Texas for Bees and Honey.
DR. J. E. LAY.
I write to answer several communications in regard to the adaptability of our great State to bee-keeping, and as apiculture is engrossing the minds of many of the most energetic, progressive and scientific men of our land, I recognize the difficulty of even venturing an opinion. As our great State is so varied in climate and flora, I will state that my remarks have reference to my own section of perhaps a radius of 100 miles. I have lived in Texas since 1850. I passed my boyhood days on her beautiful prairies, amid her thousands of flowers of every hue, freighting our incomparable sea breeze with more than Arcadian sweetness, silence banished from her woodland slopes by the joyous carol of beautiful song birds. Ever delighting in the marvelous beauties of nature, how could I fail to love so beauteous a sunlit home? Yes, and as a grown up boy I love it still. Greek nor Roman, not even Wm. Tell, loved his country better than I, therefore my bee-keeping friends will pardon me if I seem to color a little too strongly. Our State is being filled with energetic farmers who are reaping rich harvests from the virgin soil, for nearly all kinds of seeds that are sown spring forth under the genial rays of the sun to 60 and an hundred fold.
Reasoning by analogy I opine that bee-keeping will result in like manner. Apiculture is in its nascent form here, but the sun of science begins to warm its quickening form. I have studied the best works on apiculture, but have not given it a thorough practical test yet; I purpose doing so this season. There are but few bees in our country, all blacks except my little apiary of 7 colonies, which consists of hybrids and blacks. I intend to Italianize in March, for they indeed possess many advantages over the blacks.
I have just wintered successfully in simplicity hives (plain) without any sort of protection whatever, and this is the coldest winter I ever saw in Texas. Dispatches state that at this time almost the entire North is covered with snow. While my bees were in a quiver of excitement to-day, Feb. 4, bringing in rich loads of pollen and honey from turnips, mustards, &c., I could but delight in their rush of joy. How different is the climate over which our vast brotherhood reaches! Our honey plants reach nearly through the entire year, yielding as good nectar as ever tickled the palate of man. In fact the harvest for bees is almost endless, better, of course, some months. The market for honey has never been developed: a few old “gums” to “rob” for “big meeting” or for some extraordinary visitor is about all ever obtained. “Bees do no good here these days, the moth destroy them,” say the “old settlers.” The moth skulks away in the light of scientific bee-keeping and its depredations are nil.
To be successful all should study the science, read good books on the subject, learn by close practical observation, read the periodicals of our wide awake bee-men, among which there is none better than the American Bee Journal. Energy and perseverance alone will succeed even in the “sunlit clime” of Texas. Without these, all will just as surely retrograde.
Hallettsville, Texas.
For the American Bee Journal.