PREFACE.
In presenting this work I have no apology to make. After an experience with bees dating almost from childhood, and a careful study of all works published on the subject of bees, and the journals devoted to that particular branch of rural affairs, I find theory, guess-work, prejudice and selfish motives are so prevalent, as to confuse and discourage the beginner, and finally, all who are seeking after information by which they may make bee keeping a source of profit, and who wish to adopt a correct and scientific system of bee management.
In my early efforts at bee keeping, I met with many failures and heavy losses, from being confused by the contradictory teachings of selfish or ignorant bee keepers, and from a lack of that personal knowledge which experience, and a close study of the nature and habits of bees, has now placed in my possession. After many unsuccessful experiments, and careful investigation, and a close study of the natural habits and instincts of bees, I have succeeded in inventing a hive and new system of bee management which completely changes the whole process of bee keeping, and renders the business safe, pleasant and profitable.
The hive and system of bee management recommended in these pages, is entirely original with me and is not patented. L invented the hive and plan of management for my own use, as I am engaged in raising honey for the market, and wish every swarm of bees I keep to produce the greatest amount of surplus honey, and in the most convenient and attractive marketable form. I am induced to place this work before the public at the earnest and oft repeated requests of friends and correspondents. The work has been hurriedly written, as I had but little spare time to devote to this matter, consequently sentences are not all, perhaps, grammatically arranged. I have made the beautiful of secondary importance to the useful. I have endeavored, however, to make my statements so clear as to be readily understood and comprehended by every person of intelligence, although he may be wholly unacquainted with bee keeping.
Every person, who has a farm or garden should keep bees, at least one or more swarms, to furnish honey for the use of the family. There is no greater luxury than nice honey in clean, snow-white comb in nice glass boxes, such as is produced by my new system of bee management. This best of all sweets is now within reach of every one who has a plot of ground large enough to set a hive of bees upon.
After bees are once located in my hives but very little expense is required to keep them in proper condition, so that they will give a good quantity of nice box honey every year.
Under the old methods of bee keeping, bees required a great deal of care and attention, especially during the summer season. And then the winters were very destructive to them, many often losing their entire stock; or if they were not a total loss, they were so damaged by the winter as to be of no profit, and two severe winters in succession were quite sure to finish them.
This was very discouraging, and many have abandoned bee keeping, entirely discouraged.
On my plan a complete revolution is effected in bee management, as will be shown in this work.
There is in my opinion no pursuit which offers greater inducements than bee keeping, especially to women. There are very many who are confined indoors nearly the whole time, excluded from the air and sunshine, to the great injury of their health; and after this sacrifice they barely succeed in obtaining a livelihood. To such, bee keeping offers great inducements, such as improved health, and a handsome recompense for all labor performed. I am acquainted with many who have commenced bee keeping on my plan, who are meeting with complete success. A lady bought a swarm of Italian bees of me in 1874, and she writes me that from that one she increased her stock to over twenty swarms the third season; besides she got over one hundred pounds of nice honey from the swarm I sent her the first season. Here I wish to be clearly understood; I do not wish to hold out inducements which will never be realized, for the purpose of causing any one to commence bee keeping;yet I believe bee keeping on correct principles should be encouraged, until bees enough are kept to collect all the honey now allowed to go to waste, and which if collected by bees and stored in nice glass boxes, would add millions of dollars to the wealth of the country.
Since the day I introduced my Controllable Hive and New System of Bee Management to the notice of the public, the worthless bee hive swindlers and their tools have been boiling over with wrath against me, lying and slandering me through the public journals, and especially through the Bee Journals, and all because, that I, a woman, had succeeded in inventing a bee hive and a new system of bee management superior to anything yet produced, and which was fast coming into use on its merits, among bee keepers: consequently the sale of other hives was decreasing in the same proportion. I first perfected the hive and system of management for my own use, with no thought of making it public; but through the kindness of my personal friends and others who have visited me to enquire into the new system, it has become known from Maine to Oregon, and adopted by many of the most intelligent bee keepers in the United States. And in compliance with that command in the good book which reads—"Let your light shine," I am determined to spread the truth, regardless of all opposition from the ignorant and selfish crowd which is constantly attacking me.
Without egotism, I claim a thorough knowledge of the habits and instincts of bees. Consequently I claima thorough knowledge of the requisites of a hive, and all fixtures pertaining to it, as well as a knowledge required to make bee keeping successful and profitable and all this has been acquired in the school of experience and practice.
Kind reader, I respectfully submit the following pages, and ask for them a candid and unprejudiced consideration. Read carefully and understandingly, and apply to bee keeping, and I feel certain you will realize many times the cost of this book in the increased profits of your bees, managed as here directed.
The statements herein set forth are the result of many years' practical experience with bees with a view of making the raising of honey for market profitable, and the general management of bees successful.
Mrs. Lizzie E. Cotton.
West Gorham, Me., Aug. 5, 1880.
Since the publication of the first edition of this work, in 1880, and the use of the Controllable Hive for more than twelve years, I find only a very few minor points in the hive which can be improved. I have made a complete revision of the hive and all fixtures, with the view of correcting every imperfection, however slight, and I feel certain that the hive as now arranged is perfect in every particular.
Thanking my patrons for past favors, and respectfully soliciting a continuance of the same, I present the third edition of this work, and invite to it the careful and unprejudiced consideration of every one who may read its pages.
Mrs. Lizzie E. Cotton.
West Gorham, Me., Jan. 1, 1891.