bee-keepek's manual. 125 



the instinct and nature of the bee unchangeable. 



There is not a solitary feature pertaining to the do- 

 mestic honey-bee of the United States, that is not found 

 just as fully developed in Siberia, Russia, China, Africa, 

 Greenland, or in any other part of the world. Kingdoms 

 may perish, and the giant oak may thrive amid the ruins 

 of cities now teeming with life and gaiety, but the in- 

 stinct and wisdom, and natural habits of the little bee, 

 implanted in hercensorium from the beginning of the 

 world, will stand as immutable as the great Creator of 

 all. Not all the art and genius of man can teach the 

 bee one jot or tittle of knowledge beyond what God has 

 given the impress of! Nor does she need man's wis- 

 dom. Perfect in every work, she stands forth an exam- 

 ple for man, at least in^her habits of industry. In her 

 architecture, no man can imitate her. From her un- 

 changeable course, that has marked her career since the 

 creation of the world, no power on earth can cause her 

 to deviate. The folly of man is now busy in prescribing 

 limits, in forcing her to act contrary to her wonted na- 

 ture, or rather surrounding her with useless contri- 

 vances, to force from her what nature has not bestowed 

 upon her, in great and extraordinary labors and products 

 of the mellifluous juices ; but it is all time spent in vain. 

 The honey-bee is capable of doing just so much, when 

 she has wherewithal to do with ; and it requires no 

 stimulus from man to bring her to her task. All that 

 man can do, is to give her a tenement suited to her 

 wants, and if the fields afford honey, she will gather it. 



