File:American homes and gardens (1907) (17534925363).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesga41907newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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June, 1907 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 227
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16—The Bee Farm Is a Place of Endless Activity and Great Interest spot, for I constantly replenished the store of honey. All these bees were from the same hive, in which some signal must have been given, for suddenly thousands of bees issued from the hive and darted toward the scene of the experiment. Finding the honey exhausted, they flew about in all directions, making with their wings the peculiar sound that indicates anger, and I barely succeeded in escaping their stings. This final result was lacking when the experiment was re- peated with syrup instead of honey. What, then, had oc- curred in the case where honey was used? Evidently this: The workers in the hive, seeing honey brought in for a con- siderable length of time, must have reflected that, in the course of nature, honey is found only in bee hives. Hence there must be a hive to rob. Therefore war must be de- clared and a large force must be sent promptly to destroy the weak hive and capture its store. So the bees rushed en masse to the scene of pillage, guided by the marked bees which alone knew the way, and which I saw arrive in ad- vance of the rest. Finding neither hive nor honey, the dis- appointed marauders, ready for combat, gave way to excite- ment. Half an hour later order was completely restored. This experiment, which is susceptible of various modifi- cations, shows clearly that the workers have some means of communicating information and of directing each other to places where useful substances are to be found. It proves, also, that the united workers of a hive are able to make a sudden decision and act as a body when circumstances de- mand such action. It appears, therefore, that the power to direct the daily work and to form resolutions in unforeseen circumstances re- sides in the entire community. There is universal participa- tion in government, a marvelous organization of anarchy.

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