BEE MANUAL. 



295 



own experience in the Thames and Waikato districts, some 

 thirty miles south of Auckland. 



Here the dawn of the honey season opens with the willows 

 and early flowering peaches. These blossom about the beginning 

 of September, and enable the bees very quickly to replenish the 

 stores of honey, at this time nearly exhausted. 



Then follow other fruit trees, dandelions, daisies, hawthorn, 

 wild rose, some native trees, &c, and the honey season may be 

 said to have fully commenced in October, when clover begins 

 to blossom, and lasts without cessation, in a fairly good season, 



Fig. 139.— GIANT MIGNONETTE (Reseda gigantea). 



till near the latter end of February, when the hot dry weather 

 causes a break, which lasts till the rains commence again 

 (usually in the latter part of March) ; when, if the weather is 

 showery, a considerable amount of honey will be gathered from 

 different sources through the latter part of March, April, and 

 a part of May. 



