93 
THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF BEE- 
KEEPING. 
By L. T. CuamBers, Bree-Krrerers’ Suppty ASSOCIATION. 
(8th December, 1893.) 
Bee-keeping, like many other pursuits, may be limited to a 
small area, as is usually the case in amateur work, or extended to a 
large area, partaking of the nature of an adjunct to other pursuits, 
or becoming the sole occupation or employment of an individual 
as a means of obtaining a living. Ina recent lecture given by 
Mr. Ellery before this association, we had a concise study of the 
economy of the beehive, and we need not now do more than 
glance over the points then brought under your notice. 
Our subject to-day deals with the concrete value of bee-keeping. 
The money there is in it. The possibilities of turning knowledge 
and labour into hard cash. This, sir, is the question that is 
exercising our minds very much at the present time. And it is 
my pleasure at this opportunity to supply a pointer in the direction 
of one source of profit to the individual and the State. I desire 
to speak with all due caution only of facts which are fully known 
and proved, and which, as a bee-keeper for ten years past, I am 
thoroughly conversant with. 
There are three points to be considered in our subject to-day, 
and these three points really resolve into two. They are these— 
The source of supply, that is, the prospective crop to be gathered ; 
the workers, that is, the bees ; and the superintending power, that 
is, the man. Given assurance of the prospective crop, the develop- 
ment and proper management of the bees lies within the power 
and direction of the prime factor, the man. 
Good superintendence presupposes good workmen and good 
methods. Still, I desire to dwell upon this point awhile, to show - 
how much depends upon careful selection, even in the matter of 
breeding a bee. We find exactly the same conditions present and 
under control as in the case of sheep, cattle, trees, or vegetables. 
To suppose that “‘a bee is a bee,” and therefore all bees are of 
equal value as workers, would be quite as great a mistake as to 
assume the same of a horse, or possibly a man. There is a 
wonderful variation of character and ability in the apiary, as a 
little careful investigation will soon prove. 
Before, however, saying anything in the direction of the crop 
and the possibilities of gathering it, I should like to say a word 
or two about the man—the present or prospective bee-keeper. 
