BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION. 283 



that the bee never deranges the flowers which it 

 visits, or obstructs generation by injuring the little 

 embryos ; and that it is even somewhat questionable, 

 whether those visits are not of great use in promoting 

 the fructification of flowers and blossoms, by conveying 

 the dust or seed of the male flowers into the recepta- 

 cle of the female ; and whether or not the sole use of 

 the honey of plants may be merely to tempt insects. 



Much of the above, on one side or the other, 

 seems, at present, to consist of questionable specula- 

 tion. One point, however, may be looked upon as 

 established; bees have never yet been kept in this 

 country to such an extent as to produce any palpable 

 injury either to our fields or our gardens : and as it is 

 not very probable that they ever will be, the ascertain- 

 ment of the fact in question is of the less consequence. 

 Our object is to caution the reader on the enthusiasm, 

 however well intended, of the professed and too san- 

 guine apiarian, and to point out the true and rational 

 grounds on which the business of the hive may be 

 pursued in this country, together with the best in- 

 structions in our power to furnish, for the attainment 

 of success. 



To come at once to the point : having the leading 

 argument above in view, it does not appear that to 

 keep bees with the expectation of commercial profit, 

 can possibly answer the ends of any but our labouring 

 cottagers. Were the counties of Essex, Hants, or 

 Surrey, to enter into this branch of rural economy, 

 to the extent recommended by those writers who, 

 astride upon their hobby-horses, urge them forward 

 with such eagerness and impetuosity, but for one 



