Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber Note

Text emphasis denoted by _Italics_. Whole and fractional parts of numbers as 123-4/5.

HUMANITY TO HONEY-BEES:

OR,

_PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS_

FOR

THE MANAGEMENT OF HONEY-BEES

UPON AN IMPROVED AND HUMANE PLAN,

BY WHICH THE

LIVES OF BEES MAY BE PRESERVED, AND ABUNDANCE OF HONEY

OF A SUPERIOR QUALITY MAY BE OBTAINED,

BY THOMAS NUTT.

---- Vos non vobis mellificatis Apes:
Sic ---------------------------------

Virgil.

SECOND EDITION.

WISBECH:

PRINTED BY H. AND J. LEACH, FOR THE AUTHOR,

OF WHOM IT MAY BE HAD AT MOULTON-CHAPEL,
OR AT 131, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON.
SOLD ALSO BY LONGMAN AND CO. PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON.

_Price Ten Shillings,_

1834.

ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL.

Also may be had on application to my agent, Mr. G. Neighbour, 131, High Holborn, near Southampton Street, London, honey taken on the principles here specified, with hives stocked with bees, or unstocked. All letters must be post paid to the author.

DEDICATION,

BY PERMISSION,

TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY,

QUEEN ADELAIDE

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

To pen a dedication skilfully is generally the most difficult part of an Author's task; but a dedication to ROYALTY is so delicate a matter, that I almost tremble for the success of my undertaking--tremble lest I should fail to express myself dutifully, gratefully, properly; though I am not without hope that your Majesty's goodness will graciously extend to the Author that degree of indulgence of which he is sensible he stands so much in need, especially as nothing unbecoming a dutiful subject to write, or improper for a gracious Sovereign to read, is intended to be here expressed.

As, however, every colony of Bees, wherever domiciled, whether in a box, or in a cottage-hive, in the roof of a house, or in the trunk of a hollow-tree, is under an admirable government, the presiding head and Sovereign of which is a QUEEN,--as no colony of Bees, deprived of its QUEEN, ever prospers, or long survives such loss,--as this insect government, or government of insects, exhibits to man the most perfect pattern of devoted attachment, and of true allegiance on the part of the subject Bees to their Sovereign, and of industry, ingenuity, prosperity, and apparently of general happiness in their well-ordered state,--and as these most curious and valuable little creatures have hitherto been most cruelly treated--have been, and still are, annually sacrificed by millions, for the sake of their sweet treasure; I do feel a pleasure, and think there is a sort of analogical propriety, in dedicating to your Gracious Majesty this work, the leading feature of which is--Humanity to Honey-Bees. Under your Majesty's fostering and influential Patronage, I cannot but anticipate that this object will be essentially promoted, and that the management of Bees, in this country at least, will not hereafter reflect disgrace upon their owners.

In this pleasing hope, I humbly beg to subscribe myself,

YOUR MAJESTY'S

most dutiful
and
most grateful

Subject and Servant,

THOMAS NUTT.

Moulton-Chapel, Lincolnshire,
Nov. 27th, 1832.