The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-06-21

county There is scarcely ncighbOr-
hood in which there arc not half
dozen or more colonies, and there are
Just lots Of people who know more or
less about how to manage them with
success; but most readers of the En-
luircr will no doubt be surprised to
know that York County has one Of the
largest apiaries to be found in the
Piedmont section. Such is the fact,
however. This apiary is located at
Catawba Junction.
Mr.. II. G.. Simpson, IA well Informed,
we'll read gentleman, is the proprietor.
Mr.. Simpsons house fronts the Caro-
lima and Georgia Extension railroad i,
and his bee hives, which sit on the
south side Of hill to the rear, look
from the railroad like big cemetery.
In fact, most passengers on the trains
take the apiary for cemetery, and
they 10 not know any better unless
some uf the trainmcn, or others who
know, inform them to the contrary.
Having heard from different people,
IT different times, Of the extent Of
Mr.. Simpsons establishment, and also
Of his thorough knowledge Of the bee
anu its habits, | went down to Cataw-
ba Junction last Saturday for the pur-
pose Of getting material for story
that will probably rove interesting to
great many people. had the good
luck to find MIR. Simpson at home, and
when | told him my business, he as
surcl me that it would give him pleas
urc TO show me everything that was
to be seen and to answer such ques-
tions as might see lit to ask, pro-
vided he knew how. This last pro-
viso, however, was unnecessary. Be
fore | left, was convinced that he
surely knows about all that is not torn
out Of the book, and that my principal
disadvantage was in not understand
ing the subject sufficiently to admit
of its full Development through proper
questions.
Taking his SMOKER little bellows
like arrangement, through which
smoke is projected with facility-Mr.
Simpson told me to follow close be-
hind him among the hives. He had
no gloves, veil or other protection,
and the proposition was one that l did
not relish particularly; but l remem-
bered to have heard Mr.. w. j. Waters
remark once that MIR. Simpson knew
the age of every bee on the hill and
could call it by name. was inclined
to reposc the fullest confidence in Mr..
Simpson. am now almost inclined
to believe MIR. Waters statement, but
do not like to say SO in print.
Opening up several hives, Mr. Simp-
son showed the honey that was in
process Of manufacture. He explain
cd that the bees have not done very
we'll this year, SO far as surplus is con-
cerned. Only few combs have been
partially filled and only very small
per cent of the honey cells have been
capped over This, Mr.. Simpson says,
is on account of the unfavorable sea-
son. After showing the surplus hon
cy department of one Of the hives, he
went into the brood department, moved
and took out several frames covered
with worker bees and drones, and
finally located the queen. II found
her little too late," he. remarked.
IF / had surprised her sooner, she
would have laid several eggs on my
hand after | picked her up. It is her
business, you know, to lay the eggs;
she keeps at it continually, and that
was what she was doing when we
found her" Then holding up the
comb to tho light, where could see
to the bottom Of tho cells, Mr.. Simp-
son showed me newly deposited eggs,
little worms representing develop
ment of day or two, and other young
bees in different stages up to eating
their way out Of the cells in which
they had come to maturity.
Although all the eggs in hive
are laid by the same queen" MIR.
Simpson explained, "thcy may be de-
velopcd either into workers, droncs or
queens. The dronc natures in ~
days, the worker in 81 days and the
queen in only Is days. The bees can
make queen themselves whenever
they want one. Suppose the present
queen should die, for instance. The
bees would Immediately go to work
and build cone shaped cap over one
Of these cells in which you see an
egg. Then, by feeding her different
kind Of food-'royal jelly the bee
men call it-they will bring her to
maturity within 16 days. AS to
who hoy tho,, roollX, ,;,,o IL. :, l:ro