FIFTY YEARS ;AMONG THE BEES 111 



KILLING GBASS. 



This is a good time to salt the ground at and ahout the 

 entrances of the hives, to kill the grass, although too often I 

 leave it till it has to be cut with a sickle. Grass growing in 

 front of the hive annoys the bees, and that growing at the side 

 annoys the operator, especially if the operator is of the female 

 persuasion, and the gTass is wet with dew or rain. 



HARBINGERS OF HARVEST. 



There are certain things always noticed by a beekeeper, 

 with much interest, as heralding the beginning of spring or of 



Fig. 38 — Zinc Hive-covers. 



the honey-harvest. Among these are the singing of frogs, the 

 advent of bluebirds, and the opening of various blossoms. With 

 me the highest interest centers in white clover. As I go back 

 and forth to the out-apiaries, I am always watching the patches 

 of white clover along the roadside. If your attention has never 

 been called to it, you will be surprised to find how long it is 

 from the time the first blossom may be seen, till clover opens 

 out so bees will work upon it. I usually see a stray blossom 



