Ctn^tFKE OF THE BEE. *257 



The Adva'ntages whtch accrue to the State and to 

 "Individuals fro.m the Culture of the Bee. 



The whole history of the proper management of the bee, 

 would fill a considerable volume. But when the advantages to 

 be derived from them, are duly appreciated, it cannot be be- 

 lieved that individuals would want inducements to pay more at- 



'tention to their culture. 



"It is a notorious fact, that England pays annually to the 

 north of Germany, £40 or £50,000 sterling, for the produce of 

 the bee, which could be saved by a small expence by her own 

 peasantry. Even in America, we are so regardless of the pro- 



'fits of the bee, as to import honey in hogsheads from the island 

 of Cuba and elsewhere. T^To country possesses greater ad van- 



'tages for the culture of 'the bee. and perhaps no country has 

 so grossly neglected it." 

 Mr. Huish, after having gone over a complete system of the 



.jnanagement of the bee, observes, "I consider 200 hives may be 

 managed by one person, with some slight assistance, during tht 



swarming season. 



Some French authors eulogize the skill of M. Proerteac, who 

 had constantly under his care, from 5 to 600 hives ; this is rare, 

 and pei-haps the only one. I will state the profits of five years, 

 •upon a fair and equitable scale, making, at the same time, fair 

 and ample allowances for the losses, which even the most skil- 

 ful apiarian cannot prevent. 



Suppose a person to buy a sw arm in 1819, for v,^hich he payp 

 one guinea. In the month of Blay or June his hive swarms, 

 and in about ten days it swarms again ; this is called a cast. 

 His apiary now consists of three hives, from one of which, (the 

 last,) it will be most prudent for him to take the honey, and the 

 bees be joined to the strongest stock of hives. Suppose the 

 •casts weigh 15 pounds, say 22 shillings; thus, in the first year 

 he has received back the price ofhis original hive, and dou- 



