THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



63 



race, excrescences of our common 

 humanity. 



AVealth is no excuse for an in- 

 dolent life. We are saying only 

 mild things of idlers. Solomon 

 and Paul said hard things about 

 them. 



2. No colony of bees is ever 

 cursed with office-seekers. Each 

 female sovereign can manage her 

 municipality without the aid of a 

 lecherous hoard of office-seekers. 

 Bees have no welcome for dema- 

 gogues. A model government is 

 theirs. 



3. Aristocracy is also at a dis- 

 count with those toiling little crea- 

 tures. 



As labor is honorable and idle- 

 ness abominable, you will never 

 see a busy bee paying deference to 

 one that would be a nabob bee. 



4. They not only provide for 

 themselves, but contribute largely' 

 to the happiness of mankind — 

 a most commendable benevolence. 



From their conduct may we also 

 learn to live for others, serving 

 God and our generation, scattering 

 sunshine wherever we go : 



Gathering lionej^ froin everj' flower, 

 rinding sweet In every bower. 



V. p. Simmons. 



Danielsoiiville, Conn. 



EXCHANGES. 



EXTKACTING AND CuRING HONEY. 



— During the past thirteen years 

 we have extracted honey largely 

 each season, taking as much as six- 

 teen tons in a single season. 



We have operated under almost 

 every variety of conditions. 



Daring this time we have noticed 

 the many inquiries which have been 

 made through our journals, and the 

 many articles which have been 



written, bearing upon the sulrject 

 of extracting honey. It is a grow- 

 ing interest, second to none in our 

 pursuit. I 



One of the most important points 

 in this connection is the best time 

 to extract. Indeed, to those who 

 extract largely, it is a question all- 

 important. 



Let us notice some of the advan- 

 tages of the different methods. 



We shall claim, first, that as 

 regards the quality of the honey, 

 there is no difference as to the time 

 when it is extracted. It may be 

 cured equally well after as before. 

 The onl}' necessity is that it be 

 cured. 



The advantages of extracting 

 honey as soon as it is gathered are 

 these. When it is being gathered 

 rapidh', if it is extracted at once, 

 room is afforded for the queen to 

 deposit her eggs, and the operation 

 seems to stimulate brooding. The 

 large force of bees thus secured is 

 of great importance, in sections 

 where tlie seasons are long, or 

 where fall hone}^ is abundant. 



When extracted as soon as gath- 

 ered, the bees are saved the labor 

 of curing the honey and of capping 

 the cells, and the operator is saved 

 the labor of uncapping the cells, but 

 the great advantage in removing it 

 from the combs as fast as filled, is 

 so that the bees may be fully occu- 

 pied in bringing in honey while the 

 yield continues. To us who are in 

 sections where the flow of honey is 

 of limited duration this is of extreme 

 importance. 



When the honey is first gathered, 

 it is much more easily' tlu-own from 

 the combs, and it is much more 

 agreeable to operate when the bees 

 are busilj' at work. 



The advantages of leaving the 

 honey until late in the season 

 before extracting are that the bees 

 are not interrupted in honey gath- 

 ering b}' being disturbed, and if left 

 with a large amount of honey, they 



