114 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



May 



troduced before we actually need. 

 This can harfly be done in one or 

 two years, therefore let us give it a 

 trial now. Our bees often work on 

 red clover, but it is not often that we 

 get a surplus from that source, but 

 with a few acres of Alsike in reach 

 of our bees, we are able to notice its 

 value. How many of us will look to 

 the interests of the bpe-keeper as well 

 as the farmers. 

 Steeleville 111. 



Planting Trees for the Bees. 



BY BESSIE L. PUTNAM. 



Of late years the dangers which fol- 

 low the wanton destruction of our for- 

 ests and the necessity of atoning as 

 far as possible for the misdeeds of the 

 past have been too thoroughly discuss- 

 ed to need repetition here. The sole 

 remedy lies in replacing the trees de- 

 stroyed. In many localities young 

 trees now border our roadsides, and 

 Arbor Day has become one which is 

 observed among our school children 

 with almost as most enthusiasm as the 

 Fourth of July. 



The advantages of planting fruit 

 and nut trees have been pracically 

 demonstrated with the most satisfact- 

 ory results ; Yet variety is needed in 

 arbroiculture as in other branches of 

 industry ; beauty and utility demands 

 it ; and in the selection of shade trees, 

 too little attention has heretofore been 

 given to our friends, the bees. 



A number of our native trees which 

 furnish them working material are 

 are more desirable as mere ornaments 

 of the lawn than some of the rare ex- 

 otics which often monopolize it. 

 When two objects can be accomplish- 

 ed by the same thing, it is certainly a 



matter of economy to take advantage 

 of this. 



During the first sunny days of 

 spring one may observe the bees bear- 

 ing pollen from some willow, which, 

 situated in a particularly favored spot, 

 has put forth its blossoms in advance 

 of its sisters. Several species of this 

 family yield a limited supply of both 

 pollen and honey. Despite the pre- 

 vailing notion that they require a wet 

 situation, a number of species grow 

 rapidly in dry soil from cuttings, and 

 their graceful outline lend a pleasing 

 variation to the landscape. 



The poplar or aspen blooms a little 

 later. Then follow the silver and red 

 maples. The former, Acer dasycarpum, 

 cannot be recommended for planting 

 by the side of cultivated fields, as its 

 roots, when broken by the plow, send 

 up innumerable shoots, thereby ren- 

 dering it quite a nuisance. A tree 

 or two upon the lawn where the roots 

 are undisturbed is not likely to prove 

 troublesome and their silver foliage 

 contrasts in a charming manner with 

 the green and gorgeous autumn colors 

 of the other maples. 



The sugar maple soon follows, and 

 by the time this supply is exhausted 

 the bees are reveling in the sweets of 

 the fruit orchard. 



The locust is valuable on account 

 of its rapid growth, and valuable 

 timber, while its delicately cut foliage 

 and deliciously sweet flowers render 

 it especially ornamental. 



Thus it will be seen that by exer- 

 cising a little forethought, a succession 

 of trees yielding honey may be secur- 

 ed until the clover is ready. None 

 of these, probably, yield enough for 

 " surplus " but as a supply for rearing 



