94 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



Speaking of the unwarranted attack 

 of the Punic bees in a certain paper, 

 one of the most prominent beekeepers 

 in this country says : "I have just stop- 

 ped the ■. I regard the slur upon 



the Punic bees and yourself one of tlie 



meanest things that ever 



wrote. 1 have ahvays told you he was 

 a bad man at heart, and now I think 

 you will believe it. If the management 

 of that paper allows such stuff as that to 

 go in the journal, and such long, per- 

 sonal articles as Lowmasters', I am done 

 with it. They cannot do you any great 

 harm. Most beekeepers know you have 

 labored hard for the general good for 

 many years — for almost a generation — 

 and your long record for good will not 

 be destroyed by any one man, or a 

 dozen men, who do not view a question 

 in beekeeping just as you do. Most 

 men who know you best will believe that 

 your hard efforts to breed a better bee, or 

 to import a better race, are due to your 

 great interest in our pursuit and a desire 

 to see the industry made profitable to 

 all who engage in it. I shall sincerely 

 hope that your efforts to give the Amer- 

 ican beekeepers a better bee may be 

 appreciated and amply rewarded. 



From all I can learn the Punic bees 

 are at least quite a different variety from 

 what we have heretofore had, and I am 

 hoping that they may fully meet all that 

 has been claimed for them. At all 

 events, be of good cheer, my friend, and 

 if there is anything I can do for you 

 just let me know." 



The above is from the pen of one of the 



best known beekeepers in America. To 



say that I appreciate his friendship and 



• kind words does not begin to express my 



feelings 



No, my friend, tliose evil-disposed per- 

 sons can do no harm to any one. I have 

 stood the abuse of a certain click of jeal- 

 ous people for a good many years, and 

 think I can stand it for a good many more 

 years to come, and not be in the least hurt. 

 Slander, when dealt out by a jealous per- 

 son, is taken for what it is wortli Every 

 inteUigent being in the land well knows 

 why I am berated by certain parties. 

 "Whom the gods would destory they first 

 make mad." This not only applies to the 

 people, but to the paper as w^ell, that is 



publishing such tras'iy personalities. I \ 

 have no doubt that the paper that is using 

 its columns so much for personal abuse is 

 paid for the space taken, as no publisher 

 can afford to do such business unless paid 

 for it. I 



Notwithstanding the slurs and abuse, I \ 

 am not in the least daunted, and shall con- , 

 tinue to maintain the stand I have always \ 

 taken for the advancement of apiculture. ' 



AVhen an enemy is obliged to hunt the 

 world over and make use of private cor- , 1 

 respondents in order to gain a point , 

 against an opponent, he is indeed hard 

 piished for material with which to slay the -\ 

 enemy. A certain person is guilty of do- 

 ing this thing in more cases than one, if ; 

 the parties quoted tell the truth. 



The readers of the Api have not for- 

 gotten what was said editorially in the 

 April issue concerning the cry of hum- 

 bug and the abusive treatment heaped 

 upon the poor fellows (who dare offer j 

 something new for sale in bee supplies) ] 

 by some of the bee-papers and by a few of ) 

 those who run a notion they are promi- 

 nent bee-iiien. Below is an item taken 

 from the A. B. J., of March 17^ which 

 corroborates what the Api has often ' 

 said : — 



I see my name mentioned on pa^-e 311 by ; 

 some correspondents who ask whether my 

 method of pr.venting after-swarms is a ] 

 humbug. I Avish to thank you for your ] 

 unselfish answer. 1 presume now that I 

 am expected to offer an explanation. I am 

 no humbug ; neither is my method a hum- 

 bug. . I am neither deceived in it. nor do I 

 Avish to deceive others. I sent out oOO 

 circulars as a feeler, thinldngthat if there 

 was a disposition to want it, I would th-^n 

 advertise it in the different bee periodi- 

 cals. I do not blame any person for mak- 

 ing inquiries, but they should be careful 

 not to get me or any one else into disgrace 

 unthinkingly. 



E. J. Choxkletox. 



Just whit method the editor of the 

 A. B. J. advised Mr. C. to adopt to bring 

 his invention to the notice of the public 

 is not stated. Judging from what Mr. 

 C. says, he could not have been used 

 more meanly had he developed or im- 

 p )rted some new race of bees. Be care- 

 ful, friends, how you display enterprise 

 and brains before certain people. It is 

 like casting pearls before swine. 



