PEEFACE. 



Dr M'Kenzie, in a small book on bees, says he was 

 induced to study the subject from the fact that one 

 of his two labouring men having found a swarm of 

 bees in a hedge, and therewith commenced bee-keep- 

 ing, was enabled afterwards to go without his wages 

 till they were earned. Previously, both labourers 

 got their wages in advance. The lift given to the 

 one man by the possession of this fugitive swarm was 

 so great and pleasing to the Doctor, that he com- 

 menced to read works on bees, and study their 

 management both in this country and on the Con- 

 tinent. By -and -by a small fourpenny book on 

 the subject fell from his pen, which received 

 no patronage. 



This little incident is mentioned to show what a 

 swarm or two of bees may do for a poor labourer. 

 Indeed, if there is anything more profitable to 

 cottagers living in the country or on the skirts of 

 towns, than a few swarms of bees, and can be more 

 easily managed by them, all we can say is, we have 

 never seen that thing, or known what it is. " Bees," 

 says Cobbett, " are of great use in a house, on account 



