LECTURES AND ESSAYS RExVD AT INSTITUTES. 163 



I obtained bees of Mr. Weeks and others to start my apiary of forty colonies, 

 and bought sixty more colonies the following year, and had a fine yield of 

 honey, which I sold at thirty cents per pound. Bees did well, and wintered 

 well for several years ; but at last winter loss set in and my 150 colonies all 

 died but nineteen stocks, the winter following the Chicago fire. The next 

 summer these nineteen colonies were increased to 100, and some honey 

 obtained. The winter following SO out of the 100 came through in fair con- 

 dition, and were taken to Abronia, to gather honey from the basswood, which 

 at that time was about five per cent of the timber within two miles of the 

 station. That summer my honey brought over $1,500, and my bees were 

 increased to ISC colonies. The winter that followed killed all but twenty- 

 two colonies. As there were some bees left about the county, I bought a few, 

 and increased up to 186, my former number, but obtained no honey to sell 

 that year. The winter that followed reduced tlie 186 to two colonies, and 

 cleared the woods and the farmers of bees. This was my great loss — no bees 

 to increase, and none in the country to sell. 



I then bought bees in Kentucky, to breed from, and when fall came I had 

 125 good colonies, which I took to Tennessee to winter. They wintered well, 

 and I brought back as many as I took away, but they were injured in transit, 

 and were not of much profit that season. In the autumn I took them again 

 to Tennessee, and made some changes in shipment, hoping to be able to make 

 the shipment of bees a paying method of wintering. But, like the previous 

 trial, it did not pay. I then devised the plan I have since pursued, and tried 

 the experiment with sixty colonies, composed of all the bees and honey that 

 were in 135 fine stocks. With some losses every year, and one winter about 

 thirty per cent, I have been able to receive a fair income from my bees every 

 season since. , 



There are now several extensive bee-keepers in the county, and many in 

 the State. Probably there are more bees in the State now than ever before, 

 but they are in the hands of enthusiastic bee-keepers mainly. If there had 

 been no zealous bee-keepers to have bought and increased their bees, the dis- 

 astrous winters above mentioned would have left the State of Michigan beeless. 

 The ruthless ax has swept much of the old bee pasture away, and in that respect 

 bee-keeping is not as sure of net returns as formerly. Still, a few colonies of bees 

 will do fairly almost anywhere in Michigan. Large apiaries, however, are fre- 

 quently more than will do well in one place. Bees, like other stock, must have 

 fine pasture and wide range to do well. White clover is now the main plant 

 on which bee-keepers depend for their surplus honey, and this is steadily 

 improving as the farms grow older. So it is not probable that bees will ever 

 be more restricted in their means of support than now. 



You are all practical farmers, and I know vv-ill all wish to know if bees will 

 pay a farmer. Now, that is a question hard to decide. The present plan of 

 keeping bees requires an expense of about $30 to begin with. It then needs 

 enthusiasm and a studious, observing habit of mind. It is not of much use for 

 old men to begin bee-keeping. Their habits are formed, and wliile they have 

 good judgment they do not readily acquire such skill as is requisite to the 

 profitable management of bees. Young farmers may reasonably hope to suc- 

 ceed in keeping bees if they are studious and determined. Bees are not an 

 exception to other stock. They must have good care and good pasture. 



A colony of bees well managed, will, as a general rule, net about as much 

 money as an acre of wheat. And as an acre of wheat represents land and 

 tools, it will not be difficult to see that in other respects they are much alike. 



