ADVANCBD BEE-CULTURE. 



87 



Another very convenient tool for many 

 uses in the apiary is a light, thin-bladed 

 screw-driver. This should have a large 

 bright ribbon tied to it, for, brother bee- 

 keepers, you know how such small tools 

 will disappear in the yard. The bright 

 colored ribbon hangs out a signal, "Here 

 I am, grasp me." 



An oil stove is another convenience not 

 to be overlooked. A single wick burner 

 will answer, perhaDs, but a double wick 

 is better. Water can be heated, wax 

 melted, starch made and kept warm. 



sugar syrup made if necessary and sever- 

 al other things done. 



If swarming is allowed, and queens 

 are undipped, there should be queen- 

 traps, self-hivers, or a Whitman fountain 

 pump with a barrel of water and plenty 

 of pails. 



I/et each bee-keeper look about his 

 apiary and see if he is not doing some of 

 his work in an awkward manner, that 

 might be avoided by the providing of a 

 few comforts and conveniences. 



^»^>^y^S^T«^A^:^<^ 



Mistakes in Bee-Keeping. 



' T IS pleasant to tell of success. Mis- 

 takes are mentioned with reluc- 

 tance. Yet, these may be of equal 

 ■'-^ value for imparting information. 

 Mr. J. M. Smith of Wisconsin is noted as 

 a horticulturist. The crops of berries 

 and cabbages that he raises are something 

 wonderful. His contributions to the 

 press are valuable; but I never read one 

 containing more information than the 

 one in which he recounted the mistakes 

 of his horticultural life. I believe that 

 space can be proiitably occupied in men- 

 tioning a few things that experienced 

 bee-keepers look upon as mistakes in bee- 

 keeping. 



The man who has decided that he will 

 choose bee-keeping as his profession, 

 makes a mistake when he gets a few col- 

 onies and attempts to learn the business 

 all by himself. Both time and money 

 would be saved by passing at least one 

 season in the employ of a successful bee- 

 keeper. 



If a man must start with a few colo- 

 nies 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 successful 

 bee-keeper. He may make the mistake 

 of not choosing the best system, but bet- 

 ter 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 

 should keep pace with the increase of 

 colonies. 



A mistake 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, with but little labor, and, some 

 believe, little brains, after they have once 

 "caught on" to a few secrets. (?) To 

 choose any business simply because it is 

 profitable is the height of folly, A bust- 



