802 THE HIVE AilD HONEY-BEE. 



comparatively isolated positions ? and, at this distance from the 

 scene it would obviously be impossible to give a, perfectly satis- 

 factory answer. 



" According to the statistical tables of the kingdom of Hanover, 

 the annual production of bees-wax in the province of Lunenberg 

 is 300,000 lbs., about one-half of which is exported ; and, assum- 

 ing one pound of wax as the yield of each hive, we must suppose 

 that 300,000 hives are annually ' brimstoned ' in the province ; 

 and assuming further, in view of casualties, local influences, un- 

 favorable seasons, &o., that only one-half of the whole number of 

 colonies maintained, produce a swarm each every year, it would 

 require a total of at least 600.000 colonies (141 to each square 

 mile) to secure the result given in the tables. The number of 

 square miles stocked, even to this extent, in this country, are, I 

 suspect, ' few and far between.' It is very evident that this 

 country is far from being overstocked ; nor is it likely that it ever 

 will be. 



* " A German writer alleges that ' the bees of Lunenberg pay all 

 the taxes assessed on their proprietors, and leave a surplus 

 besides.' The importance attached to bee-culture accounts, in part, 

 for the remarkable fact that the people of a district so barren, that 

 it has been called ' the Arabia of Germany,' are, almost without 

 exception, in easy and comfortable circumstances. Could not 

 still more favorable results be obtained in this country,' under a 

 rational system of management, availing itself of the aid of 

 science, art, and skill ? 



" But I am digressing. My design was, to furnish you with an 

 account of bee-culture as it exists in an entire district of country, 

 in the hands of the common peasantry. This, I thought, would be 

 more satisfactory, and convey a better idea of what may be done 

 on a large scale, than any number of instances which might be 

 selected of splendid success in isolated cases. — Very truly yours, 



"Rev. L. L. Langsthoth. Samuel Wagner." 



I am persuaded that, 'even in the poorest parts of New 

 England, there are but few districts which could not be 

 made to yield as large returns as the province of Lunen- 



