'^^(k'(b'^4>'(b'(k*(k*(b'(k'(k*(b'mb'(b'^*(b'(k'(k'^^ 





39th YEAR. 



CHICAGO, ILL,, JULY 6, 1899, 



No. 27. 



First Introduction of Honey-Bees into California 



— Extravagant Prices Paid for Bees 



and Honey. 



BY J. M. HAMBAUGH. 



I AM indebted to our old pioneer bee-keeper, Mr. J. S. 

 Harbison, for the information herein given, as gleaned 

 from his valuable work, entitled, " The Bee-Keepers' 

 Director}',"' publisht in the j-ear 1861. Mr. Harbison is still 

 living, and is a highly respected citizen of a citj- in San 

 Diego Count}-. 



The following letter from one of the earliest and most 

 successful apiarists of this State, contains an authentic 

 account of the introduction of the first bees into California, 

 as well as the success attending their tirst five years' culti- 

 vation in San Jose valley : 



AN OLD LETTER ON" EARLY CALIFORNL\ BEE-KEEPING. 



San Jose, Jan. 11, 1860. 

 Mr. J. S. Harbison— 



Dear Sir : — Yours of the 26th of December propounding 

 certain inquiries, has been received. 



The first bees were imported into California in March, 

 1853. Mr. Shelton purchast a lot consisting of 12 colonies. 

 of some person to me unknown, at Aspinwall. The party 

 who left New York became disgusted with the experiment, 

 and returned. All of the hives contained bees when landed 

 in San Francisco, but finally dwindled down to one. Thev 

 were broug-ht to San Jose, and threw off three swarms the 

 first season. Mr. Shelton was killed soon after his arrival, 

 by the explosion of the ill-fated "Jenny Lind." 



In December two of the colonies were sold at auction to 

 settle up his estate, and were bought by Major James W. 

 Patrick, at $105 and $110, respectively. 



Mr. Wm. Buck imported the second lot in November. 

 1855. He left New York with 36 colonies, and saved 18. I 

 purchast a half interest in them. I also, in the fall of 1854. 

 bought one colony of Major Patrick, from which I had an 

 increase of two. Mr. Buck returned East immediately, and 

 arrived in February, 1856, with 42 colonies, of which he 

 saved but seven. Our increase in 1856, from the 28 colonies, 

 was 73. We also had about 400 pounds of honey in boxes, 

 which we sold at from $1.50 to $2.00 per pound. 



Mr. Wm. Briggs, of San Jose, brought out, in the 

 spring of 1856, one colony, from which he had an increase 

 of seven or eight swarms the following summer. 



The above were the only importations I know of pri. .r 

 to the year (spring) 185", which covers the ground of your 

 inquiries. There are in our county at this time about 1,000 

 colonies. Very respectfully, F. G. ApplETon. 



Mr. Harbison then continues the account as follows : 



MR. HARBISON'S EARLY EXPERIENCE. 



In the fall of 1855 1 sent East and had one colony of 

 bees brought out. which arrived in Sacramento, Feb. 1, 

 1856. Tho most of the bees had died or escaped from the 

 hive during the passage, enough remained to prove that by 

 careful handling they could be imported with little loss, and 

 that they would increase and store large quantities of honey 

 when here. I left San Francisco. May 5, 1857, on board the 

 ship " Golden Gate," on my way East, for the purpose of 

 preparing a stock of bees for shipping to California. Sixty- 

 seven colonies were prepared from my own apiaries, sit- 

 uated in Lawrence Co.. Pa. They were taken to New York 

 and shipt on board the steamer " Northern Light." which 

 sailed from that port Nov. 5, bound for Aspinwall. 



The bees were put on board in good order, were placed 

 on the hurricane deck, kept well shaded and ventilated, and 

 arrived at the latter port on the 15th of the same month 

 being 10 days from port to port. Having arrived at Aspin'- 

 wall in the forenoon, and ascertained that no passeno-ers 

 or freight would be sent forward before the next morning 



3Tr. J. S. Harbison. 



I obtained permission to open the hives on the company's 

 grounds, and let the bees fly during that evening, which 

 greatly relieved them, and contributed to their health dur- 

 ing the remainder of the voyage. The hives were closed 

 up, and placed on board the cars, crost safely to Panama, 

 and reshipt on board the steamer "Sonora," and sailed 

 from that port on the evening of the 16th, bound for San 

 Francisco, where she arrived on the evening of the 30th. 



The bees had ample stores within their hives before 

 they were started to last them thru their long journey. I 

 neither watered nor gave them additional food during the 



