306 VARIETIES OF FOOD THE APIARY. 



sought, and most salubrious to the insects. In the 

 gardens the crocus ought to be extensively cultivated. 

 It may be considered as the earliest food of the bees 

 from an artificial source, as the willow and the furze 

 are from a natural one. 



With the view of imparting a fragrancy of flavour 

 to the honey, the odoriferous shrubs, thyme, laven- 

 der, sweet marjoram, and their like, with strawber- 

 ries and raspberries, should be planted. The sun- 

 flower, holly-hock, and poppy. Burrage-flowers, from 

 their long blooming, are of the greatest use. Marsh- 

 mallows abound in farina. Melilot, a biennial plant, 

 found in hedges and underwood, which flowers in 

 July, is much sought by bees, and greatly productive 

 of honey. It was formerly said to equal lucern, as 

 food for horses, thence worthy of a modern trial, 

 which I gave it in 1828 and 1829, on various soils, 

 finding it immensely productive. It is, however, not 

 a favourite food with horses or cattle, until they be- 

 come accustomed to it ; the case with nearly all arti- 

 ficial grasses ; yet it is in constant use on the conti- 

 nent, and was formerly cultivated in this country. 

 Mignonette is supposed to be the richest in honey 

 of all flowers ; bees are also particularly fond of those 

 of the verbinia and stertian, of the blind nettle, 

 the bean, of cabbages and cauliflowers : in Au- 

 tumn, oak-leaves, and those of all trees on which 

 the honey-dew is found. The fragrant flowers of the 

 Tilla Europcea, or lime, a handsome and ornamental 

 tree, are highly relished by bees, and are said to 

 make most excellent honey. The beautiful white 



