472 journal, of Agriculture, \ ictoria. [lo Aug., 1912. 



BEE-KEEPING IN VICTORIA. 



{Coutinued from fagc -/-I5-) 



F. R. Beulinc, Bee Expert. 



VI. — Water for Bees. 



DRINKING TROUGHS FOR BEES. 

 Illustrition of article appe.iriiig in July issue ot Jdiirnal. page 413. 



VII. — How TO Make a Start. 



How to make a .start in beekeeping will depend upon whether the 

 beginner is taking up bee-cul'aire as a business, or as a side issue of 

 some other occupation. If it is intended tO' adopt it as the only calling, 

 then the best way is to go as a working pupil with an up-to-date apiari.st 

 for a season or two. Even if a premium has to be paid for the fir.^t 

 year, it will be less costly than the experience gained by failure. After 

 the first season, a pupil will have learned enough tO' entitle him to some 

 pay for the second year, or he ma\- be competent enough to run a small 

 apiary on shares with the owner. By the end of the second year, sufficient 

 confidence and experience will have been acquired to make an independent 

 start. 



When means ot circumstances do' not permit of taking a position as 

 pupil in an established apiary, or when beekeeping is to be only a side 

 issue, then it is best to start in quite a small way. Begin with two or 

 three hives, and as experience is gained by practice, and knowledge by 

 reading, gradually increase the number of colonies. A book of reference, 

 such as A. I. Root's A. B. C . of Bee-culture, will greatly assist in ma.ster- 

 ing the principles of beekeeping, and will supply solutions to nearly all 

 the problems which usually present themseh'es to the novice. Any 

 opportunity tO' visit an apiary, or to personally consult an apiarist of somie 

 standing, should be made good use of whenever it occurs. 



