JuLV, 1919 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



427 



in order to utilize these late-emerging bees. 

 In localities which do not afford a fall honey 

 flow colonies run for extracted honey may 

 be divided at the close of the honey flow, 

 if increase is desired, as has been suggested 

 by Mr. Holtermann. This would make good 

 use of the extra bees at this time, and, if 

 each half of these big colonies is given a 

 young queen and plenty of honey early in 

 August, they should both be in prime con- 

 dition for winter, each fully as strong at 

 the beginning of winter as the undivided 

 colony would have been if left alone. 



Some producers of extracted honey crowd 

 the bees in the supers when the close of the 

 season approaches, as is also done in comb- 

 honey production. In doing this they proba- 

 bly save considerable honey that would have 

 been used in superfluous brood-rearing, and 

 also gain the advantage of having the crop 

 of honey stored more compactly in the 

 supers. 



In Conclusion. 



In this connection, I am reminded that 

 next month, so far as getting the bees ready 

 is concerned, we begin to prepare for the 

 honey flow of 1920. As I said last summer 

 in the first of this series of articles, ' ' The 

 beekeepers ' calendar should begin in Aug- 

 ust, ' ' by seeing that each colony is in proper 

 condition to rear sufficient brood for its 

 winter cluster. The subsequent steps in the 

 year 's work leading toward the few weeks 

 of harvest next year, which I have attempt- 

 ed to outline briefly in Gleanings during the 

 past year, are now due to be taken again. 

 The many variations in details in fitting a 

 system of management to the peculiarities 

 of the season will bring the usual perplexi- 

 ties and worries as well as pleasant sur- 

 prises, but the eternal hope that next season 

 may be the best ever is suffleient to tide us 

 over the rough places. 



DOES BEEKEEPING PAY? 



THE disturb- 

 ance in the 

 economi c 

 life of this and 

 other countries 

 as the result of 

 the transition 

 from peace to 

 war - time pur- 

 suits, and back 

 again t o ■ peace 

 conditions, has 

 upset the plans 

 and calculations 

 of a multitude 

 of individuals 

 who are now ear- 

 nestly seeking 

 a n honest and 

 honorable means 

 of gaining an 

 acceptable liv- 

 ing. All too 

 many who vol- 

 unteered or were called away from their 

 peaceful pursuits to engage in the world war 

 have returned to find their occupations gone. 

 Undoubtedly many manufacturers who 

 changed their plants to meet the exigencies 

 of war have sustained great loss in prestige 

 and markets, rendering it impracticable or 

 impossible to give employment to all their 

 former employees. Moreover, many soldiers 

 having had a taste of the outdoor and simple 

 life, and having realized the blessings of pure 

 air, sunshine, and untrammeled movement, 

 are undoubtedly reluctant to return to the 

 countinghouse, office, or factory for an occu- 

 pation or employment. Happily the time has 

 come to turn the "swords into plowshares," 

 but to accomplish it involves many readjust- 

 ments and transformations. 



In casting about for a healthful and in- 

 vigorating occupation — one in which a good- 



'^ekeeping is Not a Get-Rich-^ick 

 Scheme, But a Good Business Prop- 

 osition for those in Good Locations 



By Orel L. Hershiser 



[Many letters have come to us recently from re- 

 turned soldiers and others, asking whether bee- 

 keeping really pays as a source of incomei, or 

 whether one must have .some other business as a 

 side line in order to insure a good income and a 

 credit in the bank. We accordingly asked Mr. Her- 

 shiser to discuss the subject in Gleanings. At first 

 thought it may .seem that possibly he has made out 

 too good a case for the beekeeper; _yet it will be 

 noted that when he speaks of very large returns he 

 admits them near the high-water mark, so that, on 

 the whole, we believe that, if our readers will care- 

 fully weigh his words, they will agree that he has 

 not painted the picture in too rosy a hue. — Editor.] 



ly share of the 

 compensation is 

 to be realized in 

 the pleasure of 

 the work — bee- 

 keeping may well 

 be given careful 

 consideration. 



The demand 

 for honey is on 

 the steady in- 

 crease, and has 

 more than kept 

 pace with pro- 

 duction; and an 

 overproduction 

 is a possibility 

 too remote to be 

 considered. Bet- 

 ter methods of 

 distribution 

 which are in the 

 process of evolu- 

 tion will facili- 

 tate the profitable marketing of all the hon- 

 ey that is likely to be produced. 



Recreation of Beekeeping. 

 Work with the bees is as much recreation 

 as toil. The development of ways and 

 means to induce the bees to accomplish the 

 most for their master gives mental employ- 

 ment to those of scholarly taste. Interest 

 in building up the colonies in preparation 

 for the honey flow develops into fascination 

 as they reach the highest point of prosperity 

 and enter' upon the harvest of sweets. 

 When daily watchfulness is required that 

 super room be provided, and the hives are 

 built three or more stories high to hold the 

 treasure of sweets that his skill has made 

 it possible to save from waste, then may he 

 commence to count his financial gain. 



A prosperous apiary, with hives tiered up 

 containing a bountiful crop of honey is 



