The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-06
Bee KeeDinG,

6y n. h. f1y0e, In FaFm ana Ranch.
 To the man that expects to make bee keeping his life vocation and wishes to depend upon it for his sole support. would say, came to South west Texas and get a good location while they are to be had. and to give a general idea of the profits of the business will take 100 colonies as a basis. They can be bought and put in the best hives with enough super room, and a good race of bees intro duced, for not over $500. A good equipment for handling these bees can be obtained for about $l0O or a total of $700.
 If run for bulk comb honey, in an averagel year, they will produce not less than 100 pounds per colony, which at the very low wholesale price of 2 cents per pound, is S700. Now for the expenses. Interest on investment at 10 per cent, $7O; cost of full sheets of comb foundation for the supers, 100 pounds at GO cents per pound, S6O; S4 cases of 2l60 S-pound cans for holding the honey, at SIPS per case, $105; 50 days work at $1 50 per day, $75; mis- cellaneous and incidental expenses, say $40; total of $350.
 If the apiarist is up-to-date and un. derstands his business he can increase his bees at least 50 per cent each year. and in no way injure his honey crop, and if he does, deductipg half for the cost of the new hives for this increase we figure fifty new colonies at $S each, $15O, which added to the $70O received for the honey crop is $S5o. gross reve- nue. Now deduct from this the ex- pense and we have $500 net revenue or 62 1-2 per cent clear profit after al- lowing for interest, Or an actual 72 1-2 per cent on the investment.
 The FarIpers' Bees.
 But whether you become a specialist and produce honey for the general market, every one and especially the farmer, should own a few colonies of bees in order that they may have the purest of all sweets on their table at all times. Honey should and can be made to take the place of syrup, and can be made to largely take the place of sugar. Honey is of vegetable ori- gin, predigested by the bees, in a large measure, and Is about the only food for man now eaten without some form or other of preparation before being placed on the table If the present generation would cease eating can su- gar and cane syrup and substitute honey in~Its stead. the results would be much healthier men and women and eSpeClally that dread mAlady Bright s Disease" would be a thing of the past. Honey is now being prescribed by our leading physicians and endorsed by all sanitariums as an article of diet for invalids and is being recommended for children and babies instead of sugar. If it is adapted for these, then it most certainly Is for healthy men and wo- men and the fact that the sales of honey is rapidly increasing every year and the demand is ahead of the supply. leads me to believe that the day will come when very little syrup and sugar will be used.
 As before noted, I especially com mend the farmers to keep some bees and produce enough honey for your own use, if not more. Begin in a small way, and if you like the business and it proves remunerative, increase your stock and give more of your time to it. To the fruit grower, l would say by all means get a few bees in or der to be sure that your fruit blooms are properly fertilized. To those in- terested l would be pleased to furnish further information desired.
 San Antonio, Texas