I write to answer several communications in regard to the adaptability
of our great State to bee-keeping, and as apiculture is engrossing
the minds of many of the most energetic, progressive and scientific
men of our land, I recognize the difficulty of even venturing an
opinion. As our great State is so varied in climate and flora, I will
state that my remarks have reference to my own section of perhaps a
radius of 100 miles. I have lived in Texas since 1850. I passed my
boyhood days on her beautiful prairies, amid her thousands of flowers
of every hue, freighting our incomparable sea breeze with more than
Arcadian sweetness, silence banished from her woodland slopes by the
joyous carol of beautiful song birds. Ever delighting in the marvelous
beauties of nature, how could I fail to love so beauteous a sunlit
home? Yes, and as a grown up boy I love it still. Greek nor Roman,
not even Wm. Tell, loved his country better than I, therefore my
bee-keeping friends will pardon me if I seem to color a little too
strongly. Our State is being filled with energetic farmers who are
reaping rich harvests from the virgin soil, for nearly all kinds of
seeds that are sown spring forth under the genial rays of the sun to 60
and an hundred fold.
Reasoning by analogy I opine that bee-keeping will result in like
manner. Apiculture is in its nascent form here, but the sun of science
begins to warm its quickening form. I have studied the best works on
apiculture, but have not given it a thorough practical test yet; I
purpose doing so this season. There are but few bees in our country,
all blacks except my little apiary of 7 colonies, which consists of
hybrids and blacks. I intend to Italianize in March, for they indeed
possess many advantages over the blacks.
I have just wintered successfully in simplicity hives (plain) without
any sort of protection whatever, and this is the coldest winter I
ever saw in Texas. Dispatches state that at this time almost the
entire North is covered with snow. While my bees were in a quiver of
excitement to-day, Feb. 4, bringing in rich loads of pollen and honey
from turnips, mustards, &c., I could but delight in their rush of joy.
How different is the climate over which our vast brotherhood reaches!
Our honey plants reach nearly through the entire year, yielding as
good nectar as ever tickled the palate of man. In fact the harvest for
bees is almost endless, better, of course, some months. The market for
honey has never been developed: a few old “gums” to “rob” for “big
meeting” or for some extraordinary visitor is about all ever obtained.
“Bees do no good here these days, the moth destroy them,” say the “old
settlers.” The moth skulks away in the light of scientific bee-keeping
and its depredations are _nil_.
To be successful all should study the science, read good books on the
subject, learn by close practical observation, read the periodicals
of our wide awake bee-men, among which there is none better than the
AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Energy and perseverance alone will succeed even
in the “sunlit clime” of Texas. Without these, all will just as surely
retrograde.
Hallettsville, Texas.
For the American Bee Journal.
Alsike Clover as a Honey Plant.