Foresters' Hives The present Minister of Agriculture (who incidentally has
made a special study of rural housing) is singularly well-fitted for his job; and this is rare in the annals of the Ministry ; yet he, too, has learned the " delicate and gentle art " of finding reason why not to act. A brief negative was given to one very thoughtful suggestion made in the House of Commons at the end of January. Sir Granville Gibson suggested that the Forestry Commission, the agricultural committees and the County Council should encourage the multiplica- tion of bee colonies on the land they control. It is my experience that there is a peculiarly good opportunity in the admirable little holdings equipped by the Forestry Commission. The men are encouraged to farm in a small way, and the sites, for example on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk, are perfectly adapted for apiculture. We have never in this country fully appreciated the value of the hive bee to the fertilisation of farm and garden as well as orchard crops, apart from its contributions to the most perfect and pleasant form of sugar.
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