THIS work is not a speculative or philosophical treatise on bees. Its main interest consists in its usefulness; and its author's greatest reward will be the greatest measure of his success in promoting among cottagers and others a means of paying their rent, at once interesting, civilising, and remunerative. Next to this, I hope I may contribute toward the extinction of the savage and unprofitable, but almost universal, habit in this country of burning the bees with sulphur in August, in order to collect honey richly flavoured, and much deteriorated by sulphurous acid. It is a fundamental principle in my bee-management, that no bee shall be burned, or, if possible to avoid it, crushed or killed. No man deserves the name of a Bee-master, or should attempt to keep bees, who has not resolved, with all his might, to avoid bee-murder. Bee-cide, like homicide, may accidentally occur, but it must be accidental, not designed and culpable. That system of management which combines the safety and health of the bees, with the production of the largest amount of pure honey available to the proprietor, while providing generously for the inmates of the hive during the winter months, deserves the greatest patronage.
I.-BEE-KEEPING MONEY-MAKING.
WE live in a practical age. Proposals of all sorts are too often, right or wrong, weighed against gold:—"How much will it bring? Can I turn a penny by this business?" I do not pretend to say bee-masters are rich men, or that the way to a fortune is through a bee-hive; but I do assert that a poor parish minister, vicar, or curate with a little glebe—a cottager who works all day for the squire—or maiden ladies who desire to engage in very delightful and loving labour—may add to their little income or stipend or dividend from ten to twenty pounds a year. To half-pay officers I would earnestly recommend bee-keeping. It would keep them out of those wild speculations into which, from their inexperience in business matters, they are so frequently and ruinously drawn, by giving them an interest, which would soon become a passion, in studying and conferring with a new family, besides yielding them a few spare sovereigns for personal use or charity. For white cells filled with honey in glasses—than which nothing more elegant or picturesque can be placed on a breakfast-table—one can obtain in June two shillings, and even two shillings and sixpence, a pound. For honey later in the season one and sixpence a pound may be easily had; and where the proprietor prefers to be his own consumer, he may dispense with bacon and butter, and take what is far more wholesome—honey—at breakfast. It is a fair average to calculate on fifteen pounds of surplus produce from each hive, if properly attended to. I do not see why our country should not be a "land flowing with milk and honey," or why we should import so much honey and wax from abroad, exporting good money in return, when so many flowers lift their beautiful blossoms, waiting and longing to be kissed and rifled by visitors they love so well. It should not be forgotten, too, that bees do immense good to flowers; some think they introduce one to another, and celebrate the marriage of the flowers. This, however, is certain: flower-gardens are immensely benefited by bees, and therefore every lover of flowers and proprietor of gardens should never drive away or destroy a bee; for the visitor is not only collecting honey for his bee-master, but adding to the variety, fragrance, and beauty of the flowers of their owner.
