444 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



June 1. 



The next day boing Sunday, we all rested in 

 camp. Oar neighbor half a mile away had a 

 fine herd of pigs that gave us some trouble; 

 but Jack was equal to the occasion, and kept 

 them at a safe distance. This neighbor said 

 that it was no uncommon thing to find bee-trees 

 ill these woods; and, though he was not a bee- 

 keeper, and no one kept bees near him, his 

 observation enabled him to confirm the pre- 

 vious reports in relation to the great prevalence 

 of honey-dew. At certain seasons the trees, 

 shrubs, and grass were covered with it. Our 

 experience with insects, however, was in the 

 yellow-jacket line. These determined fellows 

 were hungry for venison; and our slashed meat, 

 as it hung in the sun to dry, began to disap- 

 pear. We were told afterward by hunters, 

 that, if unmolested, they would spoil and get 

 away with a large amount of meat. We saved 

 our meat, however, and consoled ourselves 

 that, though there were many bees working on 

 blossoms near by, they did not devour our 

 meat. Half the ills that are laid to the honest 

 bee might be cast upon the troublesome hornet. 



After the two days' rest and such an abun- 

 dance of venison, we made a lively gait to 

 Ukia'h, the county-seat of Mendocino Co. 

 After a very brief halt we commenced a drive 

 with Eur.'ka, in Humboldt Co., as our objective 

 point, or about 140 miles of mountain roads, 

 streams, and forests. The towns began to 

 dwindle in size, and the distance between them 

 began to lengthen. The saloon seemed to be 

 the main business center of these towns, and 

 the saloon-keeper seemed to be a very public- 



taking a nip. In Caliente the enterprising 

 saloon-keeper, in addition to the watering- 

 place, provided an awning, in the shade of 

 which the team could rest while the driver 



"buead! twenty-five cents a loaf?" 



spirited man. The only watering-place for our 

 horses in these little villages was in the shadow 

 of the saloon; and while the horses were drink- 

 ing, the driver was supposed to be in the saloon 



a chance for practice not to be missed. 



was taking another nip. We watered our 

 horses, but eschewed the nips. Here we began 

 to meet again those many-teamed wagons haul- 

 ing immense loads of merchandise into the 

 remote mountain regions; and the jangling 

 bells, upon the leading horses, made merry 

 chimes in the air. Our days were passed in 

 climbing and descending grades— rough grades, 

 serpentine grades, forest grades, and but a 

 small mileage of level grades. 



The native mountaineer men and women 

 were usually mounted upon horse or mule, the 

 ever-present rifle across the pommel of the sad- 

 dle, and the long picket-rope coiled in a con- 

 venient place. If we desired infor- 

 mation about the roads, ihe woman 

 always did the talking. The man 

 with her usually had his mouih full 

 of " terbacker," and before he could 

 unload and get his tongue into work- 

 ing order the woman had unloaded a 

 whole grist of information. When 

 we three bachelors saw such a com- 

 pany coming it was safe for us to bet 

 that the woman was already wound 

 up, and ready to go off like an alarm- 

 clock. 

 the northern borders of Mendocino Co. we 

 a great hog country, and we all rcmpm- 

 the brilliant scheme of our friend Harry 

 les, the gas-man. We made remarks that 

 ould be just the country for him— swine 

 : hillsides and in the valleys. White-oak 

 trees were plentiful here, and the hog fattened 

 on the acorns. Cows that wander in the forests 

 are often belled; but here the hog was belled 

 as well. Such a one crossed our path, and the 

 following inspiring scene occurred: 



While o'er Ihe mountain climbing, 

 We spied a pensive sow; 



