' 3 



apiaries will feel the loss most, as in the majority of cases almost every 

 colony was wiped out. A great deal has been heard of the disastrous 

 effects of foul brood and of the ravages attending this disease, but these 

 have been trifling compared with the total losses of the past few seasons 

 from other causes. 



Much of the loss has been due to neglect and carelessness. The 

 larger bee-keepers have specialized in this industry, and, being dependent 

 upon it alone for their livelihood, have studied the requirements of their 

 stock and have given their colonies the best attention. Many others have 

 engaged in bee-keeping as a side line, and left the bees largely to them- 

 selves, except perhaps at the time of honey flow when they have taken off 

 whatever surplus was available. Others, again, have kept from one to 

 five colonies to produce enough honey for home use only, and these also 

 have suffered for lack of proper attention, as their owners are generally 

 too busy at the proper season with other farm labor to bother with them. 

 Yet, to the farmer who will make a business of keeping and looking 

 after from 10 to 25 or 50 colonies, a splendid profit may be made on the 

 necessary investment. Like every other business, care and knowledge is 

 required, and most of the latter can be gained only by experience. Small 

 beginnings should be made and the natural increase under favorable con- 

 ditions will soon give the number of colonies required. It must be under- 

 stood that the profits are as great as from any other part of the farm, 

 provided the same care is exercised in looking after the bees as is usually 



' given to other stock or to the orchard. In addition to the crop of honey 

 harvested, the bees are valuable adjuncts to the proper fertilization of 

 blossoms in the orchard and in the alsike clover fields. They take noth- 

 ing from the soil or other parts of the farm yet give handsome returns 

 for their keep. 



In many parts of the Province are districts now unoccupied by bee-; 

 keepers, where larger apiaries could be kept with profit. Alsike, white 

 clover, buckwheat, basswood and other honey producing crops are grown 

 more or less everywhere, while in certain sections these occur in such 

 abundance as to furnish large surpluses of honey in favorable seasons. 

 By means of out-apiaries, from 200 to 300 colonies or over may be run in 

 these places with good results by a person giving his time to this work. , 

 Honey-producing crops have stood the winter well, and are growing 

 luxuriantly. The cool, wet spring, and subsequent hot weather, have 

 brought forth rapid growth and all prospects indicate an abundance of 

 clover bloom. Many fields intended for spring grains, but untouched 

 owing to the wet land, will be planted to buckwheat, ensuring a good 

 harvest of this honey later in the season. Altogether the outlook is very 

 promising for a good yield of all kinds of honey to those who have by 

 care and skill carried their bees through the past tw6 unfavorable springs. 1 



h Owing to the tremendous losses during 1907, the total crop will be 



"' much reduced even if every colony should harvest a good average of both 

 clover and buckwheat. This shortage combined with the rapidly increas- 



v ing markets in the west will undoubtedly tend to keep up the prices to 



