48

46 CHAPMAN'S HANDY-BOOK.

ample experience. At the same time, it is proper to
state, that some few persons are so offensive to bees that
they must not approach them. Plenty of soap and water
and fastidious cleanliness are essential to a bee-master's
continued popularity with his apiarian family.
The Profits of Bee-keeping
Is estimated by the editor of the FAMILY ECONOMIST to a
cottager at from &10 to &15 a year. Rev. J. G. Wood
says he made &20 a year for three years, and that another
person cleared &100 by bees. He says that 50 or 60 lbs.
of honey have frequently been taken from a single hive
in a season, and occasionally as much as 100 lbs. One
writer recommends the POLISH hive as being less expen-
sive and more profitable, less scientific, less artificial, but
more agreeing with the natural habits and laws of the
bees. As a proof of the superiority of the Polish method
in the management of bees, he says where are the cot-
tagers of any other country of Europe who earn every
autumn from 5 to 20 barrels of 400 to 500 lbs. each of
pure honey, and from 50 to 200 lbs. wax; and Mr.
Cotton goes on to say that the increase from a single
stock in New Zealand in four years was :-
The first year .................. 31 lbs.
Second year ...................205 lbs.
Third year ......................721 lbs.
And fourth year .............1211 lbs.
Or 2168 lbs. in four years.
If this, the produce of a single hive, does not make
English bee keepers open their eyes with astonishment,
I shall be surprised. It ceratainly should encourage New
Zealand bee masters to study the gentle craft.
When our woods are fully peopled, then will be the
time for honey without stint, and wax in such plenty as
to become an article of export. The maories make
capital bee hunters; their accurate power of observation
exactly fits them to track a bee to its home; and their
ingenuity, to adopt the best method of producing honey
and wax. We have hollow trees in abundance.