248 State Board of Agricultuke, &c. 



BEE KEEPING. 



BY DR. F. BOND, OF CORNWALL. 



In presenting a paper on the subject of bee keeping before 

 this Board, its author felt constrained, in opening, to defend 

 himself against the charge of being in small business. 



I trust there is, on this occasion, no such necessity, as the 

 claims of bee keeping are being more generally conceded, 

 and especially as the subject has been discussed in this 

 place, before a former nieeting of this Board, by the most 

 successful apiarian in Vermont, and T think I could most 

 truthfully say, in New England. 



In assigning me the honeyed subject of this meeting, I am 

 gratified to have it in its broadness as bee keeping, and 

 having such liberty, I propose to improve it in the efiibrt to 

 awaken some degree of interest on the part of those who 

 have hitherto given little or no thought to this sadly neg- 

 lected interest. 



It has become a standing query among New England far- 

 mers : How, with our feeble resources, are we to sustain 

 ourselves against the powerful competition of the West ? 

 The West, including California, has taken quiet and undis- 

 puted possession of the honey markets of the East, so that, 

 as you are doubtless aware, tlie larger markets of this vaL 

 ley are supplied with California honey, and this, too, in face 



