They must conform to certain regulations, which may be learned on 

 appUcation to the Director of the Horticulture Division, Department 

 of Agriculture, Wellington. 



The Ruakura Apiary is open during working-hours to all persons 

 desiring instruction. 



Profits in Beekeeping. 



It is but reasonable that the prospective bee-farmer should want 

 to know the probable profits attached to the business, and the question 

 is frequently asked. It is necessary to be very cautious in replying, 

 and to guard against conveying a wrong impression, which might easily 

 lead to disappointment and loss. All industries require the combination 

 of three elements — capital, labour, and skill — and, although bee-farming 

 cannot be carried on without the aid of the first two, it depends mainly 

 upon the skill of the apiarist what the profits will be. It would be easy 

 to show some surprising results that have been obtained in New 

 Zealand, but it would be dangerous to quote these as a measure of 

 success or failure in all cases. As an estimate, however, from a well- 

 conducted apiary, in an average good district, the net profits per colony 

 of bees should reach from £j. 5s. to £1 15s. per annum through a number 

 of successive seasons, and this estimate is well within the mark. 



It is a rule in beekeeping that with largely increased operations, 

 and the estabhshment of out-apiaries, the average profit per hive 

 diminishes, though the aggregate profits may be very much larger. 

 This may be accounted for, no doubt, by the inability of the apiarist 

 to give each individual colony so large a share of attention. 



Beekeeping Literature. 



Beekeepers are well catered for in respect of literature. There are 

 a number of excellent standard works. The periodicals devoted to bee- 

 culture are also excellent, so that a beekeeper who falls behind the 

 times with so much good literature within his reach has only himself 

 to blame. Every beginner should not only secure and read up one or 

 more standard works, but he should also subscribe to at least one good 

 periodical. Any of the following may be recommended. They may 

 be obtained through booksellers, or from those firms who cater for 

 beekeepers. 



Standard Handbooks. 



" The ABC and X Y Z of Bee-culture," by Root. 



" Langstroth on the Honey-bee." Revised. 



" Cook's Manual of the Apiary." 



" Fifty Years among the Bees," by Dr. Miller. 



" The Australasian Bee Manual," by Isaac Hopkins. 



" Beekeeping," by E. F. Phillips. 



" Management of Out-apiaries," by G. M. Doolittle. 



" Practical Queen-rearing," by Frank C. Pellett. 



" Beekeeping for Beginners," by F. C. Baines. 



Periodicals. 



New Zealand Beekeepers' Journal. Monthly. 

 Gleanings in Bee-culture. Fortnightly. 

 American Bee Journal. Monthly. 

 British Bee Journal. Weekly. 



Monthly instructional notes on bee-culture are published in the 

 Department's New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, which may be 

 secured on payment of an annual subscription of 4s. 



