ber PREFACE. 
for which he embraces this opportunity of re-. 
turning them his beft thanks. And here he 
cannot help mentioning a circumftance which 
he efteems peculiarly fortunate, as it intro- 
duced him to the employment and patronage 
of that refpectable patriot, the PRESIDENT OF 
THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE; whofe exer- 
ons for the improvement of his country, and 
eeneral benefit of fociety, far exceed his praife. 
One morning in autumn laft (1794) as the au- ° 
thor was carrying a few very fine honey combs, 
to a gentleman in the New Town, he was met 
by Sir John Sinclair, whom previoufly he did 
not know, * and was defired to bring to him 
fome of his fine honey next morning. This 
he accordingly did, and a converfation having 
enfued, refpecting the time he had {pent in 
the culture of bees, the number of hives he 
kept, &c. &c. he was defired by the public-fpi- 
rited Baronet to draw up a plan for the rearing 
of bees in a more extenfive manner: and the 
author having executed this tafk tothe beft of 
his 
* 
author to wait upon Sir Joyn Sriwnenare, and lay before him a 
plan for the rearing of bees; but diffdence always prevent 
ed him, and probably ever would, if Providence had not brought 
about the interview in fame fuch manner as the above-mentioned. 
About a year before this, feveral gentlemen had defired the _ 
a a 
