60 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



Marc 



For years this journal has stood 

 quite, or almost alone in its advocacy 

 of the importation and thorough test- 

 ing of Apis dor-sata in America. There 

 is but one way to actually know what 

 the result would be, and that is by 

 practical test. We learn that the goA^- 

 ernment may take hold of thi« matter 

 under the direction of the Department 

 of Agriculture, at an early date, and 

 we are gratified to have the prospect 

 of some real information upon the sub- 

 .iect. Promoters of tlie enterprise at 

 Washington, chief of whom is, pet- 

 haps. Prof. Benton himself, are deserv- 

 ing of the highest praise. Now listen 

 for "-sparrows." 



No, fellow bee-keeper, , let us not de- 

 cry progression. Advancement is the 

 order of the day. Don't discourage 

 those who are enterprising, even if 

 yoiar personal preference is for stay- 

 ing in the rut. Actual knowledge 

 comes to tlie investigator. Occasional 

 failures are preferable to doing noth- 

 ing. Notwithstanding the boasted 

 achievements of apiculture, it is far 

 from being at the head of the list 

 among the arts or trades of the world. 

 Activity — active minds and active 

 muscles — i« our greatest need. If we 

 are disinclined to participate our- 

 selves, let us at least, appreciate the 

 efforts of those who will, and are do- 

 ing something in beedom. 



THEY KNOW US NOW. 



Several years a'go the editor of a 

 contemporary bee journal, wrote to a 

 contriliutor with whom the American 

 Bee-Keeper had arranged for a series 

 of ai'ticles. and endeavored to im- 

 press upon him a realization of the 

 fact C?) that it wa>s a shameful wa.ste 

 of talent for him to be wi'iting for 

 any other than one of the only (?) 

 three bee .ioiumals of America that 

 commanded recognition. Of course, 

 the young .loiu-nals, to which class the 

 American Bee-Keeper belonged, could 

 not long survive in competition with 

 the three established and leading 

 lights in the realm of apiarian .iournal- 

 ism, and such good stuff, as our con- 

 tributor was writing for The Bee- 

 keeper, ought to appear in join-nals of 

 wider circulation, to say the least. . It 

 7'eally ought to be piiblished only in 

 tlie one great organ of beedom. but, it 

 appeared, the -sin would not be un- 

 pardonable if it should be published 

 in either of two others. 



In point of quality, The Bee-Keeper 

 would invite a comparison of matter 

 published this month, with that of any 



issue gotten out by our contempora 

 during the last year or so. We shou 

 not mind comparing subscription lis 

 either. 



If not at that time, the Americi 

 Bee-Keeper believes it may now just 

 claim universal recognition, and a c 

 gree of popularity, both in Ameri 

 and in foreign countrie-s, which coi 

 pares favorably with that of any 

 our esteemed coworkers. 



Much credit is due our correspor 

 ent-s for this gratifying condition 

 affairs; and the credit is acknowlec 

 ed Avith gratitude. 



FROM THE FARM PAPERS 

 The American Bee-Keeper has ( 

 casionally called attention to the i 

 surdity and ludicrousness which chj 

 acterize the "average" apiarian 

 formation put forth by the genei 

 agricultural press of the United Stat 

 Generally speaking, it is unsafe for 1 

 beginner to adopt information fr< 

 this source, owing to the uncertair 

 of its practicability. The editor of 1 

 ^lodern Farmer and Biisy Bee, who 

 a thoroughly practical and experienc 

 apiarist, is an adept at detecting th( 

 weaknC'Sses of oiir agricultural frien 

 and at sifting their wisdom (?) I 

 following are examples: 



FEEDING SYRUP IN JANUAR" 



Here is what we find in the Jai 

 ary fourth issue of Coleman's Ru 

 World: 



"Feed the bees that lack natu 

 stores at this season. A syrup of gn 

 ulated sugar and water, about the o 

 sistency of thin honey, should be : 

 a-s fast as the bees can store it away 



"To winter well a queen should i 

 be over two years old." 



The fellow, Avho is fool enough 

 follow this advice, will not have a 

 bees to feed A-ery long. Wonder 

 that 2-year-oid queen should hs 

 short, crumpled horns, or long on 

 like a Texas steer? What donk* 

 some of these agricultural bee writ 

 make of themselves! 



SUNK TEN THOUSAND DOLLA 

 IN BEEiS. 



A writer, in the Farmer's Voice, 

 •speaking about agricultural failur 

 says: "We have walked over a fa 

 in Kentucky where .$10,000 was au 

 in bee keeping by a man who coi 

 command .$2,400 per year in an offic 

 We would be glad to have our exc 

 lent exchange tell us where that fa 

 is located, and where the man w 



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