Bce^H^eping in Carimer County. 



By R. C. Aifcin. 



B A RIMER COUNTY does not stand at the head as a 

 honey-producer, though it is by no means at the foot of 

 the list. The annual output of Boulder County exceeds 

 that of this, having a little better natural conditions of 



soil and flora, and a better development of the industry. However, 

 Larimer puts out at present about from three to six car loads as an 

 annual product in fair seasons. 



The main source of nectar is alfalfa; 

 second, sweet clover, and third, cleome or 

 Rocky Mountain bee plant. The latter thrives 

 best in a somewhat sandy soil, and as we have 

 much clay, cleome does not abound as in some 

 other parts of the State. Alfalfa begins yield- 

 ing nectar about June J 5th, and continues until 

 mown for hay, generally closing about July 1st 

 to J 0th. Cleome and sweet clover begin the 

 last of July and usually close about August 

 I5th to 20th. 



The writer is not able to say when the 

 first bees were brought into the county or who 

 brought them in, but possibly among the first 

 to keep bees and produce extensively were Mr. 

 Will Amos and Mr. N. C. Alford of Fort 

 Collins. In J 889 the first car load was shipped 

 out of the county from Fort Collins, Mr. 

 Alford producing eight tons of the amount. 

 This honey was bought by the G. G. Liebhardt 

 Commission Co. of Denver. That year was 

 one of the best, probably the best, of any in the history of the county. 

 Not only was the yield large, but the price was well up, making the 

 business so flattering that many others were led to go into the busi- 

 ness more or less, and a boom was the result, only to go flat again 

 within the next three years. 



However, it was with the bee and honey industry as with other 

 lines: some went into the business in a more conservative way and 

 to make of it a permanent business, and, as above stated, our annual 

 product is now several car loads. This write up is in no sense a 



R. C. AIKIN, Loveland. 

 Inspector of Larimer County 

 President State Association 

 from 1893 to 1901, 



