t 320 ] 



Premiums for the greateft number of flocks 

 feem very liable to caufe impofitions. 1 know the 

 London Society fufFcred fuch. It is very ealy for 

 defigning perfons to purchafe or procure the loan 

 of flocks, frop a diflance, and therewith to augment 

 their own apiaries, previous to the time of infpec- 

 tron; nor will it often happen, that the figncrs of 

 their certificates will trouble themfelves to make 

 the neceffary invefllgation. Be that as it may, the 

 excitement will influence but few candidates, and 

 not produce fuch a general emulation among the 

 apiarian farmers, 6^c. as might be wilhed. Befide, 

 England is not defedive in the produ(5tion of 

 fwarms: Our docks in general emit too many, 

 which make a great (hew in number, but yield a 

 very inadequate proportion, of honey and wax, or 

 of flocks fit to fland' through the winter and fpring* 

 It is certain we have more farina to nourifh the 

 broods, than honey to feed tliem when bred : con- 

 fequcntly there are but f^w apiaries but what may 

 be overcharged. At this place eight flocks is the 

 mod we can keep with propriety. At Chefhunt in 

 Hertford {Lire, (miy late refidence) 12 or 14 were the 

 utmofl. l{ none but firfl good fwarms were pre- 

 fer ved, and the calls or after -fwarms returned back 

 to the liocks, the increafe of honey would be many 

 fold greater than in the ufual pradice of the pea- 



fantry. 



