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 
