about what they were during the past season. This applies specially to 

 the better grades, as the poorer grades are now being imported in large 

 quantities, and can be laid down in Ontario at a very low price. As many 

 of the careless bee-keepers have been cleaned out by disease and the cold 

 springs, the quantity of the poorer grades will fortunately decrease. This 

 should result in a better quality on the market and in increased consump- 

 tion. Very little adulteration is being practised, and the reports of the 

 Inland Revenue Department, Ottawa, nave served to call attention to 

 the excellent quality of our Ontario honey. 



The following reports are taken from among some hundreds received 

 and are from apiarists having ioo colonies and over : 



Brant : General condition somewhat weaker in brood and bees than 

 in the average season, but building up fast. Loss 5 per cent., due to 

 queenlessness ; wintered in cellar, put in November 20 and taken out 

 March 25 ; fed sugar syrup in fall about 20 lbs. to each colony ; honey 

 crops in good condition, alsike not much grown, but good growth of white 

 clover. 



Bruce : General condition fair to good, loss during winter about 8 

 per cent. , chiefly from failing queens ; a few cases of dysentery ; wintered 

 in cellar, put in November 25, removed April 22 ; sugar syrup fed to make 

 up any shortage ; clovers came through in fair condition, but not much 

 alsike grown for seed near this apiary. 



Dufferin : Colonies generally weak, nearly half of brood dead, in some 

 cases seemingly chilled brood ; considerable dysentery present ; bees win- 

 tered in cellar; put in November 18th, removed April 22nd; buckwheat 

 honey fed for winter stores ; alsike not cultivated to any extent ; white 

 clover wintered safely. 



Dundas : Quite a number of colonies came out weak, but these are 

 improving rapidly on good pasture and weather; loss heavy, 33 per cent., 

 partly in cellar and remainder after being placed on summer stands ; last 

 year being such a poor honey year, quality of honey had a great deal to 

 do with losses, some of honey having soured ; wintered in cellar, put in 

 November i8-20th, removed in April; enough surplus honey stored so 

 did not need to feed sugar syrup ; clover wintered well in this vicinity 

 and is generally very abundant ; basswood has been good source of nectar 

 but is getting thinned out very rapidly. 



Durham : General condition good ; wintered in summer stands in 

 double walled hives; loss of three colonies, queenless; crops wintered 

 fairly well and include white clover, alsike, basswood, shumac, golden 

 rod and buckwheat. 



Elgin : Judging from my own, bees seem to have wintered well out- 

 side ; neighbor wintered his in cellar and bees are in poor shape ; loss 8 

 per cent., part queenless and balance through not being cared for soon 

 enough in out yard ; bees wintered outside, packed four in box in leaves, 

 put in October 31st, out May 20-25th; honey for winter stores; clover 

 came through well and prospects look good for a crop, alsike grown to 

 large extent and white clover common, basswood pretty well cut out. 



