98 
We may now return to consider and compare the figures of 
Dadant and Son with those which are obtainable here, and see if 
their stated yearly average of 50 Ibs. per hive is or can be 
exceeded here. I find also that Dr. Miller, an extensive apiarist, 
of Marengo, IIL. in an article written in September this year, says 
cof another bee-keeper, who reports an average of 75 lbs. per 
colony—“ spring count”—for eight. years, “This makes some of 
us green with envy.” 
“Spring count” means the total gathering to be credited to the 
original number of hives of bees that began work in the spring, 
before swarming. So that it will be seen that, if the increase by 
swarming were only 50 per cent., the average of 50 lbs. per 
colony would have only been gained. We may, therefore, take 
these figures as being reliable, and, if anything, a full statement 
of the case. Southern California, which nearly approaches our 
own climate, produces by far the greatest amount of any of the 
States. Her supply is chiefly drawn from a dwarf bush known 
as sage-bush, of which there are several varieties. The crop is, 
however, a very uncertain one. In 1886 California produced a 
crop of 9,000,000 lbs., but since that year has not raised more 
than 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 lbs. in any year. 
We get a peep at Californian prospects in page 129, “Gleanings 
in Bee Culture,’ as under:— 
‘Some time ago one of your honey reporters stated that the 
crop of 1892 was nota failure in California, because they ‘had 
already received twelve car-loads of honey.’ It is very evident 
that this firm does not appreciate the honey resources of 
California. In a good year twelve cars could be loaded within a 
radius of ten miles of my apiary! San Diego Co. in a good year 
will produce 2,500,000 lbs. of honey, and not exert herself 
beyond her strength. This is 125 car-loads of 20,000 lbs. each. 
In 1886 the firm of Surr and Winchester bought of the crop of 
San Diego Co. over 2,000,000 lbs. There were other buyers, 
too, and many producers shipped direct to San Francisco. Thus 
it will be seen that Surr and Winchester alone had of San Diego 
Co. honey 100 car-loads of 20,000 lbs. each. In 1887 they still 
held it, and they made money by so doing, for 1887 was a very 
poor honey year. You mentioned it in ‘Gleanings,’ but I think 
you gave no name of the parties who held the honey. Yes, we 
are waiting for a good crop, and we have been waiting for nearly 
seven long years! But we are in the hands of an all-wise 
Providence, who knows much better what we ought to have than 
we do ourselves. In the excellent season of 1883 the honey crop 
of Hancock County, Illinois, was estimated at about 200,000 lbs., 
which made an average of less than half a pound per acre. 
Thirty-six thousand pounds of this was our own crop, and the 
county did not contain one-tenth of the bees that could have 
