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The Grape-Filter

When the water of a place is bad, it is safest to drink none that has
not been filtered through either the berry of a grape, or else a tub
of malt. These are the most reliable filters yet invented.

Bertoli and his Bees

Giacomo Bertoli of Varallo-Sesia keeps a watch and clock shop in the
street. He is a cheery little old gentleman, though I do not see why
I should call him old for I doubt his being so old as I am. He and I
have been very good friends for years and he is always among the
first to welcome me when I go to Varallo.
He is one of the most famous bee-masters in Europe. He keeps some of
his bees during the winter at Camasco not very far from Varallo,
others in other places near and moves them up to Alagna, at the head
of the Val Sesia, towards the end of May that they may make their
honey from the spring flowers--and excellent honey they make.
About a fortnight ago I happened to meet him bringing down ten of his
hives. He was walking in front and was immediately followed by two
women each with crates on their backs, and each carrying five hives.
They seemed to me to be ordinary deal boxes, open at the top, but
covered over with gauze which would keep the bees in but not exclude
air. I asked him if the bees minded the journey, and he replied that
they were very angry and had a great deal to say about it; he was
sure to be stung when he let them out.


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