LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY, 
Washington, D. C., September 20, 1895. 
Str: I have the honor to transmit herewith 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. Thedelay 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: 
Apiarianesocieties in<the United States... --..---25. ..s.2. 2--- 28 - e cles 110 
EST DDT ONT “TOUTE IS BS eS ae oe aa ag 8 
Steam factories for the manufacture of beehives and apiarian implements. 15 
Honey produced in the United States in 1869 (according to United States 
Cy ETD SITISY TES SY OO TER) SR ee So ae pounds... 14, 702, 815 
Honey produced in the United States in 1889 (according to United States 
Wena e MOR Mees esa. ch ee Le SU eee eetiode pounds.. 63, 894, 186 
Persons engaged in the culture of bees (estimated) -.-.......---.------. 300, 000 
Honey and wax produced, at wholesale rates (Eleventh Census) .--....-- $7, 000, 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 supplies, such as hives, smokers, honey extractors, sec- 
tions, comb foundation, and other apiarian apparatus. It is estimated 
by Mr. Benton that the present existing flora of the United States 
could undoubtedly support, with the same average profit, ten times the 
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