The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-01

THE IMPORTANCE OF HONEY FARMING

One of the most profitable crops
raised in Southern California is
honey. It is a source of profit to
thousands of people, not a few of
whom make a living by leasing " bee
ranches" and saving and marketing
honey. These g ranches are always
located up some canyon in the foot
hills. A level spot is selected near a
spring or running water, where
stands are erected for the hives.
From fifty to two hundred hives may
be in colony, according to the ex-
tent of the range for food and honey
plants, which are found by the
bees among the Towering shrubs and
trees that clothe the foothills of the
great ranges. Wild flowers in season
likewise furnish bee food and honey,
but not to the same extent as the
Towering shrubs. Stiff rents are
charged for these bee ranches, which
only confer a squatter's right but
the returns in favorable seasons are
very large, and the trouble attendant
upon the business is insignificant.
In fact, it is perpetual picnic during
the season, and the men and their
families engaged in the business
usually camp out, and emerge from
their isolated homes "brown as ber-
Fies,', but full Of health and the salts
faction of knowing that they have
enough honey to keep them comforts
able at least until the next season
comes round again.
The Importance of beekeeping, as
an industry, was brought out in a
very marked way at the late Inter
national Beekeepers' Convention,
held at New Orleans. During the
proceedings, one of the best known
beemen of Los Angeles county read a
paper on the subject of beekeeping
in California, in which, among other
figures, he gave the average produc-
ton per hive in his locality as 200
pounds. This statement seemed to
tax the credulity of the Eastern bee
men present, aud many doubts were
expressed as to the correctness of a
yield so far in excess of anything
known outside of California. But as
a matter of fact, the figures given are
we'll within rather than beyond
bounds, remarks the San Francisco
Chronicle, commenting upon this cir
cumstance. There have been many
observation-disclosures instances where
the yield per hive for one season has
averaged as high as 400 pounds, and
even as much as 600 pounds have
been extracted from a particularly
thrifty stock. Naturally such fig
ures seem out of all proportion to an
Eastern beekeeper accustomed to be
well content if he secures surplus
of forty or fifty pounds per hive. Bnt
it is a fact, nevertheless, and it is
doubtful if any other part of the world
can compete with the sagebrush re-
gion of Southern California in this
respect, or in the excellent quality of
the product.
We do not know what is the aver
age yield of honey per hive in these
Islands, because honey farming has
not been attempted here. a few
stands of bees have been kept, bat
nothing in the way of systematic
farming has been attempted. 1t is
far otherwise i'll Tahiti, where Ger
man resident introduced the italian
bee from Valparaiso, and a few years
ago had over 400 hives steadily work
ing. The beeswax and honey were
shipped in part to San Francisco.
but portion of the honey was dis
titled into brandy on the spot.
Several years ago italian bees were
shipped to New Zealand from Los
Angeles county, and so great has
been the increase that that colony
has not only ceased importing honey
but is now considering the advisa-
bility of exporting its honey product
to the London market. Why not
initiate these places, and raise a
large honey crop every year in these
Islands. 1t would pay better, at less
outlay in money and labor, than
most other things that might be at
tempted. The Hawaiian natives and
Portuguese should be encouraged to
keep bee and market the honey. 1t
would pay them well for their trouble
and enrich the country.