Friend Locke:
Your beautiful book, Vols. I and II of the “American Apiculturist,” is before me and its contents noted. It seems to fill the bill, being replete with items of importance especially to the more advanced apiarist. While we cannot forget the labors of a Langstroth, a Quinby, and a few other dear names, your work fills a more modern want, and if you keep in view the interest of honey producers, as I do not doubt you will, you ought to meet with success. I have been in the business of raising and marketing comb-honey about 35 years. Made a little at it once, but of late years it hardly pays. The injudicious use of the honey extractor has been a great damage to us as beekeepers, and it is the only thing I know of that can injure your success. This engine bee business is a mistake. Some are clamoring for a large iron extractor, that will extract not less than four combs in no time. I suppose their reason for it is that the larvæ will not expire under the operation. Some do not relish larval honey anyway, and Joseph prefers quality to quantity, nor does he believe it benefits brood or comb to be violently whirled in the vortex of death.
They talk about a glutted market. Well! well! honey is down and the mourners go about the streets. What shall we do? Create a home demand? I think friend L. C. Root has answered this question on page 48, Vol. II, “American Apiculturist” when he says “we must devise some means of producing smaller crops,” and I would add without diminishing our income that we annihilate the extractor. What other method can we rationally adopt to curtail the quantity and enhance the quality and thus keep up a demand at home and abroad? Self interest for one is self interest for all honey producers. It is better to make a little pay than a good deal not pay. I am not talking for the supply business; if I were, I should undoubtedly advocate the extractor, because what bees it does not kill in the larval state are hastened to an untimely death by a cruel and barbarous system, which creates a demand for fresh victims, fresh queens and fresh workers, so that now the supply dealer alone makes anything.
When a law is passed by the Legislature against the wicked practice of extracting honey as now carried on, it will be the happiest day that the bee, or the beekeeper who keeps bees for profit, has seen. Of course I do not hope to do justice to this question in so short an article, but would submit it to your thoughtful consideration as one of the most important questions touching the interest of the American beekeeper.
Be gentle with the little bee
Which toils the summer day,
To bring its treasures to your home
From every hidden way.
The fragile insect needs the care
And kindness of your heart,
If you would win his services
To aid you in a start.
J. C. Clark.
Alden, N. Y., Apr. 15, 1885.
CHAFF HIVES AND DESTRUCTION OF BROOD.
Mr. Editor:
I drop these few lines to you to ascertain whether the “Apiculturist” is opposed to publishing opinions of beekeepers in regard to certain hives, in certain localities, their good and bad qualities, etc.