Synopsis

For beekeepers and those interested in beekeeping.

An introduction and guide to the complex subject of beekeeping, an ancient pastime which has seen a recent revival in interest. Whether the reader is a novice or a professional beekeeper, this book will be a valuable addition to existing literature. The book is fully comprehensive, starting with the novice and ending with the semi-expert! It tells you all you need to know about taking up beekeeping on a small scale.

Starting Beekeeping

When and where; hives and beekeeping equipment; buying secondhand; understanding honeybees.

Siting Your Bees

Selecting a site; hiving your bees; feeding your bees; looking through the hive; avoiding bee stings.

A Thriving Colony

Adding supers; using a queen excluder; how bees forage; the honey flow; taking off honey.

Wintering Down

Preparing and feeding the hive for winter; mice, damp, wax moth and other enemies.

The Second Year

Spring cleaning; getting a second hive; oil seed rape; the 'June gap'; problems with a poor harvest.

Planning Ahead

Keeping the queen in charge; requeening; making a nuc. warming Why bees swarm; swarms in action; catching and hiving a swarm; drone laying queens and other problems.

The Third Year And Beyond Three years'

beekeeping summary; commercial beekeeping; migratory hives. Honeybee Products Honey for sale; honey for show; honey recipes; making mead; wax extracting; beeswax polish and candles; propolis' and medicinal properties.

Honeybee Problems

Killer bees; bee pests and diseases. Bees in History Beekeeping from BC to the present century.

Glossary

of beekeeping terms and information packed appendices.