VARIOUS METHODS. 257 



a few years, be over-stoeked with bees; and even an increase 

 of one-third, annually, would soon give us enough. 



488. All the methods of increase above given, and several 

 others of less importance, were described by Mr. Langstroth 

 years ago. He never hesitated to sacrifice several colonies, 

 in order to ascertain a single fact; and it would require a 

 large volume, to detail his various experiments on the single 

 subject of artificial swarming. The practical bee-keeper, how- 

 ever, should never lose sight of the important distinction 

 between an apiary managed principally for purposes of 

 observation and discovery, and one conducted exclusively with 

 reference to pecuniary profit. Any bee-keeper can easily 

 experiment with movable-frame hives; but he should do it, at 

 first, only on a small scale, and if pecuniary profit is his 

 object, should follow our directions, until he is sure that he 

 has discovered others which are better. These cautions are 

 given to prevent serious losses in using hives which, by facili- 

 tating all manner of experiments, may tempt the inexperienced 

 into rash and unprofitable courses. Beginners, especially, 

 should follow the directions here given as closely as possible; 

 for, although they may doubtless be modified and improved, it 

 can only be done by those experienced in managing bees. 



Let us not be understood as wishing to intimate that per- 

 fection has been so nearly attained, that no more important 

 discoveries remain to be made. On the eontraiy, we believe 

 that apiculture is a growing science. Those who have time 

 and means should experiment on a large scale with the mov- 

 able-comb hives; and we hope that every intelligent bee-keeper 



will be clear profit ; supposing the second swarms to pay for hives, 

 labor, etc." The modesty with which this writer, who seems to have 

 had as much faith in his bees as in the doctrine that "figures cannot 

 lie," closes his calculation at the end of fourteen years, is truly refresh- 

 ing. No bee-keeper, on such a royal road to wealth, could ever find it in 

 his heart to stop under twenty-one years, by which time, probably, he 

 would be willing to close his bee-business, by selling it for over two and 

 three-quarter millions of dollars ! The attention of all venders of hum- 

 bug bee-hives is respectfully invited to this antique specimen of the art 

 of pufiBng. 



