72 A Modern Bee-Farm 



and tear consequent upon the constant activity of the 

 ■adult bees themselves, wax-working, etc. — something like 

 lolbs. weight of honey, or its equivalent, weekly; or 

 some 20olbs. actually consumed during the several busiest 

 months. Add to this, 3olbs. left as winter store, and 

 7olbs. as a surplus, all items being really under-estimated, 

 we have then the large total of 300lbs. required by each 

 populous hive. For 50 colonies this would amount to 

 i5,OOolbs., or over six tons of honey. 



The surplus would be put at 3,500lbs. in the above case, 

 but, dear reader, there is another way to look at this 

 matter. The correct practice would be that of uniting 

 two stocks into one at the commencement of the honey 

 flow. This brings in a larger surplus, with a smaller con- 

 sumption of valuable stores for the total number of bees 

 cultivated. Thus the balance of available produce would 

 be at the rate of three times yolbs. to each of the united 

 25 hives ; i.e., 20olbs., or 5,ooolbs. instead of 3,5oolbs. 

 from 50 ; with a consumption in balancing wear and tear, 

 etc., one-third less, or say i3olbs. to each of 25 hives, 

 in place of 20olbs. to each of 50, an enormous econony in 

 valuable material, and one which fully accounts for the 

 larger yield given by the smaller number of more populous 

 stocks. 



These doubled colonies, moreover, will seldom require 

 further feeding, as the single colonies certainly do in most 

 cases, and thus a further saving, not enumerated above, is 

 effected. 



How can 640 acres produce i5,ooolbs. 



of honey, more or less, according to management in one 

 season ? We will consider that one acre of flowering 

 plants yields an average of 5 lbs. of honey daily, and if 

 allowing only 100 acres to yield honey, this brings it out 



