206 THE FARMER'S MANUAL, 



The profit which is obtained from the Bee, stands 

 in no proportion to the little trouble and time required 

 in their culture, and this is sufficient to induce those 

 who estimate things properly, to give a preference to 

 the culture of the Bee, above all other agricultural 

 pursuits, especially as no sacrifice of time or proper- 

 ty are required, and no extensive capital necessary. 

 As a proof of the importance attached to the culture 

 of the Bee, Wildrnan quotes a modern author, who 

 affirms, that when the Romans took possession of the 

 Island of Corsica, they imposed a tribute of wax on 

 the inhabitants, to the amount of 200,000 pounds an- 

 nually ; supposing the Island retained the same quan- 

 tity, that would give 400,000 pounds per annum made 

 in one Island by this wonderful insect. The known 

 proportion of wax to honey in a hive, is as 1 to 1$ 

 or 20 ; then multiply 400,000 pounds by 15 or 20, 

 we have 6 or 8 millions of pounds of honey, independ- 

 ent of the wax as above; what a source of wealth for 

 Corsica, and all countries which will profit by the im- 

 provement. 



I have before me a French news-paper of the 20th 

 of September, 1787, which states, under an article 

 dated Hanover, August 30th, " The culture of the 

 Bee is a particular object with the Hanoverians ; the 

 produce of wax this year is estimated at 300,000lbs. ; 

 this, multiplied by 15, gives 4,500,000lbs. of honey; 

 a most incredible quantity to be collected in globules 

 by a particular species of insect." The Turks derive 

 great profits from the culture of the Bee. The im- 

 mense quantities of wax the Europeans annually draw 

 from Smyrna, Salonichi, and the Morea, are well 

 known. Paysonnec, on the commerce of the Turks 

 on the Black Sea, says, Wax is the most important 

 article in the commerce of Moldavia and WalJachia. 

 Speaking of Bulgaria, he says, An immense quantity 

 of wax is exported from Bulgaria ; it is yellow, and 

 of an excellent quality. The Bee flourishes well in 

 all parts of the world, in China, Siberia, Lapland, 



