56 SOURCES OF HOKET. 



den, ranks with the finest. It is hardy and bears trans- 

 planting better than many other forest trees. This 

 stately tree, with its graceful clusters of fragrant flowers, 

 adorns village or country grounds, while the soft music 

 of the industrious bee, among the branches, is attractive 

 to the dullest ear. The honey resources of the country 

 might be greatly increased by planting such trees. 



Basswood honey is, without doubt, of the most superior 

 quality and flavor. The blossoms are very numerous, 

 and though there are occasionally seasons when they yield 

 but little, the tree is generally a very reliable source of 

 honey. The yield of honey usually continues for about 

 ten days. In localities where the altitude varies from 

 warm valleys to high hills or mountain ranges, the yield 

 will often be extended to two or three weeks. 



The largest yield of honey I have ever known in a 

 given time, was from Basswood. I have seen twenty-five 

 pounds gathered in one day by a single swarm, and 

 larger collections are reported by other parties. Of 

 course, such amounts must be secured by the non-swarm- 

 ing plan under the most favorable conditions. In 1874 I 

 commenced with 100 swarms and did not take any sur- 

 plus honey until Basswood blossomed, July 20th. Dur- 

 ing the next forty days I secured 10,000 lbs. of surplus, 

 and increased the colonies to 119, giving me an average 

 of 100 lbs. each, from my old stocks. I mention these 

 figures to illustrate the value of this tree for bee-forage. 

 I should here explain that I took advantage of the differ- 

 ence in altitude, and moved a number of colonies six 

 miles to higher ground, where the trees did nob come into 

 flower for two weeks after they failed in the valley. 



I have never observed such a profuse yield of honey 

 from Basswood, as in that season. The flowers seemed 

 to be dripping with liquid sweetness, and one had but to 

 press them between the fingers to obtain a drop of genuine 

 nectar. 



