48 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 15. 



p. 51, says, " The shortest time we have ever 

 noticed between the birth of a queen and her 

 bridal flight was five days, and in this we are 

 in accord with Mr. Alley, one of the most ex- 

 tensive queen -breeders in the world. The 

 average time is six or seven days."' I think 

 those who believe fertilization sometimes occurs 

 at three days consider this very exceptional. 



Mr. Grahame says fertilization "must be 

 within 21 days or she will be barren." Huber 

 taught this a hundred years ago; but it was 

 shown to be an error many years since. On 

 page 104 of American Bee Journal for 1861 

 appears the statement that the Baron of Ber- 

 lepsch had several queens fecundated when 

 thirty days old, and one at thirty-three, that 

 were yet fully fertile. Also that Mr. Hemman, 

 In 18(50. had a queen that was not fertilized 

 until 4() days old, and yet produced worker 

 brood. If riiy memory serves me, I saw. not 

 long ago, in a French bee-journal, a report 

 from no less authority than Chas. Dadantof a 

 case of successful impregnation at 40 days old. 

 So the statement is too sweeping, that fertiliza- 

 tion must take place within 21 days of birth or 

 barrenness will result. 



But an interesting question is still left open: 

 At what age. as a general rule, does a queen 

 become incapable of impregnation? It is just 

 possible that 21 days may be the answer to this, 

 and on some Recounts it may be an important 

 question. There is room for experiment here; 

 and if there are many cases in which the limit 

 runs to 30 or 40 days, then I would hardly ex- 

 pect the average to "fall as low as 21. 



Marengo, 111., Dec. 20. C. C. Miixek. 



RAMBLE NO 76. 



THE CABRILLO CRLEBKATION. 



"Well," says I all to myself, " this fine fel 

 low may be a bunco man, but I don't care 

 ducats. I'm loaded for him." Then says I out 

 loud, " Isn't this just fine ! Why, it reminds 

 me of the words of the immortal Shakespeare, 

 where he says, ' What's the hods as long as yer 

 'appy?' " 



He looked sort of solemn, and didn't say a 

 word about Shakespeare, and I knew he was 

 not a bunco man, for that class of people can 

 quote the Bible, Shakespeare, or Bill Nye, cor- 

 rect at the word go. We viewed the exterior 

 beauties of the hotel, and patronized the in- 

 terior by each taking a toothpick as we saun- 

 tered through to the seaside veranda; and 

 while reclining in easy-chairs, with our feet on 

 the railing, with the foaming breakers dashing 

 below us, my friend remarked, " Well, I don't 

 know but 1 feel as well as though I owned a 

 million." 



•' Yes," says I, " or five. Ain't we having a 

 ripe time?" I slapped him on the knee, and 

 beamingly remarked, " What's the hods as long 

 as yer 'appy ? " But such a state of enjoyment 



My travels now lead me due south from Los 

 Angeles, my objective point being San Diego. 

 The train runs inland about half the distance, 

 then it comes in view of the ocsan at San Juan. 

 Now, please don't pronounce that Jewan; sim- 

 ply say San Wahn. and you have it. Here our 

 train runs near the San Juan Capistrano Mis- 

 sion, an old adobe structure partly in ruins, and 

 a hundred and twenty years old. It is one of 

 the old landmarks of a former civilization, and 

 a movement is in progress to repair many of 

 these historic re) is. From this town we follow 

 ihe seashore and catch many grand views of 

 the ocean. A ride of 127 miles'lands us in San 

 Diego, noted chiefly for a glorious climate and 

 a beautiful bay, which, with the addition of a 

 cloudless sky. reminds the foreign traveler of 

 the bay of Naples, in Italy. The narrow en- 

 trance to the bay, away out at Point Loma, is 

 fittingly named the Silver Gate. 



The city has passed through its boom period, 

 and the evidences of it are still visible in vacant 

 houses. Still, San Diego is a lively town, and 

 is looking forward to a more permanent period 

 of growth and prosperity. From the animate 

 appearance of the streets upon our arrival, one 

 would suppose that there was now a mighty 

 boom on: but the happy-appejuing crowd were 

 liere to take part in the 3.")0th anniversary of 

 the discovery of San Diego harbor, and of Cali- 

 fornia, by that bold Portuguese explnrcr Juan 

 Rodriguez Cabrilio. It was. therefoic called 

 the Cabrilio celebration, and brought within 

 the gates of San Diego 20.000 [jcople. and of such 

 a variety as can seldom b'' sern. .Soon after 

 arrival I fell in with a tall gintlemanly appear- 

 ing fellow, and he proposed a trip across the 

 bay and a visit to the famous Coronado Hotel. 

 I agreed immediately, anil off we started on a 

 double-decked electric street-car for the ferry. 



"what's the H0I»S as long as YER'AI'I'V?" 



couldn't last long, and we returned to the city, 

 and were lost to each other in our respective 

 lodgings. 



As the celebration was in honor of an ancient 

 Portuguese navigator, but sailing under the 

 flag of Spain, the Mexican government was 

 invited to participate, and Governor-General 

 Torres, with a brilliant staff, and the Mexican 

 military band of thirty musicians, were among 

 the honored guests, The celebration covered 

 a period of three days, and was divided into 

 a grand parade, Indian fiesta, and vaquero 

 (vah-ka-ro) tournament. 



The grand parade started upon its line of 

 march after receiving from two ancient-looking 

 ships several Portuguese dressed in the style of 

 the 16th century, representing Cabrilio and his 

 followers. The Mexican Band was given the 

 post of honor, and led the procession. The 

 Governor of the State, his staff, invited guests, 

 officers of the army and navy; two tribes of 

 Indians in primitive costume, armed with bows 

 and arrows: 150 vaqueros. many from Mexico, 

 with tall decorated hats and richly etnbroidered 

 scrapes over their shoulders,. Their high-pom- 

 meled saddles glistened with silver ornaments, 

 hearing the ever present lariat and revolver. 

 Various civic and military organizations took 

 part, and, lastly, several floats of an historic and 

 local nature. The one causing the most com- 

 ment and mirth was a covered wagon, of emi- 



