The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 898, 13 October 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1881.

We have received an admirable, colo nial publication entitled "The Illus-

trated New Zealand Bee Manual," forming a guide to modem bee culture, written by Mr J. Hopkins, and published at the Thames; The object of the author has- been to call attention to the humane and profitable management of bees, and to awaken an interest in bee culture, while' assisting to establish an important industry which has been hitherto neglected in New Zealand. As indicating the extent to which the bee trade is carried on in some countries,"Mr Hopkins quotes the returns of honey in California for

1880, which amounted to 2,314,0001b5j and which would be worth in money, somewhere about £500,000. -The climate of the North Island of Jypw Zealand is declared by the author to be adapted to apiculture, and our flora second to none in the world for this: | particular purpose, One inducement held out for this pursuit is that it is a congenial employment for ladies.' In America instances are cited of ladies making 300 dollars per annum from bee-keeping. The work treats at considerablelength onthedifferentvarieties of the bee tribe. The inmates of the hive; and its products, with full descriptions for extracting honey, and marketing it follow. Even the diseases of bees are made the subject of a chapter, and it

may interest some of our readers to know that these little gourmands, like many big ones, suffer to a great extent from dysentery. The final chapter is devoted to an explanation of the various vises to which honey is applied, excellent recipes being given for honey foods and honey drinks, to say nothing of honey medicines. A bee-keeper's calendar is also added, in which the duties connected with bee culture are summarised for each rminth in the year. The manual as a whole is creditable to its compiler and to its publisher, and should be sought for by all who take an interest in bee-keeping. We regret that the limits of our space do not permit us to refer to it at greater length, for to the general reader it is a work of considerable interest. It is, however, of special value to any persons who seek a light and healthy occupation, round their own homes, in which an interesting pursuit can be associated with a satisfactory pecuniary result