PART I 
Introduction 
BEE-KEEPING AS A BUSINESS. 
When our attention is called to some new line of business, usually our 
first thoughts are, “How much money can I make out of it?” or, “How 
many dollars can be made annually clear of all expenses from a given 
amount of capital invested?” ‘While I will admit that these are questions 
of much importance—questions worthy of due consideration—there is still 
one question which is of paramount importance above all others, which, I 
am sorry to say, we seldom think of. That is, “Am I naturally qualified 
for that line of business? If so, then I have the principal requirement 
to success; if not, then no amount of study or hard labor can fully take 
the place of my inability to fulfill its requirements.” Oh how many of us 
spend our whole lives like water seeking its level, and never find the 
business that God fitted us best to follow! My young friend, if you have 
any thoughts of taking up bee-keeping as a business, then think this 
subject over carefully before you invest much money. My advice would 
be to work one summer, at least, for some successful honey-producer— 
one who would take pains to teach you all he could in regard to rearing 
queens, forming nuclei, increasing colonies, wintering, and producing 
honey—yes, and a thousand and one little things which only experience 
can teach. In this way you could be earning your board and fair wages 
while learning your business. 
In regard to the amount of money that can be made from bee-keep- 
ing, it is like all other rural pursuits—it depends to a great extent on the 
season. It is no get-rich-quick business; still, if rightly followed, it will 
give as good returns one year with another as any business of a rural 
nature, considering the amount of capital invested and labor required. 
About five dollars per colony, spring count, clear of all expenses, is a 
moderate estimate of the profit from the business—that is, if run wholly 
for the production of honey without any special care to see what might 
be accomplished; but if run by an expert on high-grade methods, then 
15 or 20 dollars per colony can frequently be made. 
Here is where the specialist has a great advantage over the man who 
divides his capital and time into two or more channels. These men soon 
find that they have twice or three times the trouble to contend with, and 
only a third or a half the capital to use in making a success of any one 
of the several lines they have taken up; but the lack of necessary capital 
is only a small factor, for that can be got at the bank. But the necessary 
intellect, business capacity, and experience can not be borrowed, and 
