■^02 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



that the writer expects an answer by mail, and, in justice to 

 others, answering bee-questions by mail is a thing I cannot do. 

 If I should answer one by mail I must answer others, and the 

 only fair way is to treat all alike. The request for me to answer 

 a question in print will always be cheerfully complied with 

 without any stamp accompanying the request. 



IF BEGINNING AGAIN. 



I am sometimes asked whether, if beginning afresh, I would 

 take the same course I have already been over. That is not a 

 very easy question to answer. There are some things that can 

 be settled only by experiment, and about such things one cannot 

 leply offhand. Likely, if I were beginning all over again not 

 many things would be different from what they are. But it 

 may be worth while to answer as well as I can about a few 

 things. 



CHOICE OF LOCATION. 



If I were to start in afresh, I would take some pains to select 

 a location as favorable for beekeeping as possible. I didn't 

 choose a location. 1 just began beekeeping where I was, with 

 no thought of doing any thing in a commercial way, and grew 

 into the business. I certainly would not start in afresh in a 

 location with only one principal honey-plant, and that some- 

 times a failure. That was the condition here, clover the only 

 dependence for a crop, and that with too many off years. Of 

 late years, however, the fall crop is worth considering. 



I-IIVE-STAXDS. 



I surely would not start in with such hive-stands as I now 

 have. The bottom-board resting upon so large a flat surface 

 makes a good place for moisture to lodge, and favors rotting 

 both bottom-board and stand. It also makes a fine place for 

 the large black ants to lodge and honeycomb the boards. Some- 

 thing would be better that allows a smaller area of contact. 

 Tile or cement might fill the bill. 



ITALIAN BEES. 



Through years of selection I secured hybrids that were 

 hustlers. But they were cross. If I had it to do over again I 



