iigS THE APIARY. ' 



matter is, tliat the bees are best suited with a long dry- 

 season — an early spring, a hot summer, and a late autumn. 

 As not one of these blessings can be commanded by 

 the apiarian, his art must be applied to provide some 

 mitigation of the injury suffered by the bees when the 

 season is short or wet. For early spring, the crocus, the 

 blue hepatica, and the violet all afford good supplies of 

 pollen and honey, and, if cultivated near the apiary, will 

 be of great service when the wild flowers are backward. 

 All varieties of the willow arid poplar furnish early sup- 

 plies, of honey, as well as of the propolis of which we 

 have spoken ; the blossoms of the gooseberry and currant 

 are vety useful for the bees in May. Wet, when it enters 

 flowers of any kind, prevents the tongue of the bee from 

 reaching the secret source of honey. On this account, 

 it is well to know, as does the bee, that the drooping 

 blossoms of the raspberry escape the effect of the showers, 

 and honey is gathered from them when other flowers are 

 drenched within as well as without. For a similar reason, 

 borage {Borago officinalis) is valuable for bees ; and also' 

 because that plant continues to flower until the frosts set 

 in. The honey both from raspberry blossoms and 

 borage is very superior. Mr. Langstroth says, that "the- 

 precipitous and rocky lands of New England, which 

 abound with the wild red raspberry, might be made 

 almost as valuable as some of the vine-clad terraces of 

 the mountain districts of Europe." The "golden rod" 

 and also asters afford superior honey for autumn gather., 



