302 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
comparatively isolated positions ? and, at this distance from the 
scene it would obviously be impossible to give a perfectly satis¬ 
factory answer. 
“According to the statistical tables of the kingdom of Hanover, 
the annual production of bees-wax in the province of Lunenberg 
is 300,000 lbs., about one-half of which is exported ; and, assum¬ 
ing one pound of wax as the yield of each hive, we must suppose 
that 300,000 hives are annually ‘ brimstoned’ in the province; 
and assuming further, in view of casualties, local influences, un¬ 
favorable seasons, &c., that only one-half of the whole number of 
colonies maintained, produce a swarm each every year, it would 
require a total of at least 600,000 colonies (141 to each square 
mile) to secure the result given in the tables. The number of 
square miles stocked, even to this extent, in this country, are, I 
suspect, 1 few and far between.’ It is very evident that this 
country is far from being overstocked; nor is it likely that it ever 
will be. 
“ A German writer alleges that ‘ the bees of Lunenberg pay all 
the taxes assessed on their proprietors, and leave a surplus 
besides.’ The importance attached to bee-culture accounts, in part, 
for the remarkable fact that the people of a district so barren, that 
it has been called 1 the Arabia of' Germany,’ are. almost without 
exception, in easy and comfortable circumstances. Could not 
still more favorable results be obtained in this country, under a 
rational system of management, availing itself of the aid of 
science, art, and skill ? 
“But I am digressing. My design was, to furnish you with an 
account of bee-culture as it exists in an entire district of country , 
in the hands of the common peasantry. This, 1 thought, would be 
more satisfactory, and convey a better idea of what may be done 
on a large scale, than any number of instances which might bo 
selected of splendid success in isolated cases.—Very truly yours. 
“ Rev. L. L. Langstroth. Samuel Wagner ’ 
I am persuaded that, even in the poorest parts of New 
England, there are but fetv districts which could not he 
made to yield as large returns as the province of Liuien- 
