272 



June Plants. 



few of our native plants afford so much nectar, are such favor- 

 ites with the bees, and are so independent of weather as moth- 

 erwort (Fig. 141). It is crowded with bees from the dawn of 

 its bloom till the last flower withers. By cutting it back in 

 May it can be made to blossom just at the dearth of nectar- 

 secreting bloom; otherwise it comes in June and early July, 

 just when Linden is yielding its precious harvest. Few plants 

 are more desirable to sow in waste places. 



The silk or milk-weed furnishes abundant nectar from June 

 to frost, as there are several species of the genus Asclepias, 

 which is wide-spread in our country. This is the plant which 

 has large pollen masses which often adhere to the legs of bees 

 (Fig. 142), and sometimes 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. Seldom a bee gets caught so as to hold it long, and 



Fig. 143. 



Fig. 142. 



Pollen of Milk- Weed. 



Black Mustard. 



when these awkward masses are carried away with the bee, 

 they are usually left at the door of the hive, where I have 

 often seen them in considerable numbers. The river bank 



