GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



money, I wanted work for the winter. A 

 friend obtained work for me at 85 cents a 

 day in a factory making bee-supplies and 

 other goods. After paying three dollars a 

 week for my board there was not very much 

 left for other expenses; but I took the job, 

 beginning about Dec. 1. In my work I saw 

 better ways of 'doing things — methods by 

 means of which time could be saved and 

 sometimes better work done. The result was 

 that by spring I secured $1.50 per day, and 

 worked myself up to a salary of $1500 a 

 year. 



To repeat, it is a waste to sjDend more 

 time and energy in any operation than 

 necessary. It is not only wasteful at the 

 time, but tends to bad and slipshod habits 

 in work. If one requires the exercise he 

 had better take it with a set of dumbbells 

 or Indian clubs. From observation I should 

 say few bear this in mind when doing their 

 work. 



If we survey the horizon of our experi- 

 ence and make an analysis of our contact 

 with our fellow-man, or even examine our- 

 selves, are we not forced to the conclusion 

 that people are a good deal better at telling 

 how not to do things than they are at telling 

 how to do them? True, with criticism the 

 question is not one of the spirit in which it is 

 offered, but is it just and fair — that is, when 

 the subject of criticism is considered? On 

 the other hand, when the critic is considered 

 the question is, " In what spirit do I criti- 

 cise?" In taking up the subject for the 

 beginner, "How Not to Do and How to Do," 

 I want to point out, in no spirit of fault- 

 finding, the wrong way to do things, as a 

 means to educate and fix wrong methods 

 upon the attention, and then, as far as lies 

 in my power, to give a better method. 



HOW NOT TO DO. 



There are many things which lead up to 

 making one decide to engage in beekeeping. 

 Sometimes the imagination lias run riot 

 with reason ; perhaps a sanguine tempera- 

 ment has before the mind's eye a splendid 

 honey season to the exclusion of any of the 

 poor seasons where the profits are nothing, 

 and where the gross receipts are looked 

 upon as net profits. One thing is sure — 

 that no one has any right, if he desires to 

 act in wisdom, in thinking that he can make 

 a living by keeping bees unless he has a 

 practical training in the business. It is 

 true that there are many successful beekeep- 

 ers who have started in a small way and 

 worked up until their success has warranted 

 them in making beekeeping their main occu- 

 pation ; and what lias been done in the past 

 can, no doubt, be done again ; but sucli 

 persons secure their practical knowledge at 



their own expense. Their location is favor- 

 able, and they are thorough and persistent 

 in what they do. That is the foundation of 

 their success. One or more good text-books 

 should be studied, and bee-papers taken. 

 This is within the reach of almost every one. 



In beginning beekeeping few know at 

 what season to begin. One time of the 

 year appears to be as good as another. 

 Time and again I have had people write to 

 me wanting to buy bees at the close of the 

 honey-flow when any profits for the next 

 ten months were entirely out of the ques- 

 tion ; and in all my years of beekeeping I 

 liave never sold them a colony after the 

 honey-flow was over. Because I feel they 

 were unconsciously acting unwisely. 



Many others want to start on tlie cheap 

 scale. Of course, if a success is not to be 

 made of the undertaking, the cheaper one 

 starts the better; but a bad outfit with which 

 to start a business is a severe handicap. 

 Box hives are bought, and these in the hands 

 of a novice are often greatly injured when 



Fig. 1.— Weighing a colony Don't guess at it. 



transferring. I have known queenless colo- 

 nies to be sold to a beginner, and afterward 

 these have died without any cause apparent 

 to the possessor. Then improper hives are 

 often used with improper bee-spacing. 

 However, the first step toward having bees 

 is either to steal them, have them come to 



