Inducements to Bee-Keeping. 3 



their business, and dwell upon it, with the same fondness as do 

 bee-keepers. Indeed, to meet a scientific bee-keeper is to meet 

 an enthusiast. A thorough study of the wonderful economy 

 of the hive must, from its very nature, go hand-in-hand with 

 delight and admiration. I once asked an extensive apiarist, 

 who was also a farmer, why he kept bees. The answer was 

 characteristic : ' ' Even if I could not make a good deal the 

 most money with my bees, I should still keep them for the real 

 pleasure they bring me." But yesterday I asked the same 

 question of Prof. Daniels, President of the Grand Kapids 

 schools, whose official duties are very severe. Said he: "For 

 the restful pleasure which I receive in their management." I 

 am very sure that were there no other inducement than that 

 of pleasure, I should be slow to part with these models of in- 

 dustry whose marvelous instincts and wondrous life-habits are 

 ever ministering to my delight and astonishment. 



Some years since I received a visit from my old friend and 

 college class-mate, O. Clute. We visited the apiary, with 

 which he was much pleased. He took the "Manual" home 

 with him and at once purchased several colonies of bees. This 

 new work brought great pleasure and recreation, which culmin- 

 ated in that most fascinating book, " Blessed Bees." Though 

 a work of fiction, this can but be read with great pleasure and 

 profit, by every person, whether apiarist or not. 



PROFITS. 



The profits of apiculture urge its adoption as a pursuit. 

 When we consider the comparatively small amount of capital 

 invested and the relatively small amount of labor and expense 

 attending its operations, we are surprised at the abundant re- 

 ward that is sure to wait upon its intelligent practice. I do 

 not wish to be understood here as claiming that labor — ^yes, 

 real, hard, back-aching labor — is not required in the apiary. 

 The specialist, with his hundred or more colonies, will have, 

 at certain seasons, hard and vigorous work, but this will be 

 both pleasant and healthful, and will go hand-in-hand with 

 thought, so that brain and muscle wiU work together. Yet 

 this time of hard, physical labor will only continue for five or 

 six months, and for the balance of the year the apiarist has, 

 or may have, comparative leisure. Nor do I think that all 

 will succeed. The fickle, careless, indolent, heedless man will 



