l6 SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 



giving their bees culture, but never got around to it. Others bought them 

 because they were sustaining heavy losses by using the old-style box hives, 

 thinking that the hives were the cause of the loss. And some bought a few 

 hives just to try them. The fact is, we have a part or all of our bees in 

 patented hives, and we don't know their condition any more than if they 

 were in old box hives ; and from a bee-keej>ing standpoint they are no better 

 off except a few dollars tied up. No decision as to bee-keeping or the patent 

 hives can be reached. 



I>ear reader, the adoption of modern hives is one step in the right 

 direction if they are properly put together when the bees are hived in them ; 

 but if this step is all, invest the money you expect to buy trtore patented 

 hives with in some other direction and hive your bees in boxes. But a better 

 thing to do would be to get in touch with your bees. Know how to lay 

 your hand on them and what to depend on. 



THE INTERESTED BUT NON-PURSUANT. 



It is astonishing to know how many there are interested in bee-keeping,, 

 but who are not pursuing it to any extent for reasons they can not always 

 assign. There are but very few who are interested in bee culture; and yet 

 there are but few who are so situated in life that they could not keep and 

 care for as much as one colony somewhere about their premises, and several 

 times a season they could get a taste of new honey at "home; and during 

 that time they could acquire no little knowledge of the nature and habits of 

 bees, so that, when they were differently situated in life they could establish 

 and operate successfully an apiary large enough to supply the table at home at 

 least. This would assure a pure article and the children and other members 

 of the family could be easily taught bee culture, and learn it, combining theory 

 and practice. There are many people grown and growing up in the world 

 who have no correct ideas of giving bees culture. This lack of general in- 

 formation could be overcome to a great extent if we had a lot more small 

 bee-keepers. Besides bee education, more honey would be consimied and 

 take the place of some of our inferior sweets, and more vigor and health 

 would be added to the human family. 



There is no excuse for the great- shortage in honey-saving; and, dear in- 

 terested reader, deepen your interest in the little honey-bee by keeping a 

 colony or a small apiary, and reach out your hands for at least a small por- 

 tion of the heaven-sent food, for nature needs it and is calling for it, and 

 it is going to waste. 



