Modet'n Bee-Jceeping. 
113 
and many busy minds were occupied, not only in investigating 
the natural history of the Honey Bee, but in cultivating the 
Bee in habitations more suited to the increased quantity and 
improved quality of its Honey. Space is hardly available to give 
a history of all who in those days laid the foundations of the 
now fairly perfect system of Modern Bee-keeping. Huber, 
Reaumur, Bonnet, Bevan, Munn, Nutt, and others, all did work 
that prepared the way for the practical hives of Langstroth in 
America and of Woodbury in Great Britain. The perfecting of 
these Movable Comb Hives must be looked upon as the first 
great step towards success. For a long time, however, Bee- 
keeping was far more a hobby than a business. It is true that 
many enthusiasts took it up and, on a small scale, made it a 
great success ; but it was not until the Bee Keepers' Associa- 
tions were formed, and practical knowledge was diffused through 
their agency, that the art began to assume the proportions of a 
national industry. 
To the Americans belongs the credit of the origin of the 
movement. In the United States, Bee-keeping had already 
secured a hold upon the people when the Langstroth Hive was 
introduced. The Americans grasp new ideas much more quickly 
than we do, and it was the gigantic results achieved in California 
that opened our eyes to the possibilities of Bee-keeping as a 
great and profitable business. In California the Honey Bee 
was unknown, but, as the result of much persevering labour — 
for this was before the time of transcontinental railways — a few 
stocks reached there in 1850 via the Isthmus of Panama. 
They, or rather their immediate successors, sold at fabulous prices 
for a year or two ; but, in a land literally flowing with Honey, Bees 
multiplied in a way that Bee Keepers had never even dreamed 
of. As a matter of fact, the Honey overflowed from the Hives 
placed in the sage bush, so that in a very few years the hill-sides 
became dotted witji vast Bee Farms, which then were, and still 
are, the wonder of the world, for as yet they are unrivalled. A 
large export trade in liquid Honey was the natural consequence, 
and at first the produce came principally to this country. Now, 
owing to the excellent transit arrangements and the low 
freight rates, it nearly all goes to the Eastern States, where it is 
regai'ded as a high-grade product. 
The success achieved stimulated similar work elsewhere. 
Nearly all our Colonies took the matter up, and mai-ked success 
attended the efforts of Australia and New Zealand. Their 
product is now quite well known on our markets, and, on account 
of their favourable climates, they have been far more successful 
than we in this country. In Britain we can never expect to get 
VOL. II. T. s. — 5 ' I 
