AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



275 



Growing tie Basswood in California. 



C. N. WILSON. 



It would be a great thing for the bee- 

 keepers of this Coast if some enterpris- 

 ing person or company would propagate 

 basswood or linden timber in California 

 in sufficient quantity to make one-piece 

 sections as required by our bee-keepers. 

 We do not know that any person has 

 attempted the propagation of this timber 

 on a large scale in this State. That the 

 trees will grow well and grow quickly is 

 beyond question, and we are quite cer- 

 tain it would be as profitable for timber 

 culture as the blue-gum. 



In our rich soil and warm climate the 

 growth of trees goes steadily on through- 

 out the year, and the basswood being a 

 tree of rapid growth, it would soon ma- 

 ture so as to yield good material for one- 

 piece sections ; even small growths of it 

 could be used to advantage, and as the 

 tree has wonderful vitality, when cut 

 sprouts come quickly and in great num- 

 bers from the roots, so that a basswood 

 grove would soon spring up. We are of 

 the opinion that many localities in the 

 northern part of the State are adapted 

 to the growth of this timber. The cer- 

 tainty that it would find a ready market 

 at good prices ought to be sufficient in- 

 ducement to start some enterprising 

 person or company in the business. 



As the matter stands we are entirely 

 at the mercy of the Eastern manufac- 

 turers of one-piece sections. We are 

 obliged to pay heavy freight rates on the 

 railroad to get the sections, the charges 

 amounting to more than the price paid 

 for the sections at the factory. 



The comb honey-producer of southern 

 California is obliged to put his product 

 on the market in as neat a package, and 

 in as good shape as his Eastern competi- 

 tor in order to secure good prices for his 

 honey, and so far nothing has been found 

 in California' that is equal to basswood 

 for one-pound sections. It is light and 

 white, being entirely free from any 

 gummy substance in its make up. 



BASSWOOD FOR HONEY AND SHADE. 



There is another reason why basswood 

 should be propagated here, and that is 

 its yield of nectar-producing bloom, 

 affording a honey but little inferior to 

 that gathered from our sages. It would 

 doubtless bloom at a time of year that 

 would completely fill the gap between 

 the blooming of the sage and sumac, 

 thus giving employment to the bee that 



would return large profits to the bee- 

 master. 



It is more than probable that bass- 

 wood could be made to flourish wherever 

 the sycamore or buttonwood will grow, 

 and when once established would re- 

 quire no irrigation ; though doubtless it 

 would make a quicker and larger growth 

 in locations where it would be supplied 

 with water during the very warm 

 weather. 



The linden is a beautiful shade-tree, 

 and could be used to advantage in our 

 cities and villages by supplanting that 

 villainous, good-for-nothing pepper-tree. 

 Some of our Eastern cities, especially 

 Washington, D. C, have some splendid 

 specimens of linden shade-trees along 

 the streets, and in the public squares 

 and parks. 



Whether the State Forestry has given 

 the basswood or lindens a place in its 

 experimental work, we are not informed, 

 but it is worth the bee-keeper's while to 

 investigate the subject and get what 

 information he can from that quarter, 

 not forgetting that a plentiful supply of 

 young basswood or lindens can be had 

 at very low rates from Eastern nursery- 

 men. After the rainy season sets in is 

 the best time to plant the young trees. 

 Thousands of dollars can be saved to 

 bee-keepers every year if the basswood 

 can be successfully grown in any con- 

 siderable portion of California. Give 

 the basswood or linden a fair chance for 

 life in California. — Rural Californian. 



Convention Notices. 



COLOR ADO.— The Colorado State Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Association will hold their " Honey-Day " 

 in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 28th, 1892. 



Littleton, Colo. H. Knight, Sec. 



PENNSYLVANIA.— The Susquehanna Co. 

 Bee-Keepers' Association will hold their 11th 

 annual meeting at Rush, Pa., on Thursday, 

 Sept. 1, 1892, at 10 a.m. All are cordially in- 

 vited. Bring along any new fixtures of inter- 

 est that you may have. H. M. Seeley, Sec. 



WISCONSIN.— The Southwestern Wisconsin 

 Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next 

 annual meeting as Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., 

 on Jan. 13 and 14, 1893. All members of the 

 Association are requested to be present as the 

 following officers are to be elected: President. 

 Vice-President, Secretary. Assistant Sec, and 

 Treasurer. Blank Reports will be sent each 

 member, for the year 1892, with instructions. 

 A cordial invitation is extended to all bee- 

 keepers, and especially to those that would 

 like to join with us. "Each member will be no- 

 tified at least one month before the meeting. 



Boscobel, Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres. 



Read our great offer on page 261. 



