The management of bees : with a description of the "ladies' safety hive"

Preface

Prefatory remarks are generally written by the literary father of a new publication, to ensure a favourable reception, whether he rank as author, editor, or compiler; and though one may condemn the practice,—another praise it as a customary tribute to public taste,—and a third cringe to his readers, hoping by such fulsome means to ensure their good feeling; all three attempt to disguise the fact, that they depend on their preface to produce a favourable effect upon the public mind, not considering that most of their readers are as acute as them¬ selves. A courageous man needs not make a parade of his magnanimity,—he cannot be a coward; while another

Must whistle as he goes,

To keep his courage up.

As for myself, I do not affect to be regard¬ less of public applause;—I write this preface to b

PREFACE.

ensure a reading to my book. It is true, I am not, strictly speaking, either author, editor, or compiler, but tria juncta in uno —part author, part editor, and part compiler, and as such, am not ashamed to avow that I am indebted to more heads than one in the production of this little volume.

From my earliest youth, works on natural history have been my chief reading; often while at home during my vacations, and afterwards during my apprenticeship, have I spent the saved-up shilling to run into one of the rooms of the old menagerie in Exeter ’Change, and there waited until half afraid “ the man in the beef¬ eater’s coat,” as he came round, from time to time, to name the peculiarities of each beast to renewed parties, would “ suit the action to the word,” and send me off roughly. Every oppor¬ tunity to witness collections of living specimens from that time to the present has been em¬ braced with equal avidity. Since those boyish days, the Zoological Society have opened their gardens in the Regent’s Park, and Mr. Cross has removed his animals from the dungeons in Exeter ’Change, to a commodious situation on the Surrey side of the Thames ; and a taste for

PREFACE.

VU

the study of animated nature generally, seems to have pervaded the land.

From general study, the mind gradually con¬ centrates its energies to one object; and I found myself most interested in Bees. During my researches into the modes of management suggested and worked by different individuals, I was struck with the disregard shewn to the habits and instincts of these insects, and the causes of failure, which might be attributed rather to inefficient sources of instruction than any thing else; when my attention was drawn to Mr. Nutt’s hives and his new mode of ventilation.

I read the chief of the old authors, and having heard many of their systems made the subject of conversation, the idea struck me that a small volume, comprising a succinct ac¬ count of each real or fancied improvement, with a few practical remarks, deduced from the natural history and propensities of the bee, might prevent many persons from commencing bee-keeping by imperfect methods, and thus avoid much disappointment. A clear exposition of errors generally leads to improved practice.

The translator of Huber, when he wrote his preface to the work of that indefatigable naturalis t viii

PREFACE.

on bees, felt as I do; for he says, “ The cultiva¬ tion of bees forms a branch of rural economy which may be carried to a very great extent. It is greatly to be regretted, that there is no general treatise embodying all the facts already ascertained from undoubted observations. This would form a guide to those who would enter upon it as an object of importance, because the real utility to which all animals may ultimately be converted, depends solely on an intimate acquaintance with their nature.”

Where possible, an apiarian’s own description of his hive has been preferred, rather than run the risk of inadvertently misrepresenting his system. I have paid little regard to dates in my work; but have endeavoured to present hives and practice in the order in which I con¬ ceive they demanded attention. Having already avowed my intention in writing this preface, I need not cloak the fact, that, by describing my Ladies’ Safety Hive last, I consider it to be that which claims notice for the ease with which the following desiderata in bee-management may be embraced, viz.—-cool store-room—pre¬ vention of swarming—easy method of taking honey—promotion of swarming when wished— perfect inspection of the whole hive—protection from wet in the open air—and a method of feeding in the severest weather without exposure to cold.

By the introduction of a profusion of woodcuts amongst the letter-press, the descriptions are rendered much clearer; and I am much in¬ debted to my wood-engraver, Mr. D. Dodd, for his personal attention to the drawings, and the care he has manifested to present them in the most favourable point of view.

I felt it was very desirable to give a faithful portrait of the three sorts of bees, as seen after fumigation, that those to whom the Queen is not familiar may distinguish her at a glance; while those who wish to study the points of dissimilarity more easily may do so in the mag¬ nified specimen. To Mr. Charles M. Curtis, entomological draughtsman, my especial thanks are due for the very prompt and clever manner in which he executed the original drawings of the bees, from life, and subsequently super¬ intended the engraving. When the coloured frontispiece is first used at a fumigation, a piece of paper should be laid over the magnified bees, to keep the eye familiar to the natural size

PREFACE.

which appears smaller than the original, in con¬ sequence of their j uxtaposition.

