io6 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



tion in the hive. 



HORTICULTURE AND BEE-KEEPING. 



HAT special reasons can be given why horticulture and 

 bee-keeping may be combined to advantage, there is no 

 doubt. That there is every reason why the fruit grower 

 and the bee-keeper should be side by side and work 

 hand in hand there is no disputing. True the bee- 

 keeper rarely, scarcely ever in fact, secures a surplus 

 from what we commonly call fruit bloom, yet their blossoms 

 are a decided advantage to him. Bees, as they begin their 

 life of action in the spring, gather honey and pollen which is 

 required in the development of their brood and young bees. 

 All they are able to gather, owing to their own reduced num- 

 bers and the limited amount of nectar in the flowers, or even 

 the limited number of blossoms, is required for consump- 

 Tf the sources of honey and pollen is limited the bees will 

 curtail brood rearing, and when clover, the first source of surplus opens, the 

 colony is not strong enough to avail itself of this source, and we are unable to 

 secure the best results from that colony. Fruit bloom then plays an important 

 part in the building up of the colony, and indirectly an important part in the 

 amount of surplus honey we may be able to secure. I propose now to turn to 

 answer the question, In what way may bees influence our fruit crops? In what 

 way may they be able to influence that crop and tend to make the crop more 

 certain ? This is no new subject, although we are continually receiving fresh light 

 upon the question. In my remarks I will be largely indebted to Mr. Cheshire. 

 Any one will find his work on Scientific Bee-keeping intensely interesting. 



The honeybee has much about it to hold us in wonder and admiration, and 

 were we by it benefited to no greater extent than it opened to us a wonderful 

 study in regard to its habits, the construction of its various organs and the like, 

 we would be much enriched, and in studying the created we would learn to 

 admire and marvel at the Creator. But the honey bee has placed within the reach 

 of all a food which is, with very rare exceptions, acceptable to all. It has an aroma 

 peculiarly its own, medicinal properties which cannot be imitated, great nourishing 

 properties, suitable alike to childhood, middle age and the aged, true, but 

 especially healthful and beneficial for children To get rid of worms, honey used 

 in moderate quantities is an excellent medicine. For constipation it is excellent. 

 We have then in honey a rare combination, a food pleasant to the taste, always 

 ready for use, healthful, if used moderately, yet even daily, and, taken at its market 

 price, even low in price, an economic food. 



