PAET SECOND. 



CHAPTER XII. 



REMARKS. 



A CONSIDERABLE portion of this work will now be de- 

 voted especially to the practical management of bees. 

 Every person who is at all acquainted with the writ- 

 ings of the present day on the honey-bee, will bear me 

 out in the assertion, that there is a perfect vacuum in 

 this, the most important branch of bee-culture. 



Where can the apiarian put his hand on a work that 

 throws aside the shroud, that like a dark pall, hangs over 

 the practical management of bees ? It is true, that the 

 world is well supplied with works professing to dis- 

 cuss this subject in all its ramifications ; but we look 

 and look in vain for aught save the stereotype opinions 

 and thoughts of a few master-spirits, who have given us 

 large volumes illustrating the physiology and natural 

 history of the bee, but when we ask, "where are the 

 rules laid down for the practical management of bees ?" 

 echo answers, "where ?" " How is this," exclaims one. 



