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 Mr. 
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 does 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. Huish, “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 
