AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



505 



Honey for Gravel.— In the 



British Bee Jouriuil we find the follow- 

 ing, taken from a periodical called the 

 Family Herald, and published in 1846, 

 giving an experience and directions in 

 the use of honey as a cure for the 

 malady known as "gravel :" 



I was much afflicted with the gravel, 

 and twice in serious danger. I met with 

 a gentleman who had been in my situa- 

 tion, and got rid of this disorder by 

 sweetening his tea with half honey and 

 half sugar. I adopted this remedy, and 

 found it effectual. After being fully 

 clear of my disease, I declined taking 

 honey for about ten years, and in about 

 three months I had a fit of my old com- 

 plaint. I then renewed the practice of 

 taking honey (as taken from the comb) 

 in my tea, and am now more than three- 

 score, and have not, for the last 27 

 years, had the slightest symptom of the 

 gravel. I have recommended my pre- 

 scription to many of my acquaintances, 

 and never knew it to fail. 



Xo Plant for Honey now is 



investing for the future. The traditional 

 two or three weeks of honey-flow can, 

 with a triflng expenditure, be made to 

 last more than as many months ; a suc- 

 cession of bloom can be secured, so that 

 should northerly winds or wet weather 

 prevail for a time, it would not carry 

 dismay to our hopes, and starvation to 

 our bees. 



If, as we hope, the present should 

 prove an unparalleled honey season, it 

 will ameliorate the only tenable objec- 

 tion to melilot or sweet clover, which is 

 that it blooms but little or none the first 

 season ; and we can well wait until 

 another season for our "sweet" reward 

 from it. 



Amber is a term often applied to 

 honey to determine its color, but it is 

 totally unsuitable. It is so indefinite 

 that it covers every color in the rainbow, 

 and from white to black. See Webster's 

 International Dictionary. In order to 

 be definite, use the term "straw color." 

 With it, there is no mistaking what is 

 meant. 



Farmers' Bulletin No. 7, just 

 issued by the United States Department 

 of Agriculture, treats of the practice, 

 methods, and effects of spraying fruit 

 trees for insect pests, and fungous dis- 

 eases. The subject of spraying is pre- 

 sented in the bulletin in a practical 

 manner for the information of the 

 orchardist and fruit-grower, and special 

 attention is given to meeting the objec- 

 tions now being raised in Great Britain 

 and other countries against the use of 

 fruits produced in the United States. 

 The facts brought together show con- 

 clusively that the spraying of fruit trees 

 does not injure the fruit or make its use 

 dangerous to consumers. 



Next week we will give some extracts 

 from Bulletin No. 7, showing how and 

 'When to spray fruit-trees so as not to 

 prove injurious to bees. 



Xlie Honey Industry of Colo- 

 rado is a very important one. At a 

 meeting held at Greeley, 2,000 colonies 

 were represented, with an average out- 

 put of 45 pounds. Reports show that 

 the number of colonies are increased 

 each year about 40 per cent., and with 

 proper organization, the proceeds from 

 the sale of honey will run into the 

 thousands. — Colorado Farmer. 



Ants are a ^Nuisance in the 



apiary, and there are various means 

 employed to get rid of the pests. One 

 way is to keep plenty of slacked lime 

 around the hive-stands. As the lime 

 dries and becomes crusty, put on a fresh 

 supply. It is a cheap way to accomplish 

 the desired object. 



Alfalfa is a good honey-plant. Mr. 

 E. C. Moore, of Reno, Nevada, says : 

 " Our honey harvest does not commence 

 until the middle of June, -as a general 

 thing. I get about 100 pounds per col- 

 ony, on an average ; of course some 

 colonies do a great deal better. Alfalfa 

 is our principal honey-plant. 



