viii jeEEFACE. 



therefore, in this work to show how bees may be 

 kept with both profit and pleasure. In addition to 

 the profits of bees, there is a fund of interest and 

 enjoyment derived from keeping them, uplifting in 

 its nature and tendencies. One of the most pleas- 

 ing sights on earth is that of a son of toil, after the 

 labour of the day is done, taking a child in his hand, 

 and going to see his pig, or cow, or bees in his gar- 

 den. Who has not seen hundreds of working men 

 charmed beyond description in attending to their 

 bees or cows ! 



1 hold that all employers of labour would do well 

 to encourage their servants to spend their leisure 

 hours in a profitable way. 



A. PETTIGEEW. 



NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



The author gratefttUy acknowledges the many favourable notices 

 of the first edition of this hook by the press, and the kindly 

 reception it met with from the bee-loving community. 



More gratifying still are the statements and evidences of priv- 

 ate letters to the author. Hundreds of apiarians, in all positions 

 of society, are now masters of the art of bee-keeping, and are 

 successfully practising the system of management unfolded in 

 the pages of this work. 



He trusts that this edition will he found as useful as the first, 

 in giving its readers a firm grasp of the subject ; and that it will 

 encourage all who are seeking profit or honey from bee-keeping, 

 to carry into practice most of its lessons. 



