1886 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



463 



is it not a kindness to us to be reminded occasional- 

 ly of the blessings we enjoy, by some such hint or 

 warning? 



Dll. C. C. MILLER'S NEW BOOK, "A YEAR AMONG 

 THE BEES." 



This is a very pretty little bound volume of 114 

 pages. It is a plain, familiar talk about bees and 

 bee culture. It starts out in an intensely interest- 

 ing and taking way, and keeps it up all through the 

 book. One of Its particular charms is, that friend 

 Miller does not pretend to know all there is to be 

 known in the matter. He does not get up on to any 

 high rostrum at all, but talks about the business 

 just as one farmer would naturally talk to another 

 about seeds, manures, implements, etc. He tells of 

 the way in which he has worked, and of the short 

 cuts he has made. He tells of his blunders, and 

 frankly says a good many times that he does not 

 know just the best way. As an illustration, after 

 having tiied almost all kinds of feeders, and after 

 having had them in the way after he got through 

 with them, perhaps forgotten and left in the hives 

 when they ought not to be, he decides now in favor 

 of having no feeders at all. But where a colony is 

 to be fed, he does it by filling empty combs with 

 syrup, in a manner similar to that given by our old 

 friend Quinby, years ago. His wife and his boy as- 

 sist him in the work, not only with their hands, 

 but with their brains; and I tell you, my friends, it 

 is a big element toward success to have a good 

 smart woman to help you in the bee-business. Very 

 likely it is in any kind of business; but a great part 

 of bee culture is emphatically woman's work. 

 Friend Miller has a particular way of placing his 

 hives by twos; and if there is anything about the 

 book that is lacking, it is that he did not give us a 

 nice picture of an apiary arranged the way he 

 would have it; and, by the way, more pictures of 

 other things he describes and speaks of. 



Friend Miller is not only a genius, but he is a man 

 who has proved his ability to manage bees, by mak- 

 ing money at the business; that is, he made money 

 during favorable seasons; during unfavorable sea- 

 sons, he frankly owns up, he has not. 1 think it will 

 pay every one who has a dozen colonies of bees or 

 more to have "A Year Among the Bees." Price 70 

 cts.; 10 or more copies, 50 cts. each. If wanted by 

 mail, add .5 cts. each for postage. 



The smoker and "Truth" are duly at hand, for 

 which please accept my thanks. Will do as I agree 

 to do. My tobacco has gone. John Arner. 



Rimersburgh, Pa., March 29, 188». 



I have left off using tobacco. I wish you would 

 send me one of your bee-smokers. I hereby prom- 

 ise, if I ever use tobacco again I will send you the 

 money for the smoker. F. H. York. 



North Norway, Maine, March 39, 1886. 



TeB^cc© Oeii^MN. 



J HAVE been using tobacco for upward of ten 

 j'cars, but have stopped since Jan. 1. If you 

 will send me a smoker, I hereby agree to send 

 you pay for the same if I again commence; 

 but I will not commence again, as I fairly 

 loathe it now. Wm. F. Beach. 



Philadelphia, Pa., March 23, 1886. 



I will take you up at your ofler, to send me a 

 smoker. I will give up smoking tobacco. 



Samuel Mumm.\. 

 Highspire, Dauphin Co., Pa., April U, 1886. 



I send you these few lines to let you know that I 

 have resolved to quit the use of tobacco, after the 

 use of the weed for 7 years; and I now promise my- 

 self that I will not use it again. If you think I am 

 entitled to a smoker, please send it; and if I ever 

 break my pledge, I will pay you full value. 



Cass City, Mich. J. W. Wright. 



Having formed the acquaintance of L. B. Polk, 

 who is engaged in the honey- business, I have, 

 through him, gone into it. Having chewed and 

 smoked from boyhood, I have quit. Please send 

 smoker; and if I ever begin I will pay you for it. 



R. SlMKINS. 



Anderson, Ross Co., O., Apr. 19, 1886. 



I commenced chewing about two years ago. A 

 few days ago I thought I would would quit using 

 tobacco. I heard that if any one would quit the 

 use of it you would send a smoker as a present. If 

 I ever commence using it again I will pay you full 

 price for it. J. C. Stepheson. 



Burlington, Burlington Co., N. J., Mar. 8, 1886. 



influence of a 11-year-old boy over his 

 father. 



I am 14 years old, and commenced to keep bees 

 last summer. My father has chewed tobacco for 20 

 years, but he quit last May, and told me 1 might 

 try for a smoker, and ho promises to pay you the 

 price of one if he ever touches it again. 



Ypsilanti, Mich., April 13, 1886. A. F. Smith. 



a stitch in time. 



I saw, while I took Gleanings, that you had 

 much to say about that nasty weed tobacco, and 

 also that you gave a smoker to any one who would 

 quit using it. Well, put my name down on that list 

 for two smokers— one for myself, the other for my 

 neighbor, who has also quit its use. I have just 

 gone over into my twenties, so I quit while young, 

 and ii "stitch in time" will count nine. You can 

 send both smokers to me, and I will stand good for 

 both. Should I begin using it again, 1 Avill pay you 

 for both smokers. Both my parents are slaves to it, 

 and I can see its evil effects. Bees have all wintered 

 well in this locality this year, and carried in pollen 

 March 18th for the first time this year. 



Michael Buscher,Ju. 



Cicero, Hamilton Co., Ind., Apr. 14, 1886. 



QUIT for life. 



I am a rather poor hand to beg; but I learn from 

 Gleanings that you offer a smoker to any one who 

 has been in the habit of using tobacco, and is will- 

 ing to quit. I see, also, that those who get a smok- 

 er, and then take up the habit again, must pay for 

 the smoker. I have quit for life; and if I am en- 

 titled to a smoker, please send it by mail and I will 

 pledge myself to pay you for one dozen smokers if 

 I ever use tobacco again. I smoked for 9 years, and 

 have seen the folly of the filthy practice, and have 

 been the means of turning others from it. I have 

 read of several in Gleanings who say they have 

 not got to pay for their smoker yet; but I read 

 to-day of two who had sent in the price of smoker 

 to you, stating they had forfeited their contract, 

 and had gone to smoking again. This is all wrong. 



A. B. George. 



Ncwberg, Yamhill Co., Oregon, Mar. 26, 1886. 



