1898. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



521 



The " C. B. & f}."— Chi- 

 caso, Burlington & Qulocy — is one 

 of the greatest railroads In all this 

 western country. It Is the direct 

 route from Chicago to Omaha — 

 where the United States Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Union will hold its annual 

 meeting Sept. 13, 14 and 15. 

 Only about a month yet, and then 

 there should be assembled the largest convention of bee-keep- 

 ers ever held on this continent. 



On the "Burlington Route" the round-trip fare from Chi- 

 cago will be only $14 75. The editor of the American Bee 

 Journal, and President of the Union, expects to go to Omaha 

 on the O. B. & Q. The train will leave here at 5:50 p. m., 

 Monday, Sept. 11, and arrive in Omaha at 8:10 a.m., Tues- 

 day — about two hours before the convention opens. 



Why cannot a large company from the East and around 

 Chicago arrange to go on that train ? We will see to it that 

 splendid accommodations are secured, If all will notify us in 

 time, that they have purchast their tickets over the "Burling- 

 ton Route" from Chicago to Omaha. 



Please let us know If you can join the company that will 

 leave Chicago as mentioDed above. 



Farmer's Institutes— Eucalyptus.— Prof. A. 



J. Cook Is still working in the farmer's institutes of Southern 

 California. August 1 he wrote us as follows : 



Last week I conducted three large, enthusiastic farmer's 

 institutes in San Diego county — the greatest bee-county, I be- 

 lieve, in the world. The institutes were held at Fallbrook, 

 Lemon Grove, and Ramona. All these places — especially the 

 first and the last — are in close proximity to the mountains, 

 indeed are nestled right in the mountains, and are famous for 

 the honey product secured. At Ramona and on up to Julian 

 the rains have been exceptionally copious this season, and so 

 a honey crop has been secured, which in some cases has been 

 quite satisfactory. 



At the Fallbrook institute a Mr. H. M. Peters gave a fine 

 paper on honey-production. Mr. Peters urges that in off 

 years, like the present In his section, bee-keepers study to re- 

 strain breeding so as to conserve the honey stores. A Mr. 

 Gunn — a very intelligent bee-keeper of Julian — said honey in 

 that region is as near a free gift as is anything that the farmer 

 produces. 



The male pepper-trees are now ringing with the hum of 

 the bees. Of course, the bees are there for pollen. There are 

 some bees visiting the pistllate bloom, but comparatively few. 



The brilliant red eucalyptus is now in full bloom. The 

 beautiful scarlet flowers are sparkling with nectar-drops, 

 and are favorites with the bees, as they are with all lovers of 

 grace and beauty. Others of the eucalyptus are also in bloom, 

 but the flowers are white. These have been throwing out 

 their showy tassels for weeks, and as I pass under the trees In 

 the early morning — 5:30 each day — I am greeted with the 

 music which Is so enjoyed by all apiarists. I believe that the 

 eucalyptus will be a very valuable adjunct to honey-produc- 

 tion in this region, as the many species now being set out 

 come into bloom. A. J. Cook. 



Los Angeles Co., Calif., Aug. 1. 



Bees Destroy 300 Cattle.— The following report 

 was publlsht In the Chicago llecord of Aug. 1 : 



Bancroft, Nebr., July 31. — J. McKeegan's famous bunch 

 of short-horned cattle, numbering 3o0 head, was totally lost 

 yesterday in a singular manner. The stock was pasturing In 

 the reservation on a high bluff overlooking the Missouri river. 

 The cattle were suddenly attackt by several swarms of wild 

 bees, which occupy trees on the bluffs. In their terror and 

 pain the whole herd jumpt over the bluffs Into the river and 

 were either dasht to pieces or drowned before assistance could 

 reach them. 



As in most cases of this kind, 'later reports may consider- 

 ably modify the account. 



Mr. James T. Kellie, of Kearney Co., Neb., called on us 

 last week, when on his way home from Canada, where he had 

 been to attend the funeral of his aged father. Mr. K. has 

 about 40 colonies of bees. 



Mr. John S. Fisakks, of Perry Co., Indiana, writing us 

 July 18, said : 



"I read everything contained in the American Bee Jour- 

 nal, and would not be without it for five times its cost. If I 

 had only one colony of bees I would want it." 



Mr. W. J. Forehand, of Lowndes Co., Al^., wrote us 

 Aug. 9: 



"Enclosed find 25 cents for the Langstroth Monument 

 Fund from Lorain Langstroth Forehand— my little boy whom 

 I named for Father Langstroth. Also 25 cents from myself for 

 the same purpose. 



Mr. Wm. a. Selser, of Philadelphia, is reported by the 

 Bee-Keepers' Review, to have bottled and sold 30 tons of honey 

 last year. That shows what push and enterprise will do. 

 Suppose every large city were thus to be supplied. What an 

 enormous outlet for honey that would be. Where are the Sel- 

 sers of other cities '? 



Messrs. Chas. and C. P. Dadant— father and son— the 

 great comb foundation makers, gave us a very pleasant call 

 Aug. 11. The senior Dadant will spend six weeks or so in 

 Wisconsin, and " C. P." will make a two or three weeks' trip 

 on the lakes. They report a good foundation buslpess this 

 season, but no honey crop worth mentioning. 



Mr. a. I. Root— that man of hobbies— has given up his 

 market wagon that he has been running for a dozen years, 

 and is also giving up the department store that has been run- 

 ning many years longer. He is tapering off on wheat and 

 potatoes, with electricity as a side-dish. But he won't get 

 through " hobbying," until, like Alexander the Great, there 

 are no more worlds for him to conquer, or explore. 



Mr. W. a. Gridley, of Douglas Co., Oregon, when renew- 

 ing his subscription July 23, and also taking the book, 

 " Langstroth on the floney-Bee," said : 



" I love the American Bee Journal— yes, I do. I have the 

 'ABC of Bee-Culture,' ' Bee Keepers' Guide,' 'Advanced Bee- 

 Culture,' and ' Success in Bee-Culture,' and could not spare 

 any one of these— they are all very useful to me; and now I 

 want to see what ' Pap ' has to say." 



Mr. G. M. Doolittle, of Onondaga Co., N.Y., writing us 

 Aug. 5, gave this report : 



"I have about 25 pounds to the colony of white comb 

 honey here, and 50 pounds at the out-aplary, while neighbors 

 have little or nothing. A poor year shows that proper manip- 

 ulation of bees counts, while In a good year even the novice 

 may succeed." 



The foregoing shows the estimate Mr. Djolittle places ou 

 "proper manipulation of bees." Knowing how is a great 

 thing — the difference between success and failure. 



Hon. R. L. Taylor, in the August Bee-Keepers' Review, 

 referring to our criticism of his attempt to reform the gram- 

 mar used by correspondents of the bee-papers, thinks that we 

 have a poor opinion of the literary ability of bee-keepers. He 

 closes with this good comment on us : 



" An editor who so lately ' started out to reform ' spelling 

 should not so suddenly despair on the point of grammar." 



That does take out a little of the Inflation in our sails. 

 But, Mr. Taylor, let us whisper in your ear that the editor is 

 to blame if he permits anything ungrammatical to appear In his 

 paper. It Is his business to " edit " the copy before it Is put in 

 type. It is not supposed that all who write for the public 

 press are experts In a literary way. They do the best they 

 can, and then It Is the editor's duty to see that errors of all 



