THE PRACTICAL BOOK OF BEEKEEPING A complete how-to manual on the satisfying art of keeping bees and their day to day care David Cramp • An expert step-by-step guide from setting up, to hive management and harvesting, with 400 photographs • Guides you all the way from choosing and obtaining your bees, housing them and maintaining the hive through the year, to dealing with pests and diseases, and harvesting the honey. • Describes the flowers, plants, trees and crops that provide the best yield of nectar and pollen. • Offers a fascinating insight into the dynamics of the unique bee community. • Over 400 photographs, including step-by-step techniques and amazing pictures from inside the hive. Beekeeping must rate as one of the most interesting and satisfying hobbies. The structure and hierarchy of a beehive and the behaviour of bees is fascinating, and the end product, honey, is a fitting reward for a beekeeper’s care. This book gives information on the way the hive works, how to get your bees and transfer them to the hive and how to handle the bees. A useful calendar, packed with information, shows you at a glance when to inspect, maintain and repair the hive, and how to harvest the honey. It describes problems such as diseases and pests that can affect the bees, and suggests the best plants for a bee-friendly garden. About the Author:David Cramp has been keeping bees for over 30 years. For 12 years he produced organic honey in Spain before moving to New Zealand to manage a 4,000-hive beekeeping operation specializing in pollination and manuka honey production.