The price of my volume is high, compared with the sizes of many now on sale; but if my readers will examine the elaborate colouring of the frontispiece, and count the cuts interspersed throughout the volume, they will perhaps acquit me of selfishness.

One word for myself: I follow the profession of a printer; and while my earliest and latest hours have been spent with my bees, or for them, my days are devoted to the use of the public and the acquisition of an honourable income.

One word to reviewers: should you, my wor¬ thy gentlemen, have a hankering to pull my book to pieces, do so as tenderly as you can. Honey-comb cannot be handled very roughly without spilling the honey, and few combs can be found, where the bees have been industrious, without some honey in them : but while I draw a simile favourable to myself from the produce of my hives, let me not forget that every labour¬ ing bee is an emblem of a reviewer; who, while he carries a sting, uses it only to repress igno¬ rant prying or boisterous intrusion—and devotes

PREFACE.

xi

his more noble energies to the extraction of whatever is valuable in flowers—whether bee-bread to feed the young—honey to sustain fullgrown population—propolis to stop out insects —or royal jelly for the production of new queens. The application I leave in the hands of the critic. I have endeavoured to make my work interesting; and if I have failed to do so, be pleased to lay the blame upon me, and not on the study.

One word for another work : in the course of my researches, I bought a volume on bees, written by Mr. Samuel Purchas, in 1657 , at the end of which he has annexed Meditations, drawn from similes of the bee, taken from a multitude of olden authors, and collected by him. They are so very excellent that I have reprint¬ ed most of them, and headed each meditation with a text of Scripture. They are published in a separate volume, under the title of “ Spiri¬ tual Honey from Natural Hives.” As it cor¬ responds in size with this work, the reader may bind the two together; but as it is exclusively devotional, my publishers sell them separately unless specially ordered.

A common error in most of the old authors

PREFACE.

XII

was a repeated introduction of political allusions. I have avoided such extraneous matter, as much from a conviction of its entire uselessness in such a work as this, as from a personal dislike I entertain to such discussions.

I now commit my work to the public ordeal, to make its own way; but I hope often to be known in one of my characters, either as a prac¬ tical Typographer or devoted Apiarian, and subscribe myself as such,

Samuel Bagster, Jun.

14, Bartholomew Close, London.

Chapter I. On The Simplification Of The Process Of Managing Bees

Preliminary Observations—Causes of frequent failure— Misapplied parsimony of country people—Proper food for bees—Disadvantages attendant on the old cottage system— Present and former methods of taking honey—Plan and de¬ sign of this volume—Acquaintance with diffuse disquisitions not essential to practical cultivation of the science—Detracting spirit of authors with regard to their fellow-candidates for public approbation—Valuable discoveries ofMr. Nutt—General scarcity of works on bees—Invitation of the fair sex to the study—Perseverance indispensable—A record of daily prac¬ tice recommended.

Chapter II. Natural History Of The Bee

Extended scientific description of the queen-bee, drones, and workers—Kirby and Spence’s Introduction to Entomology

Different sorts of working bees — Curious discovery of M lle - Jurine and consequent conjectures by various natural¬ ists—Banishment of superannuated bees from the hive—Ex¬ traordinary exertion of instinct on the death of the queen— Selection and education of young workers to occupy the vacant throne—Enclosure of the larva in a royal cell— Different food prepared for its maintenance—Astonishing transformation resulting from this process — Experiment of Reaumur in confirmation of the fact—Period of existence in the preparatory state of the females, males, and workers— Coccoons spun by the queen different from others, and why — 1 Hahits, propensities, and functions of the queen—Instinctive enmity towards the rival queens—Remarkable fact related by Huber—The right of succession determined by single combat —Nurture of young queens for leading a swarm—Loyalty and attachment of the bees to the person of their sovereign—

Different periods of oviposition—The drones, or male bees_

Period of their slaughter and method of killing them—Differ¬ ent fate in hives containing a queen imperfectly fertile—Con¬ jectures as to the reason of this—The working bees—Their constant activity in collecting honey, propolis, and wax— Description of the organs by which the operation is performed

—Their discrimination and avoidance of poisonous flowers_

Time of collecting pollen—Direct flight of bees—Method practised in New England to discover their nests—Constant and instinctive cleanliness—Their nature and economy, not¬ withstanding many circumstances still inexplicable, suffi¬ ciently known to attest the glory and wisdom of the Great Creator.

