38 REPORTS. 



cent. The average profit upon my entire stock for several years, 

 has been 327 per cent., per annum." Such a statement as this 

 speaks well for the little bee. It shows what has been done by 

 them ; and what they have done, who shall say they may not do 

 again ; yea, even surpass ? Such a profit as already described 

 might have endangered the ancient Jews title to Zion ; and at 

 the present day it might be thought to border on the boundary of 

 usury, to say the least. But enough of this. Sufficient has al- 

 ready been said to show that the production of honey and the 

 honey-bee, may be made both pleasant and profitable. 



THE APIARY. 



If now we would unite the useful with the agreeable, what 

 shall be done ? To this question let me reply first, have respect to 

 your Ajjiarij. If you would raise honey, you must have bees ; 

 and if you would have bees, then for them you must provide a 

 home. For bees are like riches. If they are not cared for, if 

 they are not made happy and contented, they '' certainly make 

 themselves wings ; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." 

 Since then we must have an apiary of some form, what shall that 

 form be ? Upon this point tastes are evidently diverse. Not long 

 since, we observed somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen or 

 twenty hives stationed in a row ; each was mounted upon the top 

 of a perpendicular post, and so far apart were they, that a coach 

 and four might pass between them without detriment to either it 

 or the bees. If vision serves us clearly, the dome of heaven also 

 furnished their shelter above, and the pleasant light of the moon 

 and the stars by night, while the scorching sun by day, rested 

 fully upon them ; for not even a bough of any kind was near to 

 protect them. Now this is one kind of an apiary ; but we must 

 confess that it does not happily accord with our notions respect- 

 ing it. The opposite extreme to this, is a close and well walled 



