I might illustrate this with many cases that have come under my observation. One or two I will mention: A gentleman in Connecticut ordered of me a swarm of Italian bees in the Controllable Hive, in the spring of 1880, for which he paid me twenty dollars. He wrote me in June that they were doing finely, and that he never saw bees work so well—they were at work in all the boxes, some of them being nearly filled with honey, and all the combs being filled with bees at work storing; and from appearances he should get a large amount of surplus box honey from them.
Another gentleman wrote me, about the same time, asking my price for a swarm of Italian bees, and when informed that it was twenty dollars, he wrote me that as he could get the Italian bees nearer his home for ten dollars, he would not order of me, but would invest his twenty dollars and get two swarms instead of one. He has since written me that one of the swarms for which he paid ten dollars he had lost outright, leaving him only a mass of moth worms in old and mouldy black combs.
The other has proved to be queenless, and has caused him more trouble and perplexity than it is worth, to say the least. There is now not over a pint of bees in the hive, but he has put in a queen and hopes to save them from total loss.
I know of another case where a gentleman bought six swarms of bees in box hives. They were very heavy and he thought of course they were all right. He knew nothing of the diseases of bees, and supposed if they were heavy, and had honey enough, that was all that was necessary. He bought them in the fall at a very low price, and was much elated over his purchase. Five of the six swarms died during the winter, and the remaining one came out in the spring so weak as to be of no profit whatever the next season; and the next winter that also died. It is better to start with strong healthy stock, even if price seems high, poor, weak stocks are dear at any price.
It is an established fact that to succeed well with bees they must be kept in hives suited to their habits and requirements, and with the view of rendering them profitable. Such is the Controllable Hive. And they must be managed on principles in accordance with nature's laws, and the instincts and habits of the honey bee. Such is the new system recommended in this book— Bee Keeping Reduced to a Science; no "luck," no "guess-work," no "chance" about it.
Trusting that this little work may be the means of greatly increasing the profits of bees, I bring it to a close.
MRS. LIZZIE E. COTTON.
PRICE LIST.
As some of my customers reside in localities where lumber and labor is scarce and high in price, and some perhaps may wish to obtain my Italian Bees, I add this price list and have made arrangements to supply such.
I will furnish the material for Controllable Hives, Boxes and all fixtures (except glass) got out ready to put together for Sixty Dollars per dozen, Thirty Dollars per one-half dozen.