The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1866]: Being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management, with full directions, adapted for the cottager, farmer, or scientific apiarianNeighbor, Alfred
Science
The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1866]: Being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management, with full directions, adapted for the cottager, farmer, or scientific apiarian
For the Little Busy Bee.--Next to the poultry tents, and set back
against the yard fencing, is the exhibition of Messrs. George
Neighbour and Sons, 127, High Holborn, and 149, Regent Street, London,
inventors and manufacturers of improved bee-hives for taking honey
without the destruction of the bees. The savage knows where to find
the nest of the wild bee, and how to get at his honey; but all the
improvement upon the covetousness of the savage made by the long after
ages of the world to modern times, was to find the means of luring the
pattern of industry to a convenient atelier, where he might be more
easily first murdered and then robbed. Their habits early attracted the
attention of some of the best observers of ancient as well as modern
times. Cicero and Pliny tell of the philosopher Hyliscus quitting human
society, and retiring to the desert to contemplate their peaceful
industry. The ancient poet, in his _Sic vos vobis_, plaintively sings
over bee and beast living, or rather dying, not for themselves, but
the lord of creation, yet was it left to modern times--very modern
times--to join the sentiment of humanity to the rapacity of the
barbarian. Mr. Neighbour has a very complete collection of specimens
of the ingenious and successful contrivances in the construction of
hives for the double object of preserving the honey and the life of
the bee, and also subsidiarily of promoting its comfort during its
busy and useful life. We are not allowed to forget here that we have
residing in our city one of the first apiarians in the kingdom--Mr.
Thomas Woodbury, of Mount Radford. If the bee-philosophy be his hobby,
we must recollect that all great discoveries and improvements owe their
existence to men who had the power and the will to concentrate their
faculties upon a single object. One proof of his genius in this his
favourite department of action, is seen among this collection of Mr.
Neighbour's, in the "Woodbury Unicomb Hive." It might be, when closed
up, for aught that appears, a neat case of books; but on opening two
doors of the Venetian blind pattern, back and front, we see between the
glass walls the insect city exposed to view, with all the population in
action. There it may be seen
"How skilfully she builds her cell;
How neat she spreads her wax;
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account