^it^oxi an "^amn ajr!£r % Pontir-§^^. 



In offering their Eeport on this sweet theme, the Committee da 

 not intend to write a treatise on Beeology. They desire, rather, 

 as did a good old deacon of whom you may have heard, " to ex- 

 press a few remarks," which may serve the interests of those en- 

 gaged in the rearing of bees. " De gustibus non est disputan- 

 dum" — concerning tastes, there should be no dispute — it is said, 

 and yet to us it seems strange that there should be any diversity 

 of opinion respecting the pleasure derived from the consumption 

 of honey. But true it is, what is meat to one man is often poison 

 to another ; and hence the diversity of views and tastes. 



From history, both sacred and profane, we learn that some 

 countries abound in the product of honey. Indeed, the land of 

 Canaan is described as " flowing with milk and honey." And 

 should it prove true that by this all sweet substances are intend- 

 ed ; yet from the great number of bees found there at the pres- 

 ent day, the prime reference doubtless is to honey as the product 

 of the bee. In India, especially, and in the Indian Islands, the 

 forests swarm with bees, so that in the language of Mr. Roberts, 

 they " literally flow with honey ; large combs may be seen hang- 

 ing on the trees, as you pass along, full of honey." Not unlike 

 ■this are the woods upon the western coast of Africa. Between 



