Live Stock—-Fifh- Ponds. 1293

In eftimating the profit of this fort of ftock, it has been fuggefted that* one confideration fhould not be overlooked, viz. that almoft the whole produce, arifing

- from the fale of both honey and wax, is in a great meafure clear profit; as bees and

bee-hives are equally free from rents and taxes; and the culture of them does not in the leaft injure or impede any other improvement in any refpect. Nor do they re- quire a conftant attendance, as moft cther articles of improvement do; for a proper perfon might eafily overfee, with a little affiftance in fwarming-time, at leaft five hundred bee-hives. And as Nature has amply fupplied them with food, and with powers to provide it for themfelves, they put their owners to little or no expenfe for that article; which cannot be faid of any other of our fervants whatever*.”

It is a circumftance that deferves notice, that, by attention in the bee-mafter in the feleion of food, almoft any flavour or colour may be given to the honey, from the bright amber toa pale yellow. Mr. Paterfon, of Caftle-Huntley, in Scotland, found the flavour very delicate frony minionette; it is the fame from rofemary. Bean- honey is pale, and heath-honey brown, with much difference in flavour+. In Nor- folk they commonly fuppofe the honey debafed by the great quantity of buck-wheat that is grown; but Mr. Marfhall fufpects it to depend either wholly or in a great part on.the heath.

Fifb-ponds.—In particular fituations, efpecially where the proprietor of the land keeps it under his own management, it may not only be convenient and agreeable, but likewife highly profitable, to have ponds for the breeding, rearing, and preferving of different forts of fifth. Where ponds for thisufe do not naturally prevail, they may in many cafes be readily formed, particularly where there are very gentle falls or valleys between hills, or other depreffions taking place in the grounds; and. through which waters pafs with a flow or very eafy current. The nature of the fituation will fhow the extent of the ponds, and the number that can be readily formed. Where water and fituation admit, two, three, or more may be made on the fame line or courfe, the head of one conftituting the bottom of the other. And from one to four or five acres of ground may be covered with water, according to the fupplies and other circumftances.

In fuch fituations the only expenfe of forming convenient fith-pands is that of confiructing heads or banks acrofs the valleys, or depreffions, for the purpofe of damming up the waters to the requifite heights, with proper fluices; which in moft cafes, efpecially where clay is at hand, may be done with but little expenditure of

* Bonner on Bees.+ Perth Agricultural Report.