404 INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETATION 



raised above the ground so that the bottom will not rot. It is 

 usually not necessary to raise the hive more than a few inches. 

 Where ants are a nuisance special hive stands are sometimes 

 necessary. 



Other Apparatus. In addition to the hives in which the bees 

 are kept some other apparatus is necessary. A good smoker, con- 

 sisting of a tin or copper receptacle to hold burning rotten wood or 

 other material, with a bellows attached, is indispensable. A veil of 

 black material, preferably with a silk tulle front, should be used. 

 Wirecloth veils are also excellent. Even if a veil is not always used, 

 it is desirable to have one at hand in case the bees become cross. 

 Cloth or leather gloves are sometimes used to protect the hands, but 

 they hinder most manipulations. Some sort of tool to pry hive 

 covers loose and frames apart is desirable. A screw-driver will an- 

 swer, but any of the tools made especially for that purpose is perhaps 

 better. Division boards, drone traps, bee escapes, feeders, founda- 

 tion fasteners, wax extractors, bee brushes, queen-rearing outfits, 

 and apparatus for producing comb, or extracted honey will be found 

 described in catalogues of supplies; a full discussion of these imple- 

 ments would require too much space in this bulletin. 



Equipment in Bees. As stated previously, it is desirable to 

 begin bee keeping with a small number of colonies. In purchasing 

 these, it is usually best to obtain them near at home rather than to 

 send to a distance, for there is considerable liability of loss in ship- 

 ment. Whenever possible, it will be better to get bees already domi- 

 ciled in the particular hive chosen by the bee keeper as the best, but 

 if this is not practicable then bees in any hives or in box hives may 

 be purchased and transferred. 



A most important consideration in purchasing colonies of bees 

 is to see to it that they are free from disease. In many States and 

 counties there are inspectors of apiaries who can be consulted on this 

 point, but if this is not possible even a novice can tell whether or not 

 there is anything wrong with the brood, and it is always safest to 

 refuse hives containing dead brood. 



The best time of the year to begin bee keeping is in the spring, 

 for during the first few months of ownership the bee keeper can 

 study the subject and learn what to do, so that he is not so likely to 

 make a mistake which will end in loss of bees. It is usually best to 

 buy good strong colonies with plenty of brood for that season of the 

 year, but if this is not practicable, then smaller colonies, or nuclei, 

 may be purchased and built up during the season. Of course, no sur- 

 plus honey can be expected if all the honey gathered goes into the 

 making of the additional bees. It is desirable to get as little drone 

 comb as possible and a good supply of honey in the colonies pur- 

 chased. 



The question as to what race and strain of bees is to be kept 

 is important. If poor stock has been purchased locally, the bee 

 keeper should send to some reliable queen breeder for good queens 

 as a foundation for his apiary. Queens may be purchased for $1 

 each for "untested" to several dollars each for "selected" breeding 



