COMMUNICATIONS—BEE-KEEPING. 
357 
The question arises. Is bee-keeping such a difficult art to 
master ? Does it require so much study and application that 
only a few persons can be found who have the necessary tal¬ 
ents to acquire it ? I think not From the progress already 
made in the science of apiculture, it appears to me to be possi¬ 
ble to acquire the art theoretically as well as practically, and 
that too as easily as in any other business. Theories will not 
give all that it is needful to know to make a successful bee¬ 
keeper, but if rightly apprehended, they will indicate the right 
way, and by giving the most important points, will make suc¬ 
cess easily attainable. Experience must guide where theoreti¬ 
cal knowledge ends. 
“ But how shall we learn the art? Shall we commence by 
serving an apprenticeship with some good bee-keeper? ” You 
need be apprentice to no one; be your own instructor ; but 
bear in mind that it is indispensable to get the theory well 
in hand first, and then put your knowledge into practice. 
This you can do by getting the necessary books on the subject, 
and a few hives of bees. “ The Hive and Honey Bee,” by 
Langstroth, I regard as the best standard work on bee-keeping 
in the United States. The next is Quimby’s “Bee-Keeping 
Explained.” When you have thoroughly learned the principles 
laid down in these books, you will begin to feel competent to 
manage a few colonies of bees. This will be the time to com¬ 
mence putting your knowledge into practice, but do not start 
with a large number of hives. From two to six would be all 
that I would advise you to commence with ; you will find 
that they will increase as fast, or even faster, than your skill 
increases. Do not make the mistake of supposing that you 
have learned all about bees, and that you can manage a large 
number of stocks successfully. Should you go astray, or fail 
at the outset, like the child who falls in his first attempts to 
walk, get up and try it again. 
Bee-stings are unpleasant, and many persons suffer severely 
from even one sting, but we seldom hear of any serious conse¬ 
quences resulting from them. If you are very sensitive to 
them at first, you will find that each subsequent sting will af- 
