VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 95 



borne consumption there is another advantage gained which 

 bears a closer relationship to the agriculturalist than this. 



The cross fertilization of blossoms is receiving more at- 

 tention than formerly and it is becoming known that better 

 fruit is obtained when the best methods of fertilization are 

 used. Although nature has provided other agents to carry 

 out this purpose there is no means practically so effective as 

 the honey bee as it visits the blossoms of all our fruits from 

 the tiny bloom of the raspberry to that of the mammoth 

 squash that adorns (?) the table of our county fairs. I merely 

 mention these facts in passing that it may be better known 

 that the honey bee is the friend and not the foe of the farmer 

 and fruit grower. 



There are two erroneous ideas in regard to bee culture 

 and honey production which are quite common. One is that 

 bees "work for nothing and board themselves." The other 

 is that the business does not pay and that it offers no induce- 

 ment to the man or woman who wishes for an employment to 

 develop their best thought and energy. With the first idea, 

 one who engaged in the pursuit would be likely to fail 

 through neglect to give the bees proper attention and assist 

 them to secure a profitable surplus of honey; and with the sec- 

 ond, many would deprive themselves of the pleasure of a most 

 fascinating pursuit and also the pecuniary profit resulting 

 from energetic labor and the use of good judgment. 



There are not many localities in Vermont where the va- 

 riety and extent of honey producing plants is such as to war- 

 rant a profitable field for the specialist and it is the purpose of 

 this paper to encourage the keeping of a few swarms of bees 

 by individuals who have other sources of income and might 

 with advantage take up the occupation as an adjunct of fruit 

 growing, farming or even housekeeping, for some women 

 have found the keeping of a few swarms of bees quite as 

 profitable and much easier than rambling over the hillsides to 

 keep the turkeys out of their neighbors' grain field or the 

 young chicks out of the wet grass. It is true that bees have 

 the faculty and sometimes will sting, but the danger from 

 this source is often magnified beyond necessity or actual facts. 

 The beginner should protect the face and hands while manip- 

 ulating the bees and the most timid can train themselves to 

 deliberate and careful movements and gather interest and 

 enjoyment in the work. 



Anyone contemplating beekeeping on a large or small 

 scale should first procure some standard book on apiculture 

 and study it carefully, supplementing the study with actual 

 work among the bees. Take but a few swarms at first and 

 increase as circnmstances will permit. As in all other kinds 



