PREFACE. Vll 



derived. The second volume deals directly and 

 very fully with Practical and Commercial matters, 

 but always in the scientific spirit, for this separation 

 has been carried so far only as the convenience of 

 the reader seemed to demand — e.g., chemical and 

 chemico-physiological matters touching the nature 

 of honey — its value as a human food ; its adultera- 

 tion, and tests for the same ; artificial foods for bees, 

 and their essentials ; the characteristics of pure bees' 

 wax, and many other such, beside the highly im- 

 portant, and now extensive, question of Bee Diseases, 

 and their Treatment, the latter being necessarily 

 discussed in the light of the microscopical dis- 

 coveries, upon which all knowledge of the subject 



really rests. 



Investigators, discoverers, and inventors have been 

 duly credited, and all sources of information stated; 

 the works also, within the knowledge of the Author, 

 which might be useful to the reader desiring to 

 prosecute any special point, have had their titles 

 given in full in footnotes. 



While coveting for this effort the encouragement 

 which former ones have received, the Author desires 

 to acknowledge the assistance given by his Pub- 

 lisher, who has aided him in every endeavour to 

 make' " Bee-keeping, Scientific and Practical," worthy 

 of support; and to a loving Daughter, who has 

 read his proofs, it is a deep pleasure to express his 

 indebtedness. 



Avenue House, Acton, W., 

 January, 1886. 



