1895. 



AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



115 



brood and strengthening the colonies 

 for good work when the flow comes, 

 they are of much value. 



The flowers of the Tulip tree, 

 Liriodendron lidipifera, yield honey, 

 but unfortunately this tree is too rare 

 to form an important factor in the 

 apiary. We are glad to note that it 

 is now ofFored for sale by dealers, and 

 it is to be hoped that its cultivation 

 may ere long become general. Its 

 straight, lofty trunk is valuable for 

 timber ; The glossy leaves with a form 

 peculiar to themselves render the tree 

 conspicuous ; The blossoms resemble 

 those of the garden tulip in size and 

 form, and their yellowish green pet- 

 als, each marked with an orange cres- 

 cent, reminds one of the bizarre color- 

 ings among the parrot 'tulips. The 

 interior structure is similar to that of 

 the famous magnolia of the South, to 

 which it is closely related. This tree 

 should be given a trial ; if it should 

 prove as valuable for honey as it is 

 ornamental, it will indeed be a treas- 

 ure. 



As the basswood has so long been 

 regarded as one of the most important 

 bee foods, the mystery is why this 

 important source of material should 

 be allowed to decrease in quantity. 

 In some portions of Pennsylvania 

 where it once grew in abundance, 

 scarsely a representative of the genus 

 remains. Its broadly cordate leaves 

 and creamy blossoms with their ap- 

 pendages of leaf-like bracts, render it 

 ornamental ; Its growth is so rapid 

 that it is stated that in ten years from 

 time of planting it will be a source of 

 great profit for its yield of honey. 

 The strength of the inner bark is so 

 great as to yield material for matting, 



ropes, etc. The wood, white, soft, 

 and clear, makes excellent broom- 

 handles and is valuable for cabinet 

 work and the paneling of carriages. 

 It is to be hoped that in the future 

 when trees are being planted, whether 

 for utility or ornament, that some pro- 

 vision will be made for the wants of 

 the bee, inasmuch as this can be done 

 and the other benefits and advantages 

 of tree culture fostered at the same 

 time. 



Will Bee Keeping Progress in 

 the Future? 



BY J. W. TEFFT. 



No ! the Bee Keepers of today are in the 



7'td to Stay. 

 The new ones will receive no better educa- 

 tion. 

 While all are starving for better Bee Liter- 

 ature. 

 This appears to be the key note on 

 which is sounded the educational nec- 

 essities of the new generation of Bee 

 Keepers who is now trained by the 

 Bee Trade Journals — that contribute 

 to their success as American Bee 

 Keepers. 



No attention (by these trade papers) 

 is paid to the development of their 

 minds as thinking organisms, and to 

 the right interests that present them- 

 selves today to bee-keepers of intelli- 

 gent minds. All that is aimed at is 

 the requirement of Surface Qualities 

 which are to be summed up under the 

 name of bee culture, all of which 

 are in themselves most desirable and 

 by no means to be neglected. But 

 are no more to be considered as the 

 staple of an Educational Honey Bee 

 Literature, then is honey to be con- 

 sidered as a disirable whole of nutri- 

 ment, yet the editors of these Bee 



