Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-12-19
FROM THE LAND OF PERPETUAL
SUMNER.
TRABUco CANON, SANTA ANA,
Los ANGELES COUNTY, CAL,
December 11fh. 1894.

the continued prosperity Of Kansas and of
Sedgwick county, in particular, Of her Won
derful crops, of her numerous focks and
herds of thoroughbred horses, cattle, sheep
and swine, and of her unexampled immigra-
ton. May your prosperity continue, and
may you ever remain the banner county of
the best state of our union-east of the
Rockies of course, for would not be dis
loyal to this state of my adoption.
Well, election is over, the Republicans are
routed, the Democrats enthroned, the situa-
ton accepted, and matters moving along
with the wonted smoothness of American
politics. Our county, formerly Democratic
stronghold, cast decided Republican ma
jority, and our state is fast redeeming her
self from the bonds of Democracy. Let
the old party add to her anti
slavery, an:i-rebellion, and other
standard anti's, an anti-alcohol plank, and
she will draw to her support the temperance
men of all parties, and she will sail triumph
antiy into power and maintain her SUI
premacy.
Owing to her wine and brandy interests, l
think California, the strong hold of Prince
Alcohol, and destined to be the chief battle
field of the coming struggle.
Already, in our fair young state, our old
or wine districts are moral ulcers, with their
laborers idle and dissipated, the property
accumulated by the wine manufacturers d.
vided and squandered by dissolute heirs, and
their communities impoverished, financially
and socially. God speed the day when the
mighty curse shall be removed from our ma
ton, and the nations of the world.
am writing this with the pen, descended
to me as an heirloom, welded by him who
signed the original Maine liquor law, Gov
ernor Hubbard. How thankful 1 am that
also inherited no appetite for alcohol, but an
intense hatred to it and its appalling de-
struction.
Our rainy season has set in, though but
little rain has fallen as yet, not more than an
inch or two. Last Sunday we had slight
showers, which fell on the adjacent noun
tans in the form of snow. The sunny days
since have melted this and the mountains
are again brown and bare, or rather, were
so, for at present writing hear the Emusic
of the rain pattering on the roof" and prob
| ably when next seen, the mountains will
show a snowy mantle again. The feed is
showing quite green in the hills and from
this time on there will be good supply of
feed for mountain stock.
am still in the mountains teaching. My
physician who prescribed mountain air for
me declares me well; at any rate he says he
would not hesitate to pass me for life in
surauce policy, and feel as sound as ever.
To..make assurance doubly sure, Intend to
remain here the rest of the school year ut
least.
| Our bee men are having season of leis-
ure; they have examined their stock, doub-
led weak swarms, given queens to the queen
less, contracted the entrances to the hives,
weighted down the covers TO prevent
the gusts of wind, which occasionally visit
us at this season, from removing
them, and they will do nothing more with
the bees til the approach of the honey sea-
son. Meanwhile they are hauling of their
honey, fitting up extra hives and frames for
comb, cutting their next seasons frewood,
etc. The bees are flying more or less every
| day when it is warm and pleasant
Toward spring the bees will be again ex-
amined TO see if any need feeding or like
good strong queen. As none but movable
frame hives are used, this examination can
be easily made. Armed with smoker" to
quiet the bees, and with the face protected
by a bee-hat, the bee masters take of the
covers and examine the frames one by one.
The hives consist of two boxes of the same
size and shape, one above the other. In the
lower one are the bees and their broo
combs; in the upper the surplus honey is
stored. The hives set on the ground, each
one carefully leveled, and are arranged neat
" in rows from four to six feet apart, and
from two to four feet apart in the row.
They are also kept whitewsshed or painted,
and present quite neat and tasty appear
ance. The apiaries are located along the
streams, as the bees require good deal
Of water. Ii is not desirable to have too
near neighbors on account of the bee range.
So in territory fifteen miles long by:several
miles wide there are now but twenty-five
apiaries. The mountains are SO rugged and
water for irrigation SO scarce that none raise
all their eatibles and but few have gardens
and fruit. Nearly all SOW some barley, but
a good share of the hay is made from the
wild oats that grow on the hill sides.
During the several dry, and consequently
poor, bee seasons the people have eked out
living by having few cattle and chickens
and by cutting ire-wood and hauling it to
market from twelve to twenty-five miles.
But last season was fine honey season, and
a very little rain this winter will insure an
other good season, SO the apiarists are jubi-
liant
II is only a few years since the first bees
were brought to California and no wild bees
were found; now wild swarms are plentiful.
They are found in hollow trees, in caves
among the rocks, and in towns ard cities
They take possession of holes in the cornices
of houses, in belfries Of churches, etc A
single hive has been known TO send out ten
swarms in one season and five is usual. l
have known two swarms from
one hive in Ave days And the
amount of honey they gather
is almost incredible. In apisries well man.
aged, the honey extracted when necessary
and the empty combs returned to the hives,
an average Of three hundred pounds Of hon.
CIV to the hive has been obtained this year.
The busy season lasted but six or eigh;
weeks, and at he height of the season can
of sixty pounds would be taken in five days
from the previous extraction.
The bees use the lower hive for brood
comb and bee bread and the upper hive con-
tsins the surplus honey.
Careful, watch is kept and when the. bees
commence sealing the cells the comb is TAX
en- out and replaced with empty cards, I.
the frames full of comb are called. This is
easily done by taking OF the cover and put
ing little smoke upon the bess- This con-