The Honey Bee 1385 



is advised to pass along to a locality that is free from large 

 apiaries, since most localities may be overstocked v^ith bees, as 

 many are at present. 



It is the heigbt of folly for an apiarist to locate an apiary near 

 one already established, as the profits are then divided, the full 

 amount of which might be enjoyed by each, if separated a few 

 miles. In some sections and seasons this could make the differ- 

 ence between success and failure. 



The number of colonies that may be kept in a single apiary 

 with the maximum of profit can be determined only after a care- 

 ful study of the resources of the section in which the apiary is 

 located, within a series of years of experience, and by adapting 

 the management and manipulation to the requirements of such 

 locality. Seventy-five to one hundred colonies should be the 

 limit until experience proves that the number may be increased. 

 Many e-xtensive apiarists, especially those who conduct several 

 apiaries each, restrict the number to one hundred colonies or less, 

 and place them four or five miles apart. 



A gentleman of central 'New York for years limited his 

 colonies to sixty, considering this number sufiicient for the 

 best results in his location, and he secures good yields of surplus 

 comb honey, occasionally reaching an average of one hundred 

 pounds per colony. 



A prominent beekeeper of Long Island keeps but forty or fifty 

 colonies in an apiary, and places the yards three or four miles 

 apart, claiming that the flora of that locality will not profitably 

 maintain a greater number. 



There are localities in this state that are ideal in their 

 capacities for honey secretion. Many of these are fully stocked 

 with bees, while undoubtedly many others as good contain few, 

 if any, bees. Some of these are necessarily somewhat remote from 

 the railroads and principal thoroughfares, but the additional ex- 

 pense for transportation, etc., would find compensation in the 

 larger yield to be obtained in an otherwise unoccupied location. 



The successful apiarist must acquaint himself with the honey 

 yielding flora of his locality, the time of blooming of each variety, 

 and the length of time it may be expected to continue, that he 

 may prepare for the harvesting of the surplus crop, by having his 



