224 Beekeeping 
that a swarm may be hived in it, after which it is removed 
to the desired location. 
Requirements in purchased colonies. 
If there is opportunity to examine the colonies before 
purchasing them, there are several important things which 
should be insisted upon: (1) get as little drone comb or 
crooked or defective comb as possible; (2) see that the 
colony is free from disease (p. 397); (3) the colony should 
be provided with plenty of honey and (4) the amount of 
brood should be adequate for the time of year. It is perhaps 
asking too much of the beginner to expect him to determine 
whether disease is present in colonies purchased. In many 
states and counties there are official apiary inspectors whose 
duty it is to give advice on the subject of disease and these 
men may be asked to assist in this work. At any rate, 
even the novice can tell whether there is any dead or dis¬ 
colored brood and it is at least safe not to accept colonies 
in which any discolored brood is found, normal brood being 
pearly white. Formerly the sale of bees was believed to 
bring ill-luck and the customary way to acquire colonies 
was to go at night to the apiary and after the removal of 
the colony, to leave coins to the value of the bees on an 
adjacent hive. The possibility of an insufficient pile of 
coins or perhaps none at all is probably a factor in causing 
modern beekeepers to prefer to sell bees according to pres¬ 
ent-day methods. The beginner can scarcely be advised 
to adopt the ancient manner, for the custom might be found 
faulty when explained to a magistrate. 
How to learn beekeeping. 
To acquire skill in manipulating bees and to learn the 
proper management of the apiary so as to obtain maximum 
results, the best method is to spend some time in the apiary 
of an experienced beekeeper. If one contemplates making 
beekeeping an important part of the occupation, this is 
especially to be desired. It is usually possible to arrange 
