68 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



numlDer of tons of carbonic acid gas constantly passing ojff 

 into the atmosphere was named, a number great enough 

 to quicken the attention of all sanatory reformers, and the 

 movements of the Corporation of Manchester. But who 

 can accurately weigh or number the millions upon mil- 

 lions of pounds of honey that pass away (ungathered by 

 bees) into the atmosphere? Who can estimate the mil- 

 lions of pounds worth of honey thus wasted on the 

 " desert air " 1 



Suppose a mild form of mania were to seize the railway 

 porters of the wayside stations of the various railway 

 companies of this country ; and suppose it were to run in 

 the direction of bee-hives. Well, what then? There 

 can be no better position for bees than the banks of our rail- 

 ways. If fifteen hives were placed on an average per mile, 

 how'much income would be derived ? At the rate of only 

 one pound per hive annually (about one-half the usual 

 rate), 500 miles would return £7500 yearly. If our 

 worthy porters were to receive Christmas presents to the 

 tune of £15 per mile of line, they would doubtless be 

 pleased and fuU of gratitude ; but if the money were to 

 come from bees, and a little attention given to them, they 

 would be equally enriched in purse, and probably much 

 more so in mind, by their uplifting acquaintance with the 

 industry and economy of honey-bees. " A land flowing 

 with milk and honey " is this England of ours. Cows we 

 keep to yield the milk : bees are either not kept or greatly 

 mismanaged ; hence the honey is not gathered. 



But is it not possible to overstock a given locality or 

 parish with bees ? Yes ; though we have never known 

 one overstocked. We have known from fifty to one hun- 

 dred hives standing in one garden, the stronger of which 

 gained from 2 lb. to 5 lb. per day in fine weather. If 



