12 



BEE CTLTUEE. 



in a supplementary number of the London, Edin. ^ 

 Dub. Phil. Magazine, page 533, 1854, we find that 

 in full grown canes there are present silica, phosphoric 

 acid, sulphuric acid, lime, magnesia, potassa, soda, 

 chloride of potassium and chloride of sodium. The 

 sugar obtained from the juice is an organic substance, 

 (i. e., a substance not composed of minerals, its formu- 

 la being C. .24, H. .22, 0. .22 — gases always present 

 in the air or water) ; consequently, to produce the 

 sugar only, does not exhaust the soil — to produce 

 the cane doea so exhaust the soil; tien, if the ashes 

 or canes be returned to the soil, we see no rea- 

 son why sugar lands, so called, may not be culti- 

 vated indefinitely. Now, how does fact bear out 

 these inferences? In many sections of the West 

 Indies, owing to the scarcity of fuel, they are obliged 

 to use the bagasse (dried refuse of stalks after the 

 juce is pressed out) as fuel for evaporating the 

 syrup. The silica and alkalies present are converted 

 into a hard, insoluble glass, which, in this form, being 

 useless, is thi-own away. In Louisiana, on the con- 

 trary, hithertoo, wood has been used as fuel, and the 

 crashed cane being returned to the field, the yield of 

 sugar from their fields is but little, even after years 

 of cultivation. As another illustration, to what 

 cause can be attributed the almost magical guano 

 and similar manures on soils which, before their ap- 

 pUcation, are hopelessly sterile and barren? Simply 

 because that in those manures are these elements 

 which have been carried away by a succession of 

 cereal or grain crops, and after the land has been 

 robbed of all its fertility, it is turned out to rest — 

 Similar, unfortunntely, is the practice of too many at 

 the present day. Intent upon present gain, too wise 

 to profit from the experience of others, and regard- 

 less of their own permanent welfare, they pursue the 

 same beaten track of exhaustion, and ultimate star- 

 vation. 



But to return to our subject A few soils formed 

 by the debris, or pulverization of volcanic rocks 

 seem capable of the indefinite and successful cultiva- 

 tion of grain crops, a year's rest, when it seems to 

 Have become tired, so to speak, provides anew the 

 elements of fertility. Such is not the case, however 

 with the vest majority of American farms. Our 

 cities are the devourers of the fertile elements of 

 their soils, and in too many cases it is but a beggarly 

 pittance that is given back by them. In every car- 

 cass of an animal conveyed to the city shambles — 

 in every pound of cheese, bushel of wheat, com, oats, 

 &c., the same loss is occnring; and how few there are 

 who seem aware of the necessity of returning to | 



generous Mother Earth, what her prodigal children 

 so thoughtlessly waste. 



This restoration, or supply of fertile elements, must 

 be made by every one who would preserve, unim- 

 paired, the productive capacity of his land. How it 

 can best be done, will be considered when we treat 

 of manures and manuring. 



BEE CULTQEE. 



The great obstacle to successful bee culture, is the 

 ravages of the bee moth. Wherever the bee can 

 enter, the moth miller can do the same; and we be- 

 lieve that in every hive, patented or unpatented, the 

 havoc made by the lodgement of worms in the hive' 

 stiU remains the most serious difficulty. 



The bee-masters and apiarians of European coun- 

 tries do not speak so strongly, or so often allude to 

 the insect in question, as ia done by those of the 

 United States. 



There is no remedy, in fact, but a care and watch- 

 fulness removing all hiding places for the miller from 

 about the hive and bee-house, and a constant inspec- 

 tion and cleansing of the bottom board of the hive. 



Such being the case, those hives which do not 

 allow of this cleansing and removal of the dirt and 

 excrements of bees, fail whoUy to answer the desh^d 

 end. 



Considering the nature and character of the honey 

 bee — the order and system in which the different 

 operations are carried on in a hive, their internal 

 government and economy, their indefatigable industry 

 in collecting their luscious store, and the wonderous 

 skill displayed in the construction of the comb and 

 the shape of their cells — we do not wonder that the 

 attention of eminent philosophers should have been 

 directed to them ; and once engaged in the interest- 

 ing work, a life time can be spent in the study and 

 contemplation of their nature and mysteries. 



The editor of the American Agricvltvrist, who is 

 an experienced apiarian, gives it as his opinion, that 

 a plain box hive, of the very simplest construction, is 

 equal to any of the patented hives now before the 

 public ; and that the more simple the fixtures for a 

 hive and apiary, the more likely to be successful in 

 their culture. 



Mr. QuiMBT states in the Country Gentleman, 

 that he has " an interest in about 400 hives, and has 

 sold this season about two tons of honey." He also 

 states, as a fact, " that in all extensive apiaries that 

 he has visited, the patent hives are not used — they 

 are found in apiaries that seldom exceed twenty 



