We venture to hope that the following pages contain many valuable hints and interesting statements which may tend to excite increased and renewed attention to the most useful and industrious of all insects. Although bees have neither reason nor religion for their guide, yet from them man may learn many a lesson of virtue and industry, and may even draw from them thoughts suggestive of trust and faith in God. We beg leave to conclude our preface, and introduce the subject, by the following extract from Shakespeare,--who, without doubt, kept bees in that garden at Stratford wherein he used to meditate:-- "So work the honey bees; Creatures, that by a rule in Nature, teach The art of order to a peopled kingdom. They have a king and officers of sorts; Where some, like magistrates, correct at home; Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad; Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings. Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds. Which pillage they, with merry march, bring home To the tent royal of their emperor: Who, busied in his majesty, surveys The singing masons building roofs of gold; The civil citizens kneading up the honey; The poor mechanic porters crowding in Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate; The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum, Delivering o'er to executors pale The lazy, yawning drone."-- Shakespeare's _Henry V., Act I., Scene 2._ THE APIARY; OR BEES, BEE-HIVES, & BEE CULTURE. [Illustration] There are two classes of persons for whom bee-culture should have a strong interest, and two distinct purposes for which the pursuit may be followed. First, there is the cottager or small farmer who, in thousands of instances, might add considerably to his income by bee-keeping; and secondly, there is the man of "retired leisure" and refinement, who, in the personal tendance of an apiary would find an easy and interesting occupation, and one which could not fail to quicken his faculties of general scientific observation. Moreover, in contemplating the wonderful skill, industry, and prevision of his insect artisans, the bee-keeper would find in his apiary constant illustrations of creative wisdom.