BEE KEEPING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 87 



keepers. The large population might account for this in the east, 

 but this does not explain why the western bee keepers have not 

 enlarged their apiaries, which without question should ultimately 

 result. Again, disease is beginning to exert its influence, and a more 

 general understanding of its nature and remedies should benefit the 

 industry. 



INCREASE IN NUMBER OF COLONIES. 



The figures on increase which the writer obtained show an increase 

 from 5,839 colonies in the spring to 8,350 colonies in the fall of 1906, 

 a gain of 2,413 colonies, or 42 per cent. This is below normal and 

 suggests the prevalence of bee diseases. 



PRODUCTION OF HONEY AND WAX. 



The subject of first importance to every bee keeper is the crop — 

 How much honey and wax do the bees produce? Unfortunately, 

 however, the majority do not go beyond this and ask how much ought 

 the yield to be? 



HONEY CROP. 



The honey production of the State is little more than one-tenth 

 what it might be. The markets demand much more honey than is 

 produced in the State. As nearly as can be ascertained, some 80 tons 

 of honey are annually harvested. Most of this is not shipped, but 

 is consumed by the producer or his neighbors. There is no evidence 

 that any honey is shipped out of the State; on the contrary, much 

 comb and extracted honey is annually imported from Vermont, New 

 York, and sometimes from the far West and South." 



Approximately 100 tons represents the total consumption during 

 190G. This consumption varies greatly from year to year, depending 

 on the crop, as, for instance, in 1907, when scarcely any honey was 

 obtainable in the market. The man who shipped 5^ tons from Ver- 

 mont the previous year sent less than 1,000 pounds in 1907. None 

 was received from New York, as in the previous year. But the 

 estimate for 1906 of 100 tons is only one-half the amount estimated 

 as consumed in 1904. b That year 200 tons, divided among the 



a In 1906, 5i tons came to Worcester from Vermont ; from New York State 2* 

 tons. In Boston the imports, according to this authority, were approximately 

 the same. It may be roughly estimated, therefore, that for 1906 at least 16 or 

 at most 20 tons were received from points outside of the State. This informn- 

 tion was kindly furnished the writer by Hon. V\\ H. Blodget. in a letter dated 

 Worcester, Mass., April 11, 1908. 



b Gates, Burton N., and Dr. C. F. Hodge. 1904. Bee Keeping ; How to meet 

 its dangers and difficulties. Mass. Crop Rept.. vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 30-40, Boston. 

 October. Also Fifty-second Ann. Rept. of the Secretary of the Mass. St. Bd. of 

 Agric, pp. 411-426, Boston, 1905. 



78009— Bui. 75, pt 7—09 2 



