PREFACE. | Vil. 
rious {pecics of muftard, and plants of a fi- 
milar kind, found ftill in our corn fields, to- 
gether with the vaft abundance of heath, that 
grows {pontaneoufly on our extenfive moors and 
hills, we may juftly fay, how large and nume- 
- rous are our pafture grounds, but how very | 
few are our flocks to feed on them! 
A judicious author juftly obferves, that the 
culture of bees is a branch of rural ceconomy, 
the more valuable, that it is within the reach 
of the pooreft cottager, and requires neither 
plowing, manure, cattle, nor rich meadows, 
All that is wanted, is a {mall degree of attend- 
ance, which may be given by the meaneft, as 
it is requifite only for a fhort time ; and there- 
fore the plentiful harveft of honey and wax 
that is produced, may be confidered as fo ma- 
ny RICH CROPS REAPED WITHOUT SOWING. 
As nothing is fo hurtful to bees as bad wea- 
ther, fo nothing can be fo little counteracted ; 
although even the bad effects of it may, in 
fome meafure, be prevented ,; for, we can pre- 
‘ferve our bees in cold and fnowy winters, by 
confining them ; and, in a late fpring, or rainy 
fummer, we can preferve them from famine, by 
feeding them properly. But, even in the moft 
unfavourable weather, I never defpond; for 
I 
