never getting large and coarse as with 

 California Privet, which in appearance 

 and habit it somewhat resembles. 



The honey from this source is as pe- 

 culiar as the yield is uncertain; in col- 

 or it is a very pale amber, and in bodj', 

 when thoroughly ripe, a little less heavy 

 than that from clover. When new, it 

 tastes much as the fiowers smell and is 



THE AM ERIC AK HEE-KEEPEH Decenihet' 



Bee=Keeping as a Side Issue. 



Or a Back-yard Industry. 



LESSON NO. 5. 



(By F- G. Herman. I 



ROM time to time there have 

 been rumors that the making of 



artificial combs had become an 

 so pronounced in flavor as to be cloy- accomplished fact, but so far these ru- 

 ing, but if left in the comb until Christ- j^^rs have proven false, and the honey 

 nias it is most delicious. But like all bee still keeps the patent royal on comb 

 high-flavored honeys it fails to meet the making, 

 palate of everyone. As an extracted The most that the inventor has been 



honey it is a failure; that is, it has al- 

 ways proved so with me. It seems to de- 

 mand the slow ripening in the comb to 

 mellow it and rid it of its excess of 

 essential oil, and no treatment which 

 I have been able to give the extracteil 

 article has helped it at all. In fact, if 

 warmed up to what would be a perfect- 

 ly safe temperature with most honeys, 

 it is ruined and tastes horribly musty. 

 This year the plant yielded a small 

 surplus, but the honey fermented in the 



able to do is to furnish the bee with 

 a pattern to induce her to build her 

 comb straight and in an orderly, ship- 

 shape fashion. These wax sheets, 

 when cut into strips, with the impres- 

 sions of the cells .stamped on them, are 

 called "starters." They are fastened in- 

 to the frames by the bee-keeper and are 

 a great benefit to him, for with them he 

 can regulate the amount of drone 

 comb he wishes to have in the hive, be- 

 sides giving great aid to the bees in 



combs. The weather was warm and building comb. Since it does not re- 

 dry, and the colonies strong, but there q^ire either hard physical labor or very 

 the combs were, full of honey, all full of „iuch previous special training, but 

 bubbles and all unsealed, and the bees does call for the distinctly feminine 

 did not seal it until g.yidenrof' began ^^^-^^^ of patience, tact and watchful- 

 *■'-■ y"^'*^- ness, and since it promises in return 

 Then: is ;niother variety of this plain, both pleasure and profit, bee culture 

 C. Acuni.nata, or Mountain Sweet Pep ■ seems to me to be an almost ideal occu- 



per Bush, which is a native, I believe, 

 of more southern districts, but is seen 

 here ;n cultivation. As grown here i<; 

 is much coarser than C. Alnifolia, and 

 not .so attractive. T am not familiar 

 with its characteristics as a honey 

 plant. 



Providence, R. 1., Oct. 29. 1901. 



pation for the woman who wants to em- 

 ulate the busy bee and improve each 

 shining hour. 



In Delta. Colorado, there is an enter- 

 prising woman who operates five hun- 

 dred colonies of bees with only women 

 help. It will be remembered that in 

 Colorado the women enjoy the right 

 of franchise, and they can run an apiary 

 Lettuce is like conversati(jn; it must as well as a state- 

 be fresh and crisp, so sparkling that Aside from its attencfent pleasures 

 you scarcely notice the bitter in it. and profits, there is peculiar fitness in 

 Lettuce, like most talkers, is however, that a beeliive is a living illustration, 

 apt to run rapidly to seed. Blessed is a working model, and a triumphant in- 

 that sort which comes to a head, and so dicatioti of the applied principles of wo- 

 remains.— Warner. men's rights. In the bee colony the 



