The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-18
FOLLOWING THE FLoWERs.
TRAVELLING from New Orleans 60 ~. Paul with
Eight Hundred Bec Hives.

Frop, N, 81 Loui, Gl,,e. Democrat
A little stcrnwhoel boat, bearing upon It's
dingy sidcs the logend James A. r9ssr' uou
works has. during the past six months. played
an important part in ons OF TIE most interesting
cxpprimcnts in bee culture ever designed.
II was with u knowledge OF the facts TINT there
Ia big money in honey that the supply OF the
luxury represents but u small percentage OF tho
demand. and that the honey producing capacity
OF bocs If iliimtable. that G.. q. Pcrrine OF Chi-
cago. designed a vast floating apiary which.
starting from New Orleans in the early spring.
has followed the bloom OF flowers uu the stream.
intending TO 20 as FAR north rs 81 Paul.
One night last week tho little craft steamed
past tho city and uD rs far ns Two Branch Land
ing, where tho honey making possibilities were
such that the hives were all taken ashore anS
the bees turned loose to steal the sweets oil the
vicinity. 49,
The Captain IL quiet, MISUNDERSTANDING little
man. md five minutes talk with him shows
him to be an enthusiast in bee culture. While
on n visit two years ago TO Louisiana. Mr.. Per-
rine WAS surprised at the whtcnrss and delft
cate flavor Of some honey shown him. He in
quircd IA to what the bees fed upon, "Oh.
Rwcr1 o ani ben VINO sn Go Work to WI End "", the
truth. and made the discovery that tho
little workers. affected the white. blossoms
n little experimenting he became satisfied
that honey could I've found in superior quantity
and quality in these blossoms. and. aware that
they lined the banks from New Orleans to IT.
Paul. the idea Of the floating apinry was con.
weeks %SSE ToT GSq% to %S1 IRON sS IN early early
in April in Louisiana. and is u liz perfection
very late in the summer in Minnesota, and
bank In the daytime. could follow this bloom
and keep the bees IN the very zenith or the
honey making time all through the spring and
summer. thereby increasing the yield OF honey
In the ratio that the possibilities oil tho bios
CAPT Perrinc purchased two barges Of ordi-
nary length and the little stern wheel steamer
James \. Fraser. Whatever OF failure has at
tended the enterprise IL due TO the inferior
speed ot the boat aud series OF exaspcrating
accidents 10 her machinery. ,. ,,-,
and 100 hives " bees placed upon cach. All
varieties of honey makers wero introduced. as
the cnterprlsing captain desired To make nus
experiment IA broad and thorough IA possible
The hives were painted in contrasting colors in
order that the little workers could return to tho
proper hive. the colors aiding each in distin-
gushing his home 10y comparative location.
The intention was to start on April |. but ac-
This was unfortunate. MS the bloom had begun
To fade 10y this time Many persons who took a
keen interest In the venture were dubious rs To
TIA success. and advised against u, but Capt.
Perrino replied that he was spending his own
money. al t9r truth and. ana on May iS he
presence of n vast concoursc Of people. and soon
| struck the widowed cyees. A run Of a day and
| u night brought him to place in every way
| Capt. pcrrine ran up to a bank at a point some
| forty miles south OF Nickshurg and released tho
busy bu21ing inmates Of the hives. Like boys
released from the confinement of school. away
! they sped 10 the willows and sought the depths
Of the irafrGn, P,SssGms GSPt T rE me-, await
! began To come back each with his sweet load,
| and 10y shutdown the success OF the experiment.
was assured. 4 very lew Of those released had
! wandered out into the world. while now and
then belated loltercr arrived and entered his
| cell.
Capt Perrlne went 10 bed happy man that
| night and dreamed Of whole fleets Of floating
apiaries aud great mountalns OF honey. the
beauty Of which made his mouth water rs he
dreamed on. The next day but added to the
success 81 the preceding one. There was a
| small loss in the original number of the bees
]
| recruits OF yagraut bees. who had probably
! learned from tho visitors OF their happy and
comiortablr position. This had been inrcsern,
and siSty-fve empty hives had been placed
ur9n th,e boat for that purpose
| The Fraser slowly towed the colony up the
! river. and all was going well. when, ON an I'm;
lucky day. the shalt Of the steamer broke. and
particularly favorable for honey making until
! messengers were sent 70 New Orleans with the
lost. The willow bloom died away. and the boes
| began 10 suffer. and many Ot them died. When
the machinery was again IN order. all haste
was made ny the stream. day and night until
the spring bloom WAS oNcrtakcn. Good coun-
| try had Just been REACHED. and the bees were
portan, feature Of q boats machinery. was hope
| cssly broken. and another wait Of two weeks
was enforced pending the necessary repairs,
The spring bloom had moved further north.
! and the boat was making such slow progress
Win ne barges tnAt cant pSrrine: IN Wow 2,
| later. concluded to abandon the bargcs. The
| beehiycs were transferred 10 the boat proper,
/ ana tlrn nlsht ana uhY tle .llllr steamer ThN-
! clci up the river until tho b. blossoms were
at;ain ovrrtaken, Every few days the boat
| would stop. the hives be taken ashore. and the
! bees released. and when the vicinity was cX-
| hauStel. they would be reloaded and the run
| made for another garden spot. Eycn with this
| delay the cNper.mrnt has proved successful.
The bees are all doing we'll and are max ing
| horny with a facility gratifying To- their owner.
/ The trip will bee made through TO -. Paul, and
| then Tn" hoes will be- taken South for tho win.
] ter. Satisfied that lao has struck a successful
| solution OF the problem OF how to insure tho
! honey supply Can't. p"rrinc Will complete his
| arrangements during the winter for an apinry
| on still larger scale. and Will leave New Or.
| leans on April !, 1873 with 1000 hives, tOwed
by Il boat Of assured speed and power.