Ebook Southern Bee Culture

I had to brace it with two sticks to keep it from tumbling over. I made some crude movable-frame hives (for I had not yet seen a patent movable; frame hive). With this outfit I began bee — keeping anew, studying them by handling them on their combs. My bee business began to grow; and after keeping bees thus for several years I heard of a bee-keeper who had bought some patent factory made hives. I paid him a visit at once, and I saw that the hives were just what I needed, so I bought a lot of them Next season I transferred my bees into them. From the old crude hives I transfered bees and what I had on hand extra, furnished me fuel during the summer and following winter. From the old decayed box hive my bee business has spread until bee keeping is my business or sole occupation. Besides establishing five apiaries of my own around in this section (as many bees as I can give proper atten tion to), I have furnished foundation stock from which many apiaries have been established in various sections of the South from the old mother hives. The ups and downs I had during this time, I have not space to describe in this small volume. If there is such a thing as a man being called to do certain work, I have been called to the field of bee culture, for I feel out of my calling at any thing else. Although I have mastered no little at eight other occupations, yet I feel more as if I am at my allotted work when I am among my bees than I do at any other of my trades. I have applied myself to bee-keeping in almost every conceivable man ner, keeping colonies of bees in glass hives in my bedroom and on my ver anda, keeping close and constant watch on them by day and by night. I have operated bees successfully and extensively for extracted chunk and comb honey m sections; I have traveled to and fro across the South, investi gating bee-keeping and the honey-plants in many sections; and if I did not know that there is a great future for the bee and honey industry here I would not attempt to write this book. While methods' of apiary work and bee-keeping differ m sections and locations, I hope to give you at least some practical thoughts along bee-keeping in your own location.