12 A Modern Bee-Farm 



the hive deteriorates to such an extent that the whole season 

 , is unprofitable. By purchasing in April there are plenty of 

 young bees to fall- back upon ; you get only good stocks which 

 have stood the ordeal of winter ; there is no further risk, and 

 the whole season is before you. If obtained at a later date, 

 the- first year is lost, and the excitement caused by later pack- 

 ing is not simply injurious, but absolutely riiinous. These 

 statements are based upon hard facts and experience, and the 

 reader will do well to be guided thereby. 



So far we have considered one branch of bee-keeping- only,, 

 but another thing is the 



Sale of Bees and Queens. 



This is more profitable, more certain, and the returns quicker 

 than when producing honey ; but, at the same time, special 

 qualifications are necessary to enable a man to conduct 

 a queen-rearing business successfully, and unless he finds 

 himself peculiarly adapted to the undertaking, he had better 

 confine himself to honey, as continued application, constant 

 care and thought, are required in a much higher degree, tO' 

 enable one to carry on this interesting work. It should also 

 be understood that where bees and queens are raised for sale, 

 the apiarist will have to be satisfied with but a limited 

 quantity of honey ; in fact, if his demand is large, in some 

 seasons instead of a surplus, a considerable amount of sugar 

 will be required for winter store, while his stock is seriously 

 handicapped during prolonged spells of bad weather, when 

 many virgin queens are on hand. It will take some years to 

 gain a connection, and in the meantime your advertisements 

 must be frequent, but lirriited in extent and cost. 



Do not attempt much in the way of selHng bees and 

 queens until you have a substantial stock of at least one 

 hundred hives to draw upon, or you will never obtain much 

 benefit from them if you are depending largely upon this 

 source of income. 



