Jan. 10, 1907 



American Hee Journal 



bee-keepers have their full share ot it; so 

 when any one of them learns something that 

 has been of value to him, immediately there 

 arises in his mind the desire to share that 

 knowledge with others. 



Even supposing that most of the matter 

 contained in these columns were of such na- 

 ture as to be of interest only to those who 

 have graduated from the ranks of beginners, 

 would there be anything unjust in that? A 

 little thought will suggest that beginners 

 form only a small part of the clientele of any 

 well-conducted bee-paper. The most part of 

 bee-keepers who subscribe continue to be 

 subscribers when they are no longer begin- 

 ners, making the beginners always greatly in 

 the minority. With this in view, perhaps our 

 correspondent will admit not only that we 

 "can't deal with beginners entirely,'' but 

 that the larger body of advanced bee-keepers 

 should be kept distinctly in view. Fortu- 

 nately, things that are new to experienced 

 bee-keepers are not always, perhaps not often, 

 difficult of understanding for beginners. 



The hint, however, should not be lost, and 

 it will be well for all who write for bee- 

 papers to keep in mind that it they write so 

 clearly as to be understood by beginners, the 

 extra clearness is not likely to be unwelcome 

 to the more advanced. 



It were "a consummation devoutly to be 

 wished " that the title of every article should 

 tell what the discussion is about, and no little 

 effort is made to that end when the making 

 of the title is left to the editor, as it generally 

 is. That the effort is not entirely in vain is 

 the opinion of at least one of the older read- 

 ers, who lately wrote, " Yon have undoubted 

 genius for getting up the right kind of head- 

 ings." That ''beginners could also learn" 

 from articles with right headings is certainly 

 true, but that their learning would depend 

 to any great extent upon the headings, does 

 not appear so very clear. Yet effort shall not 

 cease to maKe headings in the future better 

 than in the past, and any suggestions as to 

 just how they can be improved will be thank- 

 fully received. 



Whatever the lack as to information fitting 

 each subscriber, there always remains the 

 Question-Box open to him. Any question 

 not already satisfactorily answered in the 

 bee-books is ever welcomed. What more 

 could be asked * The implied question of our 

 correspondent as to whether Dr. Miller will 

 answer a question that he has not been asked, 

 nearly answers itself. In his department he 

 Is not writing essays, nor delivering lectures, 

 but answering questions. How can he an- 

 swer a question until it is asked? And would 

 it not be a little hard on him besides furnish- 

 ing answers to be obliged to guess at the 

 questions as well! 



It is our sincere desire that the American 

 Bee Journal shall as nearly as possible meet 

 the needs of our correspondent, and if he has 

 not done so in the past, while thanking him 

 for his interest in its columns, we earnestly 

 advise him to make a full trial of the Ques- 

 tion-Box: and if the information desired is 

 not given in clear manner, he is at liberty to 

 ask questions until he does get what he 

 wants; always provided that the question be 

 not ot such character that Dr. Miller will be 

 obliged toanswer, "I don'tknow.'' 



Reading Now for Next Season 



The long winter evenings are here again. 

 What a grand time it is to read the bee-papers, 

 and get ready to introduce improved methods 

 in the conduct of the apiary next season. 



There are perhaps many copies of the bee- 

 papers that failed to receive more than hur- 

 ried glances during the busy season last year. 

 Why not get them together and go over them 

 carefully now? Some bee-keepers think it 

 doesn't pay to take a bee-paper. Of course it 

 doesn't if it.is not read thoroughly. 



It is true that with many bee-keepers 1906 

 was the poorest honey season in many years. 

 But it will not do to become discouraged. 

 The good seasons will come again in the 

 future just as they have in the past. The 

 thing to do is to be ready in every way possi- 

 ble to take the fullest advantage of the big 

 honey-flows when they come. 



