531. 
 
 R-za 
 
ALBERT R. MANN 
 LIBRARY 
 
 New York State Colleges 
 
 OF 
 
 Agriculture and Home Economics 
 
 AT 
 
 Cornell University 
 
 EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS 
 BEEKEEPING LIBRARY 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003654294 
 
Cuba as a Bee Country 
 
 A Guide to the Prospective Bee-keeper and 
 
 those who wish Information Relative 
 
 to the Island's Resources. 
 
 JUI<Y 
 
 J 
 
PREFATORY 
 
 Numerous persons have written us, requesting us to 
 give them information regarding bee-keeping in Cuba. 
 To answer all of these by letter not only requires a 
 great deal of time, but as the space in a letter is very 
 limited, the answer is usually unsatisfactory. In com- 
 piling this booklet we endeavor to go into detail in an- 
 swering all questions that a person would wish to know 
 if he were studying the island resources with the in- 
 tention of settling there and taking up bee-keeping. 
 
 it is taken for granted that the reader has had ex- 
 perience with bees and has a good knowledge of them. ; 
 In view of this we try to give the main points of dif- 
 

r 
 
 ference between Cuban bee-keeping and bee-keeping in 
 the States. Any question not covered by this pamphlet 
 will be gladly answered by letter. We can not prom- 
 ise to answer questions not pertaining to bee-keeping, 
 for complete information of this sort can better be ob- 
 tained from other sources. 
 
 MOVING be:e:s 
 
 Shall I move my bees to Cuba ? Before deciding we 
 trust you will give this question a most thorough ex- 
 amination. Bees have been successfully moved there ; 
 but for one who has had little experience it is almost 
 sure to be a series of endless troubles and expenses. 
 Successful moving of bees to the island requires spe- 
 cial packing, quick transportation, minute knowledge 
 of the Cuban custom-house red tape, and the Spanish 
 language. We have known of a number of instances 
 of moving bees to the island which only resulted in los- 
 ing nearly all of them. 
 
 Bees in modern hives are now common, and can be 
 had at a reasonable price. We can furnish, upon ap- 
 plication, names of persons who can furnish you these. 
 We advise you by all means to sell your colonies and 
 purchase nuclei, as these can be quickly and easily built 
 up into full colonies for the honey-flow. Nuclei are 
 also easier to move to different parts of the island, and 
 are much cheaper in price. 
 
 After a location has been secured, and the bees pur- 
 chased of some Cuban bee-keeper, removal to their new 
 
location requires some care. If one is not familiar with 
 the language and customs, it is advisable to have the 
 trip arranged by some one who is. Most generally the 
 one of whom you purchased the bees is glad to do this. 
 If your bees are sent by rail, it is well to see that plenty 
 of ventilation is given, as bees are easily smothered 
 in a tight car. After unloading from the cars, the prin- 
 cipal mode of transportation is the native ox-cart. Be 
 sure that the hives have plenty of packing of some sort, 
 as the jolting they are sure to get over the rough coun- 
 try roads is very apt to break combs and smash hives. 
 
 LOCATION^ 
 
 Where shall I locate ? This is a most difficult ques- 
 tion. The best we can do is to cover it in a very gen- 
 eral way. 
 
 As honey is cheap, and cannot stand heavy transpor- 
 tation charges, locate near a railroad or stone road ; and 
 even then the transportation cnarges are heavy. 
 
 It is hard to judge, from outward appearances, the 
 best pasturage; but generally near some mountain or 
 wooded country is best. If the aguinaldo (white or 
 pink bellflower) is plainly in abundance, no better loca- 
 tion can be wished. 
 
 Studying the table on page 26 will give some idea 
 of the present production of different provinces. Of 
 course, the port from which honey is shipped does not 
 determine the province in which it was raised ; but the 
 figures are of help. The provinces of Havana and Pi- 
 
r 
 
 ■^ 
 
 nar del Rio contain the majority of American bee-lteep- 
 ers. Few locations of value are left in them. The 
 province of Santiago, ranking next to Havana in ex- 
 
 Fig. 
 
