§56 ADVICE TO BEGINNERS. 



and if this, or any otlier operation must be performed whett 

 forage is scarce, tlie greatest precautions should be used to 

 prevent robbing. 



The essence of all profitable bee-keeping is contained in 

 Oettl's Golden Rule: keep your colonies strong. If you 

 cannot succeed in doing this, the more money you invest 

 in bees, the heavier will be your losses; while, if your colo- 

 nies arc strong you will show that you are a bee-master, as 

 well as a bee-keeper, and may safely calculate on generous 

 returns from your industrious subjects. 



