WHY KEEP BEES ? 17 



producing crops are grown, and in many localities, in 

 addition to acres of orchards and a sprinkling of white 

 clover in the pastures, crops of white and alsike clover 

 are regularly grown for seed, while sainfoin, mustard, 

 turnip, cabbage, and other profusely-flowering crops are 

 abundant. Then, again, in the neighbourhood of moors 

 where heather is abundant, there is another excellent 

 source of late honey. 



The late Mr. H. M. Jenkins, secretary to the Eoyal 

 Agricultural Society of England, some years ago gave 

 an address in the Lecture Hall, Dublin, on " Some of 

 the duties of a farmer's wife," and referred to the 

 keeping of bees as advisable, and instanced the suc- 

 cess of a lady well known among practical bee- 

 keepers. Miss Gayton, of Much Hadham, Herts, who 

 •wrote, saying, " From my own experience I am sure 

 that almost every cottager might make his bees pay 

 his rent and more ; and with five or six hives the 

 trouble of attending to them is not more than he and 

 his wife could find time for. One thing, however, is 

 absolutely necessary for success in bee-keeping, namely, 

 to thoroughly study and understand the habits and 

 requirements of bees, and to bestow on them as much 

 care and attention as would be required for any other 

 pursuit or occupation in order to be successful. 

 Having but small means I began bee-keeping with 

 the hope of making it a profitable business. I have 

 kept a strict account of every expense, and as my 

 statement shows I have found bee-keeping profitable." 

 Miss Gayton, who resides in a good honey district, 

 commenced bee-keeping with one stock in 1876, and 

 her initial expense was £1 12s. 6d. She increased her 



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