SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 125 



multiply rapidly by the thousands — a benefit if handled with skill, but an in- 

 iury if handled with negligence. Best results are obtained by having enough 

 room all the time for honey and brood. Increase works like a charm. 

 Negligence brings on bad results immediately. Nothing in the world responds 

 with more celerity, certainty, and safety than bees under the care and direc- 

 tion of man. The subject-matter is intensely interesting if viewed either 

 from the work involved or the thought required to study the nature of the 

 bees. It is enjoyable because it necessitates outdoor work, thereby giving 

 invigorating health, strength, and contentment. The balmy sun of the South 

 and the gentle breezes do the rest. 



The flora of this vicinity begins to bloom the last of February, and ex- 

 tends to the last of November. One set of blooms dovetails into the others, 

 so that there is a continuity of flowers for ten months. A tremendous honey- 

 flow extends over April, May, June, and July. 



Fruit and forest trees secrete a great quantity of nectar. We have vast 

 forests; innumerable wild vines, plants, and shrubs yield delicious nectar. 

 The cotton-plant, the producer of the renowned fleecy staple, is at home upon 

 our fertile acres, and yields a vast amount of superior nectar. 



Many and varied blossoms supply nectar at the same time, hence it is 

 impossible to differentiate and tell the exact source and quantity whence 

 any particular honey is obtained. That fact is eagerly seized by the North. 

 who imagine it is a stinging fling at us to brand ours as "Southern Honey." 

 We accept the same as a badge of honor, and will wear the same worthily. 



Dr. O. M. Blanton, Greenville, Miss., is a pioneer among bees, and has. 

 successfully handled them for thirty years. He has about 300 colonies. R, 

 J. Adams, Greenville, Miss., is an old bee-man, and has about 200 colonies. 

 Joel Johnson, Leota, Miss., is a genius in an apiary, and is very successful. 

 He has about 150 colonies. I successfully handle 164 colonies, having made 

 money every year. I extracted this year 21,600 lbs of honey. Bees winter 

 upon their summer stands, and are never diseased. This is a bee paradise. 



ThO. WORTlllNGTON, 



BEE-KEEPING IN EAST MISSISSIPPI. 



Penn, Miss. 



There are few bee-keepers in Mississippi of consequence, owing to the 

 fact that the field is new and the territory has been limited up to the last few 

 years. Of late years, with the introduction of sweet clover (melilotus), 

 or botanically known as Melilotus Alba, for the renovation of poor run-down 

 and wasted lands, bee-keeping has been growing rapidly, arid the crops being 

 made in East Mississippi are proof that this section is destined to be one of 

 the principal honey-producing parts of th? United States. 



In addition to sweet clover as a honey-plant we have Spanish needle, 

 cotton bloom, and other plants. Fall aster is the last bloom we get. Bees 

 usually get enough from this plant to go into winter quarters in good shape. 



