5!i PrARCE METHOD OF BEE-KEEPING 



A. J. VANDENBERG. 

 Savings Teller, Grand Rapids Savings Bank. 



Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 26, 1909. 

 Mr. Jos. A. Pearce, 



City. 

 My Dear Mr. Pearce: — 



I wish to say just a few words relative to your method of keeping 

 bees. 



In the autumn of 1907 you suggested that I try a swarm and 

 handle them under the "Pearce system." I did not have very much 

 faith in it at the time, but on your strong recommendation I bought 

 a swarm. In the spring of 1908 they showed up strong and went 

 to work at once. At the end of the season I was surprised to find 

 that they had gathered 156 pounds of comb honey, and I at once 

 ordered another swarm. 



The results were beyond my highest expectation as several of my 

 neighbors have bees under the old method and scarcely ever get any 

 results. The fact that they use their bees in connection with their 

 greenhouses may have something to do with their lack of success, but 

 I feel that your system is certainly the right one, as there is prac- 

 tically no work connected with it excepting the removal of the honey 

 and taking care to cover the hives in winter. 



Yours respectfully, 



A. J. VANDENBERG. 



EDWARD M. DEANE & COMPANY. 



Grand Rapids, Mich., March 1, 1909. 



Mr. Joseph A. Pearce, 



City. 

 My Dear Mr. Pearce: — 



In reply to your inquiry as to whether I was satisfied with the 

 swarm of bees purchased from you two years ago, will say that they 

 have been highly satisfactory. Your method oi having bees so that 

 they do not swarm is certainly very satisfactory to the amateur bee- 

 keeper as they require no attention whatever, only to take the honey 

 off in the fall. 



The hive that I have did not become thoroiighly established until 

 about the middle of the season of 1908, but I am pleased to tell you 

 that vve took off in the fall about 35 pounds of very suparlor honey, 

 leaving for the bees themselves in the lower sections of the hive, I 

 should estimate, nearly 100 pounds of honey. At the present time 

 they are in fine condition and I have no doubt but what the coming 

 season, if it is a good one for honey gathering, I will get from 100 

 to 150 pounds of merchantable honey. 



Hoping that this may be of some assistance to you in inducing 

 people to adopt the "Pearce System," I am, 

 Very truly yours, 



ANNA BISSELL, by Dwight Smith. 



