BEES. ie 
race as the introduced queen. This is due to the fact that during the 
honey season worker bees die rapidly, and after requeening they are 
replaced by the offspring of the new queen. 
A most important consideration in purchasing colonies of bees is 
to see to it that they are free from disease. In many States and 
counties there are inspectors of apiaries who can be consulted on this 
point, but if this is not possi- 
ble even a novice can tell 
whether or not there is any- 
thing wrong with the brood, 
and it is always safest to 
refuse hives containing dead 
brood. 
The best time of the year 
to begin beekeeping is in the 
spring, for during the first few 
months of ownership the bee 
keeper can study the subject 
and learn what to do, so that 
he is not so likely to make a 
mistake which will end in loss 
of bees. It is usually best to 
buy good strong colonies with 
plenty of brood for that sea- 
son of the year, but if this 
is not practicable, then smaller colonies, or nuclei, may be purchased 
and built up durmg the summer season. Of course, no surplus 
honey can be expected if all the honey gathered goes into the making 
of additional bees. It is desirable to get as little drone comb as pos- 
sible and a good supply of honey in the colonies purchased. 
The question as to what race and strain of bees is to be kept is 
important. If poor stock 
has been purchased locally, 
the bee keepershould send to 
some reliable queen breeder 
for good queens as a foun- 
dation for his apiary. 
Queens may be purchased 
Fia. 8.—Spring bee escape. for $1 each for “untested” 
to several dollars each for ‘“selected”’ breeding queens. Usually 
it will not pay beginners to buy “selected” breeding queens, for 
they are not yet prepared to make the best use of such stock. 
“Untested” or “tested”? queens are usually as good a quality as are 
profitable for a year or so, and there is also less danger in mailing 
“untested”? (young) queens. 
447 
Fic. 7.—Bee escape for removing bees from supers. 
