Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/260

230] others, winch are either better defended, or secrete a greater portion of honey than is necessary for their own economy. Of the latter description are, the catch-fly, sundew, hellebore, and aconite: of the former, the Doctor mentions the Polygonum melampyrum, or, and the Cacalia suaveolens, or Alpine Colts-foot; in both of which there also appears to be a superabundant quantity of honey secreted. The flowers of the two last-mentioned plants are perpetually loaded with bees and butterflies; insomuch, that at Kempton-land, in Germany, Mr. says, in his "Mysteries of Husbandry," chap. ix. 3, he saw forty great bee-hives filled with honey, to the amount of seventy pounds in each, in one fortnight, by their being placed near a large field of buck-wheat in flower: and Dr. adds, that he well remembers having seen an astonishing number of bees on a field of buck-wheat in Shropshire, as well as on a plant of the alpine colts-foot in his garden; from which the scent of honey could be perceived at several feet distance from the flower.

To conclude this interesting subject, we cannot omit the judicious remarks of a veteran writer, Dr. J., whose numerous and useful works, in every branch of rural and domestic economy, are of inestimable value to the British farmer. In one of his practical papers, "On the Management of the Dairy," communicated to the Bath and West-of-England Society, he observes in a note, that bees, in this variable climate, are a very precarious stock, though extremely profitable where they thrive. During the frequent mild days of winter, and the warm mornings of spring, which are suddenly succeeded by a nipping frost, or sleety rain, these creatures are roused from their torpid state; and, being unable to obtain food abroad, they are obliged to consume and exhaust their stores, and to perish from want. And as the warmth of the weather in spring invites them to search in vain for flowers affording them nourishment, they are often chilled by cold, before they are able to return to the hive. To prevent such fatal accidents, Dr. is of opinion, that no method would be so effectual as that of placing the hives in an ice-house, at the approach of winter. Here they may be kept till the spring has so far advanced, that no danger is to be apprehended from bad weather. During the whole winter, they will remain in a state of torpor, and require no food. As soon as the mild weather incites them to appear, they will commence their labours with vigour. The intense degree of cold which the bees sustain, without the least injury, in Poland and Russia, where even quick-silver is sometimes frozen, removes every doubt, or anxiety, concerning the safety of bees in a British ice-house.  BEES'-WAX, a solid concrete, obtained from the honey-combs, after the sweet and liquid parts are extracted, by heating and pressing them between iron plates. The best sort should be hard, compact, of a clear yellow colour, and an agreeable odour, similar to that of honey. Pure bees'-wax, when new, is tough, yet easily broken: by long keeping, it becomes harder and more brittle, loses its fine colour, and partly also its fragrance.

The purposes to which bees'-wax is applied, are various: great quantities of it are aunually bleached, and converted into candles. On account