SOURCKS OF HONEY. 103 



or size, I determined to avail myself of the 

 opportunity offered to satisfy myself on the long- 

 disputed question — "How far will a bee go to col- 

 lect honey?" I therefore made close and repeated 

 examinations, at different times during the honey 

 season, and it was no uncommon occurrence, to 

 find the Italian workers seven miles from their 

 hives. As there were no Italian bees except mine 

 within hundreds of miles, I considered this positive 

 proof that this variety will travel seven miles from 

 its hive in its search for honey-producing flowers. 

 As the native or black bee is, to some extent, found 

 in all parts of the country, it is impossible to prove 

 conclusively the distance they will go from the 

 hive ; yet my observations give very strong evi- 

 dence that they journey five miles or more after 

 honey. 



When the distance a bee will go for honey is so 

 well established, and having found from repeated 

 tests that the flowers, when yielding honey, may be 

 visited many times each day by the bee, and yield 

 at each visit a bountiful supply, we can form some 

 idea of the vast amoimt of honey now permitted to 

 go to waste, which might be collected by bees, 

 stored in nice boxes, and thus add wealth and en- 

 joyment to the human family. 



The question is often asked, "Which is best for 

 bees, a w^et or dry season .'"' I think either extreme 

 of very wet or very dry season is bad. A warm, 

 medium wet spring, followed by a summer of light 

 and frequent showers, will usually give a good 

 yield of honey ; while a cold, wet, or a cold, dry 



