1919 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



191 



hive, as pollen loads their intestines. 



On the other hand, it is proven that 

 larvae consume pollen, mixed with 

 their food, during their growth. Pol- 

 len is probably needed to build up 

 the structure of the bee. 



Flour and substitutes are taken by 

 the bees only when they have honey 

 to dilute those ingredients. This is 

 well proven, for pellets of such arti- 

 ficial pollen, dropped by the bees, are 

 found to be moist and have a sweet 

 taste. They evidently bring honey 

 from the hive to dilute them. 



As these products do not have the 

 attractive odor of the pollen of flow- 

 ers or the smell of the hive, it is usu- 

 ally necessary to attract them to the 

 spot by placing in the boxes some 

 pieces of old combs or a little strong- 

 smelling honey. The flour should be 

 packed with the hands so as to make 

 a fairly firm footing, otherwise the 

 bees may smother in it. After they 

 find it useful they will attract others 

 to it by their humming. 



Substitutes are to be given only 

 when there is no pollen whatever in 

 the fields. We are told by scientists 

 that bees do not digest starchy food 

 and that it is therefore useless to 

 them. It is even asserted that these 

 substitutes will not feed the larva:. 

 But we have had our bees use hun- 

 dreds of pounds, bringing honey to 

 dilute it, and carrying it on their 

 legs. We have seen it in the cells, 

 in the hive, and have never seen any 

 of it thrown out. So, until it is ab- 

 solutely proven that the larvae cannot 

 digest it, we will continue our faith 

 in the Dzierzon-Langstroth method 

 of giving it to the bees whenever 

 they cannot get natural pollen. 



If you have the "Hive and Honey 

 Bee, Revised," read paragraphs 263 

 to 270. You will find there the ex- 

 periments made by Dzierzon and oth- 

 ers on this subject. 



We are told that bees will even 

 carry coal dust to their hives in times 

 of pollen scarcity. We have seen 

 them tumbling about coal dust and 

 sawdust, but have never seen any of 

 these ingredients in the cells. There 

 is a possibility that very fine saw- 

 dust might be used, since many in- 

 sects consume wood fibre. But the 

 bees' attempt at using it is only ac- 

 cidental.— C. P. D. 



The Red-Bud 



THE Red-bud, or Judas-tree, 

 Cercis Canadensis, is a common 

 shrub or small tree in the 

 southeastern States. It is found oc- 

 casionally from Western Pennsylva- 

 nia to Southern Michigan, Southern 

 Iowa and Nebraska south to Western 

 Florida and East Texas. It grows 

 along streams and in the woodlands 

 where the soil is moist and rich. In 

 Alabama it blooms in late February, 

 and in Southern Iowa in April. The 

 rose-pink blossoms appearing in early 

 spring before the leaves are out 

 make the tree very conspicuous dur- 

 ing the blooming period. Where the 

 tree is abundant it furnishes a liberal 

 pas.ure for the bees for early spring 

 brood rearing. Blooming so early it 



is rarely the source of surplus. In 

 the northern part of its range it 

 often blooms with fruit trees and 

 dandelion, so that it is not as im- 

 portant as farther south. 



There is another species in South 

 Texas and Mexico which blooms in 

 March, the Texan Red-bud, Cercis 

 reniformis, and one, the Western 

 Red-bud. Cercis occidentalis, which 

 occurs in the mountains of California, 

 and occasionally in Utah. 



The Red-bud is also known as 

 salad-tree, or June-bud. — F. C. P. 



Beekeeping in Morocco 



HERE is a little information on 

 beekeeping in Morocco. The 

 bees are black. The hives are 

 made of cork and laid horizontally. 

 In some regions they are very numer- 

 ous and the Arabs harvest large quan- 

 tities of honey which they bring to 

 market in goat skins holding about 65 

 pounds. They transport this on 

 camel-back or mule-back. 



The honey is white, except that of 

 the Sus valley, which is of golden 

 color and of good taste. I bought 

 large quantities, which I shipped to 

 France. But I found one kind of white 

 honey which burns the throat as if 

 it contained lot of sting poison. 



The Horticultural Society of Casa- 

 blanca gives much attention to bee- 

 keeping. But movable-frame hives 

 are scarce, and I don't know of any 

 modern apiaries. The flora is rich in 

 nectar from February to May. Just 

 now the ravenelle (wild mustard), 

 peas, peaches and almonds are in full 

 bloom. 



Swarms sell for $1, and heavy colo- 

 nies may be had for $5. Honey sells 

 now at about 30 cents per pound. 



I am sorry not to be able to give 

 you more details or to send you pho- 

 tos. I have been in the Convalescent 

 Hospital here and am just about to 

 return to France. Will write you 

 again. QUINTIEN TOUREAUD. 

 Casablanca (Dar El Beda) Morocco. 



Feb. 22, 1919. 



