The Canadian Horticulturist. 317 



^ The /\piapy ff 



THE BEE FOR THE BEGINNER, AND THE METHOD. 



^. 



BOVE other considerations the beginner in bee-keeping ought to have 

 a bee which is amiable and docile, so as to be easily handled, without 

 danger of much punishment from stings, else there will likely be 

 premature discouragement, and the enthusiasm so necessary to suc- 

 cess, will be nipped in the bud. Another consideration of much 

 importance to the beginner, is to have bees whose queen may be 

 readily distinguished and found among her offspring. To fulfil both 

 essential requisites I know of no bees to surpass, if equal to, the Italians. We 

 have the Carniolans, very amiable, but not so well tested, and the Albinos, less 

 tried among Canadian apiarists ; but the character of the Italian for docility and 

 manageability is well established and well-known. 



I would, therefore, advise the beginner to commence with the pure Italian ; 

 and, as experience and skill increase, try other desirable races, and choose the 

 best for himself, or at any rate that bee which, to his peculiar personality 

 and circumstances, is best for him. It is a fact, and not at all strange, that the 

 very best apiarists, after ample experience in testing and handling, differ widely 

 as to which is, for all purposes, the best bee. This is, of course, owing to the 

 different circumstances ; and the different make up, mental and physical, of the 

 manipulators themselves ; as well as the differences in the bees of the same 

 race. 



As to the best method or methods for beginners, circumstances must, to 

 some extent, determine. Having got the best bees the next thing is the hive to 

 put them in, and the hive which to him (the beginner) will be the easiest to mani- 

 pulate and work to the best purpose (profit). With so many good hives before 

 us, and so many " best" ones, it would be a rather dangerous, as well as pre- 

 sumptuous, business to attempt to name fke very best. I shall not attempt it ; 

 but allow the novice to find out by experience (as I did myself) which is best 

 for Aim. 



I shall, however, describe the hive which I now make for myself, and which 

 suits me better than any of the many hives I have tried. It takes eight Lang- 

 stroth frames crowded closely together for spring brooding and seven for after 

 part of season and winter. The top-bars of frames are about an inch wide and 

 double with bee-space between. The bottoms are both fast and movable to 

 suit taste. There is an inch and a half hole in about the centre of the back end 

 of hive, for ventilation, winter and summer — during the hot weather of the latter, 

 and in the cellar in winter. The hole is of course covered by a button outside 

 and a wire gauge inside ; zinc adjustable entrance. 



