1896. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



169 



few years the result would be most gratifying. The wouder- 

 ful advantage that would be derived from such a movement 

 can readily be seen by every careful observer and practical 

 apiarist. The gain in honey and the saving of bees owing to 

 the proximity of feed would be very remunerative for the 

 labor and expense incurred. 



I sincerely trust that the State association, at its called 

 meeting, will take some action in the matter by fixing a day 

 for the planti;jg of trees and other feed, to be known as "Bee- 

 Keepers' Arbor Day," and urge bee-keepers to organize Bee- 

 Keepers' Arbor Associations throughout southern California. 



I have given the matter codsiderable thought, and regard 

 it most important and feasible, and deserving the most care- 

 ful consideration of all who are interested in the future pros- 

 perity of apiculture. 



All kinds of forage should be planted that will contribute 

 to the bee, and are most suitable to the soil and locality. 



In trees I would call special attention to the sugar eu- 

 calyptus. It is a vigorous bloomer, rich in nectar. Other 

 varieties that bloom at various seasons of the year should be 

 planted, among which are early and late willow. The acacia 

 is also good, and requires but little and often no irrigation. 

 The sages, horehound, and many other plants of a nectar- 

 yielding character, the seeds of which can be sown upon the 

 waste-places of the mountains during the rainy season will 

 soon repay in a luxurious growth and much nectar. If this 

 suggestiou is not acted upon now, the time is not far distant 

 when it will be. 



We think Mr. Levering has made a good suggestion, and 

 we hope that "The Bee-Keepers' Arbor Day" will not be 

 limited to California, but that everywhere bee-keepers will 

 resolve to plant annually some honey-yielding trees or other 

 forage for their bees. Very often they may be able to induce 

 their neighbors to plant or sow what will be beneficial to be»s, 

 and thus will the object be doubly helped. Why not begin 

 this spring to plant and sow ? 



■*-'-* 



Benton Book Resolution. — On March 3, we re- 

 ceived the following letter from Mr. Hilton, which refers to 

 the Benton Book : 



Washington, D. C, Feb. 28, 1896. 

 Hon. Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich. — 



My Dear Sir : — My resolution to have a reprint of the 

 work on Apiculture, passed the Senate at yesterday's session. 

 I think there will be no trouble in securing its passage by the 

 House. 



If this result is secured, of course you know how pleased I 

 shall be to send copies to you as you may desire. 



Very truly yours, J. C. Burkows. 



So there is good prospect of every bee-keeper being able 

 to have a free copy of "The Honey-Bee," by Mr. Benton. 



Mr. Burrows is one of Michigan's able Senators in Wash- 

 ington, and shows his interest in bee-keeping by his works. 

 The Senate has done a wise thing in thus recognizing apicul- 

 ture, and no doubt the House of Representatives will also dis- 

 tinguish itself by endorsing the Resolution as soon as it has a 

 chance to do so. 



Somnambulist's Big- Vield of honey failed to 

 appear in connection with the other large reports on page 43, 

 but it was given in the Progressive Bee-Keeper later, and is 

 as follows : 



Friend Flanagan encourages us by reference to many of 

 the large crops in the past, and Editor York copies the article 

 complete in January 16th number of American Bee Journal, 

 and at the same time gives any others who may so desire a 

 chance to blow, by kindly inviting them to relieve themselves 

 through the medium of this journal, but as that would incur 

 extra postage and delay, I'll take my chances right here and 

 now, and just say that a certain sleepy-head not only dreamed 

 of, but realized, 22,000 pounds of comb honey from 114 colo- 

 nios, spring count, in a single season. 



Pretty good for a "sleepy-head." But, surely, Sommy 

 must have been awake that season, in order to do the neces- 

 sary hustling to take care of so large a crop. 



No^w is the Xime to work for new subscribers. 

 Why not take advantage of the offers made on page 175 ? 



'm^^^ 



Wk-W 



Growing Basswoods from Cuttings. 



