INTRODUCTION. 



aV ^ 5/ 



HS THE RESULT of numerous 

 experiments in the use and non- 

 use of comb foundation, I was 

 led, four years ago, to the 

 writing and publication of a little book 

 entitled " The Produciion of Comb Hon- 

 ey." The main feature of this book was 

 the giving, in detail, of a method where- 

 by full sheets of foundation might be prof- 

 itably dispensed with in the brood cham- 

 ber when hiving swarms. Other impor- 

 tant points in the production of comb 

 honey were briefly touched upon. The 

 first edition (3,000) is now sold, and the 

 pleasant task of re-writing and revising 

 is now before me. 



When the little book came out, one of 

 the criticisms brought against it was that 

 itinas too small. "Give us more,'' was 

 the cry then; and it comes to me yet. 

 Repeatedly have I been urged to write a 

 larger book, giving my experience and 

 views more in detail and upon other 

 points. Flattering as all this may be, I 

 doubt if I should have yielded to these 

 entreaties were it not that, as editor of 

 the Bke-Kbkpers' Review, I have, for 

 nearly four years, had the benefit of read- 



ing, and studying over, special discus- 

 sions, by the most practical men, of the 

 most important questions connected with 

 our pursuit. [In other words, a large share 

 of the ideas to be found in the following 

 pages may also be found scattered 

 through the back volumes of the Re- 

 view. I have classified, arranged and, 

 condensed; giving what { consider the 

 ' ' cream ' ' of the discussions that have 

 appeared in the Review. The supply of 

 back numbers of the REVIEW will soon 

 be exhausted, and even those who possess 

 them will find it convenient to be able to 

 turn, in a moment, to a fresh, clear and 

 concise, yet comprehensive, resume of 

 the most important apicultural topics of 

 the day. So many more topics are 

 now taken up that the old title would not 

 be appropriate, hence it has been decided 

 to change it to that of Advanced Bee- 



CUI<TURE; ITS METHODS AND MANAGE- 

 MENT. 



The above was written about ten years 

 ago, when I got out the first edition of 

 this book, but at present I see nothing to 

 add to it. 



W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Mich. 



