THE APIARY. 



BY PROFESSOR A. J. COOK. 



PEEFACE. 



The following is, in substance, tlie same as the course of lectures which I have 

 given each term to the students of the Michigan Agricultural College, and their 

 desire, as expressed in repeated requests, has led to this publicatiou. 



In considering the various subjects of interest to the bee-keeper, I am greatly- 

 indebted to Langstroth, Quinby, King, Bevan, and Hunter, and also to the fol- 

 lowing journals, all worthy of high commendation : Gleanings in Bee Culture, 

 American Bee Journal, Bee-keepers' Magazine, and Bee World. 



The illustrations for this manual were nearly all drawn by the autlior from 

 the natural object. The engravings were made by Miss S. E. Fuller, of !N"ew 

 York, whose great skill is very worthy of high praise. 



Figs 1, 3, 4, 17, 18 and 19 were kindly loaned by Luther Tucker & Son, of 

 the Country Gentleman, and are from those volumes so valuable in every prac- 

 tical library : The Illustrated Annual of Rural Affairs.. 



CHAPTER I. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



WHO MAY KEEP BEES? 



Those of any profession or business, — who can give a little time in sj^ring, 

 summer, and autumn, who may desire to be associated with, and study natural 

 objects, and supplement their present means of increasing their income, — pro- 

 vided, they have a little ground three or four rods from the street. Thus, citi- 

 zens of country, village, or city, male or female, who wish to add to the pleasures 

 and profits of life, will here find an ever-waiting opportunity. To the ladies, 

 so often shut out from fresh air and sunlight, till palor and languor point sadly 

 to departing vigor, and to those men, the nature of vv'hosc business precludes 

 air and exercise, the apiary offers special attractions. 



INDUCEMENTS TO BEE-KEEPING. 



This has been called the poetry of rural pursuits, and very properly too. 

 There is a fascination about the apiary that is indescribable, Xature is ahvays 

 presenting the most pleasurable surprises to those on the alert to behold them. 



