PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION. 



It is well known to those familiar with the previous 

 editions of this work, that Mr. Quinby wrote and offered 

 it to the public, witli a hope of awakening a clearer con- 

 ception of the immense quantities of honey annually pro- 

 duced by the bloom of field and forest, and of utilizing 

 these hitherto undeveloped resources, by encouraging a 

 more general adoption of bee-keeping as a pursuit. 



The figures which he gave at that time, seemed incredi- 

 ble to the uninformed, yet he lived to see his own expec- 

 tations more than realized, in the rapid progress that has 

 since been made. 



During the latter years of his life, he was particularly 

 anxious to embody his ripest experience, and most impor- 

 tant discoveries, in a new and thorough revision of his 

 book ; and had his life been prolonged a few years, this 

 work would have been done by his own hands. 



Encouraged by the publishers, and inspired by the 

 wish to fulfill his desire to keep step with the progress of 

 his beloved pursuit, I have endeavored to prepare this 

 revision, and compile the results of his experience ; and 

 thus, so far as lies within my power, carry out his idea 

 of still farther elevating bee-keeping to the honorable po- 

 sition it deserves, as a scientific calling. 



1 have thought it desirable to retain, as far as possible, 

 Mr. Quinby's original language upon points which he 

 developed with much clearness, and in which but little, 

 if any, advance has since been made. This is but just to 

 him, when we remember how indefatigable and painstak- 

 ing he was, in his efEorts to arrive at the exact truth, 

 when he was not only unaided by any of our modern fa- 

 cilities for investigation, but rather, was impeded by all 

 the obstacles which popular ignorance and current preju- 

 dice could present. 



I have been unable to reproduce literally much of his 

 later writings on topics of recent development, as they 



XI 



