SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 75 



posed to have some charm over them, or, as is often said, "The bees don't 

 sting him." But if such a one is persuaded to go close enough to see what 

 is going on he will learn that the secret of the operator's immunity lies in the 

 fact of his composure and in his care not to jar the hive or mash the bees, 

 which would be sure to anger them. 



Persons may often become interested in bees by some such chance 

 acquaintance, and become bee-keepers in a small way, and occasionally quite 

 extensive ones devoting their whole time to it. This is a very natural conse- 

 quence and we only wonder that more people are not bee-keepers. Bees 

 are, perhaps, the most interesting and useful insects, and bee-keeping can be 

 made both pleasant and profitable. It is on account of ignorance of the habits 

 and disposition of bees, and the lack of an introduction, you might say, 

 because, when once interested, a person is hardly satisfied till he has a hive of 

 his own. There is no reason why the hive should not be as common as the 

 chicken-coop at our homes. One or two hives would furnish a home with 

 honey, which is, at the same time, a luxury and of value ; as food it can not 

 be too highly estimated, and would, perhaps, furnish more pin money than the 

 "old hen" herself. The pleasure they afford to those who take an interest 

 in them is not to be overlooked either. 



Bee-keeping offers peculiar advantages to persons already engaged in 

 some occupations. They require very little attention, and that can be given 

 at leisure. The capital invested is small, and the profit proportionately large. 

 Most important of all, they would add to a person's capacity for money-earn- 

 ing, and thus better his condition. It is an outdoor pursuit, and consequently 

 beneficial to the health. It is an absorbing occupation that makes you forget 

 other cares and worries, as it has been said you can not work with bees and 

 think about something else. 



Bee-keepers are not an exclusive set, but welcome any new recruits to 

 their ranks. They are generally religious, and stand for principles that make 

 the highest type of citizens Our organizations believe that, in the multitude 

 of counselors, there is safety. Every one who is interested in bees should 

 belong to at least one of these organizations. The stronger in numbers the 

 more potent they are to benefit their constituents. — H. M. Parker, Jr., James 

 Island, S. C. 



EXTENSIVE BEE-KEEPING. 



The above subject is only a dream of the future with many of the bee- 

 keepers of the South; but a great number of them are pulling for the mark, 

 and some of them are joining us each season, and soon we shall have a large 

 list of professional bee-keepers. Extensive bee-keeping is spreading bees out 

 over the country, or reaching out and saving honey by successfully operating 

 out-apiaries. 



Bee-keepers are like people in all other callings of life.. Some have the 

 ability to manage successfully twelve or fifteen out-apiaries, and some can 



