OR, MANTJAI, OF THE APIARY. 445 



blue thistle — all contribute to the apiary in July ; the viper's 

 bugloss (Echium vulgare), so-called blue thistle, though most 

 common South, is very abundant at Beeton, Canada. Mr. 

 Jones has it growing all about his apiaries. It is a near rela- 

 tive of borage, and does not belong even to the family — Corn- 

 posits — of the thistles. lyike the borage, it is not a trouble- 

 some weed. 



In California, the blue-gum and the red-gum (Eucalyptus 

 globulus and E. rostrata), introduced from Australia, furnish 



Fig. 249. 



Buckwheat. — Original . 



honey from July and August till December. There are over 

 one hundred species of gum-trees (Fig. 20S). Some are very 

 beautiful in habit, foliage and blossom. They blossom at 

 nearly all seasons, summer and winter, so by carefully select- 

 ing the species, the apiarist may have the flowers at will. 



The catalpa, a very rapid-growing tree, throws its large, 

 showy blossoms to the breeze and bees in July. It is rapidly 

 growing in favor as a shade-tree, and is incomparable for 

 posts. It lasts for. a great many years when imbedded in the 

 earth. But " the noblest Roman of them all " is the cabbage 



