for two hours, and then washed and dryed. The same piece was then cut into four patterns, each of which was boiled in solutions of green sulphate of iron, red sulphate of iron, blue vitriol, and verdigrise. The pattern boiled with the verdigrise became a deep black in an hour, and the blue vitriol gave a bluish black in the same time; but neither the green, nor the red sulphate of iron, produced any thing better than a rusty black after a much longer time.

The following Communication was not received in time to insert it immediately after the one to which it relates. (See p. 145.) From its intimate connection, however, with that, it has been judged proper to subjoin it in this place, instead of delaying it for a future publication.]

Observations additional on the Worm which of late has proved so destructive to Bees, in a letter from Gen. Van Schaick to S. De Witt, Esq. DEAR SIR,

In my communication to you on the tinea, I intentionally omitted mentioning one means of destroying it, from an apprehension that the remedy might, from the carelessness of servants, and the facilities it might offer to ill-designing persons, prove more destructive to property than the tinea.

But having since reflected that it might be of some use to those who are cautious, I communicate to you the following:

On going to the hive in the evening with a lighted candle, I observed immense numbers of the tinea flying round and in the candle, which suggested to me a new means of destroying them. In order to avoid accidents as much as possible, a lamp may be substituted instead of a candle, with more safety and effect. No doubt but immense numbers of the fly, might be destroyed in this way; but whether it would be completely effectual, experience must decide. As the suggestion may be improved on by others, I thought it worth communicating.

I am, with great respect,

Your humble servant,

G. W. VAN SCHAICK,

SIMEON DE WITT, Esq.

Lansingburgh, May 23d, 1816.

Extract of a Letter from James Low, M. D. Secretary of the Society, to T. K. Beck, M. D. one of the Counsellors.

DEAR SIR,

Since I have been in the country, my attention has been particularly arrested by the ravages of the moth among our bees, and the more so, as I recollected the excellent paper of G. W. Van Schaick, Esq. on the subject. To the history of the insect there given, I have nothing to add; I could not however avoid noticing, how furiously the bees attack,

and how expeditiously they destroy, their formidable foes in the nymph state. Besides the various expedients already noticed by Mr. V. S. and other writers on the subject, for the destruction of this insect, and to prevent its propagation, it occurred to me that a different mode of constructing our apiaries would more effectually destroy those already formed, and to a certainty prevent their ravages or propagation in all new hives. The mode proposed, is to have the plank or floor of the apiary on which the hives generally rest, moveable upwards and downwards; a beam on the centre of the roof, on the underside, extending the whole length of the building, furnished with staples or hooks, and firmly secured. Let the hives be made of hard seasoned wood, and well white-washed with lime, externally, and furnished with a hook or staple in the centre of the top.

It is well known that the temperature of bees, is great, and that pure air is so essential to their health and existence, that ventilation forms the whole of the duty of a considerable portion of the labouring bees. By the mode now proposed, that portion of their labour is considerably lessened; the whole of the bottom of the hive being open, when suspended by its hook to the beam above, and the floor lowered four or five inches. In cold weather the plank, which can now be easily cleaned, is to be raised against the bottom of the hives, and when sufficiently warm it may be again lowered. The deposition of the ova of the tinea is thus effectually prevented, and a more plentiful supply of pure air secured, to the legitimate occupants of the hive. I

suspended two hives in this way, and as far as I could judge, much to the delight, as well as advantage of their tenants. There seems to be a very considerable saving of time also in the entry and departure from the hive, as the bees are not sources of interruption to each other, as in the ordinary and contracted entrance. This position of the hive, along with the unceasing vigilance of the bees, must effectually secure them against the inroads of this, as well as every other species of insect.

I know not whether any person has noticed the ant (formica) among the pests of our apiaries. On raising one of the hives above mentioned from the floor, I was surprised at the discovery of a most numerous colony of ants, between the bottom board of the hive and the floor, and not less delighted at the slaughter which the bees instantly commenced, against this apparently new but not unknown enemy. They were all soon either killed or dispersed. The object of the ant is unquestionably the honey, as their depredations in this way are familiar to most house-keepers. Against this enemy also, should it prove a common one, the suspension of the hives in the manner proposed, will prove an undoubted security.

Yours, with respect, &c.

T. R. BECK, M. D.

JAMES LOW.

Charlton, Saratoga County, May 14th, 1816.

APPENDIX.

Adjudication of Premiums for the Encouragement of the Manufacture of Woollen Cloths during the Year 1815.

Pursuant to the provisions of the act for the encouragement of manufactures of woollen cloth, (Transactions, vol. 3, p. 238) the judges of the respective county courts adjudged premiums for the year 1815 to the following persons, viz.

Thirty-five dollars.
Thirty dollars.
Forty dollars.
Thirty-five dollars.
Thirty dollars.
Forty dollars.
Thirty-five dollars.
Thirty dollars.
Forty dollars.
Forty dollars.
Thirty-five dollars.
Thirty dollars.
Forty dollars.
Thirty-five dollars.
Thirty dollars.
Forty dollars.
Thirty-five dollars.
Forty dollars.

Thirty-five dollars.
Thirty dollars.
Forty dollars.

Thirty-five dollars.

Thirty dollars.

U