SHIPPING BEES TO CALIFORNIA. 253 



in Sacramento the first of February, 1856. But a 

 very small colony, with the queen, survived the long 

 voyage, and with proper care they increased and did 

 well. The result of this experiment clearly demon- 

 strated the fact, that if properly prepared and carefully 

 handled, bees could be successfully imported in large 

 quantities, and if once there, that they would increase 

 rapidly and produce large quantities of honey. With 

 this assurance, he returned home in- June, 1857. 

 Being advised by letter, we had commenced to pre- 

 pare stocks in a suitable manner for shipment. He 

 completed the preparation after his arrival, and again 

 started for the land of gold, sailing from New York 

 on the fifth of November, with sixty-seven colonies. 

 On arriving at Aspinwall, circumstances being favor- 

 able, he opened the boxes and permitted the bees to 

 fly out and clean themselves, which no doubt greatly 

 assisted in preserving their health during the rest of 

 the voyage. He arrived safely at Sacramento on the 

 first of December, having lost but five colonies on the 

 way ; others had been reduced in numbers until quite 

 weak. By uniting all such together, making strong 

 stocks at the expense of numbers,, they were reduced 

 to fifty ; sixteen of these were sold, leaving but thirty- 

 four, which were increased during the ensuing sum- 

 mer to one hundred and twenty, all of which were 

 sold during the fall and winter, except six, yielding a 

 handsome profit on the investment. 



This was the first large and successful shipment 

 of bees made to California. Others were made about 

 the same time, but with very indifferent success; 

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