Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-14
Bookkeeping by Farmers.

Bee-keepIng Dy Farmers. r. yft f.vy
Jasper Hazen, the veteran bee keeper,
says in the Country Gentleman
There are two reasons why farmers
should keep bees First, because theil
occupancy of land places them in the
right localities to improve the whole
honey field; and second, because their
occupancy of the field entities them to
it's haryests. Can it be made profitable ?
It would hardly be profitable to make il
q principal business; as an incidental
business, it may afford them a large re-
turn for very moderate outlay and
trifing expense. -Four hives of suffi-
Gent size, with surplus honey recepta-
cles for 400 pounds of honey, would
cost say $25; four sWarms of bees
would, at five dollars each, cost $40
making an outlay of $45. The first year
they would give, in "a good field and
season, 1913 pounds of surplus, more
or less, according to the season, amount
ing, at 80 cents per pound, to 1913. 40.
The second season would yield 500
pounds, or sss150-am ounting in the two
seasons to $1SS.4O This gives more
than four times the cost in two seasons;
and the average for many seasons may
equal this, with no additional expense
save the supply of new honey-boxes an
nually. [ give the above figures from
the results of actual experiment, hay
ing received the average given from
four hives the first and second seasons,
they being the first two seasons in
which I placed swarms in the Eureka
hives. and the honey was SO white and
fine that it brought me 30 cents per
pound. .......,s-..
Let me advise my farmer friends how
to proceed in this matter. Get from
one to four hives; according to your
honey field and faith; Ike them to q
bee-keeper, who will place a good first
swarm in each hive; and remove them
home. Or if the seller is pleased to let
them stand till fall, place boxes on
them and let them stand till then. At
the proper time in the fall remove the
boxes, and take all home. With hives
SO constructed as to prevent the dispo-
sltion to swarm, and the number linn
tied to the capacity of the field, I have
no doubt they would sometimes do bet
ter than this, as have had 200 pounds
from one hive In one season. On this
plan, there is little to do but to placeand
remove the boxes in the proper time. If
the hiveisso constructed as to give ample
room in the breeding and wintering
apartment, feeding is rendered I'M
necessary. If proper means are used to
give room in the surplus boxes for all
the colony the whole season, before any
is made for swarming, and
the hives are effectually shaded from
the sun, no Watching for swarms will
be required, and no time necessarily
devoted to them but to put on the sur
plus boxes in season and remove them
when full; and this may even be done
by neighbor accustomed to the bust
ness, if one is apprehensives of danger
in performing these, or anyother opera
lions about the hive. .r.# AL. ..
When [ feel assured in my mind
that millions of dollars worth of honey
is lost every year, of which the farmers
of the country might avail themselves,
and for their expenses and trouble get
two, three or four hundred per cent. in.
clear profits, I can hardly be satisfied
that this state of things shonld be con-
tinued, or such trifing efforts be made
for securing such an advantage, both to
the farmers and the public. I think [
have suggested this before, but its I'M
portance, in my estimation, iustifes it's
repetition. [ think this interest is suf-
Important to deserve the con-
sideration Of all our agricultural jour
nails, and is worthy of a place in the
agricultural department of all the
newspapers published and circulated
for 4he benefit and Instruction of the
public generally. ksEE.$ .:t3.e