CHAPTER XI 



THE FIRST STEPS IN BEEKEEPING 



Many persons begin beekeeping accidentally. The in- 

 terest of many of the present beekeepers in the honeybee 

 has first been aroused by a swarm passing over the premises 

 or perhaps lighting on a tree near by. The desire not to allow 

 anything to go to waste or not to allow a valuable article to 

 elude him, coupled perhaps with a dare-devil impulse to 

 risk a combat, has induced many a man or woman to attempt 

 to hive the stray swarm. Or perhaps there is a temptation 

 to exhibit one's prowess before the other members of the 

 family. Having hived the swarm in a box or barrel with 

 no loss of life or limb • — • and bees are never easier to handle 

 than when swarming — it is by easy steps that one goes on 

 until an attack of what is commonly known as " bee-fever" 

 has developed, from which recovery seems hopeless. If a 

 swarm is caught and put into a box, the owner should obtain 

 a modern hive as soon as practical and lodge his new posses- 

 sion in a home where they may be manipulated. The neces- 

 sary equipment is discussed in Chapter II. 



Purchase of colonies. 



There are those, however, who decide to begin beekeeping 

 without this accidental impulse. The desirability of begin- 

 ning on a small scale may be again emphasized here. Colonies 

 should if possible always be purchased near at hand to pre- 

 vent the loss which may follow, especially if colonies must 

 be transported by inexperienced persons. The further 

 advantage in this procedure is that the former owner may 

 usually be induced to assist in the moving and he will also 



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