French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-21
THE BEE,

The United States Department OF
Agriculture is insisting that the farm
ers of North Carolina become more
actively interested in bee culture. The
survey of Bookkeeping in this state re-
Gently completed by the experts of that
department has revealed possibilities
of so inviting a character as to have
impressed the Agricultural Department
with the advantages North Carolina is
sleeping over. 1t wants the State
equipped with expert bee-keepers who
will work along the lines followed by
the farm demonstrators. Once these
experts give the people of the State an
insight into late and improved methods
of Bookkeeping there may be expected
to be a revival of the industry on a
large scale. The Department has
issued Bulletin No. 4S9, which is en-
tirely devoted to report on bee-keep
ing in North Carolina, and this bulle-
tin should have circulation in every
county. Any farmer, or any one inter-
ested in the subjects can secure
copy by addressing L. O. Howard, in
care of the Department at Washington
The expert sent into North Carolina
found great possibilities for CONNER
cial honey production under conditions
in this State. He cites the case of a
farmer and his son operating about 500
colonies in the northwestern part of
the State and making an average of
$3.50 from bulk combShoney, and of the
Iredell county farmer who. from AZ
colonies in 1913, received 1868 for his
crop of bulk-cOmb. He found that
near the center of the State a bee
keeper started the season of 1915 with
80 colonies. increased to 1875, and Sc
cured 5000 pounds Of bulk cOmb-honey.
for which he received more than $500.
In the southeastern part of the State
in 1914 a producer owning $50 colonies
secured 81 fifty-gallon barrels of ex-
tracted honey, selling for nearly $500.
In Alamance County 90 colonies in
1915 produced section comb-honey yield
ing nearly SO per colony, and the care
given was practically nothing, except
to hive swarms and to put on and re-
move supers.
The expert makes a review on the
mistakes of many of the bee keepers,
and then goes into some figures. He
| says the inadequate census statistics
for the year 1909 give the total colo
MES of bees on farms in North Caro-
lima as 1918. This. however, is far
| below the total number in the State.
Estimating the average production Of
10 pounds a colony at the conservative
figure Of IL 1-2 cents pound, the
present annual income from honey is
$2S6, 472. Increasing this to the CON-
servative estimate Of SO pounds U
colony. the average production or the
better bee keepers, gives an annual es-
tlmated increased production of 1884,
| 12o pounds. or an increase I'm revenue
| Of $945, $50. = It is difficult to estimate
the increased revenue which would
accrue from proper rendering OF wax
and from stopping the loss occurring
through the depredations OF the wax
moth. Again, using the census figures
for 1909. the annual output of waxEs
given as two-f1fths of a pound per
colony. With the adoption of wax
rendering methods now used by the
better bee-keepers, the output of wax
per colony would be doubled, making
the increased revenue from this source
$18,979. However, with other bee
! keeping methods, the production OF
wax may decrease, as it has else
where. This amount added to the es-
timated increase from honey makes
1884, 1863. 1t is obvious, therefore, that
with proper encouragement and direc
ton the Bookkeeping industry of the
State could in few years be increased
81 .000,000 annually.
The estimate given above, says the
report, is based on the number of bees
now in the State according to the cen
sus figures. 1t is possible also to add
to these numbers by more thorough
stocking of the field. as tons of nectar
are going to waste annually, Near the
center of Alamance county, for In
stance. in the Reighborhood of Mebane,
| there are about 1e0 colonies and MIN.
THrner, county agent for the south
ern half Of the county. who iG himself
bee-keeper, reports that practically
no bees are kept until the extreme
| southern end Of the county, % MfleS
! away. is reached. In view ct ali these
! facts the Government O@04als arEa
i that extension wOrk in bee keeping in
North Carolina be fNaMgHrated an
| quickly as circumstances will permit.
-GhaF1etto Observes.