114 Bides for the Beginner. 



above all, lie will not think Jie knows it all, and that his is the 

 only way to success. Learn all you can of such a one, but 

 always let your own judgment and common sense sit as 

 umpire, that you may make no plans or decisions that your 

 judgment does not fully sustain. 



TAKE A COLLEGE COURSE. 



It will be most wise to take a course in some College, if age 

 makes this practicable, where ^apiculture is thoroughly dis- 

 cussed. Here you will not only get the best training in your 

 chosen business, as you will study, see and handle, and thus 

 will have the very best aids to decide as to methods, system 

 and apparatus, but you will also receive that general culture, 

 which will greatly enhance life's pleasures and usefulness, and 

 which ever proves the best capital in any vocation. 



DECIDE ON A PLAN. 



After such a course as suggested above, it will be easy to 

 decide as to location, hives, style of honey to raise, and gen- 

 eral system of management. But here, as in all the arts, all 

 our work should be preceded by a well-digested plan of 

 operations. As with the farmer and the gardener, only he 

 who works to a plan can hope for the best success. Of course, 

 such plans will vary as we grow in wisdom and experience. 

 A good maxim to govern all plans is, "go slow." A good 

 rule, which will insure the above, "Pay as you go." Make 

 the apiary pay for all improvements in advance. Demand 

 that each year's credits exceed its debits ; and that you may 

 surely accomplish this, keep an accurate account of all your 

 receipts and expenses. This will be a great aid in arranging 

 the plans for each successive year's operations. 



Above all, avoid hobbies, and be slow to adopt sweeping 

 changes. ' ' Prove all things, and hold fast that which is 

 good." 



HOW TO PROCURE FIRST COLONIES. 



To procure colonies from which to form an apiary, it is 

 always best to get them near at hand. We thus avoid the 

 shock of transportation, can see the bees before we purchase, 

 •and in case there is any seeming mistake can easily gain a 

 personal explanation and secure a speedy adjustment of any 

 real wrong. 



