Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Simon on January 20, 2013, 12:46:42 am

Title: The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture
Post by: Simon on January 20, 2013, 12:46:42 am
I have an old (1940) copy of The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture, but I see that there is a 41st edition that came out in 2007 I think.  How revised is this edition and does anyone think that it would worthwhile buying it considering that I already have an old edition?
Title: Re: The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture
Post by: little john on January 20, 2013, 08:40:45 am
Google Books have what appears to be a 2005 Edition of which sample extracts can be read on-line. I've just checked, and there's no mention of either Open Mesh Floors, or CCD - so the book would appear to remain somewhat dated.
I see there is a 2010 Edition, but no pre-view is available.

LJ
Title: Re: The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture
Post by: BGhoney on January 20, 2013, 10:30:05 pm
I have a 30's book and a 20--,  there is a huge difference between the 2.  The old one is nice for looking at the older pics and stuff, but there was no varroa, and other cooties back then..
Title: Re: The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture
Post by: Michael Bush on January 22, 2013, 05:10:10 pm
I much prefer the 1940 edition... but then I have the most recent, a 1980 something, a 1974, a 1940, a 1923 and an 1886 version... and love reading all of them.
Title: Re: The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture
Post by: Simon on February 04, 2013, 10:28:25 pm
Thanks for the advice guys.  I raided the ash tray and fossicked through the back of the couch etc to raise some funds to get myself a copy of the 41st edition of The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture.  It arrived today! ....Now you will have to pry it from my cold dead hands Ha ha ha ha  :evil:   :-D

I was sort of expecting a book that was largely a reprint of the old book, but I was very wrong.  At the first look through, it appears to be mostly new modern information, lots of nice clear colour pictures and about 100 more pages than my old copy.  There's a bit of historical stuff that is included (eg. some cool drawings/photos of the A I Root Company offices etc since the 1870's to early 1900's), which is really interesting and relevant to today.  It's hard to believe that the book has been in print for about 130 years!  I can certainly see why this book is so often recommended and I am really pleased that I managed to get a copy of the 41st Edition to sit along side my 1940 Edition.

I have a couple of really old bee books (well 1930's - 1940's and they are 30 or 40 years older than me :-D) and they are great on so many different levels, not the least of which is the smell of burning hessian when you open them up ...Ahhhhhh. :)

Title: Re: The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture
Post by: T Beek on February 05, 2013, 09:21:12 am
I much prefer the 1940 edition... but then I have the most recent, a 1980 something, a 1974, a 1940, a 1923 and an 1886 version... and love reading all of them.


I have a similar collection and also love reading them all, but my particular fave is a 1908 version, probably because it was my first.  We always remember our first  ;)