INDEX.

XV

Chapter III. Cottage System Explained

Obstinate pertinacity of rustic bee-masters in continuing their antiquated practice—Original form of hives—Directions for the selection of stocks—Methods proposed for their re¬ moval on being purchased—Rural plans for sheltering hives —Bee-houses—Disadvantages connected with their use.

Chapter IV. On The Storifying System; Or, Placing One Vessel On Another

Inhuman method of taking the honey formerly practised— A preferable plan by the use of a glass, explained and recom¬ mended—The eke, a temporary addition to the straw hive— Super-hiving and nadir-hiving—Increased heat the cause of swarming—Thorley’s experiment—Various methods of storifying adopted by apiarians—Opinion of Keys—Advantages of the method adopted by that writer—Indications for storifying stocks—Mode of replenishing stocks—Intrusion of interlopers on the death of a queen, with its remedy—Effect of very sultry weather on the combs—Keys’ bee-boxes— Improvement suggested by Dr. Bevan—Keys’ dividers— Palteau’s hive—Recommendation of it by Bose—Extract from Dr. Reid.

Chapter V. The Principles Of Storifying Examined

The bees a united commonwealth, each alike animated with a zeal for the public welfare—The principle of an even tern-

INDEX.

perature common to all storified hives—Objections to the various systems of storifying practitioners—The bees thereby inconvenienced, and the collection of honey impeded—Im¬ purity of the honey thus obtained—Ventilation indispensable to their successful management—Observations of Swammer¬ dam and Maraldi—Storied hives no protection against the moth—Disadvantageous effects of the stories being but partially elevated.

Chapter VI. On Collateral Bee-boxes

Mr. White’s hive—Directions as to its construction— Madame Vicat’s knowledge and experience in apiarian science —Description of her hive—The hive of Gelieu—Inconvenience of the various modes, which, though certain improvements on former usage, will not compensate for additional expense— Great attention to the nature and habits of bees necessary.

Chapter VII. The Hive Of Hdish Described

Courage much boasted of by bee-masters in general,— indispensable to those who use Mr. Huish’s hive—Minute description of its form and management—Dr. Bevan’s doubts of its practicability—Anecdote of a celebrated physician.

INDEX. xvii

Chapter VIII. On Swarms

Disadvantage of close confinement to the bees. Section I. Causes of Swarming. Plain dictates of common sense—The heat of a hive calculable by the thermometer—Comparative temperature before and after swarming—Experiment of Huber —Clustering of bees outside a hive an indication of extreme heat—These observations confirmed by Keys and Huish. Section II. Indications of Swarming. Clustering not of itself a sufficient sign—Various others enumerated—Tumult and agitation which precede a swarm, as observed by Huber —Curious anecdote from the Abbe della Rocca—Singular cir¬ cumstance mentioned by Huish—The appointment of a watch necessary to the certain observation of a swarm—Injudicious selection of children for this purpose, illustrated by an anecdote. Section III. Management of Swarms. Inoffensiveness of bees at swarming time—Division and separation of the swarm inju¬ rious to the proprietor—Slaughter occasioned by double swarms hiving together—Objects onwhich the swarm fastens—Method of suspension—Proper mode of hiving. Section IV. Relative value of Swarm3 and Casts. Numerous swarms no proof of the prosperity of an apiary—Rapidity with which comb is sometimes constructed and filled. Production of virgin honey by maiden swarms—Provident care of casts recommended. Section V. Weakening influence which swarming has upon a colony. Danger of early swarms perishing — Frequent swarming hinders the collection of honey—Number of swarms dependent on the fertility of the country, and heat of the climate—A succession of unfavourable seasons destructive to the lives of bees—Extracts from Gmelin’s travels—Ditto from travels in Lapland by an officer of the Swedish army.

xviii index.

Chapter IX. Fumigation

Distinctions and differences—Fumigation not suffocation— Cruelty of the suffocating process—Greater policy as well as humanity of fumigation—Idiot bee-eater of Selborne—Honey-bird of South Africa—Curious extract from Pringle’s African Sketches—Fumigation described, as practised by Thorley— Nutt’s simplification of Thorley’s process.

