444 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 15 



and, sure enough, it was a swarm, and the 

 pai rot was calling- for all it was worth. 

 You see I did not till then know that the 

 parrot knew any thing, as the boy never 

 told me a word about the bird, as he knew 

 that would mean he would lose his job. 



Two things are greatly in favor of the 

 parrot: 1. It costs only a trifle to buy one, 

 compared with a dog; 2. It does not cost a 

 cent to feed one, as it eats every thing hu- 

 man beings can, except grease or meat of 

 any kind. That is a saving alone of at 

 least ten or twelve cents a day — what the 

 dog would cost. Again, it can tell by talk- 

 ing and giving the exact call, not like a 

 dog that barks, fooling you many times by 

 barking at nothing, or at a cat or person. 

 •Besides, the bird is green, with a rich yel- 

 low head, and looks like a flower, and 

 therefore it can be among the bees and yet 

 not get stung like a dog, and it does not 

 need a house with a glass front, as does a 

 dog. Finally, the bird is a great pet, and 

 makes a bee-keeper's wife more than hap- 

 py. Emilio Astie. 



Tlalpam, Mexico, April 16. 



[Parrots are rather expensive in this part 

 of the country. I have known that some of 

 their sayings dovetailed in with actual oc- 

 currences. I used to think they simply im- 

 itated ; but from some observations I have 

 made, it appears that one bird at least will 

 get off remarks that are quite appropriate 

 for the occasion. Like every other good 

 thing, I suppose there are parrots and par- 

 rots. While some might be bright enough, 

 when a swarm was out, to give the alarm, 

 others would be practically worthless. — 

 Ed.] 



can a person be seriously poisoned by 

 the fumes from a strong colony of 



BEES? 



March I7th was a fine warm day, and I 

 opened the brood-chamber to look through 

 the combs, trim off the burrs, etc. After 

 working with the combs about 20 minutes 

 or more I began to get sick at the stomach, 

 and to feel swelled up about my face and 

 body. I felt as a person does when one of 

 his limbs goes to sleep; and I was so des- 

 perately sick I, had to leave the bees and 

 frames, some of them out of the hive. My 

 wife bathed me and fanned me, and I ma- 

 nipulated my face and body as best I could 

 to keep up circulation. I thought it was on 

 account of stooping over too long, causing 

 the blood to rush to my head. After I got 

 so I could place the frames back I did so, 

 and left them alone that da3\ The next 

 day I felt as though I was over my trouble, 

 and opened the hive and finished it, or all 

 but the last frame, and felt the same trou- 

 ble coming on me. As soon as I felt it I 

 quit at once, but that didn't help it any. It 

 came on anyway. I wasn't stung any at 

 this time either. I got deathly sick, and 

 lost control of myself. My circulation stop- 

 ped. I turned red, green, and white, my 

 finger-nails blue, I had the doctor called as 



quicl^ly as my wife could get him. He was 

 badly alarmed about my condition, and 

 said I had a close call. I got stung some 

 at the last while putting the frames in that 

 I had out. After I got so sick, those stings 

 all festered up the next day, full of matter 

 and water. The stand is a very strong col- 

 ony of Italians, and I think gentle. I had 

 my veil on, and gloves. The hive was full 

 of brood, and doing finely. 



I have searched the A B C of Bee Culture 

 through, looking up this matter. I can not 

 find any thing about bees making people 

 sick at all, as in my case. I have read the 

 matter on bee-stings. It doesn't refer to my 

 case. 



I should like to know the cause of this 

 trouble. I am told that some people can not 

 work with bees at all; that the fumes from 

 the hive do not agree with them, or their 

 system. I thought it may have been on ac- 

 count of my system being somewhat out of 

 order at the time; but I will not bother the 

 hive until I know more about the matter. 



Huntsville, Ala. C. R. Hamilton. 



[A year or so ago we had one other report 

 just like this, of a case where a lady was 

 poisoned by merely inhaling the fumes as 

 they arose from an ordinary colonj^ of bees. 

 So poisonous were these fumes she was 

 obliged, much against her will, to give up 

 bees entirely. Years ago father Langstroth 

 described a similar sensation. It is rea- 

 sonable to assume that in rare instances 

 some persons are affected merely by the 

 fumes arising from the brood nest. In cool 

 weather bees, as soon as the hive is opened, 

 are apt to elevate their stings, and a care- 

 ful inspection will show a tiny drop of poi- 

 son. At such times one may detect, if his 

 nose is close enough, a pungent odor. You 

 say the day was warm; but it was cold 

 enough, judging from the date of 3'our let- 

 ter, to make the bees show poison-drops. 

 All those who who are thus sensitive to such 

 fumes will probably have to give up bee- 

 keeping entirely. — Ed.] 



S. L. WATKINS again; HONEY PROSPECTS 

 IN CALIFORNIA. 



Mr. S. L. Watkins has been repeatedly 

 advertised by our State horticultural pa- 

 pers. A number of years ago he did a 

 large business in honey-plants, and also 

 published a paper on horticultural subjects. 

 In our earlier dealings he gave satisfaction; 

 but in our later orders we have received no 

 satisfaction at all. He has run himself out 

 of the plant business. 



The honey prospect is most excellent. We 

 have had an April rain of 1>^ . inches. 

 Black sage is in full bloom in the coast re- 

 gion. White sage will commence blooming 

 in about a week. G. M. Hawley. 



Pres. of San Diego Hoyiey Producers'' Ass'' n. 



El Cajon, Cal. 



[The Jenny Atchley Co., of Beeville, Tex. , 

 sent queens to Mr. Wa4;kins in exchange 

 for oranges. The bill of lading, says Mr. 



