Connecticut western news., 1877-05-11
AGRICULTURAL.

PROFIT OF BEE KEEPING.-In answer tp the question ''Does bee keeping pay2" we find that Mitchelt's Bee Keeping Directory advances this argu- ment: ''We will base our estimate first upon the poorest, and from that up to the best sections of the country. One hundred colonies in the poorest section of the country for honey would produce fifty pounds surplus combed honey to the hive. That would give us five thousand pounds of honey. Sell that at twenty cents a pound, and we have one thousand dollars for our crop of honey. Our next estimate we will make upon a fair locality for honey, and in this our lowest estimate on one Hundred colonies would be one hum dred pounds to the colony or ten thou sand pounds in all. Sold at twenty cents per pound would be two thousand dollars. Lowest estimate upon one hundred colonies in medium locality, would be two hundred pounds, or in all twenty thousand pounds of honey |; sold at same price as above, would be the snug sum of four thousand dollars. Lowest estimate made upon one hun dred colonies in 8 good locality is three hundred pounds, or in all thirty thou sand pounds. Sell as before and we get six thousand dollars. Lowest and last estimate we will make upon a very good locality would be four hundred pounds to the colony, or in all forty thousand pounds. Now sell as before and we have the snug sum of eight thousand dollars, the work of one hundred colo nies or bees in single year. There are localities in the United States where bees will even do better than this. In our estimate we have supposed the bee keeper to have thorough knowledge of apiculture, so as to be able to handle or work the bees to the best advantage. In our estimates we have not counted increase of colonies, neither do we ex- pect any"
 We have no data at hand with which to disprove this argument, but some- thing must be wrong or we would find more engaged in the business, and the retail price of the product would de- crease. Like all other callings, to be successful, it must be followed by pe- culiar talent and taste for it. It is very easy to figure up profit upon paper, but such figuring usually fails to ob- tain confirmation in practice. If by any system of management one hundred colonies of bees can be made to yield eight thousand dollars profit it is time it was known, but we would advise caution in going into it on the basis of the above calculation.
 Cosr OF BUsHEL OF CoRN.-In look ing over the various agricultural re- ports in our library we have repeatedly been surprised in the wide variation in the estimates of the cost of producing a bushel of corn. The highest we have noted is fOrty-twO cents, and the esti- mates vary from this down to seven and eight-tenths; 1t would seem that the average cost in the State of Massachu- sets is but a small fraction less than tWenty-one cents. This is no doubt due to difference in the quality of the soil, the more skilful use of manure in one case, the use of less hand labor and more horse culture, and the more pru- dent general culture. A crop of one hundred bushels per acre costs Gin labor) but little more than one of fifty, thus reducing the cost per bushel nearly fifty per cent. Taking forty bushels per acre as an average, we can readily see that any increase on this will cost less per bushel than one of the original forty. In the estimate of seven and eight. tenths cents per bushel, there was an unusual amount of artificial manure applied; this was charged to the &C., count, and hence the investment paid. In many cases the use of manure and the concentration of labor are the grand elements of success. Many farmers would attain better results if they would plant and cultivate one-half their pre- sent area and apply all the manure and labor to the remainder.
 
 A SMALL FLOWER 'GARDEN.-A writer | in the Western FdTns Journal recommends | for small flower garden the following list, as they do not require treatment, are good sturdy varieties, will stand neglect, yet do we'll: Asters, balsams, dianthus, petunias, phlox, calliopsls, verbenas, sweet peas, mignonette, cin. nias, marigolds, and portulaccas. The same writer again says: "The plants have named will afford a profusion o1 flowers tIom June to October. Phlo3 will be the first to blossom, and then petunias will come on, and both o1 these flowers continue to increase in beauty until hard frosts come. Asters will be in perfection in August anC September. Calliopsis begins to blossom in July, and nearly all the others come on early in that month. If old flowers
 
 seed, you will have much greater pro fusion of bloom. If you do not remove faded flowers, but allow them to perfec seed, you will soon see that your plants are losing large share of their former glory. You can't expect plant tt ripen seed and blossom profusely at thu same time."
 Cows COMING FREsH.-Some dairy men insist that the COW, soon after calv ing, should be allowed to go to tn, trough and take all the cold water tha the appetite craves. We do not apprOv' pail of tepid water in which a little bral is mingled making thin gruel. Gu practice has been to give freely tepit water, or sufficient to satisfy thirst, ant not to allow cold water from the trOugl until the third day, and not then if tn COW seems to be weak or ailing. It i important that the milk from the udde
 be completely drawn soon after the GOV has calved, and if the bag is swollen O.
 inf1amed it will require attention in thi respect, frequently three or four time during the day. So soon as the fever ish condition of the cow incident t ,, calving, shall have subsided, generou l feed should be given, bran mashes a first which may be increased gradual, , with additions of oaten meal and ration of roots of which mangolds and carrot are best, as they give no unpleasan , flavor to the milk.
 IF AMERICAN agriculture has an un
 satisfied need, it is surely the need fo ,, more intelligence and more enterprisin
 interest on the part of it's working me- :, and women. From one end of the Ian to the other, it's crying defect 2 nized by all-is that it's best blood-ol in other words, it's best brains and it 3 best energy-is leaving it to seek othe i; fields of labor. The influences whic s lead these best of the farmers sons t