122 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



fertilization have given to it its richness in 

 nectar ? This idea embodies the essence of 

 the universal principle of natural selection — 

 the survival of the fittest. 



The E. auyustifoliinn is found all over the 

 cooler portions of North America, from Lab- 

 rador to Alaska and southward to Southern 

 California, Illinois, and North Carolina. It 

 is distinctly an inhabitant of cool climates, 

 and therefore is found more rarely in the 

 Southern localities mentioned. It also grows 

 over Northern Europe and Asia, and, curious- 

 ly enough, is said to grow luxuriantly in New 

 Zealand. 



As the seeds are borne aloft by the winds, 

 and are carried possibly huudreds of miles 

 and in myriad numbers, it has given rise to 

 the b^i,ef in some places that it springs up 

 spontaneously after fires, whereas the fire 

 simply burns the turf and furnishes a good 

 seed-bed for the wandering seed. It grows 

 very profusely among the stumps and burned 

 forest districts of Wisconsin, Michigan, and 

 Northern Canada, and occupies the soil for 

 numbers of years, until the plow or grass 

 sod drives it away. I have found it growing 

 in several places in this locality, and have 

 collected some seed, which I shall use to the 

 best advantage in the effort to get it to grow 

 more abundantly in places suited to its 

 habits, yet I have little hope in this direction, 

 but trust rather that it may prove of increas- 

 ing value to those apiarists of the North who 

 are enterprising enough to move to any ac- 

 cessible areas of bloom. One very favorable 

 point in its habits of growth, rendering it of 

 value to apiarists, is its time of blossoming. 

 It comes into bloom from the middle to the 

 last of July and continues almost to the 

 frosts of Autumn. The colonies of bees that 

 have been wintered in the cold climates 

 where it grows, are in the best of condition 

 to gather the honey from it, having become 

 very strong during the earlier rtow from 

 clover and raspberries and other honey 

 plants. 



That it has produced paying crops, during 

 the generally poor seasons of the past few 

 years, is a fact, and that it will be made to 

 yield profit more extensively, is believed by 

 many near these favorable fields. The fail- 

 ure of the honey crop in localities just be- 

 yond reach of the oceans of bloom of this 

 Epilobium, tends to prove that atmospheric 

 conditions are not in all cases responsible 

 for the failure of the clover, linden and other 

 flowers to secrete nectar. 



The honey from this plant is not excelled 

 by any that I have ever tasted. It is of light 

 color, good body, and has a mild and delicate 

 flavor somewhat like that of Alfalfa honey. 

 It does not give to the mouth and throat as 

 much of that smarty taste as other honeys. 



Those who are fond of buckwheat or any 

 other strongly flavored honeys might pro- 

 nounce it flat, or perhaps on that account 

 adulterated. From its mild and soothing 

 effect upon the throat I should imagine it 

 would prove very superior for treatment of 

 throat and bronchial troubles. 



Agb'l College, Mich., Jan'y 2(5, 1892. 



How to Ship Bees as Successfully as Q.aeens 

 are Mailed. 



EMIIi F. NEBEL. 



^I^N your leader of March you have given 

 ^) nearly all the principal points for ship- 

 *^ ping bees, by the pound, in nucleus 

 form, and in full colonies. I might add a 

 few suggestions, having put up for ship- 

 ment many a nucleus, full colony, and hun- 

 dreds of pounds of bees. In only one in- 

 stance was there a partial failure, and this 

 was owing to the great distance and the 

 earliness of the season. This shipment con- 

 sisted of 45 lT>s. of bees sent to Manitoba, 

 May 10th, liS88. 11 lbs. of this consignment 

 died while en route. The cause being mainly 

 that three lt)s. had to be put in each package, 

 and this necessitated the taking of the entire 

 force from each colony, which at this date 

 included many old bees. 



With us the breeding season is only nicely 

 under way by the first of April ; so that by 

 the 10th of May we have not very many 

 young bees. (Jld bees do not amount to 

 much for successfull shipping when long 

 confined and often disturbed which is the 

 case while in transit. 



When preparing bees for shipment I make 

 it a point to secure mostly all young bees 

 that have not done much field" work, this 

 can be accomplished by removing the colony 

 to a new location and placing a new hive, 

 with several frames of brood from the 

 former, on the old stand to receive the old 

 working force that goes to the field during 

 the day ; then late in the afternoon proceed 

 to confine the bees in their packages for the 

 next day's shipment.. This preparation is 

 made for nuclei and bees by the pound. 

 Full colonies ought also to be made up the 



