ADVANCEDlBEE CULTURE. 23 



membered that we build hives for our bees, and houses for our 

 wives, with altogether different objects in view. We don't keep bees, 

 nor arrange their hives, so much with a view to saving them labor, 

 as that Tfc maj' get the most honey with the least labor to ourselves. 

 Drone-traps, queen-traps, self-hivers, queen-excluders, separators, 

 and many other contrivances, are probably not considered "handy" 

 by the bees, but their use is an advantage to us. 



It is in line with this method of reasoning that causes some bee- 

 keepers to make the mistake of condemning any practice that is not 

 "according to nature." The whole system of modern bee culture is 

 largelj' a transgression of nature's laws, or of managing differently 

 than the bees would manage if left to their own way of doing things. 

 In some things it is advisable to allow nature to have her own way, 

 in others it is not, and our success is just in proportion as we learn 

 when and where we can, advantageously, to a certain extent, cross 

 nature's methods with those of man's intelligence. 



Mistakes have been made, and erroneous conclusions arrived at, 

 by experimenting upon too small a scale. There are some kinds of 

 experiments which will demonstrate truths just as well upon a small 

 as upon a large scale, while there are others requiring experiments 

 upon a large scale, and a repetition of experiments, before definite 

 conclusions can be arrived at. 



Many beginners make the mistake of thinking that they can im- 

 prove some of the standard hives and implements; and that before 

 they have fairly learned the business. A beginner with a few 

 brains, boards, and buzz saw, is the man of all others who feels called 

 upon to invent a bee hive. 



Others make the mistake of adopting new hives, implements, 

 methods, or varieties of bees, upon too large a scale before they are 

 certain that the change will be desirable. When anew thing with 

 one advantage is held up before our eyes, we are too much given to 

 forgetting the many advantages possessed by the article that we 

 are asked to lay aside for the new comer. As a rule, the rank and 

 file can afford to wait until at least good reports are given in regard 

 to a novelty. Then it will be in order to experiment upon nO larger 

 scale than that upon which failure can be met and borne. 



Speaking of the "rank and file" waiting for the leaders or others 

 to try novelties, reminds me that it is a mistake to have undue con- 

 fidence in the leaders, or in any one, for that matter. It is possible 

 that they may be in error, or some unknown circumstances may 

 cause different results at different times in other localities. It is a 

 mistake to pin one's faith blindly to another. Read how other men 

 have succeeded, consider their advice, but do your own thinking 



