27 



What can be accomplished. 



The following observations were made from returns to a series of 

 questions sent to the members of the Worcester County Bee Keepers' 

 Association. A similar set of questions was also reported in the 

 previous year, to which reference w^ill also be made. These com- 

 parative results figured on the crop of 1905 and 1906 are merely an 

 index of what can be done with bees by those who know how and who 

 are willing to give the attention; they do not in any degree represent 

 the status of the industry as a whole. 



The observations are based on the work of but 38 bee keepers, who 

 had, in the spring of 1906, 359 colonies, and who increased to 527 

 colonies in the fall, or an increase of more than 50 per cent. More 

 remarkable still, there was a significant honey crop along with this 

 increase of bees. Of comb honey we are reported 10,117 pounds; of 

 extracted or strained, 6,098 pounds; or a total of 16,215 pounds, which 

 is equivalent to nearly 8j tons. Consider this, a season's work of only 

 38 unpretentious kee keepers, who have three or four to a few dozen 

 hives, and who keep bees only that they may supply a limited local 

 trade or their owm tables, or, as one man tells us, because "I like to 

 have the industrious fellows around." It is no record to be ashamed 

 of; is it not a cheerful index to what can be done in the State? 



Summarizing, we find that the average jdeld was 45 pounds per 

 colony, spring count. As compared with the previous season, 1905, 

 this was 10 pounds better per colony. Now to compare with the figures 

 of the United States census for 1900, which puts the yield for Massa- 

 chusetts at 13 pounds per colony. These census figures are generally 

 considered as unsignificant and not well founded, but nevertheless they 

 go the world over, representing the State's capabiUties. According to 

 our figures, they are at least 32 pounds per colony out from a reason- 

 able average. Furthermore, these 38 bee keepers set a higher standard 

 than the census report for the famous honey-producing State of Cali- 

 fornia, which we are told averaged 28 pounds per colony. The same 

 objection is also pertinent here, as in the census figure for Massachu- 

 setts, but will nevertheless permit of just comparison with our society's 

 returns. 



W^e realize most assuredly that on so few returns as 38 out of several 

 thousand possible bee keepers in the State, it is not safe to place too 

 much emphasis and significance. We may, however, especially since 

 we know personally most of those who made these returns, know their 

 methods and know their purposes in keeping bees, say that these 

 figures reveal more correctly than the census report, for instance, the 

 truly existing circumstances and possibilities in Massachusetts. They 

 represent what is possible for every one who has bees and who is willing 

 to learn how to manipulate them, which, by the way, is as much easier 

 than the shiftless, let-alone bee keeping as to live neatly is easier than 

 to live slovenly. 



It is not the purpose of this paper to tell how to keep bees, and it is 

 far from the purpose to stimulate and prompt new bee keepers; but it 

 is rather to stimulate those who now possess bees, to keep them better. 



We hope also to encourage our readers by possibly indicating to 

 them the superior resources of the State, and to suggest to them some 

 immediate steps which will help them to become better bee keepers. 



With this index of what is possible, and a prospect of doing better 

 bee keeping, in mind, let us consider, before regarding the essentials for 

 an advance in Massachusetts, the superior resources of the State which 



