Curiosities & wonders > New observations on the natural history of bees

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ECONOMICAL
to sacrifice whole hives to get at the riches)
they contain. The inhabitants of this coun4
try, who follow no other method, annuallji
lose immense numbers of hives; and spring!
being generally unfavourable to swarms, they
loss is irreparable. I know well that at firslf
they will not adopt a different plan; they!
are too much attached to prejudices and oldl
customs. But naturalists and intelligent
cultivators of bees will be sensible of the!
utility of the method I propose; and if they!
apply it to use, I hope their example wild
extend and perfect the culture of bees.
It is not more difficult to lodge a natural :
swarm in a leaf hive than in any other of ais
different shape. But there is one precautionj*1
essential to success, which I should not omitji
adverting to. Though bees are indifferent|i
as to the position of their combs, and their i
greater or lesser size, they are obliged to :
construct them perpendicular to the hori-l,
zon, and parallel to each other. Therefore, e
if left entirely to themselves, when esta- «
Wishing a colony in one of these new hives, jl
they will frequently construct several small j[
combs, parallel indeed, but perpendicular to \
the plane of the frames or leaves, or per- ;■
haps they will build them on the place where If