244 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



November, 



boil out of their hive and come for me 

 as soon as tlie liive was opened, but 

 soon they truly seemed glad to see me; 

 and I think it was because they did 

 not have to carry off the dead, for an 

 hour or so every time I visited them. 

 You will guess that about this time bee 

 brushes became a hobby with me. 



In time I tried the rope brush, a new 

 paint brush, pine needles and saw and 



cabbage palmetto. The two latter were 

 quite good, if one had used them 

 through a "mosquito season,'' and thus 

 worn off their roughness. 



I kept telling myself and rest of the 

 family that some day I would find 

 Avhat I was looking for, "provided I 

 lived long enough. I was working in 

 my home apiary one day just after the 

 grass had been hoed, and as usual, 

 needed a brush. I picked up a bunch 

 of grass and had — my brush. Then I 

 felt very cheap, for it had been before 

 my eyes all the time, but too tough to 

 ])nll a handful, a la Dr. Miller. 



I made myself one, by sewing and 

 tying, and have it yet. That was two 

 yeai's ago. and I can truthfully say 

 that it is the best I have ever found. 

 I do not brush with the end, but the 

 side. No bees are hurt in any way. 

 If it becomes daubed with honey I dip 

 it in water, shake, and it is ready for 

 use once more. 



By brushing fast the brush has quite 

 a spring and the momentum seems to 

 assist the ■u^ork. 



Some seem to think they are too 

 long, but by having them that way the 

 bees do not seem to associate one's 

 hand with the cause that is making 

 them so much trouble and therefoi'e 

 they do not sting so badly. 



I have named the brush the "Flor- 

 ida" Nos. 1 and 2, and I do hope every 

 bee-keeper who uses it will say, "Eu- 

 reka." as I did. 



This may seem to some a great deal 

 fo say about such a trivial affair, but 

 it is the want of such small things 

 that makes oiir work produce wrinkles, 

 scowls and bad words, and the posses- 

 sion of which makes us smile and say, 

 "Ours is the only reall.v enjoyable pro- 

 fession known." 



As I saw by all the bee journals that 

 other bee-keepers have had the same 

 trouble as myself. I thought I would 

 place the "Florida" brush on the mar- 

 ket, and combine their making with 

 my bee work. I hope every one who 

 sees them will find them as useful as 

 I have done. 



Grant, Fla.. Oct. 8, 1903. 



THE FLORIDA BEE BRUSH. 



Bewailing the unsatisfactory condi- 

 tion of the nation's apicultural affairs 

 and yet withholding support from the 

 association which seeks to better these 

 conditions, is like crying "Fire!" an3 

 refusing to throw water. If "in imion 

 tliere is strength," let's unite. 



