370 



THE BEEKEEPERS' REVIEW 



over a pit with the deadly rag of hghted sulphur. As the stifling 

 fumes rose among the combs you might have heard a quiet sob as 

 the honey makers reaped their unjust reward for a season's toil. 



"Ah ! See we're robbed and murdered in that pit. 



Lies the still heaving hive ! at evening snatch'd, 

 Beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night 



And fixed o'er sulphur ; while not dreaming ill, 

 The happy people in their waxen cells, 



Sat tending public cares, and planning 

 Of temperance for winter poor; rejoiced 



To mark full flowing 'round their copious stores. 

 Sudden, the dark oppressive stream ascends; 



And used to milder scents the tender race 

 By thousands, tumble from their honey'd domes, 



Convuls'd and agonizing in the dust." 



-.ilU 



R ' i* - '«/j.' 



AN OLD FASHIONED SKEP 



Apiary on the Cotswold Hills of England 



Photo by A. H. Bowen 



Apart from this one tragedy there is a peculiar charm to the 

 old-fashioned system, and to all the bee-lore and superstition that 

 went with it. With "taking up" time past, a train of work follow- 

 ed, that kept the cottager's wife busy for days. 



There was the draining of the honey from the comb — slow 



