St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-06-11

Brazilian government is now making speclal
effort to develop the industry OF aplculture anu
increase the output of honey and beeswa1. N
order to meet the ever-increasing demand. MOD
ern facilities are being rapidly afforded which
will permit the transportation OF the product TO
convenient shipping points and encourage oo'n
the home and foreign trade.
Many varieties of bees are found in Brazil.
and for some time the natives have gathered the
honey which, on account of its fine quality mas
been used almost exclusively for medicinal pur-
poses. The Tapurriba tree. In blossom time. Is
the source of most abundant supply OF wild
honey; but the product has not been exported
to any great extent, ready sale mas always
been found in the local markets.
The stingless bee which is common to all OF
the Latin American countries Is found In great
numbers throughout Brazil and numerous other
varieties have been imported from Europe. no
tably the Italian, which was introduced in 1904.
when the government began to take an active
interest in agriculture
Although the production of honey is enormous.
but 600, COO pounds are exported annually, most
of which goes to Germany.
In Chile bees were first introduced from Italy
by Mr. Patrcio Larrain Gandarillas, about As
years ago. since which time rapid progress has
been made in the advancement of agriculture
There are now nearly 100, 900 apiaries in ac-
tual operation throughout the republic, the ma
jority of which are located in the provinces of
Aconcagua and Coqumbo. where the mdness
of the climate and richness of the flora pc
culiarly adapted to the culture of the Italian bee
Over 100000 pounds of purified wax and
100000 pounds of honey are exported annually
from Chile. of which Germany purchases about
60 per cent. Great Britain Is per cent, France
Is per cent and Belgium and the Argentine
Republic 10 per cent, the product being pro-
nounced fine in quality and bringing top prices
at all times in the markets.
Mexico and especially in the forests of the Al
garroba tree, whose flowers through long
blooming season are always favored source Of
supply to the bee. The industry of gathering
the honey, in the old days. followed chiefly
for the purpose of obtaining the beeswax. which
formed valuable material in the manufacture
of candles consumed In the ceremonies of the
church.
Hives were found among the rocks and sus-
pended from trees, and the natives, in gathering
the honey, smoked out the bees with little re-
gard to what became Of them eventually.
Mexico exports annually about 100000 in
strained honey, most of which is shipped to the
United States, Germany and England, and inn
ports about $50 900 in comb honey, most Of
which comes from the United States. England
and Germany and a small amount even from
China
Over %, 900 pounds of wild honey are annually
exported from the port Oh 1aInplcO anu lhe III
dustry has become Of great importance in
that district
An interesting honey-collecting ant is also
found in Mexico, which lives in underground
chambers and gathers honey from the numerous
wild flowers and plants. certain number Of
these ants remain at home and are used as liv-
ing storehouses. They fed honey by tho
workers until they swell to about the size of a
pea and during the seasons when honey is not
obtanable they regurgtate their supplies. drop
by drop. as food for the colony.
Wild honey is found in great quantities in the
woods near San Juan del Norte, Nicaragua. but
is not exported to foreign markets owing to a
strong local demand throughout the inland
towns and villages, where it is always readily
purchased and consumed by the native popula
ton