328 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



OVERSTOCKING THE FIELD. 



For the number of colonies on any given territory makes a decided 

 dilTerence as to results, and it is not a very difficult thing to overstock 

 the field. Suppose a man has in one apiary 50 colonies, and that 

 they gather all the nectar within the radius of their flight, giving 

 their owner a harvest of 40 pounds per colony. That makes a total 

 of 2,000 pounds. But that is not all the honey those bees gather. 

 In addition to the surplus honey taken, they gather enough for their 

 own consumption, and that is estimated to be not less than 60 

 pounds per colony. So the 50 colonies w^ould gather an additional 

 3,000 pounds for their o-^vn consumption, making the total amount of 

 their gathering 5,000 pounds. 



Now suppose this man's nearest neighbors on four sides of him 

 should each plant an apiary of 10 colonies, making 40 colonies to be 

 added to his, or 90 colonies in all to occupy the field. The total yield 

 of the field is as before, 5,000 pounds. This, divided among the 90 

 colonies, gives less than 60 pounds per colony, or less than the bees 

 need for their own existence, leaving both the man and his neighbors 

 without any surplus honey, but obliged to feed to finish out the 

 winter stores of the bees. 



Localities differ greatly. One man in California has 600 colonies 

 in one apiary. But that is in a remarkable locality, and it is just 

 possible that he might get more surplus with a smaller number of 

 colonies. The localities in Pennsylvania where more than 100 col- 

 onies can be profitably kept in one apiary are probably very few. In 

 more places, from 50 to 75 should be the limit. One trouble in the 

 case is that it is very hard to come to any definite conclusion. A 

 given number may be all right for one year, then the next season 

 will be so poor that half the number would give a greater surplus. 



THE BEST LOCATIONS. 



There are locations, however, where a few colonies may be relied 

 upon to give a handsome return year after year. If you can find a 

 place where there are very few bees within a range of two or three 

 miles, and where there are many honey-plants blooming at different 

 times throughout the season, you may count on a good crop every 

 year. It is true that some good honey-plants bloom freely some sea- 

 sons and yield no honey, and perhaps the next season, wath no greater 

 f^how of bloom, they may yield abundantly. But there is little danger 

 that all will fail in the same year. If white clover is a failure, linden 

 may more than compensate, or it may be a good year for buckwheat. 



In this connection it may not be amiss to offer a word of caution. 

 If you should strike upon a locality of this kind, and get an extra- 



