128 SOUTHERN BEE-CULTURE 



72 colonies, of which the most were in fine shape, I failed to get one pound of 

 honey, and have fed the 40 colonies at home 350 pounds of granulated sugar. 

 Those at the outyards were able to pull through till spring without help 

 I am selling a few bee-supplies to accommodate the few bee-keepers around 

 me. 



Following is a list of bee-keepers in the State, with their postoffice ad- 

 dresses : 



Elijah Williamson, Leesville ; H. T. Hitch, Pineville; J. Davenport, 

 Tioga; R. H. Martin, Pawnee; Edwin Orr, Quitman; J. P. Odom, Farmer- 

 ville ; O. A. Lilly, Montrose ; David Gordy, Provincal ; Henry Andries, Many ; 

 Lewis Thomas, Boyce; John Boswell, Stille; Joe Price, Hineston; Daniel 

 Andries, Elmer; H. L. Melder, Melder; Ointon Bass, Sycamore; W. H. 

 Ragan, Donaldsonville ; J. W. K. Shaw, Loreauville ; J. H. Meads, Chey- 

 neyville, and R. CyShea, Alexandria. 



W. T. Crawford, 



BEE-KEEPINiG IN LOUISIANA. 



Benton, La. 



I have never written anything for publication on bees, but can give you 

 my own experience if that is of any value. 



I bought two colonies in box hives in 1872 — the only kind of hives in 

 use in the State at that time. I sent to A. I. Root for some Simplicity-frame 

 hives and transferred them, and in a few years from their increase, and others 

 that I purchased, I had 500 colonies — 400 of them at one yard — and have 

 secured as much as 5000 gallons in one season of extracted honey. At that 

 time the range was all natural growth; but since then the land has been 

 cleared and is now in cultivation, and does not produce honey, though there 

 are yet locations ini the State that would probably do as well. There was 

 not much attention paid to bees in this State until within the last few 

 years, and I suppose that now two-thirds of the bees are in box hives. They 

 are left on their summer stands. Once a year they are robbed, then left for 

 next year, producing about 20 or 25 lbs. of honey, sometimes none, and 

 maybe two swarms which generally go to the woods; and there is about as 

 much honey taken from trees as box hives ; but it is very inferior and dark, 

 all mashed up, and then strained, and sold at a very low price, thus injuring 

 the sale of good extracted honey. 



Bees are free from disease here. I have heard of but one case of foul 

 brood in the State, and that was at the experiment station among some 

 bees brought from Texas, and they were destroyed at once. 



The honey produced here is a light amber, and of fine flavor, when 

 handled right. We are getting a large amount now from alfalfa; but the 

 principal plants are vines of all description, and timber of natural growth. 

 I was awarded a gold medal and diploma- at the Jamestown Exposition for 



