302 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



comparatively isolated positions ? and, at this distance from the 

 scene it would obviously be impossible to give a perfectly satis- 

 factory answer. 



" According to the statistical tables of the kingdom of Hanover, 

 the annual production of bees- wax in the province of Lunenberg 

 is 300,000 Ibs., about one-half of which is exported ; and, assum- 

 ing one pound of wax as the yield of each hive, we must suppose 

 that 300,000 hives are annually 'brimstoned* in the province; 

 and assuming further, in view of casualties, local influences, un- 

 favorable seasons, &c., that only one-half of the whole number of 

 colonies maintained, produce a swarm each every year, it would 

 require a total of at least 600 ; 000 colonies (141 to each square 

 mile) to secure the result given in the tables. The number of 

 square miles stocked, even to this extent, in this country, are, I 

 suspect, 'few and far between. 7 It is very evident that this 

 country is far from being overstocked ; nor is it likely that it ever 

 will be. 



" A German writer alleges that l the bees of Lunenberg pay all 

 the taxes assessed on their proprietors, and leave a surplus 

 besides.' The importance attached to bee-culture accounts, in part, 

 for the remarkable fact that the people of a district so barren, that 

 it has been called ' the Arabia of Germany,' are, almost without 

 exception, in easy and comfortable circumstances. Could not 

 still more favorable results be obtained in this country, under a 

 rational system of management, availing itself of the aid of 

 science, art, and skill ? 



" But I am digressing. My design was, to furnish you with an 

 account of bee-culture as it exists in an entire district of country, 

 in the hands of the common peasantry. This, I thought, would be 

 more satisfactory, and convey a better idea of what may be done 

 on a large scale, than any number of instances which might be 

 selected of splendid success in isolated cases. Very truly yours, 



" REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH. SAMUEL WAGNER." 



I am persuaded that, even in the poorest parts of New 

 England, there are but few districts which could not be 

 made to yield as large returns as the province of Lunen- 



