CHAPTER XXIV 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION 



Beekeeping does not consist solely in caring for bees 

 and in using or selling their products. The activities of 

 beekeepers are expressed in various allied fields and since 

 these are things about which the beekeeper wants and should 

 have information, it is proposed in a brief closing chapter 

 to give a few notes which may be helpful, but which do not 

 find a place in the previous chapters. 



Literature on bees and beekeeping. 



In the centuries during which men have been interested in 

 the honeybee, hundreds and even thousands of books have 

 been written on this subject. No other insect, and perhaps 

 no other animal except man, has been so voluminously 

 discussed. Many of these books are now of interest only 

 to the collectors of old bee books, for the advance in our 

 knowledge of these subjects through investigation has 

 naturally left many of the older books far behind. That 

 there have been in the ranks of bee enthusiasts some men of 

 rare powers of observation, is attested by the enduring value 

 of some of their works. Even to list the books on bee- 

 keeping would probably require a book the size of this one, 

 so this interesting task must be set aside. The beekeeper 

 will find it to his advantage to read almost every one of the 

 few books now offered to the American beekeeper. 



In addition to the works issued in book form, there is an 

 extensive literature on bees in scientific journals, unfortu- 

 nately not readily accessible to most beekeepers. Reference 

 is made to many of these papers in the preceding pages. 



430 



