1903 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



69 



none of these people speak Eng-lish. Schools 

 are started but as yet they teach only Span- 

 ish. 



As I look over this land of perpetual sum- 

 mer, and g'et acquainted with these mixed 

 races, " /c"' ivhotn Christ died,'''' my heart 

 fairly bounds at the thouijht of teaching- 

 these people, youni,'- and old, of that dear 

 Savior and his wondrous love for us all, 

 without any distinction of race, station, or 

 color. 



BY 

 A.I. R O 0T7 



^^f%ff 



WINTER RHUBARB — GROWING IT IN THE 

 DARK. 



This is a new line of hig^h-pressure g^ar- 

 dening that does not seem to be very much 

 understood. One of the clearest and best 

 articles in reg^ard to the whole matter, I 

 find in the A/ichi<^an Farmer for Nov. 29. 

 It accords with my own experience so ex- 

 actly I thought fit to give it, slightly ab- 

 breviated, a place here. 



within the past few years the dark forcing process 

 has assumed such proportions, and by methods so eas- 

 ily understood, and so inexpensive as to application, 

 that there is no longer any necessity for the expensive 

 systems formerly in use. Then, too, the quality of 

 rhubarb grown in the dark is so far superior to that 

 grown under glass, and the yield is so much larger, 

 that the advantages of the new over the older practices 

 are placed clear beyond the region of debate. From 

 the financial view-point, it offers the very best of in- 

 ducements, as the crop is grown and placed upon the 

 market in midwinter when no other garden crop can 

 be grown except bj- the expensive methods of the 

 greenhouse. So, to the gardeners oeated within reach 

 of markets, a winter enterprise is opened up which 

 offers very remunerative returns. 



Of this phase I shall not speak further except to call 

 attention to a conimercial cellar in actual operation. 

 When the roots first put in were exhau.sted, the cellar 

 was apain filled and two full crops were grown during 

 the winter, which brotight in the market upward of 

 ^HiO from a space 12x60 feet in size. 



A WINTER LUXURY. 



The particular features which I wish to emphasize 

 are the ease with which every family may grow a gen- 

 uine winter luxury, and from December un il April 

 may have a dailj- supply, and almost for the asking. 



HOW TO GROW IT. 



The only conditions for entire success are strong vig- 

 orous roots two years old and upward, and a warm 

 corner in the cellar where the li.ght can be entirely 

 shutout. This last condition must be followed lo the 

 letter, as it must have entire darkness, in .so far as 

 daylight is concerned, to reach perfection. As to pre- 

 paring the roots, dig them out any time before the 

 ground freezes too solidly to prevent digging. L,eave 

 as much soil adhering as"possil)le, and allow them to 

 freeze thoroughly, the liarder the better. Do not neg- 

 lect the freezing through and through, else you will 

 meet with disappointment. After the clumps are fro- 

 zen, trim them up evenly, removing all the protruding 

 prongs so that they may'be set closely together. They 

 are now ready for forcing. Set them snugly together 

 on the cellar bottom (eitl er cement or earth floor), 

 and fill up the spaces with loose .soil. If the crowns 

 are covered ■"» or li inches deep it will do no harm, and 

 is just as good; but they should be filled up level at 

 least. Xow tack an old carpet or heavy blanket to the 



ceiling above, allowing it to fall clear to the cellar 

 bottom and entirely surround the bed. The cellar 

 wall will form one side of the enclosure, or two sides, 

 provided the bed is in the corner. The enclosing with 

 the carpet is simply to shut out the light and retain 

 the heat, which may be supplied with a Ump or lan- 

 tern. There must of course, be some artificial heat to 

 induce growth and this is secured by setting the lamp 

 or lantern right down among the clumps. As stated 

 above, the daylight must be rigidly shut out; but the 

 lamp light will do no harm, onlv the chimney or lan- 

 tern glolie should be smoked so" that even that light 

 will be subdued. The rhubarb is very accommodating 

 as to temperature; and if the lights' go out and the 

 heat goes down it will do no harm. The temperature 

 may vary from .50 toS;j or 90 degrees, and changes will 

 do the stalks no harm. The higher temperatures in- 

 duce quicker growth and higher colored stalks, while 

 a lower degree will give a heavier yield with less 

 brilliant color. If the work is well done, the stalks 

 will be so crisp and brittle that they will almost break 

 of their own weight, and will be of the most beautiful 

 color imaginable. There will be but very little leaf- 

 growth, and that of the brightest lemon color, and the 

 stalks as a whole will be the most beautiful vegetable 

 product that grows out of the ground. 



AN|e.\SIER WAY. 



Now to make the work still more eas}' and general 

 of application, any corner where frost and light can 

 be successiully barred out will answer every purpose. 

 Use a corner of a shed, a store room in the house, and 

 even a barrel ur large box in the kitcheu by the range 

 or cook stove will make a nice place. It may be 

 grown anywhere, as tliere is no objectionable odor; 

 and if grown in the kitchen it saves going down cellar 

 to pick it. The facts are, it is one of the most dainty 

 and wholesome winter vegetables grown, and the 

 work is so easy and simple tliat every lamily may and 

 ought to grow at least a generous table supply. Any 

 variety will answer; and after the roots are once put 

 in. thty require no attention whatever except to keep 

 the heat going, a part of i he time at least. An occa 

 sional watt- ring is beneficial; out if the roots were 

 well supplied with frozen soil when put in, ih-^ mois- 

 ture from the thawing will nearly or quite carry them 

 through. Better results will, of course, be obtained by 

 keeping them fairly well moist. J. E. Morse. 



Wayne Co., Mich. 



THE ,RFSULT OF THE LAST ELECTION. 



The following is the restilt of the last 

 election, held in December, for the election 

 of officers for the National Bee-keepers' As- 

 sociation, and about which so much trouble 

 has been raised : 



Having received from El is K. Mason. Secretary of 

 the National Bee-keepers' Association, the le iilts of 

 the December election f.)r General Manager and three 

 Directors, 1 make the following announcements: 



Whole number of votes cast for General Manager, 

 610 of which N. E. France received 489; E T. Abbott 

 117; scilteriiig, 4. Mr. N. E. F'rance is hereby declared 

 elected General Manager. 



Whole number or votes cast for Directors, 567, Mr. 

 G. M. Dooliltle receiving 364 ; W. F. Marks 262; T. G. 

 Newman 249; Udo roeppe wein 149; Wra. A. Selser 

 J0.5; Wm. McEvoy 86; G. W. VanGundy 74. The rest 

 of the votes are scuttered among 120 m mbers. no one 

 of them receiving more than :?2 vt)tes. Mr. G. M. Doo- 

 little, having received a majority vote, is hereby de- 

 clared elected Director No other candidate for Di- 

 rector having .received a majority vote, as is required 

 by the constitution, no other is elected. The constitu- 

 tion says that the Directors' term of office "shall be 

 four years, or until their siicc.ssors shall be elected 

 and qualified;'' thus Mr. W. F. Marks and Mr. Thos. 

 G. Newman retain their offices, at least for the pre.s- 

 ent. W, Z. Hutchinson, 



President National Bee-keepers' Association. 



I do not understand that this announce- 

 ment prevents the calling of a new election 

 if the Board should so order after it has 

 had time to go over the situation. 



