Purchasing Stock And Transporting Bees

Categories: PURCHASING STOCKS AND TRANSPORTING BEES.
Bee Keeping: Mysteries Of Bee-keeping Explained

If the reader has no bees, and yet has had interest or patience to

follow me thus far, it is presumptive evidence that he would possess

the requisite perseverance to take charge of them. It would be well,

however, to remember the anxieties, perplexities, and time necessary to

take the proper care, as well as the advantages and profit.



But if you are disposed to try the experiment, very likely some

directi ns for a commencement would be acceptable.





WHY THE WORD LUCK IS APPLIED TO BEES.



There has been so much uncertainty in stock of this kind, that the word

_luck_ has been made to express too much. Some have been successful,

while others have failed entirely; this has suggested the idea that

_luck_ depended on the manner that the stocks were obtained; and here

again there seems to be a variety of opinions, as is the case always,

when a thing is guessed at. One will assert that the "fickle dame" is

charmed into favor by stealing a stock or two to begin with, and

returning them after a start. Another, (a little more conscientious,

perhaps) that you must take them without _liberty_, to be sure, but

leave an equivalent in money on the stand. Another, that the only way

to get up an effectual charm, is to exchange sheep for them; and still

another says, that _bees must always be a gift_. I have had all these

methods offered me gratis, with gravity, suitable to make an

impression. And, finally, there has yet another method been found out,

and that is, when you want a few stocks of bees go and buy them, yes,

and pay for them too, in dollars and cents, or take them for a share of

the increase for a time, if it suits your pecuniary resources best. And

you need not depend on any _charm_ or mystic power for your success--if

you do, I cannot avoid the unfavorable prediction of a failure. It is

true that a few have accidentally prospered for a few years; I say

accidentally, because when they have no true principles of management,

it must be the result of accident. It is a saying with some, that "one

man can't have luck but few years at once," and others none at all,

although he tries the whole routine of charms. Nearly twenty years ago,

when my respected neighbor predicted a "turn in my luck, because it was

always so," I could not understand the force of this reasoning, unless

it belonged to the nature of bees to deteriorate, and consequently run

out. I at once determined to ascertain this point. I could understand

how a farmer would often fail to raise a crop, if he depended on chance

or luck for success, instead of fixed natural principles. It was

possible that bees might be similar. I found that in good seasons the

majority of people had luck, but in poor seasons, the reverse, and when

two or three occurred in succession, then was the time to lose their

luck. It was evident, then, if I could pass in safety the poor seasons

by any means, I should do well enough in good ones.[21] The result has

given me but little reason to complain. My advice therefore is, that

reliance should be placed on proper management, instead of luck,

arising from the manner the first stock was obtained. Should any one

feel disposed to make you a present of a stock or two of bees, I would

advise you to accept the offer and be thankful, discarding all

apprehension of a failure on that account. Or if any one is willing you

should take some on shares, this is a cheap way to get a start, and you

have no risk of loss in the old stock. Yet if bees prosper, the

interest on the money that stocks cost is a mere trifle in comparison

to the value of increase, and you have the same trouble. On the other

hand, the owner of bees can afford to take care of a few hives more,

for half the profits, which he has to give if another takes them; this

is apt to be the case, especially, with such as have no faith in charms.



[21] There are sections of country where the difference in

seasons is less than in this.