Chapter X. The Old And New Methods Of Unionizing Stocks Explained

Disappointment frequently experienced by those who employ suffocation—System of honey-gathering prevalent in the north—The destruction of bees disapproved by Warder, in 1749—Plan for uniting casts and swarms, adopted and recom¬ mended by that apiarian—The evening the proper time for their union, and why—Extract from an old author—Huish’s attempt to supply a cast with a queen—Success of the experi¬ ment—Powers of recognition possessed hy bees—Pass-word of the hive—Anecdotes of Wildman, and extracts from his writings—His extraordinary feats—Ingenious contrivance for neutralizing the odours of different stocks, invented by Walond, and adopted by Dr. Be van—The use of fumigation in stocking ventilated hives.

INDEX.

XIX

Chapter XI

VENTILATION, A NEWLY DISCOVERED SECRET IN BEE MAN¬ AGEMENT AS AT FIRST DEVELOPED IN MR. NUTT’s HIVE, DESCRIBED.

Hasty judgment deprecated—Remarks on certain preva¬ lent errors—The consistency of nature’s laws—Natural powers of ventilation possessed by bees—Mr. Nutt’s improvements— Strictures on the observations of a certain reviewer—Circum¬ stances which led to the discoveries of Nutt—Detail of his experiments and directions.

Chapter XII. The Cottager’s Ventilating Hive

Visit to a country bee-master—His attachment to old sys¬ tems—Rural associations connected with straw hives—The general regard paid by mankind to the customs of their fore¬ fathers, exemplified by the heavy plough used in Kent—Ex¬ pediency of consulting these prejudices as much as possible— —The hive described—Experiments connected with the pro¬ gress of its invention—Swarming superseded by this plan— Inconveniences which, notwithstanding their improvements, are inseparable from straw hives—Wooden boxes recom¬ mended as a substitute.

Chapter XIII

THE LADIES’ SAFETY HIVE EXAMINED AND EXPLAINED. Circumstances which originated the invention—Simple sense and plain principles—Courage not so necessary a*

XX

INDEX.

judgment—Critical instance in which both were required and exercised—History of the stocking of a hive—Construction of the ladies’ safety hive, and directions for its use—Com¬ parison of these hives with others—Cottage system—Storifying system—Collateral bee-boxes—Huish’s hive.

Chapter XIV. General Directions For The Extraction Of Honev And Wax

Usual method of draining combs—A better apparatus pro¬ posed—Separation of wax from the combs—Striking instance of economic sagacity displayed by the bees—Extraction of marketable wax without pressing—Another plan, without straining or pressing—A third, by which the purest wax may be obtained without straining or the use of a precipitate.

Chapter I

' GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE SIMPLIFICATION OF THE PROCESS OF MANAGING BEES.

While every known science has its ardent ad¬ mirers, it may with equal truth be said, that almost every one has also numbered some as its students, who, from a really trifling cause, or want of persever¬ ance and the use of common sense, have abandoned the study in disgust. Take Botany, for instance: the most expensive books are purchased at once, the study is commenced with much ardour—plants are collected—hedge-rows and meadows are traversed, and occasionally a rare specimen is picked up at a sale, until eventually a hortus siccus begins to grow into existence. So matters go on for a year or two; an illness perhaps intervenes, or a change of locality from the country to a city for a short time, and, without knowing how, the student lets slip his rudi¬ ments—his hortus siccus gets dry indeed, and some of the specimens are damaged, others are lost; and thus, one who has promised well, gives up all in despair. Why is it? He has attempted too much. Let him have taken up the study with less

OK THE SIMPLIFICATION OF THE ardour and more perseverance, one difficulty after another would have vanished; and who can tell but the literary world might have been favoured with some few of his discoveries ?

Such remarks as the foregoing apply, in a very strong degree, to the study we have before us. How many deserted bee-houses and bee-hives stand as monuments of the truth of these remarks in rich men’s gardens—and the apologies for bee-houses in the gardens of those whose rent might easily have been paid from the labours of their industrious little tenants, if the commonest degree of common sense had been allowed to operate. Most people know that when they are hungry they must have some¬ thing to eat; but they judge otherwise of their poor bees : for if one of the strong winter stocks, under the old cottage plan, is left to itself in a rich honey country, it will, in the course of May, June, July, and sometimes in August, throw off its superabun¬ dant population, to seek store-room away from the hive ; thus it is plain, that the swarm in June must have more time to establish itself than the cast thrown off in July, and so the July cast than that of August; and yet so regardless of their interest are many people in this matter, that sooner than give the latest weak stocks a little food,* they will allow

* The best food for bees is a little stale honey, which may he purchased at a very low rate; and the more plentifully a hive is supplied after August is closed, the more abundant will be the new honey which the bees will repay to you next spring-. Use them handsomely, and they will not be ungrateful.

