The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-12
AGRICULTURE IS NOT
POPULAR IN MEXICO
MAJORITY or PEOPLE PAY BUT
LITTLE. n ANY, ATTENTION
TO INDUSTRY.

| for the production OF honey and wax.
lis yet In It's infancy in tho consular
district of Vera Cruz. The majority
OF the people pay but little. If any,
attention to this industry. The prin-
cipal centres of the bee industry are
found In the Tuxpam region and to
the southwest Of that locality in tie
mountainous sections OF the counties
OF Papantla. Altotonga, Jalacingo.
and Chicontepec. also In the country
lying to the southwest of the city OF
Vera Cruz. principally In .hc county
of Cosamaloapan. Throughout the se-
gions mentioned agriculture Is an IN
dustry engaged in for profit In the
counties of Jalapa. Coatepec, HIATUS
co. Los Tuxtlas. Aeayucan, Cordoba.
and Orizaba. where natural condi-
tons would seem to be favorable to
the rearing of bees, very few ere
kept. and the hives are OF the usual
old style In the aforementioned To-
calities. however. TO- 20 and even 100
hives may be owned by single ili-
dividual.
Generally speaking. but littl. con-
sideration is given to housing the
bees. They are kept In old boxes
told petroleum cases being preferred
and in hollow logs. The bees are
left at liberty to construct their cells
at pleasure in almost all localities. with
the exception of the counties of Cos
amaloapan, Coatepec and in the
Tuxpam region. where few Amer1-
can hives are in use and where locai
carpenters have produced limitations.
The same conditions prevail in the
district OF Chicontepec. the hives In
common use being simply wooden
boxes measuring about IL by 10 oy
40 inches.
Nothing definite can be said with
reference to the different. races or
breeds of bees kept. There Is no
doubt but that before the conquest
of Mexico by the Spaniards the
! aborigines knew how to handle pees
I Tor ney-gathering purposes. II ID
a fact that not only In this consular
( district, but also In other parts OF
Mexico, Wild bees are found indigen-
ous to the land and differing in size,
color. shape. and habits to a very
! great extent. One or more varieties
of these wild bees have been domes-
! ticated, and the dark as well as the
| light colored German bee. also the
! smaller Italian. and cross-breeds OF
| all may be found in this district.
The most common races are known
| by the names OF Abe1a Prieta, La
! rastellana, Ia Real and La Espa-
| foia. A few years ago a gentleman
! residing In the county OF Cosama-
| loapan imported the pure Italian
| breed. and from this swarrns have
! been obtained by neighborfng resi-
| dents. In the Tuxpam region Italian
/ bees have also been imported.
| The only rule observed for locating
hives IL sinrply TO keen them on the
| ground When hollow logs are used.
| thew are often found hanging from a
! beam under the roof of a veranda or
( from a branch of a tree close to the
house. in suitable localities they may
| be found In the fork Of a tree. in the
| fork OF post set in the ground. ana
| on platforms two to six feet above
the ground. The roof OF veranda
/ or the thick branches OF a tree az
/ ford ample protection against the ravs
/ Of the sun and inclemency OF the
weather. While the preferred dfrec-
! ton in setting upo hives seems to be
I Ia ward the east on the southeast
( there are many exceptions to the GUS
! tom. When once placed In position,
/ hives are not shifted again during the
| year.
Two swarms per year from a moth
| er colony Is the generally accepted
rule. From an old colony the first
swarm may be expected in the month
of March. after the norther twinter)
season as passed. and the dry spring
weather is at mana. but III may hanbcH
that there will be only one swarm,
and also that there may be more. The
| local opinion is that 1t is preferable
not TO have more than two a wear.
/ Should second swarm make it's APP
pearance. 1t will come about the
month Of July or during the height
of the Towering season. The removal
of a swarm once settled Is performed
in much the same manner as in other
countries The so-called hive intend
ed for the reception OF the swarm
NAV be smeared with honey on the
inside to attract the bees. or the coll
ony may be left to its own resources
in arranging its new habitation.
Reports from the different sections
OF this consular district indicate that,