92 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



ihem to the position of housewives. Me- 

 chanics receive from three to five dollars 

 a day, and farm hands from twenty-five to 

 forty dollars a month. 



Tools, wagons, etc., cost about twenty- 

 five per cent, more here than in the East. 



We have no chinch-bugs, few grasshop- 

 pers, no mad dogs, no fly-nets for horses, 

 no mosquito-bars for our beds, no light- 

 ning-rods, no fever and ague, no poor- 

 houses, no dealhs from sun-stroke or tor- 

 nadoes, no snow storms, little frost, no ice 

 to cool our lemonade, no sleigh-bells, no 

 sleds for the boys, no woolen mittens, and 

 no skates. 



We do have fresh vegetables, new pota- 

 toes, ripe strawberries, and ripe fruit 

 fresh from the garden every month in the 

 year, and always an abundance of spring 

 chickens and beautiful flowers. 



Those coming to this coast should 

 bring only what they can pack solid, can- 

 not dispose of for two-thirds of its value, 

 and will need after they get here. 



Persons desiring especial information 

 should write their address distinctly, and 

 enclose postage stamp. 



O. L. Abbott. 



Santa Barbara, Cal. 



For the American Bee Journal. 

 Virgil and the Bees. 



The bee, we find, figures largely in 

 classic poetry. Virgil has devoted a whole 

 book to the subject. He was born near 

 Mantua, Italy, 70, B.C., and we may learn 

 from his writings the degree of bee cul- 

 ture in that age. He says : 

 " The gifts of Heav'n my following song pursues 

 Aerial honey and ambrosial dews," 

 "Their arm's, their arts, their manners I disclose 

 And how they war, and whence the people rose." 



Some, perhaps, may learn trom the fol- 

 lowing: 



"First for thy bees a quiet station find. 

 And lodge them under covert of the wind." 



He thinks they should be far away from 

 cows and goats", and the painted lizzard 

 and birds of prey, the titmouse and 

 Procne witli lier bosom stained in blood. 



" These rob the trading citizens and bear 

 The trembling captive through the liquid air." 

 '• But near a living stream their mansion place." 



In line 27 he calls the queen the youth- 

 ful prince, and advises that trees should 

 be planted along the stream 

 "That when the youthful prince, with proud alarm, 

 Calls out the venturous colony to swarm." 



In line 47, we learn how to construct 

 the hive, 



" Whether thou build the palace of thy bees 

 With twisted ot^iers, or with barks of trees, 

 Make but a narrow raouth, for as the cold 

 Congeals into a lump the liquidgold." * * * 



He says, in line (iO, bees are found 

 " In chambers of their own, beneath the ground; 

 That vaulted roofs are hung in pumices 

 And in the rotten trunks of hollow trees . " 



He describes their employment, 



" They breed, they brood, instruct and educate. 

 And make provision for their future state." 



What visions of our youth arise, as we 

 read the following: 



"But when thou seest a swarming cloud arise, 

 Then melfuil beat, and honeysuckles pound: 

 With these alluring savours strew the ground; 

 And mix with tinkling brass the cymbal's droning 

 sound." 



What is the use of movable comb 

 frames, or non-swarming apparatus when 

 one can bring out the old tin pans or 

 employ a modern brass band ? 



He next describes a fight, when two 

 pretenders strive for empires: 

 " They challenge and encounter, breast to breast, 



4: * 4: * 4: 4: 



Till only one prevails — for only one can reign." 



And though the air may be full of 

 charging squadrons and combatants, 



"Yet all these dreadful deeds, this deadly fray, 



A cast of dust will soon allay, 



And undecided leave the fortunes of to-day." 



He thinks one of the monarchs should 

 then be killed. 



Does he mean Italian, when, in line 

 149, he says : 



" The better brood, unlike the bastard crew. 

 Are marked with royal streaks of shining hue." 



We had supposed that the idea of clip- 

 ping the wing of the queen was of more 

 recent date, but he says when the bees are 

 disposed to leave their empty hives and 



stay, 



"The task is easy — but to clip the wings 

 Of their high-flying, arbitrary kings; 

 At their command the people swarm away. 

 Confine the tyrant, and the slaves will stay." 



He next speaks at length of a swain of 

 his acquaintance who kept bees and pros- 

 pered : 



* * * " He supped at ease 

 And wisely deemed the wealth of monarchs less; 

 The little of his own, because his own did please, 



****** 



And pressed the combs with golden liquor 

 crown'd." 



Which one of our patent men stole 

 Virgil's patent extractor? 



In speaking of the nature of the bees, 

 he says : 



" The bees have common cities of their own 

 And common sons; beneath one law they live. 

 All is the State's; the State provides for all. 

 Some o'er ihe public magazines preside. 

 And some are sent new forage to provide. 

 ****** 



Some nurse the future matron of the State; 



All with united force combine to drive 



The lazy drones trom the laborious hives; 



Some employed at home, abide within the gate. 



To forlily the combs, to build the wall, 



To prop the ruins, lesi the fabric falls, 



But late at night, wiih weary pinions come 



The lab'riiig youth, and heavy laden, home." 



Some lime since a correspontlent asked 

 your Journal, '' Do bees sleep?" Virgil 

 answers: 



"Then having spent the last remains of light. 

 They give their bodies due repose at night; 

 When once in bed, their weary limbs they steep. 

 No buzzing sounds disturb their golden sleep — 

 "Tis sacred silence all." 



I Tliuugh he points out the monarch as 



