I think the essayist referred to in the 

 beginning of this article has rather 

 over-estimated the extent of my con- 

 version. Don't mistake my ever-readi- 

 ness to back up and off from each inch 

 of untenable ground as quickly as I see 

 it, for an admission of the other ex- 

 treme. I am glad of the new light of 

 better prospects, glad of the essay, and 

 hope to see the Chicago North- Western 

 Bee-Keepers' Association excelled by 

 none in the country, and that it may be 

 my lot to be at the next meeting. 



Dowagiac, Mich., Nov. 11, 1880. 



[ We are glad of our friend Heddon's 

 honest criticism. The communication 

 of Mr. Hoge, on page 555 of this Jour- 

 nal, proves that consumption has in- 

 creased fully as much, if not more, than 

 production. No one who knows Mr. 

 Heddon, could think he would hesitate 

 a moment to embrace a truth or discard 

 an error, as soon as it becomes apparent 

 to him. Sometimes he is a little slow in 

 seeing it, but that is often a good fault, 

 if we may use that term. He is cautious 

 and honest in his convictions, and 

 though we are often compelled to differ 

 with him, yet we shall, we hope, ever 

 remain the best personal friends.— Ed.] 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Over-Stocking a Locality. 



GEO. W. HOUSE. 



The subject of over-stocking is an all- 

 important one, and at the present time 

 is much discussed in our bee papers and 

 at our Conventions. Intelligent and 

 practical apiarists know that it is an 

 easy matter to over-stock any locality ; 

 but still there are some who claim that 

 a location cannot be over-stocked. 

 Whether this is owing to a lack of know- 

 ledge, or with an intention on the part 

 of the writer for increasing the sale of 

 bees, is a question to be settled by the 

 reader. 



In the repoi-t of the last National Con- 

 vention, page 518, of the American Bee 

 Journal, Mr. D. A. Jones thinks it 

 very difficult to over-stock any good lo- 

 cation with bees. He says he is " satis- 

 fied that over-stocking is an imaginary 

 evil, and one of the improbabilities in 

 a good locality for bees. He had 300 

 colonies in his home apiary, and at an- 

 other locality but a few colonies, en- 

 tirely out of range from any other bees. 

 This latter bee range is quite as desira- 



ble as the former, and the bees equally 

 as good and strong, yet they stored no 

 more honey per colony." Then, again, 

 Mr. Jas. Heddon, in his essay on " Api- 

 cultural Failures," at the National Con- 

 vention, page 537, American Bee 

 Journal, says, " Now bee-keepers who 

 would succeed, it rests with you to know 

 that a divided field will not pay anyone, 

 and act accordingly. If you expect to 

 avoid 'apicultural failure,' choose an 

 unoccupied field." 



Now, why this diversity of opinion ? 

 I claim Mr. Heddon is right. Let us 

 see. Mr. Jones says he has an apiary 

 located away from his home apiary. 

 Now, if you cannot over-stock a loca- 

 tion, why did Mr. J. make his second 

 apiary ? The expenses would be less, 

 and then it would be much more con- 

 venient to have the bees all in one apia- 

 ry. Again, Mr. J. says he will this fall 

 plant 28 acres of Bokhara clover for his 

 bees. I believe much benefit can be de- 

 rived from planting for bee pasturage, 

 to fill in the gap between the bloom from 

 which we secure our yield of honey. 



But to our subject again : Suppose 

 there were 100 colonies on each side of 

 Mr. J., north, south, east and west, and 

 within \% miles of his home apiary; 

 what would be the consequence V I fear 

 Mr. J. would feel like growling, and 

 would not think over-stocking an " im- 

 aginary evil." Again I say, over-stock- 

 ing a location is a very easy matter. I 

 know this from experience. Let me 

 illustrate. At our home apiary of about 

 100 colonies, we have within ]% miles 

 about 400 colonies of bees in every di- 

 rection. Our bees in their flights are, 

 therefore, cut off on every side, and the 

 result is our yield of surplus honey is 

 light, and with only a moderate flow of 

 honey, no surplus is secured. At apiary 

 No. 2, of about 200colonies, and located 

 5 miles south, our yield of surplus honey 

 is three times theamount secured atour 

 home apiai-y. At this apiary we have 

 an undivided field. Apiary No. 3. of 

 about 150 colonies, and located 10 miles 

 south, gives us about the same results 

 as apiary No. 2. Here we also have an 

 undivided field. The localities are all 

 one equally as good as the other; but 

 our home apiary is over-stocked, and we 

 see the results. Some localities can be 

 over-stocked with 100 colonies, while 

 others would keep 300 colonies. 



Every bee-keeper should make his lo- 

 cation a study until he is able to know 

 just how many colonies he can keep 

 profitably. Then if you feel confident 

 of being able to manage more bees, you 

 should seek a new location. Locate 

 where you find the most bloom— willow, 

 fruits, clover, linden and fall flowers— 



