712 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 



licious nectar to all parts of the world, and in return 

 therefor the State received thousands of dollars, 

 and a reputation for excellent honey enjoyed by no 

 other place la the world. This seems to be in the 

 natural order, " Excel in all things, fail in none." 

 Like the flowers, fruit, and wine, the luscious nectar 

 found a welcome entrance into the homes of the 

 sovereign and of the peasant. Royal teeth have 

 crushed the dainty waxen cells, to the great delight 

 of the owner. The poor invalid desires no pleasanter 

 food or medicine than this aromatic honey. 



The flowers from which so many hundrt^d tons of 

 honey have been gathered in the lower part of the 

 State of California are those of what is now com- 

 monly called "California honey sage." The one 

 herewith shown is the true white ssige, Axulibert la 

 polyslachya. Several speciesof Audibertia are found 

 on the coast, but we have chosen the above for this 

 article, as it is the most striking in appearance, and 

 diflTers in inflorescence very much from all the 

 others and from the genuine sage. It has a very 

 highly aromatic odor, and this, with its other pe- 

 culiarities, makes it, when once known, easily re- 

 cognized anywhere. 



Figure 1 shows the plant in full bloom, and as 

 grown on good soil, though not by any means above 

 the average. On moderately rich and moist land it 

 will keep up its efflorescence from June till Christ- 

 mas, or till heavy frosts, which may be in January. 

 On the dry hills and mountains in its native home, 

 its season of blooming is much shorter than on either 

 moist or cultivated lauds. 



On account of its being a great nectar-secreting 

 plant, and because its season of efflorescence con- 

 tinues longer than most other plants, it is of great 

 value as bee pasturage. The plants are of easy 

 culture, and will thrive on drier soil than will many 

 other honey-producing plants. The writer is firmly 

 of the opinion, that this plant will grow well in all 

 the most southern of the Southern States, and will 

 yield large quantities of nectar. Its easy culture 

 should be sufficient inducement for all who plant 

 for bee feed to give it at least a trial. The writer 

 has cultivated it near Oakland, Cal., and finds that it 

 grows exceedingly well, and is visited by bees in 

 large numbers from morning till night. It seems 

 never to know when to stop blooming. On account 

 of its striking appearance, it makes a good plant 

 for the garden, and to try it we have it so planted. 

 Its whitish-blue leaves and tall spikes, sometimes 

 from six to eight feet high, give entire satisfaction 

 as individual plants; but where grouped they do not 

 grow so tall, and are still more beautiful. The plant 

 from which the accompanying sketch was made is 

 one raised by the writer on rather dry soil. 



In conclusion, we would advise all bee-keepers in 

 this State, and those of the Si.uthern States above 

 mentioned, to sow a few seed, and every year to as- 

 sist in disseminating the same in their neighbor- 

 hood, so that in a few years large patches of white 

 sage may be found in the hills and valleys. This 

 done, such a thing as a short honey crop will be a 

 thing of the past. 



^»^*#* m 



ANOTHEK MARVEIiOUS REPORT FKOM 

 AN A B C SCHOIiAR. 



FKOM 4 TO 20, AND 3110 LBS. OF COMB HONEY. 



^jINCE becoming a subscriber to Gleaninos, I 

 ^^ feel as though I had become also a member of 

 your large family of "Blessed bee-keepers;" 

 and though but a baby in the business, I want to 

 send in my report, which I have not yet seen sur- 

 passed. 



I began last year, 18S2, with one swarm of Italians; 

 increased to 4, to start the spring; they began 

 swarming in April, and increased to 20, and so now 

 remain to go through the winter, which is a simple 

 business here. 



And now for my returns: I find by looking at my 

 hook that I have taken 3110 lbs. of comb honey, all 

 from upper boxes, or caps, as we call them. I have 

 no extractor, and did not take any honey from the 

 main hives, which are very full. Our first shower 

 for five months came in the end of September, since 

 when the bees made no more surphis honey, but 



turned their attention to glue-making, and prepar- 

 ing for winter. I inclose a sprig of plant from 

 which they make most of the late honey. What is 

 its name? Alfalfa was the main source of supply. 



GEOKGE HOBLER. 



Hareford, Tulare Co., Cal., Oct., 1883. 



Friend II., your report is truly wonderful, 

 and I presume we shall have to conclude 

 that your favored clime has something to do 

 with it. However, since the other bee-keep- 

 ers of your State have not reported any thing 

 extra during the present season, I presume 

 we shall have to conclude something is due 

 to you as the guide and arcliitect to this 

 wonderful achievement. We should be very 

 glad indeed if you would give us the full de- 

 tnils, step by step, hov/ it was brought about. 

 We are very much obliged indeed for what 

 you have said in regard to the sources from 

 whence the honey comes ; and especially are 

 we glad to hear such a tribute to alfalfa. If 

 it does not yield honey here, it certainly 

 must do so in California. We will report 

 further on in regard to the plant you send us. 



ITALIAN REES. 



BY MRS. HANNAH RINEBOLD. 



'Tis on a warm October day. 



The air is balmy, soft as May. 



That old Jack Ifrost painted bright the leaves, 



But left no food for eager, busy bees 



That fain would work these sunny hours; 



There's nothing left but withered flowers. 



But in the house I hear a buzzing sound, 

 And wonder what it is they've found; 

 Oh! 'tis a tiny piece of bread, 

 That was all o'er with honey spread; 

 And ere we know what they're about. 

 They've taken all the honey out. 



With new recruits they still are coming in; 

 Don't they know, the thieves! that robbing is a 



sin? 

 They're in the cupboard, over all the shelves — 

 What shall we do with all these vexing elves? 

 Oh! were there ever any rogues so bold 

 As those that wear bright bands of gold? 



Then on to the windows they buzz up and down. 

 Till, tired out, at last they fall down. 

 Unless we remove them by their bright wings. 

 And let them fly out again, naughty wee things. 

 O Uncle! what shall we do with such bees. 

 On sunshiny days such as these? 



Owing to the earlj' frost that killed the buckwheat 

 and goldenrod (otir late honey-plants in this place), 

 the honey crop was not very large, although there 

 was quite an abundance of white clover earlier 

 in the season. We have 23 colonies of bees, 11 of 

 which are Italians. A near neighbor put some 

 sugar on his window, to see whether the bees would 

 find it. They found it. He didn't care to repeat 

 the experiment. The Italians come into the house 

 every warm day, but the blacks do not. 



Overton, Pa., Oct. 15, 1883. 



In the first place, my friend, raise all the 

 windows about an inch, and the bees will all 

 get out ; then cover up, or carry out, every 

 drop of exposed honey, and let them satisfy 

 themselves that no inore is to be had, and 

 they will soon settle down quiet. — Many 

 thanks for your pleasant and vivid " pen- 

 picture " of Italians after stolen sweets. 



