ASSOCIATIONS AND SHOWS. 195 



bees died. I was never forgiven, although I offered 

 more bees to the manes of the departed husband. I 

 was greeted with, " It's all very good o' you, sir, but 

 they ain't like t'other poor dears as is dead and 

 gone!" ' 



CHAPTER XLIII. 



BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS AND SHOWS. 



Following up what I said in the last chapter, we 

 may consider it as a general truth, that what is called 

 want of luck is really want of management, and 

 most certainly can have no connexion with any of 

 the several causes assigned by superstition. There 

 is an old saying that 'a bad workman complains of 

 his tools,' and it is often so with the bee-keeper. He 

 blames anything rather than himself. Bad weather 

 may, of course, bring unavoidable misfortune, but even 

 this can in great measure be averted by good 

 management. 



And now in these days there is less excuse than 

 ever for any one to talk of ill-luck, for if a person 

 really wishes to succeed, and is willing to learn, and 

 ready to take trouble, there are abundant means at 

 his disposal for learning all that is necessary. There 

 are not only books and guides and periodicals in 

 abundance, but, most probably, there will be a bee- 

 keepers' association in his county or district ; and, if he 

 joins it, he will by his membership obtain many 

 benefits and much information. 



