358 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



June 10, 



pended upon to withstand the greatest drouths. It will also 

 last for many years and withstand the severest freezing. 



I expected to hear Mr. Terry, in his remarks to you about 

 clovers, explain the manner, as near as this has been deter- 

 mined, in which these leguminous plants renovate the soil. 

 Since some understanding of this may be of use to bee-keep- 

 ers who are trying to raise some of these crops, I will state as 

 briefly as possible the view generally accepted. It it as fol- 

 lows : 



The roots of many leguminous plants not only go deep in- 

 to the soil and bring the soluble salts to the surface where they 

 are more available for other crops, but these plants also pos- 

 sess the power of taking quantities of free nitrogen from the 

 air and fixing it as a part of their own substance. The man- 

 ner in which they do this has been the subject of careful in- 

 vestigation in Germany, and it has been shown that the bulb- 

 ous swellings, known as tubercles, on the roots of such plants 

 are connected with the acquisition of nitrogen by these plants, 

 and further that these tubercles are formed through the action 

 of certain bacteria living in the soil. Moreover, it is probable 

 that there are various species of bacteria peculiar to the differ- 

 ent leguminous plants, as it has been found, in practice, that 

 some clovers, as well as other Leguminos«, put for the first 

 time on a given piece of land do not always succeed at first, 

 even tho the land be good and the climate apparently favor- 

 able. But after the application of a light dressing — a mere 

 sprinkling of surface soil taken from a field on which this par- 

 ticular crop had been successfully grown, and which, there- 

 fore, contained the bacteria peculiar to this plant — the latter 

 was found to thrive in its new location. Also in some cases 

 the bacteria, too few in number^ multiply with continuous ef- 

 fort to raise the given crop, until at last success with it is pos- 

 sible. I mention this matter lest some, in trials of these crops 

 for forage and as honey-plants, should conclude too hastily 

 that a given one would not succeed in their location. It is also 

 a very striking illustration of how a cause so entirely beyond 

 the reach of the ordinary observer, may materially affect a 

 certain practical result and lead to very erroneous conclusions. 

 In our own special pursuit no doubt similar cases frequently 

 occur. 



The Carob (Ceratonia silifjiua). whose long pods are some- 

 times called " St. John's Bread," is a luguminous tree growing 

 In most Mediterranean countries whence its fruits are an im- 

 portant acticle of export. In Tunis, Italy, Syria, and Cyprus 

 I found it yielding quite a little honey. It is a fine shade and 

 ornamental tree besides yielding quantities of fruits which 

 furnish very nourishing food for stock. Moreover, it grows 

 on very rocky, sterile lands where no rain falls from April to 

 November. It is worthy of extensive cultivation in the South- 

 west. 



Asparagus (Asparagus offlcinalis) when left to go to seed 

 blossoms during mid-summer and is visited by bees. 



The European Chestnut (Castanea castanea L.) and the 

 American (C. dentntn Marsh.) and Japanese (C japonica DC.) 

 varieties are eagerly visited by the bees for honey and pollen 

 in May or June, according to the latitude. The Japanese, 

 being dwarf, bears early, even when but two to three years 

 old, producing also very large nuts. The European variety 

 (also known as Italian or Spanish chestnut) is said to do best 

 In the Southwest. 



Chinquapin (Castanea pumila) is the only other represen- 

 tative we have in the chestnut genus. It is a shrub-like tree 

 which yields honey and pollen, as well as very sweet edible 

 nuts about half the size of chestnuts. The nuts are salable, 

 and the tree might be planted as a hedge or windbreak. It 

 grows nearly everywhere in the South, but would doubtless 

 prove hardy in the North also. I understand the Michigan 

 Experiment Station has planted some. The objectionable fea- 

 ture it has, so far as I know — it is abundant near my apiary— is 

 that It suckers immoderately from the central stool, but can 

 be easily confined to this and Is easily exterminated by remov- 

 ing the crown. 



