Ameeigan Bee Journal, 



DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BEE CULTURE. 



Vol. X. CEDAR RAPIDS, DECEMBER, 1874. No. 13. 



For the Ameiican Bee Journal. 



Western Bee Plants. 



Deati Editou : — I believe I promised 

 iu a former commuiiieatiou to give you 

 the result of my exi'ierlmcnt with the 

 Western bee phints, Lophanthus Auisatus 

 aud Cleome Integrifolia, in this locality 

 I am not aware of auy previous elVort to 

 introduce them, though others may have 

 tried aud perhaps with better success. 

 As you remember I wrote to H. A. Terry 

 of Crescent City, Iowa, for seed iu Sep., 

 '73. The seed came promptly (after your 

 forwarding mine to you) aud though then 

 the middle of Dec, was sown immedi- 

 ately ; in soil previously well prepared, in 

 drills three feet apart. But being sown 

 so late the plants did not show them- 

 selves until the following spring, aud 

 thcu only very sparingly — here and there 

 one — showing that the locality or time of 

 sowing did not suit tliem. 



The, perenial, Lophanthus Anisatus 

 only started some dozen plants, with a 

 single stem or stock, which grew 12 to 18 

 in. high. These produced one or more 

 flower stems somewhat resembling catnip 

 blossoms in appearance, but with the un- 

 mistakable anise fragrance. Though con- 

 tinuing iu Dloom for several weeks I did 

 not notice a single honey bee upon them. 

 The seed ripened in Sep., and was care- 

 fully gathered for replanting. 



Cleome Integrifolia, the annual, came 

 up much more promptly and evenly. It 

 made a growth of from 2 to 5 feet in 

 height, sending out many branches, aud 

 blooming abundantly by the 1st of July. 

 I watched its growth closely but the bees 

 found the bloom first, and began work 

 upon the very first blossoms. They 

 seemed to enjoy it exceedingly. It was 

 no small gratification to see them as if 

 vieing with each other for the coveted 

 luxury. For two or three hours each 

 morning its sweet fragrance and the buz- 

 zing of the busy little workers were alike 

 interesting. But after the warm sun had 

 evaporated the moisture of the dew, its 



agreeable odor disappeared, the bees for- 

 sook it and only the dazzling beauty of 

 the finely shaju'd little shrub or plant, 

 with its multitude of flowers rem.iincd. 

 It continued to bloom for six or eight 

 w'ceks and would probably have continu- 

 ed much longer but for the appearance of 

 a striped little bug, in great numbers, 

 destroying the foliage and in a short time 

 killing the whole plant. 



Thus you see our experiment has not 

 been so satisfactory as we might have 

 de^^ired. But it has not left us without a 

 keener interest aud h(/pe for another year. 

 We are greatly iu need of something 16 

 fill a vacancy in the honey harvest during 

 the mid-summer ; and we still hope these 

 l)lants may serve to help us through. 

 Bees have done so poorly here for two or 

 three years that many have become com- 

 pletely discouraged. 



Many persons lost all iheir stocks who 

 had kept bees for over forty years. We 

 kept ours through, by dint of untiring 

 watchfulness and care. Though we had 

 buckwheat aud clover we still had to feed 

 on sugar syrup ; aud frequently united 

 the weak stocks. Late in the spring, 

 however, they began to liveu up, aud 

 when the poplar or tulip bloomed they 

 filled theii' hives in a little time. We had 

 been so discouraged with long continued 

 failure and losses, as to be taken quite 

 l)y surprise to find them so heavy, and 

 I getting ready for swarming. The extrac- 

 ' tor was soon put in readiness and used to 

 excellent advantage. Since then the sea- 

 sou has been favorable. The autumn 

 harvest from wild flowers has been good. 

 We have had to watch closely to prevent 

 filling up the brood chamber. Empty 

 frames of comb placed in the centre of 

 the hive would be filled with honey al- 

 most before the queen could get a chance 

 to deposit eggs in them. It has given us 

 an excellent opportunity of testing the 

 advantages of the moveable frame hive 

 and the extractor. 



As beginners in ajticulture we liave 

 read your Jouknal with great pleasure 

 and profit. We a.re quite pleased with 

 the union of the two leading bee journals. 

 You have our best wishes. 

 New Gardeu, N. C. A. E. Kitchen. 



