224 Beekeeping 



that a swarm may be hived in it, after which it is removed 

 to the desired location. 



Requirements in purchased colonies. 



If there is opportunity to examine the colonies before 

 purchasing them, there are several important things which 

 should be insisted upon : (1) get as little drone comb or 

 crooked or defective comb as possible ; (2) see that the 

 colony is free from disease (p. 397) ; (3) the colony should 

 be provided with plenty of honey and (4) the amount cf 

 brood should be adequate for the time of year. It is perhaps 

 asking too much of the beginner to expect him to determine 

 whether disease is present in colonies purchased. In many 

 states and counties there are official apiary inspectors whose 

 duty it is to give advice on the subject of disease and these 

 men may be asked to assist in this work. At any rate, 

 even the novice can tell whether there is any dead or dis- 

 colored brood and it is at least safe not to accept colonies 

 in which any discolored brood is found, normal brood being 

 pearly white. Formerly the sale of bees was believed to 

 bring ill-luck and the customary way to acquire colonies 

 was to go at night to the apiary and after the removal of 

 the colony, to leave coins to the value of the bees on an 

 adjacent hive. The possibility of an insufficient pile of 

 coins or perhaps none at all is probably a factor in causing 

 modern beekeepers to prefer to sell bees according to pres- 

 ent-day methods. The beginner can scarcely be advised 

 to adopt the ancient manner, for the custom might be found 

 faulty when explained to a magistrate. 



How to learn beekeeping. 



To acquire skill in manipulating bees and to learn the 

 proper management of the apiary so as to obtain maximum 

 results, the best method is to spend some time in the apiary 

 of an experienced beekeeper. If one contemplates making 

 beekeeping an important part of the occupation, this is 

 especially to be desired. It is usually possible to arrange 



