CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



PRELIMINARY NOTICES, RECOMMENDATORY OP COTTAGE AND AMATEUR BEE-KEEPING. 



Page 

 Origin of the -work — The study of bees has a moral tendency — Proper way to encour- 

 age cottagers in an improved method of managing bees — Opportunities within 

 reach of the country clergy of furthering this branoh of rural economy — Advan- 

 tage to themselves resulting from it — Peculiar difficulties of E nglish bee keepers — 

 Attention and perseverance the best remedy against them 1 



CHAPTER II. 



OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APIARY— CHOICE OF A SITUATION, AND REQUISITE'S FOR ITS 

 WELFARE . 



"What localities are favorable, or otherwise, to the production of honey — Rules to be 

 observed — Shelter from high winds and protection against damp — Importance of 

 coolness of situation — Internal heat alone productive of prosperity — Pedestals — Im- 

 portance of ascertaining the weight of every article of bee furniture— Distance at 

 "which hives should stand from each other — Height from the ground — Importance of 

 water — Danger arising from the neigborhood of ponds or rivers — Vermin and offen- 

 sive smells to be avoided — Advantage of low shrubs and a screen of trees in front of 

 the apiary — Proper standing ground — Injury arising from drippings of trees, &c— 

 Apiary should be out of sight of a public highway — But visible from the most fre- 

 quented part of the house -------- 7 



CHAPTER III. 



OF STOCKING THE APIARY, WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF STOCKS AND SWARMS. 



Purchase of swarms the cheapest — Best "way of commencing an apiary — Proper 

 weight and time of issue of •=• swarm — Importance of ascertaining the age 

 of the queen bee— Swarms from strong two-year-old stocks to be preferred, if they 



