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THE HONEY BEE
IN
NEW ZEALAND

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The management of the Honey Bee in New Zealand is so
very different to what is in Great Britian that we are
not surprised when new settlers who wish to profit by
Bee keeping, as they are accustomed to do in the old
country, so frequently ask for some information on the
subject.
The author of "My Bee Book" published a series of
letters in a Wellington newspapersome ten years ago,
but so full of quaint humorous stories it is hard to tell when
he is in earnest and when in fun; for all that Mr. Cotton's
system is the most sensible and humane, and is now
recommended by nearly all intelligent bee masters in
England and in the Colonies.
The Rev. R. Taylor says (Notes and Queries, 8th Dec., Introduced by
1855) Bees were introduced into New Zealand before Mrs Hobson
Mr. Cotton's arrival, but the chief supply is derived from in 1840
his stock. Mr Cotton arrived in Auckland in company
with Bishop Selwyn on 29th May, 1842, and although
there are several things connected with New Zealand bee
keeping he was not aware of(these we will explain as we
go along), Mr. Cotton remained long enough to prove the
fact that New Zealand will be a great honey producing
country.
As a sample of Mr. Cotton's humour we copy the
following from "My Bee Book," page 96, That dear old
man John Evelyn seems to have fancied that the bees sit
upon their eggs like hens. This must be a queer sight,
and I should like to see it. Evelyn says in his calendar
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