ALFALFA AND BEES. 85 



where the roots of the plants extend to the water. In September the 

 bees were busy in the alfalfa in the Arkansas valley ; while, on the 

 higher ground of one of the counties on the eastern border, I visited 

 a beautiful piece of alfalfa near by an apiary, but no bees were found. 

 They were at that time flying over the alfalfa to the knotweeds be- 

 yond. A strong point in favor of this plant, as shown by Miiller, is 

 that it continues to secrete nectar as long as the blossom flourishes. 

 A greater part of the alfalfa produced in this state is cultivated for 

 forage, and, since for this purpose it is cut while in full bloom, the 

 honey crop is materially less than it would be if alfalfa were allowed 

 to mature. Daring a dry period bees will fly over alfalfa fields in 

 bloom to a field which has been irrigated a few days previously and 

 has begun to bloom. 



The relation existing between alfalfa and apiculture can well be 

 obtained by a comparison of the tables following, the data for which 

 Mr. F. D. Coburn, of the state board of agriculture, has kindly fur- 

 nished. The attention of the reader is called to the yield of honey 

 per hive in counties where larger acreages of alfalfa exist, as compared 

 with the yield per hive where the crop is much less. 



