186 STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



"vvheat and the insects liable to injure this grain; but, as already hinted, these 

 may to a great extent be avoided by proper management. 



In conclusion, let every farmer who desires an abundant return from his 

 wheat field see that there is a judicious rotation of crops; that his ground is 

 suitably enriched, thoroughly worked, kept free from weeds and well pulver- 

 ized up to the time of sowing. Let a liberal quantity of the very best seed he 

 can procure be well drilled in, and I think he will seldom fail of a plentiful har- 

 vest under the favoring skies of the State of Michigan. 



While we think with pride of the vast resources of our State, of its wonderful 

 mines of rich minerals and of its millions of acres of rich pine, still it is upon 

 its fertile soil that we farmers turn our eyes with the greatest satisfaction. Let 

 us, while we still keep up the reputation we have won for the quality of Michi- 

 gan wheat, see to it that by high cultivation we double the quantity of this val- 

 uable grain for every acre that we sow. 



An essay was next read by Mr, A. G. Stockholm, of Eureka, as follows, 

 entitled, 



''hints to bee keepers." 



Honey, the product of flowers and leaves, esteemed and prized by mankind 

 as a luxury, is collected by the bee from the garden, field, forest and wayside, 

 and is stored by it as food for itself and as a delicious confection for man. 

 Working for nothing and boarding themselves, yet comparatively few profit by 

 the labor of bees. To one traveling over the country who gives thought to the 

 matter, it is really surprising to note how few bees are kept. 



That keeping bees with proper management is profitable there can be no 

 doubt. Probably there is no business pursued by man, where labor and capital 

 are employed, that pays so large a per cent, on the capital invested and labor 

 bestowed. 



That all persons can handle bees successfully is somewhat doubtful. It seems 

 that there are persons so constituted that it is almost impossible for them to 

 establish friendly relations with the bee. But the number of such is small. 



Lack of success on the part of those who have experimented in bee-keeping 

 may be stated as the reason why this business is not more generally followed. 

 Why are there so many failures in bee-keeping? The experienced farmer, in 

 preparing the soil for a wheat crop, understands that, in order to succeed, he 

 must have it in the best possible condition ; that it will not do merely to plow 

 the ground in the spring, letting it lie until fall for the weeds to riot in, and 

 then sow the grain among the rubbish with the expectation of reaping a crop 

 the coming harvest. Nor does the experienced apiarist place his bees in some 

 corner or nook of the yard, remote from the dwelling where they will not be 

 noticed for weeks. Yet this is the system pursued by those that fail, and then 

 they wonder why it is so. Neglect or mismanagement, and ignorance in regard 

 to what is required, may be assigned as the great cause of failure witli the inex- 

 perienced. 



Neglect in the spring time is a cause of failure. Bees become much reduced 

 during the winter under the most favorable circumstances, and many stocks 

 will scarce make a live of it unless assisted by their keeper. 



Then, as soon as the weather becomes warm enough in the spring, give tlie 

 hives a thorough overhauling. Clean out all the dead bees and everything that 

 may be offensive, cutting out all mouldy comb. In order to do this readily one 