Competition in every line is too strenuous 

 these days to win much success unless one 



avails himself of all the possible short cuts 

 in labor and management. And these are 

 learned through reading what and how others 

 are doing. Life is all too short to go by ox- 

 team, or even horse and wagon to-day. We 

 can not use the methods ot our grandfathers 

 if we would hope to get ahead these pushing, 

 electric days in which we are living. We 

 must not only read about the ways in which 

 others have succeeded, but each must be 

 quick to adopt, and also adapt, methods and 

 plans in his own apiary that promise results. 



Of course, all will want to do some experi- 

 menting, but t'nere is no need of wasting time 

 in going over things that others have proven 

 to be failures, reports of which can be 

 learned by reading the bee. papers and bee- 

 books. 



It may look as if we were saying all this in 

 order to sell you something. It is not ex- 

 actly that, but we want all our subscribers to 

 get the most out of their bee-literature, which 

 is really valuable if only rightly used. 



0)iscella] 

 flews Items 



R. Li. Taylor, of Lapeer, Mica., has beeu 

 re-elected chairman of the Board of Directors 

 of the National Bee-Keepers' Association for 

 190r. 



A Cradle Song has been received from 

 Hon. Eugene Secor, of Forest City, Iowa, 

 who wrote the beautiful words, and Robt. 

 Chapman the music. It is a solo, and a very 

 pretty one, suitable for either soprano or alto 

 voice. 



Mr. M, M. Baldridge, of St. Charles, 

 111., one ot the oldest bee-keepers in the 

 United States, called on us recently. He is 

 perhaps the best informed as regards the his- 

 tory of American bee-keeping ot any bee- 

 keeper living to-day. He knew those per- 

 sonally who helped at the beginning of things 

 apicultural in this country. 



Connecticut Bee-Keepers will intro- 

 duce a Foul Brood Bill into the State Legisla- 

 ture before Feb. 1, 1907. J. Arthur Smith, 

 Drawer 1325, Hartford, Conn., Secretary of 

 the Connecticut Bee-Keepers' Association, 

 would be pleased to receive names of bee- 

 keepers throughout the State— not only read- 

 ers of the bee-papers, but others as well. It 

 will require the united efforts of the bee-keep- 

 ers to secure the proposed law, which is 

 needed to check and stamp out the disease of 

 foul brood. 



" Canadian Beedom " and J. L. Byer 



have formed a combination, as will be seen 

 by referring to page 3'2. He takes the place 

 recently vacated by Morley Pettit. Mr. Byer 



IS one 01 the leadmg honey-producers and 

 apicultural writers beyond our northern 

 border. He is a specialist bee-keeper — de- 

 pends entirely upon honey-production for a 

 living for himself and family. And he doesn't 

 believe in "race suicide " either, for, by re- 

 ferring to the first page it will be seen he has 

 almost a Rooseveltian family. 



We believe Mr. Byer will prove a worthy 

 successor to Mr. Pettit, as the conductor of 

 "Canadian Beedom." We bespeak for him 

 at least a cordial reception, and also a warm 

 place at the thousands of cozy firesides where 

 the American Bee Journal will introduce him 

 this week. 



The Kretchmer SIfg. Co., of Council 

 Bluffs, Iowa, has sent us one of the most 

 unique calendars we have ever received. The 

 flower-covered back-ground or card has fast- 

 ened to it a half-section of a skep made out 

 of tissue paper in partial imitation of honey- 

 comb. Above the hive is a movabl£ cover 

 which can be raised and lowered, and on it is 

 printed the business card of the firm sending 

 it out. The whole is arranged to stand erect 

 on shelf or table, and is a very attractive 

 novelty. 



" Langstroth on the Honey-Bee"— 



the well-known bee-book revised by the 

 Dadants — has just passed into another edi- 

 tion. There have been some "5 pages added 

 to it, and the whole work brought down to 

 date in every respect. It is certainly a fine 

 book, and should be read by every bee-keeper. 

 It is really a classic. To become acquainted 

 with the great Langstroth through the read- 

 ing of his book it no small thing. Other bee- 



