22 Advanced Bee Culture 



It is in line with this method of reasoning that causes some bee- 

 keepers to make the mistake of condemning any practice that is not 

 "according to nature." The whole system of modern bee culture is 

 largely a transgression of nature's laws, or of managing differently than 

 the bees would manage if left to their own way of doing things. In 

 some things it is advisable to allow nature to have her own way ; in 

 others it is not, and our success is just in proportion as we learn when 

 and where we can, advantageously, to a certain extent, cross nature's 

 iUethods with those of man's intelligence. 



Mistakes have been made, and erroneous conclusions arrived at, by 

 experimenting upon too small a scale. There are some kinds of experi- 

 ments which will demonstrate truths just as well upon a small as upon 

 a large scale, while there are others requiring experiments upon a large 

 scale, and a repetition of experiments, before definite conclusions can be 

 arrived at. 



Many beginners make the mistake of thinking that they can improve 

 some of the standard hives and implements, and that before they have 

 fair!)- learned the business. A beginner with a few brains, boards, and 

 buzz-saw, is the man of all others who feels called upon to invent a 

 bee-hive. 



Others make the mistake of adopting new hives, implements, meth- 

 ods, or varieties of bees, upon too large a scale before they are certain 

 that the change will be desirable. When a new thing with one advantage 

 is held up before our eyes, we are too much given to forgetting the 

 many advantages possessed by the article that we are asked to lay aside 

 for the new comer. As a rule, the rank and file can afford to wait 

 until at least good reports are given in regard to a novelty. Then it 

 will be in order to experiment upon no larger scale than that upon which 

 failure can be met and borne. 



Speaking of the "rank and file" waiting for the leaders or others 

 to try novelties, reminds me that it is a mistake to have undue confidence 

 in the leaders, or in any one, for that matter. It is possible that they 

 may be in error, or some unknown circumstances may cause different 

 results at dififerent times in other localities. It is a mistake to pin one's 

 faith blind!) to another. Read how other men have succeeded, consider 

 their advice, Ixit do \(iur own thinking just the same, and Xt\ things for 

 yourself until you are sure \'0u are right, then go ahead, 



C)ne expensive mistake, \'et one that is easil)- avoided, is made ^ear 

 after year by many bee-keepers, and that is, not securing hives, sections, 

 foundation, and other supplies in season. They intend to buy them soon 

 enough, but wait until the last moment. So many others do the same 

 thing that dealers and manufacturers are overrun with orders, and ex- 



