1873.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



259 



They met to expose humbugs, and consider ways and 

 means of banishing old-fogy bee-keeping, and estab- 

 lishing enlightened and scientific bee-keeping every- 

 where. If these are not " definite objects or aims," 

 we are at a loss to know what deserve to be so called. 

 As for the questions propounded for discussion, 

 they have been for the most part very practical ones, 

 and we do not recollect any instance, in which parties 

 have asked them to display their own wisdom, as 

 insinuated. The discussions themselves are by no 

 means discreditable. We have met with no dis- 

 paraging criticisms on them, except those of Mr. 

 King, and any one who will examine the minutes 

 with a view of ascertaining how much wisdom he 

 contributed to the common stock, will set this down 

 as a notable instance of " the pot calling the kettle 

 black." 



3. It is no disgrace to us that we have to own the 

 superior eminence of our German brethren, as api- 

 cultural investigators. "Honor to whom honor." 

 To grudge the acknowledgment of well-earned 

 superiority, is very small-minded. 



4. The Secretary of the N. A. B. K. S. ought to 

 know his own duties, and the duties of committees, 

 better than to give the advice contained in his closing 

 paragraph. The Local Committee of Arrangements 

 has other business than to assign subjects for discus- 

 sion, and the like. Its duty is to provide a place of 

 meeting, make terms with hotels and railroads, see 

 that proper local publicity is given to the meeting, 

 and things of that sort. Mr. King maps out the work 

 ■of the Executive Committee, of which as Secretary 

 he is the most responsible member, and shifts it on 

 to the shoulders of the Local Committee. This will 

 not do. 



Go to work yourself, Mr. King, if you want 

 the next meeting to be a grand success. Digest a 

 plan, forward it to the Corresponding Secretary, and 

 let him write to the other members of the Executive 

 Committee about it. Choose a topic you feel " able to 

 discuss learnedly," and get up a paper that will con- 

 vince even German apiarians that their American 

 brethren have " profound opinions." Who so proper 

 a person as he whom they delighted to honor, and he 

 who has taken upon himself the office of Critic- 

 General and Supreme Judge of American apiarians ? 

 We stand ready to do our " level best," and " little 

 all," notwithstanding the ungracious fling about 

 " forestalling discussion" in the closing paragraph 

 of Mr. King's article. So do many more. Timely 

 official action is all that is needed. Half as much 

 written from the Secretary's desk as has emanated 

 ex cathedra from the editorial chair, would have ac- 

 complished far more for the welfare of the Society. 

 But we fear this is not the object really aimed at. 



Unable to use the Society for his own ends, Mr. King 

 is intent on doing it damage ; though from his offi- 

 cial position, it is a species of treason. The Secre- 

 tary of a society is its most responsible officer. On 

 him, more than upon any other, its efficiency and 

 success depend. Be loyal and faithful to the trust 

 committed to your hands, Mr. King, and "our word 

 for it," all will be well. 



Shall I go into Bee-Keeping? 



BY THE EDITOR. 



We are vain enough to think that our former arti- 

 cle on bee-keeping may have inclined not a few 

 readers of it to entertain the idea of keeping bees. 

 But there is one great and terrible hindrance which 

 meets beginners at the very outset, and often effect- 

 ually deters them from the contemplated undertaking 

 — it is the fear of being stung. Many own this, 

 and others who are too proud to own it are neverthe- 

 less influenced by it. 



Now, it is no mark of wisdom to make light of a 

 bee-sting. It is no joke. A mosquito-bite, or if you 

 can imagine it, fifty mosquito-bites in one, are ae 

 nothing to it. The bee not only inflicts a wound, 

 but injects a poison. This poison is very subtle and 

 virulent in its nature. It has a peculiarly potent 

 effect on some people. A bee-sting has been 

 known to cause death, when inflicted in a highly 

 sensitive part of the body of a delicately organized 

 person. 



Thus much admitted, let a few considerations per 

 contra be urged. In the first place, there is far less 

 danger of being stung than most people imagine. 

 The idea that every bee you hear buzzing around 

 you is intent on plunging its dagger into your quiv- 

 ering flesh, is preposterous. The ordinary buzz of 

 a bee is its song of labor, an audible proof that it is 

 intent on work, not on mischief. A bee rarely 

 stings except as the result of injury or provocation 

 of some sort. If interfered with in any way, and 

 particularly if irritated, squeezed or crushed, it is 

 pretty sure to sting. Like a Scotchman, the bee has 

 for its insignia a thistle, and for its motto, "Nemo 

 me impune lacessit." 



Secondly, there are simple precautions to be ob- 

 served in all operations amongst bees, by which all 

 danger of being stung maybe obviated. Ordinarily 

 a quiet self-possessed behavior amongs bees ensures 

 safety. All sudden movements are to be avoided. 

 Bees are excessively nervous insects. They get ex- 

 cited in a moment. Gentleness must be practised 

 always. If they raise a warning note of anger, or 

 dart towards you threateningly — the usual indica- 

 tions of a disposition to sting — the best course is to 

 stand perfectly still, bending the head forward U 



