CONCLUSION. 145 



I am not blinded or influenced by any selfish 

 motive, in condemning or recommending any one 

 system of bee management or hive. I only wish to 

 present facts, and do what little I can to make bee 

 keeping safe and profitable to all who engage in it. 

 There is much written on the subject of bees — their 

 habits and management, construction of hives, etc. , 

 which is mere guess work. A great deal is written, 

 too, for no other than selfish or prejudiced motives. 

 What is wanted is practical instruction on the sub- 

 ject — such instruction and statements aS are based 

 on experience, and will stand the test of application, 

 when brought into active, every-day use. 



The real, practical experience of the bee keeper, 

 who has devoted many years to the work, and will 

 tell what has come under his or her personal obser- 

 vation is worth much more than the finest spun 

 theory of the most learned and talented theorist ; or 

 in other words, mere conjecture is a poor and un- 

 certain guide in bee keeping. It is an old but true 

 saying that "Practice makes Perfect." In no busi- 

 ness will this saying apply more closely or with 

 greater force than to bee keeping. 



That bees are profitable when rightly managed, I 

 think I have shown in this little work ; and that 

 they can be of no profit, as often managed, I think 

 is equally made clear. 



The natural habits of bees have not been sufficient- 

 ly understood by the majority of bee keepers. This 

 has rendered them an easy prey to the many specu- 

 lators in bee hives of peculiar shape and construc- 

 tion, who are constantly urging their claims to pos- 



