86 



A Modern Bee-Farm 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE AGRICULTURIST AND FRUIT 

 GROWER. 



"QOINQ BACK TO THE LAND." 



CHE value of crops suitable for bee-forage has been 

 shown by the preceding chapter. The bee-keeper 

 who is also a farmer therefore has every advantage 

 and can make profit in several ways. But while it is 

 necessary that the extensive bee-keeper should also be a 

 farmer, it is quite as important that the agriculturist should 

 keep a few stocks for the sole purpose of fertilising the 

 clover, turnip, rape, and other crops he may save for seed, 

 if it happens that few bees are cultivated in his neighbour- 

 hood. 



It should be distinctly understood that the more bees 

 that can be obtained as fertilising agents, the more seed 

 will be perfected, as well as more fruit. Single hives 

 have been placed in cucumber and peach houses, and 

 though some bees are of course lost in the first instance, 

 the youngei- portion of the population never having flown 

 outside, have no difificulty in finding their way about. 

 The results have been reported to be most satisfactory, 

 and the plan should be more extensively adopted. 



Strange as it may appear to those who are inclined to 



