290 



MANUAL OP THE APIARY. 



at man's bidding, it quickly lets go its hold, so that it is not 

 a dangerous plant to introduce. The blossoms appear at this 

 place about June 25th, and persist for a full month, and 

 during the entire time are crowded with bees, whatever may 

 be the character of the weather, whether wet or dry, wann or 

 cool, whether the plant is in the midst of honey plants or 

 isolated. We are thus assured that the plant is constantly 

 secreting nectar, and is also a favorite with bees. Rape, 

 mustards and borage seem indifferent to the weather, but are 

 not favorites with the bees. Motherwort, then, has three 

 admirable qualities : It is long in bloom, the flowers afford 

 fine honey at all times, and it is a favorite with the bees. 



Fig. 115. 



If it could be made to bloom about three weeks later, coming 

 in just after basswood, it would have nearly all the desired 

 qualities. I think that we might bring this about by mowing 

 the plants in May. I am led to this opinion from the fact 

 that some plants which we set back by transplanting in May, 

 are still in bloom this August 10th, and are now alive with 

 bees, dividing their attention with the beautiful cleome, which 

 is now in full bloom, and fairly noisy with bees 



