PRIOR RIGHTS 83 



Frank Coverdale, at Delmar, Iowa, had 300 colonies in one yard. 

 He formerly kept his bees in several outyards, in deference to 

 the general idea that the locality could be easily overstocked. He 

 found a great saving in time and expense in having the bees all 

 at home, where they could be under constant supervision. 



At Center Point, Iowa, S. W. Snyder, secretary of the Iowa 

 Bee-Keeper's Association, kept more than 200 colonies in one 

 yard. About two miles distant another bee-keeper had nearly 

 250 colonies in one yard. Thus there were nearly 500 colonies 

 within two miles. In the town of Maquoketa, Iowa, there were 

 several apiaries, some of which had more than 150 colonies each. 

 Within a mile or two outside there were several more apiaries, 

 thus bringing the total number of colonies much above that com- 

 monly thought to be profitable. Yet in all the above-mentioned 

 cases the yields were very satisfactory. 



A number of instances have been published where from 500 

 to 700 colonies have been kept in one yard, in the States of New 

 York, Idaho and California. 



Apparently, the number of honey-producing blossoms avail- 

 able for early brood rearing, and during the season of greatest 

 dearth, have an important bearing on the number of colonies that 

 can be supported through the year. During a heavy flow from 

 any source, it seems at times that thousands of colonies could 

 find support. If an insufficient supply of honey and pollen is 

 available to support the colony during long periods of compara- 

 tive idleness, the available stores will be too heavily drawn upon 

 for support, and the number of colonies should be reduced for 

 profit. 



In many localities a few colonies will make a very good show- 

 ing, when a substantial increase in the number will so reduce 

 the average per colony that they are no longer profitable. 



Prior Rights. — It is a common trait of human nature to 

 crowd in where some one else has found a profitable opening of 

 any kind, It very frequently happens that when a bee-keeper 



