BEE KEEPING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 87 
keepers. The large population might account for this in the east, 
but this does not explain why the western bee keepers have not 
enlarged their apiaries, which without question should ultimately 
result. Again, disease is beginning to exert its influence, and a more 
general understanding of its nature and remedies should benefit the 
industry. 
INCREASE IN NUMBER OF COLONIES. 
The figures on increase which the writer obtained show an increase 
from 5,839 colonic- in the spring to 8,350 colonies in the fall of 1006, 
a gain of 2,413 colonies, or 42 per cent. This is below normal and 
suggests the prevalence of bee diseases. 
PRODUCTION OF HONEY AND WAX. 
The subject of first importance to every bee keeper is the crop — 
How much honey and wax do the bees produce? Unfortunately, 
however, the majority do not go beyond this and ask how much ought 
the yield to be? 
HONEY CROP. 
The honey production of the State is little more than one-tenth 
what it might be. The markets demand much more honey than is 
produced in the State. As nearly as can be ascertained, some 80 tons 
of honey are annually harvested. Most of this is not shipped, but 
is consumed by the producer or his neighbors. There is no evidence 
that any honey is shipped out of the State; on the contrary, much 
comb and extracted honey is annually imported from Vermont, New 
York, and sometimes from the far West and Souths 
Approximately 100 tons represents the total consumption during 
1000. This consumption varies greatly from year to year, depending 
on the crop, as, for instance, in 1907, when scarcely any honey was 
obtainable in the market. The man who shipped 5 J tons from Ver- 
mont the previous year sent less than 1,000 pounds in 1907. None 
was received from New York, as in the previous year. But the 
estimate for 1906 of 100 tons is only one-half the amount estimated 
a- consumed in 1904.'' That year 200 tons, divided among the 
" In 1906, 53 n>iis came to Worcester from Vermont; from New York State 1\ 
tons, in Boston the imports, according to this authority, were approximately 
the same. II may be roughly estimated, therefore, that for 190G at least 16 or 
at most 20 tuns were received from points outside of the State. This informa- 
tion was kindly furnished the writer by Hon. W. H. Blodget, in a letter dated 
Worcester, Mass.. April II. L908. 
h dates. Burton X.. and Dr. C. V. Hodge. V.>04. Ree Keeping; How to meet 
its dangers and difficulties. Mass. Crop Kept., vol. IT. No. <;, pp. riO-10, Boston. 
October. Also Fifty-second Ann. Kept, of the Secretary of the Mass. St. Bd. of 
Agric, pp. 411-426, Boston, 1905. 
