194 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



November 



tern. The brood nest is kept in the 

 center of the hive, and the surplus ex- 

 tracted from frames at the ends. Only 

 one end is extracted at a time, and they 

 are taken alternately — first one end 

 and then the other in each successive 

 extracting. Mr. Poppleton is not so 

 particular as are some people in regard 

 to the percentage of capped honey. He 

 is guided rather by experience than 

 cappings as to vi^hen the honey is in a 

 fit condition for the extractor. Some 

 honey without a sign of capping has 

 better keeping qualities than others all 

 of which is sealed. 



Mr. Poppleton's system of colony re- 



upon. They were scattered about in 

 great numbers, and seemed to serve the 

 purpose very well. They were of a 

 substantial kind, rather pretty in shape 

 and uniform in size. We wanted to in- 

 quire as to the source of the supply, 

 but upon second thought decided that 

 it might be improper to do so, and 

 suppressed the desire. The water-drink- 

 ing habit, that is, when carried to ex- 

 cess, in a hot climate is detrimental 

 to health, and upon this pleasant occa- 

 sion we were provided with an abun- 

 dance of refreshing drink, which was by 

 no means straight water. Lemons in 

 abundance were gathered from the ov- 



P0PPI.ET0>''S l.AXDINr.. 



cord is simple, yet elaborate. Hiero- 

 glyphics are not employed, and one 

 conversant with the management of 

 bees will readily recognize most of the 

 abbreviations used. It is all done upon 

 the side of the hive with a lead pencil. 

 Owing to the fact that the hives set 

 very low, it requires some experience 

 and practice to make entries that are 

 legible, without standing on one's head; 

 but Mr. Poppleton has become profi- 

 cient in the work. Bottles are used in- 

 stead of bricks or hive stands in these 

 temporary locations, to set the hives 



er hanging branches of wild lemon 

 trees about the apiary; and with nu- 

 merous barrels of pure honey at hand 

 we were supplied with the best sweet- 

 ening in the world for a lemonade. It 

 was but little trouble and no expense at 

 all to make up a few pailfuls as it was 

 required. Surely, with such delicacies 

 at our finger ends, direct from Dame 

 Nature's own ranch, we were in a posi- 

 tion to enjoy the day, as we did, hearti- 

 ly. 



Mr. Poppleton is not one of the class 

 of bee-keepers whose chief aim in op- 



