Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-05-16
BEE-NASTERS And LORDS
Some Slberlans Own 500 or
600 Swarms.
A DREAMY PROFOUND RUNNING
Prolific Bee Farms of Aslgtlc
Russia.
Youths Companion.

aOulua NoiupauiDus
1t gives us new conception of Siberia
and its climate 10 learn from recent
traveller that bees are widely kept there
by the peasants, and that swarms of
wild bees are often to be found in the
birch forests. The common opinion in
England and the United States has been
that the climate was far too bleak for
agriculture.
Those who keep bees in Siberia bear
the title of bee.masters. Some Of these
have no more than four swarms; but
many have fifty or hundred. and Ger,
tain "bee-lords" own as many as five or
six hundred. The average income in
Siberia from a swarm of bees is about Il
rouble and n half. In certain localities
buckwheat is sown TO serve as "pas.
ture;" and occasionally the bees are fed
with sugar syrup, or treacle, but for the
most part the swarms feed on wild
flowers along the borders of the great
forests. Abiding to visit paid TO one
of these rustic bee masters, this traveller
says: .
Presently we emerged into a kind of
clearing In the forest, either natural, or
made long time ago by the axe, and
very soon | noted u dreamy and pro.
found humming noise which at first
was at loss to account for. Quicker
cared than myself, The lazok (climber)
who was guiding me turned, with
pleased laugh, and made an odd gesture
of his hand toward his mouth, accom-
panied by loud smack.
Everywhere about us the air was
pervaded by the same drowsy hum, and
| hiGRarnah n oil
OF black insects near an oritice in one of
the large tree-trunks, as we were pass
ing il. In reply to may question, the
upon bee farm, adding suggestively
that for few copecks all the honey we
could cat might be procured.
AS he was speaking, the strokes of an
axe rang out suddenly at little dis
lance among the trees. Directing our
steps thitherward, we passed two log
huts, matched with hay, well-nigh con-
cealed from view among thickets, or
clumps of hazel, and then espied
shaggy-bcarded man in blue jacket
and trousers Of leather, busily engaged
chopping large, square hole in birch
tree trunk. He paused as we drew near,
dressing his beard with one hand, smil-
ing broadly, and gave ME the usual salu.
tation OF God keep you, barin."
In reply TO question by the lazok,
the bee.master explained that he was
fashioning a new bourt, or hive; and
leading the way to other trees not far
distant, he pointed out similar bourts,
occupied by the bees. First hole two
feet in height by foot or more in
breadth and depth, was chopped in a
tree, and the from. or open side closed in
by sheet of bark, which was pegged
on closely, save for u narrow crack at
the bottom.
These were not the only bourts, how
ever; the bee-master presently showed
US four rows of hives, called kolodkas,
in different quarters of the clearing,
consisting each of section of hollow
log, two feet and half in length, set
endwlse on plank, and having the top
end covered over with broad, thin, fiat
stone. Three holes, bored through the
outer shell Of tho log near the bottom
end, gave entrance to the bees.
| counted thirty.siX of these kolodkas
in the clearing; and this bee. master told
US that he now had sixty.two swarms,
but had formerly owned more than
eighty.
Fetching a wisp of some kind Of
dried herbs, he kindled it with coal
from the cabin fire and allowed it 10
burn slowly, making a dense smoke,
near the three holes in one of tue
kolodkas, removing the covering stone
at the top, slightly, as he did so. The
vapor OF this herb apparently stupefed
the bees, for after a few minutes, the
bee-master took off the stone and drew
forth Il mass of dripping honeycomb,
quite unmolested by the apiau garrison
of the hive. He assured the lazok, how
ever, that the bees were not injured.
The honey was of kind called
lipovlts by the Siherians, being gathered
by the bees in June, when many of the
forest trees and shrubs are in bloom.
The bee master offered it to us on
clean, birchen platter, with mich ap.
parent pride over the quality of his
product