ILLINOIS STATE BEE-KEEPEES ASSOCIATIOX. 



93 



Debit of crop in pounds, 2,970 at 15c 

 per pound= $445.50. 



This yard had no protection other than 

 the single walled hive body. Supposing 

 that it cost $4.45 to protect each colony 

 with a winter case. The figures show that 

 with the size of-the crop produced by the 

 100 per cent perfect yard — the cases would 

 pay for themselves in one year. However, 

 we know that the cases will last about 20 

 years, then the first cost must be divided 

 by the period of 20 years, this would 

 amount to 223kCc per year for the cost of 

 protection. With the crop of the same 

 size every year — or as actually compared 

 with the crop of the 100 per cent perfect 

 yard for this season — the profit per colony 

 is $4.23, or 1,900 per cent profit on the 

 investment. 

 Stores, 10 per cent debit — 



Debit of crop in poiinds, 1,650 at 15c 

 per pound= $247.50. 



It is estimated and presumed in these 

 figures that if each colony would have had 

 and used, 8 pounds more of stores to make 

 them 100 per cent efiicient on this factor, 

 and each pound would have cost 15c, 

 the total cost would be $120.00, or $1.20 

 cost per colony, and the difi"erence as 

 profit on the investment would be $127.50, 

 or $1.27^ per colony, or 106}4 per cent. 



The above figures show that it pays to 

 leave expensive honey with the bees in 

 sufficient quantities for all emergencies. 

 "Time and labor of feeding during an 

 emergency would emphasize {hese figures 

 to an extent that would prove a revelation 

 to most of us; that is, unless your time and 

 labor are not worth anything." 



This yard of bees was "on short rations " 

 all spring and apparently and very 

 evidently used more stores than the pro- 

 tected bees, and with no benefit from it 

 as the colonies were no stronger at the 

 beginning of the honey flow than they 

 were three week6 before. I believe and 

 judge from the evidence and observations 

 that I am fully justified in estimating 18 

 per cent debit against them for lack of 

 protection, and 10 per cent against them 

 for living "on short rations" for two 

 months. 



The total debits against the 100 two- 

 poimd packages are 49 per cent; these are 

 sub-divided as follows: Queens 25 per 

 cent, stores 12 per cent, time 12 per cent. 

 Queens, 25 per cent debit — 



Debit of crop in pounds, 4,125 at 15c = 

 $618.75. 



The queens that came with the 100 

 two-pound packages were untested and 

 cost 75c each. As the above figures show 

 25 per cent were not good. Now suppose 



tested queens had been bought in the first 

 place at $1.50 each and all had been good 

 then of course there would have been no 

 debit against them on this factor. But 

 to make the comparison with the 100 per 

 cent perfect yard, only the first cost or 

 cost of replacement of the 25 per cent 

 "not good queens" will be considered and 

 compared at this time. 25 queens at 

 $1.50 each, totals $37.50, from $618.75 

 leaves $581.25 or $2.3.25 profit per queen 

 per year, or 1,550 per cent profit on the 

 investment. However, we must suppose 

 that queens at $1.50 each would be good 

 for two years, or 75c per year is the in- 

 vestment. Total for 25 queens $18.75, 

 equals 3,200 per cent profit on the invest- 

 ment. Remember this is on the basis of 

 the high average crop of the 100 per cent 

 perfect yard, that these comparisons are 

 made with. To fully understand the 

 circumstances, with reference to the 25 

 per cent of queens above referred to, it 

 will be necessary to tell more about the 

 shipment as a whole. The bees arrived 

 from Alabama on April 27th, 28th and 

 the 30th. You have noticed that this 

 yard is credited with lOO per cent pro- 

 tection, that means, that they were housed 

 in packed winter cases on their arrival. 

 These cases were made in advance, as 

 they would be needed in the fall anyhow. 

 The bees were hived on 6 combs — all of 

 same contained some honey and pollen — 

 an average of not less than 10 pounds of 

 honey for each six combs. Three days 

 after hiving, all wepe examined and 12 per 

 cent of the 100 per cent of the queens were 

 missing; of course it took about ten days 

 to have same replaced from the shipper. 

 A week later 8 per cent of the (once more 

 full 100 per cent) queens were being super- 

 seded, and had so little brood that same 

 (the 8 per cent) were united with others 

 that were comparatively weak in bees. 

 This is biought to a balance in this way, 

 about 10 per cent of the packages, on 

 arrival, had only half of the bees alive, 

 and the 8 per cent were united to these. 

 "I did not ask the shipper to replace 

 same." 17 per cent of the balance of 

 the 92 per cent of the queens — were not 

 good — that is they did nothing to help 

 produce the surplus honey. In other 

 words the total crop produced in this yard 

 was produced by only 75 colonies, or 75 

 per cent of the 100 per cent. 

 Stores, 12 per cent debit — 



Debit of crop in pounds, 1,980 at 15c 

 = $297.00. 



It is estimated and presumed that if 

 these colonies would have had, and used, 

 10 pounds more of stores per each colony , 



