The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-10-07

pecially frequent when forage is scarce
in the field, or when they see stores OF
honey in hives other than their own
poorly guarded. In such attacks they
kill thousands OF the defenders and
leave the remainder to starve misera-
bly,, while they themselves make off
with the spoil. They seem to have no
code of morals that lnclines them to
select as opponents forces equal in
strength to their own. With them
falls fair in war;" A great stir and
loud buzzing in the hive OF the con-
querors attest their rejoicing over
their ill-gotten gains. 1t is always to
the interest of the bee owner to stop
this demoralizing business, and the
quicker the better.
An interesting chapter on robber
bees, as we'll as a great quantity of
other quaint and curious facts about
bees, is contained in a timely bulletin
Just issued by the division of ento-
mology, United States Depar tment of
Agriculture. The Importance of the
bee industry in the United States to.
day is not generally realized. for de-
spite it has developed chiefly within
the last forty years, its present magni-
tude is surprisingly enormous. 1t is
shown that the present annual value of
bee products in this country is not far
from $20,000,O00. The honey and
wax alone produced in 1890 and sold
at wholesale rates netted $1,000, 900.
1t is calculated that 800, 900 persons
in the United States are engaged in
the culture of bees. In 1889 nearly
64,000,000 pounds of honey were pro.
duced by them, as compared with a.
100000 pound in 1869. There are
now running in this country fifteen
steam factories, besides large num-
ber of smaller establishments, for the
manufacture of bee hives and apiarian
implements. II is estimated by the
experts of the Department of Agricul-
ture that the present existing flora Of
the United States could undoubtedly
support ten times the number of col
onies that it now maintains. This
branch of agricultural industry does
not impoverish the soil in the least,
but, on the contrary, results in better
seed and fruit crop.
Recent investigations by the De-
partment of Agriculture show that
certain varieties of pears are nearly or
quite sterile until bees bring pollen
from other distant varieties tor their
cross fertilization.
These busy little producers of "the
nectar OF the gods" are truly wonder
full creatures, and their methods of life
and activity offer fascinating study
in the country. Many OF their habits
and instincts are strikingly suggestive
OF human nature.
Thus the swarming Of an increasing
colony closely resembles strike of
workingmen or operatives in q mill.
The outward indications immediately
preceding the phenomenon are Q par
tisl cessation OF field work on the part
OF colonies that have hitherto been
industriously gathering honey, and
the loitering of these workers in squads
and clusters at the entrance OF the
hive. Apparently many are awaiting
the signal to strike or migrate, while
some seem not yet to have caught the
spirit Of unrest, but remain at theii
work. Suddenly great excitement
ssizes the workers that happen to bs
inside the hive. They rush forth pei
mell, accompanied by the old queen,
and after circling about for some
minutes cluster on some nsighborinG
tsoe o. shrub.