1902 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



903 



ag'e is clusters of berries, dark brown, and 

 about half an inch in diameter, and half a 

 bushel or thereabout to a blossom. These 

 berries are g^athered by the natives, and 

 are excellent for fattening hogs. 



SPANISH JUGS. 



When I visited Fred Somerford a few 

 months ago his men were cutting the berries 

 and storing them for this purpose; and I 

 learned recently that his pork venture has 

 resulted in as much or moie profit than his 

 bees. At present pork production is a prof- 

 itable business on this island. 



For about four to six feet below those long 

 palm-leaves there is a portion of the tree a 

 bright green. Those long leaves mature 

 and drop to the ground every month. As 

 one leaf falls away it peels oft' a portion of 

 that green envelope. This is a very tough 

 paper-like substance, and is used in many 

 ways by the natives. Many 

 houses are sided up with it 

 instead of the palm plank. It 

 is used for bales on the tons 

 of tobacco shipped from Cuba. 

 A native can deftly fold a piece 

 of this material into a conven- 

 ient dish that will hold water 

 or honey ; put on a handle, 

 and it makes a good basket; 

 cut a hole in the center large 

 enough to put your head 

 through, and it makes a very 

 good waterproof protection on 

 a rainy day. 



There are several varieties 

 of palms, and all are useful. 

 The date and the^...cocoanut 

 palm furnish that delicious 

 food which we are all pleased 

 to get. 



The photos presented here- 

 with show the palm in bloom. There are 

 usually three or four of these large clusters 

 on one tree at once, and the fruitage is 

 abundant. 



Another photo shows an apiary with a 

 palm honey-house. The house in question 



is not bee-tight, but could be easily made 

 so by lining with cheap sacking or muslin. 

 Almost exactly in the center of this photo a 

 triangular spot appeafs. That is a fine 

 swarm of bees. When the Rambler called, 

 there was no owner present, and had not 

 been for several days. 



Without smoker or veil the swarm was 

 hived; but I learned from the owner a few 

 days after that a good hive and frames were 

 not according to the notions of the bees, and 

 they absconded. As I have before remark- 

 ed, hundreds of swarms take to the rocks 

 and the woods in this island, and it cannot 

 be helped under present management. 



Our other photo represents a row of gara- 

 phones. These are really five-gallon wine- 

 bottles covered with willow-work, and they 

 came from Spain. They are used in Cuba 

 quite extensively by the native bee-keeper 

 for storing and marketing their honey. 

 With their strong handles they are quite 

 handy to manage, either in the carreton or 

 packed on mules. 



The brush-like article in front of the 

 garaphones, and another erect upon the box, 

 are quite generally used in the rural dis- 

 tricts for brooms. These are the product of 

 the royal palm, and are the matured blos- 

 som, or that portion left after the seeds have 

 been beaten off. The other articles on the 

 box are baskets made from the bark of the 

 royal palm. 



And now, my dear reader, for the past 

 six months your humble servant has been 

 so very busy building up an apiary that he 

 has scarcely left it, and there seems to be 

 no more material on hand for Rambles. I 

 have had maiiy experiences such as I have 

 never had before, and much to learn about 

 bees, bee-keeping, and people in this island. 

 I am now upon the threshold of the honey 

 season, and it seems that the work is be- 



PALM HOUSR. 



coming more and more strenuous. 



Should I get the time, I promise to con- 

 tinue a few articles about building up an 

 apiary, with all of the advantages and dis- 

 advantages, for there are disadvantages in 

 Cuba as well as elsewhere. 



