CONCLUSION.

IN this Manual we have endeavoured to put bee-keeping within the reach of all, by recommending simpleness of management, and by leaving full liberty of action to the bee-master, who may be kept at a distance from a beegarden by the occupations of daily life.

If we have limited ourselves to giving information to our readers only on those points of which we are convinced by experience, the reason is that we have thought that a practical Manual should only contain notions within the reach of all, and practicable by all.

We hope to have accomplished this object, and to have clearly pointed out that any one who has a small place at his disposal, can take advantage of it for keeping bees with a profitable result; and by these means increase his

well-being, without in any way interfering with that of his fellow-creatures.

We shall be happy if we have obtained such a result, and if, moreover, we may be the means of persuading some bee-masters in our districts of the advantage to be derived from leaving the beaten track in which they persevere, either by remodelling their apiaries or by increasing them, and thus assuring to themselves a more certain produce, with an easier method of obtaining it.

Finally, we should be glad if we could induce young people to take an interest in bee-keeping. Independently of the produce which they might obtain, they would, no doubt, by observing in their leisure moments the habits and work of the bees, be astonished to find in their small communities such regularity of work, such internal order, such devotion, courage, far-sightedness, and wisdom, as characterize these insects. This study, like that of every study of nature, will raise their thoughts; will procure for them pure delights; and will, no doubt, bring them to admire and adore the wisdom of the Creator. They will, in fact, understand that the greatness of God, and His eternal wisdom, show

themselves in small things, even more clearly, perhaps, than in greater ones; and they will be able to repeat with one of our best poets, and with an accent of conviction

"C'est dans un faible objet, imperceptible ouvrage,
Que l'art de l'ouvrier me frappe davantage."

H 3

APPENDIX.

THE ITALIAN OR LIGURIAN BEE-ITS ADVANTAGES AND ACCLIMATIZATION.

Description of the Italian or Ligurian Bee—The manner of introducing strange Queens into a Hive, and hence of introducing Italian Queens-Means of preserving a pure Breed.

ITALIAN bees, called also Ligurians, are natives of countries on the other side of the Alps. These bees have the same organization as those found on this side of the Alps, with this difference only-that the two first rings of the abdomen are either of a yellowish brown or straw colour, depending on the locality.

They are also longer in the body than the bees of our country, and they have the great advantage, owing to the length of their tongue, of being able to gather honey from the calyx of flowers, to which the other bees cannot reach.

The Alps, with their eternal snows, have been a hindrance to the crossing of the breed, so that it is only in the last few years that they have been intro

duced into Germany, France, and even into America. Dzierzon, the father of rational apiculture, contributed much to their introduction into Germany; and it seems that they are kept very generally in German Switzerland, to judge from the exhibition at Weinfelden, where, out of thirty or more stocks which were exhibited, two only consisted of ordinary bees.

A queen with a few bees, sent by post, during the months of March, April, May, or June, is sufficient to produce a pure-bred colony of Italians from which a cross with the common bees may easily be obtained. It often happens that, by means of crossing, a hive of common bees becomes completely Italianized; and if, as is sometimes the case, the Italian bees lose their colour, they nevertheless retain their characteristic properties.

Are these Italians preferable to the common bees? This is a question which is often asked.

Although for many years German bee-keepers have with reason answered this question in the affirmative, some French bee-keepers, such as M. Hamet and more especially the Abbé Collin, considered it, only two years ago, a matter of doubt whether this is the

case.

As to myself, I have already, on a former occasion, given my solution of the question. But seeing that such bee-masters as MM. Hamet and Collin have raised doubts on the point, I have thought it right to pursue my observations more carefully, and this has resulted in my pronouncing without any hesi