178 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



March 19, 



iar flavor, which I think might become very pleasant with use, 

 but I doubt if it would be as well liked at first. It is claimed 

 that this honey has rare medicinal properties, which seems not 

 at all improbable. The deep-red showy blossoms of eucalyptus 

 fissifolia, which will make this tree a great favorite, blossoms 

 from August to October, and attracts the bees. By proper 

 selection of species we can have blossoms from August to 

 April. 



Eucalyptus robusta is quite a favorite for planting in this 

 locality at present, because of its beautiful habit, and foliage, 

 and the strong, thrifty growth which it makes. It blossoms 

 at the same time with the common blue-gum. 



Eucalyptus corniocalyx, so called from the long, horn-like 

 cap that covers the bloom in bud, blossoms in October and 

 November. It is so curious and interesting that it may well 

 be planted. I saw the bees thick about the blossoms in No- 

 vember while the cap was only slightly raised and not yet fall- 

 en from the blossoms. I have much hope from these eucalyp- 

 tus. They come from arid Australia, and more than likely 

 will be indifferent to the most severe droughts. Indeed, this 

 is more than a guess, for the winter of 1893-1894 was one of 

 the driest ever known in this region. The bees were idle — en- 

 tirely idle — all through the following summer. I saw not the 

 least evidence of honey-gathering after fruit in March and 

 April. Yet my bees gathered quite an amount of honey in De_ 

 cember and January of the following winter from the blue-gum 



I think it behooves all of us in Southern California to keep 

 close watch of our bees and their storing from eucalyptus, and 

 at all such times be sure to make note of date of bloom, earli- 

 est and latest, and unless the species is surely known, send 

 bark, leaves, bud and blossom to some one who can identify it, 

 that we may learn the most valuable species. Bee-keepers 

 near Smiley Heights, Redlands, where there are over 80 spec- 

 ies of this genus, or at Santa Monica, where the State Fores- 

 try Station is located, and where there are a large number of 

 species of the eucalyptus, can do excellent service in this di- 

 rection. I am trying to secure such data, and already have a 

 long list of species with rate of growth and time of bloom. 



I think bee-keepers may well do all in their power to en- 

 courage road-side and field-planting of eucalyptus. Such 

 plantations as are being made all over the grand Elysian Park 

 at Los Angeles, are large with promise to bee-keepers. It is 

 said that there are over 1,000 colonies of bees in buildings in 

 the city. No doubt they get much of their food from the eu- 

 calyptus groves that are so numerous and so attractive to 

 others than bees. We all do well to make a close study of 

 bee-forage, and whenever we notice bees thick upon any 

 bloom, be sure to find the name of the plant that attracts. The 

 Bulletin just issued by the Department of Agricuture, Wash- 

 ington, D. C, has extended and carefully prepared tables of 

 of bee-plants, with time of bloom. We should all do what we 

 may to make such tables fuller and more complete and accu- 

 rate. It is also very desirable to make a note of the color and 

 excellence of the honey, and the power of the plants to secrete 

 at times of severe drouth. Claremont, Calif. 



Organization Among Bee-Keepers — Amalga- 

 mation. 



BV THOMAS G. NEWMAN. 



After having read the American Bee Journal of March 5, 

 which came to hand this morning, I feel like making a few re- 

 marks on the subject of Organization. 



At the Convention held in Chicago on Jan. 10, as the re- 

 port shows, a vote was taken upon the desirability of uniting 

 these two Societies into one, viz.: The North American 

 Bee-Keepers' Association and The National Bee-Keepers' Un- 

 ion. I was called upon for some remarks on the subject, and 

 then stated that my position as Past President of the former, 

 and General Manager of the latter, prevented me from influ- 

 encing opinion relative to the amalgamation, especially as 

 there has now been developed a very strong feeling of opposi- 

 tion thereto, and it seems that now no consolidation can re- 

 ceive the united and active interest, which should be the result 

 if amalgamation takes place. 



In an editorial on this subject, on page 152, it is stated 

 that, " So far about all the communications we have received 

 concerning it have been against the amalgamation idea. Those 

 who are in favor of it, seem to keep very still about it." The 

 fact that this is so, seems to be very surprising, but it is not 

 only a fact in the office of the American Bee Journal, but also 

 in the office of the National Bee-Keepers' Union. Either there 

 is nothing more to be said in favor of amalgamation, or else 

 there has been a very marked change of opinion on the sub- 



ject, during the past few months, after reading the many arti- 

 cles in the bee-periodicals opposing the scheme. 



