38. A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



Cottagers can, if they desire it, gradually master all 

 manipulations in time. Gentlemen who are already 

 adepts will willingly give all the help in their power. 

 The cottagers of Scotland far exceed the English in 

 the ability they display in Bee-keeping. The country 

 gentleman desirous of helping his poorer neighbours, 

 cannot do a better thing than furnish pattern improved 

 hives supplemented, if need be, by a swarm of Bees, and 

 show how they are to be managed. The Bees may be 

 repaid out of their increase. 



When an Apiarian can handle his Bees with impunity, 

 their study becomes a fascinating pursuit, their doings 

 are so truly wonderful — the temptation to inhale the 

 fresh air and watch the Bees becomes too strong to be 

 resisted, a man's mind and knowledge expand from the 

 wonders he beholds. New friends are made, ideas are 

 interchanged, inventive faculties are set in motion to 

 fashion some aid for the Bees or their master, and many 

 are the delights that spring from the contemplation of 

 the busy throng. And then the children ! — what delight 

 they exhibit to see the busy Workers set out or retqrn 

 from their labours in the fields ; what lessons in mercy 

 do they receive when they pick up the poor little Bees 

 who, returning to their hives, fall chilled to the ground. 

 Children are easily taught not to hurt the Bees, and they 

 then discover the Bees will not hurt them. My own 

 little ones, when two or three years old, would stand 

 before the hives peering into the entrance quite unmo- 

 lested, and at my bidding allow the Bees to crawl over 

 their hands — knowing they would receive no injury. 

 Fear for the children need never deter any one from 

 keeping Bees. 



Amongst all naturalists there is a kind of Free-masonry 

 which makes welcome the visit of any person with 



