PASTURAGE. 



403 



yields white honey of a strong flavor, and, as it blossoms 

 when both the swarms and parent-colonies are usually popu- 

 lous, the weather settled, and other bee-forage scarce, its value 

 to the bee-keeper is great. 



' ' Here their delicious task, the fervent bees 

 In swarming millions tend: around, athwart, 

 Through the soft air the bvisy nations fly. 

 Cling to the bud, and with inserted tube, 

 Suck its pure essence, its ethereal soul. ' ' 



— Thomson. 



This majestic tree, adorned with beautiful clusters of 

 fragrant blossoms, is well worth attention as an ornamental 

 shade-tree. By adorning our 

 villages and country residences 

 with a fair allowance of tulip, 

 linden, and such other trees as 

 are not only beautiful to the eye, 

 but attractive to bees, the honey- 

 resources of the country might, 

 in process of time, be greatly 

 increased. In many districts, 

 locust and basswood planta- 

 tions would be valuable for their ' 

 timber alone. 



703. We have also a variety 

 of clover imported from Sweden, 

 which grows as tall as the red 

 clover, bears many blossoms on 

 a stalk, in size resembling the 

 white, and, while it answers 

 admirably for bees, is preferred 

 by cattle to almost any other 

 kind of grass. It is known 

 by the name of Alsike or Swedish clover (Fig. 159). 



The objection made to this clover is that its stem is so 

 light that it falls to the ground. This is remedied by sowing 



Fig. 158. 



LINDEN OB BASSWOOD. 



(From Vilmorin-Andrieux, Paris.) 



