424 



THB BEE-KEBPKR'S GUIDE; 



our best indigenous honey-plants. These are the plants 

 which have large pollen-masses which often adhere to the 

 legs of the bees (Fig. 227), and sometimes so entrap them as to 

 cause their death. Prof. Riley once very graciously advised 

 planting them to kill bees I I say graciously, as I have 

 watched these very closely, and am sure they do little harm, 

 and are rich in nectar. Seldom a bee gets caught so as to hold 

 it long, and when these awkward masses are carried away 

 with the bee, they are usually left at the door of the hive, 



Fig. 228. 



Fig. 227. 



Pollen of Milk- Weed on Bee^s Foot. 

 — Original. 



Black Mustard. — Original. 



where I have often seen them in considerable numbers. The 

 river bank, hard by our apiary, is lined with these sweet- 

 smelling herbs, and we would like even more. Occasionally, 

 however, the bees are held to the plant by them, and more 

 often become so burdened with these pollen-masses that the 

 other bees drag or drive them from the hive, as no longer fit 

 for labor or worthy to live. Bees are veritable Hottentots— 

 they kill, though they do not eat the old and the feeble. 



Black mustard (Sinapis nigra), (Fig. 228), white mustard 



