1883.] BEE-KEEPING. 151 



your parents' consent, invest in a good stock of bees, even if it 

 takes your last dollar. Don't borrow the money, but earn it, 

 before making the investment. As a good beginning is absolutely 

 necessary for success, I will make these suggestions. 



In selecting a place for an apiary, if there are not too many 

 objections, locate it where the issmng of swarms can be both seen 

 and heard from the house, and where thieves will be shy in ap- 

 proaching. It is important to have it protected from the winds, 

 by a building or tight board fence. If no such place can be ob- 

 tained, then posts set in the ground, with boards nailed on, will 

 answer the purpose. The stands for the hives should be six inches 

 or more from the ground, and have a short piece of board, making 

 an inclined plane from the alighting board of the hive to the 

 ground ; the reason for doing this is, that during the early spring 

 and late fall harvests of honey, the bees coming in heavily loaded 

 on 'chilly days, and more especially quite late in the afternoon, in 

 some degree relax their efforts as they near their hive. The result 

 is, instead of alighting on the bottom board of their hive, they 

 just fail in this, and but for the board, would pass directly under 

 to the ground, become chilled and unable to take wing again. In 

 this way many of the most active bees are lost. Now, everything 

 being ready, it is desirable to purchase a stock of bees under the 

 most favorable circumstances. I would advise by all means to 

 select in the spring, for then the risks of wintering are passed, the 

 bees have commenced active operations, gathering pollen and 

 bringing in water for their brood, cleaning and preparing the 

 combs for the queen to deposits her eggs, carrying ^ut the filth 

 and dirt that has accumulated during the winter, and performing 

 all the required duties for building themselves up into a strong, 

 healthy colony. 



During these operations we are afforded the best opportunity 

 for making oar selection. Standing in front of the hives it will 

 be observed that some colonies have at work nearly double the 

 forces of others. It is from these, which are so strong and active, 

 we wish to make our choice. In giving them a more thorough 

 examination, many things are to be considered. 



First. At this season of the year, the last of April or fore part 

 of May, the bees should occupy at least five spaces between the 

 combs, but the more spaces filled the better. 



Second. The colony should not be over two years old; a second 



