GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 
HE Culture of Bees is one of the most healthful 
ry occupations that can be named, and at the present 
day it is being adopted as a business, while the 
number of people in all ranks of life who keep only a few 
hives as a pleasant pastime is very large, as may be judged 
from the fact that the members of the various associations: 
in this country make up a total of many thousands. 
Honey, the matchless gift of Nature, has become 
much cheaper than it was when the supply was very 
limited ; but while. an increased production lowered the 
value, there is at the same time a larger-and increasing 
demand for the bee-keeper’s commodity; and as he now 
has the benefit of improved appliances there is no difficulty 
in competing with present rates, which, however, should 
now improve, as all other commodities are rising in price. 
There is as yet much to be desired in methods of 
management among the majority of bee-owners, as will 
be evident by a perusal of these pages. 
When honey was superseded by sugar, bee-keeping 
seems to have fallen into the background, but after a time 
light began to dawn, and some forty years since, by using 
hives wherein all the combs could be removed separately 
at will, a great stimulus was given to both practical and 
scientific bee-keeping ; consequently, the ranks began to 
swell, as it became known that much larger harvests could 
“be secured than by the old fixed-comb methods, and in 
every way the bees could be brought more under control. 
But more light was yet needed, and Bee Journals were 
established, but it was not until the year 1873 that this 
country could boast of one, and that was founded by 
