546 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



abundance, by bringing into proper use the means provided for ita collection 

 and preservation. This subject presses itself the more urgently for favorable 

 consideration at this time, from the fact that one of the principal sources from 

 which our " sweets" have heretofore been obtained has (in consequence of our 

 national difficulties) been almost entirely cut off, while the vicissitudes of war 

 have incapacitated a vast number of persons in the rural districts of our 

 country for pursuing their usual vocations, (though still capable of attending 

 to the manual of bee culture.) It has also left many widows* and orphan 

 children without the means of support, who may, in this pursuit, find at least 

 a competence. 



As this however must depend in a great measure upon their skill and man- 

 agement, and as the mass of them at present know but little of the subject, it 

 becomes an object of much importance to establish some means for the general 

 dissemination of the requisite information as speedily as may be. Foremost 

 among these, I should regard the establishment of a periodical devoted exclu- 

 sively to bee culture. The publication of such a journal was commenced at 

 the beginning of the year 1 861, by Mr. Samuel Wagner, of York, Pennsylvania, 

 whose long experience and perfect familiarity with the history and practice of 

 bee culture, both here and in Europe, eminently fitted him for the undertaking. 

 It was continued with marked ability to the close of that year, when in conse- 

 quence of the general prostration of business, and absorption of public atten- 

 tion by the war, it was thought best to suspend its publication for the time 

 being, and await a more propitious season. Doubtless were its value more 

 extensively known, it would receive such encouragement as would justify 

 the resumption of its publication immediately. While the standard works of 

 "Langstroth on the Honey Bee," and " Quinby's Mysteries of Bee Keeping," 

 should be read by all, such a journal coming to its subscribers at stated periods, 

 keeping pace with the improvements and discoveries that may be made from 

 time to time, and furnishing practical experiments and results, could not fail to 

 greatly interest and profit the bee-keeper. The adoption of this journal, as 

 premiums of half a dozen or more copies each, by all the agricultural societies 

 in our country, would doubtless furnish the support needed to justify the re- 

 sumption of its publication, and I am quite confident it would to many prove 

 one of the most acceptable premiums that could be offered. 



Next in importance is the establishment of apiaries in connexion with the 

 various State agricultural colleges, now or hereafter to be established in the various 

 States, and the employment of such skilful and practical teachers as would be 

 fully competent to impart thorough instruction in this department. Such apiaries 

 have been for several years in successful operation in some parts of Europe, 

 and under judicious management here would not only prove of vast benefit for 

 the purpose of imparting instruction, but might also yield a considerable 

 revenue, or at least prove self-sustaining. 



Note. — Apiarians generally have limited the possibility of the impregnation of the queen 

 bee to within three weeks from the date of her maturity, and state that it rarely occurs at a later 

 period ; but I have in a few instances had them impregnated at later periods ; one quite re- 

 cently on the thirty -fifth day after she emerged from the royal cell ; and instances have been 

 cited in which it has occurred at still later periods. In some cases, however, it is only 

 partial, the queen laying worker eggs but a short time, and in limited numbers only. 



' Already a number of ladies are extensively and most successfully engaged in bee 

 culture, one of whom I am informed has nearly four thousand pounds of surplus honey, 

 besides a considerable number of swarms, the product of about 100 colonies of beea this 

 year. 



