1891 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



697 



apiary he had started in the mountains on a 

 small family estate. The following year he 

 changed his" hives, partly for the Layens and 

 partly for Dadant, and established a third 

 apiary at Bex. 



In 1880 he started a third apiary at Allevays. 

 in the Jura, which he visited and described in 

 B. B. J. for 1883. p. 9(5. Hei'e he put an equal 

 number of Layens and Dadant hives for com- 

 parison. This apiary, which later he gave over 

 into the charge of an assistant, has always 

 given good results in s[)ite of foul brood, which 

 decimated it. but which, however, was stamped 

 out. Not only its first cost of 2.500 francs (for 

 hives, building for lodging, and workshop and 

 fences) was quickly returned by the produce, 

 but every year a handsome proHt is derived and 

 is divided between Mr. IScrirand and his assist- 

 ant. Mr. Bertrand supplies at his cost all 

 comb foundation, and takes in return all the 

 wax from cai^piugs and melting of old combs. 

 When sugar for feeding has to be purchased, 

 each pays his share. The assistant does all the 



KDOUAKI) KKUTKAND. 



work, and all swarms are the propei-ty of Mr. 

 Bertrand. who supplies the hives and appli- 

 ances. This apiary consists of fifty hives. 



In 187(5, when the Socletc Roiiianile d' Apicul- 

 ture was started. Mr. Bertrand was elected 

 secretary, a post which he occupied for seven 

 years. On several occasions he has been elect- 

 ed president of this society. This post can be 

 held by the same person only two years con- 

 secutively. He has also been the treasurer 

 since 1879. 



In 187(5, the society having recognized the 

 desirability of having an organ which would 

 place its members in communication with each 

 other, and inform fhem of the advances made 

 in biM^-kecping. .Mr. lliTtruiid offered to edit 



the journal, on condition that he was the sole 

 manager, and nndei'took to bear all costs. He 

 furnishes the journal to the members at a re- 

 duced rate; namely, three francs, whereas the 

 ordinai'y subscription was four francs: and. in 

 order to remunerate himself, sought subscrip- 

 tions at home and abroad. At the end of two 

 years ihp Bulletin cV Apiculture pour la Suisne 

 Rouuinde had sufficient subscribers to pay its 

 cost of production: and these having so rapidly 

 increased abroad, especially in France, he 

 changed its titl(> to Revue Iiiteriuttiomile 

 (V Apiculture. There is no doubt that this 

 journal is the most practical in the French 

 language: and as it is the only one that treats 

 seriously of modern methods, we are not sur- 

 prised that it is eagerly sought after by ad- 

 vancing bee-keepers. 



Mr. Bertrand has also from time to time 

 published several practical works, such as La 

 Routine ct /es Methodes moderneH. premieres 

 not ioni^ d' Apiculture, in 1883: Description des 

 nieiUeures Ruches: Co)iscils et Notions a 

 I'usiifje des Coinntencunts; and in 1883. Calen- 

 drier de rApiculteur. The three last were 

 later combined in one volume, entitled Lo Con- 

 duite dii R}ic}ier. which has ali'eady passed 

 through four editions. Mr. Bertrand has ulso 

 translated our British Bee-l<cepers' Guidc-Bnoh, 

 and is at present engaged on a translation of 

 the last edition.' 



He has been indefatigable in giving instruc- 

 tion, and from 1884 to 1887 every spi'ing he gave 

 a course of lectures and practical instruction at 

 liis apiary. This course lasted six days, and 

 was open free of charge to all. The mornings 

 were devoted to instruction, and th(^ afternoons 

 to manipulating hives. Failing health caused 

 him reluctantly to relinquish them. He still 

 from time to time gives lectures in villages, and 

 ijains many converts to modei'u methods. He 

 is appointed lecturer on apiculture at the (iov- 

 ernment Agricultural Institute at Lausanne. 

 The acquaintance which we made with Mr. 

 Hertrand .some years ago has grown into an 

 intimate friendship, which we hope nothing 

 but death \vill sever. His persevering industry 

 and indefatigable zeal make him esteemed by 

 all wlu) know him, and it is to him that the 

 French-speaking portion of Switzerland owes 

 the present position it holds with regard to bee- 

 keeping. We hope he may continue for many 

 years to enjoy his quiet I'etreat at Nyon, and 

 pursue his favorite occupations of bee-keeping 

 and horticulture. A full account of Mr. Ber- 

 trand's apiaries will be found in Vol. XIII.. B. 

 B.J. 



Mr. Dadant adds the following: 



Since the publication of the works mentioned 

 above. Mr. Bertrand has published the «5th 

 edition of his Conduite: a translation in French 

 of the Honeij-hee of Cowan; and. after helping 

 me to publish L'Ahellle et Id Ruche, he has 

 published La Construction econoinique des 

 Ruches Loyens. and just now the same work 

 on the Dadant hives. 



THE DOVETAILED HIVE AND LOOSE FRAME. 



SUGGE.STIONS A:\D CRITICISMS FROM .1. H. LAR- 



RABEE, OF THE MlflllGAN AGRICULTURAI. 



COLLEGE. 



Friend E. JR. JRoof.— We have been trying 

 some of the Dovetailed hives: and although, 

 because of the poor season we could not test 

 them to our entire satisfaction, I will suggest 

 a few points in their construction whereby they 

 might be altered to suit me better. 



Horace Greeley said that the average news- 



