A PARLOR APIARY.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 60, 31 July 1906, Page 7

A PARLOR APIARY.

MISS BADEN-POWEL, SISTER OR THE HERO OF MAFEKING, GATHERS HUNDREDS OF. , r . POUNDS OF HONEY ; FROM HER STRANGE PETS. *

Miss Baden-Powel, sister of General Baden-Powel, keeps two hives of bees in the drawing-room of her house at Prince's Gate, Hyde Park. Miss Baden-Powel's bees number 34,000, and they produce about 120 pounds of honey each year. They are well behaved bees, and save for their low hum their presence in the parlor would be undiscovered. The bees find their way in and out of the drawing-room through a small hole near one of the windows. •They always know their way home and return at sunset," said Miss Baden-Fowel. "What do" they live on? do you ask. Oh, largely on fruit tree blossoms just now, I think. I provide a store of honey for them through 'ho Winter. One hive produced sixty pounds last year." '•You see, they prefer this dark corner," she said ; "the first swarm I had were sent from the country, and had only been hatched a wjeek. However, they soon became acclimatized, and now" ona can watch the queen laying her eggs and rearing the young beos. I have had them now for years and find no difficulty whatever in managing them."