34 



made. The article says in part: "Two essays read before agri- 

 cultural societies in the central west suggest a wider and truer 

 view of the situation. . . . The heroine of the other (second) 

 essayist was a successful stenographer, who, wanting a house of 

 her own, pitched upon a three-acre place which was far from cities, 

 but within reachable distance of several summer hotels. By study, 

 perseverance, tact and common sense, she presently found herself 

 marketing every year five thousand pounds of honey, fifteen hun- 

 dred ducks and quantities of fine fruit." In addition the writer 

 says: "Probably there is not a county in any State which does 

 not offer similar opportunities for tired women to rest by change of 

 occupation, and meantime earn a living; or for ambitious women 

 to take up fruit growing, market gardening, poultry keeping, or 

 some other specialty, and carry it on at a profit." 



There is hardly a locality in Massachusetts where there are not 

 sufiicient honey-yielding flowers to allow of successful bee keeping. 

 This applies not alone to the country but quite as well to the cities. 

 In rural districts, wild flowers and cultivated plants are to be de- 

 pended upon for a honey supply. In cities the flowers of cultivated 

 ornamental plants and those of the ornamental trees in the streets 

 and parkways and about the residences often yield a bountiful 

 supply of honey. 



The writer has observed during the present year in the Public 

 Gardens, on the Common and in the parkways in the city of Bos- 

 ton and vicinity large numbers of the best honey-producing plants 

 and trees to be found anywhere. Last year he observed growing 

 wild in great abundance along the shore near the city of Salem the 

 sweet clover (melilotus alba) that is so attractive to bees and a 

 prolific honey producer — remaining in bloom for more than a 

 month, 



A large farm in a rural district is not essential for the successful 

 keeping of bees. They thrive in towns, villages and even large 

 cities. Says Frank Benton in his bulletin entitled " Bee Keeping : " 

 " It even happens in some instances that bees in cities and towns 

 find more abundant pasturage than in country locations which are 

 considered fair." He cites Washington, D. C, as an example, 

 owing to the presence of large numbers of linden trees that have 

 been planted along both sides of many of the streets and avenues 

 of the city. 



Swarms of bees so situated that they are protected from strong 

 winds and the extreme cold of winter will thrive in almost any 

 locality in Massachusetts. It is best that the hive be placed near 

 the ground, as it can be more easily reached by the bees returning 



