GENERAL REMARKS. 247 



facts connected with them?" Another infatuation is, 

 that you should on no account part with your bees for 

 silver money— only ior, gold.: This is so far sensible, 

 that it ensures a respectable price. Certain .credulous 

 bee-keepers.cannot,'on any account; be induceji to^part 

 with their i bees for. money; they will barter, but not sell, 

 — to sell bees is, in- their view, to lay themselves open to 

 evil fortune.' If these apprehensions are correct,- our 

 punishment will be a severe one, for we have been 

 great offenders in that way, and seem likely to go on 

 sinning. 



It is scarcely necessary to add that, with the increase 

 of education, such superstitions and fancies are becoming 

 less and less, and will soon, it is hoped, be ranked 

 amongst the follies of bygone days. 



The culture of bees would be greatly promoted if a 

 knowledge of it were considered necessary as one of the 

 regular qualifications of a gardener. So litfle . time is 

 needed to gain the skill requisite for the tendance of an 

 ajaary, that it seems only reasonable to expect it of a 

 well-taught gardener, and he should feel a pleasure in 

 the circumstance of its forming a part of his duties. ; In 

 Germany, where a country gentleman's table is kept 

 constantly supplied with fresh honey, the gardeners are 

 expected to understand the management of hives; and 

 in Bavaria, modem bee-culture is taught in the colleges 

 to all the horticultural students. Travellers in Switzer- 

 land will call to mind the almost invariable practice of 



