EE-CU l_TU RE. 



PART I.— ADYICE TO BEGINNERS. 



I. INTEODUCTORY. 



1''he advice given in this paper, though it chiefly concerns beginners who 

 •contemplate taking up bee-culture as a business, also applies to those who 

 simply wish to keep a few hives of bees as a hobby and to work them 

 successfully. 



The term " bee-master " where used is intended to mean a skilled bee- 

 keeper, and " bee-farmer " to indicate one who derives the whole or a large 

 part of his income from his bees. 



Any person may become a beekeeper, but to become a bee-master the 

 aspirant must possess more than an ordinary share of patience and per- 

 severance, and be prepared to give the subject of bee-culture his most care- 

 ful study. He should be discerning and resourceful, have good judgment, 

 with keen insight to anticipate, and be swift to take advantage of all circum- 

 stances likely to lead to success — in short, he should possess just such qualities 

 as would contribute to his prospsriby in any Hne of life. Procrastination 

 is a serious imperfection imder all circumstances, and especially so in bee- 

 culture ; bee-work cannot be put off without great loss, it must be done 

 when needed, in fact it should be anticipated — a bee-master always keeps 

 a little ahead of his bees. 



It must be distinctly understood that successful bee-farming cannot 

 be carried on without a good deal of work and close application, but, as the 

 work to a bee-master is both interesting and congenial, it is never irksome. 

 All bee-masters are enthusiasts in their caUing, hence, in a great measure, 

 their success. It may be said of those adapted for beekeeping, that once a 

 beekeeper always a beekeeper, for there is imdoubtedly, in spite of the stings, 

 a charm about the work which, when once experienced, never loses its 

 -attractions. 