The Filbert or European Hazelnut (Corylus avellann) can 

 be profitably grown wherever our wild hazelnut grows. Since 

 they afford much early pollen for our bees I am glad to note 

 that they are being planted by our horticulturists. 



Chicory (Chleorium inlybus) will grow readily in the Uni- 

 ted States. The root is dried and used as coffee or mixt with 

 coffee. It Is largely grown In Europe, being in Belgium a 

 leading product. Five years ago that country sent about 

 $11,000 worth to America, while last year It sent us some 

 $130,000 worth, or more than ten times as much, and our 

 annual Importations of this product from all countries exceed 

 one-third of a million dollars in value. European physicians 

 recommend its use Instead of coffee or mixt with colTee by 

 those who have stomach troubles or whose nerves do not per- 

 mit tho use of coffee alone. Many prefer tho taste of the hey- 



erage made from this mixture to that prepared from coffee 

 alone. Since there is an increasing demand for this product, 

 and the chicory plant Is a good honey-producer, remaining in 

 bloom during a good part of July and August, a handsome 

 plant with its bright blue and abundant flowers, and stands 

 drouth well, bee-keepers should be the ones to take advantage 

 of the market and raise it. 



(Continued next week.) 



CONDUCTED BT 

 DR. O. O. MILLER, IkLARENGO, ILL, 



[Questions may be mailed to the Bee Journal, or to Dr. Miller direct.! 



Uniting Weak Colonics. 



What is the most satisfactory way to double up two weak 

 colonies and make one strong colony '? They are very weak, 

 and one colony alone will not fill a tea-cup, but I think by 

 doubling them I can make one strong colony. 



I have just started, and have 16 colonies. I am deriving 

 much good from the American Bee Journal. 



Louisiana. 



Answer. — At this time of year when bees are busy gath- 

 ering there is no trouble whatever about uniting — just unite. 

 Set one hive over the other and let them unite at their leisure, 

 or lift frames and bees out of one hive and put into the other. 

 If you have a preference as to queens, kill the poorer one a 

 day or so before uniting. There will be less trouble about the 

 bees going back to the old location if the bees that are to be 

 moved have their queen killed a day or two before moving. 



Bee-Keeping a§ a Business. 



1. I am seriously thinking of selecting bee-culture as my 

 pursuit in the near future. This is, however, not definitely 

 settled, depending, among other things, upon my experience 

 this summer, and your advice. I never paid any attention to 

 bees until last s-ummer, so I am altogether at a loss to select a 

 suitable place — the first requisite for successful bee-culture. 

 On the selecting of a location I would like more light. I 

 therefore would like the benefit of your experience in select- 

 ing a location where bee-culture may successfully be practiced. 

 I suppose California would be an ideal place, but I understand 

 that competition is very sharp, and the market the poorest 

 in the United States. I really have a preference for north- 

 west Arkansas, but I do not know whether the flora there 

 furnishes sufficient nectar. Some strawberries are raised 

 there, and great apple-orchards are abundant — that Is the 

 end of my knowledge. 



2. If one devotes himself entirely to bee-culture, with a 

 capital of from $500 to $1,000, how should he invest it ? 



3. Should he depend upon the sale of honey and wax 

 alone for his income ? 



4. Would it pay to have queen-rearing in connection 

 with it •? 



5. What race is mostly in demand, and what is approxi- 

 mately the price at the different seasons for a tested queen of 

 select breeding? Of course it differs materially whether I can 

 sell 8 or 10 or 50 to 100 In one season. 



6. What else might one do to make it pay? I do not 

 mean to acquire wealth, but would expect pleasure and a com- 

 fortable living. Germany. 



Answers. — 1. To advise as to location is so.difficult as to 

 be fairly clast as impossible. What is best for one may not be 

 best for another. There are some locations where the bee- 

 keeper is practically shut out from all the world, and while 

 one might endure it, another would rather saw wood for a 

 living and be whore he could see folks. Then there is the 

 matter of health to be considered, and all locations are not 

 equally healthy. 



Rapid adjustments are all the time taking place, a spe- 

 cially favored locality being speedily filled with bee-keepers 



