134 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



I presume that in the fore part of the year 

 the Review did contain some typographical 

 errors. Perhaps it would be better to say, 

 more than it usually contains, for, while I 

 try hard to keep them out, they do occasion- 

 ally creep m. For several months the Re- 

 view had been two or three weeks behind, 

 and at the beginning of the year I set out to 

 " catch up," and about the same time Grippe 

 tried to catch me, and partly succeeded, just 

 enough to make me feel miserable, and I 

 have read proof when it seemed as though I 

 would not recognize an error if I saw it. 

 When any one takes the pains to print out 

 his copy as friend Hasty does, it is a little 

 hard to have one's jokes spoiled by typo- 

 graphical errors. 



Now, as to this more serious charge, or 

 hint, that the editor may be lof^ing his love 

 for bee-keeping, if Bro. Hasty had known 

 me as well as I know myself, he would be 

 surprised that, with all the discouragements 

 that bee-keepers have had to face of late, I 

 have clung to my chosen profession as long 

 as I have. Instability, or versatility or a 

 desire to investigate and try new things, and 

 to abandon old things, was a strong trait 

 with me even in boyhood. If I were making 

 some "machine," and lacked material, I 

 would destroy all the other "machines" I 

 had ever made if by so doing I could secure 

 the material that I desired. I was complete- 

 ly carried away with whatever I was inter- 

 ested in, and everything else became as noth- 

 ing. I was inclined to begin a job of work 

 with quite a iiourish of trumpets, but if I 

 lost interest in it before it was finished, con- 

 siderable pressure had to be brought to bear 

 to induce me to bring it to completion. 

 This disposition made it very difficult for me 

 to decide what business I would follow. So 

 many things were so intensely interesting. 

 I well remember the long talks that my dear 

 old mother has had with me on this subject, 

 and I have tried so hard (and I think not en- 

 tirely without success) to be more stable, 

 not to fly from one thing" to another. In 

 fact, so closely had I held myself down to 

 business for several years, that, two or three 

 years ago, I found myself unable to enjoy 

 anything else. If anything kept me from 

 my work a few hours I felt like a fish out of 

 water. Amusements had no charm for me 

 whatever. I recognized the condition into 

 which I had fallen, and felt that it was not a 

 desirable one. To get myself out of this rut 

 was one of the motives that led me to take 



up photography. I find that I am again in 

 a normal condition, so to speak, that I can 

 enjoy pleasure as well as work. Three of 

 my girls and myself have commenced the 

 study of music, and I am enjoying myself in 

 this direction, intensely. I still love and en- 

 joy bee-keeping. Not with the enthusiasm, 

 perhaps, that characterized " the sweet first 

 time," but with a quieter deeper love that 

 will probably last through life. 



A MAGAZINE AETICLE ON BEE - KEEPING. 



The general public knows but very little 

 about modern bee-culture. The majority of 

 people know that bees sting and that they 

 make honey. It may surprise some to know 

 that a great many people suppose that bees 

 make honey in some mysterious way, secrete 

 it, perhaps, as a cow does milk. They do not 

 imagine for one moment that flowers have 

 any relation whatever to the production of 

 honey. If there is any one expression heard 

 oftener than another when bees are on ex- 

 hibition at fairs, it is : " Oh, see the bees 

 making honey !" I have frequently con- 

 versed with those who have given voice to 

 such expressions, and explained that bees 

 must have access to flowers or they cannot 

 make honey— that they gather nectar from 

 the blossoms, and carry it to the hive, where, 

 after undergoing chemical changes, it is then 

 called honey. It is interesting to watch the 

 faces while the explanation is being given. 

 Some are delighted to think they have learn- 

 ed something new, while others put on a 

 look of incredulity which says plainly, 

 "That will do to tell." Many people are 

 terribly frightened if a bee comes near them, 

 or if one gets into the room — they ought to 

 know that the bee's greatest desire is to get 

 out of doors again. We all know of the in- 

 jury that has been done to bee-keeping by 

 the stories about artificial comb honey We 

 also know that if everyone knew of the health- 

 fulness and deliciousness of honey, its ad- 

 vantages as an article of diet, of its value 

 many times from a medicinal standpoint, 

 that the demand for honey would be greatly 

 increased. 



For a long time it has seemed to me that 

 the publication in some leading magazine of 

 a comprehensive, illustrated article on bee 

 culture would be an advantage to both the 

 public and the bee-keeper, and I may as well 

 own up here that when I began learning 

 photography it was with a view to making 



