86 THE APIART. 



number of bees kept in and about my own neighborhood, 

 accomplish as desirable results as if the territory were 

 more sparsely occupied. I am thoroughly satisfied that 

 such is not the case. 



In the most productiye seasons, and during the most 

 ample harvests, the difference is not so perceptible, but 

 under less favorable circumstances, the evidence has been 

 most convincing. We have here, from four to five hun- 

 dred colonies, working on the same ground. Judging 

 from the results at a yard six miles away, I estimate that 

 if my home apiary of 150 swarms could have the sole 

 range of this region, I should realize an increase of, at 

 least, one-third in my returns. I must maintain then, 

 that there is danger of over-stocking, if we desire to ob- 

 tain the largest possible yield. These views were held by 

 Mr. Quinby, and were justified by his later experience. 



I do not desire to be understood that bees may not be 

 cultivated successfully, even where there are larger num- 

 bers than here mentioned, for deficiencies in periods of 

 scarcity may be supplied artificially, but I wish to impress 

 upon the novice who is selecting a site for his apiary, the 

 fact, that the fewer bees in the desired location, the 

 better are his prospects. While reducing to practice 

 many points upon which he is not well informed, he will 

 meet with much less annoyance, if hundreds of swarms 

 are not able to take advantage of any undue exposure of 

 hives or honey, arising from his inexperienced handling. 



It will always be impossible to know exactly how 

 many bees can be profitably kept ; some seasons yield 

 bounteously, others only partially, and some, almost none 

 at all. 



Whoever begins with excessive numbers, must expect 

 to be sometime overtaken with serious disaster. One 

 must lay up a store of fortitude, in prosperous times, to 

 last him through such seasons of discouragement. 



It is an advantage to keep as large a number as wiU 



