INTRODUCTION TO PART II. 



STAETING AN APIARY. 



In apiculture, as in all other pursuits, it is all-important 

 to make a good beginning. This demands preparation on the 

 part of the apiarist, procuring of bees, and location of his 

 apiary. 



PREPARATION. 



Before starting in the business, the prospective bee-keeper 

 should inform himself in the art. 



READ A GOOD MANUAL. 



To do this, he should procure some good manual, and 

 thoroughly study, especially the practical part of the business ; 

 and if accustomed to read, think and study, should carefully 

 read the whole work. Otherwise, he will avoid confusion by 

 only studying the methods of practice, leaving the principles 

 and science, to strengthen, and be strengthened by, his expe- 

 rience. Unless a student, he had better not take a journal 

 till he begins the actual work, as so much unclassified informa- 

 tion, without any experience to correct, arrange, and select, 

 will but mystify. For the same reason, he may well be con- 

 tent with reading a single work, till experience, and a 

 thorough study of this one, makes him more able to discrim- 

 inate ; and the same reasoning will preclude his taking more 

 than one bee-periodical, until he has had at least a year's 

 actual experience. 



VISIT SOME APIARIST. 



In this work of self-preparation, he will find great aid in 

 visiting the nearest successful and intelligent apiarist. If 

 successful, such an one will have a reputation ; if intelligent, 

 he will take the journals, and will show by his conversation 

 that he knows of the methods and views of his brother 

 apiarists, and above all, he will not think he knows it all, 

 and that his is the only way to success. Learn all you can 



