THE OUTLOOK 17 
Judging from the incomes of those who are depending upon 
bee-keeping for a livelihood, it seems safe to say that a man who 
will become thoroughly proficient and attend properly to his busi- 
ness can make from twelve hundred to three thousand dollars 
per year from the bees that he can care for personally. Some 
do better than that, many do not do as well, but so many exclusive 
bee-keepers come within this range that it is a conservative one. 
If the ambitious reader proves to be the exceptional man, he may 
hope to increase his income much beyond the higher figure by 
skilful organization and large apiaries widely scattered. 
After gathering the average results from a number of bee- 
keepers who have kept bees for many years, it seems safe to place 
the average return in the average locality at five dollars per 
colony in the hands of expert bee-keepers. So much depends upon 
a suitable locality that it is important that one who is taking up 
bee-keeping as a business should choose a locality above the 
average if possible. 
The Outlook.—There are always a few timid souls who ery 
over-production, who feel that the honey business will shortly 
be overdone. The last census clearly shows that there are a less 
number of bee-keepers in the United States than there were ten 
years ago, although there has not been a corresponding decrease 
in the number of bees. This indicates that the bee-keepers are 
becoming specialists. When it is remembered that there has 
been a constant increase in population, one need have little fear of 
over-production of honey while the number of beekeepers is 
decreasing, especially not until we reach the time when there 
is a marked increase in the production of honey. While at times 
there may be a temporary glut in some markets because of im- 
proper distribution, the bee-keeper in taking up the business need 
have little fear of seeing the production of honey overdone for 
many years to come. 
QUESTIONS 
1. What type of person is most likely to be a successful bee-keeper ? 
2. Note some of the advantages of bee-keeping as a business. 
3. Compare the returns of bee-keeping to other occupations requiring equal 
capital. 
4, What is the outlook for the business? 
