Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-08-21
BEE KEEPING IN ENGLAND.
Profit in the Industry--Impfovements
in Collecting Honey.

1t is generally acknowledged that bee
keeping Is one of the most lucrative OF
British rural industries. Although in
some seasons the return o. surplus honey
Is not so good as one would wish, in
consequence of bad weather at the period
OF the comparatively short honey how,
yet on an average of years the return OF
honey per hive is such as to warrant
the sinking of a moderate amount CT
capital in the industry with the reason
able likelihood of "a good rate of interest
being obtained.
The pitfall to be guarded against In es-
| timating the amount OF profit likely TO
accrue from bee keeping is that of reck
oning by the rule of three on the basis Of
the returns obtained from two or three
hives. IL net profit of ft per stock
can be made on each OF these, il is a fall
lacy to suppose that E100 per annum
could be made on 100 stocks; yet some
enthusiastic amateurs are inclined to
take this optimistic view of the matter
IL must be recollected that when only a
few hives are kept the surplus honey
can generally be sold at high price 20
friends and acquaintance, whereas
when a large number are worked not
only does the wages bill sometimes
amount to an appreciable sum. but the
surplus honey has TO be disposed OF At
wholesale prices, which are from % 10
40 per cent. lower shan those obtained
when the honey is sold retail,
Still, bee farming can be made to
pay well in Great Britain when the bee
keeper has had the requisite experience,
and provided the district selected Is one
specially suitable for the industry that
is TO say. one which possesses an abund-
ance of producing plants and
trees.
During the past thirty.four years the
British Bee Keepers association mas
done much TO spread knowledge OF the
advantages of modern bee keeping over
the old-fashioned method of keeping bees
in straw skeps and then destroying the
industrious little workers IN the autumn
by sulphur fumes in order 10 obtain the
honey. At its best this pressed honey.
which was often contaminated with
juices of crushed larvae and other i'm
purties, was not to be compared with
the delicious comb honey now obtainable
in sections, or with the extracted honey
taken from shallow frame supers that
are always above the brood nest. The
work Of the association is mainly educa-
tive, and every year a large number Of
persons are awarded certificates of pro-
iieiency in agriculture, the highest Of the
three classes, the frsts, being a much
coveted honor. Practically all the bee
keeping associations in England are af-
iiliated with this association, the hon
orary secretaries OF the former being
entitled to seat on the council of the
parent association. The good work
which it carries out is limited solely
by the funds at its command.
Many cottager depends upon the sur
plus honey obtained from his bees, when
they are kept upon modern methods, to
pay II goodly portion Of his rent, aud
there are countless persons in Great
Britain who are unaware of the fact
that they could do the same without
much hard work, and with a thorough
enjoyment which is known only to a bee
keeper.--London Mail