is in favor of the former.
In tho somewhat wandering life, as
strangers and pilgrims, which many
OF hepatriarchs led, bee-culture would
have been very inconvenient, if not
impossible; and as honey was to be
had In rich abundance simply for the
seeking, there would be little induce
ment to undertake unnecessary cares
and labors in the domestication of the
native variety. There is no question,
however, as to the possibility of
inducing wild bees to accept
domestication. In Cashmere and
the north of India, the natives
have simple and ready method of do
ing this; in building their houses, they
leave cavities in one of the walls hav-
ing q sunny aspect, with small hole
like that of modern hive opening out
wards. The inner side of the wall
is fitted with a, frame of wood with a
door attached. A swarm of bees in
search of new home-or perhaps the
pioneers who are sent day or two
before the actual swarming, to seek
out n dwelling-place-would be at
tracted by such an ''open door" and
the family, or army, ten, twenty, or
thirty thousand strong, would at once
take possession. The vacant space
would soon be filled by the busy work
ers; and the inmates of the house, hay
ing access to the store by means of the
open door, could move a comb or two
ut pleasure, without distressing the
bees, simply using the precaution of
blowing in as much smoke at the back
rs would cause the bees to fly out the
front. English travellers report having
seen the operation performed, and the
bees quietly return when the work
was done. The plan has been recon-
mended for use in this country. 1t is at
least practicable, if not necessary. In
dwelling-houses there might be risks,
which would not apply to farm build
angs and erections around country
house. But if man has not utilized this
plan, the bees themselves have acted
upon 1t. An instance of two within
the writer's own knowledge may not
be uninteresting.
l was the tenant of Rose Cottage,
Brenchley, Kent, from 1853 to 1862
The house, which has been consider
ably altered since, was well adapted
for such a purpose, The upper part of
the walls were formed, as is common
in that part of the country, externally
of tiles on framework of wood, and
internally of lath and plaster. In the
cavities there would be ample space
sAOA SUITES VI COlIlD anu money.
"A swarm of bees took possession of a
portion of the front wall, having a
south-sQuth-eastern aspect, entering
this abode through crevice between
the tiles just over one of the chamber
windows. They held possession for sew
eral years. and still held their own
when left the cottage. As they never
swarmed, it is almost certain there
must have been a large collection of
honey, but for some reason or other,
chiefly, no doubt on account of the
difficulty of taking the honey without
iniuring the house and exposing the
whole family to the attacks of the bees,
/ prohted in no way by their busy
labors.
Less than ten years ago when max
ing a call at the old farmhouse, Pen
rhos, Lyonshall, Herefordshire, my at
tention was directed to a colony of bees
which had made in the up
per part of one of the walls of the house.
Isuggested the removal of portion of
the inner wall, and predicted large
find. After some time, this advice
was acted on; but the farmer adopted
plan which l should have strongly
deprecated 1.-The plan of destroying
with birthstone the entire bee commu-
nifty. The store of honey was so great
that every available keller and pan in