-66 A Modem Bee-Farm 



is no uncommon thing to secure, as I have done myself, 

 two tons from a first crop, and one ton from the second 

 crop in one year. 



rianuring: the Ground. 



Nevertheless, it will ever remain a prime factor that the 

 ground must be moderately good to start with, and must 

 be kept up in good condition, otherwise the bee-keeper's 

 attempts to supplement his local surroundings will meet 

 with grievous disappointment ; just as any other tiller of 

 the soil must fail utterly if he will not reward Nature's ever 

 willing hand. 



The Great Thing 



with such planting is the broad fact that the crops are 

 close at hand, and are brought into due rotation, so that 

 often when the weather is not such as will entice the bees 

 to distant crops, they will simply roam on fields almost 

 adjoining the apiary. 



The Best Crops for Honey 



will be our first great consideration, while at least two- 

 thirds of the area sown shall be utilised for hay, and some- 

 times as pasturage. 



The Earliest Field Crop (Plot No. i) 



is the yellow hop clover, but if sown alone, nothing will 

 follow on the same ground after the June cutting. This 

 starts with apple bloom and flowers continuously from 

 early May until June, and the bees may have the benefit 

 ®f the bulk of blossom before cutting. It makes sound 

 feed and heavy crops of hay, and will at times realise about 

 twice the value set out in my estimates. 



But this miniature clover must be sown with Alsike and 

 Dutch in August or September, and then after the June 



