bee-keeper's manual. 117 



produce much larger profits if bestowed on the culture 

 of his bees. But bees are not to be looked after or 

 cared for. When their owner passes the hives, he barely 

 condescends to look at them, as if they were crying out, 

 " noli me tangere !" — Stand off! — Keep your distance, 

 ^ir !" This is not right. Every bee-keeper should cul- 

 tivate a better familiarity with his bees, and know at all 

 times their condition and their wants. The time neces- 

 sary for doing this is CQmparatively trifling. 



Indeed, the cultivation of bees may not only be made 

 a source of moderate profit in all cases, but when pro- 

 perly attended to, a fortune might be accumulated from 

 the labors of this insect alone ! 



CHAPTER XIII 



HIVES. 



During the last twenty years, many new and useless 

 bee-hives have been palmed off on the ignorant and too 

 confiding bee-keepers of our country. Men who have 

 had sufficient brains to devise some new plan and style 

 of hive that did not before exist — who never understood 

 !a single principle of the management of bees correctly, 

 have, by dint of unblushing falsehood and impudence, 



