168 



SMALL ANIMALS AND INSECTS. 



[CnAP. II. 



"The linden, or bass-wood {iilia Americana), produces honey to a Large 

 amount. All of these varieties of trees should be extensively cultivated, 

 both as shade and ornamental trees, as well as for their timber and the vast 

 quantities of honey t]u>y yield. Sumach also produces honey bountifully ; 

 tiie ditticulty, however, is, that there are but few places where these are 

 found in sufficient quantities to be of importance. I trust they will be 

 extensively cultivated. 



'•The common black mustard is one of the most valuable plants to culti- 

 vate as a ])asture for bees ; it is easily raised, by simply sowing it on ground 

 when well plowed and pulverized by harrowing smooth, and then brushing 

 it in with a light brush or very light harrow. It should be sown early in 

 the spring, on good ground. 



" Those interested in bee-keeping should give the cultivation of mustard 

 some attention. As a bee-pasture it has few superiors, yielding both pollen 

 and honey in great abundance ; it begins to open its flowers when quite 

 young and continues as the bush expands, until it becomes very large ; each 

 day brings forth new blossoms. A field of mustard in full bloom is a most 

 magniticent s'ight ; it is like a vast pile of golden flowers ; the plants are 

 eom])letely enveloped with flowers, from the ground up as high as a man's 

 head. There is no other plant that I ever noticed that produces so many 

 flowers to any given quantity of ground, nor yields so much honey. 



" In almost any of the Atlantic States it serves to fill the interval that occurs 

 between the closing of the white clover and the opening of the buckwheat 

 flowers, a period of about four weeks, which is the very besLpart of the year 

 for gatliering honey, as the weather is generally warm and calm ; hence tlie 

 propriety of raising this crop to employ the bees profitably. 



"The honey produced from it resembles that yielded from the linden, both 

 in color and taste. 



" Mignonette, a modest, unpresuming little flower, found in all well- 

 assorted collections, is one of the greatest value as a bee-pasture, if grown in 

 suftlcicnt quantities to be an object. It is low growing and spreading in its 

 habits, similar to white clover, and yields both honey and pollen ; it will 

 bloom continually, from the middle of June until killed by frosts in the fjill. 

 It is easily raised in large quantities if the ground is clear of weed seed, 

 plowed, and 'Avell pulverized by harrowing before sowing. Sow thinly and 

 brush it in with a light brush ; all that is required after this is to pull out 

 any large-growing weeds that may chance to make their appearance before 

 the mignonette spreads over the ground ; where it takes possession of the 

 ground, it needs no further care. A bed of these flowers will perfume the air 

 for quite a distance around, so rich is it. Bees will work on it from daylight 

 until dark ; two or three may be seen at once on a single head or flower. 



"Tiie ccphalanthm Canadensis, or butter-bush, which grows in swamps, 

 and low, wet, marshy grounds in almost every part of the United States, 

 preserving the same appearance wherever found, jiroduces honey of the 

 The honey gathered from this shrub is of a very light 



highest excellence 



