34 BEEKEEPING IN THE SOUTH 



convince you of the value of using comb foundation, even 

 though it costs more at first. 



The location of the bee yard may be determined after a study 

 of the bulletins as to why partly shaded places, facing away from 

 the prevailing winds and toward the sunlight, are best. The 

 style of covers, hive stands, and other minor details are more a 

 matter of individual choice. In every move you make toward 

 becoming a beekeeper, find out first why you do everything, and 

 then you will make fewer mistakes. When bees refuse to do 

 what we think they should do under given circumstances, usually 

 it is the beekeeper who is at fault, be he beginner or expert. 



A Means of Study. 



Many of the colleges of agriculture in the several states are 

 annually giving short courses in bee culture. The federal and 

 state departments of agriculture have several men in the field 

 teaching beekeeping. Find out about these and take advantage 

 of them. They are usually men who know what they are talking 

 about, and their guidance will be valuable to you as a beginner. 



If study, communion with good beekeepers, careful examina- 

 tion of bee behavior and applied beekeeping do not interest you, 

 don't start beekeeping under any circumstances. You are 

 destined to fail without them. The beekeeper who doesn't 

 care, and who will not learn is already a curse of beekeeping, 

 keeping down honey prices, spreading bee diseases by careless- 

 ness and ignorance. It seldom pays to do anything unless 

 you will do it well. If you do not intend to be a good beekeeper, 

 do not venture into the field at all. That is only justice toward 

 those you may hurt unintentionally, not to speak of your own 

 financial loss and the eventual loss of your own self-esteem. 



