1880 



GJ^EA^INGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



&1 



]y swarm over it morning and evening, from middle 

 of June to this time. It grows here on the swamp 

 It may be old to you, but it is new to me. If it can 

 be "tamed" it will be an acquisition as a honey- 

 plant. Geo. H. Waddell. 

 Coronaco, Abbeville Co., S. C, July 20, 1880. 



Prof. Beal says : 



The branching one, the plant, is Discopleuza eapil- 

 lacra (Bishop-weed). W. J. Deal. 



Ag'IColl., Lansing, Mich., July, 1880. 



EVENING PRIMROSE. 



Inclosed, 1 send you a specimen of honey-plant, 

 which I find not very plentiful, but sprinkled here 

 and there along the roadside, and in the low lands 

 where the wild prairie grasses are killed out. It is a 

 great honey-plant. Early in the morning it can be 

 seen standing out in diamond-like beads at the base 

 of each bloom; and the bees— oh my! how they do 

 work! It is a constant hum for about two or three 

 hours every morning. I send these samples for you 

 to name them; and, whether or not you know any- 

 thing about the plant as a honey-producer, 1 am 

 going to save some seed to experiment with next 

 season. W. C. Haveley. 



Falls City, Neb., Sept. 14, 18S0. 



Prof. Beal answers as follows: 



The fragments sent us are incomplete. The spec- 

 imen sent is some species of CEnothcra (evening 

 primrose.) W. J. Beal,. 



Michigan Agricultural College. 



Well, now, that is good news ! Our old 

 favorite, the evening primrose, is a honey- 

 plant. Years ago, I saw in Vick's catalogue 

 that he had an evening primrose, or (Enothe- 

 ra, as it was called, that bore flowers — was 

 it five inches across? — I really can not re- 

 member, but it was certainly a big story, or 

 seemed so. Well, the flowers bloomed, and 

 they measured, some of them, even further 

 across than Vick said they would ; and at 

 evening all the family were delighted to see 

 the wonderful life-like movements, as the 

 great showy petals unfolded. As if to cap 

 the climax of our wonder, a little later some 

 gaudy - plumaged and graceful humming- 

 birds came, and, as they flitted in the dim 

 dusk from flower to flower, unfolding 

 tongues that seemed for all the world like 

 miniature spring tapes, they became the 

 wonder of the neighborhood. We never 

 clearly decided whether Vick sends hum- 

 ming-birds to go with his (Enothera seed or 

 not ; but they always came with ours ; or, 

 at least, when the flowers came the hum- 

 ming-birds were on hand. Of course, they 

 were after honey. Well, a few days ago a 

 wild primrose was growing down by the 

 pond, and as soon as I saw it I was remind- 

 ed of those we used to have with the hum- 

 ming-birds. A few days after, a very unus- 

 ual number of Italians were hovering round 

 this plant, and I was wondering then if this 

 was not a variety, that yielded honey so that 

 the bees could get it.. Now. your letter, friend 

 H., makes it all plain, and we want some of 

 those seeds. Since it has come to mind, we 

 want some more of those that bear the big 

 flowers too; and if Vick should ever hap- 

 pen to see what I have written, I hope he 

 will be kind enough to send me a paper. If 

 he has improved them so they are seven 



inches across by this time, I shall not com- 

 plain at all, for I shall expect the humming- 

 birds have improved in the same proportion. 

 If I have got any of the dimensions too large, 

 I assure you it was unintentional. 



Pertaining to Bee Culture. 



We respectfully solicit the aid of our friends in conducting 

 this department, and would consider it a favor to have them 

 send us all circulars that have a deceptive appearance. The 

 greatest care will be at all times maintained to prevent injustice 

 being done any one. 



MHS. COTTON. 



^f* T appears that Mrs. Cotton is still practicing her 

 £j[ old game of advertising what she never intends 

 — to furnish. I sent to her for the book on bee- 

 culture, containing her photograph, which she 

 promises to send for one dollar. I wrote her that, 

 as I had sent her four dollars, at one time, for her 

 "Controllable bee-hive," and was swindled out of 

 that by not receiving anything but an imperfect 

 model of what she termed her "Controllable bee- 

 hive," I dared not trust her again; but, if she would 

 send the book C. O. D., I would remit the one dollar 

 on receipt of the book. Now, friend Boot, I agree 

 with you in thinking there is no such book in exist- 

 ence; or, if there is, and, as she says, she has insert- 

 ed her photograph " at the request of distant 

 friends," those friends are so few and so distant, lhat 

 none of them will ever receive any such book at all, 

 from her. I shall look for some information in re- 

 gard to Mrs. C, and her book on bee-culture, in Nov. 

 No. of Gleanings. A. P. F. 



Ludlow, Vt., Oct. 1, 1880. 



The writer of the above is now with us to 

 learn bee culture. Her reply to him is given 

 below : 



A. P. Fletcher:— You are unworthy of credit, as 

 your statements clearly show. I would trust a dog 

 with my dinner sooner than you for one dollar. Your 

 false and slanderous statements on postal card show 

 you to be a cur of the vilest sort. If you send me 

 one dollar I will mail you the book; but I trust none 

 of your sort. You are a fit companion for A. I. Boot. 

 Mrs. L. E. Cotton. 



West Gorham, Maine, Oct. 8, 1880. 



Well, now, I protest, Mrs. C, against such 

 partiality. I sent you a dollar for the same 

 book, years ago, and I have your letter of 

 acknowledgement, and later ones promising 

 the book as soon as published ; and yet, you 

 speak in that disparaging way of old friends, 

 when their name happens to come out. 

 Please, Mrs. ('., can't I have a book too, or 

 have my dollar back? Do you not know by 

 experience, that "hope deferred maketh the 

 heartsick"? 



MITCHELL. 



I notice, in the publication of Gleanings, that 

 you occasionally allow a column for the exposure of 

 such as are imposing or undertakingto impose upon 

 the public; and I desire in that connection to give 

 you a few hints with regard to one N. C. Mitchell, 

 who, in advertising what he calls his " Honey Extrac- 

 tor," and in tilling orders for same, is almost within 

 the statute against getting money under false pre- 

 tenses, if not quite so; and if some of the many he 

 has swindled would take the proper steps he might 



