MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



223 



three times that number of colonies will find ample resources 

 to keep all employed. So this subject of artificial pasturage 

 becomes one well worthy close study and observation. The 

 subject, too, is a very important one in reference to tho loca- 

 tion of the apiary. 



It is well to remember in this connection, that two or three 

 miles should be regarded as the limit of profitable gathering. 

 That is, apiaries of from fifty to one hundred or more colo- 

 nies, should not be nearer than four or five miles of each other. 



* APRIL PLANTS. 



As we have already seen, the apiarist does not secure the 

 best results, even in the early spring, except the bees are 

 encouraged by the increase of their stores of pollen and 

 honey ; hence, in case we do not practice stimulative feeding 

 — and many will not — it becomes very desirable to have some 

 Fig. 74^WUlow. . 



early bloom. Happily, in all sections of the United States 

 our desires are not in vain. 



Early in spring there are many scattering wild flowers, as 

 the blood-root (Sanguinaria canadensis), liver-leaf (Jlepa- 



