June 1895.] 



BEE-KEEPING IN RUSSIA. 



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hochechnoi, cannot be immediately used for food, but it is 

 first sent to factories to be prepared. By the second method 

 which is used for procuring honey in the comb, the bees are 

 first expelled, in a manner dependent upon the construction of 

 the hive, and then the honey is extracted. Sometimes the 

 honey is removed from the hives after stupefying the bees 

 with smoke, care being taken not to kill the swarm. In hives 

 of improved construction, the honey is gathered either in the 

 comb, or in 'a pure state, the honey in the latter case running 

 down into specially prepared apparatus attached to the hives. 



Th^re are no data showing definitely the development of 

 apiculture in Russia. It would appear, however, that, notwith- 

 standing the decline of the industry, it is still practised, to a 

 considerable extent, in the Empire. 



From such information as is available, it is estimated that 

 Russia possesses not less than 2,000,000 hives. It is calculated 

 by some authorities that the quantity of wax produced yearly 

 averages from 64,000 cwts. to 96,000 cwts , while the annual 

 production of honey is estimated at about 321,000 cwts. 



At the present time, Russian apiculture is admittedly in a 

 state of transition, owing to the changes in the natural and econo- 

 mical conditions of Russia. It is no longer possible to pursue 

 the industry according to primitive methods, without know- 

 ledge and without expense, as there are no extensive forests 

 for wild apiculture, owing to the increasing areas of tilled lands. 

 It has been found necessary to introduce the sowing of melliferous 

 plants and to increase the productiveness of the bees, as the 

 prices of honey and wax, owing to the competition of substi- 

 tutes, have fallen greatly in recent years. But the population, 

 not being specially skilled in apiculture, do not readily adapt 

 themselves to the new methods, and are said to lose greatly 

 in consequence, as the industry is a very profitable one, and, if 

 practised scientifically, might again form an important branch 

 in the rural economy of Russia. 



The Imperial Economical Society of Russia is endeavouring 

 to promote the development of bee-culture by publishing and 

 distributing information relating to the industry. The same 

 body has also established a school of apiculture at Tver. 



A. 2 



