about this unhappy result, and unless we spurn it from us, will be the means of perpetuating it.*

I have added an Appendix, containing some experiments and observations, which would be useless to cottagers, but which other Bee-keepers may repeat if they please. I have also appended a curious account of the management of Bees in the far-famed Mount Hymettus, for which I am indebted to the late lamented Davies Gilbert, himself an experienced Beekeeper of no ordinary standing.

Many communications have already been received, addressed to me by kind, though unknown, friends, in consequence of the invitation at the end of the first Letter. These I shall still be happy to receive and to answer, as far as lies in my power, if directed to me, care of Mr. Milton, Italian Warehouse, Great Marylebone Street. I have prefixed to this Work a list of

* Instances of this will occur to every one at all read in history, both in ancient times, and in those which preceded the French Revolution. May God keep us from these evils, and give us wisdom to see the signs of danger even in the changes of language!

At his Apiarian Repository, models of all the Hives described in this Work may be seen, and any one or more of the full size may be procured, simply by sending to him the number prefixed to the desired article in the list of Hives, which is contained in the Appendix, with a remittance for the amount. The Hives will be sold at 15 per cent. above the contract price: 10 per cent.

Bee books, the most complete, I believe, which has hitherto appeared. It includes a large number in my own possession, to which my initials are prefixed. I shall be most happy to lend any which my readers may wish to see, and will thank them much if they will put me in the way of completing my list, by sending me the name of any bookseller who may have works on the subject not named therein. But my list is not confined to those in my possession:-it includes a large number belonging to Mr. Dawson, Botesdale, Bury St. Edmond's, a kind though unseen friend; also the collection of Mr. Payne, author of the Apiarian Guide; and those belonging to Mr. Milton, the agent for the sale of the Hives described in this book. The list is brought still nearer to completion by the aid of Watts's Bibliotheca, and the works contained in the British Museum. I shall thank any one who will aid me in filling up the list, by sending the name of any work not

will be the retailer's profit, and 5 per cent. will be applied as prizes to the most successful and deserving Bee-keepers. Particulars as to the places where the prizes are to be given will be made known in the respective districts around each Apiarian depôt. The conditions to be observed by competitors are given in the Appendix. Mr. Milton will be happy to receive names of tradespeople in the country, who may be willing to take charge of branch depôts upon the same terms.

contained therein, which they possess or have heard of, directed to me, care of Mr. Milton.

A very

My first Letter has, I am happy to say, fully answered the end for which it was written. large impression has already been sold; many have found their way into the hands of cottagers, but doubtless the largest part of the impression has been taken off by those who cannot lay any claim to this honoured name. This is in itself a good, as it has, I trust, led very many to put their own poor in the way of keeping Bees, and by the best teaching, that of example, to show them how it may be done. As for profit, I do not pretend to have made much by my Bees, though I hope the Bees of England will make much by me before I have done with them. At least, they will get as much by me as their lives are worth, and I will leave each Bee to put a price upon his own life, and the sum total which they put on themselves will be the value of the good I have, or shall do to English Bees to say nothing of what my book, if any copies go into foreign parts, may do to outlandish Bees. I have all along looked not to my own profit, but to the good of others as my first object. I trust I shall always do so, even if I were to pay as much every

MYSELF,

OTHERS.

year as my Bee experiments have hitherto cost. I think I have now learned about common things, and the way of Bee-keeping, as much as a man of my age can hope to do; as much as time, care, and trouble can teach a man: so henceforth, I hope to get more honey with less trouble; and to find THAT I HAVE BENEFITED WHILST I HAVE MAINLY TRIED то HELP This is the best reward that a Christian man can get in this world, even in greater things than Beekeeping. I have already made many Bees my friends, and Bee-keepers too, and hope before I die to increase my stock. My first Letter was intended to be a manual of Bee-keeping, my second of Bee-observing. The second cannot stand without the first; the first is needed for profit—but he who neglects the second, loses all the pleasure and instruction which may be derived from this most delightful of all country pursuits.

I would venture to give one or two pieces of advice, though well-meant advice is often taken ungraciously.

I. Do not attempt too much at first, especially with the poor,- -show them how they may take up their stocks in Autumn in the old way, using the fungus, and then join the Bees to their other stocks.

I would most earnestly beg the aid of the clergy and resident gentry, but, above all, their good wives; in a word, of all who wish to help the poor who dwell round about them in a far humbler way, yet perhaps not less happily; I would beg them, one and all, to aid me as an united body, in teaching their poor neighbours the best way of keeping Bees. Many people think the poor may be helped most, by giving them small allotments of land. I think this may do much; and I will, whenever I am able, help on this plan. But much difficulty is often found in getting land; and I do not think it is so certain or so safe a way of doing good, as by giving a poor man a stock of Bees, and then showing him how to take care of them, and to profit by them; for digging is thirsty work, and the beer-shop often stands hard by the allotment: so, although the labourer after his daily toil may go by himself to his plot of ground, yet he is very likely to find one or two gardeners, thirsty like himself, to walk toward home with him, but before they get there to drop into the beershop; and when once there, snugly seated in the chimney corner, neither I, nor, what is worse, their poor wives, can tell when they will get out of it. But a row of Bees keeps a man at home: all his spare moments may