BEBKBP]PING IN COLORADO 



BEEKEEPING IN COLORADO 



Colorado has over one hundred thousand colonies of bees and pro- 

 duces annually between five and six million pounds of hone}^ These 

 facts emphasize the importance of the beekeeping industry. 



This alfalfa region is entirely different from any other in that we 

 have almost ideal conditions to keep bees in. In the spring the colo- 

 nies have a long period before the honey flow to build up in. The 

 honey flow lasts until fall and during this time, they have a chance to 

 rear a large number of young bees to go through the winter. Ne^-er 

 .theless, our winter lo.ss averages 10 percent. 



HONEY PLANTS OF COLORADO 



Sweet' clover is found throughout the State and is a valuable honey 

 plant in that it yields as well as alfalfa. Being mostly in waste places, 

 it is not used as hay thereby helping considerably between afalfa 

 flows. Practicalljr all surplus is secured from these two plants, with 

 an occasional crop from Cleome. The rosin weed (Grindelia squarrosa) 

 yields considerable honey of low grade, which often spoils the grade 

 of the white honey by being mixed in the super. Parsley, prairie 

 clover and Narcissus are prairie plants which bees work on freely. 

 Soft maple, dandelion and fruit bloom are important for spring brood 

 rearing. In the mountains are found several early blooming plants 

 whiclj are excellent for building up in the spring. In the .Vrkansas 

 Valley cantaloupes yidd some surplus. Oreocarya is a desert plant 

 which yields surplus. Wild currant is found in the mountain canyons. 

 Loco weeds are found in the foothills and yield some honey during 

 May and June. Sunflowers ^dd something to the sum total brought 

 in by the bees. 



BEEKEEPING REGIONS IN COLORADO 



1 Very few l)ees are found in the non-irrigat(Kl sections of the State, 

 therefore, divide the beekeepiuf;- i)art of Colorado into six regions. 

 The territory drained by the Platte Kiver; the territory drained by 

 the Arkansas River; the San Luis Valley; the San Juan Basin; the 

 territory drained by the Colorado River Basin; the territory in the 

 northwestern section of Colorado, drained by the Bear River. 



In the San Luis Valley there probably are numerous localities that 

 would yield good returns in honey from alfalfa and sweet clover. The 

 latter is grown considerably on waste and seep land. This region 

 awaits the progressive beekeeper. 



