The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-17
BEES DEFIED THE GOVERNMENT
Odd story in Report From United
States Consul at Jerusalem.

From the Washington Post.
Mr.. Selah Merrill the American con-
sui at Jerusalem. in his report, publish
ed by the bureau of foreign commerce
of the department of state, speaks inter-
es4ingly on the subject of bee raising
in Palestine" He says that the credit
for the development of the industry by
the introduction of improved modern ap-
planes, is due to a family named Bald
ensperger, which went from Switzerland
10 Palestine in the year 1s49 settling al
Artas, a village about seven miles from
Jerusalem.
Up to the year 1888. however. very little
was accomplished. In that year the
Baldenspergers adopted the plan of trans
porting their bees from one locality 10
another, for the purpose of securing the
best results from the varieties of orange
and lemon blossoms. They had succeed
ed in establishing the industry on a pay
ing basis when the attention of the gov
eminent was drawn 60 their work, and
a tax was placed on each hive, which, by
an ingenious construction of the tax col
lector, was made to make a separate hive
out of each opening. In this way $50
hives in the apiary of the Baldenspergers
became 200O subject to taxation.
In 1889 the government secured judg-
their apiary was advertised for sale, but
when sold. for something like $3.50 hive
the government was unable 10 deliver the
goods, because, whenever they attempted
to touch the hives the bees swarmed
out and threatened the intruders. A COM
promise was effected. the Baldenspergers
paying one-half Of the claim against
them.
ID seems from the consul's report that
the difficulties of successful bee raising
ure, however numerous, owing to the
ravages of rats lizards, moths, hornets
and men. The last named are the most
to be feared. The sheiks demand a per-
centage of the honey. and If it is not
paid they destroy the hives and the bees
Something like 10 per cent of the crop is
demanded as 1.-THE These things, added
to the taxation, make the success of the
industry doubtful, and at least requr-
ing patience tact and perseverance.
Mr. Merrill says that queen lays
about 5000 eggs in twenty-four hours, and
a "Ftrong colony has from 10000 to 3d.
900 bees with some 5000 drones TO the
hive good market Is found, he says
for all the honey made. 1t is sent to
Germany, Switzerland, England. and, a
very little. to France. In 1889 the mar
ket was unusually good The export duty
is l per Gene. The average yield TO the
hive is about 100 pounds of honey, all
made in the months Of April, May, June
and July. The natives all over the coun-
try raise honey, but owing 10 their
crude methods, do not produce much and
sell none.
In the year 1884, Consul Merrill says. an
American, named Howard, bought 200
queen bees from the natives. These
he brought with him to this coun-
try, but on his arrival. only twelve
Of the queens were alive. These, how
ever, he sold for Sl5 each. Had 1t not been
for the fact that the rest Of the queens
were drowned in the sugar, which he fed
them on in the voyage. the speculation
would have been handsomely remunera-
tive
'There is no doubt" says Consul Mer-
rjll. in conclusion, that che industry
might be greatly increased. The Bald
enspergers are taking an American bee
journal, and have purchased extractors,
wells. uncappinG knives and other imple-
ments in the United States"