1877 - The Enthusiastic Mr. Perrine

What a mess Mr. C.O. Perrine seems to make of everything related to honeybees, business and public relations!  

In this story the insensitive Mr. Perrine seems to have amused our British beekeeping brethren with his American braggadocio and gaucherie.      

Did Victorians roll their eyes?


This article was found in the British Bee Journal of November, 1877.

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MR. C. O. PERRINE.

The American Bee Journal (Oct. 1877), in an editorial, says— 

'A letter from C. O. Perrine, who is now "going the rounds" in Europe, informs us that he intends to visit Italy, Egypt, and Cyprus Island, and will bring good queens of several varieties with him. He called on friend Abbott, Editor of the British Bee Journal, and expects to see him again.'

 In reference thereto we beg to say that memory reflects the pleasure we enjoyed in seeing Mr. Perrine, and making the acquaintance of so prominent an American bee-keeper. In the course of converse he gave us charming accounts of the 'big' ways and means of our brethren on the other side of the 'pond,' and inflated us with an idea that it would be pleasant to many gentlemen bee-keepers of England to meet our worthy American cousin, and enjoy a quiet conversazione.

Mr. Perrine had already proposed that we should invite a few prominent English bee-keepers to meet him at the Charing Cross Hotel in London on his return from his 'rounds' in Europe; but foreseeing the difficulties which might arise from shortness of notice of his return, we, with masonic love and respect for our American brethren, undertook to provide a festive 'at-home' on the occasion, where Mr. Perrine should be the honoured guest. 

Mr. Perrine wrote from Paris to say that he would be at the Euston Hotel on a named date, and would meet us a day or two afterwards in London. We wrote to him at the Euston Hotel, reminding him of the arrangement already mentioned, and informing him that our English friends, of whom nearly fifty had been invited, would be prepared to receive him at 'Fairlawn' with due honour and respect; and that is all we know of Mr. Perrine, for he left our shores without acknowledgment or farewell.  

We are, however, assured that he did not visit Egypt or Cyprus Island, and that his 'variety' of queens was obtained from Sartori, of Milan.        
—Ed. B. B. J.

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Consider this post an introduction to an interesting man, and check back for Perrine's next astonishing adventure.    

Queens all came from Sartori?  I had to look it up.  

A 1905 American Bee Keeper filled me in and Google even had BienenVater issue so we can see the illustrations.  Boy, I love the internet!

LUIGI SARTORI

Prehaps no other bee-keeper has distinguished himself in Italy to the extent that Luigi Sartori has. His name is know not alone in Italy but also in parts of Asia and Africa. He was born in Primicro, Tirol, a province of Austria on the 24th of April, 1834, studied German apicultural literature and adopted the movable comb at an early date. 

In 1856 he had hundreds of movable comb-hives in his yards. The Bienen-Vater of Dec. 1905 an Austrian bee-periodical has not only a fine portrait of Prof. Sartori but also a picture of his apiary as it appeared in 1856. 

In 1862 he commenced to write for the press and in 1880 in connection with A. von Rauschenfels he wrote an extensive book on bee-culture which has been highly commented on and which brought him many honors. The book is said to be the best and most extensive bee-book written in the Italian language. 

In 1869 the professor received a call to go to Milan where he established large apiaries from which he sent thousands of Italian queens and swarms of bees to nearly all parts of the world.   He constructed a hive which has become very popular in Italy. 

Many distinguished men, men of no ordinary standing came to him for instructions in apicultural matters.  In 1880 the Russian minister, Boutouchin, engaged him to establish a number of modern apiaries in different parts of Russia. He also went to Egypt for similar purposes. The King of Italy, as well as Emperor of Austria, conferred great honors upon Sartori for his meritorious work, the advancement of apiculture. 

— Condensed from BienenVater.

(It is now January 24, 2017in NE Connecticut.  My one hive is still alive,  actively flying on warm days and using some of the dry sugar feed.  Fingers crossed for February.  Planning oxalic vapor treatment soon.  Have 3 packages arriving first shipment this spring.)