uiVES. 47 



on the community, whereby I doubtlcw could have made 

 some hundreds of doUars ; for all the different methods of 

 constructing a bee hive are by no means exhausted, 

 neither is the race of credulous bec-keei^ers extinct. I 

 have put myself in antagonism with the patent-vender, 

 have endured his abuse, his sneering ridicule, and un- 

 founded accusations. For what? Certainly not in the 

 hope of any pecuniary reward. It is said that he who 

 causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew 

 before, is a public benefactor. So it may be said of the 

 man, who even indirectly, aids in saving a portion of the 

 inestimable sweetness now wasted on the air, for want of 

 proper means to secure it. I have ever been anxious to 

 advance apiarian science, and promote the interest of the 

 apiarian, and if I succeed in ever so small a degree I shall 

 feel amply rewarded. 



How can a man judge of the requisites of a bee-hive, 

 unless he is thoroughly versed in the natural history of 

 bees ? Not one in a hundred of those spreading patent 

 hives broadcast over the land, is capable of giving an in- 

 telligent opinion concerning the habits and requirements 

 of bees. A patent is based upon some peculiarity of con- 

 struction, by which some real or fancied convenience is 

 obtained, and thenceforth that convenience is proclaimed 

 to be the one thing needful for a bee-hive, although it may 

 supplant other and more desirable qualities, if it does not 

 induce some positive evils, 



HO DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING CERTIFICATES AND PKEMIUMS. 



There is no difficulty in getting certificates of the enor- 

 mous quantities of honey produced by each particular hive. 

 With few exceptions, all patent-venders are provided with 

 them, as well as with " premiums " for " best bee-hive," 

 received at all the Town, County, and State Fairs, through- 

 out the country. A premium from our Fair Committees 



