THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



123 



In earlier days when the sources 

 from which our honey came were 

 raoi-e certain, when prices for 

 honey ranged higher, and above all 

 when comparatively few were en- 

 gaged in the business, and there 

 was a demand for even more honey 

 than was produced, one was more 

 fully warranted in making bee- 

 keeping an exclusive business, 



I have watched the changes in 

 our pursuit with more than an or- 

 dinary degree of interest as the 

 results of the changes were to de- 

 termine m\' own action in my plans 

 for the future. 



The results of ni}' experience lead 

 me to the conclusion that it is far 

 more safe to unite beekeeping with 

 some other business. There are 

 many kinds of business which may 

 be conducted in connection with 

 beekeeping with pleasure and 

 profit. 



Among these are poultry rais- 

 ing, stock growiug, small fruit gar- 

 dening, etc. 



If farming were conducted in a 

 better way than it usually is, and 

 a few colonies of bees kept in con- 

 nection with it, the two pursuits 

 would be found to harmonize. 



As a rule, farmers attempt to 

 work far too much land, and the 

 consequence is a low grade of 

 farming. 



Their crops, both of grain and 

 fruit are inferior, and if there is a 

 beekeeper near them they are apt 

 to try and make themselves believe 

 that the bees are the cause of their 

 poor crops. 



If, instead of attempting to con- 

 duct a farm of two hundred acres, 



they would put the same amount of 

 work on fifty acres and keep fifty 

 colonies of bees, sowing alsyke 

 clover, buckwheat, etc., their in- 

 vestment would be much less, and 

 I think the results more satisfac- 

 tory. 



The present feeling with so many 

 that the interests of the farmer and 

 beekeepers are antagonistic is 

 very much to be regretted, for the 

 facts when investigated will prove 

 decidedly the reverse. 



From very close observation, I 

 feel warranted in saying that the 

 honey bee is as truly a necessity 

 in the propagation of field and gar- 

 den crops, as are the rain, sun- 

 shine and soil. These facts will 

 surely be proven by the harmony 

 which will be produced in the 

 desirable practice of uniting the 

 branches of business referred to, 

 and conducting them in such a 

 manner as to bring about the har- 

 mony which the God of nature has 

 established. 



IfoJumk, N. r., May, 1884. 



WHEN SHOULD 

 WE CHANGE QUEENS? 



By J. E. Pond, jr. 



Probably every beekeeper finds 

 a necessity for changing more or 

 less queens every year, and it is a 

 question of grave importance, for 

 by this change the crop of surplus 

 honey may be greatly affected. 

 Any change of queen means 

 several days more or less when no 



