ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 21 



T is pleasant to tell of success. Mistakes are mentioned with 

 reluctance; yet they may be of equal value for imparting infor- 

 mation. Mr. J. M. Smith of Wisconsin is a noted horticultu- 

 rist. The crops of berries and cabbages that he raises are 

 something wonderful. His contributions to the press are valuable; 

 but I never read one that contained more information than the one 

 in which he recounted the mistakes of his horticultural life. I be- 

 lieve that space can be profitably used in mentioning a few things 

 that experienced bee-keepers look upon as mistakes in bee-keeping. 

 A man who has decided that he will make bee-keeping his life- 

 business, makes a mistake when he gets a few colonies and attempts 

 to learn the business all by himself. Both time and money will be 

 saved by passing at least one season in the employ of some success- 

 ful bee-keeper. 



If a man must start with a few colonies, and learn the business 

 by himself, let him avoid the mistake of attempting to follow several 

 leaders or systems. Much confusion and annoyance will be saved if 

 he adopts the teachings, methods and appliances of some one suc- 

 cessful bee-keeper. He may make the mistake of not choosing the 

 best system, but better this than a mixture of several systems. 



A beginner is quite likely to fall into the error of increasing his 

 colonies too rapidly. There is probably no mistake so disastrous 

 as this, on account of its frequency and results. To the beginner, 

 this is very tempting ground. If bee-keeping must be learned by 

 experience and reading (without the serving of an apprenticeship) 

 the beginning should be small, and practical knowledge and skill 

 keep pace with the increase of colonies. 



A mistajfe that has been made by many is in looking upon bee- 

 keeping as a sort of royal road to wealth, or, at least, a good living, 



