The Late Show and the Observatory Hives.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1771, 14 December 1885, Page 2

The Late Show and the Observatory Hives.

To the Editor of the Standard.

Sib, —I would like to point out to you some of the most interesting things to be seen ia an “ Observatory ” hive ; and how many of them were seen in the hive that took the first prize at the late Show. Ist. You should be able to see the queen surrounded by some of her subjects, as she moves in a stalely manner from cell te cell depositing her eggs. 2nd You should be able to see the progress of the worker bee from the egg to the perfect insect. 3rd. You should be able to see worker bees building out the comb-storing honey and pollen, and sealing honey. 4th. You should be able to see the larv» fed by the nursing bees; and also see the young bees gnawing their way out of the cells, and there ought to be a sprinkling of drones seen at the combs. Now as to the first, not one indi« vidual, during the whole time the hive was there, saw the queen in it, the object of most interest to the general observer. No 2 was not to be observed at all. Concerning No 3 the only thing to be seen was some comb partly built out. No 4 : Instead of there only being a few drones there was scarcely anything visible but drones. And, I might say, that if you wanted to watch the process of queen rearing the hive would he practically useless. All of the above points of interest were skown to more than one pft->on in the Observatory hive, which was not noticed by the judges j but they were not to blame, as one of them was heard to remark that he knew nothing about bees. I am, &0., J. Barnard.