Beekeeping in the Clover Region. 11 
than this, but if the most is to be made of the region highly skilled 
beekeeping is necessary. 
Throughout much of this region there is no major honey-flow 
other than that from the clovers, and the beekeeper’s entire return 
must be from this one source. This makes it necessary that every 
colony be in the best condition at the beginning of the clover honey- 
flow, and this is impossible for any but the best beekeepers. This 
region is therefore one especially well adapted to the development of 
beekeeping on a commercial scale, since only the skilled beekeeper 
can expect to succeed under these conditions. 
PECULIARITIES OF THE REGION. 
The uncertainty of a honey-flow in the fall in much of this region 
increases the difficulty of having the bees in proper condition for 
winter, and to an unusual degree increases the difficulty of having 
adequate stores in the hive for the winter, and especially for the 
brood-rearing period of the following spring. As the clover region 
is located in the north, the wintering problem is more intense here 
than in any other beekeeping section of the United States. This part 
of the work of the beekeeper has not received the attention which it 
demands, which largely explains the small colonies so frequently ob- 
served at the beginning of the clover honey-flow. 
Coming as it does so soon after the average date of the last killing 
frost in the spring, the clover honey-flow is one which it is difficult 
for the beekeeper to utilize to the full extent. Furthermore, the 
secretion of nectar is quite rapid, making it necessary for the bee- 
keeper to provide supers at just the right time and in sufficient num- 
ber. Then, too, the honey-flow is frequently short in duration, so 
that the bees must be ready at the very beginning if a full crop is 
to be obtained. 
Because of the character of the honey-flow and its time relation to 
the period of spring brood-rearing, swarming is more intense and 
more difficult to control than in any other region in the United 
States. While much work has been done on methods of swarm con- 
trol applicable to this region, these methods are not understood by 
the majority of beekeepers and in good years it happens frequently 
that half the crop is lost through failure in this regard. 
TYPE OF HONEY TO BE PRODUCED. 
Since the passage of the Federal food and drugs act in 1906 the 
tendency in beekeeping has been more and more to produce extracted 
honey. Because of the rapidity of the clover honey-flow, and espe- 
cially because of the superior quality of clover honey, this region 
is perhaps better adapted to the production of comb-honey than any 
