ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. IS 



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'^'^^nN EES, and the requisite knowledge for their manag'ement, are 



Dv the two most important factors in making a start in the 

 J business. The latter ought to be secured first; or,at least, 



its acquisition should keep pace with any increase in num- 

 bers of the former. As in any business, so with bee-keeping, it pays 

 well to lay broad and deep the foundations of an education in that 

 line of work. So many men fail, in different kinds of business, be- 

 cause they start in with only a narrow or superficial knowledge of 

 their chosen profession. The time may come when bee culture will 

 be taught at the agricultural colleges, the same as dairying is now 

 taught, but, at present, the nearest approach to a college-course, is 

 that of, working with some experienced, successful bee-keeper. 

 This is the quickest way of learning bee-keeping; and, if the teacher 

 is competent, is a very desirable method. The beginner is not 

 always able to choose wisely in selecting an instructor, hence, it is 

 well to supplement such instruction by a course of reading, and thus 

 be able to make comparisons, and discuss the instructor's methods 

 in the light of those employed by others. In fact, I am inclined to 

 think that a thorough course of reading is the most desirable first 

 step that can be taken by a prospective bee-keeper. One after the 

 other, I would read the leading, standard text books. Having done 

 this, the next step is to subscribe for the best bee journals. At this 

 stage, a season with an expert bee-keeper would be of great value; 

 when the previous reading will enable the apprentice to intelligently 

 use his mind, and see the reason of things, instead of being simply 

 an imitator, following blindly in the footsteps of his preceptor. 

 Probably nine-tenths of the men who now keep bees, never served 

 an apprenticeship. Many have become interested in bees from the 

 capture of a stray swarm. Neighboring bee-keepers would be 



