'688 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Nov. 1 



■and have neglected their legitimate work 

 almost entirely, so that the product of their 

 hives— it can not be termed honey— is little 

 above the standard of sugar and water. Of 

 course, this is the case only in those dis- 

 tricts where there is the least natural flora. 

 In other parts bee-keeping can be pursued 

 as profitably as elsewhere. 



AFRICAN bee-keepers' ASSOCIATIONS. 



.lust now things are making a stir apicul- 

 t urally. Societies are being formed in many 

 districts for promoting the scientific man- 

 agement of bees; and the parent associa- 

 tion, with headquarters in .Johannesburg, is 

 aiming at instituting a co-operative depot, 

 with branches, for the sale of honey and 

 wax, the product of its own and affiliated 

 societies' members. Indeed, so enthusiastic 

 has this parent association become that al- 

 ready it has succeeded in influencing the 

 l)arliaments of the five colonies to pass a 

 bill prohibiting the importation of bees and 

 honey, and even foundation which has not 

 been subjected to a temperature of 150 de- 

 grees Fahrenheit. But I think this action 

 will not meet with general approval, in view 

 of the fact that large confectionery manu- 

 facturers could not obtain all the honey 

 needed, even ordinarily, before the impost, 

 while the general public have had a similar 

 grievance. Regarding foundation, it seems 

 as if some one is aiming at creating a mo- 

 nopoly locally; but even so it is doubtful if 

 the local product would be as good as the 

 imported article; and then, again, it surely 

 will not pay to put down an up-to-date 

 plant for the manufacture of wax equal to 

 itiat now being manufactured in America— 

 at least for many years to come. 



Hives and hive fittings — their names are 

 legion— are very dear here, and in that way 

 jirohibit any but the most enthusiastic, or 

 those in good positions from taking up the 

 pursuit. Speaking from an unbiased point 

 of view, I think a Langstroth hive is as 

 good as one can get for the South African 

 climate. Of course, it requires watching 

 like any other make; but, apart from that, 

 it is better adapted to local requirements 

 than any other make with which I am 

 familiar. 



There is no special legislation with regard 

 to the keeping of bees in South Africa; and, 

 providing no ravages on the part of our " lit- 

 tle friends " are reported, all goes well. But 

 I am of the oi)inion that the near future 

 will witness many changes all round, es- 

 pecially as there are so many bee-enthusi- 

 asts now in touch with one another through 

 the various societies; and as a concluding 

 remark I will say that I could easily com- 

 mit a greater libel than by stating that 

 bee-keepers in South Africa have a good 

 time ahead. 



Broken Hill, N. S. W., Australia. 



HORSES PASTURED IN A SWEET-CLOVER 

 FIELD REQUIRED NO WATER. 



BY HENRY STEWART. 



The next annual convention of the Michigan 

 Bee-keepers' Association will be held in Grand 

 Rapids, Nov. 9, 10. K. B. Tyrreo.. Sec. 



230 Woodland Ave., Detroit, Mich. 



For a long time I have known that, after 

 stock acquire an appetite for sweet clover, 

 it is relished and makes one of the most 

 nutritious foods; but not until last summer 

 did 1 discover that it contains all the essen- 

 tials of both food and drink for live stock. 



I have eight acres of very thick sweet clo- 

 ver, which was sown in 1908 with oats. ]t 

 made a good growth, and afforded a good 

 deal of feed in the late fall and early winter 

 of the same year. In the spring of 1909 un- 

 til May 10 it was the favorite grazing- 

 ground for the cattle and horses. About 

 June 1 it was clipped with the mowing- 

 machine within five inches of the ground, 

 and, after being fenced, three horses were 

 turned into it. I supposed that they would 

 require water; and as it was but a short dis- 

 tance to a neighbor's pump, a tub was pro- 

 vided and filled with water. To replenish 

 the supply a visit was made every other 

 day; but as no water was taken it was cer- 

 tainly evident that those horses were not 

 thirsty. After several days of total absti- 

 nence from water they were caught and 

 taken to their accustomed watering-tank 

 for a good drink; but we were again sur- 

 prised to find that they had no use for its 

 contents, so they were returned to the field. 

 As they showed every sign of thrift and 

 contentment they were let go, and visited 

 only at long intervals, when water would 

 be put in the tub and an effort made to in- 

 duce them to drink, which, however, was 

 always fruitless. They were not known to 

 take any water until July 9, when they be- 

 gan drinking a little from the tub. 



One of my neighbors claims to have read 

 that stock pastured on sweet clover would 

 require but little water. Who knows any 

 thing about this? 



Prophetstown, 111. 



[The above is somewhat of a surprise to 

 me, although I have known several in- 

 stances where stock got along under some 

 circumstances without water. I take it that 

 in this case there were very heavy dews 

 nights; and the sweet-clover foliage con- 

 tained a large amount of water which the 

 horsts took in as they fed on it early in the 

 morning. Chickens have been known to 

 live and do well in cornfields for weeks and 

 months without access to any water except 

 the dew from the drijiping corn-leaves. 

 This is another item in favor of sweet clo- 

 ver. The writer also speaks about clipping 

 the clover down to within five inches of the 

 ground. As this would hold it back from 

 growing seed, I suppose it produced an ad- 

 ditional amount of pasturage. — A. I. R.] 



The Middlesex County Bee-keepers' Association 

 will meet in the City Hall, London, Ont., on Satur- 

 day, Nov. 5, at 10:30 a.m. Interesting papers and ad- 

 dresses will be given by prominent bee-keepers. All 

 are welcome. Officers for the ensuing year will be 

 elected. E. T. Bainard, Sec, 



A. DowswELL, Pres. Lambeth, Ont. 



