Vol, X 



Published Monthly by The W. T. Falconer Mfg. Co. 

 JUNE, T9OO 



No. 6 



BEE CULTURE IN MAINE. 



BY REV. C. M. HEKRTNG. 



TWENTY-iSEVEN years' experioncn 

 in bee culture has impressed me 

 with the nature and Importance of 

 this business: so that, of the three de- 

 partments of this work, I can speak 

 with considerable confidence. Of the 

 true bee-man, of the most desirable bee. 

 and of the good beehive for northern 

 states, I have my opinion, based upon 

 my long experience ; and of these I will 

 speak briefiy. 



THE MAN. 



The common man, with fixed will and 

 purpose, may become successful in time: 

 but to become a master in this art re- 

 quires some natural aptitude for the 

 work. For eminent success in this 

 noble enterprise, nature must furnish 

 the required talent. In this as in all 

 other departments of labor, the man 

 may mistake his calling. Once a neigh- 

 bor of mine — a good farmer — caught tlx^ 

 notion, from a desire of gain, to keep 

 bees ; and it was evident before long 

 that his bees knew him to be a novice; 

 and a coward. With the greatest con- 

 tempt for his unmanly conduct they 

 would chase him from tlieir grounds: 

 and very soon it was seen that he and 

 his bees were not in harmony, lie 

 could not understand the trouble, and 

 began to change his hand. He gave his 

 bees new hives; he put in full sheets of 

 comb foundation ; and so he went 

 through with all the devices of modern 



times, calling on his neighbors to do his 

 difficult work. Still there was contin- 

 ual defeat. Finally he and his bees 

 parted — some to the woods, and more to 

 the dust. The trouble was in the man ; 

 he lacked gumption. 



But the real master puts his brains 

 and his heart into his work; and as he 

 studies and works among his pets, he 

 soon finds his mind filled with admira- 

 tion and love for these wonderful crea- 

 tures of his care. His increasing affection 

 for his bees brings him often to the hive, 

 and they know his coming. His love 

 for them "casteth out fear," and he 

 soon finds that their proper treatment, 

 and harmony, go hand in hand. Such, 

 in short, is the man of suitable brain 

 and heart who makes this business a 

 success. 



THE BEE. 



All bees, like all stock, are not of 

 (upial value. As with horses, cows and 

 sheep, blood will tell. We find it true 

 of all organic life, that prolonged inter- 

 breeding of the same blood diminishes 

 the vital forces : and also that contin- 

 ual crossing between the different races 

 improves the stock. As it is true among 

 all animals, vegetables and insects, so 

 also of the bees, old varieties will finally 

 run out. 



.Vbout the first mistake the novice 

 makes in starting his apiary is the 

 notion that all bees are alike ; and from 

 the old box hive, in the country, where 

 the bees are cheap and worthless, he 



