720 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



well versed in apiculture, as the introduction of queens. This is a subject that has 

 been well digested, both theoretically and practically, but, aside from the hatching- 

 brood method, all other methods have at times resulted in failures, and while the 

 one I present may prove likewise, one year's demonstrated entire success tempts me 

 to present it to the readers of the " American Bee Journal." 



Self-introducing cages have modified some of the old-time difficulties, but unless 

 one is well versed in the necessary condtions, it also has its drawbacks. The one 

 and the chief cause of failure by the method of caging, is due to the different condi- 

 tion of things existing in the hive from that in the cage. Having occasion to intro- 

 duce a valuable queen, I gave this subject more than usual consideration, and the 

 thought presented was, why not produce the same condition of things in the hive 

 that existed in the cage? So, suiting action to thought, late in the evening I placed 

 the cage (a self-introducing cage) between two combs, closing the hive-entrance 

 with wire-cloth for two days, and by this method, up to the present, T have as yet to 

 score a single failure. 



To the uninitiated I would advise taking the same precautions as one usually 

 does with bees in confinement. Los Angeles, Calif. 



HONEY-RESOURCES OF EAST TENNESSEE. 



BY ADRIAN GETAZ. 



The first honey, and perhaps the first pollen, are from the different kinds of 



maples growing along the streams, but seldom in the woods— generally in March, 



but sometimes earlier. In open winters, the blossoming of the maples may begin in 



January or February, a little at a time during every warm spell of weather, only to 



be frozen when the next cold wave arrives. In such cases, the bees can hardly get 



anything from the blossoms. 



After that comes the peach trees, the latter part of March, but, like the maples, 



I'able to open earlier, and only a few blossoms at a time if the weather is warm 



ough. In fact, there is not more than one year out of six or seven that the peach 



blossoms, or later the fruit, is not destroyed by the late frosts, at least partially. In 



April come the apple-tree blossoms. Those being later, they nearly always escape 



tVi frosts These two constitute the bulk of our fruit trees ; the other kinds are 



Itivated only to a small extent. The yield of nectar is probably as good as could 



h" desired, but rains and cold days interfere considerably with the gathering, and 



•f\he hive's are not well provisioned, feeding is often necessary. 



With hardly an interruption, white clover begins ; but the yield from it is 



re owing partly to the poorness of the soil. However, its yield depends chiefly 



™^^ the weather. After a good rain it is good for a few days, and then decreases 



""^"dually to nothing until the next big shower starts it again. It goes on thus until 



• ir, Tiilv or even later. But the yield diminishes as the season advances, 

 sometime in ouij, " 



th • rains can no more keep up with the evaporation from the ground. 



A ood deal has been written about the relation between the weather and the 



flow but nearly all the writers have overlooked the fact that the most essen- 



°"^ diti'on is the presence of a sufficient amount of moisture in the ground. As 



vT rtb dries up gradually after the rain, the yield diminishes. The plants with 



*v>^ ^ • ots are giving way first, and later the larger ones ; trees being the last to 



^ ff"^ pgpecially if a rainy winter has accumulated enough moisture in the depths 



of the ground. 



, ring the latter part of May, and in June, we have honey-dew in abundance, 



4. „n T'his in Kood seasons is the main source of our surplus. The honey 

 or not ai an. ■»-"'- -^ 



