6 



honey-plant that in most regions can be depended upon for a good average yield in a 

 series of years, and so even experienced bee-keepers are tempted to assume that the 

 presence of clover in quantity should indicate a good honey region. This does not 

 necessarily follow, for both summer and fall droughts or cool summer evenings may 

 retard the secretion of nectar ; yet there may be a good honey -flow in such a region 

 from a very different source. The sourthern end of Vancouver Island would appear to 

 be a good example. Clover is ]ilentiful in many portions, but is sparingly visited by 

 the bees. Some years the snowberry bush is generally covered with blossoms at the 

 time clover is in bloom, and a good supply of very delicious honey is secured. There- 

 fore, any one contemplating an extensive investment in bee-culture should not venture 

 on a very large scale until he knows for a certainty the actual source of the honey-flow 

 and how extensively it is to be found within a radius of a mile and a half of the apiary. 



White Clover the Chief Source of Nectar. 

 In every report that has reached the Department white clover is given the credit 

 as the main source of surplus honey. One from the south end of Vancouver Island also 

 includes snowberry. Fireweed or willow-herb (Epilohium anqusti folium) is reported 

 from New Westminster and Rossland ; at the latter place it is s lid to always yield well. 

 The fruit-blooms of the Okanagan Valley, as will be seen later on, are credited with 

 yielding good returns. Summerland reports sage and Vernon alfalfa as honey sources. 

 Ccanbrook is favoured with clover, alfalfa, fireweed, and sweet clover. In West 

 Kootenay generally clover is the only source credited, but one region includes raspberry. 

 In Yale District alfalfa and wild mustard add to the honey-crop. 



Form in which the Crop is produced. 

 As the nights in British Columbia are cool even in summer, it is not a favourable 

 region for the production of section honey — that is, honey in the comb — and all the 

 reports confirm this. A comparison of the selling price of the two forms in the grocery 

 stores shows also that extracted honey is the more profitable to produce. 



Quantity of Honey got from each Hive. 



It is not alone the character of the region that influences the size of the crop ; the 

 skill of the bee-keeper plays no unimportant part. It is a truism in bee-keeping that 

 i iiy one can get a good harvest in a good year, but it requires skill to get a fair crop in 

 a poor season. Notwithstanding all this, there is surprising agreement when one groups 

 tie data from the different regions. On striking an average from all reports from each 

 locality, the Okanagan Valley is first with an average maximum of 105 sections a hive, 

 and an average minimum of 38. The highest return is 150, the lowest 24 sections. 

 When run for extracted honey, the average maximum is 141 pounds ; the average 

 minimum, 52 pounds, (ireatest yield for a hive, 200 pounds ; smallest, 30 pounds. 

 Vernon and Summerland show the best figures. 



Around New Westminster the average yield in section honey is given as 42 ; the 

 highest ((uoted is <}() ; the lowest is 20. In the extracted form the average maximum is 

 82 pounds ; highest, 200 pounds ; lowest, 12 pounds. The average minimum is 28 pounds. 

 In several instances attention is drawn to the fact that the character of the ground in 

 the immediate vicinity is very important, as bottom lands that are sometimes under 

 water usually give the best yields. The region above the Delta would appear more 

 favourable. Building up in the spring is slow, on accimnt cf cool weather. One 

 rancher in Chilliwack who has kept bees for fourteen years says : " We keep bees now- 

 only to make certain tlie pollination of the fruit. Do not advise any one to try to make 

 a living in this region from bees, as they rarely do more than get sufficient stores to 

 winter on, and often not that murh. Our nights are too cool for the secretion of 

 nectar." 



