A lady bought a swarm of Italian bees of me in 1874, and from that one stock she increased to over twenty the third season, besides obtaining over one hundred pounds of nice surplus honey from the swarm I sent her in the first season. Here I desire to be clearly understood. I do not wish to hold out inducements which will never be realized, for the purpose of causing any one to commence bee keeping with unreasonable expectations of profit. There is labor and care required to bring success in any enterprise; and usually the greater the care and labor bestowed on any business, the greater the reward in profits. Bees give ample return for each little care and attention bestowed upon them; and if neglected and permitted to go uncared for, there is corresponding loss. I believe that bee keeping on correct and scientific principles should be encouraged, until bees enough are kept to collect the honey now allowed to go to waste, and which, if collected, would add millions of dollars to the wealth of the country. The statements of large yields of honey here presented, show what it is possible to do; yet no reasonable person would commence bee keeping with the expectation of realizing, on each of a dozen or more stocks kept, the large yields above specified. Some stocks will pay a much greater profit than others. And it is only under the most favorable circumstances, with our very best stocks, that we secure the results here named, such as three hundred and eighty pounds of box honey from one stock in a season This serves to illustrate what may be derived (but not what we may reasonably expect) from each stock, where a dozen or more stocks are kept. Two hundred pounds from each stock on the average is about right. And this last is only secured with good care and attention, perseverance and labor, judiciously applied to the work. The question is often asked: "How many stocks of bees can be kept in one place on your plan?" This depends on the number of honey-yielding plants and flowers. Some localities furnish a much greater number than others. In some localities, fifty stocks would do well, and pay yearly a handsome profit; in others, it would not be profitable to keep half as many. I am in a place said to be very unfavorable to bee keeping. I find twelve stocks about the right number for me to maintain. Bees will go seven miles or more to collect honey, but the shorter the distance, the more honey will be collected, in a season; consequently the greater profit will follow. It can only be learned by practical test how many stocks of bees may be profitably kept in any locality. Commence with a few, and increase the number moderately, until you find you have as many as you wish to keep, or as many as the locality will support, with good profit, when managed judiciously. [Illustration] CHAPTER XI. CHANGING OLD QUEENS FOR YOUNG ONES.