26 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Jan. 1 



a thousand samples to get the data desired. 

 We are not yet prejiared to give our res ilts. 

 In doing this work we are compelled to make 

 it a rule never to be sure whether disease 

 exists in a given locality until a sample of 

 diseased brood has been obtained. Further- 

 more, all samples were examined bacterio- 

 logically to be sure of no error in diagnosis. 

 In the case of European foul brood this is 

 particularly necessary, for the symptoms are 

 not constant enough to be sure of a sample 

 after it has been away from the hive for a 

 time. Many reports of disease turn out to 

 be unreliable, and this matter is too impor- 

 tant for any suspicions to be accepted as 

 facts. While the sending-in of these samples 

 of various persons interested is much appre- 

 ciated, it has seemed rather strange that 

 some men who were in a position to help us 

 materially with this enormous task have not 

 responded as we might have wished. There 

 may be some bee-keepers who do not want 

 it known that they have disease in their api- 

 aries, and. therefore, are opposed to work 

 on distribution. It is no disgrace to have 

 disease break out in an apiary. The only 

 condition under which a bee-keeper may be 

 considered remiss is when he does not treat 

 his diseased colonies. Any man who hides 

 disease and tries to give the impression that 

 his bees are healthy when they are not is, to 

 say the least, no friend to other bee-keepers. 

 In some States he is legally worse than that 



After the distribution is learned, the next 

 step is to get in touch with every bee-keeper 

 in the territory where diseases exist. This 

 is not easy. During the past summer the 

 Bureau of Entomology has sent out some- 

 thing over 10,000 circulars to postmasters, 

 asking each one to give the names of bee- 

 keepers in his vicinity. All of the returns 

 have not yet been received, but each report 

 will probably average five names. The same 

 plan could be used for a request from a gov- 

 ernment department for all the postofnces 

 in the United States (over 60,000 in number) , 

 if necessary; but our very limited office 

 force will not permit it. In some parts of 

 the country we have been able to get exten- 

 sive lists of bee-keepers from other sources. 



After the names of bee-keepers are re- 

 ceived, the next step should be to send out 

 a notice to each one living in a county where 

 either disease exists, advising him of that 

 fact, and sending a circular on the subject 

 so that he can become familiar with the 

 symptoms and treatment of the disease. We 

 have not been able as yet to do this in many 

 cases, but hope to continue the work in the 

 future. 



I have briefly outlined this scheme, not to 

 advertise what the Bureau of Entomology 

 aims to do nor to make elaborate promises, 

 but merely to indicate the fact that, if dis- 

 eases are to be controlled, it will take work 

 to bring it about. To sit by and expect an 

 inspection law to wipe out disease is not the 

 part of wisdom. It has never done so yet. 



Nor have I indicated all that must be done. 

 I should be very much pleased, however, if 

 by this outline I could induce each person 



interested to do his share for the furtherance 

 of the mdustry. T/ie Bureau of Entomology 

 will continue to do what it can with the pres- 

 ent limited funds, but it would be just as 

 unwise to leave too much to us as it Is to ex- 

 pect too much of an inspector. 

 Washington, D. C. 



CASCARA AS A HONEY-PLANT. 

 A Good Yielder in Sonora, Cal. 



BY A. D. HEROLD. 



The inquiry on page 677, Nov. 1, and your 

 query regarding cascara sagrada as a honey- 

 plant, have come to my notice. Cascara is, I 

 may say, our main honey-plant in this locali- 

 ty. It is in full bloom about 20 days after 

 apple-blossoms are gone, and lasts 25 days 

 on an average; yet there are stray bushes 

 near ditches or cultivated ground which send 

 out new shoots of bloom, and these are vis- 

 ited by the bees until late in September or 

 October. 



I have sent you this day a sample of the 

 extracted, which is, I should say, 95 per cent 



fmre cascara. It is blended with spring 

 lowers and grasses, and out with holly, so 

 it is hard to get the full, crop of pure 

 cascara. However, we get more honey from 

 cascara than from any other one plant in this 

 vicinity It is so dark as a comb honey that 

 it is a poor seller to those who go on looks 

 alone. We prefer it on our table to any oth- 

 er honey. 1 have customers who will take 

 no other. It is not purgative, but one of 

 the best remedies for chronic constipation 

 known. I have never known any of the 

 pure article to granulate under any condi- 

 tions. Inclosed with the honey are some of 

 the seed and leaves. It is not an evergreen, 

 but it is as green as the bay-tree all winter, 

 and until late in the spring. The new buds 



Eush the leaves off, and at the opening of 

 loom it is nearly free from leaves. 

 I think it would stand the winters of Ohio 

 if protected while small. It is a rapid grow- 

 er, a most prolific bloomer, producing both 

 honey and pollen. It is iust fun to see the 

 bees working on it, the flowers are so thick- 

 ly set together — shallow, and accessible to 

 bees to work on in their great haste. In the 

 evening they file out of their hives with pol- 

 len on their legs, eager for another load be- 

 fore night overtakes them — something I 

 have never noticed when they worked on 

 any other flora. 



I think it is a great honey, and could be 

 sold at a higher figure if properly advertised. 

 I have had customers send it to their invalid 

 friends in Ohio, Indiana, the Dakotas, and 

 Pennsylvania. I had 1000 lbs. of extracted 

 and 300 lbs. of comb from this plant, from 44 

 colonies, spring count. 

 Sonora, Cal., Nov. 8. 



[If cascara honey can be used as a medi- 

 cine the facts ought to be known for the ben- 

 efit of the few who have need of it. It ought 

 to command a big price. — Ed.] 



