Pleafure and Profit of bee ing Bees. % 
third for the Drones; an opinion, which the 
author of the following fheets will, he hum- 
bly hopes, prove to be erroneous. 
As in every undertaking there is fome lead- 
ing motive, which excites us to engage in it, fo 
the rearing of bees is attended with a degree 
both of profit and pleafure, highly deferving 
the attention of the philofopher, the gentleman- 
farmer, and the induftrious peafant. What 
is more pleafant, than to obferve the labours of 
a hive of bees in the fpring, when the days _ 
begin to Jengthen, and froft and fnow, like 
birds of darknefs, cannot bear the fun! Then 
thefe induftrious creatures begin to fly about, 
and dance and fing, rejoicing at the return of 
the genial feafon! ‘Then they reform what is 
amifs in the hive, and, as their family en- 
larges, they omit no opportunity of gathering 
in frefh provifion for their increafing young. 
In the honey feafon, how delightful to fee 
them hurrying in their yellow loads! How dili- 
gent they are to lay up provifion for the return- 
ing winter! View them in this finiling clover 
field, or yonder flowery mead! See how bufily 
they work! And hear how fweetly they fing ! 
How pleafant to behold a {warm of bees light- 
ly flying in the air, and darkening the heavens 
Awaz * with 
