Langstroth on the hive & honey-bee

Front matter

Cornell University

Library

The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.

Preface

The first editions of the work of Langstroth were honored with the title of ‘“The Classic in Bee-Culture.” The first rewritten revision was published in 1889, and this was so well received in the bee-keeping world that Mr. Charles Dadant translated it into the French language. With the help of Edouard Bertrand, it was published at Geneva. A little later a Russian edition was published—by Kandratieff, of St. Petersburg—which has caused a revolution in bee-culture in Russia. A Spanish edition is published in Barcelona by Pons Fabregues.

Mr. Charles Dadant died in 1902. Meantime progress has continued and we again have to bring this classic work forward by additions and a few‘corrections.

In this edition we have aimed to preserve the first experiments and quotations made, whenever they have proven correct. We believe in giving credit to the first man who has ascertained a fact in natural history or has made a discovery. We have discarded all the cuts from Girard, because it was evident that most of his anatomical studies were copied from Barbd and Clerici, without giving them credit, and we have preferred to secure permission to copy the latter, whose work has not yet been excelled. It was published in Milan, under the title of ‘‘Atlante Di Apicoltura,’’ by A. De Rauschenfels, former editor of L’Apicoltore.

Experienced bee-keepers will notice that we do not describe many new implements. It is because we believe in teaching beginners to use only that which has been thoroughly tested and is unquestionably good. Many new things will not stand the test of long years of practice. It is sufficient, among other things, to quote the metal corners for frames and the reversible hives. Metal corners were recommended at the time of our first revision, and we gave them a mention; they are now dis-

PREFACE.

carded even by their inventor. Reversible hives were the craze, and were praised in every way. We gave two of them a mention in our pages, with a warning against their use. Reversible hives are now almost entirely abandoned.

We recommend the large hives, yet we know they are not popular, because buyers want inexpensive hives. We have bowed before public wishes and give descriptions of several popular hives which are certainly successful. But we use large hives ourselves, for we consider them the best.

In our preface of the first revision we extended our thanks to Mr. C. F. Muth, now deceased, and to Miss Favard, for their help in our work. The writer has undertaken this last revision alone, but owes gratitude for sound advice on many points to a man who has to do with both practice and theory and whose long experience entitles him to the consideration of all bee-keepers, Doctor C. C. Miller, author of ‘A Year Among the Bees” and ‘Fifty Years Among the Bees.” Dr. Miller, with small hives, enlarged at the proper time and again reduced in the brood chamber for the honey crop, has shown what could be done with intelligent and energetic management. He is not only a successful writer but a most extensive producer of comb honey, and is justly entitled to the name given him of the ‘‘Nestor of American Bee-Keeping.”’

The work of Father Langstroth, sustained in Europe by the pen of the Senior Dadant, has entirely changed European methods of bee-culture. The improved hive, based upon the Langstroth system, has been adopted all over the world, and testimonials come to us from the most remote countries showing that the methods taught have proven successful.

The principal changes in this edition aré upon the question of ‘‘Diseases,’”” as much progress has lately been made in the knowledge concerning foul-brood.

Cc. P. DADANT.

Hamilton, Illinois, January, 1919.

THE HIVE AND HONEY BEE