OVERSTOCKING. 823 



each. Ehrenfels had a thousand hives, at three 

 separate establishments, indeed, but so close to each 

 other that he could visit them all in half an hour's 

 ride, and he says that in 1801 the average net yield 

 of his apiaries was two dollars a hive. In Russia and 

 Hungary, apiaries numbering from two thousand to 

 five thousand colonies are said not to be unfrequent ; 

 and we know that as many as four thousand hives are 

 oftentimes congregated, in autumn, at one point on 

 the heaths of Germany. Hence, I think we need 

 not fear that any district of this country, so distin- 

 guished for abundant natural vegetation and diver- 

 sified culture, will be very speedily overstocked, 

 particularly, after the importance of having stocks 

 populous early in the spring comes to be appreciated. 

 A week or ten days of favorable weather at that 

 season, when pasturage abounds, will enable a strong 

 colony to lay up an ample supply for the year, if its 

 labor be properly directed. 



" Mr. Kaden, one of the oldest contributors to the 

 Bienenzeitung , in the number for December, 1852, 

 noticing the communication from Dr. Radlkofer, says : 

 ' I also concur in the opinion that a district of coun- 

 try cannot be overstocked with bees, and that, how- 

 ever numerous the colonies, all can procure sufficient 

 sustenance, if the surrounding country contain honey- 

 yielding plants and vegetables in the usual degree. 

 Where utter barrenness prevails, the case is different 

 of course, as well as rare.' ' : 



The following extract from " The Life of North 



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