S04 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



The Point of View hasmuchto do with 

 our ideas concerning- any matter. 

 Most truly Mr. R. C. Aikin remarks, 

 in this issue of the Review, that few of 

 the writers in the journals write from 

 the point of view of the extensive bee- 

 keeper — the man with out-apiaries. So 

 many times I remark to myself, when 

 reading the description of a method, 

 "That's all right when a man is in the 

 apiary all of the time, but it won't work 

 in an out- apiary. ' 



««^«.^«.l^«T<^» 



Go Ahead. Take another step. Can 

 you winter your bees with reasonable 

 certainty ? If not, then learn zahy, and 

 apply the remedy. Can you bring 

 your bees through the spring and have 

 them in the best possible condition for 

 the harvest when it comes ? Are you 

 sure there is nothing you can do in this 

 period to increase your crop? I came 

 across a bee-keeper a short time ago 

 who secured a crop far in advance of 

 his neighbors, and the only difference 

 in his management, as far as I could 

 discover, was that he fed his bees be- 

 tween fruit bloom and clover, and 

 when the latter came the combs were 

 full of brood and food, and the surplus 

 went into the supers at once; besides, 

 there were more bees to gather it. Are 

 you selling your honey in the most ad- 

 vantageous way ? If not, why not ? If 

 you are managing all of these details 

 in the best possible manner, isn't it 

 possible for you to increase your busi- 

 ness ? Don't stay in a rut. Think. 

 Go ahead. 



*«^"^ »^U»l»^*» 



The Indigestibility of wax is often men- 

 tioned in print, and in a way that is 

 far from beneficial to bee-keeping. It 

 is true that wax is indigestible, but its 

 consumption when eating comb honey 

 is far from harmful — in fact, it is really 

 beneficial. It is in the shape of deli- 

 cate flakes, and when brought to the 

 temperature of the body is very soft 

 and smooth — would not injure or irri- 

 tate the most delicate membrane. We 



cannot thrive upon a too concentrated 

 food. The horse must have hay as well 

 as oats. The human must have some- 

 thing to give bulk to the food, and also 

 a porosity that will allow the gastric 

 juice to come in contact with the bulk 

 of the food. The flakes of wax help to 

 hold apart the particles of biscuit, 

 and make passages for the gastric 

 juice. It may be all right to argue in 

 favor of extracted honey, if that is 

 your belief, but don't talk about the 

 indigestibility of wax as though it 

 were something undesirable. 



\*1tf-,f^W%f^* 



The Coming Convention of the Na- 

 tional, that is to be held in Chicago, 

 the first week in December, promises 

 to be well attended and profitable. 

 While its removal to Chicago was a 

 disappointment to the Texans, I have 

 received several letters from tliem saj'- 

 ing that, under the circumstances, the 

 change was a wise one. Of course, if 

 all goes well, another year we will feel 

 in duty bound to go to Texas, not onl}^ 

 this, but we will be glad to go. Since 

 the announcement that the convention 

 will be held in Chicago I have received 

 many letters from men who are pleased 

 with the change, as it will allow them 

 to attend. So far as I can see, the con- 

 vention promises much. Apparentl}', 

 there are no feuds, no opportunities for 

 squabbles and bickerings; the date 

 comes after the hurry of the season is 

 over; there will be exceeding low rates 

 on the railroads and low rates at the 

 hotel; Chicago is the railroad center of 

 a great honey-producing region; the 

 program is not only varied, but it em- 

 braces living, practical topics. I pre- 

 dict that the Chicago convention will 

 be a rousing one; harmonious and full 

 of practical discussion; and one from 

 which men will go home feeling that it 

 was good that they had been there. 



»^jr«.li.»U'^^^» 



Out-Door wintering is often success- 

 ful with not very substantial packing 

 when attempted in Ohio, Indiana, 



