ons
to those who have served an apprenticeship at the fascinating
pastime. I do not wish to leave the impression that I think others
who have made this a study do not know enough on the subject to
give suggestions; far from it. But to be candid with each other, as
lovers of nature and her ways should be, even though we be veterans
in the business, by an exchange of ideas we can always learn
something new and of value. Many books on sports of various kinds
have been written, but outside of an occasional article in
periodicals devoted to bee literature, but little has been written
on the subject of bee hunting. Therefore, I have tried, in this
volume, Bee Hunting for Pleasure and Profit, to give a work in
compact form, the product of what I have learned along this line
during the forty years in nature's school room.

Brother, if in reading these pages you find something that will be
of value to you, something that will inculcate a desire for manly
pastime and make your life brighter, then my aim will have been
reached.

I am very truly yours,

JOHN R LOCKARD.

BEE HUNTING

CHAPTER I.

AN OLD BEE HUNTER.

The bee hunters in my early days used one of two methods in hunting
the bee. The hunter would select a clear day, generally during
buckwheat bloom, and after determining on a course, sun them to the
tree. This was done by placing the hat or hand between the eye and
sun as close to the light as the eye would permit. If the hunter
knew the difference between the flight of a loaded bee and an
unloaded one he would keep on the course until the tree was
located.

This method must undoubtedly be injurious to the eyes and I do not
follow this plan nor advise others to do so. The other method was
what was termed burning or baiting. A fire was built near where the
bee tree was supposed to be, large flat sand stones were placed on
the fire and heated. One of these was removed to some place clear
of trees and underbrush, some bee-comb, dampened with water, was
then placed on the stone, and when the fumes of the comb would go
off into the air any bees flying near were apt to be enticed to the
bait, which was sprinkled on a bunch of bushes and laid near the
stone. Many bees were found in this way, but if they went any great
distance two or more fires had to be built. This would require much
time and often the hunter, not being careful in extinguishing the
fire, the surrounding leaves would catch fire and a destru