Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-07-02
Starting an Apia1y.

Some ono writes: "Why not tell
people who have never kept bees how
to start?"
This is what have been doing for
tho last fifteen years, and now there is
a class advanced to "Fourth Render
and anxiously waiting for the "Fifth."
These must be kept along, and at tho
same time the primary class duly
cared for. The first thing for begin
ners to do is, to procure some reliable
work on tho natural history and
management of the bec, study it thor
oughly, and come to an understanding
if possible, of what swarm of bees
will do under all circumstances
Ihcre is much spurious teaching and
miserable gucss-work in instructions
concerning the apiary. The man who
writes without experience of his own,
giving only what others have said,
Will copy an error as we'll as truth
Or sometimes person interest, d in
some particular point in a beehive
will SO distort the truth that it is hard
ly recognized. When correct knowl-
edge of tho fundamental principles of
bee-kceping has been acquired by
careful study, the next thing is to get
a hive or two Of bees; if in movable
combs, all the better. Obtain them.
if possible, from some reliable person,
one who knows what ho is selling,
and, at the same time, will not take
pay for n worthless article. Bees in
the box hive arc more uncertain than
other stock. No person can guaran-
tee tho future prosperity of any hive
after it passes beyond his control. In
purchasing stocks, reject the very
heavy and very light, A large num-
Der of bees is more desirable than
heavy storcs-especially at this season
OF the year, Locate them on the
summer stand at once. If moved af.
terward, let it be for two Or three
miles. Moving short distances in tho
apiary is bad. Place the stands six
to ten feet apart. Recent observa-
tions in regard to the spread of dis
eased brood dictates greater distance
between stands than formerly recon-
mended. Provide hives for the swarms.
and ifyou have not already movable
combs, with proper study you should
by this time be sufficiently we'll in
formed to dosire them in some form.
l will not now rccapitulate the advan-
tages of movable combs, nor describe
the method of transferring combs, but
will say it is paying investment rs
soon as the advantages are compre-
hended. That the tyro may have
confidence in his operations among
the, bees, he may want to keep them
from his face and hands-from his face
by q bee-vcil, such US described in
"Bec-keeping," page 227; from his
hands by thick woolen or ruber gloves.
ANY one who expects to do much
among bees should learn to handle
things without mittens," until he
finds out that bee-sting is not "lsil-
ling" After preparing veil accor-
ding to tho directions referred to,
punch the pith out of piece of elder
or other pithy wood, ten inches long.
or bore hole with slender gimlet
through suitable stick of wood, and
and insert this tube in the wire-cloth
opposite the mouth, by which it is to
be held when it is desirable to use
smoke to pacify the bees. Hard wood,
nearly rotten, sawed or split into
pieces and inch square, makes the
cheapest smoke. Have it thoroughly
dry, ignite one end, and blow the
smoke in any desired direction on any
demonstration of anger.-N. Quin-
oy t" american Agrieulturist.