272 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



leave behind us in the hearts of our 

 brother beekeepers such records as 

 mark the history of men like Hu- 

 ber, Qninb}', Wagner and a host of 

 like noble, self-sacrificing spirits ! 



As we consider these matters and 

 realize the position we have taken, 

 the questions come to us, Have we 

 done all that lies in our power to 

 elevate the cause which we repre- 

 sent, and to benefit and protect 

 our brother beekeeper in whose in- 

 terest our journal is published? or, 

 have we sacrificed and slaughtered 

 his interests to our own personal 

 ends, in total defiance of justice 

 and right? 



It matters much how we are able 

 to answer these questions, for it 

 would be far preferable to us to be 

 laid in an humble resting-place and 

 by stranger hands and know that 

 there were those living whose bur- 

 dens and cares we had lightened 

 and those to whose homes we had 

 brought a few more of the comforts 

 of life, tljan to count the thousands 

 which we were to leave for others, 

 and possess a soul so small and 

 devoid ofevery generous sentiment, 

 that it could not grasp more than 

 tlie thought that we alone must be 

 cared for, even though thousands 

 of our poorer brethren were robbed 

 and swindled to fill our coffers. 



It is now nearly two j^ears since 

 we first came before you as an ed- 

 itor and presented for 3'our consid- 

 eration the initial number of the 

 American Apiculturist. Our ob- 

 ject in so doing was to establish a 

 journal which should be entirely 

 free from any connection with the 

 supply business, either directly or 



indirectly, and one which was pub- 

 lished wholly in the interests of 

 scientific and practical apiculture. 

 Nor was this purpose born of our 

 efforts, as that pioneer of American 

 bee-journalism — Samuel Wagner 

 — in giving to us the " American 

 Bee Journal " of which he was the 

 founder, based it on that same 

 broad platform (where it should 

 be to-day), and others have endeav- 

 ored to accomplish the same ob- 

 ject, but have failed through lack 

 of support. 



Now, the great question with us 

 has been. Have we fulfilled our 

 promises faithfully and well and 

 given to the beekeepers of America 

 a journal worthy of their support? 

 If we have, then it is tlie duty of 

 every beekeeper who cares for his 

 interest and the cause of apiculture 

 to stand by us, and exert himself 

 to the utmost to sustain us in our 

 enterprise, even though it cost him 

 a little self-sacrifice. 



As we view the many and varied 

 experiences through which we have 

 been called to pass, as editor of 

 the Apiculturist, we can but won- 

 der that despite the most formida- 

 ble opposition and under the most 

 trying circumstances (of which but 

 a few will ever know), our efforts 

 have been crowned with such abun- 

 dant success ; and while we feel 

 deeply thankful fortius, yet we are 

 aware that it is not due so much to 

 our efforts as to the kind, protect- 

 ing care of a loving Creator who 

 invariably favors the cause of jus- 

 tice and right. At the same time, 

 we do not forget the noble, manly 

 and persistent efforts of those who, 



