48 



THE AMERICAN BEE KEEPER. 



February 



pertains to nothing but fruit. It is indis- 

 pensable to any one engaged in fruit grow- 

 ing. Is a great fruit paper published in the 

 center of a great fruit section, (Portland, 

 Oregon), and costs 50 cents per year. We 

 want every one of our readers to have it on 

 their table and will therefore give it free to 

 all our subscribers who will send their back 

 subscription and one year in advance, or to 

 new subscribers who will pay one year in 

 advance. This offer is good for but a short 

 time. 



IRRIGATION. 



It is fair to presume that the popular con- 

 ception of irrigation and its possibilities is 

 vague and indistinct with the mass of people 

 living east of the Mississippi River, al- 

 though it is the oldest system of agriculture 

 known to the human race. The richest and 

 most productive portions of the earth have 

 been cultivated in this manner for thousands 

 of years and yet maintain the densest popu- 

 lations; in India two hundred to six hun- 

 dred to the square mile ; in Italy two hun- 

 dred and fifty to four hundred and fifty : in 

 Egypt nearly five hundred, and so on. 



This oldest of arts was practiced by the 

 ancient Arabians, Assyrians, Babylonians, 

 and Chinese, and has always formed a part 

 of the agriculture of the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean. The plains of Oman 

 in Arabia are watered by subterranean can- 

 als supplied by reservoirs in the mountains, 

 and a vegetation of rare luxuriance, con- 

 sisting of most of the fruits and grains of 

 Persia, is produced in consequence. The 

 plains of Assyria and Babylonia are covered 

 with an immense syste n of canals, some of 

 them hundreds of miles in length, intended 

 partly for irrigation and partly for naviga- 

 tion. 



On the American continent the ancient 

 inhabitants of Peru were found by their 

 Spanish conquerors in the use of the most 

 costly works for irrigating their lands. 

 Prescott says, " Canals and aciueducts were 

 seen spreading over the country like a net- 

 work, diffusing fertility and beauty around 

 them." The Aztecs of Mexico also made 

 use of similar means to counteract the dry- 

 ness of their atmosphere ; and in the beau- 



tiful gardens of Izlapalapana, watered by 

 canals and moistened by the spray of foun- 

 tains, was exhibited to the astonished Span- 

 iards a perfection of horticulture at that 

 time unknown in tlieir own country. — Albert 

 G. Evans, in Februray Lippincott's. 



Almost eyeryone is interested in the North 

 Atlantic Squadroon, but very few know of 

 the life aboard a man-o'-war. A profusely 

 illustrated article, "A City Afloat," in Dem- 

 orest's Magazine for March, gives a graphic 

 account of the daily routine on board a 

 modern war vessel, and is very interesting 

 reading. 



We want one good man (having horse), 

 as permanent superintendent for every 

 County, to attend to our business, on salary. 

 Must send along with application, strong 

 letters of recommendation as to honesty, 

 energy and ability. First-class man only. 

 State occupation. Address P. O. Box 1632, 

 Phila., Pa. 



Prices of Sections. 



Prices of sections for the season of 

 1897 will remain as follows: 



No. 1. No. 2. No.l. No. 2. 



Per 100—$ .50. $ .40. Per 1000 @ 83,00 $2.50. 



" 250— .85. .75. " 2000® 2.85 2.35. 



" 500— 1.50. 1.25. " 3000 @ 2.75 2.25 



5000 @ $2.50 per M. 



Large quantities will be quoted on 

 application. 



The above prices are the same as 

 will be charged by all manufacturers 

 of and dealers in first class sections. 

 Further changes of prices of supplies 

 will be found in our 1897 catalog 

 which is now being printed. 



Wm Gerrish, East Nottingham, N 

 H., keeps a complete supply of our 

 goods and Eastern customers will 

 save freight by ordering from him. 



