1896. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



227 



until there is only a grand, a sublime tint of crimson. In the 

 morning the gentle breeze sways the whole field with a maj- 

 esty seldom seen or brought to mortal eyes, and the mellow 

 rays of a rising sun reflects itself in splendor on the dewy 

 sparkling mass with tints of purple crimson which holds the 

 viewer in ecstasy and delight. What a contrast is presented 

 to my gaze as I write, which is only a dreary waste at present, 

 but soon to be one mass of blazing glory. 



Bees work on peppermint from morn till night, and if the 

 condition of the weather permits, or with very heavy dews a 

 bountiful flow is secured. On mornings, after a heavy dew, 

 the happy hum of rejoiciYig of the industrious bees is plainly 

 heard, which are always heavily laden. Their appearance, 

 when toiling on peppermint, is much like that of basswood — 

 you will find them scattered around about the hives in all 

 states of fatigue. 



The honey has a consistency a little thicker than that of 

 water, being real light in color for a fall flow of nectar. 



Next season I shall endeavor to save specimens of honey, 

 if the plants blossom in suflScient numbers so bees can gather 

 it in quantities for examination. 



Last year the peppermint did not bloom much, and the 

 bees did not store any surplus, yet they worked on the bloom 

 •wherever a blossom was found, showing that the plant is one 

 of our honey-plants, and should be added to our nectar-bear- 

 ing flora, and being in a decided drouth where the plants 

 barely retained vitality to nourish their existence. 



Ellis, Mich. 



* 



The Importation of Apis Dorsata. 



BY PROF. A. .J. COOK. 



The movement made by our apiarian friends of New York, 

 to secure the importation of Apis dorsata, is, I believe, a move- 

 ment in the right direction. I think that our friends are to 

 be congratulated on the energy and method which they are de- 

 voting to this subject. 



A few years ago the late Dr. C. V. Riley came to see me 

 at the Michigan Agricultural College, where I was then labor- 

 ing, to discuss bee-keeping and the ways and means by which 

 its interests could be promoted. My first reply to his question 

 was that it seemed to me that there was nothing in which the 

 Government could lend its aid with more assurance of success 

 than to make an effort to import races or species of bees which 

 were as yet untested by apiarists of intelligence. I suggested 

 to him that it seemed to me from the information which we 

 had already received through Mr. Benton, that there was great 

 hope of a decided improvement in bee-culture could we once 

 introduce Apis dorsata into the apiaries of the United States. 

 I stated at that time that Mr. Benton had proved that Apis 

 dorsata could be made to work in the ordinary hive, and that 

 with reasonable caution was perfectly tractable. The fact of 

 the size of the bee and its immense combs, and large produc- 

 tion of honey in India and Ceylon, its native clime, gave us 

 reason to hope that it would be a decided acquisition in our 

 country, both in the production of honey and of wax. It 

 seemed to me then — it seems to me now — that there is alto- 

 gether too much of possibility, not to say probability, of im- 

 portant gain with this bee in our apiaries for the trial not to 

 made. It is also too great an" undertaking to be left with pri- 

 vate individuals or even to our societies or the stronger Bee- 

 Keepers' Union. It is one of the enterprises which demands 

 the strong arm of the Government for its successful prosecu- 

 tion. 



I suggested to Dr. Riley at that time, that as Mr. Benton 

 had already been to the native home of Apis dorsata, and had 

 only been prevented by accident from successfuly introducing 

 it into his apiary in Ceylon, and from thence to our own coun- 

 try, that he was the person of all persons to act as the agent of 

 the Government in this important undertaking. Mr. Riley 

 signified to me on that occasion that he agreed with me entire- 

 ly, and would at once do all in his power to secure this im- 

 portant action on the part of the Government. I have no 

 doubt but it was this interview that led to the employment of 

 Mr. Benton in the Department of Agriculture, where he has 

 been at work ever since the time of my interview with Dr. 

 Riley. 



Dr. Riley wrote afterward, that through some technicality 

 — some red-tape obstacle in the way of a law or act preventing 

 the spending of money in other countries — he was unable to 

 carry out this project. Later, Assistant Secretary Willets, of 

 the Department of Agriculture, informed me of this hindrance 

 in the way of all such enterprises which required the spending 

 of money in foreign countries. I presume that the same law, 

 act or ruling is still in the way of action ; yet we have the man 



in Government employ who should be secured to do this work. 

