46 
chapman’s iiandy-book. 
continued popularity with his apiarian family. 
The Profits of Bee-keeping 
Is estimated by the editor of the Family Economist to a 
cottager at from £10 to £15 a year. Eev. J. or. oo 
says he made £20 a year for three years, and that another 
person cleared £100 by bees. He says that 50 or 60 lbs. 
of honey have frequently been taken from a single aivo 
in a season, and occasionally as much as 100 lbs. One 
writer recommends the Polish hive as being less expen¬ 
sive and more profitable, less scientific, less artificial, but 
more agreeing with the natural habits and lav s of the 
bees. As a proof of the superiority of the Polish method 
in the management of bees, he says where are the cot¬ 
tagers of any other country of Europe who earn every 
autumn from 5 to 20 barrels of 400 to 500 lbs. each of 
pure honey, and from 50 to 200 lbs. wax; and Mr. 
Cotton goes on to say that the increase from a single 
stock in New Zealand in four years, was : 
The first year. 31 lbs. 
Second year . 205 lbs. 
721 lbs. 
1211 lbs. 
Third year. 
And fourth year . 
Or, 2168 lbs. in four years. 
If this, the produce of a single hive, does not make 
English bee keepers open their eyes with astonishment, 
I shall be surprised. It certainly should encourage New 
Zealand bee masters to study the gentle craft. 
When our woods are fully peopled, then will be the 
time for honey without stint, and wax in such plenty as 
to become an article of export. The maories make 
capital bee hunters ; their accurate power of observation 
exactly fits them to track a bee to its home; and their 
ingenuity, to adopt the best method of preparing honey 
and wax. We have hollow trees in abundance. 
