The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1910-06-02
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Brazilian government is now making speclal
effort to develop the industry of agriculture ana
increase the output of honey and beeswax. In
order to meet the ever-increasing demand mod
facilities being rapidly afforded whlch
will permit the transportation of the product to
convenient shipping points and encourage potn
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, has
been used almost exclusively for medicinal pur-
poses The Tapurrba 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, a ready sale has 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 600 900 pounds are exported annually, most
of which goes to Germany.
In Chile bees were first introduced from Italy
by Mr.. Patricio Larrain Gandarillas, about As
years ago, since which time rapid progress has
been made In the advancement Of agriculture
There are now nearly 100000 apiaries In
tual operation throughout the republic. the ma
jority of which are located in the provinces Of
Aconcagua and Coquimbo. where the midness
of the climate and richness of the flora are 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
10 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
Wild honey Is found in abundance throughout
Mexico and especially in the forests of the AL
garroba tree, whose flowers through long
blooming season always favored source Of
supply to the bee The industry Of gathering
the honey in the old days, was 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 i'm
ports about $4,000 in comb honey most of
which comes from the United States. England
and Germany and small amount even from
China.
Over %, 900 pounds of wild honey annually
exported from the port of Tampco and the in
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. A certain number of
these ants remain at home and are used as liv-
ing storehouses. They fed honey by the
workers until they swell to about the size Of
pea and during the seasons when honey is not
obtainable they regurgitate 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
strong local demand throughout the inland
towns and villages. where it is always readily
purchased and consumed by the native popula.
ton.