AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 501 



s said that replanted ground gives better pasturage than that which was burned 

 over. 



Besides the sages, the lower counties have several other kinds of bee-forage. 

 None of them, however, are considered as good for the bee-keeper as the sages. The 

 honey is not as light-colored as the former. In some of the districts in southern 

 and central California, are large alfalfa fields which make fine bee-pastures. The 

 honey gathered from this species of clover is very clear, and commands a ready 

 sale. Kern and Tulare counties are, I believe, the great alfalfa growing counties 

 of the State. 



It would not be well for the prospective bee-keeper to locate too near a big city, 

 for he would have to pay a very high price for his land in the first place, besides 

 the forage for the bees would not be as likely to be as plentiful. The only reason 

 why any one following an agricultural pursuit might with safety locate near a large 

 settlement is that, being near a big market, he can sell his goods to better advan- 

 tage — they would go off quicker and realize a higher price. Near such a place he 

 could carry on a mixed farm in a profitable manner. There is hardly a season but 

 that he can find the market in a condition to take some of this produce at an ad- 

 vanced price. Last year, for instance, butter, eggs and honey were above the 

 usual figure. The consequence was, the small producer did pretty well. Some 

 years he does not do as well, for everything he raises is at bedrock figures. I will 

 not discuss what the bee-keeper here can carry on along with bees, but pretty much 

 anything that will go well with them in the Eastern States will do equally well out 

 here, I am sure. 



It is no longer necessary to bring bees to this State. The man who intends to 

 go into the business here can find all the bees he wants for sale at prices lower than 

 what the freight would cost him on his bees from the East. I have known colonies 

 in box-hives to be sold for 25 cents apiece. All the bees that the apiarist starting 

 in the business here might want, may be had at $1.00 per colony, at most. Of 

 course, bees in serviceable hives will cost a little more. Occasionally an apiarist 

 can be found who wants to dispose of his apiary. Often these men who are going 

 out of the business sell at a figure that is a big inducement to one who is desirous 

 of buying an apiary. 



I would not undertake to advise any one just where to locate ; the person him- 

 self must determine this question. He must be governed by the other occupation 

 he intends to carry on in connection with bees ; also, whether or not he wants to be 

 near or far from civilization. Though there are some fine bee-ranges in the upper 

 part of the State, I would not recommend any one to try any of them until such 

 person is sufficiently satisfied that the northern range he has in mind is a real good 

 one. It would be far better to stick to those that are fully tried than to fly to those 

 we know not of. If one wants to produce alfalfa hay, then he should try the upper 

 San Joaquin country ; that is, in the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern. This is 

 an irrigation country, and large crops of hay are " raised" by means of water. The 

 finer honey comes from near the hills where irrigation is not relied upon so exten- 

 sively. Land in these irrigated districts is sold differently from other lands, owing 

 to the fact that it is, for the most part, owned by irrigation companies. The irriga- 

 tion laws of the State have given companies certain privileges, and it is a good 

 thing, for it is doubtful if the dry sections of the State would ever have been re- 

 claimed. In the upper part of the State, and along all the coast counties for the 

 greater portion of the State, irrigation is not required. 



Fruit trees grow anywhere in California ; some varieties do better in one por- 

 tion than another. The finest oranges are said to be grown at and around Duarte, 



