farmers' institutes. 709 



whore one thousand are lost for want of hoes to gather it. Surely here is 

 a wide field for honest, pleasant and prolital)le pursuit. 



It is a pleasant occupation because intelligent bee-keeping requires a 

 study of the habits and instincts of this interesting little worker which 

 is both instructive and fascinatiuj?. 



As to its prolitableness I doubt if there !.« another branch of agriculture 

 which pays a larger per cent, on the capital invested than that of api- 

 culture. 



It is not an exaggerated estimate to say that a strong, thrifty colony 

 of bees will yield one hundred pounds of surplus honey in a single season, 

 in addition to the natural increase in bees, which should amount to at 

 least one colony. 



But to be entirely within the bounds of moderation, let us estimate 

 the amount of surplus honey, say lifty pounds, which at the low esti- 

 mate of ten cents per pound, Avould amount to five dollars. Then estimate 

 the cost of the parent hive at ten dollars and the value of the young col- 

 ony at the comparatively low value of five dollars, and we have a profit 

 of ten dollars on an investment of ten, or 100 per cent., and the only ex- 

 pense to be deducted is the cost of one extra hive and a very little labor. 



Now can you think of any other business outside of owning stock in 

 the Standard Oil Co. itself that pays as well? 



But perhaps some one will say, "that looks well on paper, but 1 have 

 serious doubts as to its practicability." In reply I beg to say to any such 

 doubter that this is only one of the many wonderful things connected 

 with the business of bee-keeping. As an example, allow me to allude to 

 just one of these wonders— that of system of government which prevails 

 in a colony of bees, for they have their system of government just as we 

 have under "Uncle Sam," and in some respects their system resembles 

 ours very closely, althougli, to be more exact, it is what might be called 

 a limited monarchy. First, there is the queen who, while she is royalty 

 personified, both in appearance and demeanor, yet "Her Majesty" has 

 little to say in colonial politics. She is a mere figure-head. Slie differs, 

 however, from heads of other limited monarchies in this: she is the pro- 

 lific mother of the whole colony. Secondly, we have the workers upon 

 who.se diminutive shoulders rests the responsibility of government, and 

 providing for the entire household. Like the people of our own govern- 

 ment, they govern. Not even the queen, with all her I'oyally, dares do 

 anything without the consent of the workers. Tliey decide how many 

 swarms shall be sent off from the parent hive and when they shall go. 

 and often exercise bad judgment in sending off so many that the parent 

 hive becomes so weakened as to l)e almost worthless. 



It is here that man with his superior wisdom steps in and bj' training 

 and restraining guides the colony in the way of peace and prosperity. 



Thirdly, there are the drones, which are simply the males of the colony, 

 and as a consequence are of prime necessity. 



