APICULTURE. 347 



value of bees and would like to know, buti do not want to take 

 up to much of your time. 



Mr. Taylor: I will answer that that depends upon circum- 

 stances. A person that has a taste for anj? thing can learn that 

 thing so much easier than one who has not. If any one really 

 desires to learn about bees that knowledge is easily obtained. 

 I used to tell people when they talked about the great power 

 some people possess about bees not stinging, that any one can 

 learn that; it is only necessary to understand a few of the 

 natural laws controlling this insect. Any child can learn that . 

 About the time occupied in caring for them, that depends, of 

 course, upon how many bees are kept. A man might keep but 

 a few and get tired, but a few to make it interesting can be 

 kept, with intelligence, without taking up very much time. 



Mr. Crane: Does it not require a good deal of time to watch 

 bees when swarming? 



Mr. Taylor: Sometimes it is not necessary to watch at all, 

 but when I make it a paying business and make my support, or 

 living, from it, I watch them with the greatest possible watch- 

 fulness. During the time of swarming my bee j'ard is not left 

 alone even during the time of taking dinner. Sometimes I run 

 200 colonies together, and only those who have had experience 

 know what it is when the swarms are pouring out, twenty to 

 twenty-five swarms a day, and under such circumstances I 

 never leave it at all. A few swarms can be managed without 

 all this trouble, but in the greatest honey years it requires 

 great watchfulness; but anyone can take a few swarms and set 

 them out under a tree and carry on the business on the farm. 



Mr. Jackins (?): I do not believe that those people, farmers, 

 who are handling a few colonies of bees are making them pay 

 expenses. It is a matter that is surrounded with a great amount 

 of nice details, and, somehow, to make it pay one must be 

 doubly interested and must be able to give a large portion of 

 his own time to the matter. Our friend spoke about two colon- 

 ies of bees; he wants them for a specific purpose, and I say get 

 them by all means, if they are not in the neighborhood. I live 

 up here right in the midst of the largest market garden district 

 in the Xorthwest, and the more progressive of those market 

 gardeners realize that they cannot get perfect results without 

 bees. Now. get a few stands of bees and put them on your 

 place; they will run themselves. 



Mr. Urie: I have had an experience of over fifty years, and 

 I am learning something new every year. As this gentleman 



