The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-29
The PROFITS Of Hee Keeping.

by Professionals as well as Catholics. NJ. ". II.
The Fronts Of Bee Keeping.
Under the title Of The blessed Bees, the
putnams have published n valuable aud inter-
csting treatise on the management Of apiarios.
by JoHN ALLEN W Linnswick. near Howard
City, Michigan. This book combines in rare
and admirable degree the charm Of literary
treatment with iudicous. sober. lucid oxposi-
tion OF technical principles ard processes Tho
author undoubtedly presents a strong case Tor
bee culture ns q means of adding TO the income
Of our farming population. and We should not
be surprised 10 learn that his experience fort-
He'd rs It Is by a quantity Of data from Other
sources. had given a notable stimulus TO this
species OF industry
1t seems that Mr. Aliens attention was first
directed TO the subject by nm assertion in
pamphlet. written by one of the professors in
the Michigan Agricultural College. to the efroct
that tho Inter had derived not gain Of 500
per cont. during single scnson from an in
vcstment in bocs This statement at first app
peared wildly cNtrayagant but whom the author
cana to compare Il with the proceeds Of ten
swar,ns in box hives on HIS fathers farm. tho
ahsurlity vanished. II turned out that on this
Investment. managed after the most primitive
plan. more than 81 } per cent. had actually been
cleared and Il seemed reasonable to conclude
that with Italian bees in movable-comb hives
and the sA.ltu use Of all modern appliances. a
much larger profit might be secured. He de-
termined to make the venture on n scale Of con
siderable magnitude and the results Of the ex-
pertinent are set forth in this little volume. For
the numerous directions and suggestions COW
crng every topic belonging to the breeding
feeding. md keeping Of bees and TO the i'm
refer the reader to tho book itself But the pc
cuniary fruits Of the attempt and the general
counsels offered 10 those who may be tempted
10 engage in this industry will deserve brief
notice.
At the end ~ his hrst season Mr.. Aliens ex-
ncnse account reached t7Is. while some sS80
was credited 70 permanent Investments In tho
shape OF tools. materials. hives. and bees. On
the other hand the net returns for honey sold
amounted 20 s3.74i. which represented. after
dcducting the current expenses above mem
toned. a net cash income Of 81. 996. or about
800 per cent. on the investment. There was
moreover. large gain from increase and i'm
provcmcnt Of stock. which. computed at the
market rates. would add TO the cash profits
some $3.50. Tho whole gain, therefore,
on an investment Of $3.50 was not less
thnn 1870. or about i54 per cent. OF course
every person who begins bee keeping cannot
expect such striking success rs this. Very few.
probably will study the business rs carefully rs
Mr.. Allen did. or care for their bees so attcn-
lively. even II they are lucky enough 10 secure
such favorable locations. In spite OF this warn
ing, however. some persons may rush into bee
culture. expecting to get rich in year or two
without hard work. II was so with fruit grow
ing AtNarious times during tho past twenty
years sanguius people have looked forward to
max ing a fortune in a short time from an aero
or two Oi Strawberries. or blackbcrrics. or
course they were disappointed. and SO every
person who hopes e. get rich quickly 10y keep
ing few bees will mscarry. Money can only
be made In aniarics. or. for that matter in any
thing else. by thorough acquaintance with the
business and by careful persistent work from
year 10 year.
To keep bees by the improved modern meth
DDS requires Intelligence and energy. Only
clover men and women can learn the structure
and instincts of the bee and then wisely adapt
the management OF the hive 10 the insects'
curious economy. II IL only. too. by vigilant
and tireless industry that the bcekecper can be
perfectly ready 90 reap tho harvest Of honey
when II comes only By energetic measures can
lie prepare his bees for the cold weather and
winter ylcm without loss. But with this ability
I
ant'and. with the new appliances a. certain
and profitable as almost any calling that
can bee named. Bee keeping. indeed. seems
"a he business which might be developed
In an cVten, Unprecedented in English speak
INK countries. II may be made great indus
try. like tobacco growing or butter and cheese
making. There are but lew noighhorhoods in
the United states where bees enough are now
kent 10 gather the honey which the flowers OF
field, forest orchard. and swamp produce.
Pro-. Cook ~ tie Michigan Agricultural Col
lege maintains that. at low estimate. each
township IN that state could produce every year
honey worth $1,000. Extending this calculation
over tho whole couutry-and Michigan is prob
ably an average state IN this rogard-we should
make the houey-producing capacities Of tho
| Union not less than 23,5u0.O0O a year Tho
author cites q number Of beckcepcrs who. with
from 80 10 200 hives. gain at least thousand
dollars yeur from their stock. And it is his
/ deliberate conviction that for those who will
patiently follow bee keeping Tor a livelihood.
bringing To- 1.-THE sHme business qualities than
I insure success in other callings. no branch OF
/ rural industry offers better chances Of success
/ 20 the Intelligent man or woman.