1894 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



579 



convenience in many other apiaries results in 

 the destruction of many valuable extracting- 

 combs by tlie moth-miller, in this semi-tropical 

 climate. 



Another very important element toward suc- 

 cess that Mr. Choate has added to his home 

 since the Rambler tirst knew him is a helpmeet; 

 and very recently a baby's vocal powers re- 

 sound under the thrifty-growing eucalyptus 

 and pepper trees that are seen around the cot- 

 tage and out-buildings. Mr. Cox. who manip- 

 ulates the team, is also quite expert at the bees; 

 and when the multitude of cares engross the 

 thoughts and time of the owner of the ranch, 

 Mr. Cox is a nevpr-failing remedy. 



Another very cosy home apiary is owned by 

 Mr. Williamson, in the adjoining town of 

 Rialto. The English walnut is a tree of noble 

 habit, and the broad-spreading branches of a 

 large orchard of them make a delightful place 

 for an apiary— shady for the bees, and for the 

 highest comfort of the aciarist during the hot 

 months of his work. Mr. W. believes in paint- 

 ing his hives in "nearly all the hues of the 

 rainbow; for what reason, he said not; but it 

 is to be supposed for the proper guidance of the 

 bees or the young queen to the proper domicile. 

 Mr. W. keeps the weeds and grass down to 

 proper length in his apiary by pasturing in it 

 his all-work horse. When asked if his horse 

 ever got stung, he smiled audibly, and remark- 

 ed, " Laws sakes alive! More thnn forty bees 

 sting him at once; but he kicks and rolls, and 

 gets rid of them, making things lively for the 

 time being." From the way many of the 

 supers fitted upon the brood-chambers, one 

 might .iudge that the horse went around and 

 kicked a great many hives. Mr. W. rented his 

 apiary for this season to Mr. M. E. Osborn, of 

 Petersboro, N. H. He put things to rights, and 

 did much work through the early months of 

 the season; but when the prospects shut down 

 with such a gloomy aspect, Mr. O. folded his 

 best clothes in his trunk, and returned to the 

 cold hard climate of New Hampshire. Mr. 

 Osborn. however, had other views concerning 

 New Hampshire and California. The cool 

 nights chilled Mr. O. to such an extent that he 

 often remarked that he was going to leave 

 semi-tropical California to get warm in old 

 New Hampshire; but it will not be strange to 

 see Mr. O. and his family residents of Califor- 

 nia ere many years go by. 



Home apiaries have been on the increase 

 among the orange-groves of beautiful Riverside. 

 The poor prospects in the surrounding foot- 

 hills have caused the owners of apiaries to 

 move them to their own vine and orange-tree, 

 and, as a consequence, one might suppose that 

 the pasturage spread by orange-trees would be 

 overdone, and probably was: for the very best 

 colonies secured only one or two cases of honey, 

 where several should have been secured. Thus 

 bee-keeping is having its ups and downs in 



this State, as well as in others. All is not gold 

 that glitters in the sand-hill; and though Cal- 

 ifornia can not be strictly in for a yield of honey 

 this year, we have still strong hopes for the 

 future of the industry here. Having a poor 

 season to contend with, and time to look around 

 for bettor fields, the Rambler and Mr. Wilder, 

 at this writing, are setting out upon a trip of 

 over a thousand miles. Tiiis will be performed 

 in a camping-outfit, with camera, pencil, and 

 gun. The results will be duly recorded by the- 



Ramhler. 



^ I ^ 



CHEERING NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA. 



BEES AND FRUIT— NO FURTHER TROUBLE. 

 By J. P. M-ael. 



Friend Root:— Prof. Cook, in a late number, 

 asked the opinion of experienced bee-keepers 

 as to the advisability of producing comb or ex- 

 tracted honey. He is evidently on the extract- 

 ed side of the fence, for he speaks of the danger 

 of shipping the comb and its liability to break 

 down. I have been producing comb honey 

 here for twelve years. I have never shipped 

 any east. I let others take the risk of that. I 

 never have produced a crop that I did not get 

 ready sale for at fair prices— cash down. Don't 

 be afraid to produce nice comb honey — it is 

 always cash. 



A producer in a black-sage country should 

 by all means produce comb honey, provided he 

 does not have too far to haul it in a wagon. He 

 should do this, because all black-sage honey is 

 white. Where his flora is mixed he can make 

 no pure white honey, therefore he should ex- 

 tract. 



Prof. Cook is going to be a power for good in 

 California. Already he has begun to establish 

 an influence over the fruit-producers. But 

 fruit-men are getting their eyes opened— open- 

 ed by sad experience. Negotiations are now go- 

 ing on in a certain section of Fresno Co., to 

 plant 1000 acres of black sage. This will be 

 done by a company, or combination, of large 

 fruit- producers. This sage will be scattered 

 along the foothills — about 100 acres in a patch — 

 five miles apart. Thus you see its benefits will 

 reach a great many orchards, which in turn 

 will payback in nectar for the labor of the 

 bees. These tracks of black sage will be irri- 

 gated and will yield floods of honey every year. 



" How can we manage our bees so that our 

 neighbors may not be harmed or even annoy- 

 ed? " asks Prof Cook. The question, plainly 

 stated, is. " How can the fruit-men dry their 

 fruit and raisins without annoyance from the 

 bees? " It is very simple. Let them cover their 

 fruit tvith ehecsc-cloth. Fruit will dry in half 

 the time that it will uncovered, and it will be 

 much brighter in color, and much sweeter. It 

 is being so long exposed to the sun and air 

 that turns fruit so dark in color. It will pay 



