igos. THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 37 



the consumer to buy oranges in St. Swarming may be excessive for one 

 Louis or Chicago for the same price locality or season and only moderate 

 at which they are sold in California, for another. The degree is largely in 

 That is a good thing for the con- proportion to the natural honey re- 

 sumer in St. Louis or Chicago, and sources of the region and the flow 

 no doubt a good thing for the pro- during the particular season under 

 ducer in California, but here is how consideration. We have known small 

 this honey business differs: yards where the natural increase was 



Only a small portion of the United three-fold, and still a good honey 

 States produces oranees, and any ar- crop was harvested, and all had suf- 

 rangement to lessen the freight so ficient left for winter. In other sea- 

 as to sell the goods cheaper at a dis- sons one swarm per colony would re- 

 tant market and still get more clear duce the old colony in stores to such 

 money out of the goods is a good ar- an extent that they would succumb 

 rangement; and the California people to starvation before spring, and the 

 boast of the fact that the California swarm being in the same, or more 

 Citrus Fruit Exchange was the means generally poorer, condition, would 

 of driving foreign oranges out of the also die of starvation. This is speak- 

 New York market. Why was that? ing of small yards, where little is 

 Simply because by economy and ad- known by the apiarist of the amount 

 vantages obtained by the organization of stores really required for winter 

 they could undersell them. But hon- and no thought is given to feeding, 

 ey is produced in all parts of this Bee-keepers of this class generally 

 country, and although California and scorn the idea of feeding bees for 

 Texas have, to a great extent, sup- winter. It is thought that natural in- 

 plied the diflferent markets of the stinct would prompt the bees to pro- 

 United States, the bee industry is still vide a sui^ciency for winter in the 

 developing very rapidly in those brood chamber. To disabuse these 

 states, and the specialist with his people of this erroneous idea is a dif- 

 juany colonies can make money sell- ficult task and requires much reason- 

 ng his honey for from five to ten ing and argumentation. 

 :ents per pound. With them it only To those who should chance to read 

 emains that they be well organized, this article, let me say: Don't let your 

 ;o that all their honey finds a market bees starve, even though they have 

 vhere it will bring the cash, and b\' produced little or no surplus. Feed 

 hipping in carload lots and saving them good sugar syrup to amply pro- 

 )oth freight and commission, they vide them with stores until another 

 :an, without any trouble, undersell season. No doubt they will repay you 

 he ordinary bee-keeper with his one manyfold for your outlay, and you 

 lundred or two hundred colonies. The will have a stock of bees» whereas, 

 western states and Texas have still had you not provided stores, nothing 

 luch unoccupied territory which, in but empty hives would be left, and to 

 he near futuie, will contain thousands the inquirer you would say: "Bees 

 f colonies of bees. The bee-keepers are no good. They winter killed." No 

 1 those parts are largely specialists, wonder bees winter-kill^ if they have 

 ■'ho are increasing their stock, and not enough food t,o last them till 

 lere is no gainsaying the fact that spring. There is little more logic in 

 le output of honey is gaining more expecting bees to provide themselves 

 ipidly than is the consumption. under all conditions with sufficient 



Williamsfield, 111., Jan. 11, 1905. stores for winters of variable intensity 



— and duration than to expect live stock 



SWARMING AND WINTERING to lay in a supply of fodder. 



T>i?CTTT TC Ii your bees should be light of 



Kii^ui^ia. stores, do not delay, but feed them a 



By L. M. Gulden. sufficient quantity of good sugar 



syrup, made of two parts granulated 

 ROBABLY nine-tenths of the sugar and one part hot water. A Mil- 

 winter losses among small bee- ler feeder, which will hold enough for 

 keepers, and possibly also wintering' a colony and which may 

 )ng the larger apiarists, may be be used in all kinds of weather, is the 

 rectly traced to excessive swarm- best to feed with at this time of year. 



Pepper-box feeders are also good, but 



