As to tools wearing out with use, I will say that I have extracted 40,000 lbs. (20 tons), in the last two summers with a four frame “Novice” geared extractor with no appreciable wear, and my honey knives are as good as when first bought. A well made hive should last a lifetime, so that the depreciation in value of utensils is more imaginary than real. No. 4. Given a _properly arranged hive_ and appropriate tools a man can extract from 120 to 140 lbs. per hour, say 1200 lbs. per day. In four successive days last July I extracted and filled into cans 5,200 lbs. of honey, working about eight hours each day extracting and filling cans from the tanks mornings and evenings. Hives in my apiary average about 40 lbs. each extracting. No. 5. In regard to the number of colonies an apiarist could oversee, it depends more on the talent and genius of the overseer than upon the number of colonies possessed. While one man can direct and control hundreds of employés, another cannot even manage his own labor to lead to the best results. At some future time I would like to describe, in your Journal, the best and speediest methods of extracting honey in large apiaries as practised in this country. _Santa Paula, Cal_. _INSTRUCTIONS TO BEGINNERS._ BY THE EDITOR. There are, properly speaking, two systems of keeping bees: the one adapted to the needs of the expert and specialist who keeps a large number of colonies and devotes his entire time and attention to the pursuit; the other adapted to an apiarist who keeps bees in connection with some other business, either for the pleasure and recreation, or for the purpose of adding another source of income. The latter class constitute the majority of the beekeeping fraternity and only too often are their needs overlooked by those who write upon the subject of apiculture. While we are aware that if one is adapted to beekeeping, and enters into it properly in a favorable location and masters it that success will follow; yet, as a rule, we advise keeping bees in connection with some other vocation, as when one becomes thoroughly familiar with all the requirements of beekeeping it is an easy matter to enlarge his apiary. Then, again, a few colonies properly managed will generally give far better results than can be obtained from a large apiary. Those who are just commencing should remember that the less they handle their bees, and yet accomplish what may be required, the better for their colonies. If one is naturally nervous, it is best to wear a bee veil at first and when manipulating the colonies work gently and avoid jarring or fretting them. When looking for the queen, blow a little smoke in at the entrance as this causes the queen to run up on the comb and the bees that may be running about on the bottom board will fill with honey. One of the first steps for the beginner is to decide, as far as possible, to which class he intends to belong, and what amount of capital he can safely invest.