New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-22
IN OBSERTATION HIVE.
Watching Bees as an amusement
for InUaZids.

IAN observation hive Is Invaluable In the
nursery. the kindergarten. a children's hospital
or a convalescents' home. In fact, 1t Is an ideal
diversion for 'shut-ins' OF whatever age or de-
gree Of bondage" says a writer In Country
Life In America" II speak from experience.
and my enthusiasm reaches fever heat and al
most takes away my power Of expression as
realize the futility of mere words to describe
the charm which holds spellbound while
watching the almost endless variety OF Work
going on In the hive The stately progress OK
the queen she carefully fnspects each cen
before depositing egg in 1t, Closely al'enueu
by a band OF workers who feed her anu wait
upon her assiduously. is very interestlhs- Hoo
of the bees hang for hours in long strings Ue-
mndng one Of rope portieres) making wax
Others are diligently shaping cells from ths
completed product Others bring In the various
bright colored kinds of pollen and pack IL away
In the cells. Some bring in the nectar anu
others evaporate 1t until 1t is Of the right con-
sistency for sealing up in the form OF honey
The ventilation and temperature OF the hive also
receive much attention from the workers
-As live on the fourth floor. and am perma-
nently unable to sit up at all or to have pillow
under my head unable to see even the tree tops
except as reflected In mirrors arranged to give
me that pleasure you can see how limited must
be my range of occupations. and how eager
am that others similarly circumstance may
have this added to their possibilities
"a hive takes up but little space Mine had
bottom board. floor, about four inches "iuS
and two feet long. The sides were glass. ABOUT
ten inches high and some eighteen incnes iohs'
Just far enough apart to give room for one sheet
OF honeycomb. with space enough Tor the oees 10
work on both sides of it e. perhaps one and
&hn
and top were Of wood A board similar to tho
bottom board above referred to. with an open
ing of sufficient size for the projecting end OF
the bottom to pass through. was fitted across
the windowsill and screwed down. When the
window closed it rested on this board. the
hive was held securely in place. and there was
no opening for the bees to get into the room
The entrance to the hive Is hole in the moor SO
arranged that one end is inside the hive and the
other end outside the window
'The cost is moderate as little material is re-
quired, and almost any man who has few
simple tools and moderate skill in using them
can make one In q short time. Then a sheet OF
comb with the necessary hees-the workers and
a queen-which can readily be procured from
any practical beekeeper. completes the OUTFIT
IF one knows nothing about bees 1t might De
desirable to have apiarist Inspect the hive
to that all Is we'll But had
mine an entire summer without requiring eN-
pert attention 1t is delightful to have 4 bee
book to which you refer for the corrooOra-
ton of your discoveries With such an oppor-
tunity to observe the interior life OF the hive
even a helpless person feels some OF the JOY of
original research. One soon learns to interpret
the various movements, though occasionally
some are decidedly perplexing-
zone especial charm of this hive in
valid's pastme' is that. Notwithstanding the
varied and active life, so near that It can be
closely observed without the least physical ef-
fort. there IS absolutely no fear of being ones
self molested: neither Is there any noise or con-
fusion Simply closing ones eyes leaves one
with reminder of outside presence