2 A Modem Bee-Farm 



By far the better plan will be to 



Serve in some Established Apiary 



for a couple of years, if possible. By so doing, you save 

 time and money; your plans must -be more definitely formed, 

 and the solid experience thus gained will be far more certain 

 to put you on the right road to successful management than 

 half-a-dozen years spent in working up a small apiar-y. You 

 start at once with all modern material ; and buying in large 

 quantities, a considerable reduction will be gained ; whereas, 

 many of the appliances collected from time to time, under the 

 former condition of preparation, have become valueless by the 

 time the apiarist enters more largely into the business, leaving 

 out of the question that much of his material may consist of 

 odd patterns, and cannot be used to the best advantage. 



The man who has served his time in a large apiary will 

 next have to consider how he is 



To obtain the necessary Materials. 



In the first place, there is more risk in buying his bees than 

 he is likely to incur at any future period of his experience. 

 Many buy bees of irresponsible advertisers, and though the 

 latter may consider there is nothing wrong with them, the 

 purchase often turns out simply worthless. 



If it can be so arranged, the student should by all means 

 buy his stock from the apiary where he served his apprentice- 

 ship. He ought to know something about the condition of 

 the same, and may rely upon the proprietor treating him 

 honorably. Failing this, the owner will probably know where 

 and how he can secure stock that can be relied upon. 



Before commencing his own work, the apiarist will do well 

 to visit all the apiaries in the country to which he can gain 

 access, thus gleaning any valuable ideas that may be thrown 

 out, while at the same time consolidating his own knowledge. 



Under ordinary conditions there is a certain risk about 

 bee-keeping ; but the reader, by referring to the chapters 



