File:American bee journal (1912) (18090289196).jpg

296 October, 1912.

an inverted acorn-cup, are by them
called " olives."
Migrating bee-culture is sometimes
practiced, and the bees are then carried
on camel-back.
Thyme honey is most in demand on
account of its flavor. The honey of
the islands of Galite and Pantellaria, in
the Mediterranean, is especially re-
nowned because of the profuseness of
this plant in those volcanic islands.
Foul brood is frequent, but its ill-
effects are said to be lessened and its
cure made easier by the gathering of
the fragrant and aromatic nectar of
thyme, rosemary and eucalyptus.
The Tunis bees are smaller than our
common bee. They are of a cross dis-
position, but well fitted for the sudden
changes of climate of Tunis. They are
so numerous that swarms take posses
sion of any crevices or hollows, and
have even been known to enter the
globes of the street lamps of Tunis.
The statistics show a total of 10,426
bee-keepers in Tunis, all but 636
of them being natives. The number of
hives of bees given is 220,142, of which
only 7,280 are modern hives with mov-
able frames. The total production of
honey in 1909 was 2,500,000 pounds;
beeswax, 253,000 pounds.

The honey - producing surface of
Tunis, deducting waste land and lakes,
is estimated at 7,200,000 acres. Less
than half of this area supports as many
bees as might be kept.
The most interesting portion of the
above-named book is the chapter on
apiarian teachings at the primary
schools. The Bee-Keepers' Associ-
ation was organized in 1901, but in 1903
there was but little practical bee-cul-

ture followed as yet. School teachers
were urged to learn and practice bee-
culture. In 1904, only 4 school teachers
in Tunis were bee-keepers and able to
teach bee-culture. In 9010, their num-
ber had increased to 105. The book
contains two photographs of apiarian
school-rooms, one for the theory, the
other for the practice in handling
frames, foundation, sections, etc. Tunis
is evidently coming to the front, and
this book will do much good.

Bee-Culture in Oregon.—An enquiry
having been made by us into the state
of bee-culture in Oregon, we have re-
ceived the following reply from the
Secretary of the State Bee-Keepers' Association:

'Dear Sir=——In answer to your letter, I will
say that we have a regular course in bee-
culture, and also a course for the farmers'
short course during the winter.
Eastern Oregon is fiy far the best bee-
keeping section of the State, for the reason
that most of the farmers grow alfalfa. In
the Rogue River Valley about Medford,
there is a limited territory where there are
probably 1500 to 2000 colonies. I understand
about 30 tons of honey will be shipped from
there this fall. In the Willamette Valley,
and the rest of western Oregon, very little
honey is produced for the reason that there
are no large fields of alfalfa.
The State Board of Agriculture has intro-
duced a division of bees, and I hope to see
an exhibit there this fall for the first time.
Mr. Krank E. Meredith, of Salem. Oreg.,is
the secretary, and I am certain that he will
be glad to send you a premium list if you
will write to him. Very truly yours.
Corvallis. Oreg., Aug. 15. H. F. Wilson.

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Bonner County, Idaho.—We are in re-
ceipt from friend York of the Bonner
County Fair premium list. In this list, the bees are recognized to the extent

of $20 in premiums, besides several premiums in donations. Friend York
is the Superintendent of this depart-
ment.

Bees Which Visit Only One Species of
Flowers.—The Popular Science Month-
ly for August contains a very interest-
ing article from the pen of John H.
Lovell, of Waldoboro, Maine, with the
above-named heading. It refers to
varied numbers of insects belonging
to the same order as our honey-bee,
and incidentally to the honey-bee itself.
We quote a few passages :

"When a female bee. in gathering pollen
for brood-rearing visits but one kind of
flower, it is termed a nionotropic bee, or if
only a few allied species an oligotropic bee:
but if it visits many flowers it is called a
polytropic bee. These terms were first
proposed by Dr. Loew. and signify adapted
to one. few or many flowers.
"The oligotropic habit is not beneficial
to flowers, it concerns the bees alone. The
oligotropic bees are almost without except-
ion solitary forms, to which there are
no flowers specially adapted. The social bees,
as a rule, visit a great variety of flowers,
though in Europe it is stated that there is a
bumble bee (Bombus gerstaeckeri) which visits
a single species of Monkshood (Aconintum
lycoctonum). Here, of course, the adaptations
are mutual. This mode of flight, however,
has not in general been determined by floral
adaptations. Certain species of bees have
become satellites of certain flowers because
of the advantage thus gained for themselves,
and partly also, perhaps, as the result of
habit. Just as there are fly.flowers, butter-
fly flowers and bumble-bee flowers, so. on
the other hand, there are willow bees, gold-
en-rod bees, a pickerel-weed bee. a loose-
strife bee, a violet bee. and a strawberry
bee.
"Two most important influences are the
season of the year and the length of time
the bee is on the wing. It is clear that bees
which fly only in spring or autumn for about
a month, have not a great choice of flowers.
Usually the length of time an oligotropic
bee flies, and the flower it visits is in bloom
are about the same. The honey-bee is prac-