4 ALEXANDER'S WRITINGS ON PRACTICAL BEE CULTURE 



colonies In one yard as It ever did for a less number, and I think the 

 same will yet be proven true of any fairly good location. 



In regard to breaking up good colonies just previous to the main 

 honey-flow, I can say that I have never advised any one to do this except 

 where increase was preferred to surplus honey. I have always advised 

 doing every thing possible to build up the colonies so that they will not 

 only be strong in bees but have their hives well filled with brood in order 

 to keep them strong during the whole honey-flow. Either make the in- 

 crease long enough before the harvest to enable all colonies to become 

 strong in time for it, as can very easily be done in a buckwheat location, 

 or make no Increase until the harvest for surplus is over. 



LEAVING THE WELL-BEATEN PATH, AND THE CONSEQUENCES. 



In regard to the wisdom of cautioning beginners about leaving the 

 "beaten paths too far, and following what may In their localities turn 

 out after all to be a phantom,'' I wish to say that, when I was a boy, a 

 very small minority of bee-keepers left the well-beaten path of setting 

 their best colonies over a brimstone-pit in order to get a little honey, and 

 adopted the more humane way of cutting a little out of the sides of their 

 hives In order that they might save their bees for another year; and I 

 could never see any phantom about that. I can well remember many 

 years ago, of a small minority that left the well-beaten path of box hives, 

 and in their place adopted movable-comb hives. There was no phantom 

 about that either. Also a small minority that left the well-beaten path of 

 keeping black bees, and In their place keep only good strains of Italians — 

 no phantom about that. Yes, and a small minority that left the well- 

 beaten path of squeezing their honey through a bag, and in its place 

 adopted the Improved honey-extractors of to-day. No phantom about 

 that; and it has so happened that a small minority at one time left 

 that well-beaten path of producing their surplus comb honey in coarse 

 hemlock boxes holding 15 or 20 lbs. apiece, and adopted the nice at- 

 tractive section of the present day — no phantom about leaving that 

 beaten path, that I can see. I might continue to cite many more cases 

 where a small minority have left beaten paths in all lines of business 

 and become the leaders of progress. History shows us, in thousands 

 of instances, where minorities have been in the right, and were a target 

 for the arrows of critics who only followed in their wake and drifted 

 with the masses. 



June, 1906. 



AMOUNT OF HONEY PER COLONY. 



WHAT CAN WE EBASONABr.Y EXPBCT TO OBTAIN WHEN WE GIVE OUB BEES THE 



BEST OP CAKE? 



This is a question which we are often asked by those who know 

 but little about bees, and I sometimes think it might be a good question 

 for each one of us to ask ourselves, and then do a little thinking along 



