BEE-KEEPING.BY"THE TIMES" BEE-MASTER.
BEE-KEEPING.
BY
"THE TIMES" BEE-MASTER.
T
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 beeswith 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.