1886 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



7fi7 



vention of bee-keepers? I have met many of my 

 brother bee-keepers at conveutions, but I hope to 

 meet still more of them at the coming meeting at 

 Indianapolis. 



By the way, it may be cheaper for many to go 

 via Chieago, as we can secure very low excursion 

 rates to that city, and reduced rates from Chicago 

 to Indianapolis. I think \ shall go that way myself. 

 There is only one objection to raj- going via Chica- 

 go; and that is, that I can buy an excursion ticket 

 upon Tuesday on/j/, hence I can not reach Indian- 

 apolis until Wednesday morning. 



Kogersville, Mich. W. z. Hutchinson. 



Friend H., I believe I entirely aj?ree with 

 you here in regard to the benefit of conven- 

 tions. I suppose each bee-keeper, however, 

 knows best whether he can afford it or not. 

 So far as I am concerned, I feel now that I 

 have no right to be absent, and I expect to 

 attend every vKtioiwl convention held, so 

 long as I live and God gives me health and 

 means to be on hand. 



CAMPANEA, OB BELLFLOWER. 



THE CHEAT HONEV-PLANT OF THE WEST INDIES. 



fHE campanea (better known as belltlower) is 

 indigenous to all the West India Islands. 

 There are at least four varieties, two of 

 which are known to yield honey. One of 

 these blooms from about the middle of Sep- 

 tember till March, but yields very moderately. The 

 other blooms from November till March, and 

 is at its best from December to about February 

 1.5th, when it gradually declines and finallj' ceases 

 altogether by the 1st of March. This last variety is 

 far more numerous than all the others combined, 

 covering the hedges, small branching trees, and 

 bushes, throughout the length and breadth of 

 Cuba, scenting the air with its sweet and delicate 

 perfume — not unlike that of the pink during the 

 period of its bloom. 



In describing the appearance of this trailing vine 

 in full bloom, friend Osborn aptly compares the 

 sight to " long windrows of drifted snow seen at a 

 distance." When in the vicinity of large apiaries, 

 1 he volume of sound occasioned by the mingled 

 hum of millions of contented bees and other in- 

 sects, all busy in gathering the delicious nectar, re- 

 minds one of the music of ocL-an waves breaking 

 on a distant rock-bound coast. Strike from the list 

 t)f honey-producing flora this (lucen of Howers, and 

 you diminish by more than one-half the entire hon- 

 ey production of the West Indies. 



In appearance, bellHowcr much resembles the 

 niorningglory, the bloom being about the same 

 size and shape, but i)erfectly circular and more 

 flaring. In color it is lyhjte, except about one- 

 fourth of its lower and inner concave surface, 

 which Is a dark purplish yellow. The nectar is as 

 white as that obtained from the basswood — very 

 thick, averaging 12 lbs. to the gallon. It has a deli- 

 cate aroma, and is the most delicious and palatable 

 pf any variety of honey we ever tasted, anc) is 

 destitute of that " stinging " sensation in the 

 throat, so common to most of the honey pro- 

 duced in this country, particularly that gathered 

 Irom white clover. As the Cuban wintgrs ■— when 

 campanea is in full bloom — are not unlike our 

 summer.*, it occurred to me that this plant, by the 

 peculiar process knpAvn to botanists. mJgljMJti the 



course of time, be so acclimated as to prove a boon 

 to our honey-producers. With this end in view I 

 send you some of the seeds of this best variety, 

 gathered by myself, requesting you to send a little 

 to friends Newman and Prof. Cook, and to any oth- 

 ers you think possess the patience and facilities for 

 giving the plant a fair chance. Of course, you will 

 be expected to be chairman of that " committee," 

 and be the chief experimenter, reporting progress 

 from time to time through ths columns of Glean- 

 ings. A. J. King. 

 New York, N. Y., Sept., 188B. 



Many thanks, 

 friend King, 

 for your con- 

 sideration, 

 and especial- 

 ly for the 

 seeds of this 

 b e a u t i f u 1 

 West - India 

 b e 1 1 tl o w e r. 

 AVe will ft)r- 

 \\ a r d the 

 seeds with 

 pleasure, and 

 take pains to 

 see what they 

 will do in our 

 climate. And, 

 by the way, 

 in tlie 

 tember 

 ber of 

 bright 

 c h e e 

 monthly, /^/p- 

 ular G<irdrn- 

 imf, we lind a 

 pictin-e of one 

 of the bell- 

 flowers, Cam- 

 p anul a ra- 

 puncicloicles. 

 Through the 



Sep 



luim- 



that 



and 



r f u 1 



OMMBINO BELIjFLOWBU, 



