INTRODUCTORY 3 



honey, the extent of which will vary considerably ac- 

 cording to the season and the skill of the beekeeper. 



To be a successful beekeeper requires no extraordinary 

 amount of specialised knowledge. Anyone contemplating 

 embarking in the pursuit should possess a fair amount 

 of nerve, and should be neat, orderly, and methodical 

 in habit. 



To do the right thing at the right time spells success in 

 beekeeping. 



Financially, beekeeping will be found to yield a larger 

 return for capital invested than any other rural industry, 

 and beekeeping is as yet apparently by no means over- 

 done, judging by the amount of honey annually imported 

 from abroad. 



Those who contemplate embarking in this pursuit are 

 strongly recommended to do so on a limited scale only, 

 until sufficient experience has been gained. Having 

 proved their aptitude as beekeepers, the apiary may be 

 increased. On the other hand a start with one stock 

 only is equally to be deprecated, as having no standard 

 of comparison ; and the embryo beemaster will always be 

 either in grave doubt as to the well-being of his stock, 

 or on the other hand he will be unduly optimistic. 



Again, having once overcome his natural fears (a 

 desirable consummation usually speedily attained) the 

 temptation to be always opening the hive and examining 

 the bees is almost irresistible, yet such overmanipulation 

 seriously interferes with the well-being of the colony ; 

 but having two or say three stocks, one of them can be 

 selected for experimental manipulations, the remaining 

 colony or colonies being left severely alone, and only 

 interfered with when absolute necessity compels. 



