VOL. LVIII — NO. 1 2 



HAMILTON, ILL., DECEMBER, 1918 



MONTHLY, $1.00 A Y FAR 



THE COTTON BELT OF TEXAS 



Notes About Beekeeping Conditions in the Black Land Region of 

 Where Cotton is the Principal Source of Surplus Honey 



Texas, 



WHEN we speak of the cotton 

 belt, we naturally think of that 

 large area where cotton is 

 grown as a staple crop. In this arti- 

 cle, however, we mean the smaller 

 area where cotton is the principal 

 source of surplus honey, which cov- 

 ers quite a different section of the 

 map of Texas. In general, this area 

 approximates the extent of the black 

 lind prairie, commonly called the 

 "black waxy" lands. But it extends 

 beyond that belt to some extent, as 

 cotton yields honey freely on other 

 heavy soils. Beginning near the 

 northeast corner of the State, a line 

 running southwestward to the Bra- 

 zos river would apparently mark the 

 approximate eastern boundary of 

 this belt. As mentioned in previous 

 articles, the southern boundary is 

 very definitely marked by the escarp- 

 ment running east and west, between 

 San Antonio and New Braunfels. 

 Since we have in mind a special arti- 

 cle on the behavior of the cotton 

 plant, further consideration of that 

 subject will be deferred for the pres- 

 ent. 



Within this particular area we find 

 the highest developed agriculture of 

 the State. The soils are rich and the 

 climate mild. Cotton, corn, alfalfa, 

 small grains and truck crops are all 

 profitably grown. In few places do 

 we find beekeeping highly specialized 

 along with prosperous general agri- 

 culture, and Texas is no exception. 

 Here and there we find a specialist 

 who is producing honey on a large 

 scale, but they are widely scattered. 

 Nine in every ten beekeepers to be 

 met in this area are enthusiasts who 

 earn their livelihood at some other 

 occupation. This does not neces- 

 sarily indicate that honey production 

 is unprofitable. In fact, it is probable 

 that honey production is more de- 

 pendable in some parts of this belt 



By Frank C. Pellett 



than in Southwest Texas, where bee- 

 keeping ii a much more important 

 industry. For some unaccountable 

 reason, we find comparatively few 

 commercial beekeepers in any rich 

 land area where general farming is 

 highly profitable. There are a few in 

 this part of Texas who are conspicu- 

 ously successful. 



Beemen of the Cotton Belt 

 Just at this point in the story, the 

 writer feels very much like express- 

 ing his feelings, in very strong lan- 

 guage, toward the photographer who 

 spoiled a big batch of the pictures 

 taken on the journey through Texas. 



Often the pictures can be made to 

 tell more of the story than the 

 printed words can do. 



Even the start to visit this part of 

 Texas was somewhat difficult. New 

 Braunfels, the home of Louis Scholl, 

 was the first place to be visited. With 

 E. G. LeStourgeon for pilot, our 

 party started early from San Antonio 

 to drive across country . It was a 

 balmy March day and the bees were 

 humming on agarita. Before the out- 

 skirts of the city were passed we had 

 a blowout that sent the tire rolling, 

 and lost the rim entirely. One oi 

 the party, sent back along the road, 



A group of Waco beekeepers. 



