2 Introduction. 



their income and pleasure, will find here an ever waiting oppor- 

 tunity. To ladies, shut out from fresh air and sunshine till 

 pallor and languor point sadly to departing health and vigor, 

 and to men whose business precludes air and exercise, apicul- 

 ture cannot be too highly recommended as an avocation. 



WHO ARE SPECIALLY INTERDICTED. 



There are a few people whose system? seem to be specially 

 susceptible to the poison intruded with the bee's sting. Some- 

 times such persons, if even stung on the foot, wiU be so thor- 

 oughly poisoned that their eyes will swell so they cannot see, 

 and they will suffer with fever for days, and, very rarely, individ- 

 uals are so sensitive to this poison that a bee-sting proves fatal. 

 I hardly need say that such people should never keep bees. 

 Many persons, among whom were the noted Klein and Gunther, 

 are at first very susceptible to the poison, but if spurred on by 

 their enthusiasm they persist they will soon become so inoculated 

 that they experience no serious injury from the stings. It is 

 a well-recognized fact that each succeeding sting is less power- 

 ful to work harm. Every bee-keeper is almost sure to receive 

 an occasional sting, though with the experienced these are very 

 rare and occasion neither fear nor anxiety. 



INDUCEMENTS TO BEE-KEEPING. 



EECEEATIOJf. 



Among the attractive features of apiculture, I mention the 

 pleasure which it ofiers its votaries. There is a fascination 

 about the apiary which is indescribable. Nature is always 

 presenting the most pleasurable surprises to those on the alert 

 to receive them, and among the insect hosts, especially bees, 

 the instincts and habits are so inexplicable and marvelous that 

 the student of this department of nature never ceases to meet 

 with exhibitions that move him, not less with wonder than with 

 admiration. Thus bee-keeping affords most wholesome rec- 

 reation, especially to any who love to look upon the book of 

 nature and study the marvelous pages she is ever waiting to 

 present. To such, the very fascination of their pursuit is of 

 itself a rich reward for the time and labor expended. I doubt 

 if there is any other class of manual laborers who engage in 



