558 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 15 



Had I yielded to that temptation to stay 

 away it would have brought spiritual dark- 

 ness, and it would have crippled these very 

 Home papers. Do you see how little things 

 may grieve away the Spirit, as in the lan- 

 guage of our text ? 



"OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE 

 PEOPLE." 



Perhaps the above heading may look a 

 little singular in the department of High- 

 pressure Gardening; but I think it is right 

 after all. On page 510. last issue, I said the 

 farmers could not sell their potatoes in 

 Traverse City because an ordinance had 

 been passed forbidding them to peddle. I 

 wondered at the time if that ordinance was 

 going to stand. Just now the same thing is 

 coming up in Cleveland. My opinion is that 

 it is a concerted movement to benefit those 

 who are interested in keeping up prices. 

 We are told that supply and demand regu- 

 late the proper value of all commodities. 

 If the grocers are getting too much profit, 

 then the market-gardener and the consumer 

 are both doubly interested in making a short 

 cut without the aid of the middleman; and, 

 most important of all, it is generally con- 

 ceded that all the garden-stuff is ever so 

 much better when it gets quickly from the 

 ground on which it is grown to the consum- 

 er. Peas, green corn, string beans, etc., to 

 he nice and have their full flavor should 

 reach the good housewife the day the stuff 

 is gathered. This can be accomplished to 

 sowe extent by leaving the stuff at the gro- 

 ceries; but the gardener who makes daily 

 rounds, or, say, every other day, can get 

 acquainted with his customers, can learn 

 their peculiar likes and dislikes, and can, 

 without trouble, give just what they want 

 and when they want it; and thus friendly 

 relations may spring up and continue for 

 years between the grower and consumer. 

 Now, of course, these "trust" people (for 

 it is nothing else) must trump up some ex- 

 cuse for stopping the farmer from coming 

 to town with his vegetables. What do you 

 suppose the excuse is ? Why, that vegeta- 

 bles, etc., sold in the open air will collect 

 bacteria, microbes, etc. My good friend, 

 where do you suppose bacteria would be 

 most likely to congregate— in the average 

 grocery where such stuff is sold, or in the 

 c'pen air on the farmer's wagon, or in his 

 stall where he brings his stuff before day- 

 light, as a rule, and sells it all out before 

 noon ? Read the following, which I clip 

 from the Cleveland Leader: 



The arguments which Superintendent Schmidt pre- 

 sented on the question of the code relating to the sale 

 of vegetables in the open were mainly in the direction 

 of showing what hardship it would work upon the 

 farmers who come into the city to sell their produce 



and to what extent it would affect the market business 

 as it is now conducted. 



"Which do you think would be preferable," asked 

 Dr. McAfee, " to take a living away from a few fami- 

 lies who come into the city to trade, or to take the lives 

 of many of the people living in the city? The dust and 

 dirt of the street blows on these things, and only cook- 

 ing will kill the germs." 



" An injustice is being done to people who pay rent," 

 added President Ward. " I don't see any justice at all 

 in allowing a handful of farmers to come into the city 

 to spread out their stuff and gather bacteria. These 

 things could be sold to grocers direct. However, we 

 will look into the matter and take it up with the gro- 

 cers' association." 



Now, of course the majority should de- 

 cide this as it does every thing else; and 

 the producer and consumer, in a fair vote, 

 would most assuredly outnumber those who 

 are in favor of having all perishable prod- 

 ucts carried to the grocery; but I think you 

 will find in this case, as well as some oth- 

 ers, that the "bosses" do not propose to 

 let the majority rule. The ordinance will 

 be passed before the farmers have been 

 even consulted. It will probably be just 

 about Hke our temperance work. Our Bran- 

 nock local-option law was to permit the ma- 

 jority to rule in keeping saloons out of res- 

 idence districts; but the saloon-keepers say 

 by actions, if not words, "The majority 

 shall not rule. We are going to plant our 

 saloons right around your homes, and in the 

 midst of them, whether you hke it or not." 

 I do not know that they add, "Help your- 

 selves if you can," but they would do it if 

 they dared. And the saddest part of the 

 whole thing is that the present Governor of 

 Ohio is right in with the saloon-keepers and 

 brewers, and the political bosses say that 

 he shall have another term. Some of you 

 may try to persuade me that I am mistak- 

 en, but I am not. I have followed this 

 thing from beginning to end, and know all 

 the crooks and turns. Now, then, fellow- 

 countrymen, shall our bosses— these men 

 who hate righteousness and love iniquity- 

 decide these things for us, or shall this be a 

 nation where the laws are made of the peo- 

 ple, by the people, and for the people? 



High-pressure gardening is a grand good 

 thing; but it will not amount to very much 

 if we do not occasionally transfer the "high 

 pressure " to this matter of making and en- 

 forcing our laws. God helping us, we are 

 going to make these "enemies of aU right- 

 eousness ' ' feel the pressure, and that right 

 soon. 



GROWING BASSWOODS FROM THE SEED. 



Heigh-ho! we have got it. One of my ex- 

 pert young gardeners, Mr. Frank Ritter, 

 made a visit to the magnificent grounds of 

 Storrs & Harrison, of Painesville, O. While 

 there he saw them cracking open the shells 

 of canna seeds before they were planted. 

 After asking some questions, and taking 

 some of the canna seeds home, he not only 

 succeeded in making them grow, but, by 

 cracking off the hard shell of the bisswood, 

 he got a very good per cent of germination. 

 The first plant that appeared was 17 days 

 after sowing the seed in very r'ch old com- 

 post. It appears that this hard tough shell 



