20 BEE-KEEPINa : THE OLD AND THE NEW. 



I find in an article written by Mr. Quinby, in 1848, 

 for the "Dollar Newspaper," published in Philadelphia, 

 that he takes decided exception to a statement made by 

 another writer, to the effect that he had known 35 lbs. of 

 honey to be gathered by one colony in two weeks. 



Mr. Quinby lived to see 57"/, lbs. of extracted honey 

 taken from one colony in two days, and 586 lbs. from a 

 stock during the season. He also records a gain of 325 

 lbs. of box-honey from one colony. 



That these results are exceptional, is, of course, ad- 

 mitted, but that they have been reached, indicates the 

 possibilities to which we may yet attain. 



A short time before his death, Mr. Quinby remarked 

 that the past five years had shown more progress than the 

 forty years preceding, and he predicted that the five years 

 to come would record even greater advancement. Who 

 shall say that in this he was not correct ? 



Contemporaneously with these practical achievements, 

 Americans have established a bee-literature Avhich has 

 been a potent agent in disseminating information, and 

 in greatly increasing the number of those engaged in the 

 pursuit. 



It would be interesting to be able to furnish correct 

 statistics of bee-culture in the United States. The lists 

 of names in the possession of those who deal largely in 

 bee-keeping supplies, prove that the bee-keepers in this 

 country must be counted by thousands, and the large 

 sales of popular works on the subject are eyidence of a 

 constantly growing interest. 



The oldest "Bee Journal" in this country was founded 

 in 1861, by Samuel Wagner. 



Aside from his ability as a scholarly and practical 

 editor, Mr. Wagner has done apiarians great service 

 through his acquaintance with the best German bee- 

 masters, and his frequent translations from their writings, 

 thus forming a link between the scientists of that country 



