ORDER VI. VEIN-WINGED INSECTS. 285 



the annual produce of wax is estimated at 300,000 pounds, 

 and of honey 4,500,000 pounds. 



Wax is also an important article of commerce in Russia, 

 of which a large quantity goes to England and France, for 

 in both these latter countries very little wax is produced. 

 In England apiculture is very much neglected; and jMi\ 

 Huish says, '* Excepting the Spanish, I know of no nation 

 which entertains such superstitious prejudices in regard to 

 bees as the English. It will hardly be credited that in 

 some parts of England the bees are not permitted to leave 

 the hive on a Friday, and this is founded on religious scru- 

 ples." The military despotism and tyrannical conscription 

 which prevails in France is undoubtedly the reason why 

 this branch of industry docs not flourish there. 



According to the statistical view by J. D. B. De Bow, 

 in the year 1850, the United States of America produced 

 14,853,790 pounds of honey and wax, which is a small 

 quantity in comparison with Hanover. It is, therefore, de- 

 sirable that some measures should be taken for the encour- 

 agement of apiculture in this country, similar to those that 

 have been adopted in other countries ; for, although it is at- 

 tended with some difficulty, we have a number of different 

 patent hives which render the labor exceedingly easy in 

 comparison with that of other branches of culture. "In 

 Germany," says Mr. Pluish, "it is actually made a part of 

 education, and certain persons are appointed and paid by 

 the government to instruct the peasants in the cultivation 

 of bees. It is not only theoretically, but practically taught, 

 and for this purpose alone gardens are kept containing no- 

 thing but bee-hives and their food, for the instruction of 

 the peasants. Thus, in Vienna a bee-master has been ap- 

 pointed, who has a garden containing a hundred hives, which 

 is provided with every implement and improvement neces- 

 sary for the elucidation of the-^practical management of bees. 

 Particular days are specified in which public lectures are 



