92 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 1 



What appeared to be a family feud resulted 

 finally in bringing out a test case — a case 

 that, in the language of the lawyers, had up 

 to that time never been adjudicated, and there- 

 fore involved the introduction of new prin- 

 ciples. 



But the star witness in the case, on the side 

 of the bees, at least, was acknowledged by all 

 to be Prof. Frank Benton, Assistant Entomol- 

 ogist of the Department of Agriculture, Wash- 

 ington. Probably no other bee-keeper in the 

 world has had so wide and diversified an ex- 

 perience in different climates, in different 

 countries, and with different species and races 

 of bees, as Frank Benton. His earliest expe- 

 rience with bees began in Michigan, where he 

 was born and reared. We next hear of him 

 as a student at the Agricultural College, at 

 Lansing, Mich. He was known as a close, 

 careful student, and an accomplished linguist. 

 These qualifications especially fitted him for 

 the trip with D. A. Jones in 1879 and '80 

 through the Orient, for new races of bees ; 

 and as a result, Cyprian, Syrian, and Pales- 

 tine bees were introduced in the United States 

 and Canada. Later on, Mr. Benton made 

 tours to India alone, after the celebrated Apis 

 dorsata, captured them, if I mistake not, but 

 was not successful in getting them alive to the 

 United States. Subsequently we find him in 

 Germany managing a series of out-apiaries a 

 thousand miles or more apart. About this 

 time he was engaged in sending queens of the 

 various races to the United States, prominent 



I am correct, they were not bees worth prop- 

 agating as compared with other races. A few 

 years ago he came back to his native land. 



J. W. UTTER, THE DEFENDANT. 



among which were those of^the Carniolan 

 race. ^._ 



At some time in his career, I do not know 

 just when, he made his way down into the 

 northern part of Africa, studied the Tunisian 

 bees in their native habitat, but concluded, if 



PROF. FRANK BENTON, THE STAR WITNESS. 



finally entering the service of this govern- 

 ment. 



As a witness in this celebrated case of Utter 

 V. Utter he gave incontrovertible evidence ; 

 and while the attorneys for the plaintiff made 

 vigorous attempts to break down the testimony 

 of many of the other witnesses on the defense, 

 when they came to Prof. Benton they very 

 wisely concluded that they had run up against 

 one who could neither be scared nor shaken. 



During the last few weeks there have been 

 numerous clippings from agricultural and 

 daily papers sent us, concerning the Utter 

 trial. The case was so new, involving as it 

 did so many new principles, that it gave the 

 reporters free scope wiih the pen. It would 

 make "mighty interesting reading" if we 

 could publish all the various accounts, but 

 space forbids. I can not, however, pass by 

 one in rhyme that has betn going the rounds 

 of the prtss. Leaving out entirely supple- 

 mentary matter in prose, the account in stanzas 

 reads as follows : 



" Peach Tree" utter took no ease 

 When he learned his bi other's bees 

 Ate the peaches on his trees, 



And caused them all to rot. 

 " By." says he, ' the Hiily Grail 

 I'll git upon the criiters' trail 

 An' kitch a couple by the tail." 



But, b'gosh, tiieir tails weie hot. 



Further yet than eye could see, 

 Dail}^ o'er the vcidaiit Ita 

 Flew the busy little bee, 



Hutnniing mei rilj' is song. 

 " Peach Tee " then experimented 

 Till he had a cage invented, 

 When his natiire steru relented. 



And he chuckled, loud and long. 



