iv PREFACE. 



were cut off); with this difference, that for all other stock 

 provision has been made to suit the change of circumstances, 

 but for bees no care has been manifested, hence they have been 

 steadily decreasing in numbers in the older settled parts of 

 our country, until the fact becomes apparent, that without a 

 change of policy in this direction they will eventually become 

 extinct; or at least prevent bee-keeping from assuming any 

 importance, because of its uncertainty. 



This state of facts led me to inquire, what could be done to 

 render bee-keeping as reliable and certain in its results as 

 other rural pursuits. Having examined all the works on bee 

 culture that I could procure (some of which were very valu- 

 able), all failed to point out a practical plan to feed bees, or 

 supply them with a uniform succession of flowers, or pasturage, 

 sufficient to keep them as prosperous as when wild flowers 

 abounded. We are told, it is true, to feed them a little in the 

 field to keep them from starving through the winter or early 

 spring; but they rather discountenance feeding for any other 

 purpose or providing pasturage with a view to keep them con- 

 stantly advancing from spring to fall. Being well assured that 

 it would pay better to keep bees employed from early spring 

 until fall, than to let them remain idle for want of something 

 to do, I adopted the plan of either feeding, as directed in the 

 chapter on feeding, or cultivated such crops as would furnish 

 them with abundant supplies. This plan I have practiced for 

 some time past both in Pennsylvania and California, to which 

 latter State, in connection with J. S. Harbison, of Sacramento 

 I made two large and successful shipments of bees. 



