574 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 1. 



are steam-apparatus for spraying; potash, its function 

 in agriculture; irrigation on "the ^reat plains, includ- 

 ing pictures of home-made windmills; seed-production 

 and seed-sa\'ing; migration of weeds; cow peas; im- 

 prcfvement of our native fruits; planting waste places; 

 asparagus-beetles, etc. Of this book 100,000 copies 

 have been printed. You can get one free by writing 

 to yonr Representative in Congress. 



.'i.SPARAGUS-BEETLES. 



For many years I have read about aspara^u.s-beetles, 

 in our various agricultural papers, but rejoiced that 

 we had never known au enemy to the asparagus in 

 our localit}' — beetle or any thing el.se. A few days 

 ago, ho-wever, one of the boys called my attention to 

 the fact that one of our asparagus-patches was literal- 

 ly stripped of its foliage by a bright handsome little 

 "bug and a .sort of worm that followed it. Thej' seemed 

 to work exactly like the potato-beetles, bugs and larvse 

 right along together. We brought out our gun for 

 du.sting dr>' Paris green, and both bugs and larvse 

 <iuickly "tumbled to the racket," as the boys .say. 

 Now, then, look out. Just as .soon as you see a dozen 

 of these bugs (and you may know them becau.se they 

 are such good-looking rascals) on your asparagus you 

 had better commence dusting, wherever you .see them, 

 ■with Paris green. The government report I have 

 mentioned recommends dusting them with dry quick- 

 lime, which may answer every purpose. The above 

 report estimates that in York State, where asparagus 

 is largely grown, this beetle did <30,000 damage in ju.st 

 ■one county. Chickens will eat them readilj' if the 

 T3u.shes are shaken or cut dowu so the chickens can 

 reach them. Whatever you do, do not let them go on 

 nntil your prospects for an asparagus crop next spring 

 are ruined. 



TRANSPLANTING STRAW'BERRIES. 



I have just made a discovery in connection with the 

 Tise of that jadoo fiber I spoke to j-ou about last month, 

 that I think is going to prove of very great value in 

 disseminating new and high-priced varieties of straw- 

 herries. All the vegetable-plants we send out are, as 

 you know, either once or twice transplanted. The 

 transplanting is mainly that we may get a mass of 

 good strong bu.shy roots. Now, I have for years felt 

 that it would be exceedingly desirable if we" could do 

 this with strawberry-plant.s, .say along in July and 

 August. A great many times where you .send them 

 out thus early there will be a large showy top and 

 comparatively" few roots. Of course, you can pull off 

 the greater part of the leaves, but thi.s" does not an.swer 

 the purpose as does transplanting. Now for my in- 

 vention: 



Potted strawberr>'-plants are no new thing, as you 

 well know; but there have alwaj's been two troubles 

 with them: namely, they can not be sent by mail 

 because the nioistearth is too heavy: and if they are 

 not taken up and .shipped as soon as "the roots fill the 

 pot, they will .soon be pot-bound. 



The jadoo fiber has proved to be a wonderful .suc- 

 cess. If the pots are packed with this material, the 

 roots of any strawberry-plant will, in an incredibly 

 short space "of time, perineate the whole pot; and the 

 jadoo fiber is .so light that, with a proper amount of 

 moisture, half a cent will pay the postage on a plant. 

 Another thing, it holds the moisture better than any 

 thing el.se I ever saw. ,So j^ou see we have succeeded 

 in .sending potted plant.s"by mail, including the .soil 

 that filled the pot. There is no need of sending the 

 pot along with the plants, because the jadoo fiber 

 holds together so well, especially when permeated by 

 the strawberr>'-roots, that it can not be ea.sily shaken 

 off. I have tumbled the plants around, and taken 

 them out of the pots dozens of times, even during the 

 hotte.st days, and have fully demon.strated that they 

 .stand any amount of handling without even having 

 the foliage droop. 



Well, I have done pretty well, haven't I ? But the 

 mo,st important part of my di.scovery is yet to come. 

 It is this: Just as .soon as vour pots are full of roots, 

 sever them from the pareiit plant; slip them out of the 

 pots, and set them out in regular plant-beds spaced, 

 .say, three or four inches apart. They can be shaded 

 and watered in this plant-bed if neces.sary; but unless 

 the weather is .severely hot, I do not think shading 

 will be needed. In three or four days little white 

 roots will shoot out in every direction "from this ball 

 of jadoo fiber. In fact, .some of our little plants have 

 .sent out little white roots in such numbers that it 

 looks almost like the hairs on a frightened pu.s.sy cat; 

 and every gardener and florist, when he sees "these 

 new white roots, knows his plants are in the best pos- 

 sible condition, I need npt tell you that gur plant: 



beds are made exceedingly rich, so that every thing 

 grows under high pres.sure when it .starts out. 



Now, my dear friend, how much more do you sup- 

 pose such transplanted potted plants are worth than 

 the ordinan,' layer plants, especially for fall planting? 

 I am so anx"iou.s to have you see what thej* are like 

 that we will .send you one or more plants po.stpaid by 

 mail at the following prices: 



Darling 



Carrie 



Eavlie -t . . 

