Title: British bee journal & bee-keepers adviser
Identifier: britishbeejourna1903lond (find matches)
Year: 1873 (1870s)
Authors:
Subjects: Bees
Publisher: London
Contributing Library: UMass Amherst Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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Nov. 26, 1903.) THE BRITISH BEE JOUBNAL. 475 jeirs. I took no practical part, however, in the bee-work at home, except perhaps to cover up with eartli the few bees remaining upon the turf when the colony was consigned to the ' sulphur-pit.' But miny were the hours spent in watching the busy bee carrying home their loads of maay-hued pollen, &c. Even- tually I got permission to try the much- talked-of new-fangled notion of wood hives, having derived a little knowledge of modern methods from what I saw at a local show. My little knowledge, as usual, proved a ' dangeroas thing.' In those days I had no ' Guide Book ' or B.K. Record or expert's visit to help me, and what with a rather strong opposition at home, characteristic of a county which is ' on of my hives, all my own make, except the first one (which always gives me most trouble), and about three years ago turned my attention more fully to the £ s. d. side of bee-keeping. My difficulty was how to find a market for my produce. I sold sections at 6d., 7d. and 8d.— last year at 8d. and 9J., this year at lOd. and Is.; aad could have sold more if I had them, so you see my prices have always improved. But considering 1 had to 'feed' during the last week in May, I am on the whole very pleased. I do not know that there is anything new in my apiary except, perhaps, that the outer walls of all my hives are raised 2 in. or 3 in. above the top-bars of brood-nest to counteract the bleak dr'ving winds and wet. At the time of
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MR. JOHN M. BEST S APIAUY, TREWOON, ST. AUSTELL, CORNWALL. the road to nowhere,' and the ' opposiiion ' of the bees, when stingfully disposed, along with bad seasons, it was uphill work, but I have always been a keen lover of Nature, and that love attached me to the honey bee, and when my friends sometimes say, ' I like a bit of honey, but I just hate bee?,' my reply has often been, ' Yes, but I love the bee.' My bee-experiences in those days appeared in your monthly, the Record, about twelve years ago, under the title * Bee-keeping Experiences in Cornwall.' From that day I have made headway steadily. For several years I was quite pleased if I could sell a quart or two of honey andjbe able to give a bit of honey- comb to about a score of friends and neigh- bours. But I gradually increased the number writing the skeps shown in photo (kept for the sake of' Auld Lang Syne ') are now reduced to one, and the other hives are increased to thirteen, with a further increase contemplated, as I have just been appointed to the joint offices of rate collector, assistant overseer, and clerk to Pariah Council, which (when there are no more passive resisters) will give me more time for my favourite hobby. Having been a cooper by trade, I could not give«rall necessary attention before. I am glad to say I have never had foul brood among my bees. I usually winter on natural stores and use preventive measures recommended by * Guide Book.' I have made my first attempt at 'showing' this year, having secured three Ists at a local show,

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