138 BEEKEEPING 



the "fire weed," that pink flowered wan- 

 derer that takes possession as quickly as 

 the fire has made a place for it. The tall 

 stalks, sometimes reaching a height of six 

 feet, are topped with a cluster of bloom 

 that grows with the season and unfolds a 

 succession of flowers from July until 

 frost. In many of the burned areas it is 

 the dominant plant for years after the 

 fire has killed the young trees that were 

 left by the woodmen. Thousands of acres 

 of such country exist along our northern 

 boimdary and south of that line, and in 

 the whole territory there are compara- 

 tively few bees kept. 



And yet, the honey that the bees obtain 

 from the fire weed is nearly as fine as 

 that from white clover. Aside from pos- 

 sible trouble in severe winters it would 

 appear that this burned area offered 

 about the last stand in the way of virgin 

 pastures for bees in this country. I am 

 personally familiar with some thousands 

 of acres of such pasture in which I know 



