12 



BEEKEEPING COMBINED WITH OTHER PURSUITS. 



The old adage which warns us against putting all our eggs into one basket 

 is especially applicable to beekeeping. I always recommend, when asked, 

 the combining of some other occupation with bee-culture for the first few 

 years, so that there may be another source of income in the event of a bad 

 season for honey. A person, having made up his mind to adopt bee-farm- 

 ing as a business, if a beginner, should begin in a small way, and, while at 

 his usual occupation, work up an apiary large enough to warrant his de- 

 voting a good part of his time, to it. This, in all probabiUty, will take at 

 least three or four seasons, and in that time he should have become fairly 

 proficient if his heart is in the work — if not, he had better give it up. 



Fruit-growing and poultry-farming work well with beekeeping, but it 

 must be distinctly understood that the bees, to be profitable, must have 

 first attention — that is to say, if neglected for other work when they need 

 attention, the bees will prove nothing but a loss to the owner. I am fre- 

 quently asked about dairying and bee-farming ; I cannot recommend this 

 combination unless the dairying is on a very small scale indeed, for I think 

 the wearing life of a dairyman is against his being able to pay close attention 

 to anything else. 



BEEKEEPING LITERATURE: 

 Beekeepers are well catered for in respect of literature. There are a 

 number of excellent standard works, but unfortunately they are all but 

 one published in the Northern Hemisphere, and deal with opposite seasons 

 and difierent conditions to those which obtain here. " The Australasian Bee 

 Manual " is written and published in New Zealand, and coincides with our 

 seasons and flora. The periodicals devoted to bee-culture are also excellent, 

 so that a beekeeper who falls behind the times with so much good literature 

 within his reach has only himself to blame. Every beginner should not 

 only secure and read up one or more standard works, but he should also 

 subscribe to at least one good periodical. I shall enumerate some of the 

 best works and periodicals, and give their approximate prices in New Zea- 

 land. Any of them may be obtained through booksellers, or from those 

 firms who cater for beekeepers. 



Standard Handbooks. 

 " The A B C and X Y Z of Bee-culture " 

 " Langstroth on the Honey-bee." Revised 

 " Cook's Manual of the Apiary " 

 " Advanced Bee-culture " 



The above are American. 

 " British Beekeeper's Guide-book " (English), paper covers, 2s. ; cloth 

 " The Australasian Bee Manual," by Isaac Hopkins (2s. 9d. by post) 



