and its Economic Management. 63 



CHAPTER VI. 



PLANTING FOR BEE=PASTURAQE. 



nINE years out of ten we have a fine Autumn spell, 

 after the usual flowers have succumbed ; and the 

 bees having nothing better to do, are in too many 

 cases on the alert for the least chance to rob a neighbour- 

 ing hive. 



How often has the bee-keeper wished that such fine 

 weather, so enjoyable a period, might be made a time of 

 busy labour to his now idle thousands, so that they might 

 take to the more pleasant paths of industry and good 

 behaviour. Oh ! for the magician's wand, that flower 

 laden fields might spring into existence and waft their 

 honeyed odours to the still crowded hives. What a 

 marvellous change should we behold ! Instead of robbing, 

 worrying and fighting — the industrious hum of roaring 

 thousands — in place of shrinking stores, we shall see every 

 open cell glistening with the golden nectar, and the 

 winged multitudes darkening the air as they speed in 

 shoals to and from the honeyed mine of flowers. 



And yet. dear reader, this is all quite possible. Why 

 should man sit down helplessly, and remain content with 

 the shortcomings of his locality. 'Tis not Nature that 

 is at fault, but man's own want ol foresight and ingenuity. 

 Do you expect to make bee-keeping a success on a large 



