246 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING, 



CHAPTER XX. 



SHIPPING BEES TO CALIFORNIA. 



To ship bees successfully to so great a distance, 

 and through such a diversity of climate as is experi- 

 enced on the steam ship route to California, via the 

 Isthmus of Darien, at Panama, required a pretty 

 correct knowledge of the habits and peculiarities of 

 the bee, combined with untiring care and watchful- 

 ness on the part of those who made the first successful 

 shipments of bees to California, when the experiment 

 was a hazardous one, the expenses being so exorbi- 

 tant at that time, and the undertaking fraught with 

 such serious obstacles. The experience that has been 

 had for the last three years, with the present low 

 rates of passage and freights, renders their shipment 

 now comparatively easy, and many are engaged in it. 

 Bees have been sold at high rates in California, and 

 doubtless will continue to sell at very remunerative 

 prices for years to come, from the fact that the climate 

 is highly favorable, as well as that of Oregon and 

 Washington Territories, Carson's Valley, Utah, &c. 



All of this vast extent of country abounds with an 

 endless variety of flowers, producing immense quan- 

 tities of honey. An enterprising people is pouring 

 in and settling up this domain of the United States, 

 developing its vast mineral, agricultural and pastoral 

 resources. It has been proved by actual experiment, 

 that bees increase very rapidly there, and yield large 

 quantities of surplus honey, from seventy-five to one 



