438 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Kennedy. If Mr. Lane, of Boone county, was here he could tell us some- 

 thing on the subject. He is wintering bees on sugar syrup with all the honey out. 



Prof. Wiley. Anythiag else than pure sugar contains albumen, and acts just 

 the same as pollen. It is only the pure sugar that is pure. 



Mr. . I would like to know if the Professor can detect this quality from 



the plant that is in the honey. 



Prof. Wiley. Often I can. 



APICULTURE AS A BUSINK.SS. 



Mr. Scholl. I do not know as I can give you much information on this topic of 

 bee keeping, compared with other pursuits, as for a living. As far as my infor- 

 mation goes it compares favorably with the ordinary pursuits of life, especially 

 with farming. I have, for twenty-five years, followed the business, in connection 

 with farming. I was asked that question last year by the Governor. He hinted 

 that bee business was a by-business; that is, very few men follow it as a business 

 to itself. Before we got through he was informed that men made it a business and 

 were successful ; but the majority of us here have to deal with this business in con- 

 nection with other business, and most of us have found it to compare favorable. 

 This business has poor seasons as well as other crops, as wheat and corn. Not- 

 withstanding the drought, we had a reasonably fair crop of wheat, but a poor sea- 

 son for honey ; yet I say, without boasting, that my honey brought me handsome 

 returns. 



Secretary Daugherly. What kind of a wheat crop had you, and what kind of 

 bees? 



Mr. Scholl. I had twenty-two acres of wheat and realized 450 bushels. I had 

 sixty colonies of bees in the spring to begin with. Another point I want you to 

 bear in mind, the bees did 'not receive more than one-third of my time from the 

 first of May to the end of July; the balance of my time was on the farm. I would 

 average five days a month the balance of the year. The returns from my bees were 

 fully as well as that of my farm crops, such as wheat, hay and corn. To get this 

 result it must be understood that bees must be well managed, and have them in 

 good hives ready for work to catch the honey-flow when it comes. Take it for the 

 last ten years on an average, bees have paid me a better per cent, than any farm 

 crop. 



Mr. Hutchinson. How m^ny colonies of bees would it take to support a family 

 of five persons, depending wholly upon bee keeping for a living and money for the 

 family? 



Mr. Muth. How many acres of land would it require to support a family of 

 five persons? It is entirely dependent on the year. I am very sure it compares as 

 favorable as any pursuit ; at the same time, to depend on bee keeping alone and 

 say how many stands would be required for a family, it is impossible, but take it 

 as a pursuit it pays splendidly. We have not got but five or six weeks for a honey 

 season, and the best food for bees is . white clover, but if the wind blows from the 

 wrong direction we won't get any honey. A stand of bees will cost you five or six 

 dollars a ad bring you in a few years more money than a good cow. 



