566 



DESCRIPTION OF ENGRAVINGS. 



every thing to get there quickly." we are liable to 

 find things not quite dress-parade style for a snap- 

 shot photo. 



No. 22.— The leading honey-producer of Southern 

 California is W. T. Richardson, of Simi. One of his 

 apiaries is represented in the pictnre, a grotesque 

 appearance being imparted to it by tiie stones on the 

 hives, to lieep the covers from blowing off. The 

 view is one of many taken by Karabler while making 

 the rounds of the bee-yards of California. Mr. Rich- 

 ardson runs about 1300 colonies, in four apiaries, all 

 situated in tlie Simi Valley. A full account of his 

 history is given in Olcanings for 1898, page 720, where 

 a portrait is given of this famous bee-man. 



No. 23.— This view was taken by the lamented 

 Rambler a short time before his death, he himself 

 appearing on the left. It was probably owing to his 

 deep devotion to his apicultural interests here that 

 his life was shortened. Tlie ground is vei'y low and 

 even swampy, and the atmosphere there at times 

 very insalubrious; but as these drawbacks were 

 partly compensated for by the great yield of nectar, 

 Mr. Martin located there, dying a few months later. 

 No. 24.— A full-size view of father Langstroth 

 while taking a walk in one of the parks of Dayton, 

 O. Mr. L. was 82 years of age when this view was 

 taken. 



No. 25.— This scheme of an extracting-house on 

 wheels is the best we have yet seen presented. In 

 a series of outyards it makes it possible to use only 

 one extractor and outfit, and to carry away the 

 honey as soon as extracted, where it will not be 

 liable to be stolen. While going to the several yards 

 the men inside the wagon can slick up and get 

 things ready for the next yard. The tank holds 

 about 100 gallons, and in 1899 Mr. Crowder and his 

 brother put 43 cases of honey through it in two 

 days, which is remarkably fast work. 



No. 26.— This represents an out-apiary of 95 colo- 

 nit s near the river Murray, Mildura, Australia. We 

 have no particulars concerning it, but would draw 

 attention to the general beauty of the place, where, 

 apparently, thousands of men might assemble. 

 Modern a] icultnre is making great progress in that 

 wonderful island-continent. 



No. 37.— The reader will naturally ask, when he 

 sees this picture, "Why those big stones, one on 

 each hive?" Probably they have some heavy winds 

 near Reno, rendering their use necessary. Mr. Ait- 

 kin uses quilts or cloths on top of the frames; and 

 as these are propolized down while the covers are 

 not, he finds it necessary to weight the latter down 

 It is probable the trees on the left are more for the 

 purpose of keeping off stock than to break the force 

 of the wind. The regularity of the rows of hives is 

 Very noticeable. The desirableness of this is dis 

 cussed in the body of this work, under head of 

 "Apiary." 



No. 38.— This is a scene in the apiary of W. H. 

 Horstmann. of Cliicago, Illinois. The mun part of 

 the apiary is not thown, as he has quite a fair-sized 

 apiary on a city lot. This view shows his Capitol 

 hive made by him in his spare moments. It is quite 

 useful since it contaii.s three full colonies of bees 

 and in addition a nucleus. Mr Horstmann is a mail- 

 carrier attached to the Chicago [lostoffice, but yet 

 he finds time to attend to liis bees. His example is 

 worthy of emulation by many otliers who desi e 

 Bome avocation to occupy spare time. 



No. 29.— This is a partial view of the apiary of 

 James McNeill, situated in the village of Hudson, 

 New York. Mr. McNeill has kept bees for many 

 years with conspicuous success. When this view 

 was taken he had about 450 colonies all kept in the 

 same spic-and-sjjan condition shown in the engrav- 

 ing. His average crop he places at 75 lbs. per col- 

 ony, spring count, and this is mainly secured from 

 white clover, with some sweet clover and basswood. 

 Naturally such honey brings the highest market 

 prices; besides, the apiary is not far away from a 

 very fine market— Albany, New York. For various 

 reasons this may be considered a model apiary. 



No. 30.— Some years ago— yes, nearly twenty— I 

 said to Dr. Miller, "You have a peculiar talent for 

 making bright comments in convention, throwing 

 in a few sentences and then sitting down. The 

 comments always enlighten the pi'oceedings. Now, 

 can you not edit a department in Gleanings made 

 up of short items of running comment, something 

 after the style of your convention work ?" 



Turning to mc he said, his wonted smile vanishing 

 for the moment into a serious expression, "Ernest, 

 I coubt my ability to carry out. your ideas, but I 

 have confidence in your opinion. I will try it. If 

 you do not like the stuff, throw it into the waste- 

 basket." 



There, now you have the origin of Stray Straws. 

 We had a depai tment running, as we do now, called 

 "Heads of Grain," and I suggested "Kernels of 

 Wlieat"" as an appropriate heading; but Dr. Miller 

 very modestly preferred Stray Straws, as he was 

 not sure that he would be able to glean very much 

 wheat. As to the general character of the Straws, 

 and whether thej' are worth binding along with the 

 other gleanings from many fields, I don't need to 

 say. Our readers have long since settled that by the 

 eager way they grab at the Straw-stack in Marengo. 



Dr. C. C. Miller is probably one of the best-known 

 apicultural writers in the world. He reads both the 

 American and European exchanges, and his articles 

 and comments on both sides of the Atlantic have 

 brought him into prominence throughout all bee- 

 dom. 



His writings are further enhanced by a ripe expe- 

 rience of many years, for he is now in his seventy- 

 eighth year, having been for forty years a bee- 

 keeper, and a good one, especially in the production 

 of comb honey; and, if I mistake not, his crops are 

 sold before they are off the hive. This speaks vol- 

 umes, not only for his method of management but 

 for his careful honest grading, which is all done by 

 the members of his family. The buj'ers know in ad- 

 vance just exactly what Dr. Miller's honey is going 

 to be, and they ai-e usually willing to pay above the 

 market because they know beyond any question 

 that tliere will be no utter-quibble over the grading, 

 quantity, or quality. There is no reason why many 

 others can not sell their crop in the same way. — 

 E. R. Root, in Gleanings in Bee Culture for Aug. 1, 1908. 



No. 31.— The front, roof, and back of the sheds are 

 made of corrugated iron fastened to cedar posts set 

 in 1 he ground two feet. 



No. 32.— This picture shows Dr. C. C. Miller watch- 

 ing the tiight of bees as they fly to and from his field 

 of sweet -clover. The lower half is a view of his 

 home from the rear. 



No. 33.— Tills view was taken in Holland, and lep- 

 resents a bee-keeper hunting for the queen. The 

 photograph was furnished us by Mr. Henri Mej'cr, 



