RECORD: Swale, W. 1858. Hive-Bees in New Zealand [a letter to
Darwin]. Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette (13
November): 829. REVISION HISTORY: Scanned by John van Wyhe,
transcribed (single key) by AEL Data 10.2008. RN1 Hive-Bees in
New Zealand.—The hive bee was introduced into Wellington in 1842
and into Canterbury in 1852. In Christchurch, in the latter
province, an old hive standing in a warm sheltered situation has
this summer cast off six swarms during the short time of two
months. English bee keepers would open their eyes with
astonishment if they were out here to see the produce of a
single hive. I have had the pleasure several times of partaking
of the fruit of their industry, and most delicious it is. Bee
keeping here is different to what it is in England. The
perpetual succession of flowers, the fine warm summer, and
mildness of the winter all tend to a great increase of the bees.
Our management of them is very simple. We furnish them with
small boxes 18 inches or 2 feet in length and a f