From the "Illustrated London News."
Messrs. Neighbour's Apiary consists of a large glass case, with parts of the sides covered with perforated zinc, for the sake of ventilation. This apiary contains three hives; first Neighbour's Ventilating Box-Hive, containing from 15,000 to 20,000 bees, which were hived on the 30th of April of the present year, the day before that of the opening of the Great Exhibition; Neighbour's Observatory Glass Hive, containing about the same number as the box-hive; and a two storied square box-hive, with sloping roof. From this latter, however, the bees decamped within a week after they had been hived, owing to some disturbance, or perhaps, to the dislike taken by the bees to their new habitation. The Ventilating Box-Hive is, in shape, square, having windows and shutters. The entrance is at the back, enabling the bees to go to Kensington Gardens, or other resorts, when they please. Above the wooden box is placed a bell glass, into which the bees ascend to work through circular opening in, the top of the square box. In the top of the bell-glass is an aperture through which is inserted a tubular trunk of perforated zinc, to take off the moisture from within. The Observatory Hive is of glass, with a superior crystal compartment, an opening being formed between the two; the bees are at present forming a comb in this upper glass, which affords a very interesting sight, as generally speaking, the bees are in such a cluster when at work that one can scarcely view their mathematically formed cells. A straw cover is suspended over the upper compartment by a rope over a pulley, which cover is raised up by the attendant at pleasure. The larger or bottom compartment rests on a wooden floor, which has a circular groove sinking therein to receive the bell glass. A landing-place projecting, as usual, with sunken way, to enable the bees to pass in and out of their habitation, completes this contrivance.
In addition to Mr. Neighbour's Crystal Apiary, he also exhibits a Cottager's Straw Hive, Taylor's Amateur Bee-Hive, a Glass Hive, Nutt's Patent Collateral Hive, the Ladies' Observatory Hive, Neighbour's Improved Cottage Hive, and Payne's Cottage Hive.
The Cottager's Hive is simply that of the form we find in use in most parts of the country, where the industrious cottagers or their wives, by a little attention to their interesting little labourers, are enabled to add something to their usually scanty earnings. This kind of hive is usually made of straw, resting on a circular wooden board, with part of the board or floor projecting in front as a lauding place for the bees, which enter under the edge of the straw by means of a sinking in the floor.
Taylor's Amateur's Bee-Hive consists of three small square boxes, one above another, with a roof over the top story; the ventilation being effected by perforations under the eaves; each side of every story has a window and shutter. The landing place is in front of the bottom story, and the entrance to the hive is a long slit about ¾ inch high.
The Glass Hive or Ladies' Observatory Hive, is similar to that in which the bees are at work in Mr. Neighbour's Apiary already mentioned, but on account of the number of bees at work therein, and the extent of comb already effected, the interior perches cannot be seen. These wooden perches are arranged in parallel lines, leaving a space next the glass all round, the whole being framed together with a bar at right angles, and resting on an upright support in the middle.
The Improved Cottage Hive of the same exhibitor consists of a straw circular lower compartment, having windows and outside shutters. A thermometer is placed just inside one of the windows. The floor is of wood, with a landing place and sunken way, as already mentioned in some of the other hives. In the top, which is also of wood, are three circular perforations, each of about two inches in diameter; above which are placed as many bell-glasses. There is a small hole in the top of each of the glasses, through which a perforated tubular trunk is inserted, for the sake of taking off the moisture from the interior of the hive. Within the glass is a feeding-trough of zinc, circular in shape, with a floating perforated floor, on which the bees alight, and in the 111 winter season regale themselves with the honey which is found in the various perforations, as it floats up to the level of the honey, contained in the small filling-trough, through which the honey, or beer and sugar, is poured. The glasses are covered with a straw cap, removable at pleasure.
Messrs. Neighbour's contributions are completed with, tin perforated fumigators, by the use of which the bees are stupefied for a while, when required to be moved from one hive to another; and specimens of honey and honey-comb of the season 1850.
From the "Express."
Bees and Bee-Hives.—In the North-East Gallery directly under the Transept are arranged by Messrs. Neighbour, of Holborn, several descriptions of bee-hives, which it will be interesting to many of our readers to examine, as this branch of rural economy is claiming much general and deserved attention throughout the country. The novelty of these hives consists in the facilities that are afforded in taking therefrom at any time of the gathering season the purest honey without destroying or even injuring the bees, thus humanely superseding the barbarous and hateful system of murdering these interesting insects, to obtain the produce of their industry.