! 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, April 14, 1857. 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
35 
i 
I 
; 
i 
i 
i 
i 
I 
Weather near London in 
1856. 
D 
M 
D 
W 
APRIL 14—20, 1857. 
Barometer. 
Thermo. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.& S. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
bf. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
14 
Tu 
Easter Tuesday. 
29 . 804 — 29.757 
58—42 
N.E, 
16 
8 a. 5 
52 a. 6 
0 
7 
20 
0 14 
104 
15 
W 
Box (Buxus sempervirens). 
30.058—29.859 
58—3 7 
• • 
— 
6 
54 
1 
10 
21 
0 a. 1 
105 
16 
Th 
Least Stitchwort (Sagina). 
30.110—30.180 
54—31 
• • 
— 
4 
56 
2 
1 
22 
0 16 
106 
17 
F 
Gromwell (Lithospertnum). 
30.139—30.113 
55—39 
• • 
— 
2 
57 
2 
38 
(fT 
0 30 
107 
18 
s 
Catch weed (AsperugoJ. 
30.103—30.058 
GO—31 
• • 
02 
0 
59 
3 
6 
24 
0 44 
108 
19 
Sun 
1st or Low Sunday. 
30.238—30.123 
49—25 
• • 
— 
IV 
VII 
3 
26 
25 
0 58 
109 
20 
M 
Oxlip (Primula elatior). 
30.269—30.209 
57—23 
•• 
— 
56 
2 
3 
42 
26 
1 11 
110 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last twentv-eieht vears. the avernc-e hirrhest nnrl Invest- 
temperatures of these days are 57.8°, and 36.3°, respectively. The greatest heat, 77' , occurred on the 19th, 
on the l6th, in I 847 . During the period 109 days were fine, and on 87 rain fell. 
in 1854; 
and the lowest cold, 20°, 
If we were asked what is the knowledge best calculated 
to render profit as well as pleasure to a country resident 
not actually a farmer ? we should reply, a correct know¬ 
ledge of gardening. If we were asked what is the 
next knowledge having a similar tendency ? we should 
reply, a correct knowledge of poultry-keeping; and if 
we were further asked to name the third description of 
knowledge we considered so tending to profit and 
pleasure, we should reply, a correct knowledge of 
BEE-KEEPING. 
It has been our good fortune to aid much in the 
diffusion of sound gardening and poultry knowledge. 
We have also done something in promoting an acquaint¬ 
ance with bee-keeping, but wo are anxious to do more. 
We all know Virgil relates how his Corycian peasant so 
managed that 
“ Earliest his bees new swarms unnumber’d gave, 
And press’d from richest combs the golden wave.” 
We wish to induce and aid our countrymen in doing 
likewise. 
One who formerly enriched our pages with his bee 
experience writes thus upon this subject:— 
“ I wish to induce all residents in the country, who have 
leisure and opportunity, to encourage bee-keeping among 
their poorer neighbours; and not with a view to their 'pe¬ 
cuniary advantage only, for the study of bees is capable of 
ministering to a much higher end. There is scarcely a more 
interesting branch of natural history to be mentioned, and 
none certainly more instructive. To quote the words of Dr. 
Bevan: ‘ In common with the other branches of natural 
history it leads to a salutary exercise of the mental faculties ; 
it induces a habit of observation and reflection; no pleasure 
is more easily attainable, nor less alloyed by any debasing 
mixture; it tends to enlarge and harmonise the mind, and 
to elevate it to worthy conceptions of nature and its Author.’ 
Every word of this is true. The rustic bee-keeper, if he have 
only a soul to appreciate the works of God, and an intelli¬ 
gence of an inquisitive order—and intelligence is sure to 
expand with the attentive study of any branch of natural 
history—cannot fail to become deeply interested in observing 
the wonderful instincts (instincts akin to reason) of these 
admirable creatures; at the same time that he will learn 
many lessons of practical wisdom from their example. 
