River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-04-06
Correspondence of Americ an Bee Journal.
Raa CuIfura

You have had no report from this part OF
Canada, to my knowledge, and as we intend
to figure somewhat prominently in "the bee
keeping future,'' will try to put together
hurried report, to give you an idea of what
we are doing Last season was much the
same here as in other localities; "Only about
half an average there was good flow OF
honey IN The latter part, however, and bees
went into winter quarters in good condition,
and came through with little loss. Our or
iginai bee keeper in this immediate vicinity
twho has kept bees in ''sortn OF way tor
about 20 years. wintered 80 colonies the past
winter. and sold down to 20 in the spring;
has made about 1900 lbs, about one third
comb honey and the resi- extracted honey,
and increased to sixty by natural swarming
Another neighbOr commenced the season
with 10; increased to DO and made 800 lbs.
extracted. My father wintered II out Of. -;
sold in the spring; increased to % and ex-
tracted 900 lbs. And now for my own report:
In the spring Of 1880 when my father s bees
began to fly The had bought a couple OF col
onies the autumn previous) | became en-
tranced with the little fellows, and then and
there became bee man. | hardly knew a
bee from black fly, but bees would have.
| bought colony of blacks tor $500; had 2
swarms; bought another first swarm, and
made about so lbs of honey from all. took
another colony from my brother to work on
shares; wintered the 5 safely, and started
out in April, 1881, to "make business" Of
| it. Bees were scarce, and very hard to get.
and only blacks at that l bought nine more
stocks mostly in box and straw hives. Some
| very weak and some queenless transferred
the whole 'business'' into new hives; bought
lot of foundation, and equalized them al
well as possible, for clover bloom. have
bought besides, II first swarms (all blacks
and now for results; | have extracted 1906
! lbs of first class clover and Eastwood honey
and have to-day 55,-lS Italian, II Cypryan
Holy Land; the remainder will be as the
others before the season closes. Glover and
Eastwood bloom was splendid, but since the
latter closed, we have had little or no honey
partly ON account of the hot, dry weather
| MY apiary has been so mixed all through the
season that it is hard to give any figures as
to results per colony; but find by prema
ture closing Of my books, that they will show
net gain OF 100 per cent on net investment
| in the spring. Next season the business viii
probably be in the hands OF my brother, lwht
is at present in your own apiary) while &
to prepare myself for position III the socia
and agricultural world, which | shall leave
for yourself to picture Now, friend Root
| can hear you say livery good friend c: but
80 carefully; go slow y at first till you &c
experience" promise will be careful, TO
guess know what care it has taken to pu
that little apiary in its present shape; yes
to build it up from nothing in months; bu
to 60 slowly, never | have great man
faithful advisers on this point, and woul,
say to all such who may read these lines
hat with all due respect for your good wish
es and greater experiences, please before yol
advise further come right here and step int
my shoes have lived quiet country lii
ON my fathers farm for 90 years; but ths
life is at an end now, and time is precious
time is money, education, influence, every
thing, ana time is short keep bees firstly
for the money that there is in them; second
ly and mostly, from a profound love of tn
great, the grand and beautiful in nature an
science. | have said nothing on the thous
and and one different points pertaining to thu
scientific culture OF the honey bee, but fea
this little report Is already too long; am
wishing you evsry success in your nobl
calling, close for the present
A. Z. CALVERT.