Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-06-05
BEE KEEPING.

There is probably no business which
is more intensely interesting than that
of the beekeeper or apiarist. We do
not mean this in the point of joke,
for the bees sometimes do make it in
teresting on their side of tue argu-
ment, but for the sake Of study it is
interesting, and moreover is profitable
if we'll managed
The following is an article by j. S.
Ward, who is State inspector of Apisr-
les, and is well worthy of perusal.
Last year we heard an address by the
apiarist on the agricultural train that
toured the valley, aud it was, to us,
one of the most interesting ones deliv-
cred. Read Mr. Wards letter if you
are interested in bees, or likely to be,
which is as follows:
/. Lack of knowledge. In these
days of progress the man who does not
"know how" is outstripped in the
race and soon drops out of count. In
no occupation is education more essen
tial to success than in Bookkeeping and
the broader the education the better
able is the spiarist to solve the prob
lens and plan for the best returns
This education should be not alone in
the experience of the beeyard, but in
the writings of the most practical
beekeepers. In other words, two or
three good text books should be pur-
chased and not simply read but stud
led as one would study history and
grammar. Learn the anatomy and
physiology as we'll as the habits of the
bee. Become acquainted with all
modern, approved appliances so that
an intelligent selection may be made
for each location and the purposes of
the individual bee keeper Subscribe
for one or more of the bee journals AID
attend the meetings of bee associa-
tions.
3 Using Anticipated Appliances
Discard all the OLD home made boxes
and the old "gums'' that were cut
from the hollow logs in the forest.
Transfer from these unsightly, IN
profitble hives to the modern hive with
its movable frames and convenient APP
purtenances. Purchase good smoker,
a veil, use full sheets of comb founda-
tions, get honey extractor and wax
rross and success will be the result in
ste ii " failure,
Starting With Too Many Colon
les. In no occupation is it more i'm
portant to start on small scale than
in beekeeping One can easily over
stock himself in the beginning and be-
come discouraged over not being able
to master accumulated details. Fail
ure results. Start with only four or
five swarms. Master them, and then
the next year fifteen or twenty can be
cared for and later rs or 100 in each
yard. The mastery of 0ut-yards be-
longs to advanced beekeeping.
A. Carelessness. Successful bee
keeping is an intensive occupation.
It is exacting in it's details. 1t brooks
when today demands attention. The
busy bee awaits not upon the slothful-
ness of the sluggard or the delays of
the timekillers. The successful aplar-
list keens his work all ready for the
demands of the swarming season. All
supplies should be purchased in the
winter time. Hives should be nailed
together and painted. Frames should
be wired, filed with comb foundations
ready for the swarlns Supers should
be prepared and stacked up in honey
house, convenient to the apiary, ready
for the honey flow. Neglecting these
things until the demand comes means
failure in honey crop. Carelessness
brings starvation, will start robbing,
will encourage the bee moth. and Ia
ter on the colonies succumb to the
ravages of one of the foul brood dis
eases. Finally, the beekeeper becomes
discouraged and pursuades himself
that he hasn't the time anyway to
"fool" with bees and failure is the
elimination of what might have been
the most profitable speciality about his
farm.