The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-11
A Californ,ia Bse Ramon!

Unlike the wild ssbumble- bee," as 1t
s commonly called, the honey-bee Is
not an original native of this country.
Its ancestors came over with the Pill
grim Fathers from England or Holland
and year by year their descendants
Followed the course of civilization
W estward. Restless swarms escaping
from the farmers hives, and falling to
respond to the seductive music of tongs
and tin pans with which the frantic
owners tried to recover them, the fugi-
tives took to tho woods and formed in
dependent colonies in the cavities Of
decaying trees. These colonies in turn
Gent out new swarms every year, and
peopled the forests with wild bees that
gradually lost all recollection of the
hives of civilization. They were called
by the Indians "the white mans fly"
There were no wild honey-bees west
Of the Mississippi river previous to
1897, and they did not make their way
to the Pacific coast until more than
half century later, when hives Of
bees were carried thither by settlers.
Then the old story was repeated. Fugl-
tive swarms from the hives escaped
into the forests, and wild bees soon
became abundant, just as they had
spread through the forests of longer
settled portions of the country.
The method of hunting wild bees in
California is the same as in our West-
ern and Southern States. In India,
Africa and the Indian islands the boo
hunter has a servicesble friend and
partner In the bird called "the honey
guide" a member Of the cuckoo faml-
ly, by which he Is unorringly guided
to the tree where the wild bees build
their most. The American bee-hunter
is compelled to resort to other methods.
lie carries with him into the woods n
box containing a small portion OF
honey, and perhaps some mints or cs-
sences which arc attractive to bees.
He waits patiently until the bees col
lect about the boz, and when they
have gorgcd themselves with the Sc
ductive sweets, watches them kcenly
as they rise circling In the air. AS
soon as bee sees some familiar land
mark it makes q straight limo through
the air for home, and the limo Of flight
is carefully noted by the hunter. When
several bees have flown away in the
same direction the hunter removes his
box to another spot, and the same
operation is repeated; and the Inter
section of the lines or flight gives him
very nearly the position of tho tree in
which the wild bees have built their
nest.
The hunter now proceeds to find the
spot. Ills hopes may bo doomed to dis
appointment, for the tree may hold a
new swarm, and tho store of honey
may be very small. But if tho tree
should chance to be tho abode Of an
cid colony, his venture may be re-
warded by booty of many hundred
pounds Of wax and honey. After tho
containing the nest has been sawed
Oft, the bees arc driven out by burn.
ing straw or grass, and the rich spoi
is then removed. II the hunter wishes
to remove the whole bee colony to his
farm or ranch, he will carefully close
the openings through which the boof
pass in and out, and transfer the liml
to his apiary, where the bees may be
drummcd into hives containing honey
and brood comb. They soon become
accustomed to their new quarters, AND
resume the habit Of storing up honey
for their owner. .>
Bee culture has become all import
ant branch of Industry in California
especially since the introductlolfo OF the
Italian bee, which has been found tt
produce honey much superior TO tina
of the common species. The method,
followed In California do not differ u
any essential particulars from those
purs ucd In other parts of the country