180 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mar. 1. 



and a heart full of sympathy for the poor bees, 

 whose exemplary diligence was rewarded by 

 sulphuring, left him no room for standing still 

 in the beaten path, and thus was originated the 

 idea of mobility in frames-an idea over which 

 the whole world rejoices to-day, and which is 

 universally accepted in practice. But as soon 

 as Dr Dzierzon had begun apiculture on the 

 plan of having movable frames, his active spirit 

 gave him no rest on account of his desire to un- 

 lock the mysteries surrounding the inner life of 

 a colony of bees. With this idea in view he 

 was assisted to a great extent, while regulating 

 his hives, by casting a glance at the bees when- 

 ever he could, while they were at work. By 

 means of this research many other mysteries 

 were cleared up-pre-eminent among which 

 was one that revolutionized the teachings in 

 natural history in certain classes in zoology- 

 namely. Parthenogenesis. 



As a means in support of his theory, and one 

 that Dr. Dzierzon made the most use of in his 

 discovery, the. Italian bee must be considered 

 chief. With their variously colored coat they 

 rendered the various experiments possible; and 

 even their color itself formed a proof of the 

 theory. As all new ideas at first meet the most 

 determined opposition. Dr. Dzierzon's met the 

 same fate. Long live Dr. Dzierzon! hail to the 

 master of the world! The greatest teachers ot 

 that time would not state as orthodox, that 

 drones hatch from unfertilized eggs; that the 

 queen, as mother of all in the hive, has it m 

 her power to determine the sex of the eggs she 

 lays The strife that sprang up from the prop- 

 agation of this theory attracted the attention 

 of scientific circles, and the greatest physiolo- 

 gists resorted to their ultimate proofs — the 

 dissecting- knife and the microscope. By means 

 of these, and more especially by the palpable 

 evidence afforded by the bee itself, people were 

 at last convinced; and just in proportion as 

 men were at first ready to cry out, "Stone 

 him'" they were ready to make a triumphal 

 march in honor of the expounder of the new 

 gospel, and " went over into his camp, sack and 

 pack," as Baron Berlepsch expressed it. for the 

 people had grounded their arms. 



The reward one receives for a great '^ork 

 consists not in outward show, but more in an 

 inward self-satisfaction; and so it is with Dr. 

 Dzierzon for the many services which he has 

 rendered, not to apiculture alone, but for those 

 which have benefited science in general. These 

 services created a spirit of emulation among 

 corporations and guilds as to who should be 

 first in paying him a tribute of thanks and 

 recognition. The potentates of nearly every 

 land decorated his breast with well-earned 

 badges of honor, as marks of their esteem; and 

 the Lord himself blessed with special favor in 

 giving him a vigorous and happy old age in 

 order that he might enjoy the laurels which he 

 had won by his genius. 



Now the honored friend of bee-keepers the 

 world over, we see here a man sought after by 

 conventions-a man of petite figure, with a 

 countenance beaming with the ruddy glow of 

 youth, and lighted up with a friendly look; a 

 snow-white head indicating great force, but, 

 withal, clothed with a very modest demeanor 

 that always, where possible, prompts its pos- 

 sessor to seek the "lowest seat," and to which 

 attention is always turned; a man who is care- 

 ful to cover himself with his overcoat, and not 

 allow the least puff of wind to lift a lappel of 

 it lest it discover the many honorable medals 

 lying underneath. When, finally, you speak to 

 a man who calmly, and with wonderful pa- 

 tience, listens for the hundredth time-yes, 

 hundred thousandth-to the discussion of the 

 same theme, and still gives you a friendly an- 

 swer, and points out to you the road you are to 

 pursue as a bee-keeper, that man is Dr. John 

 Dzierzon; and it is your most sacred duty to 

 bow the head in reverence to this the greatest 

 teacher in our branch of industry. 

 Medina, O., Jan. 17. 



SWEET CLOVEK ON THE SHORES OF LAKE 

 CHAMPLAIN. 



A GOOD HONEY PLA^^UT AI.SIKE BETTER; 

 FARMERS LEARNING ITS VALUE. 



By W. O. Larrabee. 

 On page 82, Feb. 1, I^ice that H. R. Board- 

 man says that, with him, sweet clover is a val- 

 uable honey-plant, and I have heard others say 

 the same. I am located near the shore of Lake 

 Champlain, which has steep clay banks, per- 

 haps one hundred feet or more from the top o 

 the bank to the edge of the water. This is al 

 waste land, and it is a perfect swamp of sweet 

 clover, and extends in either direction as far as 

 the bees would fly; besid. s this, the roadsides 

 are lined with it as they are in many other 

 nlaces. This makes a good many acres of 

 sweet clover within range of my bees, and it is 

 generally in lull bloom at about the close of the 

 basswood flow, and I never think of depending 

 upon it for any surplus honey, except, perhaps, 

 to finish up a few of the sections that are on 

 the hives at the close of the basswood flow. 

 The bees generally fill up the brood-nest for win- 

 ter a little from it, and it is some benefit to me 

 in that way; but I have yet to see honey put 

 into the sections to any great extent from 

 sweet clover when no other honey is coming in 

 I do not pretend to say that sweet clover is of 

 no benefit to me as a honey-plant, for the bees 

 can at least make a living on it while in bloom, 

 and perhaps a little more. I think it very prob- 

 able the locality has all to do with it, for I cer- 

 tainly have enough sweet clover within range 

 ot my bees to furnish surplus honey if it yield- 

 ed honey as plentifully as white clover, alsike 

 clover, or basswood. 



