VI PREFACE. 



as shall distinguish it from every antecedent bee book, stamp it with 

 an identity of its own, and make it interesting and acceptable even to 

 the old-established bee keeper. While, however, some matters in this 

 book are undoubtedly new, (whether suggestions originating with, or 

 discoveries and improvements made by, -himself,) the author having 

 made a free use of every available theory, suggestion, or practice, 

 (from whatever quarter it came,) it follows that the greater part of 

 the volume is old matter, however it may have assumed a new shape. 

 His aim has been, first, to recommend a more systematic, and at the 

 same time improved, method of cottage bee management than at pre- 

 sent prevails ; and, secondly, to invite the attention of amateurs to his 

 own peculiar plan of managing bees on scientific principles, founded 

 en the considerable experience of nearly eight years, assisted by much 

 thought on the subject; and he belieyes there are many persons, who, 

 after a due consideration and trial of the system, (artificial though it 

 may appear,) will approve of it as being both simple and effectual, 

 and perhaps better calculated than most other systems, (in the hands 

 of an attentive and intelligent bee keeper,) to give satisfaction, as well 

 on the ground of economy as of profit. 



The fact is, although it may be said with reason that there never 

 was a time in the whole history of bee-keeping, at least in this coun- 

 try, when the pursuit has numbered so many votaries as at the pre- 

 sent moment — and certainly never did success promise so well to the 

 lover of bees, thanks to the facility with which every kind of informa- 

 tion on the subject is diffused through the medium of the press — the 

 author behoves that the science of practical bee management is yet 

 but imperfectly developed after all, compared with what it may yet 

 become, if our apiarians will only give it the time and attention which 

 it deserves. No practical results, for instance, have proceeded from, 

 at all commensurate with, the splendid discoveries of Huber, Reau- 

 mur, and Shirach, relative to the natural history of the bee ; and yet 



