The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-02-09
<REPORy Cy tsNs
Ihc Committee % ~ Cete~ge,
To tho Ag,issAsraf asd eIaaical
Nnc;sfv Of sSsuskcy. Z 81 \. q

TO tho AgrissAsyaf and AeeSasiedl
Society Of Sumter. y NJ
The Commitsce regret that, from the
want Of practical experience, they are
unable ,o present sach report on the
subject IS they believe its importance
demands. 10 tIis county, bee raising
has NOT heretofore been engaged 10 to
any great extents or with view 70 IT.,
as a source Of profit, further than .
means Of iurnishinga supply of honey
for homo consumption, and consequent.
" little or no progress has been made,
either in the mode Of managing, or in
the knowledge OF the characteristics sud
habits Of the "busy little workcr."-
We all have been content to walk in
"the old beaten track" aud about all
the attention that We have given, is to
put the bees into box, aud when it
becomes full of comb, consign its in
mates TO pit of fire and birthstone and
nuke use OF their hard earned stores.
This being the case, it is small won.
der that there has been such littlo sue.
cess achieved that many persons consid-
er tho raising Of honey rather small,
affair. In this, as in any other pursuit,
intelligence, study, and close attention
are absolutely necessary to ensure sue
cess, but the Committee are clearly Of
opinion that, with these requisites, bee
culture can be made to yield as large
and perhaps larger interest on the
capital employed, than almost any 9TH
or pursuit. Tho following arc some ex.
amples of its profits, taken from work
on bee keeping, by D. l.. Adair, of Han.
cock Co., Ky.
"Mrs. L. s. Tuppcr, Of Iowa, reports
stock Of Italian bces that stored one
hundred aud fifty six pounds Of hon.
"A. w. Ford, Of Middleville, N. Y,
from one hundred and thirty stocks,
received six thousand pounds surplus
honey in boxes, and one hundred and
seventy new swarms."
"Charlcs Baumcl, of De Witt, Iowa,
commenced with one stock, which
swarmcd twice. The FIRST swarm stored
ninety pounds box hpey, while the
second swarm filled its hive, aud stored
thirty pounds"
81. N. NJ, St Charles, ILL.,, writes !:
[ have taken from three swarms of bees
seventy five pounds Of honey cach.-
From stock Of Italians, two hundred
pounds were taken; and sevcnty-fve
pounds each were taken from two stocks
that swarmcd out last spring for the
want of iood."
These results, though obtained at the
North, show conclusively that honey
raising is profitable, when properly
managed and We believe, that all that
is necessary to secure like results at
the South, is the same care of, and at
tention to tho bees. In other States it
is necessary 20 cultivate the flowers,
from which the bees may extract honey,
while we Of the South have the advan-
tage Of vast extent Of forests, which
abound wish flowers throughout the
greater portion of the year, thus saving
the necessity Of cultivating tho flowers,
beside. giving the bees much longer
time in which to work.
The first thing to be done, iu the
way OF improvements, is to do away with
our old fashioned log and box hives ;
and obtain those improvements which
arc in use in other parts Of the country
apd when we have these improved hives,
We must learn the habits. wants,
and dangcrs of the bees, so that We can
'id them when necessary, both in laying
up their stores, and iu successfully con-
ending with those enemies which 9th
,rwise may destroy them.
There is variety Of bees called Tta-
ians, which ore highly recommended,
IS being more industrious, less apt t"
ting, and as being, in every way, much
,cttcr than the common black bee but
he committee, not yet having obtained
hem, cannot speak of them from their
'wn Knowledge, but would recommend
II keepers of bees to obtain, and give
hem fair trial.
The committee would not be under
TODD as recommending bee culture as u
nrsuit to which the whole ofany ones
ime and attention should be given, but
My as one to which spare tine from
thcr callinGs, may, not only pleasantly,
ut pro6tably be devoted and which
'ay be mnde to Gil many corner of
ur pockets, which, otherwise, would
.mdin painful vacuum. We believe
,at our chief business here Mt the
onth, is cultivating the soil, manufac-
,ring our products, and their kindred
ursuifs; and that these smaller indus.
les, as thoy are sometimes called, shouH
e attended to in what are called |
odd moments" which are generally
,ent in idloncss.
Respectfully submitted
w. j. DURANT.
II. MASON REAMES.