HOW TO KEEP BEES. 7 



In some of the villages and cities the European Lindens are 

 numerous and yield heavily. The bloom comes toward the end 

 of the clover flow, though the time of flowering of different trees in 

 the same neighborhood varies greatly. Native Linden (Basswood) 

 is now found only in a few places. The season closes with the golden- 

 rods and asters, which yield a rich aromatic honey, which though not 

 acceptable to many persons commands a fancy price from others. 

 The crop from these two sources is not always to be depended upon, 

 being more affected by the weather than some of the others. 



Many other flowers contribute to the harvest, but seldom to any 

 great extent. 



It is important that the bee-keeper should know well the pasturage 

 of his bees and govern himself accordingly. If the crop must depend 

 only on one of the groups, he must needs bend every energy to get 

 that, but if he has two or more to depend on he can vary his plans. 



Bees range for food about two miles from home, but the best 

 results are secured when the pasturage is within a mile or less of the 

 apiary. Bear these facts in mind when seeking the location for an 

 apiary and if already located, make a careful inspection of the country 

 round about and determine the sources of supply. 



HONEY DEW. 



Honey dew, so-called, is a secretion of plant lice (aphids) and is 

 deposited on the surface of the leaves. Some seasons it is very 

 abundant and bees work on it eagerly. It varies in color from light 

 gray to dark brown, is usually of unpleasant flavor, and is often 

 bitter and spoils any honey with which it is mixed. All that the bee- 

 keeper can do is to remove all honey od the hives as soon as the 

 gathering of honey dew is noticed, replacing the supers with others 

 until the bees cease to gather it, when the supers of good honey can 

 be returned and the stored honey dew saved and be given back to 

 the bees during any slack period of the summer. It is not a good 

 winter food for the bees. It should not be sold as honey. 