 -ROYAL PALM I-V BLOOM. 
 
 ports, contains very few modern apiaries, the honey 
 and wax being generally produced from native logs. 
 This province undoubtedly contains the most opportu- 
 

nities. The railroad which has recently been built 
 through the central portions of the island opens up nu- 
 merous new helds for the bee-keeper. To gain control 
 of a large tract of land is verv desirable. Some of the 
 landholders are glad to make such a contract, includ- 
 ing it in the rental of the ground for an apiary. Land 
 companies offer very excellent opportunities ; but gen- 
 erally such companies should be avoided unless one is 
 very well acauainted with their reliability. 
 
 By all means, visit a few of the leading bee-keepers 
 before 3'ovi locate, as the information which you will 
 obtain will be of inestimable value to you. 
 
 HONEY YIELD 
 
 One locality may be different in yield from another ; 
 but the average crop for any one place is very even. 
 There is no absolute failure, as there sometimes is in 
 California. For this reason Cuba is one of the most 
 desirable places for keeping bees. 
 
 In a good locality one may expect to extract from 
 a.i average colony, during one season, at least 150 
 pounds. It is not at all uncommon to exceed this aver- 
 age. A single colony under favorable circumstances 
 has been known to produce 400 pounds, part of which 
 was comb honey. The yield, when running for comb 
 honey under skilled management, runs from 100 to 150 
 pounds per colony, though as much as 300 pounds in a 
 single colony has been produced. Cuban bee-keepers 
 generally wish to keep the record of the amount pro- 
 
 II 
 
L 
 
 duced to themselves, and so it is rather hard to get in- 
 formation. Without mentioning names we give ex- 
 tracts from a few letters : 
 
 "I have just finished extracting at my home apiary, 
 and have obtained, from 200 hives, 30 tierces (or 250 
 pounds) to the colony. This is probably the best honey 
 record made in Cuba this season." "From his 600 colo- 
 nies he has extracted 72 bocoys (7,300 gallons), or 
 87,800 pounds." "As regards comb4ioney — extracted 
 is no comparison. I would not think of changing off 
 to Extracted. I made 18,500 pounds of good market- 
 able honey on past season 300 colonies and I expect to 
 double on the amount the coming season. 
 
 OVERSTOCKING 
 
 If all available space is taken up iirst, there will be 
 little danger of overstocking for some years to come. 
 The trouble now is that some will locate within anoth- 
 er's territory. While there is nothing to stop one from 
 doing this, the Golden Rule should be followed. The 
 number of native apiaries is very largei and one cannot 
 expect to get out of range of these as well as the wild 
 bees in the woods ; but the comparative strength of 
 these amounts to little. 
 
 By examining the table on page 28 it can readily be 
 seen that the provinces of Havana and Pinar del Rio 
 will be first to be overstocked. These provinces, com- 
 prising but a third of the area of the island, contain 
 about two-thirds of the people. 
 
 12 
 
EXTRACTED HONEY 
 
 For one who has had no experience, extracted honey- 
 is usually recommended. The work is so simple that 
 some, without previous experience, have gone into the 
 business and made it a success, even from the first year. 
 Give the bees a queen and room, and they will keep you 
 busy extracting for three months of the year. This, 
 of course, is a rather strong statement ; but to northern 
 men it more clearly expresses the condition as they 
 would see it. One main trouble is that the bees gather 
 too much honey. They crowd the brood-nest, and soon 
 greatly reduce the number of bees. In fact, when the 
 honey-flow is over the scarcity of bees is alarming to 
 the beginner. However, when the queen once begins 
 laying, it is but a short time until the hive is full of 
 brood. 
 
 What size of hive shall I use? Some prefer the 
 eight-frame size; but in general the ten-frame size is 
 recommended. The answering of this question, how- 
 ever, depends upon what kind of management the api- 
 ary receives. If one is an expert in raising a large 
 number of bees, of course a larger hive is required; 
 while when so much attention is not given, the 
 smaller size of hive is sufficient. It rtlust be remem- 
 bered that, in winter, brood-rearing is greatly reduced 
 because of the very chilly nights. For these nights, 
 even the regular chaflf hive is not too ralich protection. 
 
