1897. 



THE AMERICAN BEE KEEPER. 



299 



large quantity of this raouutaiu laurel 

 honey without any bad consequences. 



I do not know the scientific name 

 of this mountain laurel, but I believe 

 it is the same as is growing in Mexico 

 and Dr, W. M. Stell was experiment- 

 ing with. The bush is blooming in 

 early spring and in some years so 

 abundantly that the whole plant 

 seems covered with bouquets of violets 

 and the flowers have the same odor 

 as the violets, bat so much stronger 

 that it sometimes causes headache. 



According to this experience I am 

 of the opinion that no nectar of any 

 plant, not even of a poisonous plant, 

 will ever bepoisonous— quite contrary 

 to Dr. Stell's opinion. 



While Dr. Stell takes, without proof, 

 that the nectar necessarily contains 

 the same alkaloid as the sap of the 

 plant, I think it is not necessarily so- 

 The nectar is secreted by gland-like 

 organs, consequently another compo- 

 sition as the sap of the plant; it may 

 contain the same allkaloid but it is 

 necessarily so. 



Now, we know, that all plants secre- 

 ting nectar need the aid of insects for 

 fertilization and these insects are 

 mainly attracted by the nectar. If 

 this nectar should be poisonous it 

 would be quite against the purpose of 

 the whole organ, and the plant would 

 die out sooner or later. 



A few days ago I read in a German 

 bee paper another confirmation of my 

 experience. In the "Lagomaggiore," 

 Italy, is an isle called the "Isola 

 Bella" and there grows (introduced 

 from America) 1734 KalmiaLostifolia 

 and from this plant (a mountain laur- 

 el) the bees gather honey but nobody 

 has found it poisonous. 



That persons sometimes become ill 

 after eating honey may be traced to 

 a variety of causes. In very rare cases 

 the bees may have gathered poisoned 

 sweets, (poisoned by accident or pur- 

 posely ) In other instances a person 

 will become ill after eating honey 

 which woul.l be healthy to any other 

 person. I know a lady who cannot eat 

 even a small quantity of honey with- 

 out feeling indisposed. The same was 

 the case when she ate cakes coutaining 

 honey, though she was ignorant of 

 their ingredients. 



Prices of Sections. 



Prices of sections for the season of 

 1897 will remain as follows: 



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



Per 100— S .50. S .40. Per 1000 @ $3,00 $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 

 are 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 ready, and will be mail- 

 ed free to an3-one asking for it. 



Clubbing List. 



We will send the American Bee-Keeper with 



the— PUB. PRCE. BOTH. 



American Bee Journal, ($1 00) 81 35 



Bee-Keeper's Review. (1 00) 1 35 



Canadian Bee Journal, (1 00) 1 35 



Gleanings in Bee Culture, (1 00) 1 35 



"How TO Manage Bees," a 50c 

 book, and the American Bee-Keep- 

 er a year for only 60c. 



