CHAPTER I. 

 BEE-CULTURE AS A PROFESSION. 



THERE is a peculiarity about bee-keeping — I may say a 

 certain risk, though, perhaps, not more than there is with 

 any other business, when one does not fully understand what he 

 is about ; but nevertheless it is certain, that unless a man first 

 makes himself thoroughly acquainted with the peculiarities of 

 bees, he is doomed to disappointment should he attempt to give 

 all his time and capital to this occupation. 



There are two ways open to those who hope to take up bee- 

 keeping as a sole means of gaining a living. 



First, by keeping a few hives, and gradually increasing 

 the number, over a term of several years, until the stock is 

 large enough to claim undivided attention, and the experience 

 gained warrants one in giving up what other occupation he may 

 have been following. One may have to plod on for a number of 

 years before this opportunity presents itself, and even then he 

 will find himself launched into an undertaking quite different to 

 what he had expected, and the greatest caution will be needed to 

 see that all goes on as it should do, as keeping a large number of 

 colonies requires very different management to what the few 

 needed. 



By far the safer plan would be to 



Enter some well established Apiary 



and serve there for a couple of years. By so doing, you save 

 time and money ; your plans will be more definitely formed, and 

 the experience so gained will be far more certain to put you on 

 the right road to successful management, than half-a-dozen years- 



