36 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



advanced state of agriculture and horticulture, is mainly 

 attributable to them. Apiarian Exhibitions form no 

 exception, an immense interest is excited in Bee-keeping, 

 and multitudes of persons have vowed to keep Bees, 

 pleased and astonished at sight of the wonderful supers 

 of honey, and the interesting practical demonstrations 

 of Bee management that are shown, where the Bees, 

 thanks to the skill, coolness, and courage of the manipu- 

 lators, seem to set aside all will of their own, obedient 

 only to that of their masters. The aim of the Asso- 

 ciation is, to make these Exhibitions Annual, and to 

 further, by a variety of other means, the advancement of 

 Bee-keeping, both as a Natural Science, and as a means 

 of bettering the condition of cottagers, and the agri- 

 cultural labouring classes, as well as the advocacy of 

 humanity to the industrious labourer, the Honey Bee. 

 The expenses naturally attendant on these efforts to do 

 good, although not heavy (no officers being paid), can 

 only be met by the addition of members to the ranks of 

 the Association, and the hearty co-operation of all Bee- 

 keepers. Let no one, therefore, stand aloof, but con- 

 tribute his mite both of money and goodwill to aid the 

 progression of Bee-keeping. 



Many persons reading my account of how the Bees 

 may be used will naturally feel surprised, and, perhaps, 

 doubt that their own courage or skill could ever arrive at 

 a point that would enable them to remove all the Bees 

 from a hive, shovel them up or drive them about wherever 

 they desire them to go, and will, perhaps, think they 

 might as well be told to enter a Hons' den and put the 

 noble beasts through their performances after seeing 

 the keeper do so. To those unaccustomed to Bees the 

 doubt is reasonable ; but there is no secret or charlatan- 

 ism in the matter. A certain amount of courage must 