Having acquired a knowledge of their habits, not a bee will 
buzz in his ear without recalling to him some of these les¬ 
sons, and helping to make him a wiser and a better man. 
It is certain that in all my experience I never yet met with 
a keeper of bees who was not a respectable, well-conducted 
member of society, and a moral, if not a religious, man. It 
is evident, on reflection, that this pursuit, if well attended 
to, must occupy some considerable share of a man’s time 
and thoughts. He must be often about his bees, which will 
help to counteract the baneful allurement of the village 
‘ public,’ with all its accompanying syren-like evils. Who¬ 
ever is fond of his bees is fond of his home : this is an axiom j 
of irrefragable truth; and it is an axiom that will be sure | 
to kindle in every true Englishman’s breast a favourable j 
regard for a pursuit, which, though humble, has undoubted 
power to produce so happy an influence. 
“ It is because I believe our rural clergy have it in their 
power more than anybody else to encourage this branch of 
rural economy that I have dedicated these pages especially 
to them. Owing to their continual residence within their 
parishes or cures, they have the best opportunities, both of 
acquiring themselves a thorough knowledge of the practical 
management of bees, and, at the same time, of recommend¬ 
ing it to the notice of their people by precept and example. 
Nor is it alone in respect of the more extended good which 
they may do to others that I would call tbeir attention to this 
subject, but also on account of the peculiar interest and 
pleasure which they themselves may derive from it. Inde¬ 
pendently of the interest which attaches to the apiarian art 
from economic considerations, and the pleasure of appro¬ 
priating to one’s own use the surplus produce of bee industry 
—a pleasure, by the way, of a very exquisite kind, as every 
bee-master will bear me witness—it merits, as a branch of 
natural history , the attention of every lover of nature, and 
the curious investigator of her secret things. There is still 
so much mystery attached to the habits of the bee, and 
especially to the internal economy of the hive, that the 
scientific study of these insects affords ample scope for much 
patient and hopeful research. Supposing, however, that the 
whole history of the hive-bee had been opened up so as to 
preclude the hope of further discovery, there is quite enough 
in the simple verification of the discoveries of others to in¬ 
terest and astonish the lover of nature. In every way, 
indeed, the study of bees is so fascinating and instructive, 
that I would gladly induce many of my brethren in the 
ministry to share its pleasures with me. 
“Having said thus much on the subject of bee-keeping 
generally, by way of recommending an increased attention 
to it, let me say a few words as to its difficulties. These 
certainly are neither few nor trifling, although perfectly easy 
of mastery by the patient, intelligent, and persevering bee- 
owner. The less he can lay claim to this complex character 
the greater of course will his difficulties become. But are 
not these qualifications considered necessary to success in 
every branch of rural economy—I may say, in every pursuit 
in life ? Did one ever hear of stupidity, sloth, or inattention 
succeeding in any enterprise of whatever kind ? The farmer 
who is content with an occasional stroll over bis fields, and 
a similar inspection of his yards and granaries, will in vain 
expect to thrive. Can we wonder at the ill success of an 
ignorant or negligent bee-keeper ? And yet how often is the 
expression of surprise heard from the lips of some individual 
who has started an apiary, that his bees have disappointed 
him; when, if particular inquiries were instituted into the 
cause of the disaster, ten to one it would be found that the 
hives had been left upnoticed from October to May, and 
from May to October! The management of bees, which 
always requires some delicacy, and not a little dexterity of 
treatment, assuredly demands no less attention and care 
than other matters of a similar nature. A considerable ap¬ 
prenticeship is necessary in order to obtain the mastery over 
it as a science. There is no ‘ royal road ’ to successful bee¬ 
keeping, as there is none in anything else. In his preface 
to his very useful book, Mr. Taylor has well styled the tyro j 
apiarian’s path, ‘usually a rough and uncertain one;’ so 
rough, indeed, and uncertain (chiefly owing to a lack oT 
care and pains), that three out of every five persons, who j 
take up this study even warmly, will be found to relinquish J 
No. CCCCXLYI. Vol. XV1IL 
