CHAPTER IX. 



PASTURAGE. 



THE existence of all animated nature depends on 

 the earth's yielding her fruits in their appointed sea- 

 sons. The increase and decrease of every race and 

 class of the animal and insect kingdom are governed 

 by the same. Hence we find the bee to increase most 

 and flourish best, where the earth yields the greatest 

 profusion of flowers through the greatest number of 

 months in the year. 



New countries, where the natural luxuriance of 

 plants is not checked by the grazing of domestic 

 animals, are particularly favorable to bee culture. 

 But as domestic animals increase and consume the 

 herbage, bee pasture must decrease. Large tracts 

 of land cultivated in grain also lessen the supply. 

 Notwithstanding these drawbacks, each locality that 

 will supply food for man will also support a certain 

 number of bees with profit to their owners. In por- 

 tions of the country the season of flowers is short, 

 yet very rich in honey, while the balance of the year 

 furnishes very little. In such places, bees will store 

 largely from the flowers, but need large quantities to 

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