1905 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURF.- ADVERTISING SECTION. 



243 



THE NEED OF BEE-LITERATURE. 



BY G. C. GREINER. 



During the 30 years of my bee-keeping I 

 have been a constant reader of at least one 

 bee- periodical; at times two, and even three, 

 have been my regular visitors. I always 

 supposed that by keeping in close touch 

 with the writings of our most prominent ex- 

 perts, any bee-keeper would be enabled to 

 keep up with the times. This is one reason 

 why I never, until recently, owned one of 

 our standard text-books on bee culture. 

 Accidentally, for that is all the reason I 

 can assign for it, I ordered a short time 

 ago a copy of the " A B C of Bee Culture," 

 and I must confess I 

 was surprised in 

 more than one way. 



When I opened the 

 package I was favor- 

 ably impressed with 

 its outward appear- 

 ance. Neat and tasty 

 in its general make- 

 up, it would be a de- 

 sirable addition to 

 the most scrupulous- 

 ly selected library, 

 especially as its con- 

 tents are in harmony 

 (as I afterwards 

 found) with the out- 

 side. 



The next pleasing 

 feature was the point 

 of expense. Compar- 

 ing the size of the 

 book, its workman- 

 ship and the amount 

 of reading matter it 

 contains with the 

 price, it is well worth 

 the money the pub- 

 lishers ask for it; it 

 is within the reach 

 of any moderately 

 stocked-up pocket- 

 book. 



But its contents 

 struck my fancy more 

 than anything else. 

 The way it is written 

 — encyclopedia style 



—makes it an index by itself, so that any 

 subject desired can be readily found. In 

 looking over its pages I find that it is not 

 only an indispensable guide to the begin- 

 ner, but it is a great help to the veteran of 

 many years' experience. It covers the 

 ground completely, from the first rudimen- 

 tary principles to the most scientific obser- 

 vations and discoveries of the present day, 

 thus making its perusal interesting as well 

 as instructive to the readers of all classes. 



Under the impression of a little over-rated 

 self- estimation we are sometimes inclined 

 to think that we know all that a text-book 

 of this kind contains, or at least all that is 

 of any importance to the successful manage- 

 ment of our business. This is an illusion. 

 We may by years of experience and study 



become experts in certain lines, but we are 

 not above improvement and progress. 

 There are many good hints found in the 

 "A B C of Bee Culture" which, if heeded 

 and applied to practical use, would benefit 

 any bee-keeper in a greater or less degree. 

 On the other side, I can not say that I 

 agree in every particular with the writers 

 of the book, and this is only natural conse- 

 quence. During so many years of toil and 

 labor we form certain habits, become ac- 

 customed to certain ways and appliances, 

 that it would be a great hindrance to break 

 off and follow somebody else's instructions. 

 But in my opinion, if the beginner would 

 take the "A B C of Bee Culture'' for his 

 guide, and follow its 

 directions to the let- 

 ter, his way to suc- 

 cess would be open. 



In closing this little 

 sketch I would not 

 miss mentioning one 

 more fact. The book 

 is profusely illustrat- 

 ed; every department 

 has its share of de- 

 scriptive illustra- 

 tions, and the scenic 

 representations at the 

 front and in the back 

 part are exceptional- 

 ly fine. It is a pleas- 

 ure to look them over. 



Goods arrived yes- 

 terday all o. k. The 

 frames are gilt-edge, 

 and ABC book is 

 away beyond what I 

 expected to get. It 

 has the appearance 

 of a book costing 

 double the price. I 

 have looked over the 

 contents carefully, 

 and must say it seems 

 complete. The ar- 

 rangement is unique. 

 I like the up to-date- 

 ness of it especially. 

 It pleased me best of 

 anything I have seen 

 of its kind, and I 

 have kept fairly well posted for over 40 

 years, and have kept bees in scores of dif- 

 ferent styles of hives, and have experiment- 

 ed quite a little with bees and hives. 



John Eshenfelder, Eaton, Ind. 



How fine it would be for the Hollanders, 

 Belgians, and S. African Boers to have a 

 translation of the new AB C of Bee Culture! 

 It is the most practical and exhaustive 

 work for the apiculturist, and I know of no 

 work in the Holland language equal to it. 

 Elbert S. Schilstra, 

 W. Sayville, L. I., N. Y. 



Pastor Reformed Church. 



(Our French edition of the A B C of Bee Culture will 

 be ready early this summer (1905). Spanish and Ital- 

 ian editions are already under way, and the suggestion 

 of Mr. S. may lead to a Dutch or German edition.) 



