10 MANUAL OF THE APIAET. 



getting, with labor that brings, in itself, constant delight, leaves little to be 

 desired. 



Bee-keeping, too, on a limited scale, demands very little time; and since the 

 pleasni-es would be just as great with but few colonies, no one would object to 

 thus add to his income. 1 know, in fact, of no business (and I speak from 

 experience) that is so convenient and desirable as an avocation. To the man 

 with sedentary habits, it brings wholesome exercise ; to the man tied to an 

 office, air and exercise ; to the clerk and factory hand, or others, whose lives 

 are monotonous and machine-like, it gives occasion for intellectual effort ; and, 

 in inciting to thought and study, makes them feel more truly that they are 

 men. To our sisters, it offers all the above attractions, and, more, may serve 

 to drive the wolf from the door. To all of us, who become successful apiarists, 

 it spreads an intellectual feast that the old philosoj3hers would have en\'ied, fur- 

 nishes the rarest food for the observing faculties, and brings us into that inti- 

 mate communion with nature which is never-failing in its tendency to refine the 

 tastes, elevate the feelings, and ennoble manhood. 



WHAT SUCCESSFUL BEE-KEEPING REQUIRES. 



No one should commence this business who is not willing to read, think, and 

 study. To be sure, the unthinking may stumble on success for a time, but 

 sooner or later failure will set her seal upon his efforts. Those of our apiarists 

 who have studied the hardest, observed the closest, and thought the deepest, 

 have even passed the late terrible winters with but slight loss. 



Prompt attention to the needs of his industrious little servants, is another 

 absolute requh'ement. To be sure, this attention is slight, and so is apt to be 

 neglected; but always with loss, — often with disaster. That "bees work for 

 nothing and board themselves" is only comparatively true. Their demands 

 are indeed light ; but they must be met. 



Enthusiasm, or real love for the business, is another requisite. This is a 

 plant whose growth, with the least opportunity, is sure. It only demands per- 

 sistence. The beginner, without either experience or knowledge, may meet 

 with discouragements, — undoubtedly will. Swarms will be lost, others will fail 

 to winter, the young apiarist Avill become neiwous, — which will disgust the bees in 

 60 much that they will essay to administer reproof of a sharp and pointed kind. 

 Yet, with persistence all of these difSculties will fade away. Every contingency 

 will be foreseen and provided against, and the myriad little workers will become 

 as manageable and maybe fondled as safely as a pet dog or cat. And the 

 apiarist will minister to their needs with the same fearlessness and self-posses- 

 sion that he would attend to his gentlest cow or favorite horse. Persistence in 

 the face of those discouragements, which are so apt to confront inexperience, 

 will surely triumph. For he who has one jot of appreciation of the beautiful 

 and the marvelous in his character will soon grow to love his insect pets, and 

 the labor attendant upon their care and management, and this love will'soon 

 kindle into enthusiasm. 



