PREFACE. 



carded even by their inventor. Reversible hives were the craze, 

 and were praised in every way. We gave two of them a 

 mention in our pages, with a warning against their use. Re- 

 versible hives are now almost entirely abandoned. 



We recommend the large hives, yet we know they are not 

 popular, because buyers want inexpensive hives. We have 

 bowed before public wishes and give descriptions of several 

 popular hives which are certainly successful. But we use 

 large hives ourselves, for we consider them the best. 



In our preface of the first revision we extended our thanks 

 to Mr. C. F. Muth, now deceased, and to Miss Favard, for 

 their help in our work. The writer has undertaken this last 

 revision alone, but owes gratitude for sound advice on many 

 points to a man who has to do with both practice and theory 

 and whose long experience entitles him to the consideration of 

 all bee-keepers, Doctor C. C. Miller, author of "A Year Among 

 the Bees" and "Fifty Years Among the Bees." Dr. Miller, 

 with small hives, enlarged at the proper time and again reduced 

 in the brood chamber for the honey crop, has shown what 

 could be done with intelligent and energetic management. He 

 is not only a successful writer but a most extensive producer 

 of comb honey, and is justly entitled to the name given him 

 of the "Nestor of American Bee-Keeping." 



The work of Father Langstroth, sustained in Europe by the 

 pen of the Senior Dadant, has entirely changed European 

 methods of bee-culture. The improved hive, based upon the 

 Langstroth system, has been adopted all over the world, and 

 testimonials come to us from the most remote countries showing 

 that the methods taught have proven successful. 



The principal changes in this edition are upon the question 

 of "Diseases," as much progress has lately been made in the 

 knowledge concerning foul-brood. 



C. P. DADANT. 



Hamilton, Illinois, January, 1919. 



