BEE PASTURAGE. 79 



FIRST HONEY. 



The first honey of any account is obtained from the 

 Golden Willow, {Salix vitellina); which is seldom injured 

 by frost. Gooseberries, cnrrants, cherries, pear and peach 

 trees contribute a share of both honey and pollen. Sugar 

 Maple, {Acer sacchwinum) throws out its ten thousand 

 beautiful silken tassels with a bounteous yield of tempting 

 nectar. Strawberries modestly open their petals in invi- 

 tation, but like " obscure virtues," are often neglected for 

 the more conspicuous Dandelion, and the showy and fra- 

 grant blossoms of the Apple, which now open their stores, 

 and offer to the bees a real harvest. 



FEUIT FLOWESS IMPORTANT. 



In good weather, a gain of 20 pounds is sometimes ad- 

 ded to the hives during the period of apple blossoms. 

 But we are seldom fortunate enough to have continuous 

 good weather, as it is often rainy, cloudy, cool or windy, 

 all of which conditions are very detrimental. A frost will 

 sometimes destroy all, and the gain of our bees is reversed, 

 that is, their stores are lighter at the end than at the be- 

 ginning of this season of flowers. Yet this season often 

 decides the prosperity of the bees for the summer. If 

 there is good weather now, we expect our first swarms 

 about June 1st ; if not, no subsequent yield of honey will 

 make up the deficiency. 



We now have a time of several days, from 10 to 14, in 

 which there are but few flowers. If our hives are poorly 

 supplied when this scarcity occurs, it will so disiirrange 

 their plans for swarming, that no preparations are again 

 made much before July, and sometimes not at all. In 

 sections where the wild cherry, (Prunus serotina) abounds, 

 these flowers will appear, and fill the period of scarcity 

 which this section annually presents. The Locust, (JRobmia 

 JPseiidacaoia), blossoms at this time, and where it is suflS- 



