MODERN BEE-KEEPINO. 21 



the cell or cells are built in abnormal shapes, and their surface 

 is smooth, as compared with the indented surface of a normal 

 queen-cell. 



VI.— MODERN bee-Keeping. 



38. How to Commence. — Before commencing, the pro- 

 spective bee-keeper should thoroughly study the art, by reading 

 some good modern bee publication. Do not read more than one, 

 as a complexity often mystifies, in order to master which, the 

 assistance of a friend — an adept in the business — should be 

 requisitioned. If it should be the summer season, a few lessons 

 in a good apiary will be of assistance ; these are easily obtain- 

 able. A visit paid to one or two of the numerous agricultural 

 or horticultural shows where bee-keeping forms a portion of 

 the programme, will be time well spent, especially if it is in the 

 company of a bee-keeper who does not mind giving some 

 information respecting the exhibits. Having sufficiently mastered 

 the preliminaries, a hive should be purchased ; now mind, not 

 two or three, but only one. With this hive go through all the 

 details of its management — without the bees — until you have 

 gained a knowledge of all its parts and uses. Then further 

 purchases can be made, as follows: a stock or swarm of bees; 

 a fumigator, or smoker — preferably the former; bee- veil. If you 

 purchase a stock, you will want five sheets of "foundation," but 

 if only a swarm, ten will be needed. 



39. Purchasing Hives. — In the matter of hives, do not, 

 on any account, purchase one that has not Association standard 

 size frames, as another size will only be worth the price of so 

 much firewood. The whole success of the modern bar-frame 

 hive rests upon its interchangeability ; therefore, if you have 

 two sizes in your apiary, you might almost as well have all 

 straw skeps, as their non-interchangeability, on account of the 

 diflferent sized frames, nullifies the advantages of the modem 

 system. Let me very strongly emphasise this latter. Do not 

 purchase any hives that the bees have died in, unless you 

 know positively that they have been starved, or have died out 

 from the loss of queen ; if they have died from disease, it is 

 sure to be a contagious one. 



40. Purchasing Stocks. — The variety of bees I should 

 strongly recommend to be purchased are pure Italians, as they 

 are much less trouble to handle than English, and are a deal 

 less irritable. If you purchase these from a distance, have 

 them from some responsible and thoroughly reliable person, 

 as perhaps only hybrids may be sent, or diseased stocks ; in 

 the event of the latter, all your prospects of bee-keeping will 

 be destroyed, as well as nearly all the money you have spent in 

 necessaries being wasted. In purchasing stocks, be sure that 

 they are very strong, and endeavour to obtain those with straight 



