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From the Eatt Florida Herald
ON RAISING BEES,
There is no article, directly or
indirectly connected with agricul
ture and domestic economy, whose
absence aflortt more decisive evi
dence of the want of industry, in a
country like this than that of the
bee. Can there be any good ex
cuse given in Florida, whose very
name is founded on its profusion
q!” flowers for none attention to
this valuable little animal ? Is there
any other article having, locomotion
that will make so valuable a return
for mere shelter and protection ?
In many countries they are housed
and fed’a part of the year, nursed,
physiced, warmed, and other cares
that we never thought of; and
where their returns cannot be so
great ;*s here ; yet they are es
teemed as the organs ot a valuable
revenue. But here, in Florida,
where they require nothing more
than a clean h’ve, and that roughly
sheltered from violent rain and sun
we rarely hear of them but in hol
low trees. And there having un
offendingly provided for them
selves, we murder them by tens of
thousands in order to rob them of
their hard earned store.
Honey and wax ought to form an
important part of our exports ; the
demand for both is endless, and our
supply of them might be immense.
A more lucrative return to such an
amount of care and capital could
not be thought of, nor could any be
found more certain.
Various are the doctrines for
their treatment in various coun
tries ; but in this we require but
the following chetip and simple
course. A roof of clap boards to
keep off the the rain and sun ; a
frame beneath this to rest the hives
on, about four feet from the ground
and the hives placed thereon about
a foot apart. Kill the bee birds that
would build in the neighboring
trees, and those that gather about
the bee shed; destroy cobwebs,
wasp’s nest’s and all gatherings of
reptiles and insects; in short protect
them from robbers of every kind.
This with them ; as with ourselves,
is of first importance to prosperity.
Make their hives three feet long
and a foot square, with holes for
the Lees to pass through at both
£ nds. Each hive, the habitation of
a full and healthy swarm, w ill turn
out, during the spring and summer
three four, and even fi\e swarms ;
but, Unless for the purpose ot mul
ti. lying hives only the two first
swarms should be taken ; those
that appeal after are generally few
in numbers, weaklv or too late in
the season to provide for their
wint* r wants. W hen the later
swarms are taken two or three had
better be combined in one colony,
by destroying the queen bee of the
younger swarm ; and after putting
them among the older, cover the’
whole in darkness for tw o or three j
days, that anger in both parties j
mav subside. Remember that the I
number of bees of a hive never in
crease for they w ill admit of no em
igrants and their young swarms
are turned out to form new’ set
tlements as soon as they are able
to work. Therefore the yearly
product of a hive in wax and honey
is ever in proportion to the number
of bees put into it early in its es
tablishment ; and so will be the
s t) ength of the swarms that arc sent
from it.
Each full and healthy swarm can
he stripped of about two thirds,
or three fourths,of their stock, three
•or four times in the year, affording
sixty or seventy pounds of honey
and wax, besides leaving them a
sufficient stock for winter of fifteen
or twenty pounds more. Ihe hon
ey comb should be taken equally
from both ends of the hive at each
stripping, leaving the middle part,
as a store, and as a matrice for the
young broods, untouched but for
the purpose of removing such old
comb as has served as a matrice.
Care should be taken not to let
the hive get too full, so that the
bees be cramped in room lor work
ing and do not strip them too bare
for in both cases the bees will be
come intrusive or neighbouring
hives : the one to seek room for ma
king more honey ; the other to
plunder which bring on quarrels
that frequently end in wars ot exter
mination.
In hiving bees, old hives should
never be used until taken to pieces
and replained and joitv/d anew,
or thoroughly scalded and scoured,
in order to destroy all insects and
their eggs. When a hive becomes
lost, which occurs by destruction
of the bees from the inroads of
cockroaches and worms, and by
battles, such hives should be remo
ved or they will by becoming a
nest of dirt and insects, injure if
not ruin the whole establishment.
The hives should be frequently
opened first at one end and then at
the other, and every appearance of
dirt and insects drawn out with a
small handy scraper suited to the
purpose. Cleanliness is of vital
importance to bees ; they delight
in finding themselves noticed;
and become friendly and intimate
with their keeper. By proper
management they are soon tamed
and become in great measure obe
dient.
No plantation or settlement in
such a country can offer a good
apology for being without bees af
ter the first or second year of its
establishment. If our neglect has
been such that but few are to be
bought they are in plenty about’
the woods, and not difficult to find
and take ; hundreds of swarms
are burnt or 6moked to death, for
. their hony, every summer by oui
civilized and uncivilized barbari
ans. I would recommend to our
legislature a heavy penalty on all,
who destroy wild swarms, and to
our Agricultural and Political So
ciety a premium on all wild swarms i
reclaimed —at least until we get
well stocked with them.