 We quote part of an article from "The Beekeeper's 
 
Reviezv," showing the success a beginner has made 
 
 with extracted honey : 
 
 "I now have i,ooo colonies and shall in- 
 crease to 1,300 or possibly 1,500 the com- 
 ing season. Extracted honey is down to 
 27c. per gallon in Spanish gold, so you can 
 readily see that success lies only in produc- 
 ing it in large quantities. 
 
 "I took up the business three years ago 
 without any knowledge of its details, 
 methods or work, invested my last dollar in 
 the business, with nothing else to depend 
 upon, and when I note the results I feel 
 that I have been successful." 
 
 EXTRACTING HOUSES AND 
 OUTFITS 
 
 Any available building that can be made bee-tight 
 can be used as an extracting-house. Usually the dirt 
 floor is all that can be had; but a tight wooden floor 
 is much better. The arrangement of the uncapping 
 can, extractor, and barrels should be carefully made so 
 as to not cause extra labor. Everything should be kept 
 clean, as any honey left around will attract the ants, 
 which are very annoying. The bite of one variety is 
 very painful. Everything should be covered when not 
 in use. 
 
 COMB HONEY 
 
 The production of comb honey is yet in the experi- 
 mental stage. More is being produced each year ; but 
 whether it is more profitable than extracted is an unde- 
 
 M 
 
r' 
 
 cided question. One large raiser says it is not as profit- 
 able as extracting, taking into consideration the extra 
 work, and adds that he raises it only to keep out foul 
 brood. This answer is very reasonable. It must be 
 taken into consideration that a Cuban bee-keeper is 
 usually pessimistic when speaking of the resources of 
 
 Fig. ,;(. — ISSIDK THK PALM SHED. 
 
 the island to outsiders. When a better price can be 
 obtained for Cuban comb, which is sure to be obtained 
 in tim.e, the industry will surely be one of profit. 
 
 For an inexperienced hand to take up comb honey 
 would probably result in failure. For successful comb 
 
 v^ 
 
 ^ae**^ 
 
 15 
 
raising one must have tlie colonies in the best possible 
 condition. They must be boiling over with bees for 
 good results. Heavy feeding is resorted to' to obtain 
 this. Under some circumstances, to keep up breeding, 
 it is often kept up while others are extracting. The 
 nights being cold during the honey-flow, it tends to 
 check comb-building, so that there must be many bees 
 and they must be given protection. 
 
 As to the most profitable style of section tO' use for 
 comb honey, we cannot better express our opinion than 
 to quote from a letter of a large dealer in honey, who 
 writes regarding a shipment of honey received from a 
 Cuban beekeeper : 
 
 "We note one lot of square sections from 
 
 Mr. with the wooden side and isin- 
 
 glassed front. He is making a mistake in 
 putting up his honey in this shape, and we 
 wrote him so long ago. Besides, he has his 
 name stamped on every comb. Yoii, ought 
 to impress upon him the fact that he shall 
 drop the square section and all its attach- 
 ments, and put his honey up anotlicr season 
 V. in 4x5 section or the 3%x5, whichever he 
 
 I chooses, as either one finds readier sale 
 
 than the square section, ^specially the way 
 he puts them up. 
 
 "HiLDRETH & SeGELKEN." 
 
 "New York, April 30, 1903." 
 Cuban comb honey is surely unequaled when prop- 
 erly raised. The flavor of the aguinaldo and one or 
 two other plants is not excelled by even the white clo- 
 
 16 
 
■^ 
 
 ver. The long honey-flow causes the sections to be 
 filled completely, which, together with the snow-white 
 cappings, gives them a most beautiful appearance. 
 
