102 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUUE. 



Feb. 



it would not grow and bear lioney here. 

 But this we do know, that the Gaura biennis 

 hears honey most amazingly in our flower- 

 garden. And, by the way, there does not 

 seem to be anybody able to furnish us seeds. 

 There is one consolation, however: as the 

 seeds grow themselves when selt-sown, we 

 shall have a lot of tiieni in llie spring, from 

 the seeds dropped off in the garden before I 

 got up early enougli to know what an ac- 

 quisition we had right under our " noses." 



KEEPING THE BEES AWAY FROM THE CIDER-MILT.S 

 AND CANE-MILLS. 



What, in your opinion, is the best niethotl to keep 

 bees away from our cane -mills and cvaporating- 

 pans in the fall season, when honey is scarce in 

 the flowers? How would it do to feed sugar syrup 

 a few rods from the hives, in an opposite direction 

 from the mill and evaporator? 1 have some coolers 

 not in use, made of wood, sides and ends, 6 ft. x 3 ft. 

 X 6 in. Could I not utilize these for feeding, by 

 placing- narrow strips of wood on the bottom, for 

 the bees to stand on while taking the syrup? 

 Should this plan be successful, it strikes me it 

 would be economical, as the season for syrup-mak- 

 ing comes just at the time (in our section of 

 country) when the flow of honej- generally ceases, 

 so you see the syrup fed would be put up for winter 

 stores. And should this plan work for the sorghum- 

 maker, it will also prove advantageous to the elder 

 and vinegar manufacturers. T. J. Cross. 



Shiloh Hill, Ills., Jan. 14, 188.5. 



Friend C. I have made a great many ex- 

 periments to draw bees away from the cider- 

 mills with sugar. You caii not do it unless 

 you feed an enormous amount of sugar, and 

 in doing this you will make a regular row 

 all over the neighborhood. They are too 

 eager for the cane sugar ; and "after you 

 make it so thin with water that it is not 

 much of an object, it soon sours, so there is 

 considerable expense attending the care of 

 such a feeding arrangement. We succeeded 

 much better with grape sugar, for they did 

 not care enough about tbat to get into much 

 of a robbing mania. I think by far the 

 cheapest and pleasantest way will be to 

 cover your cider-mills and sorghum - fac- 

 tories with suitable sheds, having all the 

 openings protected by wire-cloth doors. 



THE YUCCA, OR SPANISH-BAYONET BRUSHES, USED 

 FOR BRUSHING BEES OFF THE COMBS. 



In one of the barrels of brushes I send you to-day, 

 near the top you will find a photograph of a yucca, 

 from which these brushes are gathered. Seven 

 years ago a gentleman who resides at Pasadena 

 brought it from the mountains, and set it out in his 

 orange orchard. From that time until the past 

 summer it received the same care and attention 

 that his orange-trees received. The i-esult of the 

 cultivation can be seen in the photo. Last spring it 

 started to throw up its center shaft, or flower-stalk; 

 it was eagerly watched, to see what height it would 

 attain. Just how high it was I do not know; but as 

 nearly as I can remember, as I stood beside it, the 

 top of the leaves that surrounded the llower stalk 

 were as high as my shoulders, and I am just live 

 feet and eight inches. Vou can also judge its 

 height by comparison with the bearing oranges 

 just back of it. The flower-stalk is the growth of 

 but two or thi-ec months; and as it stood there with 



its top completelj' covered with these creamy-white 

 flowers it was a sight that is seldom seen. While in 

 bloom it was visited by hundreds from all parts of 

 the county. I went nine miles and back just on 

 purpose to see it. This species of the yucca (Fucca 

 baccata) dies after it blooms; the remains of this 

 one were taken up and placed in the public library 

 at Pasadena, where it can be seen by any one who 

 will take the trouble to call. 



Now, friend Root, can't you att'ord to give the 



readers of Gleanings a view of this magnificent 



plant, and attach the above description to it? Note, 



also, in both Gleanings and price list, that the 



fibers of the yucca-brushes are apt to get pressed 



! out of shape in shipping; if they a>'e thoroughly 



1 wet you can place them in almost any position; if 



I kept so until they are dry they will stay in that 



shape. 

 I In the barrel of 1V^'> is one of the leaves as it is 

 [ taken from the flower-stalk of the yucca, " with the 

 thorn and all." I think you will be pleased with 

 1 the brushes, as they are as fine a lot as I have ever 

 ' seen. There are a few that are below the standard, 

 ' but these are thrown in without counting. I would 

 suggest that the brushes be left in the barrels until 

 they are sold, as they will keep better in that posi- 

 tion than in any other. See how nicely they pack 

 in barrels. W. W. Bliss. 



! Duarte, Los Angeles Co., Cal., Dec. 8, 1884. 



Thanks, friend B., for telling us where our 

 bee-brushes grow. I would have the beauti- 

 ful plant engraved, which you send, but it 

 would be pretty expensive; and as it is not 

 strictly a honey-plant, I think it would hard- 

 ly be best. We present below an engraving 

 made several years ago, of the same" plant: 

 but of course it is not nearly equal to the 

 one you have shown in the pliotograph. 

 Perhaps I might inform the friends, that by 

 buying these brushes in such large quanti- 

 ties we can now sell them as follows: oc 

 each, 35c for 10, or 82.50 per 100. If wanted 

 by mail, add one cent each for postage. 



THE VLCCA 



SPANISH BAYONET. 



