left me for nearly three years in charge of 

 a poorly equipped farm, and with the care 

 of a brave gentle mother, and four children 

 younger than myself. The struggle with 

 poverty was a pathetic one. Our brave 

 mother passed away before our father re- 

 turned; but during that dark period that 

 colony of bees and one other engaged my 

 attention. They had been placed side by 

 side on a low iDench in the garret of our 

 stone house just under the roof. Two small 

 openings one foot square answered for open 

 doors through which the bees came and 

 went in a constant stream. As we had no 

 sections or smokers in those days I set 

 about making some boxes to hold the sur- 

 plus. From some old half-inch basswood 

 siding boxes Avere made holding about five 

 pounds each. A round hole about the size 

 of a fist was made, and a scrap of glass 

 tacked on the inside through which we 

 could see when the bees began to work uiJ- 

 stairs. A scrap of nice honeycomb in the 

 further end led the bees to begin work 

 there; and as the work came nearer the 

 glass we easily determined when the box 

 was finished. Two boxes upon the smaller 

 hive, and three on the larger one, were 

 changed again and again, until about 125 

 pounds were secured. This was, to our 

 neighbor's thought, a man^elous crop, and 

 yet I could see that my methods could be 

 greatly imi^roved, for a large cluster of 

 bees had hung out all season, and had built 

 combs enough to contain 50 pounds of 

 honey; but later the combs were empty, the 

 honey having been carried into the hive, 

 which was a lai'ge one. 



About this time I met Edwin France, of 

 Platteville. at the county fair. I related 

 my experience, and he took great pains to 

 explain the management of movable combs, 

 showing me his hive with bees in perfect 

 working order, and imparting to me some 

 of his enthusiasm. Later I visited his home 

 and returned with a hive and colony on 

 nice straight combs, which made the study 

 of bees eas}' and fascinating. Some years 

 later my brother, Oliver Foster, and I "rear- 

 ed from a golden Italian some fine queens 

 and began scientific bee culture at Mt. 

 Vernon, Iowa. 



In 1878, while traveling through Ohio 

 visiting relatives, I called on A. I. Root at 

 Medina. Mr. Root was busy in his shop 

 with clocks and watches, but directed me 

 to the back room where some of his helpers 

 were working wax into foundation. Later 

 in the day I called at his home where a lad 

 (Ernest, I think) opened a hive in expert 

 fashion arid showed how easily bees may 

 he handled, and made plain many mysteries 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



of the hive. I presume Editor E. R. Root 

 hardly remembers the part he played in 

 that day's program. This was before Wes- 

 ley Foster had his name enrolled in the 

 records of the Foster family. 



In those early days the spirit of bee cul- 

 ture took a strong hold upon our affections. 

 We had visions by day and dreams by 

 night. We saw moving pictures of swarms 

 in the clouds; hives in the shade; nectar in 

 all the blossoms, and honey in ornamental 

 cakes on the poor man's table. The chil- 

 dren never seemed to tire of the business 

 or of its fruits, and to this day we all like 

 it. If there is any thing we like better, I 

 suppose it is the opening of a hive just at 

 the height of a first-class honey-flow to 

 watch the bees do business in a av ell-equip- 

 ped modern hive. 



Boulder, Col. 



[The writer of the above is the father of 

 our department editor from Colorado, Wes- 

 ley Foster. — Ed.] 



THE GHEAT ADVANCE THAT HAS BEEN MADE IX 40 

 YEARS. 



Seein? your call for show of hands for the "forty- 

 year Gleanings family," I will say I don't know 

 whether I am strictly in the class or not. I do, 

 however, remember when, many years ago. Glean- 

 ings was the most interesting publication received, 

 and it still keeps up that interest. 



I remember when Novice was running his watch- 

 making shop and keeping bees, or talking bees, or 

 both. At that time he had an attack of bee fever, 

 and had the power to transmit it to others. 



I remember when the Bucket hive was used and 

 exploited, and think I can remember when there 

 was a pen i:)icture of the wind-power mill shown in 

 Gleanings. The enthusiastic Novice had a way of 

 telling his e.xperiences and troubles that was catch- 

 ing and instructive. 



For many years copies of Gleanings were filed ; 

 but when, following Greeley's advice and coming 

 west, the old copies were left ; but to-day Glean- 

 ings is a welcome visitor, though I doubt if as 

 eagerly looked for as in earlier days. 



In a reminiscent mood, what wonderful strides 

 have been made in methods and easy manipulation 

 of hives and accessories ! The old Simplicity hive 

 answered its purpose, and was good then; but who 

 would want it now ? In those days there was no 

 regular or standard size; and if you ordered your 

 supplies at different times there was likely to be a 

 variation of widths, so supers and hives those days 

 and for some years later were not a smooth-fitting 

 lot as now. The old-time honey-box, with its holes 

 for entrance, answered its purpose too, and the 

 honey was just as sweet, and you possibly got more 

 per colony than when the finished section arrived ; 

 but after many vicissitudes the old box disappeared, 

 and the commercial product was perfected and beau- 

 tiful. 



Pages could be written in memories of the lusi- 

 ness past and gone up to now; but for the present 

 I will merely hold up my hand and still look and 

 pore over Gleanings and keep some blessed lees. 



Portland, Ore., Sept. 21. Edwin J. Ladd. 



