GLEANED BY FIIANK BENTON. 



Translated for the American Bee Journal. 



Character of Baron Berlepsoh. 



WKITTEN BY RUDOFF MAYERIIffiFFER, 



EDITOR OF " DER BIENENVATER," PRAGUE, 



BOHEMIA. 



Baron Berlepsch, whose decease we men- 

 tioned in a previons number, was, next to 

 Dzierzon, tiie greatest bee-master of Ger- 

 many. Regarding Dzierzon as tlie discov- 

 erer, Berlepsch is the real founder of tlie 

 movable-comb system. At first, skeptical — 

 holding himself aloof from the views and 

 discovery of Dzierzon, he was soon — after 

 having become acquainted with their cor- 

 rectness—their warmest and most eloquent 

 defender. 



Berlepsch possessed a combative nature, 

 such as we see in Luther, Ketteler, and 

 Johannes Scherr. With him, the state- 

 ment: "To be a man, is to be a battler," 

 became really truth. He fought sharply 

 against any one's disposition to boast, 

 against assuming ignorance, low dealings 

 and swindling. It was he, especially, who 

 brought about the revolution in German 

 bee-culture and gave it the impulse wliich 

 produced such splendid results. 



It is easily seen that many became iisi 

 enemies, particularly those who felt them- 

 selves attacked. His utterance: '• Keulcn- 

 schlcvqc (nistlLeilen,'^ was misinterpreted, 

 and einployed in placing him in an odious 

 light. His'style is a pithy, strong German; 

 Berlepsch never descended to anything of a 

 sickly, sentimental order; he always had 

 too much esteem for his reader to torment 

 him with miserable rhymes or idle words. 



Berlepsch's apistic and general knowledge 

 was colossal; he was an attmiiable master of 

 the ancient languages, Latin, Greek, and 

 even Hebrew. What a pity he lacked the 

 knowledge of modern languages ! His 

 views were thereby confined, for iie was 

 deprived of the apiarian knowledge of other 

 cultivated people; he valued too highly that 

 of the Germans; and so, unwittingly, he 

 helped to increase the German bee-keepers' 

 self esteem, for which , however, he received 

 few thanks. 



Berlepsch's efforts were directed towards 

 bringing bee-culture back to tlie important 

 influence it once occupied in our father- 

 land and whicli, for example, it now pos- 

 sesses in tlie Union; to prevent its decline, 

 by removing the damaging and often 

 swindling operations that were connected 

 with it. 



As a means to this end, he pointed out 

 that bee-culture must be followed by the 

 economist, supplied with intelligence and 

 capital, and must receive universal atten- 

 tion at institutions of learning. How far 

 this has become a reality, every one who 

 has ears and eyes can himself answer. Yet, 

 we will not stop and rest; if we complete 

 this work left as it were to us, perhaps it 

 will be possible for us. 



He always looked from a material stand- 

 point, and yet — does it sound like irony? — 

 he never obtained pecuniary benefit from 

 bee-culture; for him it was only a pleasant 

 occupation, serving to increase his knowl- 

 edge and enabling him to be useful to those 

 about him. In this, Berlepsch showed him- 

 self to be a true nobleman. 



Berlepsch's private life could by no means 

 be termed a pleasant one; it was and 

 remnined a struggle. He experienced the 

 truth of "the old and yet ever new story;" 

 and in science he sought comfort, which, 

 indeed he found, even though only partially. 



At one time, his health appeared to be 

 nearly indistructable; yet, in July, 1808, he 

 was deprived of this blessing. A sudden 

 attack of apoplexy, which in a great meas- 

 ure crippled him, confined him from that 

 time on, with few interruptions, to the sick- 

 bed. So far as practical bee-culture is con- 

 cerned, he was dead; but he still lived. — 

 Willingly and with jjleasure he gave an- 

 swers to questions addressed to him, and 

 also took an active part in all questions of 

 great interest. It was a fortunate tliinu for 

 him that his amiable and talented wife 

 proved a self-sacrificing aiul affectionate 

 companion. It was only thus that he was 

 enabled to bear his afflictions. 



He appeared and spoke for the last time' 

 at the convention of German and Austrian 

 bee-culturists, in fSalzburg; in 1872, celebra- 

 ting at tlie same time the liftieth year of his 

 connection with bee-culture. From tiiat 

 time on, he avoided more and more all pub- 

 licity; his suft'ering increased from day to 

 day, until finally, on the IBth of September, 

 last year. Death, as a welcome guest, 

 released him. 



If we glance over the work of Berlepscli, 

 we must admit that it constitutes a marked 

 epoch— not only for the bee-culture of Ger- 

 many, but also for the whole bee-keeping 

 world. Berlepsch will ever be held in 

 remembrance, for he has reared for liimself 

 a monument that outlasts marble and iron. 

 As long as bees exist and man cultivates 

 them, so long will the name of Berlepsch be 

 heard. Frank Benton, Translator. 



Discussion upon Hives in Grermany. 



At the last convention of German and 

 Austrian bee-culturists, the subject of hives 

 was discussed. 



Dr. Dzierzon declared himself to be 

 in favor of hives constructed to contain 

 2 colonies; the inner walls made of wood, 

 the outer of straw; of medium height; the 

 frames to be taken out at the front or i-ear 

 side; and so arranged as to permit the 

 increase or decrease in size of the brood 

 apartment by means of division boards. 



HeiT Lehzen, Hanover, did not agree witli 

 Dr. Dzierzon, but claimed that for the north 

 of Germany, straw was best for hives. He 

 claimed that where the bee-keeper practiced 

 moving his bees about, any other form than 

 the old-fashioned straw hives would con- 

 sume much time in handling, besides 

 costing more, and not being as durable.— 

 He stated that with the heath bee-keeper. 