It is universally conceded that the Bee-Keepers' Union has 

 a record to be proud of. That it is, in every sense of the word, 

 " a power in the land ;" what it lacks in numbers is made up 

 in influence, in the records of its victories in the courts 

 throughout the nation. Many seem to think that by hitching 

 on the Association to the Union it might retard its onward 

 course, or in other words, be a useless appendage to it — a real 

 hindrance. 



I must say that I do not indorse this position. The united 

 societies by a largely increased membership, might become 

 powerful, if rightly managed. It might be able to influence 

 both State and National Legislation and thus bring great good 

 to the pursuit, but if it does not have unanimous approval and 

 co-operation of the bee-keepers of America, then the amalga- 

 mation could only be abortive and would be detrimental, not 

 only to the Societies, but to the pursuit in general. 



I therefore want to say, that unless there is a decided and 

 united effort made, the amalgamation scheme should be aban- 

 doned entirely. The editor of the American Bee Journal states 

 that nearly all the communications he has received on the sub- 

 ject have been in opposition thereto. My experience tallies 

 with that. Nearly all the communications I have received at 

 the office of the Bee-Keepers' Union have been decidedly op- 

 posed to the amalgamation. Unless this is reversed within the 

 next 30 days, by the receipt of letters from those who favor 

 it, I shall request the Advisory Board to decide the matter as 

 to whether it shall be submitted to vote or not, and at the 

 same time I feel constrained to say to them personally, that I 

 do not believe it will be to the interest of ihe Bee-Keepers' 

 Union to incur the elcpense of a special election for that in 

 which the friends of the measure have not interest enough to 

 advocate and defend. 



By the March number of Gleanings I notice that in Califor- 

 nia they have organized a " Bee-Keepers' Exchange" whose 

 headquarters is at Los Angeles. This is now a third organiza- 

 tion of a similar nature among bee-keepers, and if amalgama- 

 tion is to rule, then this also must be taken into the fold. 



To my mind, though consolidation was possible last Sep- 

 tember, it is now not only impracticable but also impossible. 

 I do not say this for the purpose of influencing a decision one 

 way or the other, but I have been importuned by the members 

 of the Union to state my real opinion of the matter in public 

 print, and acceding to this general request, 1 have penned the 

 above article and hope that it will be taken in the spirit that 

 it is intended, i. e., for the general good of the pursuit. 



Chicago, III., March 4. 



Best Size of Hive for Comb Honey. 



BV EDWIN BEVIXS. 



The discussion as to the best size of hive to use for comb 

 honey production drags its slow length along, and I suppose 

 bee-keepers will have to get in what they have to say on the 

 subject soon, or the editors will get tired and shut their doors 

 in their faces. 



It is more than probable that I have no business to criti- 

 cise anything that Dr. Miller, or Mr. Doollttle, or Mr. Dadant, 

 write or say about anything pertaining to apiculture, but, at 

 the risk of annihilation, I will venture a few remarks on some 

 things that have recently appeared from the pens of some of 

 these gentlemen on the subject of hive-construction, or rather, 

 the best size of hive for the comb honey producer to use. 



With regard to Dr. Miller, on this question, he maintains 

 his position astride the fence with a poise and tenacity that is 

 admirable. And the Doctor is not to be blamed. Nothing has 

 appeared in the discussion so far to cause any one to tumble 

 off suddenly on either side. The majority of comb honey pro- 

 ducers, I believe, are on the fence with the Doctor. Most of 

 them, I suppose, have been brought up on the " standard," 

 and they fear that a change of diet may not agree with them. 



Mr. Doolittle argues for the use of a small brood-chamber 

 in order that we may have a hive full of bees for the harvest. 

 Mr. Dadant advises the use of a large one for the same pur- 

 pose. Here we have the spectacle of two epiinent apiarists 

 advocating and practicing directly opposite systems of man- 

 agement in order to bring about the same result. When Greek 

 met Greek the barbarians looked on with awe. Until one or 

 the other of these combatants receives his death wound, or 

 retreats from the field, it may be prudent for some bee-keepers 

 to keep their positions on the fence. 



When I read " Langstroth Revised," I was impressed with 

 the reasons given by the revisers for the use of large hives 

 instead of small ones. But as they said that they did not 