 PRODUCTION OF 'WAX 
 
 With the present high prices of wax and compara- 
 tively low price of honey, the production of wax is an 
 important item to the Cuban bee-keeper. Just how 
 much honey is used to produce one pound of wax is 
 a subject of much discussion. Estimates" run all the 
 way from 15 to 3 pounds of honey for one pound of 
 wax. The production of honey and wax can be nicely 
 combined, as, when the honey-flow is on, the tempera- 
 ture at night is too low for the secretion of wax. Dur- 
 ing the summer season, when it is warm, there is just 
 about enough honey coming in to keep up comb-build- 
 ing and brood-rearing. A very liberal cutting of 
 combs for wax is practiced. Just how much to cut, 
 and when, is learned by practice. Feeding is often re- 
 sorted to, to increase the amount of wax. It is some- 
 times found profitable to feed back. 
 
 Some of the native log apiaries are running for wax 
 exclusively. As soon as the hive is lull, the comb is 
 got out and the wax extracted by boiling it in a can of 
 water, the comb being enclosed in a coarse sack and 
 put under pressure. Modern methods eliminate the 
 excessive waste of such a mode. With a sun extractor 
 and wax-press, one can make a nice profit from the 
 capping alone, when extracting. 
 
 17 
 
r 
 
 The hybrid is far the best for wax-producing. The 
 slowness of the ItaHans to build combg is especially 
 noticeable. 
 
 THE. APIARY 
 
 A careful study of figures 3 and 5 will give a gen- 
 eral idea as to how a tropical apiary is arranged. The 
 general plan is to place the hives in long rows on a 
 J low bench. This kee-Ds the hives out of the wet, and 
 
 Pii;. 5.- A.N API.4KV 1^ A BANANA GK-OVE. 
 
 the grass is not easily blacking the entrances. Tlie 
 frames are also handled with less labor than if the 
 hives were on the ground. One common mistake is 
 placing the hives too near together, and the rows fac- 
 ing the same way. Bees are continually getting mixed 
 and fighting. There is always danger of the queen get- 
 ting balled and killed. 
 
Shade is always advisable. A shed thatched with 
 palm leaves is the most common way of procuring it. 
 The front oiece shows an apiary so arranged. Fig. 4 
 shows an inside view of a palm shed. It is a very 
 good plan to have the apiary under a grove of trees. 
 Fig. 5 shows an apiary in a banana grove. The only 
 objection to the position is that ants are apt to be an- 
 noying. They can, however, be kept in check by keep- 
 ing the ground bare and clean. Apiaries exposed to 
 the direct rays of the sun all the day do very well in the 
 Vv'inter time, but the heat in the sumrper time is apt to 
 cause trouble. 
 
 QUEENS 
 
 Like all other matters, the questipn of queens is 
 largely a matter of individual preference; and the 
 queen that comes nearest to your ideal is the one that 
 you can do best with. 
 
 As a rule, hybrids (a cross between the native and 
 Italian bees) are preferred for honey-gathering. The 
 Italian is inclined to fill the brood-nest with honey. 
 This is crowding the queen to a small baLch of brood, 
 and causing a dearth of bees when they are most need- 
 ed. The remedy for this is a constant extracting of 
 the brood-frames, which is a source of slow and extra 
 work. Even this does little good during the height of 
 the season. 
 
 The native bees, like the black bee of the North, lack 
 the good qualities of either the Italian or hybrid, and 
 are very apt to give way to the attacks of the moth- 
 
 19 
 
worm and other enemies, which do not bother the Ital- 
 ian, and very little the hybrid. The hybrid bees, though 
 irritable, have the energy and vigor that always char- 
 acterize a cross. They are very easily brushed from 
 the frames when extracting, and build very white 
 combs. For wax production they are unexcelled. 
 
 Strict attention should be given to fequeening. Not 
 having a long winter's rest, the queen is apt to play out 
 in a shorter time. Young and vigorous queens should 
 be kept in all colonics, as the number oi bees plays a 
 very important part in gathering the crop. Colonies 
 having old queens are constantly running down. As 
 queens can be raised the year round, and very cheaply, 
 there is no excuse for having poor ones. 
 
