The Bee=Keeping Industry 



Australia. 



in Victoria, 



/'', R. Jieuliiii', A piciilliiriftt. 



No other rural occupation will give a better return for the capital 

 invested and the labour applied than bee-keeping, if intelligently 

 pursued. 



In the State of Victoria, and in Australia generally, bee culture is 

 still in its infancy. Large numbers of colonies are still kept in box- 

 hives, and, therefore, the statistics of production do not convey a correct 

 idea of the possible scope of the industry. There are, however, a limited 

 number of specialist bee-keepers, working with the most modern ap- 

 pliances, and their returns for a number of years indicate the great 

 possibilities of development of the industry. 



A Typicai Victorian Apiary. 



The honey resources of Victoria which are unsurpassed by those of 

 any other civilized country, together with a sunny climate and mild 

 winters, make it an ideal bee-keepers' country. The wintering problem 

 as found in many other parts of the world does not exist in Australia. 

 The hives are left on their summer stands, neither cellars nor double- 

 walled hives are needed. Brood rearing goes on for ten or eleven montihs 

 of the year. 



The Honey Resources of the State. 



About 90 per cent, of the honey produced is gathered by the bees 

 from the many varieties of eucalypts. and some other native trees, shrubs 

 and plants, while the remaining 10 per cent, comes from clovers and 



2404. 



