24 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



May 15 



Satan's Imps were coming in the shape of mosQui- 

 toes or gnats to provoke me to think bad words, 

 even if I do not say them. Oil of cltronella is a 

 wonderful preventive or remedy. If you have some 

 complicated or intricate work that requires a 

 steady hand, and nothing in your way, just pour a 

 drop of cltronella in the palm of one hand, then rub 

 the hands together, then pass them over your face 

 and eyes, around your neck, and over your wrists. 

 Just one drop will do ihe work. Mosquitoes, gnats, 

 sand flies, and every other Insect will start for a job 

 somewhere else, and you can go on with your work 

 without hindrance. Spirits of camphor, oil of cedar, 

 peppermint, lemon juice, pennyroyal, etc., answer 

 the same purpose to a certain extent. This bulle- 

 tin recommends a m ixture of all of them. Of course, 

 these things are only preventives, and only tempo- 

 rary ones at that; for the perfume that drives the 

 insects away is soon gone. If mixed with vaseline, 

 however, citronella is much more lasting. Mrs. 

 Root objects to the perfume; but I find it rather 

 pleasant than otherwise. Burning something like 

 a smudge answers much the same purpose; and 

 burning pyrethrum powder is still more effective. 

 If burned in a close room the mosquitoes will be so 

 stupefied as to fall on the floor, when they can be 

 swept up and destroyed. Burning sulphur answers 

 the same purpose, but, of course, you will have to 

 vacate the room. The principal part of the bulletin, 

 however, is devoted to the abolition of breeding- 

 places. Everybody should know. If he does not al- 

 ready, that standing water is what causes mosqui- 

 toes. Half a beer-bottle, we are told, if left where it 

 will catch rain water, will breed mosquitoes by the 

 hundreds if not thousands. So It seems that beer- 

 bottles are bad things to have around, even after 

 they are broken up and thrown away. Where wa- 

 ter must stand exposed (your rain-water barrel or 

 cistern, for instance), it can be covered with fine 

 wire cloth, or a very little kerosene can be kept on 

 the surface. A spoonful thrown into a rain-water 

 barrel once a week will not only kill the "wigglers," 

 but it will keep the mosquitoes away. We hear a 

 good deal about eucalyptus and other plants that 

 keep mosquitoes away. The bulletin has this to say 

 Tn regard to it: " Observations made by scientific 

 men In different parts of the world negative their 

 value." 



If you want the bulletin, apply to the Department 

 of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



Just after dictating the above, another bulletin 

 was put in my hands, just issued by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, entitled " More Facts about 

 Malaria." This bulletin should be In the hands of 

 every person or family where malaria exists. Let 

 me make a few extracts: 



The disease known as malaria, or fever and ague, or chills 

 and fever, or mursh fever, and the varlftlee calleil Intermit- 

 tent fever, remittent fever, an-l pernlclons fever, are caused 

 by parasites In the blood which feed upon the red blood-cells. 



And again: 



Malarial fever is, then, an Infectious dlseace, which is car- 

 ried from the sick to the healthy by anophellne monqultoes, 

 and only In this way can It be contracted. 



The astonishing part of the last clause of the 

 above sentence, declaring that malaria and kin- 

 dred fevers come about only through the agency of 

 mosquitoes, is new to me. Here Is another state- 

 ment: 



It has always been known that malaria Is most prevalent In 

 the vicinity of marshes, and It was formerly pupposed that 

 the air or exhalations from these marshes produced the dis- 

 ease. Parasites of malaria have not been found In the water 

 or air of marshes, nor In decaying vegetation, nor In the 

 soil, although they have been diligently searched for. At- 

 tempts to produce infection by these agencies have always 

 failed The mosquitoes which carry these parasites, how- 

 ever, breed in marshes or In marshy pools and streams. 



Issuing from thes« breeding-places, they enter nearby 

 houses, and feed upon the inmates, mostly at night, biting 

 first one person and then others, and living for weeks or 

 months. 



If the above is true, it is of the utmost impor- 

 tance that this Information be widely disseminat- 

 ed. As I have had personal experience in years 

 past with ague, chills and fever, intermittent fever, 

 and last, but not least, with malarial fever, I ought 

 to know something about it. 



This pamphlet, like the other, lays tremendous 

 stress on the Importance of preventing any possi- 

 bility of breeding mosquitoes in standing water 

 until we are able to banish the pest. It also recom- 

 mends quinine, to be used freely where laborers 

 are obliged to work in malarious districts. 



Address as above, and ask for Farmers' Bulletin 

 No. 450. 



PUBLICATIONS ON 



BEE CULTURE 



Please use coupon below, checking 

 the numbers of items wanted. 



The pamphlets and booklets listed be- 

 low are of more than ordinary interest: 



1 My First Season's Experience wi<h the 

 Honey-bee. By the "Spectator," of the 

 Outlook, of New York. A ten-page leaflet 

 detailing the experiences of this well- 

 known writer. You will read the leaflet 

 through before you lay it down. Free. 

 Q The Bee-keeper and Fruit-grower. A 15- 

 ■^ page booklet giving actual fads regard- 

 ing the value of bees to fruit, and show- 

 ing how bee-keeping may be doubly prof- 

 itable to the fruit-grower. Fruit-growers 

 are realizing as never before the neces- 

 sity of having honey-bees in close prox- 

 imity to their blossoming fruit. Free. 

 Q Bee-lteeping for Sedentary Folk. A 24- 

 «J page leaflet reciting the actu.al experi- 

 ences of an amatevir bee-keeper, showing 

 what equipment is best, points derived, 

 etc. Free. 

 A Catalog of Bee-keepers' Supplies. Our 

 '^ complete catalog will be mailed free to 



any address on request. 

 r Transferring Bees. A 14-page booklet 

 O giving instructions and illustrating ap- 

 pliances. No need to keep your bees in 

 old out-of-date hives when they can eas- 

 ily be transferred into new hives and 

 earn profits for you. Price 10 cts. 



6 Bee-hunting. Gives information neces- 

 sary to enable one who is active and in- 

 telligent to engage in bee-hunting with 

 success. It is well gotten up and worth, 

 the price, which is 25 cts. 



7 Spring Management of Bees. A 14- 

 page booklet detailing the experiences 

 of some successful bee-keepers, and giv- 

 ing instructions on this ofttimes perplex- 

 ing matter. Price 10 cts. 



8 Habits of the Honey-bee. By Dr. E. F. 

 Phillips. A somewhat scientific han- 

 dling of the habits and anatomy of the 

 bee. Price 10 cts. 



9 How to Keep Bees. A book of 228 pages 

 detailing in a most interesting manner 

 the experience of a beginner in such a 

 way as to help other beginners. Price 

 $1.00 postpaid. 



10 The A B C of Bee Culture. A complete 

 encyclopedia of bees, of 576 pages, fully 

 illustrated, $1.50 postpaid; half leather, $2. 



11 Cleanings in Bee Culture. A 64-page 

 illustrated semi-monthly magazine, the 

 leading exponent of bee culture in this 

 country. Ten cents per issue, but to new 

 subscribers we will furnish it six months 

 for 25 cts. 



The coupon below may be used as an order 

 sheet by properly checking the numbers of 

 items wanted and adding your signature, and 

 remittance, if required. 



Cu« Coupon Hor« 



The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio. 



Please send me the iten 

 to cover the cost. 



checked. I enclose $. 



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