FIRST:

Honey Farming

R.O.B. MANLEY

ISBN  0-907908-45-4

“It is a fact that virtually all those who become interested in beekeeping in this country are initiated into the mysteries of the craft of beekeeping via the teachings of amateurs, who are, in fact, nothing more than enthusiasts who keep bees purely as a hobby...”                                                               (Page 275, fourth edition, 1985)

“It is a very good rule, when you are trying to pick up knowledge of beekeeping, or any other matter, to be careful whose ideas you accept. If you have no ideas of your own, you are ...”                                                    (Page 282, fourth edition, 1985)

“You will find that the beekeepers of this country are divided into camps - factions. It is something like religious fanaticism. There are the orthodox and the rest. That is to say, each party considers itself right and all the rest wrong, for all religions are orthodox from the view-point of their votaries. Each ‘sect’ has its own hierarchy, and clings to the tenets of its particular creed without much regard to reason, but with great persistence and faithfulness...”                        (Page 282, fourth edition, 1985)

_NEXT:

BEEKEEPING AT BUCKFAST ABBEY

ISBN  0-907908-37-3

“According to tradition hives should face south-east or south, but our experience has shown that the direction a hive faces makes not the slightest difference to the amount  of honey a colony will gather. There are in fact advantages in facing them in a northerly direction as such colonies will stay much more quiet in the autumn and winter...”                                                                 (Page 22, fourth edition, 1987)

“While we fully appreciate the outstanding qualities of the western European dark bees - of which we kept as many as 100 colonies at one time - we would never again consider giving them an extensive trial. Their undesirable traits far outweigh their good points...”                                                        (Page 16, fourth edition, 1987)

“Indeed, it is only in cross-bred stock that the beekeeper can hope to secure the full benefit of a highly developed pure strain...”                 (Page 15, fourth edition, 1987)

Experienced beekeeper or    newcomer: reading

is a must  !