SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 143 



BEE-KEEPING IN WESTERN FLORIDA. 



Vidalia, Ga. 



Bee-keeping in Western Florida has been one of the principal industries 

 in, seme districts, and along the Apalachicola and Chipola Rivers there are 

 still a good many large apiaries; and the number of colonies one place will 

 provide rajige for is equaled by very few places in the United States. There 

 are several apiaries in this territory, of upward of 500 colonies, all placed 

 on less than an acre of land. 



The season in Western Florida commences by the bees starting to build 

 up with the blooms of the maple in February, and once in many years this 

 source will allow the bees to accumulate a little surplus. The next thing of 

 interest to come into bloom is the ti-ti, which is generally pretty well open by 

 the first day of March, and the opening of this bloom will often bring swarms 

 which have been known to cover the last days of February. Ti-ti is generally 

 followed by the black tupelo gum. Why it is called "black tupelo" is a mys- 

 tery to the writer of this, for the only diflference to be seen is in the color 

 of the leaves, which are a shade darker green than those of the white 

 tupelo, which blooms a month later. The weather is often so cold and back- 

 ward that the bees succeed in getting but a scant living from the ti-ti and 

 black tupelo; but when the white tupelo commences to bloom, about April 

 IS, if the weather is settled warm the bees become suddenly alive; for with 

 a good full bloom and favorable weather this is one of the fastest yielders of 

 honey known ; and extracting-hives have been filled up in three days or less, 

 and most of it capped over ; but the apiarist has to move in a hurry, for his 

 living for a year depends on a few days of good weather and his ability to 

 take care of a crop of honey in ten days' time — occasionally a little more and 

 sometimes less. If it should last two weeks in full bloom it means a fine 

 crop; but if there should be a rainy spell jnst at the opening of white tupelo 

 it means that the apiarist will have to bear many disappointments and wait 

 for another year to roll around. 



After the tupelo is through, which is generally by May i, there is nothing 

 to amount to anything ; but about once in five years there is a late flow from 

 an almost unaccountable source. As a general thing, about June i, bees 

 •commence to weaken down, and by September i the strong colonies on tupelo 

 are reduced to mere handfuls ; but at this point, as if to save themselves from 

 destruction, they commence to build up, and by November i, have bees 

 •enough to go through the winter months. 



Nearly every one in this section uses the standard Langstroth hive, or 

 frames, rather, and the bulk of the bees are Italian. 



The worst enemy of bees here are the mosquito-hawks, which, during the 

 rainy season, July and August, become very numerous — seemingly as many 

 of them as there are bees; but they disappear about September i and so 

 give the bees a breathing-spell. 



R. L. Tucker. 



