17 



III. WHEN AND HOW TO START BEEKEEPING. 



The best time for a beginner to start is in spring or early summer ; Le 

 should never commence in the autumn, except imder the guidance of a 

 practical man. The outlay in the first instance should not exceed what is 

 required to make a small begimdng. The only exception would be where 

 a season had been previously served as a cadet. " Go slow " should be a 

 maxim for all beginners. I have known of many disappointments and 

 losses through acting contrary to this advice. The hives should be on 

 hand in the early spring, and arrangements should have been made with 

 some neighbouring beekeeper for a couple of early swarms, which should 

 not weigh less than 5 lb. each. There are approximately five thousand bees 

 to the pound, so that a 5 lb. swarm contains about twenty-five thousand 

 bees. To ascertain the weight of the swarm, a swarm-box should be 

 supplied by the purchaser in which to put the bees ; weigh the box before 

 using, and again when the bees are in it ; deduct weight of box from the 

 full weight, and the difference will be the weight of bees. 



A swarm of 5 lb. and over is practically certain to have a laying queen 

 at its head, as a second or after-swarm with a virgin queen weighs much 

 less. Go to a reliable bee-farmer, if possible, and arrange for swarms ; a 

 good swarm is presumably free from disease, otherwise the colony could not 

 have thrown it ofE. Take the advice of the person you arrange with, and let 

 him bring and hive the swarms for you, if possible, as it will give you a 

 lesson in handling bees If preferred, a start can be made with established 

 colonies at an increased cost. 



START WITH COMMON BEES. 



Common bees being the least expensive it is advisable to start with them. 

 Do not go to the extra expense of purchasing Italians till you have made 

 some headway and gained experience ; then Italianise your apiary on 

 economical lines by buying queens only from some reliable queen-breeder. 



THE HONEY TO EAISE. 



We have different grades of honey in New Zealand, most of it of a supe- 

 rior quahty ; but undoubtedly the best from a consumer's point of view, 

 and for marketing purposes, is that gathered from white clover. Much of 

 our bush honey is very fine, and preferred by some for its stronger flavour, 

 but what the bee-farmer must consider is, which is the most saleable and pro- " 

 Stable to produce. The answer to that unquestionably is, " Clover honey." 

 It is true that the output of an apiary in a purely clover district is likely to 



