150 THE BLESSED BEES. 



If these eleven considerations are borne in mind, 

 my first year's work will be seen to have been no 

 more successful than might be expected. I had 

 simply been able to take advantage of the condi- 

 tions of success provided by nature. 



As this book may fall into the hands of some who 

 will become interested in the subject, and desire to 

 keep bees, either on a small or a large scale, it is, 

 perhaps, best to call their attention to some further 

 considerations. 



12. Those who have not examined the subject 

 have no conception of the difference between keep- 

 ing bees in the old box-hives and keeping them in 

 moveable comb-hives, and by aid of the honey- 

 extractor, artificial queen-rearing, and nucleus- 

 swarming. It is as great a difference as that be- 

 tween making cloth by the old process of hand- 

 carding, hand-spinning, and hand-weaving, and mak- 

 ing it by help of all the modern machinery. 



13. To keep bees by the new methods requires in- 

 telligence and energy. Only intelligent men and 

 women can learn the structure and instincts of the 

 bee, and then wisely adapt the management to the 

 structure and instincts. It requires energy, for only 

 by energetic industry can the bee-keeper be perfectly 

 prepared to reap the harvest of honey when it 

 comes ; only by energetic industry can he prepare 

 his bees for winter, and winter them without loss. 



