PASTURAGE. 355 



culturists agree that so far from being an impoverishing 

 crop, it is on many soils, one of the most profitable that can 

 be raised. Every bee-keeper should have some in the 

 vicinity of his hives. 



The raspberry, it is well known, is a great favorite with 

 the bees ; and the honey supplied by it, is very delicious. 

 Those parts of New England, which are hilly and rough, are 

 often covered with the wild raspberry, and would furnish 

 food for numerous colonies of bees. 



It will be observed that thus far, I have said nothing about 

 cultivating flowers in the garden, to supply the bees with 

 food. What can be done in this way, is of scarcely any 

 account ; and it would be almost as reasonable to expect to 

 furnish food for a stock of cattle, from a small grass plat, as 

 honey for bees, from garden plants. The cultivation of bee- 

 flowers is more a matter of pleasure than profit, to those who 

 like to hear the happy hum of the busy bees, as they walk 

 in their gardens. It hardly seems expedient, at least for 

 the present, to cultivate any field crops except such as are 

 profitable in themselves, without any reference to the bees. 



Mignonnette is excellent for be^, but of all flov^ers, none 

 seems to equal the Borage. It blossoms in June, and con- 

 tinues in bloom until severe frost, and is always covered 

 with bees, even in dull weather, as its pendant blossoms 

 keep the honey from the moisture ; the honey yielded by it, 

 is of a very superior quality. If any plant which does not 

 in itself make a valuable crop, would justify cultivation, 

 there is no doubt that, borage would. An acre of it would 

 support a large number of stocks. If in a village those 

 who keep bees would unite together and secure the sowing 

 of an acre, in their immediate vicinity, each person paying 

 in proportion to the number of stocks kept, it might be 

 found profitable. The plants should have about two feet of 



