January, 1916. 



American Vae Journal 



the disorder described by Mr. Calcutt, 

 of Seattle, Wash., and Mr. Miner, of 

 Fowler, Calif., in Oct. 1 and 15, Glean- 

 ings in Bee Culture. This is also men- 

 tioned in the same numbers of Glean- 

 ings as having appeared for some years 

 in the Mississippi Valley States. 



Now, while I am sending samples to 

 Dr. Phillips, I would also like to ask 

 information from any one who has had 

 any experience with the disorder. Can 

 any one give the symptoms of Nosema? 

 Are the symptoms similar to this ? We 

 noticed the presence of the yellow- 

 jacket wasp around all the hives in- 

 fected, as others have in different 

 localities. This has never been noticed 

 in any other disease. 



We have made an encouraging gain 

 in our fight with European foulbrood 

 here, though I thoroughly agree with 

 Mr. Byer that it is a much more serious 

 trouble than American foulbrood. For 

 one reason, we know exactly how 

 American foulbrood is carried, and 

 that is the whole battle in prevention. 

 And even if yon get it, it is easier han- 

 dled, but we now seem to be "up 

 against" something new, and any light 

 on the subject will be most thankfully 

 received. 



Our weather conditions have been 

 excellent during the early winter. We 

 had two good rains and very mild clear 

 days following. The bees are, of course, 

 gathering no nectar at this season, but 

 are bringing in large quantities of pol- 

 len from Artemisia bloom. 



Orange, Calif. 



No. 



13.-— The Honey-Producing 

 Plants 



BY FRANK C. PELLETT. 



{Pkoto£raifks bv the author.") 



THE white clematis, Clematis virgini- 

 a>ia, is commonly known by the 

 name of virgin's bower, but also 

 has several other local names such as 

 love vine, traveler's joy, and Devil's 

 hair. Figure 62 shows the delicate 

 white blossom and the leaf, and No. 03 

 shows a mass of the vines on a road- 

 side fence. 



The range of the plant is from Nova 

 Scotia and Ontario west to Lake Win- 

 nipeg and Nebraska, and south to 

 Louisiana and Florida. It may be ex- 

 pected almost anywhere east of the 

 Mississippi river. It is a slender climb- 

 ing vine growing on the borders of 

 woods, roadsides and hedgerows. The 

 blossoms are white and fragrant, 

 blooming in midsummer. It is much 

 sought by the bees, and apparently pro- 

 duces considerable nectar. It is doubt- 

 ful whether the plant is anywhere suffi- 

 ciently abundant to make an appreci- 

 able difference in the production of 

 the hive. 



Richter, in his "Honey Plants of 

 California," reports a related species, 

 the hill clematis. Clematis ligustiei/'olia, 

 as common in the hilly districts almost 

 throughout California. It is said to 

 produce "a great deal of pollen and 

 probably some honey," but it is not 

 known to produce a surplus. 



IRONWEEDS. 



There are many species [of the iron- 



frequently reported in this connection 

 they may be of more value in other 

 localities than local observation indi- 

 cates. 



Atlantic, Iowa. 

 Copyright: ioi6. by Frank C. Pellett. 



Fig 62— Wild Clematis Blossoms and 

 Leaves 



weeds to be found in many countries. 

 They are common in Asia and Africa 

 as well as North America. They are 

 common from New England south to 

 Florida and west to Dakota and Texas. 

 Figure 64 shows the flowers of the 

 western ironweed, Vernonica fascicu- 

 lata, and No. 65 a clump of the com- 

 mon ironweed, I'ernoniea baldiuirii. In 

 the middle West they grow very com- 

 monly in pastures, and the purple blos- 

 soms are very conspicuous in late sum- 

 mer. The writer includes them among 

 the honey-producing plants with some 

 hesitation, although the bees work upon 

 them to some extent. Since they are 



A Visit to the Sage of Marengo 



E. G. LESTOURGEON. 



MARENGO! There are few bee- 

 keepers who have not felt a sort 

 of grateful warmth at the men- 

 tion of the name that has become 

 famous to us as the abiding place of 

 one of the kindliest and most loving 

 of the host of kindly souls that have 

 made the keepers of bees a peculiar 

 people. When my duties brought me 

 as a casual visitor to the office of the 

 American Bee Journal, and its earnest 

 young manager, Mr. M. G. Dadant, 

 mentioned the fact that he was con- 

 templating a visit to Marengo, I at 

 once plead to be permitted to accom- 

 pany him. I could not have hoped for 

 such good fortune when I left my far 

 off Texas home and was thrilled at the 

 prospect. 



If I had created in my mind an idea 

 of Dr. Miller as an old man ; if I had 

 pictured the Sage of Marengo as one 

 who, conscious of his years of labor 

 and of his success and fame, had shut 

 up his mind to suggestions from hum- 

 ble fellow workers; if I had expected 

 any hint of egotism or intolerance; if 

 I had felt that one in his station and 

 at his age might be excused for a show 

 of impatience with the ignorance of 

 others — I was riding to a fall ! My an- 

 ticipation of the pleasures of the visit 

 had not in any wise prepared me for 

 the warmth and kindliness of its 

 actuality. 



We reached the pretty little town of 

 Marengo about noon. We had been 

 told that our friend lived some three 

 miles from the station, and were pre- 

 paring to hire a conveyance. Mr. Da- 

 dant rang up the Miller home to advise 

 them of our coming, and learning that 



FIG, 63-WILD CLEMATIS ON A ROADSIDEXFENCE 



