GUIDE rO BEE-KEEPING. 



A 



CHAPTER I. 

 Apiarian Possibilities of Britisli Columbia. 



S the Department cjf Agriculture is very fre(juoiitl}' asked about the po.ssiljilities 

 of hee-koeping in British Columbia, an ellbrt has been made to get definite 

 information from those engaged in the industry. Tliere was one great diffioulty, the 

 absence of a list of bee-keepers to whom appeals could be sent. However, there were 

 gathered together from various sources the names of fully 200 apiarists on Varicouver 

 Island, along the Fraser River, and in the Districts of East and West Kootenay. T(j 

 these was sent a series of questions covering thoroughly the climatic conditions, 

 sources of nectar and pollen, the dirration of tlie honey-How, its average yield, and the 

 nature of the winter protection of the hives. 



The replies received cover these regions fairly well, suthcient to at least give an 

 indication of the possibilities in different localities. 



In the Eastern Provinces of Canada, especially in Ontario, tliere are manjf men w ho 

 depend on bee-kee]jing entirely as a means of li\'elihood, liut, so far as is known, there 

 is no such devehipment of the industry in l^n-itish Columbia. Thus far the largest 

 number of hives reported as being operated by one individual is fifty, but any one 

 confining his energies to bee-keeping alone generally considers .3fJ0 hives as the mininuim 

 number on which to spend his efi'orts, these being usually scattered over a considerable 

 territorj'. On the other hand, it has been learned that bee-keeping as a side issue is 

 much more common than was anticipated ; in fact, in the dairying and fruit-raising 

 districts a small apiary A\ould seem to be a necessary feature of almost every ranch. 

 In some localities from which the information is rather complete there is seemingly one 

 keeper of bees to e\'cry twenty people. This fact is I'ather valuable, because it shows 

 that it is unnecessary for the home-seeker to bring with him to British Columbia his 

 colonies of bees from the Eastern Provinces. Indeed, the Department of Agriculture 

 earnestly advises that neither bees, empty used hives, nor used bee appliances of any 

 kind be brought in, so as to prevent, if possible, the introduction of bee diseases, from 

 which the Province is at pi'esent apparently free. Of course, there is no objection to 

 the importation of <pieens from reputable breeders. 



In sixtj' oases there was learned the number of colonies owned, the total being 607, 

 suggesting an average of eleven hives to each apiary. 'J'his is a much higher figure than 

 was anticipated. 



SorRCE OF HOXEY-F1,OW. 



To those not familiar with bee-keeping terms, it is perhaps advisable to exjilain 

 that the phrase " hone3'-fio«' " means that season of the year \\hen the bees gather more 

 nectar than is necessary for the dailj' need of the hi\'e, and they are thus able to store 

 up surplus honey for winter consiuiiption. As from 2") to 30 pounds are usually 

 sufficient to carry a colony over the winter, all above that amount nray be taken V)\' tlie 

 bee-keeper. Since his returns are immediately concerned with the honey-flow, it is 

 important for him to know its source, its real source, for not infrequently he assumes 

 that it comes from a well-known honey-plant, when, as a matter of fact, it may be 

 actuallj' obtained from one he never suspected. l<'or instance, white clover is a famous 



