1498 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 1 



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CENTURY PLANT GROWING IN OAKLAND, 

 CALIFORNIA. 



from the shoulders and restiDg on the hat. 

 The general protection to the arms and 

 sleeves is very good. — Ed.] 



THE CENTURY PLANT IN CALIFOR- 

 NIA. 



BY W. A. PRYAL. 



Dear Mr. Root: — The century plant shown 

 in the engraving is growing upon what was 

 a portion of our homestead, now our next 



nearest neighbor's. It has been in blossom a 

 month and will probably continue that much 

 longer before it is "all in." The bees just 

 "swarm" upon it during the forenoon. It 

 is the tallest century plant I ever saw — a 

 fact which speaks well for the location I was 

 raised in. In a day or two I am going to 

 get some of the blossoms to photograph, as I 

 have already arranged with a boy to climb 

 the "bean-stalk" to get the flowers. 

 San Francisco, Cal. 



WATER FOR BEES. 



How to Prevent Drowning. 



BY DR. C. C. MILLER. 



I wonder what proportion of bee-keepers 

 pay any attention to the matter of seeing 

 that their bees have any chance for water ex- 

 cept as they may find it for themselves. Cer- 

 tainly water must at times be of the utmost 

 importance, considering the number of bees 

 that risk (and also the number that actually 

 lose) their lives in obtaining water. 



There is probably no time when it is more 

 important to provide drink for the bees than 

 in the spring. When a bee starts out in a 

 chilly wind, makes a long journey, and loads 

 up with ice-cold water, one might naturally 

 expect that its chances for return to the hive 

 alive and cheerful would not be the best. 



Any sort of provision in a regular place 

 will greatly help by saving the long journey 

 and sometimes fruitless search. Additional 

 help will be given if the place is sheltered 

 and sunny. In addition to this, if the water 

 be warm and provision be made against 

 drowning, any reasonable bee ought to be 

 satisfied. 



Some claim that the reason why bees fre- 

 quent cess-pools and other filthy places for 

 drink is because of the warmth of the water 

 found there. In Germany some keep the 

 water warm by a lamp somewhat after the 

 fashion of a poultry- brooder. That is trou- 

 blesome, yet it might pay. But if water is 

 kept in a sheltered, sunny place, there will 

 be no little gain in the matter of heat. 



It has just occurred to me that a solar wax- 

 extractor (which is never used to melt wax 

 in early spring) might be utilized to keep 

 water warm for the bees. The sun would 

 certainly warm the water; then let there be 

 a leak in such a way that the bees would get 

 it before it had a chance to cool. 



In many places bees can look out for them- 

 selves without making any long journey by 

 visiting watering-places of horses and cattle, 

 also pumps, and these may be the watering- 

 places and pumps of neighbors. Bees in such 

 places are a great annoyance, sometimes 

 starting hard feelings between neighbors. 

 Generally, too, many bees are drowned in 

 such places. To avoid this annoyance and 

 loss it is well worth while to have a special 

 place where the bees may find water all sum- 

 mer long. 



But such a place should be provided before 

 the bees have formed the habit of visiting a 



