PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE W T FALCONER MANFG CO 



VOL. II. 



Jf\NUf\RY, 1892. 



NO. I. 



Instructions to Amateur Bee- 

 Keepers, 



BY \V. S. VANDRUFF 



With this, the first number of the 

 new year, 1 begin a series of articles 

 for the readers of the American Bee- 

 Keeper, but more particularly for 

 the amateur bee-keeper. These art- 

 icles will more than likely continue 

 throughout the year. I may intro- 

 duce some advanced ideas, and give 

 somewhat different advice and in- 

 structions than is usually done, but 

 nevertheless I shall aim to treat all 

 fairly and give due respect to other's 

 opinions ; yet I must treat the subject 

 in the light of my own experience, and 

 mould and shape my instructions in 

 accordance with my knowledge as 

 gained from years of actual work in 

 the apiary, testing and comparing 

 many different theories and practices. 



I may not be considered orthodox 

 on some points that may be raised, 

 nevertheless 1 shall aim to get at the 

 truth and facts, orthodox or no ortho- 

 dox. 1 know of some things that were 

 considered well settled when I began 

 bee keeping that are now very much 

 unsettled. So you will understand 

 that I write from my own conclusions 

 and not from what others have said 



or borrowed from tradition, except so 

 far as I believe from experience to be 

 the facts of the case. 



Heretofore great stress has been 

 laid on the hive question. It seems 

 that the great aim has been to con- 

 struct a hive that would winter our 

 bees safely — one that would prevent 

 our winter losses— one that would pre- 

 vent our spring dwindling. Just as 

 if the hive had all to do with the win- 

 ter problem. I have experimented 

 much in this line and have met with 

 losses equally as much with one hive 

 as another, and have learned that the 

 hive has not been made that will win- 

 ter bees in all cases. I have also 

 learned that some bees will winter in 

 any kind of a hive while others will 

 die or dwindle in the best hive made. 



Now I will say to the beginner: the 

 first thing you do get a good book or 

 two on bee-culture, take one or more 

 bee journals and read up on the sub- 

 ject from now until spring, and post 

 yourself on the best ways of man age- 

 ing bees. 



During the winter months is a good 

 time to prepare and get ready your 

 hives. Anticipate your wants, order 

 your supplies early, and be ready 

 when spring comes to apply your 



