766 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Oct. 1. 



them as quick, fleet, and full of energy. But 

 on the race-course, in the lead of coyote or 

 fox, there could be but one conclusion. It 

 stands to reason that these animals, fondled 

 and carefully tended in the small limits of the 

 rabbitry, must lack acumen, fleetness, and 

 vigor. They are the short-horns, if we may 

 use the word, among the bunny tribes. As 

 has proved true with the English rabbits, so 

 it would certainly be even more true that the 

 Belgians that escape from domestication would 

 mean speedy death and extermination. We 

 may be perfectly sure that they would fall 

 much behind even the English rabbit in power 

 to resist the hard conditions which meet all 

 such life from Colorado to the Pacific Coast. 

 I feel, then, that, while we should exercise the 

 utmost caution in introducing new species of 

 bird or mammal into every part of our coun- 

 try, we run no risk whatever in bringing in 

 these favorites of the fancier, the Belgian rab- 

 bits. It is probable that very few if any will 

 escape from the breeder. We should almost 

 as soon expect the short-horns and Herefords 

 of the western plains to escape into the wilds 

 of upland and mountain, and would be hardly 

 less surprised if the latter should develop into 

 disturbing factors than we should to learn 

 that these handsome rabbits had done so. 

 PROI.IFICNESS OF THE BEI.GIAN HARE. 

 The query comes to me as to how many 

 litters of hares it is safe and profitable to pro- 

 duce in a single season. I have seen the ex- 

 travagant statement that ten litters of eight 

 each could be produced in a year. I presume 

 this is possible, but it would certainly not be 

 wise in even so genial a clime as Southern Cal- 

 ifornia. One of our wise, conservative breed- 

 ers told me a few days ago that he preferred 

 to rear only eight litters a year. His practice 

 is as follows : He breeds the does thirty days 

 after the young are born. In two weeks he 

 weans the young, which leaves the doe two 

 weeks' freedom before a new litter is brought 

 forth. He resides in Southern California, 

 where the trying months are in mid-summer, 

 and thus he gives the does the months of July 

 and August for rest and recuperation. I know 

 of another gentleman who has very high-pric- 

 ed animals, some of which he has imported 

 at great cost from England, who is even more 

 careful of his animals. He is satisfied with 

 four litters in a year. I think I have read 

 from good authorities that it is safer to be con- 

 tent with even as few as three litters a ^^ear. 

 I should think that, unless we had very high- 

 priced animals, and would very greatly deplore 

 loss of health and life, with wise care and 

 management five litters a year would be safe 

 and profitable. Surely there are very few 

 finer-looking herds than the one owned by 

 our old friend Mr. O. Clute, the gentleman first 

 referred to above. I do not believe that, with 

 his experience, he would have settled down to 

 the practice of producing five broods a season 

 unless such a course was wise and politic. 



WHAT SHAH WE BUY ? 



A friend from Iowa writes, asking advice 

 regarding the purchase of Belgian hares. I 

 have seen rabbitries where stock of very high 



price was purchased, and others where a very 

 moderate sum was paid. The difference in 

 the animals would not, it seems to me, war- 

 rant a man, certainly not if in limited circum- 

 stances, in paying fancy prices. Why not 

 start in with cheap animals, and then, if one 

 finds the business pleasant and profitable, 

 breed up by securing more and more excellent 

 bucks ? This course certainly involves no 

 risk. It is always safe to purchase animals at 

 a price which the market will warrant. It is 

 always more or less hazardous to pay fancy 

 prices, which are often, except in the hands 

 of the expert business man, only indicative of 

 fictitious values. 

 Claremont, Cal. 



[Prof. Cook's advice in the last paragraph 

 is most excellent. It applies to bees and 

 queens as well. Beginners very often send in 

 and ask for an imported Italian or some high- 

 priced breeding-queen. Of course, we assume 

 they know their business ; but wherever we 

 can offer advice safely we urge the buying of 

 low-priced untested — - the cheapest Italian 

 queens that can be had. It is expensive busi- 

 ness to experiment with fancy and high-priced 

 stock ; and for this reason I had thought that, 

 if I went into the Belgian-hare business, I 

 would buy the commonest stock — such as is 

 sold for market, and which I could get at a 

 regular market price. In spite of extravagant 

 statements that are often made concerning 

 this business, I am one who believes, from 

 what I have read, seen, and heard, that there 

 is both pleasure and profit in the growing of 

 these little animals — pleasure to the children 

 certainly. Of all the enjoyable days of child- 

 hood, those I spent with my pigeons and tame 

 rabbits were the most so. — Ed ] 



BEES FROM TE.XAS TO CUBA. 



A True Story of how Bees and Bulls made a Trip 

 Together to Cuba. 



BY F. H. SOMERFORD. 



While engaged in the production of honey 

 in Texas I was never entirely satisfied with re- 

 sults, always thinking too much work was 

 there expended for too little gain ; for this 

 part of the State was not a good location, linn 

 being too scarce and horsemint very scarce, 

 owing to the fact that the great prairie near 

 which I was located had long since fallen a 

 victim to King Cotton. However, during the 

 good years there was usually some willow, 

 rattan, elm, and some other little inducements 

 to the bees to encourage spring brood-rearing. 

 Later on, ^he huckleberry gave them employ- 

 ment for two weeks, more or less, from which 

 some little surplus was taken. After this, 

 nothing was to be expected till linn, which 

 usually, from May 25 till June 25, kept the 

 bees tolerably busy after this. Some years 

 some surplus was stored in August and Sep- 

 tember from milkweed and morning-glory and 

 camomile. About 80 lbs. per hive was a good 

 average for a good year. Remember, these 

 plants I've been mentioning are greatly affect- 



