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AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
BEES, WAX, AND HONEY. 
BEE-CULTURE IN RUSSIA. 
The rearing of bees is extensively carried on in the several parts 
of European Russia, particularly in the central and southern gov- 
ernments, as well as in the Polish and in the trans-Caucasian pro- 
vinces. This insect acclimatises up to a very high latitude, even in Si- 
beria. It was long thought that the climate of the latter country 
was utterly unsuitable for the rearing of bees ; but experiments made 
at the commencement of the present century in the governments of 
Tomsk, Omsk, and Jenisseisk have proved the contrary. It lias 
greatly suffered, however, in some provinces, from the destruction of 
the forests ; for the bee prefers well wooded districts, where it is pro- 
tected from the wind. The honey procured from the linden tree 
(Tilia europcea) is only obtained at the little town of Ivowno, on the 
river Niemen, in Lithuania, which is surrounded by an extensive for- 
est of these trees, and where the rearing occupies the principal at- 
tention of the inhabitants. The Jews of Poland furnish a close imi- 
tation of this honey, by bleaching the common kinds in the open air 
during frosty weather. 
The ceremonies of the Greek church, requiring a large consump- 
tion of wax candles, greatly favor this branch of rural economy in 
Russia, and preserve it from the decline to which it is exposed in 
other countries, from the increasing use of stearine, oil, gas, and other 
fluids for illuminating purposes. The peasants produce wax so 
cheaply that, notwithstanding the consumption of this article has 
greatly diminished abroad, it still continues to form an important 
item of the commerce of the country ; but the exportation of honey 
has considerably increased in consequence of the extended use of potato 
syrup, which has also injured the honey trade in the interior. 
The rearing of bees is now almost exclusively dependent on the 
manufacture of candles for religious ceremonies, and on the consump- 
tion of honey during Lent, it being then used instead of sugar, by the 
strict observers of the fasts. The government encourages this branch 
of rural industry, as affording to the peasant an extra source of in- 
come and has adopted various measures for the accomplishment of 
this end. With the view of diffusing the requisite knowledge among 
the people of the public domains, bee-hives, and a course of practical 
instruction upon the subject of bee-culture, have been established at 
several of the crown farms, and pupils are sent every year, at the ex- 
pense of the government, to the special school in Tschernigow, 
founded for the purpose, in 1828. After having finished their studies, 
the pupils, quitting this establishment, may become teachers in the 
schools dependent on the Ministry of Domains, or carry on the busi- 
ness of teaching on their own account. They enjoy a temporary ex- 
emption from military service ; and such of them as wish to establish 
hives for themselves obtain loans for the purpose from the Depart- 
ment of Rural Economy. By way of further encouragement, the 
