20 



GIvEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 1. 



have been using them. One friend writes me 

 that he has used them since 1872, and I know 

 of a good many who have used them for the 

 last eight or nine years. They were getting 

 good prices — rather better than some of their 

 neighbors who were following along in the 

 well-beaten track. Well, if I have said a good 

 deal about these ideas it is because 1 have been 

 trying to hang on to the coat-tails of some of 

 my friends who are at the very front of the 

 procession. Then there is that man Weed. 

 Sometimes I can hang on to his coat-tails and 

 sometimes I can't. 



He is riding now two or three hobbies * all 

 at once. That's something I can't do. 



Now, please do not misunderstand me, dear 

 reader, for I see what I have already written 

 might be construed as meaning that I myself 

 (whew! ) am a real benefactor because, for- 

 sooth, I keep talking about great ideas ( great 

 in my cm n estimation ) ; that is not the thought 

 at all. I onl}- wish to apologize for and give 

 my reason for harping, and for keeping harp- 

 ing on certain subjects. No no. I am not 

 even the motor power, the hub, nor even the 

 felloe in the great wheel of progress. I do 

 not know that I am even a spoke ; but one 

 thing I do know — I am willing to get behind 

 and push, if the " some other fellow" smarter 

 than I will only show the way. 



W. L. COGGSHALI. ; HIS APIARIES AND HIS 

 HOME. 



Elsewhere I have given you a view of the 

 home of W. L. Coggshall, and also a view of 

 Mr. W. L. Coggshall and his two boys, aged 

 thirteen and ten years, in one of their apiaries. 

 Brownie, the older, is the one who goes out 

 with his father and one of the men. Mr. C. 

 told me how himself, Brownie, and Mr. Buck, 

 one of his helpers, once visited four apiaries, 

 took 10,000 lbs. of honey in three days, and 

 traveled 35 miles over the roads. To see Mr. 

 Coggshall and his men at work extracting is 

 a sight to behold, and their methods of work- 

 ing, together with some half-tones, I will give 

 at another time. I hope also to give a view of 

 one of their lightning operators in the very 

 act of ripping open a hive, jerking out the 

 combs, and shaking and brushing bees off 

 with a celerity that is astonishing. 



Mr. Coggshall has — well, I don't think he 

 knows how many — perhaps 1000 or 1200 colo- 

 nies, located in ten or twelve different apiaries. 

 As we rode over the hills he would point out 

 a location that would be something like fifteen 

 miles off, and say, " Over there I have an api- 

 ary on top of that hill between those clumps 

 of trees. Over there I have another, and over 

 here another ; ' ' and so on he would direct his 

 hand to the various points of the compass. 



The yards are usually located in the woods, 

 remote from any house. I could not under- 

 stand why he should not be bothered by 

 thieves ; but after having visited two of his 

 yards I made up my mind that any thief not a 

 bee-keeper who would venture near one of his 

 apiaries, without being armed cap a-pie with 

 veil, gloves, cowhide boots, etc., would simply 



* I hope to show you a picture of 'em later on. 



be inviting sure death from the little defenders- 

 of the apiary. 



In the picture, where Mr. Coggshall appears 

 in the apiary, he has his veil turned up ; but 

 let me whisper to you that, when he works 

 among the bees ordinarily, he has his veil turn- 

 ed down, a properly equipped bee-suit, and 

 good thick gloves on. After being in one of 

 his yards a part of a day I came to the conclu- 

 sion I would do likewise. As it was, the little 

 chaps had a fashion of reaching clear through 

 my golf socks. Indeed, I found it very com- 

 fortable to keep my hands in m}' pockets most 

 of the time, especially when one of his light- 

 ning operators was opening a hive a la Cogg- 

 shall. 



The hives used are of various patterns. It 

 seems that Mr. C. has bought out bee-keepers 

 in various localities, and in or near those lo- 

 cations has established, with the colonies so 

 purchased, a 3'ard. Having so many, Mr. C. 

 does not find it profitable to change over to 

 the new-fangled fixturt s, but uses the hives- 

 and implements that he bought with the bees. 

 But whatever hive is used is put in a winter 

 case, for Mr. C. never carts his bees home, 

 but winters them on their summer stands. 

 Sometimes the cases are rudely constructed 

 boxes, and sometimes double-walled hives. 



The handsome dwelling shown in the other 

 view was built by Mr. Coggshall some two or 

 three years ago. Every thing about the struc- 

 ture is modern, with all the latest equipments. 

 The farm buildings are substantial, and the 

 fences are cattle and chicken proof. All of 

 these, and more, I believe, were paid for out 

 of the products sold from the hive. Mr. C, 

 besides being a progressive bee-keeper, is an 

 up-to-date farmer. He can talk bees, sheep, 

 or wheat, or what not. He has an unerring 

 ej'e to business ; in short, he is a hustler ; 

 and every one who works with him, even his 

 horses and bees, have quick ways of doing 

 things. 



I shall have more to say at another time — 

 that is, if friend C doesn't choke me off. 



THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED 

 STATES BEE-KEEPERS' UNION. 



The following report has been sent to all 

 the members; but as there is much of impor- 

 tance in it, it seems proper that it should be 

 submitted to a larger circle of those who are 

 friends but not at present members. It is 

 hoped that many if not all our readers will 

 send in their dollars and become members. 

 As a .special inducement we will furnish 

 Gleanings one year, and membership to the 

 Union for the same length of time, for SI. 75. 

 Send the amount and we will see that your 

 name is given to the General Manager, and 

 that the |1. 00 is properly appUed. The fol- 

 lowing is the report referred to: 



Forest City, Iowa, Dec. 10, 1897. 

 Fe!Io7f-meiiihi'rs .—I wa.s appointed General Manager 

 by the Board of Directors in April, 1897, without my 

 knowledge, and much against my inclinations. I felt 

 that a wiser and less busy man ought to control the 

 affairs of an organization projected with a purpose so 

 useful and aggressive. I con.sented, reluctantly, to 

 take charge of your interests for the time being, hop- 

 ing to be relieved in the near future from the addi- 



