68 VARIETIES OF BEES. 



The pages following show that alfalfa, under Kansas conditions, 

 produces a quality and flow of honey surpassed by no other plant. 

 A few speak with great favor of Alsike clover, but the observations 

 upon this clover have in each case been made upon small plats of 

 ground. The plant is by no means generally cultivated in the state. 



The greatest enthusiasm manifested upon apiculture is found in 

 localities where large areas of alfalfa exist. The wives and daughters 

 of many agriculturists and of some merchants, find pleasure and 

 profit in caring for bees. Many keep bees simply for the table lux- 

 ury derived. 



The bees gather the nectar from the blossom, and at the same time 

 insure the formation of seed where the blossom was. The results 

 noted show that the seed crop of alfalfa upon which bees worked 

 was 66 1 per cent, greater than the crops taken from alfalfa dependent 

 upon other insects for pollination. 



Many flowers cease to secrete nectar after being pollinated. Alfalfa 

 continues to secrete nectar until the blossom begins to wither. The 

 only objection found with alfalfa is the not infrequent removal of the 

 plant for hay during the blooming stage. It is no unusual thing, 

 however, to find within range of the apiary several thousand acres of 

 alfalfa. Here, the second crop is in bloom before the first is all in the 

 swath, and this continual blossoming places the coveted nectar before 

 the bee from the 15th of June until the middle of October. 



This publication is sent forth with a desire that the resources of 

 the alfalfa plant may receive the attention due them, and that those 

 unacquainted with the honey-bee may become familiar with its good 

 qualities, may appreciate the luxuries of the hive, and find in the bee 

 not only a source of profit, but also a work of pleasure. 



VARIETIES OF BEES. 



The common name, bee, is applied to many forms of the order 

 Hymenoptera. It is not within the province of this work, however, 

 to enter into a discussion of the genera of bees within the order, but 

 simply to confine the treatise to the species technically known as Apis 

 melliftca, commonly spoken of as the honey-bee. 



It is taken for granted that the name honey-bee is sufficiently 

 familiar to require no further definition. Under this head, however, 

 we find a number of kinds of bees; some speak of them as varieties, 

 others as distinct species. It will suffice for our purpose, at present, 

 to consider all as varieties of the one species, Apis mellifica, and to 

 refer to each variety by the name popularly known. 



The varieties of bees which have been brought to this country, for 

 the honey-bee is originally a foreigner, are the brown or German bee,, 



