INTRODUCTION 



back as the dawn of history the 

 honey bee was regarded as a benefactor to 

 man, and it is not surprising, therefore, that 

 on the ancient monuments of Egypt, in the 

 classic writings of Rome and Greece, we find 

 many references to the bee, which, with the 

 exception of the silkworm, has the distinction 

 of being the only insect kept by man in a 

 semi-domestic state for his benefit. The in- 

 terest of our forefathers in these busy little 

 people was due to the fact that honey was 

 practically the only sweet which they could 

 readily obtain. 



The bees were hunted in their native habi- 

 tat in the cleft of the rocks, in the heart of the 

 trees of the forest, and such other places 

 where they were accustomed to build their 

 combs. In securing their golden stores the 



