360 THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



Lunenburg, is 300,000 lbs., about one half of which is ex- 

 ported ; and assuming one pound of wax as the yield of 

 each hive, we must suppose that 300,000 hives are annual- 

 ly " hrimstoned" in the province ; and assuming further, in 

 view of casualties, local influences, unfavorable 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." 

 The Shakers at Lebanon, have about 600 colonies ; but I 

 doubt whether a dozen Apiaries equally large can be found 

 in the Union. It is very evident, that this country is far from 

 being overstocked ; nor it is likely that it ever will be. 



A German writer alleges that " the bees of Lunenburg, 

 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 Ger- 

 many," are almost without exception in easy and comforta- 

 ble circumstances. Could not still more favorable results 

 be obtained in this country under a rational system of man- 

 agement, 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, 



SAMUEL WAGNER. 

 Eev. L. L. Langsteoth. 



