PREPARATION.
Before starting in the business, the prospective bee-keeper should inform himself in the art.
READ A GOOD MANUAL.
To do this, he should procure some good manual, and thoroughly study, especially the practical part of the business; and if accustomed to read, think and study, should carefully read the whole work. Otherwise, he will avoid confusion by only studying the methods of practice, leaving the principles and science, to strengthen, and be strengthened by, his experience. Unless a student, he had better not take a journal till he begins the actual work, as so much unclassified information, without any experience to correct, arrange, and select, will but mystify. For the same reason, he may well be content with reading a single work, till experience, and a thorough study of this one, makes him more able to discriminate; and the same reasoning will preclude his taking more than one bee-periodical, until he has had at least a year's actual experience.
VISIT SOME APIARIST.
In this work of self-preparation, he will find great aid in visiting the nearest successful and intelligent apiarist. If successful, such an one will have a reputation; if intelligent, he will take the journals, and will show by his conversation that he knows of the methods and views of his brother apiarists, and above all, he will not think he knows it all, and that his is the only way to success. Learn all you can of such, an one, but always let your own judgment and common sense sit as umpire, that you make no plans or decisions that your judgment does not fully sustain.
TAKE A COLLEGE COURSE.
It will be most wise to take a course in some College, if this is practicable, where apiculture is thoroughly discussed. Here you will not only get the best training as to your chosen business, as you will study, see and handle, and thus will have the very best aids to decide as to methods, system and apparatus, but will also receive that general culture, which will greatly enhance life's pleasures and usefulness, and which ever proves the best capital in any vocation.
DECIDE ON A PLAN.
After such a course as suggested above, it will be easy to decide as to location, hives, style of honey to raise, and general system of management. But here, as in all the arts, all our work should be preceded by a well-digested plan of operations. As with the farmer and gardener, only he who works to a plan can hope for the best success. Of course, such plans will vary, as we grow in wisdom and experience. A good maxim to govern all plans is, "go slow." A good rule, which will insure the above, "Pay as you go." Make the apiary pay for all improvements in advance. Demand that each year's credits exceed its debits; and that you may surely accomplish this, keep an accurate account of all your receipts and expenses. This will be a great aid in arranging the plans for each successive year's operations.
Above all, avoid hobbies, and be slow to adopt sweeping changes. "Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good."