THE APIARY 



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BEES, BEE-IIIYES, & BEE CULTURE. 



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There are two classes of persons for whom bee-culture should have 

 a strong interest, and two distinct purposes for which the pursuit 

 may be followed. First, there is the cottager or small farmer who, 

 in thousands of instances, might add considerably to his income by 

 bee-teeping ; and secondly, there is the man of " retired leisure " 

 and refinement, who, in tlie personal tendance of an apiary would find 

 an easy and interesting occupation, and one which could not fail to 

 quicken his faculties of general scientific observation. Moreover, in 

 contemplating the wonderful skill, industry, and prevision of his 

 insect artizans, the bee-keeper would find in his apiary constant 

 illustrations of creative wisdom. 



Amongst the humbler classes in the rural districts, the neglect 

 of bee-keeping is to be attributed to an exaggerated idea of the 

 trouble needful for the care of a few hives, and also to ignorance of 

 the easier and more profitable methods of modern management. Many 

 of the wealthier country or suburban residents, also, are averse to 

 the personal trouble which they fancy needful in keeping an apiary ; 

 and, perhaps, some gentlemen are more afraid than they would like 

 to own of that very efficient weapon of defence with which the 

 honey bee is provided. But the prejudices against bees are quite 

 unnecessary ; bees are as tractable as they are intelligent, and it is 

 the purpose of this little book to show that bee-culture is an easy 

 and safe, as well as a deeply interesting, pursuit. Possibly, also, 

 some who do us the favour to read our detailed explanations, will 

 see how the, rural clergyman, or the benevolent landlord, who keeps 

 an apiary of his own, may be of signal service to his poorer neigh- 

 bours in explaining to them the mysteries of bee-keeping. 



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