176 
TUE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
The Apiarian who aims at obtaining much surplus 
honey in any season, cannot, usually, at the furthest, more 
than double his stocks ; nor even that, unless all are strong, 
and the season is favorable. If, in any season that is not 
favorable, he attempts a more rapid increase, he must not 
only expect no surplus honey, but must even purchase 
food for his bees, to keep them from starving. The time, 
care, skill, and food required in our uncertain climate for 
the rapid increase of colonies, are so great, that not one 
bee-keeper in a hundred* can make it profitable / while 
most who attempt it, will be almost sure, at the close of 
the season, to find themselves in possession of stocks 
which have been managed to death. 
To make this matter plain, let us suppose a colony to 
swarm. Nearly forty pounds of honey will be ordinarily 
used by the new swarm in filling their hive with comb. 
If the season is favorable, and the swarm large and early, 
the bees may gather enough to build and store this comb, 
and a surplus besides. If the parent-stock does not 
swarm again, it will rapidly replenish its numbers, and 
having no new comb to build in the main hive, will be 
able besides to store up a generous allowance in the upper 
boxes. If, however, the season should be unfavorable, 
neither the first swarm nor the parent-stock can ordinarily 
gather more than enough for their own use ; and if the 
honey-harvest is very deficient, both may require feeding. 
The bee-keeper’s profits in such an unfortunate season, 
will be the increase of his stocks. 
If the parent-stock is weak in the Spring, the early 
cnce of ita folly, in bee-keeping, as well ns in other pursuits, can ever convince 
men of the danger of “making haste to be rich.” If, in spite of all that can be 
said, the inexperienced will persist in the rapid multiplication of stocks, it is hoped 
that they will at least have candor enough to attribute their losses to their own 
folly. 
* Many a person who reads this will probably imagine that he is the one in a 
hundred. 
