PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. xi 



intelligent and influential persons in this country will 

 become bee-keepers than has ever been the case before. 

 Our task would have lost half its interest did we not 

 hope that it would result in something beyond the en- 

 couragement of a refined and interesting amusement 

 for the leisurely classes. The social importance of bee- 

 keeping, as a source of pecuniary profit for small farmers 

 and agricultural labourers, has never been appreciated 

 as it deserves. Yet these persons will not, of them- 

 selves, lay aside the bungling and wasteful plan of 

 destroying the bees, or learn without being taught the 

 only proper method, that of deprivation. Their edu- 

 cated neighbours, when once interested in the pursuit, 

 will be the persons to introduce the more profitable 

 system of humane bee-keeping. The clergy especially, 

 as permanent residents in the country, may have great 

 influence in this respect. There is not a rural or 

 suburban parish in the kingdom in which bee-keeping 

 might not be largely extended, and the well-being of all 

 but the very poorest inhabitants would be greatly pro- 

 moted. Not only would the general practice of bee- 

 keeping add largely to the national resources, but that 

 addition would chiefly fall to the share of those classes 

 to whom it would be of most value. Moreover, in the 

 course of thus adding to their income, the uneducated 

 classes would become interested in an elevating and 

 instructive pursuit. 



It is curious to observe that honey, whether regarded 



b 



