The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

my parents believed TO be a wonderful
voice and they decided that should be a
concert singer. For that reason | was cent
to Boston to study music while still in my
early Gems. | have a good voice and |
fancy had either Of my parents lived to see
me start out for myself their dreams for
me might have been realized.
A year before | wss to have been gradua-
ted at the New England Conservatory Of
Music | was ca He'd home by The death of my
father. Two hours after | reached home
my mother passed away. II was just al the
beginning OF the season for gathering the
spring honey. While there were several
skilled men on the place, my father had
always acted as his own manager. The
question arose who would take his place.
! stepped out, and as far as il lay in the
power Of a young girl ] Glied il.
"Of course | now believe that it was the
best thing that could have happened.
Being alone in Boston ] had made many
acquaintances that we're not altogether
desirable. Had l gone back there with
the liberty to do and spend what |
pleased the result might not have been
what either OF my parents could have
wished. As il was, my work steadied me,
led my thoughts into different channels,
and when the autumn came around again
was convinced that | would be happier
If | remained in California and managed
my bee ranch than IL ! returned to my
musical studies and prepared for the con
cert stage.
For a California bee ranch OF the present
day my ranch il rather small, as there
100 Dnlx, l,N.0aan a. anl 49, k.lA.l
hives. IL il az the foot OF the Sierra Madre
Mountains and at the head Of a beautiful
gorge. Their principal flower, or pasture,
IA we call it. is the Rocky Mountain sage,
the flower OF which imparts a delicious
flavor to the honey. which rivals the still
famous product of Hymettus and the
heather honey Of Scotland.
The general climate OF Los Angeles
county insures a bee pasture all the year,
for when the sage Ia not in bloom
there are plenty Of other honey producing
flowers 10 be had. Years ago when | was
quite a little child. | can remember that
10 get honey from the comb IL was neces-
sary TO crush the comb and strain the
honey. OF course re do better than that
now. Such a process now would be con-
sidered not only a troublesome way Of get
ting the honey, but il would require so long
for the bees to rebuild their combs. To
build comb the bees must first eat honey,
and to make one pound OF comb they
must consume abou ten OF honey.
TO save the bees this trouble and our
selves the loss of the honey sheets OF stamped
p~arafin are slipped into the fyames Of the
hives. On these sheets the bees build the
cells and All them with honey. n they
detect the cheat they are too busy TO waste
tim e in protest.
when the cells are filled and the bees
excluded the frames are removed from
the hive and put in a centrifugal extractor.
From this the extracted honey runs into q
large iron tank, from which II is drawn
into sixty pound CAM INC is then ready for
shipment. My extractors are run by water
power, which Ia not only a great saving OF
labor. but much more rapid and surer.
Il use fiat top hives with frames or draw
era exclusively, and while they are not nearly
80 picturesque as the old beegums they are
more humane and produce many times
more honey. In the old beegums a half
and sometimes more OF the bees would
be killed in getting the honey. and IL was
almost impossible TO take the honey with
out leaving a taste OF smoke or carbolio
acid. In the up to date hives you have only
TO insert your bee escape or e~xcluder. wait
for the bees to go in the lower part OF the
hive and then remove your filed drawer.
Another appliance Of great usefulness
ia the queen excluder. In all combs to
which the queen has access she will lay
eggs from which a brood will hatch u
c~ontaminate the honey. Now the queen
IL confined 20 the lower part OF the hive.
which Ia known among bee raisers as the
body box OF brood chamber. This Is done
by placing over the frames a grating or
perforated sheet with holes sufficiently
large for workers to pass. but not large
enough for the queen or the droDes.
The old way Of preventing new swarms
from taking fight was TO beat tin pans.
blow horns and raise all manner OF q racket,
the real object of which was to drown
the voice Of the queen. Now the way
IL to secure the queen In a little wire cage.
There ia not the slightest danger OF not
knowing ROYALTY among bees. Once be-
held, the queen bee can never be mistaken
for either Of her plebeian subjects, the drone
or the worker. Not only Is she far more
in shape and brilliant In coloring.
she has the distinctive habit OF crossing
the tips Of her wings. II always reminds
me Of the helpless manner which some
women have OF ~disposing Of their hands.
by securing the queen the swarm can
be controlled and no end Of trouble
keep a record OF the aaes
only to refer to the number and letter Of the
hives 10 learn If they are old enough To he all
perseded. always kill an old queen N.Y.
self. though IL Ia a thing that I still dread
10 do. They are such pretty little creatures
that I invariably hut my eyes when l ex-
ecute their Rntenoe.
sOf iate vears a srsat DIAL has As>n