So work the Honey Bees.
Creatures that by a rule in Nature, teach
The art of order to a peopled kingdom.—Shakspeare.

The above are a very accurate representations of the Queen, the Workerand the Drone. The group of bees in the title page, represents theattitude in which the bees surround their Queen or Mother as she restsupon the comb.

LANGSTROTHON THEHIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE,
ABee Keeper's Manual,

BY
REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH.

NORTHAMPTON:HOPKINS, BRIDGMAN & COMPANY.1853.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, byL. L. Langstroth,In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

C. A. MIRICK, PRINTER, GREENFIELD.

PREFACE. [iii]

This Treatise on the Hive and the Honey-Bee, is respectfully submittedby the Author, to the candid consideration of those who are interestedin the culture of the most useful as well as wonderful Insect, in allthe range of Animated Nature. The information which it contains will befound to be greatly in advance of anything which has yet been presentedto the English Reader; and, as far as facilities for practicalmanagement are concerned, it is believed to be a very material advanceover anything which has hitherto been communicated to the ApiarianPublic.

Debarred, by the state of his health, from the more appropriate dutiesof his Office, and compelled to seek an employment which would call him,as much as possible, into the open air, the Author indulges the hopethat the result of his studies and observations, in an important branchof Natural History, will be found of service to the Community as well asto himself. The satisfaction which he has taken in his researches, hasbeen such that he has felt exceedingly desirous of interesting others,in a pursuit which, (without any reference to its pecuniary profits,) [iv]is capable of exciting the delight and enthusiasm of all intelligentobservers. The Creator may be seen in all the works of his hands; but infew more directly than in the wise economy of the Honey-Bee.