$ Tt>e Apiary ^ 



HINTS FOR BEE RAISERS. 



EE raisers should find some 

 time during the fall and win- 

 ter to make an inventory of 

 fixtures on hand, colonies on 

 hand, and amount of honey 

 and wax taken. There is no 

 other way of telling whether 

 it is profitable than by com- 

 paring these inventories 

 from year to year ; nor can 

 a decision he made until you 

 have several of the invento- 

 ries to compare. These in- 

 ventories serve another pur- 

 pose, being of incalculable 

 use when making out a list 

 of supplies to be purchased 

 for the coming season, 

 make it a rule to have fifty one-pound sections of each colony put into winter 

 quarters, and one pound of thin, surplus foundation for each one hundred 

 sections. Before getting new hives I determine how much of an increase 

 of stock I intend to make, then get the number of hives I expect to use, 

 and allow one and one-half pounds of brood foundation to each hive. The fall 

 or early winter is a good time of the year to purchase bee supplies, because then 

 quite a liberal discount is made on prices. Besides, it is a good idea to have 

 everything on hand when wanted. I find that many stormy days in winter can 

 be used to great advantage in putting hives and sections together ready for 

 spring. Some of our winter days should also be given to a study of our failures 

 and successes of past years, and we may avoid the former and multiply the 

 latter. Some one may ask, " How can a bad season be avoided ?"' thinking 

 that the cause of their failure. But can we be sure it is the season ? May not 

 bad management have something to do with it? I admit that a poor season will 

 reduce the crop of honey, but it increases the price. 



In 1889 bee-keepers in this section of the country had what they called a 

 full crop of honey. That is, about fifty pounds per colony of combed honey. It 

 sold slowly at fifteen cents a pound. For the last two seasons the average per 

 colony has been less than ten pounds, and sold at prices ranging from twenty- 

 five to thirty cents per pound. My apiary is not more than a mile from two 

 other apiaries, one east, and the other west from it. Each has the same bee 



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