PASTURAGE. 



would maintain ten stocks. The culture of saint- 

 foin as a bee-pasture is also well worthy of the 

 apiarian's attention in some situations ; for though 

 it flourishes best in a calcareous soil, it will thrive 

 in soils which are too poor either for grass or til- 

 lage. Furze and broom are particularly service- 

 able on account of their blossoming early and 

 long, and abounding in farina. 



On the other hand, the lateness of its bloom 

 makes ivy a very valuable resource for the bees. 

 On a fine day at the end of October, among the 

 ivy-mantled towers of an old castle, I have heard 

 their humming noise, so loud as scarcely to be 

 exceeded by that which they make, among the 

 trees affected with honey-dew, in summer. I 

 should however conceive that the ivy blossom is 

 principally serviceable as affording pollen, which 

 the bees probably warehouse, for feeding the 

 young larvae in the ensuing spring. Mr. Hunter 

 recommends St. John's wort (Hypericum perfora- 

 tum\ which also comes in late, as a favourite 

 plant for collecting pollen, for winter's store. This 

 stored pollen is used for feeding the earliest 

 hatched larvae, though it is evident that the bees 

 prefer fresh for the purpose, from their collecting 

 it as early in the spring as possible, and from the 

 quantity of stored pollen that is found in every 

 old hive. 



Commons surrounded by moods are well known 



