Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
you will probably end up with them). The frames should have standard wax
foundation wired into them. You may have to do this. Or, preferably, they should
be made of plastic and coated with a light film of beeswax.
A hive tool
In fact, buy several hive tools.
A good-sized smoker
Make sure this has strong bellows and a protective grid around it.
A bee suit
Buy a suit with a zip-up hood/veil.
Good gloves
Purchase gloves with gauntlets - and also a pair of gumboots.
Bees
Use a gentle strain if you can obtain them and take advice from local beekeepers
as to the best strain for your area. Be careful whom you believe. My advice would
be to use Carniolan, Italian or Cecropian (Greek) bees, especially if you want to
keep your bees in an urban area - but more of this in Chapter 5. Many of the
local experts whom you seek advice from will say: 'Oh, he (meaning me) doesn't
know what he's talking about - he's never lived around these parts - the best
bees for around here are . . .', and they'll go on about Lincolnshire frosts and
Rutland fogs and you'll end up obtaining a couple of hives full of savage little
horrors. I do know what I'm talking about, believe me. I've had them all! More
usually, though, you will take pot luck with a swarm or with a hive with bees
already in it.
