

8 Texas DEPARTirENT of Agriculture. 



only by our own people of Texas, but by outsiders more especially, 

 whose attention has been attracted to the exceptional possibilities 

 in Texas beekeeping. It may be well to state that no other part of 

 the country is receiving as much attention in the apicultural world 

 at this time as Texas is, and that, although Texas is now the leading 

 honey producing State, it is destined to become still more important 

 apicultura%. With a great number of its localities unoccupied by 

 bees and much of its beekeeping yet unimproved, the opportunities for 

 the progressive apiculturist are excellent indeed. 



The growing desire for reliable information on the subject is grat- 

 ifying, since it shows an active interest in beekeeping, to the advan- 

 tage of the State, which is already in the first rank in so many things 

 and of which we as Texans are so justly proud. Letters of inquiry 

 have become so numerous that it is impossible to reply to them 

 promptly and intelligently by correspondence and, for that reason, 

 this bulletin has been prepared and, it is hoped, will prove acceptable. 



It is impracticable to cover all subjects in a bulletin of this kind, 

 however. The vast extent of the State, its great differences in alti- 

 tude, latitude and climatic conditions, together with the consequent 

 variety of its flora and the variance of the numerous blooming periods 

 of these, call for modifications of methods and application to suit the 

 several localities. 



While the apiarist must deal with conditions resembling almost 

 identically those of the tropics in the most southern portion of the 

 State, North Texas presents others that are very much different. This 

 is not only true as regards temperature, but the whole range of at- 

 mospheric phenomena and resulting effects on the floral vegetation 

 upon which the honey bees find their subsistence. 



Such other information as is not contained in this bulletin will be 

 cheerfully supplied, and may be obtained by directing inquiries to 

 the Consulting Apicultural Expert of the Texas Department of 

 Agriculture, Austin, Texas. 



The tendency is for old apiarists to keep more bees and for others 

 to engage in the business. I hope this spirit will continue and dif- 

 fuse itself till all who can profltabljr embark in the pleasant and 

 profitable pursuit will do so, for it would mean gratifying pushing 

 forward of the car of progress in the State. I trust that all who re- 

 spond to the impulse will do so with the determination to keep bees 

 better than ever has been done before. The opportunities in Texas 

 for energetic, interested persons are excellent. It must be remembered 

 that adverse seasons may be met with here, as elsewhere: but. they 

 are comparatively few and far between, and that, compared with 

 other parts of the country, they are above the average of favorable- 

 ness. Taking everything into consideration, the future of Texas api- 

 culture is one of great, and, in my opinion, assured promise. 



Louis H. Scholl. 



