CONCLUSION. 
373 
■worth more than all others that can be given ; it is at 
the head of the class of duties ; all others begin here. 
Even the grand secret of successfully combating the 
worms, — keep your bees strong, must take its rise 
at this point. With the above motto acted upon, 
carried out fully, and with perseverance, you cannot 
well fail to realize all reasonable expectations. Avoid 
over-anxiety for a rapid increase in stocks ; try and 
be satisfied with one good swarm from a stock annu- 
ally, your chances are better than with more ; do not 
anticipate the golden harvest too soon. You will 
probably be necessitated to discard some of the ex- 
travagant reports of profits from the apiary. Yet you 
will find one stock trebling, perhaps quadrupling its 
price or value in products, while the one beside it 
does nothing. In some seasons particularly favorable 
your stocks collectively will yield a return of one or 
two hundred per cent. — in others, hardty make a re- 
turn for trouble. The proper estimate can be made 
only after a number of years, when, if they have been 
judiciously managed, and your ideas have not been 
too extravagant, you will be fully satisfied. I have 
known a single stock in one season to produce more 
than twenty dollars in swarms and honey, and ninety 
stocks to produce over nine hundred dollars, when a 
few of the number added not a farthing to the amount. 
I do not wish to hold out inducements for any one to 
commence bee-keeping, and end it in disgust and dis- 
appointment. But I would encourage all suitable 
persons to try their skill in bee management. I say 
suitable persons, because there are many, very many, 
