I 



246 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. December, 



honey. But it vemainis: we have to of 13.0 and 14.0 pounds of honey per 

 import colony in Massachusetts and Vermont 



In Massachusetts, bee-keeping is respectively, against only 28.0 pounds 

 profitable; it is evident from the re- in California. These comparisons 

 turns of a questioner sent, this past would seem encouraging. But they 

 week, to the members of the Worces- are all low, chiefly because of faulty 

 ter County Bee-keepers' Association, reports or none at all or because of 

 by their secretary, Mr. Charles R. inefficient management. Notwith- 

 Russell. We have not heard from -standing the inaccuracies and incom- 

 all; but such returns as are in show pleteness of our returns, we find by 

 thrift, progressiveness, good increase, our data the average yield to be 35 

 and good crops. pounds per colony, which figure is 



Our purpose in sending out this probably nearer right than the census 

 blank was to gather data that we report. 



might form an estimation of the honey Bee diseases are not doing any 

 crop: the number of bees kept by our noticeable damage in the state; but 

 several members; the amount of in- three mention their presence. That 

 crease: the general interest in bee- some disease is here, is certain, because 

 keeping; and last but in no measui-e ^^^ writer has found evidence of it in 

 least, the evidence if any, of bee dis- several parts of Worcester and the 

 ease. From the reports, there is suri'ounding towns. What disease it 

 much satisfaction. It may well be is— "black," "pickled," or "foul-brood" 

 said, however, that there are no ex- — we are not positive, no fatal cases, 

 tensive apiaries in this region, as however, have been known; but its 

 there are in the west, and conse- course and progress must be watched, 

 quently we have no astonishing yields. -^fa»i*achu.setts bee-keepers — strive to 

 There are, on the other hand, a con- <io better next year. Try to produce 

 siderable number who keep two to a ^^^ two hundred tons which are 

 dozen or fifteen hives. With these, y^ai'ly imported to the state. Our 

 they are able to supply their own natural resources will yield that and 

 tables and some few of their towns- an even greater amount. Try to in- 

 men. We never hear a complaint f^"c-e your community to eat on the 

 from the bee-keeper, that he has more average more than two teaspoonfuls 

 honey than he can get rid of. of honey, this year; it would be far 



The yields, as shown by our reports, more healthy than ten times that 

 range per apiary, from 75 to about amount of cane sugar. Learn to do 

 500 pounds. One gentleman reports things by modern methods; increase 

 two hundred pounds extracted from a '^^^' yields thereby, from one-fourth 

 single colony, and an average of 45 to at least three-fourths of the total 

 pounds per swarm of comb honey, consumption. We had better export 

 The president of our society, Mr. P. H. than import honey. 

 Drake, of E. Brookfield,' has taken Worcester, Mass., Nov. 12, 1905. 



from 11 colonies, five of which were 



1905 swarms, 340 pounds. Similarly, WAX ADULTERATION. 



another reports 300 pounds from 10 



colonies in which case there was no The Honey Producers' Lea^ne. 



increase. One bee-keeper, who lives ■ 



in the central part of Worcester, Rv r p t 



reports 320 pounds of honey. Another £5y j. ii. Johnson. 



384 pounds, from 7 colonies, or an T T SEEMS somewhat strange that 

 average of 55 pounds per colony. I my saying merelv that I thought 

 Such are our yields. But .just what * comb foundation contained paraf- 

 is the average per colony, is not, for fine, but admitted that I might be 

 several reasons, so easily stated. In wrong, should draw forth a two col- 

 the first place, our bee-keepers have umn editorial criticism from this pa- 

 sold and bought swarms: have lost per, in which tlie editor attacked, not 

 them: and the most important factor only my present, but mv past, writ- 

 of all, some have neglected them, ings, branding them as weak and 

 thus bringing down the average. The not only so but the editor of Glean- 

 census for 1900 shows an average ings takes the matter up in an 



