Introduction. ix. 



INTRODUCTION. 



CHE Culture of Bees is one of the most healthful 

 occupations that can be named, and at the present 

 day it is being adopted as a business, while the 

 number of people in all ranks of life who keep only a few 

 hives as a pleasant pastime is very large, as may be judged 

 from the fact that the members of the various associations 

 in this country make up a total of many thousands. Con- 

 sequently, more honey being on offer, this matchless gift 

 of Nature has become much cheaper than it was a few 

 years since, when the supply was very limited. 



While an increased production has lowered the value, 

 there is at the same time a larger and increasing demand 

 for the bee-keeper's commodity ; and as he now has the 

 benefit of improved appliances there is no difficulty in 

 competing with present rates. In fact, it appears likely 

 that very soon it will not pay foreign cguntries to send 

 their honey here, as continued improvements are reducing 

 the cost of production at home. 



When honey was superseded by sugar, bee-keeping 

 seems to have fallen into the background, but after a time 

 light began to dawn, and some forty years since, by using 

 hives wherein all the combs could be removed separately 

 at will, a great stimulus was given to both practical and 



