4 SOUTHERN BEE-CULTURE 



I had to brace it with two sticks to keep it from tumbling over. I made 

 some crude movable- frame hives (for I had not yet seen a patent movable- 

 frame hive). With this outfit I began bee-keeping anew, studying them by 

 handling them on their combs. My bee business began to grow ; and after 

 keeping bees thus for several years I heard of a bee-keeper who had bought 

 some patent factory-made hives. I paid him a visit at once, and t saw that 

 the hives were just what I needed, so I bought a lot of them. Next season I 

 transferred my bees into them. From the old crude hives I transfered bees ; 

 and what I had on hand extra, furnished me fuel during the summer and 

 following winter. 



From thfe old decayed box hive my bee business has spread until bee- 

 keeping is my business or sole occupation. Besides establishing five apiaries 

 of my own around in this section (as many bees as I can give proper atten- 

 tion to), I have furnished foundation stock from which many apiaries have 

 been established in various sections of the South from the old mother hives. 



The ups and downs I had during this time, I have not space to describe in 

 this small volume. 



If there is such a thing as a man being called to do certain work, I have 

 been called to the field of bee culture, for I feel out of my calling at any 

 thing else. Although I have mastered no little at eight other occupations, 

 yet I feel more as if I am at my allotted work when I am among my bees 

 than I do at any other of my trades. 



I have applied myself to bee-keeping in almost every conceivable man- 

 ner, keeping colonies of bees in glass hives in my bedroom and on my ver- 

 anda, keeping close and constant watch on them by day and by night. I 

 have operated bees successfully and extensively for extracted chunk and 

 comb honey in sections ; I have traveled to and fro across the South, investi- 

 gating bee-keeping and the honey-plants in many sections; and if I did not 

 know that there is a great future for the bee and honey industry here I 

 would not attempt to write this book. While methods' of apiary work and 

 bee-keeping differ in sections and locations, I hope to give you at least some 

 practical thoughts along bee-keeping in your own location. 



