362 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
are more peaceable, especially in the vicinity of their hives. When han¬ 
dled they adhere more closely to their combs, and are more easily managed. 
They are stronger and more watchful, and are not in danger of being robbed. 
In the winter of 1869 and 18'.0 I put 100 swarms into winter quarters, but 
owing to dampness and the small amount of honey gathered during the 
previous summer 30 swarms died; ten of the best colonies I sold in the 
spring, ten more were so w^eak as to be of no account, so that I entered upon 
the season of 1870 with only fifty good swarms. From these I had 30 
natural swarms, and 20 artificial ones. The yield of honey was 1,500 lbs. 
box honey, and 2,000 lbs. strained. The season was so hot and dry that the 
amount of box honey gathered was small. The strained honey I took from 
the main hives with the honey extractor. By the use of this extractor 
triple the amount of honey will be obtained, for by preserving the comb 
for the use of the bees, it saves the consumption of a large amount of 
honey, necessary to make new. In this way but little wax will be obtained, 
but the wax adds little to the income of the bee keeper, and he can well 
spare it to secure the increased production of honey. Strained honey does 
not sell as readily as the box, but when put up neatly in glass jars, I have 
sold it from 20 to 25 cents a pound, while I got from 25 to 30 cents for the 
box honey. In common jars I sold strained honey for 1G to 20 cents per lb. 
I realized from honey sold in 1870, $625. 
I have sold but 11 colonies and 20 queens during the season. The sale 
of bees from my apiary is limited, owing principally to high price ($20 
for a full swarm), but I hold the bees to be worth as much as I can realize 
from them—$14.00 per hive in honey, and one new swarm on the average. 
The amount received from the sale of bees in my apairy for the year is 
$225.00, making the total profits of the year $850. 
I have had considerable trouble in carrying the swarms through the 
winter in good condition. To do this successfully is the chief point in bee- 
culture. A swarm that enters upon the season’s work early, strong in num¬ 
bers will yield a large profit, while those that are weak, lose a large por¬ 
tion of the honey season in recuperating, and do not lay by any surplus 
stores until late in the season, if at all. I have built a house above ground, 
with double walls, filled with sawdust, 12 inches thick, to winter them in. 
Here they wintered very well, but I did not give sufficient ventilation, and 
towards spring the temperature became too high, and the bees being un¬ 
easy, crowded out of their hives considerable. But, altogether, my bees 
never entered upon their season’s work in better condition. The bee moths 
give my bees but little trouble; the Italians are nearly moth proof. 
The main source of our honey crop in this section is from the white 
clover and linden; some seasons large fields of buckwheat are sown, which* 
yield considerable quantities of honey. Besides these we have the maple, 
willow, elm, fruit trees and a large assortment of natural flowers w r hich 
serve to fill out our stores of honey. Respectfully yours, 
Jefferson, May, 1871. WM. WOLFF. 
