88 OBSERVATIONS BY APIARISTS. 



OBSERVATIONS GATHERED FROM KANSAS APIARISTS. 



During the field-work this year it was the writer's privilege to meet 

 a large number of the Kansas apiarists at work among their bees. In 

 conversation, many thoughts concerning their observations upon bees 

 and honey plants were expressed. Some of these, unknown to the 

 speakers, were jotted down and appear here. An extensive corre- 

 spondence with some 400 bee-keepers in this state furnishes much 

 valuable reading for those interested. The substance of some of these 

 letters is given here. 



The number of personal discussions and opinions which appear 

 here might be increased many times, but in so doing the same ideas 

 would be repeated ; want of space also forbids ; so that the substance 

 of the views of a few apiarists of Kansas upon the principal honey- 

 producing plants of the state, together with a few other facts concern- 

 ing apiculture, are herewith given. 



J. F. HUGHES, Marquette, McPherson county ; thirty stands ; Ital- 

 ians. '"They are good workers, and it takes a very strong wind to keep 

 them in their hives. In central Kansas we must depend almost en- 

 tirely on alfalfa for a honey plant. White clover cannot be cultivated 

 successfully here. Buckwheat can be raised in abundance, but can we 

 afford to raise it for the honey alone? If season is favorable, Italian 

 bees will gather 100 pounds per stand from alfalfa. Alfalfa will grow 

 here entirely without irrigation." 



MRS. C. E. ANDERSON, Salina, Saline county ; eighty colonies ; 

 Italians and hybrids. "Alfalfa is our main honey plant, and in a 

 favorable season the honey is equal to the best white honey. Buck- 

 wheat makes a good yield sometimes, but the honey is dark and strong. 

 In 1895 I had 1075 pounds fine comb honey from twelve colonies, and 

 several hundred pounds more not in marketable shape." 



WM. MILLER, Emporia, Lyon county; sixty-three stands. "I re- 

 gard alfalfa superior as a honey plant to buckwheat or white clover, 

 as I have known the latter in Ohio. I believe that a few stands 

 of bees on the lands of every Kansas farmer would be a source of 

 revenue, as well as adding quite a luxury to the living of himself and 

 family, and that with less outlay of labor and money than anything 

 else I know, unless it be the cow and hen. Bee-culture very naturally 

 works in with all small fruits, truck patches, fowls of every descrip- 

 tion, and other kindred industries, as an individual can be working at 

 the one, and yet have his apiary so located as to have an eye over it 

 continually during the swarming season. The bee can be wintered 

 in Kansas without any special preparation. Kansas is destined to be- 

 come a great honey-producing state as the alfalfa gains more and 

 more, as it is bound to do." 



