An Oldie from 1869.
Does Bee-keeping Pay?
C. S. Rogers. Elmwood, III. 1869
If you are in doubt upon that point, I suggest that you turn over the leaves of my record for 1869. It is the record of one much more truly a "novice" in these matters, than the experienced and enthusiastic correspondent who wears that name in the columns of the Bee Journal.
My stock in trade for the spring of 1869 consisted of two old box hives almost destitute of honey, with few bees in each; about fifty frames of empty combs from Langstroth hives; and any required amount of interest in the subject.
I began feeding syrup in March, using the inverted can with perforated screw top; fed plentifully till flowers came, using for each hive 5 lbs. 8 oz. of coffee sugar.
Between June 11th and 28th, each of these stocks threw off four good swarms, which were duly cared for in Langstroth hives, with a fair allowance of empty comb as a start in housekeeping.
From the two prime swarms I removed the honey boards a few days after hiving, placing one set of surplus boxes directly on the frames.
July 8th, I hived a large swarm that came to me. Instead of two, there were now eleven stocks.
The wet weather kept up a constant succession of clover blossoms; pastures and commons were white and sweet until late in September. But, "into each life some rain must fall," and just here came in my reverses.
Not looking for any further increase of stocks, I left home for a few weeks. During my absence one prime swarm threw off a large colony (Aug. 13), which not being properly cared for, deserted soon after hiving. On my return I found a third swarm infested by worms, and broke it up. (N. B. ?I plead guilty to carelessness in the use of old comb.) August 25, the same hive that had distinguished itself twelve days before, sent out a fair second swarm, which was secured, receiving the last of the old combs, and a full frame of brood and honey from the parent stock. That was the end of swarming.
I took something over 210 lbs. of surplus honey. 100 lbs came from the top of one prime swarm. Enough of this was sold at thirty cents per pound, to amount to fifty dollars. My eleven hives were all heavy, ready with some protection for out of door wintering.
Does bee-keeping pay ? Have I answered the question?
This result was obtained in an old fashioned way. Given, a season equally favorable, with all the "modern improvements,"?Italian bees, a "melextractor," etc., etc. and what might not be expected?
But my record fails to show what constituted really the largest share of the summer's profits. I did not know how to put it in figures. The still bright hours when, with shawl spread upon the grass, I was at home among my bees?those ?singing masons building roofs of gold" ?loving them just as much when they paid friendly visits to my wrapper, my hands, or my hair, as As when they kept at a greater distance ; the health which came with those hours ? the delight afforded by a most fascinating branch of natural history?the new ideas, whose value the future must determine?all this is beyond the reach of arithmetic.
Success to the Journal, and may it number more and more women among its subscribers and constant readers !* C. S. Rogers. Elmwood, III. Aye, and allow us to add correspondents to the enumeration, for they always succeed admirably both as writers and apiarians. Ecce supra/ ?Ed.
