The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-05-03
AGRICULTURAL.

10 the question "DOes bee keeping
payI" we find that MfcheWs Bee
Keeping Directory advances this argu-
ment: 1--WE will base our estimate
first upon the poorest, and from that
up 10 the best sections Of the county.
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
i've thousand pounds Of honey. Sell
thst at twenty cents a pound, and we
have one thousand dollars for our crop
OF honey. Our next estimate we will
make upon Il fair locality for honey,
aud in this our lowest estimate on one
hundred colonies would be one hum
dTed 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 n
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 a 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
MES or bees in a single year. There
are localities In the United States where
bees will ever do better than this. In
our estimate w have supposed the bee
keeper to have a thorough knowledge
of agriculture, 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 ONE
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 a pc
culiar talent and taste for it. 1t Is very
easy TO figure up a profit upon paper,
but such figuring usually fails to OBJ
tain a 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 1t on the basis of
the above calculation.
Cost OF A 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 a difference in the quality of the
soil, the more skiltul 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 lin
labor but little more than one of fifty,
thus reducing the cost per bushel nearly
4 pCA OAlt AohlhE lOIll DubUClE
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
all unusual amount of artificial manure
applied; this was charged to the ac-
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 manur and
labor to the remainder.
A SMALL FLOWER GARDEN.-A writer
in the Western Farm Journal recommends
for a small flower garden the following
list, as they do not require treatment,
are good sturdy varieties, will stand
neglect, yet do well! Asters, balsams,
d~ianthus, petunias, phlox, ~calliopsls,
v%erbenas, sweet peas, mignonette, Gin
MAS, marigolds, and pOrtulaccas. The
same writer again says: "Ihe plants
l have named will afford a profusion of
flowers from June to October. Phlox
will be the first to blossom, and then
petunias will come on, and both of
these flowers continue to increase in
beauty until hard frOsts come. Asters
will be in perfection in August and
September. Calliopsis begins to blossom
in July, and nearly all the others come
on early in that month. If old flowers
are removed and not allowed TO go TO
oann unn will haun q YntInh nrnofar mn
fusion of bloom. If you do not remove
faded flowers, but allow them to perfect
seed, you will Don see that your plants
are losing a large share of their former
glory. You can't expect a plant to
ripen seed and blossom p~rofusely at the
same time"
Cows COMING FREsH.-Some dairy
men insist that the COW, o after calv-
ing, should be allowed to go to the
trough and take all the cold water that
the appetite Graves. We do not approve
of this course, preferrlng to give her a
pail Of tepid water in which a little bran
is mingled making a thin cruel. Our
practice has been to give freely tepid
water, or sufficient TO satisfy thirst, and
not to allow cold water from the trough
until the third day, and not then if the
COW seems to be weak or ailing. 1t is
important that the milk from the udder
be completely drawn soon after the cow
has calved, and If the bag is swollen or
infamed it will require attention in this
respect, frequently three or four times
during the gay. 80 Don az the fever
ish condition of the COW incident to
calving, shall have subsidized, generous
feed should be given, bran mashes at
first which may be increased gradually
with additions of oaten meal and rations
of roots OF which mangolds and carrots
are best, as they give no unpleasant
flavor to the milk.
IF AMERICAN agriculture has an UNI