THE PROFITS OF BEE-KEEPING. 271 



For ordinary home use, run honey is most service- 

 able. As it can be sold, moreover, at only a less price 

 than that in sections or frames, there is this further 

 inducement for its consumption rather than its sale. 

 Ordinarily, not more than tenpence or a shilling a 

 pound, at most, can be obtained for it ; while sealed 

 honey in sections, or in frames, is worth considerably 

 more. 



We need hardly say that the weather is a most 

 important factor in the success or failure of bee- 

 keeping, in any particular year. Apiculturists, Hke 

 agriculturists, are subject to many and great alterna- 

 tions of hope and fear. The brightest prospects of 

 a bountiful honey-harvest are often blighted by rainy 

 or ungenial days in May and June ; and if these are 

 succeeded by a cloudy, cold July, the bees will not 

 only not store any more honey than they will them- 

 selves require, but may very possibly need liberal 

 supplies of syrup in the autumn to carry them 

 through the winter. 



Speaking in general terms of the profit to be made 

 by amateur bee-keepers, we may safely say that, in 

 a series of years, the average returns ought to be 

 sufficient to pay the expenses of maintenance, and to 

 yield, in addition, swarms and honey to the value of, 

 at least, i/. per hive. Such results will, of course, 

 not be attained without patient and careful attention 

 to the apiary; but such attention will be further re- 

 warded by the pleasures derivable from a knowledge 

 of the habits of the wonderful insects ; from the suc- 

 cessful pursuit of a rational and inexpensive hobby ; 

 from the ability to interest and instruct other people 

 in this department of natural history ; and lastly, but 



