1910 



(iLi:AXIX<iS IX BEE CIETIKE 



528 



There is a danger sign in plain view from 

 the honey-store, warning any intruder who 

 might otherwise care to brave the bees. I 

 was nearly across the narrow ravine, bees 

 and sign notwithstanding, when Mr. Smith 

 met me, doubtless wondering what I meant. 

 I soon explained that I was accustomed to 

 bees, and could not resist having a talk with 

 a bee-keeper, so he gave me a rustic chair 

 under a live oak, and we "swapped lies" 

 for about half an hour. 



Speaking of lies, it does not seem possible 

 that there could be any liars among Califor- 

 nia bee-keepers, especially in such locations 



ANOTHER VIEW OF THE SMITH APIARY, SHOWING THE HONEY-HOUSE AND LARGE COR- 

 RUGATED TANK. 



black, are making a luxuriant growth, the 

 latter having commenced to blossom. The 

 first surplus honey obtained in this canyon 

 is from the black sage. 



Laurel Canyon is situated so near the 

 ocean that probably it never gets extremely 

 dry, and a fair honey crop is doubtless ob- 

 tained every year. Mr. Smith estimated 

 his crop last year as averaging 60 lbs. per 

 colony for both comb and extracted, which 

 is not nearly as large as reported from some 

 other sections of the State; but he has the 

 added advantage of receiving larger returns 

 for his product than if he were obliged to sell 

 at wholesale ; and, 

 besides, he has no 

 hauling or shipping. 



Some of the rest 

 of us here in Califor- 

 nia might get wise 

 and locate apiaries 

 in canyons near fash- 

 ionable mountain 

 tr.iils and roaus, and 

 thereby receive dou- 

 ble for the honey 

 crop that is obtained 

 under existing con- 

 ditions; while at tlie 

 same time we would 

 be educating the 

 jiublic to eat honey. 

 The honey from this 

 canyon apiary is ex- 

 tracted and bottled 

 in a small building 

 near the little store, 

 which building, I 



think, is the home of ^ honey-store where the TOTAii output of a large 



the apiarist most of apiary is disposed of. 



the year. The apiary, being close by, the cost of transportation may be neglected. 