In Gleanings I read about how to grow basswood and mul- 

 berries. Either will grow from cuttings, as will all soft woods, 

 if cuttings are made from ripe wood. For basswood and mul- 

 berries, take off this year's growth, soon after the leaves have 

 fallen off. Cut from 8 to 12 inches long ; tie up in small bun- 

 dles ; place in damp sand, not wet ; for if too wet they will die; 

 and if kept in a warm cellar they will have calloused over by 

 spring, when they can be carefully set in rows, and covered 

 with a mulch of straw or leaves so as to keep them damp and 

 shaded. They will soon start out leaves and roots, and will 

 grow, if properly cared for, six feet high by fall. — John Cray- 

 craft, in Gleanings. 



Alfalfa in Ohio — Cioltivation and Value. 



The Ohio Experiment Station has made repeated attempts 

 to cultivate it, both at Columbus and in Wayne county, but 

 the difficulty of getting a stand is so great, and the plant is so 

 particular about its soil, that we do not expect its culture ever 

 to become general in Ohio, although there are some regions of 

 the State where it would seem that it ought to thrive. 



To those who wish to experiment with it we offer the fol 

 lowing suggestions : Select a loose soil, preferably sandy, ly- 

 ing above a gravelly or porous sub-soil, with, if possible, a 

 subterranean water supply. The soil conditions which are 

 found in many of our river bottom lands would seem to be 

 most favorable. Avoid a soil on which water stands, or one 

 having a hardpan near the surface. 



Prepare the land by plowing and harrowing most thor- 

 oughly, as soon as it can be worked in the spring. Sow the 

 seed (which should be American grown) at the rate of 20 to 

 30 pounds to the acre, and cover it with a light harrow. 

 When the weeds have grown to sufBoient height, clip them off 

 with a mowing machine, with the cutter-bar turned up so as 

 not to cut close to the ground, repeating this as the weeds grow 

 during the season. 



No crop is to be expected during the first season, but it 

 should give two cuttings the second year, and after that about 

 three cuttings each year. If a good stand is secured on suita- 

 ble soil it will not need renewing for many years. 



The New York State Experiment Station, at Geneva, has 

 succeeded in securing a fine stand of alfalfa, which has thus 

 far endured the winters, and there are isolated instances of 

 successful culture on the gravelly loams of Southwestern Ohio 

 and on the sandy lands of the lake shore.— Ohio Exp. Sta. 

 Bulletin. 



Cleansing Wax With. Acid. 



The following questions are asked Dr. Miller, in American 

 Bee Journal, page 745 : 



1. How much sulphuric acid should I apply to a gallou crock f ull 

 of old combs to take the wax out of the cocoons ? 



'Z. Is it injurious to a tia vessel V 



3. How is it applied to old combs ? L. H. L. 



Answers.— 1. I'm not familiar with the matter from experience 

 but I think about a small tablespoon ful to a gallon of water. 



o Yee. 



.5! I think the wax is stirred in the water, and allowed plenty of 

 time to do its work, then tbe wax is melted and separated as usual. 



From answer 3 it would appear that Dr. M. means to stir 

 the combs in cold water with the acid. Now, that is just what 

 stumps me. I never tried a scheme of that kind, and do not 

 believe that the acid could do any work, so far as purifying 

 the wax is concerned, no odds how long the combs were left in 

 the solution. Refiners use sulphuric acid to cut the dirt and 

 color out of crude oil, and then cut the oil out with caustic 

 soda. But oil is a liquid ; and if you want aciii to cut the dirt 

 out of wax you must turn that into a liquid. Tliis can be done 

 only by heat. The doctor conveys the idea that the work of 

 the acid is done while the old combs are lying in the solution 

 of cold water and acid. This is the one thing, the only thing, 

 that I didn't know. This is what surprised and astonished me 

 — astonished me so much that I don't believe it yet, and 1 will 

 tell you why. You notice the answer concludes, " then the 

 wax is melted and separated as usual." Now, Doctor, there 



