T 20 
The Australasian Scientific Magazine. [Oct. i, 1885. 
The sage districts of California are noted for producing the finest honey 
in the world, and we do not believe that any place in the State has larger 
fields of this plant than the Lompor Valley. I do not, of course, allude 
to our garden herb {Salvia officinalis ), but a wild species, which might 
probably be cultivated by bee-keepers in this country. The splendid sage 
of Mexico is known to us chiefly as a green-house plant, although it will grow 
in the open border, where its large spikes of scarlet flowers are very striking, 
but the Californian kind is much smaller (I am unacquainted with its bota- 
nical name). Bees are very partial to it, as they likewise are to the figwort, 
there commonly called “ Simson honey plant,” and manezanita ; but the 
willows all along the Santa Ynes produce the early honey, for they bloom 
in .February, and the insects will fly for miles in order to get at their 
flowers. Californian bees will work splendidly during the season. A good 
swarm puts in combs from five to ten pounds of choice white honey per 
day, but then they are well pastured, fed and watered. The bee-keepers 
always select a very sheltered spot for their apiaries, taking as much care 
as they can that no long, open space should intervene between the hives 
and the pasture grounds, for if the insects laden with honey meet a cold 
“ norther ” in returning home they get chilled and perish by thousands. 
You have probably noticed that when bees leave the hive they always fly 
high ; they are light, and can rise on the wing easily, but when returning, 
if well laden, their weight is doubled, consequently it is wise to plant your 
bee flowers considerably above the elevation of your apiary, as it is a great 
assistance to the workers to start for home at a hundred feet or so higher 
than the hives, and Californians study this point in their bee-farming. 
They also cultivate a great number of plants which flower in autumn, so as 
to have second-class honey for winter stores. 
To make Skeleton Leaves. — This is a matter that may have some 
interest for our lady readers. Cherry, pear, poplar, ivy, holly, or maple 
leaves should be gathered in June or July, when the young leaves are at 
their full growth ; placed in a pan (an earthen one) of rain water, be kept 
filled up as it wastes, but none of the water should be emptied out. Some 
of the leaves will be ready to dissect in a month, and some in not less than 
two. When the external membranes begin to separate, then is the time 
to begin the operation. The leaf should be put in a flat white plate with 
clear water. Then the leaf should be gently squeezed with the finger, and 
it will open on one side and the green juice will press out ; then the two 
outward skins must be stripped off, first in the middle and along the sides, 
where they closely adhere, and if an opening be made they will easily come 
off; then the skeleton should be washed in clean water, and put to dry 
between leaves of paper. Pear and holly leaves have a double set of fibres 
that must be separated with circumspection. One set of fibres is more 
perfect than the other. 
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