Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-31

than IS generally supposed | should refer
you to the reports of individuals who be-
long to our ChAmplRin valley beekeepers'
association, and let you come to your
conclusions. OF about eighty members,
as in other rural occupations, some report
but = meagre crop gathered. Some OF
them have their time otherwise occupied
and entirely neglect their bees; few
others are Overwise and nice; they mis-
take sort of pitttCriRg "tassyaeSS, -
which never makes any progress in the
| right direction at the right time-for
science, but that is scientific toolery mixed
up with self.conceit. Such men are so
over-nice that for fear Of little dust they
always have their plates bottom side up
when providence passes her bOunlies; or,
in other words, such man is like a fussy
sportsman who perhaps with the best
horse on the course spends his time and
strength industriously securing away all
alone, trying to get an even start, until
his competitors are well down the home
stretch. or entirely win the race. We had
almost rather have laundering ignorance
than this little mite of the essence OF
science boiled down and sugar coated
with sweet morsel OF sel-concet.
But TO the main question-What is Yer
mont doingP Let me tell You what | saw
at Mr.. A. +. Manum's of Bristol refer
to him, for | am familiar with his opera
tions and can rely upon his statements as
well as what have actually seen there.
Mr.. Nahum is extensively engaged in
manufacturing bee hives, sections and
fixtures, and his millions of white poplar
sections, holding from one to two pouncs
each, are scattered over two continents,
and in point of cheapness and beauty
stand unrvaled the world over. Mr..
Nahum at present works up nearly
100000 feet of poplar planks into small
fixtures, to say nothing of the heavy
wares made of other timbers.
He had last spring 273 colonies of bees
Italians, Syrians and Cyprians. From
his best colony he took 37S pounds of nice
finished honey; from four next best, 224
pounds each in pound sections, and from
the next fourteen, 2,7Sl pounds, or about
1879 pounds from each. From his entire
apiary he sold about 10000 pounds of
honey besides several full colonies of bees
and 403 queens. In addition to all this
he has by increase 121 new colonies Of
bees and about 80 nuclei need not say
that Mr.. Nahum is only able to accom-
plish all this by acquiring and applying
the full science of bee culture taken in its
broadcast sense.
Mr.. Manum's location is certainly a
good one for honey supplies, but this state
furnishes thousand more just as good
which are now awaiting Just such pcrse-
vcring men, with the knowledge and close
studied adaptabiity. AS model of sys-
tematic neatness, order and business
principles applied to beekecping for profit
would recommend any member of this
board or this audience to visit Mr.. Man
enjoy his hospitality, if need be, for tn
opportunity of seeing for themselves Il e
magnitude not alone of what he saves,
but what our state and nation are actually
losing from neglect to gather it-lG,00
pounds of surplus honey from IN area
half the size of this town; and then ada
abont 60 pounds for the amount ann ually
consumed by each colony, or rather say
about 10000 pounds, which, added to the
10000, pounds would make $4,000 pounds
or s tons, of clear honey on Il few square
miles alone,
These facts serve to show clearly the
magnitude Of our neglected resources, but
indicate the amount saved in only one
case.
Now, Mr.. President, why is it thai
while our agricultural papers are replett
with arguments in favor Of and instruc
tions for raising beets and making bee
sugar, with vast pecunary outlay o
cumbersome machinery and hardly in an'
case, as 4 rule, paying more than cost
so little is said about beekeoping? -
with the modus operandi of raising tn,
largest crop of tobacco, which not onl,
impoverlsheS our most fertile firms, ba
the consumer also, which, as is written
drains your pockets, scents your clolho
and makes chimney of your nose. No
is it a Gavorte with our wives and ,Iaugh
tiers. Then hops, for the Manufacture o
lager beer must be also pushed to III
front, and usually to attract The attention
their Importance demands, waved OF
the tops OF scores of the longest poles
The lager beer made from them tends no
50 much to make men crazy aud iendish
but degraded and lazy, and what is mucI
worse, it lays broad foundation for tn,
alarming vice or curse Of intempcrance
why is 1t. ask, that although our a ri
cultural papers are filled with these sub
leets, the subject Of beekeeping, or eve
the reports of our associations can rarely
find place in them, and even 0ur cen,u
passes our products unnOtccd, although
our business has all their Virtues and non
OF their vices or drawUlcks? Oar nusi
ness affords better pecuniary indhlcrmrnu
than all three branches combined,
We sometimes feel like getting ~ ;
IouSng petition to those in authority
providing that when the present thrcl /
bare topics of flrmGrs' meetings ar, wuri
through (warp and liling) that we II ,vt
AS much us one MEMBER ii yuur hnnuraDi,
board appointed who i, comp tent, an,
WUp VIII interest anl Instruct the farmer
G! our state m regard 10 hcekcepng. t,ni
ling 10 elevate it to lis true posnlon anon.
our rura occupations and among III,
sciences mean no dlsplrsgrmpnt T.
our present board ptonabiy lney wrr,
not born or bred among the bees, unt
tshould not be held accountable, as tn,
matter was quite likely beyond their con-
troll.
If in this hastily written paper | hav,
mixed any points and confused youl
minds, as the Dutch farmer was confused
regarding his favorile horses. when he
said, " Won looks SO moooh like bofe dad
ven vent after Won always each de
odor, and | whipped Won most dead be
cause de odor Won kickol me-" then, i
you please, in answer to direct, question.
4 | will tell Won briefly which bort. kicl, n,