My attention being called to the article headed, “Is Beekeeping
Profitable” (page 64, March No.), I will answer it to the best of my
ability.
The answers to questions 1 and 2 depend simply on the annual yield of
honey per colony, and the success attained in wintering. Should a
surplus of 100 lbs. or more be obtained from each colony (spring count),
together with a moderate increase in bees and with little or no loss in
wintering, success would be assured; but, should the average yearly
surplus amount to no more than 40 or 50 lbs. coupled with severe losses
in wintering, the business could not prove otherwise than a financial
failure.
No. 3. In this section one man can properly manipulate at least 150
colonies and their increase, make the extra hives, and extract all the
honey from them, excepting possibly, a very few days when honey is
stored more rapidly than usual.
As to tools wearing out with use, I will say that I have extracted
40,000 lbs. (20 tons), in the last two summers with a four frame
“Novice” geared extractor with no appreciable wear, and my honey knives
are as good as when first bought. A well made hive should last a
lifetime, so that the depreciation in value of utensils is more
imaginary than real.
No. 4. Given a _properly arranged hive_ and appropriate tools a man can
extract from 120 to 140 lbs. per hour, say 1200 lbs. per day.
In four successive days last July I extracted and filled into cans 5,200
lbs. of honey, working about eight hours each day extracting and filling
cans from the tanks mornings and evenings. Hives in my apiary average
about 40 lbs. each extracting.
No. 5. In regard to the number of colonies an apiarist could oversee, it
depends more on the talent and genius of the overseer than upon the
number of colonies possessed. While one man can direct and control
hundreds of employés, another cannot even manage his own labor to lead
to the best results.
At some future time I would like to describe, in your Journal, the best
and speediest methods of extracting honey in large apiaries as practised
in this country.
_Santa Paula, Cal_.
_INSTRUCTIONS TO BEGINNERS._