12 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COINAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 2,1885. 
methodical manner, and to sorre people it seems difficult to 
keep separate in their minds capital and current expenses 
and income. There is a very decided leaning amongst 
amateur bee-keepers to show a large profit at the expense 
of capital and without deducting the current expenses, there¬ 
by giving an appearance of financial soundness without any 
stability in reality. 
There need be no expense attendant on keeping a just 
and true account of these three items. A moderate-sized 
sheet of paper is the only requisite, and a regular custom of 
putting down items on the day money is received or spent. 
It is the object of this article to bring before the public 
an easy system of showing their profits or their losses upon 
sound commercial principles—a system by which, if at the 
end of twenty years as a bee-keeper a man was to be sold up or 
to give up the culture, his stock in trade would realise rather 
more than what has been expended upon it, and not wiped 
off again either by setting aside of income or increase of 
stock by means of swarms or any other method of decreasing 
capital by the result obtained from the bees themselves. 
The plan advised is given below, and if followed will gene¬ 
rally give entire satisfaction, as simplicity is its merit and 
brevity its endeavour. 
Capital Account—Current Expenses — Income .—Under the 
first heading of Capital Account all primary expenditure of 
swarms, stocks, hives, smokers, or all other necessary utensils 
in or about an apiary must be set dowD. Under the second 
heading all syrup or other food used in spring or autumn 
either to stimulate or carry the hive through the winter 
season must be entered; all supers, sections, and other 
vessels for obtaining honey from the hive or for putting it 
in for sale when obtained, and all quilts and coverings : and 
under the third heading all money received for honey or bees 
sold must be set down. If rent is charged, or attendance, 
they must of course be entered under the head of Current 
Expenses. The difference, then, between the amount of 
income and current expenses will give the profit for the year. 
"When, then, this profit is ascertained a valuation of stock 
must be obtained ; and if the valuation account allowing 
10 per cent, for depreciation shows any deterioration, then 
a further sum must be deducted from the profit to bring up 
the stock to its original value. If, on the other hand, the 
valuation shows an increase in value of stock, then either 
the difference between the original capital expenditure and 
the increased value can be deducted from the capital account, 
thus reducing this original outlay; or the increase may be 
left to give income in the future from no expenditure at all, 
and also so as to allow in a bad year a depreciation of stock 
so far as it does not reach below the primary capital expen¬ 
diture without making a call on the current profits in order 
to bring up the stock to its super-ordinary value, this being 
in effect the creation of a reserve fund. But it is absolutely 
necessary for everyone to impress upon his mind that if he 
originally spends £10 in capital account, and in the current 
year has £2 current expenses and £6 income, his nett income 
will be, if his valuation shows his stock to be worth £10, 
still £4 only; while if his stock is only valued at £8, his 
profit will be reduced to £2 in order to bring his stock up 
again to its normal value. 
Again. If the stock is valued at £15 there are, as I said 
before, two courses open—one to reduce the capital to £5, 
the other to leave the stock intact at its £15 value to return 
increased income without any corresponding outlay. But 
if this be the course adopted, the stock must next year and 
in the future be maintained at £15 in order to maintain its 
proper status; otherwise it would, if there is any chance of 
future depreciation, be better to sell £5 worth of bees and 
stocks, and so to make sure of the money, although it might 
not be so remunerative as if well managed in the form of bees. 
It need hardly be said that if it suits the fancy of the bee¬ 
keeper he would be quite justified in selling bees to the 
amount of the increased value in stock, and looking upon 
such value obtained as a part of the^current year’s profits. 
Such, indeed, is the course pursued by many, but to me it 
seems wiser to build up an apiary gradually with only the 
outlay originally made in the purchase of the nucleus hives. 
In future, then, let every apiarian, even if the possessor 
of but one stock, endeavour to keep a clear if concise account 
of his profit and loss, and if at the end of the year his profits 
are not so great as he formerly imagined them to be before 
he began to reckon the cost of different items, he will, without 
doubt, feel a greatly increased pleasure in being able to point 
to a well-balanced account. He shows with pride that he is 
able not only to attend and watch over his bees, these givers 
of such great pleasure, but also to keep a just and strict 
account of all their labour, and so be of use to the world in 
general, and himself specially, as one of the few but ever- 
increasing number who prefer to gather the nectar from the 
flowers by Nature’s given agents rather than allow it to 
waste its lovely substance without material benefit to 
humanity.— Felix. 
TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 
W. J. Birkenhead, Fern Nursery, Sale, Manchester.— Hardy North Ameri¬ 
can Ferns. 
* ** All correspondence should be directed either to “ The Editor ” 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. We 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects hem to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should never 
send more than two or three questions at once. All articles in¬ 
tended for insertion should be written on one side of the paper 
only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, and we 
do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
To Our Readers. — In consequence of the publication of the index 
for binding with the numbers for January to June inclusive, and the pres¬ 
sure of other matter, several articles of considerable interest must stand 
over till a future issue. 
Exhibiting {H. G. M .).—We always like to see the printed conditions of 
a schedule before giving an opinion on a disputed point. Our opinion of 
your case as it is presented is this—If the two individuals have “ gone into 
business ” for earning a “ living ” by purchasing and selling plants, we do 
not consider they are eligible to compete in either of the sections ; but if 
they rely on other employment for a “ living ” and they only make a little 
money by selling plants in addition, and in that way occupy their spare 
time, we fail to see how you can exclude them. Of course the conditions 
can be altered by the committee, if desirable, for another year. 
Musa Cavendishi (G. S.). —This is usually cultivated in England, 
because it is sufficiently dwarf for ordinary houses. It is also free-fruiting, 
and when well ripened of good flavour. There are many varieties of Musa 
sapientum, which diff-r considerably in flavour, some being very fine, but 
they are mostly too tall for the houses in private gardens, and M. Cavendishi 
is much to be preferred. 
Peaches Splitting {Alva). —It is somewhat singular that the fruits should 
be injured on the under side only. Are you sure they were not rubbed when 
young, such as in the process of setting? as the very slightest injury there 
would grow and show ii self in the manner of the examples before us. We 
regret we can suggest no cure now. The fruit is not swelling kindly by any 
means. Is the border kept moist on the surface while it is dry below ? See 
to this, and if there is the slightest evidence of dry soil 2 feet below the sur¬ 
face give a heavy watering, following with liquid manure. We should 
remove the most injured fruits and give the others a better chance to swell. 
Such as you have sent to us could never be of any use if left on the trees. 
Eucharis Unhealthy (A. E. T. T .).—Tour plants appear to be in a very 
unhealthy condition, and we should advise you to carefully read the article 
upon Eucharis culture in this Journal, April 9th of the present year, page 
294, which was written by one who has been successful with thi i plant. 
Bougainvillea {Ten-years Subscriber). —As nearly as we could judge from 
the small shoot sent we think your plant is Bougainvillea spectabilis, which 
is also much more shy in flowering than B. glabra. It appears to succeed 
best in good loam and peat without any manure, requiring a well-drained 
pot or border, as water must be liberally supplied during growlh. 
Endeavour to have the wood well ripened, and keep the roots rather dry 
during winter, as a good rest seems necessary to ensure flowering. Firm, 
well matured, not too luxuriant a growth, and a distinct period of rest will 
probably enable you to flower the plant. 
