CASES OF ACCLIMATISING BEES.
Among others who took a deep interest in the exhibition just described was Mr. Edward Wilson, President of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. This gentleman requested us to pack four stocks of the Italian bees for conveyance to Melbourne. With the assistance of Mr. Woodbury—whose aid was, indeed, essential--these stocks were sent off on the 25th of September, 1862, by the steamship "Alhambra," so as to arrive at the colony during the Austral summer. The hives were Woodbury frame-hives, having ample space and ventilation, as well as the means of supplying water to their inmates during the voyage; there was also a sufficient store of honey to last until the following March. The bees arrived at Melbourne, where they were released after an imprisonment of seventy-nine days, and have since rapidly multiplied, the climate and pasturage of Australia greatly favouring the increase of this superior variety of the bee.
Mr. Wilson was so well pleased with the careful manner in which these stocks were fitted out for their voyage across the seas, that he subsequently instructed us to prepare him three more hives, which were sent out in a sailing vessel. Owing to the mismanagement of the water supply during the voyage, only one stock survived in this instance. Mr. Wilson informs us that one of these hives contained 136lb. of honey on the 25th of December, 1864 (Midsummer in Australia).
Upwards of twenty years ago we sent a Nutt's hive stocked with bees to New Zealand. We then adopted the plan of fixing the hive in a meat safe, so that the bees could fly about a little, and also cleanse the hive of their dead, they being always very attentive to sanitary arrangements.
Several more recent exportations of Italian bees have been made by us. We have sent two stocks to Madras, which arrived safely, and we hear are doing well, also a stock to South Africa under the care of the lady who ordered them, and who was herself going out. We had the satisfaction of receiving the following note:—
"Grahamstown, Nov. 3, 1875.
"Mrs. Mullens is very pleased to inform Messrs. Neighbour and Sons that the stock of Ligurian bees supplied to her on board the 'Nyanza' at Southampton on July 23rd have arrived quite safely. Mrs. Mullens thinks they were exceedingly well packed; they had a trying journey by bullock waggon two days after leaving the sea. They were released from the hive on September 3rd, and appeared weak at first, but began to work in less than an hour. A large number of dead bees were found at the bottom of the hive on opening—most likely caused by the boat in which the bees were having water in it."
This report we consider very favourable. There would naturally be a great mortality during such long confinement, and for the reasons also which Mrs. Mullens mentions.