140 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Beekeeping in the Southwest 



About ten years ago I called the 

 attention of readers of Gleanings 

 to the importance of removing- as 

 mncli drone comb as possible from 

 the hives during spring inspection 

 of the colonies, for the reason that 

 it was expensive to leave it. I am 

 still of the same opinion, and give the same 

 advice. Too many beekeepers even to-day 

 allow a great deal of the drone comb to 

 remain in their colonies. It means the rear- 

 ing of a host of useless consumers at a 

 great expense, and aids in the decrease of 

 our profits. Cut it out ! 



NEWS NOTES AND PICTURES WANTED. 



I should appreciate hearing from the 

 many beekeepers, throughout the Southwest 

 in particular, and over the rest of the state 

 in general, during the year. PhotogTaphs 

 of apiaries and other things pertaining to 

 beekeeping will be very welcome. It has 

 been my desire to show up in picture and 

 pen more of Texas beekeeping for a number 

 of years; but it has been almost impossible 

 for me to get out and visit the many bee- 

 keeping friends, and snap them and what 

 they have and the thing-s that they do, as I 

 have wished. To make a beginning in this 

 direction of " exposing " some of the big 

 things that are in Texas, and the things that 

 are being done here. I shall be exceedingly 

 glad to get a large number of such pictures 

 and news notes as will be interesting to the 

 readers of Gleanings. Due credit will be 

 given in all instances, and, if desired, pic- 

 tures will be returned when so instructed. 



TEXAS beekeepers^ TAKE NOTICE. 



The legislature of Texas will have lieen in 

 session quite a wliile before our readers get 

 this issue of the journal, but not so long as 

 to have ariived at the measures providing 

 for appropriations for the many things that 

 legislatures are usually called upon to pro- 

 vide for. A request for an appropriation 

 will have been made by the Agricultural and 

 iMechanical College and the Experiment 

 Station for a sum of $10,000 for the De- 

 ]iartment of Entomology, most of whieli 

 amount is to be used for foul-brood-inspec- 

 tion purposes. The request has not yet been 

 filed, so that I am unable to know its exact 

 nature, otlier than that this amount is asked 

 for. and that the beekeepers are expecting 

 that the greater portion of it will be used 



for foul-brood work. In any event, it is 

 important that the beekeepers show their 

 interest in this important matter by either 

 seeing their respective representatives in 

 both the House and the Senate, or writing 

 to them at the earliest opportunity if this 

 has not already been done. 



It is very necessary indeed that the mem- 

 bers of the legislature be informed as to the 

 needs of the beekeepers so that they may 

 know what is wanted. There has always 

 existed, in the minds of most of the bee- 

 keepers and others, that erroneous impres- 

 sion that these men do not pay any atten- 

 tion to sucli letters from their constituents. 

 I am frank to say that I was at one time 

 guilty of the same belief. Of later years I 

 have been led to change my opinion, because 

 I liave associated more or less with these 

 '' fellows," and now, since I am a member 

 of the legislature myself, and have learned 

 to know what goes on in such a law-making 

 liorly. T have found that the members not 

 only do read these letters but consider them, 

 and are desirous of lending a helping hand 

 if they can only know more about the natui'e 

 of the request. 



Of course, I feel tliat I can be of much 

 help now tliat I am a member of this body, 

 and T feel that the beekeepers are depend- 

 ing upon me to do my share. Even at this 

 time T have been able to give much informa- 

 tion on the subject in question to many of 

 the m.embers who did not undeistand tlie 

 matter in tlie least, and I have already laid 

 plans by which I feel that the measure will 

 be fully understood, and tliat there will not 

 be any trouble about passing the appropria- 

 tion measure. 



If I can get the additional assurance from 

 tlie beekeepers that they will inform their 

 representatives I see no reason why we bee- 

 keepers of Texas should not be dealt witli 

 in a most favorable manner. As I have 

 indicated in many former instances, when 

 matters of such importance were up it is 

 exceedinglv important for the beekeepers to 

 do their share of duty, and then, and not 

 until then, can tliey expect the " other fel- 

 low " to do his. For this reason I again 

 Iinpc tliat, in case the matter has not been 

 reached in the mean time (and I do not 

 think if will be reached during the regiilar 

 session), every beekeeper will make it a 

 point to inform his representative why we 

 want this money, and that we must have it 

 to protect our industry from which we make 

 our liroad and butter. 



