December, 1921 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



scarcely blossomed at all during the period 

 wlieu second bloom may generally be ex- 

 pected, and there has been a dearth of nec- 

 tar tliruout the season since the May-June 

 honey flow. 



The same small apiary (nine colonies) at 

 the University of Arizona, which last year 

 produced more than 1000 pounds of honey, 

 this year has produced barely 500 pounds. 

 If any apiary in this section has produced 

 more than 50 or 60 pounds per colony it is 

 exceptional, while many beekeepers have se- 

 cured almost no surplus. 



In driving several times over a territory 

 some 50 to 60 miles in extent during the 

 rainy season it was noted that hardly more 

 than one mesquite tree in fifty bloomed, 

 while catsclaw bloom was a decided rarity. 

 Such scattering mesquites as blossomed did 

 so at irregular intervals and not at any one 

 time, giving rise to the statement heard 

 from some beekeepers that this plant bloom- 

 ed three or four times. It is safe to say, 

 however, that no one tree blossomed more 

 than once in the summer season and most 

 of them not at all. 



One beekeeper has reported a satisfactory 

 fall flow at his location, from an undeter- 

 mined small flower. This must have been 

 rather exceptional. Desert bloom (Baccha- 

 ris soraflu-oides) has bloomed heavily, a lit- 

 tle earlier than usual, but, in the vicinity 

 of the University apiary at least, produced 

 very little nectar. 



Owing to the conditions outlined above, it 

 is probable that many colonies are entering 

 the winter period without adequate stores, 

 and beekeepers will need to keep careful 

 watch with a view to feeding when neces- 

 sary. 



Comb honey of fair to good quality is sell- 

 ing locally at 25c to 35c per section, and 

 light amber and amber extracted is retailing 

 at 55c per quart. Chas. T. Vorhies. 



Tucson, Ariz. 



* * * 



T„ Texas '^^^^ weather during October 



has been nearly ideal for 

 bees over almost all Texas. The rains of 

 September induced a blooming of many fall 

 plants, and honey flows were experienced 

 all over the State. No frosts have occurred 

 as yet heavy enough to hurt even the cot- 

 ton. As late as October 20 honey was still 

 being stored as far north as Paris. In the 

 southern portion the flow from como has 

 just started. From west-central Texas 

 comes a report of a good surplus from gold- 

 enrod and sumac. It is the general opinion 

 that the bees are going into the winter in 

 better shape than for years. As the price 

 of honey was low, many Demuth feeders 

 were left on the colonies. The honey plants 

 are in fine shape. Broomweed gave its usual 

 fiow, and horsemint is coming in quantities 

 sufficient to insure a blooming next spring. 



In the eastern part of the State boneset and 

 asters were the origin of a good fall crop. 



The depression of prices has had a queer 

 effect on the bee game. Many of the men 

 who for the past five years have made mon- 

 ey on bees are discouraged because of the 

 low price of honey and would quit if they 

 could find a buyer for their bees. On the 

 other hand, the old-timers are buying bees, 

 and the farmers are turning to beekeeping 

 as never before. For the first time the farm- 

 ers of the South have realized that they 

 must raise their own food, and a colony of 

 bees gives as quick and large returns as 

 anything they can have. 



Competition occurs among all forms of 

 life. Last year Dr. Merrill of Kansas gave 

 a very interesting account of the loss of a 

 honey crop because of the prevalence of flies 

 on sweet clover. Thrips on alfalfa and mes- 

 quite often ruin a honey flow, and here in 

 Texas a horsemint flow is often ruined by a 

 yellow and black beetle which infests that 

 plant. During the first part of this month 

 a peculiar example of this occurred. This 

 was not of much importance but was very 

 interesting. A migration of the southern 

 snout butterfly occurred across south Texas. 

 Millions of these butterflies migrated from 

 the Big Bend section of Mexico across Texas 

 and out into the Gulf. Eockbrush was in 

 bloom and the insects fed on it. Not only 

 was every single flower oceuiiied but the 

 leaves and often the branches were covered 

 with these highly colored butterflies. The 

 bees seemed at a loss to know what to do, 

 and it was amusing to see several bees try- 

 ing to visit a flower and yet apparently 

 afraid to do so because of the butterflies. 



The apiary exhibit at the State Fair at 

 Dallas, Oct. 8-23, attracted much attention. 

 T. W. Burleson and W. K. Few of Waxa- 

 hachie had very large exhibits. The entries 

 for honey, wax, bees, cookery with honey, 

 and displays were large. 



The Texas Honey Producers' Association 

 had a dis])lay exhibit, which was not entered 

 for premiums. A large pyramid of bees ap- 

 propriately lettered attracted much atten- 

 tion. This lettering was the work of C. C. 

 Bee, who is a marble-cutter as well as a 

 beekeeper. 



Local fairs at Paris, Floresville, Kenedy, 

 Belton, Manchester, and Seguin have had 

 fine bee exhibits. The interest in beekeep- 

 ing seems to be on the increase in spite of 

 the low price of honey. This is especially 

 true of western Texas, where sweet clover is 

 being sown on irrigated land. 



San Antonio. H. B. Parks. 



# * * 



In Mississippi. — ^^'"^ y^^"" ^'^"^ '^^^- 



i ' sissippi Delta is a 



strip of alluvial land in Mississippi which 

 extends along the great river between Mem- 

 phis and Vicksburg and which has an aver- 