 FOUL BROOD 
 
 I This aisease is freely acknowledged to be the main 
 " drawback to Cuban bee-keeping. Be positive that the 
 bees you buy are free from it. Foul-broody colonies 
 are dear at any price. The disease is scattered all over 
 the island. It occurs in the most unexpected places, 
 is the native apiaries are almost sure to be affected 
 with it. You may get into a locality where you think 
 there are no native bees. The people will tell you that 
 they know of none ; but after you have been there a few 
 months you will probably discover &. do<7.en or more 
 native apiaries within your range. The disease once 
 in your apiary, there is little chance of getting rid of 
 
 ^- - 
 
 20 
 
r 
 
 it. With care it can be kept from dbing great damage ; 
 but it is there, and the first relax of attention will cause 
 trouble. 
 
 In running for extracted honey, orie is apt to have 
 more trouble with the disease, as the continual chang- 
 ing of the combs is sure to spread it. Comb honey is 
 preferred by some for this reason. 
 
 Robbing is another way to spread the disease. If 
 an affected colony becomes weak, and is robbed, the 
 disease is apt to appear in any part of the yard. The 
 native bees being kept in logs, with both ends exposed, 
 they are an easy mark for a large apiary. When once 
 started, they will make short work of the weaker col- 
 onies, which are almost sure to be affected with this 
 disease. 
 
 The fact of foul brood in Cuba need not be discour- 
 aging; for if proper care is given, a success can be 
 made just the same. It is like weeds in a garden — it 
 become injurious only when neglected. 
 
 THE NATIVE BEE 
 
 The native 'Cuban bee-keeper usually keeps his col- 
 ony in a hollow palm log. Some have advanced a step 
 forward, and put them in a long wooden box, but still 
 leave both ends exposed. Of course, there is sure 1o be 
 robbing, and foul brood is easily spread. 
 
 When the log is filled with comb and honey, to ex- 
 tract it a knife is taken and the comb cut from both 
 ends of the log. In this manner comparatively little 
 
 ^ 
 
 21 
 
r 
 
 Fig. 6. — A NATIVE APIARY. 
 
 brood is cut. The comb is then placed in a coarse bag, 
 and the honey extracted by pressure. The product is 
 not very appetizing, but the amount of honey obtained 
 in this way is surprising. The smashed comb is then 
 placed in boiling water, and pressure applied. The 
 wax comes to the top, and is then allowed to harden. 
 The value of the wax sometimes exceeds that of the 
 honey. 
 
 A small stingless bee is sometimes kept by the na- 
 tives. The honey produced by this is very small, and 
 i.s valued chiefly by the natives as medicine. 
 
 EFFECTS OF THE- 'WAR 
 
 In traveling over the country districts, one is sur- 
 prised at the number of ruins of towns and country 
 
r 
 
 houses. It is nothing uncommon to come across a 
 town that, before the war, was very nrosperous, and 
 now only the bare walls are standing, and perhaps the 
 only inhabitants a negro family living in a miserable 
 hut. Fields that are neglected are .almost sure to be- 
 come covered with a tangle of aguinaldo, when it 
 makes the finest bee-pasturage. The long years of the 
 war have made the people very poor ; but each year oi 
 prosperity shows a marked difference in buildings and 
 living. 
 
 HONEY-PACKAGES 
 
 Generally the commission merchant tp whom you 
 ship your extracted honey will furnish you with bar- 
 rels. Sometimes these are tue 1,200-pound tierces, 
 which are very difficult to handle. The 400-pound bar- 
 rel is very generally used. These are almost always 
 old lard-barrels which have been recleaned. Honey 
 should not be shipped to the States in such barrels, as 
 the cleaning they get is usually insufficient, and is sure 
 to reduce the price of the honey. Shipping in tin cans 
 has not been thoroughly tested as yet. 
 
 Comb honey is shipped to the States in the usual 
 manner in crates with some kind of packing in the bot- 
 tom. Excellent results have been obtained from such 
 shipping. The sections should be put up in as neat 
 cases as possible. No attempts of importance have been 
 made to export chunk honey, and this is not to be rec- 
 ommended. 
 
