The Mustards and Rape. 359° 
so entrap them as to cause their death. Prof. Riley once 
very graciously advised planting them to kill bees. I say 
graciously, as I have watched these very closely and am 
sure they do little harm, and are rich in nectar. Seldoma 
bee gets caught so as to hold it long, and when these awk- 
ward masses are carried away with the bee, they are usu- 
ally left at the door of the hive, where I have often seen 
them in considerable numbers. The river bank hard by 
our apiary is lined with these sweet smelling herbs, and we 
Fic. 164. 
Rape. 
would like even more. Occasionally, however, the bee: 
become so burdened with these pollen masses that the other 
bees drag or drive them from the hive, as no longer fit for 
labor or worthy to live. Bees are veritable Hottentots, 
they ‘kill, though they do not eat, the old and the feeble. 
Black mustard, Sinapis nigra (Fig. 163), white mustard, 
Sinapis alba, and rape, Brassica campestris (Fig. 164), all 
look much alike, and are all admirable bee plants, as they 
furnish much and beautiful honey. The first, if self-sown, 
blooms with us July 1st, the others June 1st; the first 
about eight weeks after sowing, the others about four. 
