241 



LIVE STOCK. 

 Apiculture. 



ADVICE TO BEGINNERS IN BEE-KEEPING. 



The keeping of bees, both for pleasure and profit, is, happily, much more 

 frequent now than thirty years ago, when the advent of cheap sugar had nearly 

 driven from the country markets the coarse honey gathered by the old straw skep 

 system. This increase of bee-keeping has been brought about by the perfecting 

 of the modern frame-hive, which enables the home of the bee to be laid open to 

 view, and provides means whereby the store can be taken, fit for immediate use 

 without injury to the bees or their owner. 



Eor any one desirous of becoming a bee-keeper the first step is to get a 

 book on apiculture and study it. There are many now from which to choose 

 but the following may be recommended: "Modern Bee-Keeping" (price 6d.), 

 published by Longmans, Green & Co., Paternoster Row, for the British Bee- 

 Keepers' Association; and the "British Bee-Keeper's Guide Book" (price Is. del) 

 by Thos. W. Cowan, F.L.S., 10, Buckingham Street, Strand, London. As a personal 

 explanation of the terms used and of the outfit required is a great help, an inter- 

 view should, if possible, be obtained with an experienced bee-keeper. In " Modern 

 Bee-Keepiug " will be found a list of Secretaries of County Bee-Keepers' Associations 

 any of whom will be able to furnish names of expert bee-keepers willing to render 

 assistance if needed. The appliances required are : Black net veil ; smoke, for 

 subduing bees ; wax comb foundation (brood and super) ; bottle-feeder ; section 

 boxes ; frame-hive fitted with brood-foundation in ten or twelve standard frames 

 two division boards, section-rack or lift of shallow frames, a queen excluder and 

 quilts. If the hive is to be worked for extracted honey, a centrifugal honey- 

 extractor will also be needed. Additional useful articles are : Scraper-knife for 

 cleaning floor-boards, frames, etc. ; comb-uncapping knife for use when extracting • 

 a straw skep for taking swarms ; spare coverings of felt or carpet ; a super clearer 

 for clearing bees from section racks or supers. 



There are many patterns of hives, all made to take the one British standard 

 frame. A simple one should be chosen possessing, accuracs' of workmanship and 

 soundness of material, so as to stand exposure to the weather for years. The 

 outside of the hive should be thoroughly painted, to keep it rain and damp proof. 

 It must be placed on its stand in a spot sheltered, if possible, from the cold north 

 and east winds, and with a free flight for the bees in front. Space should be 

 left behind it for easy access, then all manipulations can be carried on from 

 the back ; this avoids irritating the home-coming bees. 



The swarm should be ordered either from a recognised dealer or from a 

 neighbouring bee-keeper. The only safe way for a beginner to start is with a 

 " head " or first swarm. By this means he will avoid all the pitfalls of disease or 

 lack of condition, which only a practised eye can detect, but which beset the 

 purchaser of second-hand stocks. Given a good season, a swarm should be able 

 to establish itself, and provide some surplus for its owner in its first year. 



When the box or skep containing the swarm arrives, it must be placed 

 in the shade near the hive the bees are to occupy. The screws of the lid of the 

 box should be taken out ; or in the case of a skep the cording and wraps should be 

 removed, and in the latter case the skep should be placed on a board with a fair- 

 sized stone under its edge, to allow of ventilation. The bees will soon quiet down, 

 and cluster, after the shaking up of their journey, and thus will be in a condition 



