BEE PASTURAGE. 



high. It is very scarce, as well as Basswood, {Tilia 

 Americana,) — thai in some places is abundant, and 

 yields honey clear and transparent as water, superior in 

 appearance, but inferior in flavor to clover ; it also ap- 

 pears much thinner when iirst collected. 



LARGE YIELD FROM BASSWOOD. 



During the time this tree is in bloom, a period of 

 two or three weeks in many sections, astonishing quan- 

 tities are obtained. A person once assured me that he 

 had known " ten pounds collected by one swarm in a 

 day, by weighing the hive in the morning and again at 

 evening." I have some doubt of the statement, and 

 think half the amount would be a good day's work ; 

 but I had but a small chance to know, as only a few 

 trees, as a specimen, grow in this section. I have 

 weighed hives during seasons of apple-tree blossoms and 

 buckwheat, the two best yields of honey we have, and 

 three and a half pounds was the best for one day that 

 I ever had. Sumach, (Rhus Glabra,) in some sections, 

 affords considerable honey. Mustard (Sinapis Nigra) 

 is also a great favorite. 



I have now mentioned most of tlie honey-producing 

 trees and plants that come on before the middle of 

 July. The course of these flowers is termed the first 

 yield. In sections where there are no crops of buck- 

 wheat, it constitutes the only full one. Other flowers 

 continue to bloom till cold weather. Where white clo- 

 ver is abundant and the fields are used for pasture, it 

 will continue to throw out fresh flowers, sometimes, 

 throughout the summer ; yet the bees consume about 



