PROFITS OF BEE KEEPING. 81 
which if collected would add millions of dollars to the 
wealth of the country. 
The statements of large yields of honey here presented 
show what it is possible to do; yet no reasonable person 
would commence bee keeping with the expectation of 
realizing, on each of a dozen or more stocks kept, the 
large yields above specified. Some stocks will pay a 
much greater profit than others. And it is only under 
the most favorable circumstances, with our very best 
stocks, that we secure the results here named, such as 
three hundred and eighty pounds of box honey from one 
stock ina season. This serves to illustrate what may 
be derived (but not what we may reasonably expect) 
from each stock, where a dozen or more stocks are kept. 
Two hundred pounds from each stock on the average is 
about right. And this last is only secured with good 
care and attention, perseverance and labor, judiciously 
applied to the work. 
The question is often asked: ‘How many stocks of 
bees can be kept in one place on your plan?’ This 
depends on the number of honey yielding plants and 
flowers. Some localities furnish a much greater number 
than others. In some localities, fifty stocks would do 
well, and pay yearly a handsome profit; in others it 
would not be profitable to keep half as many. J am in 
a place said to be very unfavorable to bee-keeping. I 
find twelve stocks about the right number for me to main- 
tain. Bees will go seven miles or more to collect honey 
but the shorter the distance, the more honey will be col- 
