Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-02-17
A Neglected Industry-Bee Culture.

There is one industry in this country
which is not overworKed nor oyercrowded,
and which offers reasonably large and
sure profits, because for its products there
isalways demand. II is one which
hundreds OF people can carry on without
interfering with their regular occupations,
and which might serve % give employ
ment to many now seeking labor, or adj
ditional incomes TO others of straitened
means. We refer TO Bookkeeping, and We
speak OF il now because the opening Of
spring Is good time for those who may
heed our advice 10 make beginning.
Out of the 10000, 900 people in this coun-
try only 10000 are beekeepers, and these
send TO market about 1900, 900 lbs. of
honey and wax yearly. Now to see how
enormously below the average of what the
country ought TO produce the above yield
is, we have only TO make a brief calcula.
ticn based on the assertion of the late
Mr.. Quinby, one OF the best and most
reliable authorities on agriculture. He
says that on an average every acre OF
ground ought TO yield one pound of
honey-cities and all, be 1t remembered !;
because IL has been practically demon.
strated that the bees will find excellent
materials for honey In the refuse and
garbage as well as in the few green spots
enclosed within brick and mortar walls.
There are ] 1897, 146, 240 acres in our ma
tional domain; and even If we deduct
fifty per cent. of this for utterly unin-
habited localities, the yield should be
about sixty times greater than il is. To
proceed step further, every pound of
honey 10 worth on an average twenty five
cents and each pound of wax thirty cents.
Taking the figures in the last census as a
basis, the value Of the annual product Is:
Wax, $3.50 1888, and honey, x3 676, 703 !;
total, x3, S66 ,04l. But this is only | 90
Of the value which might be produced,
and therefore the said possible value is
worth $40, 900 600; consequently there is
waste of 1886, 600 900 worth OF valuable
produce, which evaporates into the air.
One well known authority plainly asserts
that the amount of honey lost in Calitor-
mia alone yearly exceeds in value the
quantity Of gold gathered in the State
during the same period. The census says
that in 1870 there were but 1876 profcs.
sional apiaris;s in the country; a monthly
publication devoted entirely 20 discussion
OF bee culture is our authority for the
statement that, altogether, 10000 persons
keep bees. Only one person then out OF
every $40 In The United States Is engaged
In preventing the above-named waste, or,
more strictly speaking, in trying to divert
some Of the evaporated value into his own
pockets, one person in about every &c.,
600 Is engaged in doing this as an ex-
elusive business. The census says that
there are nearly 100000 clerks alone in
the country, clerks and statesmen be it
noticed, not employees In general, one 10
every IA Of the population. There Is
not year elapses that does not see hun
dreds Of young men and women swarm
ing into the great cities looking for cler.
zeal employment, nor can winter pass
that We are not brought face 10 face with
terrible destituiion, and merchants every
where are compelled to deny, for their
own immediate welfare, appeal after ap-
peal which strongly excites both sympa-
Thy and charitable feelings An adver-
nsement ~ daily journal Of this city
Tor clerical help results In answers by the