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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. DEPART3IENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



Division of Ento3iology, 

 Washington, 1). C, September 20, 1895. 



Sir: I have tlie honor to transmit herewitli the manuscript of a 

 manual entitled The Honey Bee: A Manual of Instruction in Apicul- 

 ture, by Mr. Frank Benton, who has been in charge of the apiarian 

 work of this division for several years. The constant demand for infor- 

 mation concerning bee culture has for a long time shown the need for 

 such a public manual, and the work was begun and nearly completed 

 under the direction of my predecessor, Dr. C. V. Riley. The delay in the 

 completion of the manuscript has been caused by the necessity of wait- 

 ing for the results of certain experiments, and by the time occupied 

 in the preparation of the numerous illustrations. 



The apiarian industry in the United States is practically a develop- 

 ment of the last forty years, although isolated individuals were engaged 

 in this work long prior to that time. The importance of the industry 

 at the present day is not generally realized, and the following figures 

 will probably be surprising to many well-informed individuals: 



Apiarian societies in the United States 110 



Apiarian journals 8 



Steam factories for the manufacture of beehives and apiarian implements. 15 



Honey produced in the United States in 1869 (according to United States 



Census Rejjort) pounds.. 14, 702,815 



Honey produced in the United States in 1889 (accordiag to United States 



Census Eeport) pounds.. 63,894,186 



Persons engaged in the culture of bees (estimated) 300. 000 



Honey and Avax i)roduced, at wholesale rates (Eleventh Census) $7, (X)0. 000 



Mr. Benton's estimate of the present annual value of apiarian products. $20, 000, 000 



As supplementary to these figures it may be stated that in addition 

 to the 15 steam power factories there is a very large number of smaller 

 factories, using mainly hand and horse power, which are engaged in the 

 production of sup])lies, such as hives, smokers, honey extractors, sec- 

 tions, comb foundation, and other ai)iarian apparatus. It is estimated 

 by Mr. Benton that the present existing fiora of the United States 

 could undoubtedly support, with the same average profit, ten times the 



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