GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



155 



sage houey that never candies, even if exposed 

 to a zero temperature. A good deal of the al- 

 falfa sent us has evidently been gathered when 

 the bees were worl<ine on something else. I 

 am glad to know of the heroic measures your 

 people have been taking to stamp out foul 

 brood. Permit me to say in this connection, 

 that, so far as I can learn, foul brood has never 

 as yet made its appearance in Salt River Val- 

 ley; and I exhorted the friends there to be very 

 careful that it never did by any hook or crook 

 get a foothold.— A. I. R.J 



THE AUSTRALIAN BLUE- GUM. OR EUCALYP- 

 TUS-TREE, IN CALIFORNIA. 



By J. H.M<irtin. 



The above-named tree is attracting much at- 

 tention on this coast as a means of increasing 

 the honey producing flora. The species com- 

 monly known as blue-gum was first introduced; 



EUCALYPTUS CORNUTA. 



and, though extensively planted for wood and 

 windbreaks, it is not an attractive tree, for its 

 habit is of the order of a bean-pole— very tall. 

 This species has a small flower and a profuse 

 bloom, commencing in November, and contin- 

 uing well through the winter. The honey 

 from the blue-gum {E. Globulus) has an am- 

 ber hue and an acrid flavor, and its only favor- 

 able feature is its value in medicinal use. 

 There are about 150 varieties of the eucalyptus- 

 tree. Some are noted for their variety of uses 

 — for timber, firewood, and shade, as well as 

 honey-production. 



Under the general name of sugar-gum are 

 several beautiful trees having a branching 

 form, long drooping leaves, and large beautiful 

 flowers in profusion, and possessing interesting 

 features. The tree derives Its name, eucalyp- 

 tus, from the peculiarity of the flower bud — 

 eu, good; calypto, to 

 cover. The bud before 

 it opens is protected by 

 a cover. These covers 

 are of great variety and 

 size, and for the most 

 part give names to the 

 trees. In some varie- 

 ties the cover is a 

 mere disk which drops 

 ott" when the blossom 

 opens. In others the 

 cover takes the shape 

 of a cone, as in E. Cor- 

 nuta. The photograph 

 that accompanies this 

 description was taken 

 from the blossom of E. 

 Cornuta, and shows 

 blossom in the various 

 stages of development. 

 The closed bud has the 

 appearance of a double 

 cone. A little further 

 along the upper cone is 

 crowded off somewhat, 

 showing the white fila- 

 ments of the blossom 

 ready to burst from 

 their prison. They soon 

 do burst forth in beau- 

 ty, and the brown cone 

 drops to the ground. 

 The calyx develops in- 

 to a hard hollowed 

 cup; and In the early 

 morning this cup is full 

 of nectar, and a shake 

 of the tree will cause 

 a shower of nectar to 

 descend. 



This species of tree 

 is very profuse in blos- 

 soms, blossoming sev- 



