WINTER NUMBER 109 
this past season; and one of them, a ten-frame hive, made a 
little over 100 pounds. 
Bees, if permitted to swarm naturally, will increase about 
double each year, although some will swarm more than that, so 
when a beginner starts out with one or two colonies, it is not 
many years before he has quite a large sized apiary. The cost 
of operation, with a few colonies, is very little, and the time 
required for their care is of no real importance. 
It is advisable that those who anticipate going into the business 
of keeping bees should start out with not more than one or two 
colonies, learning all they can about it while their colonies are 
increasing. In order to secure the best information on the sub- 
ject, it is advisable to subscribe to some one of the bee journals 
published in this country and to secure some text book, such as 
“A. B.C. and X. Y. Z. of Bee Culture’. Bulletins on beekeeping 
can also be obtained free of charge from the Department of Agri- 
culture, Washington, D. C. Failures have been made by some who 
started in on too large a scale, not having the needed experience 
required in handling large numbers of hives. The subject is one 
that should be thoroly studied, and one finds that the deeper he 
gets into it the more interesting it becomes. As stated before, 
the first question is that of selecting good stock; then it is 
necessary that the bees should be properly housed in regulation 
hives, using comb foundation for the purpose of keeping the 
honey comb straight. Regardless of the opinion expressed by 
some, the old fashioned hive, or “gum”, should never be con- 
sidered, as it has been conclusively proven unprofitable. The en- 
trances to the hives should be so adjusted as to assist the bees 
in protecting themselves from their enemies, and care should be 
taken to so place the hives that they will have the proper amount 
of shade and ventilation. 
The up-to-date beekeeper is not only an operator of his apiary, 
but a co-operator with his bees, and it seems that the bees soon 
become educated by the partnership as well as the beekeeper. By 
this co-operation and co-education of bees and beekeeper, to- 
gether with an increased interest in the business and with sen- 
sible up to date handling, the result will be a development of 
honey production now scarcely dreamed of. 
STRATEGUS WANTED—Am making a special study of this genus, 
of the Scarabeidae, and should be very glad to receive Florida 
Specimens, especially of the rarer specie. Will exchange or pay 
cash. Address W. Knaus, McPherson, Kansas. 
