I* R, E F" .4. C E . 



One "who for thirty-five consecutive years has succeed- 

 ed in keeping bees, and has been able, most of that 

 time, to count his stocks by hundreds, can hardly fail to 

 furnish something from his experience, that will be bene- 

 ficial and interesting to others ; and he will doubtless be 

 pardoned for attempting to teach those who may desire to 

 avail themselves of his knowledge, and thus avoid the 

 tedious process of acquiring it for themselves. 



Twelve years ago the author explained some of the 

 " Mysteries of Bee-keeping," to the public. The simple, 

 practical and comprehensible instructions given, have met 

 with abundant favor among old practical bee-keepers, and 

 interested thousands who are now keeping bees with de- 

 cided success. 



The greater number of bees kept, the increased quantity 

 and improved appearance of the honey in our markets, 

 encourage the belief that many who have at present no 

 adequate conception of the immense annual waste of this 

 delicious production, may yet be induced to make an ef- 

 fort to save a still greater proportion of it. It will 

 not be pretended that such immense numbers of bees may 

 be kept in any particular section of the United States, 

 as are reported to prosper in some parts of Europe, (2000 

 hives to the square mile,) but no one will deny that hun- 

 dreds of thousands of stock might be profitably added to 

 the present amount. It has been estimated that on an 

 average, every acre will produce its pound of honey. 

 New York alone contains 30,000,000 acres. Shall we 

 Bufier this enoftnous loss of the gifts of a beneficient Crea- 



