CHAPTER II 

 APPARATUS 



BEFORE discussing the phenomena observed in the activi- 

 ties of bees, on which the practical manipulations rest, it is 

 desirable that some description be given of the hives and 

 equipment used in beekeeping, since frequent references 

 are made to these things in the chapters dealing with be- 

 havior as well as in those concerning the practical work of 

 the apiary. Since this subject is to be introduced early, 

 it seems best to complete the discussion here, except for 

 certain pieces of apparatus used in special manipulations. 



Relative importance of equipment and skill. 



It is important that the relation of the equipment of the 

 apiary to the needs of the bees be understood. A hive is 

 not only a home for the bees but it is, especially, a tool for 

 the beekeeper and, being only a tool, it is of far less importance 

 in apiary management than the skill and experience of the 

 beekeeper. 



By many beekeepers, especially among beginners, the 

 apparatus of beekeeping is given undue importance and 

 the interest aroused by the work of putting together the 

 carefully manufactured supplies is really quite excusable. 

 In the American literature on beekeeping the description 

 of apparatus plays too prominent a part. Tools alone do 

 not make the mechanic. It is therefore proposed here to 

 give only a brief description of the general equipment of 

 beekeeping, leaving for the chapters on special phases of 

 beekeeping, the description of the apparatus used in these 

 manipulations. For greater detail, the reader is referred 



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