

VOL. 11. 



FLINT, MMGM, DECEMBER 10, 1889. 



NO. 12. 



The Keview, Its Home, Its Editor and 

 His Family. 



qW^ S an introduction to what we have to 

 (J^J say upon this subject, we will give an 

 ' ' extract from a letter received last 

 July, from Mr. Geo. F. Bobbins of Mechan- 

 icsburg, 111. It is as follows: " I have some- 

 times felt inclined to criticise, somewhat, 

 the conduct of the Review. After all, I sup- 

 pose it is about right. It all depends upon 

 how we look at it. If it is intended for a 

 a journal of general apicultural knowledge, 

 fitted alike for all classes and all parts of the 

 country, it is deserving of pretty sharp crit- 

 icism. But if intended as a sort of specialty 

 in bee-journalism, and an exponent of a sys- 

 tem or school of apiculture, its excellence 

 puts it above criticism. The best style of 

 journalism is that which reflects the individ- 

 uality of the journalist — that has a man at 

 its head who puts himself into it, and makes 

 it his journal ; and you certainly put Hutch 

 inson into the Review pretty big. The Re 

 VIEW may be narrow in scope, and its corp 

 of correspondents rather exclusive, yet, in 

 its way, it is certainly about the creamiest 

 journal in the country ; and ought to be a 

 great favorite with Northern bee-keepers 

 who are a little out of their primers." 

 The proposed character of the Review was 

 briefly outlined in its first issue. We pre- 

 sume Mr. Robbins has not seen that number, 

 yet so perfectly have we fulfilled our promi- 

 ses, that a perusal of the later issues leads 

 him to unwittingly give the gist of our ' • In- 

 troductory." Yes, we believe in specialty, 

 even in bee-journals. The Review is a spe- 

 cial paper for apicultural specialists ; for 

 advanced bee-keepers. In preparing copy, 

 or in writing editorials, it is taken for 

 granted that its readers are conversant with 

 modern bee-culture. We would have no one 

 infer that there is no place for the Review 



upon the table of the novice or the amateur, 

 but rather that it is more particularly 

 adapted to the needs of advanced, financial 

 bee-keeping. To the man who is keeping 

 stockings and shoes on the feet of wife and 

 little ones by raising honey, or to the one 

 who aspires to the possession of a bank ac- 

 count through the same means, the Review 

 will ever come as a best friend and trust- 

 worthy adviser. Most earnestly does it strive 

 to be practical ; to discuss those subjects 

 that are of real interest to honey producers ; 

 and if there is any appearance of exclusive- 

 ness in its selection of correspondents, it 

 comes as the result of an attempt to secure 

 the services of those men who, from long 

 experience in large apiaries, are best fitted 

 to furnish the information most valuable to 

 the class of readers that we are striving to 

 serve. — Most of our readers need not be told 

 that, with each issue, the Review makes 

 some topic the subject of special discussion ; 

 a "leader," or introductory editorial appear- 

 ing in the preceding number. When a num- 

 ber is out, we do not sit down and wait for 

 articles to be sent in, but we write to this 

 one and to that one, asking for views and 

 experiences upon the subject to be discussed; 

 and our extensive acquaintance with bee- 

 keepers enables us to be very successful in 

 securing exactly the information needed 

 upon each topic. We know who rides this 

 "hobby," who that. — When a number has 

 been printed and folded, stitched, trimmed 

 and mailed, and we are busy " throwing in " 

 the type, or "setting up" an article that 

 some correspondent, more prompt than his 

 fellows, has sent in, there sometimes comes 

 over us a feeling that the next Review may 

 be a poor one, that it will be impossible to 

 secure anything particularly valuable upon 

 the subject chosen. As the days go by, more 

 articles come to hand. Our spirits revive. 

 The month draws to a close. More articles 



