rnEFACE. vii 



that in almost every case the fruit trees are laden with 

 heavy crops, while they will observe as they get farther 

 from the vicinity of the apiary (supposing that not very 

 many bees are kept in the country around) that the fruit 

 crops steadily deteriorate. The proof, to me at any rate, 

 has been indisputable, and I hope that it may be so to 

 many others ; for I am convinced that, so soon as bee- 

 keepers and fruit-farmers begin to recognise the import- 

 ance of the one industry in relation to the other, more 

 prosperous times will be in store for each, and we shall 

 not only hear of better fruit-harvests, but of larger 

 returns of honey also. 



Thus, by making bee-keeping and fruit-growing 

 really profitable industries, may we hope to success- 

 fully vie with foreign competition, and produce in 

 larger quantities in our own , country two commodities 

 — ^frnit and honey — which at present we largely import 

 from abroad. 



G. GORDON SAMSON. 



BOUBNEMOUTH, 



May 1892. 



Note. — The Author has to acknowledge his indebtedness to 

 Mr. T. W. Cowan, F.L.S., Author of The British Bee-Keepers' 

 Guide Book, for allowing the use in this volume of five of the 

 illustrations— namely, Figs. 27, 29, 31b, 32, and 37b. 



