20 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
January 1, 1909 
BEE - CULTURE. 
, Advice to Beginners. 
By Isaac Hopkins, Apiarian, in Bulletin 
18 of N.Z. Department of Agriculture. 
1. INTRODUCTORY. 
The advice given in this paper, though 
it chiefly concerns beginners who contem- 
plate taking up bee-culture as a business, 
also applies to those of who simply wish 
to keep a few hives of bees as a hobby and 
to work them successfully. 
The term ‘bee-master’ where used in 
this paper is intended to mean a skilled 
beekeeper, and ‘bee-farmer’ to indicate 
one who derives the whole or a large part 
of his income from his bees. 
Any person may become a_ beekeeper, 
but to become a bee-master the aspirant 
must possess more than an ordinary share 
of patience and perseverance, and be pre- 
pared to give the subject of bee-culture 
his most careful study. He should be 
discerning and resourceful, have good 
judgement, with keen insight to antici- 
pate, and be swift to take advantage of all 
circumstances likely to lead to success—in 
short, he should possess just such qualities 
as would contribute’to his prosperity in 
any line of life. Procrastination is a 
serious imperfection under all circum- 
stances, and especially so in bee-culture, 
bee-work cannot be put off without great 
loss, it must be done when needed, 
in fact it should be anticipated— 
a bee-master always keeps a little ahead 
of his bees. 
It must be distinctly understood that 
successful bee-farming cannot be carried 
on without a good deal of work and close: 
application, but, as the work to a_bee- 
master is both interesting and congenial, 
it is never irksome, All bee-masters are 
enthusiasts in their calling, hence, in a 
great measure, their success. It may be 
said of those adapted for beekeeping, that’ 
once a beekeeper always a beekeeper, for 
there is undoubtedly, in spite of the 
stings, a charm about the work which, 
when once experienced, never losés its’ 
attractions. | 
Bee-culture is a rapidly progressive 
industry; new methods and appliances are 
constantly coming to the front, and things 
that are new to-day may be obsolete to- 
morrow; therefore it behoves the bee- 
keeper to keep himself posted in every- 
thing going onin the beekeeping ‘ world 
through the excellent bee literature now 
at command. 
—Who should not keep Bees— 
All beginners suffer more .r less from 
the effects of the bee-sting poison, but in 
most cases the bad effects wear off gradually 
as the system becomes inoculated against 
the poison, till, finally, little more incon— 
venience is felt from a sting than would 
be caused by the prick of a needle. In 
rare instances, however, people are to be 
found who suffer so severely that a sting 
their 
system never seems to become immune to 
the poison; it is scarcely necessary to say 
that such persons should not keep bees. 
Again, there are individuals too nervous 
to go among their bees without being clad 
in armour, as it were, from head to feet. 
T have known many such who had kep; 
bees for a long time, and yet had never 
been able to get over their nervousness, 
In my opinion such people should not 
keep bees, No person who manages his 
bees properly can escape being stung 
occasionally, though I am sometimes told 
about individuals (I never come in per- 
sonal contact with them) who can do any- 
thing with bees without being protected 
in any way, and never get stung. I have 
to listen, but never contradict a person 
who tells me this—it sets me thinking, 
though. 
is positively dangerous +o them 
—Beekeeping for Ladies— 
Bee culture offers a splendid oppor- 
tunity for our settlers’ daughters and other 
jadies who would like an outdoor, healthy, 
and profitable occupation. I may stat, 
that I take aspecial interest in this matter, 
and hope to be the means of indncing 
many of ovr young women to take up 
beekeeping as a business. Ladies who 
take to it make excellent apiarists—much 
better than the averageman. In America 
they rank among the most successful bee- 
keepers, and peasants’ wives on the 
| Continent of Europe, usually look after 
the household bees, from which they 
derive a considerable proportion of the 
family income. There is nothing to pre- 
vent a fairly tealthy young women from 
managing and doing the work, with alittle 
assistance during the height of the season >. 
ofan apiary of 100 tives. My lady 
assistant at the Ruakura State Apiary is 
now capable of doing so. Her position 
should be a good object lesson, and an 
encouragement to other young ladies to go 
and do likewise. 
(To be continued ) 
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