PROCESS OF MANAGING BEES.

them all to starve with hunger. Bees can bear cold, however intense, if they have food.

In a subsequent part of this work, the mode of saving the lives of weak stocks is treated upon in full.

The obvious question when you go to the bee-houses of those who keep up the old cottage system, is, “ How do your bees get on ?” But instead of a clear answer, your friend replies, “ I really cannot tell; last year I took up the swarms and casts, but they gave me next to nothing: I got 21bs. from one hive—none from another—one of the June swarms gave me as much as 16lbs., and in all, I believe, pan included, it’s true, the weight might be 58lbs. in 7 hives; but this year I have tried my luck on the winter, and if it proves fine I shall be all right. The old stocks were all full—I took them all but one, so that if the poor hives do die, why I can begin again by swarming from that one.” So your friend man¬ ages his bees as though they were not under any of the rules of the God of nature, and rests on chance —sheer luck, as he calls it.

In this matter a little common sense would have saved him trouble and loss : if he could have man¬ aged, on his system, to have given them cool room, they would not have swarmed; but this he did not do. He was therefore subjected to a double loss.-— First, The bees, while the eggs are hatching, sup¬ ply large quantities of food for the larvae, and as they do not collect honey and bee bread at the same time, the collection of the sweets is retarded.

ON THE SIMPLIFICATION OF THE

Secondly, If, instead of taking all the swarms, he had chosen some of the strongest swarms and some of the stalest old stocks, which wanted renewing, to get rid of the vermin that accumulate in the old straw hives, he would have had virgin honey and comb produced from the swarms for his own eating, and the honey of the old hive might be given to the weak casts, which would keep them in heart until spring. When spring arrived, the cause or neces¬ sity of swarming would not be experienced by them, because there would be plenty of room to construct comb and store honey.

And again, if, instead of priding himself on the chances of good luck if the winter were not cold, he had placed his bees in a northern aspect, sheltered from the south, to keep them as torpid as possible, he might have calculated upon strong, though small stocks, to begin the summer; and which would collect more honey than a swarming old stock. Warm winters make sad havoc among poor stocks of bees, and rich ones have sometimes nearly empty combs with which to begin the new year.

Much misinformation has been communicated on the subject of taking bees, which has tended more to darken than illuminate this intricate matter. Sup¬ posing the old system pursued, the deadly brimstone soon kills the bees, and discolours the honey, although of course there is no fear of personal inconvenience; but with those who work glasses much timidity is manifested. Lest the bees should sting the operator ’

PROCESS

MANAGING BEES.

a bees’ dress is provided, and with some a system of tobacco or burnt brown paper fumigation is practised to keep off the bees; and a wonderful display of courage is required to perform the commonest opera¬ tion. Even here “common sense” is rather useful: if the operator wants to take a full hive glass, and replace it with an empty one, let him gently raise the glass from the adhesive propolis which has fastened the glass down, by means of a strong-backed tableknife; the less it is raised the better: then, with a piece of what is termed soft small copper wire, passed under the edge of the glass, gently cut through the comb : the full glass is thus free. Have the empty one at your right hand, close by ; then with a soft tea-napkin in your right, and your left hand on the knob of the full glass, turn it over gently, but with a dexterous sleight of hand, covering its mouth with a cloth; the right hand is thus at liberty to cover the newly exposed hole on the hive with the empty glass. You then carry the glass to another part of the garden, in the shade, for an hour or two; and, when within two hours of dark, bring it to the front of the hive to which the bees belong, and place it on its side on a stool, and take care to prevent its rolling; and the buzz of the hive will draw the inhabitants of the glass across to their queen. Steady, unflinching gentleness, and little talking.

ON THE SIMPLIFICATION OF THE if there are lookers on, the better. With many, this is a long operation, which so irritates the bees that their stings get into play.

