80 THE PRODUCTION AND TRADE IN BEES'-WAX. 



wax imported into Java from, the islands of the Eastern Archipelago was 

 6,215 piculs of 133| lbs. each. 



In no country in the world do bees thrive better than in Van Diemen's 

 Land, or prove so productive with a trifling amount of attention — circum- 

 stances due, no doubt, to the mildness of the winter season, and the fact of 

 many Tasmanian plants blooming throughout the winter months. The bee 

 has now become naturalised in the forests, and many of the hollow trees 

 are filled with the produce of their labour. 



A correspondent in Nelson, New Zealand, thus reports upon one'season : 

 — " I commenced with six old stocks or hives. They began swarming on 

 the 5th of October, 1858, and finished on February 1st, 1859. From the 

 commencement of swarming till ending, they threw out thirty swarms. 

 The produce of honey is 800 lbs. of pure clear honey, 12 lbs. of wax, 

 and 12 gallons of comb washing, making excellent wine. I have seven 

 stocks in reserve for another season. Much I could say upon the culture 

 of bees ; but I am unwilling to trespass upon your time and space." 



The culture of the honey bee has annually increased in the southern part 

 of the Dominican Republic. What was formerly merely the pastime of a 

 few individuals, is now done on a much larger scale. This occupation suits 

 the character of the people : it requires no exertion or constant attention. 

 In 1848, the quantity of wax exported amounted to but 21,871 lbs. ; in 

 1855, 83,572 lbs. were exported, notwithstanding a hurricane in August of 

 that year committed fearful ravages amongst the apiaries. Besides the 

 83,572 lbs. shipped from the port of San Domingo, 68,571 lbs. was exported 

 from Puerto Plata, the whole being valued at £8,741. The wax is princi- 

 pally sent to St. Thomas, Curacoa, France, &c. The honey, amounting to 

 94,990 gallons, valued at £6,171, was exclusively shipped to the United 

 States. Adding to this the consumption of wax in the country itself, where 

 it is almost exclusively used in the interior for lighting the houses, as well 

 as for all religious ceremonies in the churches, it will not be overrated to 

 state that the industry of the honey bee has yielded to the Dominicary in 

 1855, £21,000. 



The average export of bleached wax from Havana in the four years 

 ending 1857 was 10,500 cwt., and of honey 2,000 tierces. The wax goes 

 chiefly to Mexico and Spain, and the honey to the United States and the 

 North of Europe. Bees'-wax is collected in considerable quantities in the 

 eastern districts of Yucatan, especially those parts which enclose the Bay 

 of Campeche. It is said to be much more difficult to bleach this wax than 

 that which is produced in Europe. In 1855, the whole product of honey 

 in the United States was estimated at sixteen million pounds, worth, at 7^d. 

 a pound, upwards of half a million sterling. Portugal produces 650,000 lbs. 

 to 700,000 lbs. A bee-keeper, in the province of New Brunswick, makes 

 the following remarks : — 



" The industry of the bee is proverbial, and it may be well for the 

 dronish portions of our race to witness their operations. They occupy a 

 field of labour which, were it not for them, would yield us no sweets. No 



