Moreover, I don't mean to undertake to lay down a 

 methodical system of beekeeping, whereby one with no knowl- 

 edge of the business can learn in " twelve short lessons " all 

 about it, but will just talk about some of the things that I think 

 would interest you, if we were sitting down together for a 

 familiar chat. I lake it you are familiar with the good books 

 and periodicals that we as beekeepers are blest with, and in 

 some thing's, if not most, you are a better beekeeper than I; 

 so you have my full permission, as you go from page to page, 

 to make such remarks as, " Oh, how foolish ! " "I know a good 

 deal better way than that," etc., but I hope some may find a 

 hint here and there that may prove useful. 



I have no expectation nor desire to write a complete treatise 

 on beekeeping. Many important matters connected with the 

 art I do not mention at all, because they have not come within 

 my own experience. Others that have come within my experi- 

 ence I do not mention, because I suppose the reader to be 

 already familiar with them. I merely try to talk about such 

 things as I think a brother beekeeper would be most interested 

 in if he should remain with me during the year. 



