American Bee Journal 



DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BEE CULTURE. 



Vol. XII. 



CHICAG-0, JUNE, 1876. 



No. 6. 



Captain Hetherin^ton's Address. 



In common with the apiarian readers 

 of the A. B. J. generally, we read the 

 above-mentioned address in the April 

 number with much interest. Having 

 had the pleasure of meeting the " gallant 

 Capting " on two occasions at " Bee Con- 

 ventions," when we talked apiculture 

 until the " wee sma' hours ayont the 

 twal," and enjoyed some good social and 

 public opportunities in the company of 

 our fellow bee-keepers, some curiosity 

 was aroused to see how our genial friend 

 would acquit himself in the Presidential 

 chair. We had high expectations, and 

 they have not been disappointed. 



We thank the Captain in the name of 

 the Canadian bee-keeping fraternity, (per- 

 haps it would be presumptuous to speak 

 in the name of the whole Continent of 

 America) for his eloquent tribute to the 

 memory of the late Moses Quinby. He 

 has paid a high and glowing tribute at 

 once to his talents and virtues. It was 

 well deserved. While we need not say in 

 despair, " we ne'er shall look upon his 

 like again," it is no libel on humanity to 

 say that such men are, " like angels' vis- 

 its, few and far between." We warmly 

 second the suggestion as to the compil- 

 ation and publication of a memoir and 

 remains. Perhaps the MSS. of "Ad- 

 vanced Bee-Culture " is iu such shape that 

 it can be got ready for the press in a style 

 that would do the author no discredit. If 

 so we hope it may see the light. 



In view of Mr. Quinby 's great, and to a 

 large extent, disinterested labors — and the 

 felt indebtedness of bee-keei^ers to him — 

 we submit whether it does not behoove us 

 to testify our gratitude and respect in 

 some substantial and enduring form. 

 Would not a monument to his memory, 

 erected by the bee-keepers of America, be 

 a graceful expression? If every bee- 



keeper would contribute but a dollar, it 

 would suffice to rear such a monument 

 as would grace the humble cemetery 

 where his remains have found a resting- 

 place, and bear witness to the bereaved 

 family, and public generally, of our high 

 appreciation of his usefulness and worth. 

 We make this as a proposal to our brother 

 and sister apiarists, and hope it may be 

 entertained and carried into effect. If 

 resolved on, we will do our part in seeing 

 that Canada gives its quota toward so de- 

 serving an object. 



Anything said by Captain Hethering- 

 ton on practical bee-keeping deserves re- 

 spectful consideration, but we think with 

 the editor of the A. B. J., that he has 

 wandered a little from the record in liis 

 criticisms on the "bee journals." We 

 know that it was our aim while editing 

 the A. B. J., to be impartial and truthful 

 in all our representations of bee-keeping. 

 We own to a feeling of enthusiasm in re- 

 gard to apiculture, but still think it never 

 tempted us into the use of coleur de rose 

 when speaking of the business. On the 

 one hand, it was necessary in some cases 

 to defend bee-keeping from the uncalled- 

 for and ungenerous flings of journalists 

 who were constantly insinuating that 

 "bee-men were sharpers, and that api- 

 culture was a delusion and a snare." On 

 the other hand, it was needful to tone 

 down the exaggerated anticipations of 

 sanguine beginners. Back numbers and 

 volumes of the A. B. J. furnish proof that 

 both duties were in some degree faithfully 

 performed. 



Although the captain frankly owns 

 that he began bee-keeping under a de 

 lusion, we are inclined to think he has 

 done, on the whole, pretty well at it, and 

 we should have been glad if he had given 

 a fuller account of his personal experi- 

 ence. This is necessary, " that the subject 

 be fairly presented." The inference from 



