14 Books fm- the Bee-Keeper. 



As practical guides, I think these foreign works would 

 receive little favor among American apiarists. They are the 

 exponents of foreign apiculture, which in method would seem 

 clumsy to Americans. In fact, I think I may say that in 

 implements, and perhaps I may add methods, the English, 

 French, Germans, and Italians, are behind our American 

 apiarists, and hence their text-books and journals compare iUy 

 with ours. I believe the many intelligent foreign apiarists 

 who have come to this country and are now honored members 

 of our own fraternity, will sustain this position. Foreign 

 seientists are ahead of American, but we glean and utilize their 

 facts and discoveries as soon as made known. Salicylic acid is 

 discovered by a German to be a remedy for foul brood, yet ten 

 times as many American as foreign apiarists know of this and 

 profit by the knowledge. In practical fields, on the other 

 hand, as also in skill and delicacy of invention, we are, I 

 think, in advance. So our apiarists have little need to go 

 abroad for either books or papers. 



PROMPTITUDE. 



Another absolute requirement of successful bee-keeping, is 

 prompt attention to all its varied duties. Neglect is the rock 

 on which many bee-keepers, especially farmers, find too often 

 that they have wrecked their success. I have no doubt that 

 more colonies die from starvation than from all the bee maladies 

 known to the bee-keeper. And why is this? Neglect is the 

 apicide. I feel sure that the loss each season by absconding 

 colonies is almost incalculable, and what must we blame? 

 Neglect. The loss every summer by enforced idleness of queen 

 and workers, just because room is denied them, is very great. 

 Who is the guilty party ? Plainly, neglect. If we would be 

 successful, promptitude must be our motto. Each colony of 

 bees requires but very little care and attention. Our every 

 interest demands that this be not denied, nor even granted 

 grudgingly. The very fact that this attention is slight, renders 

 it more liable to be neglected ; but this neglect always involves 

 loss — often disaster. 



ENTHUSIASM. 



Enthusiasm, or an ardent love of its duties, is a very desir- 

 able, if not aa absolute, requisite to successful apiculture. 



