1900 



GIvEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



45 



but we can refer to them only as phenomenal, 

 for they seldom occur twice in the same local- 

 ity. These phenomenal yields have always 

 been within the sage-belt, and from that source; 

 and it is safe to say that, in the production of 

 quantities of pure sage honey, California has 

 seen its best days — but not its best days in the 

 production of honey, mind you. 



Referring to the little map of comparisons, 

 we find that California has a population of a 

 little over a million, while the Eastern States 

 of the same area have sixteen millions. It is 

 a foregone conclusion that the waste places in 

 California will rapidly fill up with people, 

 bringing changes in the products of the soil, 

 and more of a diversity in the honey resources 

 and in the quality of the honey. 



That the honey resources of California are 

 changing, and will increase to greater propor- 

 tions than ever, can be easily demonstrated in 

 Central California. In this portion of the 

 State, where a few years ago the land was so 

 barren that, upon hundreds of square miles, a 

 bee could not live, there are now thriving 

 farms and thousands of acres of alfalfa. Ir- 

 rigation has made this great change. This 

 area of alfalfa is now confined in a great mea- 

 sure to locations not at a great distance from 

 the railroads. Outside of this area are thou- 

 sands of square miles yet to be populated and 

 brought under cultivation, and it is safe to say 

 that alfalfa will be one of the principal crops. 



"We never hear of phenomenally large yields 

 of honey in Central California, but they are 

 blessed with something better — no total fail- 

 ures. The honey yield fluctuates more or less, 

 as it does in all locations ; but there is a rea- 

 sonably sure income from the apiary every 

 year ; and the carloads of honey from Central 

 California, which are already numerous, will 

 steadily increase. In the eastern portion of 

 the middle of the State we find Owens River 

 Valley, not of great size. It is hemmed in by 

 immense mountains, and here the bee-keeper 

 produces alfalfa honey of the finest quality. 

 Owing to location, or some other cause, the 

 honey is of lighter shade than honey from the 

 same source in other portions of the State. 



The development of the honey resources in 

 Northern California has not kept up with the 

 development in the south. It is a mountain- 

 ous country ; and in those portions where hon- 

 ey can be produced, the cost of transportation 

 to market eats too much into the profits to 

 make it a paying business at the present prices 

 of honey. It is safe to say that there is an 

 area in Northern California equal to the area 

 of New York State where there is not a car- 

 load of honey shipped ; and where it is pro- 

 duced it is sold in the limited home market. 

 It costs as much to ship honey from the Ore- 

 gon line to San Francisco (a little over 300 

 miles) as it does from San Francisco to New 

 York. There is a future, however, for North- 

 ern California honey production. With more 

 and competing lines of transportation, more 

 settlement of the waste places, and more alfal- 

 fa, carloads will begin to move out. Many of 

 our prominent bee-keepers, even in Southern 

 California, see in alfalfa the great and perma- 

 nent honey-plant of the future. 



This great forage plant is in direct accord 

 with the interests of every agricultural com- 

 munity. Alfalfa first, cattle next, then the 

 flowing of milk and honey, typical of the 

 highest prosperity of a State. 



California is justly noted for its immense 

 fruit industry, and much has been said about 

 this source of honey. However, it cuts but 

 a small figure. The time of bloom is of short 

 duration, and the secretion of honey not abun- 

 dant. The orange-bloom, where the trees are 

 abundant, gives a fair surplus ; but it would 

 not pay for the bee-keeper to depend wholly 

 upon that source alone for his living. 



At present the best locations for success in 

 honey production in California are found all 

 the way from the Sacramento Valley to San 

 Diego ; and the bee-keeper who intends to 

 move to this State should write to the Cham- 

 bers of Commerce in San Francisco and Ivos 

 Angeles for literature giving much informa- 

 tion about the respective ends of the State. 

 In fact, it would be a good plan for almost any- 

 body who would like to know more of the re- 

 sources of this great State to send for this lit- 

 erature. 



Then it would be a good plan for the emi- 

 grant, when he arrives, to take time to look 

 the ground over. Ride by rail and wheel 

 through the central portion of the State. The 

 largest alfalfa districts are between Fresno 

 and Bakersfield. Two weeks' time could be 

 profitably spent in looking this field over, and 

 a longer time could be spent in Southern Cal- 

 ifornia ; for you can see, b)' referring to the 

 map, that the great State of Ohio covers only 

 about half of this end of California. 



When a location is selected it is of the ut- 

 most importance that the occupant of it make 

 up his mind to like his new home, and laud it 

 to the skies upon any and all occasion. That 

 is always the first duty of all true Californians. 



I am sorry to know that some people are al- 

 ways cursing their lot and their surroundings. 

 Well, we want no such people here. Their 

 somber souls would be sadly out of place in 

 this God-given land of health and sunshine ; 

 and wherever a number of such people con- 

 gregate, there you will find a dead town and a 

 well-filled graveyard. 



In thinking over the matter of a change of 

 residence, do not hesitate on account of health 

 or old age, for this is a healthful climate, and, 

 as Dr. Gallup has it, " It is the old man's par- 

 adise." 



Taking it all in all, the bee-keeping indus- 

 try of California has a brilliant future ; and all 

 the present members of the fraternity have to 

 do is to stick to the business and hasten the 

 day of great prosperity. 



[This article from one who has rambled so 

 extensively over the State, and who has stud- 

 ied its problems and resources so carefully, 

 is, I think, the fairest and most comprehen- 

 sive we have ever received. As we get so 

 many inquiries from health-seekers and others 

 who desire to change their bee-pasturages for 

 something better, we have decided to make 

 this into a pamphlet or leaflet, entitled, 

 " California as a Honey Country," by John H. 

 Martin. Price 2 cts. postpaid. — Ed.] 