 It goes without saying that Mr. Benton is just this man. 



It is further evident that the Departments at Washington, 

 and also Congress, are very susceptible to influence if the peo- 

 ple are only wide enough awake in regard to any such matter. 

 I feel very sure that if every State, county, town and neigh- 

 borhood of the United States, where bee-keeping is an impor- 

 tant industry, would send in petitions to the Department of 

 Agriculture and Congress, urging the importation of Apis 

 dorsata, the enterprise might be carried to successful execu- 

 tion. I very heartily commend, then, the enterprise and work 

 of our brother bee-keepers of New York State, who have gone 

 to work so wisely to secure this important action. I hope that 

 every one of our bee-keeping journals, as well as all of our so- 

 cieties, not to speak of individual bee-keepers, may give this 

 matter hearty support. 



Of course we do not know that Apis dorsata will thrive at 

 all under the conditions of our climate and productions. Of 

 course we can never know that any such undertaking will 

 prove a success ; but where there is so much of hope and pros- 

 pect, there is going to be with enterprising people an earnest 

 desire that something should be done. This desire will often 

 be so strong that private individuals ought never to be asked 

 to do. This is another reason why the Government should 

 take this measure in hand, and why all bee-keepers of our 

 country should urge the enterprise upon Congress and the De- 

 partment of Agriculture. 



I would suggest that the Manager of the Bee-Keepers' 

 Union, who is supposed to have ex-officio his keen eye upon 

 the interests of apiculture all over our country, should at once 

 correspond with the Department of Agriculture, and learn 

 what obstacles are in the way of sending Mr. Benton to India 

 or Ceylon in pursuit of Apis dorsata. After this information 

 is gained, through the bee-journals, the bee-keepers of the 

 country can be informed just what they are to ask for, and 

 just how they are to proceed to secure prompt and successful 

 action. Then I would urge that our societies and individual 

 bee-keepers take hold of this matter with the energy which 

 would insure success. It seems to me that the good sense of 

 our people will not be slow in pushing this matter to the ut- 

 most. It is certainly true that the Government never yet has 

 done very much in aid of this important industry. Surely, if 

 the matter is put before the officers of Government in its true 

 light, we may expect prompt and successful action. I hope 

 there will be a general expression through the bee-papers in 

 regard to this matter. Claremont, Calif. 



[We'd like to suggest that before Mr. Benton is sent after 

 Apis dorsata. Prof. Cook get him to do as he agreed at the To- 

 ronto Convention, viz : To turn over the balance of the St. 

 Joseph Convention report, for which he received pay a year 

 and a half ago. Until Mr. Benton does this duty, toe can't 

 conscientiously endorse him for anything. And neither should 

 any one else. — Editor.] 



The Blooming of Sweet Clover. 



BY PETER J. SCnAKTZ. 



On page 33, M. M. Baldridge says I must have made a 

 mistake when I said that sweet clover blooms here the fore- 

 part of .June. I do not mean that sweet clover always blooms 

 the forepart of June. It all depends upon the kind of winter 

 and spring we have. In the year 1894 sweet clover did not 

 bloom until the latter part of June, because the month of 

 May was very cold ; we planted corn on the 23rd with our 

 overcoats on. But the month of May, 1895, was warmer, 

 excepting three or four frosts, which did not affect sweet 

 clover at all ; it grew right along, and the first blossoms I 

 noticed were on June 8. 



Sweet clover has grown here ever since I can remember, 

 and they call it an obnoxious weed. There is about two acres 

 in sweet clover, 30 rods from the apiary, which is never cut 

 (excepting the way I described in my former article), and yet 

 it does not die out. Farmers cut It all along the roadway, 

 sometimes cutting it four or five times in a year ; it grows 

 eight or ten feet in height, and seriously interferes with 

 traffic, when teams pass each other, and still it keeps growing 

 and blooming, which goes to show that the roots do not die 

 very easily, and the consequences are that the bee-keeper gets 

 the benefit. 



In my article on page 807 (1895), I wrote concerning the 

 cutting of sweet clover. By cutting it the middle of August, 

 it will send forth new sprouts and blossom, and at the same 

 time you have the seed sowed for the next season ; but if you 



