1888 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



441 



side the hive, provided they have a proper en- 

 trance and a shade-board in very warm weather. 

 Winchester, Ky., Jan. 16, 1888. J. S. Reese. 



Friend R., you have given us a good 

 point. Those metal honey-boards will cer- 

 tainly clean and scrape off better than the 

 wood-zinc board. 



A LETTER FROM FRIEND 

 ONCE MORE. 



GALLUP 



HE IS STILL ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT CALIFORNIA. 



gDITOR GLEANINGS:-! am receiving- (luite a 

 number of inquiries about bee-keeping, etc., 

 in California, and they ask if it is a fact tliat 

 the law prevents keeping bees in the valleys. 

 The city council of Los Angeles passed an 

 ordinance imposing a fine of ffiOO for keeping bees 

 in the city limits. Within two weeks after the pass- 

 age of said ordinance a swarm was discovered in 

 the tower of the court-house, two swarms in Tem- 

 ple Block, two in the U. S. Hotel. The fact is, there 

 are probably 300 or ;J0O swarms in the city limits to- 

 day. They locate in chimneys, cornices, casings, 

 cliflfs, or trees, in squirrel-holes, in churches, stores, 

 etc. They are perfectly at home in this climate. 

 Now we see them clustered on trees, bunches of 

 weeds, etc. They are independent of human laws 

 and ordinances. Yet do not suppose that they are a 

 nuisance, except at fruit-ripening, when they eat 

 up lots of ripe fruit. 



We have had abundance of rain, and the growth of 

 vegetation and wild tiowers is immense, so the bee- 

 keepers are expecting a large harvest this season. 

 Swarming is in full blast in most of the apiaries; 

 still, the higher one is located up on the mountains, 

 the later the swarming commences. Our highest 

 mountains are now covered with snow. It is a 

 novel sight to eastern people. Here in the valleys 

 we have the golden orange in all its l^eauty, the 

 trees loaded with ripe fruit and blossoms, contrast- 

 ed against the dark green of the foliage. The 

 whole atmosphere in the vicinity of the orchards is 

 filled with rich perfume, and almost perpetual 

 snow right in sight. The dark beautiful green of 

 the foot-hills, and the dense growth of vegetation 

 in the entire valley, is seen, and yet in midsummer 

 all this is changed outside of the tilled or settled 

 portion of the country. I wish all to understand 

 that no one can form a correct opinion of this 

 country, its prospects, capabilities, etc., until he 

 has been here at least one year; and I know of no 

 one who has resided here one year who has any de- 

 sire to live east of the Rockies; still, every one 

 must see for himself. All can not see with my 

 eyes. No one can possibly form any correct idea of 

 this rich country's development within the next 

 five or ten years. It has been immense for the past 

 five years;*and the more it is known, with its in- 

 comparable climate, the more people will come 

 here to make it their home. Come and see for 

 yourselves. Do not take my word for any thing. 

 Santa Ana, Cal., April 13, 1888. E. Gallup. 



Well, old friend, have you, too, been hi- 

 bernating all this time? or is the beautiful 

 climate of California so eiiticinjx that you 

 do not have time to write for the bee-jour- 

 nalsV I expect to visit my brothers, near 

 San Diego, next October or November ; and 

 if you are not too far away I may try to 

 hunt you up. 



MTATER FOR BEES DURING SHIP- 

 MENT. 



FRIEND FLANAfiAN REVIVES AN IMPORTANT 

 MATTER. 



T|p NY one who has ever bought bees that have 

 glj^ had to be packed and sent any considerable 

 ^«' distance, especially if the weather was hot, or 

 ■*^ the colonies strong, has noticed with what 

 avidity the little fellows lapped up the water 

 that some considerate one has sprinkled over them : 

 and on opening the hive a quick observer would at 

 once remark the total absence of all uncapped 

 larvie, and, in many cases, the destruction of the 

 capped but immature l)rood, resulting in quite a 

 loss to the receiver. Many old hands at shipping, 

 place a sponge, saturated with water, others a com- 

 mon sack or cloth, on the top of the hive, wet with 

 water; but these methods are imperfect, except 

 for very short distances, as the outside of the 

 sponge or cloth soon dries out, and the moisture is 

 not accessible to the bees. The cloth or sack also 

 obstructs ventilation, which is a very important 

 item in hot weather. Some have tried tin tubes 

 filled with water; but none, so far as my knowledge 

 extends, have been practical for long distances. 

 Now, I have hit on a plan that to me is an excellent 

 one, and has been attended with most excellent re- 

 sults. It is simply to take an empty comb, or, if 

 the colony or colonies to be shipped are very 

 strong, two of them, and fill them with water as 

 Dr. C. C. Miller and others do with syrup when they 

 want to feed their bees. But if you do not know 

 how that is I will tell you how I do it. I take a tub, 

 or vessel large enough to hold the comb in a hori- 

 zontal position. Take a common sprinkling-pot; 

 fill it with water, and hold it three or four feet 

 above the comb. In a moment the comb on one 

 side will be filled. Turn it over and fill the other 

 side. Give it a little shake, to throw off the water 

 that may adhere on the outside, then place it in the 

 shipping-case or hive, on the outside of the frames 

 of brood and honey (one on each outside if two 

 combs are used, which is the best plan, if the colo- 

 ny is a very strong one). Fasten as you do the oth- 

 er frames, and you will have no trouble by the bees 

 sucking dry the immature larvpe, or suffering from 

 thirst. You will find it profitable as well as hu- 

 mane to do so, as the one receiving the bees will at 

 once see the difference in the strength of the colo- 

 ny and its superior condition, for it will, if not too 

 roughly handled, continue to breed as if at home. 



The one who sends his bees so they will arrive at 

 their destination in the best possible condition will 

 get the greatest number of orders, and do the larg- 

 est business, other things being equal. This meth- 

 od is simple, practical, and is not a theory by any 

 means. Only yesterday I received a letter from a 

 party living in the northwestern part of Manitoba, 

 Canada, who had tried to get other parties to send 

 bees and insure their safe delivery, but failed to do 

 so, no one being willing to run the risk. He writes: 

 "The bees were delayed eight days, and I was sure 

 they would all be dead; but what was my surprise 

 and gratification to find them all alive and in excel- 

 lent condition, and not over three-fourths of a tea- 

 cupful of dead bees, that died of old age." 



If the last lines should look too much like an ad- 

 vertisement, cut them oft, and fix it to suit your- 

 self. E. T. Flanagan, 



Belleville, 111., May 10, 1888. 



