GKJ 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 1. 



ship, as followed by the old prospectors; then 

 we could see — or, rather, imagined we saw— In 

 the dim distance, several Eugenias poking their 

 sharp noses over the Rocky Mountains toward 

 us; and the prospect of being treed again led 

 one of us, at least, to entertain any desperate 

 effort to elude such happenings. We finally 

 settled upon the plan outlined in the last ram- 

 ble—that of making a grand panoramic, pho- 

 tographic, and camping tour of the State. The 

 idea entertained grew upon us. Our talks by 

 day and dreams by night were in relation to 

 outfits, etc. Of all States in our great country, 

 California presents the most charming aspect to 

 the camper. From May till September we foar 

 no rains; the ground is dry, and there are no 

 fears of rheumatic pains after a night's bivouac 

 upon it. There is but littledanger from vicious 

 men or animals, for life is as secure here as in 

 our most favored States. The camper can live 

 as cheaply on the road as at home; and, hav- 

 ing means to make the tour profitable, let's 

 away and enjoy ourselves. 



Mr. Wilder had a pony, Keno, which had 

 supplanted Vixen, and. possessing a far more 

 tractable temper, was the more desirable horse 

 —less circus and more business. After several 

 days' search, and a few nightmares over the 

 subject, and some danger of getting horse on 

 the brain, we found a pony which matched 

 Keno in size, shape, and gait, but was oti on 

 color and name. We, however, made the black 

 match the bay; but the name Jack, applied to 

 a horse of the female gender, was immediately 

 changed to Reina* (Spanish for <meen); and 

 when Reina and Keno were introduced to each 

 other they becan.e as attached to each other as 

 two kittens, and the incident augured well for 

 the continuation of our efforts. 



Our search for a proper wagon to carry our 

 equipments was an arduous one. but was final- 

 ly crov/ned with success. Wishing to put on a 

 close top in which to stow our goods, and 

 which could be used as a dark-room for work- 

 ing up photographs, we secured the use of 

 neighbor Clark's shop, on condition that we 

 were to clean up his shop for the use of it. We 

 made a thorough cleaning of it, so far as bolts, 

 screws, nails, etc., were concerned, but left any 

 amount of shavings and litter. It seemed that 

 our understanding in relation to cleaning a 

 shop was different from our neighbor's; no 

 great harm, however, came from it. 



Our wagon, when finished, contained the 

 most compact and complete camping-outfit 

 very often found. Folding cots, folding chairs, 

 folding tent; my photographic outfit; Mr. 

 Wilder's bird outfit for taxidermy; our guns 

 and fishing-tackle. Although guns are good 

 at long range, we expect to bring down more 

 game with the camera, and give the readers of 

 Gleanings the benefit to a certain degree. 



* Pronounced ra y-ct'-iiah. 



On the 7th of June, every thing being in its 

 proper place in the wagon, I pulled a siring 

 attached to the shutter of the camera, and thi' 

 snap shot thus obtained shows us just ready to 

 depart upon the long journey — our objective 

 point San Francisco, over .500 miles away. 



Our first afternoon drive was to Claremont, 33 

 miles. Here we called upon Prof. Cook. We 

 found him as enthusiastic as ever over this 

 wonderful country, and his interest in bee 

 culture is unabated. Prof. C. has a few swarms 

 of bees close to his residence, and was study- 

 ing a new bee- disease that is quite prevalent in 

 and about Ontario. Mr. Herron, the San Ber- 

 nardino foul-brood inspector, was also giving 

 much attention to it. The dead larviE, instead 

 of having the black and ropy appearance of 

 faul brood, retains its shape, but in a shrunken 

 form, grayish in color, and of a watery consis- 

 tency. It is probably a disease peculiar to the 

 peculiar season, and not of a dangerous char- 

 acter, and may be akin to bee-paralysis, which 

 is so prevalent in this locality. It is hoped 

 that the investigators will strike upon a speedy 

 remedy. 



Our journey next day led us through a beau- 

 tiful fruit-country. The foot-hills were sure to 

 have their apiaries. At Duarte we found one 

 of these bee-keepers. Mr. W. W. Bliss. We 

 climbed a considerable hill to reach his resi- 

 dence, and found that the little mesa, upon 

 which his house stood, had a splendid outlook 

 over the valley, with its great variety of fruit- 

 orchards. The fruit interests have occupied 

 Mr. Bliss's attention to such an extent that 

 bee-keeping has fallen into the background, 

 and he now has but one colony of bees. He 

 was, however, busy in the Interests of bee- 

 keepers, and was making foundation. We im- 

 mediately wondered who could be getting 

 honey this dry year, and our curiosity was 

 gratified by learning that the alfalfa fields of 

 Bakersfield, and places further north, were 

 giving some honey. Mr. Bliss is a mechanical 

 genius, and his work-building is a genuine 

 curiosity shop — bee-supply business, photog- 

 raphy, electricity, and various other things. 

 In the manufacture of foundation Mr. Bliss 

 believes in keeping his wax hot a long time, 

 that all impurities may settle; also, when run- 

 ning foundation, it is handy to have the wax 

 in a melted state in the morning. For these 

 ends a furnace is employed in which a subdued 

 fire is he!d all night; but I believe the fire re- 

 fused to be subdued, or broke out in a new spot, 

 one night. The wax boiled over, and there 

 came near being a conflagration. These un- 

 certain moods of the fire led Mr. B. to connect 

 his waxworks electrically with a bell on his 

 bedpost. An undue rise in the temperature of 

 the wax in the shop rang the bell, and a calam- 

 ity was averted. The bell was also connected 

 in the same way with an incubator; and if a 

 chicken became uncomfortably hot or cold, the 



