-i y 



anxious to find out. Then it enabled the inspector to point out right-on- the 

 spot why no honey was secured, and often at the actual defect that hinder- 

 ed, and this latter condition was not uncommon by any means. While 

 theoretically education was not included in the inspector's work, it prac- 

 tically formed a major part of it, so on this second trip I endeavoured to 

 place a monetary value on the gains made by individual beekeepers as the 

 result of my efforts. It will be readily understood that only those visited 

 before the honey-flow could show results in the material form of increased 

 honey production, and that therefore limits the range of the estimate to the 

 months of May and June. I find that out of 79 beekeepers called on in 

 these months I aroused in eight of them a definite desire to be better bee- 

 keepers and that as a result the value of their honey-crop amounted to 

 $720, instead of no crop as in previous years. From now on it is to be pre- 

 sumed they will improve in skill and do better in future years, and, not less 

 important by any means, influence materially to their advantage other 

 beekeepers in their locality. It may also be safely assumed that ten per 

 cent, of those visited after the end of June were equally affected. 



On this second trip I left Victoria on August 17 for Agassiz. It rained 

 on the day of my arrival, also the following morning, so I started for 

 Lytton, where I called on the two beekeepers who are located about midway 

 between that town and Lillcoet. This valley has great apiarian possibilities 

 as there is considerable acreage devoted to alfalfa, which according to the 

 experience of Mr. Lochore produces about 100 pounds of surplus honey to 

 the acre, no mean revenue, and what is better still, gained with but 

 little work. 



Lillooet has seen several attempts made in bee culture, and learning 

 that several ranchers there had bees I thought it advisable to pay them a 

 visit since I was so near. As one approaches the town the character of the 

 vegetation changes from fir trees to sagebrush, but unfortunately the latter 

 does not appear to be of the nectar bearing variety. In Lillooet I found 

 one apiary of two colonies which were intelligently handled without suc- 

 cess. As I was here a couple of days I examined on foot the country for 

 several miles round, and what puzzles me is not the absence of surplus 

 honey, but the fact that the bees were able to live in a region that appar- 

 ently is devoid of nectar bearing plants. 



Between Lillooet and Ashcroft a considerable acreage of alfalfa is seen 

 from the stage, how much I had no means of estimating but assuredly there 

 is opportunity for considerable beekeeping. About a dozen miles out from 

 Lillooet I found on one ranch half a dozen colonies whose bees had died 

 in winter time. The combs were full of fine honey, but not a trace of 

 disease was apparent. After examination of conditions and close inquiry 

 I came to be of opinion that the bees had been smothered by the moisture 

 of the hives condensing on the walls, trickling down, then freezing hard at 

 the very small entrance, and so preventing the necessary change of air. 

 Special reference is made to this kind of hive in the second part of this 

 bulletin where its dangers are pointed out. A few miles farther on is 

 located another apiary of 6 colonies which although not skilfully handled 

 gave indications that successful beekeeping is possible in this_ region. 



From August 27 to September 2 was spent at Agassiz. The Experi- 

 mental Farm apiary had been all worked over into modern hives and in 

 addition a crop of honey had been secured, the first in the history of the 

 farm. But I regret to say that the example had not been followed by the 



