THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



69 



rapidly, nor to Italianize black bees, there- 

 by cultivating a superior race, that are more 

 prolific, better workers, and better honey 

 gatherers. We can learn to extract the rich 

 fluid, and return the comb to be refilled, in 

 a few days, with all the manceuvers pertain- 

 ing the apiary. But to derive any oenefit, 

 movable-frame hives must be used. 1 would 

 recommend the Langstroth; transfer your 

 bees, procure an extractor, and take The 

 American Bee Journal. 



It is said that he who causes two blades 

 of grass to grow where only one grew be- 

 fore, is a public benefactor; and it is none 

 the less true that he who produces 2 lbs. of 

 honey where only one was produced before, 

 benefits mankind. 



Let us strive to attain a high standard in 

 this pursuit, bj^ storing our minds with that 

 knowledge which will enable us to sur- 

 mount all obstacles in our pathway to suc- 

 cess. P. P. Collier. 



Bee-Keeping as a Pursuit. 



READ BEFORE THE MO. B. K. ASSOCIATION. 



"Bee-keeping as a pursuit, or life woi"k," 

 and "Who shall keep bees?" are themes 

 which I have chosen to present for your 

 consideration. The sacred Scriptures and 

 ancient history give us but a faint idea of 

 the mode of bee-keeping in ancient times. 

 We have books on bee-keeping, by Hunter, 

 Huber, and others, that refer us back two 

 and three hundred years; but it was not 

 until 1852, when the movable-frame hive 

 was invented by Langstroth, that bee-keep- 

 ing began to assume a position among the 

 vocations of man. After the invention of 

 the movable-frame hive, which enables the 

 votary to study the interior workings of the 

 hive and learn tiie nature and instinct of 

 the noble little workers, bee-keeping was 

 reduced to a science, and now occupies a 

 permanent position in the world. Men of 

 talent and wealth are prosecuting it with 

 more or less success, according to the ability 

 and adaptation of the person to the pursuit 

 and the intelligent labor bestowed ui>on the 

 apiary. 



But few men are adapted to the business. 

 To be successful those who engage in any 

 kind of business must have natural adapta- 

 tion to and love for it, they must prepare 

 themselves by study and application to 

 prosecute it. In several States we have 

 Professors of apicultvire, in the State Uni- 

 versities, and young men are studying it as 

 a science; thus laying the foundation for a 

 life work. It takes a life-time to learn all 

 that may be learned pertaining to bee-keep- 

 ing. There are mysteries yet unsolved 

 which by arduous labor may be brought to 

 light. The movable trame, the honey ex- 

 ti'actor. and the introduction of the Italian 

 bee, have all been brought to light in the 

 last few yeai-s, and no one can tell what in- 

 ventions and discoveries may be made in 

 the future ! 



We are but the pioneers in scientific bee- 

 culture, and it remains for succeeding 

 generations to develop and perfect it, so as 

 to reap the greatest amount of profit. The 

 study of bee-culture affords us pleasure, but 

 the practice of it, if intelligently directed, 

 affords us both pleasure and profit, and that 

 is the great desideratum in all our labors. 



"Will it pay?" is the question. Bee- 

 keeping is as sure to pay as any other pur- 

 suit; but like others, it must be persevered 

 in. Man fails in the vocations of life froaj 

 a want of a natural adaptation and love tor 

 that particular pursuit. Many have rushed 

 into bee-culture hoping to realize a fortune 

 in a short time. Such are doomed to disap- 

 pointment. To succeed in bee-keeping we 

 must be content to go slow at fii"st, build up 

 by degrees, labor and wait, that our efforts 

 mav be crowned with success. 



N. P. Allen. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Is Wax Wholesome ? 



Some assert that comb honey Is not 

 wholesome on account of the wax. I wrote 

 to Dr. Klencke, a celebrated doctor in Ger- 

 many, to get his opinion on this subject. 

 Dr. Klencke answered: "It is not proved 

 that the eating of wax is injurious. Greater 

 quantities of wax, than comb honey con- 

 tains, might produce indigestion. Wax is 

 sometimes used as a remedy for diarrhoea 

 or obstinate dysentery. The cerine that 

 wax contains has salutary effects. The 

 myricine, another constituent of wax, is ir- 

 ritating, but not very hurtful, unless eaten 

 in greater quantities than in comb honey." 



Let me add, that the danger of wax eating 

 is lessoned by the mannite that honey con- 

 tains. Mannite facilitates digestion; for 

 manna is a well known purgative. 



Mr. P. L. Viallon published in the Jour- 

 nal, Oct. number, a good article on the 

 analysis of honey. The acid from the bees 

 is formic acid. This acid is used as an 

 anti-putrefactive agent, as it draws together 

 the flesh. Formic acid is the cause of itch- 

 ing, to some persons, when they have eaten 

 honey. 



The pain of a bee-sting can be relieved 

 by the application of prussic acid; as these 

 substances are similar, it is a true homeo- 

 pathic cure. Similia similibus. 



Is the Bluet found in tiie U. S.?— [No.— 

 Ed.1 K. Mayerhoffer. 



Editor of Der Bienenvater aus Bohmen. 



Annual Meeting. 



The seventh annual meeting of the Nortb- 

 Eastern Bee- Keepers' Association ■will be 

 held at the Temperance Hotel, in the city of 

 Byracuse, N. Y., on the 7th, 8th and 9th of 

 February. 1877. First session at 1 o'clock, p. 

 M. of the 7th. 



Interesting papers are expected from emi- 

 nent apiarians from abroad. Efforts are being 

 made to sustain the popularity and usefulness 

 of the Association. 



Several members are expected to read es- 

 says or deliver addresses. Come prepared to 

 report accurately, the season's operation. We 

 wish to Ijnow the number of stocks kept, 

 spring and fall, condition, Itind of hive, 

 amount of honey produced, box and extract- 

 ed, wax made, reniarlis on the value of the 

 honey season, etc. The statistical table pre- 

 pared by this Association is original and will 

 again be arranged. 



R. Bacon, Pres. J. H. Nellis, Sec. 



I!^° The Western Stock Journal has re- 

 moved its office from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 

 to West Liberty, Iowa. It is a large and 

 handsome quarto, and is worthy the patron- 

 age of stock men. 