At every plantation an Indian
can find a ready market for his wax
and honey though wild and of
course much inferior while with so
little trouble each could supply at
least their own wants o* both and
that as they are without orange
trees. No plant affords more flow
ers than the orange; nor no flow
ers yield more, richer or so highly
flavored honey.
To find a bee-tree. —Spread a little
honey, or sugar and water in a plate
on a slump, where the bees are about.
A passing bee will stop and taste, and
inform his associates, who will gather
about it, and attend it daily in num
bers- Then substitute the plate by a
piece of board, spread with a little ho
ney ; and get a horn’or calabash some
what in the shape of a funnel, and
open at both ends. Over the small
end, stick on, with a little pitch a bit of
window glass,and have at hand apiece
board sufficient to cover upjthe large
end. Place this over such bees as are
loaded and preparing for departure so
as to darken them,and they will ascend
to the small end, where light tomes
thro’ the bit of glass; it cun then be re
moved to cover others ; and finally se
cured by the piece of board to shut up
the lower end.
Having two or three dozen bees
thus caught let off one by raising the !
bit of glass and follow the course he J
takes while he can with tolerable cer
tainty, and then let rft'another, and so
on. Do not be drawn off from the
course that three or four have take*,
by one taking another course ; he is ei
ther a bee from another tree, or he is
not sufficiently loaded to return home.
Thus you will be led to the tree.
Another method to find the bee-tree
scientifically, lake from the bait
board, as above, a few bees well laden;
let them oft', three or four immediately
after each other, and noteby a compass
the course they take. This ascertain
ed, leave one person at this place of
observation while another take 9 a
course off from the one noted, at a lit
tle less than a right angle, for a quar
ter or half a mile (unless the tree is be
lieved to be near at hand)and this per
son having fixed on his course, by the
flight of three or Four more bees he has
let oft', he fires a gun or blows a horn
as a signal to start together on their
respective courses—the tree will be
found at the angle of meeting.
When the tree is found, the best
time for taking the swarm is early in
the morning, as the bees are fhen less
active, and at home waiting for the
dew to disperse. If the tree can be
climbed, the aperture by which the
be*.s enter should be closed before the
tree is cut dowD ; otherwise, it must
be cut down, as it is and stopped after
tailing, before the bees recover from
the concussion. A bag should then be
applied to the hole, and the tree beat
until the bees leave it. Among the
last that come forth is the queen bee ;
if she is secured all the bees that have
escaped, or were absent, will return to
her; and if she is lost the whole will
desert the first opportunity they get.
Therefore a small tight hive, in which
is placed a little honey or wet sugar
should be in readiness at the place,ami
the bees shook into it from the bag,
while placed on one end and the other
defended by a smoke of rags held over
it while shaking them from the bag, to
keep them down. And it many have
made their escape the hive should be
covered in darkness until late in the
afternoon, when a few holes may be
opened to admit the absent, who will
seek shelter from the approaching
dew.
In moving bees from or.e hive to an
other, just before dark open one end
of both hives, and having brought
them quickly in contact, puff a little
smoke from a segar through a hole at
the other end of the hive they are
and they will immediately abandon it
for the other. They should be kept
closed up the following day,with some
thing to eat, and if appearing sullen
or refractory, for a day or two more.
J Native Eluridiun.
Height of Mountains.— -The memoirs
of the academy of Turin, contains de
tails of the ascent of two Italians to
the top of Mont Rosa, which M.Sas
sure, after many fruitless attempts fco
reach it, declared to be inaccessible.
The result is, that Mont Rosa has
been ascertained to be the highest
mountain in Europe, its summits be*
being 15,1)00 feet above the level ot
the sea. Formerly Mont Hlaftc, ris
ing 14,793 feet, was considered the
highest.
JL . *
.tfwctan XnttUffftnrr.
Paris JYov. 19.
Strong as she is, England does
not give herself the trouble to par
ley with the Continent, nor even to
threaten it or attack it; not at all.
She goes little by little, and with
diplomatic address, in which she
has long practice, to recognize
American Independence, to form
there commercial connexions, much
more useful, much more fruitful
for her prosperity, than the rela
tions of dependance which can ex
ist between a metropolis and colo
nies. She goes on, in a word to se
cure to herself the only kind of
domination compatible with the
present time, and during this inter
val innumerable ships w'lll cover the
seas, and protect in silence the es
tablishment of her connexions. The
Holy Alliance will call England to
a Congress ; but a* it is useless to
go to plead before others for the
possession of an object of which
one has secure possession, England
will not repair to it, or at most leave
a visiting- curd by a ceremonious
diplomatist, and she will continue
her useful proceedings.
