OR, MANUAI, OF THE APIARY. 21 



the immense value which comes from bees. Truly, the bee- 

 keeper may feel proud of the grand part which his bees per- 

 form in the economy of that part of nature which most con- 

 cerns man and most g-enerously ministers to man's wants. 



WHAT SUCCESSFUL, BEE-KEEPING REQUIRES. 



MENTAL EFFORT. 



No one should commence this business who is not willing^ 

 to read, think, and study. To be sure, the ig-norant and un- 

 thinking may stumble on success for a time, but sooner or 

 later failure will set her seal upon their efforts. Those of our 

 apiarists who have studied the hardest, observed the closest, 

 and thought the deepest, have even passed the late terrible 

 winter with but slight loss. Those who fail, often fail because 

 of just this lack of mental preparation. 



Of course the novice will ask, " How and what shall I 

 study ?" 



EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. 



Nothing will take the place of real experience. Commence 

 with a few colonies, even one or two is best, and make the 

 bees your companions at every possible opportunity. Note 

 every change, whether of the bees, their development, or work, 

 and then by earnest thought strive to divine the cause. 



LEARN FROM OTHERS. 



Great good will also come from visiting and even working 

 for a time with other bee-keepers. Note their methods, hives, 

 sections, etc. Strive by conversation to gain new and valuable 

 ideas, and gratefully adopt whatever is found, by comparison, 

 to be an improvement upon your own past system and practice. 



AID FROM CONVENTIONS. 



Attend conventions whenever distance and means render 

 this possible. Here you will not only be made better by social 

 intercourse with those whose occupation and study make them 

 sympathetic and congenial, but you will find a real conserva- 

 tory of scientific truths, valuable hints, and improved instru- 

 ments and methods. And the apt attention — rendered possi- 



