OTHER ANIMALS 649 



we consider a new industry we frequently learn only of the bright 

 side of the work, and consequently we should make as thorough a 

 study as possible of the trials and discouragements as well as the 

 pleasures and successes. 



Where financial profit is derived, bee keeping requires careful 

 and persistent work. Few lines of outdoor work require more study 

 to insure success. In years when the available nectar is limited sur- 

 plus honey is secured only by judicious management, and oftentimes 

 it is somewhat difficult for the bee keeper to so manage that his entire 

 apiary may be preserved. Above all it should be emphasized that 

 the only way to make bee keeping a profitable business is to produce 

 as largely as possible a first class article. While the bee keeper can- 

 not control what the bees bring to the hive to any great extent, 

 by proper manipulations he can cause them to produce fancy combed 

 honey, or if extracted honey is produced, he can prepare it for the 

 fancy trade. 



Location of Apiary. In choosing the location in which to keep 

 bees on an extensive scale, it is essential that the resources of the 

 country be known. It will not be found advantageous to keep bees 

 in localities where plants do not yield nectar in large quantities. 

 The location of the hives is a matter of considerable importance ; as 

 a rule it is better that they be so placed that they will not face the 

 prevailing wind. In the northern states a southern slope is desir- 

 able. It is also advisable that hives be so placed that the early morn- 

 ing sun will shine directly on them so that the bees become active 

 early in the day, and thus gain an advantage by getting the first 

 supply of nectar. They should also be so placed that the bees will 

 not prove a nuisance to passers-by or disturb live stock. It is quite 

 essential that the grass be kept closely cut and be kept free from 

 weeds, especially about the entrance to the hives. 



Size of Apiary. As a rule it is not considered best to keep more 

 than one hundred colonies in one apiary. Large apiaries should be 

 at least three miles apart. It is difficult to learn how many colonies 

 any given locality will sustain without actual trial. However, the 

 judgment of an experienced person would be a fairly safe guide, 

 after the study of the honey producing plants had been made. 



Generally it is best to have each hive on a separate stand. The 

 entrance should be lower than any other part of the hive. The 

 stands may be made of wood, brick, tile or concrete, or for that mat- 

 ter, of any other convenient material that will answer the purpose. 

 It is not necessary to raise the hive more than a few inches from the 

 ground. 



Habits of Bees. The successful manipulation of bees depends 

 entirely on a knowledge of their habits. The amateur bee keeper 

 therefore should familiarize himself with the habits of bees as this 

 knowledge will greatly add to the pleasure of bee keeping as well as 

 to increase the profits. A colony of bees normally consists of one 

 queen, the mother of the colony, and thousands of sexually unde- 

 veloped animals called workers that normally build the comb, gather 

 the storage, keep the hive clean, and in fact do all the work. During 



