Excerpt from Beekeeping in Wisconsin Beekeeping returns the largest profit the amount of money and labor invested, of any agricultural pursuit Sometimes the return is as high as five dollars an hour for the time spent with the bees. A thorough knowledge of bees and honey production, however, is necessary before the most profitable results are possible. Fruits and berries, besides many grasses and flowers, depend on the busy bee to distribute the pollen. A few bees kept near an orchard will not only prove profitable as producers of honey, but will also increase the profits of the orchard. Soil and climate influence beekeeping. The length of the growing season often has an important bearing upon the number of kinds of plants producing nectar. On certain types of soil the best nectar producing plants do not thrive. A constant supply of nectar from the honey plants is needed by the bees. If during a part of the summer season the bees cannot collect nectar, the profits are certain to be lowered. The Italian bees are to be preferred as honey makers. Carnolian, Caucassian, and the common black German bees are other races which are not as desirable. Of the two varieties of Italian bees, the leather colored are generally preferred to the five banded or Golden Italians. To winter bees successfully is one of the essentials in beekeeping. Four essentials, sufficient and proper food supply, young fertile queens, plenty of young workers, and ample protection must be supplied. The amount of winter loss depends upon the amount of care taken by the beekeeper. A bee cellar, which is dry, dark, warm, and well ventilated will help keep the bees through the winter without loss, providing the colonies are properly prepared for wintering. There are several bee diseases known in Wisconsin. Paralysis, and sacbrood or pickled brood cause but slight damage. The American and European foul brood are the diseases which are of consequence. Proper care and management will greatly reduce the losses from disease. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.