THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE, 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRO DUCTORY. 



The subject of Bee culture is one that should occupy a far 

 more prominent position than it at present does, in the do- 

 mestic economy of the farmer. When successfully conducted, 

 the management of these interesting insects becomes a source of 

 pecuniary profit ; and to be a successful cultivator requires only 

 a very moderate degree of care and attention : let it be remem- 

 bered that the first outlay in procuring a swarm, and providing 

 suitable accommodation in the shape of hives or bee-boxes, is the 

 only expense to be incurred ; while the return, yielded by each 

 honey harvest, is very considerable, and to be regarded as clear 

 gain. 



In order to give the reader some idea of the profit which may 

 accrue from bee-keeping, under favorable circumstances, I may 

 mention a statement of the late Mr. Nutt, relative to the quantity 

 of honey taken by him from one set of collateral boxes, in a 

 single season, viz : 183 lbs. 5 oz. 



This statement has surprised many, and its accuracy has been 

 doubted by some bee-keepers ; and it certainly does, at first 

 sight, appear startling. A correspondent informed me that he 

 had last season, and one considered a bad one for bees, taken 

 102 lbs. of honey from two sets of boxes, and that he might 

 have taken, perhaps, 10 lbs. more, without impoverishing the 

 bees. The writer on Bees in the " Naturalists' Library," details 

 the quantity taken from cottage hives in one season at about 10 

 lbs. from each hive. This is a very low average, however, and 

 it has reference to a single deprivation only, as well as to a very 

 imperfect description of hive. It is not my intention to exhibit 

 the advantages of keeping bees on old and erroneous, and, I 



