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“ The intelligent, practical bee-keeper can take care 
of five hundred swarms, and make a portion of the 
hives needed for new colonies.” — U. S. Patent Office 
Report. 
Let us estimate the profits of bee-keeping, by com- 
mencing with only one stock, and on an average, doub- 
ling every year, we realize one hundred per cent, on 
the investment ; or count the lowes f average amount of 
honey obtained from properly managed apiaries per 
year at the lowest market price, deduct the interest ac- 
cruing on the capital invested, and you cannot be sur- 
prised that many of the most intelligent men of all 
nations engage in bee-keeping, since, at the lowest 
estimate, more profit is obtained than from any other 
occupation. 
BEE KEEPING. 
The question “Who should keep bees?” is fre- 
quently asked. 
Rev. Robert Baird, D.D., says: — “There are few 
portions of our country which are not admirably 
adapted to the culture of the honey-bee. The wealth 
of the nation might be increased by millions of dollars, 
if every family favorably situated, would keep a few 
hives. No branch of industry can be named, in which 
there need be so little loss on the material employed, 
or which so completely derives its profits from the vast 
and exhaustless domains of nature.” 
