306 STARTING AN APIARY. 



with smoke or sugar-waler, before the nails can be driven to 

 fasten the frames, and the same will be necessary, when 

 they are to be drawn out. It would be unnecessary to in- 

 vert nny hives, even if it could easily be done, as the combs 

 are so securely attached to I he frames, and such a free admis- 

 sion of air can be given, that they bear transportation 

 with perfect safety. 



If the Apiarian wishes, the first season, to be sure, of 

 getting some honey from his bees, he will do well to procure 

 two good swarms, and put them both into one hive. (See 

 p. 212.) To those who do not object to the extra expense, 

 I strongly recommend this course. Not unfrequenlly, in a 

 good season, they will obtain in spare honey from their 

 doubled-swarm, an ample equivalent for its increased cost : 

 at all events, such a powerful swarm lays the foundation of 

 a flourishing stock, which seldom fails to answer all the 

 reasonable expectations of its owner. If the Apiary is 

 commenced with swarms of the current season, and they 

 have an abundance of spare room in the upper boxes, there 

 will be no swarming, that season, and the beginner will have 

 time to make himself familiar with his bees, before being 

 called to hive new swarms, or multiply colonies by artificial 

 means. 



Let no inexperienced person commence bee-keeping on a 

 large scale ; very few who do so, find it to their advantage, 

 while most not only meet with heavy losses, but abandon 

 the pursuit in disgust. By the use of my hives, the bee- 

 keeper can easily and rapidly multiply the number of his 

 colonies, as soon as he finds, not merely that money can be 

 made by keeping bees, but thai he can make it. While 1 be- 

 lieve that moia profit can be realized by a careful and expe- 

 rienced bee-keeper, in a good situation, from a given sum 

 invested in an Apiary, than from the same money invested 



