188 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mar. 1. 



near to or remote from Honey Lake, and the re- 

 sults in that unoccupied field might be as good 

 as or even better than in the overcrowded south- 

 ern fields. 



There is one peculiarity in this climatic belt, 

 and also in the belt below it. There are many 

 locations where the influence of climate is such 

 that, even in Northern California, fruits are 

 grown and put upon the market earlier than 

 they can be produced in the warmer south. 



The last belt, in white, marks all of the high- 

 er altitudes, and the average temperature, 30 to 

 44, reveals a very low temperature during the 

 winter months; and if a person who has for- 

 merly lived in the cold eastern climate, and now 

 resides in the sunny valleys of California, de- 

 sires to taste again the rigors of an old-fashion- 

 ed winter, a few hours' ride will land him where 

 ice freezes a foot thick, and is harvested for 

 commercial purposes — where sleighbells jingle, 

 and where snow in great quantities is found — 

 in such quantities that the So. Pac. R. R. is 

 covered with immense snow sheds for 40 miles, 

 and still we are in California. These higher 

 altitudes are noted mostly for producing our 

 finest pine lumber, and the lumber business is 

 the chief industry. It is quite probable that 

 bee-keeping is at a discount in this region. A 

 bee-tree may now and then be found, but those 

 wonderful finds of honey in trees and caves are 

 notfound In this region. The higher altitudes 

 in all this region as we approach those moun- 

 tains over 8000 feet in height are practically un- 

 explored and desolate regions; and it is here 

 that we might change the term from "climat- 

 ic" to "climb-matic '■ California; but in this 

 phase the Rambler has shown quite conclusive- 

 ly that the climb-matic portion also exists in all 

 portions of the State. In this belt the gold- 

 seeker is probably the most persistent explorer, 

 and the marks of his pick are left upon the 

 most inaccessible mountain-side; and since sil- 

 ver has received a setback, the gold-seeker is 

 out more numerous than ever, not only in this 

 climb matic belt, but all over the State, and, as 

 before stated, the bones of some of this class 

 are bleaching in the vicinity of Death Valley. 

 The hunter now enjoys the climb-matic belt, 

 for it is into these remote regions that the griz- 

 zly bear has now retreated. The advance of 

 civilization, and cultivated lands in the lower 

 belts, drive all wild animals into these regions, 

 and even here they are remarkably shy, and not 

 an easy prey to the hnnter. The bee-keeper 

 hardly ever ventures into this belt unless it is 

 for the pui'e love of cliTubing, and to experi- 

 ence the thrilling views fiom mountain-peaks. 



The portion of the climate of California that 

 is disagreeable to many is the periodical north- 

 ers. The norther is presaged by a few days of 

 remarkably clear days. The distant mountains 

 can be seen with such distinctness that they 

 seem but half the distance they really are. 

 The eagle soars at a great altitude, and, with 



head to the north, suspends himself in one spot 

 for a long time. The next morning the wind 

 begins to blow; little clouds of dust rise here 

 and there in the valley, and ere noon the air is 

 full of fine dust, hurled along by the wind, 

 which has now attained much velocity; but it 

 is scarcely ever destructive. The effect of the 

 norther is to produce languor and headache upon 

 a great majority of people. The wind is said 

 to be highly charged with electricity. Though 

 disagreeable to endure, these northers have a 

 beneficial effect in clearing disease-germs from 

 the atmosphere. 



If, in the height of the honey season, the 

 norther comes down upon the blossoming flora, 

 the bee-keeper hangs up his hopes for much 

 honey for several davs, for the sources of nectar 

 are thoroughly dried, and do not quickly recov- 

 er. 



By referring to the map it will he observed 

 there are but few lakes in the State. Water, in 

 a great measure, is hidden beneath the surface, 

 and the so-called dry rivers in the southern por- 

 tion are found to be running (or percolating) 

 streams when we dig beneath the surface. The 

 northern portion of the State, having more 

 rain, possesses the most live streams. 



Taking it all in all, this sunset land has fewer 

 disagreeable features than our Eastern States. 

 We can sleep outdoors nine months in the year; 

 and, while we are living with the roses, and im- 

 bibing their fragrance, we can look across them 

 to the snow-capped mountain; the added plea- 

 sures of good health; a measure of prosperity, 

 where ten-acre farms and less care are the rule. 

 These all make California a desirable home to 

 many besides the Rambler. 



USE FOR THE SELF HIVER. 



HOW IT MAY SAVE UNNECESSARY LABOR ON 

 SUND.VV. 



By C. H. Dibbern. 



"Is it right to hive bees on Sunday?" is a 

 question asked by W. E. Dean, on page 99. I 

 do not propose to go into the religious aspect of 

 the question, but wish to show that such work 

 is entirely unnecessary. It would certainly not 

 be right to allow swarms to go to the woods be- 

 cause they happen to issue on Sunday. Such 

 swarms usually represent all the profit we can 

 reasonably expect from a colony during a sea- 

 son; and to allow such t(j depart in peace be- 

 fore our very eyes, or during our absence, 

 would not be doing our best for our families. 

 If it is worth our while to keep bees at all it is 

 worth doing right; and if we do not need the 

 profits from the bees, for the necessaries of life, 

 we find such income very convenient to buy 

 luxuries, such as magazines and books, musical 

 instruments, furniture, pictures, and a thou- 

 sand other things that go to make up a home. 



