HIGH-PRICED SPECIALTIES 



In the past ten years the bee Industry In the 

 United States has grown very rapidly, many 

 devoting their whole time to the business. Prof- 

 its vary, as In any other business, depending 

 largely on the operator. Mr. Ferris, in " Glean- 

 ings in Bee Culture," gives this balance for his 

 first year, which is Interesting, because bees were 

 new to him, and most of his knowledge of them 

 was gained from books. Here is the financial 

 statement of his apiary from May 23, 1902, to 

 July 23, 1903: 



May 23, 1902, bought 7 colonies of bees, 33 old 

 hives, 10 lb. foundation, three-frame extractor, 



and a f - other things, for $80.00 



August 15, 1902, one colony bees 3.00 



1000 lb. sugar at an average of $4.15 per cwt. . 41.50 



45 lb. foundation at 45c, and 50 top stories at 45c 42.75 



I queen for $8.00; lumber and moulding, $7.00 15.00 

 750 brood frames, $10.50; queen-cages and 



smoker, $2.00 12.50 



$194-75 



Sold 3200 lb. honey for 262.00 



Increased to 105 colonies of bees worth $2 each 210.00 



Sold 23 lb. wax at 30c, and 29 queens for $19 . 25.90 

 Increased 750 good straight brood-combs, valued 



at 15c each 112.50 



Total income $610.40 



194-75 



Actual gain (personal labor not included) . . $415.65 

 Actual gain per swarm in 14 months was . . 5^-95 



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