LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Division of Entomology, 
Washington, D. C, May 27, 1899. 
Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith for republication a manual 
entitled, The Honey Bee: A Manual of Instruction in Apiculture, by 
Mr. Frank Benton, who has been in charge of the apiarian work of this 
Division for several years. The constant demand for information con- 
cerning bee culture for a long time indicated a need for such a public 
manual, and the work was begun and nearly completed under the direc- 
tion of my predecessor, Dr. G. V. Kiley. The manuscript was sub- 
mitted September 20, 1895, and the edition of 1,000 copies was soon 
exhausted. In April, 1896, Congress ordered a reprint of 20,000 copies, 
in which sftine corrections and additions were made by the author. Lie 
has also taken advantage of the reprint of another (the third) edition 
to make some slight additional changes. 
The apiarian industry in the United States is practically a develop- 
ment of the last forty years, although isolated individuals were engaged 
in this work long prior to that time. The importance of the industry 
at the present day is not generally realized, and the following figures 
will probably be surprising to many well-informed individuals: 
Apiarian societies in the United States 110 
Apiarian journals 8 
Steam factories for the manufacture of beehives and apiarian implements. 15 
Honey produced in the United States in 1869 (according to United States 
Census Report) pounds.. 14, 702, 815 
Honey produced in the United States in 1889 (according to United States 
Census Report) pounds.. 63,894, L86 
Persons engaged in the culture of bees (estimated) 300. 000 
Honey and wax produced, at wholesale rates (Eleventh Census) $7, 000, 000 
Mr. Benton's estimate of the present annual value of apiarian products. $20. 000, 000 
As supplementary to these figures it may be stated that in addition 
to the 15 steam-power factories there is a very largo number of smaller 
factories, using mainly hand and horse power, which are engaged in the 
production of supplies, such as hives, smokers, honey extractors, sec 
tions, comb foundation, and other apiarian apparatus. It is estimated 
by Mr. Benton that the present existing flora of the United States 
could undoubtedly support, with the same average profit, ten times the 
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