Decorah-posten., 1882-06-07
Mr.. Editor:

Will AFFORD entertainment 10 many OF your
readers, who are, like myself, students of
nature, l respectfully ask its publication.
For several years past I have devoted a
considerable portion of my time to garden
ing and bee culture. In the latter | take
an especial interest, frequently spending
hours in observing the habits of these
wonderful insects, admiring their untiring
industry and perfect organization, and in
becoming familiar with their language,
for like human beings they have a medium
by which they can communicate with n
another.
My apiary contains a number Of hives,
and in a %fanciful spirit of patriotism have
named it Iopa, designating each hive by
the name of one of our towns or cities, as
DEBORAH, Dubuque, Des Moines, etc.
1 never tire of watching my insect favor
ties, observing the beauty of the queens
and their jealousy of n another, the
pomposity of the lazy drones, but above
all, the skill and industry of the workers,
who gather wax, honey and bee bread,
build comb, help to hatch and rear the
young, guard the queens, and keep them
apart or separate them in their conflicts.
Heretofore our little community has
been peaceful and prosperous, but during
the present year an extraordinary change
has taken place, which it is the special OBJ
ject of this article to make known to the
public.
1t appears that the drones, influenced,
no doubt, by the SO called progressive
spirit of the age, have come to the conclu-
sion that there is something else for them
to do beside loafing around and paying
attention to the queans, in other words that
they have a mission, and that, as they are
incapable Of gathering honey or perform
ing any of the labors of the workers, the
said mission can be none other than that
Of regulating the morals and affairs in
| ScIeIdl Ol the sdlO WORKERS.
have not been able to trace this great
reform movement TO its source, but am of
the opinion that some distinguished drone,
having read of a certain great parsonage
who attempted a reform in heaven and
Drew after him a third part of the angels,
determined TO initiate his example and set
himself up as a reformer.
But to return from suggestions to facts.
The drones have discovered that the work
ers extract from certain plants, viz. maize
barley, grape, apple, etc.,-a substance
(termed in the bee language Al-KohoD
which, when partaken of by the workers,
produces a peculiar exhiliration ii e.
makes them feel good. And they claim
that, having referred this matter to certain
learned drones for investigation, said
drones report that the said Al-Kohol has
a very injurious effect upon the workers;
that it not only lowers their v~itality-sub-
jects them to a variety of diseases, lessons
their capability of serving the queans and
drones-but that every other evil which
afflicts the community, including the raw
ages of the bee moth, bad weather, scarcity
of honey, and all quarrels and accidents
are directly traceable TO the same cause.
On the other hand the workers deny these
sweeping assertions, claiming that the
working bees require a moderate quantity
of Al Kohol to enable them to endure labor
and exposure, and assert that a large pro-
portion of the evils complained of may be
traced TO the quarrelsome and fanatical
spirit of the drones and queans themselves.
However this may be, the drones, hav-
ing nothing to do, find time to work this
matter up thoroughly and have have per
suaded a number of the queans to unite
with them in a crusade against the workers.
They have proposed an amendment TO the
constitution which is intended TO stop the
use Of Al-Kohol, and have fixed on the
9th of June as the day on which the com
munity is to vote for its adoption or re-
lection.
This controversy is producing a most
disastrous effect upon my apiary, and, if
continued much longer, will result in its
entire destruction.
The drones have become intolerably in
solent and over bearing, and the queans,
neglecting their special duty of rearing
young bees, have attired themselves in
their best millinery and are holding con-
ventions at the different hiyes-or travel
in to the great central hive Des Moines to
consult with a number of distinguished
drones who there abide.
The workers for a long time continued
faithfully at their labors, enduring re-
proach without a word of complaint.
But lately their patience gave out, and,
enraged at the insults heaped upon them,
they have left their work, and are pre-,
pairing for the contest.
What will be the result when these little
soldiers come in conflict with the stingless
drones, the reader can imagine.
In the meantime the apiary is travelling
fast toward ruin. The rearing of young
bees and gathering of honey are neglected
aud the hives being no longer well guarded
the bee moths. e. monopolists-have
entered the hives and are spreading their
webs; and the worms. e. Office holders
ARE eating their way through the comb
and establishing themselves where they
can devour the honey.
| will say in conclusion that the workers
are holding meetings, and as they have
very able orators l shall perhaps take
notes and send you some of their speeches
Yours,
JON ARR