BEE- CULTURE. 1069 



culture that we have yet seen. We were so impressed with the 

 value of this work, that we made a special request of its author to 

 permit us to copy such parts of it as would be most suitable for our 

 purpose, asr well as to make such selections from the illustrations in 

 it as would be most desirable for our use ; and the few pieces 

 included are only samples of the many fine ones to be found in the 

 *book. We think it of special interest to bee-keepers, or to those 

 who may be induced to engage in the business, to secure a copy of 

 this work. 



The book is sold at $1 in paper covers and $1.25 in cloth, by 

 mail. i 



•The subject of bee-culture is at this time deemed so im- 

 portant by the National Gov- 

 ernment, that we learn it has 

 lately established an experi- 

 mental bee-station at Aurora, 

 Illinois, under the direction of 

 Mr. Nelson W. McLain, for the 

 purpose of illustrating and 

 teaching the best methods of 

 promoting this industry, and 

 who can also be referred to by 

 persons interested in the sub- 

 ject. 



Bees were originally kept in Fro- 1487.— Bee Magnified, with Honey-wax Shown 

 very simple hives of straw, and .,. on ,he *Momen, 



in order to. get the honey for use, the bees were smothered by burning 

 sulphur and in other ways, thereby losing, the value of the colony, a 

 necessarily great and serious loss ; and when the bees increased in 

 the colony, they had to swarm, and were liable to fly away, which 

 became a serious, objection, for. in the process they were frequently 

 lost. 



It has not been till within the last generation that such an 

 intelligent and successful study has been made of this subject, as 

 not only to enable removing the honey as desired without injury to 

 the swarm, but also to either retain or control the swarms with but 

 very little trouble or possible loss. To remedy these troubles, in- 

 ventive genius came in and sought first to save the honey without 

 destroying the bees,, and next to prevent their swarming, and rescue 

 them with success. To these questions a great deal of attention has 

 been paid, especially during, the past twenty or thirty years, and 

 many kinds and varieties of hives have been devised, and the im- 