 23 
 

MARKETS 
 
 While selling in the States, be sure that the man to 
 whom you ship your crop is perfectly reliable. In gen- 
 eral we advise shipping to some dealer in honey and 
 wax in a large city. Some of the more experienced 
 bee-keepers who have studied the matter carefully 
 make a success of exporting their crop themselves to 
 the States. 
 
 Fig. . 
 
 BOCOYS OF HONEY ON WHARF FOR SHIPMENT. 
 
 The table on page 26 will show where the bulk of 
 Cuban honey is exported from. When more pains are 
 taken with the honey, a better price will be obtained, 
 and more will be shipped to the States. 
 
 As the transportation charges deduct considerable 
 from the profits, it is well to study this matter as fully 
 as possible. Moving the crop over the country roads 
 
 25 
 
is generally done with the native ox-cart. Like all the 
 natives, the driver wishes the sunny side of the bar- 
 gain with the "Americano." Jrlave seme friend make 
 an estimate of what it will cost to move your crop, and 
 stick to this ; and be sure to arrange your terms before 
 the work is done. The railroad charges are excessive. 
 It is hoped that fair rates will be obtained that will do 
 justice to the industry. The drayage charges in the 
 city are usually attended to by the commission mer- 
 chant. 
 
 EXPORTS IN HONEY AND WAX BY 
 PROVINCES FOR 1901. 
 
 PKOVINCE. 
 
 HONEY. 
 
 WAX. 
 
 Havana and 
 
 Lbs. 
 
 Lbs. 
 
 Pinar del Rio 
 
 2,557,397 
 
 522,451 
 
 Santiago 
 
 940,753 
 
 276,352 
 
 Santa Clara 
 
 831,419 
 
 115,409 
 
 Mantanzas 
 
 215,374 
 
 18,302 
 
 Puerto Principe 
 
 251,657 
 
 91,383 
 
 Total 
 
 4,796,600 
 
 1,023,897 
 
 PRACTICAL POINTS 
 
 For the bee-keeper who exnects to settle in Cuba, 
 it is well to know the details of living as well as bee- 
 keeping. The first difficulty .s the laijguage. Imagine 
 yourself deaf and dumb, and suddenly placed among 
 poeple whose customs are foreign to you. If you have 
 no knowledge of the language, you are practically de- 
 pendent upon your friends for the transaction of busi- 
 ness with the natives for the first f&w months. 
 
 76 
 
 J 
 
If you go mto the country districts it is well to take 
 a supply of food with you until you become accus- 
 tomed to the Sp'anish style of living. Good milk can 
 rarely be obtained, and even then at a very high price. 
 Butter is not made in the country, but is imported in 
 cans. Staple fruits and vegetables can usually be ob- 
 tained at any country store in their season, also bread, 
 
 which you will have to accustom yourself to. Be sure 
 that everything is kept out of reach of the ants, for if 
 they once get at your provisions it will cause you an 
 endless amount of annoyance. Canned goods of all 
 kinds can be obtained in large cities ; so supply yourself 
 with these, as they are most conveniently handled and 
 kept. 
 
 27 
 
As Spanish money is in general use in the country 
 districts, have your money changed to this kind, as 
 sometimes the difference in value is not taken into con- 
 sideration. Country hotels should be avoided, as their 
 style is not usually agreeable to Americans. 
 
 All clothing should be kept in dry places, and aired 
 occasionally, as it is very apt to mold. Also see that 
 
 A NATIVE HOME. 
 
 L 
 
 you are well supplied with bed-clothing, as the nights 
 are very often extremely chilly. 
 
 Household goods go in free of charge ; but it is ad- 
 visable to take as little as possible. Everything of this 
 sort, as well as agricultural implemelits, can be ob- 
 tained in most of the large cities. 
 
