Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-31

| wheat had been cut; now the clover Is
mid-thigh deep, and a very heavy
crop. Such thing is rare here; and
| though now fOrty-five years old,
never saw it but once before, and that
| was in Belleview, In your county.
This time, however, am able to get
three crops Off the same land in one
season; for have bees now that work
| as readily upon common red clover as
upon white.
TO those taking an interest in the
production of honey, my experience
this year would be very interesting, if
not instructive. For three years I
have failed, but saw that my failure
was on account of drouth and black
bees; 30 year ago changed my black
queens, and procured some Cyprian
and Holy Land or Syrian queens. The
last spring opened badly, all fruit
bloom being killed after bees had been
on it only day or two, and the middle
of May found them starving. June
was too wet; but July broughta change,
which was continued through August.
Fourteen starving colonies increased
to fifty-three. strong and rich, with con-
siderable surplus honey now ready and
much more comingin. This year, too,
half filled every frame with comb, and in
from fOrty-eight to seventy-two hours
good swarm sometimes had perfect
combs, honey stored, and many thous-
ands OF eggs laid. Next year I shall
fill every frame with foundation. I
found the Syrians nervous, risky
race, not hard to subdue with smoke,
and exceedingly prolific; one colony
giving me ten more; and they are as
good to gather honey as to increase.
But in improved Bookkeeping, finding
the queen or another is All important
item; and open the hive ever so care
fully, they stampede over the combs
as badly as, or worse than, blacks.
The Cyprian is as good In all points as
the Syrian, except that it stampedes
over the combs nearly as badly, and
smoke will not subdue them. Only a
bee master should try to handle them
and he will not be long in getting his
curiosity satisfied. The bee for the
million Is the bright italian, which
will yield surplus where the native
black bees will starve, and can be
without gloves, veil or smoke.
Had given 500 for my first colony
and bought queens at SIS apiece, to keep
the breed pure, I should have succeed
ed years ago. A colony of pure Italians
at $40 or Sl2. in good movable frame
hive, Is cheap alongside a. colony of
blacks as gift, where one has to meet
such drouthy seasons. Be careful to
mark the age of the queen on every
hive, and give or raise q young queen
every second or third year. clip one
wing of every queen after she COM
mences to lay, and so never lose u
swarm. Raise your queens under the
swarnling impulse and from your best
and gentlest mothers. Scatter the
seeds of honey plants that will stand
dry weather. Sweet clover and cat |
nip being among the very best. Eat
q little honey at every meal, and
laugh at the doctor.
=. have mentioned lightning as being |
bad in our late storm. "A neighbOr had |
stacked some extra nice wheat away |
rom his main crop, intending to thresh
It for seed; but two nights ago the
tightening did his threshing for him.
Several trees near my. house were
struck, though that is not an unusual
hing just here, for scarcely u thunder
Storm passes but trees are struck.
Our coming county elections cause
title excitement, and party lines will
De more disregarded than ever.
FARMER.
ScOyT Co IIt A1lr o. 1882