Sec. 10.] BEES, AND TEE PROFITABLE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 



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straw color, of a thick, heavy body, and very excellent flavor. Bees thrive 

 and store honey very rapidly when they have access to large quantities of 

 these flowers. The time of blooming varies with diflferent localities, but it 

 generally begins to put forth flowers about the first of July, and continues 

 for three or four weeks. 



" In all places where buckwheat is raised, it becomes an important acces- 

 sion to bee-pasturage. A field of buckwheat yields an incredible quantity 

 of honey, which perfumes the air for a considerable distance around. When 

 tlie weather is favorable, the bees store honey from it very rapidly, faster at 

 times than they can build combs to receive it. I have seen them fill pieces 

 of old combs laid close to the entrance of the hive, with honey, and have 

 known colonies to fill four boxes of honey, or about 50 lbs., during the con- 

 tinuance of buckwheat. This is by no means an uncommon occurrence, and 

 goes to show that this honey harvest is one of great importance to the bee- 

 keepei". Buckwheat may be sown about a month earlier than usual, to fur- 

 nish pasturage to come in about the close of clover, to great advantage." 



In relation to artificial feeding there are many opinions. There is prob' 

 ably no better food for bees than brown sugar, moistened with honey, such 

 as can be bought at a low price by the barrel or gallon in any town. Add 

 just enough honey to the sugar to make it into a dough by kneading. Put 

 tliis feed in a shallow tray, with a few straws on top, and let the bees take 

 their own way and time with it. It is well to give a little salt to bees, if 

 they can not get it conveniently. The best way is to place a lump of rock- 

 salt near the hives, and there let it remain year after year. 



A practical bee-keeper says : " If the season has been xinpropitious, the 

 hives should be carefully looked after. If any contain less than 20 llis. of 

 honey, the swarm will need to be fed either with honey alone or mixed with 

 sugar diluted to the consistence of honey, poured on to pieces of empty 

 comb, and placed in the hive in such a manner that bees from other hives 

 will not find it. Perhaps the best method is to introduce the feed into the 

 boxes directly over the bees ; but should it be a common box hive, it may 

 be placed on the top of the hive, where there is a communication through 

 the top, and placing a cap over the whole ; and then gently rapping on the 

 top of the hive, the bees will jiress up through and find the feed. The feed- 

 ing should bo done during warm weather." 



221. KfW Food for Bees. — The fact has been discovered in France, that 

 bees will feed upon the oil-c^ke (soaked in water) that is made in the manu- 

 facture of oil from the Sesamu/n Orientali\ known here as the bene ])lant, so 

 that tliey can be much easier wintered ; and it is said the increase of stocks 

 is wonderful in comparison with those not tlnis fed. 



'n^Q Flore (h'S Si'}res, from which we borrow this, assures us that the results 

 have been astonishing, not only in a large increase of honey-comb, but iu 

 enabling the bees to multiply beyond all belief; nearly ten times the quantity 

 being bred in consequence of tiie facility aft'orded of obtaining abundant 

 and, as it would seem, excellent nourishment from this unexpected source. 



