Adds to the Nation's Wealth. 9 



yet all this is but gathered nectar, which would go to waste 

 were it not for the apiarist and his bees. We thus save to 

 the country that which would otherwise be a total loss. 

 Apiculture, then, in adding so immensely to the product- 

 ive capital of the countr}', is worthy as an art, to receive 

 the encouragement and fostering care of the State. And 

 the thought that he is performing substantial service to the 

 State, may well add to the pleasure of the apiarist, as he 

 performs his daily round of labor. When we add to this 

 the vastly greater indirect benefit which comes through 

 the agency of bees in fertilizing .flowers, a benefit which 

 can hardly be computed, we then understand the immense 

 value which comes from bees. Truly the bee-keeper may 

 feel proud of the grand part which his bees perform in' the 

 economy of that part of nature which most concerns man 

 and most generously ministers to man's w^nts. 



WHAT SUCCESSFUL BEE-KEEPING 

 REQUIRES. 



MENTAL EFFORT. 



No one should commence this business who is not will- 

 ing to read, think and study. To be sure the ignorant and 

 unthinking 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 

 iail 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. Com- 

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

 make the bees your companions at every possible oppor- 

 tunity. Note every change, whether of the bees, their 

 -development, or work, and then by earnest thought strive 

 to divine the cause. 



