Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-01-09
Bees on the Farm.
Written by Alton n. Porter of South Paris
for the Maine Farmerl

for the Maine Farmer.)
On many farms there 10 an opportu'
nifty Afforded the general farmer to keep
few colonies Of bees. The honey bee
has gained . rather questionable reputa'
tion because of ito ability to protect 10
self against all comers. Tho fact thai
the bee can and does use Its stinger on
certain occasions has caused many farm.
ers to pass up this opportunity to sup
ply the home with pure honey.
Bee culture is the best means OF saving
for human food the nectar of flowers
which are found to some extent In oil
parts Of the country. This valuable food
would be entirely lost II not gathered
and stored by the honey bee. In addi.
tion to the storing of honey, the bee per-
forms other services for the farmer; 1t Is
the most valuable nf all insects In CROSS
pollination of the flowers of vegetables,
fruits and many other plants.
The cost of colony of bees, together
with all necessary equipment, is very
small In comparison to the returns
received In money. Many first-class
beekeepers get enough money each
year to pay for the entire investment.
On the average, single colony will pro-
ducs each season from 20 to 80 pounds
of extracted honey, or from 40 to 30
pounds of comb honey. There are sew
eral factors, however, which determine
the amount of honey that will be stored
by the bees.
The number of nectar secreting
plants that are within range of the apiary.
2 The weather conditions must be Ia.
vorable to nectar secretion.
8 The colony should be at its great
est strength during the honey flow.
The first factor depends on the plants
that are growing within three or four
miles of the apisry. 1t will be very
profitable for the farmer to have fields OF
nectar secreting plants such as clovers,
alfalfa and buckwheat, within range OF
the apiary. The second factor depends
largely upon the season, aud is beyond
the control of the beekeeper. The third
factor depends on the skill Of the bee
keeper in the manipulation OF the colo
ny. A large number of mature workers
should be ready to gather the honey when
the flow Is at its height. There are
number of points in the manipulation OF
bees that must be learned by actual ex.
perience before the novice can expect
maximum returns. There are but few
other sidelines that may be taken up on
the farm which can make an equal show
ing with bees, considering the expendi-
ture of time and money. Bee culture
does not require great deal of labor,
but careful planning and manipulation
are necessary to get the best results. On
favorable years, anyone can produce
honey, but at times when nectar Is
scarce, the skill of the beekeeper Is tax.
ed to the utmost.
Bee culture is very fascinating occu-
patton. The routine of the farm Is
iightened by few hours spent in the
apiary. Old people find much enjoy
mept and recreation in the manipulation
of the hives, and In many cases women
have been very successful beekeepers. A
boy or girl on the farm will usually take
genuine interest In the study OF the
various activities of the bee, which bas
for ages been an important subject for
Investigation.
Scientists state that honey is superior
In actual food value to most other foods.
It may be served In the natural state or
used az an important Ingredient In cook
ed food. Few people have all the honey
that they care to eat, and what food is
better In the farm home than an attract
i've sample of wholesome honey?