392 071 Apiarian Societies. 



established in various parts of the country, to encourage the 

 revival of the practice. Sundry causes may be assigned to 

 account for the cottagers giving up the keeping of bees. First, 

 the remarkable fact that for several years past we have had long 

 cold springs, which have discouraged many from attempting to 

 keep bees ; secondly, many tracts of waste lands having been 

 brought under cultivation has sensibly diminished the favourite 

 wild flowers of the bees ; thirdly, the low price which cotta- 

 gers have been able of late years to obtain for their honey has 

 operated most naturally as a discouragement ; and fourthly, 

 the quantity of honey imported from foreign countries has of 

 course lessened the demand for that of native production. 



It is an interesting consideration, how far apiarian societies 

 can remedy the effects of these various causes. The first stated 

 is the most serious obstacle to bee-keeping ; and over that these 

 societies can have no control. We can only hope that our old- 

 fashioned genial springs may be permitted to return. Nor can 

 the societies procure the waste lands to be again untilled. These 

 lands are rendered far more profitable to the community, than 

 they were when producing wild flowers for bees. It must be 

 remembered, however, that the waste lands produced food for 

 bees in autumn only, they being deficient of spring flowers ; and 

 their loss is in some degree made up by the greater number of 

 flowers now cultivated. The operation of the third cause can 

 be prevented, if the wealthier classes can be induced to make 

 more use of honey. It was in much greater esteem among our 

 forefathers than it is at present ; and, if apiarian societies exert 

 their influence, they may persuade the higher and middling 

 classes to consume more honey in their families, by which the 

 price will be advanced. Formerly the cottager sold his honey 

 to the gentry in his neighbourhood ; now he must depend solely 

 upon the druggist or apothecai'y to purchase his produce, who 

 is sure to give him a low price, knowing that the poor man has 

 no other market. He will undervalue the honey, upon the pre- 

 tence of the cheapness of foreign honey, the importation of 

 which has been stated as the fourth cause of the discontinuance 

 of bee-keeping among cottagers. It is true that some imported 

 honey of a bad quality is sold at an inferior price ; but the good 

 brings double the price which the druggist will give to a cotta- 

 ger for native honey equally good ; and for pure honey in the 

 comb, the cottager receives only about one third of the price at 

 which it is retailed in the shops. This might be remedied, if 

 the societies were to appoint agents to collect the honey of the 

 cottagers, and carry it to a better market. 



In this county of Norfolk, an apiarian society is about to be 

 established through the exertions of Mr. Hart of Billingsford, 

 and a few other gentlemen, who have done much to encourage 



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