738 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



December, 1918 



FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



fall flow, after two seasons of almost total 

 failure. In southwest Texas conditions have 

 improved greatly in practically every locali- 

 ty. In only one locality did the bees go into 

 winter with short stores. In west Texas 

 the fall rains revived the native vegetation 

 to such an extent that most bees gathered 

 ample stores. In north Texas the fall flow 

 from cotton was the best for years. In one 

 locality an extra extracting was possible 

 from cotton flow. Generally speaking, the 

 fall weather did much to revive the bee- 

 keeping industry, which certainly did suf- 

 fer during the two past years. The indica- 

 tions now seem to point to conditions as- 

 suming normal. 



The Extension Service of the A. & M. Col- 

 lege thru its specialist in apiculture, H. B. 

 Parks, is carrying on a very extensive cam- 

 paign in east Texas. The results of this 

 work, which is hardly more than under head- 

 way, are very pleasing. In practically every 

 county Mr. Parks has found much unorgan- 

 ized interest in beekeeping. Naturally, the 

 methods are not always modern, but a de- 

 sire to adopt proper methods has been found 

 in every instance. Several counties are be- 

 ing organized by Mr. Parks, with an idea 

 to remove all box hives and prepare the way 

 for inspection service with its quarantine 

 regulations. Bee clubs among the boys have 

 been organized in two counties, and it is ex- 

 pected to meet the increased demand for 

 this work. 



The Texas Apiary Inspection Service now 

 has two former inspectors in the service. 

 M. C. Stearns of MeCollough County is now 

 in the army, and H. A. Jones of Live Oak 

 County is now in training camp. 



Honey adulteration was the subject of a 

 recent editorial. That subject is certainly 

 very seldom heard among the beekeepers of 

 this State. Among commercial beekeepers 

 there is never a thought of adulterating 

 honey. There has been too much effort to 

 get the universal use of honey, for them to 

 attempt to put other than the best of pure 

 honey on market. F. B. Paddock. 



College Station, Tex. 



* * 4f- 



In Florida.— There is very little news of 

 interest trom Florida bee- 

 keepers this month. A fair crop of fall hon- 

 ey has been gathered and some is being 

 shipped. Many of the large producers are 

 holding their crops — not for higher prices 

 but for increase and to care for the needs 

 of the bees in case a freeze should cut off 

 the orange bloom next spring. Pennyroyal 

 is already in bloom in south Florida, but all 

 reports agree that it does not yield much 

 nectar until after Christmas. In this part 

 of Florida we have some pennyroyal, but it 

 appears to be a different variety, being 

 found only around the scrubs; whereas in 



the southern part of the State it is a "flat- 

 woods ' ' growth. Here the bloom does not 

 open until the middle of January. 



At this time it seems appropriate to warn 

 the Northern beekeepers against selling their 

 bees and coming to Florida with the idea 

 that they can start, apiaries and make big 

 crops of honey with little effort. The local 

 newspapers have from time to time given re- 

 markable accounts of the profits made by 

 beekeepers in Florida, but upon investiga- 

 tion it will be found that the writers are 

 quite incompetent to give any information 

 that is of value or in any way representa- 

 tive of conditions in commercial beekeeping. 

 One article, given prominence in a local pa- 

 per, stated that $30 could be made from a 

 hive of bees, with no expense and practical- 

 ly no attention, and the impression was 

 given that beekeeping was a get-rich-quick 

 business. Upon inquiry we find that this 

 writer owns just one colony, and he is situ- 

 ated on a location which could not possibly 

 support more than 25 colonies in a good 

 season. An isolated colony almost always 

 produces more than the average of a big 

 yard, just as there are always odd colonies 

 that produce much more than others in the 

 same yard. My record shows that my best 

 colony has given me 362 lbs. this year, but 

 to state that that amount can be expected 

 from every hive would be nonsense. It must 

 be remembered that this has been an ex- 

 ceptionally good year for honey in Florida, 

 and we have made more than in the last 

 four years put together. Last year there 

 was practically no honey produced in this 

 part of Florida, and the loss of bees by star- 

 vation was heavy. Beemen intending to lo- 

 cate in this State should investigate thoroly, 

 and even then it will be difficult to find a 

 good location unless previous experience has 

 taught the recognition of our honey flora. 

 After this year 's bountiful harvest, difficulty 

 will be found in buying bees, for no one is 

 willing to sell and all are making prepara- 

 tions to increase the size of their apiaries 

 and occupy all favorable locations. New 

 beginners there are by the hundreds, and, 

 should next year prove as successful as this 

 year, bees will be as plentiful as mosquitoes. 

 The chances are even that next year may 

 give us a crop failure, and in that case most 

 of the beginners will drop out or be bought 

 out by those already well established. 



It is to be hoped that all beemen have 

 read the editorials in the August and Octo- 

 ber Gleanings on jjacking honey. There 

 have been such heavy losses in transporta- 

 tion from Florida that the Food Administra- 

 tion has thought it necessary to issue a bul- 

 letin on the subject, which will be forwarded 

 to all interested. At this time of writing, 

 Nov. 3, this bulletin is not completed, but 

 it will be issued in about 10 days. 



Apopka, Fla. Harry Hewitt. 