I this case the Continent would
have only two courses to take ei
ther to make a sudden attack, or to
acknowledge immediately the Span
ish colonies, in order to participate
in the advantages of a prompt re
cognition. But we have said, that
to subjugate America by* force, and
in spite of the English, is impossi
ble ; to acknowledge her is a mor
tal sin, which the Holy Alliance
will not commit. The Continent
will therefore make useless pro
positions of arrangement, and will
lose in trifling the time which Eng
land will employ in useful negoci
ations. Here we suppose the great
est possible wisdom in their Coun
cils ; but it is not improbable that a
military enterprise may be attempt
ed, and that Morillo, with a few
Spaniards and Russians, may he
put on board a few rotton vessels at
Odessa,to oppose the English fleets.
In that case the two great Powers,
in w hich all interests and opinions
centre, would definitely measure
their strength ; and as the quarrel
must come to an issue, this would
probably be the point in which the
two opposing lines would meet.
Accounts from Constantinople have
reached London, which induced the
belief that another revolution had ta
ken place in the capital of 1 ui key.—
The Janissaries, as usual, were the
principal malcontents.
Lord Byron has not yet taken the
field in aid of the Greeks : he has pro
fessed his willingness to aid them
with a donation of 5000 pounds, and
5000 annually while the wai lasts.
Gen. Mina has arrived at Plymouth,
(F.ng.) where he was received with en
thusiastic applause,
France has assured the English government
that she shall take no part in the design* of
fpuin upon South America.
MEXICO.
Extract of a letter from a citizen of the Uni
tcil States, now in Mexico, dated Sept. Ist.
1823.
“ You must know that the people
of this country have not their paral
lel in the w-orld for their politeness
ceremonial manners, and apparent
pleasurable feelings,which are brought
into action on the reception of a stran
ger, and which is common to all, from
the half-clothed mendicant, on the re
ceipt of a claco,(li cents.) .Your sen
ses are astounded by his orisons to all
the saints, for your future felicity. Os
these people it may in fact t>e said,
they are a nation of compliments.
They divide their time between the
church, paving and receiving visits,
&c. One third of the year is compo
sed of holydays, or feast days at which
each saint has his devoted day ; and
as everv man, woman, and child, arc
called after some favorite saint, they
are entitled on that day, to receive
the congratulations of friends. On
this occasion they display considera
ble taste in their dress, &c. Saint Josi
is a great favorite here; a lottery is
devoted to him twice a week, as also
to other saints, &c.
“ The government I think will now
succeed. The executive power is
composed of sterling integrity and
patriotism, namely: —bravo, Negrete
and Victoria ; suplimentaries, Miche
lane, Domingi sand Gen. Guerrera ;
Minister of State, Altnan, a young
man of 30 years, who has been resi
ding these ten years in Spain, France
and England, conversant in all lan
guages, and highly deserving the trust
reposed in him ; the Minister of Ha
cienda, Arrillague, is from Vera Cruz,
a merchant of the first respectability,
and every way calculated for the fi
nancial department ; Minister of
Justice,'Llave, is a man of superior
attainments ; Minister of war and
Marine, Joaquin Harrera, is a gentle
man with whom lain well acquainted
—for private worth, integrity, sound
and discriminating mind, and liberal
ideas lie is second to none; the Po
litical Chief, Moiinos del Campo, has
always be**n -*teemed for his liberal
ideas, his intelligence and military
skill, and this city is much indebted
to him for tne superior police which at
present \i maintained.
“ The elections have taken place for
anew Congress, and the result has
been favorable in this city for the lib
erals. Nearly two-thirds ot the pres
ent Congress are re-elected; and I
think it prudent, as they will not find
better men in the country.”
[ The following letter was received
through Mr. Rush, our minister to G.
Britain. It was accompanied by one
from that gentleman, relating to Mr.
Luriottis, the condition of the Greeks,
&.C. both of which were transmitted to
the House of Representatives by the
President, in pursuance of a call upon
him touching the condition and pros
pects of that nation.)
Au.irea* Luriottis, Envoy of the Provisional
Government of Greece, to the Honorable
John Quincy Adams, Seeratary of State
to the, United Stutes of America.
Sir: 1 feel no slight emotion,
while in behalf of Greece, my
country, struggling for indepen
dence and liberty, I address my
self to the United State of Ame
rica.
The independence for which we
combat, you have achieved. The
liberty to which we look, with anx
ious solicitude, you have obtained,
and consolidated in peace and in
glory.
Y'et Greece, Old Greece, the
scat of early’ civilization and free
dom, stretches out her hands, im
ploringlv, to a land which sprung
into being, (as it were,) ages alter
her own lustre had been extinguish
ed ; and ventures to hope, that the
youngest and most vigorous sons
of liberty will regard, with no com
mon sympathy, the efforts of the
descendants of the heir and the el
der born, whose precepts and whose
example have served—though in
sufficient hitherto for our complete
regeneration—to regenerate half a
world.
