180 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



April 



its of our little friends; but our Father knew b est, 

 and took him home. He died in July, leaving me 

 alone, and I did the best I could. 1 took 13U01bs. sur- 

 plus, and put 38 strong stocks into winter quarters. 

 All bvit two of these are alive at the present writing, 

 and none have less than 3 frames with brood, larvae 

 and eggs, and plenty of young bees. 



Mrs. Kose Thomson. 

 Cowlesville, N. Y., Mar. 20, 1879. 



We sympathise with you Mrs. T., in your 

 bereavement, and perhaps can form some 

 idea of the trial it must be to do this work 

 alone, while thinking of the loved one that 

 is gone. May you be enabled to look to Him, 

 who heareth even the ravens 1 cry. 



ANOTHER GREAT HOSEYPLANT. 



J NEIGHBOR of mine who kept bees in New 

 y Zealand informs me that the New Zealand 

 hi Flax (Phnrmium tenax) is one of the best hon- 

 ey plants they have there. It is a sort of reed like 



plant, having long leaves somewhat like those of 

 Indian corn, throwing up a stem from the center 

 to the height of 8 or 10 feet. This stem throws out 

 branches of flowers somewhat like those of the 

 morning glory. The secretion of honey seems to be 

 very copious, because on turning a blossom down- 

 ward the honey will drip from it; and from twelve 

 or fifteen Holers as much as a tea-spoonful may be 

 pressed. I wrote Peter Henderson, of N. Y., about, 

 it, and he tells me it will not do well in the open air 

 in this climate, but from a letter in the American Ag- 

 riiMrfturixt for 1879, 1 find that it is hardy in the south 

 of France, and no doubt would thrive in parts of 

 the Southern States. If it will yield honey as in 

 its native climate, it will be a valuable honey plant. 

 The fibre is used for rope making. 



S. C0BNE1L. 



Lindsay, Ont., Can., Mar. 22, 1879. 



The botany states that this is valuable, when 

 grown in the north, for ropes and cordage, 

 but that it does not flower, unless grown 

 farther south. Perhaps our Southern friends 

 can try it and report. 



£vw****** 



A CALIFORNIA APIARY. NEAR SAN DIEGO. 



ANOTHER CALIFORNIA APIARY. 



^HEN my brother sent the photos of 

 f#// the plants that bear honey by the pint 

 ^^ and teacnpfnl, he also sent one of a 

 California apiary, which we give above. I 

 should like to tell you something about it, 

 but my brother is not as talkative as I am, 

 and about the extent of his description was 

 that it was a California apiary. Very likely 

 the luxuriant foliage along the valley is prin- 

 cipally those plants that bear the pints and 

 tea-cupfuls, although he did not say so. It 



seems to me the man that owns it might, in 

 that case, u fix up" a little better, move his 

 hives farther apart, and buy some shade trees, 

 perhaps he got only 5c. per lb. for his honey, 

 and therefore does not feel surprisingly 

 "spry" this spring. I reallv wish you Cali- 

 fornia folks would send me a photograph of 

 a really nice, orderly apiary, if (begging your 

 pardon) you have any. The above picture 

 cost me exactly $35.09: I did not have it 

 made for the sake of the apiary, but for the 

 grand old mountains in the back ground, 

 but I do not think the engraver did them 

 half justice. 



