390 PASTURAGE. 



nearly worthless, if duly improved, it may effect as great a 

 change in their value, as the cultivation of the grape on the 

 vine-clad terraces of the mountain districts in Europe. 



It will be observed that thus far, I have said nothing about 

 cultivating flowers, to supply the bees with food. The little 

 that can be done in this way, is of scarcely any account ; 

 and it would be almost as reasonable to expect to furnish 

 food for a stock of cattle, from a small grass plat, as honey 

 for bees, from garden plants. The cultivation of bee- 

 flowers is more a matter of pleasure than profit, to those 

 who like to hear the happy hum of the busy insect, as they 

 walk in their gardens. 



It hardly seems expedient to cultivate any field crops ex- 

 cept such as are profitable in themselves, without any refer- 

 ence to bees. If, however, there is any plant of this kind 

 which would justify cultivation, it is the Borage, (Borago 

 Officinalis.) It blossoms in June, and continues in bloom 

 until severe frost, and is always covered with bees, even in 

 dull weather, as its pendant blossoms keep the honey from 

 the moisture ; the honey yielded by it, is of a superior qual- 

 ity. An acre of it would support a large number of stocks. 

 If in a village those who keep bees would unite to secure 

 the sowing of an acre, in their immediate vicinity, each per- 

 son paying in proportion to the number of stocks kept, it 

 might be found profitable. The plants should have about 

 three feet of space every way, and after covering the ground, 

 would need no further attention. They would come into 

 fulj blossom, cultivated in this manner, about the time that 

 the white clover begins to fail, and would not only furnish 

 rich pasture for the bees, but would keep them from the 

 groceries and shops in which so many perish. 



If those who are engaged in adorning our villages and 

 country residences with shade trees, would be careful to set 



