Texas Beekeeping. Ill 



will be described further under the next subject, "Main Honey 

 Sources. ' ' 



Numerous inquiries are every year received in regard to suitable 

 locations for beekeeping. A sufSeient answer is, that it is impossible 

 to suggest, in print, a specific spot that would be best, on account 

 of the fact that the State is such a large one and the localities so 

 varied. Besides this, locations are being constantly taken up by bee- 

 keepers. It is hoped that statements contained in the next chapter 

 will serve the purpose of imparting such information as is generally 

 desired concerning the apicultural value of the various sections of 

 Texas. More definite knowledge can be obtained through corres- 

 pondence with beekeepers located in the several sections, or, better 

 still, by, personal investigation. It is advisable that the beekeeper, 

 desiring a new location, make a personal visit before moving to a 

 new place. Persons from a distance should take advantage of the 

 many "home seekers" excursions offered by the railroads. If satis- 

 fied with a new location, after looking over the gfound thoroughly, 

 a final move can safely be made. Under no circumstances should 

 "stakes be pulled up at home," especially if the old place is a fair 

 one for beekeeping, or an immediate move made to a new location 

 without due consideration. It should be remembered that climatic 

 and other conditions, as well as various advantages, may not be as 

 favorable in a new location. This is given as a warning note to 

 guard against beekeepers giving up a good location where they are 

 able to make their pursuit profitable, for a new one with which 

 they may be quite disoppointed. 



MAIN HONEY SOURCES. 



Beginning with North Texas, which includes the Panhandle coun- 

 try, beekeeping is not prominent except in a few favorable localities. 

 The greater part of this division is level plains country where stock 

 raising, wheat growing and other agricultural pursuits are followed. 

 Its vast, level topography and the lack of honey yielding flora, with 

 severe cold weather in winter and extreme hot and dry summers at 

 times, make it, as a whole, not well suited to beekeeping. However, 

 there are some localities in the eastern part of this section, especially 

 along the Red River and adjacent valleys, that are well adapted to 

 beekeeping. 



The mesquite tree (Prosojns) areas extend into the southern part 

 of this North Texas division, and in some places, where cotton yields 

 honey in connection with it, bees may be kept profitably. Horsemint 

 (Monarda) and cotton are the main sources in the eastern portion, 

 and in a few places are supplemented by sweet clover {Mellilotus) , 

 which is abundant in some places where it was planted previously. 

 Other minor honey and pollen yielding plants help in the building 

 up of the colonies. 



Just below this. Central Texas occupies the middle portion of the 

 State. It covers the main black land agricultural districts with in- 

 tervening high ridge lands and smaller valleys. Horsemint and mes- 

 quite are here the two most prominent natural sources, and cotton 

 honey is prndnced abundantly. In addition to a vast number of 



