24 



THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST. 



ual beekeepers and supply dealers, 

 through their desire to use or sell some- 

 thing different from others. Doubtless 

 each was devised in the belief that it 

 was an improvement. We shall never 

 establish a desirable standard in bee- 

 keeping fixtures so long as the majority 

 of supplies are manufactured and sold 

 by dealers who have their own text 

 book which illustrates and describes 

 their owu style of hives and sections, 

 and who publish their own bee journals 

 to educate the public and recommend 

 their own goods. There must be less 

 selfishness, and more of a broad and 

 generous spirit, before the greatest 

 good conies to the greatest number. 

 The outlook is brightening, and I think 

 the tendency of the future will be iu 

 the direction of a reduction and simpli- 

 fication of the forms of hives, until the 

 hive indicated in the question will be- 

 come a possibility. 



2. I think that adulteration in con- 

 nection with our pursuit is practised 

 very little if at all by beekeepers. The 

 greatest need is, that we talk and write 

 less about it. 



3. This is an important question 

 and one to which I have given much 

 thought. I am inclined at present to 

 advise such to use a hive that will con- 

 tain about 14 frames, lOX 15, and allow 

 their surplus to be stored in frames at 

 the outside of the brood nest. This 

 honey can be cut from the frames and 

 sold directly to the consumer. 



4. The history of the past during all 

 ages proves the position of such per- 

 sons incorrectly taken, when viewed 

 from a broad and helpful standpoint. 

 To argue otherwise would be to hold in 

 ungrateful remembrance the names of 

 so many noble, self-sacrificing men who 

 have worked with such untiring zeal 

 that we of to-day may enjoy the fruits 

 of their labors. Would space admit I 

 should be glad to mention the names of 

 some of our honored dead and refer to 

 their unselfishness. 



5. My first suggestion would be 

 that in our conventions and bee liter- 

 ature we call attention more frequently 

 to pure honey and less to the reverse. 

 We have done far too much advertising 

 which has unnecessarily done us great 

 harm. I would urge losing no oppor- 

 tunity of displaying the most hois'Ey, 

 where it would attract the attention of 

 the greatest number possible. We 

 should endeavor to prepare our pack- 

 ages iu neat and attractive form. 

 Above all it must be produced in 

 such a way that it will not be sticky 

 and disagreeable to handle ; showy 



labels and striking placards are also 

 valuable. 



Properly printed slips well-worded 

 explaining the value of this pure and 

 natural sweet should be furnished with 

 each package. If such slips could be 

 very generally distributed they would 

 be valuable educators. We should see 

 to it that no department at our fairs 

 make a better display than our own. 



In short it simply means hard work. 

 If we are equal^to the emergency, suc- 

 cess is ours. 



6. Were I to answer this question 

 in the broadest and most unselfish way 

 I should say that the most important 

 question would be, How can we save 

 the millions of pounds of honey which 

 are annually going to waste, and create 

 a demand for the same at reasonable 

 prices? 



In Switzerland honey is as common an 

 article of food as is butter in America. 



If we can educate the American pub- 

 lic up to this standard the problem is 

 solved. 



3Iohaivk, N. Y. 



LETTEB BOX. 



Mohaiok, N. Y. 

 Dear Sir: 



I have been examining your club and 

 premium list given in the Dec. number 

 and it seems to me that many of your 

 readers will avail themselves of your 

 very liberal ofiers. 



Your offer of all of the back numbers 

 (Vols. 1 and 2) consisting of twenty 

 copies bound in one volume in cloth 

 for five new subscribers is one that 

 should induce many to strive for the 

 prize. I shall be surprised if your very 

 generous offers are not largely taken 

 advantage of. L. C. Koot. 



Poxighkeepsie, N. Y., Dec. 11, 1884. 



It is with pleasure that I renew my 

 subscription to the "Apiculturist" for 

 it has been of great value to me during 

 the past year ; and I could not do with- 

 out it. I shall try to send you at least 

 one new name. S. E. Wiley. 



Clockville, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1884. 



Please find inclosed $5.00 for my 

 subscription for the "Apiculturist" for 

 1885 to help it along on its onward 

 march. W. V. Boswokth. 



