OR, MANUAI. OP THE APIARY. 443 



honey with not the slightest inconvenience. The Virginia 

 creeper also blooms in July. I wish that I could say that this 

 beautiful vine, transplendent in autumn, is a favorite with the 

 honey-bee. Though it often, nay always, swarms with wild 

 bees when in blossom, yet I have rarely seen honey-bees visit 

 the ample bloom amidst its rich, green, vigorous foliage. 



The St. John's wort (Hypericum), with its many species, 

 both shrubby and herbaceous, offers bountiful contributions 



Fig. 247. 



Cabbage PaJmtlio. — Original. 



to the delicious stores of the honey-bee. The catnip (Nepeta 

 cataria), which Quinby said he believed would pay better than 

 any other plant for special planting, blooms at this time ; also 

 asparagus — which, if uncut in spring, will bloom in June — so 

 delectable for the table, and so elegant for trimming table 

 meats and for banquets in autumn, come now to offer their 

 nectarian gifts, and beautiful, orange pollen. 



Basil, or mountain mint (Pycnanthemum lanceolatum), we 

 might almost include all the mints ; the blue and white ver- 



