The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-27
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.
The Profits of Rec Keepiug-Jot

The Profits OF Bee keep1ng-JOhn
Allen, Of Michigan, gives US his expert
ence in the profits of bee keeping. He
commenced with ten swarms of bees on
his fathers farm. As he found there
was money in the business, he went into
it on a large scale. At the end of his
Fl rst season Mr.. Aliens expense account
reached S748, while some $3.50 was
credited to permanent investments in
the shape of tools, material, hives and
bees. On the other hand the net returns
for honey sold amounted to 1854
which presented, after the current ex-
penses above mentioned, a net cash in =
come of s., ,996 or about $50 per cent. O.
the investment. There was, moreover,
a large gain from increase, and improve
ment of stock, which, computed at the
market rates, would add to the cash
profits some $3.50. The whole gain,
therefore, on an investment of $3.50 was
not less than 1916, or about 454 per
cent. Of course every person who be-
gins bee keeping cannot expect such
striking success as this. Very few,
probably, will study the business as
carefully as Mr.. Allen did, or care for the
bees go attentively, even if they are
lucky enough to secure such favorable
locations. In spite of this warning,
however, some persons may rush into
bee culture, expecting to get rich in
a year or two without hard work. II
was so with fruit growing. At various
times during the past twenty years
sanguine people have looked forward tc
making fortune in short time from
an acre or two of strawberries or black
berries. Of course they were disap
pointed, and SO every person who hopes t
get rich quickly by keeping few bee
will miscarry. Money can only b
made in apiaries, or, for that matter, il
anything else, by thorough acquaintanc
with the business, and careful, per
sistent work from year to year.
The Old Farm Horse.-Alexande
Hyde, in the New York Weekly Time,
says to an inquirer: What disposition
+ to make of an old horse is a questio
that puzzles many farmers. He can
a be turned off for meat, not even fo
sausages. This may be orthodox i
= France, but is heterodox in this country
! To sell an old horse to a fish peddle
a after the beast has served US faithful
6 all his active life seems cruel, as he ma
fall into abusive hands, not that all fis
peddlers are cruel, but when the beast
once sold, we know not to how many c
what kind of owners it may be his Ii
to fall. To knock him in the head ma
@ seem to some more cruel, as in this eas
If they know of his untimely end, but i
e the other they are ignorant of the Ion
,e and lingering death he may die aftt
e long and abusive treatment. Rich me
L. may be as sentimental as they please
IS this matter, and may settle pensions g
r their old horses to insure good pasturas
p and kind treatment, but the averas
if farmer can't afford to give away
/, much sentiment, and his best plan is
le dispose of his horses before they getol
n If properly bred and trained they wi
S, sell at maturity for good prices-we
l. bred and well-trained horses alwa
x command good prices and pay well
t. the breeding and the training, and tt
t. farmer generally has relay of young
n horses upon which he can fall back
er use. The farm is good place for hors
re training, if the farmer has a taste tt
k. way, much better than the race-cour
er to develop good family beast, and
ks is great recommendation of ho1
k to sensible man looking for such
r beast that it has been educated on
is farm. Every man must dispose of
ss horses as an enlightened conscience m
ly dictate, but every farmer knows
le ought to know, that they are poor pre-
ly erty at almost any price.