146 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



October 



in the apiary itself though essential is 

 not enough; the same trait must pre- 

 vail throughout the entire range 

 covered by the bees. This may see 

 difficult, in some cases impracticable, 

 but it is far less so than one is apt to 

 imagine. Filth is a necessary accom- 

 panyment to very few occupations and 

 surroundings and if the bees compel its 

 removal the extra trouble they become 

 to us is compensated for by their 

 value as sanitary agents. A good 

 many more of the unhealthy spots 

 surrounding us are due to thoughtless- 

 ness than to necessity. Perhaps we 

 do not recognize their presence at all 

 or really cannot see how to remove 

 them so long as it is only a matter of 

 health. But once let it become a 

 question of dollars and cents and our 

 observations will be more alert. On 

 small premises and with untidy neigh- 

 bors the removal of all filth from the 

 range of the bees is of course a much 

 more delicate problem than when the 

 entire matter lies in our own jurisdic- 

 tion. Occasionally a little missionary 

 work can be done without offence, not 

 always. At best, the reform is very 

 likely to be only partial. When it is 

 found impossible, then, to remove the 

 filth from the bees, it becomes neces- 

 sary to remove the bees from the filth. 

 This cannot be done wholly, to be 

 sure, hence as favorable a location as 

 possible in this respect should be chos- 

 en at the start. But bees may, to a 

 great extent, be kept at home by be- 

 ing fully supplied there with drink, 

 etc., and material upon which to work. 

 They do not fly one or two miles from 

 choice for pasturage, but from neces- 

 sity, and the keeper of bees will not 

 appreciate the convenience of a near- 



by pasture as quickly as the bees will 

 themselves. It is possible, then , where 

 objectionable places cannot be re- 

 moved, to provide good, clean pasture 

 near the hives on one's own premises, 

 that will practically annul the bees 

 tendency to ramble. And right here 

 one may go a step further, and regu- 

 late the kind of honey to be produced 

 at the same time the pasturage is be- 

 ing prepared. 



Of all the various kinds of honey 

 on the market, probably none is more 

 universally popular or more profitable 

 than pure white clover honey. In 

 preparing pasturage, then, it is well to 

 bear this in mind, at the same time 

 avoiding, as far as possible, all flower- 

 ing plants apt to be in their honey- 

 producing stage at the time of the 

 white clover season. In this way one 

 is not only able to guarantee the pur- 

 ity of his white clover honey, but the 

 injurious results of a mixture are 

 avoided. I do not think any two kinds, 

 however excellent in themselves, are 

 as satisfactory served together as eith- 

 er one would be by itself. But I will 

 treat this subject more fully in a later 

 article. 



The best of honey is ruined as a 

 fancy article if not put up attractively. 

 It is, therefore, essential that the very 

 best sections (I prefer the one-pound 

 size) are used, and that the best foud- 

 ation only be admitted. This should 

 be as nearly colorless as can be pro- 

 cured, and must be neatly fastened 

 into the sections. Daubs of wax would 

 be fatal to success. Care must be 

 taken, too, to fasten the starter in 

 straight, so that the comb will be 

 smooth and even when finished. 

 Much depends on the appearance of 



