174 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



the coiiditi(m of hive and date of the last 

 opeuing-. For example: June 2, O. K. or 

 Y. Q. (Young Queen) or Q. out, (Queen 

 out of cell when I don't see her) or Y. Q. 

 eggs, etc. On the outside of slate I mark 

 anything that requires attention; for in- 

 stance, July 8, Q. cells, etc. 



Yours for a sweet living, 



D. D. Palmer. 

 Eliza, Mercer Co., 111. 



For ttie American Bee Journal, 

 California. 



Dear Bee Journal: In my last I 

 promised to tell the "bee men" some- 

 thing of Southern California. First, then, 

 as to 



climate. 



I do not suppose that there is a better 

 climate on earth than that of Southern 

 California, especially that portion west of 

 the mountains. Such is a large portion 

 ot Los Angelos county, it being a beautiful 

 valley, about twenty miles wide and sev- 

 enty-tive miles long, with aslope of about 

 twelve feet to the mile, from the mount- 

 ains to the beach. Thisvalley, being west 

 of the mountains, is free from the bleak 

 winds of the desert, and the cold winds 

 from the north, with a regular sea breeze 

 every day, rendering the climate more 

 even than that of Spain, France or Italy; 

 the mercury seldom going above eighty 

 degrees, and rarely below forty degrees. 

 Near the coast it is cooler; but as you 

 approach the mountains, the climate 

 grows warmer, at the rate of about one 

 degree per mile. Near the coast it is too 

 damp and cool for consumptives — but on 

 the west side of the mountain, at an alti- 

 tude of 1,500 or 3,000 teet, you are above 

 the fogs and dampness — and the climate 

 is just splendid. There is never any frost 

 at this altitude, on the west side of the 

 mountains — and here is where the bees 

 do so well. In point of 



SOIL, 



this valley is equal to any portion of the 

 United States. The soil is made by de- 

 posits from the mountains, and is inex- 

 haustible. There is, however, only a 

 small portion of it that is susceptible of 

 cultivation without irrigation; this is 

 supplied by water from tiie mountains, 

 and by artesian wells. Tliese can be had 

 at a cost ranging from $125 to $.")00. This 

 seems almost 'incredible to an eastern 

 man, but such is the fact. JMany poor 

 farmers, just starting, have their artesian 

 wells, giving an abundant flow, for irri- 

 gating their quarter section of land. As to 



FRUIT, 



there is no end to it here. Almost every 

 variety of semi-tropical fruits grows to 

 perfection here; and the flavor of all 

 kinds of fruits is especially excellent, on 

 the liiiili "mesa" lands. Peaches are 



never a failure; apricots, nectarines, 

 plums, pears, etc., etc., in endless varie- 

 ties, strawberries the j'ear round, while 

 tomato vines bear continuously, for five 

 or six years. Vegetables without end, 

 and the grape to perfection. Raisins 

 made by the ton, simply by pulling the 

 grapes from the vine and spreading them 

 on the ground to dry. 



This valjej' land is especially adapted 

 to the cultivation and growth of the Al- 

 falfa, or Chili clover, which will feed 

 from four to six cows per acre, the year 

 round, producing a large yield of good 

 milk and butter. 



BEES 



are also kept in the valley ; but the quality 

 of honey is very indilierent, and conse- 

 quently it is not considered very profitable. 

 Yet bees will increase equally as fast in 

 the valley as on the mountains. The most 

 desirable locality for bees is directly- up 

 the side of the mountains, about one mile 

 from the valley, and at an altitude of 1,500 

 feet, with plenty of sage, sumach, etc., 

 about you, on the mountains. The bees 

 go to the valley first in the spring, and as 

 the season advances, the}' ascend the 

 mountains, thereby securing a perpetual 

 l^asturage. 



Bees, they say, have not done well this 

 spring and summer, owing to a frost that 

 fell in April. I took charge of 



MY apiary 

 on the 5th of May. The bees were all in 

 box hives. I proceeded at once to trans- 

 fer, which I accomplished in about four 

 weeks; took about 5,000 lbs. in transfer- 

 ring; have all of ni}^ hives full of comb, 

 and have taken with the extractor, up to 

 the present date, (July 1st) about 4,800 

 lbs. The season is now in full blast, and 

 will continue so for six or eight weeks 

 lonoer. I have no fears but I will reach 

 30,000 lbs. from the 150 hives I started 

 with, beside an increase — after "honey 

 for market" is out — of about 300 per 

 cent. 



And now, Mr. Editor and brethren, let 

 me say to you all that I have at last found 

 the " place for bees," and I shall not neg- 

 lect to improve wy opportunity. So you 

 had better " look well to your laurels." 



There are other places here, not )-et oc- 

 cupied, which would make good bee 

 ranches. But the better plan is to buy 

 out a "squatter," anil bring with you about 

 100 stands of bees to start with. 'The bees 

 would cost about $1,000, and the IGO acres 

 — with twenty to forty acres tillable land, 

 and a small shanty — about $500. It any 

 " Bee man " wants such a location, etc., I 

 think I could secure it for him for that 

 amount. 



There are many points which I would 

 like to talk upon, but must wait till next 

 time, and still remain, 



J. W. Sallie. 



Anaheim, Jul}' 1st, '75. 



