14 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



accomplishing all tliat was desired 

 and could be expected, and various 

 methods have been suggested for 

 bringing about the needed reforms ; 

 but while many improvements have 

 been made, yet there have been 

 those who have endeavored to 

 crush out every effort that has been 

 made towards making these re- 

 forms and protecting the interests 

 of the individual beekeepers ( the 

 producers). 



The first great move in the right 

 direction is to establish and main- 

 tain a well-conducted, independent 

 bee journal, and one which shall be 

 entirely free from any connection 

 with the supply business, upon 

 which it may depend for support, 

 published in the broadest sense in 

 the interests of the beekeepers and 

 wholly and well supported by them. 

 There ma}^ be, aye, there are, 

 those who for j-ears have dispar- 

 aged any and every effort made by 

 the beekeepers to organize and es- 

 tablish such a journal, and who to- 

 day affirm that such a journal can- 

 not live and will not be supported. 

 It will be well therefore to study 

 carefully the motives of those who 

 make such statements as these and 

 see if they have the interest of api- 

 culture at heart, and in the past 

 have worked for its best good. 



This is no idle talk, and those 

 who wish to see apiculture invested 

 with a dignity which rightfully be- 

 longs to her as the sister of agri- 

 culture, and exalted to a position 

 of honor which she should occupy 

 as one of the most important in- 

 dustries of our country, should not 

 only willingly but cheerfully con- 



tribute their part towards its con- 

 summation. 



We have already completed the 

 first volume ( eight numbers ) and 

 have the satisfaction of knowing 

 that, without one dissenting voice, 

 it has been endorsed as equal if 

 not superior, in mechanical make- 

 up and amount of valuable infor- 

 mation given by so many of the 

 most prominent apiarists in Amer- 

 ica, to any journal published in the 

 English language. While we are 

 cheered and encouraged by this, 

 yet we do not record it boastingly, 

 but merely to give our readers as- 

 surance that whatever efforts they 

 choose to make in our behalf, will 

 aid in establishing a journal of 

 which they may be proud. 



We feel deeply sensible that our 

 success is due in a great measure 

 to the untiring efforts and unfailing- 

 support of our trusted and faithful 

 beekeeping friends, who have en- 

 couraged us so much and rendered 

 such material aid in contributing 

 to our columns. The old German 

 work, which we are having trans- 

 lated for our readers, and the in- 

 troduction of which was given in 

 the (hst volume, is well worth more 

 than we ask you for the yearly sub- 

 scription. 



Our method of conducting the 

 question and answer department is 

 original with us, and we believe is 

 the only true way in which to solve 

 many of the most important and 

 yet vexing questions which pertain 

 to apiculture. 



These are but a few of the new 

 features of the journal, and we 

 hope with our increasing subscrip- 