 28 
 
/^ 
 
 OTHER INFORMATION 
 
 If the reader wishes more information upon the sub- 
 ject of bees in Cuba, we refer him to our semi-monthly 
 paper, Gleanings in Bee Culture. .Practically every 
 number contains something of interest in this respect. 
 Beginning with the first of this year, Mr. A. I. Root 
 gives in his "Notes on Travel" an account of his visit 
 to the island. A number of very valuable articles will 
 
 appear in future numbers. Subscription price to this 
 paper is $i per year. The volume of 1902 is very rich 
 in matter regarding Cuba. Tlie entire series of "Ram- 
 bler in Cuba" is. in that year's number, together with 
 numerous other articles and many fine illustrations. 
 We can furnish you this volume, bound in neat covers, 
 for $1.50; postage 25 cents extra. AlsO' unbound num- 
 bers for $1. 
 
 29 
 
We wish particularly to call attention to our 
 branch house in Havana. We carry in stock every- 
 thing necessary for the Cuban bee-kee*per. The office 
 and warehouse is conveniently located at San Ignacio 
 17. Our manager, F. H. de Beche- will give your 
 wants in the bee-keeping line prompt attention. He 
 
 speaks fluently English, Spanish, and French, and is 
 thoroughly acquainted with the city and customs. If 
 you are in the city we urge you to call on him, as the 
 advice he can give you will be of gr.eat value. 
 
 Our agents, J. B. Hamel, Cardenapj J. Hammond, 
 La Gloria; A. E. vB. Fatjo, Santiago, are in a position 
 to supply your needs. All of these gentlemen speak 
 English and Spanish. 
 
 30 
 
r — \ 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Apiary, The 18 
 
 Comb Honey 14 
 
 Effects of the War 22 
 
 Extracted Honey 13 
 
 Extracting' Houses and Outfits 14 
 
 Foul Brood , 20 
 
 Honey Yield •. 11 
 
 Honey Packag-es 23 
 
 Ivocations 8 
 
 Markets 25 
 
 Moving- Bees 7 
 
 Native Bees., The 21 
 
 Other Information 29 
 
 Overstocking 12 
 
 Practical Points 26 
 
 Prod uctiou of Wax 17 
 
 Queens 19 
 
 Table of Exports of Honey ^nd Wax 25 
 
 THE A B C OF BEE CULTURE. 
 
 An Encyclopedia of Bee Culture. The 1903 edition con- 
 tains 500, 8mo pages, 50 fuU-page halftones, and 500 smaller il- 
 lustrations, printed on the best paper. This book was especial- 
 ly written for the beginner, and it you intend taking up Bee 
 Culture in Cuba, with little or no experience, we can recota- 
 mend no better guide-book than this. The new edition brings 
 the subject matter entirely up with the times, and the informa- 
 tion it gives is complete. The price is |1.20 postpaid, or with 
 one year's subscription to " Gleanings in Bee Culture " (sample 
 copy free) $1.75 postpaid. 
 
 If you wish a catalog of bee-keepers' supplies printed in Eng- 
 lish, French, or Spanish, we will be pleased to mail you a copy 
 on application. 
 
 The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio. 
 
ROOT'S GOODS 
 
 IN OI^BA. 
 
 I 
 
 EE-KEEPERS in Western Cuba will 
 
 Bbe pleased to learn that they can now 
 obtain our goods from stock in Ha- 
 vana. This will insure them prompt 
 delivery, and at much lower prices 
 than where exported in small lots. 
 A general assortment will be found 
 at our rooms, San Ignacio, No. 17, Havana, 
 where bee-keepers are requested to call when- 
 ever they are in the city. Our Havana repre- 
 sentative is in constant communication with us, 
 and any odd-sized goods may be obtained quick- 
 ly by placing your order with him. The man- 
 agement of this hon&e is in the hands of Mr. F. 
 H. De Beche, a practical bee-man, who speaks 
 
 English, French, and Spanish 
 
 Look over our Cowan Extractors and Dovetailed 
 Hives. If you are interested in comb honey, 
 ask to see the Danzenbaker Hive 
 
 The A. I. ROOT CO., SAN IGNHGIO, NO. 17, HAVANA. 
 
Cornell University Library 
 Cuba as a bee country.A guide to the pro 
 
 3 1924 003 654 294