GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mar. 1. 



qualities. The results are from breeding for a 

 series of years in locations noted for a high and 

 uniform temperature. Now, I have applied 

 the same principles to the breeding of queens. 

 For four years I have been experimenting; and 

 by keeping my breeding- hives at a high and 

 uniform temperature I have attained the re- 

 sults you have witnessed in the hives." 



" Doctor, you say a high and uniform temper- 

 ature; what do you call a high temperature, 

 and how do you keep it uniform ? " 



" I find," replied the doctor, " that, for queen- 

 rearing, 101 degrees brings the best results, and 

 with the hot sulphur water, as it flows from 

 the springs, there is no change of temperature; 

 and, taking it at a point where it is cooled 

 down to 101 degrees, and there placing my 

 queen-rearing hives, you observe I can keep a 

 uniform temperature both night and day. I 

 tell you it is of the utmost importance." 



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'• THEY EXAMINED ALL OP THE HIVES. 



" What strain of bees did you commence 

 breeding from ? " queried Fred. 



" I imported an Italian queen through the A. 

 I. Root Co., and then I reared drones from a 

 native strain. It has taken much labor and 

 weeding-out. Within the past four years I 

 have reared hundreds of queens, and the ten , 

 you saw are only the survival of the fittest, and 

 I guarantee they are the finest in the world." 



"I think so too," said Fred, " and it is not 

 right to hide their value much longer in this 

 valley. Why, doctor, you have a fortune just 

 in the matter of queen-rearing in this valley." 



" Possibly," replied the doctor; and, mount- 

 ing his donkey, he said, " I think we have talk- 

 ed bees long enough for to-day. We will now 

 return to camp by way of this terrace and the 



Wis-ton-we; then we shall have seen about all 

 of the prominent features of the valley. But, 

 Fred, you can live here a lifetime and still find 

 something new and interesting to admire." 



" Much upon the plan of the botanist," said 

 Fred, '* who, putting his hand down upon the 

 grassy lawn, said that under his hand there 

 was enough material upon which to spend a 

 lifetime of study." 



" Yes, in comparison to the great world this 

 little valley is but a trifling afifair. But, Fred, 

 trifling affairs sometimes make a great stir in 

 the world. But, now, ' faint sounds the tink- 

 ling of the waterfall,' " quoted the doctor, as 

 they approached the upper end of the valley. 

 "The Wis-ton-we is an ever agreeable com- 

 panion." 



As the donkeys carried them safely down a 

 steep grade, Fred espied the long glassy chute 

 in the face of the cliff, through which he had 

 been sent, or initiated, into the 

 valley. 



" There, doctor, I came near losing 

 my senses in that thing; and until 

 Sam explained the matter I was 

 very angry at you. I was fighting 

 mad, I tell you." 



"Charity," said the doctor, " suf- 

 ferelh long and is kind; thinketh 

 no evil; endureth all things." 



After inspecting the peculiar ele- 

 vator with its rude rawhide water- 

 balance and rude mechanism, they 

 returned to the doctor's cabin. 



"I think you now have a very 

 good idea of the valley," said the 

 doctor, "and will need no chaperon 

 to accompany you." 



"Yes, doctor, and I think I will 

 take a run down to the sulphur 

 springs and take a bath." 



Fred thoroughly enjoyed all he 

 saw that day; and, after a prolong- 

 ed bath, he felt much refreshed. 



The evening shadows began to 

 gather before his return; and as he 

 followed the winding pathway up stream he 

 heard Sam's voice echoing down the valley: 



" H-o-o, h-o-o! all ye! h-o-ol eberybody h-o-o! 

 Come disway! h-o-o! de coffee am a bilin'; de 

 hoe cake am aspilin'! h-o-o! h-o-o! all bans 

 roun for supper! h-o-oo!' 



Fr d stopped to hear the music of that simple 

 call; and as the echoes died away in the crags 

 above he exclaimed: "I declare, if those ne- 

 groes are not always musical. Perhaps it is 

 because I am hungry: but that is the most 

 artistic call to dinner I ever heard." 



The doctor wished to make more extensive 

 preparations for queen-rearing, and their con- 

 versation by night and by day was queens and 

 bees. The rest of the week they were busy in 

 the shop, talking, planning, and working; the- 



