DEPRIVATION PREFERABLE TO SUFFOCATION. 367 



tained a first swarm, as part of our stock for the ensuing 

 season, which, however, is to be deprived by us of a portion 

 of the store, but to be suffocated by M. La Grenee. We 

 will suppose that we preserve our hive for ten years, each 

 year yielding ten pounds of honey at the minimum ; we have 

 then in ten years obtained 100 pounds of honey from one 

 hive, whilst M. La Grenee has only received forty, inde- 

 pendently of all the swarms and the produce of them into 

 the bargain. 



From this calculation, the system of depriving the hives 

 is far preferable to that of suffocation. Were there a super- 

 abundance of hives in this country, the suffocation of the 

 supernumerary ones might be an act of policy, but until the 

 culture of the bee is more encouraged in this country, the 

 annual destruction of hives is a direct national evil, and every 

 means ought to be adopted to check the practice of it, 



