Mar. 1. UUJ 



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A summer view of one of Allen Latham's apiaiie: 



A CONTRARY BEEKEEPER 



A Nutmeg Stater who Defies All the Rules of 

 Bee Culture, and Wins 



BY ARTHUR C. MILLER 



Bee culture is a tradition-fettered indus- 

 try. As Methuselah said, so must it be; 

 and he who dares preach contrary to the 

 teachings of the fathers is 2)er xe a heretic, 

 an outcast. Lift your voice in questioning 

 of the established order, and at once you 

 are considered an iconoclast. Blessed be all 

 such, for they are the hoi)eof generations of 



beekeepers yet to come. Askers of awkward 

 questions, up-setters of pet theories, dis- 

 turbers of the peace, shatterers of reputa- 

 tions! May their shadows never grow less. 

 An adopted son of the community famed 

 for its wooden nutmegs stands preeminent 

 as an iconoclast in apicultural matters, and 

 they call his name Latham. Solid of build, 

 sandy of complexion, he looks out of a pair 

 of twinkling eyes in a manner both cordial 

 and disconcerting. Is it to laugh at you or 

 with you, you know not. State your case 

 most cautiously, lay down the law point by 

 point, establish your position beyond seem- 



A part of the same apiary in winter. 



