X PEEFACE. 



We are under many obligations for the advice and assistance 

 that we have on many occasions received from Mr. T. W. 

 Woodbury, of Exeter, whose apiarian skill is unrivalled in this 

 country. Our acknowledgments are also due to Mr. Henry Taylor, 

 author of an excellent "Bee-Keeper's Manual," for his help 

 and counsel during the earlier years of our apiarian experience. 

 Both the before-mentioned gentlemen have freely communicated to 

 us their contrivances and suggestions, without thought of fee or 

 reward for them. In common with most recent writers on bee- 

 culture, we are necessarily largely indebted to the standard works of 

 Huber and succeeding apiarians. From the more recent volume of 

 the Rev. L. L. Langstroth we have also obtained useful information. 

 But having ourselves of later years had considerable experience in 

 the manipulation and practical management of bees, we are enabled 

 to confirm or qualify the statement of others, as well as to summarize 

 information gleaned from many various sources. We should state 

 that our thanks are due to Mr. W. Martin Wood, who has rendered 

 us valuable aid in the arrangement of this work. 



Let it be understood that we have no patented devices 

 to push : we are free to choose out of the many apiarian 

 contrivances that have been offered of late years, and we 

 feel perfectly at liberty to praise or blame as our experience 

 warrants us in doing. It does not follow that we necessarily 

 disparage hives which are not described herein ; we have 

 sought, as much as possible, to indicate the principles on which 

 good Jdves must be constructed, whatever their outward size or 

 shape. All tlirough the work, we have endeavoured to adopt the 

 golden rule of " submission to nature," by reference to which all the 

 fancied difficulties of bee-keeping may be easily overcome. In none 

 of the attempts of men to hold sway over natural objects, is the truth 

 of Bacon's leading doctrine more beautifully illustrated than in the 

 power that the apiarian exercises in the little world of bees. 



There are one or two literary peculiarities of tliis work to which 



