30 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



get near enougli to touch the hem of the garment of the 

 industry of honey-hees. It is beyond our comprehension 

 or description. Fancy a large and prosperous hive, full 

 of combs, bees, and brood; fancy 20,000 little grubs 

 in this hive requiring constant attention and proper food, 

 and all receiving them in due season ; fancy the care and 

 diligence of the bees in mixing and kneading this food 

 before they give it to their young ; fancy 2000 of these 

 grubs daily requiring and receiving beautiful lids on their 

 cells to cover them up while they pass into the insect 

 form and chrj^salis state ; fancy 800 or 1000 square inches 

 of this brood being built up every tliree weeks. Try these 

 combs in the scales against a twenty-eight-pound weight 

 and see which conquers. Stand and look at that bee-hive, 

 and remember that all therein goes on with unerring 

 exactness and without light : then think of the untiring 

 energy and perseverance of the bees outside the hive — 

 ranging fields and woods from morn till dewy night, 

 gathering up the sweets and pollen of flowers, storing the 

 one in sacks, the other in baskets, returning to their home 

 laden as donkeys with panniers, increasing their honey 

 stores in weight from 2 lb. to 6 lb. per day, securely 

 locked up after it has been twice swallowed and dis- 

 gorged, and thus made into honey proper. Yes ; think 

 of all these things being done, together with nameless and 

 countless offices performed every hour, and methinks you 

 will be dumb with amazement at the industry of these 

 wonderful bees ! ! What a world of wonders is in a bee- 

 hive ! Bonny wee bees ! your own fanning wings will 

 drive from your hives scores of tons of the sweat of your 

 labours ere the imagination of the poet or the pen of the 

 historian can compass your industry ! 



Without any pretension to accuracy, and anxious to be 



