BEE-KEEPING.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1445, 6 October 1881, Page 2

BEE-KEEPING.

We have received from the publishers a copy of " The lII a-tr.ited New Zealand Bee Manual,- giving- full instructions for the humane and profitable management, of the Honey B>e ; also bee-keepers axioms, honey recipe^, and bee-keeper's calendar of operations, making a complete hand-bqok to modern bee cultqre." Such is the full title of a book written by Mr J. Hopkins, the well-known bee-niaater at the Thames, and admirably printed at the Advertiser office. Dealing with the subject by the lijrht of practical experience in this colony, the Annual deserves to find its way into the hands of every bee master in New Zealand, to whom its lessons must of necessity be more valuable than those imparted by books written thousands of miles away in places with conditions bearing little or no relation to those of this country. The author in his preface states that he has been induced to publish the book at the request of a number of apiarists who had read his letters on the subjeot to the local papers. H6 adds that the books extant on the subject, are, either by reason of the rapid strides that have been made, as far as the practical work of the apiary is conoerned out of date, as they are too exppnsive and as they lefer to seasons entirely opposite to ours, are calculated rather to mislead than to inform the beginner. The book which is profusely illustrated, is divided into twenty-three chapters. No. 1 is historical, and lelaces to the introduction of the bee into this country. No. 2 gives some account of the varieties of the honey bee, and No. 3 is on the subject of the inmates of the hive. The succeeding chapters refer to the products of the hive, implements used, swarming, transferring, queen rearing, artificial swarming, handling bee.*, securing surplus honey, marketing honey, feeding, robbing, diseases of boes, enemies of bees, bee pasturage and many othor important raatcera connected with the subject of apiculture. The book is written in an easy, pleasant style, and the instructions are practical and plain . It is published at the reasonable price of two shillings, and we cordially recommend it to the notice of all who are interested in the culture of bees.