118 MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



of such an one, but always let your own judgment and com- 

 mon sense sit as umpire, that you make no plans or deci^Qiis 

 that your judgment does not fully sustain. 



TAKE A COLLEGE COURSE. 



It will be most wise to take a course in some College, if 

 this is practicable, where apiculture is thoroughly discussed. 

 Here you will not only get the best training as to your chosen 

 business, as you will study, see and handle, and thus will 

 have the very best aids to decide as to methods, system and 

 apparatus, but will also receive that general culture, which 

 will greatly enhance life's pleasures and usefulness, and which 

 ever proves the best capital in any vocation. 



DECIDE ON A PLAN. 



After such a course as suggested above, it will be easy to 

 debide as to location, hives, style of honey to raise, and gen- 

 eral system of management. But here, as in all the arts, all 

 our work should be preceded by -a well-digested plan of 

 operations. As with the farmer and gardener, only he who 

 works to a plan can hope for the best success. Of course, 

 such plans will vary as we grow in wisdom and experience. 

 A good maxim to govern all plans is, "go slow." A good 

 rule, which will insure the above, "Pay as you go." Make 

 the apiary pay for all improvements in advance. Demand 

 that each year's credits exceed its debits ; and that you may 

 surely accomplish this, keep an accurate account of all your 

 receipts and expenses. This will be a great aid in arranging 

 the plans for each successive year's operations. 



Above all, avoid hobbies, and be slow to adopt sweeping" 

 changes. " Prove all things, and hold fast that which is 

 good." 



HOW TO PROCURE OUR FIRST COLONIES. 



To procure colonies from which to form an apiary, it is 

 always best to get them near at ^hand. We thus avoid the 

 shock of transportation, can see the bees before we purchase, 

 and in case there is any seeming mistake, can easily gain a 

 personal explanation, and secure a speedy adjustment of any 

 real wrong. 



