86 THE APIARY. 
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 productive 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 jn 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 will 