Now, the object of this little'volume is to simplify the process of bee management, by pointing out the character of the little favourites, the different modes which have been put into practice to govern them— to show how far their natural instincts may be made subservient to their artificial culture, and that at¬ tention to certain results is the only true method of obtaining perfection. Huish says, “ Without pre¬ vious instruction, or consulting the most esteemed authors on the subject, I would not advise any one to commence apiarian ; and it is in acting contrary to this advice, that the culture of the bees has de¬ clined : for of what use is it to multiply the number of bee-proprietors, and for these persons, at a con¬ siderable expence, to augment the number of their hives, if, from an ignorance in their management, without a knowledge of their wants, or the acci¬ dents to which they are liable, and the method of remedying them, a great part of the hives die in the winter?” Most works on the subject have elaborate disquisitions on the vivification of the eggs—the time when it takes place—the use of the drones—the duration of the lives of bees—and many other points, which, to the practical apia¬ rian, are as useless as a learned disquisition on the process of mastication would be to a hungry man. Don't attempt too much. Let the practical

PROCESS OF MANAGING BEES.

use of these valuable insects become known, and there will soon be found an abundance of indivi¬ duals who will devote their entomological talents to the elucidation of some of these great and unsolved problems. It is enough for us to know that the fecundity of the queen is almost beyond belief, and that the God of nature has endowed bees with such wonderful instinct, that if she becomes barren they destroy her, and produce a second ;* so that, with¬ out going into the question of how and when it is effected, the practical apiarian may rely on a full, nay, an enormous increase of labourers.

Much hypercriticism has been exercised by those who have written on this subject, and an evident attempt has been made by each candidate for public favour to decry those who have preceded him, and who, most probably, at a greater personal sacrifice and risk of property than himself have educed those great principles on which he is founding his new acquirements. The author is, therefore, anxious at once to render his meed of praise to the indefatigable Mr. Nutt, whose exertions in this study have been the means of dispelling much of the misunderstand¬ ing which has so long prevailed : by his endeavours a great degree of common practical light has been thrown on the management of bees; and if they could express their thanks in words, no doubt they would tell us many a funeral dirge has been spared by his humane mode of management. To Mr.

* For further particulars see Chapter II.

ON - THE SIMPLIFICATION OF THE

Nutt’s instructions and hives the author is wholly indebted for the application of theories which had long occupied his mind, and the disabusing of antiquated notions of really long standing : he therefore intends to lay before the public a plain system of practical experience, without loading his book with unnecessary theories or drier disquisitions. His motto shall be, “ Let every tub stand on its own bottom.”

On enquiry, very few even second-hand copies of former authors’ works are on sale, while Mr. Nutt’s* work is the only new book, besides one by Dr. Bevan, chiefly urging the storifying system, which, being almost exclusively devoted to the developement Of favourite plans, are not sq useful to a person who wishes to know all that has been done as one which p-ives a concise account of each improvement. The author disclaims the most remote intention of hin¬ dering any other candidates for public favour from holding the rank in bee management they deserve; and hopes that his attempt to apply the invaluable

* This book is entitled, “ Humanity to Honey Bees : or. Practi cal Directions for the Management of Honey Bees upon an improved and humane plan, by which the lives of bees may be preserved, and abundance of honey of a superior quality may be obtained and is printed for the author by H. and I. Leach, Wisbeach, and may be purchased at his own house, at Moulton Chapel, Lincolnshire; of Mr. Neighbour, 131, High Holborn, London, who is agent for the sale of his hives; also by the publisher of this volume; and of Messrs. Longman and Co., Paternoster Row. Price 12s. in cloth bds.

PROCESS OF MANAGING BEES.

discoveries of Mr. Nutt* to cottage practice, may not be considered as intended to disparage Mr. Nutt in the estimation of his friends : on the contrary, he, with much pleasure, states that he has two of Mr. Nutt’s hives* now working under the most flattering and delightful circumstances; and which he will fully explain to any individual who has not the op¬ portunity of the more lucid instruction of the worthy man himself. The larger hive,* invented by the writer of these pages, is intended for the use of ladies, and is suited to second-rate bee-gathering localities, equally with the most abundant pasturage.

Before closing this chapter, the author desires to invite ladies to the study, on his assurance that they need not fear either a sting or ingratitude: their attention will be appreciated by the sagacious little fellows; and, from past observation, the author be¬ lieves they will recognise the person of their patron. The system is easy; and he hopes that those who enter perseveringly into the question will keep a diary of principal events, with results, and remit them to him, and proper use shall be made of them in a second edition, if one be called for: authors should always remember this. Should he have erred, he will be thankful to have the error communicated to him, and he will take the earliest opportunity of acknowledging it.