234 MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



sown, blooms July 1st, the others June 1st ; the first about 

 eight weeks after sowing, the others about four. The mus- 

 tards bloom for four weeks, rape for three. These are all 

 specially commendable, as they may be made to bloom during 

 the honey dearth of July and August, and are valuable plants 

 to raise for the seed. Kape seems to be very attractive to 

 insects, as the flea beetles and the blister beetles are often 

 quite too much for it, though they do not usually destroy the 

 plants till after they have blossomed. I have several times 



Fig. 89.— iJope. 



purchased what purported to be Chinese mustard, dwarf and 

 tall, but Prof. Beal, than whom there is no better authority, 

 tells me they are only the white and black, and certainly, they 

 are no whit better as bee plants. These plants, with buck- 

 wheat, the mints, borage and mignonette, are specially 

 interesting, as they cover, or may be made to cover, the honey 

 dearth from about July 20th to August 20th. 



The mustards and rape may be planted in drills about eight 

 inches apart, any time from May 1st to July 15th. Four 

 quarts -will sow an acre. 



In this month blooms the tulip tree, Liriodendron tulip- 

 ifera (Pig. 90) — often called poplar in the South — which is 

 not only an excellent honey producer, but is one of our most 



