1883 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



435 



Locke discusses upon "The New Races," and con- 

 siders the Syrians the best. I have never tried them, 

 and hence will say nothing. 



Althoug-h disagreeing in many instances with 

 friend A., yet, could I visit him, and see him putting 

 his methods in practice, I might think better of them ; 

 but, be that as it may, I wish him success, and ad- 

 vise bee-keepers to get his book, and read it, as it 

 contains valuable hints. W. Z. Hutchinson. 



Rogersville, Genesee Co., Mich., July, 18s3. 



BEES AND RAIli^VAY TRAINS. 



DO BEES FLY 90 MILES AN HOUR? 



Bp HAVE been very much interested in the articles 

 I in Gleanings relative to the wing power of 

 — ' our little pets; and from some little experience 

 of my own 1 am inclined to side with friend Doolit- 

 tle. Having occasion to visit Cincinnati a few days 

 ago I concluded to take some bees along, and, if 

 possible, test the ninety-mile theory. Accordingly 

 I caged about a dozen, and boarded the fast day ex- 

 press, scheduled at forty miles per hour. Going in- 

 to the baggage car, the "smasher," being an acquain- 

 tance, agreed to assist me in the experiment. We 

 took some oil cloth and covered the side and rear 

 windows, leaving the front window open; and going 

 to the rear of the car when the train was making a 

 speed of not less than 45 miles per hour, being a lit- 

 tle late, turned one loose. The little fellow circled 

 around a few times, apparently bewildered, and then 

 made a straight shoot for the front window, in as 

 little time, seemingly, as if the car were standing 

 slill ; others would circle back, but reach the window 

 from 10 to 15 seconds — the light having been shut 

 out by covering the side windows, no light appearing 

 except at the front window, which, of course, caus- 

 ed the bees to fly in that direction (according to my 

 thinking). Now, they would certainly have to double 

 the speed made by the train to reach that window, 

 and those that circled back so much would be com- 

 pelled to fly three times as fast. We now went to 

 the rear of the train and turned the rest loose, some 

 flying the same direction as the train, while others 

 were left in the distance. Now, I must beg to differ 

 from Mr. Ewing's statement on page 314, June 

 Gleanings. With due deference to his opinion, I 

 am not satisfied with his explanation as to bees 

 keeping their positions over the train, and he must 

 be mistaken. A train does not cause a vacuum over- 

 bead during its speed, no difference how fast or 

 slow. Vacuum exists only underneath and at the 

 rear of a train of cars. If Mr. E. doubts this state- 

 ment, let him get on top of a fast freight train, and 

 ride on the rear car, then let him turn his hat loose 

 (especially if he wants to buy a new one), and see 

 if the vacuum will cause it to follow the train, and I 

 think he will come down hatless. Then he may tear 

 some paper in small pieces, and see how quickly 

 they will disappear in the distance behind; and for 

 safety sake I would advise him to hold fast to some- 

 thing while making these experiments, or he him- 

 self will be blown off behind. I have railroaded for 

 11 years, and this is my experience: Paper and 

 light articles will follow underneath a train, and 

 within two feet of the track, in the rear, by suction, 

 or vacuum, but never overhead; I am of the opinion 

 that Mr. Elwood's bees followed overhead the train 

 altogether by their own exertions. 

 Somerset, Ky., July 10, 1883. A. T. Shotwell. 



I am very much obliged indeed, friend S. ; 

 but did you fly the bees inside or outside of 

 that car? In regard to the vacuum, or, more 

 correctly, the 'partial vacuum produced by 



the movement of a train, I am inclined to 

 think you are correct in that also, although 

 when the matter was flrst suggested I did 

 not stop to consider it very carefully. There 

 seems to be more credit due to the bees than 

 we supposed when the subject was first tak- 

 en iip. 



VIAIiliON'S APIARY. 



ONE OF THE ENTERPRISING BEE-MEN OF THE SOtlTlt. 



^E take pleasure in showing you, on the 

 opposite page, a beautiful sketch our 

 artist has given us of the apiary of 

 friend Viallon. I hardly need tell you that 

 friend V. is not only one of our most wide- 

 awake and go-ahead bee-men, for I presume 

 you all know it already ; but, what is still 

 more to his credit, that, although perhaps he 

 has done as large a business in rearing and 

 selling bees and queens as almost any other 

 man in the world, no one has yet, so far as I 

 can remember, ever written a word of com- 

 plaint in regard to his ways of doing busi- 

 ness. We also append a description from 

 Mr. Viallon himself, which accompanied tlie 

 photograph. And in another article, writ- 

 ten by friend Flanagan, we have some ad- 

 ditional " sidelights," as it were. 



My nuclei are in a row along the fence, and two 

 rows opposite; and if you look well you may see 

 some of the nuclei; though the pickets obliterate 

 them a little. If all the hives in front of the honey- 

 house had been painted white they would look bet- 

 ter. My bee-hive factory is mostly hidden by the 

 trees, but you can see a part of it. I am gladto 

 hear that you were pleased with the photograph; 

 but I don't see why you should go to the expense 

 and trouble to have it engraved, as there are so 

 many others having better -looking apiaries than 

 mine. At any rate, do as you please, my friend, and 

 may God bless you and family fur your kindness to 

 all of us. P. L. Viallon. 



Bayou Goula, La. 



Below are a few words from one of our 

 hands who has been with friend V. for 

 toward a year past. 



The cut shows the apiary and home of Mr. Paul 

 L. Viallon, of Bayou Goula, La. I am aware that 

 taany readers of Gleanings will cast careless 

 glances at this little plate, while others, who have 

 become acquainted with or visited Mr. Viallon, will 

 say not half has been told. This picture is very 

 dear to the writer, because of the beauty of the 

 place ; dear, because of the loving, kind hearts of the 

 occupants ; and doubly dear, because it has become 

 the home of his only son, J. M. OUn, who has the 

 charge of the large and extensive apiary, which is 

 situated above New Orleans, and has a fine view of 

 the Mississippi River. The beautiful shades are 

 live-oaks and tropical fruit-trees. 



This photograph was taken about the last week in 

 January. The number of stands at that time was 

 between 400 and 500. After sojourning with them 

 for the past 8 months, and noting the thrift and 

 shrewd management, I must say, "Excelsior!" Mr. 

 Viallon is every bit a true Southern gentleman. The 

 most of us know something of Southern hospitality, 

 and we truly realize it when we visit him. 



Medina, O., July 26, 1883, J . C. Olin. 



