Mar. 21, 1907 



American lU^e Journal 



pay the carfare ($470) for each of the 

 importers. Surely, if one had much of 

 such sweets, and could realize as well 

 on all of it as did those early bee-en- 

 thusiasts, he would have something 

 better than a gold-mine. The price 

 mentioned was better, however, than 

 that obtained in San Jose for the first 

 crop of honey produced in the State, 

 so far as known. One pioneer bee- 

 keeper had 400 pounds of box honey in 

 1856, which was sold for from $1.50 to 

 $2.00 per pound. That price was not 

 bad, either; (in lieu of $5.00 I think I 

 would be satisfied with the $1.50 figure. ) 



The Coming Honey Season 



What will the crop be? I don't 

 know ; better ask the Man in the 

 Moon. No one knows what a crop will 

 be several months ahead in California, 

 any more than lu- can tell elsewhere. 

 One thing, everything is very favor- 

 able for an abundant harvest. A suc- 

 cession of cool nl^^hts may retard nec- 

 tar-secretion in tlie flowers, so that the 

 honey output will be small. We can 

 not bank upon it, so we shall wait and 

 see. 



That is a hard thing to speak of, 

 though nearly all of us drop into talk- 



Bee-Keepino: at Berkeley 



I learn that Ralph Benton is giving 

 a series of lectures at the University of 

 California upon bee-keeping. The lec- 

 tures are given Saturday afternoons at 

 Berkeley, and are free to all who may 



this paragraph I may remark that it 

 was hoped for a long time that the 

 California University would call Prof. 

 A. J. Cook to the Chairof Entomology. 

 I trust it will do so. Then what a 

 strong showing bee-cultural this al- 

 ready prominent seat of learning will 

 make ! 



" Songs of Beedom."— This is a t)eaii 

 tiful l(J-page-an(]-cover pamphlet, 0x0 inches 

 in size, coDtalning 10 bee-songs— words and 

 music — all the songs so far written specially 

 for bee-keepers, we l>elieve. It is nice, as 

 well as convenient, to have these songs all in 

 one binding. Every twe-keepers' organiza- 

 tion should have copies for use at conven- 

 tions. They could be sold to members after 

 using once, or held by the secretary for use 



A Characteristic Southern Caufoknian Scene — East San Beknardino Vai<i,ey. 



ing of the weather and the season 

 quite often. 'Tis a habit we all sort of 

 fall into — perhaps we learn to do so at 

 the barber shop — a bad place to learn 

 anything much, to tell the truth. But, 

 to the season ; 



Well, so far it is all that any bee- 

 keeper could desire. Plenty of rain, 

 and more. February opened up in fine 

 style ; vegetation boomed ahead as if 

 it were in a hot-house with bottom-heat. 

 In the hives brood-rearing spread out 

 fairly rapidly ; honey and pollen came 

 in so plentifully that a surplus of it 

 was stored. By the middle of March 

 some swarms were expected in the cen- 

 tral portion of the State. 



wish to attend. It has not yet been 

 my privilege to meet this gifted young 

 gentleman, withal he does not live a 

 hundred miles from where I am writ- 

 ing this. (I wonder if he can hear the 

 click of my typewriter, as I run off 

 these lines.) I am glad the Regents of 

 the University have secured some one 

 that knows something practical about 

 bees. Heretofore the entomological 

 part of the bee was well considered by 

 the department, but never was a cap- 

 able person in charge of the practical 

 side of bee-culture. As Mr. Benton 

 grows older, I have not the least doubt 

 but the bee-world will hear something 

 remarkable from him. Before I close 



at future meetings. Of course, every bee- 

 keeper's family will want at least one copy. 

 It is sent, postpaid, for only 25 cents, or 3 

 copies for 60 cents; or, we will mail one copy 

 with the American Bee Journal one year — 

 both for -$1.10. Send all orders to the oflSce 

 of the American Bee Journal. 



Our fVood Binder (or Holder) is 

 made to take all the copies of the American 

 Bee Journal fora year. It is sent by mail 

 for 20 cents. Full directions accompany. 

 The Bee Journals can be inserted as soon as 

 they are received, and thus preserved for 

 future reference. Or we will send it with the 

 American Bee Journal a year— both for $1.10. 

 Address office of the American Bee Journal. 



