IV PREFACE. 



influence in this respect. There is not a rural or 

 suburban parish in the kingdom in which bee-lieeping 

 might not be largely extended, and the well-being of all 

 but the very poorest inhabitants would be greatly pro- 

 moted. Not only would the general practice of bee- 

 keeping add largely to the national resources, but that 

 addition would chiefly fall to the share of those classes 

 to whom it would be of most value. Moreover, in the 

 course of thus adding to their income, the uneducated 

 dasses would become interested in an elevating and 

 instructive pursuit. 



It is curious to observe that honey, whether regarded 

 as a manufactured article or as an agricultural product, 

 is obtained under economical conditions of exceptional 

 advantage. If regarded as a manufactured article, we 

 notice that there is no outlay required for "labour," nor 

 any expense for " raw materiaL" The industrious 

 labourers are eager to utilize all their strength : they 

 never " combine " except for the benefit of their master, 

 they never " strike " for wages, and they provide their 

 own subsistence. All that the master-manufacturer of 

 honey has to do financially is, to make a little outlay 

 for "fixed capital" in the needful "plant of hives " 

 and utensils— no "floating capital" is needed. Then, 



