NOTE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. 



The author gratefully acknowledges the kindly welcome 

 given to former editions of this work, and is pleased to 

 know that the perusal of its pages affords gratification 

 and encouragement to bee-keepers of every class. Every 

 week evidence of this fact is received. As the system 

 of management which it unfolds stands on the stable 

 foundation of experience, and has been successfully and 

 widely practised for half a century, there is no reason 

 to doubt that the work will long be considered a stand- 

 ard one, and a safe guide in bee-keeping. 



As there are other schools of apiarians, a Supplement 

 has been added to this edition. In this Supplement a 

 description of the best system of managing the bar- 

 frame hive and the Stewarton hive has been given. 

 The reader of this work will thereby have an oppor- 

 tunity of gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the 

 best systems of bee-management practised in Great 

 Britain. 



