316 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE 



liEE KEEPING. 



By Mn. H. D. Barclay, State College, Pa. 



The importance of the bee-keeping industry is little realized. 

 There are in Pennsylvania to-day nearly 29,000 farms reporting 

 bees. There are over 100,000 colonies of bees in the State. The 

 total value of these bees is over |500,000, and the honey produced by 

 them in 1899 was worth |300,000. The average number of pounds 

 of honey produced per colony in Pennsylvania is only 15.6. It is 

 possible, with improved methods of handling, to increase this aver- 

 age to 30; but this increase cannot be made so long as the present 

 ignorance in regard to bees continues. When this average is raised, 

 the value of both bees themselves and their produce will be in- 

 creased. The value of every colony of bees in this State would then 

 be nearer |5.00 than about |3.00, as it is to-day. The honey pro- 

 duced, because produced in a more attractive form, will be worth 

 much more per pound. The industry is capable of wonderful de- 

 velopment, but with the present state of knowledge no improve- 

 ment can be effected. "* 



Improved methods of operation must replace those at present in 

 vogue. Improved bees must replace those now occupying the hives 

 to be found about the farms. The present black, or German bee, 

 must be supplanted by better races. The Italian bee is the im- 

 proved bee of this country now. The black bees are ugly to handle, 

 because they will not stay on their combs while these are being 

 examined. They are also much more inclined to sting than the 

 Italian. The Italian bee seems much more able to resist the sev- 

 eral diseases which trouble the honey-bee. I have here a small 

 colony of the nicest Italian bees I have seen. These bees came 

 from Mr. E. L. Pratt, of Swarthmore, Delaware county, and you 

 will see that they are very gentle and cling to their comb much 

 better than the common black bee. Mr. Pratt is the most promi- 

 nent queen breeder in this State. (Showed bees on comb, with 

 queen.) 



As most of you are likely aware, there are three different kinds 

 of bees in a hive — the queen, the drones and the workers. The 

 queen is a perfectly developed female and lays all the eggs which 



