and its Economic Management. 79 
which many of the clovers will give in one season. But 
-against this there may be a set-off in the fact that a part 
of the rotation of bee-crops may not be hayed at all, 
though in that case it would be such as remain in blossom 
for six or eight weeks at a time, while, of course, the yield 
of honey would be greater. Taking the whole matter 
into consideration, the estimate as to the profits from 
planting must appear very moderate indeed. 
This is simply an estimate of the lowest possible profits 
to be secured where crops are sown for the use of 50 to 
100 colonies of bees. But this quantity of ground could 
not be so cultivated without an additional profit to be 
secured from grazing and otherwise feeding cattle; a 
process which would largely increase the proceeds. An 
average of only one ton of hay to the acre is shown, but it 
is no uncommon thing to secure, as I have done myself, 
two tons from a first crop, and one ton from the second 
crop in one year. 
Manuring the Ground. 
Nevertheless, it will ever remain a prime factor that the 
ground must be moderately good to start with, and must 
be kept up in good condition, otherwise the bee-keeper’s 
attempts to supplement his local resources will meet 
with grievous disappointment ; just as any other tiller of 
the soil must fail utterly if he wili not reward Nature’s ever 
willing hand. 
The Great Thing 
with such planting is the broad fact that the crops are 
close at hand, and are brought into due rotation, so that 
often when the weather is not such as will entice the bees 
to distant crops, they will simply roar on fields almost 
adjoining the apiary. The best crops for honey will be 
our first great consideration, while at least two-thirds of 
