Bee Disease Control 27 



duty, there is usually one or more which do produce well, thus 

 tiding over the period of dearth of nectar from the usual producer. 



Seldom, indeed, is it necessary to feed the bees to tide them over 

 a poor season, unless the beekeeper has neglected the bees and 

 allowed them to swarm excessively or has unwisely manipulated 

 them. The opportunity to have apiaries in scattered locations is 

 good because of the many good roads in the State. Thus apiaries 

 20 miles apart offer no transportation difficulties whatever. 



If a beekeeper only produces honey he will have about 6 months 

 of the year of unemployment, hence it is desirable that some profit- 

 able work be had through the season when the bees do not need 

 attention. New Jersey offers a splendid opportunity to the bee- 

 keeper to spend this period of the year in selling his crop, because 

 the many manufacturing centres are all excellent markets for honey 

 and the good roads put them within driving distance by automobile. 

 By retailing his crop the beekeeper can double his income. By 

 selling to retailers 50 per cent will be added to the income. 



Should there be good reasons why the beekeeper should not re- 

 tail his crop or even sell to retailers, the New Jersey beekeeper still 

 has a marked advantage because he is within a short distance of 

 New York, which is the best wholesale honey market in the East. 



Overstocking 



There is estimated to be about 12,000 colonies of bees in the 

 State. Probably two-thirds of these are in the northern half, and 

 yet in this part the number could be doubled and all would find 

 ample pasture. In the southern half, and where there is excellent 

 forage for bees, there are whole townships with less than 25 colonies. 

 These same townships would profitably support 200 or more colonies. 



Markets for the Increased Crops 



Lest anyone should fear that there would not be a ready market 

 for the honey if the number of colonies is doubled and the annual 

 output from each hive increased to 35 pounds, it should be borne 

 in mind that tons of honey are annually brought into this State to 

 supply the local demand. Some of this honey comes from points 

 as far distant as Colorado. Further, there has been no concerted 

 movement in New Jersey to popularize honey as a food. It may 



