The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-07-28
HOW TO MAKE A START IN BEE
CULTURE.


CULTURE.
Nearly every one who has even
small space has felt at one time or an
other longing for the pleasant occu-
patton of tending bees, but most peo-
pie are frightened away from the I'M
dertaking by the difficulties which
seem to present themselves.
In the first place they are puzzled
to know how to make a proper be-
ginning and what the requirements
are, for it goes without saying that no
person wishes to invest very much
capital in an uncertainty. A little
looking into the matter will usually
disclose the fact that some one with
in a radius of five or six miles OF you
is bee-keeper of some degree. IT
this be the case it is well to buy your
bees close at home, If possible II
none are to be had in your vicinity
send to some reliable beekeeper. The
novice can usually obtain considerable
information while purchasing the
bees and striking bargain.
OF course, it is best to begin with
one or two colonies. A colony of bees
in the spring of the year consists OF a
queen and several thousand workers.
This will keep the beginner fully oc
cupied at first and furnish him with
experience which would be costly if
obtained on a larger scale.
A colony Of common bees in box
hive should not cost more than from
So to IS. Afterwards they can be
transferred into movable frame hive
and an Italian queen be given them.
AS the queen is the mother of all the
bees in the hive, you will soon have
race of purebreds. The writer can
well remember the time when he OBJ
tanned his first colony. It was in
box hive and was pulled home on a
hand sled and cost the small sum OF
$780, After purchasing smoker and
a veil, an empt, nive for the expect
ed swarm, and few other trifes, he
set out to harvest crop Of honey
At the close of the season when sum-
ming up he was surprised to learn
that his crop of honey had cost him
So pound 1t is needless to say that
he was glad that the crop was not
any larger at that price, for the ex-
pected swarm, although being hiveo
twice, had decamped for parts I'M
known.
Where a person does not care for
the experience of transferring 1T
would probably be best to buy the
bees in movable frame hive though
the cost be somewhat higher at the
outset.
OF course, in this pursuit emergen-
cies do arise, but if they are met with
ordinary foresight and common sense
they are not likely to result disas-
trously. For detailed instructions
such as it is beyond the scope of this
article to give there are numerous
bee books to help the novice over the
rough places. Rev. L. L. Langstroth.
to whom great honor is due, is the
father of American beekeeping. In
deed, it was through him that the
pursuit has been developed from
game of chance into the great indus
try it is today, for it was his inven-
ton of the movable frame hive that
has changed the occupation of tins
apiarist from one of pleasure but I'M
certain profits into we'll paying
business. A little capital invested in
bees will grow and multiply, besides
yielding a very fair per cent of profit.
In locating an apiary and arranging
the hives much taste can be display
ed, but few general principles
should always be observed. 1t is an
advantage to have the hives facing
eastward or southwark. in order to
have the morning sun shine in at the
entrances of the hives, which induces
the bees to fly forth early in the quest
of nectar which collects In the flow
ers during the night. When the hive
are in this position they will also be
protected from the north and Yves.
winds. A hedge of evergreens or
honeysuckle will be further protec-
ton and make splendid enclosure.
A few fruit or shade trees in the
apiary are an advantage, and invari-
ably attract the swarm which may Is
sue from the hives at swarming time.
IF. G.. Herman in Massachusetts,
Ploughman.
USE IMPROVED MACHINERY.
The hay crop is like all other crops
the farmer haryeStS in that it is most