1896 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



561 



Now, the point I want to make is, that Mrs. 

 Thomas is 16 to 1, clear through, or, rather, in 

 both eyes; so you see these two lady speculators 

 in queens, from her standpoint, would not have 

 to sell more than 200 untested, tested, and select 

 tested queens, at 16 to 1, to make their $5000 

 each per year. Now, Mr. Editor York, I think 

 you owe Mrs. Thomas an ample apology. Tell 

 her your remarks were strictly in a Pickwickian 

 sense, and that your "mind was rather dwell- 

 ing on the years when there was honey in the 

 mountains," etc. 



Here is a " Straw" that I don't under— no— 



oh, no! — that I desire Dr. Miller to explain for 



the good of others — if he can: 



Sections mude green by too much sulphur, C. 

 Davenport remedies by soaking- in water. If that 

 loosens the sections from the wood, he gives them 

 back to be fastened by the beus, choosing a colony 

 that has its brood-nest full of honey.— 4. B. J 



What is loosening the sections from the wood) 

 anyhow? What wood? I thought sections 

 were all wood. Now, doctor, don't say this is 

 a selection, and that you don't indorse every 

 thing yon select. If a thing is not fair and 

 square and clear, it is your business to take 

 hammer and chisel, and doctor it up. What 

 else are you there for, anyhow ? 



THE HOME MARKET. 



The editor of the American Bee Journal, p. 

 376, says- " If at all possible, dispose of all dark 

 grades of honey in the home market." That is 

 most excellent advice, my son, and given by 

 the "Old Reliable," that can not err. If you 

 have any dark stuff, or any bug- juice— the 

 blacker the better — crowd it on to the home 

 market. It will increase your trade and make 

 you popular. People will smack their lips, and 

 cry out, " Oh that I could see that honey-dealer 

 again!" The children will stand in groups at 

 the street corners, looking anxiously up and 

 down to catch a glimpse of you; and when at 

 last the twilight dews drive them weeping to 

 their homes, nothing but a stick of candy will 

 coax them into their little beds. People will 

 yearn for you to come around again. In fact, 

 it will create a passionate love for you— a long- 

 ing for your society, which you will hardly un- 

 derstand until some fellow gets you firmly by 

 the neck. Then you will see — no, you won't, 

 either, for your eyes will be so bunged up that 

 you won't be able to see any thing at all. 



THE CALIFORNIA OUTPUT. 



From all parts of California there comes but 

 one monotonous and wailing cry— no honey! 

 We have hung our harps upon the willows, and 

 sat down mournfully in the dust. The whip- 

 poorwill goes flashing by, unmindful of our 

 pathetic cry. As the evening shadows gather 

 around us the owl hoots at and mocks our mis- 

 ery. Not a word of sympathy have we heard 

 from the mean and miserable East— not a word 

 of pity or compassion has reached the Pacific 

 shore. Yes, and postage only two cents at 



that! But, never mind! next year we will 

 "laugh at your calamity and mock when your 

 fear cometh." We will parade your streets 

 with drums beating and banners flying, to cel- 

 ebrate our victory. There, now ! 



NEW RACES OR SPECIES OF BEES. 



THE DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME. 

 By W. K. Morrisdu. 



Mr. Root:-~ln regard to my expedition in 

 search of new bees, I wish to say that it would 

 not be diplomatic to make much of a fuss about 

 this afJair. Few of your people have any idea 

 of the obstacles in the way of getting these bees. 

 Even as to myself, I sometimes think whether 

 or not it would be better to try the bees of 

 South America first, as I know more about that 

 region. Most people think it is the lack of 

 money that prevents our going ahead. But 

 money is not the only necessary thing. Infliu- 

 ence is also a great factor. Some of the tribu- 

 tary states are closed to white men altogether; 

 and unless the Indian officials saw fit, a person 

 could not enter these states. In many cases a 

 convoy of soldiers is necessary. Again, one has 

 to travel on steamers owned by the government, 

 or not at all. Money has not the power that it 

 has with us. Unless the government so orders 

 it, the native won't help you one bit, as he has 

 little use for money. I believe in making a 

 clean job of it, and seeing and examining all 

 the different bees kept by the natives. The 

 bees of Bhotan seem to me to be the best. I 

 expect to get the powerful aid of several scien- 

 tific botanists and government officials. This 

 is absolutely necessary. It is also necessary to 

 get the aid of steamship companies. With the 

 aid of these men we could get along very well. 

 There are plenty of scientific men in these 

 eastern countries who would know just how to 

 assist such an enterprise. 



Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, the friend and 

 co-worker of Darwin, is still alive, and takes 

 great interest in bee-keeping, and is as well 

 posted as most bee-keepers in regard to practi- 

 cal bee-keeping. He is the man who has told 

 us the most about Apis dorsata. In fact, we 

 could hardly ask for more than he has told us 

 from time to time. I should not devote all my 

 energies to bees alone, as I would examine a 

 little into the horticulture of the East, especial- 

 ly in regard to palms and fruit-trees. 



In some of the European museums they have 

 splendid collections of bees, and in most cases 

 thtir products. It would be necessary for me 

 to see these specimens and see exactly what 



