VI 



THE HONEYFLOW 



The time when swarms issue and found new 

 colonies is the busiest of the year. About the 

 end of May or beginning of June the white, 

 or Dutch, clover comes into bloom. It may be 

 a surprise to many people to know that this 

 insignificant flower is, in England at least, by far 

 and away the greatest source of honey production. 

 The gorgeous flowers of roses and lilies, and, 

 indeed, the greater portion of our familiar garden 

 flowers, are practically valueless so far as the bee 

 is concerned. A single head of white clover is 

 worth more than half a dozen rose bushes, and 

 the most gorgeous clematis is a hollow sham 

 compared to the modest flowers of the lime 

 tree. 



So soon as the little white specks of clover begin 

 to become noticeable in the meadows and hedge- 

 rows, for, fortunately, the tiny trefoil is a hardy 

 grower which thrives under all sorts of conditions, 

 work is the only thing life holds for the inhabitants 

 of the hive. Rise when you will, in the small 

 hours of a June morning, you will hear the steady 



41 



