PROFITS OF BEE KEEPING. 89 



circumstances, with our very best stocks, that we 

 secure the results here named, such as three hun- 

 dred and eighty pounds of box honey from one stock 

 in a season. This serves to illustrate what may be 

 derived (but not what we may reasonably expect) 

 from each stock, where a dozen or more stocks are 

 kept. Two hundred pounds from each stock on the 

 average is about right. And this last is only se- 

 cured with good care and attention, perseverance 

 and labor, judiciously applied to the work. 



The question is often asked : "How many stocks 

 ofbeescanbe kept in one place on your plan?" 

 This depends on the number of honey-yielding 

 plants and flowers. Some localities furnish a much 

 greater number than others. In some localities, 

 fifty stocks would do well, and pay yearly a hand- 

 some profit ; in others, it would not be profitable to 

 keep half as many. I am in a place said to be very 

 unfavorable to bee keeping. I find twelve stocks 

 about the right number for me to maintain. Bees 

 will go seven miles or more to collect honey, but 

 the shorter the distance, the more honey will be 

 collected, in a season ; consequently the greater 

 profit will follow. 



It can only be learned by practical test how many 

 stocks of bees may be profitably kept in any locality. 

 Commence with a few, and increase the number 

 moderately, until you find you have as many as 

 you wish to keep, or as many as the locality will 

 support, with good profit, when managed judicious- 

 ly. 



