The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-08-13
MIR. PALMER SEES FORTUNES IN

by Rev. G. L. Palmer.)

magnitude of the bee industry can
not be obtained from the occasional
hive to be seen In the average rura
community. Nearly every farme
keeps few colonies to produc,
honey for home consumption, whil'
Z many make speciality of the apiar,
and keep hundreds and perhaps
thousands of hives. In certain parts
OF the United States whole farms are
devoted to this single industry with
perhaps the exception of fruit OF
poultry and the apiarist devotea tt
1t all his time. Notwithstanding the
enormous amount of honey produced
the market is never glutted with the
first quality, SO that the demand al.
ways exceeds the supply while The
inferior grades are used for culinar,
and medicinal purposes. And one OF
the most important considerations for
the producer Is that the price Is al
ways sufficient to make honey produc-
ins profitable.
There are many reasons why the
industry has assumed such splendid
proportions, 1t is something that
can be learned by almost every one,
though intelligence is conducive to
prosperity and satisfaction. ONLY a
very small amount Of capital is neces
sary in order to embark. One is con-
fident that the money will find an
open market, and the profit is large
considering the amount Of capital in
vested and the time required to care
for the bees. The number OF colonies
may be increased from time to time
with little or no expense, and the in
dustry is commanding the interest
and devotion of some OF our greatest
industrial leaders.
One Of the most potent reasons for
the growth of the bee industry is that
an apiary may be kept in almost any
locality Bees have been kept in the
garrett Of a dwelling and produced
sufficient honey for. the family. In
small cities and towns they are often
kept In the back yard of the houses.
and In large cities are found on the
fiat roofs of high buildings. The
most natural place however is on the
farm when they can gather pollen
without annoying neighbors or pedes-
trains.
While some keep bees to furnish
the family with honey, no doubt the
majority are in the business for the
financial profit to be derived from the
sale OF honey, wax, bees and the in
direct advantage of the fertilization
OF fruit trees. It is almost impossible
to give any idea of the profit of an
apiary since SO much depends on local
conditions. A strong colony will
usually produce from thirty to fifty
pounds of comb honey, which has a
market value Of about fifteen cents
per pound. This would make the
gross income from single hive TO
pe from six to seven dollars and fifty
cents. 1t Is estimated that one-third
should be deducted for expenses.
which would leave net profit of
from four to five dollars. A conser-
vative estimate would be clear prof
II OF four dollars per hive. Extracted
money is considered more profitable
than the comb. 1t is not unusual for
colony to produce one hundred
pounds of extracted, while exception
al instances are known in which four
hundred pounds of choice extracted
money have been obtained from
single hive The extracted usually
sells for little less than the comb,
OUT the market indications are that
tne price may eventually be the same.
with an average yield Of eighty
pounds at twelve cents per pound the
gross income from single hive
would be nine dollars and sixty cents
After deducting one third for ex-
penses clear profit of six dollars per
hive may be anticipated. This ac-
counts for the fact that many families
are making a comfortable living from
a small apiary of from fifty to one
hundred hives in connection with 7
fruit and fowls.
While any one of ordinary intellect
can inform himself respecting the
science OF bee keeping, it requires
steady nerves, patience and courage
70 put the theory into practice. Bees
appoint sentinels to guard the hive
entrance, which the intruder is very
apt to encounter especially If he is
awkard and nervous There are
some who cannot endure the sting of
bee, while others experience only
momentary inconvenience. The
usually finds it better to pro-
vide himself with gloves and veil.
N this way he can handle the baes