3 BEES. 



laid down here, or in any other work whatever ; for he will 

 be certain to find, as his experience increases, that he can 

 make sundry variations from the principles on which he 

 started, with great benefit to the prosperity of his insect 

 colonies. The system that would answer admirably for an 

 apiarium situated upon a hill surrounded with heather, would 

 not be nearly so successful if the hives were placed in a sandy 

 valley surrounded with thick woods, and plentifully watered 

 by running- streams. The rules, therefore, which are found 

 here, may be taken only as a foundation for a building 

 which the architect may vary as he pleases, provided that 

 the foundation is laid securely. If a man is not able to 

 make these variations for himself, but perseveres doggedly 

 in the fashion of his fathers, because it is the way he is 

 used to, he need not put himself to the trouble of bee-keeping 

 at all, for he is not fit for it. Examples of this may be 

 seen in almost every village in England where the inhabit- 

 ants are wise enough to add hives to their agricultural stock. 

 It is an everyday sight to see two cottage gardens merely 

 divided from each other by a hedge, each carrying on bee- 

 keeping with very different success. In one the hives are 

 numerous, and the busy thronging of the bees at the en- 

 trances proclaims their strength. On inquiry it is elicited 

 that the hives have yielded many pounds of honey and wax, 

 and are expected to yield much more, and yet be perfectly 

 able to live through the winter without feeding ; while in 

 the other garden, the bees loiter about the entrances, go off 

 to their work, and return from it almost singly, and the deep 

 hum of the drone is never heard. This is just because the 

 one owner takes proper care of his bees, and the other 

 neglects them. Many injure their bees either from neglect, 

 because they are afraid of meddling with them, or by irri- 

 tating* them with needless interference. It is hoped that 

 both these difficulties may be avoided by those who seek to 

 gain a moderate knowledge of bee habits from these pages, 

 for in most cases the bees die, swarms fail, and the honey is 

 lost through the ignorance of the owner, and not through 

 his wilful neglect. While, therefore, each man should learn 

 to depend upon himself in the management of these insect 

 kingdoms, he should not despise the instructions which be 

 may gain from the experience of others, and which, although 



