766 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



RESIDENCE AND APIARY OI !• . \V. VAN DE MARK, OKLAHOMA. 



on fruit-bloom, and were in fine con- 

 dition for the persimmon and early su- 

 mac; but a killing frost, April 30, killed 

 the persimmon, and the sumac is just now 

 (June 25) blooming. That, and the contin- 

 ual wet and cool weather gave us a "star- 

 vation time" here, and some bees, espe- 

 cially new swarms, starve or dwindled till 

 their owners are saying that Oklahoma is 

 no good. I fed my bees along, kept up 

 their strength, and now they are just boom- 

 ing on sweet clover, while sumac, wood 



sage, alfalfa, and black sumac, are just 

 ready to bloom. My bees on scales are 

 swarming again on 4 lbs. per day, and 

 that is onlj' an average one. People are 

 preparing to sow a great deal of alfalfa 

 here this fall, and on the bottom lands here 

 it yields lots of hone}' when it is not cut too 

 soon. That, cotton, and black sumac, are 

 our main sources of honey, and will com- 

 pare favorably with any. 



F. W. Van de Mark. 

 Ripley, Oklahoma. 



APIAKY AND HONEV-HOUSE Ol' F. W. VAN DE MARK. 



