10 HOW TO KEEP BEES 



are so full of insidious allusions to the enchantments 

 of the occupation, that whoever reads one of these 

 volumes finds life arid without bees. 



Then the catalogue of bee-keepers' supplies has 

 its own attractions. Never were such breathlessly 

 interesting pamphlets written; and I would add 

 that, on the whole, they are the most honest and 

 reliable of all advertising catalogues. They almost 

 invariably give good and sensible advice to beginners, 

 suggesting proper outfits at moderate prices. To 

 the would-be bee-keeper these catalogues are so 

 delightful that, if the purse is long enough, he feels 

 inclined to order a specimen of everything listed. 

 However, this is not the best way to do. A moderate 

 number of things can be ordered at first, and other 

 things may be ordered later as the growing sense of 

 their need develops. 



If one is minded to go into bee-keeping as a 

 regular business, the best way to begin is to spend a 

 year with a successful bee-keeper, working for him 

 and with him and paying for the tuition, whatever 

 may be charged. Thus one may gain his knowledge 

 of the business and get his practical training under 

 the guidance of experience. The very worst way 

 to begin, and one that is sure to result in disaster, is 

 to buy a large number of colonies at first. This is 

 a too expensive way of learning the extent of one's 

 own ignorance and limitations as a bee-keeper. 



As we have begun keeping bees three times in the 

 course of our lives, we feel more or less competent to 

 give advice about this special phase of bee-keeping. 



