The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-06-26

Location has as much to do WIN
the profitable keeping Of bees as any
other one thing. AS a general rule
it may be safely stated that any
section of our country where agricul-
ture in its varied branches, includ-
ing horticulture, can be successfully
carried on the business Of bee keep
ing can also be made successful. Per
haps the most profitable plan of keep
| ing bees in the South is, as with
| many other branches of our farm
| work. to carry on the business IN a
small way. An apary, consisting or
sexeral hundred colonies, in one place
would not be advisable or profitable.
Yet every farmer should have on his
premises i or 20 colonies, at least
enought hives to supply an abundance
! of pure honey for home use, and also
! to meet the demand Of local markets.
Honey is not only highly palatable
but it is healthy both for the young
and older members OF the family
Bread and honey is now more populal'
and useful than the peach and hone.
which was so common in the days OF
our grandfathers. However. nicely
strained. home raised honey was a
common dish on the tables of our
ancestors, and was always enjoyed
| by the members of the family and
| visitors as we'll
CHEAPNESS OF INDI STRY.
Any person who will give a little
time and attention to bee keeping will
be surprised at the heavy returns fur
nishcd for the little expense requlr7
ed each wear. \ start with two or
three colonies is quite enough with
! which to build up very respectable
apiary III a few years. But beeS.like
everything else. unless proper care
and attention be given them. will
not multiply the swarms and replen-
ish the hives with a surplus Of honey
during spring and summer. \ care
| lesSly constructed hive set ont in the
open weather without good sheltef
and placed on The ground wherS
! weeds and grass are allowed 10 grow
up and surround it. will be sure TO dis
appoint the owner when he goes out
for q supply of fresh honey. But
good clcsefittine hives can be cheaplv
constructed. swung on frames 10
| inches above ground and the land
near by can be easily kept clean and
free from thep rtScnce of weeds and
bushes. Bees naturally prefer the
country fields and forest in their
rapid flight from blossom TO blossom.
seeking the sweet nectar during the
busy season Of their work. IT is es
timated that a bee Will accumu
late a tcaSpoonful of honey during
the ordinary life period of its busy
existence. There are many profitable
aparies Of 30 or 40 colonies located
on the roof of tall buildings in some
Of our largest cities. In the heart
,.f 10
Gated. and has proven a profitable in
veStment to the owner. \ bee will
work anywhere YOU put it if there
is any material in the neighborhool
supplying the necessary ingredients
for filing the comb with honey. Bees
Will cover al 1.-The territory within ;
or miles surrounding the apiary.
and many worthless looking herbs
and shrubs will be made to yield their
pro rata part of the source from
whence the honey is obtained.
RETURNS FROM AN APIARY.
Agriculture. lige other branches Of
agriculture. depends largely upon the
location of the apary. and upon the
natural resources Of the surrounding
territory. The seasons also have con
siderable to do with the supply of nee
tar furnished so that no matter how
skillful the management, these out
side in nfiuenceS have much TO do wit
the profits in the business. In view
of these facts, it is more de sirable to
establish the apary as an ad diunct to
the regularly diversified system Of
farming than 10 undertake the sole
management Of an extensive apiary,
consisting Of several hundred colo
nieS The cost of both failure and the
care and attention is of small con
sequence when only a few hives are
on the premises. Fifteen to 90 colo
nies should be easily cared for on
every farm. and aside from the profit
paid the business is an extremely
| fascinating one to a person who has
an opportunity Of studying insects.
| never met a man who had the care
of bees but that he had grown fond
of them, and no subject was more in
terestng to him than the discussion
of his apiary. A fair estimate of
Weld per colony. if location is good,
would be about 80 pounds Of extracted
honey, or 20 pounds of comb honey
each year.
This estimate is. Of course based
upon good seasons and proper care
through the winter months Extract
ed honey is worth from to Z cents
per pound if Of good quality, and
comb honey from - to 13 cents. Each
hive then should give an annual gross
return Of from $500 to $3.50. If you
. deduct from this one-third to cover
the expense of care, repairs, labor
etc. the net profit per colony may be
safely arrived at. There is hardly
any other line of business on the farm
which will pay such handsome annual
dividends, on the investment.
HOW TO MANAGE BEES.
I have often heard it stated that
only a few people could successfully
! handle bees and that these little in