and its Economic Management. 9 



apiarist consolidates his working force. The quantity of 

 sugar required may amount to more or less according to 

 the season, and the extent to which the bees are deprived 

 of honey. The better management is that whereby the 

 largest surplus is obtained without depriving the stock- 

 chamber of honey at all ; in which case the labour and 

 expense involved in feeding will often be unnecessary. 

 Having charged the cost of bottles and tins, the same is 

 added to the selling price of the extracted honey, as 

 showing the more correct estimate. 



Number of Colonies. 



In reference to the foregoing estimates, it will be seen 

 that it is proposed to keep the number of colonies but 

 little over one hundred, increasing the first year to 125 ; 

 the second season to 150. It is then understood that 25 

 stocks are to be sold ; when the remaining 25 over and 

 above the 100 will provide against all accidents, such as 

 weak colonies, loss of queens, etc. during the winter ; thus 

 ensuring that the number shall not fall below 100. This 

 is as far as any one person should attempt to extend until 

 he is very certain he can manage more. With that number 

 no assistance is required, but when greater extensions are 

 decided upon, the apiarist should get some intelligent lad, 

 and take care in teaching him to become an expert assist- 

 ant. It is surprising how quickly a youngster takes to 

 the various manipulations, and in this line he will, more 

 often than not, be of more service than a man at much 

 higher wages. 



Where the apiarist is capable of making up most of his 

 own appliances, his time will be mostly occupied during 

 the winter, and then timber will stand in the place of many 

 of the articles enumerated, making a considerable reduction 

 in cost. The owner's labor in the apiary has, of course, not 



