CHAPTER XI 
THE FIRST STEPS IN BEEKEEPING 
Many persons begin beekeeping accidentally. The in¬ 
terest of many of the present beekeepers in the honeybee 
has first been aroused by a swarm passing over the premises 
or perhaps lighting on a tree near by. The desire not to allow 
anything to go to waste or not to allow a valuable article to 
elude him, coupled perhaps with a dare-devil impulse to 
risk a combat, has induced many a man or woman to attempt 
to hive the stray swarm. Or perhaps there is a temptation 
to exhibit one’s prowess before the other members of the 
family. Having hived the swarm in a box or barrel with 
no loss of life or limb — and bees are never easier to handle 
than when swarming — it is by easy steps that one goes on 
until an attack of what is commonly known as “ bee-fever” 
has developed, from which recovery seems hopeless. If a 
swarm is caught and put into a box, the owner should obtain 
a modern hive as soon as practical and lodge his new posses¬ 
sion in a home where they may be manipulated. The neces¬ 
sary equipment is discussed in Chapter II. 
Purchase of colonies. 
There are those, however, who decide to begin beekeeping 
without this accidental impulse. The desirability of begin¬ 
ning on a small scale may be again emphasized here. Colonies 
should if possible always be purchased near at hand to pre¬ 
vent the loss which may follow, especially if colonies must 
be transported by inexperienced persons. The further 
advantage in this procedure is that the former owner may 
usually be induced to assist in the moving and he will also 
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