THE BEE KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



more than by primitive methods. The 

 mower enabled the farmer to increase his 

 acreage of hay, and the manufacturer, aided 

 by the loom, increased his production of 

 woven goods. With the invention of mova- 

 ble frames we have been enabled to establish 

 large apiaries. 



We see this development and growth every 

 where ; and with it, development of the spe- 

 cialist. This is a natural consequence ; men 

 develop in lines affording the greatest facil- 

 ities. 



Like most other pursuits, bee-keeping has 

 become a specialty, and although contin- 

 gent upon one or two things must remain so. 



I am hardly prepared to believe that the 

 sudden transition of our climate is altogeth- 

 er due to clearing the forests. Up to within 

 five or six years, the earth yielded her in- 

 crease by reason of abundant rains. These 

 dry seasons have been almost universal. 

 East and West. Illinois, Ohio, New York, 

 Pennsylvania and the Eastern States where 

 no perceptible change in the area of timber 

 land has taken place for years, have suffered 

 equally. There"are other causes, — planetary 

 influences being conspicuous among them — 

 which will in the course of time readjust 

 things to our satisfaction, if we are not too 

 unreasonable. 



With the clearing of our timber lands, we 

 must all admit the loss of basswood and pop- 

 lar in many localities, as having seriously 

 affected the bee-keeping interests in those 

 districts, but when we take into considera- 

 tion that honey producing trees like the bass- 

 wood and poplar are limited compared with 

 the area of timber lands which have been 

 cleared, has not the aggregate growth of 

 clover, to say nothing of buckwheat and 

 other sources of honey, about equaled it ? 

 Furthermore, has not the planting of fruit 

 trees, especially of numerous orchards, to- 

 gether with shade trees about our homes, in 

 our towns, villages and even the suburbs of 

 our large cities, done much to supplant the 

 general loss ? Many are still living who re- 

 member when the State of Illinois was one 

 vast prairie ; now it has orchards, shade 

 trees and clover in lieu of prairie flowers. 

 Instead of those localities once rich with 

 basswood and poplar, which gave the honey 

 producer splendid returns ; is there not a 

 better average in favorable seasons, taking 

 the entire clearing into consideration ? 



Aside from the loss of timber, and cli- 

 matic influences ; what is bee-keeping of the 



future contingent upon ? As already stated, 

 specialties, are the result of facilities. I am 

 inclined to believe the present status of bee 

 culture demands two important require- 

 ments, which, when forthcoming, will place 

 the profession upon a flxed basis — I refer to 

 the prevention of swarming, and a perfect 

 system of wintering in the open air. W^ith 

 swarming controlled, the most casual ob- 

 server will readily comprehend the vast 

 saving of time and labor, to say nothing of 

 an increased yield of honey. The ability to 

 wiriterour bees out doors with the same de- 

 gree of certainty that is realized with poultry 

 and stock, would also do much towards plac- 

 ing bee culture upon a sure basis. Upon 

 these two long sought for requirements, bee- 

 keeping of the future is largely contingent. 

 I do not wish to be understood that its con- 

 tinuance as a specialty depends upon these 

 improvements ; but they will serve to place 

 it upon a firm basis. 



A non-swarmer would enable the bee-keep- 

 er to obtain an increased amount of honey ; 

 also, to manage an increased number of col- 

 onies or out-apiaries. It would insure a 

 honey crop where swarming colonies would 

 store little or none. Such an invention 

 should require no manipulation ; simply to 

 apply it previous to swarming and remove it 

 at the close of the season. A successfn) 

 method of wintering would obviate the 

 necessity of bee cellars, and the consequent 

 labor of handling the colonies twice a year 

 together with the attendant care necessary 

 in the matter of ventilation and temperature 

 throughout the winter, and withal, added 

 security from loss. These accomplished, 

 would leave the future of bee-keeping con- 

 tingent upon the price of honey. Taking 

 into consideration that honey is a luxury, to- 

 gether with the present increase of popula- 

 tion in our cities ; no fears need be enter- 

 tained as regards lower prices in average 

 seasons. 



In conclusion, I am inclined to believe that 

 with a continuance of the unprecedented dry 

 seasons we have experienced the last five oi 

 six years, bee-keeping in many localities, is 

 likely to became a side issue. However, in- 

 asmuch as bee-keeping has become a science, 

 very few outside the profession will be likeiy 

 to take it up. Those who are not skilled in 

 the pursuit will inevitably meet with failure. 

 There may be a few skilled bee-keepers, who 

 by reason of equal ability in other callings 

 will make it a side issue : but with the sug- 



