204 THB bbb-kkepkr's guidb ; 



back at a fair rate, after you have transferred the bees to your 

 own hives, then purchase in any style of movable-comb hive, 

 as it is easier to transfer from a movable-comb hive than from 

 a box-hive. Some bee-keepers, who were willing to wait, have 

 purchased a queen and bees by the pound, and thus secured 

 colonies at very slight expense. A single pound of bees with 

 a queen will develop into a good colony in a single year. 



WHEN TO PUKCHASB. 



It is safe to purchase any time in the summer. In April or 

 May (of course you purchase only strong colonies) if in the 

 latitude of New York or Chicago — it will be earlier further 

 south — you can afford to pay more, as you will secure the 

 increase both of honey and bees. If you desire to purchase in 

 autumn, that you may gain by the experience of wintering, 

 either demand that the one of whom you purchase insure the 

 safe wintering of the bees, or else that he reduce the selling 

 price, at least one-third, from his rates the next April. Other- 

 wise the novice would better wait and purchase in the spring. 

 If you are to transfer at once, it is desirable that you buy in 

 spring, as it is vexatious, especially for the tfovice, to transfer 

 when the hives are crowded with brood and honey. 



HOW MUCH TO PAY. 



Of course the market, which will ever be governed by sup- 

 ply and demand, must guide you. But to aid you, I will 

 append what at present would be a reasonable schedule of 

 spring prices almost anywhere in the United States : 



For box-hives, crowded with black bees — Italians would 

 rarely be found in such hives — three dollars per colony is a 

 fair price. For black bees in hives such as you desire to use, 

 five dollars would be reasonable. For pure Italians in such 

 hives, seven dollars is not too much. 



If the person of whom you purchase will take the movable- 

 comb hives after you transfer the bees, you can afford to pay 

 three dollars for black bees, and five dollars for pure Italians. 

 If you purchase in the fall, require 33 J^ percent discount on 

 these rates. The above is, of course, only suggestive. 



