96 



OREGON FARMER 



DISTRIBUTION OF BEES 



50,000 COLONIES. 



EACH FIGURE ( 9 ) INDICATES IOOO COLOr< 



_r-Ji 



In addition to the honey producing apiaries, there are situated 

 at different points in the state, queen and bee-rearing apiaries. 



Discussing each region separately, we find that, in the coas^ 

 division, some of the finest honey produced anywhere is secured 

 from wild plants such as vine maple (Acer Circinatum), and a plant 

 known as firewood (Epilobium spicatum). No large apiaries are 

 found in this section and the average surplus is small. Section 

 honey only is produced and only a small amount reaches outside 

 markets, as the local demand is greater than the supply. In this 

 section climatic conditions regulate to a great extent the amount of 

 honey produced. Continued rains in the spring, during the blossom- 

 ing period of fruit trees and other plants, often result in a decreased 

 surplus. 



In the Willamette Valley section, conditions are extremely variable. 

 In the valley proper there are no commercial apiaries of any size, 

 and in bad years many bees starve in the fall for lack of stores. 

 Several men in this section have found that it is more desirable to 

 produce extracted honey, as the bees seem to gather more honey in this 

 way under adverse conditions. Alfalfa cannot be grown with success, 



