Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-04-23
BEE KEEPING ON THE FARM.
By J. S. Ward, State Inspector Of
Apiaries

By J. S. Ward, State Inspector Of
Apianes.
The interest Ia bee keeping on the
farm is annually growing. More and
more is IL being realized that II is
profitable industry and that 1t can be
made TO yield larger profits for the
amount invested than any other ordi-
nary branch OF agriculture. How many
farmers make 9 per cent on their ordi-
nary farm Investments How many
make so or even 25 per cent on any Of
the side lines, such as poultry. sheep,
hogs, fruit growing and dairyingY In
intelligent, careful Bookkeeping one may
double his investment the first year
and have it all practically clear profit
in the succeeding years. In other
words, each swarm Of bees in a modern
movable frame hive will cost about SO,
and If given careful, scientific atten-
ton will yield the first year from 81
10 So, and sometimes more. After the
first year this annual cost will be only
about so cents per hive for wax
foundation and an occasional painting
A low average income from each hive
from year TO year will be about 49, A
number Of times | have been censured
at the close of my lecture on bee cult
ure for placing the annual yield per
colony at tins low figure 1851. My
compliments would claim SIS, $40 and
sometimes $l5 and 500 per hive Such
heavy yields are frequently obtained in
good honey years and where not too
many hives are kept in one place. Take
it from year to year, the average yield
from the large and small apiaries can
be conservatiyely placed at about IS.
Again, the labor required TO care for
an apiary of so or 100 stands is hardly
to be considered, for much Of the work
can be done at times when other farm
work cannot be done Having a good
honey house, the apiarist can work
during the cold, wet days of winter
mailing together and painting his
hives; wiring the frames and putting
in wax foundations, labelling his cans
and bottles. melting up old combs, etc.
When tho spring days come and the
honey flow is on, an average of one
hour each day in the bee yard putting
on empty supers and taking off supers
filled with honey will be a fair esti-
mate of the time required. The ex-
tracing of the honey or grading Of
Ia, s., b,
done at ones leisure on wet days Or
during the after-supper hours. OF
course, the amount of labor required de.
| ponds upon the size of the abiary and
the strength of the honey flow.
Observe that in all this | have re-
ferred to intelligent, scientific bee-kee2.
ing. am talking about the man who
has posted himself-knows how and is
aggressive Ignorance or carelessness
in Bookkeeping means failure. Don't at
tempt to keep bees unless you have
educated yourself in all the modern, up
to-date methods and expect to be care
full and energetic.
Tennessee offers many advantages
for Bookkeeping and with proper educa
ton and protection the industry could
easily be brought from an annual in
come of S25O,OOO, as at present, up to
the magnificent sum of S2,000,000 /,
not the possibility of such an asset tC
the people of the rural districts worthy
of consideration and attention Oul
winters are not so cold that bees have
to be put in cellars as in the Northern
States, where the losses from freezing
are heavy. Neither do we have to buy
expensive winter hives or winter cases
We simply see that the bees have plenty
of stores, and let them remain outdoor!
we have but little of the deadly be,
diseases in the state, and having OF
apary law and an inspector of apiaries
we hope to check the progress of thest
diseases, which have cost the agricult
ura interests in other states Thousands
and thousands of dollars. New Yorl
alone during the years 1899 and 100
spent over 100000 fighting foul brooc
diseases, to say nothing of the losse
in honey and wax and the use of tn
bees in the pollnation of fruit blooms
We will have no such losses in Ten
nessee.
Again, Tennessee's fora yields necta
in abundance. Many of its section
could be referred to as paradises 70
bees All over the state do we have i
the springtime acres and acres o
blooming white clover, from which W
get the finest of honey Scattered owe
the state are hundreds of farmers VIII
, are tied to the post Of constant toll fo
the necessities of life. The children 0
many of them are being deprived q
educational advantages to help sta
, the wolf from the door, when ther
, is enough honey going to waste in tn
fields, along the bitches, in the fenC
, corners, over the waste land and in tn
! forest to help make them independer
. if they would only bestir themselves I
the possibilities and gather in the ha
vest which nature has placed at the
doors.