I know, sir, tnat the sympathies
of the generons people of the Uni
ted States have been extensively
directed towards us ; and since I
have reached this country, an in
terview with their Minister, Mr.
Kush, has served to convince me,
more strongly, how great their
claim is on our gratitude and our
affection. May I hope that some
means may be found to communi
cate these our feelings, of which l
am so proud to be the organ ? We
will still venture to rely on their
friendship ; we would look to their
individual, if notto their national
co-operation. Every, the slightest
assistance, under present circum
stances, will aid the progress of the
great work of liberty ; and if stand
ing as we have stood, alone and
unsupported, with every thing op
posed to us, and nothing to encour
age us but patriotism, enthusiasm,
and, sometimes, even despair : if
thus we have gone forward, libera
ting our provinces, one after ano
ther, and subduing every force
which has been directed against us,
what may we not do with the as
sistance for which we ventu’
appeal to the generous
free ? irit:
Precipitated, by circumstano
into that struggle for indep en a ’ ‘
which, ever since the dose
of our cruel and reckless lyra n
had never ceased to be the objeai
our vows and prayers, we have i
the blessing of God, freed a ‘
siderable part of Greece from?’
ruthless invaders. The Pelo’ ?
nessus, Etolia, Carmania, Aui° n
Phocida, Bceoiia, and the
of the Archipelago and Cand'J
are nearly lree. The armies
the fleets which have been e L
against us have been subdued
the valor of oyir troops and
marine. Meanwhile, we have
ganizetl a government, f C u n <j° and
upon popular sufrages ; and yoft
will probably have seen how do
ly our organic law assimilates t a
that constitution under which y O J
nation so happily and so secured
lives.
I have been sent hither by the
Government of Greece, to obiai Q
assistance in our determined
terprize on which we, like you
have staked our lives, our fortune*
and our sacred honor ; and I be.
lieve my journey has not been
wholly without success. I should
have been wanting to my duty, had
I not addressed you ; supplicating
the earliest display of your arnica
ble
matic relations may be established
between us ; communicating
most earnest desire of my govern,
me lit, that we may be allowed tc
call you allies as well as friends,
and stating that we shall rejoice tj
enter upon discussions which mai
lead to immediate and advanta
geous treaties, and to receive as to
expedite diplomatic agents without
delay. Both at Madrid and at
Lisbon I have been received with
great kindness by the American
representative, and am pleased to
record the expression of my gra
titude.
‘Though fortunately you are so
far removed, and raised so
above the narrow politics of Europe
as to be little influenced by the
vicissitudes, I venture to believe
that Mr. Rush will explain to you
the changes which have taken place
and are still in action around us,
in our favor ; and I conclude, re
joicing in the hope that North Am.
erica and Greece may be united ir.
the bonds of long enduring and
unbroken concord ; and have the
honor to be, with every sentiment
of -respect, your obedient humble
servant, AND. LURIOTTIS.
London Feb. 20, lt'23
[We are unwillingly obliged to omit
a letter from Mr. Adams to Mr. Husk
accompanying the following one to
Mr. Luiiottis.J
Department of State,)
}f r ashingtnn Ibth Jlugusi, 1823.)
Sir : A copy of the letter which
you did me the honor of address
ing to me on the 20th of February
last, has been transmitted to me by
the minister of the United States at
London, and has received the de
liberate consideration of the Presi’
dent of the United States.
The sentiments with which ht
has witnessed the struggles of you
countrymen for their national
emancipation and independence
had been made manifest to the
world in a public message to the
Congress of the United States.-
They are cordially’ felt by the pe>
pie of this Union ; who, sympa
thising with the cause of freedom
and independence, wherever its
standard is unfurled, behold wiu
peculiar interests the display cl
Grecian energy in defence of Gn*
cian liberties, and the association
of heroic exertions, at the present
time, with the proudest gloiies ot
former ages, in the land oi Epa*
inondas and of Philopccmon.
But while cheering with their
best wishes the cause of the Greek*
the United States are forbidden*
by the duties of their situation,
from taking part in the war* lu
which their relation is that of neu
trality. At peace themselves wit
all the world, their established p 3 *’
icy, and the obligations of the b" 5
ot nations, preclude them from “ e
coming voluntary auxilarics to
cause which would involve them in
war ’ . .he
If, in the progress of events, 111
Greeks should be enabled to
lish and organize themselves s ‘
independent nation, the
States will be among the first to “
come them in that capacity, i nt °
general family; to establish dip