26 Department of Agriculture 



When one becomes thoroughly familiar with the bees' activities, 

 the work can be so arranged that the beekeeper can be absent from 

 the bees for a considerable length of time, even .in the summer, 

 without detriment to the bees. Thus it will be seen that there is 

 a certain flexibility to the work, and that there is not the feeling 

 of bondage which attends the management of many forms of live 

 stock which demand attention every day in the year. 



Opportunities for Profitable beekeeping in New Jersey 



The conditions within and the location of New Jersey make its 

 beekeeping opportunities quite unique. 



First, the dairying interests in the State are extensive and because 

 much of the soil within the State is lacking in lime, alsike clover 

 is much grown for the cattle and the acreage of this plant is an- 

 nually increasing. Alsike clover will grow on acid soil where 

 other clovers would fail. The quality of honey from alsike clover 

 is such that only experts can distinguish it from that gathered from 

 white clover, and it is well known that white clover honey brings 

 the highest market price. The yield of nectar from alsike clover 

 is heavy and extends over a considerable period of time, usually 

 6 weeks at least. 



Alsike clover, however, must not be considered to be the only 

 important nectar-secreting plant. Locust is also important. White 

 clover contributes its share to the beekeeper's profits. Tulip, poplar, 

 sumac, golden rod, aster and buckwheat also help to make the crops- 

 satisfactory. Besides these, there is an almost innumerable array 

 of trees and plants which furnish more or less nectar for building 

 up the colonies to maximum strength as well as to help swell the 

 surplus crop. 



Second, the climate of the State is such that only the grossest 

 neglect of the bees will result in any considerable colony loss during- 

 the winter. This is particularly true of the lower two-thirds of 

 the State, but this must not be construed as an endorsement of 

 such shiftless wintering arrangements as poor hives and no extra 

 protection against low winter temperatures. It does show, how- 

 ever, that with ordinary care there need be no winter loss what- 

 ever. 



The flora of the State is so varied that when one plant which 

 usually furnishes nectar for one reason or another fails to do its- 