 Nick Ohiiie 

 Marg-avet.. 

 Marshall.... 

 Biandvwini 

 Will. lielt... 



Any of these will 

 e 1 cent per plant 

 ;ss for la3er plants. 



All the varieties above, except Carrie, are perfect. 

 At the above prices we pay postage or express charges. 

 Where there is an express office near your home, we 

 prefer to send 50 or more by express. 



CONVENTION NOTICE. 



Mr. Editor:— The next annual convention of the United 

 States Bee-keepers' Union will be held Jin the main hall of Ca- 

 ton'a Business College, coi-ner of Main and Huron Sts.. Buffa- 

 lo, N. T., coraniencing at 10 o'clock a m., August 21th next, and 

 closing on the afternoon of the 26th. 



Papers are to be read by W Z. Hutchinson R. K. Holter- 

 mann. E. Whitcomb, Hon. R. L Tavlor, Mrs. L. Harrison, R. C. 

 Aikin. G. M. Dooliftle. Dr. J. PH. Brown. Hon. Eugene Secor, 

 G W Bvodbeck. M. B. Holmes, A E. Manuni, E Kretchmer, 

 an ' P. H KIwood; to which will be added the President's Ad 

 dress; and perhaps the General Manager and the Secretary 

 mny have something of interest to present. 



The programs are now printed and are in the hands of the 

 Secretary. There are six bee keepers' songs, with music, in 

 the program, and abundance iif time is allotted to the discus- 

 sion of all papers, and for the asking and answering of ques- 

 tions. 



.\ny one not a member of the Union can have a program srnt 

 him by mail on receipt of 5 cents in stamps, by the Secretary. 



Several of our well-known bee-keepers, such as A. I. Root, 

 Dr. Miller, S. T. Pettit, and others, who are not on the pro- 

 eiam, will be present to help make the convention interesting 

 and instnictive. 



It U probable that suggestions will be made at this conven- 

 tion In the line of so amending the constitution of the Union 

 ns to lemove its objectionable features and add such other 

 provisions as mny seem desirable; and suggestions In this line 

 by those not able to be at the convention can be sent to the 

 Secretary, to be brought before it. Some suggestions have al- 

 ready been received by the Secretary, and others have been 

 made in the bee-papers 



Those going to the convention should buy round-trip tickets 

 t'> the Grand Aniiv of the Republic encampment (not to the 

 United States bee-keepers' convention), which meets in Buffa- 

 lo during the !a.-t week of August. The G A. R. htive secured 

 a rate of one cent a mile each wav in the toriitorv of the Cen- 

 tral Passenger Coinmittfe. wbich is im-lnileil by Toronto. Can- 

 ada thence on a line to I'oit Huron. Mich : all of tlie southern 

 peninsula of Mich,; Thicago. P.'oiia. ami i^uincv. HI ; SI. Lou- 

 i-. .Mo.; Louisville, Ky.. and Pittsbnr '. Pa. The We->tern Pas- 

 senger Asso iation imd the Trunk Linf .Association make a 

 rate of one fare 'or i he round trip in their tenitory. to places 

 in the Centrnl Passenger Association, from which points the 

 fare will be one cent a mile earh way ; but tickets must be pur- 

 ch.ised to Buffalo from the starting-point. Inquire of .your 

 ticket or station ngcnf in a'l territory outside of those named 

 above for rates and the time the tickets are good for. for I 

 have been unable to learn the rates in -^nch tenitor.v. but pre- 

 sume they will be the same as those of the Western PassenL'er 

 and the 'Tnink Line Association ; but be sure to inquire ot your 

 ticket agent, as above suggested. 



In the Central Passenger and Trunk Line territory, tickets 

 will be good going Aug. 21. 22. and 23; and, if vised at Buffalo, 

 will be good, returning, for M days. 



Mr. O. L. Hershiser of Biilfrtlu, has charge ot arrangements 

 at Buffalo, and will attend to the rnatter of hotel rates. Mr. H. 

 writes: " I purpQse obtaining accommodations in private fam- 

 ilies for all beerkeepers who prefer ^uch to hotels " Members 

 of the Union can, learn in rogaid to hotel rates by applying to 

 the Secretary at, ti»e place of meeting. If known in time, ho- 

 tel rates will be given in the bee periodicals. 



A. B. Mason-, Sec, Station B, Toledo, O. 



The ann,ual' meefring of the Northern Illinois Bee keepers' 

 Association wilt be. held at the Court-house, in Freepoi t. 111., 

 on Tue.sd^, August 17, 1897. All are cordially invited. 



B. Ke.vnbpt, Sec, New Milford, 111. 



FOR SALE==I40 Colonies Bees. 



with fixtures up to date. Three hundred extra 

 hives. Al.so ten thou.sand pounds of honey— this sea- 

 son's crop. Part of honey is in one-pound sections 

 and remainder extracted, a"nd to be. Bargain for some 



one. Yours fqr business, 



ANTHONY OPP, Helena, Ark. 



