THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



67 



Inyo Co., in southern California depends 

 entirely upon alfalfa, and in this respect it 

 rivals Nevada and Arizona in both quality 

 and quantity. 



Reports from the northern portion of the 

 State show that there are large areas of un- 

 occupied fields that would furnish bountiful 

 yields. 



The honey flow is largely dependent upon 

 the rainfall and this has been quite abun- 

 dant over mo^t portions of the State. 



The only unfavorable symptom reported 

 in regard to the bees was loss of queens. 

 Progressive California bee-keepers practice 

 re-queening often. A queen ought not to 

 be allowed to survive the close of the second 

 year. A two-year-old queen, if spared for 

 the next year, usually fails early in the sea- 

 son. 



The State Entomologist, Prof. C. \V. 

 Woodworth, from the State University, was 

 present, and gave bee-keepers to understand 

 that the University would meet bee-keepers 

 more than half way in its endeavors to ad- 

 vance bee-keeping. Hereafter, if nothing is 

 done in regard to bee-keeping at the Univer- 

 sity, it will clearly be the fault of the bee- 

 keepers themselves. A course of study in 

 apiculture will be given if students desire it. 

 This department of the University desires to 

 keep in touch with bee-keepers and it is de- 

 sired that they make known their needs and 

 desires. 



Economy in bee-keeping was touched 

 upon. No one can realize how much is 

 wasted in small things in a California api- 

 ary until he begins to look up the small 

 things. 



California bee-keepers are beginning in 

 some localities to think about the improve- 

 ment of their pastures Ijy scattering the 

 seeds of the sages, sweet clover, mustard, 

 etc., in waste places. 



Hives came in for their share oi the dis- 

 cussion. It is evident that a bee-keeper who 

 produces extracted honey must use a large 

 hive, while the comb honey producer must 

 have a hive with a small brood chamber. 



In certain localities of the State, foul 

 brood is quite prevalent, and, as a rule, 

 heroic measures were advocated. Daring 

 the discussion it came out that the supervi- 

 sors did not appoint foul brood inspectors be- 

 cause they (the supervisors) were opposed 

 to having bees in the county. In one in- 

 stance the supervisor said that he wished 

 that the bees would all die of the foul brood. 



It was learned, however, that if a certain 

 number of bee-keepers apply for the ap- 

 pointment of an inspector, the supervisors 

 are obliged to make the appointment. 



The act of the Illinois legislature appro- 

 priating .^500 for the State Association to use 

 in getting out its report was read and a sim- 

 ilar one drafted for appropriating $800 in 

 California to be used in promoting the inter- 

 ests of apiculture, and Mr. W. A. Pryal com- 

 missioned to present the desires of the bee- 

 keepers to the proper committee at the State 

 capitol. 



The matter of making an exhibit of honey 

 at the World's Fair was discussed and sever- 

 al said they were going to send both comb 

 and extracted honey, some intimating that 

 they would make a fancy display, hence it is 

 evident that California will have a credita- 

 ble display at the coming Exposition. 



The subject of using glucose and adulter- 

 ating honey came up and was most strongly 

 condemned. 



This is only the second meeting that the 

 Society has held, yet there were 100 in at- 

 tendance. After two days very profitably 

 and pleasantly spent, the bee-keepers gave 

 the parting grip and departed for their 

 homes under dripping skies. 



Rambler. 



ir^4-ir^^^ 



The Pratt Self- Hiver.— Its Arrangement, 

 Management and Advantaees 



E. L. PKATT. 



'IE self-hiver question has been so 

 thoroughly discussed of late that by 

 this time it is quite generally granted 

 that a thoroughly practical device is forth- 

 coming and the daj not far distant when 

 such an appliance will be considered indis- 

 pensable in the profitable and pleasant man- 

 agement of bees, either on a large or small 

 scale. 



How often do we read of the progress the 

 bees are making in some well regulated yard 

 for the production of comb honey until, 

 alas, they commence to swarm. The apia- 

 rist is now on pins and needles while the 

 bees seem to put their entire energy into the 

 business, and, "though the heavens fall," 

 they must swarm. Cast after cast is sent 

 out, ladders, poles, baskets, cages, smokers, 

 men, water, sweat, and a hundred other 



