The various points necessary to be known by the would-be apiarian are briefly these :--First, whether or not it is worth while to keep bees at all. This is a question which can best be answered by the kind of locality at his disposal, although, as I have before stated, the locality must be very poor indeed that will not feed one hive. Secondly, if he has decided upon keeping bees, where, when, and at what price, to procure them ; how to establish them when procured ; how to watch over and manage them when established ; how to extract the greatest possible amount of honey from them without injuring the hive ; how to dispose of his wax and honey when he has obtained them ; what kind of hives to use for different purposes ; how to increase the number of hives if required, and how to forward or prevent swarming. These points will be found explained in this little work, briefly and sparingly ; briefly, because the limits of the book are too small to admit of long dissertations where a few sentences will suffice ; and sparingly, because many of these points are much better learned by practice than by mere theoretical teaching. All that this little work pretends to perform is to put the reader in the way to work, and to serve, as far as a written book can do, as a guide if he should feel perplexed. In the present state of advancement in this particular department of natural history it is very probable that a future apiarian may be enabled to discover far better methods of management than those given here. The systems, however, that are recommended in this work have been found to work very successfully, and will very well serve until better are discovered. Nor can it be expected that any one who really takes an interest in the management will keep strictly to the ruleslaid down here, or in any other work whatever; for he will be certain to find, as his experience increases, that he can make sundry variations from the principles on which he started, with great benefit to the prosperity of his insect colonies. The system that would answer admirably for an apiarium situated upon a hill surrounded with leather, would not be nearly so successful if the hives were placed in a sandy valley surrounded with thick woods, and plentifully watered by running streams. The rules, therefore, which are found here, may be taken only as a foundation for a building which the architect may vary as he pleases, provided that the foundation is laid securely. If a man is not able to make these variations for himself, but perseveres doggedly in the fashion of his fathers, because it is the way he is used to, he need not put himself to the trouble of bee-keeping at all, for he is not fit for it. Examples of this may be seen in almost every village in England where the inhabitants are wise enough to add hives to their agricultural stock. It is an everyday sight to see two cottage gardens merely divided from each other by a hedge, each carrying on bee-keeping with very different success. In one the lives are numerous, and the busy thronging of the bees at the entrances proclaims their strength. On inquiry it is elicited that the hives have yielded many pounds of honey and wax, and are expected to yield much more, and yet be perfectly able to live through the winter without feeding; while in the other garden, the bees loiter about the entrances, go off to their work, and return from it almost singly, and the deep hum of the drone is never heard. This is just because the one owner takes proper care of his bees, and the other neglects them. Many injure their bees either from neglect, because they are afraid of meddling with them, or by irritating them with needless interference. It is hoped that both these difficulties may be avoided by those who seek to gain a moderate knowledge of bee habits from these pages, for in most cases the bees die, swarms fail, and the honey is lost through the ignorance of the owner, and not through his wilful neglect. While, therefore, each man should learn to depend upon himself in the management of these insect kingdoms, he should not despise the instructions which he may gain from the experience of others, and which, although It may not be implicitly followed, yet may serve as a guide in different straits. So, while each aspiring bee-master may fully intend to follow in the footsteps of the enterprising and accurate experimentalists mentioned above, he ought to take advantage of their experience, which will save him many an hour which might have been spent in endeavouring to elucidate a fact which has already been proved. The points already ascertained are as so many steps gained in the ascent to knowledge; and it is our business not to endeavour to re-erect those steps, but, by taking our stand upon them, to strive by their aid to establish new ones.