I don't know about anyone else's experience with bee trees, but when we were children, growing up in rural Scott County, it was fun to watch my dad check for bees getting water, and then following them back to their tree. When he determined that the tree was full enough to justify robbing it of its honey, we would beg to go with him. He used smoke from a torch made of rags, ( latter on a purchased smoke canister), to subdue the bees long enough to retrieve the honey. This honey Mom used to sweeten the most deliciious baked things (much cheaper than store purchased sugar). Dad would also trade the honey to others in the valley for things he did not grow. After being stung several times by bees not wanting to give us their produce, I did'nt beg quite so much to go along. Often though, it was a family outing, with Mom packing a picnic lunch to be enjoyed. Dad never took all of the honey, nor did he cut down the tree. The bees would just regroup and make another batch. He often went back to the same tree many times. He also was very careful, if there were neighbors visiting, not to let them know that he was tracking bees to their tree, for fear that they would get there before him, and maybe even cut down the tree, thus eliminating a honey supply. He often spent days and walked many miles until the tree was located. Pat domjohn@postoffice.swbell.net Betty Hollowell wrote: > To all who wondered about bee trees and Indian corn: didn't Catherine > Eikleberry Rogers write some books on such subjects? There are (were) > copies in the Yell County Library the last time I visited (1990). Does > anyone know if she is still living and if these books are still for > sale? > Betty