SEPTEMBER 1, 1912 



Beekeeping in California 



p. C. Chadwick, Kedlands, Cal. 



Tlie weather during June and July was 

 the coldest for 21 years. 



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Five big meetings for beekeepers have 

 been arranged by the State Association, 

 acting with the University of California. 

 It would have been a great help to have 

 tliese meetings advertised in the bee jour- 

 nals in advance, but the date was not fixed 



in time for that. 



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With a fine-pointed medicine-dropper I 

 sucked the honey from orange-blossoms, 

 measured it by drops, and computed it by 

 apothecaries' rules, on an estimated num- 

 ber of blossoms per tree. The result was 

 an amount so large that, for the sake of my 

 veracity, I will not give my figures. 



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A county association has been formed 

 in San Bernardino Co. to meet alternately 

 at San Bernardino and Redlands on the 

 first Monday evening of each month. The 

 writer is secretary for the present, and 

 those wishing to join and help Avith the 

 work will kindly communicate Avith him. 



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As I look at the pictures of the remains 

 of Mr. Atwater's ai3iary, destroyed by fire, 

 page 483, Aug. 1, I can not help thinking 

 of the many apiaries that have met a like 

 fate by brush fires in California, all of 

 Avhich could have been j^revented by keep- 

 ing weeds, grass, or other dead vegetation 



out of the yards. 



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The monthly crop report of the Califor- 

 nia Beekeepers' Association has been a 

 great success. The reports were within 

 themselves well worth the annual dues 

 charged for membership. I believe, how- 

 ever, more local data should be given. Bee- 

 keepers seem especially anxious to know 

 what the different localities of the State 



•are doing. 



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The other day I had occasion to shift 

 tlie lower story of a hive to the top, setting 

 the super beneath. The loAver story was 

 I ainted white, while the super had been 

 ] rimed with oil and yellow ocher, and it 

 was amusing to watch the bees alight at 

 the bottom of the white story, after they 

 were shifted, and try to find an entrance 

 between the two sections of the hive. It 

 suggested to me that color as well as posi- 

 tion has a part in helping the bees to locate 

 the entrance. 



Wiiile in the act of introducing an im- 

 ported queen a few days ago I discovered 

 a well-developed case of American foul 

 brood in my back yard. This is the first 

 case I have had for four years, and it has 

 undoubtedly been contracted from diseased 

 bees near by, of which I am sure there are 

 many. From information that I have 

 gained recently I am led to believe that 

 there are hundreds of diseased colonies in 

 San Bernardino County 



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I Cjuote the folloAving from the report of 

 the San Bernardino Co. grand jury : 



We have examined the books in the office of 

 the County Bee Inspector, and find that the prin- 

 cipal charge made by the bee inspector is for office 

 worli ; but it appears he spends very little time 

 in his office. After investigation had, we would 

 report that the present County Bee Inspector is 

 not conducting his office in an efficient manner, 

 and we would, therofore, recommend that the said 

 office be declared vacant by the board of super- 

 visors. 



The folloAving quotation was taken from 

 the Daily Facts a feAv Aveeks later : 



The office of County Bee Inspector, graced by 

 "Bob" Heron, was declared indefinitely vacated 

 although Inspector Heron presented a lot of docu- 

 ments to show what a good man he was. 



I have been receiving queens from sev- 

 eral localities the past few weeks. Some 

 have been in cages entirely too small and 

 Avith too feAv attendants accompanying 

 them. One Avhich I received had but eight 

 attendants, and three of those had died. 

 I Avaited almost two months for the ar- 

 rival of one order, and several weeks for 

 another. Becoming disgusted at waiting 

 so long, I tried a third breeder, ordering 

 by wire, and had my queens introduced 

 the 6th day from date of my order, though 

 they came more than 2000 miles tlirough 



the mail. 



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Louis H. Scholl, page 434, July 15, tells 

 Avhy Texas beekeepers failed after having 

 such bright prospects. Nearly all of us 

 can sj^mjiathize Avith Mr. Scholl and his 

 Texas neighbors, having traveled the same 

 road ourselves at different times. The 

 great majority of California beekeei^ers 

 have had the same experience this year, but 

 they should not be inclined to give up, 

 though it is discouraging indeed. I should 

 not be surprised to see a good crop next 

 season ; but any way it will be necessary 

 to keep a "stiff upper lip" and take good 

 care of the bees, as Ave may "hit it hard" 

 again some day. The beekeeper who has 

 his hives full of bees is the one Avho will 

 rea]) the greatest reAvard. 



