LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
Division Or ENTOMOLOGY, 
Washington, D. C., July 25, 1897. 
Sr: Frequent inquiries from correspondents of the Department of Agriculture 
for information on matters pertaining to the culture of bees, and particularly as to 
the conditions under which one may reasonably expect to meet with success in this 
pursuit, have led to the preparation of this bulletin, Though it has been designed 
by the author primarily to answer a few of the specific questions which are most 
likely to present themselves to the mind of the inquirer wholly unfamiliar with the 
subject, the aim has heen also to introduce in the treatment of the various topics 
information which it is hoped will lead many of longer experience into more success- 
ful methods than they have yet practiced. 
Respectfully, 
L. O. Howarp, 
Entomologist. 
Hon. JAMES WILSON, 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
CONTENTS. 
Page 
Locations suited to the keeping of bees..---..--.---------.------------------ 3 
The returns to be expected from an apiary.....-..----.-------+-+-------------- 4 
Anyone who desires to do so can learn to manipulate bees.....--..----------- 6 
low: to avoid Suines Sees cei = ae ear = ala ele ee ee i 
What hive to adopt -...- pe en nee eS COS ern ep moe eae cose S oohScc 9 
Management in swarming......----------------------- 22-222 eee eee reese ila 
Prevention Of Swarming 222sos-—- 2s --- == io stsciep ee te eee es ae eee 12 
Dequecening.... 2.055 2282. Vi ce ce Sets wamelw oe teerenes satis es ge ee 13 
ReEQuUeENIN Da. -acs see tee eee ae ere Sonos. chedheeta fect sec sea —618 
Space near entrances ..-....-----.-- NE eRe Cae ROBE EY Coen ose cc 14 
Selection im breediiig 2-2 252-2. 2ekse'- cacecinw nee ee = ee ee 14 
Special crops for honey alone not profitable .......---.-----------------+---- 15 
Economie plants and trees for cultivation for honey and pollen ..-....---. 16 
How to obtain surplus honey and wax...-...----.--------------------------- 18 
Extracted honey: oc2s oo + ccna eee one iee = ~ oe eee le ei 18 
Comb‘honey «222.2% 2... o-¢.cee on eee eee es eee ree eee ee 20 
Grading and shipping comb honey .-.-.--.-.----------. ------ ---.------ 22 
Production of wax:.- 22-26 52-e2ecce-e = eee cee ee. saree eer eee 22 
The wintering of bees. ....2 25-2 c= oe << +e eee = lel eee eee 23 
General considerations =-222-e =22 6 oa. saeieeio ie wi Se eee 25 
Indoor wintering’. <<. ..2- ¢222 eee ee - eee ae ee ee 25 
Outdoor wintering -.2222 = oe ee ee eee eae eee eel 26 
The risk of loss through disease and enemies ..--...------------- wss:Siate sinclar 29 
2 
