424 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. 15 



occupy a larger place on our tables than it 

 does, for, without doubt, it contains ele- 

 ments that conduce to longevity, and in its 

 assimilation does not tax the kidneys as 

 does cane sugar that has not been predi- 

 gested In Germany the old people are very 

 fond of "honey tea," made by dissolving 

 two teaspoonfuls of honey in a mug of hot 

 water, which becomes colored, sweetened, 

 and flavored by the honey; and to its con- 

 stant use many of them attribute their hale 

 and hearty old age. When once tried it will 

 often be repeated. 



When Julius Caesar, dining with Pollio 

 Rumilius on his hundredth birthday, inquirr 

 ed of him how he had preserved both vigor 

 of body and mind, Pollio replied, "Interius, 

 melle ; exterius, oleo" (internally, by hon- 

 ey; externally, by oil),''showing that at that 

 distant day the food value of honey was ap- 

 preciated. 



Bees can be kept not only in the country 

 but in the city as well ; and on the roof of 

 many a city dwelling bees 

 are a source of pleasure 

 and of profit. 



It is not the purpose of 

 this brief paper to induce 

 the clergy to go into the 

 business of bee-keeping, 

 although it is possible 

 with twenty or thirty 

 hives, requiring but a lit- 

 tle time during the sum- 

 mer to derive from them 

 a large revenue; but, 

 rather, it would lead the 

 clergy to secure a few 

 hives of bees for the rec- 

 reation and pleasure their 

 study and handling will 

 give. 



Of course, the writer in- 

 dulges in pardonable pride 

 when, upon his table, there 

 is constantly at every 

 meal a luscious comb of 

 golden honey, the product 

 of his busy bees. The^ 

 early spring is the best ' 

 time in which to secure 

 bees from a distance, as 

 they can be shipped better 

 then than later on, though 

 perhaps the best way 

 would be to buy some 

 empty hives, and pay some 

 nearby bee-keeper $1.50 

 or $2.00 for each swarm he 

 will put into your hives. 



If the swarms are com- 

 mon black bees, the pur- 

 chase of an Italian queen 

 for $1.00 will soon fill the 

 hive with thoroughbreds. 



The outfit necessary for 

 a beginner is very simple 

 and inexpensive, and con- 

 sists of one hive complete 

 with supers, pair of bee- 

 gloves, smoker, veil, and 



a copy of A B C of Bee Culture. If one pre- 

 ferred to buy the Italian bees, queen and 

 all, then a complete colony would cost $9.00; 

 but a three-frame nucleus and queen could 

 be purchased for $5.00. 



But above all things get some bees ; and 

 if, after having studied them and worked 

 among them, and having secured from them 

 many pounds of honey you are not willing to 

 vote that the happiest combination is "A 

 clergyman and his bees," then the writer 

 will have toiled in vain. 



E. W. ALEXANDER. 



Something About the Man Who has for Years 

 Run 500 Colonies in One Yard; the Re- 

 wards of Perseverance. 



BY E. R. ROOT. 



Some three different times I came very 

 near calling on Mr. E. W. Alexander, of 

 Delanson, N. Y. ; but each time something 



E. W. ALEXANDER. 



