90 A Modern Bee-Farm 
irrigation systems; but in this country, no matter how 
it is treated, nor how fine the weather may be, bees rarely 
visit it, and then only in late Autumn in very small 
numbers, when most other plants have ceased to yield. 
This is unfortunate, as there is no forage plant which 
grows so luxuriantly, or recovers from cutting so quickly 
as lucerne; it may also remain on the same ground for 
many years in succession, but we must have the truth, and 
therefore I say, and say it regretfully, that the plant is 
useless for honey in any other than irrigated areas. 
Late Forage Undesirable. 
While we can hardly plant anything that will come in 
too early, it must be distinctly understood that nothing 
should entice the bees to work later than September in 
England. Bees need at least six weeks to regain lost 
numbers after winter is past. They require just as much 
time to settle down quietly before the cold season” 
comes on. 
Cultivation. 
It will be understood that most of the above clover 
crops, etc., are sown over corn in the spring; the plant 
being well established by the time the same is harvested, 
and having the ground all to itself the second year. As 
to manure, it should be remembered that what is worth 
doing at all is worth doing well. Wood ashes are probably 
the best dressing for clovers, but as these cannot be got 
in sufficient quantity the most economic substitute will 
be Basic Slag. Among other manures may be mentioned 
Sulphate of Potash, $ cwt. to 1 cwt. per acre, and Super- 
phosphate of Lime, 6 cwt. to Io cwt. per acre. Kainit is 
also useful; while ground lime is understood to be very 
beneficial where honey yields are desired. It is a fact 
beyond dispute that a dressing of light manure at the rate - 
. 
