166 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



queen cells, or introduce Italian queens. And 

 in this regard also I found a second apiarjr, a 

 mile distant, — established for nmltiplyino- the 

 race in its purity — particularly useful. 



The. Italian bees obviously resist attacks from 

 robbers much more resolutely than the com- 

 mon kind. But I certainly cannot say that 

 they will not themselves rob, for I liaA'e fre- 

 quently seen them in the front rank of the as- 

 sailants. 



As there was considerably less brood in the 

 hives this fall, than at the corresponding period 

 in 1860, the union ot weak colonies to provide 

 an adequate population for the winter, seemed 

 evidently to be the proper course. 



The yield of surplus honey was satisfactory. 

 Notwithstanding the severe and protracted 

 drouth which prevailed here, I could take 

 twenty-five pounds on the average, from each of 

 my older stocts. And here again I must say tliat 

 the Italian colonies proved their superiority; for 

 I was able to take from the older ones more 

 than double the quantity just mentioned. "When 

 removing hon^y, it is ever prudent to deal liber- 

 ally with your bees, leaving them ample supplies 

 for every emergency, as the best possible place 

 to keep your surplus stores is in the hive itself. 



In view ot thy fact that bee-pasturage differs 

 very much in different sections of country, and 

 that it is desirable to furnish supplies for the 

 bees at all times during the working season, or 

 from spring to fall, bee-keepers should on nil 

 occasions encourage tlie introduction and culti- 

 vation of honey-producing trees, plants, and 

 forage crops. 



Esporsette, or Sainfoin, is a very valuable 

 species of clover, yielding honey in abundance, 

 and supplying excellent fodder for horses and 

 neat cattle. Repeated experiments, however, in- 

 dicate that it will not thrive well in this region, 

 though I shall persevere in my efforts to culti- 

 vate it. Probably it may be better suited to a 

 more notherly climate. It would be gratifying 

 to see our hillsides covered with this clover for 

 cattle and bees, as are those of some portions of 

 German3^ 



I have also made some experiments with the 

 culture of oil plants, snch as the poppy, summer 

 and winter rape, &c., but, alas, these likewise 

 do not appear to suit our climate. Mustard and 

 thyme are more promising, where they could 

 otherwise l)e cultivated with profit ; and it is" 

 such crops only that are likely to be successfully 

 and extensively introduced. 



Within the last thirty years, the Melilotus 

 leucantJm, white-flowered melilot, a siiecics of 

 trefoil, has been highly recommended in Ger- 

 many for cattle and bees. On trial, however, 

 it proved to be worthless foroattle, and the cul- 

 ture of it was consequently again abandoned. 

 I found this trefoil in this country as a wild- 

 growing plant, and known as Jioney clover. For 

 the benefit of bee-keepers I have sown it in by- 

 places and uncultivated spots, whore it sustains 

 itself, as cattle refuse to eat it. This species of 

 clover was again introduced in Germany a few 

 years ago, under a third name — multicaulis 

 clover ; but with no better results. The seed of 

 honey clover was sent to France, from the United 



States, by one of our enterprising seedsmen, and 

 thence distributed under its new name. 



_Mr. Baldridge, of St, Charles, Illinois, in com- 

 pliance with my request, kindly sent me a sam- 

 ple of Melilot clover ; and it seems to mo that 

 the Melilotus leucantJia is about to make its 

 re-appearance among us under a fourth name, 

 and seeking acceptance. This I am disposed to 

 concede in a country the vast area of which .'il- 

 lows of ample spaces not necessarily devoted to 

 cittle pasturage ; as I can corroliorate what Mr. 

 Baldridge alleges in its praise. Still we must 

 be prepared to make allowance for the effect of 

 difference in climate ; yet if, as I now le;irn for 

 the first time, that the cultivation of melilot com- 

 bines other advantages besides contributing to 

 bee-pasturage, it m:iy deserve special commenda- 

 tion. 



Let me add another fact from early observation 

 in Germany. My father, who was a devoted 

 friend of bees, had a large old Borsdorf apple 

 tree near his apiary. Yearly, from eight to four- 

 teen daj's before the blossoms of this tree open- 

 ed, a drop of white sweetish liquid exuded from 

 the buds, which was eagerly gathered by the 

 bees, amid joyful humming. The benefit re- 

 sulting therefrom was obvious, as nunierous 

 swarms issued aliout the beginning of May, and 

 the weight of the hives frequently exceeded 100 

 pounds. The recollection of this impelled me 

 to endeavor to introduce the tree in this country; 

 and imported grafts have been set on several 

 large apple trees. If the blossom-buds before 

 expanding prove to be similarly productive of 

 nectar, as those of the tree in its native home, I 

 shall take pleasure in distributing grafts among 

 bee-keepers. Has any such exudation ever been 

 noticed on the blossom-buds of apple-trees in 

 this country ? 



I once had the gratification to see my bees 

 gathering honey plQntifully from the blossoms 

 of a largo male honey -locust tree near mj'^ apiarj% 

 at dusk in the evening and till late at night. 



In Germany, the bee-keepers of our commune 

 were in the habit of consulting and advising 

 with each other as- to the particular crops each 

 should grow, from year to year, for the benefit 

 of bee-culture. 



Let us persevere in our efforts for the improve- 

 ment and extension of bee-culture , by interest- 

 ing and instructing the rising generation therein 

 — ^there is yet a vast field of observation and ex- 

 periment unexplored to engage their attention. 



By such continuous efforts even our hives 

 have been gradually improved from the original 

 gum to the movable comb, until the latter — par- 

 ticularly that of the Rev. Mr. Langstroth — have 

 been brought to a high degree of perfection. 

 Though bees feel small concern for the fashion 

 of their hives, requiring only a sheltered homa 

 adapted to their wants, still it is an error to con- 

 clude, as some bee-keepers do, that our favorites 

 had better be altogether uninterferefl with. It can 

 by no means be a matter of indifference to the 

 intelligent bee-keeper of our diiy, what kind of 

 hives he employs. He requires such as are suited 

 to the habits and inatincts'of the bee, giving them 

 adequate protection, yet permitting an easy in- 

 spection of the contents, and enabling him to 

 control, to direct, and encourage their labors so 



