232 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Wavelets ol News. 



Horticulturists and Bee-Keepers. 



Organization seems to be the order of 

 the day, and if horticulturists and bee- 

 keepers only knew the advantages to be 

 derived from the result of proper organi- 

 zation, they would not be so slow in 

 bringing about such a result. 



The benefits to be derived are many ; 

 you learn improved methods, you can 

 produce larger crops, and sell in larger 

 quantities, thereby reaching better mar- 

 kets ; you can get better prices, with a 

 more sure demand for your products ; 

 besides, you can devote more of your 

 time to the production of any special 

 crop. 



The petty jealousy existing amongst 

 some, must be done away with ; it is 

 wrong to suppose that because you have 

 been the first to commence in any line of 

 business, that no one else has a right in 

 that same line, yet there are some so 

 narrow minded as to think so. This 

 selfishness must cease before we can 

 hope to succeed in a proper and thor- 

 ough organization. — Inter-Mountain Hor- 

 ticulturist. 



Philosopher Joe and His Bees. 



I asked him the other evening a simple 

 question: "Uncle Joe," said I, "have 

 you any honey to sell ?" 



"Certainly," he replied. "Oh, I reckon 

 I get more honey from my bees, because 

 I keep on better terms with them. I 

 whisper to the queen and tell her what 

 I want. That settles it. Young man, if 

 you want honey, be on good terms with 

 the queen of the hive ; if you want a 

 wife, pay a little attention to the queen 

 of the home ; if it's butter you are after, 

 see to the queen of the herd, and, in 

 short, court the queen if you expect 

 success." 



" I. am a little puzzled," said I. 



" Don't understand. Your bees didn't 

 do well ?" 



" Well, no, not very. Fact is, only one 

 colony lived through, and they are 

 played out. I have no bees now." 



"I'm sorry. You ought to have 

 courted the queen." 



"Tell me how. Perhaps I'll start in 

 again, if I can learn your secret." 



" I don't quite like to tell. I can't, if 

 I wanted to, and I don't know as I would, 

 if I could ; but I will tell j^ou a thing or 

 two, and you may guess it out. 



" I went to a hive last Fall to get some 

 honey. I never take honey as a robber, 

 so T asked the queen : 'Your royal high- 

 ness,' said I, ' I have come to ask if you 

 and your people will grant me friendly 

 tribute from your stores for my family 

 and friends ?' I won't tell you all I said, 

 but what she replied was : 



' Honey, honey, honey-dew, 

 Not an ounce have I for you. 

 If you doubt it, man alive. 

 Kindly stoop and lift the hive.' 



"I lifted it, and sure enough, I was 

 sure she was right. Do you think I 

 robbed her ? Not a bit. I whispered 

 again, and, she sent a messenger to say : 



' Honey, honey, honey-dew, 

 Tribute comes this year from you. 

 Feed us with a little care, 

 Next year we will give our share.' " 



"That isn't very profitable, is it?" 



"Not so very. It isn't very profitable 

 to have a sick cow, or have a horse get 

 hurt ; but we don't kill them because 

 they are sick, or work the horse when it 

 is lame. Listen to the queen — consult 

 her needs. You'll find it pays, in the 

 long run. Be a gentleman with bees. 

 Treat them kindly, courteously, care- 

 fully, intelligently. Study them, and be 

 with them, as much as you can. You 

 can learn a lot from bees — more than 

 from books." 



"Well, how did it come out?" I asked. 



"All right. I paid my taxes to that 

 queen last Winter, and this year I whis- 

 pered again, and the, messenger came 

 and said : 



' Honey, honey, honey-dew 

 Five good pounds have we for you. 

 Thanks lor all your kindly care, 

 Next year we'll have more to spare.' 



"But five pounds isn't much." 

 "Right, but did you hear the promise: 



' Next year we'll have more to spare.' 

 "That isn't all. They sent me out 

 another colony this year, that is doing 

 well. The queen whispers to me that 

 they will only need a little nectar to help 

 them through, and that, if all moves 

 well, next year they will give me back 

 all with interest. Oh, I am in love with 

 my bees !" — Western Rural. 



Crammed Full. 



The American Bee Journal is re- 

 duced in size, but has double the number 

 of pages, and is more convenient for 

 binding. As usual, every number is 

 crammed full of interesting articles, 

 from all the leading bee-keepers of 

 America. — Western Plowman, 



