THE ITALIAN HONEY-BEE. 545 



pounds surplus honey per year from each colony, under proper management, 

 would therefore be a very low estimate.* 



According to the census of 18G0 there are 2,423,895 formers in the United 

 States and Territories. All these, besides many engaged in other pursuits, 

 might conveniently and profitably engage in bee culture. Allowing an average 

 of only ten colonies to eacli of these — say two and one half millions of persons- — 

 (and it might be 100 colonies each without encountering the danger of over- 

 stocking, as there is now a number of apiaries in this country containing over 

 100 colonies,) and the average annual product of each colony at 50 pounds, 

 the aggregate product Avould be twelve hundred and fifty millions of pounds, 

 which at 25 cents per pound would amount to upwards of three hundred mil 

 lions of dollars annually. 



According to the census of 1850 there were produced in the United States 

 and Territories in that year 14,853,790 pounds of beeswax and honey, Avhile 

 that of 1860 is 1,357,864 pounds beeswax and 25,028,991 pounds of honey, 

 showing an increase of about 77|- per cent. 



Prior to the publication by Mr. Langstroth of his excellent work on bee 

 culture, and the introduction of his movable comb system of bee keeping, the 

 pursuit had for some years been gradually, and in some localities rapidly 

 declining, owing greatly to the ravages of the bee moth ; inventions of hives 

 for the prevention of which were not lacking in either abundance or variety. 

 Many of these, however, instead of preventing it, proved most excellent 

 auxiliaries for the spread of its devastations ; ■while others, perhaps from 

 ignorance of their habits, were so constructed as to prove, sooner or later, cer- 

 tain destruction to any colonies that might be placed in them. Several kinds 

 of these hives had been extensively used throughout a great part of our 

 country, producing destruction wherever introduced, until repeated trials and 

 diappointments had driven beekeepers generally to the conclusion that profita- 

 ble bee culture had ceased to be practicable in this country, and so discouraged 

 many as to cause them to abandon the pursuit entirely. The expectation that 

 any hive, of itself will ever be found to prevent the ravages of the bee moth, 

 is an absurdity, which none but the ignorant or malicious Avill assert. The 

 hees themselves are the only safe and efficient protectors against the moth, and 

 where properly cultivated ?ix% fully competent to the task. Still, until the re- 

 quisite knowledge of the subject becomes generally disseminated, this prejudice 

 will doubtless continue to a greater or less extent to exist. It is, however, most 

 encouraging to know that already there are a few extensive apiaries in different 

 sections of our coixntry, which, under enlightened cultivation, produce annually 

 an average of from five to fifty dollars' worth of honey and wax to each colony ; 

 the quantity varying in consequence of difierence in locality and management. 

 These apiaries are, however, comparatively few, and in view of the great 

 importance of this branch of agriculture it is deserving of far more notice and 

 consideration than it has hitherto received. A single half acre of ground 

 furnishes abundant space for the location of an apiary of two hundred colonies, 

 which, (I am sure I speak within bounds in saying,) under proper culti- 

 vation, in an average locality, can be made to yield from three to four tons of 

 honey annually, the production of Avhich (unlike that of sugar or any of the 

 cereal crops of our country) is spontaneous, requiring no ploughing or toil of man 

 for its production ; nor does it, like those, exhaust the fertihty of the soil. In 

 fact, it is simply saving frotn waste that which nature provides in most lavish 



*Iii the middle and western States it is not uncommon in some localities for single colonies 

 (in apiaries of 100 or more) to produce 100 pounds and sometimes as high as 200 pounds 

 sm-plus honey in a good season. Query : If any one colony in a large apiary produces such 

 a result, why should not all ? The pasturage being equally near and abundant to all, it is 

 obvious that the true reason must be found in the difference of condition or management (or 

 both) of the different colonies. 



41 A 



