SOME OF THE ESSENTIALS OF BEEKEEPING.* 



BY BURTON N. GATES , PH.D., INSPECTOR OF APIARIES, STATE BOARD OF 

 AGRICULTURE, AMHERST, MASS. 



Introduction. 



This bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive of all beekeeping, 

 but rather a guide to some essentials, adapted to the beginner, the 

 avocational or the family beekeeper. Since Massachusetts already 

 has an extremely large number of apiarists who keep only a few 

 colonies, the special demands of the industry suggest the need of 

 greater expertness, efBciency and larger beekeeping. There is also 

 opportunity for a better distribution of apiaries. For instance, some 

 localities are entirely destitute. of bees, while others possess a con- 

 siderable number. To be sure, some localities — Worcester County 

 and the Berkshires — are more profitable than others, but greater 

 earnestness and general efficiency will result in a greater and gen- 

 eral productivity. 



The Outlook. 



The opportunity for beekeeping and the prospect for profit are 

 encouraging. With the suppression and control of infectious bee dis- 

 eases, which in recent years have caused inestimable loss and dis- 

 couragement, a new life for the industry is inevitable. Moreover, 

 the Commonwealth is small and markets are especially accessible. 

 There is a dense and growing population, and the fact that it is 

 composed partially of Europeans improves the demand for honey. 

 The utilization of bees in horticulture, orcharding, market gardening 

 and cranberry culture is fast becoming more thoroughly understood 

 and practiced. Encour«gement, organization of the beekeepers for 

 the exchange of ideas, demonstrations and protection, — all these 

 promise to further a wholesome and fundamentally important in- 

 dustry. 



To the majority, beekeeping is mysteriously fascinating, so that 

 " once a beekeeper, always a beekeeper," is almost proverbial. It 

 affords recreation, a pastime for those in confining professions. But 

 it cannot be too strongly emphasized that bees require attention, and 

 this at precisely the proper time. They respond in proportion to 



* Crop Report for September, 1911. 



